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This week we look at a lesser known "bond like" investment vehicle called "Term Income Deferrable Equity Securities" (TIDES), a subordinated convertible preferred security, from Carriage Services Inc. (NYSE:CSV). This debt instrument matures in June of 2029 and is currently indicating yield of about 7%. If this relatively midsized funeral operator continues its rapid growth and significantly increases in value, this bond's convertibility feature allows for the possibility of adding long-term capital gains into its total return potential. After further review, we see this as a rare and unusual opportunity to achieve higher US dollar yields in the very profitable funeral industry, which is starting to benefit directly from the baby boomer cycle. Therefore, we have selected these Carriage Services convertible notes for addition to our Fixed Income portfolios.
A Look at the Issuer
Headquartered in Houston Texas, Carriage Services was incorporated in 1991 and is currently the fourth largest publicly traded deathcare company. Not only is it a leading provider of professional funeral and cemetery services and products in the US, it is the leading consolidator of family owned deathcare businesses. Its vision for the next ten years is to affiliate with many of the best remaining independent funeral firms around the country. Carriage operates 167 funeral homes in 26 states, and it operates 33 cemeteries in 12 states.
We like companies that are profitable
Carriage Services recently announced record results for the quarter and full year ending December 31, 2012, achieved strong Q4 revenue growth of 13.1% to a record $53.3 million, and Adjusted Earnings Per Share growth of 140% to $0.24 per share. Full year results were also outstanding, achieving year over year revenue growth of 8.8% to a record $204.1 million and Adjusted Earnings Per Share growth of 30.8% to a record $0.85 per share. It also substantially raised its Rolling Four Quarter Outlook of Adjusted EPS to $1.11 to $1.14 from its previous guidance of $1.03 to $1.05.
Strong Historical Growth in profits
Total Field EBITDA
EBITDA Margin
Adjusted Earnings Per Share
$80.9 million
EPS of $0.85
$61.6 million
EPS of $0.40
Interest Coverage Ratios
Interest expenses for the year ending Q4 2012 appear to be $17.0 million, while operating income (EBITDA) was about $80.6 million, indicating a healthy interest coverage ratio that's over 4.7 times. In the fourth quarter they completed a refinance of $130 million of 7.875% senior notes due in 2015 with a $235 million syndicated bank financing comprised of a $130 million five-year term loan and a $105 million five-year revolving credit facility, with interest savings of over 400 basis points on the refinanced term loan.
We like companies with lower debt to cash ratio
The long-term debt of Carriage Services at the end of 4Q 2012 was $268 million. Cash and cash equivalent at the end of Q4 was about $1.7 million, giving them the appearance of a rather poor cash ratio. However, as revealed previously in our StoneMor Partners (STON) high yield bond review, our research into the funeral industry business shows that it is not uncommon for these operators to have and maintain control over large trust funds of pre-sold business. StoneMor is the income beneficiary of a $250 million perpetual care trust. Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI) is the income beneficiary of an $1.1 billion perpetual care trust fund. Stewart Enterprises (NASDAQ:STEI)'s perpetual trust fund is over $270 million. Carriage Services is no exception, as it controls a $177 million trust fund, equivalent to about 68% of its total debt. Consequently, we do not have the same concerns that might otherwise arise from such a very low cash level indication.
Valuation Ratios
Carriage Services has demonstrated aggressive profit and production growth over the last 20 years and is forecasting more of the same kind of growth in the future. Yet, with future earnings projected at about $1.11/share and its stock trading currently around $19.33, the approximately 17:1 price to earnings (P/E) ratio is less than what might be expected for a company evidencing such consistently robust growth. Hence, we think this company's stock has plenty of potential for appreciation, even if it only achieves about half its historical trend. The United States on average has about 2.5 million funeral cases each year, and we have seen forecasts that by 2040 this number will nearly double, making this industry the final beneficiaries of the great and long lasting Baby Boomers cycle.
We like companies that have good balance sheets
Carriage Services' debt of $268 million appears to represent about 45% of the near $592 million enterprise valuation currently given to it by the equity markets. This is a better managed and less leveraged balance sheet than most of the companies we have investigated in the funeral care industry. Considering that its 7.875% bonds were just refinanced at about 4%, there are strong possibilities that this 7% convertible note might also soon be called and replaced with a less costly option. The underlying stock is trading at about a mere 5% discount to its convertible position, after which the bond price should reflect a one to one valuation to any stock price increase. Should the stock trade lower, bondholders continue to reap the 7% coupon yield, which in our opinion makes this 7% income play an extraordinary value if bonds are obtained at or below its call value.
We like higher yields
It appears that there are no credit ratings currently assigned to this debt, making it very different than the ever popular and highly rated sovereign debt of our spend happy government. Yet, when set in comparison to the paltry 2% yields of ten-year U.S. Treasuries, we think the 5% difference in yield AND the added capital gains that its convertible feature allows for (the conversion price being $20.4375 per common share) represents a remarkable opportunity for higher rewards given the level of risks that we can identify.
Risk Considerations
The default risk is Carriage Services' ability to perform. Credit rating agencies do not rate this convertible debt, but considering its historical trends, recent performance and its forecasted levels of earnings, its excellent position within a very solid industry, and the excellent cash flow that easily services their interest bearing debt, it is our opinion that the financial default risk for this convertible debt is minimal relative to its more favorable return potential.
The hardest risk for us to identify is the future valuation of the stock. With that said, the management team of Carriage Services has a well developed business growth plan that has proven itself to be very successful and profitable, and we have no reason to think that the company will deviate from this same kind of growth in the future. Furthermore, it appears that Carriage Service will continue to find numerous opportunities for growth, as aging practitioners of many small family funeral businesses find it easier to exit by selling the business to Carriage rather than broker it to an heir less caring of its worth.
With the increase of low cost cremations during the last ten years, the funeral industry has experienced significant pressures on its margins. We are aware that on the West Coast, funeral operators have seen the cremation rate exceeding 75%. While this remains a risk, it does make the EBITDA growth for Carriage Services over the last few years even more impressive. Lately, these high West Coast cremation levels seem to currently be receding, a trend that is expected to slowly spread across the rest of the nation.
Carriage Services may face increasing competition from any number of substantially larger and better financed companies, such as Service Corporation of America International, Stewart Enterprises Inc., or StoneMor Partners. All of these companies have significant resources, but the largest industry competition continues to be the thousands of small operators.
This convertible preferred security has similar risks to other convertible bonds that we have reviewed, such as the Tricon Capital convertible bonds, which have appreciated about 15% in the 3 months since our first review, and TransGlobal Energy convertibles (which after its recently reported quarter may be on a similar path).
Summary and Conclusion
Over the last twenty years, Carriage Services' growth is impressive. All things considered, it is our opinion that this company has established itself as a strong player within the funeral supply and services industry, and has done so possibly right in front of an even greater growth impetuous, the Baby Boomer cycle. We think this fixed income investment vehicle offers sound diversification, as well as a very high yield relative to the risks that we can identify. In addition to its already high coupon yield, these notes hold the possibility for significant capital gains due to its convertibility feature. For these reasons, we have selected Carriage Services Capital Trust 7% Convertible Preferred Securities, maturing in 2029, as an addition to our portfolio of Fixed Income bonds.
Ticker: CSV
Convertible Preferred (Hybrid Bond) Symbol: CSVSP
Coupon: 7.00%
Maturity: 6/1/2029
Callable: anytime after 6/5/2001 (with not less than 30 days notice)
Call Redemption Price: 50
Conversion Price : $20.4375 (bondholder's option)
Rating: none
Pays: Quarterly
Recent Price - $50.00 4/18/2013
Yield to Maturity: 7%
Please note that all yield and price indications are shown from the time of our research. Our reports are never an offer to buy or sell any security. We are not a broker/dealer, and reports are intended for distribution to our clients. As a result of our institutional association, we frequently obtain better yield/price executions for our clients than is initially indicated in our reports. We welcome inquiries from other advisors that may also be interested in our work and the possibilities of achieving higher yields for retail clients.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Additional Disclosure: Some Durig Capital clients may currently own Carriage Services Convertible Preferreds.


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|Home > World News > Article
|Sunday June 9, 2002
The Philippine military believes that for most of their ordeal the Burnhams were held hostage on the nearby southern island of Basilan, where US troops are helping to hunt the Abu Sayyaf rebels.
Martin Burnham's family said they had received word from "contacts in the Philippines" that their son may have been fatally wounded.
"We're waiting for final confirmation," said Paul and Oreta Burnham, who live in Kansas.
Dr Arroyo said: "I am deeply saddened over the death of Martin Burnham and one of our very own, Ediborah Yap, who were slain in an encounter between our troops and the Abu Sayyaf after more than a year in captivity."
She defended the military, saying "our soldiers tried their best to hold their fire for their [the hostages'] safety. I salute our troops for their forbearance.
"The terror shall not be allowed to get away with this. We shall not stop until the Abu Sayyaf is finished. I ask our people to be vigilant. The battle shall go on, wherever it takes," Dr Arroyo said.
"I commiserate with the Burnham and Yap families. It has been a long and painful trial for them, for our government, for our country."
The United States had recently made an abortive attempt to free two American missionaries with a $US300,000 ($564,440) ransom.
A US official said the attempt was made in March despite objections from the Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. But it was not clear who made the payment.
Abu Sayyaf, linked by the US to the al-Qaeda terrorist network, was said to be demanding $US2 million for the release of the Burnhams, who were kidnapped from a tourist resort off Palawan island in May 2001.
The US broadcasting networks ABC and NBC reported the attempted ransom payment for the missionaries. Citing unnamed sources, they said the US Government helped arrange the ransom payment of $US300,000 in private money that was given to an individual about a month ago.
Agence France-Presse
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In this section
The Kennedy who killed
Storms sweep Europe, kill 8
As nuptials loom, there's a twist and a shout
Cardinal accuses US media of Nazi tactics
Blairs draw fire for 'conduct unbecoming' at celebrations
Jerusalem hosts its first gay pride parade
New find in Levy murder hunt
High alert remains: Rumsfeld
India asks US for answers on guerilla camps
FBI hobbled by poor computers and no email
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text:
heddy Boubaker (email@example.com)
11 Feb 1999 11:53:01 +0100
<> "Frank" == Frank Richter <firstname.lastname@example.com> writes:
Frank> Thanks, Hans-Peter,
Frank> your patch solves the problem.
Thanks from me too Hans-Peter that solves mine too
Frank> Just 2 remaining questions:
Frank> - pdf_parser syntax changed?
Frank> I had in the conf file:
Frank> pdf_parser: /path/to/acroread
Frank> With this setting acroread doesn't convert but starts in a window.
Frank> Letting "pdf_parser" undefined, works well.
Frank> This should be mentioned in the docs.
This is not mentioned or badly, in the doc, htdig doesn't call by default
acroread anymore but xpdf (in the way arguments are passed to it ) that means
that is you want to use acroread instead you should use
pdf_parser: /path/to/acroread -toPostscript -pairs
untested!! but no reason it should not work !!!;-)
Frank> - Warning: unknown locale!
Frank> I get this with "locale: iso_8859_1" when starting htdig on Solaris 2.6
Frank> Hmm, that makes me anxious...
I'm not so anxious as everything seems now to be ok ;-) but I've the same pb.
- heddy - ------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from the htdig mailing list, send a message to firstname.lastname@example.com containing the single word "unsubscribe" in the SUBJECT of the message.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Wed Feb 17 1999 - 10:10:02 PST


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USC kicker Joe Houston is polite, friendly, self-assured and unselfish. The sturdy 5-foot-7, fifth-year senior and former walk-on from El Camino Junior College practices faithfully, works hard and is well-liked by his teammates and his coaches.
Which is why so many people are pulling for this Redondo Beach kid with a buzzcut to be reliable more than half of the time.
Houston kicked what turned to be the game-winning 29-yard field goal with 3 minutes, 6 seconds left in the Trojans' 34-33 victory over Arizona State this past Saturday at the Coliseum. After the ball sailed through the uprights, Houston looked up and pointed to the heavens. He had been saved.
It was a come-from-behind victory for both the Trojans and Houston. Before booting that game-winner, Houston had missed on attempts of 27 and 35 yards earlier in the game and had seen his field-goal percentage for the season plummet to 45 percent (5 of 11).
"I'm human. I was anxious. But I believe in myself, and I believe in my teammates," said Houstpn about how he felt before he made good on the game-winner. "My team put in the position to execute my job. I just did my job. That kick was for my teammates."
When asked if he considered replacing Houston with backup kicker Jacob Harfman for that 29-yarder, Coach Lane Kiffin paused, grinned sheepishly and said, "No."
"After the second miss (by Houston) I saw Jake, but then I went back to our belief: what we saw in practice over time," said Kiffin. "It (The field goal) was good. It paid off with Joe."
This time, that is.
Through nine games, Houston is perfect on PATs (34 of 34) but has hit just 6 of 12 field goals (50 percent). Houston is 4-for-5 from 20-29 yards, 2-for-4 from 30-39 yards and 0-for-3 from 40-48 yards.
More specifically, he has made FGs from 34, 27, 27, 27, 32 and 29 yards. He has missed from 47, 48, 39, 40, 27 and 35 yards. Five of the six misses have been wide right, including two that have hit the right upright and bounced out.
For the past month, coaches have seemed reluctant to have him attempt anything longer than 35 yards. (A game-by-game look at Houston's attempts and makes is below.)
Houston is eighth in the Pac-10 in field goals per game (0.67), behind league leader Nate Whitaker (1.44) of Stanford. The longest field goal Houston has made this season was from 34 yards against Virginia.
For comparison sake, 2009 Lou Groza Award winner Kai Forbath of UCLA has made 11 of 15 field goals (73.3 percent) this season, 83 of 98 (84.7). Forbath, this week's Pac-10 special teams player of the week, missed a 46-yarder and then came back to nail the 51-yard game-winner with no time left for the Bruins' 17-14 victory this past Saturday against Oregon State. It was Forbath's 10th field goal from 50 or more yards.
Another thing… USC didn't have to worry so much about close-range field goals last season when fewer games went down to the wire and Jordan Congdon, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, had the job. Congdon connected on 12 of 16 field goals (75 percent) and nailed all 41 PATs to lead the Trojans in scoring with 77 points. Breaking down the field goals, Congdon was 7-for-7 from 20-29 yards, 4-for-5 from 30-39 yards and 1-for-4 from 40-49 yards.
It was a little more than a month ago that Kiffin opened up the competition between Houston and punter Harfman at the position. The inconsistency was impossible to ignore after Houston missed a potential game-winning field goal from 40 yards away and with 2:34 left in the Oct. 2 loss to Washington, 32-31, at the Coliseum. At that point in the season, Houston had hit only 2 of 6 field goals through five games.
Even though Houston went 1 for 3 against ASU, Kiffin said he won't put the job up for grabs again.
"It's still Joe's job," said Kiffin. "Unfortunately he missed two. He hit another upright. It's not like we're looking at real bad misses. He's close."
Here's a closer look at Houston's FGA dozen – and FGM half dozen:
* Sept. 11, Virginia, W 17-14
MISSED 47 yards, wide right, third quarter, USC leads 14-7
GOOD 34 yards, fourth quarter, USC increases lead to 17-7
* Sept. 18, at Minnesota, W 32-21
MISSED 48 yards, wide left, first quarter, USC 0-0
* Sept. 25, at Washington State, W 50-16
MISSED 39 yards, wide right, second quarter, USC leads 28-13
* Oct. 2, Washington, L 32-31
GOOD 27 yards, fourth quarter, USC increases lead to 31-29
MISSED 30 yards, hit right upright, fourth quarter, USC leads 31-29
* Oct. 16, Cal, W 48-14
GOOD 27 yards, third quarter, USC increases lead to 45-0
GOOD 27 yards, fourth quarter, USC increases lead to 48-7
* Oct. 30, Oregon, L 53-32
GOOD 32 yards, first quarter, USC takes 3-0 lead
* Nov. 6, Arizona State, W 34-33
MISSED 27 yards, hit right upright, first quarter, USC trails 7-0
MISSED 35 yards, wide right, second quarter, USC trails 7-0
GOOD 29 yards, fourth quarter, USC takes 34-33 lead
More from USC football: [rssfeedme cat="usc" feedpath="category/football/feed/" max="10″]


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- T-Sport - Tissot Watch T-Race (TS-135)
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To evaluate the outcome of a secondary intervention conducted with infants at risk for asthma.
Families of wheezing infants were randomized to a 1-year intervention or control group; outcome evaluation occurred from April 1, 2000, through September 30, 2003, when children reached 4 years of age.
Home intervention and clinic evaluation.
A total of 149 children from low-income urban families with multiple wheezing episodes before the age of 2 years.
Nurse home visitors provided a multifaceted intervention (environmental allergen and tobacco smoke reduction as well as illness management) that lasted 12 months, with the goal of decreasing asthma onset and/or severity when children reached 4 years of age.
Main Outcome Measures
Asthma status (parent-reported symptoms, impulse oscillometry, and documented asthma diagnosis), caregiver quality of life, medication use, and emergency department visits.
A total of 46.0% of children from the intervention group and 54.9% from the control group met criteria for asthma at the age of 4 years (P = .33). Caregiver quality of life was better for the intervention group (P = .01). Children in the intervention group were less likely to have reactive airways (prebronchodilator-postbronchodilator decrease in impulse oscillometry resistance at 10 Hz of ≥15%; P = .07). Outcome was modified by baseline illness severity; among children with low severity, odds of developing asthma by the age of 4 years were 3 times lower for intervention children than controls (P = .04), and symptom severity was lower for intervention children (P = .03).
Multifaceted intervention did not decrease asthma among children with early wheezing illness as a whole, but only for children with low illness severity in infancy. Despite having an impact on only less severely ill children, results demonstrate the possibility of ameliorating illness burden for some inner-city families with children at high risk for poor asthma outcomes.
Asthma prevalence and morbidity are disproportionately high among economically disadvantaged children from urban communities in the United States.1- 5 Asthma results from gene-environment interactions, and increased prevalence levels among the impoverished are believed to be related to exposure to environmental factors, including aspects of the psychosocial environment.6,7 Increased asthma severity and morbidity among poor children have also been attributed to environmental exposures, inadequate medical care, and poor psychosocial functioning and illness management among caregivers.8,9
Most childhood asthma onset, manifested as wheezing illness, occurs during the first 2 or 3 years of life.10,11 In an unselected cohort, persistent childhood asthma developed in approximately a third of children with early wheezing,12 suggesting that children with early wheezing may be at high risk for persistent asthma. This risk group contrasts with offspring of parents with allergy wheeze typically targeted in primary prevention studies,13- 17 who constitute only a small proportion of those who develop asthma.18,19 Intervention studies are needed that cover a broader spectrum of the population of children at risk.20 Secondary prevention efforts are required to determine whether asthma prevalence, severity, or morbidity can be decreased among young children with symptoms that may develop into asthma. With this group it is reasonable to institute interventions aimed at a broad range of factors, such as exposure to environmental allergens and tobacco smoke and also the psychosocial and medical aspects of caregiving that may influence the course of early asthma.
We report on the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS), which targeted low-income families of children with wheezing early in life and provided a multifaceted intervention that included psychosocial and environmental factors. Our primary objective was to evaluate the impact of the early intervention that occurred for the year after study enrollment at the age of 9 to 24 months on the children's asthma status at the age of 4 years. We previously reported modest impact on the targeted environmental variables, with some reduction of indoor allergen levels and environmental tobacco smoke exposure and increases in caregiver asthma knowledge and collaboration with health care professionals but no impact on illness severity or morbidity at the end of the intervention.21 However, the primary outcome evaluation was planned to occur with children at the age of 4 years, with assessments of asthma status, asthma symptom severity, and morbidity due to asthma. Although the rate of morbidity attributable to wheezing illness at study entry was high on average in this sample, considerable variability was seen in the severity of the children's symptoms,22 and we planned to take into account baseline illness severity in assessing study outcome. We also expected that caregiver psychological resources would modify the impact of the intervention such that caregivers with lower psychological resources, and their children, would show greater response to the intervention.
Eligible infant participants were 9 to 24 months old, had medical record documentation of 3 or more wheezing episodes, and were from low-income (Medicaid-eligible) families. Infants were excluded if they were born at less than 34 weeks' gestation, had a postnatal oxygen requirement of more than 48 hours, or had complicating medical conditions. Families were recruited from pediatric departments of local hospitals and clinics from January 1, 1998, through March 31, 2000 (Figure 1).
Study participant flowchart.
During enrollment in families' homes, caregivers signed consent forms approved by the institutional review boards of participating institutions. Following baseline evaluations, families were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Randomization was based on a computer-generated random dichotomous table, stratified by race and language status and accessed by the project coordinator, who assigned families to intervention vs control groups.
Interviews were conducted with the infants' primary caregivers in their homes to obtain baseline medical, environmental, and psychosocial information. Also obtained were infant urine specimens for analysis of cotinine and household dust samples for determination of allergen content (cockroaches, dust mites, cat dander, and dog dander). Interview-embedded questions queried medications prescribed for infants, classified as daily (bronchodilators or controllers) vs as needed, and caregiver behavior for ratings of illness management practices.23 Infants' wheezing illness severity was assessed with a checklist that was originally validated for school-age children24 and modified for infants with wheezing illness.22,25 Consistent with the symptom report dimension of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute asthma severity classification,26 symptom frequency was assessed for daytime and nighttime and after physical activity; an additional item queried the occurrence of severe breathing difficulty. Caregivers rated frequency of their children's respiratory symptoms for the past 6 months for 4 symptom domains: (1) wheezing, coughing, or tightness in the chest, (2) nights awakened by breathing problems, (3) slowed or stopped play due to breathing problems, and (4) breathing problems on awakening, using a 5-point scale: daily (4 points), weekly (3 points), monthly (2 points), less than monthly (1 point), or never (0 points). A fifth question asked, "Has your child had breathing problems so severe he/she couldn't talk/vocalize?" Yes (4 points)/No (0 points). Total scores ranged from 0 to 20; mean scores (range, 0-4) were calculated and are reported. Caregiver psychosocial measures assessed mental health,27 cognitive functioning,28,29 and sense of mastery,30 combined to indicate caregivers' psychological resources.31 During a clinic visit after enrollment, infants underwent venipuncture for determination of total serum IgE levels and skin prick testing for common indoor inhalant allergens and food allergens.
After the baseline assessment and randomization, the nurse home visitor intervention occurred throughout 12 months. Intervention goals included decreasing allergens and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and improving quality of maternal caregiving and illness management. Details of the intervention have been previously described.21 Briefly, nurses used baseline exposure levels and psychosocial information to guide individualized plans for behavior change. For infants with elevated cotinine levels, ETS reduction and smoking cessation techniques were used, whereas for families with elevated home allergen levels, reduction techniques specific to the allergen were used.21 Caregivers were helped to assess and manage infant wheezing illness in collaboration with their medical professional and to address life stresses, family difficulties, and mental health problems.
Evaluations of children at the age of 4 years took place from April 1, 2000, through September 30, 2003. Caregivers were contacted before the children's fourth birthday and scheduled for a clinic visit that included a physical examination, venipuncture, pulmonary function testing, skin prick testing, and a caregiver interview (n = 137) with health care professionals, technicians, and interviewers who were unaware of treatment group status. Caregivers who declined full participation were administered consent forms and brief asthma symptom questionnaires by telephone (n = 12).
Classification of asthma at the age of 4 years used caregiver report of symptoms together with objective evidence derived from impulse oscillometry (IOS) and medical records. Caregiver reports of asthma symptoms were assessed for the past 12 months using the modified ATS-B (American Thoracic Society–B) 5-symptom list32 and the symptom severity scale described herein.24Figure 2 shows the 2-step algorithm used for asthma classification.
Algorithm for classifying children as having asthma vs no asthma at the age of 4 years. "Asthma" indicates a positive caregiver report (≥3 ATS-B [American Thoracic Society–B] symptoms or total symptom severity score of ≥6) and positive objective data (medical record documentation of current asthma diagnosis or current asthma medications prescribed). "Mixed evidence" indicates a positive caregiver report but negative medical record data (n = 17) or a negative caregiver report but a positive medical record report (n = 17). "Not classifiable" indicates good-quality impulse oscillometry (IOS) data unavailable for use in asthma classification.
Impulse oscillometry was measured using a Jaeger MasterScreen Impulse Oscillometry system (Jaeger Co, Wurzburg, Germany). Procedural details and reproducibility data have been reported for this sample.33 After a baseline assessment, albuterol (2.5 mg) was administered, and lung function measurements were repeated 15 minutes later. We previously reported prebronchodilator to postbronchodilator changes in resistance at 10 Hz as an index of bronchial reactivity.33 Spirometry was measured after IOS, before and after bronchodilator administration (Jaeger MasterScreen Spirometry system). Given developmental limitations of spirometry measurements, modified criteria were applied34 and forced expiratory volume was evaluated at 0.5 second,35 resulting in forced expiratory volume at 0.5 second and forced vital capacity data for 113 children.
Caregivers responded to the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver's Quality of Life scale.36 The children's medical records for the period from the age of 3 to 4 years were obtained and coded for asthma diagnoses, medication prescribed, and health care contact type.37
Unadjusted comparisons of outcome variables between control and intervention groups were based on 2-sample t tests or 2-sample proportion tests. Adjusted estimates for intervention effects were determined by fitting regression models. Multiple logistic regression was used for binary outcome variables, and multiple linear regression was used for continuous outcomes. Covariates in the regression models included sex, foreign-born caregiver status, caregiver psychological resources, baseline illness severity (continuous), baseline medication level, and mother's educational level. Baseline illness severity and caregiver psychological resources were tested as intervention effect modifiers based on a priori hypotheses; associated interaction terms were included in models when P<.10. For descriptive (unadjusted) results, high- and low-severity groups were formed by cutting baseline symptom severity scores at the mean. For model-based (adjusted) results, estimates for high- and low-severity groups were determined by evaluating the continuous baseline severity variable at the 75th and 25th percentiles, respectively. The inclusion of the intervention group × baseline severity interaction term in models for certain outcomes allowed for separate estimates for the high- and low-severity groups. The symptom severity outcome variable was analyzed on the natural log scale
(y′ = ln[y + 1]), because the original scores were right skewed. Estimates and associated confidence intervals were then derived on the original scale using asymptotic methods.38
Intention-to-treat analyses were performed in all cases. A 2-sided P<.05 was considered statistically significant. SAS statistical software (version 9.1; SAS Institute Inc, Cary, North Carolina) was used for all statistical analysis.
Outcome data reported by caregivers were available for 149 children (84.2% of those randomized); for 137 children (77.4% of those randomized) this included a clinic evaluation with lung function measures (Figure 1). Families lost to follow-up and dropouts were not significantly different from those followed up on any baseline measure (P>.10 for all). Table 1 gives the baseline characteristics of caregivers and children who participated in the follow-up at the age of 4 years. Caregivers were primarily of minority background and were highly impoverished. Infants' mean scores for wheezing illness severity fell in the less-than-monthly range (0-1.0) for 53 children (35.6%), monthly for 56 (37.6%), weekly for 29 (19.5%), and daily for 11 (7.4%). Rates of maternal asthma, child atopy, and baseline illness severity were similar across the intervention and control groups.
Among 134 children with complete data from clinical evaluations, 68 (50.7%) had asthma at the age of 4 years (Figure 2). For 15 children with partial data, 8 (53.3%) had probable asthma based on caregiver report of 3 or more ATS-B symptoms. Boys and girls were equally likely to have asthma (48.0% of boys and 58.3% of girls; P = .39). Fewer children of foreign-born Hispanic mothers had asthma at the age of 4 years (30.3%) compared with European American (70.4%), African American (48.4%), or US-born Hispanic mothers (60.0%) (P = .003). No significant difference was found in asthma rates for children whose mothers had asthma (P = .26), and no significant differences were found in asthma rates for children with 1 or more positive skin test results at baseline (asthma, 16.4%; no asthma, 15.6%; P = .90) or at the age of 4 years (asthma, 33.8%; no asthma, 29.0%; P = .56). Children prescribed daily medication before study entry had higher rates of asthma at the age of 4 years (64.5%) compared with those taking medication as needed (38.9%) (P = .003). At the age of 4 years, mean scores for wheezing illness symptom severity for the past 12 months fell in the never range (0) for 28 children (20.0%), less-than-monthly range (0.2-1.0) for 64 (45.7%), monthly for 31 (22.1%), weekly for 14 (10.0%), and daily for 3 (2.1%). Higher symptom severity scores at baseline were related to higher symptom severity scores at the age of 4 years (r = 0.30; P<.001), and they were strongly related to the probability of having asthma at the age of 4 years (P<.002); the modifying effect of this continuous variable was evaluated for intervention outcomes. Caregivers' psychological resources were unrelated to active asthma at the age of 4 years.
The percentage of children with asthma at the age of 4 years was not significantly different by intervention group (Table 2). No significant differences were found between groups for specific ATS-B symptoms or for symptom severity for the past year.
More caregivers from the intervention group reported better quality of life in relation to their children's asthma at the age of 4 years (P=.01). Of the children, 18.6% from the intervention group and 24.3% from the control group had had a course of oral corticosteroids during the previous year (adjusted P = .44). No significant difference was seen between groups for emergency department visits between the ages of 3 and 4 years. Hospitalizations for asthma were rare, so they were not analyzed statistically.
A greater proportion of children from the control group had a prebronchodilator-to-postbronchodilator decrease of 15% in IOS pulmonary resistance at 10 Hz, indicating more bronchial reactivity in the control group at a marginally significant level (P = .07). No significant differences were seen between groups for the spirometry measures.
Intervention effects were modified by symptom severity at study entry, indicated by significant interactions between group and baseline illness severity (Table 2, far right column) for several outcome variables: number of children with asthma at the age of 4 years (P = .05), wheezing with colds during the past year (P = .02), symptom severity at the age of 4 years (P = .07), and oral corticosteroid use (P = .05). Table 3 gives the unadjusted percentages and means stratified for high and low baseline severity. Table 3 also gives the model-based adjusted estimates, indicating that the probability of developing asthma at the age of 4 years was significantly different for the intervention and control groups at the 25th percentile for baseline severity (P = .04; Figure 3) but not at the 75th percentile (P = .68). Among children with lower baseline severity, those in the intervention group were less likely to have had wheezing with colds (P = .01) and mean symptom severity scores were significantly lower (P = .03), whereas for children with high baseline severity, no significant difference was found between groups for wheezing with colds (P = .59) or symptom severity (P = .96). Unadjusted results show that among children with low baseline severity, 8.3% of children from the intervention group compared with 23.5% from the control group had 1 or more courses of oral corticosteroids during the follow-up year compared with 29.4% and 25.0% for the control group; however, these differences were not statistically significant in model-based analyses (P = .11 and P = .58, respectively). Level of caregiver psychological resources did not modify effects for any outcome variable.
Relationship between baseline symptom severity and probability of asthma at the age of 4 years. Probability estimates were derived from the logistic regression model using asthma as the outcome variable (see the "Statistical Analyses" subsection and Tables 2 and 3 for model details).
We report the outcome of the first secondary intervention study at the age of 4 years among high-risk inner-city families for whom the goal was to prevent early asthma and reduce asthma severity and morbidity. The multifaceted intervention targeted infants from low-income families who had 3 or more wheezing episodes documented by a medical care professional. Caregivers assigned to the intervention group reported higher quality of life in children at the age of 4 years, but no difference was found between groups for asthma prevalence or severity. However, the children's baseline illness severity modified the outcome effects; children with lower illness severity at study entry were less likely to have asthma at the age of 4 years.
The primary outcome assessed was persistent asthma at the age of 4 years. Defining asthma in the preschool period is challenging39 because of difficulty in obtaining pulmonary function testing and reliance on caregiver report for symptoms and history. Furthermore, 4-year-old children with asthma symptoms represent several different phenotypes, each with a different prognosis.40 Since 4-year-old children with asthma have high morbidity regardless of phenotype,1 we did not make this differentiation in assessing outcome at the age of 4 years; rather, we focused on caregiver reports of asthma symptoms that were above a moderately high threshold. We also required objective corroboration in the form of documented physician diagnosis of asthma or laboratory evidence of airway responsiveness to bronchodilators. Thus, we are confident that the children identified had active asthma at the age of 4 years.
Our failure to find a difference between the intervention and control groups for the number of children classified as having asthma at the age of 4 years indicated that the intervention did not alter the progression from infant wheezing illness to persistent asthma at the age of 4 years. In contrast, the intervention had a significant positive effect on caregivers' asthma-related quality of life compared with the control group. Increases in caregivers' coping skills and self-efficacy may have led to better quality of life regardless of the children's symptom levels. At the end of the intervention year, caregivers' asthma knowledge and collaboration with their physicians had improved significantly for the intervention compared with the control group21; these improvements may have influenced quality of life reported for the child at the age of 4 years. Furthermore, the home-based intervention provided by the nurses gave considerable attention to caregivers' psychological health and well-being, and caregiver affective states have been shown to be a primary determinant of pediatric asthma caregiver quality of life.41
Despite overall negative effects of the intervention, the severity of the children's wheezing illness at baseline had a modifying role on study outcome. Among children with lower symptom severity at study entry, significantly fewer children in the intervention group had active asthma at the age of 4 years. The same pattern of modified effects was evident for wheezing with colds, symptom severity ratings, and oral corticosteroid use. These data suggest decreased asthma in the intervention group, but only for children with less serious illness before the age of 2 years. It is possible that children with lower severity at baseline were more susceptible to changes in environmental exposures or illness-related caregiving.
Children with high baseline severity from both the intervention and control groups were far more likely to have persistent asthma at the age of 4 years, when they also had equivalently high numbers of ATS-B symptoms reported, symptom severity ratings, and medical care utilization. Notably, already at baseline children with high symptom severity were more likely to be described as having regular vs episodic wheezing (data not shown) and to be prescribed daily medications. Regardless of asthma diagnosis or atopic status, for the children with more severe early symptoms, the intervention was ineffective in reducing their chances of having persistent asthma at the age of 4 years. Early severe respiratory illness may set children on a course that cannot be changed.42 In a recently reported study,43 2- and 3-year-old children with early wheezing and a positive asthma predictive index were prescribed inhaled corticosteroids for 2 years and then followed up for a 1-year period. Although asthma symptoms were controlled during the treatment period, neither symptoms nor lung functions were different from a control group during the third, treatment-free year, suggesting that for infants with regular wheezing, even consistent anti-inflammatory treatment may not influence disease progression from wheezing in infancy to persistent asthma.
Specific strategies used in asthma prevention studies have varied, depending on definition of risk status and timing in relation to disease development. Several primary prevention studies44- 47 have attempted to impede the development of allergy and asthma among children at familial risk for atopy by reducing exposure to allergens early in life, with mixed results. Of note, the Canadian primary prevention study,48 which addressed both allergen and ETS exposure in a multifaceted intervention that began prenatally, found less asthma within the intervention group at the evaluation at the age of 7 years. The current secondary prevention study22 was implemented with infants with early-onset wheezing illness, previously demonstrated to be associated with multiple factors and of variable severity. The intervention aimed to reduce allergen and ETS exposure and to improve caregivers' illness management, including medication administration. Although there was some reduction in allergens and ETS,21 our intervention did not directly ensure that children whose illness severity required inhaled corticosteroids received the medication and instead relied on physicians to prescribe medication and on caregivers to administer it. The combination of various etiological factors in the infants' wheezing and multiple intervention strategies used in this study may explain improvements for children with only milder disease and also the lack of effectiveness in reducing symptoms for children with established asthma.
Several important limitations of this study must be considered. First, the study may have been inadequately powered to address our aims. Among the results are several instances of statistical trends, and the direction of the effects suggests that the intervention may have had significant effects had either the effect size or the sample size been larger. Second, generalizability of the study results is limited by the sample characteristics. Although representative of low-income families in the Denver area, approximately half of the families were Hispanic, of Mexican origin. Half of the Hispanic caregivers were born in Mexico and were monolingual Spanish speaking; we found this subgroup to be distinctive in terms of risk factors for asthma and utilization of the health care system.25 Generalizability may also be limited because of Denver's high altitude and arid climate, which precludes the pervasive allergenic environment of dust mites and cockroaches that has been implicated in the development of asthma in more humid climates.
Intervention effects may have been mitigated by the challenges associated with low-income, urban minority families, such as high stress levels, difficulties in coping, and mental health problems. The intervention was aimed at behaviors most proximal to asthma symptoms and exacerbations, such as environmental exposures and symptom assessment and management, but necessarily addressed caregiver psychological and social problems that impeded the care of their infants. Nevertheless, great variability was seen in caregivers' desire and capacity to use the intervention. Given that the feasibility of changing the developmental course of asthma is itself in question, interventions to prevent asthma may be better tested on families of higher socioeconomic status and education who are more likely to be adherent to recommendations, such as those of the Canadian primary prevention study.48 It may be prudent to attempt to decrease asthma among wheezing infants from families who have the resources and motivation to assess efficacy and only then adapt the intervention to families with fewer resources.
Finally, evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention based on asthma status at the age of 4 years is inherently difficult, because symptoms resolve for some children but persist for others. A follow-up at the age of 7 years is under way, when objective lung function measures will facilitate more accurate assessment of asthma status. The follow-up at the age of 7 years will also be informative regarding which of the children's early wheezing was transient vs persistent and whether the intervention effects on asthma at 4 years of age prove to have a continued effect at 7 years of age.
This is the first study, to our knowledge, to provide a nonmedical intervention for infants with early wheezing illness to determine whether the developmental course of asthma can be altered. The intervention was multifaceted, addressing environmental exposures, illness management behavior, and social and psychological challenges experienced by these caregivers. Although the intervention had minimal benefit overall among these at-risk children, it is possible that the intervention succeeded for those with lower baseline severity. However, it is clear that this intervention did not appreciably affect the children who had more severe early disease. Nevertheless, this study demonstrates the possibility of ameliorating illness burden for selected inner-city families with children at high risk for poor asthma outcomes.
Correspondence: Mary D. Klinnert, PhD, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson St, G320, Denver, CO 80206 (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Accepted for Publication: March 3, 2007.
Author Contributions: Dr Klinnert had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Klinnert and Pearson. Acquisition of data: Klinnert and Pearson. Analysis and interpretation of data: Klinnert, Liu, Tong, Strand, Luckow, and Robinson. Drafting of the manuscript: Klinnert, Strand, and Luckow. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Klinnert, Liu, Pearson, Strand, and Robinson. Statistical analysis: Tong, Strand, Luckow, Robinson. Obtained funding: Klinnert. Administrative, technical, and material support: Klinnert, Pearson, and Luckow. Study supervision: Klinnert, Liu, and Pearson.
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Funding/Support: This investigation was supported by grant R18 AI41137 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and by General Clinical Research Center grant M01 RR00051 from the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Research Resources.
Role of the Sponsors: The sponsors had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or report writing.
Additional Contributions: We are grateful to the families of the infants who were integrally involved in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study and who remain committed to the project. We thank the medical staff at the clinics and hospitals who referred their infant patients to the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study.
Klinnert MD, Liu AH, Pearson MR, Tong S, Strand M, Luckow A, Robinson JL. Outcome of a Randomized Multifaceted Intervention With Low-Income Families of Wheezing Infants. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(8):783-790. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.8.783
© 2017


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It's been a little over a week since we moved…again. That's right we moved this time last year too. It's been fun. This time we actually moved into our Grandparent's home; They moved into a retirement home. It has more space and rooms than our last place, so that's always a bonus! More on the house to come, so stay tuned!
The move itself went SEAMLESSLY. Seriously. We used an eco-friendly, rental box service called ZippGo, based in San Francisco. And FYI they are expanding to LA and Orange County in the fall of this year! ZippGo dropped all of the boxes off a week before the move so we could pack and then picked all of the boxes back up from our new home. Easy peasy!
It was super nice not having to go pick up boxes before the move. And the boxes themselves are heavy-duty, so I felt completely secure packing my glass and dishware (for once). And nope, nothing broke! I also loved the fact that it's a eco-friendly option. Waste not, want not, right?
|About halfway packed.
We were so organized and completely packed when the movers showed up that the Mr and I had no idea what to do. So we sat back, relaxed and let the movers do all the work. Never (ever) has moving been so easy for me 🙂 You guys should give it a try if you have a move coming up. Believe me, you'll love it too!
|Bye bye ZippGo boxes!
*This post was sponsored by ZippGo who so graciously offered free use of their boxes for an honest review of their service. Thanks ZippGo for being amazing to partner with!*


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My daughter was diagnosed at 3 months with hearing loss. We were devasted.Since starting the decibels foundation my daughter is doing great!
I am, to the Decibel Group, called, "Nana June". My grandson Christopher and I were at this group every
Wednesday for a year. My daughter, Heidi, is a school teacher in Concord, Ma. and could not take Christopher to his group on each Wednesday. So I did. This group is a caring group of people who
know so much about the children and their disability. Christopher has bilteral hearing loss and if it
wasn't for this group, he would never have been the child he is now. I went into a one on one session each Wednesday where the parents or grandpaentns would talk about their trials and tribulations with their children's hearing loss. My heart went out to them. We became a stong caring group of people
who had one thing in common - a child with hearing loss. God bless this group.
Decibels was a huge help! When we arrived we knew no one else that had a child with hearing loss and they provided such a great network of families and support for us as parents, and such a great learning environment for our son. The people there are just great, incredibly helpful and supportive.
Previous Stories
I found out about the Decibels Foundation when my son with hearing loss was about 10 months old (he is now 2 1/2). It has been a live-saver in providing education about the resources available to our family. The connections with other families are so helpful. I have a far better understanding of my son's needs and experience from my interactions with the staff and families associated with the Foundation. My ability to advocate for my son and his needs has been so profoundly improved. I can't begin to express how grateful I am that this organization exists. I only wish all families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing could have access to the wonderful resource that is the Decibels Foundation.
We stepped into an unfamiliar world when we found out that our son had hearing loss. We didn't know how to best advocate for our son, or even what he needed. It was pretty lonely.
With the help of the Decibels Foundation, we've found access to critical services and our son is doing very well. As parents, we've found a community of that faces similar challenges that we can learn with. Our son receives speech therapy, attends playgroups with other children with hearing loss, and we as parents receive training in how to better advocate for our children as they outgrow Decibel's sponsored programs.
Simply put, these services don't exist without organizations like the Decibels Foundation. I can't say enough good things about Decibels or the community it has helped create!
The services that The Decibels Foundation helps fund are invaluable to the children and families that receive them. This foundation is unique and provides deaf children critical early childhood services that they may otherwise not have access to.
Previous Stories
The Decibels Foundation is an invaluable resource for Boston/ metro west families by providing best in class support services for children with hearing loss and their families. By funding and supporting these critical programs the Decibels Foundation is able to ensure that kids and families are provided with a solid foundation in which to build from.
As a parent of a child with bilateral hearing loss, the Decibels Foundation has been an invaluable resource. Through their support and services, they helped my family feel control, direction, and hope. We know we have a reliable resource to find out about technology, services, and educational options. My daughter attends the toddler program, and her speech development and socialization are on par with other children her age. Without Decibels, we would not feel as hopeful as we do for our daughter's continued success.
My son is now 4 but we found the Decibel's Foundation when he was 15 months and they saved his life. He got the speech he needed and they helped boost his confidence for the transition into pre-school. The Foundation gives endless contributions to this minority disability population...
Previous Stories
My son entered the EI that the Decibel's Foundation helped to create after we had been in another program and received no help. The help my son received was life changing. He was able to get the services he needed while I was able to get the support I needed as a parent. These are some of the most generous people I know!!!
As the father of a child born with hearing loss, I would like to acknowledge how the Decibels Foundation (Maynard, MA) has been anda continues to be an important contributor to the resources, opportunities and support we rely upon in our efforts to provide our daughter with the skills and abilities she truly needs. Thanks to Decibels, we are confident that our daughter will be able to meet any and all challenges despite her hearing loss. Simply, the staff, supporters and folks associated with the Decibels Foundation are some of the very best people I have ever met, and they deserve recognition and thanks for the much-needed work they do.
I found Decibels when looking for a high school internship opportunity that involved community service. I was able to work closely with both Decibels and organizations they support including Minute Man Arc. My experience with Decibels was so much more than I expected, teaching me important life lessons, especially the importance of passion for what you do and the astounding ability to give so much of your time and dedication in order to help others. This organization is truly one of a kind and is one of the best.
My two-year-old daughter was born profoundly deaf and now has bilateral cochlear implants. Since she was 5 months old, she has attended an early intervention playgroup specifically for children with hearing loss. Without the support of the Decibels Foundation, this type of playgroup would not exist. My daughter gets focused sign-supported instruction from amazing, caring teachers, who all have experience in working with deaf and hard of hearing children. My husband and I can certainly see her improvement in communication, both spoken and signed. While the children attend the playgroup, parents can participate in a support group, which has been a tremendous help to our family in this journey, both practically and emotionally. Without Decibels helping us to make sense out of the information overload, we might not be in the same, good, place that we are today.


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UserMonitor / Screenshots
UserMonitor monitors active programs and screens of other users in classroom or network. Software also broadcasts a screen to other screens.
what other users see on their screen
classroom view
view of all running programs on a client computer
Internet use
You can check internet use of other users in your network. The browser is list as program with title of visited web site.
The teacher can get a warning message when a student uses a unauthorized software on his computer. As soon as a unauthorized program is in foreground, the teacher get a message with information about program name, file path, user name and computer name. Teacher can close unauthorized software.


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Each month, Rated People connects over 50,000 homeowners with quality tradesmen - simply enter your job details in the form above to get started.
We'll match your job to the relevant tradesmen in your area - those interested will pay to see your contact details and call you to quote.
As each tradesman expresses interest in quoting on your job, we'll send you their profile and ratings to help you choose the right one for you.
After the work is complete, return to the site and rate your tradesman based on their quality of work, reliability and value for money.
Added 15/06/2014
Carpet cleaning in empty house prior to moving in. Ground floor hall & stairs and 3 receptions,...
Added 17/05/2014
One off deep clean followed by weekly / fortnightly upkeep.
Added 11/11/2013
got a 5ft x 7ft rug that needs a deep clean and sanatize. its about an inch thick pile and...
Added 25/04/2012
Hi Im looking for a quote for downstairs/ all house carpets to be cleaned in the next week,...
Managing your job is easier with the Rated People Homes App, download it today.


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Social Media Consultancy
- Need to get to grips with the "new media" with help from someone who's participated in it's growth in Australia?
- Need help building the audience and engagement on your brand Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / etc accounts?
- Phone / Skype / In-Person consultation opportunities exist for the right client.
- Rates start at $170 AUD per hour, not including travel / accommodation expenses.
Plus Size Fit Model – size 20
- Having issues with customers regarding larger garment sizing?
- Want fast and effective Fitting Sessions with someone who understand the industry?
- Rates for Fitting Sessions start at $50 AUD per half hour via Skype.
- Rates for Fitting Sessions In-Person start at $40 per half hour, not including travel / accommodation expenses.
Freelance Writing
- Like me and want me to write for your website?
- Want me to "Live Blog" an event and report back to your readers?
- Looking for a regular contributor who appreciates deadlines?
- Do you need high quality, original photographs that tell a story?
- Please contact me to discuss rates and involvement.
PR & Event Photography
- Hosting an event and want to capture every little detail?
- Need clear, colourful and creative photos?
- Appreciate a super quick turnaround?
- Packages start from $220 per hour, please email me for more detailed information.
Commercial Portrait Photography
- Do you need a new profile photo for your blog or website?
- Contributing to other online or print publications and need headshots?
- Packages start from $275, please email me for more detailed information.
Lifestyle Photography
- Want me to capture a special event shared with loved ones?
- Need photos of your ever growing family?
- Packages start from $440, please email me for more detailed information.
Stock Images
- Want original and creative images for your website?
- Prices start from $65 per image, please email me for more detailed information.
Public Speaking
After speaking at the Nuffnang Blogopolis Conference in July 2011 on the topic of photography, I'm keen to be involved in other opportunities where I can share my knowledge and skills. Please contact me to discuss your event, rates and content in further detail.
Contact me using the form below, or via the contact page.


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Liam Mannix Google+
Liam is an Age journalist.
11 Australian players from other codes who would make the Socceroos better
Liam Mannix What if soccer was Australia's dominant code? Our best athletes from other sports might now be lining up in a green and gold guernsey. We've imagined what that team might look like.


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The 2013 American Music Awards
Was this seriously "the rest of the AMAs"? Three famewhores, a comedian, a singing actress with cleavage, and only two other actual musical recording artists? I hope Reddit does a better job for next year.
The rest of the AMAs (with breasts we felt like posting.)
I should've qualified that better, you're right.
Goddamnit, I come to this site for the politics, not the tits.
OK, I totally would. But I also just established I have no standards whatsoever.
She's been looking really fuckable these days.
So…judging by all the pictures five women attended and one woman sang; there are lesbian clubs in deepest Mississippi that get more action than that.


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Knight Deal Could Add To Jefferies' Windfall As Lead Rescuer
Jefferies Group Inc. stands to collect a big return for its dual role as embattled Knight Capital Group Inc.'s lead rescuer and now financier to its possible new owner, Getco LLC.
The projected windfall, which could be about $184 million–including advisory fees Knight previously paid Jefferies–reflects mark-to-market gains from Jefferies' initial $125 million investment in Knight more than three months ago.
Jefferies would also be providing about $950 million in financing to Getco in the Knight deal, according to people familiar with the situation.
The high-frequency trading firm's parent, Getco Holding Co., has offered Knight shareholders $3.50 a share for roughly half of Knight's outstanding shares as well as additional stock in the combined firm. Jefferies' financing would allow Getco to complete the merger and refinance its own and Knight's outstanding debt.
Knight is also reportedly weighing another $3 a share upfront, all cash, offer from Virtu Financial LLC, people familiar with the matter say.


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Virgin America's airplane fleet is about 1/15th the size of Delta Air Lines and United Airlines -- and even a smaller fraction of the flights -- yet the venerable airlines are scrambling to catch up to their upstart competitor.
Delta, United and Southwest Airlines are rushing to equip thousands of planes with Wi-Fi access as Virgin already has on all 40 of its planes. The large airlines hope to have Internet access on most, if not all, of their planes by the end of 2012.
But as the big boys play catchup -- and increasingly tech-savvy travelers devote more time onboard to their iPads, Kindles and Nooks for entertainment -- Virgin intends to up the multimedia ante.
By mid-2012, Virgin is poised to add multimedia elements such as social gaming, real-time geolocation services, highly curated news content and specialized social-networking privileges for Virgin travelers.
"We are focused on the Red (in-flight technology) product not getting stale," says David Cush, CEO of Virgin America. "We do not want to be overly dependent on just one media partner."
One route Virgin is taking is in partnerships with tech companies such as Twitter and Groupon. The popular online coupon just announced its third deal with Virgin.
"We want to help redefine travel. The hotel (business) is taking off," says Rob Solomon, president and chief operating officer of Groupon. He says about 5% of Groupon's business is from travel, but he expects that to "ramp up" in a few years.
"We have good synergies with Virgin America," Solomon says.
Leave it to Virgin Group's iconic founder to underscore the importance of change in an ever-shifting social-media world.
"There is a danger of growing too fast," says Richard Branson. "At the same time, it is quite motivating for the staff. In this game, as soon as you introduce one thing, it is time for the next thing. Virgin America has to be the best."
Technology Live covers computers, electronics, and the Internet, with a focus on cutting-edge technology that has a real impact on your life. Our reporters and editors -- based in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, and Washington – offer news and tips to help you make the most of your digital domain. More about the team
Sign up for Technology Live e-mail alerts


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We offer the best wood fired pizza ovens in the market. No matter the owner, our custom built mobile ovens can fit your business model.
We help entrepreneurs to professional chefs enhance their culinary work by providing both freedom, mobility, and a community of support.
By removing the hassle of franchise fees, we ensure long-term business owners and potential franchisees can excel in their work.
We provide first-time investors a smart startup with low overhead and high profits and we help vendors and caterers enhance their events and physical spaces. Our company offers the highest caliber of mobile ovens. The beauty of Fire Within is we are not a franchise. Once you buy one of our ovens, you own it. It is your choice how to use your oven and where to store it. Our ovens are the perfect start to your new mobile restaurant or a way of enhancing existing business efforts.
We do offer countless avenues of support for our partners. From our Wood Fired University to our training manual Rolling in the Dough, it is our mission to help you succeed. Regardless of your past experiences with food or business, we make it easy.
All of our ovens come with a 1 million mile warranty. They are expertly designed and crafted. They will enhance the aesthetic appeal of your existing space or attract crowds at countless events. Fire Within stands ready to assist you in creating a thriving mobile wood fired oven based business.
Mobile wood fired ovens are not only for pizza. There are countless menu options available for chefs. From artisanal breads to steaks even to desserts, the options are limitless. Many partner entrepreneurs and chefs begin by cooking pizza but diversify their menu to offer countless food options. These ovens offer unlimited potential for creating delicious culinary selections.
We are proud to offer countless business owners a freedom to excel. You are not only receiving an industry-renowned oven made with the highest standards of excellence, you are also joining a thriving community of support. We care about your success. We maintain positive relationships with countless entrepreneurs invested in our mobile wood fired ovens. It is our job to not only help you get started, but we also want to help you every step of the way.


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By Chris McKhann
PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) is trading higher after reporting earnings this morning but is seeing huge option action that is looking for limited gains.
PHM is up 4.4 percent to trade at $8.33. This is still in its range since last Wednesday, though the homebuilder's stock has been in an uptrend since early March when it bounced off of support at $6.50.
optionMONSTER's systems detected a huge trade at the January 2013 strike, where a single block of 30,639 of the 10 calls went for $1.30. This was the bid price at the time, so the calls were sold. There was no corresponding trading in PHM shares at the time that we can see.
The seller apparently does not believe that PHM will see much upside above $10 in the next year and a half. If the calls were sold naked they have a bearish bent, even though they will profit with the stock anywhere below $11.30.
If the contracts were sold against previously purchased PHM shares in a covered call strategy, the position is bullish up to $10. (See our Education section)


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Site Index
Pedestrian Program
Common Pedestrian Needs
Crosswalks (Repainting) - 684-5116
Call us if you know of an existing crosswalk that needs repainting.
Curb Ramps - 684-5377
We install curb ramps (wheelchair ramps) to make it easier to cross streets that have concrete curbs and sidewalks. We give priority to intersections with the greatest need.
Streets North of Ship Canal - 684-7508
Streets South of Ship Canal - 386-1218
Overgrowth on Private Property - 684-7899
Our crews cut overgrown grass and brush along city streets. The purpose is to alleviate sight hazards for motorists and to uncover fire hydrants and other utility features. Property owners are responsible for maintaining the planting strips on streets adjacent to private property and for cutting plant material growing from their property into sidewalk or street areas. The Department of Design, Construction and Land Use instructs property owners to cut grass or prune overgrowth when needed.
Sidewalks and Planting Strips - 684-5253
Sidewalks are the maintenance responsibility of the abutting property owners in most cases. If you find a raised portion of the walk, call, with the address, and we will investigate and notify the property owner to make repairs. Property owners may install sidewalks or other improvements along streets adjacent to their property under a street use permit.
Street Lights - 684-7056
Call City Light or visit the City Light web site regarding malfunctioning street lights or to request a new street light. Also, see Traffic Signals.
Traffic Signals - Malfunctioning/Damaged Signals - 386-1206
Traffic Sign Repair or Replacement - 386-1206
Vehicles Parked on Sidewalk (or blocking crosswalks)
Call parking enforcement at the Seattle Police Department, 206.625.5011 Information needed includes:
1. Nature of the violation
2. Location
3. Vehicle Description
4. License Plate Number
For more information about the City of Seattle Pedestrian Program, call 684-7583.


text:
Santa Ana, Ecuador, and Lodi do not have many things in common. They are a few thousand miles apart, in different hemispheres and different countries. But they share one person: Sean McDonald.
McDonald, 26, a graduate of Lodi High School's Class of 2004, joined the Peace Corps in February 2011. Before his life in the Peace Corps, he was a mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Sacramento from 2009 to 2011. He studied business administration at California State University, Fresno.


text:
Interview with DDS Model & Brand Ambassador, Ashley Lew
We loved sitting down and chatting with Ashley Lew (one of our models and our brand new Brand Ambassador) about her recent experience at the Royal Ballet School! Hi Ashley! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how...
- Posted 1 year ago
Summer Programs
By: Christina Ricucci The summertime is such an amazing time for us dancers to explore new things. We spend all season getting ready for competitions or conventions, constantly in the studio. If you're like me, you go to...
- Posted 1 year ago
Stepping Out at STEPS on Broadway
I love taking class at Steps on Broadway. Steps has been training and supporting dancers for over 30 years and is one of the most famous dance studios in New York City. The studio offers various styles of dance classes...
- Posted 2 years ago
Healthy Studio Snacks Inspired by Fall Flavors
Fall has arrived! Start breaking out those leg warmers and ballet sweaters, it's about to get chilly! There are so many reasons to love fall, and one of them is the amazing flavor pallet that natures graces...
- Posted 3 years ago
Terms of Endearment (Not For the Studio)
"My dear!" "Sweetheart!" "Darling!" I am guilty as charged for calling my students these and I'm sure a variety of other pet names in class. I, like most dance teachers, have a deep and genuine care for...
- Posted 3 years ago
Be a Better Bunhead: How Your Teacher Wants Your Bun for Class
Learn how to make the perfect ballet bun for class from real-life ballet teacher, Lana Brooks. Teachers, this is a great resource to show your first-time ballet parents.
- Posted 3 years ago
Baby It's Cold Outside!
When the temperatures drop and the skies turn grey, nothing feels better than heading off to dance all snuggled into cozy warm up gear! Even though warm up attire is a practical part of every dancer's training...
- Posted 4 years ago
Mimi Tompkins – Preparing for Class
Class at National Ballet of Canada begins at either 9:45 or 10 a.m. Luckily I live very close to the studio, so I don't have to wake up terribly early to prepare myself for the day. I aim...
- Posted 4 years ago
- A Dancer's Life
- Style
- Events
- Interviews
- Fitness & Health
- Teachers
- Extras


text:
Disorders usually first diagnosed in
infancy, childhood, or adolescence.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS--
The diagnostic category pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), as opposed to specific developmental disorders
(SDD), refers to a group of five disorders characterized by delays in the development of multiple basic functions
including socialization and communication. The most commonly known PDD is (1) Autism, with the remaining
identified as (2) Rett syndrome, (3) Childhood disintegrative disorder, (4) Asperger syndrome, and (5) Pervasive
Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (or PDD-NOS).[1]
Parents may note symptoms of PDD as early as infancy and typically onset is prior to 3 years of age. PDD itself
generally does not affect life expectancy. However, PDDs are correlated with poverty, suicides, crimes, and a variety
of medical problems.
There is a division among doctors on the use of the term PDD.[1] Many use the term PDD as a short way of saying
PDDNOS.[1] Others use the general category label of PDD because they are hesitant to diagnose very young
children with a specific type of PDD, such as autism.[1] Both approaches contribute to confusion about the term,
because the term PDD actually refers to a category of disorders and is not a diagnostic label.[1]
PDD-NOS and terminology
PDD-NOS is often incorrectly referred to as simply "PDD." The term PDD refers to the class of conditions to which
Autism belongs. PDD is not itself a diagnosis, while PDD-NOS is a diagnosis. To further complicate the issue, PDD-
NOS can also be referred to as "atypical personality development," "atypical PDD," or "atypical Autism".
Symptoms of PDD may include communication problems such as:
* Difficulty using and understanding language
* Difficulty relating to people, objects, and events
* Unusual play with toys and other objects
* Difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings
* Repetitive body movements or behavior patterns
Types and degrees
Autism, a developmental brain disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication skills, and
limited range of activities and interests, is the most characteristic and best studied PDD. Other types of PDD include
Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome, and PDD not otherwise specified (PDD-
Children with PDD vary widely in abilities, intelligence, and behaviors. Some children do not speak
at all, others speak in limited phrases or conversations, and some have relatively normal language development.
Repetitive play skills and limited social skills are generally evident as well. Unusual responses to sensory information
– loud noises, lights – are also common.
In early childhood
Some clinicians use PDD-NOS as a "temporary" diagnosis for children under the age of 5, when for whatever reason
there is a reluctance to diagnose autism. There are several justifications for this: very young children have limited
social interaction and communication skills to begin with, therefore it can be tricky to diagnose milder cases of
autism in toddlerhood. The unspoken assumption is that by the age of 5, unusual behaviors will either resolve or
develop into diagnosable autism. However, some parents view the PDD label as no more than a euphemism for
autistic spectrum disorders, problematic because this label makes it more difficult to receive aid for early intervention.
Cure and care
There is no known cure for PDD. Medications are used to address certain behavioral problems; therapy for children
with PDD should be specialized according to the child's specific needs.
Some children with PDD benefit from specialized classrooms in which the class size is small and instruction is given
on a one-to-one basis. Others function well in standard special education classes or regular classes with support.
Early intervention including appropriate and specialized educational programs and support services plays a critical
role in improving the outcome of individuals with PDD.
1. ^ National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) (October 2003) Disability Info: Pervasive Developmental
Disorders (FS20). Fact Sheet 20 (FS20)
* The ADHD-Autism Connection: A Step toward more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. By Diane M. Kennedy. ISBN 1-57856-
498-0 – The aim of this book is to explore the similarities that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) shares with pervasive
developmental disorders.


text:
Like a lot of New Yorkers — judging by the numbers here yesterday — there was too much going on yesterday to fully focus on the Rangers, and even Rangers in 60 was in the way of the World Series. (I also has the three-hour leaf-blowing interruption).
To see some of the highlights of yesterday's game, click here.
Some quick thoughts:
1) Michael Del Zotto. How good is this kid?
2) I thought some guys bounced back yesterday, especially Dubinsky and Gilroy.
3) I think that a lot of the improvement in the play of a lot of players was strictly, and specifically due to Marian Gaborik's return.
4) If Gaborik doesn't play, that game goes into OT and the Rangers lose there, or in the skills competiton that follows tie games, and everybody's totally negative here today instead of totally positive.
5) It still amazes me how people jump to one side or the other of the emotional fence regarding this team after each and every game.
6) All in all, this was a better performance than they've had in weeks.
7) The Bruins are still a difficult team to play, but they are a lot less so without Milan Lucic. Incredible that in a team sport like this, one player (Gaborik, Lucic) can make such a huge difference.
8) I liked Derek Morris crying that Gaborik's goal was lucky, that he fanned a little bit (he did) and it still found the upper corner. Funny how that happens to the real snipers.
9) I think the Rangers would be better off with Morris than some of their other defensemen. He's playing on the No. 1 pair with Chara on a much better team.


text:
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text:
2014 NHL Playoffs: The Water Bottle Wars [VIDEO]
The 2014 NHL Playoffs have been nothing short of amazing with so many great series so far. The New York Rangers are involved in a heated series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. While the Boston Bruins are in the middle of a heated rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens. Both series have been tough and both have been have had their share of controversial moments revolving around, of all things, water bottles.


text:
Aug 14, 2013 at 7:22 am
Grand forks is one step closer to purchasing over 12-thousand new containers for residents to toss their glass bottles...cans…and platics in. the 60 and 90 gallon bins would be delivered to homes in November as part of an enhanced recycling program. The city's safety-service committee approved the purchase last night. Public works director todd feland says the six-year contract with recycling provider waste management has a 90 day out if they don't like the way things are going.
The enhanced program will cost the average homeowner two-dollars-93 cents a month plus the cost of the container spread over three-years.
Councilman terry bjerke has been a vocal critic of the city's recycling program but says this is the logical next step if the city plans to recycle.
Bjerke urged the public works department to develop a plan for homeowners who choose not to participate so they don't get saddled with a 90 gallon can.
Talk Show Host, Operations Manager


text:
Catching up with Crusaders on the move and in the news
By Kathleen S. Carr '96
A Life in Service: Patricia Shea, SND, '86
Sister Patricia Shea resisted the call until it was deafening. An economics/accounting major at Holy Cross, she took part in the Appalachia service project and went on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola—two events that she calls "transformative."
And, after graduating, Shea chatted with campus ministers, who suggested the Peace Corps as a career path. She joined the organization and spent a year teaching high school accounting in the Fiji islands. Returning to Boston, Shea accepted a position with a public accounting firm, passed the CPA exam and became certified. But when she got involved in her local parish community, Shea began to realize that she couldn't shake her interest in theology.
"I heard about the Weston School of Theology, and I started taking classes at night—I realized then that I wanted to make a shift," she says. Shea took a job at a retreat house as the business manager, which gave her the flexibility to pursue a master of divinity degree. She spent eight years working toward that goal.
Attending a series of retreats, Shea says she asked God what he wanted her to do with her life.
"To my great surprise," she explains, "what I discovered was that God wanted a closer relationship with me. I just paid attention to what interested me—what gave me life and spark—and that was definitely ministry."
At the Dover retreat house, she met members of the congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
"What attracted me to them was that they were with it," she says. "They knew about world issues and, overall, they were joyful people. But I was very hesitant; I didn't know anyone in my generation who had entered religious life. I eventually agreed to have the conversation, but I wouldn't go to the convent. I actually made them meet me at a Dunkin' Donuts."
The end result of that coffee shop conversation was a first profession of vows, which Shea made on Oct. 7.
"I'm just trying to make the world a better place, to grow, be happy," she says. "This is my way of walking in the footsteps of Christ."
Protecting the Country with Science: Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., '62
Considered by many as America's version of the Nobel Prize, the Lasker Foundation Award was presented to Anthony Fauci, M.D., '62 in September. Fauci, who has directed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, constructed the United States' responses to AIDS relief and helped to plan Project BioShield, a comprehensive effort to develop and make available modern,
effective drugs and vaccines to protect against attack by chemical,
biological, radiological or nuclear weapons.
Q: What does it mean to you to receive the Lasker Foundation Award?
A: It is an extraordinary honor. And it's also very humbling. You do things in your career because you're passionate about them—you don't do them for the awards. But this is quite an impressive group of recipients, and I am honored to be among them.
Q: In addition to receiving the award for designing and developing the president's plan for AIDS relief in Africa and for helping to prepare the country against a biological attack, you were also singularly cited for your role "in explaining issues of great concern like the science behind emerging biological hazards" to the public. How do you accomplish this—and how will you continue to do this?
A: When you're a representative of the federal government, and the people of the United States, you receive support from taxpayer money, so you owe it to them to explain exactly what it is that's going on. It's important to be precise in your thinking and articulate in your expression.
Q: What are you working on now? What are your future plans?
A: I'm going to continue to do exactly what I'm doing. I've tried to shift the thinking from preparedness relief to preparedness against something that will inevitably happen. The evolution of microbes has told us that, as the years go by, we will see a naturally occurring threat—we saw this with HIV AIDS, SARS, West Nile Virus, and we see it with the thereat of pandemic influenza. I don't isolate deliberately released threats from the naturally occurring ones. A lot of the principles from which I act—such as being precise in your thought, and economical in your expression—are Jesuit teachings, and they've been an important part of my success. My fondest Holy Cross memory is the education I received there, and the Jesuit ideals I experienced.
Innovating Change: James Keyes '77
James Keyes was en route to
law school when Rev. Vincent Lapomarda, S. J., an associate professor in the department of history at Holy Cross, encouraged him to take a business course. More than 20 years later, Keyes has emerged as the chief executive officer of Blockbuster—having been pursued by the multimillion dollar company for his unique ability to innovate. Receiving his MBA from Columbia in 1980, Keyes went on to work for Gulf Oil, Citgo and 7-Eleven; he stayed at 7-Eleven for 21 years and had a number of roles—including chief operating officer and chief financial officer. When 7-Eleven was sold, Keyes took an 18-month sabbatical. During that time, he became more actively involved in philanthropy, serving on the national board of the American Red Cross.
Keyes became interested in Blockbuster more as an investor than as an employee, but, after talking to the board of directors, he accepted the role of chief executive officer and chairman. He says that he has found a strong opportunity with Blockbuster to use his innovative skills to drive the company to the next level.
"Blockbuster is a brand recognized worldwide," Keyes says, "with 8,000 locations, and a business model that has become less relevant to the consumer over the years. The challenge to me is to take this widely recognized brand and use available technology to make that brand more relevant—and make Blockbuster become, once again, part of the daily/weekly routine of the consumer for media entertainment."
One of Keyes' first steps was to acquire Movielink, a company formed by the five major movie studios as a vehicle for creating and distributing digital content. Top-run movies are put into digital format and made available for download to any PC or portable device.
"Our vision for Blockbuster is to provide total access to media entertainment by offering DVDs in store, by mail—or offering digital content via download to your computer or portable device," Keyes explains.
Kathleen S. Carr is a freelance writer based in Melrose, Mass. She can be reached at email@example.com.
Patricia Shea, SND, '86
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., '62
James Keyes '77


text: I upgraded to Quicken 2005 after it came out and all worked great for a while. Then all of a sudden, the Download Transactions window would no longer open. Any time I tried to import bank transactions, nothing would happen. So, I figured I had a corrupt data file and started a new file and downloaded all my 2004 transactions and setup all my accounts from scratch. All worked fine for almost a week and then one day I clicked on the Download Transactions button and nothing happened. I then tried to download my bank data and nothing happened again. If I try to disable webconnect, it tells me I have uncleared downloaded transactions to review. There is no way to get the window to open though. I chatted with Quicken support for hours and they were no help at all. I've had to resort to setting up Microsoft Money 2005 on my work PC and do all my personal finances at work. Anyone know of a fix for Quicken 2005 or are Mac users SOL if they want to track their finances?


text:
- 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 1/2 dozen cherrystone clams
- 1 1/2 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch-dice
- Kosher salt
- 8 thick slices of smoky bacon, cut into 1/4 inch-dice
- 1 large onion, minced (1 1/2 cups)
- 6 large celery ribs, minced
- 2 small bay leaves
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
- Tabasco sauce
In a large pot, bring the wine and water to a boil. Add the clams, cover and cook over moderately high heat, shaking the pot a few times, until the clams open, about 8 minutes. Transfer the clams to a bowl and let cool slightly; discard any clams that do not open. Remove the clams from their shells and coarsely chop them. Strain the cooking liquid and reserve. Rinse out the pot.
In a medium saucepan, cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Season generously with salt and simmer over moderate heat until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain.
Add the bacon to the large pot and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the fat has been rendered, about 7 minutes. Add the onion, celery and bay leaves and cook until the vegetables soften, about 8 minutes. Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly stir in the milk until smooth, then stir in the cream. Add the reserved cooking liquid, stopping before you reach the grit on the bottom. Bring the chowder to a simmer over moderate heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the potatoes to the chowder and cook until heated through. Add the chopped clams and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the dill and parsley and season with salt and Tabasco. Ladle into soup bowls and serve piping hot.


text:
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adjustable straps - Scoop back - Covered back closure - Cushioned hook & eye closure - Tag Free - C Logo at left chest. The fully constructed inner bra has molded cups that offer a more natural shape. The non slip straps are adjustable so that you can find your comfortable fit. The straps are wide so that they wont dig into your shoulders. Max MCR: Due to its ability to help control bounce and provide maximum support and comfort during intense activity, this bra is recommended for activities such as running, basketball, horseback riding & soccer. Wicks Moisture away from the body & helps control moisture buildup. Uses the elasticity of fabric for maximum support and comfort. Item #1691