text:
Books: Lessons in surfing flow from doctor's twin passions
By Jackie R. Broach
For as long as he can remember, Dr. Tom Howard has had a passion for the ocean.
He grew up near it, played in it as a child and to this day can't stand being too far from it for long. So it's no surprise it's what he chose to write his first book about.
Howard, a Ricefields resident who practices family medicine with Doctors Care in Georgetown, recently self-published "Pablo Body Surfs," the first in a series of children's books he has planned to teach kids about surfing and respecting the ocean's power, while delivering a message of conservation.
"I think the big message is that the ocean is a lot of fun and it does need to be respected and you need to pay attention to what you're doing to it," said Howard, an avid surfer himself. "It's not a swimming pool. It's a living, breathing ecosystem and not only do you want to appreciate it, you need to take care of it."
He dedicated the book to his "surfer girls," daughters Kaitlyn, 8, and Ava, 7.
"I really wanted to create a book my girls would love to read," he said. "I have always known that one day I would combine my interest in art and my love of surfing into one project to share with children."
Howard is the book's illustrator as well as its author. He was an art major before he decided to go to medical school and favored "cartoon type art." He even named the series' title character after a favorite artist, Pablo Picasso.
The vibrant images that splash the pages with bright colors and bold lines are selling on their own as people across the world order pieces via Facebook.com.
"Most of them are going overseas," Howard said. "I have no idea why, but I just shipped out four paintings last week, all to people who live around the Dublin area. I'm selling just enough to pay for supplies and shipping and all the other things."
To Howard's mind, it's the art that really makes the book.
"It's a great way to kind of put it all together as opposed to just coming out with a message," he said. "Everybody has got something to say. This is a different way to say it."
In its current embodiment, "Pablo" is printed in paperback, but Howard's goal is to land a publisher and see it redone in hardback, with big, glossy pictures. He's looking for an agent to help him with it and hopes having a finished project to show will put him ahead.
He has seven books written, but has done illustrations for only two.
"The illustrations take forever," Howard said. "Drawing is one thing, but to do the color, that takes some time. Illustrating it is a major undertaking, even for a little tiny book."
He has a studio set up in his garage where he works on the illustrations and other projects, often with help from his girls, both budding artists.
The series is something Howard spent a lot of time thinking about before he set pen to paper. He came up with Pablo's character and was encouraged to move forward with the project by friends he surfs with.
The decision to start Pablo's adventures with body surfing was a natural. It's how Howard got started, too.
"Pablo will be on a board eventually, but it's so much fun to catch a wave with your body and surf it in. It's such a unique experience."
Writing about Pablo's experience learning to body surf took him back to his childhood and "that thrill you get from a wave pushing you toward the beach. It's the same every time and it brings you closer to the ocean and closer to nature. It's almost like going back in time to that first wave you catch as a kid."
The Pablo series is intended for kids ages 6 to 10. Howard, his wife, Kim, and their girls read it on a regular basis.
"The first time I read it to them I think they were very proud of me, because they saw me drawing and preparing the illustrations," Howard said. "I think they have an appreciation of how long it took."
Kaitlyn said she and her sister are definitely proud of their dad and his first book. "It's really cool," she said. "He gets his ideas from the ocean."


text:
Racusin, JL;
Karpov, SV;
Sokolowski, M;
Granot, J;
Wu, XF;
Pal'shin, V;
Covino, S;
... Burrows, DN; + view all
Racusin, JL;
Karpov, SV;
Sokolowski, M;
Granot, J;
Wu, XF;
Pal'shin, V;
Covino, S;
Van der Horst, AJ;
Oates, SR;
Schady, P;
Smith, RJ;
Cummings, J;
Starling, RLC;
Piotrowski, LW;
Zhang, B;
Evans, PA;
Holland, ST;
Malek, K;
Page, MT;
Vetere, L;
Margutti, R;
Guidorzi, C;
Kamble, AP;
Curran, PA;
Beardmore, A;
Kouveliotou, C;
Mankiewicz, L;
Melandri, A;
O'Brien, PT;
Page, KL;
Piran, T;
Tanvir, NR;
Wrochna, G;
Aptekar, RL;
Barthelmy, S;
Bartolini, C;
Beskin, GM;
Bondar, S;
Bremer, M;
Campana, S;
Castro-Tirado, A;
Cucchiara, A;
Cwiok, M;
D'Avanzo, P;
D'Elia, V;
Della Valle, M;
Postigo, AD;
Dominik, W;
Falcone, A;
Fiore, F;
Fox, DB;
Frederiks, DD;
Fruchter, AS;
Fugazza, D;
Garrett, MA;
Gehrels, N;
Golenetskii, S;
Gomboc, A;
Gorosabel, J;
Greco, G;
Guarnieri, A;
Immler, S;
Jelinek, M;
Kasprowicz, G;
La Parola, V;
Levan, AJ;
Mangano, V;
Mazets, EP;
Molinari, E;
Moretti, A;
Nawrocki, K;
Oleynik, PP;
Osborne, JP;
Pagani, C;
Pandey, SB;
Paragi, Z;
Perri, M;
Piccioni, A;
Ramirez-Ruiz, E;
Roming, PWA;
Steele, IA;
Strom, RG;
Testa, V;
Tosti, G;
Ulanov, MV;
Wiersema, K;
Wijers, RAMJ;
Winters, JM;
Zarnecki, AF;
Zerbi, F;
Meszaros, P;
Chincarini, G;
Burrows, DN;
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Broadband observations of the naked-eye gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B.
, 455
pp. 183-188.
Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) release copious amounts of energy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and so provide a window into the process of black hole formation from the collapse of massive stars. Previous early optical observations of even the most exceptional GRBs (990123 and 030329) lacked both the temporal resolution to probe the optical flash in detail and the accuracy needed to trace the transition from the prompt emission within the outflow to external shocks caused by interaction with the progenitor environment. Here we report observations of the extraordinarily bright prompt optical and gamma-ray emission of GRB 080319B that provide diagnostics within seconds of its formation, followed by broadband observations of the afterglow decay that continued for weeks. We show that the prompt emission stems from a single physical region, implying an extremely relativistic outflow that propagates within the narrow inner core of a two-component jet.
|Broadband observations of the naked-eye gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B
|Publisher version:
|afterglow emission, optical-emission, 2-component jet, fireball model, reverse shock, light curves, GRB 990123, telescope, spectra, flash
|UCL classification:
|UCL > School of BEAMS
UCL > School of BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
Archive Staff Only
|View Item

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Anatomy of Yoga
by: Uptown Arts • 5
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by: Uptown Arts • 5
See a 360-degree view of every muscle and structure used in each of a dozen different Yoga poses! Anatomy of Yoga reveals how each muscle contributes to the whole in creating each pose. Use as a visualization reference that's always with you, or as a handy visual aid when discussing Yoga with friends, students, and classmates.
Anatomy of Yoga features the following asanas:
- Bound Angle
- Crane
- Downward Facing Dog
- Firefly
- Four-Limbed Staff
- Heron
- Marichi's Pose
- Plank
- Scale
- Seated Forward Bend
- Upward Plank
- Warrior
Each beautifully-rendered pose can be rotated through 360-degrees to reveal an anatomically-correct depiction of the muscles and tendons used.
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text:
Texas Gas Transmission, LLC
Third Revised Volume No. 1
Contents / Previous / Next / Main Tariff Index
Effective Date: 09/15/2008, Docket: RP08-392-000, Status: Effective
Original Sheet No. 3600 Original Sheet No. 3600 GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS Section 2424. Order No. 528 Settlement Payment Cost Recovery Mechanism 24.1 Purpose. This Section of the General Terms and Conditions sets forth the procedures to reflect charges associated with the recovery of Transporter's Order No. 528 (Order No. 528) Settlement Payments. 24.2 Definitions. The definition of terms applicable to this Section are as follows: (a) Commodity Order No. 528 Surcharge Recovery Period - The one (1) year period beginning on July 1, 1999, and ending on June 30, 2000. (b) Order No. 528 Settlement Payments - Any costs incurred by the Company directly or indirectly to extinguish outstanding take-or-pay exposure under pre-Order No. 636 gas purchase contracts or to terminate the contracts or to reform the price, volume or other pertinent economic terms of the contracts with producer suppliers. (c) Order No. 528 Commodity Surcharge - A commodity surcharge reflected on Sheet Nos. 20, 21, 25, 26, 29 and 30 which is based on 75% of Order No. 528 Settlement Payments, including interest on such amounts. (d) Interest Rate - The quarterly interest rate published by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and computed in accordance with Section 154.501 of its regulations. 24.3 Determination of the Commodity Order No. 528 Surcharge. Texas Gas shall determine the Commodity Order No. 528 Surcharges to be applicable for the Annual Commodity Order No. 528 Surcharge Recovery Period of July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000, by the following procedure: (a) The Commodity Order No. 528 Charge for the Commodity Order No. 528 Surcharge Recovery Period shall be based on seventy-five percent (75%) of the total Order No. 528 Settlement Payments, including applicable interest. Pipeline shall then calculate an annual interest amount using the then effective Commission prescribed interest rate on the unamortized commodity Order No. 528 balance for each month of the Commodity Order No. 528 Surcharge Recovery Period. The sum of the annual commodity Order No. 528 amount and the interest amount shall be divided by throughput based upon the most recent 12 months of actual available data to determine the Commodity Order No. 528 Surcharge which is set forth on Sheet Nos. 20, 21, 25, 26, 29 and 30 of this tariff. (b) If, prior to June 30, 2000, the end of the recovery period, Texas Gas has recovered the maximum amount permitted, then Texas Gas may file to terminate its Order No. 528 surcharges.


text:
When IDF Successes' Are Failures
A certain amount of arrogance is behind the statement that "the defense establishment is not upset over the affair and says that this is a success of the navy, which rapidly detected a foreign vessel."
How do we know that the recent discovery of a submarine that infiltrated Israel's territorial waters is not a "naval success" story, as senior navy officers past and present have hastened to boast? It is very simple: The Israel Defense Forces concealed information about it; it was an Army Radio reporter who first broke the story.
The army does not usually hide its successes. It actually moves quickly to put the IDF spokesman into high gear to reveal them to the public. The real problem in light of the submarine affair is the increasing tendency of the IDF to try to conceal its failures, and when they are revealed, to pull the wool over the eyes of the public, to white-wash the investigation and - what is even more serious - to present these failures as grand successes.
A certain amount of arrogance is behind the statement that "the defense establishment is not upset over the affair and says that this is a success of the navy, which rapidly detected a foreign vessel."
This is the reaction we get when an unidentified submarine succeeds to reach a short distance from the most highly protected coastline in Israel. Since the end of the 1970s, the navy has changed its deployment off the northern coast following a number of terror attacks, among them the murder of the Haran family in Nahariya, the perpetrators of which came from the sea. The navy installed a closely spaced array of radar stations along the coast, and its ships continually patrol the area.
In the face of this state of readiness, when a submarine - a large, slow-moving body - manages to approach the shore undetected, it is a resounding failure.
Even the claim that the submarine was detected immediately after it entered Israel's territorial waters must be viewed with skepticism. The IDF did admit it had no clue how long the vessel had been in the vicinity.
Former navy commander Major General Avraham Ben-Shoshan gave new meaning to the actions of the mysterious and evasive submarine: "I do not agree with the term `infiltration.' What caused the submarine to run? That's what it did - it ran. It sensed it was under surveillance. They noticed it, it was discovered, in fact it failed in its mission. That's what happens to a submarine that fails in its mission, instead of being the chaser it becomes the chased."
That clears everything up. The failure is that of the party that managed to creep up to the coast without being detected; the success is that of the party that did not discover it in time.
And with braggadocio coming from who knows where, a senior officer explained exactly what had happened: "It's not the navy that failed here, but rather the commander of the submarine, in that he lost the covert action of his vessel."
In light of the navy's impressive "success," we can easily imagine what would happen if the submarine did not belong to a friendly country, but was armed with missiles and hostile intent.
The submarine's infiltration occured three days after a drone launched by Hezbollah buzzed for long minutes through Israel's airspace over Nahariya without the air force detecting it. It was a phone call from a reserves officer who alerted the air force to its presence. But even then it was not shot down, and after its operators decided that its mission was accomplished, they managed to direct it back to Lebanon.
The air force's failure is more serious because along the northern border - ever since the 1987 "night of the gliders," when six soldiers were killed at the Gibor camp east of Kiryat Shemona - closely arranged mechanisms have been in place to detect any aircraft coming in from Lebanon, even if its radar signature is small, such as that of a glider or a hang-glider.
As in the case of the submarine, the defense establishment spokesmen hastened to make clear here that this was not, heaven forbid, a failure, but a Hezbollah PR ploy: While it managed to penetrate Israel's air space, the aircraft was a mere "model airplane, which could probably have been purchased on the civilian market."
The truth, of course, is different, as the chief of staff admitted: "The drone could carry a weight of 40-50 kilograms and could carry out attacks." Such a drone could be directed with precision at any target by means of a satellite navigation system sold on the open market.
The IDF would do better if, instead of bragging about its nonexistent "successes," it would tell the truth and deal with it. It is clearly a failure when a system especially installed to detect aircraft coming in from Lebanon fails to do so and one flies freely over a city in Israel, and when sophisticated intelligence-gathering does not manage to identify the intent of Hezbollah to launch a drone. The same is true for the navy. The failure is clear, and all the boasting of senior air force personnel will not change it.
Failure must be dealt with and investigated, so that faults can be rectified. The public must be told that Israel's air space and maritime borders cannot be hermetically sealed, but that attempts can be made to keep the number of infiltrations to a minimum. But when the truth is not told, there is no chance that real investigation will take place. And without that, the chances are very small that mistakes will be fixed.
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text:
Research Volume 122 | 2014
Temporal Trends in Phthalate Exposures: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2010
Ami R. Zota,1,2 Antonia M. Calafat,3 and Tracey J. Woodruff2
Background: Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Because of potential adverse effects on human health, butylbenzyl phthalate [BBzP; metabolite, monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP)], di-n-butyl phthalate [DnBP; metabolite, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP)], and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are being replaced by substitutes including other phthalates; however, little is known about consequent trends in population-level exposures.
Objective: We examined temporal trends in urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in the general U.S. population and whether trends vary by sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods: We combined data on 11 phthalate metabolites for 11,071 participants from five cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2010). Percent changes and least square geometric means (LSGMs) were calculated from multivariate regression models.
Results: LSGM concentrations of monoethyl phthalate, MnBP, MBzP, and ΣDEHP metabolites decreased between 2001–2002 and 2009–2010 [percent change (95% CI): –42% (–49, –34); –17% (–23, –9); –32% (–39, –23) and –37% (–46, –26), respectively]. In contrast, LSGM concentrations of monoisobutyl phthalate, mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP), monocarboxyoctyl phthalate, and monocarboxynonyl phthalate (MCNP) increased over the study period [percent change (95% CI): 206% (178, 236); 25% (8, 45); 149% (102, 207); and 15% (1, 30), respectively]. Trends varied by subpopulations for certain phthalates. For example, LSGM concentrations of ΣDEHP metabolites, MCPP, and MCNP were higher in children than adults, but the gap between groups narrowed over time (pinteraction < 0.01).
Conclusions: Exposure of the U.S. population to phthalates has changed in the last decade. Data gaps make it difficult to explain trends, but legislative activity and advocacy campaigns by nongovernmental organizations may play a role in changing trends.
Citation: Zota AR, Calafat AM, Woodruff TJ. 2014. Temporal trends in phthalate exposures: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2010. Environ Health Perspect 122:235–241; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306681
Address correspondence to A.R. Zota, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2100 M St. NW, Suite 203A, Washington, DC 20037 USA. Telephone: (202) 994-9289. E-mail: email@example.com
We acknowledge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff who contributed to the collection and analysis of the samples. We thank C. McCulloch from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics for his statistical advice.
The bulk of the work for this study was completed during A.R.Z.'s postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF. Funding was provided by Pew Charitable Trusts, the Passport Science Innovation Fund, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institutes of Health (grant K99ES019881).
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC.
The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.
Received: 20 February 2013
Accepted: 23 December 2013
Advance Publication: 15 January 2014
Final Publication: 1 March 2014
- Supplemental Material (283 KB) PDF
Phthalate acid esters, also known as phthalates, are the predominant type of plasticizer used around the world. Low-molecular-weight phthalates, such as diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), are used in personal care products, solvents, adhesives, and medications [Kelley et al. 2012; Koniecki et al. 2011; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2012]. High-molecular-weight phthalates, such as butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP), are primarily used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) applications found in building materials, cables and wires, toys, and food packaging (Schecter et al. 2013; Stringer et al. 2000; U.S. EPA 2012) (Table 1).
Table 1 – Phthalates and urinary metabolites measured in the NHANES biomonitoring program.
Phthalates are not chemically bound to products and are therefore released into the environment where they may enter the human body via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption (Meeker et al. 2009). Urinary metabolites of DEP, DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP have been widely detected in the U.S. population since 1999–2000, when phthalate metabolites were first systematically quantified in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2013; Silva et al. 2004; Woodruff et al. 2011]. Higher concentrations of some phthalate metabolites have been documented in certain sociodemographic subpopulations, including children (Koch et al. 2004; Wittassek et al. 2011), females (Silva et al. 2004; Trasande et al. 2013), nonwhite populations (Kobrosly et al. 2012; Trasande et al. 2013), and those of lower socioeconomic status (Kobrosly et al. 2012).
In animal studies, phthalates exhibit marked differences in toxicity depending on their chemical structure and timing of the exposure (Foster 2005; Gray et al. 2000; Howdeshell et al. 2008; National Research Council 2008; Parks et al. 2000). In utero exposure to certain phthalates, including BBzP, DnBP, and DEHP but not others (e.g., DEP), during the sexual differentiation period of rat development leads to reproductive tract malformations in androgen- and insulin-like 3 (INSL3)–dependent tissues (Barlow and Foster 2003; McKinnell et al. 2005; Wilson et al. 2004). Human epidemiologic studies have reported associations between exposure to DnBP, BBzP, and some other phthalates and adverse male reproductive outcomes, including reduced sperm quality, increased sperm DNA damage, and altered male genital development (Hauser et al. 2006, 2007; Meeker et al. 2009; Swan et al. 2005). Other studies have reported associations between gestational exposures to phthalates, including DEP, DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP, and outcomes suggesting impaired behavioral development (Braun et al. 2013; Engel et al. 2009; Swan et al. 2010; Whyatt et al. 2012).
Given the scientific community and public's concern over phthalate toxicity, the European Union (EU) has banned the use of certain phthalates in toys, food-containing materials, and cosmetics (EU 2004, 2005, 2007). The U.S. federal government enacted legislation in 2008 that bans the use of DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP in any amount > 0.1% in child care articles including toys and placed an interim restriction on DiNP, DiDP, and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) in toys that can be put in a child's mouth [Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) 2008; U.S. EPA 2012]. Although phthalate content in other products is not subject to legislative oversight in the United States, environmental and public health organizations have sought to reduce phthalate exposure by advocating for the removal of phthalates from personal care products and educating the public about how to find potentially safer alternatives (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics 2011).
Data on ingredient composition of consumer products are difficult to obtain because reporting is not required by law, but there is some evidence that the plasticizer market is changing. DEHP, which has historically been the most common phthalate plasticizer, is increasingly being substituted with DiNP and DiDP, and these two phthalates combined account for 30–60% of the current plasticizer market in the United States and the European Union (European Chemicals Agency 2012). Changes in reformulation and legislation may have important implications for phthalates exposures, and subsequent health risks, but until now, data were not available to assess temporal trends in phthalate exposures. Therefore, our study objective was to assess temporal trends in exposure to phthalates by analyzing changes in mean urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in the U.S. population between 2001 and 2010. In addition, we sought to assess whether temporal trends in urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites differ by age, sex, race/ethnicity, or household income because these attributes have previously been correlated with phthalate exposures.
Study population. We used data from the 2001–2002, 2003–2004, 2005–2006, 2007–2008, and 2009–2010 cycles of NHANES, a nationally representative survey and physical examination of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population conducted by the CDC. There were 13,288 participants with urinary measurements of phthalate metabolites and creatinine. We excluded participants who did not self-identify as non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, or Mexican American (n = 1,460) and/or were missing information on household income (n = 902), resulting in a final sample size of 11,071 study participants.
Phthalate metabolite measurements. Phthalate metabolites are measured in approximately one-third of NHANES participants. Spot urine samples were collected in the Mobile Examination Center and stored at –20°C until shipped to the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health (Atlanta, GA) for analysis. Concentrations of phthalate metabolites were quantified using solid phase extraction–high performance liquid chromatography–isotope dilution–tandem mass spectrometry (CDC 2013). Laboratory files were downloaded from the NHANES website in October 2012 and included the needed corrections for impurities in some of the previously used analytical standards (Langlois et al. 2012).
Fifteen phthalate metabolites have been measured in NHANES, but not all metabolites were measured in all cycles. The limit of detection (LOD) for a given metabolite often varied by cycle. To facilitate analysis across cycles, we assumed the maximal LOD for each metabolite in our analysis, and substituted values below the LOD with LOD divided by the square root of 2 because this method is used by the CDC (2013) and it produces reasonably nonbiased means and SDs (Hornung and Reed 1990). This report includes the 11 metabolites detected in more than 50% of the population in each cycle (LODs and detection frequencies are available in the Supplemental Material, Tables S1 and S2).
We calculated a summary metric for DEHP metabolites (ΣDEHP metabolites) equal to the molar sum of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP). [We omitted mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) because it was not measured in 2001–2002.] We divided the concentrations of each metabolite by its molecular weight (MW) to obtain the molar equivalent (micromoles per liter) and then summed the concentrations in micromoles per liter to get total micromoles per liter of metabolites. To facilitate comparison with other analytes (Frederiksen et al. 2012; Wolff et al. 2010), we multiplied total micromoles per liter of metabolites by the average MW of the DEHP metabolites (MW = 288 μg/μmol) resulting in ΣDEHP metabolites concentrations expressed in nanograms per liter.
Statistical analysis. Analyses were conducted in SUDAAN, version 10.0 (Research Triangle Institute, Cary, NC). Because we combined five survey cycles, we calculated new sample weights for each participant according to the NHANES analytical guidelines (National Center for Health Statistics 2006) equal to one-fifth of the 2-year sample weights provided in the NHANES laboratory files. The degrees of freedom for our study sample equaled 77 and was calculated by subtracting the number of clusters in the first level of sampling (strata) from the number of clusters (PSUs, or primary sampling units) in the second level of sampling (National Center for Health Statistics 2006). Based on our degrees of freedom, we used a critical value of ±1.99 from the t distribution for the calculation of all confidence intervals. All analyses were adjusted for the nonrandom sampling design and the sample population weights.
We used multivariable regression models to assess the relationship between each phthalate metabolite concentration and time. For this analysis, we modeled NHANES sampling cycles using four indicator terms, with participants sampled in 2001–2002 as the reference group. Next, we constructed our "core" multivariable regression models where the outcome was phthalate metabolite concentrations and the independent variables were NHANES sampling cycle and urinary creatinine concentrations (to account for urinary dilution) (Barr et al. 2005). We natural log–transformed phthalate metabolite and creatinine data before regression analysis to account for their non-normal distributions. We examined residual diagnostics after transformation to assess these assumptions and tried various transformations of the data to assess the sensitivity of the conclusions to the assumptions of normality and equal variances.
From these regression models, we estimated a) percent changes in phthalate metabolite concentrations by NHANES cycle as [exp(β) – 1] × 100% with 95% CIs estimated as [exp(β ± 1.99 × SE) – 1] where β and SE are the estimated regression coefficient and standard error, respectively; and b) least squares geometric means (LSGMs) of phthalate metabolites concentrations by NHANES cycle as exp(least squares means) with 95% CIs as exp(least squares mean ± 1.99 × SE) where the least squares means is the cycle-specific mean of phthalate metabolite concentrations after adjusting for covariates. Next, we examined whether associations between NHANES sampling cycle and phthalate metabolites concentrations varied by age, sex, race/ethnicity, or household income. We first added the four demographic covariates to the "core" regression model described above. We then modeled multiplicative interactions between NHANES cycle and each demographic variable one at a time by adding product terms to the model for the interaction being evaluated, in addition to lower-order terms and covariates. LSGMs for subgroups presented in the main text were calculated from the multivariable models with the multiplicative interaction terms. Demographic variables were categorized as follows: age [children (6–11 years; n = 1,568), adolescents (12–19 years; n = 2,524), and adults (≥ 20 years; n = 6,979)]; sex [male (n = 5,524) and female (n = 5,547)]; race/ethnicity [non-Hispanic white (n = 5,305), non-Hispanic black (n = 2,951), and Mexican American (n = 2,815)]; and poverty–income ratio (PIR; the ratio of household income to poverty threshold adjusted to family size and inflation) [< 1 (i.e., beneath the poverty threshold; n = 2,604), 1–3 (n = 4,639), and > 3 (n = 3,828)]. This is a descriptive analysis, thus results for individual phthalates are not corrected for multiple comparisons. A (two-sided) p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Concentrations of monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), and monoethyl phthalate (MEP), metabolites of BBzP, DnBP, and DEP, respectively, were detected in at least 98% of participants in each cycle. The detection frequency of monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), a metabolite of DiBP, increased monotonically from 72% in 2001–2002 to 96% in 2009–2010. Concentrations of MEOHP, mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP), monocarboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP), monocarboxynonyl phthalate (MCNP), oxidative metabolites of DEHP, DnOP, DiNP, and DiDP, respectively, were detected in more than 89% of participants. (see Supplemental Material, Table S2; comparisons made using maximal LODs).
Concentrations of MEP, MnBP, MBzP, and the DEHP metabolites were significantly lower in 2009–2010 than in 2001–2002 (Figure 1; see also Supplemental Material, Table S3). LSGM concentrations of MEP declined monotonically between 2005 and 2010; compared with 2001–2002, LSGM concentrations were 20% (95% CI: –30, –9%) and 42% (95% CI: –49, –34%) lower in 2007–2008 and 2009–2010, respectively. LSGM concentrations of MBzP also steadily declined over time with the largest percent change [–32% (95% CI: –39, –23%)] observed between 2001–2002 and 2009–2010. There were no significant differences in LSGM concentrations of MnBP between 2001 and 2008, but 2009–2010 LSGMs were 17% lower (95% CI: –23, –9%) than those in 2001–2002. The temporal trend for ΣDEHP metabolites was nonmonotonic; LSGM concentrations of ΣDEHP metabolites increased from 39.3 ng/mL (95% CI: 36.3, 42.5) in 2001–2002 to 45.4 ng/mL (95% CI: 41.4, 49.7) in 2005–2006 and then decreased to 24.8 ng/mL (95% CI: 21.5, 28.5) in 2009–2010.
Figure 1 – Association between phthalate metabolites and NHANES sampling cycle in the general U.S. population for (A) MEP (n = 11,071; parent phthalate = DEP) (p < 0.0001); (B) MnBP (n = 11,071; parent phthalate, DnBP; p < 0.0001); (C) MBzP (n = 11,071; parent phthalate, BBzP; p < 0.0001); and (D) ∑DEHP metabolites (n = 11,071; parent phthalate, DEHP; p < 0.0001). Models are adjusted for urinary creatinine. Data points represent LSGM and error bars represent 95% CIs. Corresponding numeric data are provided in Supplemental Material, Table S3. p-Value for the overall comparison between groups assessed by the Wald Test.
Concentrations of MiBP, MCPP, MCOP, and MCNP were highest in 2009–2010 compared with earlier study cycles (Figure 2; see also Supplemental Material, Table S3). LSGM concentrations of MiBP monotonically increased over time and were 206% higher (95% CI: 178, 236%) in 2009–2010 compared with 2001–2002. LSGM concentrations of MCOP also monotonically increased over time and were 149% higher (95% CI: 102, 207%) in 2009–2010 compared with 2005–2006 (earliest cycle). For MCNP, LSGM concentrations were 15% higher (95% CI: 1, 30%) in 2009–2010 compared with 2005–2006 (earliest cycle) although LSGM concentrations in 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 were statistically similar. The trend in LSGM concentrations of MCPP was nonmonotonic with the lowest LSGM occurring in 2005–2006.
Figure 2 – Association between phthalate metabolites and NHANES sampling cycle in the general U.S. population for (A) MiBP (n = 11,071; parent phthalate, DiBP; p < 0.0001); (B) MCPP (n = 11,071; parent phthalates, DnOP and a nonspecific metabolite of high-molecular-weight phthalates; p < 0.0001); (C) MCOP (n = 6,375; parent phthalate, DiNP; p < 0.0001); and (D) MCNP (n = 6,375; parent phthalate, DiDP; p = 0.004). Models are adjusted for urinary creatinine. Data points represent LSGM and error bars represent 95% CIs. Corresponding numeric data are provided in Supplemental Material, Table S3. p-Value for the overall comparison between groups assessed by the Wald Test.
Temporal trends varied by age for MEP, ΣDEHP metabolites, MCPP, and MCNP (Figure 3; see also Supplemental Material, Table S4). For MEP and ΣDEHP metabolites, all three age groups had significantly lower concentrations in 2009–2010 compared with 2001–2002 but children had some notable differences compared with that of adolescents and adults (pinteraction = 0.04 and 0.002 for MEP and ΣDEHP metabolites, respectively). Children had the lowest LSGM concentrations of MEP in all cycles with relatively stable exposures between 2001 and 2008; whereas LSGM concentrations of MEP in both adolescents and adults steadily declined after 2005–2006. For ΣDEHP metabolites, children had higher LSGM concentrations than adolescents and adults in all cycles but the differences between age groups narrowed over time. In addition, the temporal trend for ΣDEHP metabolites in adults and adolescents was nonmonotonic with highest LSGM concentrations in 2005–2006. For MCPP, the trend was non-monotonic for all three age groups, but among adults only, there was a statistically significant increase in LSGM concentrations between 2001–2002 and 2009–2010 (pinteraction = 0.0004). Similarly, LSGM concentrations of MCNP in 2009–2010 were higher than those in 2005–2006 (earliest cycle); whereas in children and adolescents, these metabolite concentrations were statistically similar over the study period (pinteraction = 0.009).
Figure 3 – Association between phthalate metabolites and NHANES sampling cycle in the general U.S. population by age for (A) MEP (pinteraction = 0.04), (B) ∑DEHP metabolites (pinteraction = 0.002), (C) MCPP (pinteraction = 0.0004), and (D) MCNP (pinteraction = 0.009). Estimates are from linear regression models of interactions between NHANES sampling cycles and age adjusted for urinary creatinine, sex, race/ethnicity, and PIR. Data points represent LSGM and error bars represent 95% CIs. Corresponding numeric data are provided in Supplemental Material, Table S4.
For MnBP and ΣDEHP metabolites, both sexes had significantly lower LSGMs in 2009–2010 compared with 2001–2002, but the percent decrease was greater in females than males (pinteraction = 0.03 and 0.0001, respectively) (Figure 4; see also Supplemental Material, Table S5). Trends also varied by race/ethnicity and PIR for ΣDEHP metabolites (pinteraction = 0.006 and 0.01, respectively) and by PIR for MCPP (pinteraction < 0.0001) (Figure 5). For example, the association between PIR and MCPP concentrations varied by cycle. In 2001–2002, participants with the lowest income (PIR < 1) had the highest LSGM concentrations of MCPP. However, in 2009–2010, income was inversely associated with MCPP concentrations and those with the highest income (PIR > 3) had a significantly higher LSGM of MCPP than those with the lowest income.
Figure 4 – Association between phthalate metabolites and NHANES sampling cycle in the general U.S. population by sex for (A) MnBP (pinteraction = 0.03) and (B) ∑DEHP metabolites (pinteraction = 0.0001). Estimates are from linear regression models of interactions between NHANES sampling cycles and sex, adjusted for urinary creatinine, age (continuous), race/ethnicity, and PIR. Data points represent LSGM and error bars represent 95% CIs. Corresponding numeric data are provided in Supplemental Material, Table S5.
Figure 5 – Association between phthalate metabolites and NHANES sampling cycle in the general U.S. population by race/ethnicity for ∑DEHP metabolites (A; pinteraction = 0.006) and by PIR for ∑DEHP metabolites (B; pinteraction = 0.01) and MCPP (C; pinteraction < 0.0001). Estimates in (A) are from linear regression models of interactions between NHANES sampling cycles and race/ethnicity adjusted for urinary creatinine, age (continuous), sex, and PIR. Estimates in (B) and (C) are from linear regression models of interactions between NHANES sampling cycles and PIR adjusted for urinary creatinine, age (continuous), sex, and race/ethnicity. Data points represent LSGM and error bars represent 95% CIs.
We observed pronounced changes in urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites among the U.S. population between 2001 and 2010; urinary metabolite concentrations of DEP, DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP declined approximately 20–50%, whereas urinary metabolite concentrations of DiBP and DiNP increased by > 100%. To our knowledge, this is the first examination to date of temporal trends in phthalates exposures among a large, nationally representative sample of the U.S. population. Our findings are consistent with those from a German biomonitoring study that examined temporal trends over two decades in a convenience sample of predominately university students (age range, 20–29 years) (Wittassek et al. 2007).
Significant data gaps make it difficult to identify the underlying reasons for the observed trends in phthalate exposure with certainty. Although biomonitoring studies are useful for documenting population exposures to environmental chemicals, they are limited in their ability to identify the contribution of specific sources to personal exposure. Another data source that could provide insight on our findings is chemical production data available from the U.S. EPA (Chemical Data Reporting; http://epa.gov/cdr/). The data available for our study period suggest relatively stable trends in production for most phthalates (see Supplemental Material, Table S6). However, it is difficult to assess temporal trends in U.S. phthalate production with this data because chemical production by year is reported as a range (e.g., 100–500 million pounds/year) and not available on an annual basis but instead in 4- to 6-year intervals. In Germany, where more precise data is readily available, researchers report that a decline in production was accompanied by a decline in exposure to DnBP and DEHP (Wittassek et al. 2011).
As expected, we observed declines in metabolites of those phthalates that have been the focus of legislative activities, including bans on DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP in children's products. However, legislative activity does not entirely explain the observed trends. For example, among the phthalates in the present study, we found the largest reductions in metabolite concentrations of DEP, a phthalate used in fragrances that is neither regulated in the United States or the European Union. In addition, metabolites of DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP were still detected in nearly all participants and the decline in DnBP metabolite concentrations was modest.
The success of advocacy efforts by public health and environmental organizations such as the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (2014) may partly explain some of our findings. This campaign began in 2002 with a landmark report that documented widespread detection of DEP, DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP in the majority of beauty products tested (Houlihan et al. 2002). Over the last decade, it has used a multiprong strategy to reduce phthalate exposures from cosmetics by increasing consumer awareness of phthalate toxicity, creating a market for phthalate-free products, and pressuring the cosmetics industry to disclose chemical ingredients in their products (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics 2011). Although there are few data available on the extent of product reformulation in the United States, there is some evidence to suggest that the campaign's activities have been influential in changing industry practices. For example, there has been an increased consumer demand for alternative products making it the fastest growing sector of the cosmetics market (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics 2011). Since 2004, more than 1,000 companies have pledged to remove chemicals of concern from personal care products and increase transparency of chemical ingredients in their products (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics 2011). In 2008, the coalition tested a subset of products originally examined in 2002 and found less frequent detection and lower concentrations of phthalates in most products (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics 2008). Our data suggest that reductions in DEP exposures have been the most pronounced, possibly because of changes in the formulation or use of personal care products, which are an important source of exposure to DEP (Duty et al. 2005; Just et al. 2010; Koch et al. 2013; Wormuth et al. 2006). Consistent with this hypothesis, metabolites of DnBP and DEHP declined less than DEP in NHANES over the study period. Diet is considered to be a principle route of DEHP exposure (Fromme et al. 2007; Koch et al. 2013; Wormuth et al. 2006), and DnBP exposures are not readily explained by either personal care product use or food-related sources (Duty et al. 2005; Fromme et al. 2007; Just et al. 2010; Koch et al. 2013). Future studies should examine how concentrations of individual phthalates in common exposure sources (such as building materials, cosmetics, and food) are changing over time. Moreover, future intervention efforts should consider aggregate sources of exposure if the goal is to reduce overall risk.
The rise in metabolite concentrations of DiBP and some high-molecular-weight phthalates suggest that manufacturers may be using them as substitutes for other phthalates even though the U.S. EPA has expressed concern about their use (U.S. EPA 2012), and there is an interim restriction on DnOP, DiNP, and DiDP in certain children's toys (CPSIA 2008). DiBP is structurally similar to DnBP and may be a substitute for DnBP (Wittassek et al. 2007). DiNP and DiDP are replacing DEHP as a plasticizer in the global market (European Chemicals Agency 2012), including in the green or "safer alternatives" market (Dodson et al. 2012). For example, Dodson et al. (2012) measured chemical ingredients in conventional and alternative consumer products purchased in 2007 and detected DiNP in alternative products only. Similarly, they detected DiBP but not DnBP in nail polish samples. Toxicological studies suggest that DiBP and DiNP may disrupt androgen signaling and act cumulatively with other phthalates to affect male reproductive end points (National Research Council 2008). Although epidemiologic evidence of these replacement phthalates is limited, a recent cross-sectional study of 623 Norwegian children (Bertelsen et al. 2013) reported associations between current asthma and urinary metabolites of DiNP and DiDP, but not with any of the other phthalate metabolites. Given the likely increase in human exposure to replacement phthalates, further study on their adverse health effects in epidemiologic studies is warranted.
Our findings also suggest that temporal trends in phthalates exposure are not uniform across the population and that subpopulations with the highest initial phthalates exposures often experienced the greatest decline over the study period. For example, we observed a more rapid decline in DEP metabolite concentrations in adults and adolescents compared with children, possibly reflecting differences in personal care product use. We also found a greater decline in concentrations of DnBP and DEHP metabolites among females than males, potentially reflecting differences in exposure sources or behavior. For example, a Swiss study of 1,215 participants found that women have a higher risk perception of chemicals and a stronger preference for natural food than men (Dickson-Spillmann et al. 2011). For high-molecular-weight phthalates such as DEHP and DiDP, metabolite concentrations were higher in children than adults, but the gap between groups narrowed over time. These phthalates are commonly used in PVC applications including toys, and the larger reductions among children may reflect the legislative emphasis on limiting phthalates in children's toys.
There are several key strengths to our study. NHANES provides an unparalleled opportunity to document changes in environmental chemicals exposures because each survey captures a large, nationally representative sample of the general U.S. population that is diverse with respect to geography, age, race/ethnicity, and income. The large and diverse sample allows for statistically reliable assessment of trends in demographic subgroups.
Our main study limitation is the cross-sectional design of NHANES that inhibits examination of longitudinal changes in phthalates metabolite concentrations in the same participants. Also, NHANES does not measure phthalate metabolites in children < 6 years of age. Our findings may not be generalizable to young children, who may experience different exposures to some phthalates than older children as a result of their higher food consumption related to body weight, higher dust ingestion from their playing habits, and distinct mouthing behavior (Becker et al. 2009; Wittassek et al. 2011); children also possess different behaviors and physiology than adults (U.S. EPA 2008). Additional biomonitoring studies in young children may be warranted because of their potentially higher susceptibility to the adverse effects of environmental stressors and because young children are likely to be most impacted by regulations limiting phthalate content in toys. There may be false positives due to the large number of models evaluated. However, all of our main findings (presented in Figures 1 and 2) and half of the interaction models would pass Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. Last, although the CDC conducted all phthalate metabolite measurements, modifications were made to the analytical methods between cycles that may affect the frequency of detection of the measured metabolites. To account for some of these differences, we applied the same LOD to each cycle.
Our analysis of biomonitoring data from a nationally representative sample suggests that U.S. population exposure to phthalates has changed in the last decade. Although exposures to DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP have declined, exposures to replacement phthalates such as DiNP and DiBP have increased. The observed temporal trends are difficult to explain because of significant data gaps, but may at least partly reflect the effects of legislative activity and the advocacy efforts of nongovernmental organizations on consumer behavior and the use of phthalates in consumer products.
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Wittassek M, Koch HM, Angerer J, Brüning T. 2011. Assessing exposure to phthalates—the human biomonitoring approach. Mol Nutr Food Res 55:7–31.
Wittassek M, Wiesmüller GA, Koch HM, Eckard R, Dobler L, Müller J, et al. 2007. Internal phthalate exposure over the last two decades—a retrospective human biomonitoring study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 210:319.
Wolff MS, Teitelbaum SL, Pinney SM, Windham G, Liao L, Biro F, et al. 2010. Investigation of relationships between urinary biomarkers of phytoestrogens, phthalates, and phenols and pubertal stages in girls. Environ Health Perspect 118:1039–1046; doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901690.
Woodruff TJ, Zota AR, Schwartz JM. 2011. Environmental chemicals in pregnant women in the United States: NHANES 2003–2004. Environ Health Perspect 119:878–885; doi: 10.1289/ehp.1002727.
Wormuth M, Scheringer M, Vollenweider M, Hungerbühler K. 2006. What are the sources of exposure to eight frequently used phthalic acid esters in Europeans? Risk Anal 26:803–824.
EHP is pleased to announce that "The Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage among Industrial Hog Operation Workers, Community Residents, and Children Living in Their Households: North Carolina, USA," published in EHP in the April 2017 issue, has been selected by the Children's Environmental Health Network (CEHN) as its October 2017 Article of the Month. (more…)
EHP is pleased to announce that "A Difference-in-Differences Approach to Assess the Effect of a Heat Action Plan on Heat-Related Mortality, and Differences in Effectiveness According to Sex, Age, and Socioeconomic Status (Montreal, Quebec)" has been awarded Honorable Mention as one of the Best Environmental Epidemiology Papers published in 2016. (more…)


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My sh1tmanos are toast. My feet hurt when I hike-my-bike. Bottoms of my feet go sleepy sleep on long rides.
What are the best shoes for the Front Range?
Lookin for comfy, cool, quick drying, fairly light, and being able to hike without wincing would be a bonus.
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Power Up! Jason David Frank To Attend Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2
October 17, 2012
"Power Rangers" star Jason David Frank will attend Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2 at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. He joins headliners Patrick Stewart, Stan Lee, Eliza Dushku, Michael Madsen and many others at the event.
Austin-San Marcos, TX (1888PressRelease)
October 17, 2012
- Best known for his role as "Tommy Oliver" in the long-running TV show "Power Rangers," Jason David Frank will morph his way to Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2012, at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Frank, also a highly accomplished and respected martial artist with 34 years experience, will sign autographs, meet fans, pose for photos and conduct an interactive Q&A panel.
Frank morphed into a series of different rangers over the years: "Mighty Morphin Green and White," "Red Zeo," "Red Turbo," and then returned in 2004 as the "Black DinoThunder Ranger." All in all, "Tommy" appeared in more episodes than any other character, 225 in total, and appeared in both full-length movies, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers The Movie (1995) and Turbo (1997).
In addition to owning/operating Rising Sun Karate and MMA, with two schools in Texas and one in California, Frank has taken on several small and big screen roles with his most recent being The One Warrior, an action/fantasy film which also stars James Russo and Dominic Keating. In the story, the character of The One Warrior finds himself in a mythical world where he must destroy the Evil Lord Shoukata.
Frank joins such stars as "Star Trek: The Next Generation" actor Sir Patrick Stewart, comics legend Stan Lee, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Eliza Dushku, Reservoir Dogs headliner Michael Madsen and WWE® Superstar CM Punk® and "X-Files'" Gillian Anderson atop the standout lineup of celebrities scheduled to the event. They will be accompanied by an All-Star collection of well-known artists and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions in the final event on Wizard World's 2012 calendar.
Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK), will bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Admission is free for kids 10 and under, and Sunday, December 2, is "Kids Day," an array of programming specially designed for children.
For more on the 2012 Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-neworleans.html.
About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.
The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.
September 28-30, 2012 - Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
October 26-28, 2012 - Wizard World Austin Comic Con
November 30 - December 2, 2012 - Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
February 22-24, 2013 - Wizard World Portland Comic Con
May 30 - June 2, 2013 - Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 8-11, 2013 - Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
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The buzz There was a frisson of excitement when SushiSamba opened its doors on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower last August. One of the most highly anticipated imports to hit London, the American-owned restaurant boasts not only a unique menu conceit where East meets West but serves it up with jaw-dropping views of the city. What's more, London is its first venue outside of the USA, making it very special indeed.
The lowdown SushiSamba is something of a culinary coup. A tri-cultural blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian dishes (hence the name) the menu comprises South American favourites alongside delicious sushi – as well as newly created plates that fuse the two. Taking its inspiration from the cuisine of Japanese émigrés who moved to South America in the 19th century, this is more than a trendy fusion menu – it's a reflection of a really diverse, interesting and rich culture that until now has remained relatively unknown.
Perfect for… Any occasion. In the daytime, you can admire the vistas of the city over a shared plate of Samba London rolls, while at night the two terrace bars come alive. With a vibrant, fiesta-like atmosphere courtesy of the samba beats and bamboo décor, it's also guaranteed to be a hit for birthdays, anniversaries and other special events.
Menu highlights We suggest that you sample a little bit of everything to get the full experience of SushiSamba. Whet your appetite for the later fish courses by starting with the rock shrimp tempura and make sure you douse it generously in the accompanying black truffle vinaigrette for the full taste explosion. Next, move on to an assortment of seviches and yellowtail sashimi, to fully enjoy the South American and Japanese influences. Finally, finish with the piece de resistance, the moqueca mista, a hearty, paella-type dish served with prawns, mussels and clams.
Final word SushiSamba is exceptional for a number of reasons. Not only does it offer a singular culinary experience that you can't find anywhere else, but it is also one of a very small number of restaurants with a truly fantastic aerial view of London. Having maintained the stamina it generated on its opening, it really is one of the true must-visit restaurants in the capital, more than holding its own against that new behemoth – The Shard. Trust us, you'll have a blast.
38th and 39th floor, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London
0203 640 7330
For a mixture of small and large plates, you're looking at approximately £100 all together for a table of four.


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Photography Assignment: Pioneer Park
A couple days ago I mentioned that I went to a park at sunset just to take pictures.
I had an overwhelming urge to capture Mother Nature in all her glory and I left the park feeling overwhelmingly satisfied.
Plus, both Penny de los Santos with whom I went on the Photography Tour of Mexico City
Diane Cu, who instructed the Food & Light Workshop
both strongly encouraged giving ourselves personal projects.
Meaningful projects that challenge us and push us out of our comfort zone. Or at the very least challenge us to just do something. Anything.
Whether that's challenging yourself to cook one new recipe a week or take 5 pictures daily or run 1 mile without stopping, just doing something is better than nothing.
So I assigned myself the challenge of taking pictures and pondering the deeper meaning and thinking about the stories attached to things I saw and images I captured at Pioneer Park.
But it's not just any park.
It's actually an old cemetery from the 1800s but now there is a school and playground equipment on the grounds.
Why this place?
It's nearby
It's not run of the mill
How many pictures of roses and sunflowers can you really take anyway before they begin to all look the same
And there are powerful stories on the grounds of Pioneer Park.
Who was Agnes? What kind of life did she lead?
Obviously she was a Mother. And clearly an amazing one since MOTHER is in all caps, it's at the top of the headstone, and that's how her family wanted to remember her. I'd be flattered if my family did the same for me. If I don't succeed at that job, everything else seems for naught.
Nellie, you were loved.
And this stone is truly breathtaking in person
The sun was setting and quickly
Daylight was dwindling.
But the giant redwoods did not care.
They never do.
They will be around for another 200 years after you and I are bits of dust and ash.
There is character and stories aplenty on these grounds
The history, the vintage flair, the creepy-yet-artsy vibe
The stonework.
All hand carved.
Who can carve stone by hand?
I can't even grind cashews by hand.
Who were these artists?
The beauty of the stones they carved and remembering the beauty in the lives for those who now lay underneath those stones.
I wonder who these people were and what San Diego was like for them 120 years ago?
I wonder whom and what they believed in?
Or if they believed?
I imagine life was hard for them, but I'd like to think they were happy.
I wish I knew their stories
I'd venture to guess, Kittie, wife of James, a 29 year old woman, died in childbirth.
I wonder if she had other children. Or if the baby lived. Or if there was a baby. I'm just speculating. But it's reported that up to 40% of women in the 1800s did die in childbirth.
But who really knows.
As I paid honor to those dead and gone, I witnessed life.
Children running and playing on the playground equipment
Skylar dancing on the sidewalk
And I remembered that life is short.
And precious.
Hug your loved ones and live your life to the fullest.
This self-assigned project was good for me. Very good.
It made me think. It stretched me. It made me grow.
Both as a photographer and as a human.
Thanks for the comments on my last post, Fruit or Vegetable. There are a few head-scratches, indeed.
1. Do cemeteries seem creepy to you? Or not? Are you scared of them? Do you have after-death wishes, i.e. buried, cremated, don't care?
I am not scared of cemeteries at all. I wouldn't want to get married in one, but I don't fear them.
And if you could see this one (I didn't want to take pictures of the jungle gym because there were lots of kids on it and I am not comfortable posting pictures of people and especially children whom I don't know and don't have their express permission to photograph) but this cemetery is so alive.
There is a school on the grounds of it, it doubles as a park and there are always weekend gatherings and potlucks at this park.
There's a Starbucks and thriving urban scene right around the corner. It's much more vibrant and full of life, actually, than any other cemetery I've ever seen.
After death, I'd prefer to be cremated but actually, the more I ponder it, I don't really care. I won't be here.
Getting a little morbid? Oh well. Life is not always roses and sunflowers.
2. What was the last project or assignment you gave yourself? Or that someone else gave you? What did you learn?


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Thanks for thy present! None sweeter or better.
A poem for Thanksgiving Day
John Greenleaf Whittier 9 p.m., Nov. 22
A group comprised of various faith-based and labor-backed organizations led by Rabbi Laurie Coskey of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice gathered this afternoon to speak out in favor of Proposition 39, which would eliminate an option for businesses that have operations both in California and other states to calculate their state taxes in two different fashions, and then pay taxes based on the lowest result. The expected result: $1 billion in new tax revenues, which would be used to close the state budget shortfall and fund a new green-energy program.
Drawing attention to the jobs that would supposedly be created from the program, the announcement was held at the San Diego Community College District's Sustainability Training and Resource Center in the Mountain View neighborhood, a classroom where students learn about construction and installation of environmentally-friendly building features such as solar panels.
"An important aspect of ending the tax break for out-of-state corporations here in California is that half of the estimated $1 billion that will be recaptured will go to funding green technology training programs like those found here in the [training] center," offered District president Anthony Beebe.
Opponents of the measure say that California already has an economic climate that's not attractive to business, and that removing the tax calculation option would further discourage businesses from operating in California. General Motors, International Paper, Kimberley-Clark, and Chrysler, who since 2006 have earned $42.4 million from state contracts, have all voiced opposition to Prop 39.
They haven't offered financial backing, though, as the opposition campaign as of last week had only $45,000 on hand. Proponents, largely buoyed by $21.9 million from liberal Bay Area hedge fund billionaire Thomas Steyer, reported a total of $23.2 million.
"We always talk about other states and how much better a job [other states] do at attracting business," said Jim Waring, president and CEO of CleanTech San Diego, a non-profit group whose member businesses could benefit from expanded green energy spending. He was introduced as "probably the leader of the Prop 39 movement in San Diego."
"Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, and New York, to name just four, have the same type of taxation structure as would be imposed by Prop 39. Other states are already doing what Prop 39 would allow this state to do," said Waring.
Representatives of Faith Leaders for Jobs, Environment, and Community, another group present, read aloud an open letter also backing the initiative.


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Get an alert when new Black Symbol dates are announced
Black Symbol was founded by the lead singer Fatman, who grew up in the Jamaican parish of St Ann and moved to England in the 1970s, working with artists such as Burning Spear, Steel Pulse and the Mighty Diamonds. Black Symbol's heavyweight road march sound combines with spiritually nourishing vocals and a tight horn section to create a feast of sweet reggae sounds.
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Liberty Branch
The Liberty Branch
The current Liberty Branch opened in 1992. Before joining the MCPL system, Liberty's library was called the Frank Hughes Library. It opened in 1939. Last year, 310,829 patrons visited the library.
The Liberty Branch Staff
Are you looking for an item? An answer? A suggestion? This group is here to help. If your branch staff doesn't know the answer to your question, they likely know where to help you look. All you have to do is ask.
Events for Teens
Jessica participated in the Teen Chalk Challenge. Her interpretation of a hero was to draw her favorite manga character, Pikachu.
Events for Kids
To kick off the Summer Reading Program our library hosted a Superhero Academy where children got to meet real life superheroes and to see their vehicles.


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WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 30 (organist Kalevi Kiviniemi performs Monday)
WHERE: Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park.
INFO: (619) 702-8138 or sosorgan.com.
It's hard to get more San Diego than Monday night spent at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The magnificent instrument, the setting, the park, the summer evening, even the planes in the distance on their approach to Lindbergh — it's all unique to San Diego. And it's free.
Local talent: Last Monday, there was even a young San Diego organist, who grew up here and, after graduating from Juilliard and Yale, is quickly gaining an international reputation. Chelsea Chen, however, is not just another success story. As she proved Monday, in a program ranging from the (Organ) Symphony No. 5 of Widor to the theme from the video game "Super Mario Brothers," she's something special. Sometimes the complexities, setting and temperament of the Spreckels instrument can make it seem like a monster truck; Chen drove it like a sports car. She had the beast, and the audience, eating out of her hand. The organ, in particular, seemed to appreciate an arrangement of Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm," which sounded scary good. You could swear the instrument was alive.
For your enjoyment: Chen is gone, but the Monday evening programs continue at 7:30 through Aug. 30. Let yourself go. It will make you happy you live in San Diego.Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune


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Ninja 1 Year Limited WarrantyShark|Ninja LLC warrants this product to be free from material defects and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase when utilized for normal household use, subject to the following conditions, exclusions and exceptions.
The liability of Shark|Ninja LLC is limited solely to the cost of the repair or replacement of the unit at their option. This Limited Warranty does not cover normal wear of parts and does not apply to any unit that has been tampered with or used for commercial purposes. This Limited Warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse, abuse, negligent handling or damage due to faulty packaging or mishandling in transit. This Limited Warranty does not cover damage or defects caused by or resulting from damages from shipping or repairs, service or alteration to the product or any of its parts, which have been performed by a repair person not authorized by Shark|Ninja LLC.
If your appliance fails to operate properly while in use under normal household conditions within the warranty period, return the complete appliance and accessories, freight prepaid. For assistance with warranty service options or customer support, please call Shark|Ninja LLC customer care and product specialists or visit their website www.ninjakitchen.com.
If the appliance is found to be defective in material or workmanship, Shark|Ninja LLC will repair or replace it free of charge. Proof of purchase is required and a fee of $19.95 will apply to cover the cost of return freight.
This Limited Warranty is extended to the original purchaser of the unit and excludes all other legal, implied and/or conventional warranties. The responsibility of Shark|Ninja LLC if any, is limited to the specific obligations expressly assumed by it under the terms of this Limited Warranty. In no event is Shark|Ninja LLC liable for incidental or consequential damages to anyone of any nature whatsoever. Some states do not permit the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above may not apply to you.


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Board never had any real control over hospital activity
It really is amusing to read that some of our local medical and other community leaders are so concerned about the regionalization of control for the various Sutter facilities, including Sutter Coast Hospital.
Martha McClure was correct when she stated that "the train has left the station." What she and others will discover, however, after Health Care District Chairman Dwayne Reichlin retains legal counsel to review the 1986 contract, is that the train left the station 26 years ago.
They may, if they are really clever, discern the obvious fact that
the hospital Board of Directors, contractually, never had any real
control over the activities of the hospital. Sutter corporate always
retained the approving authority over the budget and it also retained
the authority to hire, fire and evaluate the administrator and every
other person employed by the facility.
The authority given by Sutter to the local hospital Board of Trustees
was always an illusion. Any concessions won by the local board from
Sutter were most certainly due to the realities of political necessity,
not actual authority, and that will probably not change.
Richard Cooper
Helendale, Calif.
'Nonviolent' criminals can do violence to one's peace
In response to Al Kay's March 3 letter, "Inmates serve inordinate
amount of time for non-violent crimes," people who correspond with
convicts usually believe the falsehoods they are fed by the prisoner and
believe the prisoners are good people and victims themselves. They
don't understand that many incarcerated criminals continue to take
advantage of a truly good person's ignorance to feed their sociopathic
They are in prison for a very good reason and when you correspond
with them, they are seldom ever honest about the details that got them
locked up.
I personally, have had a gun held to my head by a bank robber. I was
convinced that my children were going to grow up without a mother
because my life was about to end in a rather violent, senseless fashion.
The terror I experienced that day, many years ago, still remains a part
of my everyday life.
Nonviolent? How on earth do you come to that conclusion? You can
assault someone without touching them. It's different than battery. That
robber cared nothing about the people he hurt and would do it again
given the chance (obviously, as you refer to his robbery sprees,
The next time it could be you, your children, wife, friend or parent
whose life he takes, literally or figuratively, in a robbery.
There is a reason for prisons and thank God we have them. Bank
robbers should spend the rest of their entire life in prison so we can
be safe from them. I hope you never experience the feeling of an ice
cold, loaded .45, pushed into the back of your neck by some scumbag who
cares more about some free cash than your life.
Why wouldn't you want to spend your time on an honest, law-abiding,
productive member of society? I guarantee they won't be bugging you or
the 20 other people they are duping by mail to put money in their prison
accounts. I understand most of us in the world want to believe there is
good in everyone, but, good grief, a bank robber?
Donna Eller
Crescent City
Please do not close pool -it benefits health affordably
Primarily, I want to thank the city of Crescent City for providing
the Fred Endert Pool. This pool has been a great relief to my family and
me for many years.
I am a partially disabled U.S. Army veteran, and as the years have
gone by I have suffered pain in my legs and back. Being able to exercise
at the pool has been a great way for me to get the exercise I need and
avoid the risk of further injury. I find that the exercise time I have
spent at the pool has been very beneficial. After a session at the pool I
find that I have more range of movement and less pain.
I am currently unemployed, so the cost of enrolling in a gym is way
beyond my means. Without the pool, with its low participation cost, I
would be unable to afford the exercise that keeps me relatively pain
My family has also benefitted from the exercise afforded by the pool.
My mother exercises three mornings a week, which keeps her arthritis
somewhat in check and has helped her keep mobile. In addition, it gives
her a period of time, away from the house, to socialize with others.
I have also found that the purchase of swim passes, for our family,
has solved the problem of difficult gift giving.
Please, Crescent City, do not close the pool. Even in this difficult
economy, some things should be left alone.
Roberta King
Crescent City
Family seen eating food in garbage, spilled on ground
I saw a homeless family at the park, It was a freezing day in March,
they had so many kids that I could not even count them all. They were
swimming in the duck pond naked.
I saw some of them drinking the water in the duck pond, they also
raided the garbage can because someone had a party and threw away lots
of popcorn and cake, some were even eating the stuff spilled on the
ground, I wanted to call Children's Protective Services, but they would
not do anything for this was a family of wild geese.
They were so cute.
Suzanne Carolyn Cyr
Fort Dick
Car club thanks sponsors, looks forward to new show
The Northern Knights Car Club would like to thank all of its
sponsors, the Crescent City Harbor and the community for supporting our
"Cool Northern Nights on the Coast" car show for the past eight years.
Although we will no longer be having our car show at the Crescent
City Harbor, we are looking forward to working side by side with the
Crescent City/Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce to continue offering
the Sea Cruise Car Show.
We will also continue our participation with offering scholarships to
Del Norte High School students.
The Northern Knights would also like to thank the Crescent City Car
Club for its hard work and dedication over the past 20 years.
Antonio Martell
Northern Knights Car Club