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Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub Reviews
great scrubthis scrub is great for taking off dead skin cells and because of this i noticed less blackheads and pimples. i highly recommend this product and neutrogena skin care products as a whole. — 6 years, 9 months agokenya | 504 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 2 people said helpful
Nope. They're Still There...I've used this scrub down to the last squeeze in the tub, and my blackheads are indeed still partying it up on my nose. The scrub itself had a thick consistency filled with grains that were not very fine, so it made for a scratchy scrub too. Eugh! I did like the cooling feeling it gave while I used it in the shower, but if I left it on too long, it started burning on my face! Ladies sensitive to fragrances also beware; the smell was pleasant enough, but still comes off strong! — 6 years agotheycallmerainbow | 106 reviews
Didn't work at all for my black heads.The scrubbing bits aren't harsh, that's a plus, however, i didn't notice a bit of a difference in my blackheads and the scent irritated my nose and allergies. It also didn't remove makeup. — 7 years, 7 months agoluxylexi | 234 reviews
okaynot really though because my skin is dry and i need something that is of an excellent value about it. i'm fine with my st. ives at three or four bucks. i know that it may sound petty but i used to like the company a lot more... they used to have this really handy blemish stick. — 9 years, 1 month agomamacita11 | 234 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 0 of 1 people said helpful
ouch! :(this scrub is so harsh, my skin goes crazy after using it! the creamy formula is drying too. there are many other scrubs out there that are much better than this one. as for clearing blackheads, i don't even think it does that either. — 9 years agoareesecup | 133 reviews
love this scrubI have used this scrub for years and it is the only one that cleared all the clogged pores I had on my nose and chin. My pores are significantly smaller as a result. My face is so smooth, it feels like a baby's skin. I use it every day. — 5 years, 7 months agot4tuna | 1 reviews
NopeOkay I used this product when I started having blackheads at 10 years old on my nose. This did nothing to get rid of them. I still have blackheads on my nose and now almost everywhere hidden on my face. Sometimes I think if I didn't use this product, my skin wouldn't have developed more problems in the future. Because scrubbing everyday like this product asks you to do, can cause your skin to crea...read morete more problems. I'm 16 still dealing with blackheads, and now whiteheads and huge pimples. Neutrogena doesn't work. — 5 years, 10 months agogabster14 | 28 reviews
neutrogena blkhead eliminating scrubNow i have tried this product and enjoyed using it. the smell is good. i did not find it to be abrasive and it left my skin a little firm,which is good for me because i have combination skin and adding miosturizer kept the oiliness balance. — 5 years, 11 months agoamgo.db | 3 reviews
Happy as a clamI've been using this face wash ever since I developed acne problems in jr high. And, well, it's not a miracle worker but it's the best I've tried so far. It cleared up my acne and works well at healing the occasional pimple. It didn't really eliminate my black heads but it helped. My favorite that I've ever tires — 6 years agoModernMorgen | 15 reviews
If you can tolerate salicylic acid, it should work pretty good.I wanted to like it, but it just caused more problems for my skin. I realized down the road that I can not tolerate salicylic acid products for my face, and that is the main ingredient in this. I used it for my back though, and it worked pretty good there actually. — 6 years, 6 months agorozbie | 67 reviews
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My Reasons for Reporting This


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How the snow effected you
10:37pm Friday 6th February 2009
By Ben Hardwidge
10:37pm Friday 6th February 2009
By Ben Hardwidge
WHILE thousands of Children this week have been playing in the snow, building snowmen and having the times of their lives, many parents have had to put their jobs on hold to look after their children due to school closures. Jean Franklin a full time sales assistant and Mum was left stranded by the snow this is what she had to say. "I think it is rediculous how schools can close their doors for a whole week because of 5cm of snow! These days no-one ever scemes to be prepared for any bad weather events. It is time teachers done their job instead of complaining that they are unable to get to the school because they are snowed in". Luckily Jean was able to find a friend to look after her 6 year old son who attends Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewyd for the week.
Also the M4 towards Bristol grinded to a hault this morning as the Severn Bridge and Old Severn Bridge where closed due to massive amounts of ice falling 150ft in the air onto the road of oncoming vehicles, a number of car wind-screens where smashed due to the ice.
The MetOffice have issued severe weather warnings for South Wales Sunday night and Monday day for more heavy snow, so is the worst over yet?
If you have been effected by the snow this week then please leave your comments below. Has the snow been heavy where you are? Send in your pictures through the link below, or via mobile on 80360 with the message ARGUS NEWS.
Alternatively, to speak to a reporter, call newsdesk on 01633 777226.
© Copyright 2001-2017 Newsquest Media Group

subset: commoncrawl


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The Wisconsin FFA Foundation welcomes Sara Schoenborn as their new executive director. Schoenborn will lead and implement strategic fundraising programs for the Foundation which unites individuals, organizations and companies who share an interest in the advancement of agriculture and community leadership through FFA.
Schoenborn's duties will include fund development, donor relations and event coordination. She will also collaborate with the Wisconsin FFA Foundation board of directors, current and potential Wisconsin FFA supporters, the Wisconsin Association of FFA, the Wisconsin FFA Alumni Association and the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE) to achieve ongoing support of Wisconsin FFA.
"We are excited to have Sara join us as our Wisconsin FFA Foundation Executive Director," says Julie Larson, Wisconsin FFA Foundation President. "Her agricultural and leadership experience, along with her background and excitement for Wisconsin FFA will further energize our team as we work together with individuals and the industry to invest in the future of agriculture."
Schoenborn is a 2010 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she received a bachelor of science in life sciences communication and dairy science. Most recently, she served as the assistant editor of Agri-View where she gained experience with agriculture-related editorial content as well as public and media relations.
Schoenborn also serves on the Wisconsin Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Association (WALSAA) board, the Cows on the Concourse committee and the 2015 Farm Technology Days promotions committee. She credits her current industry involvement to her family's history in agriculture and an early passion for leadership development through FFA.
"FFA is the organization I credit most for molding me into the person that I am today both personally and professionally," Schoenborn says. "FFA first offered me a platform for career development and community leadership through my chapter and state programs and provided ongoing resources that helped me develop my passion for agriculture. Today, I see these programs continue to influence the future of our industry.
"Because of these career-building opportunities, the Wisconsin FFA Foundation plays a big role in shaping the industry's future," Schoenborn adds. "I am excited to utilize my story and experiences to help the Wisconsin FFA Foundation partner with industry supporters to continue to fund FFA programming."
This year, the Wisconsin FFA Foundation aims to raise $400,000 to support Wisconsin FFA programs, including direct funding to local chapters and individual members as award checks, travel stipends, scholarships, supervised agricultural experience grants and state officer support. Additional financial assistance to the team of Wisconsin FFA organizations will fund state-level programming opportunities that support local chapters and members. This includes leadership conferences, administration of all award programs and contests, convention activities and state officer training.
For additional information on how you can help the Wisconsin FFA Foundation achieve this goal, visit http://www.wisconsinffafoundation.org/ or call 608-831-5058.
To show supporter pride for Wisconsin FFA, any Wisconsin FFA supporter corporate or individual can donate $10 or more to the Wisconsin FFA Foundation and receive a window cling to highlight their commitment to the organization.
The Wisconsin FFA Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, unites individuals, organizations and companies who share a common interest in the advancement of agriculture and community leadership through FFA. You can support today's FFA members by supporting the programs that have been core tenets of the FFA: proficiency awards, career development events, state FFA degrees, sectional leadership workshops, scholarships, chapter awards, agri-science fair, state FFA convention and state officer support. Learn more about the Wisconsin FFA Foundation and sponsorship opportunities by visiting www.wisconsinffafoundation.org.


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It's been said for years that body weight ultimately depends on the balance between calories eaten and calories burned. Recently, this premise has been questioned as other factors have emerged that may affect weight.
For example, studies have shown that people who sleep less than 6 hours or more than 8 hours are at increased risk of weight gain. Factors affecting our weight may start even before we are born. Small babies that are born to expectant mothers who don't get adequate nutrition are at increased risk of weight gain later in life.
On the calorie intake side, a recent study reported that sugar intake increased the risk of obesity more in people who had a genetic predisposition to obesity. Another study reported that a low-fat diet lowered resting metabolic rate more than a low-carbohydrate diet. In this case, it's not clear differences in dietary fat vs. carbohydrate transmit into changes in weight. A long-term study showed that after 2 years there wasn't much difference in weight loss between a low-fat and a low-carbohydrate diet.
How do these factors affect weight independent from calories? It's possible they may affect metabolic processes or hormones in the body. Despite these associations with weight, it's important to keep the big picture in mind and not get too caught up with specific factors and details.
For example, there is some controversy over whether high-fructose corn syrup can somehow increase weight more than what is expected from its calorie content. However, the calorie content and the amount of high fructose corn syrup people eat have a much, much greater influence on weight than any other potential effect may have.
If people can change these factors, such as getting the right amount of sleep, it might help to better manage weight. However, the big picture is still that eating a healthy diet, which limits calories appropriately, along with increased physical activity is the most effective overall way to manage weight — and improve health long-term.
Donald Hensrud, M.D.
Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-blog/diet-and-exercise-still-important/bgp-20056458
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.


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The nutritionists and consultants at Great Plains Livestock Consulting Inc., Eagle, Neb., offer these timely reminders for beef cattle during this winter season:
- Clean manure out of pens.
- Make sure feed is analyzed and rations are in place.
- Now is a good time to stretegically deworm cows after we have had a good freeze.
- Make sure you pregnancy test all cows and cull open famles in order to save feed resources.
- Sort cows by body condition adn feed groups accordingly in order to get thin cows back into better shape before spring calving.
- Evaluate bulls and begin to make bull buying decisions for next year.
Visti GPLC here.


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text:
Clinical Sensitivity of Clearview Rapid Tests in 12-17 y/o Pediatric Population
This study has been completed.
Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.
Inverness Medical Innovations
University of Maryland
Focus Diagnostics, Inc.
Information provided by:
Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: December 3, 2007
Last updated: June 25, 2008
Last verified: June 2008
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Biospecimen Retention: Samples Without DNA
Detailed Description:
This study is to establish the clinical sensitivity of the Chembio Diagnostics Systems, Inc. Clearview COMPLETE HIV 1/2 Assay and Clearview HIV 1/2 Stat-Pak Assay (Clearview HIV tests) in pediatric subjects who are between 12 and 17 years of age. A minimum of ten (10) known HIV-positive participants will be tested.
|HIV Infections
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Case-Only
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|Clinical Sensitivity of the Clearview® COMPLETE HIV 1/2, PMA # BP050009 and the Clearview® HIV 1/2 STAT-PAK®, PMA #BP050010 in the 12 - 17 Year Old Pediatric Population
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: HIV/AIDSU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- The Clearview HIV tests provide a 100% agreement with known HIV(+) status for all 10 eligible 12 to 17 year old individuals, at least one of whom will be age 12. [ Time Frame: 3-10 days ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- The Clearview tests will be used in a representative clinical setting for the qualitative detection of antibodies to HIV-1 in fingerstick, venous whole blood, serum and plasma matrices. [ Time Frame: 3-10 days ]
Biospecimen Retention: Samples Without DNA
Whole blood, plasma and serum
|Study Start Date:
|December 2007
|Study Completion Date:
|June 2008
|Primary Completion Date:
|June 2008 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|A, Observational
Detailed Description:
In order to achieve the primary objective, clinical trials will be conducted to establish and confirm the sensitivity of the Clearview HIV 1/2 tests in the described pediatric population. Only HIV-1 will be included in the study.
The Clearview HIV tests can be used as a safe and effective screening method to aid in the diagnosis of infection with HIV 1/2 in the pediatric population aged between 12 and 17 years.
The secondary objectives of this study include demonstrating that:
- The Clearview HIV tests detect HIV-1 antibodies in a variety of sample matrices: capillary (fingertip) whole blood, venous whole blood, plasma and serum.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|12 Years to 17 Years (Child)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
The patient population intended for this study (study participants) consists of a minimum of 10 individuals, known to have previously tested positive for HIV antibodies, who are between 12 and 17 years of age. The patients should not be on HAART, however, the sponsor reserves the option to include a limited number of HAART patients for investigational purposes. The number of HAART patients enrolled will depend on the available pediatric HIV positive participant pool. HAART patients will be clearly identified and will be additional to the enrollment needed to meet the study objectives.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must be at least 12 years of age and no older than 17 years of age.
- Must be willing to sign (and be given) a copy of the written Information and Assent Form.
- Must have a parent or guardian present to sign and receive a copy of the Informed Consent Form.
- Must be able to provide one or two fingerstick blood samples.
- Must be able to provide three tubes of blood by venipuncture from the arm or hand only.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Have a life threatening illness (with the exception of HIV or AIDS).
- Have a suppressed immune systems (i.e. transplant patients, individuals diagnosed with non-HIV immunosuppressive illness, etc.), as determined by interviewing the study participant or parent/legal guardian.
- Have participated or are participating in a clinical trial for an HIV vaccine (as determined by interviewing the study participant or parent/legal guardian).
- Have previously participated in this clinical trial (no duplicate enrollments).
- Are currently on HAART, except as agreed on a case-by-case basis.
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00567749
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00567749
|United States, Maryland
|Laboratory of Viral Diagnostics, University of Maryland School of Medicine
|Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
Sponsors and Collaborators
Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.
Inverness Medical Innovations
University of Maryland
Focus Diagnostics, Inc.
|Principal Investigator:
|Neil T. Constantine, Ph.D.
|University of Maryland
More Information
Keywords provided by Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|Thomas D. Ippolito / VP Regulatory Affairs, Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00567749 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|December 3, 2007
|Last Updated:
|June 25, 2008
Keywords provided by Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.:
HIV-1 Infections
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


text:
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced today the results from two Phase 2 studies of bivalent rLP2086, Pfizer's recombinant vaccine candidate, currently under development for the prevention of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in 10 to 25 year olds. In both studies, bivalent rLP2086 was observed to generate bactericidal responses, a measurement of functional immune response, against diverse meningococcal serogroup B test strains following either two or three doses.1,2Also, in the study evaluating co-administration of bivalent rLP2086 and a diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and inactivated polio vaccine (dTaP-IPV), no impact was observed on the immune response to the dTaP-IPV vaccine.1 The data were presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID 2014).
"Disease caused by meningococcus serogroup B is serious and unpredictable. The disease is difficult to recognize early and progresses rapidly, making preventive vaccination especially important," said Dr. Emilio Emini, senior vice president of Vaccine Research and Development for Pfizer Inc. "We are encouraged by the safety and tolerability data for our investigational vaccine candidate, bivalent rLP2086, and its potential to help prevent this devastating disease. We look forward to continuing the development of this critically-needed vaccine and working with regulatory authorities to make it available to adolescents and young adults."
Each year, approximately 500,000 cases of meningococcal disease occur worldwide due to Neisseria meningitidis.3The majority of invasive meningococcal disease cases worldwide can be attributed to five N. meningitidisserogroups (A, B, C, W-135 and Y),4 with between 20,000 and 80,000 cases caused by meningococcal B disease globally.5 Despite the availability of antibiotic treatment, between 10 and 15 percent of patients with meningococcal disease die and 11 to 19 percent of those who survive are afflicted with long-term disabilities, such as brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities or limb amputations.6
Data Presented at European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Annual Meeting
A Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind study assessed the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of bivalent rLP2086 in healthy adolescents aged 11 to 18 years in two- and three-dose schedules. The immune responses to bivalent rLP2086 were measured using a serum bactericidal assay with human complement (hSBA). The functional antibodies assessed by the hSBA are an accepted immunological correlate of protection.7 hSBA titers of ≥ 1:4 are typically associated with protection against serogroup B meningococcal disease.7 One month after three doses of bivalent rLP2086, hSBA titers > 1:8 to diverse meningococcal serogroup B strains were observed in 86 to 99 percent of subjects; and 69 to100 percent after two doses.2 The most common local reaction observed was mild-to-moderate injection site pain; headache and fatigue were the most common systemic events.2
Data from the second Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled study that evaluated the effects of co-administration of bivalent rLP2086 with a dTaP-IPV vaccine in healthy adolescents aged 11 to 18 years were also presented at the conference. When given with bivalent rLP2086, dTaP-IPV generated immune responses that are consistent with those observed following administration of dTaP-IPV alone.1 Bactericidal responses to four diverse meningococcal serogroup B strains were also observed following co-administration of bivalent rLP2086 and dTaP-IPV.1 The most common local reaction observed was mild-to-moderate injection site pain; headache and fatigue were the most common systemic events.1 These data suggest that it may be possible to administer bivalent rLP2086 at the same time as the dTaP-IPV vaccine.1
About rLP2086
Pfizer is conducting a global clinical development program for bivalent rLP2086, which includes both Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials evaluating more than 20,000 participants, approximately 14,000 of whom will receive the investigational vaccine.8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 In March 2014, Pfizer announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for bivalent rLP2086. Pfizer plans to submit a Biologics License Application to the FDA for bivalent rLP2086 by mid-2014.
Pfizer's investigational meningococcal B vaccine targets LP2086, or factor H binding protein, which is found on the surface of the meningococcal B bacterium.16 The gene for factor H binding protein is present in more than 1,800 meningococcal B isolates studied by Pfizer researchers.16,17
The Breakthrough Therapy designation received in the U.S. in March 2014 was based, in part, on data from clinical trials studying the safety and immunogenicity of bivalent rLP2086. Clinical data from a Phase 2 study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases in 2012 showed the investigational bivalent rLP2086 vaccine induced bactericidal antibodies in healthy adolescents aged 11 to18 years that were broadly active against meningococcal B bacteria.18 Safety data from the study also showed the vaccine had an acceptable safety profile in this healthy adolescent study population and supported the further evaluation of the vaccine in Phase 3 studies.18
In November 2012, the Phase 3 program began with the initiation of a large scale safety study. Additional immunogenicity and safety studies are also ongoing.
For more information on ongoing clinical trials of bivalent rLP2086, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world™
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.
DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information contained in this release is as of May 9, 2014. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.
This release contains forward-looking information about a product candidate, bivalent rLP2086, including its potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical trial completion dates and regulatory submission dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results; whether and when any biologics license applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for bivalent rLP2086; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities as well as their decisions regarding labeling and other matters that could affect its availability or commercial potential; and competitive developments.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.
1 Vesikari T, Wysocki J, Kieninger D, et al. Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Study of the Immunogenicity and Safety of Repevax®Administered Concomitantly with Bivalent rLP2086 Vaccine in Healthy Adolescents. Abstract presented at: 32nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID); May 6-10, 2014; Dublin, Ireland.
2 Vesikari T, Diez-Domingo J, Ostergaard L, et al. Safety and Immunogenicity of an Investigational Meningococcal Serogroup B Bivalent rLP2086 Vaccine in Healthy Adolescents. Abstract presented at: 32nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID); May 6-10, 2014; Dublin, Ireland.
3 World Health Organization. Meningococcal vaccines: polysaccharide and polysaccharide conjugate vaccines. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2002; 77(40): 329-340. http://www.who.int/immunization/wer7740meningococcal_Oct02_position_paper.pdf. Accessed April 24, 2014.
4 Pinto VB, Burden R, Wagner A, Moran EE, Lee C. The Development of an Experimental Multiple Serogroups Vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis.PLoS ONE. 2013; 8(11): 1-10.
5 Kieny MP, Excier J, Girard M. Research and Development of New Vaccines Against Infectious Diseases. American Journal of Public Health.2004; 94(11): 1931-1935.
6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for Patients: meningococcal vaccine.http://m.cdc.gov/en/HealthSafetyTopics/HealthyLiving/Vaccines/VIS/Meningococcal. Last Updated June 18, 2013. Accessed March 27, 2014.
7 Goldschneider I, Gotschlich M, Artenstein M. Human Immunity to the Meningococcus: I. the role of humoral antibodies. J. Exp. Med.1969; 129: 1307-1326. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4977280. Accessed April 25, 2014.
8 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Trial to Assess the Lot Consistency, Safety, Tolerability and Immunogenicity of Bivalent rLP2086 Vaccine When Given to Healthy Subjects Aged ≥10 to <19 Years. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01830855?term=B1971009&rank=1. Accessed March 11, 2014
9 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Global Phase 3 Safety Study of 120 mcg rLP2086 Vaccine in Adolescents and Young Adults Aged 10 to 25 Years.http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01352793?term=B1971014&rank=1. Accessed March 11, 2014.
10 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Clinical Trial to Study the Safety, Tolerance and Immunogenic Response to MCV4, Tdap and Bivalent rLP2086 Vaccine When Given at the Same Time to Children Between the Ages of 10 Through 12 Years of Age. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01461980?term=B1971015&rank=1. Accessed March 11, 2014.
11 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Trial To Assess The Safety, Tolerability, And Immunogenicity Of Rlp2086 Vaccine When Administered In Either 2- Or 3-Dose Regimens In Healthy Subjects Aged ≥11 To <19 Years. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01299480?term=B1971012&rank=1. Accessed March 11, 2014.
12 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Trial to Assess the Safety, Tolerability and Immunogenicity of Repevax® and rLP2086 Vaccine When Given Together in Healthy Subjects Aged >=11 to <19 Years. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01323270?term=B1971010&rank=1. Accessed March 11, 2014.
13 ClincalTrials.gov. A Study Evaluating Safety And Immunogenicity Of Meningococcal B Rlp2086 Vaccine In Adolescents.http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00808028?term=B1971005&rank=1. Accessed March 11, 2014.
14 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Clinical Trial to Study the Safety, Tolerance and Immunogenic Response to Gardasil and Bivalent rLP2086 Vaccine When Given at the Same Time to Children Between the Ages of 11 and 17. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01461993?term=B1971011&rank=1. Accessed March 11, 2014.
15 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Trial to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of Bivalent rLP2086 Vaccine When Given to Healthy Young Adults Aged >=18 to <26 Years. (B1971016). http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01352845?term=B1971016&rank=1. Accessed March 11, 2014.
16 Murphy E, et al. Sequence diversity of the Factor H binding protein vaccine candidate in epidemiologically relevant strains of serogroup BNeisseria meningitidis. J Infect Dis. 2009; 200: 379-389.
17 Fletcher LD, Bernfield L, Barniak V, et al. Vaccine Potential of the Neisseria meningitidis 2086 Lipoprotein. Infect Immun. 2004; 72(4): 2088-2100.
18 Richmond PC, Marshall HS, Nissen MD, et al. Safety, immunogenicity, and tolerability of meningococcal serogroup B (MnB) bivalent rLP2086 vaccine in healthy adolescents: a randomised, single-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2012; 12(8): 597-607. Published online ahead of print May 2012.
Pfizer Inc.
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If you're looking to start or end a vacation with having something stolen from your luggage, D/FW Airport is a good place to go. At least that's the impression you get when you look at the rising number of reported thefts over the past 5 years.
Thefts At Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Have Doubled Since 2003
By February 12, 2009


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CONCERNS have been raised over the low numbers of women being tested for breast cancer in Blackburn with Darwen, with the borough having the 16th lowest screening rate in England.
Statistics published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre showed just 10,830 women of the borough's 'eligible women' had been scanned within the last three years, which represented 68 per cent.
This was the second lowest figure in the North West, and well below the national average of 76 per cent. The rate in the rest of East Lancashire was also below average, at 73 per cent.
There have been slight reductions in screening in both areas, which mirrored a national trend.
The figures, for 151 NHS areas, measured the numbers of women aged 53 to 70 to be screened within the last three years.
Campaigner Ruth Loft, of the Blackburn and East Lancashire Breast Care Support Group, said: "I'm surprised at the take-up rate for screening in Blackburn with Darwen, especially as mammography is carried out locally while treatments take place in the excellent breast cancer unit at Burnley General Hospital.
"Ladies must be encouraged to attend check-ups as breast cancer can be treated successfully if found early."
NHS England, which commissions breast screening services, said relevant officers were not available for comment.
Blackburn with Darwen's large Asian population may be a factor. It has previously been highlighted the relatively poor survival rates for black and Asian women, saying this may be due to delays in diagnosis through late presentation.


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BURFORD'S Visitor Information Centre has won a top environmental tourism award.
The centre has received a green tourism gold award for being eco-friendly in its operations and for encouraging visitors to be green during their stay in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.
The centre, which is run by West Oxfordshire District Council, was assessed by the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the largest sustainable tourism certification in the world, which has certified more than 2,400 businesses in Britain and Ireland.
Last year the centre, which moved to High Street from Sheep Street three years ago, achieved a silver rating under the scheme and was highly commended in Tourism South East's Beautiful South awards for sustainable tourism.
Richard Langridge, the council's cabinet member responsible for tourism, said: "Everything was assessed – from the fabric of the building, our energy usage, visitor feedback, right down to the way we recycle and reuse materials such as ink and paper.
"Above all, I'm very proud of the recognition this award gives to the staff. They are extremely committed to achieving a high standard of sustainability through their everyday activities, as well as through all their promotional work.''
Staff encourage visitors to leave their car behind to explore the Cotswolds on foot, by bike or using public transport, to buy local products and to take care of the environment while out and about.
Mr Langridge added: "By encouraging visitors to act in an environmentally-friendly way during their stay, we're helping to safeguard the beautiful environment that we're so fortunate to live and work in."


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Stream of righties keeping Cron on the pine
Promising right-handed hitter has primarily platooned with Ibanez
CLEVELAND -- The National League rules in Atlanta kept C.J. Cron out of the lineup this past weekend, and a stream of Indians right-handed starters prompted Angels manager Mike Scioscia to go with the left-handed-hitting Raul Ibanez on a daily basis. Suddenly, the still-developing Cron is adjusting to life as a part-time player.
"It's how it works," Cron said before Wednesday's rainout. "Obviously, I want to be in there as much as possible. But I'm not in the lineup, so I'll be ready in case a pinch-hit [opportunity] comes, or whatever."
Scioscia has continued to go with a strict platoon at designated hitter, starting Ibanez three straight times against righties, even though the 42-year-old carries a .153/.257/.258 slash line on the season and is 3-for-18 in his career against Justin Masterson, the Indians' starter on Thursday.
Scioscia pointed out that one of those three hits was a two-run triple on April 28. He also brought up the fact that Masterson has limited righties to a .630 OPS this season, and added that Ibanez "has had some good at-bats in this series," going 2-for-5 with a couple of walks and no strikeouts.
"I don't think you're going to look up tomorrow and see Raul hitting what he should with the production you would expect," said Scioscia, who had Ibanez as the designated hitter before Wednesday's rainout and put him at first base on Thursday. "But there's no doubt that he's making some strides in the batter's box and you're seeing better swings. The bottom line is production. Nobody understands that better than Raul. He knows that he needs to contribute and have better at-bats. Nobody is working harder at it than Raul, and we're very confident that he's going to contribute for us."
The question is: When will the right-handed-hitting Cron get playing time?
The 24-year-old had a .305/.329/.524 slash line as of June 4. But he has three hits and seven strikeouts in his past 20 at-bats, and he hasn't started since last Wednesday with the Angels mostly seeing righty starters. The Indians threw a righty in all three games this series, while the Rangers will start one lefty -- Joe Saunders on Friday -- in Anaheim this coming weekend. The Twins, who visit Angel Stadium for a three-game set starting Tuesday, have only righties in their rotation.
"There's a chance Cron will get some at-bats against righties, too," Scioscia said.
But for now, he waits, and the Angels face the dilemma of keeping Cron in the big leagues or sending him down to Triple-A so he can get consistent at-bats and continue to develop.
"Ever since I've been up here, I have kind of platooned," Cron said. "It hasn't switched yet. I come to the field every day as if I'm going to play. If I'm not in the lineup, I'll help the team later in the game."
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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I would like to commend the staff at Elmcroft of Mount Washington, an assisted-living facility for seniors, for being so helpful to our family. My dad lived there for a year and a half before passing away recently.
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Berlin, N.J. — The 134-store arts and crafts chain A.C. Moore said Tuesday it has agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of arts and crafts distributor Sbar's Inc. for about $40.8 million.
Last January, the company said it had formed a committee to review strategic alternatives, including a potential sale.
"After conducting a thorough review of alternatives, the special committee and the board of directors unanimously concluded that this transaction with Sbar's is in the best interest of our key stakeholders," chairman Michael J. Joyce said.
The company has reported a long string of quarterly losses for years, with its last positive showing at the end of 2007.


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The historic drought is making average residents think twice every time they turn on the tap, despite the weekend rain. But there is nothing average about the way Californians consume water: A little-known state database that measures water use in every community shows huge -- sometimes shocking -- differences between California's water sippers and guzzlers.
In steamy Sacramento, where half of the homes still don't have water meters, residents use 279 gallons a day per capita -- almost triple the 98 gallons that residents of foggy San Francisco use. Palm Springs, land of big desert lawns and verdant golf courses, gulps down a staggering 736 gallons a day per person, five times as much as residents of San Jose and Los Angeles.
The Golden State's varied climate plays a key part in how much water a city or town consumes, as does the density of its population. But the differences can be stark even among close neighbors.
The largest per-capita water user in the Bay Area is Hillsborough, a tony Peninsula town where residents average 334 gallons a day. Only 14 miles away, working-class East Palo Alto residents use less than a quarter as much -- 79 gallons a day.
"There are things like differences in yard sizes, but quite frankly -- this is something most people don't want to admit -- if you are in a wealthier community, people tend to use more water because it is inexpensive for them," said Chris Brown, former executive director of the California Urban Water Conservation Council, a Sacramento nonprofit.
Landscaping, which accounts for 50 percent of the typical residential water bill, is a driving factor.
In Hillsborough, ornate bushes and towering hedges fence in lush, green lawns and winding brick driveways that lead to three-story houses with views of San Francisco Bay. Vegetation bleeds into the streets, where miniature shrubs adorn sidewalks and flower patches embellish four-way stops.
"Everyone cares that their front yard and back yard looks pretty," said Patsy Leung, a Hillsborough resident. "But it takes water."
In densely populated East Palo Alto, some homes have well-maintained lawns, but other front yards are covered with cement, stones, dried-out grass, withered shrubs and perhaps a few floppy palm trees.
"We're cutting back on showering and watering our lawn -- so it looks crappy right now," said Gerald Dow, an East Palo Alto resident who's determined not to waste water during the drought.
Lawns tell only part of the story found among the per-capita usage figures that are tucked away in a state Department of Water Resources database in Sacramento. Under state law, every water provider, from cities to water districts, is required to report its per-capita use, as well as to come up with plans to cut back during droughts and reduce consumption by 20 percent by 2020.
The figures also offer clues as to who is doing best at conservation.
"Even taking into account differences in weather and demographics, these numbers show there has been widely divergent success and failure on water efficiency," said Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute, an Oakland nonprofit group that studies water use. "Some water agencies have done a lot more than others in encouraging more efficient use of water."
In the East Bay, where summer temperatures regularly hit 100 degrees, the Contra Costa Water District reports 183 gallons per capita, for example, less than the state average of 196 gallons per day.
The district offers free water audits to residents and rebates for people who buy water-efficient toilets and appliances or replace lawns with drought-tolerant plants.
"We've had conservation programs in place for decades," said Jennifer Allen, a spokeswoman for the district. "But we can always do more."
(According to figures provided in the Mercury News database, the per capita water consumption ranges from 320 gallons per day in Rio Vista to 151 gallons per day in Suisun City. Vacaville residents averge 172 gallons per day day and Dixon residents served by the California Water Service Co. use 171. Benicians use 195 gallons per day.)
To arrive at the per-capita totals, each water provider added up all residential, government and business use and divided by population over a consecutive 10-year period they chose between 1995 and 2010. The totals do not include agriculture, which uses 80 percent of the water in California.
In addition to the clear difference in water usage between rich towns and poor towns, a review of the 355 cities and water districts in the database shows other patterns:
Places with hot weather tend to use the most water. Coastal cities, which enjoy cooler summers and lots of fog, consume relatively little. Santa Cruz residents use only 113 gallons per capita per day. Crescent City, a fishing town near the Oregon border, averages only 97 gallons a day.
But in the Central Valley, Inland Empire and Southern California desert areas, where the blazing summer sun requires more water use on landscaping, residents use three or four times that much. In Riverside County, customers of the Coachella Valley Water District use 591 gallons per capita per day.
When cities have few residents but a lot of industry, the numbers can be skewed. The city of Vernon in Los Angeles County, for example, has only 112 residents but dozens of factories, meatpacking plants and other water-guzzling industries within its city limits. As a result, its per capita water use is highest in the state by far -- 94,111 gallons per person per day. Statewide, however, industries account for only about 8 percent of urban water use, compared with 68 percent for residential use and 24 percent for commercial and government use.
One factor that has kept urban water use high around Sacramento and much of the Central Valley is that many of the homes didn't have water meters until recently. They now are gradually being installed after former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a 2004 law mandating meters statewide by 2025.
According to the database, Folsom, a city of 72,000 east of Sacramento, averaged 429 gallons per person. But that's partly because in the past the city charged all homeowners a $35 monthly fee -- no matter how much water they used, said Marcus Yasutake, the city's water director. As of 2011, however, meters have been installed and tiered rates put in place that charge more for people who consume the most water. Per-capita use is already falling steadily, he said.
"We hope not to be at the top of the list in the future," Yasutake said.
The numbers are part of "urban water management plans" that each city and water agency is required to submit every five years. Before the drought, they received little notice. Now, they are a sensitive subject.
"It's not a contest, other than to see who can drop the furthest from their baseline," said Peter Brostrom, chief of water-use efficiency at the state Department of Water Resources. "But there is a lot of concern among water suppliers about how the number looks and how they are being compared to other communities."
Indeed, Palm Springs water officials say they're extremely aware that the city has the among highest per-capita water use in the state -- 736 gallons per person per day.
"It's my least favorite number," said Katie Ruark, a spokeswoman for the Desert Water Agency. "The problem for us is that we have so many seasonal residents. We have snow birds who come in, and none of them can be counted as permanent residents. So our population is based only on the census, and our use is based on everyone who is here."
Gleick, at the Pacific Institute, said that the drought should convince every city and water agency in the state to adopt tiered water rates and expand rebate programs that encourage people to buy water-efficient appliances and to replace lawns with drought-tolerant native plants.
"Even in the good water districts," he said, "there is more that can be done and should be done, starting yesterday."


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Please join us October 19th, 2012 for the 13th annual PPAA/PAL Charity Golf Tournament, located at Brookside Golf Course - 1133 N. Rosemont Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103.
Check out the flyer here.
CBS News interviewed Lt. Tracey Ibarra regarding the event. Watch the interview here.
For more information on Pasadena PAL, check out their website.
We hope to see you on the golf course!


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BOLTON cook Debbie Halls-Evans has narrowly avoided being kicked off the hit TV show The Taste.
The Horwich lass was in the bottom three for the second time, with celebrity chef Nigella Lawson describing her corned-beef has as "gritty".
But Debbie, who used to run the Delicieux Cafe, at the Doffcokcer roundabout, off Chorley Old Road, will be back battling for her place in the final next week.
But after the show, internally-acclaimed chef Nigella took to social networking website, Twitter, to wish Debbie well for next week - and ask her why she had not yet managed to teach her mentor, French chef Ludo Lefebvre, to speak with a Bolton accent.
Nigella said: "Glad @MrsHallsevs lives to cook another day. But Debbie, why haven't you taught @chefludo to speak in a Bolton accent yet."
The Taste will be on Channel 4 next Tuesday at 9pm.


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The Arcata Tigers have become known for their non-stop, high-scoring offense over the course of the 2012 season.
With so many points being put on the scoreboard by the Orange and Black, some might forget those that the Big 5 champions have kept their opposition off it.
Don't count Dave Filippini as one of those people.
"All year they've been solid," Arcata's head coach said before his team takes on Fort Bragg, the No. 5 seed, in the second round of the North Coast Section Division 4 playoffs. "And some of the points we've given up have been on turnovers, so there's no question they've been playing well.
What has been the recipe to the defensive success?
"We've got a good combination of seniors and some younger guys," Filippini said. "Our defensive ends have played lights out, and our tackles have taken up space."
How both teams' defenses stop the run will be, of course, a huge factor in the outcome.
The Timberwolves' task: Slow down running backs Aleric Stone and Tyler Keil -- something few teams have been able to accomplish in totality this season.
Arcata steamrolled No. 12 Moreau Catholic 65-27 last Saturday, with its offensive line creating holes aplenty for the talented twosome -- ones Stone described he "could drive a truck through" after the game.
And much like Arcata, Fort Bragg does a lot of its damage on the ground.
The fourth-seeded Tigers' defense also has the duty of slowing down a talented running back, junior Zach Smith.
Smith ran the ball 35 times for 255 yards in Fort Bragg's 14-0 opening-round win over Piedmont last week. The impressive outing was the fourth time Smith has gone over the 200-yard plateau in 2012 and enters tonight's game with nearly 1,700 yards rushing on the season.
But the Tigers' defense has shown it can hang no matter who their opposition may be. Over the course of its current 10-game winning streak, Arcata (10-1) has allowed just under 14 points per game.
Still, Filippini is well aware of the task at hand for his defense.
"(Fort Bragg) runs the ball effectively and they don't throw it a whole lot," Filippini said. "They're going to come out and try to establish the run just like we are. It's going to be a test early to see who can do that."
Defensively, the Timberwolves have been just as impressive as the Tigers.
Fort Bragg, who is currently riding a nine-game winning streak, has been equally impressive on the defensive side of the ball. The Timberwolves (10-1) -- whose lone blemish this season is a 18-6 loss to St. Bernard's on Sept. 1 -- have allowed just 13 ppg. They've also allowed less than 10 points in six of their 10 wins.
But at this point of the season, the Tigers feel comfortable going up against any opposition.
"We seen so much this year -- teams that play veer, spread, Wing-T -- there won't be anything that surprises us. We've seen a little bit of everything," Filippini said.
Danny Penza can be reached evenings at 707-441-0528 or email@example.com


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DETROIT - Wednesday morning will be partly cloudy and cold for the anyone observing Ash Wednesday early.
Temps will begin in the low and middle 20s.
The afternoon will be sunnier with highs near 40, nearly 5 degrees above average.
Weather will be dry for last minute Valentine's Day shoppers, too.
Wednesday night will become mostly cloudy with lows in the upper and middle 20s.
Clouds return Valentine's Day, Thursday with a chance of scattered light rain and snow during the middle of the day and late afternoon. Accumulations will be light so romantic plans will not be hampered much. Daytime temperatures will be in the middle and upper 30s.
Friday will be colder with scattered snow and highs in the low 30s. Accumulations will be minor, again. Detroit's cold trend continues Presidents' Day Weekend. Saturday and Sunday will have partly sunny skies with highs near 25 and lows in the teens.
Do you have a JuniorLocal 4Caster in your home?
If so, go to the Community Page of ClickOnDetroit.com and upload a 30 second video of their weathercast for a chance to appear on Local4 News Morning to do the weather with Meteorologist Andrew Humphrey, CBM.
Your latest weather forecast is always on the Weather Page of ClickOnDetroit.com and on Local 4 News.
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Hart takes BP as rehab progress inches along
MILWAUKEE -- Corey Hart hit two more milestones Monday in his recovery from right knee surgery but will not be ready to come off the 60-day disabled list when his term expires on May 30, Brewers officials concede.
The 31-year-old first baseman, who hit 30 home runs last season as Milwaukee's five-hole hitter, had hoped to be back in the lineup long ago, but his rehabilitation from the Jan. 25 procedure has taken longer than expected. On Monday, before the Brewers opened a homestand, Hart ran on the field and took full batting practice for the first time this year.
"It's progress," he said. "It's still little by little but you continue to move forward rather than backwards. It's always positive, so hopefully I can get a lot done here this homestand. I'll get enough done where I can actually go on the road with the guys and then hopefully try to find a spot to go play [in a Minor League rehabilitation assignment]."
But that assignment is not expected to begin until a week or so into June, pushing Hart's return to the Major League lineup well into the month.
His running in the outfield on Monday was "awkward," Hart said, but "right now, my knee is stronger than it's been in a long time. Everything I'm doing now is almost like I have to relearn it. My quad has been shut down for so long that leg extensions, that's a chore just because my leg doesn't want to learn. I'll sit there and have to try to force it to move. It's not like my knee is hurting, it just doesn't want to do it. That's the challenging thing. It's awkward just because I'm trying to make my leg go where it's supposed to go. It's kind of frustrating. I'm making strides so I can't complain too much."
The Brewers could use his bat. Alex Gonzalez started the season at first base but has slipped into a reserve role and entered Monday batting .179. Yuniesky Betancourt, who took over, started the season scorching hot and still was tied with Ryan Braun for the team lead in home runs (eight) but entered Monday with only four hits in his last 43 at-bats.
With Hart rehabbing at Miller Park, the team went 2-8 on its recent road trip.
"Right now it's a little more frustrating because the team is not playing as well as we all want," Hart said. "That makes it a little more difficult, like, 'I've got to get back soon because I can get out there and help.' At the same time, I know I can't overdo it because I want to come back and stay on the field instead of having to worry about going back on the DL. Once I'm on the field I'll be 100 percent and ready to go for the rest of the time and not have to worry about that kind of stuff."
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brew Beat, and follow him on Twitter at @AdamMcCalvy. Kevin Massoth is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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A recent donation of two railroad signs adds to the historic Chiefland Depot. The signs were donated by McNulty Realty.
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Access to Capital to Small Businesses in Nebraska Thanks to SBA Loans Continues to Drive Entrepreneurial Growth
$33.5 Million in Loan Volume to Small Businesses in Cornhusker State Over Past Three Months; Up 15% Over Previous Quarter
Omaha, NE – The number of small business loans financed through the SBA proved crucial to start-up and existing small business owners across Nebraska by providing needed access to capital over the 3rd quarter of Fiscal Year 2013, ending June 30.
Over the past three months, the SBA, working with our commercial lender partners, approved 99 loans for $33.5 million in volume for small businesses across the state, a rate which closely matches the previous pre-recessionary participation rate. The number of approvals and the total dollar amount for the 3rd quarter was up 15 percent over the 2nd quarter of Fiscal 2013.
In a continuing sign of confidence in Nebraska's entrepreneurial economy, 45 percent of SBA loan approvals over the past three months went to fund new business ventures in the Cornhusker State; nationwide, that figure normally is between 33 and 40 percent.
As a direct result of SBA-guaranteed small business financing throughout the state over the past three months, more than 460 new jobs are being created in Nebraska, and nearly 740 jobs are being kept on payrolls.
Year to date, small businesses in the state have been approved for 285 SBA guaranteed loans for a total of $94.8 million, supporting the creation of 1,275 new jobs over the past nine months and helping to keep more than 2,100 jobs in the state. This economic activity as a result of small business growth is a crucial sign, considering that according to the SBA's Office of Advocacy, half of all jobs in Nebraska are from companies with fewer than 100 employees.
More SBA loan dollars in Fiscal 2013 have gone to accommodation and food service businesses ($17.8 million) than to any other field in Nebraska, followed by retail trade ($16.8 million), health care and social assistance ($11.2 million) and wholesale trade ($8.826 million). Loans to manufacturing firms have reached $8.822 million in the state.
Nebraska, which ranks fifth nationwide in microloans for small businesses, and experienced 42 percent growth in microlending between Fiscal 2011 to Fiscal 2012, continues to see solid growth in access to capital for start-ups and very small firms.
The SBA's Microloan program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand, providing funds to specially designated intermediary lenders, such as the Omaha Small Business Network, the Lyons-based Rural Enterprise Assistance Project, Community Development Resources of Lincoln and West Central Nebraska Development District of Ogallala. These non-profit, community-based organizations use their experience in lending as well as management and technical assistance in administering the SBA Microloan program for eligible borrowers.
To date in Fiscal Year 2013, small businesses across the state have been approved for 73 SBA microloans for a total of more than $942,000, an average of nearly $13,000 per loan. As a direct result of this financial assistance, 79 new jobs have been created.
"We're proud of our role expanding credit to our entrepreneurs as they establish themselves in the marketplace, grow, and create new jobs across the state," said Leon Milobar, District Director of SBA's Nebraska District Office. "The pace of SBA loan-making and evidence of access to capital improving for small business owners is a healthy sign for Nebraska's economy. It's encouraging to see they are taking advantage of our loan programs in steadily improving numbers. We're finding even with the continuing challenges throughout the economy, we can say for certain that for entrepreneurs in Nebraska, business is good."
SBA-backed loans represent a fraction of small business lending in Nebraska and across the country. However, these loans are closely monitored as an economic indicator of willingness by lenders to extend credit to start-up and existing small businesses.


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Day in the Life: Emily Mortimer
Red-carpet watchers know that Kristen Wiig loves a good nude. Last winter, her series of flesh-toned gowns (see the Oscars and Golden Globes) sparked outcries of both "Best dressed!" and "Boring." But in relation to her outrageous impressions (with which she cracked up the MC fashion team during fittings), Wiig's mastery of the understatement is to be applauded. For our photo shoot, sleek black-and-white ensembles were accented by lace and gothic add-ons. A self-described rock-and-roll type, the comedienne can count muse among her personas. Her musician beau, Fabrizio Moretti, not only stopped by the set for a visit, he also sent flowers. (It's that serious.) Wiig's soundtrack of choice? Pandora tuned to the station of Moretti's band, The Strokes—obviously. When love's involved, everything looks better. —Katie L. Connor
Black top, $695, Emilio Pucci; white top, $28, Calvin Klein Underwear; pants, $2,500, Nina Ricci; shoes, $625, Christian Louboutin; cuff with peak, $690, Tom Binns Design; cuff with black leather, $995, Georg Jensen; earring, Wiig's own. On eyes: Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara in Black.
Boots $499.95, Truth or Dare by Madonna; nordstrom.com.
Blake Lively's Cover Shoot Style


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9' Wood Market Umbrella
10 0
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9' Wood Market Umbrella is rated out of 5 by 94.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Ffej from Market umbrella Great umbrella at a great price. Highly recommend.
Date published: 2013-07-31
Rated 5 out of 5 by Lucyinmontreal from Wood Market Umbrella I was happy to be able to order the Market Umbrella and have it delivered to Canada so easily. The quality of the product and the handling costs to bring the article into Canada was far more advantageous than purchasing it locally. I will be glad to refer the service to my friends . I am looking forward to order more novelty articles offered. Your support staff needs to be complimented for their assistance, Thank you. Montreal, Canada.
Date published: 2012-04-03
Rated 5 out of 5 by Bernito49 from The Blue Umbrella I love it and the color is perfect! Everything now matches wonderfully in my back patio. Everything I have purchased is beautiful and wonderful! Thank you Home Improvements!
Date published: 2015-08-16
Rated 5 out of 5 by ShelterIslander from Great inexpensive, sturdy umbrella Perfect replacement umbrella for a great price. Pulley design to raise & lower the umbrella is simple and seems less inclined to break than crank systems. Heavy wood frame, nice fabric. Assembly is trivial.
Date published: 2012-07-09
Dose the poll have the tilt capabillity
Date published: 2017-07-17
How can I get a replacement pole (the bottom half) for this umbrella?
Thank you for your question. Improvements does not offer replacement parts for this umbrella. The other option would be to contact Customer Service and if the defect was not caused by the consumer and/or if you are within the returns/exchange guidelines they may be able to assist you further by providing you with a replacement umbrella.
Date published: 2013-10-22
Replacement canopy
Hello. Will the 9' Outdoor Sunbrella® Umbrella Replacement Canopy Item #474129 fit this frame?
Hello, this umbrella should fit without a problem with any of our bases. Thank you!
Date published: 2017-07-15
Does this 9' wood umbrella come with the canopy or just the umbrella and pole?
Last year I thought I was purchasing the canopy and pole, but I didn't understand what I was buying and I only received the 9' market canopy. Now I need the umbrella and pole so I can use the canopy.
Thank you for your question. Improvements item # 391402 - 9' wood market umbrella comes together with the canopy and frame and is not or has not in the past been sold separately. Perhaps you purchased the Improvements item # 415328 - Deluxe 9' Replacement Umbrella Canopy? If this is the case, in order to use that replacement canopy, item # 416025 - 9' Deluxe Market Umbrella will have to be purchased and this item includes both the canopy and umbrella frame. It is a different umbrella altogether.
Date published: 2013-10-22
Product:391402-9\' Wood Market Umbrella


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" Brand: ELC / Age: 12 months "
I am a huge fan of Early Learning Centre (ELC) toys. I am always looking out for fun, bright, colourful toys for my tots to play with.
I am across the "bop and go alien" when my 4 year old was a baby. It made me smile and I couldn't resist it.
Stand at approx. 7 inches tall and 7 inches wide (tip of the fingers to the other) This cute little character is a great size for child to grab, pull and push about with.
Our bop and go alien is called Layli, My daughter's attempt to say alien. But I think it's cute.
This lovely Layli is bright and colourful with wobble hands and different colour ears. It's great for help children when there older to learn colours.
So what does this cute little character actually do? Well, he certainly made my day when I first saw him move. Underneath the toy is the one switch, you can move it either left or right one for loud and one for louder! Or you can leave it in the middle position, this position is off. In the centre is a small wheel the turns with 2 little wheels on it. This is what makes the alien move. And placed central at the back of the aliens feet are two small wheels just poking out. This just gives it a little bit more support as it moves. I have noticed that I do get the odd few hairs stick in the wheels but nothing major. Works fine once they have been taken out.
So as the name states its bop and go. So all you need to do to get it to move and sing is by pushing down its head, and ta da it goes. The speaker is located on the rear of the aliens head.
Once you have pushed it down its head it makes some good noises, and plays music with funny alien sounds. I don't know how I would describe and alien sound but I'm sure if you use your imagination you wouldn't be far off. Not only does it play music it goes as well. By going I mean it moves. I have noticed it get stuck on my thick carpet but it does move on thinner carpet and on hard floor. It moves around in all directions but less than an area on 1m square.
And added little feature is that the alien's tummy lights up red when it is working. This is great and give it a little more of its own personality. As its arms are slightly movable as it move sits arms wobble. Both I and the children find this highly amusing to watch.
The colours on the alien are very eye catching and stimulating to young it's also good to strengthen up their eyes as they following the alien around.
The alien takes 2 AA batteries; these are located in the aliens jet pack on its back, this need to be opened with a screwdriver. This gives you peace of mind as you don't have to worry about you little ones accessing the battery compartment and taking them out.
The battery life is good I have had this for over 3 years and only need to replace the batteries ones. It does come with some (for the price I would hope it does.) But they are only display batteries and don't hold a long life span.
This toy is suitable from 12 months plus, as they promote it. I believe it is suitable from approx. 3 months due to baby number 3 loving this from 3 months. She giggles at him as it moves, and plays its music. I have noticed that they have now changed the colours of the alien from the ones in the above picture. They do not look as bright and bold and it does like a bit more of a boys toy now due to the darker colours.
Priced at £15; it's available from Early Learning Centre, Mothercare shop in shop, and also boots. I think it is slightly overpriced for what it is, as children to get bored with toys after a while, Even if it is an all singing and dancing little alien. There will always be something else they have their eye on.
You can also purchase from there website but be warned there is a £4.95 delivery charge or you can order from Mothercare.com and get it delivered to store for collection for free.
I think this was a great investment and having all 3 children play with it has made it even better value for money.
Thank you.
My twins now have numerous toy boxes which are brimming with toys, most of which were Christmas presents. One of the favourites in there is the ELC "Bop and Go" Alien
***What Is It***
The Bop and Go Alien is an alien figure about 25cm high and 20cm wide. He is made from brightly coloured plastic with a flat base and springy arms which move. On the base of the alien there are casters which allow the alien to move. To make the alien move you press down on small antennae on his head which activates him to make strange gibbering type alien sounds and move about in circular movements on the floor. There are also small sections on the alien which light up.
The Bop and Go Alien requires 3 size AA batteries.
ELC state that the Bop and Go Alien is suitable from age 12 months plus. I purchased this for my boys at 11 months and they were able to play with the alien fine. After being shown by me and my partner how to press down on the alien's head to make it move, the boys after a few days were able to do these themselves and took great joy in chasing him around the room.
Personally I feel this is a toy suitable from around 9 months, there are no parts on the toy that can become detached if a young child bites or pulls on. At around 9 months most babies are able to sit and have started to attempt to crawl so the toy is great to encourage mobility.
Obviously for older toddlers the toy is fun but is limited in its appeal as it is so basic in the sense you press its head and it moves on the floor for 10 seconds
The Bop and Go Alien is available from ELC stores and ELC online at www.elc.co.uk. The usual selling price is £13.00 however around Christmas time this toy was in the sale and we purchased it for £10.50.
***Playing with it***
The Bop and Go Alien unlike many other toys that we got at Christmas was relatively easy to take out of the packaging. It was only held into the box by two strings. Once untied it was a case of pulling a tab out of the battery switch and turning the alien on.
The alien has an on off switch, the same style which most ELC toys have. This is the middle setting is off, pushing the switch up is on full volume and pushing this switch on turns the toy to on but only half volume. The alien is not the noisiest toy but personally I feel the half volume setting is preferable as a parent. This means you can still have a conversation and hear over the toy, which is particularly helpful if you have another child playing in the room with another toy.
To play with the alien you have to push down on a small antenna on his head and the alien is activated. For around 10 seconds the alien moves in circular movements spinning around, making gurgling type alien noises and lights up. My boys found this hilarious and immediately started to chase after the alien. When they first started to play with this toy at 11 months I had to set the alien off but within a few days they understood to press the head and the alien will move. Pressing down on the head is relatively easy; it does not require a lot of force or even for a child to do.
The alien moves around on smooth flooring such as laminate and tiles very easily and even when it bumps into other objects it continue to move. The alien also moves fine, just not as fast on short pile carpet. I have found that when playing with this toy in the boys bedroom on their rug which is longer pile carpet the alien is not so effective and does not really move which is very frustrating for children.
In terms of learning the Bop and Go Alien does not boast a wealth of learning features; it is definitely more of a fun toy. It develops children's hand eye coordination skills to be able to push down on the head to operate. It also encourages physical mobility for children to chase after the alien. In fact I would say my lazier twin even chases after this toy which if he can help it he only moves if he absolutely has too! For older children and toddlers the Bop and Go Alien probably has limited appeal once they have pressed it and made it move because it is so basic. The toy is probably more engaging and attractive for children from about 9-18 months.
This is a very durable toy. Bop and Go Alien as expected has taken quite a bashing. He is known as whack and go alien in this house as both boys smack their hand down on his head to operate. He has also been dropped and still is in full working order and looks as new. The springy arms are also in excellent condition and have no visible marks on despite being chewed on.
Batteries wise I have found that the alien does go through batteries quite quickly. My boys have been playing with this toy daily for just under two months and I have had to replace the batteries once.
This is a brightly coloured fun toy from ELC which both my boys love. Both take great pleasure in whacking the alien on the head and chasing him around on the floor whilst giggling loudly. Based on that I would say my boys definitely recommend this toy.
The Bop and Go Alien also doesn't boast many "learning features". Once children have mastered how to make him go by pressing down on his head, chasing him around is the only real play game.
The Bop and Go Alien like many ELC toys is very durable and made to a very high quality so excellent value for money. My only reservations are that to play with on longer pile carpet or uneven surfaces the alien is less effective and moves a lot slower than it does on smooth surfaces like our laminate floor.
For £10 my boys would recommend it!
My daughter had the Bop and Go Alien as a gift for her first Christmas bought mainly as it was noisy her Uncle doesn't seem to grasp the phrase what goes around comes around! I have to be honest this is one toy I am unable to pass on and it is kept ready for the younger cousins and friends as it really is a great toy
What is it?
Well the Bop and Go Alien is a rather cute plastic Alien with a green face and a red antenna you push this down and he makes different alien noises and moves around and spins.
Cost and Stockist
This is an Early learning centre toy so is available direct from their stores or website www.elc.co.uk or from branches of mothercare and Boots. He is available for £13.00 however if you register for their Birthday Club then you get a 20% off voucher near your child's Birthday and special vouchers for Christmas.
Why buy it?
We love Be Bop Alien (our name) and indeed have bought this for gifts as we all think this is a great toy it is great for developing Co-ordination and also for development of the senses.
I would not hesitate to recommend this toy it is great fun both my children loved and their cousins all love this toy as well I really think it has Alien powers as when ever any visiting child has a tantrum I get this out and hey presto all over they all become happy children chasing the Alien!
I truly love this toy I think it looks great and is lots of fun for the little ones to chase after a great gift for any 1-to 2 year old.
This is a lovely little kids toy and my little boy has enjoyed playing with it since he was 7 months old.
I think this costs about £12.50 and even though it seems a little on the expensive side I think it is worth the money. It is a lovely bright coloured alien and I think it appeals to both girls and boys. It says from 12 months on it but my little boy has been playing with it since he was 7 months old and has always enjoyed it.
It works when you press down on its head and it moves around the floor and makes alien noises as it moves and lights flash inside its stomach. It has always made my son giggle and now he is older he presses it himself to make it move.
I think it works very well because I have it on laminate flooring but it does not move very well on carpet so that is something to be aware of if you are thinking of buying this.
It is a very strong and sturdy toy and feels very good quality and well made. Ours has been thrown about all over the floor and still looks as good as new so I think it is a toy that will last through a few kids. It requires batteries but we have had ours for almost a year now and the batteries that came with it are still going strong so I am really pleased with it.
It is a simple toy that is fun to play with but now my son is 18 months old it doesn't hold his attention for as long as it used to but I still think it is a good buy.
I bought this "Bop and Go" alien for my son's first birthday as he has developed a love of things which move.
His favourite thing is to watch mummy or daddy running around the garden and he loves seeing Mister Maker on Cbeebies as he races around his home.
So, I figured that this toy which will spin around the room would be a hit.
** Packaging and Price
It comes in an open fronted cardboard box with wire lengths to hold it in place. The packaging is not excessive and is easy enough to open.
It cost £12.50 at an Early Learning Centre store and is also available online at www.elc.co.uk. ELC also have some mothercare concessions although I'm not sure if this is a line they carry.
** The Toy
The alien is approx 6" high and 6" wide. He is made of a durable plastic with springy moveable arms. On the bottom he has 4 castors - 2 are straight and 2 move in a circular motion. When you press the alien's head he moves around on these castors, spinning around and off to the nearest wall/chair or whatever stops him.
** What I like about this toy.
It's good fun and as expected my baby loves watching it move around and bopping it on the head to make it go again.
It has sounds which are quite funny, but as with all toys are starting to get a bit irritating for me! His body also flashes which gives it more play value for baby.
** What I don't like about this toy.
It doesn't work on carpet or uneven surfaces. We have flagstones in our hall/kitchen and he gets stuck in the grooves, so we can only really use in rooms with wood flooring which is a bit limiting.
Watch him move around and make sounds. Chase after him for another go


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If you're not familiar with Cellfire, read my previous Cellfire post for all the details. Basically they are coupons that you load to your grocery store loyalty card which automatically come off at checkout. The easiest thing to do is to load any that you think you might possibly use and then they'll be there even if you forget about them. Here are the items that have coupons available this month:
Morton's Season Salt
Fruit Loops
Apple Jacks
Frosted Flakes
Corn Pops
Hamburger Helper
Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters
Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix
Fiber One Chewy Bars
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Lucky Charms
Chex Mix
Yoplait Fiber One Multipacks
Yoplait Cups
Yoplait Delight Multipacks
Nature Valley Granola Bars
Wheaties Fuel cereal
The Morton's Season Salt would probably be one of my first choices. We just discovered Grilled Potato "Chips" and seasoned salt is a key ingredient. It's just such a versatile item to keep in your spice rack.
Well, Cellfire has some new things they're introducing this month. One was the Cellfire Cinderella coupon which was available for a short time at the beginning of the month. Once loaded it gave you an automatic $1.00 off your next grocery trip. They have promised to make more Cinderella coupons available in differing amounts, just watch for the announcements. Along with a large selection of coupons Recipes for Moms readers have the opportunity to enter to win a $100 gift card to the grocery store of their choice provided by Cellfire.
Required Entry:
Additional Entries:
- Go to Cellfire and load as many coupons as you would like onto your grocery card. Leave a comment with how many you loaded. (1 entry regardless of how many are loaded)
- Read the Stand-By Meal Planning post. Leave a comment there then come back here and leave a comment telling me you did so. (Clear as mud, right?)
- Read the Best Recipes with Brownie Mix post. Leave a comment or link up there then come back here and leave a comment telling me you did so.
- Find a recipe from Recipes for Moms you plan to try with your family and leave a comment telling me which recipe.
- Grab my button and add it to your site. Please let me know where I can find it. (If you already have it, that counts too.)
- Blog, post info, tweet or otherwise publicize this giveaway and link back to this post. Again, let me know where I can find it. (1 entry allowed for each form of publicity)
- "Like" Recipes for Moms on Facebook. (If you already do, that counts.)
- Subscribe to Recipes for Moms by E-mail. Please make sure you activate your subscription by clicking the activate link in the initial e-mail. If you already subscribe, just leave a comment saying so.
Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your e-mail address if it is not available on your profile. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the contest will end on Friday, June 25th at midnight (Mountain Time). After I contact the winner, they will have 48 hours to get back to me or another winner will be chosen. Good luck! I reserve the right to delete entries that do not adhere to the entry rules.
*Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Cellfire who will provide the $100 grocery gift card. I have the opportunity to receive $25 grocery gift card based off the number of Cellfire coupons loaded through my posts. All opinions are my own.


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Yesterday we told you a bit about the book, Quilting for Peace, and our plans to follow through with a little sewing activism of our own. We also told Katherine Bell, the author of Quilting for Peace, about Team Sew,Mama,Sew!. We know that it feels good to make something and give it away, but we thought we'd get Katherine's take on why it's important. So we asked her, "why make things to give to charity? Why not just give money?"
Katherine's response:
While I was writing this book, I thought a lot about why sewing — and even more generally making things that could easily be bought — is such an incredibly effective way of helping people in need. Why is a quilt, for example, so much more valuable a gift than a store-bought blanket of equal size and weight or, for that matter, a check for the cost of that blanket?
Here's what I learned from the inspiring and thoughtful crafters I interviewed for the book:
It's about treating people like family and creating a small piece of home. Most of the quilting groups I profiled that make quilts for homeless people specify that volunteers should put as much effort into the making of each quilt as they would into quilts for members of their own family. This is counterintuitive in a way – why wouldn't you just make quilts as quickly as possible, so you could give more of them to people in need? But as Pascha Griffiths, who started Beloved Quilts (www.belovedquilts.org) explained to me, "You wouldn't skimp on a quilt you were making for your parent or your child," and by not skimping on a quilt for a stranger, you wrap that person in love and respect as well as warmth. When people are displaced from their homes – in battered women's shelters and refugee camps, for example — possessing a small piece of handmade, useful beauty can come to represent home for them, and that brings infinitely more hope than a barebones blanket. The uniqueness of each quilt is important, too. According to the director of an orphanage in Thailand, quilts donated to the children are not only often the only bright spots in an otherwise dreary place; they're also often the only possessions that belong to the children alone, the only things they don't have to share with anybody else.
Quilts are remarkably good at transferring the message that something — or someone — matters. A young veteran suffering from PTSD wrote in a thank-you note to the Quilts of Valor (www.qovf.org) volunteer who'd made him a quilt, "What really moved me about the quilt was the personal touch. My quilt isn't another military medal to be placed in a box and sat on a shelf, but something that was given to me by a woman I may never have the pleasure of meeting, just because she cared…It's the love and warmth that went into every stitch of the quilt that brings me comfort." Again and again, I heard that quilters poured their concern and care and outrage over injustice into the quilts they made and that the recipients of those quilts — wounded soldiers, children in orphanages in China and Africa, the survivors of Hurricane Katrina — felt the warmth and intensity of the quiltmakers' feelings. And there's a long history of this. During the Civil War, Northern women stitched more than a quarter million quilts for the Union troops, as well as uniforms, socks, pillows, and bed-ticks (makeshift mattresses). Their efforts were practical and essential — without them, many more soldiers would have died. But they also reminded the men that people at home worried for them. One woman pinned this note to the quilt she sent to a stranger: "My son is in the army. Whoever is made warm by this quilt, which I have worked on for six days and most of six nights, let him remember his mother's love."
Susannah Pullen's Civil War Quilt from the Smithsonian Collection
Giving is one of the greatest pleasures of crafting. So this month please make something for someone you will probably never meet, someone who needs not just a blanket but hope and dignity and love.
Someone hand me a tissue. Thanks so much, Katherine. That was beautiful and inspirational!
If you'd like to read more about Quilting for Peace, Katherine, and her writing process, check out some of the recent interviews with her on these other great blogs:
STC Craft (the publisher)
Please join us tomorrow when we'll tell you about Wrap Them in Love and our first Quilting for Peace Team Sew,Mama,Sew! project.
» Sew Good (Charity Sewing) » Katherine Bell talks about crafting and...
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15 Responses to Katherine Bell talks about crafting and giving
Wonderful insights. Can't wait to see the first project tomorrow!
I am just now going through her book and I have been inspired to contribute. I think the idea for the book was excellent.
Beautiful blog, beautiful project . . . the true spirit of Christmas (LOVE) is alive here! I've got to purchase this book and I need to get busy with sewing a "quilt with purpose and love". Thanks for such inspiration!
Inspiring! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, chicas, put a warning on this post–I didn't expect SMS to stir up so much emotion! Thanks for sharing the inspiration; and for reminding me of the impact hand-made can have on the world.
Ideas are swirling and fabric is calling to be cut.
What a touching story. Can't wait to get this book and I think it will make a good gift for a couple of quilters in my life too.
So, so true. And it makes the person who is making the donation feel a strong connection to the recipient. It's all about human contact and love. So very powerful.
What a beautiful and inspiring story! Thanks for posting!
What a moving interview! I already have a quilt that I want to give. It's small but I think it would be perfect for a small child needing some comfort or a baby needing some warmth. Thanks, Katherine and everyone at sewmamsew, for an inspiring endeavor! God Bless.
What a wonderful story. Living by a miltary base we see these soliders all the time, and it's heart warming, knowing they get something of comfort.
how beautiful! i've read the book multiple times since i bought it and i cry almost every time. katherine is truly inspiring and bringing all the ways we can help others is even better.
i'm looking forward to tomorrow's post!
Wow–sometimes we forget just how much a handmade gift can mean. Thank you for reminding me of what I can do with the gifts God has given me–I can make someone's day brighter and heart fuller.
love, love, love this write up!! it inspires me to want to start something big. to want to help those around the world. it is unimaginable just how many of those in need ms. bell has given to through the inspiration she has given to people like myself!
Oh how beautiful!
I've always wanted to do something like this.. Now I'm sure I will do it and I'm sure to be on the right path. Thank you so much. I will spread the word!
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