text:
Open Label Safety And Efficacy Study Of Pregabalin In Subjects With Nerve Pain Asociated With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Neuropathy
This study has been completed.
Information provided by:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: December 12, 2005
Last updated: March 20, 2009
Last verified: March 2009
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To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pregabalin in reducing neuropathic pain associated with HIV neuropathy
|Peripheral Neuropathy HIV Infections
|Drug: pregabalin
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|An Open-Label, Extension Safety And Efficacy Trial Of Pregabalin In Subjects With Neuropathic Pain Associated With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Neuropathy
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: HIV/AIDS
Drug Information available for: PregabalinU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Pfizer:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Scores [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Endpoint ]
|Study Start Date:
|February 2006
|Study Completion Date:
|February 2008
|Primary Completion Date:
|February 2008 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Experimental: 1
Drug: pregabalin
75mg BID, titrated up to 300mg according to individual response and tolerability
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participation in the preceding A0081066 double-blind trial met the entry criteria for that trial and completed A0081066 study through visit 7
Exclusion Criteria:
- Experienced serious adverse event during the A0081066 trial that was considered related or possibly related to study medication by the investigator or sponsor
- non-compliant during A0081066 trial
- clinically significant or unstable medical condition both HIV-related and non-HIV related including but not limited to, cardiac, pulmonary or hepatorenal disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise participation in the study
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00264875
Show 37 Study Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00264875
Show 37 Study Locations
Sponsors and Collaborators
|Study Director:
|Pfizer CT.gov Call Center
More Information
Additional Information:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
Additional Information:
|Responsible Party:
|Director, Clinical Trials Disclosure Group, Pfizer, Inc.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00264875 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|December 12, 2005
|Results First Received:
|February 20, 2009
|Last Updated:
|March 20, 2009
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immune System Diseases
Slow Virus Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Sensory System Agents
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Calcium Channel Blockers
Membrane Transport Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Anti-Anxiety Agents
Tranquilizing Agents
Central Nervous System Depressants
Psychotropic Drugs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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More than 300 Santas from across West Cornwall were put on their marks, told to get set and then 'ho ho ho' in aid of charity on Sunday.
Were you at the Santa Fun Run. For the full picture gallery click here.
The runway at RNAS Culdrose turned into a running track for the 320 men, women and children who donned Santa suits to run, jog or walk the length of the airstrip and back for Children's Hospice South West.
The CuldRoses military wives choir and the Royal Naval Volunteer Band got the Christmas party started as the Santas began arriving, before the team from Farmhouse Studio orchestrated and filmed a mass Santa karaoke to "All I Want for Christmas is You".
It was then over to Helen Tite of The Core in Falmouth, who led the Santas in a fun festive warm up before they lined up at the end of the runway ready for takeoff.
They took off in high spirits and crossed the finish line rather more rosy-cheeked but full of festive jolliness.
All came away with an extra warm glow, in the knowledge that they had pledged over £5,000 in sponsorship to help children whose lives are short.
All the Santas completed the 2km route at their own pace, with aptly named local teenager Matt Quick sprinting home first in less than ten minutes.
Other highlights included a three-legged Santa, made up of two women, receiving a fireman's lift to help them over the finish line after a long, hard slog up and down the full length of the runway.
Mary Murfin, local community fundraiser for the charity's Little Harbour children's hospice in St Austell – which celebrates its first year anniversary this month – was delighted with how the first ever Santas on the Run in Helston went.
She said: "It was a seasonably cold day but that didn't stop the hundreds of Santas wrapping up warm in their hats and beards and having a jolly old time. The atmosphere was terrific.
"Our thanks to all the Santas for making it such a marvellous and merry event, and pledging such a fantastic amount in sponsorship."
The charity has thanked the volunteers and in particular RNAS Culdrose for hosting the run, with staff from Serco supporting it.
The CuldRoses, Farmhouse Studios, Helen Tite and her team from The Core, the ladies of the Culdrose public viewing enclosure café, the Royal Naval Volunteer Band and St John Ambulance (Helston Division) were also thanked for helping to make the event such a success.

subset: commoncrawl


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Moonlight 'Night in Bavaria' Randonee Dinner at A-Basin Saturday
November 22, 2012
There will be a fantastic feast Saturday night at Arapahoe Basin's Black Mountain Lodge. A whole-roasted hog is among the entrees, along with a spread of authentic international fare presented by executive chef Christopher Rybak. The only catch? You have to skin uphill for dinner.
Black Mountain is A-Basin's mid-mountain lodge, and the "Night in Bavaria" Randonee Dinner is not lift-serviced, "so you have to put a bit of physical effort in when you get here," said A-Basin spokesperson Adrienne Saia Isaac.
French for "excursion," randonee is often used to refer to Alpine Touring (AT), where an ascent is made on one's own two feet via skis attached to special bindings that allow the heel free for uphill travel. Fastened to the skis are "skins"- once made of animal skins but now synthetic fibers – that prevent the skier from sliding down as he or she moves uphill. At the top, the skins are removed and the heel clipped down for the descent.
That said, other modes of travel, including snowshoeing, splitboarding and telemark skiing, are welcome at Saturday's event. "The randonee dinner is a really cool experience – crisp air, being on mountain under the full moon and a great post-Thanksgiving workout," said Isaac.
Once skinners and hikers reach Black Mountain Lodge, Chef Rybak has a warming aperitif in store, followed by an hors d'oeuvres buffet of European grilled sausages, air-dried meats and cheeses and hearth-baked breads. The Bavarian buffet follows, featuring a whole-roasted hog with sauerkraut and dumplings, Wiener schnitzel, braised pheasant and North Atlantic cod. Dessert includes apple pancakes with lemon sauce, poppy seed cake and Black Forest torte. (The menu is subject to change based on availability of locally sourced ingredients.)
Afterward, guests don skis or snowboards and descend the mountain in the moonlight. Both the ascent and descent take place on open, skiable terrain, such as the intermediate trails Ramrod and High Noon.
Recommended Stories For You
The dinner is part of A-Basin's Moonlight Dinner series, held on Saturdays during the full moon cycle. Most allow downhill snowshoeing afterward – but Saturday's dinner is the only one where guests are allowed to ski or snowboard down.
"In the past two years that this event has been held at the Basin, we've seen active Colorado locals of all ages who like to get in a hike or skin – and, of course, a hearty meal afterward – join us," Isaac said. This weekend, organizers are pleased to welcome out-of-state guests too. Said Isaac: "If you love skiing and you love food, this is your event."
The next Moonlight Dinners take place on Dec. 31 (sold out), Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 23 and April 20.


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KIERON Pollard is not the best batsman in the world, but he is one of the most destructive. Against Clint Mckay though he was made to look inept.
While Pollard top-scored last week for the Adelaide Strikers with an unbeaten 65 from 43 deliveries, the most remarkable aspect of his innings was how he was contained for so much of it by Melbourne Stars' wily pace attack.
Mckay bowled only nine deliveries to Pollard at the Adelaide Oval, but the feared West Indian missed five of them, swinging prematurely at the slower balls for which the Victorian is renowned.
It was not a stereotypical representation of a fast bowler exerting his dominance over a batsman, but it was just as effective - and was crucial in the Stars' move into top spot on the Big Bash League ladder.
''Unless you've got some serious Ks - 150km/h-plus - I think the batters are all quite used to pace these days. You need some tricks up your sleeve even if you do bowl in the mid-140s,'' was Mckay's rationale for his approach to Pollard and others in limited overs matches.
''Guys like myself, James Faulkner and Johnny Hastings don't have that 140-plus pace ball, so we have more tricks up our sleeve than most.''
Consistency is Mckay's greatest strength, to the extent where his most eye-catching performance this season, perversely, was when he conceded 10 runs an over at home to the Sydney Sixers.
''I can't afford to have bad games,'' Mckay said ahead of the Stars' match away to Brisbane on Thursday.
''I need to make sure the difference between my best and my worst is very narrow because I don't have the pace like James Pattinson or Patty Cummins. What I've got is consistency in my bowling and variety that I can use.''
Mckay's value at domestic and international level is not limited to curbing scoring.
In 2012, the 29-year-old claimed more one-day international wickets than any Australian - 27 at an average of 23.89 - and was the form bowler of last summer's ODI tri-series. His 5-28 was pivotal in Australia winning the deciding third final against Sri Lanka.
While the wickets' tally was healthy, Mckay was particularly buoyed to have played in all but three of Australia's 11 ODIs.
''Last summer was the first time in international cricket I've actually had a stretch of games where I've played consistently,'' he said.
''When you're playing a couple, then missing a few, it's hard to get into a routine and get some momentum.
''Holding your spot for a period of time makes you relax a bit more, which is great for the confidence, getting that backing from the selectors and coaching staff.''
Mckay's importance to the ODI team will almost certainly result in him missing the tail-end of the BBL in favour of bolstering Australia's attack in its series against Sri Lanka, which starts four days after the Sydney Test.
It would also coincide with a final period in which the Stars will aim to live up to their lofty expectations, as they have so far this season.
''We've been built from the ground up to be the best, like the Manchester United or Mumbai Indians of Australian cricket. We love that sort of pressure, we've basically put it on ourselves as well,'' he said.
''There are still five games of cricket to win … the group's in a great spot and we're raring to go.
''Sometimes it's unlucky when you are missing big games of [domestic] cricket, but there's nothing bigger than playing for your country.
''We've got a great squad [at the Stars] and I'm backing them, whatever 11 we put on the park, that we can get the job done and take this trophy home.''
Despite having represented Australia 36 times in limited-overs matches and boasting an impressive Sheffield Shield record - 106 wickets at 26.89 - Mckay has played just one Test - three years ago, against the West Indies in Perth when Peter Siddle injured a hamstring.
Mckay's 30th birthday coincides with the first day of Australia's four-Test series away to India.
While he has received assurances from Australia's coaches and selectors he is ''still in the mix for Test cricket'', there is little prospect of him being required in Delhi on February 22, even as a reserve Test bowler.
The recent Test debut of close friend John Hastings, also pigeonholed as a limited-overs option at international level, has given Mckay hope that a second Test stint is possible.
Probably a more realistic goal will be to remain one of Australia's favoured limited-overs pacemen for the 2015 World Cup, not just because the tournament will be held in Australia and New Zealand, but also because injury robbed him of a squad berth in 2011.


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The average U.S. retail price for regular motor gasoline has risen 45 cents per gallon since the start of the year, reaching $3.75 per gallon on February 18. Between January 1 and February 19, the price of Brent crude, the waterborne light sweet crude grade that drives the wholesale price of gasoline sold in most U.S. regions, rose about $6 per barrel, or about 15 cents per gallon. A simple calculation, which modestly understates the role of higher crude prices to the extent that crude price increases during December 2012 were still not fully passed through in retail gasoline prices at the start of 2013, suggests that about two-thirds of the rise in gasoline prices since the start of the year reflects higher gasoline crack margins.
With factors affecting global crude oil markets having been addressed in recent U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) commentary, this article focuses on some of the major factors behind the increase in gasoline crack spreads. Among these are: planned and unplanned refinery maintenance; the low starting level for gasoline crack spreads going into 2013; preparation for seasonal fuel specification changes; and developments in global product demand that have affected domestic refinery utilization rates, maintenance needs, and product balances. While these factors have played an important role, other factors may also have contributed to recent short-term price movements. Finally, some of the most recent trends in domestic prices and refinery operations and the amount of gasoline headed toward the United States from abroad provide some indication that gasoline crack spreads may soon ease.
Throughout much of November and December 2012, gasoline crack spreads were very low, and in some cases negative (a barrel of gasoline worth LESS than a barrel of Brent crude). As a result, retail gasoline prices were lower than one would typically expect given prevailing crude oil prices, with the lowest price of 2012 reached in EIA's weekly survey on December 17. Since the beginning of 2013, reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending (RBOB) crack spreads versus Brent have increased 12, 34, and 46 cents per gallon, respectively, in New York Harbor (Figure 1), the Gulf Coast (Figure 2), and Los Angeles.
Both planned and unplanned maintenance at several refineries have supported higher crack spreads. Many refineries schedule maintenance early in the year when gasoline demand is seasonally low. Trade press estimates indicate that off line refinery capacity increased from the beginning of 2013 to more than 1.7 million barrels per day (bbl/d) for the week ending February 15. As a result, EIA estimates that gross inputs into U.S. refineries fell 9 percent from 15.9 million bbl/d per day in mid-December to 14.4 million bbl/d for the week ending February 15.
In the Northeast, crude units were reported to be down at Monroe Energy's 185,000-bbl/d Trainer refinery as well as at Philadelphia Energy Solutions' 335,000-bbl/d Philadelphia refinery. Additionally, ongoing refinery outages in Venezuela and a recently resolved outage at North Atlantic's 115,000-bbl/d Come by Chance refinery in Canada supported Atlantic basin gasoline crack spreads. The market's reaction to this string of U.S. refinery outages may have been exacerbated by the late-January announcement that Hess Corporation planned to close its 70,000-bbl/d Port Reading refinery at the end of February. On the Gulf Coast, Motiva's Norco, Louisiana, and Port Arthur, Texas refineries are reported down for maintenance in February, according to trade press. It should also be noted that Gulf Coast crack spreads have been bolstered by the increases in RBOB prices attributable to the switch to summer-grade gasoline. On the West Coast, refinery maintenance has been particularly heavy. At one point in January, almost 300,000 bbl/d of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) capacity was off line. While some capacity has come back on line, several outages persist in the region. FCC units are particularly important for gasoline production, and FCC maintenance can significantly affect gasoline prices.
While U.S. exports of petroleum products continue at a robust level, the relationship between product exports and domestic gasoline prices is quite complex and exports do not appear to be contributing to rising U.S. pump prices since the start of the year. As U.S. demand for gasoline and distillate has declined, robust global demand for petroleum products has provided Gulf Coast refineries with an export market for gasoline and distillate produced using capacity that would otherwise have been operated at lower utilization rates. In particular, strong global demand for distillate fuels in recent years has been a factor allowing refiners to operate profitably with lower gasoline crack spreads than would otherwise have been possible. While U.S. gasoline exports have also increased in recent years, the United States was still a net importer of gasoline in 2012. Generally, over 80 percent of U.S. exports of total gasoline are produced and shipped from the Gulf Coast, while the vast majority of U.S. gasoline imports enter the country along the East Coast. Constraints on product pipelines between the Gulf Coast and the Northeast regions and the limited availability and expense of vessels permitted to move product between U.S. ports, which must be built, maintained, and flagged in the United States and employ U.S. crews, limit the amount of petroleum products that can be moved economically from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast. Were gasoline exports to be constrained, global gasoline supply would likely decline, and U.S. gasoline importers, especially in the Northeast, would face additional competition for supplies from buyers in other countries that would have otherwise been supplied from U.S. refineries, which would tend to raise the price of imported gasoline.
Despite the recent increases in wholesale and retail gasoline prices, there are indications that gasoline crack spreads are beginning to ease. Both RBOB futures and Brent spot prices have declined in recent days, with a larger decrease in the former (Figure 3). Additionally, trade press has reported that 11 million barrels of waterborne gasoline are en route to the United States and Canada. U.S. refinery maintenance typically peaks in February, and we expect that many of the facilities that have recently decreased crude runs should return to normal operations in the coming weeks. However, this increased supply will likely be countered by the seasonal increase in demand, which typically begins in the spring.
Even though pressure on gasoline crack spreads appears to be easing, the short-term outlook for gasoline prices remains volatile. Despite the significant rise in retail gasoline prices since the start of the year, a part of the even steeper rise in wholesale prices has not yet been fully reflected in pump prices. Thus, if wholesale prices were to remain steady rather than decline, a modest further increase in pump prices would be expected. Gasoline pump prices will also be affected by the transition to summer-grade gasoline, which is more expensive to produce than winter-grade gasoline. Gasoline crack spreads will also remain sensitive to future refinery outages. Finally, although this article focuses on crack spreads, crude oil prices are also subject to significant uncertainty and volatility related to economic and geopolitical factors.
Gasoline and diesel fuel prices up again
The U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline increased 14 cents to $3.75 per gallon, up 16 cents from last year at this time. The national average price has seen double digit increases two out of the last three weeks and is up 45 cents since the beginning of the year. The largest increase came in the Midwest, where the price increased 18 cents to $3.76 per gallon. The Gulf Coast price is $3.53 per gallon, an increase of 15 cents from last week. The Rocky Mountain price is up 14 cents to $3.41 per gallon. On the West Coast, the price increased 11 cents, but remains just shy of the $4 per gallon mark at $3.97 per gallon. Rounding out the regions, the East Coast price saw the smallest increase, 10 cents, rising to $3.75 per gallon.
The national average diesel fuel price increased five cents to $4.16 per gallon, 20 cents higher than last year at this time. For the first time since October 2012, prices in all regions of the nation are above the $4 per gallon mark. The Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain prices both increased seven cents, to $4.07 per gallon and $4.03 per gallon, respectively. The Midwest and East Coast prices are each up a nickel to $4.13 per gallon and $4.20 per gallon, respectively. Rounding out the regions, the West Coast price is $4.30 per gallon, up four cents from last week.


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Congress challenges Swamy's charges against Gandhis
By IANS | Published: 02nd November 2012 06:53 PM |
Last Updated: 02nd November 2012 10:33 PM | A+A A- |
The allegations by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy of "wrongdoing" against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi vis-a-vis the takeover of Herald House in Delhi escalated into political battle Friday.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley joined Swamy in asking the Congress to come clear if it had given a loan of Rs.90 crore to the company floated by the Gandhis. The Congress challenged Swamy to prove his allegations.
Swamy said his charges had not been answered even as Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's office Thursday termed the allegations as "utterly false, entirely baseless and defamatory".
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari dismissed allegations against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
"The charges are baseless. The only intent behind them seems to be to tar people with a dark brush," Tewari said.
Swamy told a press conference Friday that a company Young Indian, allegedly floated by the two Gandhis, had done a "sham and bogus" deal to "grab the Rs.1,600 crore worth Herald House" and other properties of the group.
Young Indian, he had said, acquired Associated Journals Pvt Ltd and became owner of the National Herald and Qaumi Awaz and all high value real estate in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh belonging to the group.
Swamy had also alleged that AJPL had obtained an unsecured, zero-interest loan of "Rs.90 plus crore" from the Congress.
Jaitley, who was in Shimla on the last day of campaigning in the hill state, said the board of directors of AJPL had passed a resolution Feb 26, 2011, saying the Congress had given a loan of Rs.90 crore to the company floated by the Gandhis.
He said the Congress must clarify whether the loan has been actually given or not. "It (giving loan) is a gross irregularity as exemption from income tax to the donors and political parties were given as incentives for transparent functioning of political parties," the BJP leader said.
In the capital, Congress spokesperson P.C. Chacko challenged Swamy to prove his allegations of wrongdoing against the Gandhis. "We don't take him (Swamy) seriously. We are not bound to answer the bland charges. It is for Swamy to go to the court if he feels any income tax law has been violated," Chacko said.
"We want to see whether Swamy will sue the Congress leaders," he said. "We are ready to face it legally," Chacko added.
Chacko said the letter by Rahul Gandhi's office to Swamy amounted to legal notice.
While Rahul Gandhi's office had conveyed commitment to pursue legal action against Swamy, Chacko seemed to emphasise it was for the Janata Party leader to prove his charges.
Khushid said: "There is absolutely no basis to these allegations. Companies are constantly making amendments in their constitution. In this case, it's a non-profit making company. Rather, it should be seen as an example of good governance," Khurshid said.
Swamy, meanwhile, kept up his attack on the Gandhis and said Rahul Gandhi had answered "not one" of his allegations. Speaking to Times Now, Swamy said he had written to both prime minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath and would wait for their replies on his allegations.
Swamy said if he does not get a reply to his letter from prime minister in two to three weeks, he "will certainly send a reminder".


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Peralta propelling himself among the elite
DETROIT -- It might be time to stop saying that Jhonny Peralta is off to a hot start and start saying that he has the makings of a better season.
"I'm trying to react to what the pitcher is throwing me," Peralta said on Tuesday.
The way he's hitting, pitchers are guessing how to get to him.
On Monday, with his first four-hit game as a member of the Tigers, Peralta propelled himself into the mix among the best hitters in the league not named Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera is the American League batting average leader, at .377, and Peralta is now tied for second with Baltimore's Chris Davis, at .341.
Peralta entered Monday 10th in the batting race, at .326, and raised his average 15 points with his performance.
"A lot of guys are going to fly under the radar when you've got a Miguel Cabrera and a Prince Fielder," manager Jim Leyland said. "But this guy's a really good player."
Peralta hit .292 with a .743 OPS in April for the best opening month of his career, defying his history of slow starts and struggles in cold weather. More important, it set him up for May, historically his strongest month.
With four days left, though, he's hitting .400 with eight doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs. He had better RBI production in May 2011, but in terms of pure hitting and reaching base, it's the best single month of his career.
The one difference, he believes, is that he's handling inside pitches better.
"I feel like the pitch inside, I've got a better reaction," he said.
This doesn't necessarily mean Peralta is headed for a contract-year surge. But if Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer, he has arguably has gotten beyond the point of a hot start.
"He's swinging a magic wand right now," teammate Torii Hunter said. "He can poke the bat out and get a hit. He can swing hard and get a hit. It's a lot of fun to play the game like that."
He might well be good enough to garner his second All-Star selection in three years. When one considers that Derek Jeter is out and Elvis Andrus' offensive numbers are a little down, Peralta might even be in position to make a case for the start.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- There's been a fair bit of talk this week about Jim Cramer's comments on TheStreet and CNBC that his daughter just doesn't dig Apple ( AAPL) much anymore, particularly iTunes.(See Cramer's take here with TheStreet's Debra Borchardt.) I appreciate this type of anecdotal information. Many AAPL bulls were quick to discount it, but that's just emotion coming through. Very typical. We filter out information that doesn't jibe with our desired reality. As I riffed on Twitter this morning, there's no doubt much of this AAPL bearishness is comical, but in investing, the most loyal and passionate supporters of a stock do not necessarily win. Dig your heels in too deep and there's a good chance you'll get wiped out. What Cramer's daughter thinks matters. I use observations from my kid and her friends all the time. They help create the portrait. But if you think for a second that Cramer bases his entire opinion of AAPL on what his kid thinks of iTunes, you're the one not taking the papers. I really believe we're looking at an isolated set of cases. You know, the people who aren't feeling Apple anymore. I just don't think this crowd has had or will have much of an impact on sales anytime soon. I saw a note from Telsey Advisory Group this morning that said it best: The firm reiterated a $710 price target on AAPL and questioned rumors of weak iPhone 5 demand. These analysts are just not seeing it. Ultimately, Apple's problem comes down to the big numbers it puts up. We're working with a high bar. Never a good thing in a society of unrealistic expectations. Telsey thinks Apple will report first-quarter EPS of $12.68 compared to $13.87 last year. Psychologically, that looks bad to lots of people, because a key number went down. When we're seeing estimates on either side of 50 million for iPhone unit sales, it's tough to argue about Apple's dominance, yet investors could still hammer the stock if Apple sells "only" 49.5 million phones. But Best Buy ( BBY) pops because things weren't that bad, and Dell ( DELL) spikes on what amounts to bailout chatter. You know how it goes: Investors will buy a stock floated by a company trying to find a few suckers to take it private, but they fret over Apple selling nine fewer iPhones than expected in Puerto Rico.
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Note: This item is more than 11 years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
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Sept. 25, 2006
Big Bend Ranch Site of Fall Digital Photo Workshop
PRESIDIO, Texas — Seasonal showers should help the Chihuahuan Desert put on its best "face" for photo buffs, both beginner and intermediate skill levels, looking to capture some of Texas' top scenery during the fall Big Bend Ranch Digital Photo Workshop.
Veteran photographer Jim Carr of Houston will teach the three-day workshop, Nov. 10–12, at Big Bend Ranch State Park in far West Texas.
"I'll be emphasizing photo composition and proper lighting," Carr said, "and most of all what to do with your pictures after they have been taken and stored on the memory card. Workshop participants will learn how to store, organize, delete, edit and resize the image for e-mailing, printing or posting on a Web site."
Carr is not only a professional commercial photographer, but also is knowledgeable about what makes Big Bend Ranch such a special place. He has been conducting trail rides and photo workshops at the scenic 300,000-acre state park and working cattle ranch for more than 10 years.
Participants will meet at 10 a.m. on Friday at Fort Leaton State Historic Site three miles east of Presidio on FM 170. Each person will need to provide his own lunch on Friday. On Saturday at the ranch, photographers will go into the field to take scenic and candid shots. The last morning is reserved for a discussion about what to do with the hundreds of photos that have been taken. After lunch on Sunday, participants are free to take photos on their own anywhere on the ranch before heading home.
The $400 workshop cost includes meals, lodging, all park fees and transportation in connection with the on-site workshop. Workshop participants will meet at Fort Leaton State Historic Site in Presidio and be transported to Big Bend Ranch.
To register for the workshop, call Big Bend Ranch State Park at (432) 229-3416. For additional information about the workshops, call Carr at (281) 486-8070 or send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com.
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The University of Colorado at Boulder's Fiske Planetarium, in partnership with the Sommers-Bausch Observatory, will host a viewing party of the total lunar eclipse on Monday, Dec. 20, starting at 10 p.m.
Fiske Planetarium will offer a free talk about the moon by education programs manager Matt Benjamin beginning at 10:30 p.m. in the planetarium's theater. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Following the talk, attendees are invited to walk up the hill to nearby Sommers-Bausch Observatory to view the eclipse in its entirety, weather permitting. Telescopes will be available for public observation and attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately for outdoor star viewing.
The eclipse viewing begins about 11:30 p.m. and will continue through 2 a.m. on Dec. 21. Staff from the planetarium, the observatory and related academic programs will be on hand to discuss the eclipse and answer questions. Cameras and lawn chairs are welcome.
This year's event is a rare moment of celestial timing and alignment; in North America, the next lunar eclipse coinciding with the winter solstice will not occur until 2094.
For more information call Fiske Planetarium at 303-492-5002.


text: Health Care Reform FAQ Employer Shared Responsibility FAQ PCORI Fees MLR Rebates Summary of Benefits and Coverage FSA, HSA, HRA W-2 Reporting Additional Medicare Tax Small Business Tax Credits Grandfathering Plans Miscellaneous Employer Shared Responsibility What are the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions? Beginning in 2015, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act places responsibility on applicable large employers (i.e., employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees) to offer adequate and affordable group health insurance coverage to their full-time employees, or potentially pay a penalty if at least one full-time employee obtains a premium tax credit for coverage through a health insurance marketplace. These provisions are commonly known as Employer Shared Responsibility (ESR) or "pay-or-play" requirements. When do these provisions go into effect? Employers with 50 or more full-time employees (including full-time equivalents) will be subject to the ESR provisions beginning on January 1, 2016. Employers will use their employee information in the previous calendar year to determine whether they have enough employees to be subject to these new provisions in the upcoming calendar year. The process for identifying potential penalties for non-compliance began in 2015. What is the best way for me to protect my business from ESR penalties? The responsibilities an Applicable Large Employer faces in complying with the new law are daunting. Employers need to track, compile, and/or report on many levels of employee wage and benefit information, including employee hours and coverage adequacy and affordability. It is a virtually impossible task for an employer to do on their own — and many of the options an employer may consider (outsourcing to a third party, such as a CPA) only provide part of what an employer needs to comply. Paychex ESR Services provides the tracking, analysis, and reporting services an employer needs to comply with the ESR provisions, including helping to determine: If a business is an Applicable Large Employer. How many full-time employees a business has based on the law's definitions. Whether the business offers adequate and affordable coverage to full-time employees. Where can I find more information on the ESR provisions? Please visit our Employer Shared Responsibility pages for more information, or review the IRS guidance on these provisions. PCORI Fees What are PCORI fees, and how do they affect me? The Affordable Care Act created an entity known as the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The institute researches and compares the clinical effectiveness of different medical treatments, and it will be funded by clinical effectiveness research fees (PCORI fees). These fees will be assessed on insurance carriers and plan sponsors by the ACA, and depending on how you handle your health insurance, you may be liable. Who pays? Section 4375 of the ACA imposes the PCORI fees on each specified health insurance policy. For insured plans, the insurance carrier is responsible for paying the PCORI fees, and, in many cases, the carriers are passing along the cost to the employers. Section 4376 of the ACA imposes the PCORI fees on the plan sponsor of an applicable self-insured health plan. These include plans maintained by employers for the benefit of their employees, which provide accident or health coverage where any portion of the coverage is provided other than through an insurance policy. For self-insured plans, the plan sponsor is responsible for paying the PCORI fees. For policy and plan years ending after September 30, 2012, and before October 1, 2013, the fee is one dollar multiplied by the average number of lives covered under the plan for the plan year. For policy and plan years ending after September 30, 2013, and before October 1, 2014, the fee will be increased to two dollars multiplied by the average number of lives covered under the plan. For plan years ending on or after October 1, 2014, and before October 1, 2019, the fee is increased based on increases in the projected per capita amount of National Health Expenditures as released by the Department of Health and Human Services. The regulations provide procedural rules for how insurers and plan sponsors will report and pay the required fees. These fees must be reported using Form 720 (Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return), which may be filed electronically. The filing and payment of fees must be completed and paid by July 31 of the calendar year immediately following the end of the plan year. What plans are affected? The PCORI fees affect each plan year ending on or after October 1, 2012, and before October 1, 2019, and apply to: Major medical plans; Retiree-only plans; Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs); Dental and vision plans, unless they satisfy the requirements of a "limited scope dental or vision benefit" under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA); Health flexible spending accounts (health FSAs), unless they satisfy the requirements of an "excepted benefit" under HIPAA; and Employee assistance plans, disease-management programs, or wellness programs if the program provides significant benefits in the nature of medical care or treatment. What else do I need to know? The regulations permit a plan sponsor that provides health coverage under two or more self-insured plans to treat them as one plan when calculating the PCORI fees, so long as the programs have the same plan year. Multi-employer plan sponsors whose sole purpose is to sponsor and administer the multi-employer plan may pay the PCORI fees from plan assets held in a trust. Employers who act as a plan sponsor and exist for additional reasons beyond sponsoring and administering the plan may not use plan assets to pay the PCORI fees. For self-funded plans maintained by two or more employers that are part of a controlled group or affiliated service group, each participating employer is responsible for reporting and paying the PCORI fees with respect to its own employees. This is true unless, before the date the fees must be reported and paid, (1) the governing plan documents designate one of the participating employers as the plan sponsor (or as the plan sponsor for purposes of reporting and paying the PCORI Fees), and (2) such employer has consented to the designation. There are three methods for determining the number of covered lives for purposes of calculating the PCORI fee. While a plan sponsor may choose to utilize any three of these methods, they must use the same method consistently for the duration of the plan year. A plan sponsor may choose a different method from one plan year to the next. The following are the acceptable methods for calculating the fee: Actual Count Method: Calculates the sum of the lives covered for each day of the plan year and divides the sum by the number of days in the plan year. Snapshot Method: Adds the total number of lives covered on one date in each quarter of the plan year, or an equal number of dates for each quarter, and divides the total by the number of dates on which a count was made. Form 5500 Method: Uses a formula that includes the number of participants actually reported on the Form 5500 for the plan year. Additional rules apply depending on whether a plan provides self-only coverage or additional options. Where can I get more information? This chart created by the IRS details the various types of coverage and whether they are subject to the fee. This IRS Q&A answers many common questions about the fee. MLR Rebates What are MLR Rebates? The Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Rebate provision requires insurance carriers to issue rebates to affected employers and employees for the previous plan year. How does the MLR provision work? The MLR provision, effective January 2011, requires that a minimum percent of premium payments collected by health insurance carriers be applied toward medical claims and/or quality improvement. Small group and individual plans must have had 80 percent of premiums apply toward payment of claims and/or quality improvement. Large group health plans must have applied at least 85 percent of premiums toward the payment of claims and/or quality improvement costs. The remaining percent of premiums could be applied to administrative and marketing expenses and profits. Small group health plans are for employers with up to 50 or 100 employees, depending on the state. Large group health plans are for employers with over 50 or 100 participants. Carriers who do not meet these thresholds are required to send a rebate of the excess premium payments to either the affected businesses or policyholders. The rebates for the previous plan year are paid in August of the current year. Rebates are calculated based on aggregate market data for small and large groups in each state, not on a particular group health plan's experience. The rebates are distributed in a variety of ways: If the employer pays 100 percent of the premium, the rebate is paid to the employer. If the premiums are paid 100 percent by the participants, the rebate is repaid to the participants. If the premiums are paid partially by the employer and partially by the participants, the rebate is reimbursed to each based on the percentage of the contribution. If either the employer or the participants pay a fixed amount toward the premium, the rebate cannot exceed the fixed amount. If the rebate is considered plan assets, it can be distributed to both current and former employees. However, if the distribution to former employees is minimal, and the cost of distributing the funds is approximately the amount of the proceeds, the plan sponsor could allocate all proceeds to current participants. If distributing the rebate is not cost-effective, the plan sponsor can use the rebate to fund future participant premiums, enrich benefits, or any other permissible within the plan. Health insurance plans that are exempt from the MLR provision included: Self-Funded Fixed Indemnity Stand-Alone Dental Vision Long-Term Disability Mini-Med Who receives rebates?According to the Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated $1.3 billion was expected to be paid in rebates in 2012, with $377 million going to small group health plans, $541 million to large group health plans, and $426 million to individually purchased plans. Employers and participants in Texas and Florida were projected to receive the greatest proportion of rebates with an estimated $186 million and $149 million, respectively. For those covered by small group health plans, the average rebate was expected to be $76 per enrollee. Enrollees in the following states were anticipated to receive the highest average rebates in the small group health category: Alaska: $517 Alabama: $203 Oregon: $172 Louisiana: $170 Massachusetts: $167 The greatest number of rebates for small group enrollees was expected to be offered in: District of Columbia South Carolina New Jersey Florida Missouri Rebates were not expected in: Hawaii Minnesota North Dakota New Hampshire New Mexico Rhode Island South Dakota Vermont Insurers send a letter to participants notifying them if they will or will not receive a rebate. Recipients should consult with their accountant or financial advisor to determine if the rebate is taxable. Factors will include whether the premium was paid with pre- or post-tax dollars. Summary of Benefits and Coverage What is required of health plans and insurance carriers according to the Summary of Benefits and Coverage provision? In February 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services released the final rules mandating that consumers have access to two key documents provided by health insurance carriers and self-funded group health plans – a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and a Uniform Glossary of commonly used terms. The SBC is a summary of the plan or coverage, with a focus on key features such as: Covered benefits; Cost-sharing requirements; Limits on coverage; and Excluded benefits. The rules state that consumers should receive the SBC: When shopping for coverage; When renewing coverage; Whenever material changes are made to the plan during the plan year; and On demand. To whom do these rules apply? These rules apply to health insurance carriers, group health plans, and their administrators. Paychex is prepared to help clients meet this requirement. Please visit our Summary of Benefits and Coverage provision page for more details about this requirement. FSA, HSA, HRA What should I know about changes to Section 125 plans? In 2013, employee contributions to medical FSAs are limited to the lesser of $2,500 for the taxable year or company maximum. Adjustments to this cap will be made each year. Over-the-counter medicines can no longer be eligible under a health FSA, HSA, or HRA unless they are prescribed by a medical practitioner. Where can I find more information? Refer to our Consumer-Directed Health Care page for more details. W-2 Reporting What is the W-2 reporting provision? Businesses filing 250 or more Forms W-2 in the previous tax year are required to comply with the provision. The provision is currently optional for businesses that filed fewer than 250 Forms W-2 in the previous tax year. The provision is effective beginning with 2012 Forms W-2. Does this apply to non-employees who receive coverage? Employers are not required to report health coverage amounts on Forms W-2 to non-employees such as a retiree or surviving spouse. Where can I find more information? More information is available on our Form W-2 Reporting provision page. Additional Medicare Tax What is this tax? The Additional Medicare Tax increases the hospital insurance tax rate on certain high wage-earning individuals by 0.9 percent – from 1.45 to 2.35 percent. It goes into effect for taxable years starting after December 31, 2012. How does this affect an employer's match? This change is to the employee portion of Medicare only; the employer portion of this tax has not changed. Employers must only match the first 1.45 percent of the Medicare tax. Where can I find more information? Please read the Frequently Asked Questions issued by the IRS about this tax. Small Business Tax Credits Who is eligible for the credits? Employers who: Have less than 25 employees Have average annual wages less than $50,000 (as adjusted for inflation beginning in 2014) Contribute 50 percent or more of the aggregate single premium cost for each enrolled employee Purchase coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) How can I figure out if I qualify? Use our Small Business Tax Credit calculator to help you and your tax preparer determine if you are eligible, and if so, estimate how much you could receive. Can I use tax credits to offset my payroll taxes? Tax credits cannot be used to offset payroll taxes for non-tax-exempt businesses. Tax-exempt businesses can receive the credit based on their Medicare and employee income tax withholding. How can I find more information? Visit our Small Business Tax Credit page for more details. Grandfathering Plans What is a grandfathered plan? A plan is grandfathered if it provided coverage to participants on, or before, March 23, 2010. If I change the waiting period or employer contribution of my grandfathered plan, will that affect the grandfathered status of my plan? In 2010, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury issued interim final rules that address what changes can be made to health insurance coverage or a group health plan without causing it to lose its "grandfather" status. According to the rule, the following changes will cause a loss of a plan's grandfather state: Eliminating all or a substantial number of benefits to diagnose or treat a particular condition. Increasing a coinsurance or other percentage-based cost-sharing requirement above the level at which it was set on March 23, 2010. Increasing an annual deductible or out-of-pocket limit by a total percentage — measured from March 23, 2010 — that exceeds the sum of the medical inflation rate plus fifteen percentage points. Increasing a co-payment by an amount that exceeds the greater of (1) the amount just described for other fixed-amount, cost-sharing requirements, or (2) $5.00 increased by the medical inflation rate since March 23, 2010. Decreasing the rate of employer contributions by more than five percentage points below the rate that was in effect on March 23, 2010. Adopting or decreasing an annual benefit limit with the specific rules depending on whether the plan had already imposed an annual or lifetime limit as of March 23, 2010. Miscellaneous What is the penalty for individuals who do not obtain health insurance coverage? Beginning in 2014, individuals will be required to maintain a minimum level of essential coverage (the individual mandate). Failure to maintain this monthly minimum level of coverage will result in penalties. The penalty is the greater of: In 2014 – $95 per uninsured person or 1 percent of household income over the filing threshold. In 2015 – $325 per uninsured person or 2 percent of household income over the filing threshold. In 2016 – $695 per uninsured person or 2.5 percent of household income over the filing threshold. After 2016 – will increase annually based on the cost of living. Are there exceptions to this requirement? Exceptions to the individual mandate include: financial hardship; religious objections; members of American Indian tribes; individuals having less than three months of coverage; incarcerated individuals; undocumented immigrants; individuals who cannot afford coverage (required contributions toward coverage exceed 8 percent of household income); and taxpayers with income below the tax filing threshold. What type of notice are employers required to provide to employees relating to material modifications of health insurance plans? By October 1, 2013, employers have to provide written notices to all employees about health coverage as well as federal and state health insurance marketplaces. The Department of Labor offers sample notices for employers who do and do not offer coverage.


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The dish on Long Island's restaurant and food scene.
The Whale's Tale, situated in Northport's Brittania Marina, has opened for the season — and beyond. Owner Sosh Andriano said that a newly installed detachable glass enclosure keeps the chill winds away and may make it possible for the water-view place to stay open most of the year. The enclosure is stowed in summer, when plastic wind curtains are used on rainy days. For very hot days, a new misting system is supposed to lower the outdoor temperature by about 10 degrees.
Currently, the place has a rotating collection of 12 craft beers, which, along with appetizers, go for half price on Thursday "tap and app" nights. Taco Tuesday features $2 tacos and, Andriano said, probably a long wait for a table.
For the list of weekly specials, go to whalestalenpt.com.
The Whale's Tale is at 81 Fort Salonga Rd., Northport, 631-651-8844.


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Hill hit by pitch, sustains bruised right hand
X-rays negative after D-backs second baseman exits in seventh inning
PHILADELPHIA -- Second baseman Aaron Hill sustained a bruised right hand after being hit with a Justin De Fratus pitch in the sixth inning of Saturday night's 10-6 D-backs win over the Phillies in 10 innings.
X-rays were negative, and Hill we be re-evaluated Sunday morning.
Hill initially stayed in the game, playing defense in the bottom of the sixth, but Didi Gregorius pinch-hit for him in the seventh.
"He could throw, but he couldn't hit," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow. I don't have him in the lineup right now."
Hill was hit in the left hand by a pitch last April, and though X-rays showed no break, an MRI later showed a non-displaced fracture. He missed more than two months recovering.
"I don't think it hit him as solid," Gibson said, comparing this year to last. "We'll see how it is tomorrow."
Hill had been the subject of trade rumors of late, and with less than a week to go before Thursday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, any missed time could hurt his value.
Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Inside the D-backs, and follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Soroptimist International of Baldy View will hold its monthly business meeting on 11297 Jersey Blvd. on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The cost is $10 for dinner.
Soroptimist is an international organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls.
Information: www.sibaldyview.org or email email@example.com


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North York Ratings & Reviews for Local Businesses
FoundLocally posts a wide range of consumers' Ratings & Reviews.
Anyone with a Facebook profile (and therefore using their real name) can post reviews--though not for your own business!--for restaurants as well as your lawyer, realtor, coffee shop or jeans store...
Find the listing, using the Keyword search, and post your Ratings and Reviews.
Just keep them "clean".
We are a family-friendly / school-firendly / office-friendly web site.
Recent Rating & Review Postings
Here are some reviews and ratings for local businesses, posted by consumers:
More Ratings...


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Level Measurement: The Very Last Resort
How do you make the measurement that cant be made?
By Walt Boyes, editor in Chief
In our February 2007 issue, we looked at how to apply level measurement by considering the application. ("First the Application, Then the Product,"). We talked about a level measurement continuum, and handed out a nifty PDF that you can post on your wall to help you sort out the selection process (See Figure 1).
Now I want to talk about the level product that "dares not speak its name." It is the level measurement product of last resort—the one you take to your boss after every other one has failed. It's…nuclear.
Nuclear level gauges will work in nearly any level measurement application. You can see that from the chart below. But nobody uses them for the simple and easy applications. Why? Because they're relatively expensive, and they're truly a pain in the posterior because of regulation. On the other hand, they actually work in applications where nothing else does, and they require little or no maintenance.
There are some common (for difficult level applications, anyway) applications that only nuclear level gauges will handle. These include agitated tanks with internals, some interface measurements, moving or vibrating granulars, very hot or cryogenic liquids and thick-walled vessels.
When Nuclear is an Option
When few devices will work with your application or there is no other way to make the measurement, nuclear may be the choice.
How can you tell if your application is a "nuclear level gauge or nothing" problem? First, if you've tried differential pressure, bubblers, capacitance or rf admittance, ultrasonic or radar, and they didn't work, or they were too high a maintenance headache, you might be a candidate for using a nuclear gauge.
If you can't stick a sensor inside the vessel at all, you're probably looking at using a nuclear gauge. If you can't pick the vessel up and weigh it, you are probably looking at using a nuclear gauge.
If you have a reactor under very high pressure and temperature with a coolant jacket, a couple of inches of insulation, lagging, and an agitator and other internals, you almost certainly are looking at a nuclear gauge application. (See Figure 2).
But how do you know that a nuclear gauge will work? It's actually much easier to determine success with a nuclear guage than with ultrasonics or radar. The math is simple and clear. You add up all the half-values of all the material between the source and the inside vessel wall, and all of the half-values of the material between the opposite wall and the detector.
Reactor Under Pressure
For a reactor under very high pressure and temperature, with a coolant jacket, a couple of inches of insulation, lagging and an agitator, a nuclear gauge is the answer.
Basically, an inch of steel is one half-value, and you can calculate the half values of different materials using their thickness and density. Most suppliers will do this for you and have computerized source-sizing programs with which to do it. Knowing the half values and the distance from the source to the detector enables the sizing program to calculate the size of source and source holder required to both make the measurement, and even more important, do it legally. The physics of the measurement are well-known, and once a source and detector assembly have been sized, it is a near certainty that the application will work.
Some of the things that will interfere with the application's working include buildup of material on the inside or outside wall of the vessel. Sometimes you may need to locate the source and detector on a chord of the diameter of the vessel in order to miss an agitator or some other internal structures in the tank. This can radically increase the apparent thickness of the steel wall in a curved tank and may make the measurement difficult or impossible. Rapid fluctuation of level in the vessel can also cause significant error.
Make sure you know what all the layers are. If you miss just a half-inch of steel on both sides of the vessel, you might not have enough radiation at the detector to make an accurate measurement.
Yes, you have to have the device licensed by some regulatory agency. Somebody from your plant should take a radiation safety course and be licensed to test, move and store sources. Most suppliers provide this as a fee-based service, so it isn't strictly required. And finally, you can't throw the device away when you're done with it. You must dispose of the source legally.
How Nuclear Level Gauges Work
Nuclear gauges work on one of two principles: gamma transmission or neutron backscatter. Most level applications use gamma transmission.
In a gamma nuclear gauge, a heavily shielded source holder is mounted on a source of gamma radiation (either Cs137 or Co60) behind a shutter. When the shutter is opened, the holder emits an aimed beam of gamma radiation through the vessel to a detector and electronics mounted on the opposite side of the vessel (See Figure S1).
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San Francisco, here we come!! And a Giveaway!
I realize this is a food blog, but I wanted to take a minute to let you know about a major commitment I made this past week. I signed up to walk 39.3 miles in two days for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. A friend of mine agreed to do it with me while our Hubbies volunteer as part of the crew. You might remember that Hubby and I were on the crew here in Boston last year. It was an amazing experience and I'm looking forward to seeing the walk from a different perspective.
Due to scheduling, the only walk all of us could do is located in San Francisco! We'll be walking across the Golden Gate Bridge as part of the walk! Hubby and I very excited because we've never been to California and we have talked about vacationing in San Fran. So after the walk, we'll be staying for a week worth of vacation.
Note, this is obviously not my pic. I pulled it from the Flickr site which is linked from the Avon site. Check out the other 2009 SF Avon Walk pics on Flickr
The reason this is such a big commitment for me is because I am pretty out of shape and ~40 miles really intimidates me. I will be training for the next 6 months to prepare my body for the two days of walking. I've got a training calendar in case you'd like to see what I'm up to. It's posted on the left hand side of my blog towards the bottom. You will also notice a link to my fundraising page. I have set a personal goal of $2500.
As many of you know, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. Because of that, I am at a much higher risk than other woman of getting breast cancer. Since cancer of all sorts was already common in my family even before my mom got breast cancer, I've decided to focus my charity giving and efforts to breast cancer. I saw what my mom and several other family members, and I hope that I never have to go through that myself.
I'm offering a giveaway to kick off my fundraising efforts. If you donate $5 or more to my walk by the end of January (midnight EST Jan 31, 2010), you will be entered into a drawing to win this cute tote from the Avon Foundation. I saw the tote and wanted to order one for myself so I figure while I'm at it, I'll order two. And since the net profits from the tote order go to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, you can feel even better about donating!
I will be posting weekly updates on this blog mostly to keep myself on track with the training and fundraising. So keep an eye out for those! Oh and if anyone has San Francisco travel tips or recommendations, please let me know!
9 Responses to "San Francisco, here we come!! And a Giveaway!"
I am doing the 3-day 60-mile Susan G Komen walk later this year, so I know what a huge commitment you're making. Best of luck with your training and your fund-raising.
You can totally do it! I did the boston walk in 08 and was out of shape but left myself 9 months to train and was in the best shape ever for that walk. I wasn't able to do all of the miles – i did one pit stop over the half marathon the first day and then the whole day the 2nd day – It's not how many miles you walk.
I had someone on the shuttle back to camp tell me – a volunteer – as she saw me crying that i didn't finish the first day – say to me: it's not the miles you finish, it's the $ you raise that matters. the walk is their way of showing you how hard cancer is – your $ is what matters to help the people who need it most.
You'll do great!!!!
I went to SF for the first time in September last year, and I loved it! I tried a few different ice cream shops cuz it's my favorite food group, and the top on my list to re-visit next time is Humphry Slocombe's (very unique flavor combo's!). And one of my favorite touristy things was visiting the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. Happy training for the walk!
Grace @ Front Porch Yoga (www.frontporchyoga.com)
Good luck on the walk! The highlowaha crew will be doing the 2010 3 Day walk in Dallas/Fort Worth! We did the 2009 walk and had a blast…it was such an awesome experience!
Thank you for your committment to the walks via Crew & walking. You can certainly do it! It's going to be an incredible experience physically and mentally. I lost my Mom to breast and lung cancer in Feb 2006 and walked the 3 Day in Aug '06. It was one of the most incredible events I have participated in. Be sure to incorporate some hills into your training in order to get your body ready for any route!!
Congratulations on your decision to walk. I did the Arizona 3 Day in 2008 and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I blogged my journey and the blog is still posted so you are welcome to check it out for training and fundraising tips. You can also email me any time for questions. Good Luck!
Good luck on your walk! I know you can do it 🙂
What an awesome cause! Good luck with your training!
I just donated – breast cancer also runs in my family so I firmly believe in fundraising for the cause! Also, just wanted to show my support for my favorite local baker. 🙂 Have you thought about doing a bakesale to raise money? I'm thinking of doing one in work to support to the Walk for Hunger in May.