text:
The Banking Crisis Trickles Up
By ERIC DASH; Ben White contributed reporting.
Published: September 30, 2008
The crisis gripping the nation's banks took a troubling turn on Monday as investors' confidence in even the largest and strongest institutions spiraled lower.
Financial shares plunged 16 percent on one of the darkest days for the American stock market since the 1987 crash.
After the House of Representatives rejected a rescue for the financial industry Monday, fears grew that more banks, particularly small and midsize lenders, could run into trouble unless a new plan emerged quickly.
Even shares in the three banks that have survived the crisis as the largest in the industry -- Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup -- fell more than 10 percent Monday as anxiety gripped markets. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, which transformed into bank holding companies last week, fell more than 12 percent.
Regional banks were punished even more severely as investors scrambled to figure out which of them might fall next in the absence of a bailout plan. National City Corporation, Downey Financial Corporation and Sovereign Bancorp, lenders pressured by substantial exposure to soured mortgages, were especially hard-hit, falling 63 percent, 48 percent and 36 percent respectively on the heels of the government's seizure Thursday of Washington Mutual, the largest savings and loan.
''With the credit markets drying up and bank-to-bank lending rates through the roof, the ability of these banks to weather the storm is being called into question,'' said Jim Eckenrode, a banking analyst at TowerGroup, a financial services consulting firm.
Wachovia plunged more than 70 percent after it was sold to Citigroup on Monday. Citigroup will pay $1 a share, or about $2.2 billion, for Wachovia's banking operations. Citigroup will assume the first $42 billion of losses from Wachovia's riskiest mortgages and transfer to the Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation $12 billion in preferred stock and warrants. In exchange, the F.D.I.C. will absorb all losses above that level.
The reshaping of Wall Street since the collapse of Lehman Brothers just two weeks ago has also touched off a wave of shotgun mergers among the nation's commercial banks. Those with relatively deep pools of financing are scouring the landscape for weak targets that they believe can give them a more dominant position in the marketplace when the dust from the present financial crisis settles.
''What we have gotten is 10 years of consolidation in the last 10 days,'' said Michael Poulos, a partner at Oliver Wyman, a financial services consulting firm. ''The current situation has created opportunities for acquirers that are really unprecedented.''
The past decade, in many ways, has been a golden age of banking. Profits were high, buoyed by fat lending margins and relatively few loan losses. Plenty of money was sloshing around in the financial system. And Wall Street's loan packaging machine helped ensure it would not go dry.
Now, that has all changed. Only the strongest banks are bound to survive. ''Over the next two years, we are going to see a lot of consolidation,'' said Jimmy Dunne, the senior managing principal of Sandler O'Neill & Partners in New York. ''There will be the forced consolidation that we are seeing. There will be bank failures that will follow it up. And then, after a while you will see a large amount of consolidation among smaller and midsize banks.''
Bankers say that the industry is quickly headed to a new era dominated by two types of banks. On the one hand, there will be small community banks and credit unions that offer personalized service and take advantage of their local ties. On the other, there will be behemoths like Bank of America, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase that compete on the breadth of their products and potential cost savings from their size.
But the towering presence of the biggest banks brings heightened concerns. Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup now sit on more than 30 percent of the industry's deposits. For consumers, that may turn out to be good news. ''They can afford to pay higher rates for deposits and be more aggressive on going after business,'' said John Kanas, the former chief executive of North Fork Bank, which he sold to Capital One Financial in 2006. And the bigger the balance sheet, analysts say, the safer customers' deposits are, because the government will be less likely to allow the institution to fail.
Charles Geisst, a Wall Street historian at Manhattan College, said that belief was now firmly embedded in the financial culture. ''Bank of America, Citi, and JPMorgan are going to be quasi-state entities now. They will never be allowed to fail, and they will be closely monitored,'' he said. ''They are surrogates for the American economy.''
Americans have long had deep reservations about a concentration of corporate power, and for decades reined in banks for just this reason. The McFadden Act of 1927 permanently established the Federal Reserve system, but in a political compromise, imposed a ban on banks opening new branches across state lines. As a result, retail banking was fragmented across the nation.
That remained the case until 1994, when banks won a battle to change the law to permit the creation of national franchises. The result was a wave of consolidation in the late 1990s, paving the way for the formation of the banking industry's current giants and a handful of big regional lenders.
At a state level, the same thing had occurred in Texas's banking industry in the late 1980s which, in many ways, may turn out to be a model for today's nationwide mess. For years, Texas banks lent aggressively to oil and gas partnerships and real estate developers on the belief they would always get paid back. But with a sharp decline in oil prices and a sudden change in the tax laws, the market collapsed.
The result was that virtually all of the largest banks in Texas -- names like Republic Bank, InterFirst Bank, First National City Bank, and Texas Commerce Bank -- either failed or were snapped up by bigger, out-of-state institutions. Crippled by their widening losses, they pulled back on the amount of money they lent. North Carolina National Bank, which acquired several ailing Texas banks during this period and was Bank of America's predecessor, earned the nickname ''No Cash for Nobody'' for its reputation as a stingy lender.
But as the economy rebounded, the bigger banks began gaining a bigger share of the Texas market. Community banks, offering personalized service, saw an opening as a popular alternative. Today, the Texas market is dominated by Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase. But Frost Bank of San Antonio is the only midsize Texas bank left standing, along with a number of smaller lenders.
PHOTO: A Wachovia branch in New York. The bank's shares fell more than 70 percent Monday after it was sold to Citigroup.(PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTIN LANE/EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY); A National City branch in Livonia, Mich., left, and a Sovereign Bank branch in Philadelphia. Their shares fell sharply on Monday.(PHOTOGRAPH BY LEFT, JEFF KOWALSKY/BLOOMBERG NEWS; RIGHT, MATT ROURKE/ASSOCIATED PRESS)(pg. C9)
CHARTS: Declining Fortunes: Investors have punished the shares of these banks over concern about their holdings of soured mortgage loans.; Holding Steady: Shares in these banks have held largely steady even as they have absorbed troubled rivals, increasing their dominance.(Source: Bloomberg) Chart details bar graphs.; The Big Get Bigger: The turmoil in financial markets has allowed the country's three largest banks to further consolidate their dominant positions by buying distressed rivals. Asset figures are for the end of 2007, the last time annual figures were reported before this year's sharp depreciation in asset values.(Source: Bloomberg) Chart details bar graph for banks. (pg. C9)


text: Presenting an all-new miniseries spinning out of the hit CBS television show starring Jennifer Love Hewitt! Helping earthbound spirits cross into the Light is all in a day's work for ghost whisperer Melinda Gordon. But Melinda gets more than she bargained for when she comes face-to-face with Osiris, Egyptian God of the Dead, who wants the souls for himself! But is Osiris all that he seems to be?

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hurricane costumer is in mask production By Bill Lynch October 22, 2011 Story Share Lawrence Pierce Dale Morton Studio Mascot Costumes has a large supply of costumes on hand. Costume maker Dale Morton says they get a lot of requests for bears. Lawrence Pierce Costume maker Dale Morton had made costumes for Procter & Gamble, Charleston Area Medical Center and filmmaker George Lucas' company THX, among many others. Lawrence Pierce Dale Morton's work includes a mascot costume for Dick's Last Resort, a theme restaurant where customers are intentionally treated rudely. Lawrence Pierce A lot of work goes into making a mascot costume. From start to finish, the process can take several weeks. Here, Travis Morton works to cover the shaped head mask for a horse costume. Lawrence Pierce The head for a costume is sculpted from reusable oil-based clay, later used to make a mold. Lawrence Pierce The heads of mascot costumes line a shelf at Dale Morton Studio Mascot Costumes in Hurricane. HURRICANE, W.Va. -- The inside of Dale Morton Studio Mascot Costumes in Hurricane is the kind of place you'd want to get lost in if you were a child. Hanging along the wall in one room is a collection of full-body suits with a shelf full of matching masks. You could be just about anything here: a tiger, a reindeer, a robot.Morton's has it all.For the past 20 years, the 43-year-old designer and costume maker has made the kinds of costumes seen in television commercials, at store openings and at ballparks and stadiums around the country.He's made costumes for schools and businesses big and small. Morton makes the mascot costumes for Dick's Last Resort, a deliberately downscale restaurant chain where the wait staff is intentionally obnoxious. The chain has 11 locations around the country. He also made a robot mascot for film producer and director George Lucas' company THX.Locally, Morton made the costumes for Charleston Area Medical Center's campaign featuring toddlers in animal costumes."That was a really great experience," he said. "They matched up the personalities of the kids with the costumes. It was just amazing to be part of that."However, he didn't have anything to do with the mascots for the West Virginia Power.Morton shrugged. You win some, you lose some. Besides, most of the work he gets comes from out of state.Costumes and make believe have been close to Morton's heart for almost as long as he can remember. Growing up in the late 1970s and '80s, he was fascinated with movie makeup and special effects. He loved science fiction, horror and fantasy films."You used to be able to get magazines like Fangoria and Starlog," he said. "These were movie magazines about horror and science fiction. They'd have a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, including occasional tips on how filmmakers made their costumes." By the mid-1980s, Morton had started doing his own makeup for Halloween and special occasions. He also got involved in theater productions around Charleston and began making masks."I picked up what I could and I taught myself." He added, "And I had a lot of practice."He also spent a lot of time in and out of Magic Makers, a costume shop in Huntington where he bought supplies. Morton got to know the owners and wound up working for them from 1991 to 1993.While working for Magic Makers, he taught himself how to sculpt and how to make molds to create the oversized heads frequently used in mascot costumes.In 1993, Morton left Magic Makers to pursue an education, while still occasionally making mascot heads on a contract basis for the shop. Morton studied at West Virginia State University and Marshall University and tried his hand at a couple of other jobs before going back to making costumes full time. In 2000, he married, and then decided to go into business on his own. In 2001, he opened his first shop in Hurricane. In July, he moved to a new location, in an old house just a couple of blocks away. "This used to be a wedding dress shop," he said, showing off the industrial sewing machines. "It's like twice as much space as we had before. We really couldn't be happier with where we are now."The extra space comes in handy. The process for one of Morton's creations can be lengthy. Sometimes companies or schools send him specifications for what they want. Other times, he has to create costumes from scratch.Completion of a costume is done in stages and takes weeks, sometimes months to finish. Morton works on several projects at once, and he doesn't work alone."My cousin Travis works with me," he said. "He's a great artist in his own right."After the design is approved, Morton sculpts the head of the costume out of reusable oil-based clay, which is later made into a mold. From the mold, the shape is built up using papier-mâché and fiberglass to create the basic form. Felt, artificial fur and paint are added before the mask is finished. "For costumes we sell to the South, like in Florida, the costumes have to come with a cold vest and a fan that goes in the head," Morton said.Otherwise, an actor wearing a heavy turtle character costume outside a shopping mall in Miami might be cooked alive in less than an hour during the summer season.The typical mascot costume, Morton said, has a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. "But that really depends on how well it's taken care of."Most of the work Morton gets comes from corporations, but he also works for individuals. Some of his jobs come from the science fiction and fantasy convention crowd who are looking for premium cosplay costumes to take with them to conventions like the annual DragonCon in Atlanta.Morton still considers himself part of that scene. He hasn't lost interest in science fiction, fantasy and horror, though with a wife, two children and a business to run, it's hard to get away sometimes."I love going just to get ideas and to see what other people are doing," he said.Of all the things Dale Morton Studio Mascot Costumes can do, there is one thing it doesn't: rent or lease its wares."Magic Makers can do that," he said. "It just doesn't make sense for us."Still, with the new space on Main Street, Morton aims to turn his shop into more than just a workspace for him and his cousin. He thinks it would make for a nice, little tourist attraction."We get walk-in customers anyway," he said. "And we love visitors."Reach Bill Lynch at email@example.com or 304-348-5195. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Police seek car driven by woman found dead in Kanawha River 2 Teen pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Oakes Field shooting 3 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 4 Man allegedly cuts father in Rand over argument about sandwich 5 WV school district apologizes for 'Trump Perry' sign at football game Shoppers peruse Global Market at First Presby (photo) Previous Story A knitter's vintage collection is for sale Next Story


text:
Fairfax County Announces FY 2009 Budget Timeline
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
Feb. 8, 2008
Fairfax County Announces FY 2009 Budget Timeline
Fairfax County Executive Anthony H. Griffin will present his proposed fiscal plan for FY 2009 to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. during the regularly scheduled board meeting. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Board Auditorium of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The meeting will be shown live on Fairfax County Government Channel 16, which is also video streamed live at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cable.
The county executive's presentation will air on Channel 16 on Friday, Feb. 29, at 9 p.m. and Friday, March 7, at 9 p.m. It also will air as part of the Board of Supervisors meeting replays on Tuesday, Feb. 26, beginning at 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. In addition, it will be available as video-on-demand on the county's Web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cable throughout the month of March.
A Board of Supervisors budget workshop has been scheduled for Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Laurel Hill Golf Club, 8701 Laurel Crest Drive, Lorton, and budget committee meetings are scheduled for March 28 at 1 p.m. and April 18 at 3 p.m. in the Government Center, Conference Rooms 9 and 10.
Public hearings on the FY 2009 fiscal plan have been set for March 31 and April 1 and 2, at 7 p.m. with the School Board presentation to the Board of Supervisors scheduled on April 1 at 6 p.m. Those wishing to speak at any of the public hearings should contact the Office of the Clerk to the Board at 703-324-3151, TTY 703-324-3903, to place their name on the speakers list.
The board has scheduled the budget markup session for Monday, April 21, at 10 a.m. The formal adoption of the budget is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 28, at 10 a.m. during the regularly scheduled board meeting.
All of the board's public hearings will be held in the Board Auditorium of the Fairfax County Government Center and will be televised live on Fairfax County Government Channel 16.
Staff from the Department of Management and Budget will be available to speak to civic organizations, homeowners associations and community groups regarding the proposed fiscal plan for 2009. To arrange for someone to speak to your group, contact the department at 703-324-2391, TTY 711, or e-mail email@example.com.


text:
Game is more than stats. Just sayin statistically RG3 is having an amazing year...but no one has been more clutch than luck...This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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Game is more than stats. Just sayin statistically RG3 is having an amazing year...but no one has been more clutch than luck...
LOL not all he is cracked upped to be? What are you watching?The dude is easily a top 5 QB this year and arguably a top 3 QB.
Brady and Rodgers are the only two who are defiantly better than him this year(you could debate Manning should be in with Brady and Rodgers).
But statements like these just make the Colts fan base look LOL I hear this kind of stuff from Colts fans all the time. Same thing they all use to say about Brady, The dude is over hyped and overrated its just lol.
If you take the blinders off you would realize how good that kid is in Washington DC is and respect what he did this year.
so which is it Colts fans stats who more clutch?
Especially for awards it has always been about who has the best numbers.
During the Manning years it was always "Brady doesn't have Manning stats"
RG3 has been clutch too there is more to clutch than game winning drives BTW. I don't look at stats primary I watched RG play with Wilson and they were both better than Luck this year.
K we'll see.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2
There are two types of quarterbacks in the league: Those whom over time, the league figures out ... and those who figure out the league.
If all you look at is passer rating and then call it a day based on that, then yeah, I guess it's no debate. But there is far more too it than that.
Luck has thrown the ball 200 more times than RGIII. He has been asked to do far more things with his arm than RGIII. Luck also hasn't had the benefit of having a 1200 yard rusher on his team like RGIII has with Morris. The success of Morris shows that RGIII has had a good line in front of him all year long. Same with Russell Wilson. Yeah he has been awesome too, but he has Marshawn Lynch on his team. The success of Lynch shows that they have a solid O-Line too. True Luck has Wayne, but I was losing those two backs as evidence of how Wilson and RGIII have better lines.
Luck took over a franchise that had completely revolved around one of the greatest players in NFL history. Most thought we were going to be near the bottom of the NFL this season. He has completely given the Colts a whole new swagger as a rookie. He has six come from behind wins. He's doing this with a bunch of dead cap, a poor O-Line, and a bunch of other rookies around him. Seriously, the O-Line is atrocious. Luck has been able to compensate a lot this year by making plays on his feet and throwing good balls, but sometimes it's just too much to overcome. For Manning's sake, I'm glad he didn't have to play behind that line this year because he couldn't dodge bullets with his feet like Luck can. That's one thing people don't consider when they say that the Colts should have kept Manning. Sure Manning looks great, but it would have been rough watching him behind that line this year since he can't make plays on his feet like Luck can.
Any rookie that has to throw the ball as much as Luck behind a poor O-Line is likely going to have a bad passer rating. But there is far more too it than that.
I'm not saying you can't make a very compelling case for RGIII. He clearly deserves any vote he gets. But it's not an open and shut case like you make it out to be.
Last edited by Sollozzo; 12-17-2012 at 01:52 AM.
Manning is better than RGIII and I don't see how that's even debatable. Manning has 12 more touchdowns, over 1000 more yards, 9 straight wins, and has transformed the Broncos from borderline playoff team to Super Bowl contender. And in what world has Rodgers had a better season than Manning? What has Rodgers done better than Manning this year? I can't think of anything.
Last edited by Sollozzo; 12-17-2012 at 02:08 AM.
Alex Smith has a 104.1 passer rating, but was benched. It's a lot easier to have a high passer rating when you don't throw the ball that much. Russell Wilson has the luxury of having Marshawn Lynch on his team and that is who the defenses plan for when they face Seattle. If he had to throw the ball 200 more times this year (which would put him where Luck is), then I guarantee you his stats wouldn't be as pretty.
Going into this week, RGIII had a 104.2 passer rating, which ties him with Brady. Has RGIII had an equal season to Brady? Absolutely not. Brady has thrown it 495 times compared to RGIII's 351. If RGIII had about 100 more attempts on the season with the same passer rating, then I would agree that it's no debate between RGIII and Luck. But Luck has been asked to do more with his arm. 537 attempts for Luck. The Colts are practically running him into the ground.
Again, none of this is meant to say that RGIII doesn't deserve the ROY award. He deserves any vote he gets. But this isn't some open and shut case.
Last edited by Sollozzo; 12-17-2012 at 02:09 AM.
Last edited by pacer4ever; 12-17-2012 at 02:14 AM.
That is inaccurate, I can agree with you on most basketball related stuff, but honestly your tripping right now with that statement.
Why so SERIOUS
There is no way I could put RG ahead of Matt Ryan or Drew Brees.
A couple of things, so when you listen to P4E you have to realize first that he is a Bears fan, lol that helps put stuff in context, j/p j/p.
But in all honesty there are vast differences in how the Qb's are being used, and that is neither Lucks fault or RGIII's, I felt like they went to the best teams for their talents, I don't think either would have been as successful had the teams been switched, well Luck possibly, but I doubt that as well. Luck has had some bad accuracy issues at times this year, and would not have Wayne to help out make fantastic catches, but would also have a better line and a running game which would not cause him to force passes as much as he has to in Indy right now which would improve his accuracy situation.
Anyways I always feel it is a combination of stats and in game play as well, as I have said before stats do not tell much of what goes on during the game, all of these awards are about perception anyways, who is perceived to be better, some will say Luck, some will say RGIII a few will say Wilson, this is why no matter what you go by I could see this turning out to end up being a 2 way tie, and possibly 3 way with the strides that Wilson has made throughout the season, he started off pretty slow, and there was talks of him being benched, but when they just let him play he started showing up.
For me looking at both RGIII and Luck I feel that a dual ROY would be the best way to go, what both have done has been remarkable in their own ways, and at this point Wilson sliding in would not be out of the question, but I think he is a step behind both, you have to remember his defense has been playing lights out, and his running game is ridiculous, he has not had the weight on his shoulders that either has had and I believe that is a big factor especially for rookie QB's.
Why so SERIOUS
ITs an asinine comment plan and simple. I think he will be good but its completely premature and the mere fact that he hasn't played in one game and finished 2 sort of puts a damper on all of that talk. Now I think RG is better than Wilson because I can understand that the Seahawks D is much better and I highly doubt either one would be as efficient without their top 5 running game.
You really have to consider the teams they play on. Indy had the worst team last year and this year have a bunch of piecemeal parts and rookies playing. The Redskins have a terrific running game and a defense that can actually help his team. The Seahawks also have a very good running game and a terrific defense that gives the offense a ton of opportunities. The Colts do no have any of these things. In addition, we play a heavy vertical offense with very few easy throws and lots of opportunities with for mistakes. Not to mention, our offensive line is horrendous and AL is getting beat up every week. In addition to the heavy throw load, the dude is wearing down. In spite of that, we are 9-5 and will get into the playoffs.
That being said, if the Redskins do make the playoffs, then RG3 deserves ROY. But all 3 have been terrific, I think we can all just agree on that.
Don't ask Marvin Harrison what he did during the bye week. "Batman never told where the Bat Cave is," he explained.
My God, can you imagine if Luck had Marshawn Lynch and the O-Line that Russel Wilson enjoys in Seattle?
I don't know how much this matters, nor how much RGIII or Wilson benefit. But the one thing I wonder about is how much better could Luck be/look if our defense ever gave him short fields to work with from turnovers. I think I heard during yesterday's game that we have the worst defense since like 1950 in terms of creating turnovers. And trust me its freaking terrible this year. But it seems like Luck never gets to have the ball starting in enemy territory. Not to mention that 2 of the 10 takeaways we have were returned for touchdowns.
Edit: I decided to look up some stats.
The Colts have 10 takeaways, The Seahawks have 28, and the Redskins have 26.
Trying to find average starting position for the offense, but can't find one that's not kick return exclusive.
Last edited by Richard_Skull; 12-17-2012 at 03:29 PM.
PG24: "Don't tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon!"
RT @Hoya2aPacer "When I play this game I love. I play to make my teammates better. But I'm a mouther****er on defense."
You, Never? Did the Kenosha Kid?
Yup, that would help out as well, our defense has gotten a lot better verse the run, not so much in the passing game, but our biggest problem is that we have no playmakers, Mathis possibly, but Freeney, I think he is just about average at this point in his career, Redding when healthy, and Butler possibly but he has a lot of weaknesses.
Honestly there are 4 major aspects I think to creating turnovers, scheme, pressure from the front 7, playmakers and Luck. Right now we are lacking in all of those areas, I will say this and I know many won't agree, but I was in the boat of taking Janoris Jenkins in the 2nd instead of Fleener, I understood the reasoning behind making one decision and not making the other, but we had a guy that was at a big position of need, and he was a playmaker, and if not for off the field issues he would have been a top 10 pick.
Even though we did not go that route last year I would like to see us take a shot at Tyrann Mathieu in the later part of the draft possibly 4th rd, I think at that point he will be a steal, not much money invested, and even though he is not as good of corner as Jenkins, well atleast at the NFL level, he still has tons of potential.... AND HE IS A PLAYMAKER....
Why so SERIOUS
Luck went to a 2-14 team with the worst offensive line in the league. His starting RB, TEs, and #2 WR are rookies.
Wilson and RGIII went to teams with competent rosters, excellent running games, and more than respectable defenses. Luck has none of that yet still is 9-5 and has the Colts on the verge of a playoff berth.
Luck will be practically be unstoppable once he gets three things:
1) Experience to fix the rookie mistakes. The overthrows, not knowing when to throw the ball away, etc etc.
2) A good O-Line like Manning had in the mid 2000's. One that won't hang him out to dry like yesterday.
3) A running game like the Redskins have right now. If opponents have to respect our running attack like they did back in the Edge days then watch out. I really like what Ballard has shown recently. It would be nice if he morphed into something. Looks like another excellent Grigson addition.
Last edited by Sollozzo; 12-17-2012 at 10:07 PM.
An o-line would solve a lot of stuff.
There are two types of quarterbacks in the league: Those whom over time, the league figures out ... and those who figure out the league.
I mean a lot of the Redskins offense is new, they also have a rookie RB, and played a lot of the year without their #1 WR, and many of the WR's on their team were new to the team. One thing I will give Redskinds is their defense had playmakers, and their o-line and scheme is built for RB's be successful.
But looking past that RGIII has done a marvelous job no matter what he was given, nothing that he has can take that away.....
Why so SERIOUS
True, losing Garcon hurt. I always was big on Garcon here.
I agree that you can't take anything away from RGIII and I have no trouble with him winning the award. I just completely disagree with people who say that it's an open and shut debate for RGIII.
I don't disagree either that RG3 has put in an impressive year... I just don't think it's equalled Luck's.
There are two types of quarterbacks in the league: Those whom over time, the league figures out ... and those who figure out the league.
I keep hearing this, I just dont buy it
If Peyton does not go down, the Colts are a sure playoff team, probably a SB contender.
No doubt Luck has had a great year, but I think the 2-14 just showed how great Peyton was and how crappy the old management team was.
The Colts are better then a lot of people here like to give credit IMO, hell if the Colts have a decent QB last year I honestly think they area .500 team
I could burn D. Hall on a double move.......


text:
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Digital Tutorials
For the digital artists, here are some solid video tutorials by—and a Q&A about education & careers with—Stanley Artgerm Lau. Have fun!
Posted by Arnie Fenner 2 comments:
Friday, April 29, 2016
A Palette Three Ways
-By Howard Lyon
I have been doing a lot of studies and portraits lately with a palette, for the flesh, limited to Flake or Titanium White, Vermillion, Yellow Ochre and Ivory Black. I have also been experimenting with converting my photo reference to a black and white image and inventing, or looking at old masters as a guide for skin tones. I have been doing weekly paintings from life in my studio (3 hour sessions every Wednesday night if you are in town), and learning a lot about painting flesh. This is of course the best way to learn to paint people, from life, but I also think there is value in having to invent, based on experience.
Here are a few examples along with a couple time-lapses. That seems to be my thing lately. I find a learn a bit after the fact by watching the process playback.
All three of these palettes used the palette I mentioned above and Phthalo Blue for the backgrounds and the green of the leaves in the floral crown.
For the painting below, I worked from a black and white image and had paintings by Jean-Baptiste Greuze up to try and learn a little about his approach to skin.
|Meghan, 8" x 10" oil on aluminum panel
|Meghan II, 8" x 10" oil on aluminum panel
|Rebecca, 11" x 14" oil on aluminum panel
Thanks for taking a look. I regularly post images from my weekly portrait sessions as well as studies like these on my Instagram account if you are interested.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Kim Kincaid
The amount of people that work in Science Fiction and Fantasy publishing is actually much smaller than many people would think. Everybody knows everybody else one way or another. Either through some convention, or a workshop, or a friend of a friend. It is a surprisingly tight knit community.
As a result, this genre fosters a very deep sense of camaraderie. I know it's cliché to say, but I really do think of my peers as family.
These are the people with whom we share our passions, our trials, our failures, and our hopes. These are the people who are the very first to pat you on the back and congratulate you when you make a piece of art that's the best you've ever made. These are the people who are eager to lend a hand or a critical eye when you're doubting your abilities and need it most. These are the people whose opinions we hold most dear, and without whom this job wouldn't be nearly as rewarding.
I am so sorry to say, that we lost a member of that family yesterday. Kimberly Kincaid passed away suddenly due to unexpected kidney complications.
Anyone who has met Kim knows I'm not exaggerating in the least when I say that she was truly one of the most loving people I've ever met. Every word from her mouth, and every smile she gave you, exuded kindness and sincerity. There was a spark in Kim. Something intangible that I can't quite put into words. But it shone so brightly, and so warmly, that you couldn't help but to want to be close to it. I can't help but feel that this world is going to be a little bit dimmer without Kim in it.
Kim was a talented artist, and a life-long student. She began pursuing art quite late in life, and did so with a fervor and determination that all of her peers admired. She was proof that it's never too late to pursue your dreams. A few years ago, Kim won the 'Rising Stars' award here on Muddy Colors. She received free exhibition space at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live, where, at the age of 60, she sold her very first piece of original art.
In just the few short years since then, Kim went on to make a name for herself as one of the most promising illustrators in the field. She has been included in Spectrum, Imagine FX Magazine, and has been accepted into the Society of Illustrators West Annual Exhibition. She was included in the Women of Wonder art book, contributed monthly to Every Day Original, and most recently was selected to be part of the 'Dream Covers' exhibition at Krab Jab Gallery.
I can't say enough good things about Kim. And even if I did, they wouldn't come close to capturing what a beautiful person she really was. So instead, I will say this... Kim is genuinely one of the most lovely people I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know. She is leaving a hole in the hearts of so many people that simply can not be filled by anyone else. She will be dearly, dearly missed.
If you're lucky enough to have met Kim, I encourage you to share your memories of her in our comments section.
You can see more of Kim's work at: www.artbykimkincaid.com
Or, if you'd like to learn more about Kim in her own words, you can read her blog here: www.thetwirlingdragon.blogspot.com
An interview here: www.thatthornguy.com/2016/03/21/an-interview-with-kimberly-kincaid/
And here: www.kirileonard.com/women-fantasy-illustration-kimberly-kincaid/
There will be a graveside service for Kim next Tuesday, May 3rd at 11am. All friends are welcome to attend. The service is to be held at the Kaysville Cemetery, 500 Crestwood Rd., Kaysville, Utah.
And for those looking for ways to honor her memory...
Kim had an immense love of animals. If you are looking for a way to help, and are so inclined, her family asks that you donate to your local Humane Society in lieu of sending flowers. You can donate HERE.
Or, consider donating to the Missionary Fund for Kim's church HERE. Kim was a very devout individual, and credited two missionaries for helping her find her faith.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Greg Manchess
I've loved the feeling of unfinished works of art since I was quite young. For a budding painter, it was a secret opportunity, an inside glimpse at the structure of a painting, frozen at the time of abandonment. They were private lessons if I could only piece together the steps, the thoughts, the gestures. The masters had left their magic exposed and I was going to quietly steal their methods without so much as a thank you.
Recently the Metropolitan Museum of Art has opened a show of unfinished paintings from various artists throughout the history of painting. It is a remarkably beautiful exhibition, and one which has left me inspired yet again. I like the idea of a painting being left early. Abandoned-on-purpose, if you will. I love that unfinished look so much that for many years of my career I attempted to create work with that same feeling for clients, but was usually met with the request to "fill it all in."
Undaunted as the years went by, I eventually gained a painterly reputation. With that renewed confidence I reintroduced that unfinished-ness back into my work, and I'm still enjoying it.
Along the way I've also discovered why. The brain enjoys being involved in a visual piece. It likes to complete the parts, to connect the missing spaces. With just enough information, the brain wants to fill in what it either knows or wants to know. For many of us, that experience is rewarding, and left at that point, the painting continues to intrigue.
In the paintings below, pay attention to how your mind wanders over them. Is it always necessary to tell the whole story, or just enough to engage the viewer?
If you're like me, you may find yourself with the itch to paint.
It's not overworked, and maintains a nice, steady definition of bold forms. It's more about shape than detail.
A portrait of Michelangelo, recently attributed to Daniele da Volterra, a close follower. Not exactly the way I'd recommend working on a painting, but it does reveal that perhaps at times he worked an area to complete definition before moving on. Unless he wiped out the areas he didn't like…? This one is painted over a different composition.
Another beautiful face, this time by Joshua Reynolds, of Francis Barber. This has plenty of finish to it.
I love the flesh tones against the warm grey in this George Romney. The brush lines feel like the kind of structure any of us might attempt, crude and bold, leading to refinement.
An unfinished Picasso, and he posed for it in powdered wig. Good likeness. It looks dashed off, but I wonder why he stopped.
I guess Lucian Freud worked from the middle outward. Love the undone drawing.
This Freud is so unfinished it feels purposeful.
Benjamin West's, American Commissioners of the Preliminary Peace, reveals the kind of simple drawing that we all use.
Degas' drawing, though simple, seems much more accurate. It also feels quite contemporary for being over a century old.
A portrait by Edouard Manet looks quite effortless, and balanced. He attempted the portrait several times on another canvas before this version, which was also abandoned. Sometimes we can be just too familiar with a subject. Or perhaps we see things we feel we can't capture with a brush.
Even though we may feel that looking at a finished Van Gogh obviously reveals how he painted, this one shows me the fat, squared strokes to full effect. It exposes more of the artist's thinking for structure.
Many times I work like Winslow Homer. Get the big, important stuff in there first. Then do the paddle.
And finally this beauty by James Drummond. The warm grey is spectacular. The left-out sections are like sensory holes begging to be completed in the observer. This is bold evidence that maintaining a clear image in your mind of the light in a painting is necessary all the way through. Once finished, the artist can make adjustments to pull the entire piece together.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Artist Spotlight: Sulamith Wülfing
by Cory Godbey
Back in December of 2015 I was exhibiting at an arts and crafts fair and I got to talking to this guy who stopped by my table. After a while he asks, "Hey, have you ever heard of an artist named Sulamith Wülfing?"
The question caught me a little by surprise (it's not everyday that people want to talk 20th century illustrators, let alone bring up artists I've only just recently begun to study) and I said of course and that she's become a "new" favorite of mine.
In fact, I'd been introduced to her work by Sam Guay only a few months prior. Honestly, I have no idea how I'd never heard of Sulamith Wülfing before that. Her work is right up my alley. It's haunting, magical, and speaks to this delicate, graceful otherworldliness.
Other than a handful of images online I'd not been able to track down any kind of collection of Wülfing's work and now here I am, thanks to kindness of this collector, holding a huge book with page after page of not only paintings and drawings but her complete biography (which just so happens to be as fascinating as the work itself).
"What I believe in absolutely, however, is the immortality of the soul, the primeval personality which has still much unfolding and further developments before it. How this happens and how it has happened, that remains - in any case at this moment - a secret."
Sulamith Wülfing, 1901 - 1988.


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Everyone talks about going green, but what does it really mean to have an environmentally sustainable garden. No need to get a Ph.d. in biology, just read through our articles. In addition to learning about how to instantly nourish your soil naturally, you'll discover easy ways to retain water in the soil so that the plants flourish. We also have numerous how-to articles, from which stones are best for building walls, to effective ways to pave with pebbles
How to Improve Your Soil's Structure, Feed Your Soil and Protect Your SoilSoil quality: Clay soils are made up of microscopically small mineral particles. These tiny particles are flattened and fit closely together therefore the pore spaces between particles is very small. The small pore spaces make it difficult for air and water to penetrate the soil. Clay soils hold onto nutrients making them richer than sandy soils.
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RYAN Leonard ended a 17-month goal drought to secure Southend United a scrappy 1-0 win against Oxford United at Roots Hall on Saturday.
Leonard came off the bench to head home the only goal of the game five minutes from time.
And he was thrilled to see the ball hit the back of the net.
"I should score more goals than I do so I was really pleased to score, especially as it won us the game," said Leonard, whose previous effort for Blues came at Port Vale in August 2011.
"To be honest, I was disappointed to be named on the bench, but I understand it's a squad game and luckily enough I was able to get the winning goal when I came on.
"I think it was my first touch too so it was pleasing moment and it was good for us to get another 1-0 win from a difficult game."
The victory pushed Blues up to fifth in the League Two standings.
But Paul Sturrock's side were made to work hard for the win.
Oxford winger Alfie Potter was twice denied by Southend goalkeeper Paul Smith in one on one situations in the first half.
And Leonard insisted Blues were thrilled to have come out on top.
"Oxford had some chances and we had to work hard to win, just like last week at Chesterfield," said the midfielder.
"To get six points from those two games, especially how the matches went, was very pleasing.
"They're both good sides as well and will definitely be pushing for the play-offs this season.
"We'll be pushing for slightly more than that and hopefully we can keep on getting these good results we need to help make that happen."
Blues boss Sturrock echoed those sentiments and again praised his team's impressive work-rate as they came out on top despite not being at their best.
"I'm pleased because I thought we worked extremely hard again and ground out the win, which was very important," said Sturrock.
"I don't think we played that well in the first half and Paul Smith had to make two excellent saves to help us go in level at half time.
"We were working hard but not really getting in the right positions, but in the second half we played much better to get the result.
"It's a big win for us too because we've now put two wins together and got two clean sheets, which is massively important."
Blues will now be hoping for more of the same when they travel to League One Leyton Orient for the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern section final tomorrow night.


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Special Subclass ($0.01/$100 rate)
Tax rates are set annually by the Board of Supervisors as part of the budget process. For most tangible personal property, the tax rate is $4.57 per $100 of assessed value. For properties in this special subclass, the tax rate is $0.01 per $100 of assessed value.
On April 30, 1990, the Board of Supervisors established a subclass for personal property taxation purposes. This subclass includes vehicles specifically equipped for the handicapped, privately-owned vans used for van pools, and vehicles belonging to volunteer fire and rescue squad members. The same rate also applies to antique automobiles.
Beginning in FY 1996, the special subclass includes vehicles owned by auxiliary police officers, aircraft and flight simulators, and property owned by homeowners' associations.
In FY 2000, boats were added to the special subclass.
As part of the FY 2007 budget process, the Board of Supervisors included reserve deputy sheriffs in the special subclass.
The following definitions for the property types included in this special subclass apply:
privately-owned vans used for van
pools - vans with a seating
capacity of seven to fifteen persons used exclusively pursuant to a
ridesharing agreement as defined in Virginia Code section 46.2-1400
and which have been certified as such by the Director of the
Department of Tax Administration.
vehicles belonging to volunteer fire
and rescue squad members - one
motor vehicle owned or leased by each member of a volunteer rescue
squad or volunteer fire department which is regularly used by such
members to respond to emergency calls and certified as such by the
Chief or Head of the Volunteer Organization and the Department of Tax
vehicles specifically equipped for
the handicapped - any vehicle which has been modified specifically
for the purpose of transporting physically handicapped individuals
and the vehicle is certified as such by the Director of the
Department of Tax Administration.
automobiles and pick-up trucks owned
by certain qualifying elderly and
disabled individuals - applies
to one automobile or pick-up truck owned and used by certain elderly
and disable persons who qualify on the basis of income and net worth.
vehicles owned by qualified disabled
veterans - one motor vehicle owned and regularly used by a
veteran who has either lost, or lost the use of, one or both legs, or
an arm or a hand, or who is blind or who is permanently and totally
disabled as certified by the Department of Veterans Services.
vehicles owned by auxiliary police
officers - one motor vehicle owned
or leased by an Auxiliary Police Officer to respond to auxiliary
police duties, subject to certification as required by the provisions
of the authorizing statute.
vehicles owned by auxiliary deputy
sheriffs - one motor vehicle owned or leased by an Auxiliary
Deputy Sheriff to respond to auxiliary deputy sheriff duties, subject
to certification as required by the provisions of the authorizing
aircraft and flight
antique motor
vehicles - every motor vehicle
which was actually manufactured or designated by the manufacturer as
a model manufactured in a calendar year not less than twenty-five
years, owned solely as a collector's item and registered at the DMV
with antique or permanent vintage license plates. These
vehicles may not be used for general, daily
boats - boats and watercraft and privately owned pleasure
boats and watercraft used for recreational purposes only.
certain property owned by
homeowners' associations -
furniture, office, and maintenance equipment, exclusive of motor
vehicles, which are owned and used by an organization whose real
property is assessed in accordance with Virginia Code section
58.1-3284.1 and which is used by that organization for the purpose of
maintaining or using the open or common space within a residential


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Viral Oncoprotein Targeted Autologous T Cell Therapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
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- How to Read a Study Record
|Recurrent Merkel Cell Carcinoma Stage IV Merkel Cell Carcinoma
|Biological: Aldesleukin Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis Biological: MCPyV TAg-specific Polyclonal Autologous CD8-positive T Cells Radiation: Radiation Therapy Biological: Recombinant Interferon Beta
|Phase 1 Phase 2
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Viral Oncoprotein Targeted Autologous T Cell Therapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Evidence and nature of toxicity related to the study treatment assessed using National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0 [ Time Frame: Up to 4 weeks ]The treatment will be considered to have an acceptable safety profile if the observed toxicity rate is consistent with a true rate that does not exceed 30%.
- Evidence of response based on "median time to new metastasis" [ Time Frame: Up to 4 years ]Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria.
- Disease response by RECIST criteria [ Time Frame: Up to 4 years ]
- Functional capacity of transferred T cells [ Time Frame: Up to 4 years ]
- MCC-specific survival [ Time Frame: Up to 4 years ]
- Persistence of transferred T cells in blood and in tumor [ Time Frame: Up to 4 years ]
|Study Start Date:
|February 2013
|Study Completion Date:
|May 2016
|Primary Completion Date:
|May 2016 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Treatment (autologous T cells and aldesleukin)
Patients undergo radiation therapy or recombinant interferon beta intralesional injection within day -3 to day -1.
Patients receive MCPyV TAg-specific polyclonal autologous CD8-positive T cell infusion IV on day 1 and aldesleukin SC every 12 hours on days 1-14. Treatment repeats at least every 28 days for up to 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Patients with continued presence of detectable metastatic disease 8 weeks after the first infusion may repeat the treatment regimen including radiation therapy or recombinant interferon beta injection.
Biological: Aldesleukin
Given SC
Other Names:Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Correlative studiesBiological: MCPyV TAg-specific Polyclonal Autologous CD8-positive T Cells
Given IVRadiation: Radiation Therapy
Undergo radiation therapy
Other Names:Biological: Recombinant Interferon Beta
Given intralesionally
Other Names:
Detailed Description:
I. Determine the safety and potential toxicities associated with treating patients with metastatic merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) by combined myosin heavy chain (MHC) up-regulation therapy and adoptive transfer of merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) T-antigen (TAg)-specific polyclonal autologous cluster of differentiation (CD)8+ T cells.
II. Determine the antitumor efficacy associated with treating patients with metastatic MCC by combined MHC up-regulation therapy and adoptive transfer of MCPyV TAg-specific polyclonal autologous CD8+ T cells.
I. Determine the in vivo persistence and where evaluable, migration to tumor sites of adoptively transferred polyclonal CD8+ T cells targeting the MCPyV TAg.
II. Determine the in vivo functional capacity of adoptively transferred polyclonal CD8+ T cells targeting the MCPyV TAg.
Patients undergo radiation therapy or recombinant interferon beta intralesional injection within day -3 to day -1.
Patients receive MCPyV TAg-specific polyclonal autologous CD8-positive T cell vaccine intravenously (IV) on day 1 and aldesleukin subcutaneously (SC) every 12 hours on days 1-14. Treatment repeats at least every 28 days for up to 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Patients with continued presence of detectable metastatic disease 8 weeks after the first infusion may repeat the treatment regimen including radiation therapy or recombinant interferon beta injection.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Histopathological documentation of MCC concurrent with the diagnosis of metastatic disease
- Evidence of MCPyV TAg tumor expression
- Available peptide-MHC pair that can be folded into a tetramer for which MCPyV TAg-specific cells can be generated and reactivity to cell lines expressing MCPyV TAg with the corresponding human leukocyte antigen (HLA)
- Bi-dimensionally measurable disease by palpation, clinical exam, or radiographic imaging (x-ray, computed tomography [CT] scan, positron emission tomography [PET] scan, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], or ultrasound)
- At least 3 weeks must have passed since any of the following: systemic corticosteroids, immunotherapy (for example, interleukins, MCC vaccines, intravenous immunoglobulin, expanded polyclonal tumor infiltrating lymphocyte [TIL] or lymphokine-activated killer [LAK] therapy), pentoxifylline, other small molecule or chemotherapy cancer treatment, other investigational agents or other agents that target merkel cell carcinoma
- Cardiac ejection fraction >= 40% (multigated acquisition [MUGA] or echocardiogram); for patients with significant risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) (including family history, hypertension, and/or dyslipidemia), or age > 50, stress echo or stress thallium testing is required
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unable to generate antigen-specific MCPyV TAg-specific CD8+ T cells for infusions
- Active infections prior to receiving study treatment or systemic infection requiring chronic maintenance or suppressive therapy
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status > 2
- White blood cell (WBC) < 2000/mcl
- Hemoglobin (Hb) < 8 g/dL
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1000/mcl
- Platelets < 50,000/mcl
- New York Heart Association functional class III-IV heart failure, symptomatic pericardial effusion, stable or unstable angina, symptoms of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, clinically significant hypotension, or an ejection fraction of =< 40 % (echocardiogram or MUGA)
- Clinically significant pulmonary dysfunction, as determined by medical history and physical exam; patients so identified will undergo pulmonary functions testing and those with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) < 2.0 L or diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (corrected for hemoglobin [Hgb]) < 50% will be excluded
- Creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min which cannot be attributed to MCC metastasis
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
- Bilirubin > 3 x ULN which cannot be attributed to MCC metastasis
- Active autoimmune disease (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, infiltrating lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease) whose possible progression during treatment would be considered unacceptable by the investigators
- Symptomatic and untreated central nervous system (CNS) metastasis; however, patients with 1-2 asymptomatic, less than 1 cm brain/CNS metastases without significant edema may be considered for treatment; if sub-centimeter CNS lesions are noted at study entry, then a repeat imaging will be performed if more than 4 weeks have elapsed from the last scan
- Any condition or organ toxicity that is deemed by the principal investigator (PI) or the attending physician to place the patient at unacceptable risk for treatment on the protocol
- Pregnant women, nursing mothers, men or women of reproductive ability who are unwilling to use effective contraception or abstinence; women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within two weeks prior to entry
- Clinically significant and ongoing immune suppression including, but not limited to, systemic immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporine or corticosteroids, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, or solid organ transplantation
- Patients may not be on any other treatments for their cancer aside from those included in the protocol; patients may not undergo another form of treatment concurrently with this study
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01758458
|United States, Washington
|Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington Cancer Consortium
|Seattle, Washington, United States, 98109
|Principal Investigator:
|Aude Chapuis
|Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington Cancer Consortium
|Responsible Party:
|Aude Chapuis, Principal Investigator, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01758458 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
NCI-2012-02779 ( Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program) )
2586.00 ( Other Identifier: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington Cancer Consortium )
P30CA015704 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
|Study First Received:
|December 27, 2012
|Last Updated:
|April 17, 2017
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Polyomavirus Infections
DNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Tumor Virus Infections
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Neuroectodermal Tumors
Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal
Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue
Antineoplastic Agents
Antiviral Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
Sensory System Agents
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Anti-HIV Agents
Anti-Retroviral Agents
Immunologic Factors
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Considering the 'Broken Window' Theory
I have recently been writing a series of pretty depressed columns -- I don't like the markets and oil is still overpriced, as are stocks. Most of my columns have reflected this caution, and I have made few recommendations.
I've been writing how difficult I thought the fourth quarter was going to be because of the looming fiscal cliff, overexcited asset prices through endless quantitative easing and the so far underappreciated effects of super storm Sandy. I expected the stock market's recent downdraft and don't think it's over yet. I am choosing to keep target prices on some favored stocks in place and not jump the gun before they reach them....491 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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At a recent wine tasting, YumSugar and I were attracted to one bottle in particular: Y3 Chardonnay. We loved the sleek and chic appearance. The wine with its crisp, clean, freshly acidic taste and bright, rich aromas made it highly drinkable and totally food-friendly. The winery is owned and run by Kimberly Jackson and it's an exclusive wine seen on many episodes of HBO's Entourage. When Vinnie, E, & Co. are sipping Char while out at one of LA's hottest eateries, it's most likely they are sipping a bottle from the Jax Y3 label. At only $18.00 a bottle this is an affordable must drink-get a bottle today to enjoy while you watch. Just in time for the season premiere of the 4th season of Entourage this Sunday, we got an exclusive interview with Kimberly!
To take a look at what Kimberly has to say about her wine and the cast of Entourage,
PartySugar/YumSugar: What was it like on the set of Entourage?
Kimberly Jackson: Frankly the set of Entourage was completely a surprise! In other words, I had great luck the day I found myself on the set of Entourage. It happened one year ago, when I was selling my wines to high profile restaurants in Los Angeles. I had an appointment with the sommelier of Dakota Restaurant at the Roosevelt Hotel (a traditional Hollywood celebrity scene) in the mid afternoon. When I arrived at the hotel, the restaurant was blocked off with a sign that indicated a private party was taking place. Undeterred by opportunity to show my wine, I entered the restaurant and found myself front and center on the set. I literally walked onto a scene with the entire cast, dozens of gorgeous extras and dual cameras.
Because the production filled the entire restaurant, I set up my wines next to the set in preparation for the tasting. While waiting, the director kept looking over at me and my wines and I saw him chatting and looking towards my direction several times Shortly thereafter, I find the producer halting the scene and yelling across the room at me to join the next episode and to put those wine labels front and center in the scene as well. Ever since that day, the product placement team has put our wines on the show at least 8 times over the past 2 seasons. Even more exciting is that I have become friends with Adrian Grenier, the director, Gary Goldman, and the product placement team. Trent and I have visited the set and are going back on July 3rd. We are also having some of the crew up to our winery this fall. Of course, we would be thrilled if they film at our vineyards.
P/YSugar: Who's your favorite Entourage character and which cast member did you like in real life?
KJ: My favorite character on Entourage is Ari Gold. He plays every scene brilliantly and his attitude is just priceless. Not to mention the fact that our wines are displayed in every scene in which he is involved.
However my favorite cast member is Adrian. Adrian and I have become friends. He stocked his new wine cellar in Brooklyn with our wines, and he invited me to come to his biography premiere Shot in the Dark in New York. What I love most about Adrian is that he really tries to stay away from stardom. He wants to hang with real people outside of his industry. He is also very approachable. My mom and I called him last week after watching "shot in the dark" and like always he picked up his phone immediately and talked to us extensively about his experience filming that show. How many stars would do that the night after their premiere?
P/YSugar: What has the Entourage exposure done for your winery?
KJ: Certainly, our business is off the hook nationally. But what is truly exciting is that the placement on the audience of Entourage could not be more perfectly matched. Entourage capitalizes on "edgy, high quality, cult brands that are not easy to come by." They are like Sex and the City for the male set. Our wines are foremost about quality and to be a premium brand. Beyond making small lot wines that the entire family must stamp with approval, we are focused on a more modern, forward thinking approach. We did not want to be an arrogant, intimidating, stuffy brand that our generation could not relate to. The audience that appreciates Entourage is precisely our demographic!
How fabulous is her story?? Wouldn't it be amazing to have the wines you produce featured on a show like Entourage?? For the rest of Kimberly's exciting interview, check back on Sunday before you watch Entourage!


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Progression of Face
The first pics were in early March when I was only using differin for a few months. The second set is early April when I had been using Tazorac for a few weeks and it was causing a lot of inflammation and irritation. Its hard to tell in the pic, but I had a lot of inflamed ones at that time. The recent set is after being on Spiro and Retin a micro for almost 3 weeks..and I decided to steam my face and squeeze out as many clogged pores as possible. This is right after so its really red and irritated.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio " Thanksgiving to New Year's is a time for holiday generosity and tax-minimizing thrift. Last year, about 25 percent of the Ohioans who filed federal individual tax returns claimed tax deductions for charitable donations, to the tune of $4.7 billion. Individuals have some basic rules to follow to claim the tax savings, but they're not alone. Charitable organizations benefiting from the generosity and thrift of Ohio's tax-savvy donors also have some basic rules to follow to ensure that their donors' contributions qualify as tax-deductible. By following Internal Revenue Service rules and through mutual support, taxpayers and charitable organizations both benefit.
To receive tax-deductible contributions, charitable organizations must be officially recognized as tax-exempt. To maintain their tax-exempt status, charities need to comply with reporting and disclosure rules. Tax-exempt organizations generally need to file annual returns with the IRS. Additionally, they need to make copies of certain tax returns available for public viewing. Specifics on filing and disclosure requirements can be found in the Charities & Non-Profits pages of the IRS website and at www.StayExempt.IRS.gov.
Donors have options to verify the tax-exempt status of charitable organizations. They may use the Exempt Organizations Select Check tool and/or check Publication 78, Cumulative Listing of Exempt Organizations, both online at www.IRS.gov. Organizations listed are considered to be tax-exempt as of the listing date. Donations to listed organizations are generally tax-deductible.
Donors need to maintain written records of their cash and non-cash contributions. In some cases, a canceled check, payroll deduction record, or bank or credit card statement showing the name of the charity, the date and the amount of the cash donation will suffice. For contributions worth $250 or more, additional documentation is needed " specifically, a contemporaneous, written acknowledgment of the contribution from the charitable organization. Charities can both thank and help their supporters by providing them with the statements required for tax savings. Statements should include the following:
Name of organization
Amount of the cash contribution and/or description (but not value) of the non-cash contribution
When applicable, a declaration that no goods or services were provided by the organization in return for the contribution
When applicable, a description and good faith estimate of the value of goods or services provided in return for the contribution
When applicable, a declaration that goods or services, if any, provided in return for the contribution consisted entirely of intangible religious benefits
Organizations can opt to provide donors with either paper or electronic copies of the acknowledgments. While there are no specific IRS forms for "thank-you" acknowledgments " letters, postcards, or computer-generated forms with the above information are acceptable " some examples of written acknowledgments should provide some formatting help:
"Thank you for your cash contribution of $300 that (organization's name) received on Dec. 12, 2012. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution."
"Thank you for your cash contribution of $350 that (organization's name) received on May 6, 2012. In exchange for your contribution, we gave you a cookbook with an estimated fair market value of $60."
"Thank you for your contribution of a used oak baby crib and matching dresser that (organization's name) received on March 15, 2012. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution."
"Thank you for your contribution of $450 to (organization's name) made in the name of its Special Relief Fund program, received on January 16, 2012. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution."
Donors should keep the "thank-yous" with their tax records, rather than attaching them to their individual income tax return. However, donors whose total deductions for all noncash contributions for the year is over $500 do need to attach something extra " a completed IRS Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions " to their returns. Donors who claim deductions for contributing noncash property worth $5,000 or less must fill out Form 8283, Section A. Additionally, those who donate an item or a group of similar items valued at more than $5,000 must also complete Section B of Form 8283, which generally requires an appraisal by a qualified appraiser.
Those seeking more information on charitable contributions can access charities-related tax tips and the following at www.IRS.gov: Form 8283 and its instructions; Publication 526, Charitable Contributions; Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property; Publication 1771, Charitable Contributions: Substantiation and Disclosure.


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ASUS 32" 4K Ultra High Definition LED Monitor - 3840 x 2160, 16:9, 800:1 Native, 8ms, 2x HDMI, DisplayPort - PQ321QItem#: A466-3200 | Model#: PQ321Q
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ASUS 32" 4K Ultra High Definition LED Monitor Product Details
ASUS 31.5" 4K Ultra High Definition LED Monitor
Get incredible 3840 x 2160 resolution with this ASUS 31.5" 4K Ultra High Definition LED Monitor. This LED display delivers a screen resolution of 3840x2160, which is equals four Full HD displays combined. It supports 10-bit RGB for vibrant accurate image color, and delivers a 800:1 contrast ratio. Its Horizontal and vertical viewing angle is 176 degrees which means you can see a clear picture from almost any angle. It offers multiple connectivity options, such as dual HDMI and DisplayPort. To deliver top notch audio, this unit also includes dual integrated 2W speakers. So hurry and Take a step into the future. Pick up your ASUS 31.5" 4K Ultra High Definition LED Monitor today and enjoy 4K viewing pleasure.
What It Is And Why You Need It:
- 31.5" display area; delivers superb viewing excellence at 4k resolution
- 800:1 contrast ratio; provides rich color quality across the board
- 2X HDMI and DisplayPort; offers versatile connectivity
- 2W Stereo Speakers; delivers a top-notch audio experience
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Product Tags4K High Resolution High Resolution Monitor Ultra HD Ultra High Definition 3840 x 2160 Asus 4k Asus PQ321Q 4k monitor pq321q
Manufactured by: Asus
Warranty provided by: Asus
UPC No: 886227486205
Mfg Part No: PQ321Q
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( Length:39, Width:10, Depth:22)
Shipping Weight: 38.0000 pound(s)
Dimensional Weight: 39pounds
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Group test: Canon Powershot S95, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, Nikon Coolpix P7000
1 Introduction
|2 Next
It wasn't so long ago that DSLRs were out of financial reach for most enthusiast photographers. Back before DSLRs fell below the magic sub-$1000 mark, the only way for most people to 'go digital' was to invest in a high-quality compact, offering SLR-like control, but without the expensive extras - the large sensor and interchangeable lens mount.
These days, of course, DSLRs are far more attainable than they once were, making high-end compacts less of a 'next best thing' purchase than in the past, and more of a luxury. In fact, the high end compact sector is sometimes referred to as the 'luxury' compact market - a fact that is indicative of the changing times, as well as the greater purchasing power of today's enthusiast photographers. This is not to say that the air is thin this high up in the compact atmosphere - the release of the Panasonic LX3 in 2008 energized the high-end market, and since then, most of the major manufacturers have either released a camera into this segment, or have announced plans to do so. Those that never left (notably Canon and Nikon) have reinvigorated their ranges.
The Coolpix P7000 and the S95 (alongside its predecessor the S90) are very different from previous cameras in their long-established ranges and they clearly demonstrate a desire on the part of their designers to be taken seriously. They have no choice - fresh competiton from the likes of Samsung's EX1 and the new crop of mirrorless models from Sony, Panasonic and Samsung means that now more than ever, this is a buyers' market.
All three of the cameras featured in this group test have provenance. Canon's Powershot series is as old as consumer-level digital photography itself, likewise Nikon's Coolpix brand, and since the launch of the original LX1 in 2006, Panasonic has been one of the major players in what is sometimes now referred to as the 'luxury' compact camera market. It has been a while since Nikon seriously challenged this segment of the market, but the new Coolpix P7000 marks a significant break from previous 'top end' P-series, both in terms of functionality and design. All three of these cameras are aimed at enthusiasts, and despite their relatively compact frames, they are designed to offer a similar level of control over their key shooting parameters as a typical DSLR.
If there is an 'odd one out' it is arguably the Nikon Coolpix P7000. Significantly bulkier than either the S95 or LX5, the P7000 is a very different camera to the P6000 which it replaces. The P7000 is far more reminiscent of the Canon Powershot G-series (the latest addition to which, the Powershot G12, was recently tested here). The S95, by contrast, is the slimmest and neatest of the trio and of this group it is the most traditionally 'compact' in design - it is also the only truly 'shirt pocket' camera of the group.
Canon Powershot S95, Nikon Coolpix P7000, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5: key differences
All three of these cameras share a similar design philosophy, being relatively small and compact while offering a high level of manual control. All are built to a high-quality, and all three boast high-end lenses with relatively fast aperture, stabilized lenses. Although all three also offer 10MP CCD sensors, the LX5's sensor is multi-aspect, which means that its 3:2, 16:9 and square format shooting modes do not take a serious bite into the effective resolution, making them arguably more useful than they might otherwise be.
This is especially true of the 16:9 mode, which at 9.5Mp offers roughly 25% greater pixel coverage than either the S95 or P7000 in the same aspect ratio. They also all offer the same (diagonal) angle of view at any given lens position (see exmple below).
|The total resolution of the LX5's CCD sensor is never used to create a single image. The LX5 only ever uses a crop from it, depending on aspect ratio. Although this may seem perverse, the result is that the lens offers the same diagonal angle of view in 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 formats, making it much easier to get a feel for the behavior of the lens. It also means you make the most of the sensor's area, getting similar pixel counts in all modes, rather than losing a lot of resolution to cropping.
Of the trio, the Nikon offers the most external control over key settings, and its utilitarian design makes it perhaps the most 'serious' looking. At the opposite end of the design spectrum is the Powershot S95, which - although it also offers excellent manual control - has the least number of external buttons.
All three cameras have at least one control dial for adjusting shooting settings, but the S95 and P7000 have two. The P7000's dials are both positioned on the camera's rear, while the S95 features a Control Ring around the lens mount which can be customized to a range of functions, including aperture/shutter adjustment. This unusual control point is one of our favorite things about the original Powershot S90. Something that the S95 lacks in this company, however, is a hotshoe for an external flash. This has another consequence - unlike the LX5 and the P7000, which offer support for an optional and built-in finder (Panasonic markets both an EVF and OVF for the LX5), a viewfinder cannot be added to the S95.
The lack of a hotshoe doesn't mean that you can't add a flashgun to the S95 though - the optional High Power Flash HF-DC1 is a small (and contrary to its name, relatively low-powered) slave unit which attaches to the S95 via a bracket screwed into the tripod mount.
Canon Powershot S95 Key Features:
- 10MP CCD sensor
- 28-105mm (equivalent) stabilized lens
- PASM modes plus 'C' custom mode
- 720p video mode (zoom and focus fixed at start of recording)
- Customizable multi-function Control Ring
- Customizable Shortcut button on rear.
- Compatible with Canon HF-DC1 external flashgun
Nikon Coolpix P7000 Key Features:
- 10MP CCD sensor
- 28-200mm (equivalent) stabilized lens
- PASM modes plus 3 custom 'U' modes
- 720p video mode
- Continuous AF / zoom possible in video mode
- Microphone socket for external mic
- Dual control dials
- Flash hot shoe
- Optical viewfinder
- Electronic spirit level
- Dual (front and rear) IR receivers for optional wireless remote
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Key Features:
- 10MP CCD sensor
- ISO 80-3200 (up to ISO 12,800 equivalent at reduced resolution)
- 24-90mm (equivalent) stabilized lens
- PASM modes plus 'C1' and 'C2' custom modes
- 720p video mode (
- Dedicated movie shooting button
- Continuous AF / Zoom possible in video mode
- Full manual control (PASM) in video shooting
- Flash hot shoe
- Provision for an external EVF
- External aspect ratio switch
- External focus mode switch
Canon Powershot S95
Nikon Coolpix P7000
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
|• 1/1.7" Type CCD
• 10 million effective pixels
• Primary Color Filter
|• 1/1.7" Type CCD
• 10.1 million effective pixels
• Primary color filter array
|• 1/1.63" Type CCD
• 10.1 million effective pixels
• Primary Color Filter
|• 3.8x optical zoom
• 28-105mm (35mm equiv.)
|• 7x optical zoom
• 28-200mm (35mm equiv.)
|• 3.8x optical zoom
• 24-90mm (35mm equiv.)
|Image stabilization
|• In-lens stabilization
|• In-lens stabilization
|• In-lens stabilization
|Battery life
|• 200 shots (approx)
|• 350 shots (approx)
|• 400 shots (approx)
|Video mode
|• MOV [H.264 + Linear PCM (stereo)]
• (HD) 1280 x 720 @ 24 fps
• (L) 640 x 480 @ 30fps
• (M) 320 x 240 @ 30fps
• Miniature Effect (HD, L) 6fps, 3fps, 1.5 fps
|• MOV [H.264 + Linear PCM (monaural)]
• HD: 1280 x 720 @ 24fps
• VGA: 640 x 480 @ 30fps
• QVGA: 640 x 480 @ 30fps
|• AVCHD Lite 1280 x 720 pixels @ SH: 17 Mbps/ H: 13 Mbps/ L: 9Mbps) US: 720p 60 (from 30fps sensor output)
Motion JPEG: 1280 x 720 pixels @ 30fps
• 4:3: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels @ 30 fps
• 16:9: 848 x 480 pixels @ 30 fps
|Movie REC button?
|• No (shutter button initiates video in movie mode)
|• No (shutter button initiates video in movie mode)
|• Yes (shutter button also initiates video in movie mode)
|Rear screen
|• 3.0 inch PureColor LCD II (TFT) Display
• 461K dots
|• 3.0 inch LCD
• 921k dots
• 100% coverage in playback mode (97% in live view)
|• 3.0 inch TFT LCD Display
• 460K dots
|• No
|• Built-in, optical
| • Optional electronic DMW-LVF1
• Optional optical DMW-VF1
|Metering modes
|• Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame)
• Center-weighted average
• Spot
|• Multiple
• Center-Weighted
• Spot
|• Intelligent Multiple
• Center Weighted
• Spot
|• Yes, built-in
• 0.5 - 6.5m (Wide/ISO Auto)
• 0.5 - 3.0m (Tele/ISO Auto)
|• Yes, built-in
• 0.2m - 6.2m (Wide/ISO Auto)
• 0.5m - 5.1m (Tele/ISO Auto)
|• Yes, built-in
• 0.8 - 7.2m (Wide/ISO Auto)
• 0.3 - 4.4m (Tele/ISO Auto)
|Orientation sensor
|• Yes
|• Yes
|• Yes
|• USB 2.0 High speed
• AV Output (NTSC/PAL)
• HDMI mini connector
• DC Input
|• USB 2.0 High speed
• AV Output (NTSC/PAL)
• HDMI mini connector
• DC Input
|• USB2.0 High speed
• AV Output (NTSC/PAL)
• miniHDMI
• DC Input
|99.8 x 58.4 x 29.5 mm
|114.2 x 77.0 x 44.8 mm
|109.7 x 65.5 x 43.0 mm
|Weight (body only)
|Approx. 193g (0.4 lb.)
|Approx. 310g (0.7 lb.)
|Approx. 233g (0.5 lb.)
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
|Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.
Jan 20, 2011
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Election results have been updated.
Alisal voters appeared to be sending a message for change in the perennially troubled Alisal Union School District as incumbents trailed challengers in early results.
Maricela Cruz, who is challenging incumbent Lilia Cortez-Garza for the Trustee Area 2 seat of the Alisal Union School District, was leading by 35 percentage points with all precincts reporting.
Cruz, who was celebrating with other candidates at a restaurant near downtown, was jumping in excitement.
"We had 300 teachers working with us. We're ready to make a change," she said.
Noemi Armenta won in Area 3, the same seat that Jose Castañeda was ordered to vacate by a judge after refusing to give it up for months. Armenta captured 71.4 percent of the vote. She was running against Castañeda-backed Marie Gonzales.
Sarah Garcia, incumbent for Trustee Area 5, has lost to challenger Guadalupe Guzman, collecting 66 percent of the vote.
Unions at the Alisal came strongly in support of the opposition candidates, after feeling the brunt of changes imposed by Superintendent John Ramirez.
Apparently always mired in controversy, the level of distrust appeared to increase again this summer, when teachers gave a vote of no confidence to Ramirez after he proposed a series of changes they didn't agree with.
The district has been fielding criticism for naming a school after infamous Californio Tiburcio Vasquez and most recently for having a principal with sexual harassment allegations pending.
Students test scores, however, are improving.
Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 753-6755 or email@example.com.