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THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
SQL Server is quite remarkable in a bunch of ways. In this post, I'm using the way that the Query Optimizer handles LIKE to keep it SARGable, the Execution Plans that result, Collations, and PowerShell to come up with the Swedish alphabet.
SARGability is the ability to seek for items in an index according to a particular set of criteria. If you don't have SARGability in play, you need to scan the whole index (or table if you don't have an index). For example, I can find myself in the phonebook easily, because it's sorted by LastName and I can find Farley in there by moving to the Fs, and so on. I can't find everyone in my suburb easily, because the phonebook isn't sorted that way. I can't even find people who have six letters in their last name, because also the book is sorted by LastName, it's not sorted by LEN(LastName). This is all stuff I've looked at before, including in the talk I gave at SQLBits in October 2010.
If I try to find everyone who's names start with F, I can do that using a query a bit like:
SELECT LastName FROM dbo.PhoneBook WHERE LEFT(LastName,1) = 'F';
SELECT LastName FROM dbo.PhoneBook WHERE LEFT(LastName,1) = 'F';
Unfortunately, the Query Optimizer doesn't realise that all the entries that satisfy LEFT(LastName,1) = 'F' will be together, and it has to scan the whole table to find them.
But if I write:
SELECT LastName FROM dbo.PhoneBook WHERE LastName LIKE 'F%';
SELECT LastName FROM dbo.PhoneBook WHERE LastName LIKE 'F%';
then SQL is smart enough to understand this, and performs an Index Seek instead.
To see why, I look further into the plan, in particular, the properties of the Index Seek operator. The ToolTip shows me what I'm after:
You'll see that it does a Seek to find any entries that are at least F, but not yet G. There's an extra Predicate in there (a Residual Predicate if you like), which checks that each LastName is really LIKE F% – I suppose it doesn't consider that the Seek Predicate is quite enough – but most of the benefit is seen by its working out the Seek Predicate, filtering to just the "at least F but not yet G" section of the data.
This got me curious though, particularly about where the G comes from, and whether I could leverage it to create the Swedish alphabet.
I know that in the Swedish language, there are three extra letters that appear at the end of the alphabet. One of them is ä that appears in the word Västerås. It turns out that Västerås is quite hard to find in an index when you're looking it up in a Swedish map. I talked about this briefly in my five-minute talk on Collation from SQLPASS (the one which was slightly less than serious).
So by looking at the plan, I can work out what the next letter is in the alphabet of the collation used by the column. In other words, if my alphabet were Swedish, I'd be able to tell what the next letter after F is – just in case it's not G.
It turns out it is… Yes, the Swedish letter after F is G. But I worked this out by using a copy of my PhoneBook table that used the Finnish_Swedish_CI_AI collation. I couldn't find how the Query Optimizer calculates the G, and my friend Paul White (@SQL_Kiwi) tells me that it's frustratingly internal to the QO. He's particularly smart, even if he is from New Zealand.
To investigate further, I decided to do some PowerShell, leveraging the Get-SqlPlan function that I blogged about recently (make sure you also have the SqlServerCmdletSnapin100 snap-in added. To do that, run get-pssnapin -reg to see if it's on the machine, and get-pssnapin -reg | add-pssnapin to make the cmdlet available).
I started by indicating that I was going to use Finnish_Swedish_CI_AI as my collation of choice, and that I'd start whichever letter came straight after the number 9. I figure that this is a cheat's way of guessing the first letter of the alphabet (but it doesn't actually work in Unicode – luckily I'm using varchar not nvarchar. Actually, there are a few aspects of this code that only work using ASCII, so apologies if you were wanting to apply it to Greek, Japanese, etc). I also initialised my $alphabet variable.
$collation = 'Finnish_Swedish_CI_AI'; $firstletter = '9'; $alphabet = '';
$collation = 'Finnish_Swedish_CI_AI'; $firstletter = '9'; $alphabet = '';
Now I created the table for my test. A single field would do, and putting a Clustered Index on it would suffice for the Seeks. [Edit: You may need to insert some rows if you find that it's producing an Index Scan. Theoretically it should prefer to Scan, knowing there's no rows, but my tests showed it would always Seek]
Invoke-Sqlcmd -server . -data tempdb -query "create table dbo.collation_test (col varchar(10) collate $collation primary key);"
Invoke-Sqlcmd -server . -data tempdb -query "create table dbo.collation_test (col varchar(10) collate $collation primary key);"
Now I get into the looping.
$c = $firstletter; $stillgoing = $true; while ($stillgoing) {
$c = $firstletter; $stillgoing = $true; while ($stillgoing) {
I construct the query I want, seeking for entries which start with whatever $c has reached, and get the plan for it:
$query = "select col from dbo.collation_test where col like '$($c)%';"; [xml] $pl = get-sqlplan $query "." "tempdb";
$query = "select col from dbo.collation_test where col like '$($c)%';"; [xml] $pl = get-sqlplan $query "." "tempdb";
At this point, my $pl variable is a scary piece of XML, representing the execution plan. A bit of hunting through it showed me that the EndRange element contained what I was after, and that if it contained NULL, then I was done.
$stillgoing = ($pl.ShowPlanXML.BatchSequence.Batch.Statements.StmtSimple.QueryPlan.RelOp.IndexScan.SeekPredicates.SeekPredicateNew.SeekKeys.EndRange -ne $null);
$stillgoing = ($pl.ShowPlanXML.BatchSequence.Batch.Statements.StmtSimple.QueryPlan.RelOp.IndexScan.SeekPredicates.SeekPredicateNew.SeekKeys.EndRange -ne $null);
Now I could grab the value out of it (which came with apostrophes that needed stripping), and append that to my $alphabet variable.
if ($stillgoing) { $c=$pl.ShowPlanXML.BatchSequence.Batch.Statements.StmtSimple.QueryPlan.RelOp.IndexScan.SeekPredicates.SeekPredicateNew.SeekKeys.EndRange.RangeExpressions.ScalarOperator.ScalarString.Replace("'",""); $alphabet += $c; }
if ($stillgoing) { $c=$pl.ShowPlanXML.BatchSequence.Batch.Statements.StmtSimple.QueryPlan.RelOp.IndexScan.SeekPredicates.SeekPredicateNew.SeekKeys.EndRange.RangeExpressions.ScalarOperator.ScalarString.Replace("'",""); $alphabet += $c; }
Finally, finishing the loop, dropping the table, and showing my alphabet!
} Invoke-Sqlcmd -server . -data tempdb -query "drop table dbo.collation_test;"; $alphabet;
} Invoke-Sqlcmd -server . -data tempdb -query "drop table dbo.collation_test;"; $alphabet;
When I run all this, I see that the Swedish alphabet is ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVXYZÅÄÖ, which matches what I see at Wikipedia. Interesting to see that the letters on the end are still there, even with Case Insensitivity. Turns out they're not just "letters with accents", they're letters in their own right.
I'm sure you gave up reading long ago, and really aren't that grabbed about the idea of doing this using PowerShell. I chose PowerShell because I'd already come up with an easy way of grabbing the estimated plan for a query, and PowerShell does allow for easy navigation of XML.
I find the most interesting aspect of this as the fact that the Query Optimizer uses the next letter of the alphabet to maintain the SARGability of LIKE. I'm hoping they do something similar for a whole bunch of operations.
Oh, and the fact that you know how to find stuff in the IKEA catalogue.
If you are interested in whether this works in other languages, you might want to consider the following screenshot, which shows that in principle, it should work with Japanese. It might be a bit harder to run this in PowerShell though, as I'm not sure how it translates. In Hiragana, the Japanese alphabet starts あ, ぃ, ぅ, ぇ, ぉ, ...
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What happened to W?
It's been pointed out that W is missing in my list. Wikipedia says: "Until recently the letter ‹w› was treated as a variant form of ‹v› at least for sorting purposes, and this practice is still commonly encountered."
So I guess this explains why the EndRange value following V is X.
SQL Server isn't the only thing that's remarkable.
I'm not sure if this is a masterpiece, if I just learned something, or if I should be a little bit afraid.
Running SET SHOWPLAN_TEXT ON; GO; SET NOEXEC OFF; GO; SELECT col FROM dbo.collation_test where col like 'V%'; in Management Studio Express 9 gives the same results.
But with default SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS collation, the lower bound is strangely different, and the second LIKE is needed because the seek has a >=þ, hex FE, where >hex FF would be expected:
SEEK:([MyDatabase].[dbo].[collation_test].[col] >= 'Üþ' AND [MyDatabase].[dbo].[collation_test].[col] < 'W'),
WHERE:([MyDatabase].[dbo].[collation_test].[col] like 'V%') ORDERED FORWARD)
W is a very rare letter in swedish, I honestly can't think of any words (apart from names and imported foreign words) that contain W.
The alphabet they teach the kids in school these days doesn't even contain W and I'm pretty sure our phonebooks and dictionaries treat V and W as the same letter orderwise.


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Topic: 10 months and still free of cholangiocarcinoma
It's been ten months since my whipple procedure and I am still cancer free. I had it done on ground day by Dr. David Mahvi from University of Wisconson Hospital, one of the best in the country. My tumor was just above the pancreas but far enough below the liver and luckily had not spread beyond the bile duct lining.
Does anyone out there know the prospects for living a normal life span once you have the whipple? Anything I find on the web does not offer much hope. Just about every article says re-occurance is imminent. I am 53 years old and would like to see my grandaughter who is 4 grow up.

subset: commoncrawl


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Former Forest Green captain Darren Jones set for Newport County
4:48pm Thursday 15th May 2014
By SNJ Sport
4:48pm Thursday 15th May 2014
By SNJ Sport
by Michael Pearlman
South Wales Argus
FORMER Forest Green captain Darren Jones will become Newport County's first summer signing early next week, the SNJ understands.
The Exiles hope to finally deliver some good news after the weekend, despite as yet failing to announce a single player who has accepted a contract renewal. A host of players have been offered terms for next season.
The likes of Lenny Pidgeley, Andy Sandell, Darcy Blake, Ismail Yakubu, Max Porter, Lee Minshull, Mike Flynn and Chris Zebroski have all been offered renewals, but no announcements have yet been made on whether they've been accepted.
The Exiles have also announced their intention to revamp their youth set-up with Academy director Glyn Jones leaving the club and County intending to field a reserve side next term, but no details have been finalised on how the new set-up will be structured.
Midfielder Mike Flynn has been announced as having a role within the hierarchy, but it's unclear where, particularly as the youth games will be played on the same day as first team matches with Flynn also retained as a first team player.
However, what does now seem certain, is that Flynn won't be the only member of the squad next term enjoying a second stint at the club.
The SNJ can reveal that negotiations are almost concluded for central defender Jones, who is a free agent after rejecting the prospect of renewing his contract with AFC Wimbledon.
Jones, a Newport boy, born and bred, will play at Rodney Parade almost a decade after his first spell with the club.
The 30-year-old previously played for the Exiles in the 2004/05 season but his County career ended when he and teammate Andrew Thomas were both jailed for an assault in a Newport nightspot.
Jones served a couple of months before his release and, while Thomas rejoined then Conference South County, Jones opted to move to Forest Green Rovers.
Since then he's enjoyed a constant tenure in the Football League with Hereford United, Aldershot Town, Shrewsbury Town and AFC Wimbledon.
Jones was released by the cash-strapped Shrews in January and was linked with a return to County then but he joined the Dons instead, making 18 appearances as they finished 20th in League Two.
Jones is being signed as a replacement for Harry Worley, who was released and Tony James, who has switched to a coaching role, as manager Justin Edinburgh works to reshape his squad.
County did register interest in Jones in January, but at the time it was felt they had enough cover in central defence.
Jones was recommended by then director of football Tim Harris and has also worked previously with assistant manager Dack, at Aldershot.
© Copyright 2001-2017 Newsquest Media Group


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I hope he's okay.. the Vikings just have never ending drama these days...
Vikings WR Harvin collapses at practice Percy Harvin was one of Brett Favre's favorite targets for the Vikings last season.
Fox Sports
PRINT RSS 8 comments »Updated Aug 19, 2010 2:48 PM ET
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin was taken to a hospital by ambulance after collapsing at Thursday's practice.
While the nature of the episode is not certain, coach Brad Childress said Harvin may have suffered another migraine headache attack.
Harvin collapses
Check out Scout.com for more coverage on Percy Harvin.
Harvin, who has dealt with migraines most of his life, has been unable to practice for most of training camp because of the headaches and their debilitating symptoms.
Harvin returned to the field on Monday after missing more than two weeks, but at the beginning of Thursday's workout he experienced an episode that was scary enough for the Vikings to halt practice while their teammate received medical attention.
Childress said that Harvin's episode was triggered when he looked up into a mostly cloudy sky to field a punt during a special teams drill. Harvin went inside to see team physician Dr. Sheldon Burns, then came back out to the field.
At that point, Harvin doubled over and was seen trembling, before players and coaches stood in front of him for privacy while reporters watched from a distance.
"I don't know how they classify it," Childress said. "Not really a seizure, but he had some trouble over here. I'd be remiss if I tried to qualify it one way or another. It seemed like he was stable."
The Vikings continued with practice for about five minutes while Harvin was being worked on, then drills were stopped while the situation was sorted out. After Harvin was loaded into the ambulance, the Vikings gathered on the field and took a knee in prayer. They resumed their work for a few more minutes before calling practice over at least an hour early.
The ambulance did not leave right away after Harvin was loaded, and it left without sirens sounding or lights flashing. Though the situation didn't appear grave, it was clearly somber.
"Obviously that one hit, and it hit hard," Childress said. "It's always scary for all of our guys when you see a teammate struggling with whatever."
Harvin caught 60 passes for 790 yards and six touchdowns in 2009 in his rookie season and also made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner. He and quarterback Brett Favre formed a good rapport on a Vikings team that advanced to the NFC Championship game.


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The Oglethorpe campus "came alive" on Friday with Halloween celebrations throughout the day. The annual tug-of-war contest was waged on the quad in commemoration of the Battle of Bloody Marsh, once again pitting students against the faculty and staff in a battle of will. This year the students triumphed and won the privilege—and thrill—of pie-ing participating faculty and staff in the face! Check out the battle and the "carnage"!
Later in the day nearly ten campus departments waged their own battle (of creativity) in an office decorating contest in preparation for campus-wide trick-or-treating. The decorations ranged from haunted houses to a pirate theme. But at the end of the online voting, the Center for Civic Engagement won bragging rights and a free lunch with their "graveyard" theme depicting the demise of the Ogle-turkey (he was delicious) and the fate of those who forget their Petrel Passes (!) Check out the scary and silly decorations and you be the judge.
The day came to an end with a spirited costume contest, judged by theatre professor Matt Huff and financial aid director Meg McGinness, and featuring nearly 40 competitors. Ashley Causey '14 transformed herself into Mother Nature and snagged the student grand prize—an iPad! Business office staff member Melissa Briley took the faculty/staff grand prize home—and to heart—with her creative iPad costume, complete with her own version of interactive features. Check out more costumes and find your favorite!


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How do I sign up to sell my content on the iTunes Store?
To sign up to sell your content on the iTunes Store, complete the application.
What types of movies can I sell on the iTunes Store?
The iTunes Store accepts feature-length motion pictures and short films — made available to customers in 480p, 720p, or 1080p quality. How-to videos, user-generated content, and other types of videos that are not normally considered to be motion pictures or documentaries are not accepted.
Some content on the iTunes Store is intended for mature audiences and is designated as such by its MPAA rating. Viewer discretion is advised.
Please note that the iTunes Store does not accept films containing graphic sex scenes where the film's primary purpose is sexual titillation.
Movies must be provided in the language(s) of the territory you are applying to distribute in, or they must be dubbed or subtitled in the language(s) of that territory. In addition, any movie offered for distribution in a territory must comply with the ratings requirements for exhibition in that territory.
What is the difference between aggregators and encoding houses?
Aggregators offer valuable services to film distributors who want to sell content on the iTunes Store. For a fee they can format and deliver your content to Apple's specifications and act as the primary contact with the Apple Operations team to ensure timely processing of the digital files. Apple pays the aggregator for all transactions, and the aggregator then pays the content owner.
Regardless of whether you choose to use an aggregator, all content must be encoded and delivered by an approved Apple encoding facility. The encoding facility processes the content in the Apple-specific encode that is required for distribution on the iTunes Store.
Should I sign up directly with Apple or go through an aggregator?
The majority of independent movie content offered on the iTunes Store comes through our aggregator partners, who offer valuable services to independent film distributors. Working with an aggregator is often the fastest way to offer your movies on the iTunes Store. A list of Apple-approved aggregators is available here.
If you want to apply to sell your movies on iTunes by working directly with Apple, complete the online application.
Do I need an Apple ID to sell movies on the iTunes Store?
Yes, you must have an Apple ID and a current credit card on file with the iTunes Store. If you don't have an Apple ID, you will need to create one using iTunes. If you do not have iTunes, download it here to get started.
How much does it cost to sign up to sell my content on the iTunes Store?
Signing up to sell your content on the iTunes Store is free. More details regarding sales terms are available during the sign-up process.
Do I need a U.S. Tax ID?
Yes, we require a U.S. Tax ID as part of the iTunes Connect sign-up and authentication process. This requirement also applies to providers outside the U.S. To request a U.S. Tax ID from the IRS, click here.
Be sure to enter your U.S. Tax ID correctly when applying. If you are prompted to complete U.S. tax forms on iTunes Connect, you must use the same U.S. Tax ID.
I get an error message that the first or last name I entered does not match the name on file for the Apple ID I entered. What do I do?
Reenter your Apple ID or go to your account information on the iTunes Store and update the name on file.
I already have an iTunes Connect account to sell another media type (apps, books, music, or TV content). Can I use it to sell movie content?
If you currently have an iTunes Connect account to sell apps or books, you cannot create a second iTunes Connect account with the same Apple ID. You'll need to set up a new Apple ID and use it to complete a separate movie application.
If you currently have an iTunes Connect account to sell music or TV content, or if you have an Apple ID that you used to apply to sell music or TV content on iTunes and the application is pending approval, you can use that Apple ID to complete the movie application.
Who should apply to sell content on the iTunes Store on behalf of my company?
Someone with signature authority should apply to sell content on the iTunes Store. Only that individual can accept the standard iTunes Store contract on iTunes Connect.
I'm being prompted to enter my legal name. Should I use my own name or my company's name?
If you're registered as a company, enter your legal entity name. If you're signing up as an individual, enter your first and last names. The legal name you enter should match the name affiliated with the U.S. Tax ID and Tax ID type that you provide with your application.
How will I be notified of my application status?
You will be notified via email. Check any spam filters on your email account and make sure your account is set up to receive email from firstname.lastname@example.com.
If my application is accepted, in what countries will my movies be available?
iTunes movie providers have the option to request contracts for all regions in which the iTunes Store sells movies. Once a contract for a specific region has been finalized and all other requirements have been met, movies that have been delivered to us with territory rights cleared in that region may be made available for sale there.


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On Wednesday, the NBA finally announced that the opening of the Brooklyn Nets' new arena, the Barclays Center—scheduled for Thursday—would be postponed because of Hurricane Sandy. But that only happened at the urging of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who told reporters that it was his call to get the game moved and said, "The bottom line is that there is not a lot of mass transit. Our police have plenty of other things to do."
Now, though, the NBA is going forward with planned games at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks open against Heat tonight, and Brooklyn, where the Nets will play the Raptors on Saturday, while the city is facing criticism for plans to go through with Sunday's New York City Marathon (UPDATE: The marathon was canceled late this afternoon). And, with the subway lines out and many New Yorkers still without power and plumbing, not everyone is happy about it.
MORE: Nets-Knicks opener rescheduled for Nov. 26
Heat star Dwyane Wade took to Twitter to comment that, "3 hour traffic just to get into the NY city.. C'monMan..."
Then, not wanting to sound as though he was just complaining about traffic, Wade took down that tweet and said, "2 be clear "Traffic tweet was meant 2 say"... We shouldn't B hre 2 play a basketball game when theirs so many families obviously still R affected by #Sandy."
Wade further tweeted, "I luv playing in the garden but cnt do nothing but think abt all the families that dont have power,food,water etc..ths is a tragic hit 4 ths gr8 city," Wade wrote.
Wade later said he would donate his salary for tonight's game, about $210,000 before taxes, to help relief efforts.
"I just felt there were bigger things to be concerned about than us being here to play a basketball game," Wade said. "Obviously, sports is things that takes people's minds away from things, but, you know, I think there's bigger things that need to be done here in the city."
Wade's teammate LeBron James told reporters after shootaround on Friday that he was "50-50" on whether the game should be played. "I think we're all in agreement that getting everything situated and back and running after the hurricane is more important than a basketball game," James said. "But there are also people who believe that we need this basketball game for a lot of spirits and a lot of families."
Contributing: The Associated Press.


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Search results for "and a few other channels."
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this week in horror
This Week in Horror - May 1, 2017 - Rawhead Rex, Unbreakable, ...
Rawhead Rex is getting a 4K restoration, M. Night Shyamalan is making a sequel to Unbreakable and Split, and The X-Files will return for an 11th season! It's This Week in Horror with Whitney Moore!Posted by Bloody-Disgusting on Monday, May 1, 2017
Trending Now
We've Already Got a Release Date for 'IT' Sequel!
Every Character in 'Leatherface' Who Connects to a Previous 'Chainsaw' Film
[Review] 'Leatherface' Fails By Proving the Saw is Family
'1922': Trailer for Netflix's Stephen King Adaptation is Infested with Rats, Murder, and Ghosts!
'F' This! – The Most Hated Films in Horror
Remember When Sam Returned for a Series of Official 'Trick 'r Treat' Shorts?
There's a Stephen King Tour in Maine That Takes You to the Real Life Derry
[Trailer] Horror Classic Gets a Feature Length Fan Film With 'The Blair Witch Legacy'
Larry Cohen Slams Refn's 'Maniac Cop' Remake
New "Creating Pennywise" Featurette Includes Behind the Scenes 'IT' Footage


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Is your kid a reluctant learner?
Find out how to get your kid excited about being back at school. more
If we look at the building blocks of early child development, then learning about shapes and colours is one of the integral concepts for kids to grasp.
And it's not so your child can keep up with the junior Jones's in playgroup or parrot something impressive to the grandparents. This kind of learning helps children understand, explain and categorise the world around them. Being able to differentiate between colours and shapes are fundamental tools for much of the school-based learning from maths and science to language and reading.
Research suggests that children can start to recognise different colours, and even start showing preferences, at around 18 months. At about the same time they begin to notice similarities and differences in shape. They will be around three years old before they start naming the colours and shapes, and they they'll probably know only one colour and shape. Don't panic if it takes them a bit longer.
Mums and dads can do what they're usually doing anyway from the moment their bub is born – describing the world around their tot.
When they're very little keep it simple and maybe compare objects such as a green leaf and the green in a piece of clothing they're wearing. They'll be closer to school age before they really start thinking in shades and tones.
It's the same with shapes – keep it simple; littlies probably don't need to be able to distinguish between an oblong and a rhombus until they're well into school, if then.
Sonja Walker* says kids will just love learning about shapes and colours from their mums and dads, particularly if it involves one-on-one time and your undivided attention.
"When you're reading to your child, drawing with your child or even going about your household tasks point out colours and shapes to your child," she suggests. "As they get older, ask them if they know the colour or the shape."
Early childhood experts have these suggestions for parents wanting to help their kids learn all about shapes and colours.
*Sonja Walker, director of Kids First Children's Services.
Article: When to Teach What: A guide for colors, shapes, letters, and more…
This article was written by Fiona Baker as part of the 'Magic of play' campaign, sponsored by Play-Doh.


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Yes, there is an actual book called "Go the **** to Sleep".
It looks like a child's book that one would read to their kids........but I don't know if this is an actual Children's book nor would you want to actually read it to your kids......but it is a book that is being sold now and frakkin hilarious cuz it's a book that you can see and say to yourself....man, this would be such a better book if Samual Jackson was reading it to your kids.
Well....guess what? he does....
NOTE - Skip to the :50 mark.
BTW - If you are at work....turn the volume down or put on your headset....its NSFW audio.


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|Home / Accounting / Online IRS Tax Form Template
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text:
Manx Landmark Twist "Chalk"
- Made in Great Britain
- 50/50 Wool & Polypropylene
- 11 Colour Options
- Available in 4m & 5m Widths
- Delivery Charges
- £29.50 per order
- Delivery Time
- 7-10 working days
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Product characteristics: Manx Landmark Twist "Chalk"
|Loop Pile
|Width Available
|4m, 5m
|Pile Material
|50% Wool, 50% Polypropylene
Product features
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If you follow my blog, you probably know that Lucas has eczema. Many babies and kids do–it's very common actually. In the USA, 8.6 million kids under 14 suffer from eczema or dermatitis. No matter how common though, it is very uncomfortable and can sometime even be painful for kids. As a result, I am always on the hunt for products that at the very minimum don't irritate Lucas' sensitive skin. Ideally, what I prefer to find are products that soothe and help heal his eczema, but those finds are rare. That's why I was so happy to discover Exederm and wholeheartedly agreed to review the baby skincare line.
Exederm's approach to skincare is a simple one {in my mind, simple is always best!}–avoid irritants and chemicals that trigger eczema flare ups. That's why Exederm uses only the mildest ingredients for their skincare.
Exederm contains:
- No Fragrance
- No Color or Dyes
- No Parabens
- No Lanolin
- No Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- No Propylene Glycol
- No Formaldehyde
- No Phthalates
Exederm sent me their entire baby skincare line for me to review and it definitely WORKS! I received the baby bath wash, lotion, intensive moisturizer, baby oil, and shampoo. Let me start with how these smell. They literally smell how I think "odorless" should smell like. Like nothing. Amen. No fragrances! The bath wash is wonderful because it is creamy and non-drying. The lotion is hydrating, but still light and non greasy. Even the intensive moisturizer is non greasy, but it really works to heal eczema patches. Lucas had a couple of small, scaly patches on his back and within a few days of using the intensive moisturizer, they were gone. None of the products irritated his skin at all–only baby soft skin! All of the products are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Moms who have kids with eczema will understand where my excitement comes from! Products like these {that actually work} are very hard to find! To give you an idea, here's a visual of how Exederm's lotion compares to some other leading brands:
I am not the only one that is raving about Exederm either! In September 2008, the National Eczema Association honored Exederm with the first of 7 'Seal of Acceptance' awards! To read their review of Exederm, click here, but just a heads up–they gave Exederm 5 out of 5 stars! Exederm also makes skincare products for adults with sensitive skin so make sure to check them out too!
Want It: Exederm products can be purchased online and start at $11.99.


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cjskier wrote:Furthur wrote:I played Glow last night with nothing but a S PD. I threw it both backhand (RH) and forehand (LH), and had a lot of fun.
Last week my buddy an I played night disc, but neither of us have glow discs. We just grabbed one of the random putters that sit in my basket for anyone to practice(or have for that matter) in all white. I threw an Innova Birdie, which I had never thrown before and my buddy a Magnet. We just used the light from the full moon, no glow. Was fun, and we both came home with the disc.
A side note it was 15 degrees F, coldest I have ever played in and it did not even effect me. Played in a full down winter jacket, lol.
BTW a Birdie is crazy under stable when thrown hard. Was fun to play with, never thrown an under stable putter before.
Which course did you play at, Truckee?


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Posted 6 years ago
(1 item)
Rare price marking stakes - prices in francs. White enamel with blue trim and black prices. I was told they were used in the french markets to price foods. I am unsure about that, about the age, and their worth. If anyone knows what they are and their worth, I would sure love to know! I have searched everywhere for information, but found nothing. The measure 3.75 inches long and 2 inches wide.
I listed these under Kitchen/Graniteware and also Art Deco because the blue trim designs seems to be of that era.


text: Danny can roll himself, walk himself, cart wheel himself back on to the court, just as long as he gets back on the court. This team would not be one of the best teams in the NBA right now with him, but the record would be a lot better and we would be starting from a higher point than where we are now. So just get well soon.


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Genus: Geococcyx
Species: californianus
Description:Greater roadrunners are about 2 feet tall with long, thin legs. They have mottled brown and tan feathers. The tail is long and sticks out to help the roadrunner balance when standing and running.
Roadrunners have a crest at the top of the head that can puff up when the bird is trying to communicate with other roadrunners.
With speeds upwards of 25 miles per hour, roadrunners definitely earn their name! They are quick on the ground without loosing their ability to fly. Roadrunners will fly short distances to perch on branches, posts and rocks.
Roadrunners call with a series of "coo" sounds.
Greater roadrunners eat a wide variety of food including rodents, reptiles, and insects. Due to the harsh environment of the Southwest, roadrunners will eat whatever is available. Predators of roadrunners are raccoons, hawks and of course, coyotes!
Range: Look for greater roadrunners year-round in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. They can be seen in deserts, brush and grasslands on the ground or sitting on low perches, such as fences.
The speedy roadrunner is a skillful desert terminator with a yen for dangerous reptiles.


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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=1/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=0/3. Challenge yourself in this ultimate reaction based game! Increase your reaction speed and reflexes by playing against other gold grabbers. Beat your friends in local and live games. Will you become the Ultimate Gold Grabber? Merry christmas and happy holidays!
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More


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Here's a choice I am running into that I need help making a decision for. When you post your commercial, for sale music online do you allow the full song to stream or only allow a 30 second preview? The large online music retailers such as iTunes and Amazon only allow 30 second previews. Do they know something about buying behavior? Does allowing just a short clip tantalize a listener so he wants to hear the rest of the song and clicks buy? Could it be iTunes and Amazon believe people will "rip" or record a full song stream even if just 128k quality?
Some websites like Last.fm give you the choice. I had my music set for 30 sec play and I received the following comment:
"30 second clips? can we get anymore of a rip off thats like showing half of the picture you painted, but if you want to hear the rest youll have to buy it if people like you enough, they will buy your music stop being such a rip off" – mnmcandiez
After a little thought I switched my settings to full song play. Is that the right decision? I think everyone knows it's easy to record any sound your computer makes. I also know my publisher Strengholt music group doesn't approve. There are some sites such as Bandcamp who rely on people buying music in order for them to survive yet they only allow full streaming songs.
So what do you do? What are the pros and cons here?
[poll id="4″]
photo credit: mag3737


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By Varietal
Hi, I am Lexi and I am a native of Philadelphia. I just recently moved to NC after completing my degree in Culinary Arts.
This is a burger I came up with about a year ago, I grew up with my mother making burgers mixed with peppers and onions but the problem was that they were always burnt on the outside and raw in the
With all the fixings from home and all the wilderness from the wild west, this buffalo burger is a savory frontier fantastique.
I created this recipe after my dad suggested a "Wagons West!" burger idea.
A take on a bayou classic Turducken.
Buffalo, pecans, and okra are all foods grown in Oklahoma and they play a prominent role in my recipe.
My region is known for it
This is a great alternative to your traditional hamburger but with a sweet and spicy twist. The bacon adds a bit of smokiness that balances out the sweet glaze.
In the Netherlands, if you go into a small village restaurant that is away from tourist and order a cheese burger you will get a combination beef and ground pork seasoned patty, with a slice of ham
This is the first cooking contest I've ever entered. I love to BBQ, trying different combinations, ajusting to taste. Trying to find what appeals to me and my family is what makes cooking fun.
My family loves this chutney. I make it up now and keep in the refigerator. It is wonderful on chicken and pork sandwiches.
Everything is better with a little guiness, cheese, sausage, beef and bacon.


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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=0/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=0/3. myChristmas is bringing back the festive magic to xbox 360. Featuring 10 Christmas carols and our next gen 3d engine. Decorate and light your Christmas tree, stretch out in front of a Yule log fire or get a group of friends together and go Christmas caroling over Xbox Live with your avatars. Experience first hand the awesome magic of Santa arriving, it just wouldn't be myChristmas without him.
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More


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" Brand: Born to Play / Type: Race Car Tracks "
We have had this set for over a year now. It comes with a working car wash and a manual lift along with five friction powered vehicles. This seemed like pretty good value. Our 3 year old son was crazy about it. However, the pieces only go together to make a rack in one way. So even when he learned to 'snap' the pieces together by himself there is no way to put it together that it will link up other than the one pictured on the box so he still needs help to do this. We even bought extra track to see if this would make it any more flexible but it doesn't. The other major problem with it is that it comes apart at the slightest bump so a little boy rolling around on the floor breaks it approximately once every two minutes. Once it comes apart in one place it invariably breaks somewhere else when you're trying to fix it. I find it the most frustrating toy he owns. The lift threads went after only a few days as well but my husband was able to fix it. I would get rid of it if he wasn't so taken by the car wash. I was also disappointed that the garage which is advertised as doubling as a storage box does not have the capacity to store more than a few vehicles. I was under the impression the track could be neatly packed up. It can't.
We bought this Bob`s carwash and garage for my son for christmas after he nagged us for weeks and weeks.
Inside the box you will find a 24 piece snap trax, a garage,
Pull back motorised Muck , Scoop and Scrambler vehicles and a Bob figure
Also a working conveyer belt , manual vehicle lift , manual track switcher, electronic carwash
~ Setting it up~
It says on the box 3+ and although my son is just under 3 we did not think he would have too much of a problem putting it together.
The snaptrax pieces are supposed to easily snap together but my little boy no matter how hard he tries just cannot put it together and even my husband and myself have trouble as the track just constantly falls apart.
There were no instructions in the box so my husband had to look at the back of the box and try and put it together , also the vehicles are pull back and go ones , it is very hard to get these to work.
The carwash bit on the garage is a lot of fun , you can fill it with water and press buttons and the cars get wet! It has rotating washers and a moving conveyer belt but the cars do tend to get stuck in the carwash instead of moving through.
The cars also seem to get stuck in the tunnel a lot and it is quite fiddly to get them out , the manual lift is also fiddly and my son gets very annoyed with it.
My son can only play with this if he has our help which is a shame as he has no problem setting up his thomas the tank trainset.
Although it says age 3+ on the box I would only recommend it for children who are a lot older.
This review is also on Ciao my username there is lazytowner
I bought this product for my 2 year old for his birthday as he loves Bob the Builder. The product comes with track, a car wash (works with battery), little garage/ storage place for the vehicles, a lift, and 3 vehicles (Muck, Scoop and Scrambler), as well as a small Bob. It cost £34.99 form Toys R Us.
Initially I was not very impressed at all- the track fell apart easily whenever my son leant on it a little too hard, and is very difficult for him to put together himself- however, he was probably a little young for it. I was very disappointed that the vehicles are those which you have to pull back and release for them to move around the track, 2 of them don't work properly and an adult is really needed to do it, my son still can't yet do it himself. It would be much better it the vehicles were battery powered to move around the track themselves. The car wash is quite fun and works well, as does the lift.
Now my son is a little older (2 1/2 years) and he LOVES it- he would happily play all day with it. He is more gentle around the track and has learnt not to lean on it, so it doesn't snap apart so readily, however, I do still feel like I have to repair it a few times a day. He doesn't actually use the vehicles with it as they don't move so well, but he loves to drive toy cars around it, and loves to wash them in the car wash.
Overall, I think it is probably worth the money- especially if you search around to find a good deal on it. It has longevity and I'm sure my son will still be playing with it in a year. The quality is not fantastic- so check your vehicles work as soon as you get it home, but it seems to do the trick for my son!
Fantastic Bob the Builder SNAPTRAX set featuring the two brand new locations to the popular TV series - the carwash and garage. The SNAPTRAX pieces snap together easily to create either a road or rail surface. The car wash has real working features including a conveyor belt, sprinkler water washer, rotating sponge washers and a real working fan dryer. The garage comes complete with winding lift mechanism to raise/lower vehicles to/from the upper level of Bob's garage. The Garage also turns into a carry case that can hold 3 vehicles and pieces of track. Other features include an exciting downhill spiral track and manual track switcher. The set also includes pull back character vehicles and articulated Bob figure.


text: Samuel Adams OctoberFest is brewed to celebrate the arrival of autumn. The first thing customers will notice when pouring a glass of this seasonal beer is the color. Samuel Adams OctoberFest has a rich, deep golden amber hue, which itself is reflective of the season. This hearty lager is rich with a blend of four


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Posted 7 years ago
(28 items)
Found these old Pompeian Massage Cream Calenders at a garage sale.
I know one picture is of Mary Pickford, the silent screen star, picture four shows her autograph (not sure if its real or stamped? help)
Don't know who the man and woman in the other picture might be.
Anyone know anything?


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Welcome to Weekend Rewind, a glance back at The Tribune's news stories, top photos and opinions you may have missed over the weekend.
Top stories this past weekend
Welcome to Weekend Rewind, a glance back at The Tribune's news stories, top photos and opinions you may have missed over the weekend.
Top stories this past weekend
Utah winter storm big, but only one record broken » Airport sets record as resorts tally 4 feet of powder.
Utah veteran, up for valor award, served in clandestine war • Patrick Watkins saw his share of insider attacks in Vietnam. It sickens him to read about Afghan security forces turning against American and coalition forces; more than 60 have died at the hands of supposed colleagues this year.
Will GOP go extinct or evolve? • The pounding the GOP took on election night losing a shot at the White House, Senate seats and House districts could push Republicans into some serious navel gazing as the party looks to figure out its future. One thing seems clear to party strategists: Something's got to give.
At Utah ceremony, Vietnam veterans thanked, at last, for their service • Utahns are finally welcomed home during ceremony at the Capitol.
'The Sessions' interviews: A movie about sex, poetry and polio • What might be the most unlikely sex comedy in movie history involves a quadriplegic poet, a professional sex surrogate, an Oscar winner, two past Oscar nominees and an Australian filmmaker who stumbled on the story "quite by accident."
Increasing numbers of U.S. banks move from free to fee • Starting with Bank of America's disastrous plan to charge customers for using their debit cards last year, fees have become the third rail of the U.S. banking industry.
Bob Murray lays off 102 Utah miners, blaming Obama • In response to President Barack Obama's re-election Tuesday, coal magnate Robert Murray laid off 102 miners the next day at his West Ridge coal mine in Carbon County, offering a "solemn prayer" for America to protect it from what he calls Obama's "war on coal."
No Mormon spike for Romney on Election Day • President George W. Bush actually outperformed Mitt Romney among LDS voters nationwide, according to exit polls and a Pew analysis. In 2004, Bush received 80 percent of the Mormon vote; on Election Day last week, Romney pulled in only 78 percent.
Election boosts marriage hopes for Utah gay couples • Weston Clark hopes to one day marry the person he loves even if his family looks different from most in Utah with a male partner and their 2-year-old son.
Other news of interest
New medical schools osteopathic and traditional headed to Utah?
Utah's school population tops 600,000 for first time
Four more people intend to sue UHP Trooper Lisa Steed
Case of the Weeping Icon mystifies, divides Utah parish
New operator takes control of Salt Lake's Trolley Square
Suspect dead following Ogden officer-involved shooting
Man killed, another injured in brawl at South Salt Lake night club
BLM's wild horse management at a crossroad
Petraeus steps down as CIA chief, saying he had affair
Veterans Day • No war to end all wars
Huntsman to State? • Man to match the job
Rolly: It's time for policy reform, not politics
Pyle: The truth and returns on investments


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YOU May not like ADR, but.......
by, 07-09-2012 at 06:42 PM (5660 Views)
I would like to start my first blog here by saying hello to anyone who reads this, and thanks for taking the the time to do so. Let us now jump right in. I have to say that I am a huge fan of Alberto Del Rio. I liked him right off the bat with his very first few promos before his official debut. For me, it was his first few promos that got me interested, I found them to be hilarious. However, he has certainly become a polarizing wrestler with as many haters as fans. In order to keep things simple I will try to summarize the reasons why ADR is greatness, and where I think his potential to be even better is.
1) The Mexican fan base.
Besides ADR, WWE has basically no Mexican superstar wrestlers. Rey has been out for a long time, and was slowing down before he left from all the injuries. Sin Cara is a unique wrestler but doesn't talk at all. ADR has also recently demolished Sin Cara, and debuted with a big win over Rey. So that sends an obvious message. The Mexican fan base for WWE is huge and ADR is the current top ambassador.
2) Ricardo
I chuckle every time I see Ricardo being announced. Ricardo's announcing style is pretty intense and funny at the same time. He has also shown to be an effective distraction in and out of the ring. A recent highlight occurred when Ricardo told ADR to slam Sheamus's head on the hood of his car. That whole promo was actually very good in my opinion.
3) In ring skills
ADR is versatile in the ring, and even most that dislike ADR agree on this. Not much needs to be said here. Its worth mentioning that ADR is very consistent in the ring, and has had great matches with pretty much every one he wrestles. Although I was not a big fan of the Big Show feud, or his matches with the Great Kali. That is more of a booking issue in my opinion.
4) Potential
ADR has a lot of opportunity ahead of him. He is constantly in the main event scene. And even after returning from his injury, he was put back in the main event scene immediately. Maybe that is because of all the other superstars being out for one reason or another at that time. Even so, It is clear that WWE has big plans for ADR which will certainly include winning a championship perhaps as soon as MITB.
I can understand those that dislike his mic skills, or just find him plain boring. For whatever reason I have always found ADR to be a bit humorous. I believe he has some better promos in him, that will develop over time. I have also always wondered what if ADR turns face. I will still like him, but it would be interesting to see the result. ADR was a huge face pre-WWE. Randy Orton is in the same boat (although on opposite ends). Great as a heel, not so much as a face. So that may explain why many dislike him as a heel. Perhaps he just needs more time to develop his promos as a dominant heel. I believe the new "aggressive" side of ADR is a step in that direction. ADR brings lots of possibilities to the WWE, and has lots of potential fueds that could end up being fantastic. Meanwhile John Cena has to wrestle Johnny Ace and the Big Show (AGAIN!) which is as fresh as grandmas bananas. The WWE needs ADR, and (even if you do not know it yet), YOU need him too. Thanks for reading.


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Eugene Hernandez Digitizes FilmLincThursday, September 23rd, 2010
Eugene Hernandez might need to clone himself. The indieWIRE chief, already known for his ability to be nearly everywhere at the right time in independent and arthouse film, will now take over the newly created role of Director of Digital Strategy for the Film Society of Lincoln Center and will give up his editorial duties, while maintaining "a link" to the online indie trade.
This can only be a good thing for FSLC, who have been refining their digital presence over the last year but face a challenge to reconcile an old school audience with new tools of engagement.


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N63 is the new road full-face helmet by Nolan®, designed for young people and city use. It is characterized by a sophisticated and attractive design, as well as an excellent price-quality relation.
The careful selection of graphics, the carefully styled look, the chromatic colour match of components and finishes, all combined to a limited weight (approximately 1,400 g), make the new N63 a helmet suitable also for women.
Technical Features:


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Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section but being as it does say "Rules Discussion", I figured it would work better here.
I'm just wondering about the ins and outs of the trade forum. I have a stack of discs that I'll never use and would like to trade them out for things I do throw. What steps do I use, what to look out for, how to ship discs, how not to ship discs, cost of shipping, the proper way of presenting what I have, pics, etc.
I see we have a negative and positive feedback list so I know how to work with on trading and who not to do deals with but I'm still confused on how everything works with trading. I've never done it before but I seriously need to get rid of some stuff.
Also, I know it isn't rocket science but I'd like to make sure everything goes smoothly when doing trades, so if I sound newbish to this, well...I am, lol.
Anyways, any advice would be helpful as I'm new to this. I know it's tough dealing with a first time trader but I'm looking to make some honest trades.
Thanks for any tips.


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World War Z is offering a $50 Mega Ticket in some theatres, to see if it works. I hope not.
As Hillary Busis noted in PopWatch on June 14th, under the tags "boatloads of money, head scratcher, to care or not to care" among other designations, "Paramount and Regal Entertainment have partnered for what they're calling the 'ultimate fan event' — a World War Z package offered at just five theaters nationwide, including screens in Orange County, Houston, San Diego, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. Its price tag? A hefty $50.
To be fair, those who purchase these 'mega tickets' will get more than just a pass to see Brad Pitt fight zombies. The bundle includes a ticket to see World War Z in RealD 3-D two days before its official release, a pair of custom RealD 3D glasses, a small popcorn, a limited-edition movie poster, and an HD digital copy of the film once it's released for home viewing.
Knowing this, let's break down the mega ticket's cost. An adult evening ticket for a movie comparable to World War Z — Man of Steel — in RealD 3D at the five theaters listed as mega ticket partners costs $16.30 on average before tax, according to prices listed online. A small popcorn at a theater was $4.75 on average in 2009, and that number has certainly gone up in the past four years; let's estimate it conservatively at $5. An HD digital download of a newly-released film — Oz the Great and Powerful, for example — costs $19.99 on iTunes and $14.99 on Amazon, so let's average them to get $17.49
Add those together, and you get $38.79 (plus tax) — meaning that Paramount and Regal are charging around a $11.21 premium for a poster, the custom glasses, and the privilege of seeing the movie in advance.
Is that fair? Considering that $50 can buy you eight $6 beers at a reasonably-priced bar, or six months (plus one week) of unlimited streaming titles on Netflix, or 50 McDoubles at McDonald's, it doesn't really seem to be."
I agree; I can't imagine paying this, and I'll add one other fact to Ms. Busis's summary; today I went to see The Purge at the 12:20PM show in a theater that seated more than 500 people, and I was the only one – the absolute only person – in the theater, and that cost me $6.75 for a 2-D matinee. If you can't fill theaters at $6.75 a pop in summer with The Purge, a film that's already demonstrated that it's a solid hit, how on earth are you going to get away with charging $50 for a souped up ticket for World War Z?
Not going to happen, no matter what Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Lucas say.
Tags: Hillary Busis, marketing, Mega Tickets, Movie Admissions, Movie Attendance, PopWatch, Promotional Schemes, World War Z


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Membranous nephropathy usually develops gradually, so you may not suspect that anything is wrong. As you lose protein from your blood, swelling in your legs and ankles and weight gain from excess fluid can occur. Some people experience lots of swelling from the very beginning of the disease, and others may not have any severe symptoms until they have advanced kidney disease.
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Well, that's finally settled. We've got the matchup we've been looking for all season. We've got all of our biggest BCS questions answered. We've got, quite frankly, the very sort of clash of titans that makes our college football world go round.
Indeed: a Stanford-Wisconsin Rose Bowl.
But that Notre Dame-Alabama BCS title game might draw some interest, too.
Fact: Saturday was blissful. It was triumphant. It sorted some stuff out:
—Alabama, a 32-28 winner over Georgia in what, let's be honest, was an insanely great SEC championship game, is headed to Miami to face (and, most assume, beat) the No. 1-ranked Irish.
—Kansas State, by virtue of its 42-24 victory over Texas, won the Big 12 and locked up a date with Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.
—Florida State, its 21-15 win over Georgia Tech in the ACC title game in the bag, is Orange Bowl-bound, almost certainly to face Louisville, which clinched the Big East championship on Thursday.
—There's a pretty beautiful Sugar Bowl matchup expected: Florida vs. Oklahoma. The Sooners won 24-17 at TCU on Saturday, setting up the Sugar as perhaps the toughest-to-predict BCS game of all.
—And then there's Wisconsin. The five-loss Badgers produced perhaps the most shocking result of the college football season: a 70-31 victory over Nebraska in the Big Ten title game. Losers of the past two Rose Bowls, Wisconsin will try to avoid becoming the Buffalo Bills vs. what's perceived to be a much better Stanford team.
—Did Collin Klein do enough in his final regular-season game to win the Heisman Trophy? The Kansas State senior certainly did enough to steal some votes. In the most important game of his career, the quarterback threw for 184 yards (one touchdown, one interception) and rushed for 103 yards and two scores.
Klein's greatness has never been defined by stats. He's the most influential player in program history and so valuable to his team, it's just plain hard not to vote for him.
—Texas A&M freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel emerges from the weekend as the Heisman favorite. But what about Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o? He seems to have a chance still—but what matters more than that is the opportunity he'll have to prove himself vs. Alabama in Miami.
Just look at what the Tide did in the running game against Georgia. They rushed for 347 yards, but this isn't even about the numbers; it's about Eddie Lacy (181 yards) and T.J. Yeldon (153) and truly an incredibly good offensive line. This is the challenge of Te'o's career. He could emerge from that game looking like a future NFL superstar. Or as an overblown 2012 story.
—Apparently, Florida State didn't care all that much how its season turned out. The Seminoles sleepwalked through a scoreless second half against a truly horrendous Georgia Tech defense. It sure makes one wonder where coach Jimbo Fisher's head was at.
—By the way, Boise State is 10-2. The Broncos won 27-21 at Nevada on Saturday to clinch a share of the Mountain West title. No, Chris Petersen's team isn't BCS-bound. Yes, many a "bigger" program would like to hire Petersen. But, for now, let's just take a bow at a seventh straight season in double-digit wins for Coach Pete and this one-of-a-kind program.
Eddie Lacy, Alabama: 20 carries for 181 yards, 2 TDs in a 32-28 win vs. Georgia.
Amari Cooper, Alabama: 7 receptions for 127 yards, 1 TD.
Montee Ball, Wisconsin: 21 carries for 201 yards, 3 TDs in a 70-31 win vs. Nebraska.
Lache Seastrunk, Baylor: 16 carries for 178 yards, 1 TD in a 41-34 win vs. Oklahoma State.
Geno Smith, West Virginia: 23-of-24 passing for 407 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT in a 59-10 win vs. Kansas.
Matt Miller, Boise State: 7 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD in a 27-21 win at Nevada.
"I'm ready to have a heart attack here." —Nick Saban, moments after Alabama's 32-28 victory over Georgia ended with the Bulldogs at the Tide 4-yard line.


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Minilaparoscopic Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
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Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed operations in general surgery and is considered the standard of care for cholecystectomy for benign biliary disease. The laparoscopic approach to cholecystectomy, when compared to open surgery, is associated with less postoperative pain, quicker recovery time and an improved cosmetic result.
Most commonly, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed using a 10-12mm port in the umbilicus with 3 additional ports consisting of either three 5mm ports, or a combination of two 5mm ports and one 10mm port. A new technique called minilaparoscopic (also referred to as needlescopic) surgery has recently emerged. Minilaparoscopic surgery replaces 5mm trocars with smaller 3mm trocars. Surgery using these smaller trocars is hypothesized to further reduce postoperative pain and recovery time as well as improve cosmetic results following laparoscopic surgery. Our goal is to compare these outcomes in a randomized trial comparing conventional to minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy.
|Cholelithiasis Cholecystectomy
|Procedure: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy Procedure: Minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy
|Phase 4
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Minilaparoscopic Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Trial
- Post-operative pain [ Time Frame: First seven days post-op, 3 weeks post-op ]Post-operative pain will be assessed during the first week post-operatively using a diary that will be provided to patients. In this diary, patients will score their pain daily using a visual analog scale (0=no pain and 10=severe pain) and record use of pain medications for the first seven days post-operatively. Patients will again be asked to score their pain using the visual analog scale at the regularly scheduled follow-up visit three weeks post-op.
- Time to recovery [ Time Frame: 3 weeks post-operatively ]Time to recovery (return to baseline level of activity) will be evaluated by comparing baseline physical activity scores to physical activity scores determined at the follow-up visit three weeks post-op. Physical activity scores will be obtained using the validated CHAMPS questionnaire (2)
- Cosmetic result [ Time Frame: 3 months post-operatively ]Cosmetic result will be evaluated using a scar assessment questionnaire (3), that will be administered by the study coordinator at the routine post-op visit as well as at three months by telephone
- Operative complications [ Time Frame: First 3 months post-op ]Intra-operative, in-hospital (if applicable) and postoperative complications will be recorded and graded according to the Clavien Classification. Superficial and deep incisional surgical site infections will be defined according to the CDC definition.
- Operative technique [ Time Frame: Recorded at visit 3 weeks post-op ]Conversion to conventional laparoscopic technique or open procedure will be recorded at the time of operation.
- Length of operation [ Time Frame: Recorded at visit 3 weeks post-op ]The time necessary to complete the intervention will be recorded
|Study Start Date:
|February 2012
|Study Completion Date:
|September 2015
|Primary Completion Date:
|September 2015 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Active Comparator: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Patients in this arm will undergo conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Procedure: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Experimental: Minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy
Patients in this arm will undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy using minilaparoscopic instruments
Procedure: Minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed using minilaparoscopic instruments
Other Name: Needlescopic surgery
Show Detailed Description
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- minimum 18 years of age
- referred for elective cholecystectomy for benign biliary stone disease
Exclusion Criteria:
- previous upper gastrointestinal surgery
- acute cholecystitis (past or present)
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class greater than or equal to 4
- pregnancy
- morbid obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m2)
- inability to comprehend questionnaires in either English or French
- psychiatric conditions that preclude cooperation and/or comprehension of questionnaires
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01397565
|Canada, Quebec
|Montreal General Hospital
|Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1A4
|Principal Investigator:
|Liane Feldman, MD
|McGill University Health Center
|Responsible Party:
|Dr. Liane S. Feldman, MD, McGill University Health Center
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01397565 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|July 5, 2011
|Last Updated:
|September 26, 2015
Keywords provided by Dr. Liane S. Feldman, McGill University Health Center:
Minilaparoscopic surgery
Post-operative pain
Recovery time
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Biliary Tract Diseases
Digestive System Diseases
Gallbladder Diseases
Pathological Conditions, Anatomical
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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This column originally appeared on Real Money Pro at 7:15 a.m. EST on Jan. 7.
NEW YORK ( Real Money) --
"Never make predictions, especially about the future." -- Casey StengelIt's that time of the year again! It was a tough task repeating the success of my surprise list for 2011 over the past year. This is particularly true since my most important surprise (No. 4) in 2011 -- namely, that the S&P 500 would end the year at exactly the same price that it started the year (1257) -- was eerily prescient. As well, in 2011 I basically nailed that the trading range over the course of that year would be narrow (between 1150 and 1300). As we entered 2012, most strategists expressed a relatively sanguine economic view of a self-sustaining domestic recovery and an upbeat corporate profits picture but shared the view that the S&P 500 would rise but only modestly. By contrast, I called for a much better equity market -- one capable, in the second half of the year, of piercing the 2000 high of 1527. As it turns out, the S&P 500 breached 1480 to the upside in the fall -- or about only 3% less than the 2000 peak. (In October, I concluded that the S&P 500's fair market value was 1415, and the S&P closed the year just 10 points higher than that figure.) Before reviewing what else went right in my surprise list for 2012 (and what went wrong), I wanted to give some historical perspective on the lessons of the past, on the role of the consensus and what I am trying to bring to the table in the construction of the surprise list.
Lessons Learned Over the Years
"I'm astounded by people who want to 'know' the universe when it's hard enough to find your way around Chinatown." -- Woody AllenThere are five core lessons I have learned over the course of my investing career that form the foundation of my annual surprise lists:
- how wrong conventional wisdom can consistently be;
- that uncertainty will persist;
- to expect the unexpected;
- that the occurrence of black swan events are growing in frequency; and
- with rapidly changing conditions, investors can't change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust our sails (and our portfolios) in an attempt to reach our destination of good investment returns.
Consensus Is Often Wrong
"Let's face it: Bottom-up consensus earnings forecasts have a miserable track record. The traditional bias is well known. And even when analysts, as a group, rein in their enthusiasm, they are typically the last ones to anticipate swings in margins." -- UBS's top 10 surprises for 2012Let's get back to what I mean to accomplish in creating my annual surprise list. It is important to note that my surprises are not intended to be predictions but rather events that have a reasonable chance of occurring despite being at odds with the consensus. I call these "possible improbable" events. In sports, betting my surprises would be called an "overlay," a term commonly used when the odds on a proposition are in favor of the bettor rather than the house. The real purpose of this endeavor is a practical one -- that is, to consider positioning a portion of my portfolio in accordance with outlier events, with the potential for large payoffs on small wagers/investments. Since the mid-1990s, Wall Street research has deteriorated in quantity and quality (due to competition for human capital at hedge funds, brokerage industry consolidation and former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer-initiated reforms) and remains, more than ever, maintenance-oriented, conventional and groupthink (or groupstink, as I prefer to call it). Mainstream and consensus expectations are just that, and in most cases, they are deeply embedded into today's stock prices. It has been said that if life were predictable, it would cease to be life, so if I succeed in making you think (and possibly position) for outlier events, then my endeavor has been worthwhile. Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus, and my annual exercise recognizes that over the course of time, conventional wisdom is often wrong. As a society (and as investors), we are consistently bamboozled by appearance and consensus. Too often, we are played as suckers, as we just accept the trend, momentum and/or the superficial as certain truth without a shred of criticism. Just look at those who bought into the success of Enron, Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, the heroic home-run production of steroid-laced Major League Baseball players Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, the financial supermarket concept at what was once the largest money center bank Citigroup ( C), the uninterrupted profit growth at Fannie Mae ( FNM) and Freddie Mac ( FRE), housing's new paradigm (in the mid-2000s) of noncyclical growth and ever-rising home prices, the uncompromising principles of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, the morality of other politicians (e.g., John Edwards, John Ensign and Larry Craig), the consistency of Bernie Madoff's investment returns (and those of other hucksters) and the clean-cut image of Tiger Woods.
"Consensus is what many people say in chorus but do not believe as individuals." -- Abba Eban (Israeli foreign minister from 1966 to 1974)In an excellent essay published two years ago, GMO's James Montier made note of the consistent weakness embodied in consensus forecasts. As he puts it, "economists can't forecast for toffee."
They have missed every recession in the last four decades. And it isn't just growth that economists can't forecast; it's also inflation, bond yields, unemployment, stock market price targets and pretty much everything else....If we add greater uncertainty, as reflected by the distribution of the new normal, to the mix, then the difficulty of investing based upon economic forecasts is likely to be squared! -- James MontierBy means of background and for those new to Real Money Pro, 10 years ago, I set out and prepared a list of possible surprises for the coming year, taking a page out of the estimable Byron Wien's playbook, who originally delivered his list while chief investment strategist at Morgan Stanley ( MS) then Pequot Capital Management and now at Blackstone ( BX).
Dueling Annual Surprise Lists: Kass vs. WienEvery year I, and many others, look forward to Byron "Brontosaurus Rex" Wien's annual compilation (hat tip to "Squawk Box's" Joe Kernen for giving him the moniker). Byron has had a remarkable (and almost uncanny) record of his surprises becoming realities ever since he started his exercise back in 1986. His picks in 2009 were particularly accurate, but his surprises for 2010-2011 were considered by some to be off the mark. The tone of almost all Byron's 2011 surprises was diametrically opposed to my list -- namely, his list was rooted in optimism, while my list was rooted in pessimism. Where I saw slowing and sluggish economic growth, a weak housing market, a European recession by year-end and a lackluster stock market, Byron saw improving prospects. His principal surprises for the economy, interest rates, housing, the eurozone's debt crisis and the housing markets were off the mark in 2011. (Byron is an honest guy, so he would be the first to admit this.) Specifically, Byron expected U.S. real GDP growth of close to 5% (real U.S. GDP over the 12-month period saw only a 1.8% growth rate), a 5% yield on the 10-year U.S. note (which stood at 2.03% by year-end 2011, but, hey, I got that one wrong, too!), a year-end S&P 500 close near 1500 (it closed at 1257), a sharp recovery in housing starts to 600,000 and a rise in the Case-Shiller Home Price Index, and a quiescent and non-market-disruptive European debt situation. He was very correct on the price of gold (where I was far off base) and on benign inflationary pressures. In 2012 Byron batted about .500 -- more or less in line with my batting average. He was correct in his upbeat forecast for stock prices, oil prices, the strength in corporate profits, the results of the Presidential election, a EU plan that successfully stabilized and ring-fenced the sovereign debt problem, the intensification of cyberwarfare, the strength in the U.S. housing market and that the price of gold would hit $1,800 an ounce. His optimism on domestic economic growth proved wrong, as did his view that the Democrats would take back the House. Similar to myself, Byron expected a less dysfunction in Washington, D.C. -- the opposite occurred. He was too optimistic regarding China and other emerging stock markets, and his forecast of a 4% 10-year U.S. note yield was way off mark. Last Wednesday Byron Wien presented his 10 surprises for 2013 (and five also-rans). For the first time in years there is a large overlap in our surprise lists this year
How Did Consensus Do in 2012?As we entered 2012, consensus estimates for economic growth and stock market prices were modest, corporate profits expectations were upbeat and projections for bond prices were lower and for bond yields higher. As is typical, most estimates were grouped in an extraordinarily tight range. Last year, I chose to use Goldman Sachs' ( GS) forecasts as a proxy for the consensus. Below were Goldman Sachs' year-ago forecasts for 2012 (with the actuals in parentheses and boldface):
- 2012 U.S. real GDP up 1.8% (+2.3%), and global GDP up 3.2% (+3.1%);
- 2012 S&P 500 operating profits of $100 a share ($100 a share);
- year-end 2012 S&P 500 price target at 1250 (1425);
- 2012 inflation of +1.7% (+2.6%); and
- 2012 closing yield on the U.S.10-year Treasury note at 2.50% (1.80%).
How Did My Surprise List for 2012 Do?Last year's surprise list achieved about a 50% hit ratio, similar to my experience in 2011. Forty percent of my 2010 surprises were achieved, while I had a 50% success rate in 2009, 60% in 2008, 50% in 2007, one-third in 2006, 20% in 2005, 45% in 2004 and one-third came to pass in the first year of my surprises in 2003. Below is a report card of my 20 surprises for 2012 (I hit on 50% of the surprises): Surprise No. 1: The U.S. stock market breaches the 2000 high of 1527. Right. I call this correct as: 1. this was a hugely out of consensus and bullish view; 2. the S&P came within 3% of 1527; and 3. in September I reduced my year-end price close for the S&P 500 to 1415. (It closed at 1425.) Surprise No. 2: The growth in the U.S. economy accelerates as the year progresses. Wrong. Surprise No. 3: Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush form a bipartisan coalition that persuades both parties to unite in addressing our fiscal imbalances. Wrong. Surprise No. 4: Despite the grand compromise, the Republican presidential ticket gains steam as year progresses, and Romney is elected as the forty-fifth President of the United States. Wrong. Surprise No. 5: A sloppy start in arresting the European debt crisis leads to far more forceful and successful policy. Right. Surprise No. 6: The Fed ties monetary policy to the labor market. Right. Surprise No. 7: Sears Holdings ( SHLD) declares bankruptcy. Wrong. Surprise No. 8: Cyberwarfare intensifies. Right. Surprise No. 9: Financial stocks are a leading market sector. Right. Surprise No. 10: Despite the advance in the U.S. stock market, high-beta stocks underperform, but Apple ( AAPL) is a standout to the upside. Right. Surprise No. 11: Mutual fund inflows return in force. Wrong. Surprise No. 12: We'll see merger mania. Wrong. Surprise No. 13: The ETF bubble explodes. Wrong. Surprise No. 14: China has a soft landing (despite indigestion in the property market), and India has a hard landing. Right. Surprise No. 15: Israel Attacks Iran. Wrong. Surprise No. 16: Bank of America ( BAC) is forced to raise an additional $20 billion-$25 billion, and Brian Moynihan resigns as President. Wrong. Surprise No. 17: The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) falls to the 10-15 level during the second half of 2012. Right. Surprise No. 18: Facebook's ( FB) IPO fizzles and breaks issue price in the first day of trading. Right. Surprise No. 19: A second-half growth scare briefly lifts the yield on the 10-year U.S. note to over 3%. Wrong. Surprise No. 20: Three very high-profile executives of Fortune 500 companies are forced to resign after sexual harassment allegations. Right.
What Is the Consensus for 2013?As we enter 2013, investors and strategists are again grouped in a narrow consensus on economic growth (+2% real GDP), bond yields (higher) and year-end 2013 closing stock market price targets (on average at about 1575, a gain of 10%). On the latter issue of stock prices, strategists are unusually tight in their year-end S&P 500 forecasts, with Bank of America, Bank of Montreal, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, KKR, JPMorgan and Oppenheimer all in the range between 1550 and 1615, representing, on average, about a 10% gain for the full year. BTIG and Barclays are at 1525. Only UBS (1425) and Morgan Stanley (1434) stand out from the crowd. Again, let's use Goldman Sachs' principal views of expected economic growth, corporate profits, inflation, interest rates and stock market performance as a proxy for consensus. Here are Goldman Sachs' forecasts for 2012, 2013 and 2014:
The Rationale Behind My Downbeat Surprises for 2013
- No meaningful spending or entitlement cuts will be made;
- Unsustainable and diminished value of fiscal and monetary policy;
- An aging recovery and aging stock market;
- Investment narrative shifts to the earnings cliff and to the end of profit margin expansion;
- A market that starts the year at reasonable if not high valuations relative to headwinds;
- Full-year estimated S&P 500 range of 1275-1480 with a close of 1425; and
- Fade (sell/short) early January stock market strength.
"Say what you will about Congress, but it has created jobs for people who would be unfit to work anywhere else." -- Andy BorowitzLast year my surprise list had an out-of-consensus positive tone to it, but this year it is noticeably downbeat relative to generally upbeat expectations. As contrasted to 2012, when most were dour in market view (and wrong!), the 2013 consensus is an optimistic one and now holds to the view that European economic growth is stabilizing while growth in China and in the U.S. is reaccelerating. The popular view goes on to believe that even our dysfunctional leaders in Washington will not upset the growing consensus that it is clear sailing for equities and trouble ahead for bonds. Once again, the bullish consensus is tightly grouped with the expectation that the S&P 500 will close the year at 1550-1615 (up from 1425 at the close of 2012) and that the 10 year U.S. note yield will trade at 2.50% or higher (up from 1.80% at the close of 2012). These consensus views might prove too optimistic on stock prices and too pessimistic on bond prices. I believe that the U.S. stock market will make its 2013 high in the first two weeks of January, be in a yearlong range of 1275-1480 and close the year at 1425 and that the 10-year U.S. note will be below 2.00% in the first six months of 2013. Many of my more downbeat surprises for 2013 are an outgrowth of an aging economic recovery (now four years old), a maturing stock market (of a similar age!) coupled with the recognition that running trillions of dollars in deficits while maintaining zero interest rates are unsustainable policy strategies. I am also concerned that the multiplier being applied to the tax increases agreed to last week will be greater than many expect, serving to weigh on domestic economic growth. As well, it is also my view that the trajectory of economic growth in 2013 (and corporate profits) will also be adversely impacted by the manner in which businesses and consumers react to the tax hikes and the growing animosity and contentiousness in Washington, D.C., in the months ahead. Indeed, I fully expect the upcoming deliberations between the revenge-lusting Republicans in the House and the equally dogmatic and partisan incumbent President and Democratic Senate to not result in any meaningful cut in spending or entitlements reform. I do, however, expect these negotiations to have a direct and distinct adverse impact on economic growth, confidence and profits. The dependency on our economy and on business and consumer confidence to Washington's ability to compromise and deliver intelligent policy will prove, at the very least, unsettling to the markets in the year ahead. At worst, it will undermine the economic expansion. In addition, policy alternatives are diminishing. U.S. monetary policy is now effectively shooting blanks, and fiscal policy will now turn to be a drag on growth. Moreover, the likely reluctance and inertia by our leaders in addressing our budget will continue to turn off the individual investor class to stocks this year. Finally, my ursine tone is also a reflection that, by most measures, the U.S. stock market is not meaningfully undervalued and that given the dynamic of the headwinds of slowing economic growth, a poor profit outlook and the developing weakness of policy are unlikely to be revalued upward in 2013 (as many strategists suggest).


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Investment broker sentenced to prison
October 12, 2012
A federal judge has sentenced a South Lake Tahoe resident to more than three years in prison for embezzling clients' money.
U.S. District Court Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. sentenced Lori Zoval, 47, to three years and eight months in prison Friday for embezzling money while working as an investment broker in Folsom, according to a Friday statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Zoval will also be required to serve three years of supervised release as part of the sentence.
According to Friday's statement, Zoval pleaded guilty to embezzling at least $24,939 from the investment and retirement accounts of her clients between October 2005 and April 2006.
At sentencing, the court found that Zoval actually stole more than $430,000 from the clients, a married couple close to retirement. At an earlier hearing, the couple testified to the financial and personal devastation the fraud had caused, according to federal prosecutors.
Zoval's attorney, Mark J. Reichel, urged Burrell to sentence Zoval to a year of house arrest and community service in August court filings, citing Zoval's troubled childhood, her recovery from drug abuse and close ties to her son.
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Reichel also contended Zoval's clients were aware of the process she was undertaking regarding their money. He disputed the amount of the alleged theft in the documents.
"She was improper with the 24,000 for the provisional employee issue which is in the indictment; the balance was simply lost investment through negligence and other noncriminal factors," Reichel said.
The court found Zoval had fraudulently created documents that made it appear her clients authorized money transfers from their accounts and took steps to lull the victims into believing she was making legitimate and profitable investments on their behalf, according to Friday's statement.
Burrell rejected Reichel's argument for probation, saying Zoval "concocted a fraudulent scheme through which she manipulated and stole from the victims," according to the statement.
"Her actions show a lack of respect for the law and her failure to accept full responsibility for what she did," Burrell said.
A restitution hearing in the case is scheduled for Nov. 2.


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GANGNAM Style is set to go down a storm at Bushwackers & Sin tomorrow night after Rylan Clark proved the biggest draw of all the club's X Factor visitors.
Rylan split opinion among viewers, but Twitter was buzzing with comments from people hoping to get tickets for the nightclub gig, within minutes of him leaving the popular show on Sunday.
Rylan, from Essex, failed to beat boyband Union J to a spot in the next round of the finals after singing Mamma Mia by ABBA and a medley of Supremes songs, then Wires by Athlete in the sing-off.
The flamboyant 24-year-old, drew constant criticism from judge Gary Barlow but also gained an army of fans for his entertaining performances, including his take on chart hit Gangnam Style by South Korean rapper Psy.
All the VIP tables have been snapped up at the Fleet Street club, which hosts acts voted off the ITV1 show.
Sara Quinn, general manager of Bushwackers, said: "Rylan is massively popular. We sold all our VIP tables in just under 24 hours, which has never happened before. My phone was about to explode and it could be the busiest night in the club's history.
"The doors open at 10.30pm but we would advise everyone to get here as early as possible to avoid the queues."
The journey continues for Swindon's own X Factor star Jahmene Douglas, who made it through tho the nest round.
Jahmene is thought to have been lined up to turn on the Christmas lights in Wharf Green next month.


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