text:
Improving Provider Counseling Interventions in HIV Practice
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified September 2007 by Johns Hopkins University.
Recruitment status was: Active, not recruiting
Recruitment status was: Active, not recruiting
Johns Hopkins University
University of California, San Francisco
Information provided by:
Johns Hopkins University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: October 1, 2007
Last updated: NA
Last verified: September 2007
History: No changes posted
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
Hypothesis: HIV clinicians trained to deliver brief counseling messages and receiving cues from a brief computer survey on risk behaviors of their patients can counsel have an impact on patient's risk behaviors.
|HIV Infections
|Behavioral: Stage based counseling
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: HIV/AIDSU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Johns Hopkins University:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Disclosure of HIV status to sex partners; unprotected sexual encounters. [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|September 2003
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|October 2007
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: 1
Provider receives cue sheet to assist with counseling.
|Behavioral: Stage based counseling
No Intervention: 2
Provider does not receive cue sheet.
Detailed Description:
This is a randomized controlled study. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the cue sheet as an aid to targeted provider behavioral counseling. All enrolled participants are HIV+ adults seen for regular medical care at a site affiliated with the Johns Hopkins AIDS Service. After consenting, participants will take an audio-assisted computer interviews to collect patient risk assessment data. For participants randomized to the intervention arm, the printed output on risk behaviors is then given to the provider along with cues for staged-based counseling for use during the same visit. Participants in the control arm take the same computerized risk assessment but there are no printed cue sheets. Risk behaviors of all participants are assessed at entry, at 6 months, and at 12 months. The main outcome measure is change in HIV transmission behaviors at 12 months for those in the intervention arm compared to the control arm.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- HIV seropositive
- English speaking
Exclusion Criteria:
- Cannot give informed consent
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00538993
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00538993
|United States, Maryland
|Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
|Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
Sponsors and Collaborators
Johns Hopkins University
University of California, San Francisco
|Principal Investigator:
|Emily Erbelding, M.D.
|Johns Hopkins University
More Information
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 25, 2017
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00538993 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|October 1, 2007
|Last Updated:
|October 1, 2007
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 25, 2017


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JONELLE Price is looking forward to Badminton Horse Trials this year, having last competed there in 2005 aboard Mazetto, writes NIKKI STRONG.
Price has had mixed experiences of the trials in the past but is hoping to make an impact in the 2014 edition.
She said: "The first year I had a good run there, then it was cancelled and then last year it was a bit of a surprise to be on the wait list with Flintstar, so I've had an unlucky run but it will be good to be going back.
"Badminton is the one you watch on television as a child, there's just something about the history of the place – no others have the permanent stabling, cobbles, the lake, and the real flagstone."
The Marlborough-based rider will be riding The Deputy, whom she has produced up the levels from Novice. This pair signed off last season with sixth place at Burghley, which gives the Kiwi rider confidence about their chances.
She said: "He completed two four-stars last year at Burghley and Kentucky, so he's a bit more experienced now and has proven he can be competitive at that level. If all goes to plan we'll be hoping for a top finish."
The Deputy started his season with a third place at Isleham but had three poles down at Gatcombe. Price said: "The soft ground at Gatcombe didn't really suit him, but he's in good shape and I'm happy with where he is in his preparation."
The pair tackled Belton's impressive three-star track with a strong run and have an Advanced entry for Withington as a last tune-up before Badminton.
Jonelle and her husband Tim, who has two entries at Badminton, have about 30 horses at Mere Oak farm but will be looking to add to the younger string.
She revealed: "We're slightly down on last year in fact, but I have quite a top end bunch with probably about eight running at two-star and above. You need to keep bringing the next generation through so we'll be looking to add some younger horses.
"The little grey Faerie Dianimo is a nice one for the future. She went very well last season, and came sixth at Blenheim which was a good result as she's only nine this year. She's not particularly easy but incredibly talented. I think she could be a real contender, I'm hoping she'll go to Saumur and potentially Pau."
In terms of the season ahead, Price has her sights on the World Equestrian Games.
"The World Championships is the big one in Normandy in August," she said. "I think we're coming in with a good chance of selection after Burghley so we're in real contention for a place, but we need to back it up with a good run at Badminton now."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bubble Alarm Clock
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A bubbled front, large numerals and standout color give this time piece style while making it easy to read from any place in the room.
- 4.5" wide x 4.5" deep x 4.5" high
- Constructed of acrylic in a red glossy finish.
- Requires 1 AA battery.
- Quartz movement.
- Dimensions + Care
- Wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
- Wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
- 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.
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The headlines in UK newspapers have been sensational (as British papers are justly famous for): "Endemic fraud in food industry is responsible for horse meat scandal, peer claims," was a recent one.
(Just an observation, though: There's not a newspaper in the entire United States that would use the word "endemic," for fear of losing the majority of their readers).
According to that story, which appeared in The Telegraph, "Thousands of shadowy figures in the food industry must have known that horse meat was being used in British products for years," Lord Haskins was quoted as saying.
Haskins—Baron Christopher Robin Haskins of Skidby to us commoners—is the peer in question. A lifelong Member of the British Parliament's House of Lords, he is the former chairman of Northern Foods, a multi-billion dollar firm that markets both meat and dairy products to some of Britain's largest retail chains and is considered the pioneer in bringing "ready meals" to English dinner tables.
According to the newspaper, Haskins' comments came in the wake of Owen Paterson, Britain's Environment Secretary, warning British consumers that the horse meat scandal is likely to get worse. Paterson promised that if any health risks were discovered in contaminated meat, he would "take the necessary action," suggesting that some meat imports could be banned.
Other headlines related to the ongoing story were even more blunt:
- "Tesco confirms its frozen spaghetti bolognese is up to 100% horse meat" Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese was withdrawn from sale a week ago
- "Thousands of horses sold for slaughter in Irish scam" Horses not fit for human consumption have been given false passports to be sold for hundreds of euros
- "MP raises fears schools may have 'horse meat lurking in freezers' " Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh says government has been 'well behind the curve' on the horse meat scandal
A couple comments:
First of all, what does anyone expect when they're purchasing "Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese?" 100% ground sirloin? Here's a hint: When the package says "Value," don't expect a whole lot of it.
Second, is the scandal that horses "not fit for human consumption" ended up in the food chain? No, not really. Judging by the news coverage, it's the fact that horse meat period was found in food products that's the basis of people's fear and loathing.
Finally, can meat of any species "lurk" in a freezer? Doesn't that word choice imply that horse meat is deadly and dangerous per se?
Indeed, that's the underlying problem with all the hysteria. Granted, finding out that horses are being illegally butchered and added to Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese isn't a comforting revelation. But since no one has claimed any illness (yet) from eating all this equine product, it appears that the horses actually were fit for human consumption.
The truth is that horse meat isn't lurking anywhere, waiting to poison unsuspecting consumers. Its addition to beef products is certainly unacceptable, as well as illegal. However, it's no different than if consumers woke up one day to discover that processors were adding venison to hamburger patties. No one's going to die, and if proper food-handling and preparation procedures are followed, no one's even going to get sick.
Except maybe after soaking up the sensationalized stories about horse meat "lurking" in a freezer somewhere, waiting for its chance to get them.
But leave it to Lord Haskins, who as chairman of Northern Foods for over 20 years presumably knows a little something about food processing, to cloud the issue—totally.
"When you are dealing with something like minced meat, which has been a perilous product forever," he told The Telegraph, "you really . . . need to see the whole lump of meat before it's processed to be sure of where it comes from."
I don't wish to be judgmental, but it appears that the esteemed baron either doesn't know what the heck he's talking about, or else he's shrewdly trying to deflect blame elsewhere—as if it's someone else's fault horse meat ended up in the kind of processed products his former company is one of the biggest marketers of in all of Europe.
That comment he made about "shadowy figures in the food industry" who've known "for years" something was amiss with illegal horse meat?
Checked the mirror lately, M'Lord?
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dan Murphy, a veteran food-industry journalist and commentator.


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CLEARANCE - Karpov's Strategic Wins - 1961-1985 - VOLUME 1
The Making of a ChampionProduct Code: B0059QT
Book Description
Anatoly Karpov was World Champion from 1975 to 1985 and is universally regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Award-winning author Tibor Karolyi explains Karpov's genius with a particular focus on Karpov's unrivaled grasp of strategy.
Karolyi has selected Karpov's most entertaining and instructive strategic wins from 1961-1985 as the Russian star proved he was a worthy successor to Bobby Fischer.
The book starts with Karpov as a precocious youngster and tells the story of the making of the champion. It concludes with Karpov losing his title to his nemesis, Garry Kasparov.
Returns & Exchanges
This is a clearance Item and All Sales are Final. No refunds, returns or exchanges are allowed.
Media Mail Eligible
Media Mail® shipping from the US Postal Service is the cost-effective way to ship Books, Software and DVDs. With shipping rates starting at only 4.00, it's the most affordable shipping method available.


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Simms Hardbite Star Cleat 10-PackThe Simms Hardbite Star Cleat was developed specifically for use thith the Simms StreamTread wading boot soles. The HardBite Star Cleats offer the best stud solution for added stability in difficult wading conditions. You may use them separately or in combination with Simms HardBite Studs.The HardBite Star Cleats are shaped to fit between the mini-360 lugs on a Simms Vibram StreamTread sole. They are made by welding carbide chips to each arm of the cleat for added traction and durability.Cleat pads create as much surface area as six HardBite Suds. They have a 45 Rockwell hardness factor and are zinc plated for corrosion resistance.
Each package contains 10 cleats and screws. They may be used individually or in a combination with HardBite Studs in any pattern that the angler chooses to best fit the wading environment.Patent pending. Made in the USAPrice: $29.95FREE GROUND SHIPPING IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATESORDER ONLINE OR CALL 865-448-9459Little River Outfitters is a fly shop and mail order company located in Townsend, Tennessee, a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We have been family owned since 1994.


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Akron -- Summa Health System and Cincinnati-based Catholic Health Partners, a non-profit organization, have announced a strategic partnership that would give the non-profit a minority stake in Summa.
The decision comes following Summa's announcement in July that it would seek a like-minded, larger non-profit partner to enhance its initiatives and strengthen its financial position, in exchange for a minority interest in the organization. Summa will retain majority ownership and local control, according to Mike Bernstein, public relations director with Summa Health System.
"We have had the unique opportunity to get to know several leading national healthcare organizations throughout this process," said Norman Wells Jr., chairman of the Board of Directors of Summa Health System. "Our experience with each has been extremely positive, and we have learned a great deal about what makes them successful. When looking specifically at what is most important to us, I am confident that Catholic Health Partners is the right group to join us on our journey to transform the delivery of healthcare."
The decision to seek a potential partner is part of Summa's three-year strategic planning process, which includes multiple initiatives to prepare the organization for a new era of healthcare. In addition, as Summa continues to become more efficient, there are clear synergies with CHP in care redesign, revenue cycle, supply chain and enhanced productivity.
Several health proposals also are underway separately around which Summa and CHP share a common vision.
According to a Feb. 21 release from Summa, Summa and CHP already have a productive relationship, working together to expand the SummaCare Medicare Advantage product to new markets in 2012 for the 2013 coverage period. Summa, CHP and other partners in Ohio are working to advance health care in the state.
"When we began this process, we were very clear that we would only enter into an agreement with a non-profit organization that shared our mission, vision and values," said Tom Strauss, Summa Health System President and CEO. "While there still is a great deal of work to be done during the next several months to finalize a partnership, I believe that CHP shares our view that the way healthcare is delivered in our nation must change. At Summa, we are well positioned for future success, but together with CHP, I believe that we can truly be transformational."


text:
And, of course, the fine print:
Get free shipping on your next order when you spend over $100. The discount will be automatically applied to your purchase; no promo code required. The subtotal of your purchase must be $100.01 or greater after any promotional discounts have been applied. Additional fees such as tax or shipping and handling do not apply toward your minimum subtotal requirement of $100.01. Offer applies to standard shipping only. Certain items that require additional shipping and handling are excluded from this promotion and do not apply towards your $100.01 subtotal minimum. Offer subject to change.
Fly this fine flag high and proud to pay homage to the country music capital (and generally electric) city of Nashville. You can practically hear a warm southern drawl emerging through the spare hand-lettering that simply reads, "Nashville, T.N." Each minimalist flag is handmade from heavy-duty cotton canvas, screenprinted with water-based ink, and fitted with metal grommets to hang for y'all to see.
This product ships from the maker within 14 days, via USPS
If you're not happy with this item for any reason, you may return it for a full refund within 14 days.


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It's About To Get Western At The Forum! [VIDEO]
It's about to get Western with Cowboy True at the Kemp Center For The Arts and the Kemp At The Forum this Thursday, Friday and Saturday!
The whole shebang kicks off Thursday evening with Texas troubadour, Mike Blakely, in the Great Room at the Kemp Center for the Arts.
I've had the pleasure of hearing Mike perform on a couple of occasions and if you like Texas, cowboys (the ones on horses, not the ones on the football field), horses, songs that tell stories, richly described characters and the history of the Lone Star State, you're gonna LOVE Mike Blakely's music Thursday evening!
But that's just the start of a three day event taking place at the Kemp Center For The Arts at 1300 Lamar downtown and the Kemp At The Forum at 2120 Speedway.


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Marissa Oakley '09 receives one of only six foreign language awards in the nation
Marissa Oakley '09 has been awarded a 2009 Phi Sigma Iota award for excellence in the study of foreign languages and service to international education. She is one of only six students in the United States to receive this award, and this is the third time in five years that a Muskingum College student has earned this honor.
Phi Sigma Iota is an international honor society that recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the study or teaching of any of the academic fields related to foreign language, literature or culture, and membership represents the highest academic honor in the field of foreign languages. There are approximately 250 chapters of Phi Sigma Iota at institutions of higher learning in the United States, Mexico and France.
Oakley, who will graduate on May 9 with a major in French and minors in business and Spanish, was the 2006 recipient of the college's Charles C. Morehead Award for Excellence in French, and this year earned an appointment as an English teaching assistant at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie, in Nice, France for the 2009-2010 academic year. She plans to attend graduate school in the United States after completing her assignment in France.
Earlier in her college career, Oakley was recognized for academic excellence by the American Association of Teachers of French with a national award for both academic excellence and an exceptional commitment to speaking French and learning about French-speaking cultures.
At the college, Oakley served as the secretary of the French Club during her sophomore year and has also been an active member of the Spanish Club. She was inducted into Muskingum's Phi Sigma Iota chapter in 2007 and served as its secretary that year. She also is an inaugural member of the Muskingum chapter of the national academic honor society, Phi Kappa Phi, which was installed at the college in April.
Professor of German Dr. Franz-Joseph Wehage serves as the faculty advisor to Phi Sigma Iota at Muskingum, and Associate Professor of French Dr. Jean Morris is Oakley's advisor.
Maps & Directions
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text:
POMONA — Firefighters battled a house fire Friday evening which caused extensive damage to the home, Los Angeles County Fire officials said.
Firefighters were called out to the 1100 block of W. Second Street in Pomona around 5:30 p.m. Friday for a house fire, according to fire dispatch supervisor Ray Dong.
Large flames and smoke could be seen coming from the single-story home, he said.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames quickly.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Pomona Police officers were also called out to the scene to assist with the investigation.
There were no injuries initially reported.


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Opinion
- Obituaries
- Features
- Special Sections
- Classifieds
- Public Notices
The Bullitt County Health Department, in association with Seven Counties Services, Inc., is hosting a community baby shower.
The event for pregnant women is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 6, 2-4 p.m. at the Health Department.
For more information call 439-4591 or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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HSV-2 Suppression to Reduce HIV-1 Levels in HIV-1 Co-infected Persons
This study has been completed.
University of Washington
Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación, Peru
Information provided by:
University of Washington
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: April 23, 2007
Last updated: August 21, 2013
Last verified: August 2013
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
Over 80% of HIV-1 infected persons are also seropositive for HSV-2. Increasingly, clinical and epidemiologic evidence show the role of HSV in increasing HIV infectiousness. The evidence suggests that HSV is an important co-factor in HIV transmission.
The trial's purpose is to assess the reduction in HIV systemic and mucosal replication associated with valacyclovir for suppression of HSV-2 reactivation.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover trial of 20 HIV/HSV-2 co-infected women assessed the effects of daily valacyclovir on HIV-1 levels in blood and body fluids.
|HIV Infections Herpes Simplex Sexually Transmitted Diseases
|Drug: Valacyclovir Drug: Matching Placebo
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Prevention
|Official Title:
|A Randomized,Double-Blind , Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial of Antivirals for Suppression of HSV and HIV Shedding in HIV-1, HSV-2 Co-infected Persons
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: HIV/AIDS
Drug Information available for: Valacyclovir Valacyclovir hydrochlorideU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by University of Washington:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Plasma HIV-1 levels and HIV-1 mucosal shedding [ Time Frame: 18 weeks ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Mucosal HSV-2 shedding [ Time Frame: 18 weeks ]
- Determine the temporal pattern of HIV shedding with respect to HSV-1 and HSV-2 reactivation; [ Time Frame: 18 weeks ]
|Study Start Date:
|January 2005
|Study Completion Date:
|December 2007
|Primary Completion Date:
|December 2005 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Experimental: I
Drug: Valacyclovir
500mg oral twice daily
Other Name: ValtrexDrug: Matching Placebo
500 mg oral twice daily
Other Name: Placebo for Valacyclovir
Detailed Description:
Conducted in Lima Peru, 20 HIV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive women with CD4 counts greater than 200 and on no antiretroviral therapy were randomly assigned to receive valacyclovir 500 mg bid or placebo for the first 8 weeks of the study. After these 8 weeks, a 2-week washout period followed, which was then followed by the alternative regimen for 8 weeks.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Greater than 18 years old woman,
- Documented HIV-1 seropositive,
- CD4 count greater than 200,
- Not on HIV antiretroviral therapy,
- HSV-2 seropositive as determined by Focus EIA (IN >3.5)
- Not intending to move out of the area for the duration of study participation.
- Willing and able to:provide independent written informed consent;undergo clinical evaluations;take study drug as directed;adhere to follow-up schedule.
- Bacterial STDs (symptomatic STD syndromes or laboratory-confirmed asymptomatic gonorrhea and syphilis) are treated within two weeks of study enrollment and random assignment.
Exclusion Criteria:
Women who meet any of the following criteria are not eligible for this study:
- Known history of adverse reaction to valacyclovir, acyclovir or famciclovir;
- Planned open label use of acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir
- Known medical history of seizures
- Known renal failure, serum creatinine >2.0mg/dl
- Hematocrit < 30 %
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00465205
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00465205
|Asociacion Civil Impacta Salud y Educacion
|Lima, Peru
Sponsors and Collaborators
University of Washington
Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación, Peru
|Principal Investigator:
|Connie Celum, MD, MPH
|University of Washington
More Information
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Keywords provided by University of Washington:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Baeten JM, Strick LB, Lucchetti A, Whittington WL, Sanchez J, Coombs RW, Magaret A, Wald A, Corey L, Celum C. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-suppressive therapy decreases plasma and genital HIV-1 levels in HSV-2/HIV-1 coinfected women: a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. J Infect Dis. 2008 Dec 15;198(12):1804-8. doi: 10.1086/593214.
|Responsible Party:
|Connie Celum MD MPH, University of Washington
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00465205 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|April 23, 2007
|Last Updated:
|August 21, 2013
Keywords provided by University of Washington:
HIV infection
HIV Shedding
HSV suppression
Treatment Naive
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections
Herpes Simplex
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
Herpesviridae Infections
DNA Virus Infections
Skin Diseases, Viral
Skin Diseases, Infectious
Skin Diseases
Genital Diseases, Male
Genital Diseases, Female
Antiviral Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Increased performance upon planing
Setup is easy
Maintain optimal running angles every time
Interfaces with NMEA 2000 devices
Advanced solid state electronics monitor your boat's systems and are constantly working to increase performance and economy. The system can be used in new or retrofit installations. The tabs are automatically put down before taking off to reduce bow rise and time to plane. Once the boat is on plane, it is automatically leveled and held there. It's that simple! Setup is easy, and it can use some or all of the data from other devices such as GPS speed, engine RPM, fuel consumption, etc. to constantly maintain optimal running angles every time. Two preset manual positions can be stored for such things as rough water or different speeds. A special "hold" feature maintains the boat's planing position until it's powered off. Manual override is also simple; just tap the up or down buttons. All this is controlled from a single 6" x 6" x 2" fully submersible box that contains three gyros and three accelerometers with waterproof connections and components. Plug and play illuminating key pad control with deutsch connection. Interfaces with NMEA 2000 devices to show position information on other devices or to retrieve their information. The Auto Glide system requires the installation of the NMEA 2000 GPS which is included in the kits. You may also install these kits to your existing NMEA 2000 GPS network, but it is strongly recommended to install an NMEA 2000 GPS as a backup. If your boat is equipped with Mercury's SmartCraft system, we also recommend connection with adapter cable 30246001 for additional features.


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A study conducted in China showed that low doses of tacrolimus, a drug currently used to prevent organ transplant rejection, may help treat lupus patients with kidney damage who are not responding to the immunosuppressant cyclophosphamide.
Also an immunosuppressant, tacrolimus is used along with other medications to prevent rejection (attack of a transplanted organ by the immune system of a person receiving the organ) in people who have received kidney, liver, or heart transplants. Both drugs decrease the activity of the immune system to prevent it from attacking the transplanted organ.
An estimated one third of people with lupus are affected by lupus nephritis – a serious consequence of lupus in which the immune system attacks the kidneys. While nine out of 10 people with lupus are women, men with the disease are more prone to lupus nephritis.


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RIOT police have fired tear gas and birdshot at rock-throwing protesters in Cairo, reportedly killing one person a day after Egypt's president declared a state of emergency in three provinces.
The eruption of violence, which began around Friday's second anniversary of the uprising that toppled ruler Hosni Mubarak, has plunged Egypt into political turmoil and exposed the deep fault lines running through the country.
More than 50 people have been killed in the unrest, which is fuelled by anger over the policies of the country's new Islamist leader and the slow pace of change.
Police said the unidentified man who died on Monday was killed by birdshot that hit his head.
The incident occurred in a clash with police on a bridge and in an underpass leading to Tahrir Square.
President Mohammed Morsi, who has struggled to solve the country's social and economic problems since taking power in June, declared in a televised speech late Sunday a 30-day state of emergency in the cities of Port Said, Ismailia and Suez and their surrounding provinces in an attempt to quell the unrest.
The military was deployed in Suez on Friday and in Port Said the next day. The two cities have been hit hardest by the violence.
Protesters in all three cities poured into the streets after Morsi's speech to reject both him and his state of emergency, which includes a curfew from 9pm to 6am.
In Port Said, where 44 people were killed in rioting over the weekend, at least 2000 protesters chanted against the Egyptian president and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group he is linked with.
The unrest in Port Said was sparked by a court conviction and death sentence for 21 defendants involved in a soccer riot in the city's main stadium on February 1, 2012 that led to 74 deaths.
Most of those sentenced to death were local soccer fans from Port Said, deepening a sense of persecution that Port Said's residents have felt since the stadium disaster, the worst soccer violence ever in Egypt.
At least another 11, most of them in Suez, died in clashes on Friday elsewhere in the country during rallies marking the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Mubarak nearly two years ago.
In his televised address, Morsi also warned that he would not hesitate to take more action to stem the violence.
Angry and at times screaming and wagging his finger, the Egyptian leader also invited the nation's political forces for talks to resolve the nation's crisis, saying "a dialogue between the sons of the nation is indispensable and is the only way to shepherd Egypt to security and stability".
Among those invited to Monday's talks is pro-reform leader and Nobel peace laureate Mohammed ElBaradei and other leaders of the National Salvation Front, an umbrella group of opposition parties.
The invitation was met with little enthusiasm from the opposition leaders.
Salvation Front leaders are meeting later on Monday, when they are expected to decide whether to participate in the dialogue.
Originally published as Man dies in Cairo protests: report


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Topic: Any experience or suggestions regarding belinostat clinical trials?
Hi! everybody, I want to first thank the moderators of this forum, as well as everyone on it for sharing their experiences.
I'm posting for the first time, on behalf of a friend who's recently been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. He is seeing doctors at Moffitt and was told that since the tumor had affected both sides of the liver, and was impinging on the secondary ducts, resection is ruled out.
They have re-stented him once, then placed external drains on both sides twice, in an attempt to get his bilirubin count down, but no luck yet.
Now, they are considering enrolling him in the active clinical trial with belinostat. I was wondering - does anyone on this forum have experience with this trial or opinions about it. Any information will be very welcome, since we are quite worried about the implications of signing up for it.
thank you very much


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Main Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Menopause | Resource Guide
The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medications listed below. Only the most general side effects are included. Ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Use each of these medications as recommended by your doctor, or according to the instructions provided. If you have further questions about usage or side effects, contact your doctor.
There are a number of prescription therapies available to treat menopause-related symptoms. The most common drug used for menopause is estrogen. This hormone helps make up for the lower levels secreted by your ovaries at menopause.
Since each person is unique, a number of factors need to be considered before you make the decision to use hormone therapies, including your family and medical history. The results of recent studies on estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and estrogen plus progestin (hormone replacement therapy or HRT) suggest that the risks of long-term hormone replacement therapy outweigh the benefits for many women. Therefore, you need to discuss the pros and cons of treatment with your doctor.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT)
Estrogen plus Progestogen (hormone replacement therapy–HRT)
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators(SERMs)
Common names include:
ERT provides you with a fraction of the amount of estrogen that was produced by your ovaries before menopause. It helps reduce hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and may reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. Even low doses of estradiol (given as a skin patch) may help with vaginal dryness and pain during sexual activity. It may also reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Evamist, which is a spray, is another type of low-dose estradiol that may help reduce hot flashes.
Estrogen may be administered as an oral tablet, patch, injection, pellet placed under the skin, vaginal cream, ring, tablet, or spray.
Recent scientifically strong studies now show that ERT increases a woman's risk of heart disease, and uterine, ovarian, and breast cancers, blood clots, and stroke.
In general, you should NOT be using ERT if you have heart-related risk factors or known heart disease, are or may be pregnant, have a history of breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive cancer, have unexplained bleeding from your uterus, or a history of blood clotting disorders. You should also avoid long-term use of ERT. You should discuss the risks and benefits of ERT with your doctor.
Possible side effects include:
If you choose ERT, the progesterone that your ovaries once produced must be replaced to reduce the increased risk of uterine cancer from taking ERT alone. Progesterone or progestin, a synthetic progesterone, is available as replacement therapy. If you had a hysterectomy, you are not at risk for uterine cancer and usually do not need to take progesterone with ERT.
Progestin oral tablet:
Progestin injectable:
Progestin IUD:
Progesterone oral capsule:
Progesterone—vaginal gel:
Progesterone IUD:
Possible side effects include:
When progesterone is taken with estrogen, it is called hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Options for HRT include cyclic, continuous-cyclic, continuous-combined, and intermittent-combined. Long-term HRT increases the risk of strokes, blood clots, heart attacks, ovarian, uterine, and invasive breast cancers. Therefore, you and your doctor should carefully discuss the risks and benefits.
Possible side effects include:
Androgen oral tablet:
Androgen is a hormone produced by both males and females. In women, the ovaries secrete androgen as testosterone and androstenedione, which are then converted into estrogen and progesterone. As you get older, your ovaries produce less androgen and estrogen. As a result of less androgen, some women notice a decline in their sex drive. Androgen, which must be taken with estrogen, may help improve sex drive in some women.
Low dose androgen may be given through a patch or transdermal gel.
Possible side effects* include:
*These side effects often occur as the result of improper dosages of androgen.
Common names include:
These non-hormonal medications are used to prevent or treat osteoporosis. These agents effectively reduce both bone loss and your risk of fractures. Alendronate may cause gastrointestinal problems and irritation of your esophagus.
Common names include denosumab.
Denosumab is used to prevent bone fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Side effects may include allergic reaction, low blood calcium, infection, skin problems, and unusual fractures.
Common names include:
SERMs are used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. They have some of the beneficial effects of estrogen, especially improved bone strength. They do not increase your risk of breast cancer or uterine bleeding. However, these medications tend to cause, rather than relieve, hot flashes. They also increase your risk of blood clots and gallstones.
Your doctor may prescribe other types of medication to relieve hot flashes. Examples include:
If you are taking medications, follow these general guidelines:
Menopause. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114698/Menopause. Updated July 22, 2016. Accessed October 6, 2016.
Menopause. National Institute on Aging website. Available at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/menopause. Updated July 20, 2015. Accessed February 17, 2016.
The menopause years. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq047.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20130416T1306377302. Updated May 2015. Accessed February 17, 2016.
North American Menopause Society. The 2012 hormone therapy position statement of: The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2012;19(3):257-271.
Osteoporosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated October 13, 2015. Accessed February 17, 2016.
9/16/2008 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114698/Menopause: Huang A, Yaffe K, Vittinghoff E, et al. The effect of ultralow-dose transdermal estradiol on sexual function in postmenopausal women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;198(3):265.
9/30/2008 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillancehttp://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114698/Menopause: Jacobson BC, Moy B, Colditz GA, Fuchs CS. Postmenopausal hormone use and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(16):1798-1804.
11/19/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Buster JE, Koltun WD, Pascual ML, Day WW, Peterson C. Low-dose estradiol spray to treat vasomotor symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;111(6):1343-1351.
4/14/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Archer DF, Dupont CM, Constantine GD, et al. Desvenlafaxine for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of efficacy and safety. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;200(3):238.
7/15/2013 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: FDA approves the first non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes associated with menopause. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm359030.htm. Updated July 2, 2013. Accessed February 17, 2016.
Last reviewed March 2017 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Kim Carmichael, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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A BAR that was severely damaged by fire last year should escape demolition, the building's managers said.
The roof of Franky's Bar in Church Street, Darwen, was destroyed by a blaze in November that was treated as suspicious.
But a spokesman for Sterling Properties, the firm which looks after the building on behalf of the owners, said there were no plans to knock it down.
Health and safety manager Antony Hunt said: "As far as the building goes, we are not looking at anything drastic.
"We have been making the building safe and have fenced it off.
"The building will stay as it is for the foreseeable future."
Dozens of firefighters spent more than two hours battling the fierce blaze that left the former Conservative club and bingo hall a shell.
The building had been empty since it was put on the market in April.


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|Strength of Schedule Report
January 17, 2010
On the Beat
Weekend Update
At first glance, Adam LaRoche gives the impression that he is a little slow on the uptake. He does not immediately respond to questions, instead pondering them before giving answers. He also talks rather deliberately. However, you do not have to spend much time with the Diamondbacks' new first baseman to realize that he is a very bright guy. The reason he deliberates before answering is because he prefers to give sincere and thoughtful answers rather than the usual pablum that comes out of the mouths of so many professional athletes and coaches.
With that in mind, it is easier to understand why LaRoche ultimately left $10.5 million on the table in his first journey through the free-agent market, even though it made him the favorite to win the not-quite-coveted Worst Decision of the Offseason Award. The Giants offered LaRoche a two-year, $17 million contract early in free agency, but he turned it down because he understands that AT&T Park has reduced the production of almost every left-handed hitter not named Barry Bonds. LaRoche eventually signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks on Friday that guarantees him $6 million, as he will have a $4.5 million salary in 2010 and a $7.5 million mutual option for 2011 that has a $1.5 million buyout.
It has been reported that LaRoche turned down the Giants' offer because he had been seeking a three-year, $30 million contract, and he jumped on the deal with the Diamondbacks because he knew it was his only option. However, LaRoche insists he had other offers and his choice was always going to be about park effects and having a chance to win.
"As a hitter, for whatever reason, when you're in a ballpark where you know you can drive the ball out from foul pole to foul pole, it just does something to your confidence," LaRoche said. "I felt that a little bit playing in Atlanta. I enjoyed hitting there. It was very fair. But the fact is, when you go into a place like Cincinnati or Philadelphia, some of these smaller ballparks where the ball travels well, your confidence is up. That definitely weighs on your decision."
The numbers suggest LaRoche would have been better off picking the Giants based on very small sample size. He has hit .395/.460/.767 in 50 plate appearances at AT&T Park, including a home run into McCovey Cove off Tim Lincecum in 2007, but he has hit .238/.256/.405 in 50 plate appearances at Chase Field. However, LaRoche also understands that it's a small sample size.
"Not just the fact that the ball flies, I like the fact that it's a dome and the climate here," LaRoche said on why he prefers Chase Field. "There's something about it, I don't know if it's the backdrop or the batter's eye. It's a good park to see the ball."
Another interesting factor in LaRoche's decisions is that the Giants seem to have a better chance of dethroning the two-time defending champion Dodgers in the National League West in 2010 than the Diamondbacks. The Giants went 88-74 last season and finished in third place, seven games behind the Dodgers, while the Diamondbacks were last, 25 games out at 70-92.
"Not to bash the Giants at all, I just had to weigh it," LaRoche said. "Was it worth going there for a couple of years or just riding it out and seeing what kinds of options were available? They kind of started dwindling fast. When this one came, when I first heard about it, I remember telling my agent, 'Let's try to get this done.' This is a chance that I didn't want to let pass and kind of fizzle out. That's why it went as quickly as it did. I was pretty adamant that if we could work something out this is where I want to be."
The Diamondbacks believe they have upgraded their offense by adding the right side of the Braves' infield, as they signed second baseman Kelly Johnson last month as a free agent after he was not tendered a contract. Signing LaRoche also allowed the Diamondbacks to move Conor Jackson to left field. It also buys first base prospect Brandon Allen some more developmental time at Triple-A Reno after he bombed in the Arizona Fall League.
Manager A.J. Hinch's Opening Day lineup could very well look like this: shortstop Stephen Drew, Jackson, right fielder Justin Upton, LaRoche, third baseman Mark Reynolds, catcher Miguel Montero, center fielder Chris Young, and Johnson. The Diamondbacks were eighth in the NL in runs scored last season, with an average of 4.4 a game, but were just 13th in team EqA at .253.
"Our offense still needs to get better, but Adam really helps our lineup," general manager Josh Byrnes said. "At the end of the day, we have a pretty strong one through eight with good depth behind it, and the ability to score more runs if we need to."
The Red Sox' winter philosophy has been to improve its club by upgrading defensively, a formula that has become popular among major-league teams in recent seasons because it is easier to fit more good fielders into a payroll than good hitters. That is why the Red Sox have signed third baseman Adrian Beltre, shortstop Marco Scutaro, and center fielder Mike Cameron as free agents.
With that in mind, it is certainly interesting to see what Red Sox senior adviser Bill James thinks of GM Theo Esptein's strategy. James, after all, brought statistical analysis into the forefront by publishing his Baseball Abstracts.
"What I'm most curious about in 2010 is how much better we're going to be defensively," James told the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham. "I don't think anyone questions that we're going to have a better defensive team. But are we going to be as much better defensively as we want to believe we are, and is that going to have as much impact on (the pitching staff) as we hope it does?"
Those inside have often argued that statistics cannot accurately gauge a player's defensive worth, and that it is best evaluated by watching someone play over a period of time. However, James vehemently disagrees with that premise, particularly in light of the various fielding metrics that have been developed in recent seasons.
"The only difference between our ability to evaluate defense and offense at this point is confidence," James said. "Defense, at this point, can be evaluated with the same degree of precision and the same degree of agreement among different methods as offense. We haven't been doing it all our lives. We've had pretty good methods now for five or six years. I've been doing the (offensive) stuff all my life. I know what's a normal gap between two seasons (offensively) and what isn't. I don't know the same (defensively)."
When the Royals hired Ned Yost as a special assistant to baseball operations this past week, it certainly looked like GM Dayton Moore had lined up a potential successor. Moore and Yost, who managed the Brewers for six seasons, have a long relationship, dating to when both worked for the Braves. Actually, the Royals now have two former major-league managers in their organization, as former Blue Jays skipper John Gibbons was hired as the bench coach prior to last season. However, Yost insisted to the Kansas City Star's Sam Mellinger that his job is not to just sit tight until things inevitably go wrong for the Royals, who have had six straight losing seasons and have finished under .500 in 14 of the past 15 years.
"We never talked about that," Yost said. "I don't think that's the reason they brought me in. I think they brought me in for my experience, another major-league manager who's been through it and can help the organization get where they're going to get. That's the sole purpose. I wouldn't read anything into it more than that."
Yost was the Braves' bench coach for the first 12 seasons of their record run of 14 consecutive postseason appearances from 1991-2005. The Brewers were 56-106 in 2002 before Yost replaced Jerry Royster the following year. He led them to their first winning season in 15 years in 2007. He was fired with 12 games left in the 2008 season, but the Brewers won the NL wild card for their first postseason appearance in 26 years. Yost believes the Royals are ready to follow in the footsteps of the Braves and Brewers by getting their franchise turned around.
"I see the exact same thing here," Yost said. "Dayton's had some really good drafts, and they've got some extremely talented kids in the pitching department. When they get here (to the majors), they've got a chance to do something special."
We couldn't get through this twice-weekly exercise without bringing up the name of the man who is currently the most controversial figure in baseball. That, of course, would be former slugger and steroids user Mark McGwire, who will launch a new career next month as the Cardinals' hitting coach.
Lost among all the steroids talk is the fact that McGwire will be inheriting a lineup that finished seventh in the NL in runs scored, with an average of 4.5 a game last season, and just sixth in team EqA (.265), and that was with the presence of Albert Pujols. The Cardinals won the division in spite of a mediocre offense, and manager Tony La Russa feels that McGwire can perhaps help the hitters in ways that the fired Hal McRae apparently couldn't.
McGwire, for his part, is looking forward to the challenge. While he had been pretty much in exile since retiring following the 2001 season, McGwire has worked individually with various major-leaguers, including current Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker and left fielder Matt Holliday.
"He's so passionate about it," Schumaker told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Gould during a workout this past week with McGwire in Huntington Beach, Calif. "Until you come here and watch, nobody really knows how passionate. That's what everyone is about to understand."
McGwire says he cannot wait to officially get started, even if the steroids controversy continues, because he disingenuously claimed that using performance-enhancing drugs in 1998 had no effect on him setting what was then the major-league record of 70 home runs.
"I would love to be doing this for the rest of my life," McGwire said. "That's one thing I told my wife: When we decide to go forward and do this, I'm not in 100 percent, I'm in it 200 percent. Going into spring training, my mind's a walking encyclopedia, just ready to throw out knowledge. I'll be an open book to all the players. This is my job now, and I'm totally entrenched in it."
MLB Rumors and Rumblings: The Major League Baseball Players Association plans to make revenue sharing a major part of the talks when the Basic Agreement next comes up for negotiating in 2011. The MLBPA forced commissioner Bud Selig to make a joint announcement in which the Marlins were told to get in accordance with the revenue-sharing language in the current collective bargaining agreement and begin spending money on player payroll. The MLBPA, under new executive director Michael Weiner, is reportedly now targeting the Pirates and also considering forcing Selig to take action against other clubs. Conversely, Major League Baseball is expected to push hard to get a worldwide draft and a draft bonus slotting system put into the next CBA. � One Mets source insists that the past week's whole knee surgery saga with center fielder Carlos Beltran might be the "final straw" for GM Omar Minaya's job security. � Though the 30-day window for the group led by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan to buy the Rangers from Tom Hicks has expired, the deal is still expected to get done. � Now that the Athletics have traded for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, they plan on playing Eric Chavez primarily at first base in an effort to prevent the wear and tear on his back. � The Cardinals plan to go with the untested David Freese as their third baseman next season rather than sign a free agent such as Miguel Tejada or Felipe Lopez. The Cardinals also have interest in re-signing pitcher John Smoltz and are eying pitcher Jon Garland on the free-agent market. And a scout on the Cardinals signing former Red Sox knuckleballing prospect Charlie Zink as a minor-league free agent: "It could turn out to be one of the steals of the offseason. When he's good, he's very good."
The Orioles are targeting Joe Crede, Tejada, and Hank Blalock as free agents to play third base now that LaRoche has been signed; Garrett Atkins would be shifted to first base. Another idea the Orioles are kicking around is moving left fielder Nolan Reimold to first base and playing Felix Pie in left. � The Brewers are going to allow free agent pitcher Mark Mulder to work out at their spring training facility in Phoenix as he continues a comeback, a pretty strong indication they plan to sign him. � Former Brewers ace Ben Sheets, who missed last season because of elbow surgery and is a free agent, is scheduled to throw in front of scouts Tuesday at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Former Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow, who did not pitch in the major leagues last season, had his fastball clocked as high as 95 mph during a workout in Arizona this past week. � New Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos is certainly dedicated to his job, talking to six general managers and discussing three trades during his honeymoon in Hawaii that ended last weekend. � The Nationals have decided to keep Cristian Guzman and are not trying to sign a free agent to play second base.
The Rangers and Giants are the leading candidates to sign catcher Yorvit Torrealba, once he drops his demand for a two-year contract down to one year. The Padres and Mariners also have interest. � The Mets have interest in utility man extraordinaire and future television personality Jerry Hairston Jr. The Mets also like what they've seen of first baseman Carlos Delgado in his recovery from hip surgery in the Puerto Rican Winter League, enough that they might re-sign him as a free agent. � One executive on the Tigers' signing of closer Jose Valverde: "I wasn't so sure they'd contend before they signed him. Now, I think they could." � The Cubs are leaning toward moving their spring training base to Naples, Florida from Mesa, Arizona, and an announcement could come within 10 days. Team officials were also thrilled to see pitcher Carlos Zambrano and catcher Geovany Soto show up at this weekend's Cubs Convention in outstanding shape. � The Pirates plan to sign free-agent pitcher Octavio Dotel to be their closer primarily to buy more time for right-handers Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek to develop before being put into higher-leverage situations.
While the Red Sox publicly say they believe pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is in the best shape of his career, they privately regret spending $103 million to bring him from Japan as a free agent prior to the 2007 season. � Free agent Jose Contreras has given up on the idea of playing in Japan because he is drawing interest from multiple major-league teams looking for pitching. � The Dodgers plan to offer two-year contracts to closer Jonathan Broxton, first baseman James Loney, and right fielder Andre Ethier after signing center fielder Matt Kemp to a two-year, $10.95 million contract to avoid arbitration. � Ben Zobrist will compete with Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac for the starting second baseman's job in spring training. If Zobrist doesn't play second, he will instead be the starting right fielder. � Chris Perez is expected to begin the season as the Indians' primary set-up man with the idea he will take over for Kerry Wood as the closer in 2011.
John Perrotto is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
17 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
WOW!! LOVE the exanded Rumblings! Keep it up John....best column on BP!
Jan 17, 2010 09:51 AM
Randy Brown
When I think of players who could single-handedly vault a team into contention, I will now think of...Jose Valverde.
Jan 17, 2010 10:12 AM
Joe D.
One executive on the Tigers' signing of closer Jose Valverde: "I wasn't so sure they'd contend before they signed him. Now, I think they could."
Jan 17, 2010 10:44 AM
John: Nice job on the rumors part. I know many of the BP staff disdain these, but as a reader I like them, and it's good to find a place for them on the site. Just because the Orioles consider signing Miguel Tejada (wow, what a turnabout that would be) doesn't mean they actually have to do so for it to be an interesting little bit of news.
Jan 17, 2010 10:47 AM
I agree. McGwire was great for the game. How about a little gratitude?
Jan 17, 2010 11:55 AM
Vis-a-vis McGwire, I think it is disingenuous to say that he claims steroids didn't help him at all. From what I heard, he said they didn't help him hit homeruns. That I can believe, partially. I don't think he would disagree that they helped him stay on the field so he could hit more per season. A minor quibble.
Jan 19, 2010 00:17 AM
Perhaps LaRoche chose Arizona due to his historically bad starts to the season (in colder weather) .197/.290/.370 career in April. Won't have to worry about that in AZ rather than SF.
Jan 17, 2010 10:50 AM
Regarding the A's moving Chavez to first. Is first really less stressful on the back than third? I guess a first baseman has fewer balls he has to dive for. I'd be interested in seeing the numbers on that.
Jan 17, 2010 11:45 AM
The only difference is the throws, and Chavez always had a good arm. It's sad if they have to take that away because of his back.
Jan 17, 2010 11:57 AM
Ben Solow
Probably a lot more bending to scoop throws at first. Still, I guess we defer to the experts on this one. Will?
Jan 17, 2010 14:50 PM
Dr. Dave
Jan 17, 2010 16:48 PM
I don't think McGwire would use the term "disingenuous" (which means lacking candor or giving a false appearance of frankness) to describe his insistence that steroids didn't play a role in his 70 home run campaign of '98. So it would have to be an editorial comment.
Jan 18, 2010 07:31 AM
Zachary D Manprin
John - if you have an ax to grind with Mark McGwire then by all means do so in a column devoted to that topic. However, keep your pop shots to yourself unless they are relevant.
Jan 17, 2010 21:00 PM
"Mark McGwire: I have discussed his candidacy in great detail in past years. I am not part of the steroids police, and I don't claim to know exactly what he put in his body. I do know his performance was worthy of the Hall of Fame, even if 78 percent of my peers disagreed last year."
Jan 17, 2010 21:32 PM
Manprin, seriously? The man stated a fact, and you jumped on him in the same way that you are angry that people are jumping on your hero, Mark McGwire. Pot, meet kettle, fade to black.
Jan 18, 2010 08:18 AM
Once again, John, your column highlights my weekend expectations....particularly Rumors and Rumblings!
Jan 17, 2010 21:36 PM
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Yeah, weird question. I know.
Obviously I don't mean you can throw from in front of the tee pad; I just mean are you allowed to play to the immediate side of the tee pad? Does some extremity of you have to be touching the tee pad when the disc is launched? What's the exact rule for this...?


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Aaaaaand…we're back! After a summer full of fun and rest, our academic year has begun. Welcome to new students and faculty; welcome back to our good ol' friends.
The lab's time this summer was split up between simulation sessions, special projects and reorganizing. First-year Physician Assistant students were fortunate to be the first program to use our new SimMan 3G. Cynthia and I brought him to the Alexander 07 lab for several assessment sessions. We focused on pulses, eyes and auscultation (listening to heart, lung and belly sounds). The students were fabulously fun to work with: so great, in fact, that I let them name the new simulator. Say hello to Gene and the students who named him:
MSNA students came to lab for their capstone simulation experience: Crisis Resource Management (CRM). They participated in several intense operating room scenarios with our METI simulator. Each student gets their turn putting METI to sleep and adapting to a variety of emergencies. These scenarios always stand out for me because the MSNA faculty put forth a lot of energy into creating a realistic case: the lab is filled with multiple actors and lots of equipment. It was great to have them come to lab.
Amongst cleaning and organizing our many rooms, two projects came to fruition: doors and air! Our two original simulation rooms (Blewett 116 and 117) now connect directly into our debriefing room (Blewett 107). This will keep the learning environment contiguous and allow students to share their initial reactions to a scenario. Additionally, it will allow equipment to be easily moved between rooms (the doors are extra wide). The benefit for me, however, is that I can now see sunlight in my office.
Though, it goes through three windows and has to travel 100 feet.
So it's not that bright.
Still, I can see trees!
As for the air project, Facilities was kind enough to set up an air compressor in the basement that feeds to the gas room. Our two METI simulators suck up a lot of air when they are running. For the past 7 years, the lab has been paying to rent and lease canisters to provide this air. But now we get it for free! Yippee!
Finally, in the first week of August, I was lucky enough to travel to Las Vegas for the first annual Gathering of Technicians (GOT), a conference focused on the technical side of all things simulation. The conference was hosted by the University of Nevada – Las Vegas (UNLV) and their entire staff was absolutely delightful. The facility at UNLV is fantastic and, thankfully, air conditioned.
We had two very full days of workshops and lectures. Topics included moulage (the "making up" of wounds and physical props), video technology and vendor-specific training. My favorite session, though, was the talk by Captain Steven Wilkinson. A former airline pilot trainer, the Captain taught us a few lessons about how simulation came about in the airline industry. The success of making simulation a natural part of a pilot's training and continued certification, is an inspiration to me. Medical simulation will most likely follow the same route, where standards are set for simulated work time before board certification and during one's career. It's very exciting to think about the places we will be going!
Here's to another exciting year at UNE CSP! See you soon!


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A ROW has broken out among rival parties in Monmouthshire council after Labour claimed the authority spent around £67,000 on hospitality and £1,500 on Pimm's and canapés at one event alone.
Labour group leader Cllr Dimitri Batrouni accused Tories in the county of getting their priorities wrong, but Conservative deputy leader of the council Cllr Bob Greenland accused him of not looking into the facts.
The group has obtained figures showing the authority spent around £43,000 on items classed as hospitality so far in 2013/14 – but Cllr Batrouni says the up-to-date figure is £67,000.
Cllr Batrouni claimed that one event, the Chairman's civic reception at Chepstow Racecourse, saw "unacceptable" spending of £1,000 on canapés and £500 on Pimm's.
The council opposition leader said the spending in 2013/14 would enrage Monmouthshire people and accused the Tories – the largest group in the ruling coalition – of getting their priorities wrong.
He added: "At a time when they are making cuts to services for special educational needs children, they are spending nearly £67,000 on hospitality. We would reverse this, drastically cutting the hospitality budget and spending it instead on Monmouthshire's most vulnerable children."
The group would like to see spending on hospitality capped at £10,000.
A list supplied by Cllr Batrouni showed around £43,000 of spending classified as hospitality, with at least £6,500 spent on hotels and £325 spent at Alice Springs Golf Club.
Cllr Jessica Crook, for Undy, said: "With the council facing such severe cuts that will effect so many of our residents, this is the first thing that should be reduced."
However Cllr Greenland, deputy leader in the ruling Tory/Lib Dem coalition, hit back, saying much of what was in Cllr Batrouni's list would not be defined by most as hospitality.
He says it includes room hire where the cost is recouped from external parties, and two payments to golf clubs paid for by the Welsh Government which were for the Flying Start initiative.
"Had Cllr Batrouni bothered to drill into the facts he would have seen the truth." he said.
"It seems they have reverted to type and are more interested in trying to score political points. Instead they have scored an own goal," he added.
A spokesman for Monmouthshire Council wouldn't confirm or deny the spending on the civic reception, but said refreshments were served.
He said there wasn't another venue big enough in the Chepstow area, and that the event had cross party attendance and attendance from non-councillors.


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Roger Davis
Dean, College of Pharmacy
Roger L. Davis graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy with a B.S. in 1971 and a doctorate in 1972. He served on the UT College of Pharmacy faculty from 1972 to 2000. During this time, he also served as the first associate executive director of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association for 23 years. In this position he served as a member of several state public health advisory boards and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee for the State of Tennessee Medicaid program. He also served for over a decade as member of the board of directors and president of Pharmaceutical Care Innovations Inc. In 2007, Davis was named the Lipscomb College of Pharmacy founding dean. Prior to that he served on the Lipscomb Board of Trustees for seven years. He has led the College of Pharmacy successfully through achieving full accreditation status with the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education.
College of Pharmacy (Burton 213)
Contact me
615.966.7161 (ext. 7161)
Contact via email


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Families, visit Dientes
Every family needs to know about the local nonprofit Dientes dental clinic. Real people with passion and purpose. Simple, straight up and real. And affordable.
Elizabeth Eakman, Santa Cruz
Pitfalls of complex ballot propositions
Laws that are created in the Legislature generally go through a process which helps refine the technical details in committee hearings. Laws that are proposed to the general electorate in ballot propositions arrive fully cooked by the authors of the proposition, which may have many unforeseen pitfalls. An example is Prop. 2 passed in 2008, which requires California egg farmers to provide adequate confinement space for their hens. The Nov. 28 issue of Ag Alert Weekly reports that the egg farmers have filed suit over vague language in the law, which they've tried unsuccessfully to clarify for the past four years. Generally, I opposed presenting technical matters to the public in propositions, such as the recently defeated Prop. 37, because of the lack of "vetting" of the language. When in doubt, vote down these propositions, which are best handled in the Legislature.
Stanley Sokolow, Santa Cruz
California taxpayers watching, RTC
The taxpayers of California now owe another $30 million ($14 million plus interest) to the bond holders so the local RTC can play engineer with their Christmas train. It will take more than $5 million to upgrade the rusted-out trestles and bridges.
Of course our own RTC has no experience in running a railroad business, or anything else. The Union Pacific was operating "our" 32 miles of tracks at an annual deficit of hundreds of thousands. UPRR was very relieved to "unload" onto Santa Cruz County in 2012.
It will be interesting to see what our annual deficit will be running under RTC's leadership -- as the revenue collected should be about pay for a clerk to record and bank the receipts.
A very merry Christmas to the RTC from the Santa Cruz County taxpayers!
Dawn Kibals, Capitola


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text: New Balance® for J.Crew 998 port sneakers Item F5476 Color: PORT Size: All sizes are US sizes. 9H MEDIUM 13 MEDIUM Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Product Details Our design team cooked up a never-before-seen custom colorway for this 998 (a true piece of sneaker history) inspired by the color of fine wine. We've been partnering for years with the iconic Boston brand to create one-of-a-kind kicks in very limited quantities, so you don't have to stand in line all night to get your hands on them. As an added bonus, each pair is crafted in the U.S. from premium American suede at the company's Skowhegan, Maine, factory. Suede upper. Fleece lining. Rubber sole. Made in the USA. Item F5476.


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Updated from 3:36 p.m. ET to reflect closing Clearwire share prices and additional information throughout. NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Sprint ( S) has offered Clearwire ( CLWR) $5 a share for the company's remaining stock, as the telecom tries to thwart blocking from Dish Network ( DISH) in its planned consolidation efforts. Sprint's $5 a share offer and the bid's acceptance from a special committee of Clearwire's board of directors indicates the telecom is trying to finish its merger ahead of key shareholder meetings through June. The revised offer, a 47% premium from Sprint's last $3.40 a share bid for Clearwire, also signals the company is caving to pressure from Dish. Dish has frustrated Sprint's plans at a merger with Japanese telecom SoftBank and in its acquisition of Clearwire, causing rising takeover prices at multiple stages of a near one-year long consolidation effort. "The revised offer demonstrates Sprint's commitment to closing the Clearwire transaction and improving its competitive position in the U.S. wireless industry," Sprint said in a statement. With valuable wireless spectrum assets, Clearwire is an important piece of Sprint's multi-billion dollar, multi-year effort to revamp its wireless service and better serve rising smartphone data usage. Sprint's upgrade, Network Vision, seeks to build a nationwide 4G LTE network. "The Clearwire board and special committee have determined that the $5.00 per share transaction with Sprint represents the best path forward for the company and is in the best interest of our unaffiliated stockholders," Erik Prusch, President and CEO of Clearwire, said in a statement. Sprint started its bidding for Clearwire shares over a year ago at $2.90 a share, however, a series of proposals floated by Dish has led to the wireless broadband service's rising price. Earlier in June, Dish Network unveiled a $4.40 a share tender for Clearwire's remaining shares, in a proposal Sprint called illegal. Prior to Thursday's revised offer, Sprint filed a lawsuit claiming Clearwire's recommendation of Dish's $4.40 a share offer over its $3.40 a share offer infringed on the company's rights as an initial Clearwire equity holder. At times in Sprint's acquisition efforts, Clearwire has said to objecting shareholders and competing bidders a lack of cash could put the company at risk of bankruptcy. In recent years, Sprint has injected billions into Clearwire to keep the company afloat. Sprint will be buying approximately 50% of Clearwire shares it does not currently own, in a deal that values Clearwire at about $14 billion. Clearwire could have cost as much as $7 a share after Dish entered the fray, according BTIG Research. Clearwire's special committee has gone from recommending Dish's offer ahead of the June 24 shareholder meeting to recommending Sprint's revised offer. Key Clearwire shareholders such as Mount Kellett Management , Glenview Capital Management, Chesapeake Partners Management and Highside Capital Management have agreed to vote in favor of Sprint's offer. Collectively those funds own 9% of Clearwire's voting shares. Comcast ( CMCSA), Intel ( INTC) and Bright House Networks have also agreed to vote in favor of Sprint's offer. As part of the deal, Clearwire will be required to pay a termination fee of $115 million, or 3% of Clearwire's total equity value, if it breaks Sprint's revised offer.
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HILLVIEW - The City of Hillview continues to offer opportunities for citizens to maintain physical fitness.
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Effective July 1, 2010, all employees are required to authorize electronic direct deposit of their payroll. Direct deposit is a safe and secure way to have your pay deposited directly into your checking and/or saving account(s). Ball State University will electronically transfer your pay into your choice of bank account(s); the money will automatically be deposited into your account(s) on pay day.
Direct deposit offers many advantages over checks, including:
Effective October 1, 2010 direct deposit stubs will no longer be printed by the Payroll & Employee Benefits Office. You can access your direct deposit payroll statement via Employee Self Serve. Related links


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A state Public Utilities Commission judge's proposal would, if adopted, formally signal the end of the regional desalination project in favor of the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project.
But the spectre of litigation among the regional project's three former partners over the millions of dollars spent on it would remain.
Administrative law judge Gary Weatherford's proposed decision, issued Tuesday, found it would not be reasonable to require California American Water to proceed with the regional project, which was backed by a public-private partnership that included the county Water Resources Agency and the Marina Coast Water District.
Weatherford argued there was "simply too much uncertainty" associated with the regional project because of a "significant change in circumstances since 2010," leaving the project with "no reasonable prospect of achieving its goals" by the 2017 deadline for meeting the terms of a state-ordered cutback in pumping from the Carmel River.
While it was "unfortunate" Cal Am withdrew its support for the regional project, Weatherford said, there appeared to be no alternative than to allow the company to pursue the new project as a replacement solution rather than letting "time continue to elapse and costs continue to accrue."
Cal Am spokeswoman Catherine Bowie said the proposed decision validates the company's pivot from one project to another.
"It's important that the commission acknowledged that the regional project is not moving forward," Bowie said. "We were pleased to see affirmation that our actions in dealing with (the project) was reasonable."
County Counsel Charles McKee believes the proposed decision will shift attention solely to the new water supply proposal.
"We believe the decision will focus everyone on the water solution being proposed as the next project, and to see if that comes to fruition in the near future," McKee said.
However, Marina Coast General Manager Jim Heitzman said, the judge's proposal left questions unanswered about the district's spending on the project, which he argued was "deemed prudent and reasonable" and was spent on behalf of the Peninsula's water needs, with the understanding that the money would be repaid.
Weatherford declined to resolve or suggest a resolution to the ongoing dispute among the partners regarding project expenses, and specifically declined to declare a formal "project cessation," as requested by Marina Coast, under the terms of the project's water purchase agreement. He said that would trigger certain "rights and duties" among the partners, and opined that the jurisdiction for resolving any "claims or causes of action" under the water purchase agreement is with the courts and not the commission.
In his proposed decision, Weatherford said Cal Am reported racking up about $32.6 million in regional project bills, including work on the preceding Coastal Water Project. That doesn't include the $8.2 million the company says it is owed by Marina Coast and the county.
Marina Coast and the county dispute the notion that they owe Cal Am anything, and have suggested it is they who should be reimbursed.
Marina Coast estimated it has accrued up to $10 million in expenses, while the county has spent an estimated $4 million on the project.
The judge said the partners have indicated they are meeting to discuss the issue to determine whether they can reach a settlement or head to court.
Weatherford offered a neutral judge to mediate, and suggested Cal Am should file a new application if it wishes the commission to help resolve the matter.
Heitzman said Marina Coast would like to avoid spending more public money on litigation, and the best outcome would be a settlement. He said district officials will reach out to Supervisor Jane Parker, who represents the Marina Coast area, to help them recover their investment.
The proposed decision must still be approved by the Public Utilities Commission, which could consider it as soon as July 12.
Approved by the PUC in December 2010, the project largely stalled following conflict of interest allegations involving former county water board member Steve Collins, who was being paid by a private consulting firm working for Marina Coast on behalf of the project while he was a public official.
The county and Marina Coast conducted investigations, as did the District Attorney's Office, which filed a series of charges against Collins last fall. The state Fair Political Practices Commission is also investigating the matter, expanding its probe beyond Collins to include county supervisors and other public officials.
The project, which also faced financing and legal challenges, essentially ground to a halt last summer when the partners began arguing over whether the project agreements were still valid and who had potentially breached them.
In August, the partners entered confidential mediation sponsored by the PUC, and by late September, Cal Am sent a letter to its partners terminating the water purchase agreement.
After months of mediation without a resolution, Cal Am declared in January it was withdrawing support for the regional project. In April, Cal Am applied to the PUC for a new water supply project.
Jim Johnson can be reached at 753-6753 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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My understanding is that slowly, this whole process becomes a habit. But things are happening so quickly that unless one has astonishing powers of concentration and mindfulness, you're going to miss most of it. Ven. Sayadaw notes:Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw wrote:If one proceeds with the practice in the manner indicated, the number of objects will gradually increase in the course of time. At first there will be many omissions because the mind is used to wandering without any restraint whatsoever. However, a yogi should not lose heart on this account. This difficulty is usually encountered in the beginning of practice. After some time, the mind can no longer play truant because it is always found out every time it wanders. It therefore remains fixed on the object to which it is directed.
So I wouldn't worry about trying to catch every single moment. As we progress, we catch more and more of those moments. Meanwhile, we keep on "practicing" and building up that habit. Slow and steady is perfectly ok, I think.... on every occasion of noting, each process arises and passes away at that very moment. But, on the other hand, uninstructed people generally consider that the body and mind remain in a permanent state throughout life, that the same body of childhood has grown up into adulthood, that the same young mind has grown up into maturity, and that both body and mind are one and the same person. In reality, this is not so. Nothing is permanent. Everything comes into existence for a moment and then passes away. Nothing can remain even for the blink of an eye.
Manapa wrote:... my main issue with the noting method is that I end up noting thinking thinking thinking referring to the noting of what comes up when anything arises.
Mike,mikenz66 wrote:Personally, I've found the technique very effective.
Bhante,Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:See this chapter on the Vipassanā Jhānas by Sayādaw U Pandita.
mikenz66 wrote:Hi Manapa,Manapa wrote:... my main issue with the noting method is that I end up noting thinking thinking thinking referring to the noting of what comes up when anything arises.
Then I think you may need better instruction. .....................................
There will be moments when the mind wanders off. You will start to think of something. At this time, watch the mind! Be aware that you are thinking. To clarify this to yourself, note the thought silently with the verbal label "thinking, thinking," and come back to the rising and falling.
The same practice should be used for objects of awareness that arise at any of what are called the six sense doors: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Despite making an effort to do so, no one can remain perfectly focused on the rising and falling of the abdomen forever. Other objects inevitably arise and become predominant. Thus, the sphere of meditation encompasses all of our experiences: sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations in the body, and mental objects such as visions in the imagination or emotions. When any of these objects arise you should focus direct awareness on them, and use a gentle verbal label "spoken" in the mind.
During a sitting meditation, if another object impinges strongly on the awareness so as to draw it away from the rising and falling of the abdomen, this object must be clearly noted. For example, if a loud sound arises during your meditation, consciously direct your attention toward that sound as soon as it arises. Be aware of the sound as a direct experience, and also identify it succinctly with the soft, internal verbal label "hearing, hearing." When the sound fades and is no longer predominant, come back to the rising and falling. This is the basic principle to follow in sitting meditation.
In making the verbal label, there is no need for complex language. One simple word is best. For the eye, ear, and tongue doors we simply say, "Seeing, seeing... Hearing, hearing... Tasting, tasting." For sensations in the body we may choose a slightly more descriptive term like warmth, pressure, hardness, or motion. Mental objects appear to present a bewildering diversity, but actually they fall into just a few clear categories such as thinking, imagining, remembering, planning, and visualizing. But remember that in using the labeling technique, your goal is not to gain verbal skills. Labeling technique helps us to perceive clearly the actual qualities of our experience, without getting immersed in the content. It develops mental power and focus. In meditation we seek a deep, clear, precise awareness of the mind and body. This direct awareness shows us the truth about our lives, the actual nature of mental and physical processes.
rowyourboat wrote:Now if you just add jhana to it...
Return to "General Theravāda Meditation"
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In Willits, there is a Chinese restaurant that boldly advertises "Good Food!" You can't help but wonder. I have the same response when I enter Fortuna, "The Friendly City." Really? One thing I can verify, from time and experience, is that if you are in need of shelter for whatever reason, Fortuna is not a friendly place. As far as I am aware, there are no shelters, either emergency or transitional, in Fortuna. It would be difficult to open one, because of the prejudice against the so called "homeless." We have created a class of people with no common identification other than being very poor. Statistics show that homeless people are no different than the general population, other than lacking in family and friends. Still, the word drives fear into our hearts. Not in my neighborhood, not in my community, as though homelessness were somehow contagious.
Criminals and drug dealers are generally not homeless. They may hide out among the poor because of the neglect with which the poor are treated in our communities, but they generally have homes. It is unfair to associate people who are homeless with people who are criminals. You and me, when we find ourselves on the street because of domestic violence, loss of job, illness, natural catastrophe or whatever the cause, need some help and support. Fortunately we now have some resources in this county for people who find themselves on the street, but not nearly enough.
We live in what is referred to as a "micropolitan" community. This distinguishes us from our more common designation as "rural." Rural means trees and farms, and little in between. The fact is, between Fortuna and McKinleyville, our population exceeds 100,000. Most of us are not engaged in farming or forestry, though fortunately we still have a healthy number who are. Micropolitan means that we have a diverse economic base and all the attendant problems that go with it.
Poverty, for one. Not that rural communities don't have poverty as well; it's just better hidden. In a city, which is what we essentially are, people with means as well as needs tend to congregate. It's harder to ignore them.
On Monday, the Fortuna City Council voted 3-2 to amend an ordinance that would allow someone or some group, if they had the will and resources, to open an emergency or transitional shelter within the Fortuna proper without having to obtain a conditional use permit. This has been mandated by law, for every city and county in the state of California, as part of the Housing Element process. This is good news for those working with the poor in our area. The number of transitional and emergency programs that actually function in Humboldt County pale in comparison to those that have been shut down in their infancy because some angry neighbor(s) objected through the conditional use permit system.
As I drive down Wabash Avenue in Eureka, I am saddened by the sight of a former church, now boarded up and graffitied. I used to live just blocks away. It could have been a home for women and men seeking recovery from drug addiction. Instead, thanks in part to the conditional use permit system, a few angry neighbors were able to derail the project. Thanks, angry neighbors.
It sounds as if Fortuna city staff have done an excellent job in finding parts of Fortuna that would have the least impact on others ("others" meaning those of us fortunate enough to have housing) in allowing the creation of a shelter. Staff, through a long process involving the community, have limited the areas so designated to about 3.1 acres. With Monday's vote, Fortuna added an amendment to reduce even that much, down to about 2 acres. Enough already. Fortuna, "The Friendly City," needs to live up to its name. All of us, in our micropolitan community, will benefit as we share the burden for the most needy among us.
The Rev. Eric Duff is an Episcopal Priest, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Silsden 0, Congleton Town 0
Following a week of mixed fortunes, the Cobbydalers were hoping to treat their fans to another three points – but in the end they had to settle for a point from last Saturday's North West Counties League Premier Division match.
With Chris Wademan departed and Lee McGowan suspended, Andy Geary bought in Will Storrie to lead the attack and Anthony Lynch to play on the left, with Josh McNulty given a roaming role.
Both sides had periods of domination but neither could convert any of their chances.
The match began with a booking for skipper Danny Gleave in the opening minute – one of nine in a game which wasn't dissimilar to the previous week in which there was only one caution!
The Bears had a golden chance to open the scoring from an early free-kick but Scott Sephton headed Chris Middleton's cross wide.
Silsden then went close following a corner from McNulty, Martin Pearson flapping at the ball but Andy Hill heading into the side-netting.
On four minutes, a defence-splitting pass from Lynch saw Storrie break through with a well-timed diagonal run but his shot curled agonisingly wide.
The Bears, with the wind at their backs, then began to dominate possession but Danny Fagan blocked Jack Graham's effort and Hill cleared another Sephton header for a corner.
Midway through the half, Storrie again outpaced the defence but Pearson was swiftly off his line to push the striker's shot for a corner.
Ed Hall, in the Silsden goal, made a similar save to deny Simon Thompson.
In the second half, the Cobbydalers were soon on the attack, Ben Crabtree shooting over after good interplay down the right.
In a ten-minute spell, Silsden created four half-chances, Lynch's shot being tipped past the far post and McNulty's weaving run to the by-line leading to another Pearson save.
Gleave's firm header then cleared the bar before the skipper's drive was blocked by Andy Langford.
Mikey Hall and Tom Sowerbutts came on for Owen Deakin-Pickard and Lynch, and Hall looked particularly sparky.
Man of the match Crabtree then denied Congleton three times in the final ten minutes, and boss Andy Geary said: "I suppose if you'd asked me before the game if I would settle for a point, I would probably have said yes.
"I was delighted by the way we played. Maybe we just needed lady luck."
Silsden are at in-form Glossop on Saturday.
SILSDEN: E Hall, Moses, Hargreaves, Gleave, Fagan, Hill, Deakin-Pickard (Sowerbutts 72), Crabtree, Storrie, Lynch (M Hall 67), McNulty (Rosser 82).
CONGLETON TOWN: Pearson, Middleton, Ting, Langford, Alston, Graham, Pezo(James 57), Sephton, Thompson, Moores, Koral. Substitutes ( not used): Jones, Bayley.
Referee: Mr M Connell. Assistant referees: Mr J Payne and Mr M Sowerby.
Runcorn Linnets 1, Silsden 0
Silsden battled hard but could not prevent hosts Runcorn Linnets from taking over the leadership of the North West Counties League Premier Division on Tuesday night.
Matthew Atherton headed the only goal early in the second half.