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26 July 2012
Andy Dirks was a late scratch in the Toledo Mud Hen's lineup last night due to some soreness, but the decision seemed to be a precautionary move to allow the recovering outfielder some rest.
Jim Leyland has been quoted as saying that Dirks will stay on rehab assignment a little bit longer than is usual because he needs the at-bats after missing so much time, but rehab assignments are capped at 20 days (unless there's special circumstances, and that doesn't appear to be the case here) so we'll certainly see Dirks back in Detroit in less than two weeks, and probably a lot sooner than that.
This brings us to the move that everyone's been talking about recently ("Raburn, Kelly, Raburn, Rayburn, Raburn, Raburn, yadda, yadda, yadda"). When Dirks returns to the big club someone else has to go, and we really only have two candidates: Don Kelly and Ryan Raburn. Neither player are hitting very well this year -- Kelly has actually been slightly better at the plate, but let's not go through the statistical hair-splitting exercise of trying to justify the value of having a 43 OPS+ bat on your bench instead of a 31 OPS+ bat. Let's leave it at this: both have been very terrible at the plate this season.
The defensive versatility that either player brings is rendered a non-factor by the acquisition of Omar Infante and the presence of Quintin Berry. Don Kelly won't be needed to play either third base or center field in a pinch as there are currently better options available (or at least reasonably similar replacements). Berry would get first dibs at any center field duties should something happen to Jackson (that's why he was brought up in the first place), and Ramon Santiago (or Infante) could handle the hot corner for a spell if the need suddenly arose. So Don Kelly is now the third option in center field and the third (or fourth) option at third base, and Ryan Raburn is third in line for second base duties.
That leaves corner outfield defensive replacement as the only real defensive "need" that either player would fill, a position where both players have rated as "above average". UZR rates Kelly as having plus range and an average arm, and rates Raburn as having average range and a plus arm (the magnitudes of each are quite meaningless given sample size constraints and the amount of playing time each would be likely to receive).
So here's the conclusion on their abilities: both players have been relatively equally terrible hitters this season, and both players bring relatively equally good defense as corner outfielders.
So who should go? Here are four answers in order of how ideal each one would be for the team.Who the heck cares, and why are we wasting blog posts on this? We just concluded that both seem to be fit fore late-inning defensive replacement with minimal plate appearances involved. Why huff and puff about which terrible player is the 25th man on the roster?
Ryan Raburn accepts a minor league option. Raburn was optioned earlier in the year, it's final option year, but he's gained five-years of MLB service time since then so he now holds "veteran status" and with that the power to veto an assignment to the minor leagues. The Tigers can ask him to go to Toledo, but he doesn't have to oblige. The is probably the best actual option because it would allow the team to keep him (although it's probably unlikely that he would be claimed on waivers) while getting him at-bats in Triple-A. The Tigers have been longing for another right-handed bat, and Raburn has a history of big league success. If he could get things turned around in Toledo, he could be a nice "addition" to the team in September. And if he doesn't? Then he'd still be off the MLB roster. Win-win.
Don Kelly gets designated for assignment. As I concluded above, there's not much difference between what the two players have contributed to the team thus far in the season. If Raburn refuses to go to the minor leagues to resurrect his career, then Kelly could take the fall for it. He would be extremely redundant as the fourth left-handed hitting corner outfielder and, unlike Raburn, he has no history of successful hitting in the major leagues.
Ryan Raburn gets designated for assignment. If Raburn refuses optional assignment, then he could likely find himself out of a job the old-fashioned way. I still believe he has more potential upside at the plate than Kelly, but you could hardly blame the organization if they decided to wash their hands of him.
So why might Raburn accept a trip to the minor leagues? He probably sees the writing on the wall that the minimal playing time he's been getting will effectively go down to zero. He may see that the only way that he gets back into the team's plans would be by ripping the cover off the ball in AAA. He may see that he could get a September call-up and possibly make the postseason roster if he cooperates and works on his swing. He may understand that refusing means he gets designated for assignment which means he could go unclaimed on waivers which means he ends up in the minor leagues anyway (except without the benefit of remaining on a 40-man roster).
Why might Rabrun refuse a trip to the minor leagues? He may think the organization would then designate Don Kelly for assignment thereby keeping his job. He may think that another team would claim him for their big league club if he was designated for assignment. He may simply be too proud to willingly pack his bags and head down.
Matt Snyder is the editor of The Tigers Den. He can be reached on Twitter @snyder_matthew.


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U.S. Construction Spending Rises 0.5% in May
Home Building Paces Increase; Highest Annual Pace Since September 2009
WASHINGTON—Spending on construction projects in the U.S. rose to the highest level in more than 3½ years in May, reflecting a pickup in home building.
Total U.S. construction spending rose by 0.5% in May from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $874.9 billion, the Commerce Department said Monday. That was the highest level since September 2009. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a 0.6%...

subset: commoncrawl


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Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has been found to survive longer in water and mucus, compared to other materials like soil and metal. If a persistently infected animal is present in your herd, mucus harboring the virus could transmit BVDV to other animals that share the same waterer.
"Cleaning water tanks is very important for many reasons including food safety, animal performance and general upkeep of facilities," says Dan Thomson, veterinary researcher at Kansas State University.
An article in the May-June 2012 issue of Bovine Veterinarian looks at BVDV survival in water tanks in a feedlot setting. However, the information and advice on disinfecting water tanks is applicable to dairy operations as well.
Source: Bovine Veterinarian, May-June 2012


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Great article. Quotes from Carlisle and Mike Brown.
Hidden agenda
NBA stars refine their games at low-profile Grgurich camp
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff | August 8, 2004
LAS VEGAS -- By Sin City standards, it's an ungodly hour, shortly after 8 on a Monday morning. A short drive from the Strip, campers carpool to a local high school. They filter into the gym wearing all kinds of official NBA gear, slightly bleary-eyed but ready for the first of the day's two workouts. The voice of camp director Tim Grgurich cuts through the gym and its four full-length courts, calling the morning session to order. He makes a few opening remarks that, in essence, articulate a mission statement and set the tone for the weeklong camp.
"Forget whether you're a starter, coming off the bench, or getting [expletive] by your coach," says Grgurich. "This is not the time to worry about that. We're here to learn and work. One week from now, the players and coaches that are here should be better because they learned about the game."
The campers and staff gathered around Grgurich nod in agreement. Since the camp started eight years ago, its focus on developing game savvy and drilling fundamentals has drawn an impressive and attentive crowd to the desert. The list of campers past and present includes Rasheed Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal, Paul Pierce, Baron Davis, Bonzi Wells, Gary Payton, Amare Stoudemire, and Shawn Kemp, not to mention top NBA rookies and role players looking for a better foothold in the league.
This summer, the presence of O'Neal, Pierce, Stephen Jackson, and an impressively fit Zach Randolph probably would be enough to make the Olympic selection committee slightly jealous. But they account for only a fraction of the nearly 40 NBA players representing 16 teams at the camp. That number does not include free agents such as Tom Gugliotta and Michael Curry, looking to prove they can still play. Add to that approximately 20 college players, including Providence's Ryan Gomes, eager to test themselves against NBA competition.
Despite the big names and big numbers, the camp remains, for better and worse, one of the NBA's best-kept secrets. Grgurich would have it no other way. He shuns media attention, believing it interferes with his purity of purpose and distracts the players.
By Day 2 of this year's camp, he has restricted access to the gym, even though few outside the NBA inner circle are aware of the sessions. The camp's blue-collar, college-like approach runs contrary to the perception of how NBA players spend their offseason, especially in light of so many stars turning down Olympic invitations.
"This is probably the best workout that I'm going to get this summer, as far as being around coaches and other talented players," said Pierce, who has attended the Grgurich camp for the past three years. "I always say I've got to be here. The stuff that they're doing here helped make me the player I am. I'm not overly fast, I'm not jumping higher than everybody out here, but they're teaching the game, angles, and how to read different situations. This helps build you as a player. Continued...
Page 2 of 4 -- "[The camp] refreshes what I do. I gear my game around trying to be fundamentally sound and I try to refine things every year I come here. I think I'm one of the more coachable players at my position in the league. But you know what I learn the most here? You've got to keep working hard because these young guys here are coming after my job. I see how hard the other guys are working, and that keeps me going. During the summer, people lose track of NBA players. They think we're sitting on our [expletive], but we're here working out."
Drills but no frills New Celtics assistant coach Tony Brown conducts the first breakout session of the camp, a walk-through of a drill on team defense. Player by player, he talks about each individual's responsibilities, placing emphasis on communication and help. He covers nuances in positioning and highlights the importance of active hands.
As the players break into smaller groups to practice what they have just watched, Brown offers one last reminder, shouting, "We should hear you talk and say, `I've got your help.' " Moments later, defensive chatter echoes throughout the gym.
"Working hard is not about just going out and shooting basketballs," said Brown. "You have to do actual game-type drill work. You've got to understand defensively what type of philosophy teams are going to have. Are you going to be able to absorb that stuff and use it in a game? Here, you have an opportunity to get ahead of the game in a certain way, as far as NBA formations on offense, the type of shots you're going to be looking for on offense, the kind of things you're going to have to do individually on defense within a team concept.
"This is invaluable experience for players. And these are avenues where coaches can see whether or not a kid can play at our level. I think it's a great tool for the player and young coaches. It's just a great atmosphere."
Unlike the Pete Newell Big Man Camp, which ran concurrently at another Las Vegas location this year, Grgurich has declined sponsorship offers and does not charge for -- or profit from -- his camp. Players pay their own way, usually relying on a coach with a rental car for a ride to the gym. The operation is no frills; the players get practice jerseys, and as much water and instruction as they want. That's all.
"There have been two major forces in the development of players and coaches over the last 20 years: Pete Newell and Tim Grgurich," said Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who has worked at the Grgurich camp for the past three years and at the Newell camp for seven years. "The irony is that in this day and age of marketing and self-promotion, neither Pete nor Tim would ever want any publicity for what they do or the part they've played. Continued...
Page 3 of 4 -- "Gurg's camp is the purest environment in our game today in terms of the development of players and coaches. Nobody pays or gets paid. Basketball people are here for one reason: basketball."ADVERTISEMENT
Coaches benefit, too With two sessions per day, the Grgurich camp looks and sounds a lot like NBA preseason workouts. Lots of drills. Lots of walk-through demonstrations. Lots of explanation. But with no concerns about performance dictating playing time, the environment is more conducive to learning. It helps that instruction does not focus on team-specific schemes, but on fundamentals such as defending the pick-and-roll, the importance of spacing, and the proper way to take a step-back jump shot.A who's who of NBA assistant coaches, along with video coordinators and scouts looking for coaching experience, put players through their paces. Carlisle and George Karl, whose resume includes 16 years of NBA head coaching experience, also work the camp. Portland coach Maurice Cheeks attends every session, and New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank checked out the action.Three to four camp coaches are assigned to every group of 10 players, an impressive ratio enhanced by the fact that veterans such as Pierce, O'Neal, Jackson, Jason Terry, and Eric Snow serve as mentors during drills."If you don't know what's going on, ask someone; younger guys pull aside veterans or ask an assistant," instructed Grgurich. "There will not be a lot of standing around."Grgurich heeds his own instructions and paces among the courts. He oversees the operation and makes sure the voices of assistant coaches are heard."Guys like Mike Brown and Tony Brown are going to be head coaches in this league in large part because of their experience here over the last several years," said Carlisle.These days, Grgurich has considerably more ground to cover than he did when the camp started somewhat by accident with a handful of players receiving instruction from himself, current Indiana associate head coach Mike Brown, and current Memphis assistant Lionel Hollins. Back then, Snow was the only NBA player present; college kids, most from nearby UNLV, where Grgurich once coached, filled out the roster.According to Mike Brown, Grgurich is like "the pied piper of basketball," drawing a crowd to whatever gym he visits. The size of the camp today reflects the popularity of the 59-year-old Grgurich among younger players, along with the desire of those players to learn fundamentals and find a place for productive workouts in August and September as training camp nears. Top NBA players know they will not only receive good instruction but face good competition.It was not surprising to find Pierce and Jackson diving to the floor for a loose ball during one scrimmage or Randolph and O'Neal engaged in an intense matchup during another. Continued... Previous 1 2 3 4 Next
Page 4 of 4 -- Importance of winning Full-court scrimmages conclude each afternoon session, with referees brought in from outside, giving participants an opportunity to apply what they've learned. But the lessons are not always about X's and O's.ADVERTISEMENT
On Day 2, the morning session ends with a talk by Carlisle about the importance of winning and the value of players who are winners. He cites veterans such as Jackson and Curry as examples of how a career can be built with a winning attitude that places an emphasis on making teammates better. O'Neal addresses the challenges of being an MVP-caliber player. Randolph speaks of how winning makes a player's reputation. Until the Trail Blazers win consistently, Randolph knows he cannot establish himself as one of the top power forwards.The messages strike a chord with Pierce, who later talks privately about what he heard. The Boston captain acknowledges that he still must work on how to make the Celtics better with his talent."I'm always eager to learn what I can do to get better," says Pierce. "To come here and get a handful of coaches all at the top level, all in one place, there's nothing like it. Here, you have different coaches in your ear. Anybody with a basketball mind, I feel I can get better from."Assistant coaches come, in large part, because they can learn from the best in Grgurich, who brought an emphasis on player development to the NBA. Celtics general manager Chris Wallace noted that Grgurich was one of the first "workout guys" in the league. When he joined Karl in Seattle as an assistant, Grgurich introduced intense, individualized workouts that Payton has credited with making him an All-Star. Pierce, who first worked with Grgurich at the ABCD camp during high school, praises his ability to keep players motivated."Most of the guys in the league, if not all of them, want to get better," said Mike Brown. "They want to learn. They want to be taught. When your season ends in April or a little later, to not be able to bang heads or play competitively in a gymnasium with other players of this caliber for five or six months gets a guy edgy. So this camp comes at a great time."Another draw is that there's a lot of different NBA coaches here. You get tired of hearing your coach preach whatever he preaches to you over the course of 82 games and the playoffs. One more reason is that Gurg's reputation is really big in the league and a lot of people think highly of him. Therefore, anything that he does is usually a no-nonsense deal. He's not looking for anything from anybody. There's no sham or game to it."Except the only game that matters. © Copyrig


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Jessie Oleson (aka Cakespy) drops by every week to share a delicious dessert recipe. —The Mgmt.
Get the Recipe
If there is one thing I love even more than a great baked good, it's a great story. And if it's a story about a baked good, well then, all the better.
So when I came across the following introduction preceding a recipe for Calabrian Love Knots in the book All American Desserts by Judith M. Fertig,
During the early 1900s, the height of Italian immigration...many people came from Calabria in the "toe" part of boot-shaped Italy, right across the Mediterranean from...Sicily. When women of Calabrian descent become brides, beautifully arranged platters of these almond-flavored cookies are often served at the reception.
...well, all I can say is that I had to try this recipe.
It's not hard to see why these cookies are a time-honored tradition. They're simple to make, but the pleasure that they provide is tenfold: like a slightly drier and less sweet version of a sugar cookie, they taste delectable when dipped in strong coffee—or even wine! They're truly the stuff of memories: as one Italian friend put it, "My grandparents had them at their wedding reception in the 1940s. Nowadays only few families still know how to cook them and it is possible to buy them only in very small traditional bakeries in the countryside."
Get the Recipe
About the author: Jessie Oleson is a Seattle-based writer, illustrator, gallery owner, and cake anthropologist who runs Cakespy, an award-winning dessert website. Her first book came out in October 2011; she is currently at work on her second book.
Satisfy your cravings. Follow SE: Sweets on Twitter and Facebook.


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Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden say they won't coach next season. However, that won't stop the coaching carousel from spinning, and a host of assistants are building impressive resumes. Here are some hot assistants that could be in line to become head coaches:
Rob Chudzinski, Panthers offensive coordinator
Why he's hot: Cam Newton's impressive rookie season has enhanced Chudzinski's reputation as a coach who clicks with young quarterbacks. Derek Anderson had his best season with the Browns when Chudzinski was their coordinator. Chudzinski, 43, has also worked with Philip Rivers during two coaching stints with the Chargers.
Perry Fewell, Giants defensive coordinator
Why he's hot: The Giants' defense has responded to Fewell, after a rough year under former defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan in 2009. Fewell has embraced the versatility of players like Mathias Kiwanuka, Antrel Rolle, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, putting them in positions to make plays.
Fewell's work has gotten the attention of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who will face the Giants on Sunday.
"Perry does a good job of scheming and putting them in different positions so you don't know where (Jason) Pierre-Paul is going to be, or Tuck or Kiwanuka," Belichick said. "Sometimes, it is hard to find them and it is hard to block them, so they present a huge challenge just in their depth, quality and speed."
Fewell, 49, was an interim head coach with the Bills in 2009. He's making a strong case that he is ready to run things if given the opportunity.
Jay Gruden, Bengals offensive coordinator
Why he's hot: Andy Dalton's strong rookie season has brought attention to Gruden, who is in his first season with the Bengals. Gruden, 44, has now broken away from whatever shadow was being cast over him by older brother Jon. It might be a little early for Gruden to make the jump to head coach, but some people questioned whether he was ready to become an NFL coordinator. So far, that has not been a problem. The better the Bengals and Dalton play, the more Gruden's stock will rise.
Marty Mornhinweg, Eagles offensive coordinator
It's a quarterback-driven league, and this is another coach having success with one. Michael Vick is playing the best football of his career, and both coach Andy Reid and Mornhinweg have played a hand.
"Marty and James Urban (former Eagles assistant now with the Bengals), and now (quarterbacks coach) Doug Pederson have done a nice job coaching him," Reid said.
Mornhinweg, 49, may still be paying the price for his first stint as an NFL coach, when he went 5-27 in two seasons (2001-02) with the Lions. However, many head coaches have done better when given a second shot, and Mornhinweg could be working toward that chance.
Winston Moss, Packers assistant head coach/inside linebackers
Being with the defending Super Bowl champions only raises his stock. Both the Raiders and Rams interviewed Moss for head-coaching jobs in previous seasons, and now Moss, 45, has more experience. Former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was one of Moss's mentors, and Moss has certainly gleaned a wealth of knowledge working with Packers coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers. Assistant coaches on Super Bowl teams are usually prime targets. Moss could be next.
Rob Ryan, Cowboys defensive coordinator
Yes, he talks trash. Yes, the Eagles picked apart his defense last Sunday. Still, there's a reason teams keep hiring Ryan to be their defensive coordinator. Players respond to him, and his schemes are innovative and aggressive. The Cowboys rank ninth overall in defense and are tied for seventh in sacks.
It would take a certain kind of organization to hire Ryan—one that is not scared off by his personality. It was the same for his twin brother, Rex Ryan, before the Jets hired him. If you want your coach to avoid bold statements, neither Ryan is your guy. But if you don't mind the attention and want an aggressive defense, Rob Ryan, 48, could be worth taking a look at.
Rob has already said he would make a better head coach than Rex. Asked about that Thursday, Rex Ryan had this to say:
"Hopefully one day we get to find out," Rex said. "He certainly wants that opportunity, as every coach in this league wants that opportunity."


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In 2010, sculptor and painter David Rudolph was selected for an $84,000 grant from the New Mexico Arts Commission for his proposed installation project, "The Books," at Santa Fe Community College. Rudolph will construct, over 11 months, 17 giant concrete books that seemingly protrude from the ground around the walkway between the old and new sections of the campus. Originally from New York, Rudolph moved to Los Angeles in his early 20s to pursue a career as an artist. He and his family came to Santa Fe in 2005.
SFR: You worked in a shipyard in New York. How did you go from that to sculpting?
DR: I thought I was going to be a mechanic for the rest of my life, until I realized I didn't like working with these huge things. My job was oiling the cranes, and I'd climb up and scribble on walls. Or I had access to all these metal shops, and I'd make sculptures in secret out of pieces of metal from old ships.
So did you always have the drive to create art?
I learned from experience, everything I did. Once in a while, I'd sit in on an art class somewhere. It wasn't until I started sculpture that I understood: 'Oh, I really get it.'
You designed pieces for movie stars and directors when you lived in LA. What are some examples?
I designed a lot of furniture…I designed a large television set that's in the middle of Hollywood…It's 25 feet tall…all in concrete and steel. You can go inside the television and have your own talk show.
You've been very prolific. What drives you?
Having to do this for a living for 41 years—and I attribute a lot of that to I had kids and a wife and a family—if I wasn't able to do art, I really didn't know what I was going to do anymore. I have to make this work. I can't let them down, and I don't want to go get a job at a car wash or something, so I would just make it work. I'd go out and meet with people and do all the things involved. I have a motto: I've always done art as if my life depends on it because my life depends on it. Something else I always say is, 'Art saves the world'…ultimately, [it] could make the world a better place.
What inspired the current project at Santa Fe Community College?
When people experience my work, they leave feeling more intelligent. You see a lot of art that people just leave saying, 'I don't get it,' and they're disturbed by it. And I want the opposite of that, where people see it and go: 'Huh, that makes sense to me. That gives me an idea'…I'd rather do something that saves the world every day than something that takes away from it, and maybe inspire some kid who sees those books maybe.
In what way?
It's about imagination, and imagination ensures continuous innovation and lifetime learning. Albert Einstein has a quote that I used: 'Imagination is more important than knowledge'…You start thinking: 'You have one book going this way and others going that—are they going to hit each other? Where are they going?' I think that stimulating that imagination—teachers and students are going to be seeing it primarily—I wanted to create that. It has a sense of movement.
Much of your work, such as the television sculpture, is interactive. How do you envision people interacting with this installation?
With their mind, with their imagination, with their relationship to it, with what kind of story it tells them…One guy said, 'It looks like you started to excavate things.' Then someone said something totally off-the-wall: 'It reminds me of a school of dolphins'…'Why are these big books here? What are these? Why would someone do this? Are they buried? Are they coming out of the ground? Is it just from some ancient time and they stopped digging them out? Did they grow here?' It's just like this whole range of things…I keep hoping they're going to have a news flash and say they were doing this dig and discovered a new Aztec calendar and, would you know it, it begins at 2012. They'll tell us the world is going to get better, and it's because of art.


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Update: Kristian Bush told fans on his website this week that he's in the final stages of his solo album. The album will likely be out early this summer, but an official release date has not been announced. He'll perform at Blackberry Farm in Walland on August 31st.
Whether it's prime time or the concert stage, Sugarland entertains sell-out crowds.
"I love playing," says Kristian Bush. "I can't believe I get to do it."
And their fan base continues to grow. With more than 22 million record sales under their belt, the artists are now sharing their songs with the world.
"There's a real helping of blessing, there's a real helping of luck, and then, I think there's a whole bunch of hard work."
"When I talk to people who've known me my whole life, they claim I was clearly on this path," said Brandon Bush.
But, in those very early years, the path was more of a dirt road.
"We grew up in really the thick of East Tennessee," says Kristian. It wasn't like kind of East Tennessee, it was in the mountains."
Both Kristian and Brandon Bush picked up the violin at age four.
"We had one of those mothers that insisted on two or three activities everyday after school... lessons and everything. And, music's what stuck with us," says Brandon.
Their musical debut was at the Bush Beans Jamboree- an annual event for the familybusiness.
Click here for more exclusive videos
"My brother and I performing violin at a very early age were the opening act for Dolly's performance at the Jamboree. and, I left the stage and received a big old hug from Dolly."
In grade school, their parents parted ways with Bush Beans and moved the family to Knoxville. The brothers continued to play music.
"I jumped over to drums, so I could be a heavy metal musician and Kristian picked up the guitar."
"The idea of being a musician was supposed to be a hobby," adds Kristian. "It's not a job unless you're Dolly Parton."
Still, at ages 13 and 11, the Bush Brothers were recording albums.
"There were two people that really turned my brother and I into recording artists and one was Doug Klein at Pick 'n' Grin," says Kristian.
"He's a guy that took time out of his life to inspire us," adds Brandon.
"The other person was Danny Brown," says Kristian, "He was so patient with us. I know, I have those recordings and they're terrible."
The brothers kept their music a hobby until after college. Kristian graduated with a record deal with Atlantic Records and was part of duo called "Billy Pilgrim."
"I did that for about eight years, traveled the world, opened for all these incredible people."
Then, Kristian came back to the Atlanta area and found the other half of Sugarland's duo, Jennifer Nettles.
"This corner is where we made this up. I looked at her and I said, 'let's write a couple of songs.' And then, we said, 'maybe we need to make a band.'"
Their breakout hit, "Baby Girl," the longest country charting song in history.
"It's a hero's journey and funny enough we wrote the song before we ever went on the journey."
Meanwhile, Brandon was touring the world as a member of the band "Train."
"And, while I'm on the road, they quickly become this platinum selling chart success."
They were living similar lives, but apart.
"We'd both be on the Tonight Show, but like a month a part. Or, we'd both be playing these festivals and we'd leave notes for each other back stages and stuff."
Finally, Brandon joined Sugarland.
Sugarland writes and records all of their songs in a garage turned studio. And, while they play the industry's biggest venues, there's nothing quite like coming home to Thompson-Boling Arena.
"I get chill bumps driving up. I remember tickets to John Cougar Mellencamp... I remember where I sat. Those moments boiled my blood. It made the dream start," says Kristian. "Playing at Thompson-Boling is the victory lap of for all of those people who held me up and believed in me when i was just a kid not bigger than the guitar itself."
"I think East Tennessee is a big part of who I am."
Brandon and Kristian Bush.
"Hometowns matter because of that, and they'll matter for the rest of your life."
Born in Sevierville,
"This one matters to me."
Homegrown in TN.


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Arts Administration | Arts and HumanitiesSkip to content Skip to main navigation
Welcome to Arts Administration
For almost four decades, the Arts Administration program at Teachers College, Columbia University has educated the next generation of arts leaders. Our graduates work in diverse arts organizations around the globe, including opera and dance companies, auction houses, advocacy organizations, government ministries, community arts organizations, galleries and museums. They work in fundraising and development, marketing, education, programming, and in executive and operations roles.
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Separate names with a comma.
Universal Fit item created by jacksonchansf, Jun 12, 2012
Pros - Build quality and sound are fantastic
Cons - didn't come with a tip that fit perfectly
Background I'm not sure where to start with these. My last pair of IEM's were the Vsonic GR06's and they were some fantastic $60 IEM's but unfortunately one of the driver housings cracked in half due to my brother leaving them dangling from a car door when he went on a trip and despite my best efforts to weld the plastic back together; it didn't stay together without falling apart. I decided to buy another pair of IEM's in the same price range but this time I wasn't about to settle for some plastic-housed headphones. I didn't see any reviews for the HA-FXD80's except from a particular head-fier everyone knows. The HA-FXD80's met my criteria so I found myself ordering them on eBay from Japan (only place that seems to have them) for $73.50.
Information Isolation: it could be better but It's probably due to the fact that they only came with 3 tips that wasn't a good fit.
Comfort: I have pretty tiny ear canals so I sized down to the smaller tips and they weren't uncomfortable but they could be just slightly smaller to be perfect.
Accessories: 3 Silicone tips, cable clip, cable winder, velveteen carrying pouch
Microphonics: The thin cable makes them inaudible when you're moving around especially when worn over the ear, which I never do.
Sound quality: Alright since I have a limited experience with headphones in general; I'll try to sum up the sound quality the best I can. They are the first carbon nanotube IEM's I've ever seen or heard and they honestly sound fantastic. I'm not the person who goes after bass but the bass on these are so deep and powerful in the low end. I can't believe how much sound the tiny drivers can produce. I burned them in for around ~40 hours but right out the box, they had a lows that blew the GR06's out of the water which have had well over 100 hours of use. I was impressed with my friend's Head Direct RE0's and I think these sound incredibly similar, with slightly more low-end bass and slightly recessed high-end treble. Out of the box, the treble is a little too much for me but continued use made them just right.


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High school graduation rates in Georgia have been on the rise in recent years, but the metro-Atlanta area continues to struggle. Students are often pressed by poverty, difficult family life and other discouraging situations that tend to take precedence over education in their lives. Project GRAD Atlanta, which was developed in 2000, was created to be an agent of change for these students. They collaborate with six middle schools and 10 high schools in the Atlanta area to help students set their sights high—not only encouraging them to complete high school, but to become first generation college students.
Project GRAD's annual summer camp, which includes academic programs as well as an introduction to college life, was held during June at several colleges in the Atlanta area. Oglethorpe partnered with Project GRAD Atlanta to conduct a residential program in which 53 students from the metro-Atlanta area had the opportunity to get a glimpse into the lives of Oglethorpe students. From June 2-22, the high schoolers lived on campus, attended their own set of classes and interacted with current Oglethorpe students and Oglethorpe Center for Civic Engagement volunteers.
Together with the CCE, they learned about leadership through service by spending an afternoon volunteering with Books for Africa, a nonprofit that Oglethorpe has worked closely with for several years. Alicia Morris, program coordinator for the CCE, commented on the richness of the volunteer experience: "I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer at Books for Africa with Project GRAD students and I was thrilled to see how much fun and how excited the students were to volunteer. Students were climbing into boxes and working in teams to accomplish their goals."
I was among a group of Oglethorpe students, including Jess Lill '15, Allyson Terry '14, Brian Cornelius '15 and Christian Langston '15, who led small group sessions with the students to speak with them about preparing for college and the benefits of higher education. I personally enjoyed the opportunity to help these students visualize their potential futures at Oglethorpe and other universities around the world. While speaking with them about the possibilities of internships, studying abroad, and picking a major, I could see the wheels turning in their minds as they envisioned their future goals. Panels like this are a part of the social services Project GRAD Atlanta provides to students from traditionally disadvantaged communities to show them some possibilities in their future academic pursuits.
Through their partnership with PGA, Oglethorpe hopes to help inspire students to find the potential in themselves to continue their education and achieve graduation in high school and in college. "Oglethorpe supports education at every level and is actively involved in helping students graduate from high school," said Heather Staniszewski '02, associate director of Oglethorpe's Center for Civic Engagement. "Oglethorpe has been a host site for Project GRAD Summer Institute since 2007 and we are proud of our relationship with Project GRAD Atlanta."
In addition to their summer programs and partnerships, Project GRAD has awarded over $2.3 million in scholarships to assist students in reaching their goals.


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CLEARLAKE -- The nonprofit organization North Coast Opportunities Community Action operates a program that allows qualifying low-income Lake County residents the chance to pick out their own food items on select days during the month.
"The community effort and the volunteers we have each week are just unbelievable," Tammy Alakszay, community action coordinator for Lake County, said.
The "Choice Pantry" runs on the first through fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Community Action Pantry, 14832 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
The program sees an average of 85 households represented earlier in the month, and that number jumps up to 130 at the end of the month, Alakszay said.
People interested in using the Choice Pantry must bring identification and proof of income. The eligible residents will be put on a biweekly schedule after their first visit.
The next program distribution day is Feb. 6. For more information or to register, call 994-4647, ext. 123.


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Electric Guitars Wall Mural
No longer available
- Overview
Make your room rock with this row of electric guitars hanging on your walls.
- 72.5" wide x 48" high
- Printed with water-based ink on a durable nonadhesive panel.
- Matte finish eliminates glare on the surface.
- Top and bottom rails ensure a smooth and easy hang.
- Dimensions + Care
- Art canvas is nonwoven 66% polypropylene, 25% polyester, 9% viscose.
- Aluminum tube and hanger.
- Water-based ink.
- Includes metal hanger and end caps for mounting.
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth.
- Avoid the use of any adhesive-backed products (tape, stickers, etc.) on the mural's surface.
- Shipping Info
This item will arrive in 3-5 business days. Please proceed to the Payment & Review page of Checkout for a precise delivery estimate.
- Final Sale
Final-sale items, identified by a price ending in $0.99, cannot be returned. Once placed, your order for any final sale items cannot be canceled.


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An added bonus to those roles is that in the midst of them, it is sometimes hard to also be "husband" and "wife." After eight years of parenting three little kids, my husband and I had reached a point where "alone time" felt like nothing more than a distant memory.
That was until one night, when my husband asked me a simple question.
"I have to go out of town next week," he said. "Want to come with me?"
I looked up from cleaning a spilled dinner plate in total confusion.
"Huh?" I uttered.
"I'm going away overnight, and you can come with me if you'd like," he repeated.
Still crouched on the floor, I looked upwards as my mind wandered to a happy place: a place that provided towels I didn't have to wash, room service and a night of uninterrupted sleep. It was almost too much to comprehend.
"Is that possible?" I asked him incredulously.
Clearly amused, he nodded.
"We will have to make some arrangements, but, yes, I think so."
And with those words, I plummeted into a mommy conundrum. On one hand, I was ecstatic about having a quiet night. On the other, I felt guilty. As I looked at the three little faces sitting around the table, I couldn't help but wonder: Do I really have it in me to leave them overnight …?
I decided to let fate answer my question.
"Well, let's see if we can even find anyone to watch the kids before we get excited," I finally responded to my husband. "Somehow, I doubt it's going to happen."
I was wrong. Twenty-four hours, 10 text messages and two actual phone calls later, we had child care for two days and one night. After receiving confirmation, I sat and stared at my phone, dumbstruck.
"I am shocked," I told my husband.
"Why?" he asked.
"I just never thought this would work out," I responded.
"Well, looks like we're off in a few days!" he said enthusiastically.
I looked over at my jovial husband, and unwittingly entered panic mode. I couldn't even decide why I was worried — I had a lot of friends who went on trips without their children, and everyone was just fine in the end. Why would it be any different for me?
"Because you've never done it before," my friend told me when I expressed my anxiety. "Totally natural."
"I feel ridiculous," I told her. "Here's this great opportunity, and I'm afraid to go!"
"Well, maybe it isn't fear, exactly," she said easily. "Maybe you're just not ready."
I pondered her thoughts. It seemed impossible that a perpetually exhausted mother could ever "not be ready" for two days of relaxation. But even as I concluded I was being nonsensical, I knew she was right.
Next, I was going to have to break the news to my husband.
That night — with unprecedented eloquence — I hemmed, hawed, squirmed, fidgeted and pushed food around on my plate until my husband finally looked over at me with raised eyebrows.
"What is it?" he asked me.
"I can't go," I blurted out.
He paused for a beat and looked at me quizzically.
"I'm not ready to leave the kids overnight," I admitted. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be weird. I'm just … not ready."
To my relief, he smiled.
"No problem," he said.
I returned the grin, and calm descended on me. Before I knew it, my husband had left for his trip, and it was just the kids and me.
I can't say it wasn't a wild night — there was a healthy dose of chaos. But I hugged my boys and tucked them in bed; and then I rocked my daughter to sleep as she ran her small fingers through my hair.
That's when I knew for sure that, for right now, I had made a perfect decision.
This column is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of The News-Sentinel. Jill Adams blogs at http://lifewithoutbumperpads.blogspot.com.


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Digging Dog Nursery
PO Box 471
Email notification for out-of-stock plants
We'll be happy to notify you when Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Deckle' becomes available.
Latest News
Current Staff's Favorite Plant
Splendid September Plants, Winsome vignettes for sunny or shady garden nooks, September Splendor Sale!
Meld intriguing texture and lively colors for a splendid September display.
As Summer draws to a close....
September is a transitory month in the garden. As summer's end approaches, the shadows are growing longer and the days are becoming shorter. This time of year may find some landscapes a tad lackluster. When designing your garden, you may wish to include plants that remain perky thoughout the season or experience their heyday now. The plants featured in this newsletter provide a lot of late season oomph and promise to beckon you down the pathways of your garden.
Our next guided Saturday Stroll is September 16th., followed by October 7th. We hope you'll come visit us this summer.Digging Dog's Early September 2017 Newsletter Link


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Nut Driver, 1/4 in., Hollow, 6 in.
KLEIN TOOLS| Zoro #: G1893157| Mfr #: 646-1/4M
Zoro #: G1893157Mfr. Part #: 646-1/4M
$9.90 /ea
Orders over $50.00 ship free. DetailsStandard ground shipping
Technical Specifications
|Zoro #: G1893157 Mfr #: 646-1/4M
|Nut Holding: No
|Tether Capable: Standard Tool (Accessory Needed for Tethering)
|Insulated / Uninsulated: Uninsulated
|SAE or Metric: SAE
|Nut Driver Hex Size: 1/4"
|Item: Nut Driver
|Nut Driver Shank Length: 6"
|Nut Driver Shank Style: Hollow Round
|Nut Driver Overall Length: 9-3/4"
|Nonsparking: No
|Magnetic/Nonmagnetic: Magnetic
|Nut Driver Handle Material: Multi-Component
|Nut Driver Handle Color: Yellow with Black Grip
|Nut Driver Handle Design: Cushion Grip
|Nut Driver Shank Material: Alloy Steel
|Country of Origin (subject to change): United States
Product Description
Nut Driver, SAE, Nut Driver Shank Style Hollow Round, Uninsulated, Magnetic, Nut Driver Hex Size 1/4 In., Nut Holding No, Nonsparking No, Nut Driver Shank Length 6 In., Standard Tool (Accessory Needed for Tethering), Nut Driver Overall Length 9-3/4 In., Nut Driver Shank Material Steel, Nut Driver Handle Design Cushion Grip, Nut Driver Handle Color Yellow with Black Grip
Restrictions and Compliance
- *1 : California Proposition 65 : This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.
- *2 : California Proposition 65 : This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.


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Sign Up
Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts may complete requirements in a family, den, pack, school, or community environment. Tiger Cubs must work with their parents or adult partners. Parents and partners do not earn loops or pins.
Complete these three requirements:
The Roller Skating belt loop and pin include roller blading and in-line skating. See Ice Skating for information on hockey, speedskating, and figure skating.


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- Description
The original Rebecca Minkoff bag continues to be a must-have. Ideal for work or play, this iconic satchel is perfect for staying out till sunrise. Toothbrush not included.
- Detail & Care
Details & Care
- 14" x 8.5" x 9" with a 6.5" drop
- Genuine leather
- Custom gold-tone hardware
- Matching leather shoulder strap
- Exclusive blue polka dot lining + matching dust bag
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China: Time to Get Excited by Reform?
For the past few months, investors have been focused on China's slowing growth. Now they're starting to pay attention to the root cause of the slowdown--China's reform efforts.
Nomura's Wendy Liu and Vicky Fund write:
Most investors we met over our recent marketing trip to Europe appear to have cut their Chinese equities exposure to a minimum, post the SHIBOR shock. While the general sentiment is negative, most continue to re-assess the investment case of Chinese equities. Here, most were pleasantly surprised to hear that the new administration has done more and said less on reforms, with a focus on changing the role of the government from running the economy to regulating the economy and provisioning public services by attacking self-enrichment of the establishment... While success is never fully guaranteed and the path will be rocky with likely resistance from the status quo, investors think that such changes are what China needs over the medium term.
How should investors go about putting their money to work in such an environment? "Focus on micro, not macro, and identify organic growth and turnarounds," Liu and Fung say. They write:
We note that over the next 12 months, the decoupling of GDP growth and corporate ROEs may occur in more sectors listed in HK as more businesses respond to slowing growth with capex and opex cuts, allowing ROE to stabilize and rise.
Ultimately, ROE is what drives equity prices.
Clearly, given the large weighting of banks in the MSCI-China index, and the SOE energy and telcos still spending record capex, it will take time to see such macro and micro decoupling on the index. We believe the index will be subject to bouts of sell-offs in periods of weakening macro growth outlook, but having just passed a violent one in June, the next such window is likely still some months away, in our view.
The iShares FTSE China 25 Index ETF (FXI) has fallen 1.1% today to 34.60, while the iShares MSCI China Index ETF (MCHI) has dropped 1% to $43.21. The Market Vectors China ETF (PEK), which tracks shares available primarily to Chinese citizens, has gained 3.9% to $30.89. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (EEM) has dipped 0.9% to $39.37.


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This lesson, which studies the Bill of Rights and the changing interpretations, can take several class periods, as needed, is designed to be the initial lesson in the unit and includes the framework for the rest of the unit.
Standards Addressed:
History Social Science
12.2.1 Discuss the meaning and importance of each of the rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights and how each is secured (e.g., freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition, privacy).
12.5.1 Understand the changing interpretations of the Bill of Rights over time, including interpretations of the basic freedoms (religion, speech, press, petition, and assembly) articulated in the First Amendment and the due process and equal-protection-of-the-law clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.
12.5.4 Explain the controversies that have resulted over changing interpretations of civil rights, including those in Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, and United States v. Virginia (VMI).
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects Grades 11-12 Students
Key Ideas and Details
1. Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
7. Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.
Big Ideas/Essential Questions:
Students will complete the "Are your rights violated?" matrix and answer the following writing prompt: "What do you think would happen if you woke up in the morning and the 4th Amendment vanished? How would your life change?
Activity Steps: (may take several class periods)
Click here to download activity steps.
Welcome all of the applicants to the Orientation meeting.
Participate in discussions
Lead students in creating the "Tree Map" of the Bill of Rights
Lead the class going over PowerPoint answers for the scenarios.
Students given the writing test.
Students in partners will create their own "Tree Map" using a copy of the Constitution.
Students will independently complete both of the "Personality Tests".
Students will "correct" their answers and give Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down. They will participate in the discussion.
Students answer the prompt, "You wake up in the morning and the 4th Amendment has vanished from the Bill of Rights. How would life change for you and other Americans?
|Give feedback from both personality test and writing "test".
|Reflect and share learning.
Special Needs of students are considered in this lesson:
Students can be paired or provided with accommodations regarding content, technology use, or scaffolding of ideas. Rubrics could be adjusted to ask for one comparison of two countries rather than three for students who may need a shorter but grade level assignment using critical thinking.
Extension Ideas:
Teacher may choose by drawing out of a hat which Amendment would be taken away.
Materials and Resources Needed:
Student Handouts:
Outline of Unit Plan:
I Know My Rights!


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Well I am back in the good ole USA. After a day of Thanksgiving over eating and loud relatives Black Friday is here. Still quite jet lagged so I woke up around 4:30 AM and watched lunatics on the news rushing into stores. For those in the rest of the world Black Friday is a day where American retailers cut prices on everything. They also have "door busters" which are usually high priced items up to 80% off their original price. Each individual store will only have a few hundred of these door buster items so it causes people to line up before the store opens early in the morning. This year HDTVs seem to be the rage item. Just a year ago a 42″ 1080p HDTV would have been over $1200 and today I saw a few for $799.
So are Pro-Audio shops in on the game? You bet! As soon as I logged onto IM my friend Dan who works at the Guitar Center on 14th Street started chatting me up. He was telling me he preparing his feet and mind for the long day. This is the deal GC has going:
"Today its 15% off 1 item…and the rest of the weekend it's 10% off." – Dan
Are you any of you heading out to grab some deals? Are you going to be getting gifts for yourselves or something to put under the tree? Are there any killer Pro-Audio deals you know of?
photo credit: tshein


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Collingswood, N.J. native Matthew Quick: Silver Linings Playbook is 'very true to the spirit of the book'
A discontented teacher from Collingswood quits his job to pursue his love of writing, and on his last dollar, an Oscar-nominated director stumbles on his novel, makes it into a movie starring A-list celebrities, and releases it right before Thanksgiving. Sounds romantic, but far-fetched, doesn't it?
Well, truth is always stranger than fiction and this is no exception.
This unbelievable tale is the true story of author and Collingswood native Matthew Quick, whose first novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, hits the silver screen with a limited release this month. It boasts an impressive cast of Robert DeNiro, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence, under the confident direction of David O. Russell.
Quick's novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, chronicles the tale of Pat, who returns home to Collingswood to reclaim his life and identity after spending four years in a mental institution following an incident he cannot remember. Local landmarks Knight's Park in Collingswood and the Crystal Lake Diner in Westmont feature prominently in the novel, while many others are mentioned as Pat and his equally tormented friend Tiffany run though Collingswood as Pat tries to reclaim his identity.
Though he grew up in South Jersey, Quick said that he wrote The Silver Linings Playbook while living with his in-laws in Massachusetts. He quit a tenured teaching position and "rolled the dice" to write his first novel. But living in Massachusetts made him homesick. They always say "write what you know," explained Quick. So he set the novel in his hometown of Collingswood as "a way to go home."
While working on The Silver Linings Playbook, Quick said he did not receive a paycheck for two and a half years. By the time his book was finally published, the bank was almost empty.
When he was approached about making the movie, it was "amazing," said Quick. He was "so happy," even though he knew the film creators would likely have to make changes to the story and characters.
Handing his first novel over to strangers was a little unsettling because, Quick believes, his "characters form from subconscious and are always ideas I am looking to explore... The characters are all of me."
The Silver Linings Playbook in particular is about a character who comes home to reinvent himself, explained Quick. His path has been similar. "It's like saying that the Matthew Quick you know is not really me. This is the real Matthew Quick... Pat's journey is the very same."
However, if a person were to sit down and read the novel, Quick explained, they would be able to read it in about six and a half hours and the reader spends the entire time in Pat's head. Russell had to convey the same story in 2 hours, but without the benefit of hearing Pat's every thought.
After the novel was optioned, Quick said he was "not involved at all" in the screenwriting process which was a little difficult because he did not know how his story would reflect on the big screen under someone else's direction.
"In New York, when you're a writer, you do work in a room and you're an artist," he said. But "when you are working with people from Los Angeles who are professionals, you have to be professional about it too."
But when Quick heard Russell would be adapting and directing the movie, he said he knew the entire process would be much easier.
In fact, Quick said, "It was thrilling for me... I knew I would love to see what he does with it." And after that, "I never worried" that the adaptation would be a disappointment.
Though he was not involved in the movie making process, he did get to visit the set of the movie one day in Upper Darby, Pa. It was "surreal to see them filming your story... saying lines that you've written," he said.
Despite the changes to the plot lines and characters, Quick believes the film is "very true to the spirit of the book."
Some days, Quick said his life has "changed radically." Talking on the radio and television and going to movie premieres with one of his favorite directors are not experiences typical of his daily life, now that his movie is released, days like that are becoming less extraordinary.
Most days though, his life is fairly quiet, he said. A typical day consists of "spending most of the day alone in office with fictional people." Quick said he will wake up around nine a.m. write for six or seven hours, go for a walk in the woods with his wife, write some more, and respond to emails.
Next up for Quick is a new novel titled Forgive Me Leonard Peacock, which will be released in August.
Support provided by


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There Are Signs of Health
Say what you want about this market, it does keep giving you chances to get in.
Gone are the days where we would have two or three days of powerful rallies and then a horrendous selloff. Now we have declines that are more sloping after advances and if you want to wait to get in, you don't need to chase....107 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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Editor's note: First in a Mycoplasma bovis series
Mycoplasma bovis infections permeate all segments of the cattle industry from calves to adult cows, dairy to beef and veal operations to feedlots. "People in a dairy context have a different definition of Mycoplasma problems from people in a beef context," says Ricardo Rosenbusch, DVM, PhD, a Mycoplasma researcher at Iowa State University. "In a dairy context, more and more people are aware of the variety of Mycoplasmas involved in producing diseases. In the beef context, a Mycoplasma problem is Mycoplasma bovis."
Mycoplasmas are bacteria that have no protective cell walls and minimal genetic material. They often elude their host's immune systems to survive for long periods of time. The bacteria colonize the respiratory tract and other mucosal surfaces and infect the bloodstream. Mycoplasma bovis has been associated with a variety of bovine diseases, such as abortion and low fertility, arthritis, keratoconjunctivitis, mastitis, pneumonia and synovitis. This series will focus on Mycoplasma bovis and its contribution to otitis, arthritis and pneumonia. (For information on Mycoplasma mastitis, see Bovine Veterinarian September and October 2001.)
Not all Mycoplasmas are as important economically as M. bovis. "The dairy industry is concerned, for example, with a chronic cough in 2- and 3-month-old dairy calves," Rosenbusch adds. "That could be a Mycoplasma dispar. That's a very frequent type of presentation, but it's not a medical emergency."
Mycoplasma bovis infections in calves, stockers and feedlot cattle can run the gamut from ear infections to arthritis and pneumonia.
Other species of Mycoplasma that can infect cattle include: M. dispar, M. bovirhinis, M. alkalescens, M. arginini, M. canis, M. bovigenitalium and M. californicum.
An "all-purpose pathogen," Mycoplasma organisms can attach to the mucosal layer of the respiratory epithelium and reside in the respiratory tract as an opportunist and work synergistically with other pathogens in respiratory disease. Because the organism has an affinity for membrane surfaces, it can readily colonize the synovia in one or several joints and lead to septic joints and arthritis problems. In calves and even lightweight stockers, ear infections due to Mycoplasma bovis can cause ear droop, excessive discharge from the eye, facial paralysis, head tilt and purulent material in the external ear canal.
It's believed Mycoplasma bovis can be transmitted by a variety of ways. Rosenbusch says it can be transmitted through the udder to a calf. "We've had a situation where the only way we could explain how Mycoplasma bovis got into a clean herd was the purchase of a pregnant heifer that must have transmitted, through colostrum, to a single calf, and then nose-to-nose and calf-to-calf from there, in areas where calves were concentrated in small spaces."
In an extended type of cow-calf operation, where the cows and calves are distributed over large acreages, an outbreak may be more difficult. "You can have Mycoplasma bovis transmission and not necessarily have an outbreak," says Rosenbusch.
In stocker operations and feedlots, Mycoplasma bovis is harbored in the respiratory tract. "The major way it's going to be spread is through aerosols, direct nose-to-nose contact and spread of discharge from the nasal passages from one animal to another," says Dan Grooms, DVM, PhD, Michigan State University.
"We don't have well-documented information on respiratory transmission," adds Rosenbusch. "What little information we have indicates that nose-to-nose contact is very important for massive transmission."
He explains that massive transmission would occur in a stocker operation that receives calves from one or two order buyers, puts them together and then experiences a significant acute outbreak. An outbreak such as this would occur in the first two to four weeks after arrival with 80 percent to 90 percent of calves showing some kind of clinical signs and mortality up to 7 percent. (See stocker survey sidebar.)
"You can super-infect an animal that's already infected with a strain of Mycoplasma bovis and we can isolate more than one field strain from a nose swab from a single animal," says Rosenbusch. "I've never seen an animal with three strains, but I see no reason why they wouldn't be there. I've seen many with one strain and a few with two strains. Even though it might be ubiquitous, having a Mycoplasma bovis circulating through a stocker operation is no guarantee that they are immune to a different strain coming in. A second strain could cause an outbreak."
Ricardo Rosenbusch, DVM, PhD, says it appears that weather and stress are critical components of significant high-mortality outbreaks.
A study by Amelia Woolums, DVM, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, showed that when they did PCR recovery out of the noses of beef cow herds, they found the cows free of Mycoplasma. "This tells me that an order buyer is buying a lot of seronegative naïve calves and running them together with a few, or perhaps many, infectious calves," explains Rosenbusch. "That leads to an explosive situation."
Transmission can also occur through a contaminated environment. Though research information is lacking, a French study of Mycoplasma synoviae, an arthritis-causing pathogen in chickens that produces a disease similar to that of Mycoplasma bovis, showed that environmental contamination resulted in a slow, simmering and late outbreak, whereas an infectious animal in contact with naïve animals resulted in an acute outbreak. "It's been a concern for the poultry industry for years," says Rosenbusch. "You're looking at a lower dose presentation coming from the environment. It could be a feeder or the watering device. An operation may have had an outbreak last year, and the environment stayed contaminated. So when cattle are brought in, they may not show anything for two months because it takes a while to develop."
It's not known how hardy Mycoplasma is in the environment. Though it can live almost a year when mixed with manure under wet conditions in a lab refrigerator, it's probably not that durable in the environment. However, Rosenbusch says there could be some significant environmental presence in the field. "In a feedlot where you empty one lot and refill it with cattle in three days or a week, the survivability of Mycoplasma is something to think about."
He has looked at nasal secretions contaminating a feedbunk or waterer – primary sources of environmental contamination – but the organism could also be brought in on workers' boots. "It would not necessarily infect just the feedbunk or the water source or the soil," says Rosenbusch. "You can imagine a broader dissemination for some time."
Grooms agrees that Mycoplasma can lurk in the environment. "In Michigan, a lot of our cattle are fed under roofs where they never see sunshine. I think the chances of environmental contamination with Mycoplasma is much greater."
Whether it can infect calves through colostrum is unclear. Rosenbusch has not been able to demonstrate Mycoplasma bovis in colostrum, but he has evidence that colostrum can transmit the pathogen. "Calves given nothing but natural colostrum still are getting Mycoplasma bovis. Even if diseased milk is kept out of the equation, they still get Mycoplasma bovis in the first day of life. It has to be the colostrum, although we cannot detect it in the lab."
Dan Grooms, DVM, PhD says Myco- plasma can be transmitted through aerosols, direct nose-to-nose contact and spread of discharge from the nasal passages from one animal to another.
Some believe stress and weather patterns affect transmission and infection. "From the outbreaks I've studied with fingerprinting and with multiple outbreak isolates, the thing that strikes me most is that weather and stress seem to be very critical components of every one of these significant high-mortality outbreaks," says Rosenbusch.
How the immune system responds to Mycoplasma is only partially understood. Rosenbusch says lung lesions are developed long before antibody responses to Mycoplasma are produced. "But, you can also have an antibody response and still produce lesions. In other words, antibody responses are significant in protection, but you also need a cellular component."
He adds that it is most likely a combination of innate and acquired immunity in the cellular component. "Dr. Simecka at the University of North Texas Health Science Center has a Mycoplasma model in mice, and they have exquisitely delicate ways of measuring and of answering this question. The innate component of the immune response is probably more important than anything else – more important than T-cells, more important than antibodies. Whatever those cells do probably drives whether the animal is going to have lesions or a high Mycoplasma content in the lung. However, that's in the mouse and I'm not ready to totally extrapolate for the cow, but that's the only data we have."
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test shows that all animals will seroconvert when infected with Mycoplasma. "In fact, it would be difficult to find seronegative animals these days because they see Mycoplasma bovis or other Mycoplasmas that look enough like Mycoplasma bovis that there's going to be cross-reactivity," says Rosenbusch. "Seronegatives are very hard to find."
Rosenbusch adds that there is no question that there is a significant immune response to Mycoplasma, but it's not protective enough to protect the animal from super infection. "Once an animal is exposed to Mycoplasma bovis and runs its clinical or subclinical course, it probably is immune to further clinical forms of Mycoplasma infection, but it is not protected from super-infection with a different strain."
It's unknown if there's cross-reactivity between strains of Mycoplasma bovis. Two problem species common in cattle are M. bovirhinis and M. bovigenitalium, which are usually considered non-pathogenic. "Yet, cattle will mount seroresponses to those two organisms that will be detected as seroresponses to Mycoplasma bovis," says Rosenbusch. "I don't consider those animals protected, but I haven't tested them."
What this means for immunologic testing is that you may be confident of a seronegative result. "I would say that animal had not seen either Mycoplasma bovis or some other look-alike," Rosenbusch explains. "But if I see a seropositive, I don't know what that means. Many things could cause that seropositive. I'm not encouraging any lab to go into serology at this point because it would be a quagmire."
Serology could be used to find negative animals, however. Paired serology could indicate increases in titers shortly after arrival to determine if an M. bovis-like agent was producing a seroconversion.
What's confusing is that in the lab, M. bovis is immunosuppressive and actually kills lymphocytes, B-cells, T-cells and all subsets of T-cells. "And yet the animal in the field does not show significant immunosuppression," says Rosenbusch. "This has been published. You can give a strain-19 Brucella vaccine and infect with M. bovis and have controls not infected with M. bovis. You'll see a good response to the strain-19 vaccination in both groups. It doesn't interfere with concurrent vaccination."
Environmental contamination of Mycoplasma can be exacerbated by housing conditions such as covered feedlots in some areas of the country.
Rosenbusch compares M. bovis to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). "BVDV is an immunosuppressive agent, and when you do a necropsy, you don't need to take a slice of the lymph nodes. You can just look at them – they are depleted. When I infect with Mycoplasma bovis, regardless of the route of administration, I always get the tonsils positive by culture. When I do immunohistochemistry and histopath on the tonsils, they are not depleted. In very young calves, I've seen a hint of partial depletion with a very high dose of Mycoplasma bovis. Mostly, it's the mesenteric lymph nodes."
Rosenbusch notes that occasionally researchers stumble onto one or two calves that are refractory to a Mycoplasma bovis challenge. "Is it genetically resistant to developing lesions? It may have very high titers of Mycoplasma bovis in the lungs, but no lesions. I do believe there are some genetically resistant animals out there."
How long-lasting immunity to Mycoplasma is isn't completely known. Borrowing heavily from other Mycoplasma models, Rosenbusch believes immunity following natural infection and vaccination may be only two to three months.
The interesting contrast with experiments done in Britain is that when they infected cattle with Mycoplasma bovis and then went in with a Brucella strain-19, no interaction or inhibition of the immune response occurred, notes Rosenbusch. "Yet when they did the same experiment and went in with M. dispar, they saw significant immunosuppression and reduction of the response to strain-19. Here's a Mycoplasma that's not highly pathogenic. Generally, there's no mortality and it's highly immunosuppressive. This is an area of a lot of contradiction."
Beef cattle infections of Mycoplasma bovis can take many forms, from respiratory disease to otitis to arthritis. "Mycoplasma bovis strains are variable," says Rosenbusch. "Some of them will destroy the tracheal escalator; the majority of them do not. Some go systemic and cause arthritis; many do not. Some cause a febrile reaction; others do not. From one phenotype, I can take a strain and define a set of pathogenicity markers, clinical phenotypes, for that strain." He adds that the organism is currently being sequenced at the University of Missouri, which will provide useful genome information for one strain of Mycoplasma bovis.
Infection can cause several problems at the same time, though they may not be evident visually. An example would be a field infection where arthritis is predominant and there is no respiratory sign, but on necropsy, the lungs are infected. Others may have a complete pneumonic presentation and not a single animal has a clinical presentation of arthritis, which, according to Rosenbusch, is very common. "I'd say arthritis represents less than 20 percent of the total symptoms."
Rosenbusch adds that all Mycoplasma bovis strains will cause mastitis. But when you get into the respiratory and systemic component, that's where you see a difference. "If you have a strain that is not affecting the tracheal escalator, then how does it get down to the lung?" he asks. "It needs a heavy component of some other bovine respiratory disease (BRD) pathogen to make its route down."
Some experiments Rosenbusch did with John Andrews, DVM, PhD, at Iowa State University showed that a hot strain of Hemophilus somnus introduced into the nose would induce severe pneumonia in almost 100 percent of the animals. "In animals where we had Mycoplasma bovis in the nose, a necropsy revealed Mycoplasma bovis in the lungs in four days," says Rosenbusch. "The animal had both Hemophilus and Mycoplasma bovis in the lungs. The controls that were not infected had Mycoplasma bovis in the nose and that never got into the lungs. It was a strain that couldn't make it down to the lung on its own, but it easily went down once the tracheal defenses were destroyed."
This information is from a Bovine Veterinarian Mycoplasma bovis roundtable sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and moderated by Bob Glock, DVM, PhD.
Mycoplasma references
D. L. Step, J, G. Kirkpatrick. (2001). Mycoplasma Infection in Cattle. I. Pneumonia – Arthritis Syndrome. Bovine Practitioner June.
R. Sprowls. (2001) Mycoplasmosis/BRD in Stocker and Feeder Calves. Academy of Veterinary Consultants Proceedings, Volume XXIX, No. 1, April.
The Kansas Mycoplasma Stocker Survey
A 2001 study by Kansas State University of stocker/backgrounders in Kansas asked producers about the following clinical syndrome: About two weeks after arrival, calves pulled for pneumonia were nonresponsive after two antibiotics were tried. About three weeks after arrival, arthritic calves were pulled, with progressive conditions.
Some of the key findings were:
The syndrome was reported across all sizes of operations, especially larger operations.
The syndrome occurred in all weights of cattle but more often lighter-weight cattle.
Outbreaks were more likely to occur when more loads were increased during the winter.
The syndrome was reported in cattle from all areas, but less likely to be found in home-raised calves or calves from the western U.S.
The likelihood of a problem increased as cattle were received from an increasing number of states.
Increased stress from castration or dehorning (upon arrival or delayed) may have increased the likelihood of having a problem.
Operations feeding native grass hay as a primary ration reported more problems.
For information on the complete study, visit www.beefstockerusa.org and click on "Management practices and non-responsive pneumonia and/or arthritis in Kansas stocker operations."


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Danieal Manning not fined for hit on Pierre Garcon
Posted by Michael David Smith on September 17, 2011, 1:16 PM EDT
Getty ImagesWe noted this week that Texans safety Danieal Manning drew one of the more ridiculous penalties of Week One, getting called for a hit on Colts receiver Pierre Garcon even though Manning went out of his way to avoid contact.
But we have some good news: The NFL has confirmed to PFT that Manning was not fined.
Although the NFL always avoids calling out the officials, not fining Manning is a tacit acknowledgment that the official who threw the flag on Manning screwed up. If Mannings hit on Garcon had really merited a penalty, it also would have merited a fine.
So were glad to see that the league office recognized that Manning did nothing wrong. Now well hope the officials dont throw any more flags this year on defensive backs who are going out of their way not to hit defenseless receivers. But we wont be holding our breath.


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Mail: Southern statues symbolize suppession
Mail: Thanks for helping Aiden
More opinion
Fall: Good time to spray musk thistle in rosette stage
Robertson and Delsing re-elected chair, vice chair of NWB
More Ag News
Rail Fest activities begin Thursday with a free program at the North Platte Public Library at noon.
Rail Fest is officially set the Sept. 14-16 weekend, with displays, live music, rides and more at Cody Park. Events are also held all around town.
Once upon a time, long, long ago when passenger service was part of the railroad business, advertisments played an important role to get the public to travel for business or pleasure, organizers say.
Through the use of advertising covers from the 1870s through the 1950s, Snoddy traces the history of passenger service on Union Pacific, including advertising for land grant sales, long-distance vacations and business travel.
Once the railroads lost their mail contract and ended passenger service in 1969, their interest in advertising tourist locations ended, and as freight traffic began its evolution from many customers to large long-haul customers of coal and automobiles, so ended that advertising as well.
The program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Nebraska Humanities Council.
Snoddy holds a bachelor's degree in history from Washburn University and has worked for the Nebraska State Historical Society and Douglas County Historical Society. He also served as manager of museum services and is an historical consultant for Union Pacific Railroad.
Seating is limited so call the library by Wednesday at 535-8036 for seat reservations. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch. Tea, coffee, and water will be provided.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


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A Dozen RoyalsRiddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
A dozen Royals gathered round,
Entertained by two who clowned.
Each King there had servants ten,
Though none of them were also men.
The lowest servant sometimes might,
Defeat the King in a fair fight.
A weapon stout, a priceless jewel,
The beat of life, a farmer's tool.
What are we talking about here folks?
AnswerA Deck of Cards.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this riddle, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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(Leftover Chicken Chopped Salad with Red Pepper, Olives, and Feta was updated with better photos May 2011.)
Fiesta 2-Quart Serving Bowl shown in this photo, and I bought four of them especially to use for large lunch salads.
Leftover Chicken Chopped Salad with Red Pepper, Olives, and Feta
(Makes enough dressing for 10-12 salads. Adjust salad ingredients to make as many salads as you'd like. Recipe created by Kalyn.)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 T Balsamic Vinegar
1 T Dijon Mustard
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning herb blend
1/2 tsp. Vege-Sal or salt
Fresh ground black pepper to taste, about 1/2 tsp.
1 Cup extra virgin olive oil
Combine all ingredients except olive oil in bowl or glass measuring cup. Whisk in olive oil, a little at a time until ingredients are well combined.
For each salad:
1 cup diced leftover chicken breast, cut into pieces 1/2 inch square
1/4 cup chopped red pepper, cut into pieces 1/2 inch square
1/4 cup black olives, cut in half
2 large handfuls chopped romaine lettuce
2 T crumbled Feta cheese
Make dressing and let it sit to blend flavors while you prep salad ingredients.
Chop chicken and red bell pepper and slice olives. Put those ingredients in a small bowl and toss with 1-2 T of dressing and let it marinate while you prep other ingredients.
Chop lettuce into bite-sized pieces, wash if needed, and spin dry or dry with paper towels. Crumble Feta cheese.
Put the chopped lettuce into a large salad bowl, adding a little more dressing if desired. Top with the marinated chicken, chopped red pepper, and olives. Sprinkle with crumbled Feta cheese and enjoy!
Extra dressing can be kept in the refrigerator for a few weeks. You will need to let the leftover dressing come to room temperature and shake it again each time you use it. If you don't want to make the dressing, just use your favorite bottled Italian dressing.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
All the low-glycemic ingredients used in this salad make it perfect for any phase of the South Beach Diet and it's also perfect for low-carb eating plans.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Nutritional Information?
More Tasty Ideas for Chopped Salad:
Baby Arugula Chopped Salad with Chicken, Fresh Mozzarella, and Tomatoes from Kalyn's Kitchen
Italian Chopped Salad from What's Cooking Chicago
Peperoncini Chopped Salad with Romaine, Red Bell Pepper, and Feta from Kalyn's Kitchen
Israeli Chopped Salad from Cafe Liz
Leftover Chicken Chopped Salad with Cafe Rio Style Creamy Tomatillo Dressing from Kalyn's Kitchen


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Posted 6 years ago
(13 items)
Found these at an auction this weekend. They have a design all around the frames and down the ear pieces. Theres writing across the back of the bridge of the nose. Cant quiet make it out. But believe the last five digits are 12 kgf? Gold maybe???


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Novak Djokovic looked in supreme form as he secured a straight-sets win over Florian Mayer to reach the second round at Wimbledon.
The Serb was in total control against his German opponent and completed his 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory in just less than two hours with a trademark forehand smash.
"You cannot take anything or anybody for granted," Djokovic said. " You have to be grateful for being in this position (at the top of the rankings) and work even harder to stay there. That's the whole point."
Mayer—who had just three break-point opportunities in the match—was powerless against the world's No. 1 player as Djokovic remained unbeaten in four head-to-head meetings with Mayer.
MORE: Serena rolls in opener | Radwanska strong | 17-match losing streak | Nadal upset on Day 1 | Tuesday's results
PHOTOS: Wimbledon Round 1
Djokovic broke Mayer's first service game, showing his forehand was in fine form with perfectly executed passing shots. The 2011 Wimbledon champion took advantage of the break immediately, flashing a nice backhand across court before sealing the game with an impressive forehand smash.
Djokovic's serve was working well in the opening set, he used both his power and kick serves when required, and scored with 13 winners on his way to recording a comfortable lead.
The 26-year-old's game continued to look solid into the second set. He came to the net six times, winning five net points, as he mixed up his game to keep Mayer on his toes. The third game saw seven deuce points before Mayer eventually held with a huge serve straight down the center that Djokovic could not reach.
With the set going with serve, a tie-break looked like a possibility, but in the 11th game Djokovic responded. Using his backhand slice with devastating precision before unleashing a powerful passing shot down the line, he broke Mayer and then served out to claim a two-set lead.
The German lost his serve in the opening game of the final set, but he refused to give in and battled hard to stay in the match. Mayer took Djokovic to deuce points twice in the eighth game of the third set, but he was not able to break and fell behind, 5-3.
He closed the gap with a solid service game but could not break Djokovic, who served for—and won—the match.
The top-ranked Djokovic was pleased with his victory but admitted he had to maintain his focus throughout because upsets—like the one Rafael Nadal suffered Monday—are possible in every round of a grand slam.
"The sport is evolving, like everything in life. Everybody is getting better, getting more professional," he said. "Especially at the opening stages of grand slams, there are a lot of quality players who have nothing to lose really coming on the Centre Court or Court 1, playing in front of 10,000 or more people. Against one of the top players, you know, what can you really lose? You're going and you're playing your best tennis."


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Hello there!
I'm trying (once again) to develop a practice. I live reasonably near Cittaviveka - a monastery in the Thai Forest tradition - and have visited a few times. I have also recently been reading Sayadaw U Jotika's "A Map of the Journey" which I'm finding remarkably refreshing and down-to-earth.
The "once again" above refers to about thirty years of on/off contact with the dhamma. I'm not exactly Mr. Committed!


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What comes up #1 when you type "songwriting" into Google? A website called Easy Song Writing. My initial thought when looking at the site was that it was beginners drivel. However, it's always the simplest reminders of the writing experience that gets me to shut the browser and open the sequencer. I really crave making music. I can't go more than a week without writing something. A loop usually won't feed my addiction. I'm happiest when I can shoot out a beginning, middle and end. Anyway, I thought I'd mention Easy Song Writing because some of the articles got me in the mood. Here's an example of a few of the articles they have online:
Learn the very basics of writing a song. click here
21 tips to avoid the pitfalls that could stop your song from reaching the top 10. click here
This is how one songwriter writes his songs. click here
Do you know how to write a catchy melody? click here
Somewhat interesting (or not?) is the fact this site is from South Africa and they sell something although I can't quite figure out what it is. Time to hit some keys…
photo credit: quinn.anya
Related post: 10 ways to get back on track in the recording studio.


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The Los Angeles Angels may be close to a deal with free agent reliever Ryan Madson, who is expected back at full strength for the 2013 season.
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com tweets "things are hot" between the Angels and Madson, who became a free agent last month after declining his option with the Cincinnati Reds.
Madson missed all of the 2012 season after having Tommy John surgery during spring training. The 32-year-old veteran signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Reds last winter but never pitched a regular season game for them. Before signing with the Reds, Madson had spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Philadelphia had been interested in bringing him back, but the Angels appear to have the inside track.
The Angels tied for the American League lead with 22 blown saves and have made improving the bullpen a top offseason priority.
Madson was expected to be the Reds closer before an elbow injury early in spring training. The Reds eventually turned to Aroldis Chapman, who dominated in the closer's role.
In 2011, Madson went 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 32 saves as the Phillies' primary closer.


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Dermatomyositis is a muscle disease that involves inflammation and a skin rash. It is a type of inflammatory myopathy.
The cause of dermatomyositis is unknown. Experts think it may be due to a viral infection of the muscles or a problem with the body's immune system. It may also occur in people who have cancer in the abdomen, lung, or other parts of the body.
Anyone can develop dermatomyositis. It most often occurs in children age 5 to 15 and adults age 40 to 60. Women develop this condition more often than men.
Polymyositis is a similar condition, but the symptoms do not include a skin rash.
Symptoms may include:
The muscle weakness may come on suddenly or develop slowly over weeks or months. You may have trouble raising your arms over your head, getting up from a sitting position, and climbing stairs.
The rash may appear on your face, knuckles, neck, shoulders, upper chest, and back.
The health care provider will do a physical exam. Tests may include:
The disease is treated with anti-inflammatory medicines called corticosteroids. You may also take drugs to suppress the immune system such as methotrexate, azathioprine, and hydroxychloroquine to treat the skin rash.
If the condition does not respond to these medicines, other drugs that suppress the immune system may be tried.
When your muscles get stronger, your doctor may tell you to slowly cut back on your doses. Most people with this condition must take a medicine called prednisone for the rest of their lives.
If a cancer is causing the condition, the muscle weakness and rash may get better when the tumor is removed.
Symptoms may go away completely in some people, such as children.
The condition may be fatal in adults due to severe muscle weakness, malnutrition, pneumonia, or lung failure. The major causes of death with this condition are cancer and lung disease.
Complications may include:
Call your health care provider if you have muscle weakness or other symptoms of this condition.
Jorizzo JL, Vleugels RA. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Schaffer JV, et al, eds. Dermatology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2012:chap 42.
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Christian Science building up for sale
County News Editor
BENNINGTON-- The Christian Science Society of Bennington is looking to sell its 3,052-square-foot building at 125 Hillside St. in order to spend less money on maintaining a building and do more for the community.
"We talked about instead of having to maintain a building, and put all the money into the building, we wanted to do more things for the community," said Donna Oyama, one of the church's three-member board of directors, who also holds the position of second reader. "And so selling the building is going to give us the money so that we can do things for the community."
Oyama is a former director of the Career Development Center; she retired from the position in 2008.
"There's such a thing as a board of lectureship, and they go all around the world and give lectures or talks on Christian Science," Oyama said. "We'd like to have some of that here. We haven't been able to have a lecture for a while."
As for possibly moving into a new space, "We've talked about that, and we're listening to God to see what our next steps are, but we have thought about ... something maybe right down on Main Street or something close by," she said. "It's kind of out of the way right here. We'd like something more visible."
The building at the corner of Silver and Hillside Streets and next to the Second Congregational Church sits on just under a half acre, was built in 1936, and has always been a Christian Science facility.
The property was originally listed last June for $225,000 and lowered On Oct. 23 to the current list price of $175,000. There have been 10 showings of the property to 10 different parties but no offers on it yet, according to Jenifer Y. Prouty, of Maple Leaf Realty, the agent representing the property.
Prouty said the building is located in the Office and Apartment zone, which has 24 allowable uses, including a single-family or multi-family residence, home occupation, professional offices, medical clinic, daycare, school, or personal service establishment, such as a beauty salon or artist/photograph studio. "The possibilities are really endless," she said.
Oyama said members of the society have been meeting regularly in the church until recently, when they decided to conserve heat and suspend services until warmer weather in March. The interior of the building is neat and uncluttered. As presently configured, it has a small office and reading room on the east side, space for a Sunday school in the back, a small lobby in the front, and a large sanctuary or meeting room takes up the majority of space in the building.
According to the official Christian Science Church website, www.christianscience.com, Vermont has 10 churches and societies, the closest to Bennington are in Brattleboro and West Rutland.
"It's small," Oyama said of the local society membership. "We don't count our members, but it is small. There's people from New York and Vermont and Massachusetts that come here."
According to the Christian Science website, "In 1866, after many years of study, Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) discovered what she considered to be the Science of the Christianity which Jesus taught and lived. She dedicated herself to teaching, preaching, and healing others through this system for applying spiritual laws -- Christian Science -- and in 1875 she published her primary book about it, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." By 1879, she founded the Church of Christ, Scientist."
The site adds that it is not necessary to belong to the church to study Christian Science, but today there are church members in more than 130 countries. Democratically run churches are present in 75 countries.
"The heart of Christian Science is Love," the site adds. "It addresses major points about God, good and evil, life and death, sacrament, salvation, and more. Christian Science encourages people to see things from a spiritual perspective, as Jesus taught."
Christian Science has no formal clergy and is known for its distinctive ideas on health and healing. "It's up to each person who practices Christian Science to choose the form of health care he or she wants," the official website states. "Many Christian Scientists decide to pray first about every challenge--including health issues--and find it effective. Many health care professionals today are recognizing options outside of conventional medicine."
The Bennington church has "God is Love" written in front of its sanctuary. A quote on a plaque from the gospel of Luke greets those who come in the front door of the building: "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God. And to heal the sick."
Venerable as it is, the Hillside Street church was not the first Christian Science building in town. According to a short history of the church Oyama provided, "early in 1900 three earnest students of Christian Science met each Sunday in one of their homes in Bennington to read the Lesson-Sermons given in the 'Christian Science Quarterly.' Their number increased, and formal Sunday Services were begun in 1902."
It adds, "In December 1906, a place of worship was provided at the corner of Park and Scott Streets, where Sunday Services and Wednesday Evening Meetings were held each week. A Sunday School and Reading Room were also established. Early in 1909 The Mother Church recognized this group of twelve members as Christian Science Society, Bennington, Vermont."
Beginning in 1916, this group rented and then purchased a building at 606 Main St, "where regular services, a Sunday School and public Christian Science Reading Room were maintained."
The local society was incorporated under the laws of the State of Vermont on May 3, 1918. "In May, 1928, this Society was recognized as a branch of The Mother Church and became First Church of Christ, Scientist, Bennington, Vermont."
The history adds, "In the winter of 1936-1937 the present edifice (corner Silver and Hillside Streets) was built as the result of the entire cost being bequeathed by the family of one of the first members. It was dedicated free of debt in June 1937."
In January, 2008, the members voted to change their identity from First Church of Christ, Scientist to the Christian Science Society of Bennington.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.