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Undernutrition among older people is a continuing source of concern, particularly among acutely hospitalized patients. The purpose of the current study is to compare malnourished elderly patients with those at nutritional risk and identify factors contributing to the variability between the groups.
The study was carried out at the Soroka University Medical Center in the south of Israel. From September 2003 through December 2004, all patients 65 years-of-age or older admitted to any of the internal medicine departments, were screened within 72 hours of admission to determine nutritional status using the short version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF). Patients at nutritional risk were entered the study and were divided into malnourished or 'at risk' based on the full version of the MNA. Data regarding medical, nutritional, functional, and emotional status were obtained by trained interviewers.
Two hundred fifty-nine elderly patients, 43.6% men, participated in the study; 18.5% were identified as malnourished and 81.5% were at risk for malnutrition according to the MNA. The malnourished group was less educated, had a higher depression score and lower cognitive and physical functioning. Higher prevalence of chewing problems, nausea, and vomiting was detected among malnourished patients. There was no difference between the groups in health status indicators except for subjective health evaluation which was poorer among the malnourished group. Lower dietary score indicating lower intake of vegetables fruits and fluid, poor appetite and difficulties in eating distinguished between malnourished and at-risk populations with the highest sensitivity and specificity as compare with the anthropometric, global, and self-assessment of nutritional status parts of the MNA. In a multivariate analysis, lower cognitive function, education <12 years and chewing problems were all risk factors for malnutrition.
Our study indicates that low food consumption as well as poor appetite and chewing problems are associated with the development of malnutrition. Given the critical importance of nutritional status in the hospitalized elderly, further intervention trials are required to determine the best intervention strategies to overcome these problems.
Undernutrition among older people is a continuing source of concern [1], particularly among acutely hospitalized patients [2]. Undernourished elderly have longer periods of illness, longer hospital stays [3,4], higher rates of infection [5,6], delayed wound healing [7], reduced appetite [8,9], and increased mortality rates [10].
Data from previous studies indicate that up to 55% of elderly hospitalized patients are undernourished or malnourished on admission [11,12]. Both undernutrition and malnutrition are associated with poorer recovery in a broad range of patients and conditions [1-10]. Undernutrition adversely affects both lifespan and quality of life in community-dwelling older people [13-15] and is a critical determinant of outcomes among aging in-patients, influencing the outcome of the hospitalization [1,15] and correlating with morbidity [16-21] and mortality [22-24] in this population. The risk for nutritional deterioration, is greater than the prevalence of actual malnourishment reported [25,26].
In Israel, nutritional assessment of institutionalized [27,28,21] and home-dwelling [29,30] elderly has been performed. Studies conducted in the Negev, the southern part of Israel, indicate that among community dwelling elderly, the energy intake was below 78% of the RDA for men and 70% for women [30]. Data regarding the nutritional status of acutely hospitalized patients are sparse. In a study conducted by our group, we found the prevalence of nutritional risk among older patients on admission to a medical ward to be 38.7% [9]. In previous studies that were conducted in Israel [9,27-30] and other places [1-8,10], no attention was given to the different health characteristics of malnourished subjects and those at nutritional risk.
The importance of distinguishing nutritional risk from actual malnutrition lies in the difference between these conditions in terms of outcomes. While nutritional risk, if identified, is amenable to intervention which may reverse its course, actual malnutrition is more likely to persist and contribute to poorer outcome.
This study compares malnourished elderly patients with those at nutritional risk and identifies factors contributing to the variability between the groups.
The study was carried out at Soroka University Medical Center (a 1000-bed university-affiliated acute care hospital) in the south of Israel. From September 2003 through December 2004, all patients 65 years-of-age or older admitted to any of the internal medicine departments were screened within 72 hours of admission to determine nutritional status. Screening was performed by the short version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-sf) [31], a simple, validated screening tool for nutritional risk in elderly persons or by a history of weight loss ≥10% of their body weight in the 6 months prior to their admission. Weight loss has been shown in several studies to be the most important predictor for nutritional deterioration [19] (weight loss in the last 3 months is part of the nutritional evaluation of the MNA), thus it was included as an independent screening question.
Subjects who were identified as being at nutritional risk by one of these parameters were entered into the study (Figure (Figure1).1). Exclusion criteria included cancer, inability to be interviewed, or unwillingness to sign an informed consent.
The protocol of the study was approved by the ethics committee of Soroka University Medical Center. An informed consent form was signed by all participants.
Participants recruited into the study were interviewed by trained interviewers. The data collected included demographic information as well as nutritional, health, cognitive, emotional, and functional evaluation.
Demographic variables, including sex, age, marital status, country of origin, education, and living arrangements, were obtained from the patient and from the hospital admission form.
The short version of the MNA that was used for screening was used to complete the full version. The MNA consists of four parts:
1. Anthropometric measurements – Questions 1–4 include current body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference (MAC), calf circumference (CC), and weight loss in the last 3 months.
2. Global assessment – Questions 5–10 include living arrangements, number of prescribed medications, psychological stress in the last 3 months, mobility, neuropsychological problems, and pressure sores.
3. Dietary assessment – Questions 11–16 include number of full meals per day, protein intake, fruit and vegetables intake (over 2 portions per day), decrease in food intake in the last 3 months, fluid intake per day, and the ability to eat alone.
4. Subjective assessment – Questions 17 and 18 include subjective assessment of the participant's nutritional and health status.
The total score of the MNA distinguished between patients at nutritional risk (MNA score between 17 and 23.5) and patients with protein-calorie malnutrition (MNA score < 17) [32,33]. Participants with an MNA score >23.5 who had lost more than 10% of their body weight in the 6 months prior to the study period, were entered into the at risk group (Figure (Figure11).
To assess specific eating problems we used selected questions from the Nutrition Risk Index (NRI) questionnaire [34] that were analyzed separately. The questions related to swallowing and chewing problems, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea, and use of special diets were included.
Clinical data obtained from the patients' charts included biochemical measurements relevant to nutritional status such as albumin, total lymphocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin, WBC, total cholesterol, and transferrin. The tests were performed at the central chemistry lab of Soroka University Medical Center using standard methods.
Cognitive status was determined using the Folstein Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) [35]. The MMSE score ranges from 0 to 30; a score of less than 24 indicates cognitive impairment. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the short form of the Geriatric Depression Screening Scale Short Form (GDS-sf) [36]. The GDS-sf score ranges from 0 to 15. A cutoff score of 5 or greater indicates depressive symptoms. Functional status was assessed using the modified Barthel Index [37], based on basic activities of daily living (ADL). The score ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents being totally dependent and 100 totally independent. The interviewers were trained to use these forms.
Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows version 14. Baseline characteristics were recorded and entered into a data management program. The data were edited and the distribution of all the relevant variables was evaluated for normality. Comparison between malnutrition and at risk for malnutrition based on the full version of the MNA was conducted using t-tests for continuous variables and χ2 for categorical variables. To assess the predictive abilities of specific MNA topics (full version) to the total score, we assessed the area under the curve using a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on the ROC curve. The sensitivity of the model was defined as the percentage of malnourished participants who were correctly identified by the test. Alternately, specificity was defined as the percentage of participants at nutritional risk who were correctly identified. The sum of sensitivity and specificity defined the validity (area under the curve) of the specific MNA topics including anthropometric, dietary, global, and self-assessment.
Multivariate analysis was conducted using a logistic regression model in which nutritional status, at risk or malnutrition, was used as the dependent variable.
A total of 259 patients entered the study, 43.6% men, with a mean age of 75 years. Within the study group, 18.5% were identified as malnourished and 81.5% were at nutritional risk. The mean MNA score was 19.5. Baseline characteristics of the study population by nutritional status are shown in Table Table1.1. Malnourished participants had a significantly lower level of education and BMI, and lower marriage rates compared with those at risk for malnutrition. Almost 64% of the study population immigrated from Europe/America, 34% immigrated from Africa/Asia, and the rest were born in Israel. Compared with the at risk participants, a higher percent of immigrants from Africa/Asia were included in the malnourished group. There was no difference in age, sex, and living arrangement between the two groups. Examination of functional variables revealed significant differences between the two groups in several functional abilities. Higher rates of functional disability were found among the malnourished group. This group also had a higher depression score (indicating more depressive symptoms), and a lower cognitive function score (indicating decreased cognitive ability). Interestingly, there was no difference between the groups in number of diagnosed diseases, number of prescribed medications, number of hospitalizations in the year before the study, number of family and specialist doctor visits, and duration of hospitalization.
Examination of social support variables revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups. Subjects at risk for malnutrition had a higher frequency of phone calls and visitors compared to the malnourished group.
No difference was detected in biochemical measurements – total lymphocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin, WBC, total cholesterol, and transferrin – except for serum albumin. Malnourished participants had a trend of lower serum albumin concentration compared with those at risk for malnutrition (p = 0.06).
In order to determine the sources of the difference in nutritional status between the groups, the relationship between Nutritional Status and grouped Mini Nutritional Assessment items were assessed and described in Figure Figure2.2. Items were grouped according to the content of the questions, as described in the methods section into MNA anthro-1 that represents the anthropometric assessment, MNAglobal-1 that represents global assessment, MNAdietary-1 that represents dietary assessment questions, and MNAself-1 that represents self-assessment of nutritional and health status. The ROC curve (Figure (Figure2)2) demonstrates that the dietary assessment part within the MNA is associated with greater area under the curve (AUC) (0.83, p < 0.01) than the anthropometric assessment (0.75, p < 0.01), the global assessment part (0.51, p = 0.75), and the self-assessment of nutritional status (0.79, p < 0.01). Within the dietary assessment part, the prevalence of severe decrease in appetite was significantly higher among the malnourished group (16.7% vs. 8.5% among the at risk population).
Items of the NRI questionnaire were compared and described in Table Table2.2. In the whole group, almost 73% suffered from constipation or diarrhea. Chewing was a problem for 23.3%, swallowing was a problem for 11.6%, vomiting for 18.6%, and nausea for 31% of participants. Almost 74% among the study participants reported that they are on a special diet (Table (Table2).2). The malnourished group suffered from more chewing (41.7% vs. 19%), vomiting (31.3% vs. 15.7%), and nausea problems (47.9% vs. 27.1%) compared with those at risk of malnutrition. The at risk group had significantly more artificial teeth compared with the malnourished group.
The independent effect of individual health status and functional and dietary habit variables on nutritional risk were evaluated in a multivariate model (Table (Table3).3). The model included variables that were significantly associated with nutritional status in the univariate analyses including family status, depression level, and cognitive and physical functioning. Lower cognitive function (OR = 1.1) and <12 years of education (OR = 3.2) were both risk factors for malnutrition, while lack of chewing problem (OR = 0.3) was protective.
The main objective of the current study was to characterize malnourished and undernourished elderly people admitted to an acute care ward and particularly to identify risk factors that could be the target for future intervention programs. Based on the MNA evaluation, we showed that 81.5% of the participants of this study were at risk for malnutrition and 18.5% were malnourished. Malnourished participants were less educated, had more depressive symptoms, and lower cognitive and functional status compared with participants at nutritional risk. Moreover, malnourished participants had fewer social contacts including visits and phone calls. The following problems were found to have a significantly higher prevalence among malnourished patients: chewing problems, nausea, and vomiting. These findings indicate the severe impact of these factors on the development of actual malnutrition.
In a study that was conducted among subacute care patients in St. Louis, the prevalence of undernutrition was evaluated, using the MNA. Among 837 patients consecutively admitted during 14 month, the prevalence of malnutrition was 28.8% and 62.5% were at 'nutritional risk' [19]. In another group of very old hospitalized patients (mean age 84.8 ± 8.1 y), 33.2% were at risk for malnutrition and 49.4% were malnourished [21]. In institutionalized women in Spain the prevalence of malnutrition was 7.9% and 61.8% were at risk for malnutrition [38]. In our group, since we used participants who were already screened for nutritional risk and malnutrition the rates were different although it is quite clear that the rate of malnutrition is relatively low. The differences observed may reflect the type of elderly people being screened in each study.
The MNA is a dietary assessment tool that was validated in many different populations [11,32,33] and was shown to be related to several outcomes including mortality, length of hospitalization and complications [19-21]. In a study that assessed the impact of nutritional status measured by the MNA on pressure sores, the MNA provided advantages over using visceral proteins in screening [20]. In our study the laboratory measurements were not related to the MNA results except for serum albumin which was slightly lower among the malnourished group. It is likely that poor nutrition takes considerable lag time until it is manifested in laboratory measurements. The decline of serum albumin is certainly a late phenomenon in terms of malnutrition. Additionally, albumin is a negative acute phase reactant which would likely be diminished in many hospitalized patients who do not suffer from malnutrition. Therefore its futility as an indicator of nutritional status is limited in this scenario.
Among the demographic parameters, we used country of origin as an important parameter. Israel is a multiethnic country with ongoing waves of immigration from various countries: 63.7% of the study population immigrated from Europe/America. The highest percent of malnourished participants immigrated from Africa/Asia. It is our assumption that the high prevalence of malnutrition in this population may stem from the poor living conditions and lower socioeconomic status (SES) highly prevalent in this population throughout their first years in Israel. Therefore, their retirement income is, on average, lower than people who emigrated from European/American countries. Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that older adults who emigrated from European/American countries are more educated and their retirement income is higher, compared with immigrants from African and Asian countries [39].
Over 64% of the malnourished participants were widowed and over 39.6% were living alone. Marital status and social isolation, especially when combined with recent bereavement or poor social support, have been shown in previous studies to be major risk factors for malnutrition [40,41]. In a case control study comparing health and nutritional values between widowed and married participants, Rosenbloom [42] described reported lack of appetite as an important parameter associated with depression and weight loss in widowed elderly people. In another case control study [40], widowed community dwelling participants lost significantly more weight compared with a control married group. Poor appetite was a significant risk factor for nutritional deterioration [40].
Poor appetite is an important risk factor for nutritional risk. Payette et al. [43], who evaluated a community living elderly population, showed that reported good appetite appeared to be a significant predictor for dietary intake of calories (p < .01) and protein (p < .05). In a previous study by Shahar et al. [44], approximately 20% of the participants reported lack of appetite, or high frequency of feeling no wish to eat. These subjects had lower energy intake as well as lower intake of other nutrients, and thus were considered at risk for nutritional deterioration. In our study, severe loss of appetite was associated with malnutrition. Among the malnourished group, the prevalence of severe loss of appetite was significantly higher (16.7% vs. 8.5%).
The dietary assessment part of the MNA includes questions regarding protein, vegetable and fruit intake, appetite, fluid intake, and difficulties in eating. This part of the assessment has the highest sensitivity and specificity as indicated in the ROC curve. This further highlights the importance of dietary assessment as a mean of detecting nutritional risk.
Depression is the most common cause of unintentional weight loss and under-nutrition in older adults [45,46]. Depression in the elderly is a frequent, treatable, but under-recognized and under-treated, disorder. Patients with depressive symptoms are not identified and thus are seldom treated for this condition [47].
In a retrospective chart review to determine the cause of weight loss in nursing home residents, Morley and Kraenzle [48] also concluded that depression was the most common cause for weight loss. In our study the average number of depressive symptoms was significantly higher among the malnourished participants. We also found that in the malnourished group 81.3% reported weight loss compared to 50.7% among the at risk group.
Nutritional risk is related to functional status [48,49]. Our results indicate that the malnourished group suffered from more functional disabilities according to the Barthel Index and had a higher prevalence of impaired mobility. This observation, however, does not provide conclusive evidence regarding the causal relationship between ADL dependency and malnutrition, since each of these may be the cause of the other.
We did not find any difference in health status between the groups as measured by number of prescribed medications, number of hospitalizations during the year prior to the study, number of family or specialist physician visits, and duration of hospitalization, between the malnourished and at risk groups. However, subjective health evaluation compared with peers was significantly poorer among the malnourished group. The difference in subjective health evaluation may indicate a difference in severity of the disease. Subjective health evaluation in the elderly is considered one of the most accurate measures of health status; its association with malnutrition indicates a close relationship between health and nutritional status.
The malnourished group suffered significantly more from chewing problems, vomiting, and nausea compared to the at risk group. Eating problems and their relation to nutritional status clearly revealed the importance of identifying special problems related to eating and digestion. Mowe et al. showed that chewing problems can lead to a reduced dietary intake and thus to poor nutritional status [49]. Therefore, these problems need to be given closer attention in patient care because of their cumulative effect on dietary intake. Earlier identification of these risk factors may allow a more efficacious intervention which may prevent actual malnutrition from occurring.
Our study suffers from several limitations. The study examined a selected population of hospitalized elderly patients at risk for malnutrition; however, characterization of these groups and the distinction between the levels of undernutrition is important for developing targeted interventions. In addition, the study is a cross-sectional survey and thus cannot serve to determine temporal relationships.
Our study evaluated the association between in-hospital malnutrition and several risk parameters. Of all the parameters studied, the difficulty in consuming foods was found to be highly associated with the development of malnutrition. The most important predictors of actual malnutrition in these patients were lower education, poorer cognitive status, and chewing problems. At least some of these parameters are amenable to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities. Therefore, given the critical importance of nutritional status in the hospitalized elderly and its impact on mortality and morbidity [19-21], an emphasis should be placed on correcting these problems. An example of such interventions may be withholding medications, performing speech therapy evaluation, or naturally changing food texture and constituents. We feel that our findings highlight the need for a nutritional intervention trial among at risk and malnourished hospitalized patients.
The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
IF-Main writer and research coordinator
LG-Data collection, study design and writing
HC-Medical counseling, collection and evaluating medical information of the patients
IH-Medical counseling, collection and evaluating medical information of the patients
NB-Data collection, statistical analyses and writing
ME-Medical counseling, collecting and evaluation of medical records in internal medicine department F
DF-Principle investigator, statistical analyses and writing
DS-Principle investigator, study design and writing
All authors read and approved the final manuscript
The study was supported by a grant from the Israeli National Institute for health policy
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's national science library in cooperation with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the PubMed Central International archive by participating publishers.


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The Supreme Court may soon allow Sesa Goa's 6-million-tonne Narrain mine in Chitradurga to resume operations.
The Supreme Court may soon allow Sesa Goa's 6-million-tonne Narrain mine in Chitradurga to resume operations, which had stopped mining iron ore after the apex court banned mining in Karnataka in August 2011.
Supreme Court is likely to accept Central Empowered Committee's recommendation, made in the last week, for allowing all mines in category A and B to resume operations. Sesa Goa's Narrain mine falls in to the category B. The apex court is going to hear the Karnataka as well as Goa mining case continuously for the next three days.
Mining ban in Goa has heavily impacted the state's economy, which gets almost 50 percent of its revenues from export of iron ore. In an interview with CNBC TV18, P K Mukherjee, Managing Director, Sesa Goa explains effects of ban on Goa and also discusses some solutions to improve the situation.
Below is a verbatim transcript of the interview:
Q: Can you tell us what was the outcome of the Supreme Court hearings that were lined up last week?
A: Last week nothing has happened as far as iron ore mining is concerned. At fag end of Friday, Karnataka matters have started which is supposed to be going on from tomorrow morning. Although, I think during that last half an hour of Friday amicus curiae had told that there is no problem in accepting the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report which says to grant resumption of mining for all A and B categories. So that takes our mines which are in B category also into account. Tomorrow morning onwards Karnataka matter is supposed to be dealt with. Various other issues are also being brought in by other counsels. So let us see how it pans out tomorrow onwards.
Q: Are you getting a sense that perhaps from hereon things will be speeded up? Do you have some idea as to when at least in Goa things will come back into shape and you will be allowed to mine considering that now there is a serious Current Account Deficit (CAD) issue as well?
A: The matter is in Supreme Court and it was kind enough to understand the importance of the matter. That is why last week they have set three days continuously in the forest bench which was not the case before. This week also apparently they have given three days continuously, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. So after the Karnataka matter is dealt, Goa is in line. No effective hearing has taken place on Goa, so I cannot take a guess.
As far as your other point is concerned regarding the impact - it is known from the very beginning that what impact of such a big lock on Goa mining would be. Goa mining is totally export oriented because there are no takers in India.
22 yrs on, closed Sesa Goa mining site turns a shade greener
Apart from huge CAD, fiscal deficit, effects on foreign exchange reserves, another important aspect to take in mind here is that this market has been developed over the decades with very painstaking efforts by Goan miners. As you know Goa is mining for last six-seven decades, while Japan, South Korea, Europe, besides China has been mining in the last decade or so. This market has been developed very painstakingly and nobody is waiting for the supplier as to when they resume supply. That is a huge concern and I think all of the planners and administration people including the court understand that and that is where the urgency is.
Goa is a small state, but it is still a state and state's economy is hugely impacted. One-third of the population is reeling under uncertainty. 25 percent of the broad state domestic product has gone and one-third of the state's revenue has gone, so this is a huge issue.
In case of Goan mining for your audience I must tell almost 50 percent of the revenue goes to the exchequer in the form of export duty, government royalty and in the form of income tax.
Q: Do you think as and when you are able to mine and start exporting will you find Indian iron ore selling at a discount because of the risk premium?
A: It is more likely than not.
Q: You indicated that the Supreme Court will be hearing the Karnataka mining ban case till Thursday. Are we likely to get a resolution on Thursday itself or the resolution on category B mines is not going to come so quickly?
A: I am optimistic from the very beginning. It is a matter of time only. As far as our mines' resumption is concerned, we must tell everybody one thing that Supreme Court is allowing the resumption of mining, but there are various other approvals including the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) approvals which are all lapsed, also needs to be in place. We are also requesting Supreme Court to give an appropriate directive to those ministries to give a temporary permit or something like that so that we can resume the operations fast.
Q: How long will these other approvals take, the likes from an MoEF? While the approvals are still coming through how high is the likelihood of you all getting a temporary license to go ahead and start mining?
A: As per the laid down laws of the land on expiry of any licenses you are supposed to apply for renewal one year in advance which in our case we have applied 16 months in advance. It is unfortunate that the concerned authorities have not processed those applications because they were under the impression that Supreme Court has banned it, so we have got nothing to do right now, but the matter has started being processed.
After Supreme Court has intervened and told that we have never told that no processing of applications should be done. However, it takes its own time. Being an Indian we know, in India these government approvals do not get done overnight. At state government level our forest clearance has been processed. Now it has to be moved to the central government MoEF and then it has to ultimately clear.
So that is why there is something called Temporary Work Permit (TWP). That is to be given by the MoEF for a defined timeframe, maybe six months or so or three months of so and for which we are requesting Supreme Court to issue an appropriate directive to MoEF to give us the TWP for that.
Q: Do you think that you will get some inventory liquidation permission from the court in Goa at least?
A: I am optimistic and we are hopeful. As I have spelt in brief that impact in Goa is huge and some economic activity on the mining front has to start very fast.
Q: Are you looking at starting your pig iron operations through imported iron ore?
A: This is always an option for us to evaluate. This is pure economics. We are running our pig iron operations in a very constrained way because of the iron ore availability issue as well as high cost. So this is an economic consideration which we are continuously evaluating.
However, currently as you know the iron ore price in the world market has also gone up in last couple of months and that is why at the moment in spite the domestic price is very high, economically it does not make much sense, particularly considering when you have to import you have to import a shipload of ore which is a big quantity as far as our pig iron plant is concerned.


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Cooper Peak Overview (12,296 ft.)
Cooper Peak is one of several reclusive twelvers found in the northwest corner of Colorado's famed Indian Peaks; just outside the southern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. It belongs to a group of mountains which rise above the isolated and majestic Hell Canyon and Roaring Fork drainages west of the Continental Divide. Although over-shadowed by their more famous neighbors to the north and south, the summits of Watanga Mountain (12,375 ft.), Hiamovi Mountain (12,395 ft.), Marten Peak (12,041 ft.), and Cooper Peak (12,296 ft.) exemplify the solitude and isolation that this little corner of the Indian Peaks offers. Compared to the surrounding summits these mountains see few visitors; they are on the edge of one of Colorado's most heavily utilized wildernesses but people rarely come to see these lesser summits. This is a good thing. The canyons are rugged, the lakes are serene, the summits, although often posessing a hikable route, often harbor a severely glaciated aspect with precipitous cliffs and smooth buttresses. Cooper Peak fits in well amongst these little giants.
Cooper Peak lies between Hell Canyon and the Island Lake/Gourd Lake drainage that feeds into the large Buchannan Creek. It is difficult to get to, being 10.2 miles distant from the Monarch Lake Trailhead. A camp at Gourd Lake offers the best options for climbing Cooper peak as the summit is then only four miles from camp. The valley above Gourd Lake has a most delectable feeling of utter remoteness, no where else in the Indian Peaks have I felt so far away from everything.
Cooper Peak's most distinctive feature seen from Gourd Lake is its marvelous South Buttress. This beautiful sweep of Front Range Granite rises spectacularly from the open benches above Gourd Lake; it is Cooper Peak's version of Hiamovi Tower. Besides being gorgeous the buttress is reported to offer a sweet short fourth class climb.
Cooper Peak's easiest route is via the Marten Peak-Cooper Peak saddle. From the saddle the route up Cooper ascends a boulder strewn ridge up what Gerry Roach terms the "mini-coulior"; for what it is worth this is a fun little route. The saddle also offers decent access to Cooper's sister Peak, Marten Peak. Although Cooper Peak can be "hiked" from this saddle Marten requires a scramble. Together these summits make up a pleasant set of twins which could (and maybe should) be done together. Because of Marten's close proximity I shall describe this summit in a section to follow.
Marten Peak Overview (12,041 ft.)
Marten Peak is Cooper Peak's magnificent twin located just to the west of Cooper. Seperated by seven-tenths of a mile along a passable ridge it would normaly be climbed along with Cooper. Although Marten lacks the stature of Cooper Peak it has more of a presence. Its craggy slopes and distinctive summit cap make it stand out amongst the surrounding peaks. The summit cap requires a short scramble to surmount and for this reason I failed to ascend this mountain on my trip up Cooper (I was with dogs). As soon as someone creates a Marten Peak page I will gladly surrender this material to them. Until then I present the views of Marten I had from an ascent of Cooper.
Getting There
To get to Cooper Peak one must get to the Monarch Lake Trailhead. Monarch Lake is located about a mile to the Southwest of the much larger Lake Granby. The trailhead is reached from Denver by following Highway 40 over Berthoud Pass to the Highway 34 junction. Continue on Highway 34 for five miles. Turn east onto Arapaho Bay Road which runs along the south shores of Grand Lake. Follow this road for 10.1 miles to the well signed trailhead. This trailhead serves a vast trail system (the Cascade Trail, Hell Canyon Trail, Gourd Lake Trail, Buchannen Pass Trail, Crater Lake Trail, and Arapaho Pass Trail) . Access to Cooper Peak is granted via the Buchanan Pass Trail to the Gourd Lake Trail.
Maps and Such
Warning, the terrain around here is complicated.
Below is a Topo! map with Cooper Peak routes highlighted. Software by National Geographic, annotations by Jon Bradford.
Red Tape
Here is a summery of the Indian Peak Wilderness Rules and Regulations.
-Motorized vehicles are not permitted, including bicycles or hangliders.
-A permit is required for camping in the wilderness area between June 1 and Sept. 15. Permits are issued for 19 travel zones within the Indian Peak boundaries. Permits are $5.00 at the following offices. For information or to apply for a use permit, contact the U.S. Forest Service, Boulder Ranger District, 2140 Yarmouth Ave., 303-541-2500, or the Sulphur Ranger District, 9 Ten Mile Drive, P.O. Box 10, Granby, CO 80446, 1-970-887-4100. For recorded information, call the Indian Peaks Wilderness Information Line at 303-541-2519.
-Only a certain number of groups are allowed in each travel zone for overnight camping. Camping is limited to two weeks in any four-week period; the two weeks can be in any travel zone.
-Organized groups (maximum size of 12) must have permit for camping or hiking at all times.
-Campsites must be at least 100 yards from lakes and streams.
-Fires are prohibited east of the Continental Divide. Fires are allowed in certain areas west of the divide.
-Dogs must be leashed.
When To Climb
Cooper Peak could well be rendered inaccessable by the deep snowfall the Indian Peaks recieve in wintertime. The ten mile approach in deep snow would require a magnificent effort. June thought October/November would be much more pragmatic for those wanting to partake of this regions isolation.
Mountain Conditions
Excellent camping is found near Gourd Lake. There are several campsites along the western shores of this pristine mountain lake that will not dissapoint. For those not able to make it so far in there are some less inviting campsites along Buchannen Creek. From June 1st to September 15th all camping requires a permit.


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Six Nations: 'Castro' ruled out of irish tie
Italy's formidable scrum will be less potent when they visit Lansdowne Road on Saturday week after Martin Castrogiovanni was ruled out for six weeks.
The Leicester prop fractured a rib during the first half of last weekend's defeat to England at the Stadio Olimpico. His club coach Richard Cockerill revealed the extent of his injury yesterday.
"The initial diagnosis is four to six weeks, and that's bad luck for Castro," he said. "He was really up for the England game and carried the ball a lot. But then he fell on the ball, got a bang in the ribs and he has cracked one."
Meanwhile, Chris Robshaw will lead England for the rest of the Six Nations.
"Chris has stepped into the role well and led a new team in two tough away fixtures," said stand-in coach Stuart Lancaster. "He is one of many leaders we could have chosen against Scotland and Italy but he has shown on and off the field the qualities required to captain a side."
Belfast Telegraph


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|September 9, 2010, 12:47 PM
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Join Date: September 25, 2009
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 881
Is DPMS good?
Kind of what the name implies. My dad has been thinking about buying and AR-15. DPMS seems like one of the less expensive brands in our area, which is good, but my dad wants to be sure he's not buying a bad brand. I read that they're the 2nd largest AR producer blah, blah, blah.
I'd appreciate input.
Slow is Smooth. Smooth is Fast.
|September 9, 2010, 12:52 PM
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They are not the worst, but not the best.
I would look for a S&W M&P15 over the DPMS. They are usually priced pretty reasonable...
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776
|September 9, 2010, 12:54 PM
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Join Date: March 11, 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 600
My brother loves his its accurate and dependable. My DPMS I shot about 250 rounds out of it and I could get 30 rounds in a 12x12 target I took off the crappy Tapco hand gaurd I put on it and put on the stock hand gaurd and my groups shrunk ALOT. They are a good rifle just make sure what you put on it is quality.
|September 9, 2010, 03:45 PM
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My DPMS is decent, it is not a FN out of the Cosmiline or anything but it shoot's reliably and straight-enough for me to use as SD/HD/Stay frosty with gun. The quality and finish are what you would expect of a gun in their price range. I say go ahead and take the next step up to an M&P or other in the next $200-300 more range. Again not a bad gun but I would suggest a little higher quality.
PM me and I will give you some in-depth pics and more info on my personnel exp.
Buy your guns by Yardline,
Not Looks.
|September 9, 2010, 04:16 PM
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I've used some DPMS parts in builds, and quite honestly, while they work they just aren't up to the levels of brands that cost not much more. While anecdotal evidence is only that, I've read enough on them to not feel entirely comfortable with them but I don't consider them true junk either.
They're ok. They're a value brand, and I'd consider them as low on the pole as I would go or recommend. Not much more money starts getting you into better rifles right quick.
|September 9, 2010, 04:37 PM
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They're average. Good but average. Poor fits with most lowers (loose fitting)
Krav Maga/Judo
Qualified Rifleman/Marksmanship Instructor/Lic. Medic
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" Romans 8:1
|September 10, 2010, 03:45 PM
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Sad really. They were leading the market there for a few years but have been outpaced by the heavy competition in the AR market. They seem to be going for the budget AR market lately.
But I am thrilled with the products I have from them, LR-308s.
Proxima est Mors, Malum Nullum adhibit Misericordiam
|September 10, 2010, 03:52 PM
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Location: AZ
Posts: 1,129
DPMS is one of the more problematic guns in Law Enforcement Training. It's a commonly purchased gun by LE agencies making the selection on price and NOT on quality.
If you're not going to be defending your life with it, and just want an economical gun for recreation, it will probably be fine.
A Colt, Daniel Defense, or BCM AR can be had for not much more than DPMS. And NO ONE ever buys a good AR and wishes he'd have bought a mediocre one. The reverse is not true however.
|September 10, 2010, 11:56 PM
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A couple people have said aim a little higher for S&W and I think that's good advice. DPMS, RRA, BM and Oly work ok but for not much more you can move up to S&W quality or maybe ArmaLite. For a little more you can move up to the even better BCM, Spikes, DD, etc. And of course there's Colt, LMT and Noveske but the price is getting up there.
|September 11, 2010, 07:10 AM
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DPMS is fine, thier customer support is great. My DPMS 308 shoots everything I run in it and shoots to 1" with any decent ammo.
My rifle and pistol are tools, I am the weapon.
|September 11, 2010, 07:26 AM
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DPMS is very popular here in Arizona. I see a lot of them locally at the ranges here.
I have two and they shoot just fine. I had the LR308 out yesterday and ran 60 rounds through it and then ran 60 rounds through an M1A.
A fun day all the way around.
There were some issues with a run of magazines that did not function well. That problem is long gone.
I would buy them again.
|September 11, 2010, 08:02 AM
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Join Date: December 20, 2009
Posts: 115
I have bought one from ammo bros, although its not a true dpms, the upper has been stacked in all the right places. It has a double star lower, the trigger is very nice, breaks clean. It is more accurate then I can shoot, very little play between upper and lower and finish seems okay. I reload and it shoots them really well, If i could afford to compete though, where money is no option I would get something else but. If people are so concern on home defense and someone comes to your home with another ar, just shoot them and now u have theirs as a back up if you want. Shot gun is better for home defense anyways, just my 2 cents..............maybe it's only .01$
|September 11, 2010, 08:05 AM
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Location: Arkansas
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A friend bought one that would not even chamber the round.
How it passed a final quality control check is a real puzzlement. Unless they don't have one. I thought all firearms had to be test fired before shipment.
|September 11, 2010, 08:24 AM
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There MUST be more to the story.
|September 11, 2010, 10:07 AM
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|September 11, 2010, 10:32 AM
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|September 11, 2010, 10:37 AM
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I had a DPMS AP4 from 2004-2008 and it performed flawlessly. Never had an issue with it and it ate everything I ever fed it. I just got tired of handloading for it on a single stage press and black rifles just aren't my thing. So when Obama got elected, I was able to sell it for what I paid for it and then some, but I sold a few extras with it as well. If I ever get the itch for another Mforgery I wouldn't hesitate to consider another DPMS.
|September 11, 2010, 11:34 AM
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Posts: 842
If you DON'T want to spend $1000, I'd get a Spikes LONG before a DPMS. They are Milspec except for the barrel - which is still a good grade of steel:
They are not on the "chart" because they are small.
|September 11, 2010, 12:15 PM
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Location: jax fl
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i was going to go with a dpms... but i ordered the spikes tactical le m4 for $799. i here nothing but great things about spikes stuff. cant wait to try it out
|September 11, 2010, 02:30 PM
Join Date: February 24, 2009
Posts: 85
From what I have read , I was under the impression that DPMS was middle of the road. A nice budget brand. I've got several Franken AR's that I've assembled.
I just purchased a DPMS upper ($412 shipped from Midway) for a Spikes lower. I did throw in a Thunderbolt BCG though. I will hopefully be able to shoot it next weekend. My others are a Stag upper w/LAR lower and a JD machine upper w/Mega lower (not finished) I figure these are all middle of the road guns. Hopefully I have good luck with the DPMS. I just mainly plink/range shoot with them so I don't really need a high end gun, these work fine for me.
|September 12, 2010, 01:39 PM
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My AR is a DPMS Panther 16" SS heavy upper in .223. It's mainly just a gun to take to the range and shoot. Overall I like it more than my friend's Bushmaster and worlds better than another friend's Oly. Some have said they are a poor fit for most lowers, but I had no problems with the Delton I used for the build.
|September 12, 2010, 06:57 PM
Join Date: August 30, 2010
Posts: 27
Literally just walked in the door from a trip to the gun store, the smith and armoror both agreed that DPMS or Daniel Defense were the best bang for the buck. The armoror actually elaborated and said DPMS will do anything you ask of it and more, walking out the door under $1000. The only issue was that while they had two brand spanking new DD carbines in the store they would have to order the DPMS. Said sometimes it takes quite a while for them to show up. Basically when I buy I am going with enough for the DD and hoping they can get a DPMS in less than 4 weeks. If not, I'll walk out that same day with the DD... For about $300 more.
|September 13, 2010, 01:00 AM
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Join Date: June 18, 2009
Location: NorthWest USA
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Don't know the actual prices you saw and if they're reasonable but in general an extra $300 for a DD is money well spent. You can't always trust the opinion of experts whether talking face to face or online. This is why it's so important to do the research and become your own expert.
Of course I'm just another guy online but I'd study that google spreadsheat linked above!
Last edited by Quentin2; September 13, 2010 at 01:06 AM.
|September 13, 2010, 01:15 AM
Junior member
Join Date: January 1, 2007
Location: Idaho
Posts: 2,282
I had one years ago, stainless heavy free floating barrel, put a jp interprize trigger on it. TSD was right, upper and lower recievers weren't tight, put one of those accu wedge thingees or whatever they are called to deal with the slop. The trigger was great but the accuracy sucked, sold it at a loss.
|September 13, 2010, 10:53 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: September 25, 2009
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 881
Thanks for the input
My father ended up buying a DPMS last Saturday from Cabela's for $850. I managed to pass along some of your knowledge to him before he made his decision. He said he looked at a few brands and he felt fine buying. It looks pretty standard with carrying handle and from placed sight. He also bought 400 rounds for it, and he asked me to help him break it in. We put 100 rounds through it and we didn't have a single hiccup.
Once again thanks everyone. I'll be sure to let everyone know more of what I think of it after our hunting/shoot-a-palooza trip next month.
Slow is Smooth. Smooth is Fast.
Last edited by Departed402; September 13, 2010 at 03:50 PM. Reason: to add price
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Tim Tebow: Why the Denver Broncos QB Is the NFL MVPDecember 5, 2011
Did you hear that sound yesterday?
The steam whistled, the horn blared and the conductor yelled, "All aboard the Tebow Train!"
After bringing his Broncos back from behind to escape Minnesota with his sixth win in seven starts, media types far and wide, fans from all over Broncos Country and even team big wigs like John Elway himself have jumped onto the Tebow Train.
And with good reason.
Tim Tebow is legitimately a leader of men and at this point of the season, with only four regular-season games remaining, Tebow is the NFL MVP.
The criticism surrounding Tebow is deafening—his mechanics stink, he runs a high school offense, he must learn how to pass the ball better to succeed in the NFL—but Tebow doesn't hear all that noise; he just keeps confidently controlling NFL contests in crunch time.
No, he's not the most polished passer, not even close, but Tebow is a workhorse, tirelessly striving to improve tossing the ball.
Yesterday in his comeback victory against the Vikings, Tebow threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns and completed 66.7 percent of his passes—all season highs for the relative rookie QB. And it was how the youngster threw the ball, hitting Demaryius Thomas in stride down the sideline for a 42-yard completion and dropping another one into him in the back corner of the end zone, that was impressive.
He undoubtedly played like a polished NFL quarterback, the best quarterback in the league yesterday as his 149.3 passer rating topped every other QB.
But this isn't just about Tebow progressing as a pro quarterback—which is happening before our very eyes—it's about giving Tebow recognition as the NFL MVP.
The Broncos started the season as a terrible team.
After finishing 2010 4-12, Denver started Kyle Orton at quarterback and the team's attempts at winning on the football field were futile.
The Broncos started 1-4 and it looked like it would take a miracle to even come close to last year's miserable mark. The offense was offensive under Orton and Denver's defense was despicable as it ranked dead last in the NFL.
Enter Tim Tebow.
Tebow came in at halftime of the Chargers game Week 5 and led the Broncos to 14 second-half points to nearly bring the team back but eventually lose 29-24.
In his first start, Tebow was terrible for three-and-a-half quarters, but when it mattered most he was on top of his game and took his team from 15 points down to 18-15 winners.
The Broncos were completely outmatched when they faced the Detroit Lions the next week, and it should be noted that Tebow's only two turnovers on the year were given up in the 45-10 loss.
But the Broncos bounced back: They outplayed Oakland (38-24), somehow escaped Kansas City with a win in November (which Denver hardly ever does) and Tebow led three straight fourth-quarter comebacks to defeat New York (17-13), San Diego (16-13) and Minnesota (35-32) yesterday.
Denver was 1-4 before Tebow—a team sitting in the basement of the AFC West with no hopes of making the playoffs—but nine weeks later, the Broncos are 7-5 and lead their division. The five straight wins marks the first time the Broncos have won that many in a row since their second Super Bowl-winning season in 1998.
On the season, Tebow has scored 13 touchdowns while turning the ball over only twice, the highest percentage of any quarterback in the NFL in 2011.
Still, the Broncos haven't won solely due to Tebow's play, but what he brings to the locker room—an undeniable confidence, enthusiasm and leadership—has brought the Broncos into the playoff picture.
It's easy to point to four fourth-quarter comebacks and say that Tebow is the reason Denver is winning, but his spirit is infectious and has invigorated everyone that wears the Broncos blue and orange.
The Denver defense has gone from dead last to 23rd in scoring and players like Andre Goodman, rookie Chris Harris and Joe Mays have all stepped their games up since Tebow took over. And on offense, second-year receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have increased their play greatly with the engaging and exciting young QB under center.
On top of that, the Broncos now lead the league in rushing, at 1,907 total yards, with Tebow accounting for 468 of them and three touchdowns.
Simply stated, the Broncos are winning because of Tim Tebow.
His on-field play has been flawed but magical, as he does anything it takes to earn his team a victory. Off the field, Tebow inspires teammates to be their best and it shows on both sides of the ball.
Before Tebow, the Broncos were the laughingstock of the NFL.
With him as their quarterback and leader, Denver is squarely in the playoff picture and is a team no one wants to play in the postseason.
If the season ended today, Tim Tebow would be your NFL MVP. And if the Broncos continue to win over the last month of the season, he may just be anyway.
Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist actively seeking a career in journalism. Along with being your CSU Rams Examiner, Kurtzman writes for Blake Street Bulletin, Stadium Journey, Bleacher Report and Mile High Hoops.
Follow Rich on Twitter for breaking news, need-to-know retweets and interesting insight on the Rams and everything Colorado sports-related.
Follow Rich on Facebook for links to all his pieces and breaking news.


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Overtime again: Somerset wins Division 4 state championship
The heartbreak of Somerset's double-overtime state championship loss last year was swept away when the Spartans defeated Big Foot 35-33 to win the Division 4 state championship at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Thursday.
This game was also an overtime decision. Somerset got the ball first in the overtime, with battering ram fullback Vern Breault covering the first 20 yards of the drive. The final five yards were covered by quarterback Tyler Ledbeter, who scored his third touchdown of the night.
Last year, the Spartans couldn't get the two-point conversion on their overtime score, which ultimately decided the game. This year, Ledbeter pitched the ball to halfback Bobby LeRoy, who went untouched around left end for the two points.
Big Foot then got its chance and state Player of the Year Mason Dixon quickly converted, scoring on a 19-yard touchdown. Big Foot then elected to try a pass play for the two-point try. The pass to the edge of the end zone glanced off the receiver's hands, locking up the second football state championship in Somerset history. The Spartans were also state champions in 2002.
Ledbeter and Breault led the Spartans in game that was packed with drama. Ledbeter was battling illness, so severe that there were doubts about whether he could play in the second half. For much of the second half and the overtime, the Spartans didn't have Ledbeter playing defense, letting him conserve his energy.
Ledbeter came up with big play after big play in the game. He scored on touchdown runs of 46 and 51 yards in the first half. The second of those touchdowns may have been the most spectacular of his career, a weaving effort where he broke several tackles and made several sharp cuts.
Ledbeter also made two fumble recoveries, both with immense importance. On the first play of the overtime, Breault fumbled, but Ledbeter dove in to cover the ball. Ledbeter also produced the only turnover of the game. Somerset defensive end Reggie Larson sacked Big Foot quarterback Carter Hehr, forcing a fumble. Ledbeter recovered at the Big Foot 9-yard line, setting up a Breault touchdown that gave Somerset a 27-20 lead.
Somerset was able to control the clock in the game, using the running of Breault and Ledbeter to run extended drives. Breault carried the ball 42 times, gaining 205 yards. Ledbeter finished the game with 159 yards rushing on 15 carries. Dixon led Big Foot with 166 yards rushing on 24 carries.
Ironically, in both seasons where Somerset won its state championship, it did not win its conference. The same can be said for the other St. Croix County state champion. Glenwood City, which won the Division 7 championship game over Potosi 46-21, tied for second place in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference.
A reception is being planned for the Spartans when they return to Somerset. Details will be posted here when announced, or call Somerset High School at 715-247-3355 for more information.


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"Any person who selects a goal in life which can be fully achieved, has already defined his own limitations"
"How many a dispute could have been deflated into a single paragraph if the disputants had dared to define their terms"
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Burger Boat's Sycara IV Wins Award
Burger Boat Company's Syara IV, a 2010 151.2 ft Fantail Motor Yacht, was awarded the Best Design Trophy for Custom Yachts Under 50m at the prestigious 2009 World Yachts Trophies organized by LuxMedia Group and held in conjunction with the Cannes International Yacht and Boat Show September 12, 2009.
Sycara IV won the award thanks in part to her unique design, reflective of her owner's desire to build a family yacht true to the Golden Age of yachting. Sycara IV recaptures the grace of a bygone era and represents Burger's continued commitment to designing and building custom yachts to meet their owner's specific requirements and desires. Styled after the classic yachts of the 1920's, Sycara IV brings together an impressive collaboration of experts. These include her owners, with their extensive yachting experience and yacht building knowledge; Steve Narkawicz, project manager; Bruce King, with his schooner bow and fantail hull; Ken Freivokh, who helped define her interior spaces and exterior detailing; and Burger's team of designers, engineers and craftspeople.
Sycara IV will make her world debut at the 2009 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.


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We are hard at work developing the agenda for ESP/IEG 2018. We will share the schedule with you later this year. Here are just some of the industry leaders and path-breakers that have spoken at our previous conferences.
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19 year old sentenced on kidnapping and sexual assault charges
Tue, 14 Jan 2014 21:34:54 GMT —
Dalton Willard, 19, will spend the next 25 to 35 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old Mason County boy.
Willard wept in court as the judge handed down the sentence.
The judge sentenced Willard to 25 to 35 years for criminal sexual conduct, first degree and 9 to 35 years for kidnapping. The sentences will be served at the same time.
Willard was also ordered to pay $1745.44 in restitution to the victims family.
Neither Willard or the victim chose to address the court before sentencing.


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Review for Global Village Champions Foundation Inc, Sarasota, FL, USA
Im not really sure who runs this charity but the fact that Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and a bunch of other celebrities are helping out with Globalvillage means they must be doing something right!
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Role: Volunteer


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Photos of Joshua Jackson, Diane Kruger, Nikki Reed, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anna Kendrick at the Behind the Camera Awards
Nikki and Anna Bring Twilight Sparkle Behind the Camera
Nikki Reed was fresh off her long press weekend supporting New Moon but got dressed up last night to pose with costar Anna Kendrick at MovieLine's Behind the Camera Awards in LA. They joined adorable couple Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger. Nikki and Anna were on hand to honour their special effects editor Susan MacLeod, and Diane came out on behalf of Inglourious Basterds producer Lawrence Bender. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, meanwhile, presented their (500) Days of Summer screenwriters with statues. The event was designed to honour those who labour behind the scenes, but the well-dressed ladies couldn't help but take a little bit of the spotlight.
To see more from the event, just
Images include: Matthias Breschan, Nikki Reed, Anna Kendrick, Zooey Deschanel, Diane Kruger, Joshua Jackson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jason Bateman, Dana E. Glauberman


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MILWAUKEE, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball approved the sale of the Houston Astros Thursday, a move that signaled changes that will soon alter the look of the sport.
A group headed by Jim Crane purchased the team from Drayton McLane with the stipulation the Astros will move from the National League to the American League in 2013.
MLB.com reported the agreement by Crane to move his new team from one league to the other earned him a reduction in the sale price from $680 million to $610 million.
Commissioner Bud Selig also announced Thursday that the baseball playoffs would be expanded to include an additional wild card from each league and that there would now be three rounds in the post-season.
The expansion means a third of the teams in MLB will participate in the chase for the World Series title. Although it has yet to be made final, Selig said it is likely the first playoff round will consist of a one-game showdown between the wild card participants from each league.
With the move by the Astros to the AL, each league will now have 15 teams. That, in turn, ensures inter-league play will be a part of baseball's schedule throughout each season.
"I welcome Jim Crane and his group as they prepare to become the new stewards of the Astros," Selig said. "I thank them for their patience and determination throughout a long but necessary process, which allowed us to accomplish our due diligence. The enthusiasm of Jim and his group will serve the Astros and their fans very well in the years ahead."
Houston's move will be made from the NL Central to the AL West, where the Astros will join Texas, Seattle, Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels. Houston has been in the National League since being created as an expansion team in 1962.
Crane had previously attempted to purchase the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and the Texas Rangers in 2010.


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"Even though I approved of Afghanistan and opposed Iraq from the beginning, I still resent that I was not asked or given the opportunity to support those soldiers," Clinton said. He said he "should not have gotten" the tax cuts he received as a wealthy earner."It is odd that someone with so many resources and connections needs to be "given the opportunity" to support the troops. But I will step up and, as he requested, ask him to support the troops and provide him with some opportunities to do so:
1) Cut a check to the government:
Make your check payable to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and in the memo section, notate that it is a Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public. Mail your check to:
Attn Dept G
Bureau Of the Public Debt
P. O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188
This will free up federal resources to support the troops.
2) Contribute directly to organization that supports soldiers and veterans.
The Pentagon has a web site, http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/help.html, with lots of ideas for President Clinton.
He could donate frequent flier miles (he might want to also suggest this to his globe-trotting pal, Al Gore), donate computers, write letters, support service aid societies and more.
3) Give up your taxpayer subsidized perks.
Taxpayers pay for rent and expenses for Clinton's Harlem-based office, including a $75 thousand phone bill in 2006.
Other suggestions to help the troops with out increasing the tax burden are welcome below in the comment field.


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- Garden fatigue set in really early this year, mostly due to the storm.
- Our road was off-limits for a week while it was being blacktopped.
- My head hurts. All. The. Time. (Because of my, um, dental procedure.)
- We upgraded to the top-of-the-line satellite package, with all the movie channels.
So my physical activity has been curtailed (temporarily, I promise) and I'm parking my ass in front of the tube, watching movie after movie after movie. (Most recently Crazy. Stupid. Love. and now I want to see every movie Steve Carrell has ever made. And I want to marry him, too.)
As I was pawing through the yarn closet, I found a bag of Obama-blue wool and immediately snagged it for the bag project. I'm going to the West Virginia Federation of Democratic Women convention next month, and each county chapter is supposed to bring something for a fund-raising auction. I'm going to fill the bag with local products, decorate the outside with some campaign buttons and hope it brings a decent price.
(Obama-blue clothing/accessories are hard to find. Navy, baby, sky, turquoise, slate – all readily available. It's very important at this convention – and at all Democratic events – to wear this particular shade of blue.)
And apparently I have yarn on my subconscious mind, as well, because I dreamed about knitting a scarf for my daughter. I found two balls of shiny silver ribbon and two balls of black/grey/silver mohair. The plan is to provisionally cast on about six feet of stitches and knit a striped scarf sideways, alternating the ribbon and the mohair and leaving a tail for fringe, which will be knotted together when it's finished. I have no idea if this will work or not.
But we have all those movie channels now, so I might as well try it. Heh.
Don't forget about the Summer of Yarn Giveaway! (Rules are here.) If you haven't already commented, leave one to be in the running. And even if you have commented already, I still love hearing from you.


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When Goliath met David
In Tom Gauld's new story, the Biblical tale of David and Goliath is retold from the giant's point of view, making for the comic book artist's most accomplished and moving work to date
In Tom Gauld's new story, the Biblical tale of David and Goliath is retold from the giant's point of view, making for the comic book artist's most accomplished and moving work to date…
At nearly 100 pages, Goliath is Gauld's most extensive graphic narrative yet and his first for a major comics publisher. Self-publishing for the best part of a decade, his commercial illustration projects have seen him contributing regular strips to The New York Times and The Guardian, but in signing up with Drawn & Quarterly he is welcomed into an esteemed comic book stable.
Readers familiar with his drawing style will recognise the cross-hatched characters and landscapes in Goliath, and the existential theme that has framed much of his work from Guardians of the Kingdom in 2001, to the Hunter and Painter series of 2007.
In a Gauld comic, 'action' isn't necessarily high on the agenda; instead there is often a fair bit of waiting around, even some well-crafted silence – life, even life within a Bible story, always has a lot more mundanity to it than the superhero comics let us believe. And there's always a bit of admin to do, too, as in Goliath of Gath's case.
This version of the story is concerned with the foreground to Goliath's famous meeting with the slingshot-wielding David – and in the lead-up to that event there is plenty for Gauld to play with.
Goliath is depicted as a bit of a pacifist but he seems to acknowledge the irony of being in the army. While he doesn't like bear baiting ("It's not really my thing"), he can still appreciate the feel of a decent suit of armour ("It does feel rather good, actually"). Gauld is a great draughtsman, but what also marks his work stand out is his keen ear for dialogue and tone of voice, and how this is paced within the narrative.
One detail I particularly liked is the way that Goliath is occasionally drawn with his head just out of the panel: he's too tall and cumbersome to fit into the comic. Indeed, as in his earlier work, Gauld often infers things are happening beyond the confines of his frames – he isn't afraid of using white space or text-free passages, either, and employs both to powerful affect. On the left hand page, below, the boy's proud but silent fascination with his dagger in the second-to-last panel is one of many brilliantly observed moments.
And the progress of the approaching old man, shown below, draws a scene out agonisingly over two pages:
In Goliath, Gauld renders his obsessions with various aspects of daily life which we can all relate to: the middle management of the army captain serving his superior; the fantastically personal questions of the boy shield-bearer; and Goliath's put-upon reluctance to be part of the army's puffed up, gung-ho spiel.
As a character, Gauld's Goliath gets our sympathy from the outset and his story is beautifully brought to life by one of the UK's best. A win for the giant.
Goliath is published by Drawn & Quarterly; £14.99. Gauld is set to appear at a selection of bookshops in the UK where he will be signing copies of the book (see the events poster on his site, here). There is also a launch next Friday at Gosh! in London where Gauld has also created a Goliath window graphic for the shop and also designed a special limited edition bookplate for the book, which can be pre-ordered here.
Finally, Gosh! also has a good interview with Gauld who talks about how he made the new book and his move to D&Q. Talking of the David and Goliath story, Gauld says there are "big gaps" in the narrative so "my story could take place in those big gaps". The film was made by Tom Crowley.


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Lake Sallie Hatchery celebrating 100 years
For 100 years, the Lake Sallie Fish Hatchery at Dunton Locks -- just out side of Detroit Lakes -- has been helping Mother Nature along -- increasing the fish population in area lakes.
It has undoubtedly strengthened commerce, business and livelihoods in lakes country since its inception in 1912.
That's why DNR officials are hosting a century celebration on Aug. 9, which will include hatchery tours to the public, refreshments, some fishing and speakers like Wilbur Joy.
Joy grew up and worked on the hatchery as his father, William Joy, was the manager, starting there in 1924 and retiring in 1970.
While the hatchery was in full swing by the time Joy began making childhood memories there, he says there was once just a little river there -- an outlet from Detroit Lakes.
But at the turn of the century, John K. West -- a Massachusetts man of financial means -- came into town.
"And when he saw how the Pelican River connected all these lakes, he thought it was the most beautiful place in the world," said Joy, "and he immediately thought he should attract people from North Dakota, South Dakota, Canada..."
And he did.
But his newly purchased land had one problem -- there was a five-foot drop from Detroit Lake to Lake Sallie.
"And that made it hard to do anything except to flood that area so they could float boats down the embankment where it goes into Lake Sallie," said Joy. "So they blocked the river off at the outlet of Detroit Lake, deepened the channel, and they strengthened the embankment and built the locks."
After they built the locks (which West named "Dunton" after his friend, Fred Dunton, who helped finance the project), they shut the river off and Muskrat Lake formed.
West built the Pelican River Navigation Company, which used steamboats to haul people from lake to lake, allowing them to enjoy the lakes in a way they never had.
The steamboats became a very popular attraction, and commerce around the lakes quickly followed.
Knowing how vital the fishing industry was to the area, West decided to donate the land at Dunton Locks to the state of Minnesota under one circumstance -- they build a hatchery there.
It took a few years, but finally the state appropriated enough money to begin construction on a hatchery, which would be right next to the water head. It was 4½ feet deep and moving -- the perfect set up for fish spawning and reproduction.
Construction began in the fall of 1911 and was completed in the spring of 1912. A cottage was also built at the same time, which was not only the residence for the fishery superintendent, but also acted as the DNR headquarters.
They began helping Mother Nature along by physically taking the eggs out of the females, the semen out of the males and mixing them together for hatching inside the new, cement-block building.
"There were four wooden batteries, long wooden tanks that are now metal," explained Joy. "Four stacked one on top of the other, and the jars were fitted along the battery. That's where the water came through, down through the jars, out of the spout and into the lower battery."
From there, they went underneath the concrete floor and into other tanks that were built into the floor. When the little fry would come into that tank, they'd take them out and stock them into lakes.
Back then though, it wasn't the DNR that did the stocking.
"To get the fry to the lakes, they would let the public know so they would come with their horses and carts, coming with their cream cans, scooping 20,000 fry in one can," said Joy, "and the people would put them in whatever lake they wanted."
Pairs of fish were also placed into 12 newly built ponds around the property, which were drained in the fall. Fingerlings were extracted and also stocked in various lakes.
They hatched crappies, bass, northerns, trout and walleye.
In the winter, horses were used to harvest ice for an icehouse that was also there.
But in the 1940s, the hatchery went through quite a transformation as the government's New Deal put people to work in the Works Project Administration.
Camps were set up at Dunton Locks, while the area was revamped to pull water from the colder, cleaner Lake Sallie instead of Muskrat Lake.
A new dam was built, as well as new locks. But because the steamboat industry had come to a screeching halt (thanks to automobiles), the new locks were never really used.
Eventually they were taken out and fish are now free to swim from one lake to another.
Other little changes have happened along the way as well. Buildings have since been torn down and new ones built, including a separate DNR headquarters.
The ponds are not used for stocking anymore, but are simply considered natural wetlands. DNR officials now handle all the stocking of public lakes, and they primarily just hatch walleye and sturgeon there.
"But the technology hasn't changed much," said Hatchery Manager Gary Huberty, explaining that the battery troughs are still stacked four high, but the spigots are now brass instead of wood. "And we use well water now instead of surface water just because I don't think the water quality is what it was back then."
The engineering is the same, as is the result -- a local hatchery that continues to produce one of our area's greatest natural resource -- a healthy fish population that just keeps reeling in the fishermen.


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Old Clare gets curvy
Vibrant graphic curved glass created by Bent and Curved Glass Pty Ltd is the star of the revamp of a heritage bar on the fringe of Sydney's CBD.
The Old Clare Hotel is the result of a five-year project combining a 1939 Art Deco Pub with the Victorian era 1915 CUB Headquarters in a contemporary but heritage respecting transformation designed by Tonkin Zulaika Greer Architects ( TZG).
The illuminated glass clad oval bar is the centrepiece of the reincarnated original pub bar space. The amber tones of the glass are designed to reference the history of the site formerly housing the Tooth & Co. Brewery. The golden colours representing KB Lager, Kent Old Brown and Reschs beer and beer bottles.
BCG worked closely with TZG Architects and the installation contractor, Wellfix Glass, to successfully implement the design concept.
Glass colours were selected following exhaustive sampling and assessment in lightbox mockups. BCG has custom laminated clear curved and flat glass by encapsulating a coloured printed insert with EVA interlayers. Clear to the front and a diffusing White opaque to the rear of the insert.
112 individual pieces of curved and flat glass have been meticulously face-glazed into the recesses of the industrial style steel structure of the Bar and Reception Counter elements on the ground floor street level. The patterned layouts create a lively retro ambience.
The finished project has received critical and popular acclaim and has become a key element in the success of the new Kensington Street Precinct entertainment area just off Broadway.
Bent and Curved Glass Pty Ltd manufactures all forms of curved and custom flat glass for a broad range of architectural applications throughout Australia.Learn more


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RifleSLUGS-W: Wild Web Wars
Using a wide range of weapons, the armies engage in fierce battle, attempting to annihilate each other. Command your army of slugs in battle against the computer or another player. Choose from 8 different maps and tons of weapons. You can play with another player via Bluetooth. You can also find a partner for your game by logging in to a special web server via Internet connection.
If you're stuck in RifleSLUGS-W: Wild Web Wars, ask your fellow GameFAQs members for help.
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Liam Neeson was 56 years old when he starred in Pierre Morel's Taken and suddenly discovered a second career for himself as an action star. Now it seems that Sean Penn is banking on Morel doing the same thing for him with the upcoming Prone Gunman.
First announced back in November, the new project is based on the novel of the same name by Jean-Patrick Manchette and has Penn set to star as an international operative on the run from his own handlers. And according to a new report by The Hollywood Reporter Morel is now in talks to direct the movie. The Europe-set action film is being made by Joel Silver's Silver Pictures and Studio Canal, and is looking to start up production soon. Should things go according to plan filming will start in spring of this year - though the trade doesn't mention a possible release date.
It appeared as though Morel's career was going to take off after the release of Taken in 2008 - having managed to direct a January action flick that got a solid response from critics and made a bunch of money - but the truth is that we haven't seen much from him since. In 2010 he followed up his hit with From Paris With Love, which was a total bomb, and he hasn't made a feature film since. Prone Gunman could be his chance to not only make Sean Penn look like a legitimate action star, but also get his Hollywood career going again.
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Ideas drive Rock County 5.0
That�s according to leaders of Rock County 5.0, a public-private initiative launched last year to foster collaboration, communication and economic development connections that benefit county communities.
As it nears its fundraising goal of $1 million, Rock County 5.0 has launched a new set of initiatives.
�We realize that repositioning and revitalizing our economy will involve a multifaceted approach over a period of three to five years,� said Mary Willmer-Sheedy, who co-chairs the group�s advisory council with Diane Hendricks of ABC Supply Co.
Hendricks said the new initiatives were impossible before because they required funding that didn�t exist. As the group approaches its funding goal, the four new strategies can proceed, she said.
Customer diversification assessments
Small- to medium-sized manufacturing companies will have access to limited funding to help them diversify. The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center will provide the assessments that evaluate existing or new products and services.
�One of the typical challenges faced by small- and medium-sized manufacturers in Rock County is an over-dependence on a few customers,� said James Otterstein, the county�s economic development manager.
Willmer-Sheedy said an example was the companies that supplied the General Motors� plant in Janesville. Those companies were here for essentially one customer.
�Then something bad happens, and it rolls right on down the line,� she said. �We want to help local companies diversify and get ahead of the curve.�
Willmer-Sheedy and Otterstein said the assessments are significant in that they�re targeted at existing companies. It�s an indication, they said, that the group isn�t channeling all of its resources to companies that don�t exist locally.
Otterstein said each assessment costs $3,000. On a case-by-case basis, the Rock County Development Alliance will pay 75 percent while the applicant pays the remainder.
Shovel-ready certification
Administered by a third party that local officials say is well recognized in the real estate development industry, the first certification will target a 200-acre parcel on Janesville�s south side and a 220-acre chunk of Beloit�s Gateway industrial park.
The certification will ensure that the properties have been through the bureaucratic red tape associated with ownership, utilities and transportation, community and environmental issues.
�It certifies that the barriers that typically come up have been addressed and removed,� Willmer-Sheedy said. �Often, a manufacturer will come in and look at a site. Everything looks good, and they go through the process.
�Then one issue comes up that drags on and on and on, and they go elsewhere.�
While several other states offer shovel-ready certification programs, but Wisconsin does not.
Otterstein believes Rock County will be the first Wisconsin community to offer an official, third-party certification.
�Considering the significant surplus of existing as well as vacant build-to-suit property that�s currently on the market in the Twin Cities to Chicago corridor, we need a way to differentiate ourselves,� he said.
Targeted communications
Willmer-Sheedy said the area needs to do a better job marketing itself, and that includes advertising the industry clusters already doing business here.
The food processing industry is one example, she said.
�We need a collaborative marketing effort that promotes that niche industry and includes everything about it from the big�Kerry Ingredients�to the small�Stump�s Hot Olives,� she said.
Internet marketing is fine to an extent, she said, but more materials need to be available for face-to-face presentations at trade shows and elsewhere.
�It goes beyond that,� she said. �We all have friends and family members around the country.
�We, and I mean everyone, needs to market ourselves to these people and not just leave it to five or six people.�
Workforce profiling
The alliance will provide detailed wage and benefits data that gives businesses the information needed to support capital investment decisions.
�These workforce profiles prove the most value when they are current,� Willmer-Sheedy said. �They will give businesses real-time data that can be used to make an informed decision.�
Last updated: 12:59 pm Thursday, December 13, 2012


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Having scored twice in the UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool FC, AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi has been recalled to the Italy squad for the first time since October ahead of the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania.
Strikers rewarded
The 33-year-old Inzaghi has registered 22 goals in 53 games for the Azzurri but has not played for his country since the 2-0 win against Ukraine on 7 October. Coach Roberto Donadoni has also rewarded forwards Cristiano Lucarelli and Tommaso Rocchi, who boast 20 and 16 Serie A goals for AS Livorno Calcio and S.S. Lazio respectively this season, with call-ups while 25-year-old centre-back Alessandro Gamberini, whose ACF Fiorentina side had the best defensive record in Serie A, is the only uncapped player involved. Italy are fourth in Group B with ten points from five matches, two behind France, Ukraine and Scotland. They play the Faroes in Torshavn on 2 June before travelling to Kaunas to meet Lithuania four days later.
Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati (Torino FC), Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus).
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (US Città di Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), Alessandro Gamberini (ACF Fiorentina), Marco Materazzi (FC Internazionale Milano), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Manuel Pasqual (ACF Fiorentina), Max Tonetto (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona).
Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Aimo Diana (US Città di Palermo), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).
Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Cristiano Lucarelli (AS Livorno Calcio), Fabio Quagliarella (UC Sampdoria), Tommaso Rocchi (S.S. Lazio).
©UEFA.com 1998-2017. All rights reserved.


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Finnish customs says it has intercepted a shipment of tank spare parts en route to Syria from Russia, suspecting it was in breach of a European Union ban on weapons exports to the war-torn country.
Lounatmaa on Friday not give details because of an ongoing investigation but said that it appeared to "involve a commercial transport from Russia to Syria." He said they were working with several international authorities but gave no details. Three captains and a first mate of the ship were questioned but had been released. The ship also was given permission to sail. (AP)


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The Killing returns in less than a month. Along with a creepy new poster and a first look photo of stars Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman, we get this great new TV spot, which does a fine job of laying out the basic plot of Season 3, which will focus on a new case and from the sound of it, multiple killings.
With Rosie Larsen's case closed, the third season will have Kinneman's Stephen Holder working on a new case, which leads him to Enos' Sarah Linden when he believes the murders may be linked to a case she was once involved with. From the teaser, it looks like a "working girl" was found dead and mostly decapitated. And she's one of more than a dozen bodies connected to this killer. Will Linden be able to help Holder get to the bottom of this case? We'll find out when The Killing returns for Season 3 on June 2 on AMC.
The Killing's return wasn't guaranteed. In fact, the series was cancelled last year after its second season. But then it was un-cancelled and renewed for a third season. We'll have to wait and see how the new season does now that it's starting with a new case, which will hopefully give new viewers an opportunity to get on board with the series. In the meantime, for those who want to get caught up before Season 3 gets going, the first two seasons are available to watch streaming on Netflix.
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