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The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) held their yearly trade show at the Las Vegas Convention Center this last November, and drew over 2,000 auto parts and equipment companies and more than 125,000 attendees during the four day event. The show had anything and everything that you could imagine for the automotive world, as the industry's top designers all enjoyed the chance to display their latest creations and merchandise.
Lowrider Magazine looks forward to participating in this show every year, and we eagerly set up our Semi-Trailer as soon as we got to the show. Aztec served as our calling card, as we featured two of the nation's top rides under the Lowrider awning. The first on display, hauled up to Vegas from Baldwin Park, California, was Luis Lemus' latest Impala. The car, nicknamed "Sinful Sin," is a '64 Impala that has been customized from the wheels to the paint. This '64 had everyone talking and taking pictures, thanks to its custom grill and custom panels from undercover innovations. Mike and Ulani Thiessen from Good Times C.C. proudly displayed their custom '63 Impala under our awning as well. The Pearled-out, Candy-painted Impala represented for the Good Times Vegas chapter and the Lowriding community as well.
The show had a few Lowriders that were spread throughout the show; one of them was Michael Grey of UCE Car Club's "Sin Sixty." The fire engine-red convertible was the envy of many of its beholders as it stood on display at the Car Crazy stage. Vegas local Adrian "Big Hefty" Damian of the Desireable Ones C.C. brought out his '82 Cadillac Brougham which showed off the luxury side of Lowriding thanks to its fine wine taste and even finer lined pinstripes that accented this Pearled-out Caddy. David Georgette's '62 Impala also made the Motor Trend proving ground, which was organized by Elliot Moran, who took on the task of displaying nearly 100 of the magazine's best cars in the market.
Another first for House of Kolor was the invitation of legendary artist, Fonzy, who hung out with the industry's best, and put out some classy airbrush panels using all the newest-to-code HOK paints. On the subject of firsts, the Meguairs Company chose to use a Lowrider, which was a first for the 100 plus-year-old car care company. The car that they used was Jose Alvarez' '72 Monte Carlo, "Fatal Attraction," which was displayed at their a custom platform that really accented the elegance of the custom Monte Carlo. This car set the bar in standards for their booth, as it helped show that Lowriders are all about the 5.20s and the deep-paint finish.
This year the 2010 Camaro dominated the floor as one of the show's favorite cars on display throughout the booths. With that said, LS technology has grown quite a bit in a year. We saw items that included all new wiring harnesses and computers from manufacturers like Holley, who took the bull by the horns, and casted a six quart aluminum oil pan that was shallow enough to allow users to keep their oil filters. March Performance stepped to the plate with LS brackets, and by offering some of their line up of fully chrome plated products for the Lowrider market as well. Dakota Digital always has new products that apply to our market, and when we spoke to them, they gave us the heads up about their plans to make gauges for the first gen Rivieras.
In the past, you've heard us talk about how some cars have turned into kit cars, including Cars Inc's '57 BelAir convertible or the first generation Camaros. In response, GM has stepped in with a crate engine system, designed to help old customs with their new engines pass even the strictest of smog laws, including California's. The LS3 is equipped with catalytic converters and a canister, required to help the modern engine pass the smog laws and keep your classic running smoothly. They also launched a 5.3 engine with the same concept, giving the builders the choices that they desire.
Other items that were new and hot included the re-invention of the 5.20, as Coker redesigned and created a whole new tire for our market. The new 13 and 14-inch 5.20 was improved, as it went from a two-ply tire to a four-ply tire, allowing it to have less stress and a safer ride. The 13-inch was also modified to look like the 14-inch model, giving you more traction with its new flat top surface. The whitewalls will be staying white and clean, as the better materials are used on this tire which will be sure to be a favorite in our community.
There were so many exciting new products at this show, including those made by MSD, who introduced their line of coil packs for the GM LS engines. Be Cool also introduced a whole new line of entry level aluminum radiators to fill a big void in that market. If you're getting into metal fabricating, then the Miller Plasma that was introduced at the show is a must-have. This compact cutter is perfect for the weekend enthusiast or for use at the professional level.
This year's Las Vegas SEMA show came and went as quickly as it usually does. It's crazy how this show has gotten bigger and bigger, ever since the first year I attended, and it seems as if you miss a year, you'll miss out on quite a few things. Now, take a look at some of the latest products that caught our eye at this year's SEMA Convention.


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Cross-sucking among dairy heifers can occur both before and after weaning. However, it is most often seen during the 10 to 15 minutes immediately following milk feeding of pre-weaned calves.
The impact of cross-sucking on heifer mastitis makes it an important issue to monitor on your operation. A March 2012 Journal of Dairy Science article lists control of cross-sucking as one of 10 farm-specific interventions that should be in place on any farm to prevent and control heifer mastitis.
Sam Leadley, calf management specialist with Attica Veterinary Associates in western New York, discussed ways to control cross-sucking in calves and heifers in his September Calving Ease newsletter.
"Cross-sucking is considered abnormal behavior," Leadley writes. "It is not observed in calf-dam pairs."
Here are some practices that can help minimize this behavior:
- House calves individually rather than in groups.
- In a group-housing system, use headlocks at feeding stations and keep calves restrained for 10 to 15 minutes after milk feeding.
- Regardless of feeding method (mob vs. ad lib acidified vs. automatic) the availability of a teat to suck on can reduce cross-sucking.
- Observe calves frequently, watching for repetitive behavior to identify calves exhibiting cross-sucking behavior.
- Among weaned-calf pairs, there are devices that can be used on both calves to stop sucking behavior. "Try searching the Internet using dairy calf weaner'," Leadley says. A quick Google search yielded options like a lightweight, plastic anti-sucking device that can be attached to a calf's nose to deter sucking.
Cross-sucking in dairy calves and heifers is not something to ignore. Its impact on the udder health of heifers makes prevention and control efforts hugely important in calf and heifer management programs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Last week's Los Altos City Council meeting was downright surreal. The few visitors on hand should be forgiven for pinching themselves to make sure that what they saw was really happening.
First, a city-paid consultant-mediator type asked councilmembers and city staffers to say something nice about each other during the meeting, a continuation of last month's council retreat.
Any lessons learned from this kindness exercise were short-lived. Councilwoman Val Carpenter subsequently proceeded to rattle off a laundry list of transgressions committed by City Manager Marcia Somers and Assistant City Manager James Walgren, much like a schoolteacher addressing naughty children.
Carpenter was not completely unjustified in expressing her disappointment with staff. She rightfully noted that approval for fairly large projects on public property, such as the two-story storage shed at the Los Altos History Museum, should have come before the council. We also can understand her frustration with finding out about the project approval from a resident instead of city staff.
However, the level of ire directed at staff and the belaboring of her points served to undermine Carpenter's position.
Walgren and Somers admitted that the staff had erred in approving the History Museum storage shed, but the lengthy public reprimand was inappropriate.
Unlike the "I'm OK, you're OK" waste of time that began the meeting, the topic of staff limits on approvals was a worthwhile discussion point. It's too bad that Carpenter's histrionics ended up making her look petty while the city staffers' humility made them look like they were on trial.
One small consolation: The special meeting was not televised, sparing Carpenter and the rest of the council further embarrassment.


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HARD / PLASTIC CASE: If you are looking for a cute case with a budget in mind this will work for you. The plastic shell covers mainly the sides and the back of the phone. This sleek and lightweight case is the perfect way to show off your custom style. The white custom area of the phone covers just back, sides will be colored from shell. Made from metal and plastic. Our iPhone cases are made individually using the latest printing technique.The design is printed on transfer paper and then fixed with pressure and heat to the product, where the ink reacts with the special coating of the product. Products printed by thermal sublimation are vibrant, and more resistant to scratching and UV light.


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SECOND Division champions Lacock FC remain on course to retain the Chantry Digital Ltd-sponsored Knockout Cup after ending Worton & Cheverell's hopes of reaching a second successive final.
Lacock, who beat Worton 4-1 to lift the cup last term, defeated Paul Sperring's side 5-0 to set up a meeting with Westbury United Reserves, who they are also set to meet in the A&B Cup final as they continue their assault on all four competitions this term.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, Simon Gray who won the player of the final award last term, proved to be the undoing of Worton yet again.
Gray was on hand to put Lacock one up on 59 minutes. Jake Marshall made things a little more comfortable for Lacock when he headed home to double the holders' advantage in the 66th minute.
With Worton now chasing the game it left huge gaps at the back and on 75 minutes Andy Wilkins made it 3-0 before two minutes later Gray got on the end of a superb Lacock team move to score his second and the villagers' fourth which finally put the tie out of the reach of Worton.
To add the icing to the Lacock cake, Liam Shipman rifled home a sublime strike from 40 yards that capped a fine all-round team performance from Joe Martin and Martin Bradfield's side who look as if they are going to take some stopping as they go in search of a quadruple of trophies.
TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport


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Her diary and computer are full of evidence of mind-numbing cruelty by the other girls. Some urged her to commit suicide.
In December, Sedwick was hospitalized for three days after cutting her wrists. At the time, she said she did so because of bullying.
So pervasive was the harassment at her middle school that finally, her mother withdrew her and began home-schooling the girl.
The enormous amount of bullying Sedwick suffered — and the sometimes public manner in which it was delivered — poses a question: How was it that no one did anything effective to stop the harassment?
Most school systems have anti-bullying programs and policies. Almost undoubtedly, so did the district in which Sedwick attended school.
But the little girl is dead, a victim of vicious bullies who had to have known the danger in what they were doing.
Again, how could it have happened? Administrators and teachers in local school districts should think about that, and about whether anti-bullying programs in this area really are effective.
We don't want a dead child to be our wake-up call that we weren't doing enough.


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In a tournament the PDGA Rules give you 30 seconds to make a shot. In a casual round you should get 20 seconds. In a casual round where the mosquitoes are vicious and swarming ( like we have experienced the last month or so) you should get 7 seconds.
When you are standing around, waiting and waiting and waiting, you might as well just go to the Red Cross and donate. An article in a local paper claimed the mosquitoes were worse this year than the last decade. Maybe, maybe not but I know they are TERRIBLE. Even Deet is no real protection.
So c'mon, you don't really need to play slowly. Your best protection from the damn mosquitoes is movement ( and swinging your towel around your head constantly) so let's all develop a little efficiency.


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Choose from Three Options
- $29 for four pole-dancing or aerial-yoga classes (up to $100 value)
- $29 for a 50-minute massage with foot scrub, valid at the Winter Garden location ($75 value)
- $59 for eight pole-dancing or aerial-yoga classes (up to $200 value)
See the full class schedule here.
Allure Dance Massage, MA35709
Allure Dance Studio
JoAnne, or "JoJo," discovered her love of dance at the age of 5 through ballet, jazz, and gymnastics training. She founded Allure Dance Studio—which she considers to be a women-only club rather than a fitness center—to empower women with confidence while helping them make strides toward healthier lifestyles and toned physiques.
She and her team of instructors, which is made up of gymnasts, professional dancers, and aerial-silks performers, teach women to unleash their inner vixens while carving long and lean muscles with a diverse roster of pole-dance, sultry dance, and inventive fitness classes. Taught amid stage-like lighting and ambiance, gals boost their self-confidence and upper-body strength through seductive spins, choreography, and climbs. To prepare for class, ladies should wear a tank top, shorts, and high heels with an ankle strap in lieu of steel-toe boots. Instructors can help clients further hone their skills and overall fitness through customized workouts in one-on-one personal-training sessions and private lessons. Allure Dance Studio captures ladies at their most glamorous with boudoir photography and flirty party packages that teach women to strut their stuff with burlesque moves, classic striptease, belly dancing, and parakeet mating calls.


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HAYWARD — Police have started a systematic attack on burglaries and robberies in the city by increasing the number of officers in neighborhoods where those crimes most frequently occur.
Almost 100 residents showed up at a meeting Tuesday to hear about the strategy to reduce crime in the North Hayward area, which had 67 residential burglaries, robberies and car burglaries during a three-week period in November and December.
Lt. Dave Lundgren told the gathering that police were narrowing in on a 15-block area around A Street and Mission Boulevard, where 14 such crimes occurred. The area has several businesses but also includes a number of residences north of A and near BART.
"For 30 days, we want all officers to focus on this neighborhood," he said. When police are not on calls, they will be parked in the area filling out reports, walking the neighborhood and enforcing traffic laws to increase their visibility.
"We believe we will see a reduction in crime," Lundgren said. "You should see an increased police presence."
Police tried a similar approach, increasing their presence this fall in the Spring Drive area in South Hayward. Burglaries dropped from four in a three-week period to zero.
"It's an experiment. But this is a data-driven approach that we think is a better use of our resources," Lundgren said. In February, police will look at the data to gauge their success and decide the next step.
Lt. Mark Koller said a new computer system is allowing police to better analyze crime data to figure out how to best prevent crime. But he stressed the importance of educating residents on how to avoid becoming a victim, such as not leaving valuables in a car.
Several people at the meeting wanted to know what police were doing about the problems downtown, especially along B Street. Lundgren pointed out after the meeting that B Street was in the area being blanketed.
"We can only be at so many places," he told residents and merchants. "You're our eyes and ears."
He and Koller both encouraged residents to call police when they saw suspicious or criminal activity.
Crime prevention specialist Mary Fabian gave tips on how to prevent residential burglaries, including responding when someone knocks on the door. "You don't have to open the door, but let them know you're there."
She said that burglars commonly knock on doors and then break into homes where no one answers.
Contact Rebecca Parr at 510-293-2473 or follow her at Twitter.com/rdparr1.


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We do not engage in buying or selling. We feel that having no financial interest in the property being appraised allows us to provide our clients with unbiased appraisal reports free of any conflicts of interest.
We also recognize the importance of reports that are written by appraisers who have been educated and trained in appraisal theory, principles and methodology and who perform appraisal practice assignments in accordance with the performance and ethical standards of USPAP as promulgated by The Appraisal Foundation of Washington DC.
Unlike real estate appraisers, there is no licensing requirements for personal property appraisers. Interview any prospective appraiser and make the effort to learn more about them and the quality of the services they provide. Here are some questions to ask when interviewing a prospective appraiser.


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First-time skiers can hit the slopes at a wide choice of resorts Jan. 22-29 or March 19-26 completely free of charge.
The Association of SnowSports Countries has put together this beginners' ski package to encourage wannabie skiers to give it a try.
First-time skiers can benefit from free tuition, lift passes, and equipment hire for a period of one week, when they book a holiday with one of the six participating tour operators: Crystal Ski, First Choice Snow, Frontier Ski, Ingams, Ski Norway, and Thomson Ski.
Choose from more than 25 resorts across seven countries, including Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig, Soldeu el Tarter, Pal-Arinsal, and Arcalis in Andorra; Cervinia, Courmayeur, La Thuile, Pila, and Monterosa in the Aosta Valley, Italy; Big Whit, Mont St Anne, and Silver Star in Canada; Levi, Ruka, and Salla in Finland; Tignes, Val Thorens, Morzine, Courchevel, Avoriaz, and Les Menuires in France; Geilo, Hafjell, and Hemsedal in Norway; and Zermatt, Saas-Fee, St. Moritz, Davos-Klosters, Grindelwald, Muerren, Wengen, and Verbier in Switzerland.
Book before Jan. 31 for the chance to enter into a prize draw to have the whole cost of your ski holiday paid for, including air travel, transfers, accommodation, lessons, equipment rental, and lift pass. The competition is open to ages 18 and over and the prize must be taken March 19-26.


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However, to me the GOE bullets are supposed to set absolute standards, not to to compare one skater to another.
In category 3, "varied position in the air / delayed rotations," I know what that means even if no skater has ever done it on a quad attempt. Dorothy Hamill had a great delayed single Axel. Brian Boitano did a triple Lutz with a hand over his head and Adam Rippon does it with two hands up. These are "varied positions." Neither Patrick or anyone else has done this for a quad, so neither Patrick nor anyone else deserves credit for this bullet.
For criterion 1), again, I don't think anyone, Patrick or otherwise, has ever done, say, a hydroplane into a quad. Matt Savoie used to do a hydroplane into a triple Lutz. That would earn this bullet, IMHO.
For 2), Patrick's skating just before his solo quad and his triple Axel was great, but I would have a quibble about the language "immediately preceding." How immediate is immediate? I could find example of skaters doing lesser jumps (Johnny Weir had a sort of spiral into a triple Lutz) in which the immediacy is more immediate.
Again, the question is not whether anyone did it better, but whether Patrick or anyone else satisfied the requirement for the bullet.
What struck me about the wording for requirements 4, 5, and 6, is that the skater merely has to be "good" in the areas of height and distance, extension, and flow. Certainly Patrick, like many others, is "good" in these areas. To me it seems like the wording should be changed to "outstanding."


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These days I really do find myself torn between two opposing worlds, each with their own specific allure. One is the attack-dog-type stock research I thoroughly enjoy. Here, it would be wiser to stick with principles I've learned and ignore anything resembling the word "macro," including a Federal Reserve statement. The other is the rationalization of newsy events for purposes of column-authoring. Here, a Fed rate decision overshadows whatever research I've done, because every second the market is open for business is a moment to cover new clues on the next direction for stocks.
Amid this, throughout this weeks-long rally I have dissected the merits behind numerous market-top calls. doubted the strength and sustainability of corporate earnings, I've watched the Street lick up lame macroeconomic data -- which is apparently OK as it's not super lame. Now we have the Fed piping in its two cents into a market that is looking for an excuse to blow off some steam -- honestly, I could spot a bunch of key stocks I follow that appear to be showing exhaustion.
Since the Fed is in fact the engineer of the stock rally, the question is: Did these policymakers' contribution alter the backdrop for stocks at the start of February? Let's compile the evidence.
Growth 'Paused'
With the use of this terminology, the Fed has brought forward fear that the pace of growth will lead the way to another gross domestic product contraction in the first quarter. The market is supported by a completely different logic.
While we are on this topic, I must give a head-shake to people stripping out items from the dreadful GDP report to fit their own long book. Government cutbacks negatively influence the economy and should not be disregarded, especially since they will be with us for the foreseeable future. Same goes for a major storm – those Generac (GNRC) generated were an unplanned, charged expense that is still being paid off.
'In Large Part'
In other words, the sluggishness of the economy is not entirely due to weather, and rears its ugly head once more despite extra, extra, extra accommodation. The market will interpret this as diminishing returns to the Fed's #EaseOn mantra -- a counter to a belief, currently embedded in stock prices, that the central bank is a persistent pumper of higher-risk asset prices.
'Unemployment Gradually Decline'
This is simply not the scenario the market has priced into stock valuations -- which, on a price-to-earnings basis, are nearing their average since 1954. It's also opposite to the rising optimism on employment, based on initial-claims data. Broadly speaking, the Fed is utilizing its market muscle to foster stock gains that may not be well-deserved, in "large part" as the real economy continues to underwhelm.
So this is the action plan, since I know you are probably feeling rather cornered after cashing in those CDs and phoning the broker for the first time since 2009. Maintain your core exposure to stocks but take profits on positions that have run, and don't make too many of those extra trades designed to maximize the return of your portfolio. In my view, this is an appropriate action as we head into the slower news month of February -- and in light of the recent spate of developments, which have been slightly more negative overall vs. mid-January.


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This article, entitled "New Guidelines Recommend Against Annual Pelvic Exams," comes from Liz Hayes, MomsEveryday correspondent from Central Wisconsin.
Each year, women head to their gynecologist for a yearly pelvic exam… but new guidelines from the American College of Physicians recommend against annual pelvic exams for healthy, non-pregnant women.
The ACP reviewed 50 years worth of studies and found that the risks posed by pelvic exams may outweigh the benefits for most healthy women. Some pelvic exams can result in false positives, leading to unnecessary tests and procedures.
Pelvic exams can help detect early signs of cancer, sexually transmitted infections and other conditions. Many physicians still believe a full pelvic exam is a critical part of gynecologic care and will continue recommending them.
Despite the new guidelines from the ACP, it's important you talk to your doctor to determine what is best for your care.


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Topic: Mom Having Trouble Forming Thoughts
Mom just finished her first round of radiation and chemo last Friday. We have been having some trouble getting her to eat while in treatment and now that she is done, it seems even harder to get her to eat anything. We had the doctor prescribe and appetite stimulant and they gave her Marinol. Marinol seemed to just make her loopy and never seemed to increase her appetite. Not sure if this is a side effect from her radiation, the Gemzar or that Marinol, but for the last few days she has had trouble forming complete thoughts and staying on topic. We will be talking and I have no idea what she is talking about. This has been really scary and I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this themselves or with someone they are caring for. I am also wondering if it is due to her low food intake as well. Any thoughts you can provide are greatly appreciated.


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by Phillip D. Collins ©, Aug. 31st, 2005
Recently, the London Zoo welcomed a new addition to its collection of animals: man. Sequestered within the zoo's bear enclosure, eight scantly dressed human beings "monkeyed around for the crowds" (Vinograd, no pagination). Affixed to the entrance to the exhibit was a sign reading: "Warning: Humans in their Natural Environment" (no pagination). Associated Press journalist Cassandra Vinograd describes the rationale underpinning the exhibit:
Tom Mahoney, 26, decided to participate after his friend sent him an e-mail about the contest as a joke. Anything that draws attention to apes, he said, has his support.
"A lot of people think humans are above other animals," he told The Associated Press. "When they see humans as animals, here, it kind of reminds us that we're not that special." Mark Ainsworth, 21, heard about the Human Zoo on the news.
"I've lived in this country for nine years and have never come to a zoo," said Ainsworth. "This exhibit made us come to the zoo. Humans are animals too!" (no pagination)


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Data Stories is Gnip's opportunity to tell the cool stories about the data scientists, data journalists and other people working in social data. This week we're interviewing Rumi Chunara, Instructor at Harvard Medical School and HealthMap and Big Boulder speaker, about her work using social data to identify epidemics. Rumi has a background in building biological sensors, and that has translated in an interest in using social media data and other informal sources of data to identify epidemics. In addition to her work with HealthMap, Rumi was part of a study showing how Twitter could help identify cholera outbreaks in Haiti. You can follow her on Twitter at @rumichunara.
1. You're currently trying to use social data to identify health epidemics. How did you get started doing this, and what was your career path to get there?
During school I studied engineering, and my research involved building portable bio-sensors. One idea behind this was to making measurements typically done in laboratories possible outside of where that infrastructure is available. I thought the concept is really neat and useful, but realized that the types of tools and technologies we can build will always be changing and getting better. So I decided to start working on how we can bring together all of these novel information sources together, and how we can use them to improve health for populations.
2. What has been the success of HealthMap in identifying epidemics? What do you see as the future of systems like HealthMap?
It's neat to see how HealthMap has become a pioneer in demonstrating the value of informally collected health information. This has meant demonstrating what types of information can be used and how it can be aggregated and analyzed. By demonstrating that informal sources have added value, whether that is in giving an earlier signal, allowing more detailed understanding of a disease outbreak, or reaching more people, in the future I think we will accept and look to other new sources for health, that in aggregate can become extraordinarily valuable.
3. What are some of the different methods you've used to help understand epidemics?
Our research group began using informal data such as Internet search queries, news media and data from mobile phones for monitoring and understanding disease outbreaks. Later, at HealthMap we have expanded to also using other sources such as data from social media. Beyond harnessing existing data and looking for health information, we are also building other systems to specifically ask people about their health, via the Internet. The beauty of this type of surveillance is that it works and has value wherever people can access the Internet, which can be in many parts of the world. As well, social media is suited for understanding the spread of disease because it helps identify where you are and whom you are connected to, and can reach a lot of people, which are all important in spread of disease!
4. Your research work has found that Twitter could have helped identify outbreaks of cholera in Haiti? What were the takeaways on using social data to identify an outbreak after a natural disaster?
We have shown, for a particular outbreak situation, how Twitter could be used to identify the outbreak early on; something that has also been shown before for other disease outbreak situations by other groups. Our work also went beyond this, to demonstrate that the Tweets could further be used to get a sense of how an outbreak is progressing. Some lessons from our study were: learning about reasons why social data can vary during an outbreak (for example, because of an emerging or ongoing public health event, due to media coverage or other environmental events happening at the same time). Also we learned that each situation will be different depending on the context around the event. The biggest lesson we hope comes out of our study is that there is a potential use for these novel types of data, which should be explored more.
5. What do you see as the future of social data in the health world?
Because of all of the benefits we have demonstrated from social data, my view is that it will be useful to harness it in complement to the other existing data sources we have such as traditional case and hospitalization information, not as a replacement for our medical and public health infrastructure. Informal social data can fill gaps in traditionally used sources of data in healthcare, and importantly it will hopefully empower individuals to become more involved with and proactive about their own health!
We appreciate Rumi taking the time to speak with us! Let us know in the comments if you have a suggestion for another interviewee for Data Stories.
Data Stories Series:
- Liv Buli of Next Big Sound, the world's first music data journalist
- Hilary Mason, Chief Data Scientist of bitly
- Rumi Chunara of HealthMap, using social data to identify epidemics
- Sherry Emery of UIC, studying social data and smoking cessation
- Lada Adamic of Michigan on information networks
- Annicka Campbell of SapientNitro on the Digital Love Project


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Anakin faces off against an infamous Separatist strategist...
Anakin anticipates his opponent's next move.
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Across the hollow void of space, two titanic forces clash in an epic battle of wits and wills. On one side is the infamous Admiral Trench – a master strategist with the full might of the Separatist fleet at his malevolent disposal. On the other is Anakin Skywalker, tasked with delivering vital troops and supplies to the beleaguered planet below. Armed with only his cunning and an untried stealth starship, Anakin faces nearly impossible odds and an undefeated foe – and the brash young Jedi wouldn't have it any other way. The headstrong hero of the Republic thrives in this dangerous game of "Cat and Mouse," and an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 26 on Cartoon Network.
"Right now, we are portraying Anakin as the hero that old Ben described in the original movie – a brave warrior and a great pilot," says Matt Lanter, the voice of Anakin. "I like getting to play the confidence in him – the cockiness. He literally thinks he always has the best plan, and can get his way out of any situation – and the cool thing is that most of the time he can. Yes, we definitely see some flashes of what's to come. He has a temper, and he likes a good fight. But Anakin has a good heart and good intentions, and I try to bring that honesty to the character. He's different from the Anakin we saw in the films; he is more likeable and swashbuckling at this point. I just try to bring out that confident Anakin – and I love that characteristic because it's so much fun for me to play."
But while his cavalier attitudes and headstrong sensibilities may serve him well on occasion, Anakin's reckless tendencies are not always destined to save the day.
"At this point in the series, I would say he's still a hero – but we are seeing more and more flashes of the dark side, and more of the temper which foreshadows what's to come," says Lanter. "Anakin wants to do what he believes is just and fair, but I feel like the entire Star Wars universe has shades of gray. The Republic isn't necessarily always right and fair, and that's why Anakin falls in the end. He doesn't like to follow rules if he feels it doesn't make sense to do so. For now, that turns out well, and he saves the day. Sometimes, it doesn't turn out so well…"
Source: Lucasfilm PR


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Nashville Predators have struggled to generate goals this season. Fortunately for them, Pekka Rinne doesn't give up many, either.
Rinne made 19 saves for his second consecutive shutout, leading the Predators to a 3-0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.
Gabriel Bourque, Nick Spaling and Mike Fisher had the Nashville goals. Rinne has shutouts in three of his past four starts and has not allowed a goal in his last 137 minutes, 41 seconds of action.
"Especially the last two games, I thought the first periods, he allowed us to win the games," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "Anytime that you are going to have impact in a game, those top players, those great players in the league have impact when you are not stabilized."
Bourque scored the game's first goal at 2:40 of the third period.
With the Predators on a power play, Martin Erat sent a wrist shot from the right boards toward the net. With his back facing Coyotes goalie Mike Smith, Bourque deflected Erat's shot with his right skate. After making contact with Bourque's skate, the puck trickled across the goal line on Smith's stick side.
"It was a tight game. You thought the first team that scored was going to have a big advantage, and that's exactly how it turned out," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "We had some opportunities, actually had some good setup time, but the pucks we were getting to the net weren't dangerous pucks."
Spaling added an insurance goal at 9:38 of the third.
Matt Halischuk won a battle for the puck in the right corner and found Spaling at the right faceoff dot. From there, Spaling beat Smith with a wrist shot tucked just underneath the crossbar on the short side.
"I got a nice pass from Hali there," Spaling said. "I was shooting high and there was a little bit of a hole."
Fisher concluded the scoring with his second of the season at 18:16.
Phoenix had its best chance of the game just more than 3 minutes into the opening period.
With all but one Predators player caught in the offensive zone, all five Coyotes on the ice drove into the Nashville zone on an unusual 5-on-1 break. Ex-Predator Steve Sullivan sent a wrist shot on goal, but Rinne was able to glove the puck and force a faceoff.
"I thought we had a really good first period, really kind of set the pace, but they bounced back and had a really good second," Sullivan said. "We thought we had hung around long enough for a good road win and come out with a good third period, but they got a lucky break on the power-play goal. They got some confidence from that and we couldn't recover."
Rinne later denied Sullivan on a backhander at 16:06 of the third with the Predators holding a two-goal lead.
"I think right now I am just getting results," Rinne said. "I am feeling good, but the team in front of me, they are playing so good."
Sullivan played his first game in Nashville since leaving the Predators following the 2011 playoffs. In parts of six seasons with Nashville, Sullivan played 317 regular-season games, scoring 100 goals and adding 163 assists.
He was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2009 following his return after missing nearly two full years of action with a back injury.
During the game's first media timeout, the Predators played a highlight video of Sullivan's time in Nashville. At the conclusion of the video, Sullivan stood up and waved to the applauding crowd.
NEW YORK (AP) -- John Tavares scored one of the Islanders' three-second period goals and then netted the winner in a shootout as New York broke a five-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
Tavares followed Frans Nielsen's goal in the opening round of the tiebreaker with one of his own, and Evgeni Nabokov stopped Marian Gaborik and Rick Nash to give the Islanders the elusive win. They had dropped eight straight at Madison Square Garden, including a loss there last week.
The Rangers squandered a 2-0 lead and had their three-game winning streak snapped.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Eric Fehr scored two goals, Mathieu Perreault had three assists and Washington beat Tampa Bay for its third straight win.
Troy Brouwer and Jay Beagle had the other Capitals goals.
Martin St. Louis, Teddy Purcell and Nate Thompson scored for the Lightning, who have lost six in a row (0-5-1). Tampa Bay backup goalie Mathieu Garon got the start in place of Anders Lindback, who is ill. Garon finished with 35 saves.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Joe Corvo had a goal and an assist, and Carolina won its third consecutive game by beating Toronto.
Jussi Jokinen scored the go-ahead goal and Jeff Skinner had two assists for Carolina.
Jordan Staal also scored for the Hurricanes, and his brother Eric Staal extended his point streak to an NHL-leading 11 games with an assist on Corvo's goal, the first of three for the Hurricanes in the second period.
Nazem Kadri scored for Toronto, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.
Dan Ellis made 22 saves for the win. Ben Scrivens stopped 30 shots for the Maple Leafs.
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Rene Bourque scored 2:10 into overtime to give Montreal a victory over Florida.
Bourque's winner came on a tip-in just in front of the net. The puck drifted in front of the crease and Shawn Matthias couldn't clear it for Florida. Instead, it bounced off goalie Jose Theodore's pad and Bourque poked it in.
Carey Price made 26 saves for his 17th career shutout and second against the Panthers. The Canadiens won their second straight on the road.
Theodore stopped 31 shots against his former team but the Panthers lost their third in a row.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Milan Hejduk and Matt Duchene scored in the shootout to lift Colorado over Minnesota.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu in the shootout to get the win.
Hejduk beat Niklas Backstrom with a backhand move and Duchene beat the Wild goalie with a wrist shot.
Hejduk, Duchene and Aaron Palushaj scored in regulation for Colorado, which ended a three-game slide. It was the first shootout of the season for the Avalanche.
Parise, Koivu and Mike Rupp scored for Minnesota, which managed three goals for the first time in seven games.


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GSK1349572 Drug Interaction Study With Efavirenz
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
GSK1349572 is an integrase inhibitor that is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of HIV infection. As GSK1349572 development progresses, it may be dosed with non-nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) including efavirenz (EFV, Sustiva). Efavirenz is a known inducer of CYP3A4. GSK1349572 is primarily metabolized via UGT1A1, however it also has a CYP component to its metabolism, thus a drug interaction between GSK1349572 and EFV is likely. A previous study showed that another NNRTI, etravirine which is also a known inducer of CYP3A and UGT, reduced GSK1349572 exposure significantly. GSK1349572 is not an inhibitor or inducer of CYP3A and is not expected to have impact on pharmacokinetics (PK) of EFV.
This study will investigate the dose proportionality between single doses of 50mg and 100mg of GSK1349572 and will compare steady-state plasma PK, safety and tolerability of GSK1349572 50 mg every 24h (q24h) with and without efavirenz 600 mg q24h. Approximately 12 subjects will receive a single dose of GSK1349572 100 mg (Treatment A) in Period 1 followed by a washout of greater than or equal to 6 days. In Period 2 subjects will receive GSK1349572 50mg q24h for 5 days (Treatment B). Subjects will then be administered GSK1349572 50mg q24h in the morning in combination with EFV 600 mg q24h (Treatment C) in the evening for 14 days in Period 3. There will be no washout between Periods 2 and 3. Safety evaluations and serial PK samples for GSK1349572 will be collected during each treatment period. A follow-up visit will occur 7-14 days after the last dose of study drug.
This study will be conducted at one center in the US, with healthy adult male and female subjects.
|Infections, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Herpesviridae Healthy
|Drug: GSK1349572 Drug: Efavirenz
|Phase 1
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|A Phase 1, Open Label, Single Sequence, Three Period Study to Evaluate the Single Dose Pharmacokinetics of GSK1349572 100mg Versus 50mg and the Effect of Efavirenz 600mg Once Daily on the Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerability of GSK1349572 50mg Once Daily in Healthy Adult Subjects (ING114005)
- Plasma GSK1349572 PK parameters: AUC(0-24), Cmax, and C24, and dose-normalized AUC(0-24), Cmax, and C24 following single dose administration of 100mg and 50mg [ Time Frame: 24 hours ]
- Plasma GSK1349572 steady-state AUC(0-tau), Cmax, C0, Ctau, and Cmin following administration of GSK1349572 50mg q24h for 5 days and following co-administration with EFV 600mg q24h for 14 days. [ Time Frame: 19 days ]
- Safety and tolerability parameters, including adverse event, concurrent medication, clinical laboratory, ECG, and vital signs assessments. [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]
- Plasma GSK1349572 single dose PK parameters: tmax and tlag, following administration of GSK1349572 100mg and 50mg [ Time Frame: 24 hours ]
- Plasma GSK1349572 steady-state PK parameters: tmax, tmin, CL/F, and t½, following 50mg q24h for 5 days and following co-administration with EFV 600mg q24h for 14 days. [ Time Frame: 19 days ]
|Study Start Date:
|March 2010
|Study Completion Date:
|May 2010
|Primary Completion Date:
|April 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Cohort 1
Subjects will receive a single dose of GSK1349572 100 mg in Period 1 followed by a washout of at least 6 days. Subjects will then receive GSK1349572 50 mg once a day for 5 days in Period 2. Period 3 will begin immediately after Period 2. In Period 3 subjects will receive GSK1349572 50 mg once a day in the morning and Efavirenz 600 mg once a day at bedtime for 14 days. There will be a screening visit up to 30 days before Period 1 and a follow up visit 7-14 days after the end of Period 3.
Drug: GSK1349572
GSK1349572 is an experimental drug under development for the treatment of HIV. It is in the class of integrase inhibitors.Drug: Efavirenz
Efavirenz is a drug that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of HIV. It is in the class of non-nucleoside reverse trancriptase inhibitors.
Other Name: SUSTIVA. SUSTIVA is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb
Detailed Description:
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 65 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5xULN (isolated bilirubin >1.5xULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin <35%).
- Healthy as determined by a responsible and experienced physician, based on a medical evaluation including medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests and cardiac monitoring.
- Male or female between 18 and 65 years of age inclusive, at the time of signing the informed consent.
- A female subject is eligible to participate if she is of: Non-childbearing potential defined as pre-menopausal females with a documented tubal ligation or hysterectomy; or postmenopausal defined as 12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea [in questionable cases a blood sample with simultaneous follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) > 40 MlU/ml and estradiol < 40 pg/ml (<147 pmol/L) is confirmatory].
- Body weight greater than or equal to 50 kg for males and 45 kg for females and BMI within the range 18.5- 31.0 kg/m2 (inclusive).
- Capable of giving written informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the consent form.
Exclusion Criteria:
- The subject has a positive pre-study drug/alcohol screen. A minimum list of drugs that will be screened for include amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, opiates, cannabinoids and benzodiazepines.
- The subject has participated in a clinical trial and has received an investigational product within the following time period prior to the first dosing day in the current study: 30 days, 5 half-lives or twice the duration of the biological effect of the investigational product (whichever is longer).
- History of sensitivity to any of the study medications, or components thereof, or a history of drug or other allergy that, in the opinion of the investigator or GSK Medical Monitor, contraindicates their participation.
- Use of prescription or non-prescription drugs, including vitamins, herbal and dietary supplements (including St John's Wort) within 7 days (or 14 days if the drug is a potential enzyme inducer) or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of study medication, unless in the opinion of the Investigator and GSK Medical Monitor the medication will not interfere with the study procedures or compromise subject safety.
- If heparin is used during PK sampling, subjects with a history of sensitivity to heparin or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia should not be enrolled.
- History of regular alcohol consumption within 6 months of the study defined as an average weekly intake of >14 drinks/week for men or >7 drinks/week for women. One drink is equivalent to (12 g alcohol) = 5 ounces (150 ml) of wine or 12 ounces (360 ml) of beer or 1.5 ounces (45 ml) of 80 proof distilled spirits.
- Has a history or regular use of tobacco- or nicotine-containing products within 3 months prior to screening.
- Consumption of red wine, seville oranges, grapefruit or grapefruit juice from 7 days prior to the first dose of study medication.
- Pregnant females as determined by positive serum or urine human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) test at screening or prior to dosing.
- Lactating females.
- Unwillingness or inability to follow the procedures outlined in the protocol.
- Subjects with a pre-existing condition interfering with normal gastrointestinal anatomy or motility, hepatic and/or renal function, that could interfere with the absorption, metabolism, and/or excretion of the study drugs. Subjects with a history of cholecystectomy, peptic ulceration, inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatitis should be excluded.
- History/evidence of symptomatic arrhythmia, angina/ischemia, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PCTA) or any clinically significant cardiac disease.
- History/evidence of clinically significant pulmonary disease.
- History of significant renal or hepatobiliary diseases. Subjects with a history of nephrolithiasis will be excluded.
- History of severe or serious psychiatric disease ever requiring hospitalization, history of suicidal ideation or suicidal attempt, or undergoing psychiatric treatment will be excluded from study participation.
- A positive pre-study Hepatitis B surface antigen or positive Hepatitis C antibody result within 3 months of screening.
- A positive test for HIV antibody.
- History of 2nd degree or higher AV block.
- History of Gilbert's disease.
- Where participation in the study would result in donation of blood or blood products in excess of 500 mL within a 56 day period.
- The subject's systolic blood pressure is outside the range of 90-140mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure is outside the range of 45-90mmHg or heart rate is outside the range of 50-100bpm for female subjects or 45-100 bpm for male subjects.
- Exclusion criteria for screening ECG per protocol
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01098526
|United States, New York
|GSK Investigational Site
|Buffalo, New York, United States, 14202
|Study Director:
|GSK Clinical Trials
|Responsible Party:
|Cheri Hudson; Clinical Disclosure Advisor, GSK Clinical Disclosure
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01098526 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|March 4, 2010
|Last Updated:
|February 10, 2011
Keywords provided by GlaxoSmithKline:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
HIV Infections
Immune System Diseases
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Slow Virus Diseases
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
Enzyme Inhibitors
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Anti-Retroviral Agents
Antiviral Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inducers
HIV Integrase Inhibitors
Integrase Inhibitors
Anti-HIV Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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I've been wondering this all season... What was the rationale for changing kickoffs this season which has had the net affect of making kickoff returns a non event?
Even the Colts former liquored up kicker could've kicked it in the end zone this season.
I suppose if you're kicking into the wind maybe you might leave it short of the endzone, but even then having much of a runback was questionable.
Was the thinking that kickers would try and kick it just inside the 1 and finesse it... or was it really so every kick off would lead to a touchback and start at the 20?
Of the few times I saw someone try and return the kick it seemed like it was a bad decision... either only getting to the 20 or not even making that.
Did anyone score on a kickoff return this season?


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posted: Feb. 28, 2006 @ 12:53p
Updated- 10/5/06
Why is this card so hot?! This card earns you free hotel nights, OR free flights.... and at a great rate too. You earn 1 hotel point for every dollar spent toward a free hotel room, or up to 1.25 real airline frequent flier miles. On top of its rewards, the card comes with premium card holder benefits. Starwood is the parent company of Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, Le Meridien, and The Luxury Collection.
The Basics-
Annual fee- $30, generally waived for the first year, and worth the money any year.
Rewards- Hotel points (1/$) or Real Airline Miles (up to 1.25/$)
APR's- 2.9% Intro, then 17.49%
Bonus- 10,000 bonus points
Apply- Thru This Link Link fixed.
Current Limited-Time Offers
Please let me know if you are aware of any additional current offers for the card.
* [l=10,000 bonus points to sign up] https://www201.americanexpress.com/drivetoweb/DrivetoWebServlet?CardType=6&campaignId=610&request_type=verify[/s]
* 4,000 bonus points for staying at Four Points by Sheraton Register now and stay 4 nights for 4,000 bonus points by booking online or call 888-625-4988 and mention registration code NBE. (Thanks g10ny)
Card Benefits
Sure, the rewards are great, but the card itself is excellent as well with a lot of premium credit card features for a low annual fee.
* Buyers Assurance Extended Warranty
* Purchase Protection
* Return Protection
* Best Value Guarantee (BVG)
Hotel Rewards-
What could be better.... no capacity restrictions, no blackouts! As AyresFan puts it, if you can get a Starwood room for cash, you can get it for points too. All point requirements are based on hotel category. The more basic hotels are category one, as you move up in quality or move to more sought after locations, you move up in category. Find Category Listings here.
Compare Hotel Rewards-Here's a chart of all of the various rewards options for which you can use Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points. This include upgrades, free nights, discounts etc.
Free Nights- Okay, so you are ready for a free night? Here's the points it will take. Point requirements based on hotel category.
Points & Cash Rewards- Starts as low as 1,200 points plus $25.
Free Nights & Flights- This is potentially extremely valuable if you have enough points.
There are additional rewards options listed on the SPG website.
Airline Rewards-
You can transfer Starwood points into 'real' frequent flier miles on a 1 to 1 ratio into twenty-six airline frequent flier programs. You can start transferring at just 2,500 miles. Then, the offer really gets great.... For every 20,000 SPG points you turn into miles, you will receive a 5,000 mile bonus. So you are essentially earning 1.25 miles per $ (thats more miles for general purchases than any airline card I know.) Read "Play the System" below in this OP before transferring.
Good Redeptions- Here are the airlines you can transfer 1 Starpoint=1 mile with. Then if you transfer 20,000 points to one of these programs, you'll get 5,000 additional miles. New- Click the linked airlines to view their mileage award charts. That way you'll have a good idea of which program requires the fewest miles for your free trip. As long as they have availability, that would be the airline to transfer miles to.
Air China, Air France/KLM Alaska Airlines,, Alitalia, All Nippon, America West, American, Asiana, British, Cathay, Continental, Delta, Emirates, Hawaiian, KLM/Air France, Lufthansa, Mexicana, Northwest, Qantas, Qatar, Saudi Arabian, Singapore, Swiss, Thai, US Airways Virgin Atlantic.
Poor Redemptions- And here's the programs which you should rule out transferring miles to.
United (2 Starpoints=1 mile), Varig (2=1), Air New Zealand (65=1), Jet Blue (N/A), Southwest (N/A)
Play the System-
With a traditional Airline Credit Card- You are stuck with a steep annual fee ($30-$70 more than this card) and a lackluster choice in rewards. If you have ABC Airline's Credit Card, have all the miles you need, and then realize that XYZ is having a mileage reward sale offering free trips to your destination for fewer miles, or with better schedules.... too bad. You are stuck with ABC.
With the Starwood Card- You can hand pick your rewards. With a bit of research (or advice from fellow FW'ers) you can transfer your points into an airline mileage program requiring the fewest miles and/or offering the best seats, schedules, or bonus offers. Don't forget, it's free and instant to sign up for a frequent flier account. So don't limit yourself to transferring miles into frequent flier programs you are a member of now.
So maybe you've never flown on Singapore Airlines or any of its partners in your life. With SPG, you can still sign up for their mileage program, transfer your points to their program, and travel on this fine airline or one of its partners for free your very first time.
Things to remember-
1) Signing up for a frequent flier program is free, instant, and easy. When you are ready to convert points into miles, don't just look into frequent flier programs you are already a member of. Find the best mileage offer, and if you aren't a member of that program, sign up!
2) Just because ABC airlines doesn't fly between your city and your 'goal destination,' it doesn't mean that they don't have an excellent reward on one of their partner airlines between those two cities. (ie, look at my example.... Cathay has the better offer to Europe, on BA, than BA has itself.
In the "Airline Rewards" section above, you can click on the linked airlines, and I've set up the link to take you directly to the airlines frequent flier redemption chart so that you can see exactly how many miles they require for a free trip to various destinations. I'll continue to add more links.
Transfer Times-
From what I've heard it can take a long time to transfer your SPG points into miles. Several weeks I think. Please reply to this post and let us know your experience. If thats the only bad part about this card.... no problem. Just keep in mind that when you transfer points into a program, they may have reward seat space available today, but they may not have it by the time your miles make it into the airline account, those seats may no longer be available. The best way to combat this (and get the most value of your miles in any situation) is to plan out your free trip well in advance.
Best Reward-
Since you can transfer SPG points to so many airline frequent flier programs, I'd like to create a list of the SPG partner airlines offering the best awards to each destination. It's a work in progress, so the results may change over time (and I don't guarantee their accuracy.) Of course results may differ by your exact deparure city, departure time, routing etc. This list is primarily just 'saver' awards (those which require the fewest miles but often come with the greatest blackouts and capacity restrictions. For this list though, I'll just assume leaving from the Continental U.S. Hopefully this 'short list' will give you an idea of which airline to transfer your miles to in order stretch your points. Y=Coach, C=Business, F=First
Dest.-..Class-..Airline-...Miles-..Additional Info-
Alaska.....Y....Alaska.....20,000..Other airlines usually 40,000
Europe.....C....Cathay.....50,000..Book on British using Cathay Miles (parners)
Mexico.....Y....American...25,000..Most airlines 35,000
Other Links-
* cbass98's Thread Discusses the 6,000 points bonus for signing up. (The standard bonus is 4,000)
* Travel Credit Cards An in depth discussion about which credit cards to use to get you on your next trip, and which ones to use once you're there. A good place to see how Starwood compares against other travel reward cards. Plus the OP has a formula to calculate the value of a mile.
* FlyerTalk SPG Thread Also a good resource.
More coming.... reply with any additional information.[/L]


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Review Roundup: Broadway-Bound PIPPIN
As BroadwayWorld reported last night, producers Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan will present the American Repertory Theater's 40th Anniversary production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's Pippin, directed by Diane Paulus, on Broadway in the Spring of 2013. Pippin will begin preview performances on Broadway on Saturday, March 23, 2013 and officially open on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).
The beloved coming-of-age musical Pippin, with a book by Roger O. Hirson, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is directed by Diane Paulus with circus creation by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers) and choreography by Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse.
PIPPIN is currently playing through January 20, 2013 at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, MA, where Diane Paulus serves as Artistic Director. The show just opened in Boston and you can check out excerpts from the first review below!
Jeffrey Gantz, Boston Globe: But just as "Pippin" teeters between "Extraordinary" (Pippin's temper tantrum about wanting to be special) and the "Ordinary Life" he shares with Catherine and Theo, the ART production melds extraordinary circus acrobatics and magical illusions with "ordinary" virtues like accomplished acting, singing, and dancing plus a refreshing lack of cynicisM. Miller is an infectiously inviting host, smart, sassy, and swivel-hipped, with a voice that, in "Glory," soars over the chorus. Thomas brings a gawky energy to the title role, and an innocent earnestness that allows him to sing "Corner of the Sky" without the usual Disney overtones. He and Rachel Bay Jones go well together; her long-tressed, squeaky-voiced Catherine is all tender practicality, and in their "Love Song" duet they suggest that love itself is extraordinary. They make good parents for Andrew Cekala's sweet and spunky Theo. Jones also displays fine comic timing in her exchanges with Miller, as Catherine tries to keep Pippin down on The Farm when the plot calls for him to go out in a blaze of glory in the Grand Finale.
"Pippin" has two endings: This is the newer, and better, one, in which, as Pippin, Catherine, and Theo slip offstage to resume their ordinary life, Theo, unable to resist the lure of stardom, sneaks back and is taken in hand by the Leading Player and the rest of the troupe. You can't blame him: anyone who's seen this production knows how magical the theater can be.
Check back later for more reviews!


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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Three consecutive impressive victories, including a road win at Maryland, have Virginia third in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings and playing its way into the NCAA tournament discussion.
Virginia (18-6, 8-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays at North Carolina on Saturday, and travels to No. 3 Miami on Tuesday to face the league's best team. The Hurricanes (19-3, 10-0) are the only team from the six power conferences still unbeaten in conference play. The Hurricanes have beaten No. 2 Duke by 27 and UNC by 26.
But first up, it's the Tar Heels (16-7, 6-4), who first play at Duke on Wednesday night. Virginia won the first meeting 61-52 at home Jan. 6.
Despite their healthy position in the ACC, and a victory at No. 20 Wisconsin early in the season, the Cavaliers are viewed by most as a bubble team, or as one of the first ones out of the NCAA field, because they played a soft nonconference slate, and lost early to George Mason (14-10), Delaware (13-12) and Old Dominion (3-22), all of the Colonial Athletic Association in what is a down season for the league.
Virginia's only loss in its last eight games also was bad. It fell apart Feb. 3 at Georgia Tech (13-9), blowing a second-half lead by going more than nine minutes without a field goal in a 66-60 loss.
It was the kind of setback they know they can ill afford.
``We kind of sat down after the Georgia Tech game and we knew that we have to put a run together to have a chance,'' forward Akil Mitchell said after the Cavaliers beat Virginia Tech 73-55 on Tuesday night. ``That's the last we really talked about it. We knew that we could do it and now it's just a matter of putting the games together, taking it one game at a time and facing every opponent like it's our last.''
Virginia's 8-3 mark in the ACC is its best since 2006-07, and its 14-game home winning streak is its longest since a 14-game streak in 2001. The Cavaliers' 80-69 victory at Maryland on Sunday was just their second in five tries in the ACC this season, but Mitchell hopes his young teammates are learning on the fly.
``We need to take that intensity on the road,'' he said. ``We need to make sure we keep moving the ball and set our defense. We need to bring that extra intensity and that extra energy.''
Mitchell is Virginia's No. 2 scorer, averaging 12.8 points, and the Cavaliers would do well to make sure scoring leader Joe Harris (16.3 ppg) continues his brilliance of his past three games.
Harris had a career-high 26 against the Hokies, and matched his career best by making five 3-pointers. In his past three games, he has made 21 of 30 shots, and 10 of 15 from 3-point range, in becoming the first Virginia player since Sylven Landesberg to score 20 in three consecutive games.
``Offensively I think we are doing a good job of giving up good shots for great shots,'' Harris said.
The 6-foot-6 junior leads the ACC in 3-point shooting, making 48.4 percent.
Point guard Jontel Evans thinks the best is yet to come from Harris.
``Joe is the best shooter on the team. I've seen Joe shoot the ball and be aggressive, but I've never seen him be aggressive like he was tonight,'' Evans said after the victory over the Hokies, a game that Harris started with three 3-pointers in a span of 1:43 to set the tone for the rest of the night.
``It was just in his eyes. You could see his killer mindset and that he wanted to get the team going on offense. That's what he did,'' he said. ``Getting those first three 3s just got us off on a great start.''
The Cavaliers hope it continues when the road gets more difficult in the week ahead.
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text:
I'm basically looking for reassurance.
There was a short period around a year ago that I meditated once a day. Now, I probably meditate 10 times a month, three quarters of the time in a group setting at a local center. However, I read and think about buddhism a lot, focus for a few moments throughtout the day on "Now" and "being present" and recite favorite inspiring verses to myself often throughout the day.
I feel when the time is right for me, I will focus more effort on meditation. But now, what I'm doing is working for me. My problem is I semi feel like a fraud when I got to the group setting and sit with others who, I assume, meditate more regularly.
Any comments on my "sit"uation? <-----Hey, pretty unique pun there. I like it!


text:
"Venerable Ajahn Chah passed away on 16 January 1992, at the age of seventy-three. This year marks the twenty-first year since his death. Each year on this day, thousands of monks, nuns and lay people gather together at Wat Pah Pong, the monastery established by Ajahn Chah and the main monastery in his lineage, to commemorate his life and teachings."
Biography of Ajahn Chah.
Ajahn Jayasaro's recorded talks on his time as a disciple of Ajahn Chah.
Dhammatalks by Ajahn Chah:
Ajahn Chah brought up many great disciples like Ajahn Sumedho, Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Jayasaro, Ajahn Khemadhammo, Ajahn Munindo,...
Even today, his simple, yet profound way of teaching the Dhamma inspires many people. What an inspiring disciple of the Buddha he was.
Best wishes,


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GORNAL Athletic's players need to consistently perform to a higher standard if they are to win their battle to stay in the Midland Alliance, says manager Andy Wyton.
Wyton has now challenged his players to show more of their fight and ability in the remaining fixtures after they lost 3-0 to Westfields at Garden Walk last Saturday.
The heavy defeat saw Gornal's survival hopes hit a major setback.
The Midland Alliance strugglers failed to deal with the superior cutting edge of their mid-table visitors.
It was Gornal who started the brighter of the two sides and they were keen to press high up the pitch in the early stages.
The home side worked a few openings, the best coming on the ten minute mark when Dreniz Bala failed to make the most of a good through ball.
It took Westfields until the 20th minute to create a real chance when forward Michael Halpin beat his man to get into the box. However, Gornal keeper Thomas Haprer denied him with a low save.
Westfields grew into the game as the half wore on and started to get more joy thanks to clever runs by their forward line.
The breakthrough came just before the end of the half when, following more pressure from the visitors, the ball broke to Westfields captain Phil Glover, who slotted it past the out-rushing Harper.
It was Gornal who created the better chances in the opening exchanges of the second period, the best coming when defender Ross Love headed just wide following a well taken, in-swinging freekick from Danny Crudgington nearing the hour mark.
Similar to the first half, it was Westfields' superior play in the final third that made the difference once their midfield found more time and space on the ball.
Steve Edmunds kept the home side in the game when clearing off the line after Whittal-Williams was given a free header in the Gornal box from a corner.
Soon Gornal were finding it hard to hold onto the ball as their visitors continued to break well.
Westfields hit their second goal when lively substitute Dan Williams set up Halpin to tap in from close range with just 10 minutes left on the clock.
Then, just before the end, the visitors showed their ruthless streak to make it 3-0. Again they broke with pace down the left flank with Halpin who squared it for the support run of substitute Luke Griffiths.
Gornal's misery was then completed by the late red card given to Bala for his second bookable offence. He was late with a tackle on the Westfields defender after previously being penalised for handball.
It was the impact of the Westfields substitutes and their overall better play in the final third that made the difference. In contrast, Gornal failed to really test the opposition goalkeeper.
After the game, Wyton said: "We weren't good enough. I have told the players they need to perform better if they are to stay in the division, I know they are capable of giving more because they have already show it.
"I'm hoping that this is a one off performance from us and that we'll quickly put it behind us. Either way, we all need to work harder and get back to a better overall level of performance."
Gornal's task doesn't get any easier. They now prepare to welcome fourth placed Boldmere St Michaels to Garden Walk this Saturday (3pm ko).