text:
Roomful of Blues
Building 24
1115 Bern Rd
Wyomissing, PA, 19610
Doors 6:00 PM / Show 7:30 PM (event ends at 9:30 PM)
This event is 21 and over
Even though Roomful of Blues' lineup has changed over the years, the band has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. Currently an eight-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger. In 2010, singer Phil Pemberton took over the vocal duties, bringing his sweet and soulful vocals and adding another bright new dimension to the jazzy, jump-blues musical roots. Their winning combination of jump, swing, blues, R&B and soul remains their calling card, as does their ability to fill the dance floor. Along with new members, bassist John Turner, trumpeter Doug Woolverton and , longer standing members keyboardist Travis Colby, drummer Ephraim Lowell, baritone and tenor saxophonist Mark Earley, tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille , Roomful keeps on rockin' in 2010.
Phil Pemberton ~ vocals
As leader of his own bands for the last 20 years, this Massachusetts native has found himself playing to intimate clubs all the way to large festivals, throughout the US, England, France and Canada. In addition, The Philip Pemberton Band was also the 1stWestern band to play in the former capital of China, Xi'an on a 2 week tour broadcast to ½ a billion people throughout Asia.We welcome him as the newest, in a long tradition of fine Roomful of Blues vocalists
"His voice can ache with tenderness, or rattle the rafters with it's power…"-Patricia Smith (Pulitzer nominated Journalist) Boston Globe
"This man could sing his way outta Jail…" -Bill Smith (WTKK)
Chris Vachon ~ guitar
Chris is a true multi-talent. His prowess as a guitar slinger is well documented, and his strengths as a producer and songwriter grow from album to album. He produced the band's six most recent albums—There Goes the Neighborhood (1998), Watch You When You Go (2001), Live at Wolf Trap (2002) the Grammy nominated That's Right! (2003), and Standing Room Only (2004) and "Raisin' A Ruckus" (2008) after co-producing all of Roomful's other albums recorded in the '90s. Chris' songs—such as "Turn It On! Turn It Up!," "Running Out of Time," "She'll Be So Fine," "Blue, Blue World," and "Dynamite"—have become firm favorites in AAA and blues radio formats, bringing many new fans into the Roomful fold
John Turner ~ upright & electric bass
A veteran of the New England jazz scene, bassist John Turner has performed and recorded with just about everybody–specifically the Either/Orchestra,Charlie Kohlhase, Scott Hamilton, Roswell Rudd, Lee Konitz, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, members of Ornette Coleman's band, and , Magic Dick-Jay Geils and Blues Time to name a few. John's rock solid bottom is the essential element of the swing groove which Roomful is renowned for.
Travis Colby ~ Piano & B3
Before joining Roomful of Blues, Travis fronted his jazz-funk band "Hipology", and was one of New England's busiest sidemen, backing up such notable artists as Ronnie Earl, Johnny Winter, K.D. Bell, and many other Blues greats. Travis also toured the world with Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson, and was featured on Luther's 1998 Grammy nominated album "Gotta' Find A Way". Voted "Best Keyboard Player" 2002, 2003 and 2004 by New England Blues Audience magazine, Travis' solid rhythm, driving piano solos, and howlin' organ riffs are a first-class addition to the "Roomful Tradition"
Chris Rivelli ~ Drums
From Boston Massachusetts, Chris has spent many years as a touring drummer with blues artists from the East Coast, West Coast, and Chicago, including Duke Robillard, Janiva Magness, John Nemeth with Kid Andersen, Nick Moss and The Fliptops, Lynwood Slim, Ron Levy, and Toni Lynn Washington. He has played on recent recordings by Junior Watson, Sax Gordon, The Matthew Stubbs Band, Gina Sicilia, and The Get Backs. Chris is a former student of legendary drum instructor Alan Dawson, and a graduate of Berklee College of Music. He is a long-time endorser for Vater Drumsticks. "Aiming the beat at thier feet", Chris's solid swing and shuffle rocks in the Roomful tradition.
Rich Lataille ~ Alto & Tenor Sax
Rich joined Roomful in 1970 and was there at the beginning of what has become the most legendary horn section in contemporary blues. It was Rich's interest in the swinging bands of the '30s and '40s that led Roomful to forge the distinctive sound that has become the band's trademark. A man who can play both sides of the fence, lyrically tender or blisteringly hot, Rich has a big, warm tone that is always jam-packed with feeling. His melodic inventiveness reflects the depth and breadth of his wide-ranging influences. Rich worked with various local and high-school bands before beginning his long-term relationship with Roomful.
Mark Earley ~ Baritone & Tenor Sax
Mark names Sonny Stitt as his main man, with more than a nod to Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon leading him to Lester Young and an appreciation for the depth and history of the music. As a longtime fan of Roomful of Blues, and their like respect of the tradition, he has finally arrived home. His tone, ideas, deep bottom and charismatic stage presence further burnish what is already a legendary horn section. Memorable performances include shows with Jay McShann, Albert Collins, Louis Bellson, Joe Williams, Jerry Portnoy, Johnny A., Barrence Whitfield, Lee Konitz, The Coasters, The Temptations, Chuck Findley, Wayne Newton, Jo Ann Castle, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, and the Rudy Scaffidi Orchestra.
Doug Woolverton ~ Trumpet
With A Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet performance, Doug is one of the bright young lions of the trumpet world. . His performing experience includes jazz and blues, as well as classical music. Depending on the tune, you'll hear influences ranging from Miles Davis, to Louis Armstrong. Doug plays cool and hot, high and low; swinging all the time, while dazzling audiences with his blues based jazz styles. Doug has performed with The Temptations , Allen Vizzutti, Peter Olstad, Greg Wing, Derek Gardener, Rodney Lancaster, Dominic Spera, Vincent DiMartino, Jon Faddis, Carl Saunders, Richie Cole, The Dominant7, The Army Blues Rhythm Section, and was a three-time finalist at the National Trumpet Competition in the solo jazz division.
Upcoming Events
Building 24
- Sorry, there are currently no upcoming events.


text:
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our accommodations or amenities, would like to check on our rates or make a reservation...or if you need information on local attractions, feel free to contact the staff at Yosemite Miners Inn. That's what we're here for!
888-646-2244 (within the US)
209-742-7777 (outside the US)
Yosemite Miners Inn
5181 Highway 49N
PO Box 1413
Mariposa, CA 95338
Phone: 209-742-7777
Fax: 209-966-2343
Email: email@example.com
You may also contact the Yosemite Miner's Inn Restaurant at

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Latest news
Feeds from the Web
Costly repair works force early closure of Crompton Pool
Published on Tuesday, 01st July 2014
Swimming facilities at Crompton Pool and Leisure Centre must close permanently due to spiralling repair costs at the ageing facility.
Sponsor required for new special school.
Published on Friday, 02nd August 2013
Oldham was successful in gaining Targeted Basic Need Funding for a new special school. This is an exciting development for the Borough in meeting the needs of its growing population and we are seeking
Betta Living unveils record year end results
Published on Tuesday, 07th May 2013
Future positive as home improvement retail specialist announces new stores
New Year Leader's message
Published on Friday, 21st December 2012
I'd like to wish all our residents a very happy New Year.
Greater Manchester authorities urge government to save Fusiliers
Published on Friday, 31st August 2012
Residents and staff at the council are being urged to sign a petition calling on the Government to reverse plans to disband the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Town hall event generates interest
Published on Thursday, 31st May 2012
A public consultation event in Oldham town centre showcasing plans to regenerate the Old Town Hall has attracted public interest.


text:
Semicon: Intermolecular seeks to expand
Post a comment
SAN FRANCISCO -- Responding to rapid growth, R&D service provider Intermolecular Inc. will relocate to a larger headquarters facility in San Jose, Calif. in early 2011.
The new facility provides more than 140,000 square feet of office and lab space, offering a 300 percent increase in cleanroom space. The new facility will include a dedicated energy lab to facilitate the accelerated development of various photovoltaic and energy-related technologies.
After doubling in size over the last three years, and with many new projects on the horizon, we simply need more space to meet market demand and to further expand our development infrastructure, said David Lazovsky, Intermolecular president and CEO, in a statement. Were experiencing accelerating growth with semiconductor companies in the flash memory, DRAM and foundry sectors, as well as with materials and equipment suppliers serving the semiconductor industry.
Intermolecular will transition operations to the new facility over the next several months and expects to complete the relocation in early 2011.
Intermolecular delivers a so-called High Productivity Combinatorial (HPC) technology products and services that enable customers in the semiconductor and clean energy sectors to maximize their R&D ROI.


text:
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - One of these days, both the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons will bring their "A" game to the NBA Finals on the same night. It hasn't happened yet, but there are still as many as four chances left for the teams to click at the same time.
Detroit's 96-79 victory in Game 3 on Tuesday night was the third straight lopsided final score, making this series a historical oddity.
Never before in the finals have the first three games been decided by 15 points or more.
San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili (20) goes up for a layup against the Detroit Pistons in the third quarter Tuesday of Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Spurs lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 scheduled for today.
"It just seems like there's four- or five-minute stretches of games where teams are taking control, but the games will get closer," Spurs guard Brent Barry said.
The NBA can only hope so.
Overnight television ratings from the United States were down 31 percent from Game 3 of the Lakers-Pistons series a year ago, and the rating for Game 2 was off 35.5 percent from last year.
Not since the Spurs played the New Jersey Nets two years ago have ratings been this dismal, but at least the series has become a little more compelling now that the prospect of a sweep has been removed from the equation.
"Well, we're still down 2-1, so we're not sitting up here jumping for joy," Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace said.
Game 4 is today, and Game 5 is Sunday before the series shifts back to San Antonio next week. But that'll only happen if the Pistons can manage to win at least one of the next two games, and the Spurs seemed eager Wednesday to prove that their performance in Game 3 was a hiccup.
"At this point, I think the team that plays the smartest is going to win," Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said.
He also could have mentioned that the team that brings the higher level of energy will win. That's certainly been the case over the first three games, and both teams are puzzled as to why the intensity level hasn't been more constant.
"I don't know. Usually you do expect games with the two teams that are left to be, you know, real competitive," Pistons coach Larry Brown said.
If there is a down-to-the-wire game on the horizon, both teams will have to reacquaint themselves with playing under a great deal more pressure than they have in this series to date. Detroit's last nail-biter was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against Miami, while San Antonio hasn't played a close one since finishing off the Phoenix Suns 101-95 the Western Conference finals.
The deciding sequence of Game 3 came when Detroit had an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter.
Chauncey Billups started the run with a jumper and a layup sandwiched around a steal by Antonio McDyess, and a Richard Hamilton jumper.
The run gave Detroit an 84-69 lead.
"We didn't have very many people play well," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


text:
Ninth largest franchise in the world
Spencer Crossley, sales and marketing director at Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment in the UK, has pitched the LEGO franchise as a huge success, revealing that the entire LEGO games franchise has moved over a million units since 2013.
\"Since the start of 2013, WBIE has sold 1.6 million LEGO games,\" Spencer Crossley told MCV. \"LEGO is currently the second biggest game franchise in 2014 year-to-date, in terms of units sold, with 420,200 units. Another strong week could see the LEGO game franchise take the number one franchise spot.\"
\"LEGO is the second biggest toy company and the ninth biggest video games franchise in the world, so there is good room for more growth in our sector.\"
So what\'s next for the franchise in 2014? Well, senior vice president for international games at Warner Bros, Olivier Wolff, insists that the wheels on the LEGO train are still well greased.
\"What has been interesting is that we were always concerned about is there a ceiling to that? And the reality is that there\'s absolutely no fatigue at all and there is actually a demand for different experiences.\"
Did you pick up any of the LEGO games that released last year? Did you enjoy them? Are you tired of them? Discuss it all in the comments below!


text:
by Portfolio Grader | September 6, 2012 9:55 am
This week, the ratings of three Energy Services stocks on Portfolio Grader[1] are down. Each of these rates a "D" ("sell") or "F" overall ("strong sell").
Weatherford International's (NYSE:WFT[2]) rating falls this week to an F ("strong sell"), down from last week's D ("sell"). Weatherford International provides equipment and services used in the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. For Portfolio Grader's specific subcategory of Earnings Surprise, WFT also gets an F. For a full analysis of WFT stock, visit Portfolio Grader[3].
The rating of Pioneer Energy Services Corp (NYSE:PES[4]) slips from a D to an F. The stock gets F's in Earnings Revisions, Earnings Surprise, and Cash Flow. Share prices fell 13% over the past month, worse than the S&P 500, which has risen 1% over the same period of time. To get an in-depth look at PES, get Portfolio Grader's complete analysis of PES stock[5].
This week, Mitcham Industries (NASDAQ:MIND[6]) falls to a D ("sell"), worse than last week's grade of C ("hold"). Mitcham is engaged in the leasing of seismic equipment to the oil and gas industry throughout the world. The stock gets F's in Earnings Surprise and Cash Flow. Investors seem to agree with the downgrade and have pushed down the share price 11.6% over the past month. For more information, get Portfolio Grader's complete analysis of MIND stock[7].
Louis Navellier's proprietary Portfolio Grader[1] stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being "strong buy," and F being "strong sell." Explore the tool here[8].
Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/09/3-energy-services-stocks-to-sell-now-wft-pes-mind/
Short URL: http://invstplc.com/1nDwN9P
Copyright ©2017 InvestorPlace Media, LLC. All rights reserved. 700 Indian Springs Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601.


text:
It should be self-explanatory, type in "1" or "2" in the first two charts for the equip you want to use. Of course, you shouldn't select 2 headgears or 4 weapons etc. at a time. Mind that health and armor base depends on your profession, you can just put a different value in it.
The numbers are those from level 80 exotic gear.
For reference I used the wiki, http://www.guildwars...nd-you-updated/, http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/ and the GW2DB.
I thought someone else might find it useful.
€: some corrections
Edited by Silinsar, 11 November 2012 - 06:32 PM.


text:
Motorcycling. Why take a basic rider's course?
Your total cost, including use of a motorcycle, is $50.00--that is a lot of safety education and fun for the money! Suttons Bay utilizes the nationally recognized Motorcycle Safety Foundation, State of Michigan approved, basic rider's course--with certified coaches.
If you want to learn to ride a motorcycle, here are five more good reasons to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's updated basic riders course: 1) Satisfactory completion of the course waives having to take the State's road-test and written exam, 2) Persons who complete a course and have a motorcycle endorsement are less likely to be involved in an accident, 3) Getting your cycle endorsement on your license avoids legal entanglements, 4) some insurance companies give a discount for course completion and 5) it is pure fun to learn how to ride a motorcycle or improve your existing skills. Come ride with us !


text:
Fifty-five years ago on April 11, Harry Feinberg, then a 25-year-old American GI, woke up prepared to continue wearing down a war-torn Germany. On that same day, Mike Gerstner, then a 19-year-old prisoner in a Nazi labor camp, woke up prepared to do nothing but survive. At the time, Feinberg didn't know he would play hero, and Gerstner was unaware that his six years of hell would end in a matter of hours.
This week at the Holocaust Museum Houston, Gerstner and Feinberg will meet for the first time.
By 1945, the Fourth Armored Division had already been labeled the best in its class leading the attack into Germany. It had won battles across Europe and rescued the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge. As soldiers, they were accustomed to seeing life stolen away in seconds. But as the first American combat unit to see a concentration camp up close, nothing -- even the discovery a week earlier of a mostly deserted Nazi slave camp -- could have prepared the thousand or so men for what they saw as they stormed into Buchenwald.
Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline
Professor William Martin will give a historical overview, and several members of the Fourth Armored Division will talk and answer questions on Wednesday, September 6, at 7 p.m. (713)942-8000
"It was a big surprise to us. We had no idea of what a concentration camp was; we came upon it accidentally. When we did crash through the gates, we saw dead bodies in the courtyard, a big pit with logs of wood placed in it so the Germans could bulldoze the bodies and burn them. It was disgusting and horrible. If I remember correctly, some of the soldiers started crying looking at the inhuman animal instincts that the Nazis had. We saw death every day as soldiers, and this was the worst thing any of us ever saw," Feinberg explains.
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
When the Nazis disguised themselves as regular people and broke camp, Gerstner knew the war was coming to a close. For half a dozen years he had suffered at the hands of the Nazi troops, which worked him down to a 70-pound skeleton. During a three-week trek from one camp to the next, with only snow and chicken feed (which he stole from villages along the way) to eat, his feet froze. Upon his arrival at Buchenwald, Gerstner's big and pinkie toes on his right foot were amputated.
On the day the gates to Buchenwald came crashing down, he was more eager than surprised. Using what little English he knew, he met the GIs and tried to thank the soldiers as they handed out anything they had to offer. "I was one of the fortunate ones, and I could barely walk," Gerstner says. "They were very good to us. They gave us everything they had -- cigarettes, food, anything -- and there was nothing but tears in their eyes."
A recent visit to Gotha, Germany, where Buchenwald was located, taught Feinberg that as a young man he was fighting against not the Germans but the Nazis. There, the townspeople personally thanked him for liberating their ancestors from the second-oldest concentration camp in Germany.
And this week Gerstner will have his turn to thank his liberator. "They were good to us," Gerstner says. "They are my heroes."


text:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviewing a 14-year-old government agreement with pharmaceutical company Chiron on its hepatitis C research because some critics claim the agreement stifles similar research at other agencies and companies. Industry scientists have complained for years that Chiron has hindered the fight against hepatitis C by creating a virtual commercial monopoly over drug research; Chiron holds 100 patents in 20 countries related to hepatitis C. Competitors complain they've abandoned plans to enter the field because Chiron demands too much money to access its technology, including the ability to mass-produce the virus in order to adequately study it. Chiron has successfully sued many companies for infringing on its patents related to the virus. Those patents credit Chiron scientists with discovering the hepatitis C virus, despite the fact that a scientist from the CDC contributed much to the original research. But the CDC signed away to Chiron most of the commercial control of the virus for a little more than $2.2 million in 1990.
"There have been a number of individuals in the scientific community that are involved in the prevention, treatment, and research of hepatitis C that have said the agreement is having an impact on the scientists' ability to address hepatitis C," said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner. "We are looking into whether or not the agreement we have in place with Chiron is having an impact and, if so, what kind of impact."
Chiron officials said the CDC hasn't notified the company of any review. Defending Chiron's handling of its patents, spokesman John Gallagher said the Emeryville, Calif.-based company has deals with 13 competitors that allow them to pursue hepatitis C drugs with Chiron's patented technology. Gallagher said Chiron makes its technology freely available to nonprofit research scientists, many of whom credit the company with funding hepatitis C science meetings and supporting academic endeavors.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, often contracted by sharing needles, and can lead to chronic liver disease and liver cancer. The virus also can be spread through unprotected sex, although the CDC says the risk is relatively low, and as many as one third of HIV-positive people in Western nations also are infected with the hepatitis C virus. More than 170 million people worldwide are believed to be infected with hepatitis C.


text:
My Nonprofit Reviews
Nel S.
Review for SafeHaven of Tarrant County, Fort Worth, TX, USA
I find the people who work at SafeHaven to have kind, compassionate demeanors. They want nothing more than to spread the word about their mission and truly help people in the community. Not only does SafeHaven provide shelter, education and counseling for victims, they are taking proactive measure with their preventative programs. My Aunt was murdered by her abusive husband. I wish she had found Safehaven before he took her from us. She would be alive today if so.
More Feedback
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?


text:
This is a blindpost based on the article, How to think like an entrepreneur. Per the blindpost rules I did not read the post before I wrote this, but rather used the title and wrote my own post.
Thinking like an entrepreneur can be a both a blessing and a curse for someone that works for other people. I've often worked with the leaders in my company to try to get them to think more like entrepreneurs because the more they can do that, the more they can break through the "politics" and barriers that get thrown in their face. This recommendation – to think like an entrepreneur – can be so polarizing that its the thing I say the most that pisses people off.
In a related post, Think like an entrepreneur and nothing can stop you, I stressed that the biggest advantage of thinking like an entrepreneur was realizing that almost everything is under your control and for those things that aren't, you can control how you react to them and formulate a plan of attack for the next time you run into them. This is a mindset that I have found very helpful along my career.
Here are some ways you can start to think like an entrepreneur:
Forget the rules
Rules serve a purpose but let's face it, they were created to control pre-determined outcomes and large groups of people. History was never made by people who followed the rules. Likewise, I'd say major change or innovation was never created by people who follow the rules. The rules can be a guide but if you want to move mountains you have to have the confidence to break the rules from time to time.
Overcome your fear of risk
Entrepreneurs – check that, successful entrepreneurs – are less afraid of risk than normal people. We take chances and know that failure is a part of what it takes to be successful. You can't break the rules if you're constantly worried about the consequences. At some point you have to have confidence in both your ability to succeed and make the right decision AND your ability to rebound if it doesn't work.
Grow thicker skin
If you're an entrepreneur then you are very familiar with being told how ugly your baby is. You're well aware of how likely you are to fail, how you have no experience, and how the team you've assembled isn't going to cut it. You start to embrace rejection because its necessary. When I was growing my business back in the early 2000's, I was probably rejected by half a dozen banks for simple loans and I was given every reason under the sun on why my business would fail. "You're too young", is one I heard A LOT. In fact, a client told me I was too young to earn their business even though they loved our work!
If you're going to act like an entrepreneur at work and try to accomplish great things, you're going to have detractors. You're going to have people that do nothing but talk sh*t about you behind your back. It comes with the territory and you're going to need to shrug that stuff off and keep kicking butt.
What else? What are other ways that people can start to think like an entrepreneur?
~ if you liked this blindpost, here are more you can check out. And a handful of my friends will suggest blindposts for me to write from time to time, please feel free to do that too!


text: HI Eleanor It isn't easy to do this as the e-mail acconts are stored in the registry. There is software that will do it for you, I use one called BackRex Outlook Backup v2.8 for Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista Web: http://www.backsettings.com It isn't free but is worth having. Regards Adrien You can get me off list at: adriencollins22160@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Speakon is a free fully self-voicing accessible multimedia program for the visually impaired, find out more by downloading the software from: http://www.a-technic.net/speakon.htm You can join the speakon user group by sending a blank e-mail to: speakon-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Eleanor Burke Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:02 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Outlook - E-mail Accounts Can someone tell me how to save my Outlook e-mail accounts (I will save them on to a flash drive) and I then want to import them in to Outlook on a different computer. I am using Outlook 2003. I would also like to know how I can set Outlook so that it goes directly to my Inbox and so that I have all my folders on the left side of the screen and my Inbox on the remainder. I do not wish to have a Preview Payne either. Thank you for all help. Eleanor ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq


text:
Author events
Bay Books
1029 Orange Ave., Coronado
Wes Albers, "Black and White," 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Museum of the Living Artist
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego
Judy Reeves, "A Writer's Book of Days," and Jim Ruland, "Big Lonesome," 7 p.m. Thursday. This is a ticketed event. $5 at the door or bring wine to share.
Mysterious Galaxy
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 302, San Diego
David Brin, "Existence," 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Gini Kock, "Alexander Outland: Space Pirate," 7 p.m. Wednesday.
J.A. Pitts, "Forged in Fire," 7 p.m. Friday.
San Diego Museum of Art
1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego
Rima Fujita, "Save the Himalaya," 6 p.m. Friday.
3175 India St., San Diego
Dominic Carrillo, "To Be Frank Diego," 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Upstart Crow Bookstore & Coffeehouse
835 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego
Dr. Dorothy E. Kegler, "Mastering the Art of Success," 7 p.m. Friday.
7812 Girard Ave., San Diego
R.J. Palacio, "Wonder," 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Reeve Lindbergh, "Against Wind and Tide: Letters and Journals, 1947-1986," 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
John H. Ritter, "Fenway Fever, "7 p.m. Thursday.
Laura Moriarty, "The Chaperone," 5:30 p.m. Friday.


text:
Current Newswire:
Troubleshooting Professional: Apache [Report on Apachecon]Mar 31, 2000, 18:52 (0 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Steve Litt)
WEBINAR: On-Demand
No-Size-Fits-All! An Application-Down Approach for Your Cloud Transformation REGISTER >
"For me, the highlight of the first day was Mike Pogue's "The Cathedral Meets the Bazaar" presentation, in which he detailed how his employer, IBM, was employing people to write Open Source software. Mike is a project manager for some of IBM's Open Source work. He detailed advantages of Cathedral (traditional IBM) development and Bazaar development, and how IBM has used the best of both worlds for its development. I left with a clearer understanding of the role of large companies in the Open Source movement. His style and delivery were supurb, so I figured Mike's would probably be the best presentation I'd see at Apachecon. But it wasn't."
"It was called "PHP: Hacker's Paradise" by Nathan Wallace. ... Within the framework of PHP, Nathan layed out design strategies for todays realities, where you often need to get a complex site up in a week. It rang so true! No 2 month systems analysis, but no shoot from the hip either. Nathan evangelized a methodology of wrapping the most unchanging code in PHP objects, wrapped in a shell of PHP functions and include files, with the quick changing stuff (mainly the appearance) in an outer HTML layer. Nathan showed the code for most of his "base functions", each of which was simple enough to assimilate from 30 seconds of viewing a slide. Nathan discussed the tactics of when and how to use each of these objects and functions in everyday web development life, and how they contributed to ultra rapid development. Nathan's was my favorite Apachecon presentation. I walked out of his presentation determined to learn more about PHP."
"As good as Apachecon was, it was the *people* that made it really enjoyable. Certainly the most visible was Ken Coar, who from the attendee's viewpoint was the leader. Ken gave us our information and continually urged us for feedback. He's smart, he knows Apache, and he's a great leader. Ken is a the ASF (Apache Software Foundation) V.P., Apache Conferences, and he's the Apachecon technical chair."
Related Stories:
0 Talkback[s] (click to add your comment)


text:
Results 1 to 5 of 14
Thread: Twin Name Data 2011
Threaded View
July 24th, 2012 05:48 PM #23
Yeah, most of these are rather ridiculous, and will be problematic.
Adrian and Adriana? Do you know how likely it is for their documents to get mixed up? I hear of it happening all the time to a Michael and Michaela twinset. Some parents get so caught up they seem to lose their senses.
The ones I like are:
Elijah and Isaiah, as matchy as they are, I find it perfect. And I know an Elijah and Isaiah twinset.
Caleb and Joshua
Alexander and Nicholas, I love the Nicky and Alex nicknames. I think this got very popular due to Full House twins, and the royal pairing of Alix and Nicky the Russian Royal Family.
Jacob and Lucas
Ethan and Elijah
Benjamin and William, though the idea of Ben and Billy is a bit much.
Henry and William, lovely but too obvious with the Royal family tie.
Matthew and Nathan
Emma and Olivia
Abigail and Sophia
Elizabeth and Katherine
Emma and Sophie
Ethan and Olivia
Emily and Matthew
Charlotte and Henry
Andrew and Emma
Emma and Jack
Emma and JacobNathaniel . Eden | Alessandra . Noel


text:
Media Contacts
Carol Hively, Director - Public Relations and Team Communications
[email protected]
By Space Foundation Vice President - Washington Operations Brendan Curry
Those of us who have been working in the space business for a while are aware that at present a portion of U.S. space lift capability is reliant upon Russian manufactured and then imported rocket engines. This has been the case for just over a decade.
That said, the recent crisis in the Ukraine, and resultant strain in Russo-American relations, has caused this fact to emerge in political circles that were unaware of this fact. As such, there have been calls and cries for embargoes, cancelling of contracts and other measures that may 'feel good' in the near term, but over the mid-to-long term, could have a serious impact on the ability of the U.S. to send important payloads into space.
In the 1990's, it was a geopolitical calculation that engaging the Russian rocket industrial base would serve two purposes:
Please note, we do have American rocket engines, but just as with cars you can buy at your average car dealership, different kinds of cars require different kinds of motors. A sports car will not have a small 3-cylinder motor, just as a minivan will not have a motor used for a high performance sports car.
The same can be said for rocket engines. Satellites and other kinds of spacecraft are not all the same. Some require different orbits; some require a unique type of launch profile and so on. Thus, there is not one single rocket engine to do it all. Just like there is not one kind of car motor that can do it all.
The Russian-made rocket engines fill a select niche, which at present, no American rocket engines can currently. Could we develop indigenously the niche capability these Russian engines provide? Certainly. But publicly stated and informed opinions say it would take a serious financial investment and several years. We can quibble about precise dollar amounts and exact time lags, but an indigenous capability is not 'turn-key.'
This brings us back to current dilemma, reliance on Russian rocket engines made sense in a variety of ways for many years. The present flare up, which could have much larger geopolitical ramifications besides space lift, exposes for thoughtful review the continued wisdom of this policy by decision makers on Capitol Hill, the administration, the Pentagon and NASA. Is it in the national interest to embark on a new rocket engine program, given the time and money to complete? If so, who in the U.S. government should pay for it? Does it make better sense to stay the course and accept that bumps in Russo-American relationship are to be expected, but not worth the costs of a new engine when there are certainly other areas needed for investment in our space capabilities?
In my opinion, this discussion needs to happen with cool heads, hard facts and a firm understanding of the resultant impacts, regardless of which road we take.
In this case, YES, it IS rocket science and politics do not belong.
Curry leads the Space Foundation's government affairs efforts in Washington, D.C., serving as principal interface with key customers, staff and officials in the Administration, Congress, space industry and federal agencies including NASA and the Departments of Defense, Commerce, State, Education and Transportation.
Carol Hively, Director - Public Relations and Team Communications
[email protected]


text: I have a sugar maple in my front yard that I'd like to get input on if it's dying, or if it will heal. The trunk is about 5' tall then branches off about 5 times. There was a stump in the middle that was cut out and several of the crooks have open cavities in them. The tree bloomed this spring and looks fine except for the cavities. I have a white sycamore tree near this maple so I don't know if it crowded it out for light. Would you let the tree to continue to grow or take it down?


text:
|New Threads Only:
|New Threads & Replies:
Forum List » Business News and Headlines
SEC Filings, Earing Reports, Press Releases
Goto: Forum List•Message List•New Topic•Search•Log In
Great Wolf Resorts Inc. Reports Operating Results (10-K)
Posted by: gurufocus (IP Logged)
Date: February 23, 2012 04:12PM
Great Wolf Resorts Inc. (WOLF) filed Annual Report for the period ended 2011-12-31. Great Wolf Rsrt has a market cap of $116.9 million; its shares were traded at around $4.05 with and P/S ratio of 0.4. Great Wolf Rsrt had an annual average earning growth of 3% over the past 5 years.
Highlight of Business Operations:Our operations and properties are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, natural resources and worker health and safety, including laws and regulations governing and creating liability relating to the management, storage and disposal of hazardous substances and other regulated materials. Our properties are also subject to various environmental laws and regulations that govern certain aspects of our ongoing operations. These laws and regulations control such things as the nature and volume of our wastewater discharges, quality of our water supply and our waste management practices. The costs of complying with these requirements, and of paying penalties, fines, assessments and the like related to non-compliance, as they now exist or may be altered in the future, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Specifically, the wastewater treatment plant at our Pocono Mountains resort is subject to numerous state, federal and other regulations. The cost of compliance with such regulations for penalties, remediation and other costs arising out of non compliance, can be large, as occurred in 2006 when we agreed to pay an assessment of approximately $800 and incurred other costs in excess of $1,000 to remediate wastewater discharges that were out of compliance with applicable permits and to prevent further out-of-compliance discharges. In 2010 and 2009 we incurred other costs of $458 and $26, respectively, to remediate wastewater discharges that were out of compliance with applicable permits and to prevent further out-of-compliance discharges. We had no costs as it relates to remediating the wastewater discharges in 2011. Our Poconos Mountains resort has been notified of a $27 fine for a deficiency in our wastewater management reporting, which is expected to be paid in 2012.
Concord Mortgage LoanOn July 15, 2011, we entered into a loan agreement to refinance our Concord mortgage loan. We repaid $20,433 under the original loan using cash on hand. The principal amount of the new loan was $56,000 and is secured by our Concord resort. This loan bears interest at a floating rate of 30-day LIBOR plus a spread of 500 basis points with a minimum rate of 6.00% per annum (effective rate of 6.00% at December 31, 2011). This loan matures in July 2014 and has a one-year extension available at our option, assuming the property meets certain operating performance thresholds. This loan requires four quarterly principal payments of $125 each beginning October 1, 2011, and quarterly principal payments of $375 thereafter.
Trust I used the proceeds of the offering and our investment to purchase from us $51,550 of junior subordinated debentures with payment terms that mirror the distribution terms of the TPS. The indenture governing the debentures contains limitations on our ability, without the consent of the holders of the debentures, to make payments to our affiliates or for our affiliates to make payments to us if a default exists. The costs of the TPS offering totaled $1,600, including $1,500 of underwriting commissions and expenses and $100 of costs incurred directly by Trust I. Trust I paid these costs utilizing an investment from us. These costs are being amortized over a 30-year period. The proceeds from our debentures sale, net of the costs of the TPS offering and our investment in Trust I, were $48,400. We used the net proceeds to retire a construction loan.
Trust III used the proceeds of the offering and our investment to purchase from us $28,995 of junior subordinated debentures with payment terms that mirror the distribution terms of the trust securities. The costs of the TPS offering totaled $932, including $870 of underwriting commissions and expenses and $62 of costs incurred directly by Trust III. Trust III paid these costs utilizing an investment from us. These costs are being amortized over a 10-year period. The proceeds from these debentures sales, net of the costs of the TPS offering and our investment in Trust III, were $27,193. We used the net proceeds for development costs.
We had $33,767 of available cash and cash equivalents and a working capital deficit of $62,448 (current assets less current liabilities) at December 31, 2011, compared to the $36,988 of available cash and cash equivalents and a working capital deficit of $65,190 at December 31, 2010. The primary reasons for the working capital deficit as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 are:
Stocks Discussed: WOLF,
Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search•Log In
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
Please Login if you have an account or Create a Free Account if you don't
Get WordPress Plugins for easy affiliate links on Stock Tickers and Guru Names | Earn affiliate commissions by embedding GuruFocus Charts
GuruFocus Affiliate Program: Earn up to $400 per referral. ( Learn More)
GF Chat


text:
I am Satan! I'm fun at dinner parties. I flirt with your wife. I entertain your kids.
I'm not serious. I don't "get the issues". Am I "court jester" or "village idiot"?
I don't appreciate the serious state of our country. I'm not yet convinced of the total governmental takeover and how Obama represents the end. Although I have lots of weapons I'm not convinced that they need to be taken up in arms to save our people.
I'm tired. I'm frightened. The man on Fox News tells me that the nation is sliding into destruction.
Dedication is good. Loyalty to cause and espirit de corp are tremendous forces in helping our country focus and advance. The difficulty is that we have been victimized by forces in the media, don't exercise our reasoning skills, and enjoy the sensationalism of the moment. Like adolescent boys we "can't wait" to achieve a climatic state where it all makes sense. Bad is bad. Good is good. If you can quote Thomas Jefferson then all is well.
Here is my plan, I've got the fix. It is time to purify the country. Hey, come on, we all know a guy who is a bit off center. We are at war. No room for dissonance. If you are against torture then you are for the terrorists? These guys are gonna rape your sister for Christ sake?
Ok, so now you have the picture. There is this one bad guy, he is the leader. He bows to other world leaders like no other president (ignore history here), he crawled in under the wire with the other illegal immigrants and is taking an important U.S. job. He is selling off the country in a front yard sale. Be careful because his wife just might pound your posterior with her sleeveless dress.
This man represents everything that you stand against. He wastes your money and insults your decency. America will slip away under his leadership. He is the problem. He is the problem. He is the problem.
In 1963 my uncle Waggoner Carr was Attorney General for the state of Texas. I was young (born in 1957) but recall a few moments from those earliest times. I proudly wore his lapel pin featuring a golden sedan with CARR imprinted as we did block walks with my family. Waggoner advanced from State Legislator in the 1950s to the office of Attorney General in 1962.
After having attended a breakfast with President Kennedy that November morning in 1963 Waggoner left the event and departed on a private plane scheduled to return to the Panhandle. As his plane flew west the events in Dallas unfolded in the downtown Dealey Plaza.
Upon news of the shooting of President Kennedy, Waggoner returned to Dallas and assumed the responsibility of investigating the assassination attempt as was his charge as Attorney General. He poured over the police reports, photos, and physical evidence. He directly interviewed witnesses to that day. He offered testimony to the Warren Commission. All of this can be reviewed by doing an Internet search on his name.
His conclusion…? One man, one rifle, one belief. Oswald acted alone, with no external directive. He placed three well-positioned shots into our President and Governor Connelly . He was well-trained as an expert rifleman in the United States Marines. Copies of his field exams reflected an excellent marksman who could hit his target.
Coinciding with the President's visit to Dallas the local newspaper, the Dallas Morning News, featured a full page ad that attacked President Kennedy as being left-wing and soft on communists. Such newspaper "attack" ads were not uncommon to Kennedy and forces against him were very vocal and accusatory.
The entire page 14 of the Dallas Morning News, November 22nd, 1963, was devoted to an advertisement, ominously bordered in black like an announcement of mourning. Under the sardonic heading, "WELCOME MR KENNEDY TO DALLAS," an organization styling itself as "The American Fact-Finding Committee" -- a local coordinator of the John Birch Society and Nelson Bunker Hunt, the son of H. L. Hunt, it later developed, were the committee's most prominent members -- asked the President twelve rhetorical questions. He was accused of responsibility for the imprisonment, starvation, and persecution of 'thousands of Cubans.' The ad declared that he was selling food to the Communist party, and asked, among other things, 'Why have you ordered or permitted your brother Bobby, the Attorney General, to go soft on Communists, fellow-travelers, and ultra-leftists in America, while permitting him to persecute loyal Americans who criticize you, your administration, and your leadership?'..."'Mr Kennedy', the ad concluded, 'we DEMAND answers to these questions, and we want them NOW.'
While the ad did not go as far as handbills that were passed out on the streets of Dallas that day that declared Kennedy a Communist and a danger the difference here was that the ad was featured so prominently in a major newspaper and involved major political figures as backers.
One is left to wonder if Oswald, frustrated by his inability to find a place in society, working in a dead-end job with no friends, felt "called" to make a difference for the first time in his life. Did he view himself as a champion for the cause spurred on by the harsh words condemning the president? Was he fortified by what he thought were the legitimate charges made against Kennedy?
Today, I can watch a multitude of television shows that decry President Obama. I can read newspaper articles, visit Internet sites, and talk to people on Facebook who appear to have much in common with those same attitudes that were prevalent in November 1963. The anger, the hatred, the "call for action" are the same across the two times, the only difference is that you substitute "Obama" for the word "Kennedy".
We must challenge this hate speech! Our first amendment rights protect unpopular speech and, unless such comments incite violence, there is little that can be done from a legal standpoint. However we would do well to appreciate the inflammatory nature of such comments. While such comments can get you on the evening news and talk circuit it is irresponsible and dangerous.
In my practice as a psychologist I work with unbalanced individuals every day. Most are simply neurotic, distressed by the events in their lives. Across my 25 years of practice however I have encountered some individuals who posed a danger to others. Most were focused on their family or the authorities that forced them into treatment. Others though were delusional about larger issues and were easily influenced by their surroundings. These individuals, paranoid as a function of their disorder, would become convinced that there were serious dangers and forces at work in our society. With the smallest of prompting they could be pressed into action.
The proof that my uncle offered that Oswald acted alone was very simple. He told me "if there were a conspiracy don't you think that there would have been at least one person step forward in the years since with clear undeniable evidence implicating others". We don't keep secrets worth a damn in our society and this explanation is compelling.
So you who want to scream and charge President Obama with a host of offenses, understand what you are sending out to others. If such inflammatory speech continues to flood our airwaves, Internet, and print media I fear that we will revisit the same events that took place that cool November morning in Dallas. If you were alive during those years of Camelot remember the sorrow that poured against our nation as a young president's head exploded in the freeze frame of the grainy camera footage.
When you hear hate speech confront the person! Challenge them to return to a more respectful debate that can contain all the essentials of point and counter-point without the personal insult and implied threats. Remind them of the terrible cost that was paid that day in the plaza and the shame that Texas felt for years after. I pray that those in our society who feel disconnected, feel weak, do not heed the call to take action.
As Waggoner would say…it only took one man!


text:
Recent evidence implicating tissue factor and the protein C pathway in the hypercoagulable state associated with intestinal inflammation suggests that thrombin is likely to contribute to this response. The objective of this study was to assess the role of thrombin in the extraintestinal thrombosis associated with experimental colitis. Thrombus formation was quantified in microvessels of the cremaster muscle in mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colonic inflammation. The light/dye endothelial injury model was used to elicit thrombus formation in DSS colitic mice treated with either hirudin, heparin, or antithrombin III. The initiation and propagation/stabilization phases of thrombus formation were quantified using the time of onset of the thrombus and time to blood flow cessation, respectively. Thrombus formation was accelerated in arterioles of DSS colitic mice, as exhibited by significant reductions in the time of thrombus initiation and propagation/stabilization. Colitic mice treated with hirudin, heparin, or antithrombin III did not exhibit a significant change in the time of onset of the thrombus compared with untreated colitic mice. However, all three antithrombin agents largely prevented the DSS-induced reduction in the time to flow cessation following light/dye injury, with hirudin offering complete protection. These findings indicate that thrombin plays a major role in the extraintestinal thrombus formation associated with experimental colitis. Thrombin appears to contribute to the propagation/stabilization, rather than initiation, phase of the colitis-associated thrombogenesis at the distant vascular site. The results support the therapeutic use of antithrombin agents for reducing the risk of thromboembolism in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
- coagulation
- heparin
- hirudin
- antithrombin III
ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that result in significant morbidity and mortality. It is well known that cancer, malnutrition, and infection account for some of the mortality associated with IBD. Thromboembolic (TE) events are also a significant cause of death in patients with IBD (13). There is evidence for thrombus formation both within the inflamed bowel (23) and in extraintestinal tissues (10). It is reported that the overall incidence of systemic TE events in patients with IBD is 6.2%, with a threefold increase in the risk of systemic TE events compared with the general population (22). Deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus are the most common types of TE events associated with IBD, with fewer reports describing emboli in the brain, retina, and liver (2, 13). Although the mechanisms that underlie the hypercoagulable state in IBD remain poorly defined, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that coagulation and inflammation are two interrelated physiological processes, with an inflammatory response promoting coagulation and vice versa (6, 7).
The hypercoagulable state and enhanced thrombus formation that is observed in human IBD has been reproduced in animal models of colitis. For example, it has been shown that mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis have elevated level of thrombin-antithrombin complexes in blood (1), and these colitic mice exhibit enhanced thrombus formation in arterioles of extraintestinal tissue (cremaster muscle), compared with control mice (1, 27). These studies of thrombus formation in the microvasculature of colitic mice have also revealed major contributions of tissue factor (1) and activated protein C (27) to the enhanced thrombus formation associated with DSS colitis. Further support for the involvement of the protein C pathway in the pathogenesis of human IBD and experimental colitis is provided by a report by Scaldaferri and coworkers (18), who demonstrated that the expression of endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) and thrombomodulin is lost in the microvasculature of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and that DSS colitic mice treated with activated protein C exhibit blunted disease activity, histologic injury scores, and inflammation.
The procoagulation reactions that are elicited by activation of tissue factor and downregulation (or impaired activation) of the protein C pathway during human IBD and experimental colitis should ultimately lead to enhanced generation of thrombin. A role for accelerated thrombin production in IBD is also supported by reports describing significantly reduced antithrombin III (ATIII) levels in plasma of patients with IBD (9, 22). Clinical studies have yielded conflicting results on the therapeutic efficacy of heparin in patients with IBD (4, 22), although the antithrombin agent has shown some benefit in blunting the inflammation and tissue injury in experimental colitis (3, 25). Although the beneficial effects of heparin in human and experimental IBD have been attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties (22), the efficacy of heparin and other antithrombin agents in preventing the thrombus formation associated with IBD has not been previously addressed.
The objective of this study was to assess the role of thrombin in the extraintestinal thrombosis associated with experimental IBD and to compare the efficacy of three mechanistically distinct antithrombin agents (heparin, hirudin, and antithrombin III) in this model of inflammation-enhanced thrombosis. To achieve these objectives, the light/dye endothelial injury method was used to induce thrombus formation in arterioles and venules of the cremaster muscle in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Our findings are consistent with a major role for thrombin in the extraintestinal thrombosis associated with experimental IBD.
A total of 58 male C57BL/6 [wild-type (WT) control strain, 21–28 g body wt] mice (Jackson Laboratories, ME) were used in this study. All mice were housed under specific pathogen-free conditions in standard cages and fed standard laboratory chow and water until the desired age (6–8 wk). All animal procedures were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and were performed according to the criteria outlined by the National Institutes of Health.
DSS-induced colitis.
Colitis was induced, as previously described (24), by feeding mice 3% (wt/vol) DSS (mol wt, 40,000; MP Biomedicals, Solon, OH) dissolved in filter-purified drinking water. The first day of DSS feeding was defined as day 0, and the mice were maintained on the DSS until day 6. The 3% DSS regimen, unlike higher DSS doses, is not associated with mortality. Control mice received filtered water alone (without DSS).
Assessment of colitis progression.
Body weights, fecal status, presence of occult blood in the stools, and perianal bleeding were observed and recorded every day while the mice received DSS. Occult blood was detected using guaiac paper (ColoScreen; Helena Laboratories, Beaumont, TX) (24). Disease activity index (DAI), a measure of disease severity ranging between 0 and 4, was calculated from data collected on stool consistency, presence or absence of fecal blood, and weight loss, as previously described (24). The DAI was monitored to ensure that DSS treatment resulted in clinical responses that are consistent with colitic disease activity.
Cremaster muscle preparation.
On day 6 of DSS (colitis) or water (control) treatment, mice were anesthetized using 50 mg/kg pentobarbital sodium intraperitoneally, with supplemental doses (12.5 mg/kg) given as needed. The right internal jugular vein was cannulated for intravenous administration of FITC-dextran. In most experiments, the right carotid artery was cannulated for blood pressure measurement. Body temperature was maintained at 35.5–36.5°C during the entire experiment with a homeothermic blanket and monitored with a rectal temperature probe. The cremaster muscle was prepared for intravital fluorescence microscopic observation, as previously described (21). The surface of the exposed cremaster muscle was suffused continuously with bicarbonate-buffered saline, with a pH of 7.35–7.45. The cremaster muscle preparation was moved onto the stage of an upright fluorescent microscope and was allowed to stabilize for 20–30 min before initiation of the experiment.
Microscopic observations were carried out using an upright microscope (BX51WI; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) with a 40× water immersion objective lens (LUMPlanFI/IR 40×/0.80 w). The microscopic image was projected onto a monitor (Sony TRINITRON PVM-2030) through a color video camera (Hitachi VK-C150) and recorded using a DVD recorder (JVC SR-MV50). A video timer (Panasonic Time-Date Generator WJ-810) was connected to the monitor to record time and date. The diameters of the cremaster vessels were measured by video analysis software (ImageJ 1.37v, NIH, Public Domain software) on a personal computer (G4 Macintosh, Apple). After the preparation was stabilized, 10 ml/kg of 5% FITC-dextran (150,000 MW; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) was slowly injected intravenously. It was allowed to circulate for 10 min, and then second- or third-order unbranched venules and arterioles with diameters (dV) ranging between 30–50 μm were selected for study. Red blood cell velocity (vRBC) in the microvessels was measured using an optical Doppler velocimeter (Microcirculation Research Institute, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX). Blood flow was calculated from the product of mean red blood cell velocity [vmean = vRBC/1.6] and cross-sectional area, assuming cylindrical geometry. Wall shear rate (WSR) was calculated on the basis of the Newtonian definition: WSR = 8 (vmean/dV) (17). The fluorescent microscopic images were received by a charge-coupled device video camera (Hamamatsu XC-77).
Light/dye-induced thrombosis.
Photoactivation of FITC-dextran within the microvessels was performed after the fluorochrome was in the circulation for 10 min. Less than 100 μm of vessel length was exposed to epi-illumination using a 175-W xenon lamp (Lambda LS; Sutter, Novado, CA) and a fluorescein filter cube (HQ-FITC; Chroma, Rockingham, VT). The excitation power density was measured daily (ILT 1700 Radiometer, SED033 detector; International Light, Peabody, MA) and maintained within 1% of 0.77 W/cm2, as previously described (1, 15, 16, 17). Epi-illumination was continuously applied to the vessels, and thrombus formation was quantified by determining 1) the time of onset of platelet deposition/aggregation within the microvessel (onset time, thrombus initiation) and 2) the time required for complete flow cessation for ≥60 s (cessation time, time to thrombus stabilization). Epi-illumination was discontinued once blood flow ceased in the vessel under study. Typically, two to four thrombi were induced in each mouse, and the results of each vessel type (venules, arterioles) were averaged. In mice not receiving FITC-dextran, epi-illumination of the cremaster microvasculature for a period of 30 min did not result in platelet aggregation or thrombus formation in either venules or arterioles. Similarly, vessel diameters and red blood cell velocity were not altered.
Experimental protocols.
The light/dye endothelial injury model was used to monitor thrombus formation in the following experimental groups: 1) control mice (no DSS in drinking water), 2) DSS-treated (colitic) mice, 3) control and 4) colitic mice receiving 1 mg/kg of hirudin (Calbiochem, Darmstadt, Germany) 5 min before vessel epi-illumination (19), 5) control and 6) colitic mice receiving 100 IU/kg of heparin (Abraxis, Chicago, IL) 5 min before vessel epi-illumination (19), and 7) control and 8) colitic mice receiving 50 IU/kg of antithrombin III (Calbiochem) 5 min before vessel epi-illumination (19).
Data were analyzed using standard statistical analyses, i.e., one-way ANOVA and Fisher's post hoc test. Values are reported as means ± SE, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.
All mice receiving DSS in drinking water developed clinical signs of colitis (weight loss, perianal gross bleeding, loose stools, or diarrhea), and all mice survived the full course of DSS treatment. Table 1 summarizes the estimated values of WSR (obtained immediately before the induction of light/dye injury) in venules and arterioles in all experimental groups. No significant differences in WSR were noted between groups for either vessel population.
Figure 1 summarizes the changes in the time of onset of thrombosis and time to flow cessation in cremaster arterioles of untreated and hirudin-treated control and colitic mice. As previously reported (1, 27), DSS colitis is associated with significant reductions in both the onset of thrombus formation and time to flow cessation. Hirudin treatment did not alter the onset and flow cessation times in control mice, compared with untreated control mice. Colitic mice receiving the same dose of hirudin exhibited an unchanged thrombus onset time compared with untreated colitic mice. However, hirudin treatment did result in a significantly prolonged time to flow cessation after light/dye injury. A similar pattern of responses was noted in mice treated with either heparin (Fig. 2) or ATIII (Fig. 3), i.e., neither heparin nor ATIII altered the onset of thrombus formation in cremaster arterioles of colitic mice; however, both thrombin inhibitors significantly prolonged the time to flow cessation in light/dye-injured arterioles of colitic mice. Although all three thrombin inhibitors were effective in blunting thrombus formation, only hirudin completely inhibited the reduction in time to flow cessation noted in arterioles of colitic mice after light/dye injury, which is consistent with the view that hirudin is the most potent of all thrombin inhibitors.
It has previously been shown that the enhanced light/dye-induced thrombus formation in the cremaster microcirculation of mice with DSS colitis largely occurs in arterioles, with no significant differences noted in either the onset or flow cessation times in venules of normal and colitic mice (1, 27). The results on the venular responses obtained in the present study (Table 2) are consistent with these previous reports.
The data summarized in Table 2 indicate that the thrombotic responses of venules to light/dye injury in control and colitic mice were largely unaffected by treatment with either hirudin, heparin, or ATIII. None of the thrombin inhibitors significantly affected the time of onset of the thrombus. Although there was a tendency for prolongation of the time to flow cessation in venules of mice (control and colitic) receiving a thrombin inhibitor, this increase in flow cessation time reached statistical significance only for colitic mice treated with hirudin.
Efforts to better understand the processes of hemostasis and coagulation in different pathological conditions have revealed an intimate link between coagulation and inflammation (5, 8). It is now appreciated that certain inflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines) and signaling pathways (e.g., Toll-like receptor-4 and CD40/CD40L) can shift hemostatic mechanisms in favor of thrombosis by upregulating tissue factor while downregulating the natural anticoagulation pathways, i.e., the heparin-antithrombin system, the tissue factor pathway inhibitor system, and the protein C anticoagulant pathway. An important consequence of these responses of the coagulation system to inflammation is an accelerated production of thrombin, which promotes thrombus formation by converting fibrinogen to fibrin, and through feedback activation of factors V, VIII, and XI. The hypercoagulable state that is manifested in patients with IBD and in animal models of experimental colitis likely reflects the impact of inflammatory mediators on procoagulant reactions, including an enhanced production of thrombin (7, 9, 22). The present study represents the first systematic effort to define the contribution of thrombin to colitis-enhanced extraintestinal thrombogenesis. Our findings indicate that thrombin plays a critical role in colitis-enhanced thrombogenesis, and the data suggest that thrombin inhibitors may reduce the risk of thromboembolism in patients with IBD.
Three direct thrombin inhibitors (hirudin, heparin, and ATIII) with distinct mechanisms of action were used to assess the role of thrombin in DSS colitis-enhanced thrombus formation in cremaster arterioles after light/dye-induced endothelial injury. Hirudin, the most potent naturally occurring inhibitor of thrombin derived from medicinal leeches, binds thrombin in a 1:1 fashion at each of two sites on the enzyme, i.e., the fibrinogen recognition domain and the catalytic domain. This binding of hirudin to thrombin inhibits all of the biological functions of thrombin but does not inhibit other enzymes in the coagulation or fibrinolytic pathways (12). Heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan secreted by mast cells, binds to and results in a 2,000–4,000-fold activation of ATIII, which in turn functions to inactivate thrombin and factors Xa and IXa (14). All three thrombin inhibitors have been shown to exert an influence on thrombus formation in different animal models (19, 26). For example, a comparison of the efficacy of hirudin, heparin, and ATIII in a light/dye model of microvascular thrombosis in the ear of hairless mice has revealed that heparin, hirudin, and ATIII prevent thrombotic vessel occlusion in 62%, 43%, and 100% of arterioles, respectively (19), suggesting that ATIII is the most effective inhibitor. ATIII was also shown to afford protection against light/dye-induced arteriolar thrombus formation in a mouse model of endotoxemia, with ATIII treatment yielding a fourfold delay in thrombus formation (20). Unlike the findings reported in mice with endotoxemia, the results of the present study indicate that hirudin, heparin, ATIII are all very effective in delaying colitis-enhanced arteriolar thrombogenesis following light/dye injury in the cremaster microcirculation. However, hirudin proved to be the only thrombin inhibitor that completely inhibited the reduction in time to flow cessation noted in arterioles of colitic mice after light/dye injury, which is consistent with the view that hirudin is the most potent naturally occurring inhibitor of thrombin.
Thrombogenesis in an injured blood vessel occurs in three stages, initiation, propagation, and stabilization (11). The initiation phase involves the rapid binding of platelets to the injured vessel wall and activation of the coagulation cascade by tissue factor. A variable measured in our study that likely reflects the initiation phase of thrombus formation following light/dye injury is onset time. The propagation phase involves the recruitment of more platelets and amplification of the coagulation cascade via the intrinsic pathway. Stabilization of the thrombus occurs as a result of fibrin deposition (11). The time to flow cessation measured in microvessels after light/dye injury reflects the time to thrombus stabilization and likely includes both the propagation and stabilization phases of thrombogenesis. The present analysis of colitis-induced thrombogenesis indicates that the three direct thrombin inhibitors (hirudin, heparin, and ATIII) exert no influence on the time of onset of the colitis-enhanced thrombus following light/dye injury, suggesting that thrombin does not contribute to the initiation phase in this model of thrombogenesis. These findings are consistent with a recent report (27) describing no improvement (extension) of the onset time for thrombus formation in cremaster arterioles after light/dye injury in DSS colitic WT mice treated with activated protein C and in EPCR transgenic mice (EPCR-Tg) with DSS colitis. However, it has been reported (1) that immunoblockade of tissue factor largely prevents the reduction in thrombus onset time that is associated with DSS colitis, which supports the view that tissue factor expression is a key event in the initiation phase (onset) of arteriolar thrombogenesis (11).
All three thrombin inhibitors were effective in prolonging the time to flow cessation following light/dye injury in DSS colitic mice, suggesting that thrombin is an important contributor to the propagation and stabilization phases of thrombogenesis in this model. This finding is consistent with a previous report showing a similar prolongation of the time to flow cessation following light/dye injury in cremaster arterioles of WT DSS colitic mice treated with activated protein C and in colitic EPCR-Tg mice (27). Collectively, the two sets of data raise the possibility that an impaired protein C pathway that has already been implicated in human and experimental colitis (18) contributes significantly to the enhanced thrombin generation that mediates the propagation and stabilization phases of thrombus formation. The previously reported finding that tissue factor antibody treatment does not affect the time to flow cessation in this model (1) suggests that tissue factor is not a major contributor to the propagation/stabilization phases of colitis-enhanced thrombogenesis in cremaster arterioles.
The identity of the chemical and/or cellular signal produced by the inflamed gut that enhances thrombus formation in arterioles of skeletal muscle remains unknown. However, it is possible that cytokines released into the blood stream by the inflamed bowel mediates this distant tissue response. For example, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β, which have been implicated in pathogenesis of IBD, are known to downregulate the expression of EPCR on microvascular endothelial cells and reduce the capacity of these cells to activate protein C (18). Alternatively, blood cells such as monocytes or platelets that flow through microvasculature of the inflamed gut may be activated to express tissue factor, which is then delivered via blood to extraintestinal vascular beds, such as skeletal muscle, that are rendered vulnerable to thrombus formation (1). More work is needed to determine how the inflamed gut signals thrombogenesis in distant tissues.
In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that thrombin inhibitors confer significant protection against the extraintestinal thrombosis that is associated with colonic inflammation. These thrombin inhibitors appear to exert their actions on the propagation and stabilization phases of thrombogenesis. In view of the previously reported role of tissue factor in mediating the initiation phase of colitis-induced thrombogenesis, the combined use of tissue factor and thrombin inhibitors may provide a therapeutic advantage in reducing the morbidity and mortality from thromboembolic events in patients with IBD.
This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P01 DK43785).
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
- Copyright © 2008 the American Physiological Society


text:
General Question
How come Windows says I still have files in a folder when it's empty?
Asked by ScottyMcGeester (1586) February 24th, 2014
I've been organizing files in my documents and I notice that sometimes when I empty out a folder and double check if there's anything I left out by clicking on properties, it says that I have like 2 or 3 files still in the folder. Yet, when I move into the folder, there's nothing there. I have Windows set so that it reveals hidden folders, and even still the properties tab says there's data in the folder despite nothing being there. What gives?
Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0
9 Answers
elbanditoroso (22421)"Great Answer" (0) Flag as… ¶
Answer this question
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Wow! You've got 847 knowledge matches!Want to see them? Join Fluther!


text:
CHARMER: Spice up a room with this loud, attention-grabbing vase from MacKenzie Childs. The check enamel vase comes in a hand-painted checkerboard pattern with ivory and onyx colors and a bronzed, stainless steel trim. The lime green chartreuse ribbon seals the deal. GET IT: $50; Online at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Published at 11:04 AM CDT on Nov 5, 2010 | Updated at 11:15 AM CDT on Nov 5, 2010


text:
ALPHARETTA – The city put down its green roots years ago and plans to become even greener in the future.
Alpharetta Community Development Director Diana Wheeler said it was the first city to submit an application for the Atlanta Regional Commission's Green Communities program.
Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas put making Alpharetta a "greener" city his top goal for his final term as mayor.
"We are doing fine the way we are now, but the future is in question," he said. "I think to protect our environment for the future generations, we need to protect and do all we can for the environment."
Wheeler said she and her staff, who prepared the ARC application, feel Alpharetta is "more than qualified to be a green city."
Some of the criteria used in determining a city's status as a Green Community include energy efficiency, water use and conservation, trees and greenspace efforts.
"We have addressed every one of their items with the programs and the policies that we already either have in place or have adopted as a result of this effort," Wheeler said.
Alpharetta has one of the strongest tree ordinances in the state, Letchas said, and will strive to keep it that way.
This year the Public Safety Department took delivery on its first hybrid cars for administrative-type positions and positions not likely to be involved in high-speed chases. Letchas said the 34-plus miles per gallon make the hybrids obviously greener than other vehicles.
"It's proving out to be a good decision," he said.
Recycling is a goal for the city and something that is pushed for residents.
"It's doing what we can for the environment as far as taking less to the landfill. I encourage people to get the bigger recycling containers so they can recycle more and dump less," Letchas said.
Alpharetta's waste hauler offers a 35-gallon recycling container that can replace the standard 18-gallon container by calling 678-407-6216 to schedule the exchange of bins. The larger bins have lids, wheels and handles to make them easier to use.
The city encourages developers to be part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] program for energy efficiency, encouraging green roof designs that help with heating and cooling, and water runoff. Developers can be rewarded for energy efficiency.
In an idea brought by a code enforcement officer, if a developer agrees to install a timer to shut off a commercial development's sign, Alpharetta will allow that sign to be up to 20 percent larger.
The city is making plans to save energy in its buildings wherever it can.
"And we've got some ordinances that we passed on the first reading that encourage [going] green," Letchas said.


text:
Cunningham is located in Pickens County.
Cunningham is 180 feet [55 m] above sea level.<1>.
Time Zone: Cunningham lies in the Central Time Zone (CST/CDT) and observes daylight saving time
The telephone area code for Cunningham: (205)
The following is a sample of nearby communities. Keep in mind that when we give a distance, it's a 'straight-line' distance from Cunningham and not the distance if you drove it.<2>.
To learn more about neighboring communities and counties, please visit the Nearby Page for Cunningham.
While we believe that this Cunningham is located in Pickens County, we know of another 2 Alabama communities named Cunningham. Those communities are located in the following counties: Clarke and Jefferson County.
Beyond Alabama, there are 23 communities that are also named Cunningham - they are located in Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky (2), Missouri (2), New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio (2), Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee (2), Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
For more information, see our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Cunningham.
We have a couple of sections that should be of interest to those chasing their genealogy.
These sections can be found on our Genealogy Helper Page for Cunningham:
Looking for more information about Cunningham? A wonderful source is the TripAdvisor website. We always start with the TripAdvisor Tourism page, where you get an overview with links that will help you to find lodging, restaurants and attractions.
While we are unaware of a Tourism page that is specific to Cunningham, there are neighboring communities that do have Tourism pages. A map of those communities can be found with our TripAdvisor Tourism Map for Cunningham.
People are finding Google's 'Search-by-Location' to be a useful tool when planning visits to this area. We have prepared the following searches to help you find businesses, travel and vacation activities that are in (or close to) Cunningham. It's likely that the search results won't include all of the businesses that are in this area, but the results should give you a good foundation for further searches.
Business Owners: To appear in the above search results, your business will need to be listed with the Google Places service. Please use the below link to learn about and register for the free service.
If you find an error or if your business wasn't included in the results, please contact Google to register your business or report an error. We simply link to 'Search-by-Location' and have no control over their results. Only a registered owner/operator can add their business or correct mistakes - we can not do it for you.
Find a Community within Alabama
About Pickens County
About Alabama
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Cunningham. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Alabama: www.alabama.gov/
- Return to Citation
For additional information, please visit our Glossary for Cunningham.


text:
"I love the feeling that you're almost out of control, and going faster and faster all the time," Lizzy Yarnold says, her eyes widening as she describes the wild rush of hurtling head-first down a mile-long tube of ice at 90mph, without any brakes, on a skeleton bob. The word "skeleton" has always seemed a rather chilling description of the carbon-fibre and steel sheet on which otherwise intelligent and seemingly well-adjusted sliders like Yarnold withstand the bone-rattling 5g force that bears down on them.
Yarnold laughs demurely. "It is a little crazy but I love it – because I know I really still am in control. I remember when I was a little girl and we went skiing for the first time with a family friend. We got to the top of a hill and I asked him what I needed to do. He said: 'Go as quick as you can and we'll see you at the bottom.' I took the bum position, put my head down and went for it. I didn't make one turn. So I just flew down like a crazy thing. I loved it. And from then on, even at that age, my dad would race me down the ski slopes and he'd never be able to keep up with me. I was very fast – and just in control."
The Winter Olympics open this Friday and Yarnold is Britain's best hope for a gold medal. She enters the skeleton on Valentine's Day as the new World Cup champion after finishing on the podium in seven out of eight races this winter, winning four of them. Yarnold is also the world No1 and so it seems striking that, four years ago, she had only just discovered this strange sport.
At the time of the 2006 Olympics, when her current team-mate Shelley Rudman won an unexpected silver medal, Yarnold had no idea that the skeleton bob even existed. She was more intent, at 17, on establishing herself in the testing but safe environment of track and field. Two years later, in 2008, "I still had not even heard of the skeleton. I didn't have a clue. But that's when I applied for this talent search called Girls for Gold. There were 1,500 of us in the first test and all of us had appeared at national youth championships in our chosen field. So we all had the same processes as athletes – it's just that we were all from completely different sports."
Her new hope was that she would be identified as a potential Olympian in modern pentathlon, for Yarnold was a talented all-round sportswoman whether on the track, in the pool or on horseback. "But I couldn't even drive then so my best friend Gemma took me to the first day at Loughborough."
Gemma didn't survive the cut but Yarnold made it to the last 100 for another test session at the University of Bath's Sports Village, where we now sit in a corner of the cafe. The 25-year-old briefly covers her face in her hands at the memory and laughs. "It was a bit of a nightmare. I got totally lost in Bath and arrived very late – so that was a good start! I looked round at all these other girls and my heart sank. They all looked so fit and toned, and I was more a javelin and shot-putter then so I was quite a heavy girl."
Yarnold, however, had speed and power and, most of all, an obvious steely calm which translated well in the demanding trials. She survived the cut to 50 and then 20 athletes. "It was weird because you'd do the tests and then go away and, after a while, an email would arrive saying you'd made it to the next stage. I got this letter saying: 'You've been selected for the ... skeleton.'"
In 2009, a group of 10 young women were taken to Lillehammer in Norway to see which of them might be best equipped to endure the terrifying ordeal of a skeleton run. "The night before there were four of us sharing a Norwegian cabin," Yarnold remembers, "and we'd take turns. Three of us would lie on the floor and the fourth would read out 'corner one, turn this way, corner two, turn that way.' I thought I could go 'one ... two ... three...' [Yarnold starts rocking from side to side in time with her chanted count] and get down the track. The next day I was lying on my sled with my 800m running spikes on, ski goggles taped to my helmet and no real idea what was about to happen.
"I started to go down and I was shouting out 'three ... four ...' and then I lost my count so I decided I'd better just hold on and hope. When I was practising in the cabin I was going in time with my count 'three ... four …' but of course you're going faster and faster. I loved the speed but a point came where I didn't want to go any faster. But there are no brakes
"I got to the bottom and although I was very fearful, I said to the coach: 'If I take that corner a bit better I could be much faster – so just take me back.' It was the second run where, actually, I was petrified because I knew what was coming. I wasn't very good the first three weeks. There were 10 of us and we started at corner three. But everyone moved to the top of the track as they got better and I was the last person to move to the top. I needed to feel comfortable."
Five of the girls loathed the feelings of fear and loss of control which consumed them. "It's one of those things you either love or hate," Yarnold says cheerfully. "You either never want to do it again or you get addicted to it because it's such an adrenalin rush. You warm up for over an hour for that one run. So you are quite eager to get it right. And if you don't, some personalities can focus on the negatives. You've got to be positive because you'll never have a perfect run. It's just whether you can find a faster line next time. I think they saw in me that I love to improve myself.
"But I left that camp early because I had to go to Uganda for a uni trip. It was great. So I was in Uganda when I got a call saying I'd made the team. It was wonderful but so surreal. In Uganda we'd had nothing but rice and beans for the whole two weeks … and then when I got the news my tutor somehow found a cake. It was such a celebration."
Four years ago Great Britain's remarkable record in the skeleton reached a new peak when, rather than Rudman, who was favoured going into the 2010 Olympics, Amy Williams won gold in Vancouver. "I was in my first year of learning the tracks rather than competing," Yarnold recalls. "When the Olympics were on we were in Igls [in Austria] and there was a small double bed with two duvets on it. There were seven of us in the [development] squad and so we were all hunched up on this bed late at night, and the TV was tiny and it was flickering so much I couldn't tell you if it was black and white or colour. We were desperately trying to stay awake for Amy's fourth run. She made it worth it."
Yarnold and Williams began to train together in Bath and the novice drew constant inspiration from the slight figure of the Olympic champion. "Amy's small but incredible. When it came to the circuits she pushed herself to the absolute limit. I learnt so much from her."
Williams is now her landlady and they have discussed the pressure Yarnold must endure as she prepares for an event in which she is now favoured to win. "Amy tells me much the same thing other Olympians have advised me: 'Enjoy it.' This is a brand new experience for me, in my first Olympics, and I'm doing something I've wanted to do my whole life – being an Olympian. And I'm so competitive that I'll put myself under more pressure than anyone. So the same processes will apply as for any normal competition. I'll slot into the same routine and prepare myself just like every World Cup race."
Yarnold's four victories this winter – in Calgary, Lake Placid, Winterberg and Igls – were marked by her assurance as much as her speed. She also secured two silvers and a bronze behind her main rival, Noelle Pikus-Pace, the American who won four races as well to finish second behind Yarnold in the World Cup standings. "My best win was at Igls," Yarnold says of the run that virtually sealed her world title. "I like the track but corner nine is horrible and I'd never got it right through all the years. Somehow, on the second run, I nailed it. That was just such a beautiful feeling to know all the hard work had paid off."
Despite her relish for the near uncontrollable speed of the skeleton, Yarnold is distinguished most by her methodical calm. "I prepare myself really well. At the start you've got to be quite explosive and hyped up and so I slap everything and say: 'Come on!' But on the sled it's all about relaxed aggression. I relax into the sled and feel every vibration. But I'm absolutely eager to be the fastest. I call it relaxed tension."
It's difficult to relax when a 5g force, often far more intense than that experienced by a fighter pilot, presses down on Yarnold's helmet. It was so bad in Vancouver two years ago that Yarnold lost consciousness on her sled. She believes now that she is experienced enough to avoid such a fate, but her memories of a first encounter with g-force still make her giggle.
"Oh my God," she exclaims through the mirth, "on that first-ever run in Lillehammer, my helmet was pushed straight into the ice. No wonder I couldn't count the corners ... that sound of my helmet on the ice [Yarnold makes a crunching screech] was pretty distracting. But now I have an ability to pick out the different shades of ice and even the concrete beneath it. I can see exactly where I am in a corner and navigate my way through it. All my senses are working."
Such positivity pulses through Yarnold's anticipation of Sochi. She has visited the Russian town twice before, in February and November last year, and has sampled most of the "very nice restaurants and coffee shops", and even paddled in the freezing Black Sea while eating ice-cream. "The only thing I wasn't too sure about was the fact that they serve pasta for breakfast every day. I skipped the breakfast chicken and mushroom carbonara.
"But I like Sochi – and I love the track. It's a magnificent structure, with a wood covering, and the track itself is really fun. As I run down the corners I go [Yarnold settles into her rocking movements and sing-song voice] 'One … two … three … four … five …', and you feel yourself doing this greet big swooshing. It really should be great – and a lot of fun."


text:
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Release Date: Nov 13, 2012
- Also On: 3DS, iPhone/iPad, PC, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
Mar 6, 2013In addition to the excellent musical score from Jackson's trilogy playing while you smash stone as Gimli or conjure blocks as Gandalf, LEGO LOTR is the first of the LEGO games to use the voices and acting from the films.
Feb 4, 2013LEGO Lord of the Rings is easily one of my favorite LEGO games. I'm not sure if it's just the source material or the fact that the game is actually really fun and evolves the LEGO franchise in significant ways, but this is definitely worth playing for any fan of the previous LEGO games or Lord of the Rings films.
Playstation Official Magazine AustraliaJan 28, 2013Though the formula hasn't exactly been built from the green ground piece up, Telltale has gone above and beyond our expectations. Take, for example, the fact that Middle-earth is one gigantic, seamless hub world that can be be trodden across (or fast traveled through) from one end to the other. [January 2013, p64]
Play UKJan 23, 2013Somehow this template still feels far from stale. [Issue#227, p.72]
Official PlayStation Magazine BeneluxJan 8, 2013It takes some time getting used to the LEGO-aesthetic, but the use of the original music and voices even succeeded in giving us goosebumps when the LEGO-version of Gandalf cried out to the rest of the Fellowship to "Fly, you fools!". [January 2013, p.80]
Jan 6, 2013LEGO: LOTR does enough to be interesting and is a recommended title for anyone who is in the process of a Middle-earth binge.
PSM3 Magazine UKDec 23, 2012Deep, hilarious, and simply brilliant fun. [Jan 2013, p.98]
Dec 7, 2012Can't get enough of LEGO games even after tons of "blocky" Star Wars, Indies, Sparrows and Dark Knights? Well, The Lord of the Rings will be your most "precious" game for the holiday season.
Dec 4, 2012With some new good ideas, like the opportunity to explore freely Middle Earth, great characters and a nice settings, Lego Lord of the Rings is clearly the best LEGO game so far.
Dec 3, 2012LEGO The Lord of the Rings is, hands down, the best entry in the beloved TT Games' franchise. Filled with content and absolutely trustful to the movies, it's a true gift to fans of Tolkien and videogames alike.
Nov 27, 2012The LEGO series reach new heights with this LOTR game. Open World, RPG, exploration, humor and fidelity at the same time, TT Games put a real effort in this new adaptation with the LEGO Twist.
Nov 27, 2012A surprisingly faithful adaptation of an unforgettable fantasy journey: you're likely to fall in love in the time it takes to get there and back again.
Nov 26, 2012Fans of the other LEGO games will certainly enjoy it; just don't expect anything you haven't seen before.
Nov 20, 2012Traveller's Tales has crafted a wonderful platformer that stands on its own – though the Lego charm and a great license make it even better.
Nov 20, 2012A fantastic tribute to The Lord Of The Rings franchise and one of the best LEGO games to boot.
Nov 20, 2012LEGO The Lord of the Rings takes the charm of the LEGO games and mashes it up with the brilliance of Tolkien's beloved masterpiece in a way that does justice to both. This is a refreshing, from-the-ground-up rebuilding of the LEGO formula, making this perhaps the best LEGO game to date.
Awards & Rankings
User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 92 Ratings
User score distribution:
Positive: 18 out of 21
Mixed: 0 out of 21
Negative: 3 out of 21
Nov 16, 2012I am dumbfounded as to why there are no reviews by any critics of this game as of today. I know there was an issue of a mislabeled demo discI am dumbfounded as to why there are no reviews by any critics of this game as of today. I know there was an issue of a mislabeled demo disc on the Xbox 360...but still. My 10 year old loves the lego games, till now I have been a watching bystander. This game changed all that. This game hit's on all cylinders. I loved how the creators have managed to bring out the kid in me again. Granted I am a Lord of The Rings fan, so the that was the hook in me...but how they managed to make it feel like you were playing the film was truly magical. The first battle scene just hints at what this game will do...and once you enter Hobbiton...well the artistry and magic shines through. Yes it is simplistic in controls, but none-the-less, it is a game play that works..and works well. Sound lifted from the film cleverly pitted with site gags is the icing on the cake of this winning ps3 game. Congrats!… Full Review »
Jan 28, 2013Being an avid fan of all the past Lego games, I was surprised when I picked this one up and found that the standard Lego game recipe got oldBeing an avid fan of all the past Lego games, I was surprised when I picked this one up and found that the standard Lego game recipe got old really quickly. I've heard other people make this remark about previous games, but I could run through Lego Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman, and Pirates over and over without losing interest. The biggest difference in this case is humour. it just doesn't have it. There are a few spots where I'll chuckle to myself about what a character has done, but most of the opportunities to make a funny joke or poke at the scene go unnoticed. Some of the great lines in the movies are cut out of the video game, of course to allow you to play through the three movies in less than 9 hours (near 11 or 12 for extended I believe).
On the positive side, there are still some core mechanics that are there from previous Lego games where you bust bricks, take control of other characters, lots of unlocking of characters and extras, and amazing animation. Every game that TT comes out with keeps getting more amazing to look at. Even the textures and lighting are amazing allowing me to believe I'm playing the movies.
As great as the game may look and as amazing as the animation is they don't live up to the fact that the core Lego game experience feels off. The game does feel like Middle Earth, but unfortunately, in the end, it makes me want to actually watch Lord of the Rings instead of playing this game.… Full Review »
Nov 17, 2012Being a fan of the LEGO video game series and a fan of The Lord of the Rings films, I find this game to be amazing. It sticks to the story ofBeing a fan of the LEGO video game series and a fan of The Lord of the Rings films, I find this game to be amazing. It sticks to the story of the films while adding the humor and feel of a LEGO game. As with any LEGO game, the amount of playable characters are jaw-dropping. Many people complained about how LEGO games 'don't feel the same' with voice acting ever since LEGO DC: Super Heroes, but I personally believe that the voices helped the game more than hurt it. Without voicing it would have been extremely difficult for the developer's to portray the entire story and make it feel like the movies. Overall one of the best games I have played this year so far. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone.… Full Review »


text:
Outdoor Activities, Just a Few Ideas
So you've decided now that it's autumn, you're going to start being more active outdoors. Problem is, what's there to do? To a novice outdoorsy woman the idea of hanging out, well, outside seems daunting but there are tons of things you can do to get moving, you just have to open up to ideas.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to burn a few extra calories outside this fall:
- Hiking
- Mountain biking
- Raking leaves
- Walking your dog
- Walking shelter dogs
- Flying a kite
- Walking
- Running/Jogging
- Eco-running
- Geocaching
- Doing Community service (Habitat for Humanity, etc.)
- Apple Picking
Those are just a few of the many ways to get active outside this fall. What's your favorite fall activity? Share it in the comments section below.