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|June 6, 2012
Volume 14, Issue 12
|Midwifery Today E-News
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In This Week's Issue
Quote of the Week
Birthing is the most profound initiation to spirituality a woman can have.
— Robin Lim
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The Art of Midwifery
Midwives are the guardians of normal birth. Yet in these times, we may have forgotten what normal is. We are certain that a close bond between mother and child is normal. My experience is that Lotus birth facilitates that bond. Yes, it is inconvenient to move around with the baby attached to her placenta. So mother lies in, close to the baby and placenta; breastfeeding is established in this sacred circle of quiet, restful seclusion. Yes, few visitors feel welcome while the placenta is still attached. It is during this space out-of-time that family may be invented, while the new mother reinvents herself.
— Ibu Robin Lim, excerpted from "Lotus Birth: Asking the Next Question," Sharing Midwifery Knowledge, Tricks of the Trade, Vol. IV, A Midwifery Today book
ALL BIRTH PRACTITIONERS: The techniques you've perfected over months and years of practice are valuable lessons for others to learn! Share them with E-News readers by sending them to email@example.com.
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Jan's Corner
Global Midwifery Council Update
The Global Midwifery Council is busy doing what we can to change birth practices around the world. We have several task forces designed to do the work of the council, such as fundraising, education, letter writing, public relations, and international treasure and recognition awards (Betty-Anne Daviss recently received the first Lifetime Achievement Award). More task forces will be added as the need arises. We have our letter of introduction ready to send out to different groups and organizations. Since you, the readers of E-News, are an important group, we have included the letter of introduction below. If you feel led to help with GMC, please e-mail me at firstname.lastname@example.com because we need more workers in the field! Feel free to share this letter with your colleagues.
Dear esteemed partners in global maternal health,
We are writing to introduce the Global Midwifery Council, which is an international humanitarian organization of midwives and their supporters investigating birth and midwifery around the world. The council's goal is to ensure that safe and respectful midwifery care during childbirth is available to every woman in the world.
Mothers and babies do best in an environment conducive to respect for the physiology of birth, and conscious, mother-centered midwifery has been shown to serve that need. The Global Midwifery Council analyzes birth conditions worldwide to help retain, establish or reestablish midwifery care.
The council also strives to do the following:
We look forward to working with you in the future. If there is anything we can do to help your organization, please contact us.
— Jan Tritten, mother of Midwifery Today
Jan Tritten is the founder, editor-in-chief and mother of Midwifery Today magazine. She became a midwife in 1977 after the amazing homebirth of her second daughter. Her mission is to make loving midwifery care the norm for birthing women and their babies throughout the world. Meet Jan at our conferences around the world, or join her online, as she works to transform birth practices around the world.
Midwifery Today on Facebook: facebook.com/midwiferytoday
News and Research
Care Improved by a Checklist
Childbirth in an Indian hospital just got safer by implementing a simple 29-item checklist.
The checklist includes such things as washing hands before an exam and using a sterile blade when cutting the umbilical cord.
Drs. Atul Gawande and Jonathan Spector of the Harvard School of Public Health are testing whether checklists paired with training and education can help improve health outcomes in delivery rooms in the developing world.
"The burden of preventable deaths in moms and babies, particularly in low-resource settings, is enormous," said Spector.
A larger study will be done, with the help of $14.1 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in which researchers will track about 170,000 births in 120 Indian hospitals. Half of the births will use the World Health Organization Safe Childbirth Checklist program. That study will better prove whether the checklist indeed reduces the number of deaths in childbirth.
— Conaboy, Chelsea. "Study: Checklist improves care at childbirth in Indian hospital." The Boston Globe. May 17, 2012. http://www.boston.com/whitecoatnotes/2012/05/17/study-checklist-improves-care-childbirth-indian-hospital/0xz9UuJ1ekUbGw80owkNON/story.html
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Featured Article
Training Traditional Midwives
Editor's Note: For this international edition of E-News, we asked Midwifery Today's country contacts the following question: What are the top five points you always impart when training traditional midwives?
The top five points we always impart in training Traditional Birth Attendants are:
I have yet to train traditional midwives, but I think these points are very important:
The top five are:
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Midwives, Doulas, CBEs
2012 Practitioner Certified Thought Field Therapy (TFT) trainings: San Diego July 28–31 and Calgary August 11–14
TFT is a highly effective method for eliminating fears, anxiety, trauma and stress within the whole human system (be it emotional, mental, physical and/or spiritual). A powerful tool to offer your clients throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond. Please e-mail email@example.com or see www.tapping-into-life.com for course details.
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Web Site Update
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Wisdom from the Web
As midwives, we use many tools. Most of them are of the simple variety—fetoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, etc. But I have noticed the benefit of a tool that is way simpler than any of those things. This tool is also more sensitive than anything made of steel or rubber. This tool can tell me a ton of information, not by what it physically detects, but in the way this tool communicates with the "unspoken." Can you guess what it is? My hands.
— Indie Birth, a website dedicated to providing "intellectual fuel for free-thinking mommas"
Why does the hip squeeze work? During labor, the pressure of the baby's head on the pelvis stretches the pelvis. The hip squeeze pushes the pelvis back into a relaxed position relieving the pressure of the stretch.
— Birthing Naturally, a free source of information about pregnancy and birth
Back pain is a common pregnancy complaint, often worsening as the weight of the uterus (and the baby in it) increases. Prenatal yoga strengthens the muscles that support this weight, taking pressure off the lower back. Many women experience irritation of the sciatic nerve during pregnancy, and yoga can also be great for this. The pigeon pose and half-moon pose can stretch this area to relieve pain, and inversions can help make space in the pelvis to lessen irritation.
— Babble, for a new generation of parents
If you'd like to share a bit of wisdom from the Web, please send a 4–5 sentence excerpt, accompanied by a link, to email@example.com.
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Conference Chatter
Bad Wildbad Conference
We are always looking for the next best place around the world to have an International Midwifery Today conference. We want, first of all, to change the world of birth with these events. That is, to bring information, insights and ideas for change to a couple hundred birth practitioners who then take it back to their countries. This extends the reach greatly as we have from 35 to almost 45 different countries represented at our European conferences. Even at our domestic conferences, we have the blessing of receiving midwives and doulas from many countries.
This year we are going back to Germany, our favorite venue as we search for more new places to host international conferences both in Europe and around the world. But don't take my word for it. Lori Lester Luyten says, "Bad Wildbad is my absolute favorite conference venue ever!"
Gail Hart, a more eloquent writer than I am, describes it this way:
The Bad Wildbad Midwifery Today conferences are a sort of perfect way to recharge your batteries. It's a way to experience a wonderful midwife conference with a great inexpensive vacation. Bad Wildbad is a truly lovely small German town at the edge of the Black Forrest. It is built along both sides of a small river and is nestled between steep hillsides. A funicular rail-car carries you up to hiking trails above in the forest itself. Sweet, intimate cafes serve great food, but also make you feel at home because most of them actually are the homes of the restaurateurs.
The spas—oh my, the spas! They are comfortable and relaxed, mostly older buildings with pools and large or small tubs fed from the hot springs, which run right into the town. The sizes range from personal soakers all the way to swimming pool-size! For a small price, you can purchase a spa-pass, which allows you to climb in for a soak whenever you feel the need. Some of the best discussions and impromptu midwife classes occur while gathered in that wonderful warm water. Bad Wildbad is a picture-postcard lovely town. A midwife conference there seems to heal both body and spirit!
We also have two wonderfully talented, excellent new teachers to replace Ina May and Stephen Gaskin, who cannot make it this year. You will not be disappointed though. Diane Goslin has done over 6000 births and brings a very high level of teaching to the conference. She works a lot with Amish families and has a tremendous amount of experience with very complex births. Gail Tully does Spinning Babies classes. I had the privilege of taking her amazing workshop. Spinning Babies is about optimal fetal positioning through conditioning of the mother's body. Gail has developed a program of balance, gravity and movement in pregnancy and labor to help mom and baby be partners in birth. You will learn things from her no one else is teaching. She teaches in the sweetest and friendliest manner, as does Diane! We hope to see you there for a fun, educational and relaxing time that just may revive your birth soul!
— Jan Tritten
While doing my clinicals as a student midwife at an Indian health service hospital, an 18-year-old laboring woman was totally in labor-land and felt the need to stand up to labor in late first stage. She was naked and standing on the bed with a squat bar in front of her for reference. The nurse, my preceptor and I were standing around the bed spotting her when the pediatrician walked in to check on progress, since mom was only 36 weeks along. We were all amused at the look on his face, but the mom was totally unaware of him. He left, and a short while later she squatted on the bed and caught her own baby.
— Linda Stobinski-Johnson
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Vintage Video Games on Exhibit
If names like Atari, Frogger, Super Mario Bros., and Nintendo evoke memories of hanging at the mall or vegging out in dorm rooms, you'll probably want to see and play the vintage computer games and systems now on display in the Computer Science Department.
Computer Science professor Michael Black has drawn from his personal collection of about 150 vintage computers and game systems that date back to 1959, practically prehistoric in tech terms, and thousands of disks and cartridges of software.
But these artifacts have value beyond nostalgia, Black insists. Plus they're fun.
"Today's technology is a lot less interesting," says Black, who got his first computer when he was 6. "It's more homogeneous; you can't repair computers individually now. All these old computers here you could pull out chips, rewire connections, and make them work again. That's just impossible on a computer today. And a lot of these computers are meant to be programmed by the end-user."
Take the Heathkit analog computer, which dates back to 1959. It's nothing like a digital computer, no zeros and ones. Its patch panel is a tangle of jacked-in wires. "You wire together equations and you can show the equations on the oscilloscope," Black says. The Heathkit featured games like the pre-Pong Tennis for Two. (Sadly, Heathkit, whose ads were once a staple of magazines like Popular Mechanics, is no more. The company ceased operations this year.)
Still very much alive is the Atari brand, and the 2600 console (released in 1977), a cartridge system that also played games from other companies, was phenomenally successful. A popular genre on Atari and other systems was arcade games, the model of a whole era of video games in the '80s. They found their most famous innovator in the work of Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of such games as Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda. Donkey Kong, a game few current students have played, is notable for the first appearance of the character Mario. The Super Mario Bros. franchise went on to rank among the most successful video game series in history.
Classics such as Space Invaders, and imitations offered on systems such as Texas Instruments graphing calculators, were also hugely popular.
Board games such as Civilization and role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons were also enormously influential in video game development. And a fascinating low-tech path was followed in the mid-'70s by games such as Colossal Cave Adventure. An entirely text-based game, its interactive story is played entirely by keyboard commands. The game dates back to mainframe computers. It was distributed on computer bulletin boards via the Internet precursor Arpanet, downloaded, and copied onto disks. Indeed, Black notes, a sizable community devoted to developing interactive fiction still exists today.
The computers and consoles themselves provide a fascinating survey of gaming technology. There's the "portable" Osborne 1 (weight = 23.5 pounds), the Commodore 64 (maybe the biggest-selling computer system of all time), the Apple II and its ubiquitous Oregon Trail educational game, and the IBM Personal Computer (the ur-computer for all PCs). And starting in the '80s came perhaps the most far-reaching innovation, hand-held consoles such as Game Boy and Nintendo DS with their ever-increasing capacity and capabilities. Black predicts handhelds will make consoles obsolete within a decade.
So what makes a computer game vintage? That's a bit tricky, Black admits, but he sees the fault line somewhere between Final Fantasy VI (1994) and Final Fantasy X (2001), both of which are on display. Looking at these enormously popular role-playing games, we see an evolution away from two-dimensional worlds and characters with their tinny soundtracks to the technological leap forward allowed by the greater storage space of CDs versus cartridges. Suddenly the game was 3-D. Views could pivot; photo realism was introduced to replace the somewhat crude pixilated characters, and voice actors replaced text prompts. Sound improved; the game became twice as long.
And the stories and characters took on a depth that could be described as literary.
"They've kind of reached a point in which they're essentially interactive cinema, which was impossible before," Black says.
So what can people interested in video games and systems, particularly students who want to develop their own games, gain from exploring their pastime's history?
"There are ways of presenting yourself in a game that doesn't necessarily involve high-end, 3-D graphics," Black says. "Which is a good thing because to really do a good 3-D graphical game you need million-dollar budget and a studio. But we know with the advent of things like Angry Birds that a person can code a game in their basement or dorm room and still make a killer app. There's no reason that students have to be looking at the high-end 3-D games like Grand Theft Auto 4 and saying , 'If I can't do this I can't be developing games.'"
The vintage games and systems will be available to see and to play for the next few weeks at the Computer Science Department, located in the Sports Center Annex.


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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The California pomegranate deal kicked off about Aug. 15 with granadas from Slayman Marketing. That's two weeks later than usual, owner Dee Slayman said.
"We're about the same as last year, down by a third," Slayman said.
"If some have normal crops, others are light. Overall it's going to be a light crop this year."
A cool spring for a second straight year was to blame, he said.
But the vast majority of the harvest is the wonderful variety, and volume there is on track and set for an Oct. 5 start, Tom Tjerandsen, manager of the Pomegranate Council, said on July 25.
"The pomegranate harvest looks ample and promotable and right on schedule," Tjerandsen said.
Early foothill varieties started about Aug. 25, with some angel reds due Sept. 8-10. They meet demand until the wonderfuls start.
"Mother Nature has been kind to the pomegranate season so far," Tjerandsen said.
"Last year there was a significant problem with exceptionally cool weather, which hasn't been a factor so far this year."
Brad Paris, vice president and general manager of produce for Los Angeles-based Pom Wonderful LLC, said on Aug. 1 that picking in the Central Valley would begin in mid-October.
"Ours is looking to be a week to 10 days later this year than last," Paris said.
"Hopefully we'll catch up as the summer goes on. Most likely the cool spring pushed everything back. Fruit is progressing at the same rate since set, but the bloom was later."
Even so, volume will be higher this year than last, Paris said.
"There's been a lot of new plantings in the last two to four years, and we're seeing that acreage come online," he said.
Jeff Simonian, sales manager for Simonian Fruit Co., Fowler, said he wasn't sure quite what to expect.
"I've heard mixed things," Simonian said.
"A month ago I heard it was going to be a huge crop, but the blooms started falling off. I'm not sure if that's a sporadic thing or everyone's experienced that. We'll start in mid-September with foothills."
The Simonian Fruit pomegranate deal lasts about six months, into March. Most growers finish up in January or February.
Simonian plans to offer urbanekgranate variety pomegranates around Sept. 21, early wonderfuls about a week later, and wonderfuls about Oct. 17.
"There will be no gaps," Simonian said. "Overall there are a lot of young orchards coming into production so the crop will be larger overall, maybe 5% to 10%."


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Heavenly Strings
For Centuries, Experts Have Struggled--Unsuccessfully--To Duplicate the Perfection of Antonio Stradivari's Violins
(continued from page 6)
There is mystery about Stradivari's parents, birthplace, upbringing and physical appearance. There is mystery about when he was born and where his bones are buried. There is mystery about his materials and methods; about how he achieved the special qualities for which his instruments are celebrated. There is mystery about how many of them he made--and more important, how many survive. There is the mystery of where most of his creations spent their first eight or 10 decades, of the identities of the original owners who cherished Stradivari's handiwork for a century or more after his death.
The central mystery, of course, is that of genius--of how a semiliterate boy in Cremona, a tiny northern Italian city renowned for its musical craftsmanship, could have emerged as the greatest violin maker of all time. He was an artist of such skill, sensitivity and insight that his name has become a byword for the best, a superlative applied to designate excellence. To be dubbed "the Stradivari" of any field is to be deemed the finest there is.
"There's a very good analogy between, say, a Strad violin and a fine Cuban cigar, as opposed to an ordinary violin and an ordinary cigar," observes Earl Carlyss, head of chamber music at The Johns Hopkins University Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore for the past nine years, and for 20 years before that a member of New York's Juilliard String Quartet and a frequent player of Stradivari violins.
"You can make all kinds of analogies," says Carlyss. "Why would a person spend $150,000 for a Ferrari when he could get from A to B with a Pinto? It's the way you get there."
One could buy a number of Ferraris for what a Stradivari commands. Prices start at between $200,000 to $800,000 and have soared in recent years to as much as $3.5 million an instrument, depending upon its age, condition and history. And the history of some Strads is the stuff of romance; of fabled performers who played them; of disappearances, thefts and miraculous escapes from war, fire and flood; of sounds that have inspired poets and novelists, from George Eliot and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the last century to the late Pulitzer Prize winner John Hersey and Prix de Rome winner Daniel Mark Epstein in ours.
Wealthy amateurs and collectors may own more Strads than professional performers. In 1981, an anonymous private collector in Singapore paid $1.2 million for the magnificent "Alard" Stradivari, named for its most famous owner, Jean-Delphin Alard, a distinguished French violinist of the nineteenth century. Since the approximate weight of a violin is just a pound, that collector spent about $75,000 an ounce for his prize. He probably could quadruple his money if he put the Alard up for sale today. Most concert performers cannot afford a Strad and must rely on the kindness of strangers--or more precisely, generous patrons of the arts or large corporations--for the privilege of playing them. Midori, the Japanese prodigy, has played a famous Strad known as The Jupiter, courtesy of the Fuji film and camera company, which paid $3.5 million for it a few years ago and loans it to her. If Fuji ever decided to sell "The Jupiter," it probably would fetch $4.5 to $5 million.
Apart from the phenomenal beauty and precision of Stradivari's instruments, what has assured their enduring superiority more than two and a half centuries since his death is a quality even more prized today than it was when he made them: their power. The finest of Stradivari's predecessors, and most of his contemporaries, produced smaller instruments with fairly high curved or arching backs that produced beautiful but thin tones, suitable for the church services or small chamber music ensembles that entertained the nobles who were their patrons.
With astounding prescience, Stradivari recognized that in time, greater demands for volume and sonority would be made upon the violin. Somehow he foresaw, if not precisely the symphonies and orchestras of the late eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, then at least the likelihood that music was moving in that direction. Through constant experimentation--varying by a fraction of an inch the arching of one instrument's back, another's length, the overall dimensions of yet another--he created what Dutch scholar Dirk J. Balfoort called "the violin of the future," capable of producing not only delicate, sweet sounds but powerful, crystalline tones, strong and clear enough to perform brilliantly with the orchestras of today.
Had it not been for Stradivari, Balfoort wrote a half century ago, "the violin would have become the victim of tradition, because it would in the long run have ceased to be able to adapt itself to the requirements of the times." Thanks to Stradivari, the violin has been able to remain "the Queen of musical instruments."
"Strad was the one who finished the form of the instrument," says Carlyss. "It has never changed since Strad's time...it ended with him. You couldn't improve on what he did.
"A great Strad allows you to express yourself on every level," Carlyss adds. "It has a range of possible expressiveness within it that allows the person to be totally at ease with what he wants to say with the music. I mean, you're dealing with colors, you're dealing with sounds and you're dealing with emotions. And the music has all these emotions going on with it. A Strad has the ability to translate the emotions aurally to perfection--the performer's emotions. And there's something about the sound that grabs the listener. A Strad is a Strad."
In 1902, the brothers Hill--William Henry, Arthur Frederick, and Alfred Ebsworth, scions of a British family that had been in the stringed instrument business for nearly 300 years--produced what remains the benchmark for Stradivari scholarship, Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737). Expert luthiers (stringed instrument makers), restorers and dealers themselves, the Hills were uniquely qualified to write such a book. Having spent more than a half century selling rare instruments when such a trade was even more confined than it is today, they personally were familiar with virtually every Stradivari instrument then known to exist: 540 violins, 12 violas, 50 cellos--and two guitars.
Since the Hills, other experts have attributed additional instruments to Stradivari, who employed the Latinized version of his name, Antonius Stradivarius, on his labels. (Scholars use either spelling interchangeably.) Thus the accounting of existing Strads has been inching upward toward 700 or so, a number about which collectors and dealers politely debate. Because the sales of many Strads are conducted privately between a few discreet dealers and well-heeled collectors, the exact number of his surviving instruments is almost impossible to determine.
The Hills meticulously estimated that Stradivari made 1,116 stringed instruments during an extraordinary career that spanned seven decades, from about 1665, when he was 21, to the year he died at the age of 92 or 93. He was, they wrote, "an expeditious worker," with tremendous "industry and devotion to his art." They calculated that he was able to complete at least two violins or one cello a month, or an average of 25 violins or 10 cellos a year--and sometimes many more. In 1715, when Stradivari was 71, the king of Poland ordered 12 violins from him and sent his director of court music to Cremona to await completion of the instruments. The king received all 12 in three months.
An aged violinist who died in 1853 told one scholar that his teacher had known Stradivari and described him as "tall and thin in appearance, and invariably seen in his working costume, which rarely changed, as he was always at work." It is the only remotely contemporary physical description of Stradivari that we have.
What, exactly, is it that makes "a Strad a Strad"?
Talk to any expert and take your pick:
Is it the varnish? Yes, definitely, say some; it contained secret lost ingredients and Stradivari took its recipe to his grave. No, say others; the formula for the oil-based varnish Stradivari used was common knowledge among violin makers when he lived and has been chemically analyzed to a fare-thee-well today.
The filler or sealer? (See above answers for varnish.)
Perhaps the wood makes the difference. Yes, absolutely, say some; Stradivari selected his maple and spruce from local or foreign forests long since cut down and he treated it in a special, secret way. No, say others; equally fine wood is available now, easily obtainable, and the old methods for treating it can be duplicated.
Or maybe it is the arching of the violin's back; the elegant, masterly shaving of the wood to fine gradations of thickness and thinness; the carving of the f-holes; the placement of the internal bass bar and sound post. All have been subjected to meticulous modern measurement and acoustical analyses. Exact copies can be--and have been--made.
What about the impossible-to-duplicate effects of aging on that marvelous wood, varnish and filler, not to mention two centuries of playing? Yes, say some; that is what gives Stradivari instruments their extraordinary, unique sound; a sound that causes listeners such as poet Daniel Mark Epstein to envision "little cherubs with halos" fluttering about a Strad while it is being played. No, not quite, say others. "There are old violins that don't sound good," says Carlyss.
So, what was Stradivari's secret?
"In my view, there is no secret," says Carlyss. As a member of the Juilliard String Quartet, the Library of Congress "resident" chamber music ensemble, from 1966 to 1986, he played all three Stradivari violins in the Library's collection. "It's like saying, What's the secret of Rembrandt? The Strads are works of art. They're the epitome of baroque art. The genius used in making these things is genius. And even if they copy it--and they can copy it--they still can't imitate it. It's just like imitating a Rembrandt. You can do it, but it's not the same."
That hasn't stopped people from trying--for more than 250 years. Every so often, someone proclaims the discovery of Stradivari's "secret."
In 1984, Professor Joseph Nagyvary at Texas A&M University, a specialist in biophysics and biochemistry, announced a recipe for recreating Stradivari's varnish: Boil one pound of shrimp shells in powerful lye for 24 hours, strain it through cheesecloth, then rinse the residue thoroughly with water and dissolve it in vinegar until it attains a syrup-like consistency. This, he contended, would duplicate Stradivari's varnish, which Nagyvary believes was made mostly of chitin, the polymer found in the bodies and wings of insects. (Shrimp shells also contain chitin.)
In 1986, Nagyvary claimed that a microscopic fungus growing in the wood used by Cremonese violin makers was responsible for their special sound. Long soaking of the logs from which the violins' wood came made it especially receptive to the particular qualities of Stradivari's varnish, he said. On the other hand, in 1988, William Fulton, a retired aerospace engineer and now secretary of the Violin Society of America, suggested that wood destined to be made into violins should be subjected to ammonia fumes for several weeks to duplicate an eighteenth century smokehouse treatment.
In 1991, Mayne R. Coe, a retired organic chemist in Jupiter, Florida, received U.S. Patent 5018422 for what he believed was the secret to Stradivari varnish: tung oil. He claimed Italy started importing tung oil around the time Stradivari and other violin masters in Cremona began establishing their reputations. He cited other research that suggested the violin makers colored their varnish with a red dye called dragon's blood resin, extracted from the rattan fruit from India....
You get the idea.
Whatever it is that makes a Strad a Strad and merits the enormous prices they fetch can be applied in almost every respect, including current market value, to the violins of Stradivari's contemporary--and, amazingly, next-door neighbor--Guiseppe Guarneri del Gesù (1698-1744).
More than 50 years younger than Stradivari, yet neither as productive nor as meticulous, Guiseppe Guarneri (the "del Gesù" stems from a symbol for Jesus he put on his labels) nonetheless created incredible instruments as prized today for their power and expressiveness as Stradivari's finest works.
Guarneri was a member of a violin-making clan whose house was one door down from Stradivari's on Cremona's Piazza San Domenico. Between Stradivari and Guarneri lived Carlo Bergonzi, Stradivari's best pupil, whose violins also command high prices today. It was as if Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael all lived on the same block.
Down the street and around the corner in one direction lived Niccolò Amati, Stradivari's teacher; around the corner in another direction lived Francesco Ruggieri, yet another notable luthier. Stradivari and Guarneri were the megastars in a galaxy of superlative seventeenth and eighteenth century violin makers, whose serendipitous residence in Cremona has given the name Cremonese to all the stringed instruments produced in that time and place.
Itzhak Perlman, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Yo-Yo Ma, Anne Sophie Mutter, Midori, and Joseph Fuchs, at 95 the oldest professional concert violinist in the world, play Strads (although Menuhin also owns a del Gesù); Jascha Heifetz preferred del Gesù, as do Isaac Stern and Pinchas Zukerman (even though Stern, as did Heifetz, also owns a Strad). With only about 250 to 370 del Gesù violins known to exist (or about half the number of Strads), the best of them fetch as much as any Stradivari.
Not every Strad is a Strad, so to speak (or every Guarneri a Guarneri, since four other members of his family made violins). Not all of them fetch millions. Of the 700 or so Strads known to exist, only about 50 are concert-quality instruments. The others have various defects--cracks, new backs or bellies, botched repairs by clumsy craftsmen. Practically all have been modified to some extent over the centuries to accommodate a particular violinist or to increase their carrying power: perhaps a longer finger board, a bigger bass bar inside, or a reinforcement of the belly.
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Andrew AllenAffiliation:
Midwestern State University
Artist's Biography
In response to his recent New York solo debut, the Examiner opined that saxophonist Andrew J. Allen had "performed brilliantly." He has appeared with orchestras throughout the United States and has been heard as a soloist and chamber musician throughout North America and Europe, including performances at the Sixteenth World Saxophone Congress in St. Andrews, Scotland; national and regional conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance; and the College Music Society National Convention. As an advocate of new music, Dr. Allen has premiered more than a dozen works for the saxophone by composers such as Jay Batzner, Greg Simon, and Annie Neikirk. As a scholar and pedagogue, his educational and critical writings on music have appeared in The Instrumentalist, School Band and Orchestra magazine, The Texas Bandmasters Association's Bandmasters Review, and the North American Saxophone Alliance Update, and he is a staff writer for Saxophone Today, penning a column on contemporary music.
Dr. Allen is an assistant professor of music at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. He has previously served on the faculties of Claflin University and Valley City State University. He holds degrees from Tennessee Technological University, Central Michigan University, and the University of South Carolina, and his teachers include Phil Barham, John Nichol, Joseph Lulloff, and Clifford Leaman.
Dr. Allen is a Conn-Selmer Endorsing Artist and performs exclusively on Selmer Paris saxophones and mouthpieces.


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Preservation New Jersey's 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list rallies support for importantcharacter-defining landmarks and historic resources that teeter on the brink of extinction. As always,we hope these listings will serve as catalysts for positive change and the implementation of creativepreservation solutions throughout New Jersey.
copyright 2009- 2014 Preservation New Jersey


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'SNL' Shocker: Bill Hader to Depart, Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen Too?
This past weekend's 'SNL' with Kristen Wiig drew heavily on nostalgia, but it seems we didn't know which performer's absence would truly soon be felt. In advance of the season finale with Ben Affleck and Kanye West, 'SNL' veteran Bill Hader has revealed his intent to leave the series, but who might also leave behind the late-night, sketch comedy?


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Individual wrote:I have a preference for more positive language in a way that, to me, seems to carry the same meaning but approaches the extinction of ego from a different angle that feels safer and more comfortable.
Jechbi wrote:I'm not sure if we can get to the extinction of ego in a manner that is safe and comfortable.
Like the wishing jewel, Nirvana grants all one can desire, brings joy, and sheds light.
Individual wrote:What do you think about Nagasena's description of Nibbana in the Milinda-Panha?
Individual wrote:True life and abiding happiness, not merely the "deathless" and the "cessation of suffering."
Sankharam paramam dukkham
Nibbanam paramam sukkham
Concocting is the supreme suffering
Nibbana is the supreme happiness
Individual wrote:Somewhat related to the discussion in this thread, I have to ask: Is it absolutely necessary to speak of the dhamma in terms of the negative, in order for the teaching to be clear?
I teach only dukkha and the cessation of dukkha.
Individual wrote:"Storehouse consciousness" instead of "all mental processes stop."
"Expanding infinitely in all directions," instead of "being extinguished".
retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Individual,Individual wrote:What do you think about Nagasena's description of Nibbana in the Milinda-Panha?
Post canonical
Heaven by Rupert Brooke
Fish (fly-replete, in depth of June,
Dawdling away their wat'ry noon)
Ponder deep wisdom, dark or clear,
Each secret fishy hope or fear.
Fish say, they have their Stream and Pond;
But is there anything Beyond?
This life cannot be All, they swear,
For how unpleasant, if it were!
One may not doubt that, somehow, Good
Shall come of Water and of Mud;
And, sure, the reverent eye must see
A Purpose in Liquidity.
We darkly know, by Faith we cry,
The future is not Wholly Dry.
Mud unto mud! -- - Death eddies near -- -
Not here the appointed End, not here!
But somewhere, beyond Space and Time.
Is wetter water, slimier slime!
And there (they trust) there swimmeth One
Who swam ere rivers were begun,
Immense, of fishy form and mind,
Squamous, omnipotent, and kind;
And under that Almighty Fin,
The littlest fish may enter in.
Oh! never fly conceals a hook,
Fish say, in the Eternal Brook,
But more than mundane weeds are there,
And mud, celestially fair;
Fat caterpillars drift around,
And Paradisal grubs are found;
Unfading moths, immortal flies,
And the worm that never dies.
And in that Heaven of all their wish,
There shall be no more land, say fish.
Element wrote:For example, when a car has rust there are two choices. Remove the rust or simply mask it by painting over it. Buddha recommended to remove the rust. Underneath the rust there is shiny metal or luminous original mind.
genkaku wrote:If it seems relevant, the medical profession adheres to the injunction, "Do no harm." It does not adhere to the injunction, "Do a lot of good." Why? My guess is that we invariably do harm of one kind or another and it behooves us to be on our toes. Further, once we utter the word "good," the world fills up with endless interpretations, many of them leading to a good deal of harm.
Individual wrote:...That Nirvana is true self, Emptiness is true self, Buddha-nature is one's true nature... Are these ideas just different ways of stating Theravada Buddhist teachings or are they completely contrary to the Pali canon?
rowyourboat wrote:i think no one can guarantee permanant happiness- that would be a lie- as happiness itself is impermanant- the only truth is the cessation of suffering (it almost goes without saying- but it has been said clearly by the buddha that he is not leading his bikkhus towards suffering but to calm, mindful, blissful mental states- but even these arise and pass away- no doubt more frequently). Saying 'I teach more frequent happiness' doesnt quite have the same ring to it for me.
to talk of positives or negatives in terms of nibbana would be a falacy- at least talkng of nibbana in the negative is closer to the truth
Peter wrote:Individual wrote:...That Nirvana is true self, Emptiness is true self, Buddha-nature is one's true nature... Are these ideas just different ways of stating Theravada Buddhist teachings or are they completely contrary to the Pali canon?
They seem to me expressions of eternalism and thus completely contrary to the Pali Canon.
The desire to exist for ever and ever is, I think, a very basic desire in all of us.
"But, Ananda, when he attained total Unbinding, did Sariputta take the aggregate of virtue along with him? Did he take the aggregate of concentration... discernment... release... the aggregate of knowledge & vision of release along with him?"
"No, lord, when he attained total Unbinding, Ven. Sariputta didn't take the aggregate of virtue... concentration... discernment... release... the aggregate of knowledge & vision of release along with him.
Enough, Vakkali. Why do you want to see this filthy body? Whoever sees the Dhamma sees me; whoever sees me sees the Dhamma.
Individual wrote:Yes, but would the Buddha have to express it as, "There is rust everywhere. My teaching is for the removal of rust"?
Could he not also say, "Everywhere, there is luminosity, luster, shining light, only hidden by rust. My teaching is for the realization of this hidden luminosity"?
Individual wrote:An inference based on the Pali canon.
The Dhamma is eternal (SN 47.13), precisely the reason it's a secure refuge:
The Buddha's body is the Dhamma (SN 22.87):
Back to SN 47.13, in that passage, the Buddha said (also elsewhere), "...each of you should remain with your self as an island, your self as your refuge, without anything else as a refuge."
Individual wrote:The Buddha's body is the Dhamma (SN 22.87):Enough, Vakkali. Why do you want to see this filthy body? Whoever sees the Dhamma sees me; whoever sees me sees the Dhamma.
Now, if the Dhamma is eternal... And the Buddha is the Dhamma... Then this logically means... hmmm? Could anyone here finish the inference for me?
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Didn't want it to get lost in the pile of the Irsay Tweet thread.
Jim Irsays team has made the trade he has been hinting at for the last few days.
The Indianapolis Colts have acquired cornerback Vontae Davis in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports first reported and PFT has separately confirmed. The Dolphins receive the Colts 2013 second-round draft pick.
Davis and the Dolphins coaching staff havent appeared to be seeing eye-to-eye this offseason. Davis has taken some time away from practice, and Hard Knocks has shown head coach Joe Philbin getting on Davis during training camp.
The 24-year-old Davis still has two years left on his rookie contract, and weve been told there have been no talks between Davis and the Colts on a new deal.
The Dolphins picked Davis out of Illinois in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. He has played in 44 games in three seasons, starting 36.


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Camping is no longer the preserve of the jolly sandal-wearing outdoors enthusiast. While for some it may retain the image of dreadful family holidays in cold wet campsites, Carry On films, or Scout camps where you were forced to sing "Ging Gang Goolie", camping has diversified its appeal, as can be found in the range of tents now on offer. No longer do you have to choose between earth-green hiking tents and enormous canvas pavilion-like tents! You can choose the most appropriate tent for you according to size, function, color and weight.
There are many different reasons for camping. If you have (or indeed, are) kids who want to sleep out in the back yard of a summer evening, a pop tent will do fine. These are very easy to put up, and most often don't have any guy-ropes or pegs – you just stand them up. They probably won't have an outer (fly) sheet, just an inner sheet which will sleep two or three kids. Obviously they are not really suitable for windy weather and offer little protection from cold or rain, but in fine weather children will like them just fine. Weight isn't really an issue as they will be stored at home after use, but pop tents because of their simplicity are often lightweight. But remember that they are not suitable for anything more adventurous than summer garden camping.
Festival tents are becoming more and more popular – they are often cheap and disposable, and similar to pop tents in their design. However, they are often luridly colored, with pink and green polka dots, or neon pink and electric yellow panels. This garish coloring may seem absurd compared with the camouflage shades of serious hiking tents, but there's a serious purpose to this. Festival camp sites may hold around eighty thousand people, and stumbling back after a long day to find your tent may be difficult! The more distinctive your festival tent's look, the better.


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TCNJ Student Paige Aiello Remains Missing [VIDEO/AUDIO]
There is still no word on what happened to College of New Jersey student Paige Aiello, who disappeared three days ago without a trace.
The purse, wallet and cell phone belonging to Hillsborough native Paige Aiello were found on the George Washington Bridge, but Port Authority detectives did a search of the Hudson River nearby and found nothing.
"My wife is not holding up very well at all. Yesterday for me, I was literally on the mat, and wasn't getting up," says Chris Aiello, Paige's father.
He says it's possible his daughter has suffered an emotional breakdown, because she's very success-oriented and competitive.
If that is the case, he is sending a message to his daughter.
"You've done nothing wrong, you're upset, just please call out. Get a phone from somebody, please call us and we'll get you wherever you are. Just please contact us."
Aiello points out kids that have a self-imposed pressure today have to be looked after, as opposed to the kids that maybe don't do that well, and it's apparently common-place for young women to feel emotional pressures at this age.
He's also asking member of the public in New Jersey to be on the lookout for his daughter, who is 5'3, 106 pounds.
"I have to get the word out," he says. "I can't just sit there- laying down. That's the only hope I have."
Authorities found a family car that Paige was driving in New Brunswick on Thursday, but so far they have not labeled the case suspicious.


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Goorin Brothers is a company of bold hat-makers that offers a wide collection of unique hats to top any street style. Does your latest street fashion pair better with a Pussy Cat Trucker Hat or are you more of the Bogart Fedora type? Either way, find your fit and your personal fashion statement with Goorin Brothers. Clutching dearly to a family tradition that's over 100 years old, Goorin Brothers has carried a family legacy all the way from a horse-cart in Pittsburgh to the forefront of today's street fashion scene. Goorin Brothers designs are inspired by the master craftsmanship of the current generation's great-grandfather, Cassel Goorin, as well as San Francisco's rich artistic community. The unique fusion detailed in every hat allows the individual to tell her story without ever having to say a word.
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A NEW home must be found for tiny amphibians before four new industrial units can be constructed on former Michelin factory land in Burnley.
Plans have been drawn up for a new pond on land off Widow Hill Road, as part of a bid by Metro Metals to redevelop a disused plot on the Heasandford industrial estate.
But first special provisions must be made for a colony of greater crested newts which live in the area – with a wetland provided for the protected species.
The applicants have estimated that around 40 new jobs would be created once the industrial units are occupied.
More than 40 years ago the location was earmarked for an extension to the sprawling Michelin factory, borough planners have been told.
The proposals never came to fruition though and, after the tyre giant folded its Burnley factory, the field remained untouched, apart from being used briefly to store cars.
Planning agent John Summers said that the overall redevelopment would provide for a much-improved habitat for wildlife than the current scrubland there.
He added: "The development gives a purposely-constructed habitat for the newts, with the pond edged with aquatic vegetation to assist with breeding and will not contain any fish."
The newts will also be able to forage for food in nearby Hagg Wood, according to the agent, with a pledge that the planned pond will always be filled.
Another natural feature suggested is the installation of a blackthorn fence along the outer fence of the compound, for nesting birds.


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From classic building toys to video games, superheroes and more, here's a round-up of the best toys for the little dudes on your list.
To see more holiday gift guides, visit newsday.com/giftguides.
Darth Vader Bluetooth Speaker(Credit: Disney's Star Wars)
The charging cable connects to any audio source and comes with a built-in rechargeable battery. Also available in other "Star Wars" characters, including a Stormtrooper, Boba Fett, Chewbacca and the Millennium Falcon at Kohl's. $39.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2eNDj0D.
Grossery Gang Yucky Mart(Credit: Moose Toys)
This corner store features a launcher on the counter and kids can dunk their gang into the giant slushie, a secret vile vent, a queasy freezer, moldy microwave and more. The playset comes with two exclusive Grosseries; $19.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2cqWfxD; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2cQK7au
Spy Gear Video Walkie-Talkies(Credit: Spin Master)
Kids can gear up for two-way audio and video communications with the Spy Gear Walkie-Talkies. They have a range of up to 160 feet; no Wi-Fi or data required. $59.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2cLorPz; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2cCAr7f
Fright Factory Creature Creator(Credit: Tech 4 Kids)
Use the special light curing EwwGoo" gel to fill creepy molds and then flash them with the eerie light from the Fright Factory Creature Creator to make scary 3-D creatures. Kids can create insects, reptiles, rats, bats and more. Fright Factory uses LED light; gels are quick curing and nontoxic. $29.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dagQZu; For the best price: http://bit.ly/2drHrFd
POP! Figures Rouge One Collection(Credit: Funko)
From 'Star Wars: Rogue One,' this collection of figures includes K-2SO, Jyn Erso, Captain Cassian Andor, C2-B5, Darth Vader, Scarif Stormtrooper and more. $9.99 each. More information: http://bit.ly/2fLGG9V; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2fpkaPZ.
Qixels 3D Maker(Credit: Moose Toys)
The Qixels 3D Maker for $24.99 gives kids the power to shape and create Qixels in 3D. Build them up and build them out to construct a 3D Qixel World. Brush with water and they stick together. More information: http://bit.ly/2drZC9m; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dA2h1h
Hatchimals(Credit: Spin Master)
Hatchimals Kids take care of the egg, and small, interactive creatures hatch themselves. Teach them to walk, talk, play games and more. Who's inside? It's a surprise; $59.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dpprH6; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dptQP0
Marvel Spider-Man Web City Showdown Play Set(Credit: Hasbro)
Spider-Man leaps into web-slinging action against the Sinister 6 in the Web City playset. The playset includes 6-inch Spider-Man and Marvel's Venom action figures, webs to sling, and it connects to the Rhino Rampage set (sold separately) for an even bigger battle. $39.99. More information: http://hasb.ro/2dieJVy; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2czM3mE
Best Friend Max Feature Plush(Credit: Spin Master)
Bring home all the action and personality of Max, the star of "The Secret Life of Pets," due to hit theaters in July. The plush features a detachable leash, lifelike walking action and 20 different sounds and phrases from the movie. $44.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2d4ghEW; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2ddzwrH.
BoostCare Kids Headphones(Credit: iClever)
These kid-friendly headphones are lightweight, volume limiting technology to keep kids ears safe as well as a custom design to fit children's ears comfortably. Available in cat ears, bat wings (pictured) or holiday-themed reindeer antlers. $19.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2eHEjkA.
Xtreme Cycle Moto-Cam(Credit: Wicked Cool Toys)
This radio-controlled motorcycle features a gyroscope stabilization system that is designed for ramp jumping, driving on various terrains and even recovering from crashes for non-stop action. The built-in helmet camera allows kids to record video. $79.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2gLo4s7; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2ghfOyL.
Yvolution Neon Street Rollers(Credit: Yvolution)
These heel skates can fit most shoes and feature innovative wheel technology with bright light-up LED's. Available in pink, green and blue; $22.99 at Toys R Us.
Geosafari Jr. My First Telescope(Credit: Educational Insights)
This 10x magnification telescope allows kids to view the moon. It also comes with two large eyepieces with comfy goggle and nose cut-out guide for perfect eye placement, a built-in diagonal mirror and a lens cap; $24.99 at Toys R Us.
MotoBlox Vehicle Lab(Credit: SmartLab Toys)
The MotorBlox Vehicle Lab from SmartLab Toys lets kids build and test three different motorized vehicles-- a dragster, a bulldozer, and a dune buggy-- then motorize their own brick collection. The Power Core has two different gears that provide high speeds, high power, and options for going forward and reverse. With MotorBlox, young engineers will learn about gears, torque, traction, vehicle design, and how to problem solve as they build. $24.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dpvdsf; Find the best prices: http://bit.ly/2dpdxli.
T-Blasts Quad Blaster(Credit: Playmates Toys)
Each T-Blasts Quad Blaster fires up to 40 feet and comes with four Ninja Turtles character darts, which are oversized and made of safer, soft foam. Collection includes Quad Blaster Leonardo, Quad Blaster Michelangelo and Quad Blaster Raphael. $14.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2djbYBS; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dh3n2l.
LeapStart(Credit: LeapFrog)
This interactive, educational activity book helps kids learn life skills and more. There are more than 400 activities across a library of 16 books (sold separately). Kids will enjoy learning everything from counting skills and phonics to problem solving and more. $39.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2fDm1FS; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2fM63Zv.
Sonic 25th Anniversary 3 inch Collector Figure 3 Pack(Credit: TOMY)
The Sonic 25th Anniversary 3 inch Collector Figure 3 Pack with Coins from TOMY marks the 25th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog. Get the original Sonic, Knuckles and Tails figures featuring the styles from 1991. $19.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dayoVy; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dkZGKT.
Wet Head(Credit: Zing)
Put on the Wet Head hat from Zing and get ready to possibly be soaked. Opponents choose a peg to withdraw from the hat in a form of water roulette -- if they picked the right one, you get drenched! If not, pass the hat to the next player. $19.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2cIWqI7; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dDFHYy.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Voice-Changer Helmet(Credit: Mattel)
The Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Voice-Changer Helmet comes with light-up eyes and push-button sounds and phrases. Activate the integrated voice changer to make any voice sound like Batman from the movie. $29.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dqpZj1; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dBjHyh.
Floof Indoor Snow and Snowball Maker(Credit: Play Visions)
The Floof Indoor Snow and Snowball Maker includes a new compound that looks like snow, feels like a marshmallow and molds like clay. $12.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2cLjru7.
DC Universe 20-Inch Covert Combat Batman(Credit: Jakks)
The Jakks Big-Figs come in classic DC comics, including Batman, SuperMan and more. Batman comes with a blaster, a cape and more. $29.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2fDcVJe; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2ewe4zM.
Tall Tales(Credit: SCS Direct)
In this creative, non-competitive storytelling game, players draw random story elements from a bag and weave their best tale using each piece. $34.95. More information: http://bit.ly/2cCylEy.
SIMON AIR Game(Credit: Hasbro)
The SIMON AIR Game from Hasbro gives the classic SIMON gameplay a modern twist with touch-free technology. Remember the sequence, repeat the pattern using hand motions and conquer the game. Three "AA" batteries are required. $19.99. More information: http://hasb.ro/2d6GH4C; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2doxFUr.
My Friend Dory(Credit: Bandai America)
The My Friend Dory interactive plush doll features motion and touch sensors that activate sounds and up to 50 phrases. She moves both her eyes and mouth and speaks "Whale." $39.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dkUdUi; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dAd9fM.
Power Wheels Wild Thing(Credit: Fisher-Price)
This Toys R Us exclusive ride-on comes with large durable tires for multi-terrain driving with three different speed settings. Kids can cruise, spin and drive forward and reverse. $299.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dh3NFF.
Star Wars Interactech Imperial Stormtrooper Figure(Credit: Hasbro)
With more than 65 light and sound effects and precise motion sensors, this trooper can head into battle with its unique spin. Kids will also hear hand-to-hand combat sounds and the trooper yells out in defeat when falling. He comes with a blaster and jetpack that once strapped on, unlocks a variety of sounds. $29.99. More information: http://hasb.ro/2cGqUw0.
Nerf N-Strike Elite Terrascout RC Drone Blaster(Credit: Hasbro)
A Toys R Us exclusive, kids can use the live video feed featured on the controller's LCD screen to scout the battlefield, locate targets and plan their strategy. They can maneuver the angle of the drone's blaster remotely and fire a single dart by pressing and releasing the trigger. Kids can also record audio and video to an SD card (not included). $199.99. More information: http://hasb.ro/2cGWpkG; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dAd9fM.
Walking Talking Pets(Credit: Spin Master)
Characters from 'The Secret Life of Pets,' a Universal Pictures movie that hits theaters in July come to life with these motorized figures that walk and talk. Choose Max, Gidget, Snowball and Mel, each with their own phrases and unique action moves. $12.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2d4ghEW; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2czq8Mt.
Pokemon Z-Ring(Credit: Tomy)
The Z-Ring can be synchronized with Pokemon video game series for Nintendo 3DS to enhance the play experience through sounds, lights and vibrations. The ring can be used without the video game in role-play mode to bring battle play to life with different 4D experiences with each Z-Crystals. It also comes with a two-inch Pikachu figure. $29.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2cLxMqk.
Batman vs Superman Ultimate Batcave Playset(Credit: DC Comics)
This Walmart exclusive playset features a rooftop Bat-Signal with rotating angels, interchangeable weaponry, high-tech traps, an underground command center and more. A Bruce Wayne figure is included along with a new Batsuit. He can launch missiles and zipline from the roof to lower levels and more; $63.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2cQKG6Q.
Razor Power Core E100 Electric Scooter(Credit: Razor)
Simply kick start and twist the throttle to feel the maxed-up power and take a ride on this light-weight scooter. The Power Core technology gives kids 50 percent more ride time and up to an hour of continuous use; $149. More information: http://bit.ly/2d4BgGx; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2d7tKMb.
LEGO Elves The Secret Market Place(Credit: LEGO)
LEGO Elves The Secret Market Place features heroine Emily's return to the enchanted town of Elvendale to help her friends, the magical elves, save the baby dragons and return them to their mother. $59.99. More information: http://lego.build/2dhHgqF; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2d76b3F.
Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster(Credit: Hasbro)
The motorized Nerf dart blaster fires up to five darts per second. With its 25-dart drum, it can fire darts up to 90 feet; $49.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2d4tvR4. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dBmNlS.
Fisher-Price Imaginext Ultra Ice T-Rex Playset(Credit: Fisher-Price)
Simply turn the Power Pad on from behind his tail and Ice T-Rex will walk, stomp, stand and roar. Kids can activate the LED lights in his spikes and his eyes. His mouth opens and closes with a chomping sound as well. $100. More information: http://bit.ly/2dhf5JC. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dh6vuS.
StikBot Studio Pack(Credit: Zinga)
The StikBot Studio Pack from Zinga is a stop-motion animation set that includes a green screen. Users can upload their own photos, animated backdrops or the images provided in a new Animation Studios app as the background in their stop-motion animation movie. $19.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dhFeKM; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dhDddV.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Remote Control Skateboarding Mikey(Credit: Jakks Pacific)
Watch TMNT's Mikey perform stunts. He can get up and go after falling over by using the remote's spin button. This Walmart exclusive also includes 20 of Mikey's catchphrases from the TMNT animated series; $59. More information: http://bit.ly/2cmsxKk.
Imaginext Super Hero Flight City(Credit: Fisher-Price)
Turn the top Power Pad on the Gotham City side to have the superheroes take flight. Just load Superman or Batman into the flight pack and have him circle the city looking for trouble. The set includes Metropolis and Gotham City with a flight tower connector, Batman and Superman figures, a flight suit, projectiles and a manual elevator; $80. More information: http://bit.ly/2dhoiBT. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dh8RtZ.
Pie Face Showdown Game(Credit: Hasbro)
Players load the arm with whipped cream (not included) or the included sponge. Then, each player places their chin on one of the chin rests and at the count of three, rapidly mashes the button nearest to them, which activates the hand on the throwing arm. The player who doesn't get "pie-faced" wins; $24.99. More information: http://hasb.ro/2bgxOmp; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dlzXyr.
BOSEbuild Speaker Cube(Credit: Bose)
Build your own speaker and learn how a magnet and coil make a sound and how a speaker reproduces music. Kids can be coached through the building process through a free companion app that confirms success along the way. Kids can also add colored LED lights and silhouette covers. $149. More information: http://bose.life/2dsZExb. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2ddfbXl.
Sky Viper Hover Racer(Credit: Skyrocket)
The Hover Racer combines drone racing with video game battling. It can fly 20 mph while hovering three feet off the ground. Using the freetoplay app and infrared beacons, players race and battle in a course of their own design. $99.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dqvrCd. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dx4XMR.
VEX Robotics Zip Flyer(Credit: Hexbug)
This robotic gadget can shoot propellers more than 30 feet in the air once kids build the structure using snap-together pieces. Pull the zip-cord stick to release -- the faster you pull, the higher up they'll go. $12.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dKMpfg. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2ddjdPg.
Sky Rover Voice Command Drone(Credit: Auldey Toys)
The Sky Rover Voice Command Drone from Auldey Toys responds to 12 commands when spoken through the included headset. Say "take-off" and watch as the drone changes direction and does amazing stunts like 360-degree flips in response to commands. $59.99. More information: http://bit.ly/1kWot8i. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dqwzGj.
Greckobot(Credit: Thames and Kosmos)
The wall-climbing robot has a motorized air suction system that enables it to walk vertically up and down smooth surfaces, such as glass, plastic, whiteboards and glossy laminates. $49.95. More information: http://bit.ly/2dphxlO. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2cGx4MU.
Code & Go Robot Mouse Coding Activity Set(Credit: Learning Resources)
Build a maze and then use the coding cards to create a step-by-step path for Colby, the programmable robot mouse. Once you program the sequence, watch Colby race to find the cheese. The set comes with 30 double-sided coding cards, 10 double-sided activity cards, cheese wedge and more. $59.99. More information: http://bit.ly/1VTGKSU; Find the best prices: http://bit.ly/2dfAUdE.
Meccano Meccasaur(Credit: Spin Master)
Kids can build and program this interactive, 3-foot dinosaur. Use Room Guard mode to protect your stuff. If he notices any sounds or change in light, he'll charge at the intruder while roaring. Meccasaur responds to petting and answers yes or no to questions. $99.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2dKQPTq. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2cH4JBb.
3Doodler Start(Credit: 3Doodler)
This 3D printing pen extrudes an eco-friendly plastic that cools and hardens rapidly, allowing kids to draw in the air. It's designed to be clean and safe for kids, with no hot parts or messy glue. $49.99. More information: http://bit.ly/1cLmJqO; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dDPKwM.
Kurio Watch(Credit: KD Group)
Made specifically for kids, this smartwatch features a touchscreen, alarm, calculator, music and video players, front-facing camera, activity tracker and mini games that detect wrist movement. Kids can also message friends and family via other Kurio or Android devices. $59.99. http://bit.ly/2dalSH5; Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dshvVv.
Pokemon Sun & Moon(Credit: Nintendo)
The new additions to Pokemon video games for Nintendo 3DS feature mysterious creatures known as Ultra Beasts. $39.99 each. More information: http://bit.ly/1Tz532V. Find the best price: http://bit.ly/2dfPhQm.
FurReal Friends Torch My Blazin' Dragon Pet(Credit: Hasbro)
This plush baby dragon breathes flame-colored mist. Bring the color-changing marshmallow treat close to the mist and watch it "toast," then feed it to Torch and listen as he makes munching sounds. The dragon features more than 50 sound and motion combinations. $79.99. More information: http://hasb.ro/2d7bpfB; Find the best prices: http://bit.ly/2dAmGDu.
Talk-to-Me Mikey(Credit: Playmates)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Michelangelo, a Toys R Us exclusive, recognizes a child's questions and responds in hundreds of unique ways in less than a second. Mikey features movement and position sensors, he signs songs and plays games with kids. $39.99. More information: http://bit.ly/2djl020. For the best prices: http://bit.ly/2dqY7Kn.


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Starch: Variation is the name of the game
One nutritionist shares the important lessons he's learned about starch.
Cows like consistency, particularly when it comes to their rations. But one part of the ration that is not always consistent is starch digestibility.
"On paper your ration might say a certain percentage of starch is available to the cow. But in reality it might be a completely different percentage," says Jeff Harris, nutritionist with EPL Feeds in central Washington.
This is a lesson that Harris says he learned first-hand. At the time, Harris had just started using rumen degradable starch testing from Calibrate® Technologies. "The farm I was working with was going to start feeding from a new bunker of corn silage. To make sure we didn't have any hiccups in milk production when we transitioned to the new silage, I ran the rapid rumen degradable starch test.
"The test showed that the amount of starch available to the cow was going to be significantly lower than the previous corn silage fed. I didn't believe that it was possible for the numbers to be so drastically different; particularly since it was the same variety. We decided to go with what our ration balancing calculations were telling us and did not adjust to what the Calibrate® rumen degradable starch test said."
As a result, Harris says the herd's milk production dropped considerably. Shortly thereafter, the ration was adjusted to reflect what the rumen degradable starch test suggested the starch availability was and milk production came back. "It's a lesson I will never forget," he says.
Harris says he has found rumen degradable starch levels vary considerably and that testing for it is a valuable asset when formulating rations. Particularly he says when operations run out of high moisture corn or earlage and are transitioning to a new feed or opening a new bunker. "Ration adjustments go quickly and smoothly now," he says.
"Rumen degradable starch testing has allowed me to maximize milk production and maintain herd health week-in, week-out, 365 days a year," he says. Rumen degradable starch testing is run every two weeks on the herds that Harris does the nutrition work for and helps to provide timely and in-depth insights.
For more information on rumen degradable starch testing call: (800) 635-5701, email: email@example.com or go to: www.calibratetechnologies.com.
Calibrate® Technologies provides the dairy industry's first rapid starch and fiber test with an online nutritional calculator to help provide ration recommendations to nutritionists and producers on rumen digestibility of forages and feedstuffs. For additional information, visit www.CalibrateTechnologies.com or call (800) 635-5701.


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Yanks being cautious with Youkilis' sore oblique
TAMPA, Fla. -- Kevin Youkilis said that he hopes to return to the Yankees' spring lineup on Thursday after missing two days with what he called a cramp above his left hip.
The Yankees officially termed Youkilis' injury as a sore left oblique. Youkilis said that he is "perfectly all right" and resumed swinging a fungo bat on Wednesday with no problems.
"If they let me play [Thursday], I'm totally in for playing tomorrow," Youkilis said. "We don't usually even play games until March 1. I like playing baseball and don't like sitting around, so that's the only worry I have all the time. I like being out there playing."
Manager Joe Girardi scratched Youkilis from Tuesday's roster against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., and told Youkilis that the team wanted to be cautious at this stage of the spring.
"For me, the limitations of holding me back stinks, but I understand what they're doing," Youkilis said. "And it makes a lot of sense."
In the meantime, Youkilis said that there's no need to burn his down time thinking about the Yankee Stadium roll call and how he'll respond when the Bleacher Creatures chant his name for the first time on April 1.
"I'll probably ask [Derek] Jeter what to do, and whatever Jeter tells me to do, I'll do," Youkilis said. "We'll figure it out."


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And, of course, the fine print:
Get free shipping on your next order when you spend over $100. The discount will be automatically applied to your purchase; no promo code required. The subtotal of your purchase must be $100.01 or greater after any promotional discounts have been applied. Additional fees such as tax or shipping and handling do not apply toward your minimum subtotal requirement of $100.01. Offer applies to standard shipping only. Certain items that require additional shipping and handling are excluded from this promotion and do not apply towards your $100.01 subtotal minimum. Offer subject to change.
The pages in this journal are torn to size, the binding is sewn with linen thread and the inside cover boasts a tiny envelope, all crafted by hand. With 176 pages and 11 sections, there is plenty of space to write your first novel, record your dreams and ideas or hold signatures and notes from wedding or houseguests. The notebook cover features a black and white floral print, and the pages are blank, so it can be used as a sketchbook with ink, pencil or paint.
- Measures 5" x 7" (13 x 18 cm)
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- One of a kind
This product ships from the maker within 7 days, via USPS
If you're not happy with this item for any reason, you may return it for a full refund within 14 days.


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Hello forum,
I respectively ask with the intent to better understand the Theravada tradition I am walking the path through. The nearby temple I have access to, upon a festival visit celebrating the sri-lankan new year and the temple's new meditation room addon (a significantly large addon): a bhikku was speaking and had made request for financial donations above and beyond food. Recommending a "meritorious" donation of 10% income replicating the ages of kings before us. This is the first I have heard of a bhikku strongly encouraging financial donation and seems odd now that I've read more regarding the conduct they should follow. Having been in religious circles before this, it does not surprise me that money seems to be a reoccurring issue, however I am deciding how to reflect on this and hope to hear from the forum thinks. I believe it was Venerable Henepola Gunaratana speaking at the event at the time I heard this.
Also, as I follow the temple on facebook, I've noticed different pictures of visits to museums and the like by one of the bhikku who resides there. Is this activity unusual?
I am not fretting to these things. I simply want to mindfully find a teacher in whom will assist my practice. Perhaps the visits and ongoings of the bhikku is irrelevant for my practice, but I am very open to any shared thoughts.


text: Politics 5 February 2013 Blow for Cameron as more Tory MPs vote against gay marriage than in favour 136 Conservative MPs voted against the bill, with 127 voting in favour. Sign up for our weekly email * Print HTML Update: The final figures show that 136 Tories voted against the bill, with 127 voting in favour and 40 abstaining. In other words, the majority of Conservative MPs failed to support equal marriage. With the outcome of the vote on equal marriage never in doubt (MPs voted in favour of the bill by 400 to 175), the key question was always how many Conservatives would oppose the measure. Based on initial reports, it appears that 139 Tory MPs voted against the bill, with 132 voting in favour. Were this not a free vote, the Tories would have equalled the largest postwar rebellion - the Iraq war vote in 2003. If accurate, the figures are disastrous for David Cameron. More than half of his MPs (of which there are 303 excluding speakers) chose either to oppose the measure or to abstain. The Prime Minister hoped to use the vote on equal marriage to demonstrate how much his party has changed but he has ended up achieving the reverse. While ministers will point out that this was a free vote and so technically not a "rebellion", there is no disguising the fact that more Tory MPs opposed Cameron's position than supported it. That is a blow to his personal authority and to his claim to have "modernised" the Conservative Party. › Barclays' little story and how it changed banking culture David Cameron chats to guests at the Gay Pride reception in the garden at 10 Downing Street on June 16, 2010. Photograph: Getty Images. George Eaton is political editor of the New Statesman. Subscribe from just £1 per issue More Related articles Will Corbynites be in charge of the Labour Party forever? Building peace in a dangerous world needs resources, not just goodwill Donald Trump's threats give North Korea every reason it needs to keep nuclear weapons Subscription offer 12 issues for £12 + FREE book LEARN MORE Close This week's magazine


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October 31, 2010 (Biddeford, ME): While developing negatives of the UNE History Department faculty, photographer Saul Fotoländer was shocked to discover a ghostly image of what appears to be the late President Richard M. Nixon hovering in larger-than-life form behind the group.
"I was really surprised to see the image," said Fotoländer. "It sure wasn't there when I was taking the photos and it doesn't show up unless you're looking at the negative."
Photo experts are at pains to explain the visage.
"Usually there are obvious signs that a 'ghost' is faked," said Dr. Ivan Tafindcheaters, a photo expert with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "In this case, it really seems that the 36th President of the United States is there. Hovering. Terrifying. Waiting to place somebody on an other-worldly enemies list. I've never seen anything like it all my days and I hope that I never do again."
When asked for comment, the department spokesperson could only say: "It is an honor to know that a former president is taking an interest in our department. We only wish that he looked happier."
No curricular revisions are planned as a result of the ghostly visit.
Happy Halloween!


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Bicycle challenge: Bicyclists will take part in the first San Elijo Hills Individual Uphill Time Trial at 8 a.m. July 17. The three-mile course begins at San Elijo Elementary School, 1600 School House Way and ends at Double Peak Park. Registration is $40. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to San Elijo elementary and middle schools. Newversionsports.com or (760) 470-2139.
Bridge: The American Contract Bridge League Unit 531 hosts a game at 1 p.m. July 18 at Esplanade Bridge Center, 437 S. Highway 101, Suite 102, Solana Beach. Fee: $8. acbldistrict22.com/531 or (858) 755-8463.
Bone health: Palomar Pomerado Health presents Dine with the Docs from 5 to 8 p.m. July 20 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Learn about reducing pain, restoring function and improving mobility from board-certified physicians. Former TV anchor Carol LaBeau will emcee. The $35 admission includes dinner and health screenings. (800) 628-2880 or pph.org.
Encinitas Classic Cruise Nights: Vintage and contemporary cars on display from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the third Thursday through September from D Street to K Street in downtown Encinitas. (760) 943-1950.
"Fat Pig": Tom, a handsome, 30-ish executive, falls for Helen, a witty and overweight librarian, in Neil LaBute's play. Patio Playhouse presents performances at 8 p.m. July 16-17 and 2 p.m. July 18 at 201 E. Grand Ave. $10. (760) 746-6669.
"Beauty and the Beast": Valley Center Community Theater presents performances July 16-18 and July 23-25 at the Valley Center High School's Maxine Theater, 31322 Cole Grade Road. Shows begin at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. $13 tickets are available in advance at The Desert Rose, The Sports Closet and Stirrup Fun; $15 at vcct.org. (760) 749-3110.
Defying Expectations: The show featuring the works of four contemporary American Indian artists in the region continues through Dec. 12 at the Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way. The artists are James Luna, Gerald Clarke, Catherine Nelson-Rodriguez and Raymond Lafferty. The exhibit is curated by Leah Cluff, a doctoral candidate at the University of California San Diego. (760) 435-3720; oma-online.org.
Wheels of Desire Motorcycle, Supercross and Motocross Show: The exhibit at Fallbrook Art Center spans more than 100 years of motorcycle history, with models from the late 1800s to present day bikes. Among them are a 1899 DeDion, a 1917 Harley-Davidson board tracker and a 1947 Vincent Black Shadow. The art and memorabilia exhibit includes paintings, sculptures, posters and riding gear. The show continues through Aug. 15. Admission is $8; free for art center members. The Fallbrook Art Center is located at 103 S. Main Ave. (760) 728-1414.
Art show: Mark Smith, Katherine Keeling, Yanina Cambareri and Karen Ashenbrenner show their work through Aug. 20 at the San Diego Cancer Center, 1200 Garden View, Encinitas. (760) 634-6661.
Rancho Bernardo Art Association: Members show their work through July 31 at various locations. Susan Snodgrass-Thompson, Pacific Trust Bank, 16536 Bernardo Center Drive; Brian Belfield, Incredible Cafe, 11828 Rancho Bernardo Road; and Vita Sorrentino, Poway Vision Care, 13035 Pomerado Road. (858) 675-2262.
"Planet 51": 7 p.m. July 17 at Grape Day Park, 321 N. Broadway, Escondido.
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel": Dusk, July 17, 4S Ranch Community Park, 16118 4S Ranch Parkway.
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel": Dusk, July 23, Fallbrook Recreation Center, 341 Heald Lane.
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs": Dusk, Aug. 7, Stagecoach Park, 3420 Camino de la Coches, Carlsbad. Games, food and activities from 6 to 8 p.m.
"Monsters vs Aliens": Dusk, Aug. 7, Woodland Park, 671 Woodland Parkway, San Marcos.
"How to Train Your Dragon": Dusk, Aug. 21, 4S Ranch Community Park, 16118 4S Ranch Parkway.
"Planet 51": Dusk, Aug. 21, Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive, Poway.
"Swiss Family Robinson": Dusk, Sept. 4, Pier Amphitheater, 22 N. Strand, Oceanside.
"The Blind Side": Dusk, Sept. 18, 4S Ranch Community Park 16118 4S Ranch Parkway.
Girl Scout camp: Girls entering grades two to six are invited to the day camp Musicpalooza Aug. 2-6 at the Museum of Making Music, 790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad. Girls 12 to 17 may participate as program aides. Fees: $104 to $195. (619) 610-0719 or sdgirlscouts.org.
Grant writing: Cal State San Marcos Extended Learning will offer a two-day workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 17 and July 24 at the campus, 333 Twin Oaks Valley Road. $225. (760) 750-4020; csusm.edu/el.
Is California Governable? NAIOP San Diego will host a discussion of state politics and the upcoming November elections at 7:30 a.m. July 20 at the Marriott San Diego/Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real. $40 members, $60 others, $75 at the door. naiopsd.org or (858) 509-4110.
Solar energy seminar: Green Life Solar and Sunpower will present information on how reduce electricity bills by using solar energy and federal, state and manufacturer incentives at 6 p.m. July 21 at Poway branch library, 13137 Poway Road. (858) 672-8667.
Tie-dye T-shirts: The San Marcos Family Enrichment Program will host a workshop at 7 p.m. July 21 at the San Marcos Community Center, 3 Civic Center Drive. $3 per person and a one-time annual membership fee of $12 per family. (760) 744-9000.
Palomar Observatory tour: The Reuben Fleet Science Center will host bus trips to the observatory on Aug. 14 and Sept. 11. Highlights include a look at the 200-inch Hale telescope, a lecture on astronomy, a visit to the museum and stargazing on multiple telescopes. The tour is for ages 10 and older. $65 for museum members; $75 others. (619) 238-1233, ext. 806.
Nature walk: Trained naturalists of the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy lead free walks to explore the flora, fauna and history of the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. The walks begin at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday at the Rios Avenue trail on the south side of the lagoon. A half-mile docent-led walk around the wetlands begins at 10 a.m. each Saturday at the nature center, 2710 Manchester Ave. (760) 436-3944.
Kumeyaay-Ipai Interpretive Center: Docents lead free walks at 9 a.m. Saturdays that allow visitors a close-up look at a native garden, irrigation systems, milling stations and a Kumeyaay house. The center is at 13104 Ipai Waaypuk Trail (formerly Silver Lake Drive), Poway. (858) 668-1292.
Bird walk: Join Buena Vista Audubon Society members at 8 a.m. the first Saturday of the month and visit a bird sanctuary with a lake-and riparian-edge habitat that is not usually open to the public. Take state Route 76, turn left at Douglas Drive and continue to the stoplight at North River Road in Oceanside. Turn left and meet at the cul-de-sac by the entrance gate. Leader: John Haddock. (760) 941-7824.
Pageant of the Masters: The Magdalena Ecke YMCA will host trips to the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach in July and August. Fee: $99 to $119. (760) 942-9622, ext. 1429.
Feng shui: A free seminar on the principles of feng shui begins at 10 a.m. July 20 at the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave. (760) 602-4650.
July Madness: The Carlsbad Playreaders presents a 1940s radio show re-enactment, scenes from well known stage comedies and an invitation to sing along with summertime songs at 12:45 p.m. July 21 at Carlsbad Senior Center, 700 Pine Ave. (760) 602-4650.
Hawaiian dance: The Halau Hula O Pualani dancers will perform at 11:30 a.m. July 28 at Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave. Call (760) 602-4655 for lunch reservations.
LIFE at MiraCosta: The senior learning group meets most Fridays at 1 p.m. in Room 1068, MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. The annual fee is $30. Visitors welcome. (760) 721-8124.
Rancho Bernardo Senior Services: Services offered include legal assistance from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays, financial planning from 1 to 3:30 p.m. second Tuesdays, simple wills on the last Friday of the month, health insurance consultations on the second Friday of the month, hearing tests and more. Call for an appointment. Free. RB Senior Services, 16769 Bernardo Center Drive Suite K-14. (858) 487-2640.
LaCosta Walkers: Walk the Batiquitos Lagoon at 8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Meet at the golf club at 7447 Batiquitos Drive, Carlsbad. Park to the right. For more information call Carol: (760) 431-6944.
Free taxi vouchers: The Senior Service Council offers free transportation for medical- and dental-related appointments. The vouchers are good for $7 each way and are available to seniors 60 and older who live in Escondido and have a gross annual income of less than $22,600 for up to two people and who have no other means of transportation. A qualified applicant is entitled to three round trips each month. Apply in person with proof of income from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays through Thursdays at 728 N. Broadway. (760) 480-0611.
North County Singles Club: Single seniors ages 55 and older are invited every Friday in Vista for dinner from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m., followed by dancing to live music. Call for reservations and a newsletter highlighting activities. (760) 942-2719.
Home Energy Assistance Program: Seniors could qualify for an additional credit toward their utility bill from San Diego Gas & Electric co.'s HEAP Program. Information and applications are available at the Senior Service Council Escondido, 728 N. Broadway, Escondido, in the Joslyn Center. (760) 480-0611.
Yoga for seniors: Silver Age Yoga Community Outreach offers free yoga classes from 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays. Poway Weingart Senior Center, 13094 Civic Center Drive. (858) 693-3110, silverageyoga.org.
Senior Service Council: Free legal assistance for wills, trusts, divorce, foreclosure, medical powers of attorney and more is offered from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays. Dorothy E. Boeger Building, 728 N. Broadway, Escondido. Appointment necessary.
Hot Lunch: The San Marcos Senior Center, 111 W. Richmar Ave., serves a hot lunch at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday to seniors 60 and older. Make a reservation one day in advance. Suggested donation: $3. Call Clarice, ext. 3605, if you need transportation. (760) 744-5535.
Knitting Circle: Meetings from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays at Knitting by the Beach, 616 Stevens Ave., Solana Beach. (858) 509-9276.
North County Amnesty International: Meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Hill Street Coffeehouse, 524 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. (760) 731-0735 or amnesty471.org.
Buena Vista Audubon Society: Meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month. Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, 2202 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. (760) 439-2473.
Vista North County Parkinson's Support Group: Meetings are 10 a.m. to noon the second Wednesday of the month. Gloria McClellan Senior Center, Brengle Terrace Park, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. Free. (760) 940-2763.
The 2nd Tuesday Book Club: The group will discuss "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones on Aug. 10 in the main library's Turrentine Room. The program is free and open to the public. Escondido Public Library, Turrentine Room, 239 S. Kalmia St., Escondido. (760) 839-4839 or library.escondido.org.
Bereavement support: Participants will learn about ways to express grief from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays. The Center for Grief Care and Education at The Institute for Palliative Medicine, Rancho Bernardo Swim and Tennis Club in the Club 21 Room, 16955 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo. Newcomers welcome. (619) 278-6480 or sdhospice.org.
Emotions Anonymous: A 12-step program to help people cope with stress and emotional difficulties is offered from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the first four Tuesdays of the month at Weingart Senior Center, Activity Room 2, Poway Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive, Poway. Free. (760) 207-2944.
The San Diego County Cymbidium Society: The society meets at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month, except in July and August. Carlsbad Women's Club, 3320 Monroe St., Carlsbad. Free, visitors welcome. (760) 732-0055, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Cardiff North County Parkinson's Support Group: Meetings are 1 to 3 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. Belmont Village, 3535 Manchester Ave., Cardiff. Free. (760) 940-2763.


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Availability for: Ashburn, VA
Tropical styling and generous storage are the hallmark of the Key West dresser. The top two rolled rattan drawers are hardware free and lined with dark brown felt for delicate items. Eight additional drawers have custom brass antiqued hardware featuring a floral medallion encircled by a ring shaped to match the dresser's "bamboo" side columns. This piece is crafted of gemilina wood solids and veneers with a distressed dark finish.
For a casual tropical look choose the Key West mirror. Its round shape and 1" beveled glass is enhanced with wicker and bamboo style accents. This bedroom essential is designed to be paired with either the Key West drawer or door dresser.
The Key West bed looks as if it has been transported from a lush tropical resort. You'll love the casual island details including pineapple finials, bamboo carved effects and wicker accents. The arched headboard has a reversible center panel with dark padded leather on one side and wood on the other allowing you to change the look of the bed with ease. Solid X frames can be found on the footboard. This bed is made of gemilina wood solids and veneers with a distressed dark finish.
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Topic: A question about the results of chemo with radiotherapy
Hi everybody. I'm very pleased to have found this forum. I"m just learning about CC and have quite a lot of questions.
My lovely mother (66) was diagnosed with an extra-hepatic tumour (non-resectable) several weeks ago. Apparently the cancer is contained in the bile duct. She will start chemo soon for a few months, and then, all being well, she should have chemo with radiotherapy after that. The objective of the chemo/radio is apparently to eliminate the tumour completely. Everything I've read suggests that CC is only curable through surgery, so I'm interested to know whether others have had an experience of eliminating this cancer without surgery. I understand that this is quite a new treatment avenue.
Sorry if I am being a bit vague: I haven't actually been to any of the med appointments so my info is a bit sketchy.
Thanks in advance!
Jane M