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This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Despite progress in detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs), existing assays still have low sensitivity (1–10 CTC/mL) due to the small volume of blood samples (5–10 mL). Consequently, they can miss up to 103–104 CTCs, resulting in the development of barely treatable metastasis. Here we analyze a new concept of
Up to 90% of cancer deaths are related to metastasis in the distant organs due to the hematogenous and lymphatics dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) shed from the primary tumor [
Comprehensive clinical studies have demonstrated the tremendous potential of using CTCs as a marker of metastatic development (the lower the CTC count, the longer the survival time), cancer recurrence, and therapeutic efficacy (~50 reviews in 2012 alone) [
Typical blood composition and concentration levels of bulk and stem CTCs in blood cells.
Schematic of integrated
To date, a variety of assays have been developed to detect CTCs in a sample of peripheral blood, including reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), flow cytometry, optical sensors, negative selection, cell-size filtration, immune-magnetic techniques (e.g., CellSearch®), and microfluidic chips, among many others [
Other limitations of current CTC assays include: (1) labor-intensive and time-consuming procedures; (2) discontinuous CTC testing at limited, discrete time points, which does not allow real-time monitoring of CTCs in a manageable timeframe to improve patients' chances of survival; (3) limited access to clinically relevant anatomic sites, such as the primary tumor area or sentinel lymph nodes; and (3) high false-positive and false-negative rates. In particular, some difficulties in reproducing the results of the initially broadly used RT-PCR assay are associated with differences in sample processing and the generation of false-positive signals due to contamination events, amplification of pseudogenes, and illegitimate transcription [
Most assays have also limited capability for multiplex targeting of CTCs by simultaneously using several molecular markers. Cell Search® which is currently the only FDA-approved CTC assay, and several microfluidic chip-based assays (e.g., iChip) use immune-magnetic beads to isolate CTCs expressing epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) [
Conventional flow cytometry (FC)
In addition, invasive extraction of blood from a living organism may alter CTC parameters (e.g., signaling, epigenetic states, metabolic activities, or morphology) and prevent the long-term study of CTC properties (e.g., CTC-blood cell interactions, aggregation, rolling, or adhesion) in their natural biological environment. These problems can be solved by assessing a significantly larger volume of blood up to a patient's entire blood volume with
The individual cells in various types of bioflows (e.g., blood, lymph, or cerebrospinal fluid) are irradiated with one or several laser beams at different wavelengths (
Most studies
To produce metastatic disease, the mice were inoculated with various tumor cell lines through intravenous injection into either intracardiac or tail vessels. The mice were monitored by PAFC immediately after the injection to control the clearance rate (usually a few hours) to make sure that there was no metastatic disease. The appearance of "secondary" CTCs typically occurred 1–2 weeks after injection, depending on the metastatic potential of the injected tumor cells, and was a sign of metastatic disease. Development of overt metastases at an early, latent stage was controlled with an IVIS imaging system (Caliper Life Sciences, Inc., Hopkinton, MA, USA). The selected mice were monitored with
To create a primary tumor in different locations, mice were inoculated with tumor cells either in the ear, skin, or mammary pad. Then the mice were examined weekly by PAFC, FFC, or intravital fluorescence imaging with cells expressing green (or another color) fluorescent protein (GFP) to control primary tumor progression (e.g., size, vascularity) and whole-body IVIS imaging to define the appearance of overt metastases. At the end of the
PA methods are based on nonradiative conversion of absorbed light energy into heat (PT effect) accompanied by acoustic waves (PA effect) [
To generate PA signals in each moving CTC, a high-pulse-repletion-rate laser is used in PAFC. Each flowing CTC will be exposed at a laser pulse rate fr ≥ VF/d, where VF is blood flow velocity and d is the width of laser beam or acoustic resolution [
In conventional, positive-contrast
The PAFC setup was equipped with tunable optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) having a spectral range of 420–2,200 nm, a pulse width of 5–8 ns, pulse-repetition rates of 10 and 100 Hz, pulse energy of 2 mJ, and four high-pulse-repetition-rate lasers with following parameters: main wavelength: 532, 671, 820, and 1,064 nm; pulse width: 5–10 ns; pulse rate: 1–500 kHz; pulse energy: 50–100 µJ (see detailed parameters in refs. [
This setup has been integrated with PT, transmission digital microscopy (TDM), and fluorescence imaging modules using CCD (DP42, Olympus America Corporate, Center Valley, PA, USA) and a high-speed CMOS camera (model MV-D1024-160-CL8; up to 10,000 frames per second [fps]) [
With respect to PAFC's optical and acoustic schematics, PAFC can be defined as optical-resolution PAFC (OR-PAFC) and acoustic-resolution PAFC (AR-PAFC) [
PA signal traces from melanoma cells (B16F10) in mouse blood with focused spherical (left) and cylindrical (right) ultrasound transducers with focal lengths of 6 mm and lateral resolution of ~60 µm. These data were obtained by Y. Menyaev.
As mentioned above, PA detection of single CTCs
Another of our approach to provide nonlinear PA signal amplification from single targets against linear absorption background is based on differences in the dependence of the PA signal on the laser energy from targets and background. Among different nonlinear phenomena, we focused on laser generation of nanobubbles as more efficient (5–50-fold) PA signal amplifiers from strongly absorbing, highly localized targets in the presence of the spatially homogenous absorption background generating only linear signals with no nanobubble formation. This approach was first used to enhance the contrast of PT and PA imaging of melanoma cells, NPs, and NP clusters in histological, cancer-related samples, with simultaneous spectral burning of background absorption with the use of different laser wavelengths coinciding with the maximum absorption of the CTCs or the background [
Nonlinear PA signal amplification at 820 nm in melanoma cells (B16F10) with different pigmentation under static (
To make the setup more adaptable for studying CTCs and labels with different absorption spectra, we used a spectrally tunable OPO and high-pulse-repetition-rate lasers with different wavelengths [
Nevertheless, the spectral capability of PAFC can be limited to wide NIR spectral bands (50–200 nm in width) of chromophores and NPs, especially plasmonic NPs. Recently, we discovered that nanobubble-induced ultrasharp nonlinear PA resonances in various absorbing structures could be used to enhance the multicolor PAFC's capability through dramatic sharpening of the spectral bands to 1–5 nm wide [
To reduce the light scattering, optical tissue clearance has been used in optical imaging [
Optical imaging of the microanatomy of a fresh lymph node
Laser beam after passing through 0.9 mm-thick layer of fresh mouse skin (top) and PA signals from a 1 mm-diameter, 1.3 mm vein (bottom) before (left) and after (right) optical clearance [
Minimally invasive delivery of laser radiation (as proposed in [
Minimally invasive fiber delivery of laser radiation into blood vessels with detection of acoustic waves by an ultrasound transducer on the skin surface.
The great advantage of
The use of a single technique limits the range of detectable cells with different optical properties. To increase the number of detectable cells and probes, conventional FC integrates fluorescence and scattering detection methods. In 2005, we proposed the integration of PT, PA, fluorescence, and scattering detection methods for
Recently, we integrated PAFC and fluorescence FC (FFC), using both pulsed and CW lasers as traditional sources for the generation of PA and fluorescent signals, respectively [
We used dual PA-fluorescence detection to study the interaction between CTCs expressing GFP and absorbing NPs [
Photoswitchable fluorescent proteins (PFPs) that change their emission color in response to light have led to breakthroughs in studying static cells ([
Cutaneous melanoma is an almost ideal target for PAFC because this technology can provide routine, label-free,
PAFC's diagnostic value
Real-time PA counting of metastatic melanoma CTCs (B16F10) was performed in 50 μm-diameter mouse ear vessels, 200 μm-diameter abdominal vessels, and 0.9 mm-diameter aorta (with a focused ultrasound transducer) during tumor progression in the ear and skin of the nude mouse model. The CTC rates in the vessels examined were 0.05, 2.7, and 91 CTCs/min, respectively, underscoring the higher probability of detecting CTCs in larger vessels with higher flow rates, particularly the aorta, through which nearly the entire blood volume of a mouse (~2 mL) circulates within 0.5–1 min as compared to many hours (up to 2 days) in smaller ear vessels [
Scanning of a focused laser beam in the vicinity of the ear primary tumor (PA scanning cytometry mode) revealed localized PA signals from migrating individual or clustered melanoma cells in the first week (3–4 days) after tumor inoculation. Metastatic cells appeared in ear microvessels near the tumor in week 2, with no cells detected in the abdominal skin blood vessels. Three weeks later, CTCs appeared in the systemic circulation. This indicated a much greater likelihood of detecting the initial metastatic process in the vicinity of the primary tumor before CTCs disseminated into the larger blood pool. The skin tumor growth rate was faster than that of ear tumors, and CTCs also appeared more quickly in the circulation. In particular, by week 1, 1–4 CTCs/min were detected in the skin vasculature, and as the tumor size increased, the number of CTCs gradually increased (
Average melanoma CTC rate in 150 µm-diameter skin vessels as a function of time after B16F10 cell inoculation in the ear (
The mice were euthanized, and tissue sections from different organs (e.g., lung, liver, brain, lymph nodes) were examined by immunohistochemical staining (see details in [
By PA counting rare CTCs in the aorta, we estimated PAFC's sensitivity threshold at 0.5–1 CTC/mL. This was verified
This unprecedented threshold sensitivity (~1 CTC/mL) in an animal model established PAFC as a powerful research tool for studying behaviors and roles of CTCs in metastasis development at an early cancer stage. PAFC's sensitivity can be improved 100-fold (
PA signals from human blood samples with different numbers of melanoma cells in the detection volume (850 nm, 150 mJ/cm2).
Intravenous injection of RBCs and WBSs labeled with ICG (approved for human use) and melanoma cells in different functional states revealed their different clearance rates [
Acquisition of PA signals from individual melanoma cells
From the obtained data, the sensitivity compared with the time-of-observation thresholds can be roughly estimated as the following: in 50 μm-diameter vessels: 1 CTC/1 mL in ~14 h; in 100–300 μm-diameter vessels: 1 CTC/10 mL in ~1 h; and in 1–1.5 mm-diameter vessels: 1 CTC/100 mL in ~20–60 min. Thus, even in ~200 μm-diameter vessels, 1 h of blood monitoring allows us to improve the sensitivity 10-fold lower than the current ~1 CTC/mL seen with existing assays. As mentioned previously large distances between individual CTCs in blood flow, even at relatively high CTC concentrations, (e.g., ~1 cm in 1 mm-diameter blood vessels at 102 CTC/mL) provide less strict requirements for PAFC resolution.
We believe that the label-free PAFC technology may have tremendous clinical significance due to its high sensitivity and lack of a time-consuming labeling procedure. It can indicate the presence of CTCs in the blood at extremely low concentration, much below the sensitivity threshold of other methods. Intrinsic PA contrast of melanin can be used in melanoma-related research fields including (1) monitoring of melanoma CTC dissemination in blood and lymph flow; (2) study of cell pigmentation and melanin synthesis
We also identified ways for further improving PAFC: (1) decreasing background signals from blood through changes in its oxygenation, osmolarity, and hematocrit, within physiological norms [
For many years oncologists believed that some medical procedures may provoke metastasis; however, no convincing data were reported. Using label-free, real-time PAFC in a melanoma-bearing mouse model, we discovered that palpation, biopsy, and conventional and laser surgery (
Typical PA signal trace produced by melanoma CTCs (B16F10-GFP) in microvessels of the mouse ear before, during, and after application of 120 g pressure on an ~5 mm-diameter skin tumor [
Our data show that PAFC can be used both as a research tool in animal models to provide insights on the potential of various therapies to elicit CTCs and thus increase the risk of metastasis and as a clinical instrument for personalized cancer diagnosis and for guidance of appropriate therapy. In particular, when we exposed an mouse abdominal vessel to an 820 nm laser, increasing the energy fluence from 60 mJ/cm2 to 600 J/cm2 led to an ~6-fold increase in PA contrast of the CTCs above the RBC background [
Theranostic of melanoma CTCs integrating PA detection, PT killing, and PA assessment of therapeutic efficacy through a decrease in the CTC count [
The combination of conventional FC with separation, isolation and enrichment methods revolutionized the diagnosis and therapy of diseases. Various physical cell properties, including size, motility, and electrical dipole moments, as well as optical and magnetic qualities, have been exploited for this purpose. In particular, specific cells (e.g., CTCs, bacteria) or biomolecules (e.g., proteins, DNA) in biological fluids such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, were labeled with magnetic microbeads and MNPs. They were then separated and enriched from the sample flow by a magnetic field (see [
Specifically, as PAFC could miss weakly pigmented melanoma cells, we further evaluated its capability to detect melanoma CTCs targeted
The half-life of MNPs circulating in mouse blood after intravenous injection of a high concentration of MNPs (1011 NPs/mL) was found to be 20 ± 5 min. No PA signals were observed after intravenous injection of an optimized, relatively lower (100-fold) concentration of MNPs, suggesting that signals from unbound or non-specifically bound MNPs were weaker than background signals from blood. After injection of 105 unlabeled cancer cells followed by injection of MNPs, no PA signals were immediately observed. However, a gradual increase in the rate of high PA signals was observed within next 20–40 min after injection of the MNPs. These data suggest that targeting of CTCs by MNPs increased their localized concentration and provided PA contrast sufficient for detection of a single CTC. Gently attaching a 0.7-Tesla magnet to the mouse ear at a distance of 0.3 mm from the laser spot led to an immediate increase in both the amplitude and the rate of PA signals (
We integrated two-color PA detection and magnetic enrichment of breast CTCs in circulation, using advanced GNTs [
Attaching a magnet with a field strength of 0.39 Tesla to the testing tube with diameter of 0.12, 0.5 and 0.8 mm captured 10 nm MNP-labeled cells in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) (
In animal-model experiments, we demonstrated the potential to capture cells with MNPs in flow at velocities up to 5–10 cm in up to 1–2 mm vessels, using a magnet with field strength of 0.39 Tesla. We also discovered that a fiber-based PA-magnet probe provided the opportunity for PA- (or PT-) guided magnetic manipulation of MNPs in cells [
At weeks 2, 3, and 4 of tumor development in the mouse models (
The PT and PA contrast of MNPs in the NIR range is significantly (≥10-fold) lower than that of gold-based NPs, such as GNTs and GNRs. Nevertheless high senility PAFC provides detection with intrinsic absorption [
PA detection of bulk and stem-like breast CTCs in tumor-bearing mice. (
It is believed that a small population of cancer cells (3%–5%), called tumor-initiating or cancer stem cells, may be a cornerstone of metastatic initiation and progression due to their extensive self-renewal capacity, tumorigenicity, and multipotentiality associated with drug and radiation resistance [
In a preliminary study
In a preliminary study, we explored molecular targeting of melanoma-initiating stem-like cells using ABCB5 markers previously shown to be associated with metastatic disease progression in melanoma patients [
Lymph is the most common medium in the human body, but it is currently poorly understood. Numerous studies have demonstrated the high importance of cell trafficking by lymph flow for the functioning of the whole organism. In particular, cancer cells from the primary tumor in many cases can disseminate through lymphatics at least at the initial stage. However, compared with blood vessels, lymph vessels are tiny structures with colorless fluid moving at low pressure and containing a relatively low concentrations of cells. Therefore, finding lymph channels requires mapping with contrast agents (
The advantage of
Comparison of conventional flow cytometry
PAFC was first combined with PT flow cytometry (PTFC) [
(Top) Schematic for the natural focusing of cells in lymph flow. (Bottom) transmission digital microscopy (TDM) (
Label-free PTFC allowed us to obtain the images of cancer cells moving at velocities of 0.5–1.5 mm/s (
Fluorescence imaging speed is currently limited to <1,000 fps, which is less than optimal. Therefore, we have also made a concerted effort to develop PT imaging (pump beam, 532 nm, 10–30 kHz; and probe beam, 671 nm, 20–60 kHz) with an unprecedented high speed of up to 104 fps (102-fold greater than existing PT-PA techniques) for single cells of interest (e.g., RBCs) at a flow velocity of 2 m/s without notable motion distortion of the image during a 10-ns laser pulse. We believe that PT techniques will open new opportunities in lymphatic research including (1) quantitative monitoring of normal (e.g., WBCs, macrophages, dendritic cells) and abnormal (e.g., metastatic) cells in afferent lymph flow; (2) label-free estimation of a cell's functional state (e.g., apoptosis); and (3) the cellular response to different interventions, such as pharmaceuticals, nicotine, lasers, or γ-radiation. In addition, PT diagnostics can be integrated with PT killing of CTCs (theranostics).
It has been known for some time that lymph and blood vessels are common pathways for the dissemination of cancer cells from the primary tumor and that tumor cells may pass from one system to another through numerous anatomical interconnections between lymph vessels, SLNs, and the blood circulation (see [
Recently, we integrated
Correlation between primary tumor size, metastasis in SLN and number of tumor cells in lymph and blood flow [
|Time tumor growth
|Tumor size, mm2
|Rate of lymph CTCs, cell/min
|Rate of blood CTCs, cell/min
|Number of PA signals associated with metastasis in SLNs
|1 week
|1.0 ± 0.2
|0.26 ± 0.05
|0.85 ± 0.03
|2 weeks
|3.6 ± 0.5
|2.13 ± 0.30
|1.07 ± 0.05
In addition, we demonstrated PAFC-guided PT purging of melanoma and breast cancer micrometastases in SLNs, which were mimicked by direct injecting cancer cells into SLNs. Targeted detection of breast cancer metastases in SLNs in the necks of the mouse models was performed by injection of GNT-folate conjugates into the mouse ear. At 5 min after the injection, strong PA signals above the background with a contrast (as a ratio of PA signal amplitudes from cells/NPs and background) appeared in the SLN as the NPs were transported through lymph vessels to the SLN to target micrometastases. Subsequent application of therapeutic laser pulses with enhanced energy fluence led to a decrease of these initially PA strong signals to the background level, which indicated laser-induced destruction of the tumor cells. In contrast, when the experiment was repeated with unconjugated GNTs, low PA signals with a contrast of ~3 above the background were observed, suggesting random distribution of GNTs in the SLN volume. To verify these data,
The dissemination of cancer (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, and melanoma) into the central nervous system through hematogenous spread, direct release from the tumor itself, or migration along perineural or perivascular spaces is a serious medical problem leading to neurological symptoms (e.g., neoplastic meningitis) and rapid mortality. In particular, the presence of tumor cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may serve as a marker of disease progression and early-stage brain metastasis in breast cancer. However, in analogy to lymph, examination of CSF is extremely difficult by conventional techniques. CSF is a colorless body fluid with a total volume of 135–150 mL in adults and circulates through the ventricular system around and inside the brain and the spinal cord. CSF flow has pulsatile "forward-backward" characteristics that correlate with cardiac cycles. Forward velocity in the spinal canal ranges from 10 mm/s in the craniocervical junction to 1 mm/s in the lumbar part of the canal; the velocity of backward flow is approximately two times slower than that of forward flow. CSF function is to bathe the central nervous system and to bridge the vascular and lymphatic systems. The current tools available for detecting CTC spread into the CSF such as cytology,
Thus, CTCs may spread within the body by lymphatic and/or blood (as discussed above) and/or cerebrospinal pathways that closely interplay with each other. Thus, to understand disease progression, three pathways should be examined simultaneously. However, simultaneous detection of CTCs in these fluids is challenging, and overcoming this challenge could provide knowledge of the mechanisms of metastasis development. We hypothesize that some of these problems could be resolved by increasing the sensitivity and specificity of CSF examination through
Irradiation of CSF through a 300 µm-diameter fiber in the neck area of nude mice with nanosecond laser pulses at 671 nm revealed rare PA signals with a rate of a few signals per hour associated with targeted breast tumor cells flowing through the CSF (
Integrated technical platform for testing CSF
Bone is one of the most common sites of metastasis in breast cancer patients. Although bone marrow micrometastasis is associated with poor survival, early detection is not yet a part of routine medical practice due to the limitation of current diagnostic techniques.
We hypothesized that the PAFC platform can be used for non-invasive detection of early breast cancer metastasis in bones. The method is based on the administration of strongly absorbing NPs functionalized to specific breast cancer cell markers that are typically not expressed in normal blood and bone marrow, followed by an
To test this hypothesis, we demonstrated (1) PA detection of mimic metastatic cells labeled by bioconjugated NPs
We determined that even after significant attention of laser radiation in the bone tissue, the laser energy is still enough to generate readable PA signals from strongly absorbing objects inside bones using focused ultrasound transducers (
One of possible applications
Principle and animal model for
The verification of the unique data obtained with PAFC
PT imaging of mouse RBCs and WBCs and human cancer cells (leukemia, K562) (
Recently, we have developed a novel PAFC modules which were operated with relatively large customized flow tube (up to 0.8–2 mm) [
Middle, Tracings of the PT signals (time scale, 200 ms/div) from leukemia cells. Top and bottom, Corresponding PT images. OPO parameters: wavelength, 530 nm; pulse rate, 100 Hz; fluence, 100 mJ/cm2 [
In particular, with in vitro PAFC schematics shown in
For some the e
In this review, we have summarized recent advances in the development of a new concept of
Translation of
Despite missing some weakly pigmented cells, we expect that label-free PAFC technology may have high clinical significance for early melanoma diagnosis, and melanoma recurrence because in these cases, the fact that CTCs are present in blood flow may have higher importance than accurate CTCs count. In the future, the problem of false-negativity in label-free PAFC could be addressed via molecular CTCs targeting by conjugated low-toxicity NPs. If oncoming pilot clinical trials using the portable PAFC device are successful, this technology can provide breakthroughs for the early detection of CTCs when metastasis has not yet developed and, hence well timed therapy including PT therapy is more effective. Taking into account recently developed by us super-resolution PT and PA microscopy with resolution beyond the diffraction and spectral limits [
This work was supported by the NIH grants R01CA131164, and R01EB009230, and by NSF grants DBI-085237 and by the grants W88XWH-10-2-0130, W81XWH-10-BCRP-CA and W81XWH-11-1-0129. We thank D. Nedosekin, Y. Menyaev, M. Sarimollaoglu, M. Juratli, S. Ferguson, who made significant contributions in the obtaining of presented results. We thank Ivan Pelivanov (University of Washington) for developing of customized focused ultrasound transducer and Markus Frank (Harvard University) for providing genetically-modified melanoma cells and antibodies.
The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.


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Bukidnon Blogging 101 workshop a huge success!
BUKIDNON BLOGGERS | BUKIDNON NEWS | MALAYBALAY CITY | TECHNOLOGY – The much-anticipated Bukidnon Blogging 101 and How To Make Money Online Workshop was finally held last Saturday, November 6, 2010 in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Over 40 participants came not only from various parts of Bukidnon (Maramag, Malaybalay City, Damulog, Pangantucan, Valencia City, Talakag, Manolo Fortich and Impasugong) but from neighboring city Cagayan de Oro as well. The workshop was organized by BukidnonOnline.com in cooperation with the CDO Bloggers, Inc. and with generous help from ASTERISK Events and Communications.
More about the vision, mission and goals of the Bukidnon Blogging workshop here.
All the participants were taught what a blog is, how to set up your blog, how to customize it, how to promote it using social media and how to earn real, good money from a blog and other online means.
The historical Bukidnon Blogging 101 workshop also produced a 10-man core group that will help steer the direction the Bukidnon Bloggers group should take.
Check out the very special video message Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan gave for the Bukidnon Bloggers.
The Bukidnon Blogging 101 and How to Make Money Online workshop was made possible by:
– ASTERISK Events and Communications
– CDO Bloggers, Inc.
– Mindanaoan.com
– Senator Juan Miguel "Migs" Zubiri
– Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero
– MGM Mountain Resort, Maramag, Bukidnon
– DL8 Herbal Tea
– Core Solutions
– Google Philippines
– WomenTreats.com
– WeddingsInPhilippines.com
– AsiaTravelWonders.com
– Mariela's Bakeshop, Valencia City (please call (0908) 3052490

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Solander is back on the road! In a few days they are heading out on a Scandinavian tour supporting the amazing Jolie Holland. Don't miss out!
In mid October they are returning to the US for a set of festivals, including Culture Collide in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and CMJ in New York. Get your tickets to San Francisco and Los Angeles now already, more details on these shows when we're coming closer!
In between these tours Solander are doing a very special show in their hometown Malmö. The venue is a beautiful old theater and special guests are invited to make the evening something extra. Get your tickets here!
26 Sep 2014 DK Copenhagen @Vega /w Jolie Holland
27 Sep 2014 SE Lund @Mejeriet /w Jolie Holland
28 Sep 2014 SE Göteborg @ Pustervik /w Jolie Holland
29 Sep 2014 DK Århus @ Voxhall /w Jolie Holland
30 Sep 2014 NO Oslo @ John Dee /w Jolie Holland
4 Oct 2014 SE Malmö @ Victoriateatern (With special guests!)
14-15 Oct 2014 US San Francisco @ Culture Collide
16-18 Oct 2014 US Los Angeles @ Culture Collide
22-25 Oct 2014 US New York @ CMJ
Posted by Solander, Tour.
Leave a comment. Follow updates with the RSS feed.


text:
Sounds great .. I wonder how this would work however with the CDROM ISO
version of m0n0wall ?? .. We have allot of these types of installs out
there ..
On Wed, 2004-06-16 at 01:44, Peter Curran wrote:
> If you can hold your breath for another couple of weeks it will be available,
> probably as a module (using the new module support mechanism in 1.1).
> I have been working on this for a couple of weeks now. The code is at 'an
> advanced stage of pre-release testing'*
> The OpenVPN support will be based around the new OpenVPN 2.0 and will
> implement the new multi-client server functionality. Once this works I will
> incorporate client functionality (but I have no use for this at the moment,
> hence concentrating on the server side).
> Cheers
> Peter
> * This is a Micro$oft term meaning 'we got most of the code written, but can't
> figure out why nothin' works yet'.
> On Wednesday 16 June 2004 02:55, Brian Watters wrote:
> > Hello all,
> >
> > I know this was at one time on the list of things to do but I have really
> > not had any more news and I can not see in the list that there has been
> > anymore talk about it .. What are the chances of OpenVPN support coming to
> > m0n0wall??
> >
> >
> > Brian
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > To unsubscribe, e-mail: m0n0wall dash unsubscribe at lists dot m0n0 dot ch
> > For additional commands, e-mail: m0n0wall dash help at lists dot m0n0 dot ch


text:
I posted this on a whole new thread before I realized it'd be better to post it here. Can you guys help me out?
I'm 1/1 on Shiva, 1/1 on Titan, but 0/2 on Ifrit. The first time I fought him, he pulled off a Fire II on Carby at the most inopportune moment. By the time I resummoned him and readied Searing Light, my Astral Flow wore off right before Carby casted it. The second time I fought him, I again got two Searing Lights, but as I was about to cast the third his Inferno killed us both in one shot.
So I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong, and only two things come to mind.
1. I haven't been using any Boiled crab or Boiled Crayfish. I know that boosts my defense, but does it also boost Carby's defense? That leads me to my second problem...
2. It always seems like the Avatar is right on my **** the whole fight. I cast Searing Light, begin running away to the other side, and Carby is practically dead or is dead before I'm just half way there. I barely have enough time to recast him and then use an ether. But when I watch the videos, it seems like other people manage to not only make it completely on the other side, but they stand there for a good 5-10 seconds as Carby beats up the avatar. How do they do that? Am I just unlucky, or does the Boiled Crab/Crayfish make the difference? Shiva and the first fight against Ifrit were the only times I fought the avatars on their weak day, but it didn't seem any different than the other times when I fought Titan and Ifrit for the second time.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!


text: Career Center Employers? Post Jobs and More Job Seeker Sign In Home Jobs Your Profile Resources Your Account Job Seekers Sign In New Job Seeker? Sign Up Overview Your Saved Jobs Your Job Alerts Your Profile Your Documents Your Applications Help Welcome to NANN Career Central Search Browse Explore Your Job Alerts Your Saved Jobs 0 Return to Search Results Clinical Documentation Specialist - ( Per Diem - Variable ) Providence Health & Services savedJobs Apply Now Continue To Application The application opened in a new tab. By using this feature you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Details Posted: June 30, 2017 Location: Tarzana, California Salary: Open Type: Full Time - Experienced Discipline: General Nursing Description: Providence is calling a per diem, variable shift Clinical Documentation Specialist to Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, CA. In this position you will: Improve the overall quality and completeness of clinical documentation. Facilitate modifications to clinical documentation through extensive interaction with physicians, nursing staff, other patient caregivers, and medical records coding staff to ensure that appropriate reimbursement is received for the level of service rendered to all patients with a DRG based payor (Medicare, Medi-cal, Managed Care). Ensure the accuracy and completeness of clinical information used for measuring and reporting physician and medical center outcomes. Educate all members of the patient care team on an ongoing basis. Qualifications: Required qualifications for this position include: Current California Registered Nurse (RN) License, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant. Current Basic Life Support certification (BLS) for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association. 5 years recent experience in an acute care setting. A minimum of one year of experience in the role of Clinical Documentation Specialist or one or more years of clinical skills in conjunction with prior coding experience. Must possess a diverse set of concurrent medical record review skills, clinical knowledge and knowledge of coding and reimbursement regulations under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System. Excellent observation skills, analytical thinking, problem solving skills. Good verbal and written communication. Preferred qualifications for this position include: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN). About the department you will serve. Providence Tarzana Medical Center is a 245-bed not-for-profit medical center that serves the San Fernando Valley, offering high quality specialty services, including: heart and vascular care, orthopedics, oncology and senior services. Recognizing the special health care needs of women and children, our Women's Pavilion & Resource Center provides women's health and maternity care in once central location. The hospital specializes in pediatrics and has one of the largest neonatal intensive care units in the San Fernando Valley. Providence Tarzana has a reputation for clinical excellence and sophisticated technology with a personal touch. Providence Health & Services cares about the people and the lives that we touch each and every day. We are continually driven by the caring tradition of our heritage – the foundation of our Mission and core-values – to embrace respect, compassion, justice, excellence and stewardship. With a rich past reaching back more than 65 years in Southern California, and 150 years in total, Providence Health & Services today celebrates unprecedented growth, recognition for top quality health care, a vibrant employee culture where new ideas are encouraged and a drive to help the underprivileged - all with an eye toward the future. We offer a full comprehensive range of benefits - see our website for details http://www.providenceiscalling.jobs/rewards-benefits/ Our Mission As people of Providence, we reveal God's love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through our compassionate service. About Us Providence Health & Services is the third largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. Providence employs more than 82,000 caregivers (employees) across a five-state area; AK, WA, MT, OR, and CA. Our facilities include 34 hospitals, 600 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing and other health and educational services. Providence is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Providence does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, veteran, military status, religion, age, creed, national origin, sexual identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. Schedule: On Call Shift: Variable Job Category: Nursing - Other Location: California-Tarzana Req ID: 158388 Internal Number: 158388 Send Me Similar Jobs By Email View All Providence Health & Services Jobs More Jobs Like This Program Coordinator - Transplant Services University Medical Center Southern Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada 1 Week Ago Back to top Help is on the way! We're sorry you are having trouble applying for this job. Please try loading this job using the following link before submitting your help request: Name: Email: Please provide details: Submit Help Request Error Close Continue


text:
No on a serious note, the new marketplace is called xXxden and it's a shrine to Vin Diesel.
The other devs think I'm looking at p0rn. Thanks so much.
Well isn't that the whole point behind xxxden?
Oh sh-
You mean like this?
Google "mouth positions".
If you are going to say that you used masks I am going to laugh
There was a request from GR buyers for receipts. This is a receipt I guess.
No:"==== THIS IS NOT A TAX RECEIPT OR INVOICE ===="
There was a request from GR buyers for receipts. This is a receipt I guess.
We allow heavily edited image under the premise that they are so much manipulated that it's like using an asset picture. The pack you linked to was a borderline yes.
Your images appear to have modified contrast and colors. We need some real chopping in there.
Idiots who do buy a mac, just buy it because its "cool"!
Yeah stop looking at the hipster around the corner. Have a look at the computer sciences professors at MIT and Harvard. Those people do not buy macbook pro's because "they are cool".
I've already stated why I (personally) switched from win to mac and why I'm glad I did. If you feel more comfortable with windows, use that.
Yeah, and Al Gore invented the internetBecause Steve jobs himself is a swine flu virus and apple sucksOk now that was too much. He kinda changed the way graphic design is today.
Wait, wait, who worked on the actual windowing system for windows? That's right. Who made computer fonts what they are today? That's right. Which platform was Photoshop originally written for which basically CREATED Adobe? That's right.
OT: Answered a gazillion times already. OS X isn't popular enough for serious jacks. Kaspersky already indicated that they will provide mac protection when the time comes.
Oh and I've only seen idiots catch viruses.
Call this man.


text:
Our Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload) Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload)
Medical Definition of Iron overload
Iron overload: Iron overload can damage the heart, liver, gonads and other organs.
Iron overload is a particular risk for:
According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Recommended Dietary Allowances of iron are 15 milligrams per day for women and 10 milligrams per day for men.
Last Editorial Review: 1/24/2017
Back to MedTerms online medical dictionary A-Z List
Need help identifying pills and medications?


text:
EMU students win second place in Federal Reserve Competition
YPSILANTI — Monetary policy is hard to understand, but three students from Eastern Michigan University made it look easy by winning second place in the College Federal Challenge, a competition sponsored by the Chicago Federal Reserve, Oct. 31 in Chicago.
Economic majors Gary Campbell, of Toronto; Monica Long, of Marshall, and Patricia Cox, of Gibralter, went against 13 teams for the chance to compete at the National Inter-District College Federal Challenge in Washington, D.C.
"I was extremely pleased with the team's second place finish. This was our first year in competition and we had a late start in preparing," said David Crary, associate professor of economics, and the team coach. "We had our first team meeting just five weeks before the competition, but Gary, Monica and Patricia worked very hard to prepare and performed very well."
Teams researched existing financial, international and economic conditions
and made recommendations for the national monetary policy before a panel of judges. Students were judged on their understanding of monetary policy, responses to questions, research and presentations.
"With an earlier start next year, I hope to have EMU represented in the National competition in Washington," said Crary.
The Chicago Federal Reserve sponsors the annual competition as a way to educate students on how the government creates policies that make a strong and stable economy.
Competing against EMU were Northwestern University, which came in first; Ball State University, Central Michigan University, Indiana/Purdue University at Fort Wayne, Marquette University, Michigan State University, the University of Chicago, the University of Iowa, Notre Dame, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the University of Wisconsin- Parkside and Western Illinois University.
Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their career and lives, and to be better citizens.
Editor's Note: Looking for an expert source for a story? Check out EMU's Eastern Experts online at www.emich.edu/univcomm/easternexperts.
EMU Home | University Communications Home


text:
Banks Outdoors The Stump 3 NBS Tower-style Deer Stand
Item # WX2-292585
Mfg. Number: ST3AG
Banks Outdoors The Stump 3 NBS Tower-style Deer Stand
Item # WX2-292585
Mfg. Number: ST3AG
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- Details & Specs
Banks Outdoors® The Stump 3 NBS Tower-style Deer Stand. Stay in the field longer with your hunting companions.
Take hunting with your gun or bow to an entirely new level of comfort with a covert yet spacious Deer Stand with room for 3. Designed with high-density, UV-stabilized polyethylene material with a paintable, bark-like texture that resists sun and cold weather damage and totally conceals you from your prey's senses.
There's a dead-silent wood floor, plus 360° viewing, with sealed windows on every side that silently swing open on cabinet-style hinges. Each Stand includes a heavy-duty steel base plate that holds 4" x 4" green-treated posts (not included) for tower-style elevation.
- No bench, holds 3 men and 3 chairs
- Eight 24" x 20"h. double-hung, swing-out windows
- 24" x 35"h. swing-in door
- Includes window roof cap, gun saddle, vent kit and wood floor
- Assembly required. 5' x 6 1/2 'h., 250 lbs.
Please Note: No bench seating in The Stump 3 NBS. Order Now!
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text:
Kohleria 'Strawberry Fields'
K. 'Strawberry Fields' is a relatively recent hybrid superior in many respects to older, taller-growing, cultivars. Its low height allows it to be grown effectively under artificial lights, and its floriferous nature, with the flowers held well above the foliage, provides an excellent display. Other examples of the cultivar can be seen here and here.


text:
Evolution and Intelligent Design in Hong Kong
Hui, Jerome H.L.
Bibliographic Citation
Nature 2009 April 2; 458(7238): 571
MetadataShow full item record
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
Debating Darwin: The 'Intelligent Design' Movement Review of DARWIN'S BLACK BOX: THE BIOCHEMICAL CHALLENGE to EVOLUTION, by Michael J. Behe; DEFEATING DARWINISM by OPENING MINDS, by Phillip E. Johnson; the CREATION HYPOTHESIS: SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE for an INTELLIGENT DESIGNER, Edited by J.P. Moreland Davis, Edward B. (1998-07-15)
Evolution Lawsuit Opens With Broadside Against Intelligent Design; One Side Talks of Free Inquiry; the Other of False Premises Goodstein, Laurie (2005-09-27)


text:
by Bill
(Lakeland, Fl.)
Lord I pray in the name of Jesus for the abilty to do good in a new job. I know you answered my prayer when I was called for an interview after being laid off.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Prayers for Employment.
Click for Inspiration
50 Inspirational Bible Verse Pictures
See What Happens After A Single Act Of Kindness
By The End of This Video, Your Faith Will Be Stronger Than Ever
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text:
Haha! Beyoncé Almost Got Kidnapped
I may have made fun of America's natural penchant for fearing and loathing foreigners earlier, but on a serious note, when they're not infiltrating the highest levels of our most sacred beauty pageants, they're trying to kidnap our musical superstars and drag them to a Brazilian grotto to harvest their hair. It's the world we live in now. Which is about the best explanation I can come up with for this video of Beyoncé getting straight yanked offstage in Sao Paulo last night which doesn't hold a candle to the GIF below where you get a clear look at her face. It's like something out of a cartoon if cartoons end with pieces of Beyoncé getting mailed back to Jay-Z and/or turned into necklaces.


text: Frontier Techni-Kote takes pride in being an integrated partner in your manufacturing process. As a NADCAP approved supplier, Frontier Techni-Kote shows diversity by providing special processing with an emphasis on the Aerospace, Defense, and Medical industries. From an aggressive production schedule to part number unique requirements we welcome the challenge of specialty processing and new projects. At Frontier we believe that building partnerships with our customer is the foundation for our stability. With a high level of commitment to meeting customer expectations and quality, we have confidence that our commitment to our customer's success is the key to our success.


text:
MicroPlace was founded when Turner realized that the microfinance industry needs $250 billion to get capital to all the world's working poor who need it. However, only $25B of capital has been raised in the international markets to date. While American people give about $300B in charity every year, this goes to all charities and not just microfinance. Turner felt that there were not enough charitable dollars to address the global poverty issue and so founded MicroPlace to direct socially responsible investment capital to microfinance investments. Americans invested about $2.4B in socially responsible investments in 2006.
MicroPlace provides everyday investors with the ability to make investments in the microfinance industry. Until MicroPlace was founded, ordinary investors could not really invest in microfinance unless they had significant capital and could work with a microfinance security issuer directly or were willing to invest for no financial return.
Microfinance has proven to be a highly effective poverty reduction tool in developing countries and in more industrialized countries. Microfinance can be more effective than charity as it provides a "hand-up" instead of a "hand-out" and lets people work their way out of poverty with dignity. Although repayment rates average higher than 97%, fewer than 10 million of the 100M people receiving microfinance are able to obtain loans from traditional banks. Microfinance is targeting these unbanked people and wants to bring them mainstream financial services.


text:
Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan is 48 years old but the last 14 years have been the best of his life.
Shahrukh Khan's little daughter Suhana has turned 14 today and SRK claims these 14 years to be the best of his life.
SRK has always been most attached to his daughter Suhana whom he considers to be his lucky charm as Shahrukh is hardly seen at the IPL matches without his beti sitting beside him.
Now, on the 14th birthday of Suhana, Shahrukh took to Twitter on midnight to express his love and affection for his little angel. "So special this midnight. 14 best years of my life got completed. Thank you Allah for giving me, the gentlest, most beautiful reason to smile (sic)," tweeted SRK.
Also Read: See Pics: SRK Finds His Most Beautiful Girl!
Shahrukh further added some praising words for Suhana on his post saying, "She has a gentleness about her which ppl only have when their reserves of goodness are deep (sic)."
Also Read: What Does Shahrukh Khan Want On His Birthday?
Well, we also wish Suhana a very happy birthday and congratulate Shahrukh for being such an affectionate daddy. King Khan has been busy these days for his upcoming movie Happy New Year but the superstar always tries to spend some quality time with his family and kids.


text:
June 1998
I'd like to extend my deep thanks to the many people in NCAR and UCAR who worked on the review and proposal process and on preparation of the proposal. But more fundamentally the NSB's action is a credit to everyone in this institution who contributes to the high quality of our science and service activities.
In another action, the NSB appointed CGD senior scientist Warren Washington to be on the NSB executive committee. This is an honor for Warren and increases his responsibilites as an NSB member. Congratulations to Warren.
Rick Anthes
UCAR president


text:
1507 Savanna Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
About the Listing
Super Clean 2 story detached townhouse. Close to 169, shopping, Dean Lake running trails, fresh paint, vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, new flooring, granite, maple cabinets, sunny, breezy, with lots of storage. Cozy lower level, rough in bathroom/sauna ready for you to design. Enjoy a main floor laundry, patio & private rose garden. Association lifestyle, low HOA fees include mowing, garbage, snow removal, pool, park & gazebo. Welcome Home!
Share Listing
Property Details for 1507 Savanna Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2 Full | 1 Half
Lot Size: 0.09 Acres
Lot Dimensions: 36x115
Year Built: 2009
Garage Dimensions: 2 car
Garage: Attached Garage, Driveway - Asphalt, Garage Door Opener
Style: (TH) Detached
Neighborhood: Dean Lakes 1st Addition
Water: City Water/Connected
Sewer: City Sewer/Connected
Square Feet: 2233
Above Ground Sq Ft: 1683
Below Ground Sq Ft: 550 (approx)
Room Information for 1507 Savanna Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
Main Floor
Living Room: 19 x 15
Dining Room: 10 x 9
Kitchen: 13 x 9
Laundry: 9 x 6
Lower Floor
Family Room: 20 x 14
Bedroom 4: 13 x 10
Storage Room: 10 x 9
Upper Floor
Bedroom 1: 14 x 14
Bedroom 2: 11 x 10
Bedroom 3: 10 x 10
Dining Room Description: Separate/Formal Dining Room, Informal Dining Room
Family Room Characteristics: Lower Level
School Information for 1507 Savanna Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
School District: Shakopee
School District Phone: 952-496-5006
Interior Features for 1507 Savanna Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
Appliances: Range, Microwave, Exhaust Fan/Hood, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Water Softener - Owned, Disposal, Air-To-Air Exchanger
Air Cond: Central
Heating: Forced Air
Fireplaces: Yes
Basement: (550 sq Finished) Full, Drain Tiled, Sump Pump, Egress Windows
Exterior Features for 1507 Savanna Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
Lot Description: Tree Coverage - Light
Lot Dimensions: 36x115
Roof: Asphalt Shingles, Age Over 8 Years
Zoning: Residential-Single
Financial Considerations for 1507 Savanna Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
Tax Amount: $2,643
Taxes w/Assessments: $2,654
Tax/Property ID: 273711090
Tax Year: 2017
Monthly Payment = $0
INRIX Drive Time
Calculate Your Drive Time From This Property
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text:
SirPHresh Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Born and raised in west Philadelphia, lyricist SirPHresh (fka Yung PHresh) started typing rhymes on his home PC at age 11.
With a myriad of influences, his innovative style is soon to take the music industry by storm. The second-most recent addition to purpVarsity, he's more than ready to show what he's capable of.
Stay tuned for more SirPHresh music! ... more
Streaming and Download help


text:
links to this page:
Ralph Johnsons Exercises
Swiki Page List
Peano Numbers
Last updated at 11:39 pm UTC on 10 August 1998
What would happen if you had a computer that did not implement arithmetic on integers, i.e., if integers were not primitive? Mathematicians face similar problems when they try to define arithmetic operations on integers without using any underlying number system. One such definition is the Peano Axioms, which define integers in terms of increment. These axioms are roughly (I didn't look them up):
x + 0 = x
x + y = y + x
x + inc(y) = inc(x) + y
We are going to implement integers the same way. This implementation is not only good when your machine does not implement integer arithmetic, but also when you want programs that take a long time.
Define three subclasses of Integer, Zero, PositiveInteger, and NegativeInteger. Zero has no instance variables, but a PositiveInteger has an instance variable decr that is a number one smaller than itself, and NegativeInteger has an instance variable incr that is a number one larger than itself. Each class must define incr and decr, which return a number one greater or less than the reciever. This is done either by returning an instance variable or by creating a new PostiveInteger or NegativeInteger and making the receiver be its decr or incr.
For instances of Zero:
^NegativeInteger oneLessThan: self
^PositiveInteger oneMoreThan: self
NegativeInteger and PositiveInteger need class method and instance methods to implement oneLessThan: and oneMoreThan: Try writing them.
It is easy to define + for Zero, since + returns its argument. + on the other two classes is implemented by
For instances of PositiveInteger:
+ aNumber
^decr + aNumber incr
For instances of NegativeInteger:
+ aNumber
^incr + aNumber decr
It is easy to implement, for Zero, since - returns the negation of its argument. Negative is easy to define for all three classes, since 0 negative is 0 and the negative of the other two classes is one less (or greater) than the negatives of their incr's or decr's. - can be implemented the same for both classes using + and negative.
For instances of PositiveInteger:
- aNumber
^self + aNumber negative
Implement + and - on these three classes. It aids debugging if each number will print out its value. Thus, try
For instances of All three classes:
printOn: aStream
self value printOn: aStream!
For instances of Zero:
For instances of PositiveInteger:
^decr value + 1
For instances of NegativeInteger:
^incr value - 1
It is easy to get in trouble when you try to define new subclasses of Integer, because so much code is implemented by Integer, much of it inappropriate for subclasses. I found that I got several infinite loops. If an operation doesn't return after a second or two, press ^C. Don't wait a half minute to do it, because then the system makes far more garbage to clean up.
I did not tell you what the class hierarchy is like. All three classes could be subclasses of Integer. I made Zero a subclass of Integer and the other two subclasses of Zero. This seems a little funny. What are other alternatives, and which is best?


text:
Britney Spears shows off her new svelte figure on the June 2013 cover of Shape magazine.
Posts Tagged: Britney Spears
Will.i.am Producing Britney Spears' New Album
Britney Spears is getting help from her most recent collaborator on her new album. Will.i.am is executive producing the still untitled project.
Britney Spears to Release New Music for 'Smurfs 2′ Soundtrack
Britney Spears will be releasing new music this summer for the "Smurfs 2″ soundtrack. The singer confirmed the news on her social media pages.
Adele is Elle's May 2013 Cover girl (Photo Gallery)
Even though she has taken some time off this past year to focus on being a first-time mum, Adele continues to dominate the music industry. This time, she is featured on the May 2013 cover of Elle magazine.
Celebs.com Junk Drawer: Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Rebel Wilson
This edition of the Celebs.com Junk Drawer roundup features stories about Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Rebel Wilson.
Celebs.com Junk Drawer: Selena Gomez, Britney Spears and Beyonce
This edition of the Celebs.com Junk Drawer roundup features stories about Selena Gomez, Britney Spears and Beyonce.


text:
Think you got a holiday bargain on that tablet you bought? Think again. The cheapest tablet to debut will be a jaw-dropping $38.
The Datawind Ubislate tablet will be available early next year — likely sometime in January. When it debuts, it will be the cheapest tablet on the market.
It's a bit too late for holiday shoppers but it would be literally the deal of the year before the year is even getting started.
Of course, the tablet will not win any awards for innovation — it is simply not designed for high-tech game use or HD movie watching. It's simple: a 1 GHz Cortex A8 processor, 512 MB of RAM, a 7-inch 800 x 480 pixel display, 4 GB of storage, and WiF.
And let's be clear: it cannot compete with other tablets in its technology offerings.
But consider its price compared to others: Apple (AAPL) iPad Mini just starts at $399, Google (GOOG) Nexus 7 begins at $229, and even the so-far cheapest price is for the kid's version of the Samsung (SSNLF) Galaxy Tab for $199.
Others — such as the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle Fire (upwards of $169) and Microsoft Surface (MSFT) (upwards of $300) are also still expensive compared to the $38 bargain of the new cheapest tablet on the market (via Minyanville).
The UbiSlate, a fully functioning tablet that uses Google's Android operating system, was designed to bring Internet affordability to the masses in India, and now it's about to launch in the US and the UK. Datawind sees a market for an affordable computing device among lower-income consumers and cash-strapped students, here and in Great Britain. The $38 model is at the low-end of the brand's line. Other models are available, all the way up to a souped-up version for $149.
….in India, about 87% lack Internet access. Datawind was created to meet a challenge from the Indian government to change that, and the company's greatest growth is likely to be there and in other emerging nations.
Will the cheapest tablet work in the US?
There is certainly a market in the US as well for this cheapest tablet – for parents who want a tablet for kids but are worried about it breaking or being ruined. At $38, a dropped and waterlogged tablet would not be a financial crush.
If you look at the cheap tablets out on the market today, the UbiSlate seems to still be a deal.
Walmart (WMT) sells cheap tablets — many discounted during the holidays to less than $100 (most running Android Jelly Bean).
But UbiSlate still beats them as the cheapest tablet.
The closets in price for cheap tablets is a $59 model from budget brand Nextbook, regularly priced at $79.
Consider it a holiday bargain — after the holidays.


text:
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text:
Rent Athletic and Orthopedic Injury Assessment: 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by David Berry. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Holcomb Hathaway, Publishers.
Need help ASAP? We have you covered with 24/7 instant online tutoring. Connect with one of our tutors now.


text:
The history of New York City: Ric Burns
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. ET
The emotional and physical devastation of Manhattan on September 11 has wounded the entire country to the core. What does the city's past reveal about its ability to withstand such adversity? Talk to documentary filmmaker Ric Burns, producer of the public television series New York (now available from Warner Home Video), about the city's past and future.
Ric Burns has also produced The American Experience: The Way West; The Donner Party; Coney Island; and Ansel Adams, which will debut in the spring of 2002.


text:
Citizen pulls gun on gas station robbers
One man is behind bars, and another is on the run after an armed robbery at a Kangaroo Gas Station in Mount Pleasant.
Police responded to the store at 2846 Highway 17 about 7:20 Wednesday night as two masked men attempted an armed robbery.
As the armed robbers were leaving, a passerby saw what was happening and pulled his own gun, challenging the suspects at gunpoint.
One of the suspects escaped, but the other was taken into custody.
If you have any information about this crime, you are asked to call the Mount Pleasant Police Department at 884-4176, or CrimeStoppers at 554-1111.


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A class-D puts out a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal instead of the linear signal that is typical in class-AB amplifiers. The PWM signal contains the audio signal and the PWM switching frequency plus harmonics. The class-D audio amplifier is much more efficient than a class-AB amplifier because the output MOSFETs switch from very high impedance to very low impedance, operating nanoseconds in the active region. With this technique very little power is lost in the output stage. Furthermore, the inductive element of the LC filter or speaker stores energy from cycle to cycle and ensures that switching power is not lost in the speaker.Introduction
Although class-D amplifiers have been around for a while, many people still do not understand the basics of how a class-D amplifier works and what makes it very efficient. This article explains how the pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal is created and how you hear the audio frequencies and not the switching frequencies of the PWM waveform. This article goes into detail on how outputting a PWM waveform is much more efficient than outputting a linear waveform, and why some class-D amplifiers require LC filters while others do not.
B>How does a class-D output signal (PWM) contain an audio signal?
The TPA3001D1 block diagram (shown in Figure 1) helps explain how the PWM signal is formed. First, the analog input class-D uses a pre-amplifier to gain the input audio signal and ensure a differential signal. Next, the integrator stage low-pass filters the audio signal for anti-aliasing and stability. The audio signal is then compared to a triangle wave to create a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal. The gate-drive circuitry uses the PWM to drive the output FETs, which creates a high current PWM signal on the output.
Figure 2 shows how a typical PWM signal is formed from the comparator block in Figure 1. The audio input is compared to the 250-kHz triangle wave. When the audio input voltage is greater than the 250-kHz triangle wave voltage, the non-inverting comparator output is high, and when the 250-kHz triangle wave is greater than the audio signal, the non-inverting comparator output is low. The inverting comparator output is low when the non-inverting comparator output is high and high when the non-inverting comparator output is low. The average PWM non-inverting output voltage, VOUT+(avg) is the duty cycle times the supply voltage, where D is the duty cycle, or "on" time, t(on) / total period, T.
VOUT+(avg) = D * Vcc (1)
D = t(on) / T (2)
The duty cycle of the inverting output, VOUT-, is the 1 -- the duty cycle of VOUT+. If the input is at mid-supply, the duty cycle of VOUT- and VOUT+ is 0.5.
VOUT-(avg) = (1-D) * Vcc (3)
The TPA3001D1 and TPA3002D2 use the filter-free modulation scheme that is used in the TPA2005D1. With this modulation scheme, the positive output, VOUT+, is the same as the typical class-D PWM, but the negative output, VOUT-, is not just the inverse of VOUT+. In this case there are two comparators and the positive integrator output is compared to the triangle wave to create VOUT+'s PWM, and the negative output of the integrator is compared with the triangle wave to create VOUT-'s PWM. Figure 3 shows the Comparator inputs and PWM outputs for the filter-free modulation scheme, where the audio signal is assumed to be a dc voltage since the audio signal contains much lower frequencies than the 250 kHz triangle wave. Figure 3 also shows the differential output voltage.
Figure 4 shows the TPA3001D1 PWM outputs with a 20 kHz audio input signal. Notice how the duty cycle increases as input voltage increases.
An audio signal in the PWM waveform is much easier to see in the frequency domain. The PWM signal is made up of the input frequency, the switching frequency and the harmonics of the switching frequency plus side bands. Figure 5 shows amplitude versus frequency of the input, PWM output and filtered output. Figure 5 shows how the audio signal is extracted from the PWM by low pass filtering. The filtered output has the 1 kHz sine wave frequency component plus any of the 1 kHz harmonics that show up in the audio band as distortion plus any remaining ripple voltage from the switching frequency. The speaker cannot reproduce the switching frequency and its harmonics, and even if it could, the ear could not hear it. A listener would not be able to tell the difference between the filtered and unfiltered PWM signals shown in Figure 5 if they were both sent directly to the speaker.
*This is article is in two parts. Look for part 2, which examines efficiency and filtering in detail, next week.


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Quantitative Easing (QE) is no longer a surprise, but the fact that it's continued for so long is. Like many Miller's Money readers, I believe the government cannot continue to pay its bills by having the Federal Reserve buy debt with newly created money forever. This has gone on much longer than I'd have ever dreamed possible.
Unemployment numbers dropped in December and the Federal Reserve tapered their money creation from $85 billion to $75 billion per month. Why did the unemployment rate drop? Primarily because people whose benefits have expired are no longer considered unemployed. The government classifies them as merely discouraged, but the fact remains that they don't have jobs.
So, what is the problem? Let's start with the magnitude of money creation. Tim Price sums it up well in an article on Sovereign Man:
"Last year, the US Federal Reserve enjoyed its 100th anniversary, having been founded in a blaze of secrecy in 1913. By 2007, the Fed's balance sheet had grown to $800 billion. Under its current QE program (which may or may not get tapered according to the Fed's current intentions), the Fed is printing $1 trillion a year.
To put it another way, the Fed is printing roughly 100 years' worth of money every 12 months. (Now that's inflation.)"
As Doug Casey likes to remind us: Just because something is inevitable, does not mean it is imminent. Well, sooner or later imminent and inevitable are going to meet. Interest rates are depressed because the Federal Reserve is holding our debt. Eventually those creditors outside the Federal Reserve will demand much higher interest rates.
Currently, 30-year Treasuries are paying 3.59%. If interest rates rose by 2%—still below what was considered "normal" a decade ago—the interest cost to our government would jump by 30% or more. It's hard to imagine the huge budget cuts or tax increases it would take to pay for that.
In the meantime, investors are caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. We cannot invest in long- or medium-term, "safe," fixed-income investments because they are no longer safe. They could easily destroy your buying power through inflation.
At the same time, the stock market is not trading on fundamentals. It is on thin ice. Just how thin is that ice? Take a look at what happened when the Federal Reserve stopped propping up the economy with money printing.
Each time they stopped with their stimulus the market dropped. In the summer of 2013, Bernanke made his famous "taper" remark and the market reacted negatively, immediately. The Fed has had to introduce more money into the system to stop the slide.
Investors who need yield know they have virtually no place else to go but the stock market. Most realize it is a huge bubble; they only hope to get out ahead of everyone else when the time comes. And we can't hold cash; inflation would clobber us. So, we've been forced into the market to protect and grow our nest eggs.
It reminds me of playing musical chairs as a kid. The piano player would slow down the tempo. We would all grab the back of a chair and get ready to sit. No one wanted to be the one left standing.
Today the band is playing the "Limbo Rock." Investors are in limbo, knowing the music will stop eventually. We're all going to have to grab a chair quickly—and the stakes are much higher now.
The chart below on margin debt comes courtesy of my friend and colleague at Casey Research, Bud Conrad.
Investors now have a dangerous amount of money invested on margin—meaning they borrowed money from their brokers to buy even more stock. There are strict margin requirements on how much one can borrow as a percentage of their holdings. If the stock price drops, the investor receives a margin call from his broker. That has to take place quickly under SEC requirements. The broker can also sell the holding at market to bring the client's account back into compliance.
Record margin debt, coupled with the thought of traders using computers to read the trend and automatically place orders in fractions of a second, paints an uneasy picture. The unemotional computers will not only sell their holdings, they may well initiate short sales to drive the market down even further.
As the lyrics from the "Limbo Rock" ask, "How low can you go?" When the market limbos down, it will likely be faster and further than we've imagined.
Why is 2014 different? I've been taking stock of 2013 as I prepare our tax filings. Our portfolio did very well last year, thanks in great measure to the analysts at Casey Research. With our Bulletproof Income strategy in place, I am very comfortable with our plans going forward.
At the same time, I am as jittery as a 9-year-old walking slowly around a circle of chairs, knowing that sooner or later the music will stop. The music has played for years now and we are in the game, whether we like it or not. Pundits have gone from saying "this is the year" to more tempered remarks like "this can't go on forever." They place their bets on inevitable, but hedge them on imminent.


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Lady of Song Hat
Feisty, frisky and completely rad!
100% love love LOVE these shoes. Paired with a dress or jeans, they are sure to leave you warm and fuzzy this winter!
Anyone who knows me, or has perused my recommendations on ThisNext, would take one look at this dress and know instantly it was made for me. I'm in love... again.
It's almost like this sparkly skirt, with its shimmering interstellar sea of black sequins interspersed with the occasional burst of silver, and I were meant to be together.
Worn over a shimmering party frock, velvet heels, and dainty white gloves, this bolero makes you look like the million (or so) bucks.


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President's Message
By Timothy J. O'Leary, MD, PhD
e-mail: email@example.com
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) begins 2011 stronger than ever as a result of a diverse, committed and hard-working membership comprised of physicians, other doctoral laboratory scientists, and technologists all committed to improving public health by improving the practice of molecular diagnosis. Our members include those from the diagnostic products industry, commercial laboratories, community hospitals, academic institutions, the nonprofit sector, and government, all of whom seek a reimbursement framework that facilitates best clinical practice, a regulatory framework that promotes innovative and effective use of increasingly complex diagnostic strategies, and an educational experience that facilitates optimal use of molecular diagnostic methods to help our patients. The breadth and commitment of this membership has given the Association a disproportionate influence advancing our field, because they have given rise to effective annual meetings, effective advocacy, and a willingness to tackle important but controversial issues, such as gene patenting.
The growth in both AMP membership and in meeting attendance shows that AMP is doing something right. Nevertheless, our membership faces substantial challenges that arise, in part, from our very success. Those who pay for health care expenses challenge us to show that patient outcomes justify the cost of molecular testing, and regulators are placing the practice of molecular diagnostic medicine under increased scrutiny as its public health impact grows. Reimbursement is not always obviously linked to either patient outcomes or to the cost of performing molecular diagnosis. Legislators hear from their constituents that "something must be done," but are not hearing a common voice on what that "something" should be. The demand for AMP to play a leadership role not only in educating the practitioner, but also in shaping the reimbursement and regulatory framework, has led AMP in directions that were truly unanticipated when its governance and operating structure were developed nearly twenty years ago. Additional challenges are posed by membership growth; AMP has had a membership doubling time of approximately six years. As a result, the AMP Council has directed a strategic planning process that has been ongoing for the last four months under the able direction of Past-President Karen Mann. This process, which has included input from the membership in the form of both surveys and interviews, will result in a plan that addresses not only strategic objectives for AMP, but also defines resource requirements, governance, and management necessary to achieve of those goals. The active participation of Mark Sobel, Mary Williams and President-elect Iris Schrijver will assure commitment to these goals continues after my presidency ends.
Although this strategic plan is not yet complete, it is clear that the ambitious goals which the membership is setting for AMP will require a membership that is, if anything, even more active than it is now. Someone once said that "the best way to predict the future is to invent it." I urge each member to work with your elected representatives to create the future for AMP, and for molecular pathology, which the public expects to help transform the way medicine is practiced. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes our entire community to develop AMP into a mature and effective advocate for our profession and for our patients.
Finally, I challenge you to let us know how we, the elected leadership, are doing. I am looking forward to being an effective President of AMP. I have some rather large shoes to fill. The year 2011 brings with it numerous challenges for molecular pathology and the membership of AMP. While the increased use of molecular testing to guide treatment decisions has brought about additional scrutiny from payors and government regulators, it has not been accompanied by reimbursement systems that recognize costs associated with compliance.


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Rylands 2 Crewe 3
RYLANDS suffered a second consecutive league defeat after a last minute deflected goal from Stephen McNicholl gave visitors Crewe FC all three points in an entertaining five-goal encounter at Gorsey Lane on Saturday.
After taking a first half lead through Lee Dermody, Rylands were pegged back by Nath Southern's leveller before the break.
Carl Everall gave the visitors a somewhat fortunate lead in the second half as his shot was deflected several times along the way into the net, before substitute Kris Bell seemed to have rescued a point for Rylands with an 84th minute equaliser.
However, to their credit the visitors scored the decisive strike a minute before the end.
The home side started well and seemed determined to erase the woeful performance at Middlewich the week before, as Dermody and Jonathan Priest fired early strikes to test the Crewe keeper.
Gradually the visitors came into the game and Southern forced Andy Moor into a good save to prevent the opening goal after some neat approach play had presented the chance from inside the penalty area.
The opening goal came after twenty-two minutes when Lee Deakin, on his return from a three-game ban, chased a long clearance and forced the advancing keeper to clear against him.
The ball fell perfectly for Dermody to roll into the empty net to give the home side the advantage.
The setback fired Crewe into life and they dominated possession for long periods of the half without really troubling the home defence until the visitors' player-manager Everall headed strongly but Moor was again the equal and tipped the ball against the crossbar.
It was no more than the visitors deserved when Southern finished well to level the scores after 38 minutes after some good approach play once again from Crewe.
The second period saw a more disciplined performance from Rylands, with the returning Lee Deakin a constant threat with his tricky running at the visitors' back line.
At the other end the visitors always looked threatening too and it was a very even game.
The away side regained the lead in somewhat fortunate fashion after Everall's strike from a corner deflected off two defenders and a post before rolling almost apologetically over the line.
Rylands responded well and Ben Slater almost equalised immediately with an angled drive which hit the outside of the post.
As time was running out Rylands were desperately unlucky when first James Daniels and then Ryan Duffy saw efforts strike the post and cleared off the line respectively.
It was no more than the home side deserved when substitute Kris Bell struck a superb equaliser with five minutes remaining after turning sharply and firing past the keeper.
Incredibly the visitors came back to take all three points when their skipper McNicholl struck from close range after Johnson's effort had been deflected into his path.
It was cruel fortune on Rylands who suffered a last minute defeat to Crewe for the second time this season after a similar outcome on the opening day.
Rylands: Moor, J Sinker, Duffy, Prescott, Brown, Lowe, Priest, Slater (Rodger), Demody (Bell), Daniels, Deakin.
Dave Parr's view: "I thought we played very well in the second half today after a frustrating first half when I was very disappointed that we lost our shape and discipline after starting well.
"Crewe are a good footballing side but that should have suited us as we like to get the ball down and play too, which we did in the second period.
"You don't always get what you deserve in football and I thought we were worthy of at least a point today after creating some good opportunities in the second half.
"We move on and we have some really tough games approaching including the cup final against the league leaders but if you have anything about you that's the type of challenge you look forward to with belief not apprehension.
"We are a good side and can cause anyone problems and although the level of performance has dipped of late, in the context of the long term objective at the club we are still progressing.
"We have to stay positive on and off the field, something that in my view can be improved upon."


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Heidi Kimball Archives
Valley Partnership announces 2017 chair, board members
Valley Partnership named Brett Hopper, development consultant at The OPUS Group, as its 2017 Chair. The commercial real estate industry group also named new board members representing Pederson Group, Land Advisors, Hines, City of Phoenix and Macerich. "As Valley Partnership's 2017 Chair, I look forward to drawing from the expertise and experience of my peers… Read More →
Valley Partnership leaders weigh in on the future of development
Valley Partnership's mission is advocating responsible development. The advocacy group represents the commercial, industrial and masterplanned real estate development industry by presenting a balanced, pro-development perspective and the Valley's best industry education and networking opportunities. But what should be the 25- or 30-year vision for Valley Partnership? What role do Valley Partnership's leaders think the… Read More →
Valley Partnership announces 2016 board leadership
Valley Partnership named Molly Ryan Carson, Vice President of Ryan Companies US, Inc. as its 2016 Chairperson. The commercial real estate industry group also named new board members and committee chairs. "I am honored to be the incoming Valley Partnership Chair and help continue our mission to advocate for responsible development," Ryan Carson said. "We… Read More →
A look at a decade of ULI's Trends Days
Trends Day is exactly as it sounds — and nothing as it sounds. It's a day when thought-leaders congregate around panels, keynotes and between coffee cups about the latest trends in development. However, it's much more than that. It's one day a year when every decision-maker steps out of the C-suite and shares eight valuable… Read More →
Heidi Kimball Appointed SVP at Sunbelt Holdings
Sunbelt Holdings has promoted Heidi Kimball, CPM, to senior vice president. Kimball oversees the real estate firm's asset management and brokerage activities and serves as the company's designated broker. Kimball, who is a veteran of the Phoenix metropolitan real estate industry, has been with Sunbelt Holdings for 31 years. She has extensive experience in negotiating… Read More →


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The meaning of that monotonous count finally percolated to the mucker's numbed perceptive faculties.
I want you to forget about that—this morning, and not think I am a galoot and a mucker.
What the mucker beard of that conversation made him prick up his ears.
In my business you find that the man who reads books, comes a mucker!
Something strange rose in the mucker's breast at the thought he had just voiced.
Because—they sometimes make a mucker of the cork job, and then the label's wasted.
"Why, where we seen her last, of course," replied the mucker.
I pray God I may be in one at the end, if I am to make a mucker.
"Well, whether youse meant it or not, it's so," said the mucker.
Anybody would have done itanybody who wasnt a mucker, I mean.
A crude and unreliable man; lout: cheap muckers with fine bodies
[1891+; fr German, ''sanctimonious bigot'']


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Last week's Twitter winner, Brady, happened to be a Minnesota local boy and he came by in person to pick up his brand new limited edition ThirtyTwo snowboard. Big-ups to Brady for being a loyal twitter follower of @houseboardshop and living proof that The House Boardshop gives away some pretty legit prizes weekly.
Click here to check out the many different ways you can enter to win gear from The House Boardshop.


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Imagine you're putting on the Super Bowl. It's a huge party and you need just the right host, so you invite Miami, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Tampa over to your place to hear their pitches. Miami salsas in wearing a slinky dress, sipping a mojito and beckoning everyone to sexy South Beach. New Orleans tosses beads, pours shots and boasts that hurricanes, whether cocktails or catastrophes, can't drown Bourbon Street. Lights shine and cameras flash when Los Angeles arrives in a stretch Escalade, accompanied by a skinny — and much younger — model. And what does Tampa bring? Sunscreen, cigars, a thick steak, a golf bag, a stripper named Crystal and a map to Ray Jay. Party time!
Of course, there is more to the Tampa Bay area than the beach, the Don, the Columbia and the Mons.
It's just that the other things don't matter once fans get to town.
Take it from Tom Henschel, one of five guys the NFL recognizes for having attended every Super Bowl. He'll extend his streak at Super Bowl XLIII today at Raymond James Stadium.
"I tell you what," says Henschel, 67, of Pittsburgh, "I'm a lover of art but I never get a chance to go to the museums or any of the theme parks. There's just so many parties, and people want to be with people."
Take that, Dali! When it comes to hosting the Super Bowl, some of the good things about the area (museums, theater, the orchestra) don't help it, and some of the unsatisfactory things (downtown Tampa, Malfunction Junction) don't hurt it.
Tampa doesn't have everything, but like Miami, New Orleans and Los Angeles — frequent hosts, all — it has what a football fan wants.
Rocky Mountain News columnist Bernie Lincicome told his snowbound Denver readers, "It is warm, it has palm trees out the window and a grouper sandwich on the menu.
"While the Super Bowl might wander off to outposts like Detroit or Houston or even Jacksonville (Dallas and Indianapolis await), nothing is more reassuring than a warm breeze and a cold drink, each under an umbrella."
• • •
For decades, Tampa has teamed with St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to sell a palm-tree-shaded vision of Tampa Bay to the NFL and its millions of fans. And it has worked.
Growing up in frigid Minneapolis, novelist Steve Rushin watched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play his beloved Minnesota Vikings countless times on television. He envisioned a single city with gulf beaches, palm trees, pretty girls and NFL football. Utopia, in other words.
"I thought Tampa Bay was a place," said Rushin, who wrote for Sports Illustrated for 19 years. Only after he came here as a sports writer did he realize that St. Petersburg and Tampa are "a hell of a far way away — even by car. It was a brilliant marketing move."
When the NFL awarded Tampa the Buccaneers franchise in 1974, its owners named the team after the region, not the city. Since then, Tampa and the local convention bureaus have relentlessly promoted the Tampa Bay mythology at Super Bowl bidding time.
They have to. Tampa wouldn't meet the criteria to host a Super Bowl all by itself. Cities need to have 19,000 hotel rooms within an hour's drive, and Pinellas County gives the region 19,500.
This is Tampa's fourth Super Bowl, proof that local big shots have become expert at pitching the NFL. In 1984, they established a "host committee" to plan the event, and it worked so well that the league now makes every city do it.
It also helps to know when to stop pitching. NFL owners met at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington in May 2005 to hear come-ons from cities interested in hosting the 2009 game. Team owners from each place stood and explained to the others why his city should win. Many droned on and on, said Norwood Smith of Tampa Bay & Co., Tampa's convention and visitors bureau.
Smith said someone from the Glazer family, which owns the Bucs, made three short points and sat down, saying, "You've been here before, you loved it and you know what we're going to do."
Tampa got a standing ovation. And the game.
• • •
If you had to guess what single thing most influences who gets the Super Bowl, you would guess sunshine, right?
Nope. If warm weather counted so much, dreary ice boxes such as Minneapolis and Detroit would never have hosted the big show.
It's the stadium.
"It's critical. It's the showcase of the game," said University of Tampa sports management professor Ross Bartow, a member of Tampa's bid committee. Bartow has also helped other cities land or host Olympics, PGA Championships and Final Fours.
Owners often award Super Bowls to cities with new stadiums. New digs won the prize for Phoenix last year and for Dallas — building a $1.2 billion glass-enclosed palace — in 2011. Fans who spend thousands on a ticket expect to be able to see the field.
"They haven't had a game in the Rose Bowl in a long time," said Henschel, the Super Bowl regular. "It's so spread out the fans don't like it. If you're in the corners or the end zone of the Rose Bowl, you're way out in left field."
With its 103-foot-long pirate ship moored in the north end zone, Raymond James Stadium has been considered one of the league's most distinctive playing fields since it was built in 1998.
It's also in a sweet spot, sitting nearly between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. West Shore hotels are a short taxi ride away, and downtown is just a few miles southeast. Contrast that to Miami, where you almost need a helicopter to get from the stadium to the South Beach hot spots.
• • •
Let's talk steaks and strippers.
Sixty-five to 70 percent of NFL attendees are men, and luckily for them, Tampa has all the ingredients for one giant bachelor party.
It has a casino with blackjack.
It's home to Bern's, Capital Grille, Malio's, Charley's, Ruth's Chris, Sam Seltzer's, Fleming's, Shula's and Gallagher's steak houses. The Outback chain is based here.
And of course it is known by guys around the world for the irresistible lure of its churches. Oops — we meant to say strip joints.
"Strip clubs and sunshine are two necessary components for Super Bowl week," said writer Rushin, who ranked Tampa behind only Miami and New Orleans when it came to a "nexus of night life and major professional sports."
Tampa has lots of steak and sizzle, but some fans are unlikely to leave the bubble called the "NFL Experience" during Super Bowl weekend. League- and celebrity-sponsored events and parties take up hours of fans' time, leaving many with little sense of the city they are in.
Actor Carmen Electra, in town to co-host the Leather & Laces Super Bowl party, has a sense of it.
"In a way, I guess the first thing that comes to my mind is retirement," she said. Her grandparents live near Tampa, so maybe that influences her perspective. "I know a lot of people that like to move away from the (big) city go to Tampa to start over and sort of relax and enjoy the sun and the ocean and start retiring."
Electra won't be at the Super Bowl today. She was scheduled to fly back to Los Angeles after her event.
Somehow, we're sure, the big party will go on without her.
Justin George can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or (813) 226-3368.


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I've been a member of the Loft for 15+ years. The classes I've taken have been instrumental in improving my craft, and the connections I've made with other writers have been incredible. As I prepare for the publication of my first novel, there are so many Loft members, teachers and staff to thank. It is, literally, my community.
I got help through the Loft to launch my writing career mostly in the classroom and also at public readings. I actually read a couple of times myself. While it's been a long time since I've taken a class, I support the Loft because I want it to be there for the next generation of writers. I should say that I still attend readings because they are all so good.
Great classes for writers in an inspiring space! Plenty of options for all kinds of writing. I've enjoyed every class and instructor I've had.
The Loft is an exceptional organization. Its classes, conferences, events, and grant opportunities sustain a vibrant writing community here in the Midwest. Writers of all ages (kids to seniors), experience (new comers to published authors), and interests (children's lit, memoir, sci-fi, non-fiction) find a home at The Loft. Twelve years ago, I signed up for my first Loft class. I learned about craft and met other aspiring authors - one of whom has become a best friend. And now, I have two books being published. Couldn't have done it without The Loft.
There is nothing quite like the experience of stepping into The Loft. Whether you have arrived to take advantage of the charming writing studio spaces, to take a class or simply to chat with other writers in the cafe, you are immediately greeted with a welcoming and inspiring environment. In addition, the capable and friendly staff gives you the impression that they truly want you to succeed at whatever tasks your passions have inspired you to take on. The number of classes, writer groups, conferences, small groups and other opportunities that this organization offers is unparalleled in this area of the country. I only take precious time out of my life to write reviews that are worthy of that time... I am proud to take the time to speak to the heart of this particular organization and to urge others to give it their support.
I have access close to home to top-notch writing classes and workshops, but my online class with the Loft is easily on par with any in-person class I have taken. Great instruction, class organization and design, feedback, and chat opportunies. Looking forward to future classes!
I joined the Loft so I could improve my writing. Even though I live three hours west of the Twin Cities, I've had the pleasure of taking two online classes, both on poetry. I had positive experiences with both my classes. One resulted in grant funding from the local arts council, and the other helped me place a poem for publication in a journal. Because of my income level, I've also received scholarships to help pay for classes. The Loft has definitely enabled me to become a contributing member of the literary community, on both the local and national levels. Thank You Loft!
When I got out of my undergraduate program, I wanted to find a way to keep my passion for my writing alive and to find others who loved it, too. I am so lucky to have The Loft in my community. The classes are great, the people are amazing and their events are always so much fun. By attending classes, I was able to cultivate my writing and take the next step to grad school. This organization is truly awesome!
The Loft is awesome. I have taken classes, attended readings, applied for grants, rented a writing studio, and have been inspired by other writers I've met there. The people who work at the Loft care about supporting writers. They care that writers produce good work. They care that American writing demonstrates the huge diversity and talent in this country and in Minnesota. And they care about serving the diverse community around them. Without a doubt, the Loft is among the most amazing non-profits in the U.S.