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Fluid flow due to loading in bone is a potent mechanical signal that may play an important role in bone adaptation to its mechanical environment. Previous in vitro studies of osteoblastic cells revealed that the upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and c-fos induced by steady fluid flow depends on a change in actin polymerization dynamics and the formation of actin stress fibers. Exposing cells to dynamic oscillatory fluid flow, the temporal flow pattern that results from normal physical activity, is also known to result in increased COX-2 expression and PGE2 release. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dynamic fluid flow results in changes in actin dynamics similar to steady flow and to determine whether alterations in actin dynamics are required for PGE2 release. We found that exposure to oscillatory fluid flow did not result in the development of F-actin stress fibers in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells and that inhibition of actin polymerization with cytochalasin D did not inhibit intracellular calcium mobilization or PGE2 release. In fact, PGE2 release was increased threefold in the polymerization inhibited cells and this PGE2 release was dependent on calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. This was in contrast to the PGE2 release that occurs in normal cells, which is independent of calcium flux from endoplasmic reticulum stores. We suggest that this increased PGE2 release involves a different molecular mechanism perhaps involving increased deformation due to the compromised cytoskeleton.
- mechanotransduction
- cell mechanics
mechanotransduction is the conversion of external mechanical stimuli into intracellular biochemical signals. Mechanical signals have been found to regulate many aspects of bone cell function, including differentiation, gene expression, protein synthesis, and apoptosis. The mechanosensitive signaling pathways of cells may depend on the interactions that exist between the cell's cytoskeleton and sites of transduction of mechanical signals (24, 30).
In vitro experiments conducted with bone cells suggest that loading-induced fluid flow is an important extracellular signal in mechanotransduction (1, 2, 14, 19, 20, 26). Pavalko et al. (18) found that the upregulation of COX-2 and the transcription factor c-fos was induced by a mechanism that involves the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton under unidirectional steady fluid flow. Furthermore, disruption of the α-actinin mediated linkage between actin cytoskeletal filaments and plasma membrane bound integrins also inhibited the effect of fluid flow on both COX-2 and c-fos. COX-2 (also known as prostaglandin synthase 2) is an enzyme that is essential for the production of prostaglandins and may promote bone formation by increasing proliferation and differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells (6, 11). C-fos, an early response gene product that directly affects DNA transcription, is also essential for normal bone physiology. Thus the finding that the mechanical regulation of both of these proteins requires an intact actin-membrane connection suggests that a mechanically loaded cytoskeleton with functional linkages to integrins may play an essential role in mechanotransduction.
In bone, locomotion and postural control induce dynamic oscillatory fluid flow in the lacunar-canalicular network (26). During a loading event, deformation in the mineralized matrix causes a heterogeneous pressure gradient that drives fluid flow in the lacunar-canalicular network (15, 19, 26). When bone is subsequently unloaded, the fluid flow direction is reversed due to the reversed pressure gradient. The dynamic nature of this pressure gradient results in the fluid flow induced by loading being oscillatory in nature. You et al. (29) and Donahue et al. (9) applied oscillatory fluid flow to osteoblasts and found that COX-2 and PGE2 were upregulated. Although these studies further implicated fluid flow as an important cellular physical signal in bone cell mechanotransduction, it was not determined whether reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton is required for this observed upregulation.
In this study, we investigated the ability of oscillatory fluid flow to induce F-actin cytoskeletal reorganization in osteoblasts. We examined how altering actin polymerization dynamics affects intracellular calcium mobilization and PGE2 release in osteoblasts exposed to oscillatory flow. We postulated that the formation of stress fibers in osteoblasts requires actin filaments to experience a prolonged tension. Although steady flow would provide the necessary chronic tension to actin filaments, oscillatory flow would not. This would suggest that oscillatory fluid flow will not induce the reorganization of actin fibrils into stress fibers. We utilized low-dose cytochalasin D, which blocks actin polymerization at the barbed end, to determine the role of actin polymerization dynamics in intracellular calcium mobilization and PGE2 release of cells exposed to a physiological flow profile.
Cell culture.
MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells (subclone 14; ATCC, Manassas, VA) were cultured in α-modified minimal essential medium (αMEM; Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; Hyclone, Logan, UT), 1% penicillin and streptomycin (Invitrogen), and maintained at 37°C and 5% CO2 in a humidified incubator. All experiments were conducted on passage 18 cells. For calcium imaging experiments, cells were subcultured on fibronectin-coated (10 μg/ml; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) UV-transparent quartz slides (76 × 26 × 1.6 mm) at 100,000 cells/slide. For PGE2 experiments, cells were subcultured on fibronectin coated glass slides (76 × 48 × 1 mm) at 300,000 cells/slide. Fluid flow was applied 48 h after subculture such that cells were 80–90% confluent at the time of experimentation.
Fluid flow.
Steady flow experiments were conducted by applying a unidirectional steady flow to cells using a multislide parallel plate flow chamber (Flexcell Streamer, Hillsborough, NC). A previously described fluid flow device was used to deliver oscillatory fluid flow to MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells (14). In brief, oscillatory flow was driven by a Hamilton glass syringe in series with rigid walled tubing and a parallel plate flow chamber. The syringe was mounted in and driven by an electromechanical loading device (EnduraTec, Eden Prarie, MN). The flow rate was monitored with an ultrasonic flow meter (Transonic Systems, Ithaca, NY). In both the steady and oscillatory flow cases, the flow rate was selected to yield peak shear stresses of 1.2 Pa (12 dyn/cm2). For dynamic oscillatory flow, the flow profile was sinusoidal at a frequency of 1 Hz. Flow media for all experiments consisted of αMEM, 1% FBS, and 1% penicillin and streptomycin.
Fluorescence microscopy.
Following fluid flow, cells were fixed in formaldehyde and incubated with 0.5 μM Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated phalloidin (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) for 20 min. The cells were rinsed twice with PBS before a 1:1 solution of glycerol and PBS was applied to avoid evaporation. A glass coverslip was placed on the slide before observation with an epifluorescent microscope (Eclipse TE-300; Nikon, Melville, NY). To quantify the level of polymerized F-actin in cells exposed to each flow profile, pixel intensity analysis was performed following the subtraction of background values (MATLAB; The MathWorks, Natick, MA).
PGE2 release.
Immediately following 1 h of fluid flow exposure, cell seeded slides were removed from the flow chambers, placed in sterile petri dishes with 1 ml of fresh media, and returned to the incubator for 1 h. Media samples were then collected and centrifuged at 12,000 g to remove any particulate matter. Supernatant PGE2 levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ). PGE2 levels were normalized to total protein as determined by a BCA assay (Pierce, Rockford, IL). Pharmacological agents (when utilized) were applied before and for the duration of flow.
Calcium imaging.
Real time intracellular levels of calcium were quantified using a ratiometric imaging technique. Before flow exposure, cells were incubated with 10 μM fura 2-AM (Molecular Probes) for 30 min at 31°C (to reduce dye compartmentalization) then washed with fresh αMEM and 1% FBS. Following fura 2-AM loading, the cell seeded quartz slides were mounted in a parallel plate flow chamber and fixed to the stage of a fluorescent microscope. For 30 min, the cells were left undisturbed. Fluorescent images were collected for 3 min before flow began and for 3 min after flow was initiated. All experiments were performed at room temperature to reduce fura 2-AM dye compartmentalization. A responding cell was defined by a transient increase in [Ca2+]i of at least four times the maximum oscillation recorded during the 3-min preflow baseline period. The percentage of responsive cells was expressed as the fraction of the total number of cells observed that were classified as having responded.
Pharmacological agents.
Cytochalasin D (Sigma) was used to inhibit actin polymerization. At low doses, cytochalasin D inhibits actin polymerization by capping the barbed end of F-actin polymers, while at high doses it will remove existing F-actin filaments (7). A dose-response experiment was conducted to find a concentration where actin polymerization was blocked, but cell adhesion, morphology, and mechanical compliance were not drastically altered. Cells were exposed to 5, 2, 0.5, and 0.1 μM cytochalasin D for 30 min. After exposure, cells were either visually observed under flow or stained for F-actin with Alexa Fluor 488 phalloidin as described above. At concentrations >0.5 μM the cells were found to be too compliant to tolerate flow without exhibiting gross deformation or detaching. However, at 0.5 μM, we did not observe visible changes in cell morphology; therefore, this concentration was used for subsequent experiments. Cells were exposed to cytochalasin D for 30 min before flow and for the duration of flow exposure. Ninety minutes of exposure (as occurs with the PGE2 experiments) at 0.5 μM did not result in noticeable changes in morphology (data not shown). Thapsigargin (EMD Biosciences, San Diego, CA) was used to examine the effects of emptying endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores of Ca2+ (5). Cells were exposed to 50 nM thapsigargin for 30 min before and for the duration of flow exposure. We found this protocol results in a transient increase in intracellular Ca2+, which peaks at 7–10 min after exposure, consistent with release from the endoplasmic reticulum. After 30 min of thapsigargin exposure, intracellular calcium levels returned to within 4.8 ± 4.3% of normal levels (data not shown). In other published reports, thapsigargin has been used to induce capacitative calcium entry and apoptosis. However, it should be noted that these studies utilize much higher doses of the drug for longer periods of time (8, 27). No evidence of cell death was observed with as much as 2 h of exposure at the concentration utilized in this study. To examine whether there was some effect of intracellular calcium that did not originate from ER stores, we utilized BAPTA-AM, which is taken up by cells and chelates free calcium ions. Cells were exposed to 50 μM BAPTA-AM for 30 min before and for the duration of flow exposure (28). In the case of multiple treatments, both protocols were applied simultaneously.
Data analysis.
For calcium imaging experiments, we quantified the peak magnitude of response and the percentage of cells responding. PGE2 data were normalized to total protein. Data are expressed as means ± SE. To compare observations from the calcium and PGE2 experiments, statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA and Fisher's protected least-significant differences test was utilized (Statview, SAS Institute, San Francisco, CA). A significance level of 0.05 was employed for all statistical analyses.
Oscillatory fluid flow does not induce stress fiber formation.
Application of oscillatory flow did not induce a large increase in F-actin density compared with no flow controls (Fig. 1, A and B). In contrast, the development of thick actin fibers, consistent with the formation of stress fibers, was apparent in cells exposed to unidirectional steady flow of the same peak shear stress and duration (Fig. 1, C and D). In steady flow cells, actin fibers were orientated parallel to the long axis of the cell and present around the nucleus of the cells. However, no observable relationship was found between the direction of fluid flow and the orientation of actin fibers. For all cells shown in Fig. 1, fluid flow was applied in the right-left direction. To analytically determine if there was a difference in actin stress fiber formation between no flow, oscillatory flow, and steady flow groups, florescent pixel intensity measurements were done on individual cells in each of these groups. Analysis of image pixel intensity revealed that cells exposed to steady flow had 1.4× the average pixel intensity of no-flow controls (P < 0.05), whereas cells exposed to oscillatory flow exhibited no difference in the pixel intensity compared with no-flow controls (no flow = 65.5 ± 1.2, oscillatory flow = 66.1 ± 2.5, steady flow = 98.9 ± 2.4; n = 3 slides for all groups).
Inhibition of actin polymerization does not inhibit intracellular calcium mobilization due to oscillatory fluid flow.
To determine a dose of cytochalasin D, which would inhibit actin polymerization at the barbed end without causing depolymerization of the entire actin cytoskeleton, a dose-response experiment was conducted. When these cells were exposed to oscillatory fluid flow, those treated with cytochalasin D concentrations in excess of 0.5 μM exhibited reduced adhesion, abnormal cell morphology, and a tendency to undergo large visible shear deformations with flow. At 0.5 μM cells retained morphology, adhesion, and could withstand flow without large deformation. However, actin staining demonstrated a clear inhibition of polymerization, and after 30 min, compromise of the actin cytoskeleton was evident (Fig. 2). When these cells were exposed to oscillatory fluid flow, cells with impaired actin polymerization exhibited increased calcium responses both in terms of a greater average magnitude of intracellular calcium concentration (Fig. 3) and a greater overall number of cells exhibiting an intracellular calcium response (Fig. 4). Emptying the cell's ER-stored calcium with exposure to thapsigargin completely blocked the calcium response to oscillatory fluid flow, consistent with our previous work (29). When thapsigargin and cytochalasin D were applied simultaneously, the Ca2+ response was again completely abrogated. Chelating intracellular calcium using BAPTA-AM caused a significant decrease in the percent of cells responding to fluid flow; however, the inhibition was less than that observed with thapsigargin. When BAPTA-AM and cytochalasin were applied simultaneously, the calcium response was significantly less than the no drug controls or cytochalasin alone but did not completely eliminate the response (Fig. 4). The magnitude of the BAPTA-AM alone and BAPTA-AM with cytochalasin responses were similar to the no drug group and significantly less than the cytochalasin alone group (Fig. 3).
Inhibition of actin polymerization does not inhibit PGE2 release.
Cells with inhibited actin polymerization exposed to 1 h of oscillatory fluid flow also exhibited a threefold increase in release of PGE2 compared with untreated cells (Fig. 5). The addition of thapsigargin to the cytochalasin D treatment reduced the levels of PGE2 release to that of untreated cells exposed to flow, whereas the addition of BAPTA-AM to the cytochalasin treatment completely eliminated the flow-induced increase in PGE2 (Fig. 5). Thapsigargin alone slightly reduced PGE2 release compared with untreated cells while BAPTA-AM completely eliminated the increase in PGE2. This suggests that flow induced PGE2 release is independent of ER stores of calcium in untreated cells but is dependent on some other cellular or extracellular source of calcium, which is blocked with BAPTA-AM. However, when the cell's cytoskeleton is inhibited using cytochalasin, the observed dramatic increase in PGE2 release is dependent on ER stores of calcium. The discrepancy between the two calcium inhibitors suggests that PGE2 release in cells with intact cytoskeletons is independent of ER stores of calcium, yet does depend on some calcium mobilization, while the actin disrupted cells produce PGE2 through a distinct molecular mechanism that requires the release of ER calcium.
The purpose of this project was to examine the effect of loading-induced oscillatory fluid flow on the actin cytoskeleton of bone cells as well as to determine the potential role of the actin cytoskeleton in the release of PGE2 in response to flow. It is generally accepted that the dynamic nature of activities of daily living leads to oscillatory flow profiles in the pericellular fluid. Furthermore, although it has been shown that steady flow applied for a sufficient period of time results in densification of the actin fiber network, we wanted to compare the effects of steady flow vs. dynamic flow on actin dynamics. Because adaptations in the actin network occur over a relatively long time scale (greater than seconds), we felt that dynamic flow might have quite different effects.
Indeed, we found that exposing cells to 1 h of oscillatory fluid flow did not induce a dramatic densification of the actin cytoskeleton. Although the same magnitude peak shear stress (1.2 Pa) was applied in both the oscillatory and steady flow experiments, only in the steady flow experiments did we observe an increase in F-actin. Image intensity analysis confirmed this actin densification with steady flow and revealed that steady flow resulted in 40% increase in florescent intensity, which we believe corresponds to more total polymerized F-actin. Previous studies (17, 19) have shown that unidirectional steady flow induced actin stress fiber formation. Norvell et al. (17) showed by quantifying insoluble actin levels that the observed increase in stress fibers was not due to an increase in total actin or a decrease in unbound actin and they concluded that the increase in stress fibers was solely due to fiber reorganization. These results appear contradictory to our finding that image intensity is increased with steady flow. However, fluorescent image intensity analysis is potentially less accurate than measurement of insoluble actin and direct comparison of these finding may not be appropriate. It is also possible that our slightly higher flow rate resulted in increased actin production or decreased levels of free cellular actin. In terms of the effect of oscillatory flow on actin dynamics, the dramatic increase in actin intensity observed with steady flow was clearly absent. Qualitatively, the cells that were exposed to oscillatory fluid flow appear visually similar to no flow controls and quantitatively they had no significant increase in polymerized F-actin as measured by individual cells' florescent intensity. It is possible that in cells exposed to oscillatory fluid flow actin filament diameter was increased without an increase in overall F-actin levels, which would not affect net intensity. However, this could not be determined because fluorescent images do not have sufficient resolution to distinguish changes in filament number or diameter.
The F-actin reorganization observed in cells exposed to steady flow may result from a cellular response that reinforces the cell's mechanical structure. That is, bone cells may produce stress fibers to maintain morphology in response to a chronic applied tension. However, for stress fiber formation to occur, osteoblasts may need to experience a sustained deformation for a greater duration than that experienced when exposed to 1-Hz oscillatory flow. The viscoelastic properties of osteoblastic cells have not yet been determined; however, the relaxation time constant of 3T3 mouse fibroblasts cultured in monolayer is ∼0.1 s (3, 4), while the time constant of isolated chondrocytes has been reported to be 20–30 s (12, 25). For cells to fully deform in response to flow, a force in one direction needs to be applied for a substantially greater time period than the cell's relaxation time constant. If the flow reversal frequency used (1 Hz) is close to or shorter than the viscoelastic time constant for MC3T3-E1 cells, then cell reinforcement via cytoskeletal reorganization may not be required to maintain cell shape and deformations sufficiently large enough to initiate cytoskeletal reorganization may not occur. Since we did not observe F-actin reorganization in osteoblasts exposed to oscillatory flow, the observed stress fiber formation under unidirectional steady flow may serve only to reinforce existing cytoskeletal elements involved in maintaining cell morphology.
Although we did not observe the dramatic increase in filamentous actin with oscillatory flow exposure as was seen with steady flow, the second goal of this work was to determine whether altered actin polymerization dynamics play any role in oscillatory flow-induced PGE2 release. Previous studies (10, 13, 16, 21) indicate that prostaglandins may play an essential role in in vivo bone formation in response to mechanical loading. The synthesis of PGE2 and its release in response to mechanical loading by osteoblasts are dependent on the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (11). Both PGE2 release and COX-2 induction have been shown to increase with the application of fluid flow to osteoblasts in vitro (9, 17). We hypothesized that even though we did not observe F-actin densification, changes in actin polymerization dynamics may be involved in the PGE2 release of bone cells in response to oscillatory fluid flow. To test this hypothesis we utilized a concentration of cytochalasin D that inhibits actin polymerization but does not result in changes in cell morphology and gross cell deformation with flow. Interestingly, we found that PGE2 release under these conditions was actually increased, and furthermore, intracellular calcium mobilization was also increased. This PGE2 data is consistent with Norvell et al. (17) who reported that both PGE2 release and increased COX-2 expression due to steady flow do not require an intact cytoskeleton. In contrast, a different study reported that increased COX-2 expression due to steady flow was blocked by disrupting the cytoskeleton D (18). While there is some discrepancy in the literature, it appears that an intact microfilament network is not necessary for PGE2 release. Nonetheless, our findings do not eliminate the role of actin as a structural element that transmits intracellular forces to the site of molecular transduction. Indeed, our results suggest that the flow-induced release of PGE2 from cells with disrupted cytoskeletons occurs via a distinct mechanism not activated in cells with intact cytoskeletons.
It is interesting to note that we found PGE2 release occurred independently of the release of calcium from the ER but did depend on intracellular calcium signaling since it was blocked with BAPTA-AM. Furthermore, unlike cells with intact cytoskeletons, the increase in PGE2 release we observed in cytochalasin D-treated cells was dependent on the release of ER stores of calcium. When this calcium increase was blocked with thapsigargin, PGE2 release with flow returned to that observed in noncytochalasin D-treated cells. BAPTA-AM completely abolished the flow-induced increase in PGE2 release with and without cytochalasin D treatment. Prior work concluded that PGE2 release in response to oscillatory flow occurs via a calcium-independent mechanism (22, 23) in cells with intact cytoskeletons. Saunders et al. (22) showed that inhibiting gap junctions reduced PGE2 release but had no effect on intracellular calcium release. They also showed that ROS 17/2.8 cells, which do not experience a flow induced calcium response, still exhibit flow induced PGE2 release (23). However, neither of these studies used BAPTA-AM to eliminate all sources of intracellular calcium. The level of intracelluar calcium needed for PGE2 release in our study was below the sensitivity of fura 2 imaging. Thus, it is possible that in these prior studies the cells also underwent calcium flux at levels undetectable by fura 2. In summary, PGE2 release due to oscillatory fluid flow appears to be dependent on calcium flux but is independent of the dramatic increase in intracellular calcium from the ER stores. However, when the actin polymerization in MC3T3-E1 cells is disrupted by cytochalasin D treatment, the dramatic increase in flow-induced PGE2 release does involve the release of ER stores of calcium. This indicates that distinct molecular mechanisms may be responsible for these two types of PGE2 release.
We did not observe dramatic motion of the cells with flow at the 0.5 μM concentration of cytochalasin D we used in this study. Nonetheless, it is possible that although we did not see a significant change in the cell morphology with cytochalasin D treatment or gross deformation of the treated cells with flow, blocking of actin polymerization for 30 min may have indeed increased cellular compliance. Figure 2 demonstrates that the cytochalasin D-treated cells did have a compromised actin cytoskeleton and suggests cellular deformation was increased. This increased deformation may have stimulated mechanotransduction pathways not activated in cells with physiological stiffness. The increased PGE2 release observed with cytochalasin D treatment may involve influx of extracellular calcium through stretch activated transmembrane ion channels causing an increase in calcium-dependent PGE2 release. However, we did not quantify cellular deformation with flow, which would be required to definitively demonstrate that the cytochalasin D treatment increased cellular compliance.
In summary, we found that while steady flow did induce significant cytoskeletal reorganization and the formation of stress fibers, exposing osteoblastic cells to 1 h of dynamic oscillatory flow (1.2 Pa) did not. Blocking actin polymerization did not inhibit the ability of the cells to respond to oscillatory fluid flow with intracellular calcium mobilization or release of PGE2. In fact PGE2 release was increased threefold in cells with inhibited actin polymerization. We also found that this increase in PGE2 release that occurs in cells with blocked actin polymerization involved release of calcium from ER stores. Therefore, we suggest that this increased PGE2 release involves a distinct molecular mechanism perhaps involving increased deformation that may occur in response to flow in the actin inhibited cells.
This study was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant AR45989, US Army Medical Research Award DAMD 17-98-1-8509, and by NASA Grant NAG2-1601.
We gratefully acknowledge the technical support of Lauren McKormick.
↵* A. M. D. Malone and N. N. Batra contributed equally to this work.
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 © 2007 the American Physiological Society


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Harman Kardon Soho-A
On-ear headphones for Android™ (Black)
From Harman Kardon: Soho On-Ear Headphones
Item # 532SOHOABL | MFR # HKSOHOABLK
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Our take on the Harman Kardon Soho-A by Crutchfield's David Brown
The Soho-A's folding design makes them ultra-portable, so you never have to go without great sound (shown in Black).
Think small, listen large
If you're searching for compact headphones, but don't want to stick anything in your ears, the Harman Kardon Soho-A might be just what you're looking for. These on-ear headphones are about as small as you can get, making them the perfect portable companion for your smartphone. But don't let their small size fool you. The Soho-A offers nice clarity, high-end detail, and punchy bass from its 30mm drivers. It's a very strong, well-balanced performance — especially considering how small the earpieces are. Plus, the leather and stainless steel construction gives these headphones an elegance and durability you don't often see at this price.
Fold 'em up and go
Portability means more than just how easy it is to get around while wearing your headphones. The Soho-A aces that test. But what's equally important is how easy they are to tote when you're not wearing them. Again, the Soho-I comes us aces, with a clever folding design and solid carrying case. They won't take up much space in a backpack, messenger bag, or purse. There's no reason to hold onto your smartphone's stock earbuds simply for the sake of mobility.
Built-in remote and mic for Android devices
The "A" in Soho-A is for Android. That's because these headphones include a built-in remote and microphone designed for Android phones and tablets. Answer incoming calls with a press of a button, while using your headphones and the in-line mic seamlessly. Don't want to have to dig your phone out every time you want to skip to the next track? Use the three-button remote to pause and play music, skip and search through tracks, and adjust the volume without ever touching your phone. (Functions may vary based on phone model. See "Details" for more information.)
Looking for an iPhone® compatible model? Check out the Harman Kardon Soho-I.
Product Highlights:
- 30mm dynamic drivers
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- built-in microphone for taking calls with an Android smartphone
- includes straight cable (no remote/microphone)
- leather and stainless steel construction
- removable magnetic earpads allow easy access to cable connection
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- frequency response: 16-20,000 Hz
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Features and Specs
|Earcup Type
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|1.81" x 1.995"
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|16-20k Hz
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|32 Ohms
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Product Research
Overview: The Harman/Kardon Soho-A on-ear headphones combine style and performance into small, lightweight package. The Euro-styled headphones feature stainless steel construction with stitched leather on the headband and earcups. The 30mm drivers deliver high-quality sound with crisp highs and deep lows. The Soho-A's come with a slim-line hinged carrying case and two interchangeable cables, one with an Android-compatible in-line remote/microphone.
Audio Cables: The Soho-A includes a 48" straight cable with a universal, in-line remote/microphone installed on the headphones. The remote allows you to play/pause music playback and answer/end calls on select Samsung, Sony Xperia, Nokia Lumia, HTC, LG, Blackberry, Google, Android, and Windows devices. It can also control the volume on Samsung, Sony Xperia, and Nokia Lumia devices. In addition, a 48" straight cable with no remote is also included in the package. The cables plug into the earcups at a right angle under the pads for a secure connection that won't fall out.
Note: For a model that is compatible with Apple iPod/iPhone/iPad, see the Soho-I.
Construction: The Soho-A headphones are made of durable stainless steel components. The earcups swivel 180° and fold inward so you can store the headphones in the ultra-slim carrying case.
- Frequency Response: 16-20kHz
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In order to regulate nanomaterials and to determine mandatory product labelling a generally accepted agreement what the term 'nanomaterial' means has to be reached beforehand. The EU Parliament requires that a definition shallbe science-based and comprehensive. Furthermore, for regulatory measures in individual sectors, it shall be unambiguous, flexible, easy and practical to handle. During the past few years various institutions came up with suggestions for a definition, leading to a recommendation of the EU commission, which finally is being accepted into new and existing EU legislation. Some provisions in this proposal are controversial and the implementation into specific sectoral legislation constitutes a major challenge.Posted: Jun 6th, 2013
The degree of competitiveness in sports has been remarkably impacted by nanotechnology like any other innovative idea in materials science. Within the niche of sport equipments, nanotechnology offers a number of advantages and immense potential to improve sporting equipments making athletes safer, comfortble and more agile than ever. Baseball bats, tennis and badminton racquets, hockey sticks, racing bicycles, golf balls/clubs, skis, fly-fishing rods, archery arrows, etc. are some of the sporting equipments, whose performance and durability are being improved with the help of nanotechnology. Nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, silica nanoparticles, nanoclays fullerenes, etc. are being incorporated into various sports equipment to improve the performance of athletes as well as equipments.Posted: May 27th, 2013
A comprehensive understanding of the brain remains an elusive, distant frontier. To arrive at a general theory of brain function would be an historic event, comparable to inferring quantum theory from huge sets of complex spectra and inferring evolutionary theory from vast biological field work. The proposed Brain Activity Map is a project that will tap the hive mind of experts to make headway in the understanding of the field. Engineers and nanotechnologists will be needed to help build ever smaller devices for measuring the activity of individual neurons and, later, to control how those neurons function. Recent developments in nanoscale analysis tools and in the design and synthesis of nanomaterials have generated optical, electrical, and chemical methods that can readily be adapted for use in neuroscience.Posted: Mar 27th, 2013
During the past few decades, nanotechnology has had tremendous advances in several areas of research and development. Every week we are witnesses to hundreds of articles and scientific publications reporting new pathways for nanoparticle/nanofiber production, modification and use in modern and high-tech applications. In this respect, the pulp and paper industry has not been absent of this development, which has motivated massive research about nanocellulose. This wonderful material, which is synthesized naturally in wood, is composed of nanofibrils with widths usually less than 20 nm, high aspect ratio and remarkable strength.Posted: Mar 20th, 2013
Strange new materials experimentally identified just a few years ago are now driving research in condensed-matter physics around the world. Tthese "strong 3-D topological insulators" - TIs for short - are seemingly mundane semiconductors with startling properties. Topological insulators offer unique opportunities to control electric currents and magnetism, and are promising materials for future spintronic applications or could provide access to novel, fascinating physical phenomena. While so far, only synthetic TIs had been experimentally identified, researchers in Germany report the discovery of a natural occurring topological insulator: the mineral Kawazulite.Posted: Mar 11th, 2013


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Jeff Francoeur got a flood of phone calls and text messages after he was traded to the slumping Mets on Friday, including some advice from former New York left-hander Tom Glavine.
"He just told me, 'Make the most of it. If you play hard, you hustle, you do the things right up here, the fans will love you,'" Francoeur said. "I like to believe I'm kind of that type of player, where I love to play hard. I love to get dirty and play the game the right way."
Francoeur joined the Mets on Saturday and was inserted into the lineup immediately, playing right field and batting fifth against the Cincinnati Reds that night. He singled in two runs in his first at-bat after New York acquired the notorious free-swinger and cash from the Atlanta Braves for Ryan Church in a trade of outfielders in need of a change of scenery.
The Mets are counting on Francoeur to give their anemic lineup some punch while they await the return of their injured stars.
Francoeur didn't waste any time getting to work. He took fly balls in right field hours before Saturday night's game and sent a stir through Citi Field with a couple drives into the second deck in left during batting practice.
"He seems to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm," manager Jerry Manuel said. "He seems very excited about being here, about playing in New York."
An Atlanta native, Francoeur was a favorite with Braves fans and management during his first full season in 2006, when he hit 29 home runs with 103 RBIs while playing all 162 games.
Francoeur hit .293 with 19 homers and 105 RBIs in 2007, when he won a Gold Glove, but slumped badly last year and was demoted to Double-A Mississippi for three games last July, a move he found embarrassing. He was benched for three games last weekend by Braves manager Bobby Cox.
"I loved my time in Atlanta," Francoeur said. "It's where I was from. But at the same time I feel I needed a change and this is something that's going to, I think, fit real well."
That fit looked a little loose at first, when Francoeur's name was misspelled when it was posted in the lineup outside the clubhouse. The Mets quickly corrected the mistake, and the slugger got off to a fast start with a bloop two-run single.
Francoeur's big hit in the three-run first was a welcome sign for the Mets, who entered in desperate need of an offensive spark. New York had scored three runs or fewer in 13 of its previous 18 games and been shut out five times. The Mets had three shutout losses in a five-game span for the first time since getting blanked three times in a row July 25-27, 1992, according to STATS LLC.
With Carlos Delgado (hip surgery), Jose Reyes (right calf) and Carlos Beltran (bruised right knee) on the disabled list, New York's offense has gone into a tailspin.
"You get those guys back in three or four weeks, you can make a run," Francoeur said. "There's still 80 games left or whatever, and this team, I've played them long enough to know that this team can beat you in a lot of different ways."
Francoeur has played almost every day over the last three seasons, a plus for the Mets. But he struck out more than 100 times in each of the last three seasons and has only 127 career walks.
Manuel said he met with hitting coach Howard Johnson on Saturday, and the club plans to watch Francoeur for a while before advising him to make any changes. He was batting .250 with five homers and 35 RBIs before the game against the Reds.
"I'm 25 years old and I still feel like the best years are ahead of me," said Francoeur, who makes $3.375 million and is eligible for free agency after the 2011 season.
The Mets, who optioned outfielder Nick Evans to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for Francoeur, are hoping the strong-armed outfielder is right and just needs a new situation to deliver on the promise he showed earlier in his career.
"He's got unbelievable potential," said Delgado, who fielded grounders and hit off a tee before the game, and could take batting practice in the next couple days. "We all know that he's got good power. He's a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder. He's got a great arm so he can be a big help."


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Back in August, I asked readers how they feel about games that are comprised solely of online multiplayer. For this week's VGU Reader Discussion, I'd like to open the conversation up a bit and probe your opinions on multiplayer in general. Including a multiplayer mode can be a great way for developers to prolong the lasting appeal and popularity of a given game and new innovations in multiplayer help to both keep fans interested and bring new fans into the fold. But the inclusion of multiplayer isn't without its share of controversies and setbacks.
Agency Through Identity
If I were to boil down why multiplayer in games appeals to me into one answer, it might actually surprise you. Getting to play with other people and fool around with new multiplayer-centric gameplay systems is all well and good, but for me, the true appeal lies in the way multiplayer allows me to facilitate my agency as a player.
In many games, the multiplayer portion allows the player to step away from the main characters of the game in question and instead inject a bit of their own identity into the fold. Getting to create or at least customize my own multiplayer avatars helps me feel immersed in the game's world and narrative. Not to say I *don't* feel immersed when playing as a pre-established single-player protagonist (I certainly do), but when a game allows me to have direct control over the exact kind of character I get to play, that sort of agency offers a different yet no less vital sort of immersion. Consequently, it probably shouldn't surprise readers that RPG's happen to be one of my favorite game genres.
The "Unnecessary" Argument
History has shown that one surefire way for a normally single-player-focused game or game series to stir up controversy before it's even released is to add in a multiplayer mode. Mass Effect 3, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Grand Theft Auto IV (and V), God of War: Ascension, Tomb Raider, and even the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins, these and other games have all come under scrutiny at one point or another simply for including multiplayer-focused game modes.
The decision to include multiplayer in a game that's best known for its single-player gameplay and/or narrative is often met with resistance and derision from the gaming community at large who often claim that the inclusion of multiplayer will take away precious resources from the game's single-player elements (which is kind of a weak argument when you consider the single-player and multiplayer components of a given game are often created by different teams of developers).
As is the case any other time a developer decides to inject a new element into their game, the inclusion of multiplayer sometimes hits the mark (Mass Effect 3's co-op-focused multiplayer mode being an excellent example) and other times comes up short (Tomb Raider's multiplayer comes to mind here). Personally, I feel the fun new innovations multiplayer brings to the table far outweigh the risks of wasted potential and those who decry ever adding multiplayer to normally single-player-driven games are just shooting themselves in the foot.
Agree? Disagree?
So what do you think loyal VGU readers? Have you found the multiplayer components of games like God of War: Ascension and Mass Effect 3 to be overall pleasant experiences? Or do you feel they're just unnecessary distractions that rob the single-player story of its magic? Do you want to see developers continue to explore the possibilities of multiplayer? Or are you perfectly content with a game's solo single-player outings? Sound off on this week's VGU Reader Discussion in the comments below and remember to hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, and Raptr.


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Film Photography by Mariam Sitchinava2013-10-02 9 Share Tweet
It's interesting to know that a 24-year old photographer who's been in the business for about a mere four years is behind all these beautiful analogue photographs that could rival some of today's more seasoned photographers.
Mariam Sitchinava is a fashion and portrait film photographer from Tbilisi, Georgia. On her website, Mariam wrote that she started dabbling in photography "without any formal education" in 2009. In her interviews with Positive Magazine and Shooting Film, she shared that she shoots mostly with Soviet cameras. Her portfolio boasts of hundreds of photos, the majority of which feature nature and women as subjects.
Over the last few years, Mariam has been tapped to do some commercial work by several fashion brands to shoot for them, including Vaudeville & Burlesque, Twisty Parallel Universe, and Urban Outfitters. She has also shot for the New York Magazine, and has released her own book called Deep Moods.
All information in this article were sourced from Mariam Sitchinava Photography, Positive Magazine, and Shooting Film. To see more of her work, you may head over to her online portfolio here or to her Flickr photostream here.
written by chooolss on 2013-10-02 #lifestyle #film #analogue #soviet-cameras #mariam-sitchinava


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Thu 4 Sep 2014
Filed under: Elections,Inside Burma,News
Neither the Mon National Party (MNP) nor the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) will compete in the forthcoming 2014 by-elections, according to Mon political party leaders.
The AMDP will not compete because it believes that the election constituencies which have vacant seats do not have a large number of Mon residents.
"For those vacant seats, because the number of Mon population is very, very small, we do not think we will win them; we have decided not to compete for them," said the AMDP's Dr. Banyar Aung Moe.
Although it has been reported that by-elections will take place this coming November and December, the Union Election Commission has yet to announce the exact election dates.
According to the MNP, although the United Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD) would compete for vacant seats in areas such as Thaton Township, they will not contest such seats because they do not have a strong enough electoral base in those areas.
"Regarding the vacant positions in Thaton Township, because our party is not quite strong enough in the area we also don't have the strength to compete for these seats, nor do we have any plans to do so. We have heard that the USDP and NLD will compete for these [seats]," said Nai Soe Myint, a spokesperson for the MNP.
At present, there are 13 vacant seats up for grabs in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Burma's House of Representatives); 6 vacant seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw (the House of Nationalities), and 12 vacant seats in Regional or State Hluttaws (Regional or State Assemblies).
Link: http://www.bnionline.net/index.php/news/imna/17414-mon-political-parties-will-not-participate-in-upcoming-by-elections.html


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BrainGate2: Feasibility Study of an Intracortical Neural Interface System for Persons With Tetraplegia (BrainGate2)
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified September 2016 by Leigh R. Hochberg, MD, PhD., Massachusetts General Hospital
Leigh R. Hochberg, MD, PhD.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First Posted: June 3, 2009
Last Update Posted: September 14, 2016
National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
VA Office of Research and Development
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Leigh R. Hochberg, MD, PhD., Massachusetts General Hospital
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
No Study Results Posted on ClinicalTrials.gov for this Study
|Study Status:
|This study is currently recruiting participants.
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|December 2021
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|September 2021 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Simeral JD, Kim SP, Black MJ, Donoghue JP, Hochberg LR. Neural control of cursor trajectory and click by a human with tetraplegia 1000 days after implant of an intracortical microelectrode array. J Neural Eng. 2011 Apr;8(2):025027. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/8/2/025027. Epub 2011 Mar 24.
Hochberg LR, Bacher D, Jarosiewicz B, Masse NY, Simeral JD, Vogel J, Haddadin S, Liu J, Cash SS, van der Smagt P, Donoghue JP. Reach and grasp by people with tetraplegia using a neurally controlled robotic arm. Nature. 2012 May 16;485(7398):372-5. doi: 10.1038/nature11076.
Bacher D, Jarosiewicz B, Masse NY, Stavisky SD, Simeral JD, Newell K, Oakley EM, Cash SS, Friehs G, Hochberg LR. Neural Point-and-Click Communication by a Person With Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2015 Jun;29(5):462-71. doi: 10.1177/1545968314554624. Epub 2014 Nov 10.


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A GULF FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY clings to a porter weed blossom showing the silver-white spots on the underwings.
Contributed by Gail Compton This last week I didn't have to go far to enjoy an abundance of butterflies. All I had to do was sit in my living room and stare out the front window. Bright red pentas were four feet tall; a fire bush was covered with orange clusters of tubular flowers; porterweed flaunted graceful spires of green with deep purple flowers. Ordinarily I would not think of orange, red and purple as a pleasing combination, but nature mixes and mingles with little regard to human concepts of decorative proprieties.
These three flowers were enough to attract sulphurs, long-tailed skippers, zebra longwings and gulf fritillaries in such numbers that the front of my apartment seemed a fluttering mass of competing nectar gathers. I snatched my small digital camera and went to work. Digital is not my forte yet. I have a lot to learn, so I just shoot away and go back inside every 10 minutes to cool off and review my shots The gulf fritillary butterflies were much easier to photograph than the small, dark brown and green skippers that refused to pose for my awkward attempts to get just the right shot.
When gulf fritillary butterfly wings are open, the topsides of the wings are bright orange with a scattering of black dots and streaks. It's the underside of the wings that captures attention. The underside of the hind wings are spattered with iridescent white spots that the camera records as simple white spots. The fritillaries were especially attracted to the purple porter weed, bent and twisted by the last storm.
I've cut this porter weed back several times and it just comes back stronger and deeper purple each time. Since I did go and purchase a purple passion vine to act as host to fritillary and zebra longwings, both butterflies have laid eggs on the tender ends of the vine. I'm anticipating fritillary caterpillars (orange with black, spikey hairs) and longwing caterpillars (when mature are white with black, spikey hairs) to reduce the vine to a leafless skeleton in no time. Not to worry. The passion vine dies back in winter anyway and it will make a comeback next spring, to be eaten again.
I'm curious to see if the brown anoles, so abundant in my garden, will try to eat the caterpillars. I suspect not, since the spines are meant to prick tender lizard and bird mouths. To try to provide places for the caterpillars to pupate, I'll plant a few bamboo sticks and dead branches among the penta and porter weed. Both butterflies have pupae that twist into an amazing imitation of a small dead leaf, and they love to attach to a brown or gray twig or fence.
One source book says August through October "is the peak abundance period,'' with fritillaries from all over the eastern U.S. migrating into Florida. They all seem to have come to my yard. If you want to have the complete cycle represented in your yard, choose passion vine from several native species: Corky-stemmed passion vine (Passiflora suberosa) seems to be favored. The flower is small, but if this variety is present, the butterflies will favor it over passion vines.
The yellow passion vine (Passiflora lutea) has a slightly larger yellow flower. I had to settle for the purple passion vine but since there's no other in the area, the butterflies seem to have accepted the choice. Red passion vine will be ignored if there's any alternative in sight.
My window view has given such pleasure, I would think planting a few nectar flowers and a passion vine for someone confined to indoors, for whatever reason, would be a constant diversion. Add a basic butterfly identification book and you've given hours of pleasure.
Sept. 24, walk at Fort Matanzas National Monument, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet in the parking lot to the east boardwalk over the dunes, just before the Matanzas Inlet Bridge on A1A.
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Vikings Stadium Deal Needs To Get Done
A tentative deadline has been set for the Vikings to come up with a workable plan to fund a Stadium during a special session. The sticking point is how and who will pay for the $131 Million in costs for road improvements around the stadium site. The stadium cost is $1.2 Billion so why would $131 Million keep a deal from getting done? It shouldn't. The Vikings should do one of 2 things, change the plan and go with a roofed stadium and not a retractable roof. That would save the project approximately $150 Million. The Vikings could also contribute more money and reduce the amount of money the state would receive in profit when the stadium is built. The deal with Ramsey County gives the Vikings a chance but the state's inability to be willing to raise user fees/taxes is killing them. I'd love to see the state's portion of a Vikings stadium to come from an expansion of gambling but they appear to be too late in the game to push that through this time. I'm still hoping something gets done.


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Mike McCoy says he is not going to give in to what the rest of us see as undeniable, that this roster is a ways from winning regularly.
It's commendable talk about winning now.
And that's all it is.
He should try to actually do something about it.
These are desperate times already, so in some instances those are the measures required.
The Chargers had a chance to put away Sunday's game by getting one more first down. They ran six straight times, including on third-and-nine from their 36.
"I'm not going to second-guess the playcalling," said McCoy, a former offensive coordinator whose own conservative playcalling was questioned in the Denver Broncos' playoff loss this past January.
Chargers at Titans, 9/22/13
- Chargers miss plays they needed most
- Canepa's Chargers report card: Titanic loss
- Philip Rivers: 'No excuse' for penalty
- Calkins: Not using Philip Rivers cost Chargers win
- Acee: Chargers finished before the finish
- Locker caused big problems for Chargers
- Quick analysis: Chargers didn't finish
- Quarter by quarter, Chargers-Titans
- Chargers schedule, game-by-game snapshots
He shouldn't second-guess.
He should first-guess. He should decree that this team is going to be doing things a little off-the-reservation sometimes.
There is enough front-line talent to win some games, and McCoy has done a fantastic job instilling belief in the players that they need not wait to be successful.
But they're just not going to win straight up most weeks. They're simply not as good as Dallas or Indianapolis or Miami or Cincinnati or Kansas City or Denver.
There ought to be some pessimism that McCoy will actually go bold, because he is prone to explain why he does things by saying, "That's just how I've always done it." He says that a lot in response to queries regarding his procedural moves in his first offseason and training camp as a head coach – that it's the way it was done by the head coaches he has worked under.
We must hope that won't always be the case when it comes to his game management. Because while there may be some defense for playing offense like a turtle with a four-point lead at the end of Sunday's game, it wasn't the bold, do-whatever-it-takes move McCoy had promised. And it wasn't the right thing to do with this team.
Plus, fact is, Jake Locker had already shown he could actually be an NFL quarterback when the Chargers punted on fourth-and-one from the Tennessee 39-yard line in the first quarter. In that case, the Titans got the ball at their 8 and drove all the way to the Chargers' 2 before settling for a field goal.
It gave light to a shift in momentum, or at least a slowdown by the Chargers. Playing with momentum on their side, with the belief they won't be stopped and certainly won't stop themselves is something this team could use.
McCoy didn't learn from his first conservative move. Turtling must just be what he's always done.
The play McCoy made at game's end was what you do when you have an outstanding defense.
The Chargers do not. They have a few really good players and some guys keeping positions warm.
You blame defensive coordinator John Pagano for his play calls at the end. C'mon.
We can take issue with a lack of creativity against the run earlier. We can even take issue with Crezdon Butler seemingly not having help in the end zone.
But there are limitations to what he can call with that group, and I do know he was trying to make something happen at the end.
I commend McCoy for not throwing anyone under the bus in regard to the blunder that caused Donald Butler to to be active Sunday despite a groin injury rendering him unfit to play more than one snap. But whoever it was that erred – Butler for saying he could go until it was too late, the training staff for not more decisively assessing the situation -- McCoy is responsible for turning in that card with the list of inactives.
Likewise, maybe it was Ken Whisenhunt who went from brilliant for three quarters – with an impressive mix of play calling and varied personnel groupings -- to brain fart in the closing minutes. But it is McCoy who sets the tone.
Even though we know the offensive line was again a mishmash due to injury, and we've seen several times the worst that can happen in that situation when you drop back to pass, playing not to lose eventually only gets a coach one thing: Fired.
Turning left when the navigation system says right may not be what he's always done or what most do, but it's what needs to be done here and now.


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Meet one of Singapore's most popular Gods of Fortune.
Mr Alex Chia used to have a role in a variety show on Channel 8, but in 1995, he was scouted by a producer for the role of the God of Fortune.
And he has been a "god" ever since.
He studied fengshui in a Taiwanese temple in the 1990s.
Mr Chia, who has a freelance fengshui business, has graced corporate events for banks like United Overseas Bank and Standard Chartered as the God of Fortune. He is busiest during the Chinese New Year period.
On Thursday night, The New Paper visited Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple, where he has been the God of Fortune since 2005.
While he was asked to appear only on the eve of the New Year this year, in the past, he has been asked to make an appearance as many as four times during the festive period.
The temple pays him for the visits, but he declined to reveal the sum.
The role requires him to wear an outfit adorned with crystals, jade and gold.
At around 12.30am, Mr Chia headed to the heart of the temple and blessed the devotees by sprinkling gold dust on their huat kuehs (prosperity cakes) and giving out token hongbao.
Everywhere he went in the temple, devotees crowded around him for a chance to touch and speak to him.
Mr Thomas Lau, 37, a devotee, comes every New Year with his family to see the God of Fortune.
The civil servant said: "I come here to wish for prosperity."
Another devotee, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lee, 48, said he waited for about an hour for the God of Fortune to come out.
The manager said: "I'm happy that my huat kueh has been blessed. Now, I just wish for peace for the country and the world."
Mr Chia, whose father also studied fengshui, described his experience being the God of Fortune as "magical" and "glamorous".
He said people approach him even when he is not in his outfit, which is worth $6,000.
He joked: "But (when they approach me), I will say that I can't bless them because I'm not in my outfit."
Mr Chia said many have struck the lottery after getting his blessing.
"But sadly, I can't bless myself," he said with a laugh.
Mr Chia, who weighs about 186kg, said the swarming mobs do not deter him.
"Instead of them crushing me, I'm afraid I will crush them," he said.
The temple saw about 5,000 devotees on Thursday night, the eve of Chinese New Year.
The event co-ordinator for the temple, Mr Jeffery Tan, said devotees always ask him if Mr Chia is returning to the temple as the God of Fortune.
Mr Tan said: "He is indeed our heavyweight."
Get The New Paper for more stories.


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Sponsor-A-Highway provides civic-minded companies an opportunity to enhance Massachusetts's roadways by "sponsoring" segments of highways. Companies who utilize this program pay a fee to (Sponsor-A-Highway) SAHI or Adopt-A-Highway Litter Removal Service of America (AAHLRSA) to perform litter removal in two-mile portions of roadway. For their part, the sponsor receives "recognition" on a 60" X 42" (48" X 36" in Cape Cod) sign. A 60" X 20" (44" X 16" in Cape Cod) recognition panel will allow for the sponsor to place corporate logos, colors and other identifiable messages, i.e. Golden Arches for McDonalds. Additionally, sponsor funded maintenance providers conduct 24 cleans per year, in comparison to 6-8 for Adopt-A-Highway programs. The additional number of litter cleans, throughout the year, will enhance the natural beauty of Massachusetts's roadways.
If you are interested in one of these programs, you may contact:


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"It would be a question of the utmost public concern if an undercover officer were effectively permitted to operate without justification, authorisation or oversight in Ireland."
Work was disrupted at the Corrib gas project in north Co Mayo yesterday when up to 70 protesters staged a blockade, writes Lorna Siggins.
Earlier this week, residents on the southern side of Sruwaddacon estuary, where the onshore pipeline works are continuing, removed road signs from the L1202 road.
Shell EP Ireland has drawn up a traffic management plan for the final stage of the project, but residents have said that the plan does not allow for the impact of Garda and security escorts.
Supt Patrick Diskin of Belmullet Garda station said he had received no complaints on the road issue, and said he wished to place on record the co-operation which the Garda had received from motorists.
He denied residents' claims that there were road closures and also denied there were "temporary restrictions", as had been attributed to him by this newspaper yesterday.
"Gardaí on duty stop traffic temporarily in the interest of safety to all road users when large haulage vehicles are approaching/departing Glengad," Supt Diskin said.
The project work compounds are at Aughoose and Glengad on the L1202, with a 4.9km tunnel planned for laying between these two locations on
the estuary.
Supt Diskin also said he had responded to a request from Pobal Chill Chomain spokesman John Monaghan last year to discuss the traffic management issue, but had received no response to his email.
Mr Monaghan said he welcomed the offer, but had not received the email - which could be due to an address change, he said.


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My Nonprofit Reviews
Review for Isha Foundation Inc, Mcminnville, TN, USA
Every program has touched me very deeply. What has impressed me a lot is the way the organization works. With seemingly less structure, it still works exceptionally well at all scales because of the volunteering spirit and atmosphere at Isha. This helps Isha to deliver excellent programs in the community like Project Green Hands and Rural Rejeuvenation to support a greener environment and better engagement of the public.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
volunteering and participating in their self-development programs.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The programs they offer has so much meaning for each individual and brings the best out of people. I've become a betetr person and found several ways to contrubute to the community (Project Green Hands, Isha Vidhya, Rural Rejeuvenation).
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
joyful people, very willing to help and support the development of other people and the community
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
run a bigger campaign for Project Green Hands and increase green cover in drier parts of the world more rapidly. They can support education for more rural children that cannot afford it through their Isha Vidhya school.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?


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Avg.Rate: US$ 60.00 - 70.00
Rating: 0 stars
Featuring free WiFi, Sundown Carnival Lodge offers accommodation in Mkulat. Arusha is 11 km away. All units include a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Some units feature a seating area and/or balcony. There is a private bathroom with a shower in each unit. Towels are featured. Sundown Carnival Lodge also includes a barbecue. Guests can enjoy a drink at the on-site bar. The property also offers grocery delivery. The nearest airport is Arusha Airport, 5 km from Sundown Carnival Lodge . Mer


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WA still making up its mind on federal ed waivers
Washington state education officials haven'treally decided yet if the state will apply for a waiver...
Long sentence sought in Wenatchee slaying
The Chelan County prosecutor says he'llseek an exceptional sentence against a man accused of...
Pasco Fire Started by 9-Year Old
Investigators say a fire that damaged abathroom at Pasco's Markham Elementary School was started by...
Fake Baby Bump - Movie Deal
Faking her pregnancy is the high school projectthat keeps paying off for one Toppenish teenager....
Finance Minister resigns over protester deaths in Cairo
Egyptian minister resigns over protester deaths
Egyptian Coptic Christians feel like second class citizens
Christians under siege in post-revolution Egypt
Category: General News
Gun Control Measure Fails In WA Senate
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Another measure seeking to control gun violence has failed in the Washington state Legislature. A bill that would have required people to surrender their weapons when they are placed under a restraining order did not get a Senate vote ahead of a key deadline yesterday. Democratic Rep. Roger Goodman expressed frustration about the lack of a vote, saying the measure was the most rational bill related to guns that the Legislature was considering this year. Republican Sen. Mike Padden says the measure didn't get a vote because some were concerned about the idea of taking guns away from people who hadn't been convicted of a crime.


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Disney Icon Annette Funicello Loses Her Battle With MS At Age 70 Monday!
Johnny Carson 'Tonight Show' Theme Song Was First Recorded By Annette Funicello Did you know the theme song for 'Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' was first recorded as a single by 'Mouseketeer' Annette Funicello? Learn more about the song's rich history here!
Famed 'Mouseketeer' Annette Funicello Dies At 70


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- This award is designated for young member of SAGES who is currently in a residency or fellowship program (up to the time of the selection process – fall of the year preceding the award).
- We are looking for in-continuity or max of two (2) years* between residency and fellowship training (e.g. some time off for family reasons or a time in private practice and reentering a fellowship to make a course change). *Special consideration is given if lapsed time due to military service.
- The criteria for this award include a member who shows great promise for a career in academic GI/endoscopic practice or potential for significant contributions to the advancement of minimally invasive or endoscopic surgery.
- A letter from a Program Director is required, confirming current resident or fellow status. Must also include an abbreviated CV of applicant.
- Nominations may come from SAGES Leadership only (not full membership) and/or Program Directors.
- Past winners include:
- 2010: Erica Moran, MD; 2011: Rebecca Petersen, MD; 2012: Dana Telem, MD; 2013: Lawrence Lee, MD; 2014: Ezra Teitelbaum, MD; 2015: Edward Jones, MD
- 2016: Rebeccah Baucom, MD
- 2017: Yalini Vigneswaran, MD
Special note: If you have nominated someone in the past for the Researcher in Training Award and would like him or her considered again this year, you MUST re-submit a nomination form.
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South Plaquemines High School in Port Sulphur, La. is the reigning class 1-A state champions. Championships have become the norm for the small school, having won it all in both of their seasons in...
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Connor Humphreys is certainly not being picky with his recruitment since the 2014 defensive end is just getting started but if he had his wish playing in the Pac-12 would be his preference.
The Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic standout said that way friends and family could see him play and he'd be staying closer to home.
"I'm keeping my options open," Humphreys said.
Article Continues Below
"I don't really have a favorite but I know I want to go Pac-12. Being in the Northwest would be great and if I play in the Pac-12 my family and all their friends could get out and watch me."
Wyoming and Portland State have offered the 6-foot-4, 230-pound prospect so far and he's had a busy summer. Humphreys is hopeful his recruitment will pick up even more during his junior season.
"Since I'm only going to be a junior no colleges can make contact with me until September 1 but I think Oregon State and Utah are pretty interested," Humphreys said.
"Arizona State is pretty interested, too. I've gotten a lot of recruiting questionnaires from those schools."
Over the summer, Humphreys attended the Portland State camp and that's when he was offered. He also went to Washington's camp, a lineman camp in the Northwest and he played with the under-17 team in Texas.
The 2014 recruit is hopeful more Pac-12 schools get involved soon.
"That would be great," Humphreys said.


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Sky Nash's Profile
I am turned into a sort of machine for observing facts and grinding out conclusions." Charles Darwin.
Hello I'm Sky. I'm a london based illustrator, I make books, tell stories and I have a degree in Book Arts and Design. I like to observe the world around me and then retell it in my own strange way.
If you would like to get in contact with me, about commissions, ideas, collaborations, or just want to have a natter drop me an email.
Hi [at] skynash.co.uk
- Female
- Born on October 12
- Joined July 14, 2010


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Martin Havlat only knows that it was a man from Colorado.
In death, the nameless benefactor helped play a role in the Senators' victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning last night, for one night, anyway, becoming a part of Ottawa's comeback story in a 4-1 win, reversing the club's tendency for Opening Night flops.
"That's all I know. He's a guy from Colorado," Havlat said of the man from whom a piece of bone was taken, a gift that played a big part in the repair of his decimated right shoulder.
"And the funny thing is, the night before I had the surgery, the guys were playing in Colorado."
Havlat's shoulder was left in shambles when the talented Senators winger was checked and fell into the boards in a late November game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Dr. Anthony Miniaci had to file away the fracture in Havlat's shoulder joint and the bone graft was used to fill the groove left behind.
"It was pretty big," said Havlat, holding his fingers a couple of inches apart last night. "I needed him big time."
The summary will show his power-play goal last night tied the game 1-1 at 5:06 of the third period, but there is no underestimating its significance beyond that.
It looked like it was going to be another one of those opening nights for the Senators, a night of frustration, of wondering why their nerves could invade their sticks like termites and eat away the magic they displayed in the regular season as the NHL's highest-scoring team.
It looked like the Senators were bound to repeat a story played out three times previously in the opening night of the playoffs in their building.
Through two periods they were being stymied by Bolts goaltender John Grahame.
It could have been 1999.
Or 2001.
Or try 2003.
In those three years, the Senators started the playoffs at home.
They lost to Buffalo 2-1 in '99.
They were shut out 1-0 by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2001 and were blanked again by the New York Islanders, 3-0, in 2003.
Three home Opening Nights, three losses, outscored 6-1.
It all changed with Havlat's goal.
Havlat scored the Senators' first goal last night on a beautiful deke in front of Grahame, taking a pass from Jason Spezza, getting Grahame moving to his left with a back-hand fake and then roofing a forehand into the top of the net.
It was Havlat's first goal since the night he was injured and his first playoff goal since 2003.
"It felt good, especially to get it in the playoffs," he said. "But it doesn't matter who scores, it's just about winning."
After his goal, Havlat raced into the corner where a couple of his friends were sitting and got the chance to celebrate in front of them.
"I was lucky they were right there," he said. "I didn't score against the Leafs (in the Senators' seven-game loss in 2004), so it was nice to get one in the first game. It was nice to turn around the game tonight."
Spezza scored just 67 seconds after Havlat, on a rising shot to the short side, and Grahame's mojo disappeared.
Havlat -- and his nameless benefactor from Colorado --- did indeed turn things around.
WHERE'S THE PUCK?: As last night's game ended, the Senators on the ice wanted to get the game puck for goaltender Ray Emery, a custom most teams indulge in after a win.
Last night, the puck was shot into the Tampa zone as time expired. Senators winger Vaclav Varada went after it, but was stopped from going toward the Tampa bench by a linesman.
Bolts winger Tim Taylor appeared to scoop up the puck and take it off the ice.
"I thought they would shoot it to the referees," said Varada. "I don't know why they would pick it up, maybe to give it to the fans. I just wanted to get it for Rayzor (Emery). It's weird."
Emery dismissed the incident with his usual coolness.
"I'm not going to lose any sleep over it," he said, "but it's not the classiest move."


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Somewhere between my affinity for globetrotting documentaries, Martin Scorsese films and The Criterion Collection, I enjoy professional wrestling. Don't ask me how this happened; it just did. Despite this declaration, I shower daily, all my teeth are accounted for, I have a college degree...and, most importantly, I have a wife with the same merits. I'm not alone, of course. The wrestling fans I know aren't slack-jawed yokels; they simply appreciate the spectacle and illusion that this genuine sport is often capable of creating, in the same way movie lovers enjoy fast-paced fights and death-defying chase sequences. Long story short: we know this stuff is "fake", but we enjoy it anyway.
My introduction to Mick Foley, like many other fans, occurred right around the time I was first introduced to ECW. This now-defunct wrestling organization---defunct in its original form, at least---was the quintessential underdog throughout the mid to late 1990s, earning terrific word-of-mouth for its entertaining matches, international performers and trademark bloodbaths. Current and former WWE superstars like Rob Van Dam, Steve Austin, Chris Benoit and the late Eddie Guerrero built their reputations in front of ECW's notoriously enthusiastic crowds, so it's no surprise that Mick Foley fit right in. What he lacked in technical ability was made up for with physical toughness, charisma and a down-to-earth demeanor. Upon first glance, he looked more like someone you'd see at ringside, not in the middle of the squared circle.
Foley enjoyed his first real success in ECW, WCW, Smoky Mountain Wrestling and during several trips to Japan, where his hardcore nature and creatively violent matches amazed wrestling rookies and veterans alike. He was eventually offered a contract with WWE (still known as WWF, before their legal dispute with the World Wildlife Fund), where Foley would eventually take his career to bold new highs...and dangerous new lows. He underwent a drastic character change, but his reputation as a tough performer with a real heart for the fans only grew stronger. Some criticized Foley as a "glorified stuntman" who lacked genuine wrestling ability---and while it's true he was no Dean Malenko or Chris Benoit, Foley nonetheless managed to carve out a niche for himself. Most fans loved him for it.
He initially retired from the ring in 2000, but Mick Foley's second wind as a WWE wrestler occurred less than four years later. During both stints with the WWE, he's produced a quality collection of matches with notable opponents, though some still prefer his earlier accomplishments. Luckily, Mick Foley: Greatest Hits and Misses does a fine job of spanning his entire career, from his lesser-known first WWE bout in 1986 to his most recent work 20 years later. Hosted by the man himself, most of these matches have been hand-picked by Foley and are prefaced by his own retrospective comments.
Originally released roughly three years ago, this new "Hardcore Edition" of Greatest Hits and Misses adds a third disc with select matches from Foley's second WWE run (2004-2006). It's a fitting update to a deserving performer---and though some fans may be reluctant to re-buy a career retrospective, most of us had no idea he'd be back for more punishment.
Disc One: The WCW, ECW and SMW Years (1993-1996) *
Cactus Jack vs. Big Van Vader (WCW Saturday Night - April 17, 1993)
Disc Two: The WWF Years (1996-2000) *
Mankind vs. Shawn Michaels (WWF In Your House 10 - September 22, 1996)
Disc Three: Foley's Return to WWE (20004-2006) *
Mick Foley vs. Randy Orton (WWE Backlash - April 18, 2004)
* - Includes Additional Bonus Features (listed below)
From start to finish, long-time fans of Foley will enjoy seeing such a comprehensive package; though the continued lack of footage from Japan is disappointing (due to rights issues, no doubt), there's enough here for several nights' worth of action...or one non-stop marathon, if you're crazy enough. Obviously, milestones in brutality like "Hell in a Cell" (1998) will be instantly recognized by more casual wrestling fans---Foley even admits this during the introduction---but there's plenty more to enjoy than his infamous fall from the top of a steel cage. Thumbtacks, barbed wire, chairs and fire are all part of the game here, reminding us that Foley's brand of wrestling is a bit more graphic than typical WWE fare.
Of course, there's more to love than just the matches. Foley's skill on the microphone is represented by a number of bonus interviews and other sketches performed during his successful career. He balances charisma, contempt and comedy extremely well, often coming across as wildly unstable during in-character rants about his past and the wrestling industry in general. Yet one fact is as true here as it is in the movies: the nicest guys often end up playing the most memorable villains. Despite his projected lack of social grace and pretty-boy good looks, Mick Foley managed to become one of the most popular wrestlers in recent memory. In short, there's just no one else like him.
Presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Mick Foley: Greatest Hits and Misses is roughly on par with the most recent crop of WWE DVD releases. Colors are generally bold and bright, though some of the lower-budget footage (ECW and SMW, in particular) is obviously of lesser quality. Mild pixellation can be seen during certain pyrotechnic sequences, but it's generally kept to a minimum. Overall, fans shouldn't find much to complain about.
Most of the audio has been presented in a fairly standard 2.0 Surround mix; likewise, it's about as good as the source material will allow. Sounds and play-by-play commentary come through loud and clear (especially during the new audio commentaries on Disc 3), though the older footage is obviously much flatter in comparison. Not surprisingly, subtitles and Closed Caption support haven't been included.
Disc 1 kicks off with three Bonus Matches, including Cactus Jack vs. Sting (WCW Beach Blast 1992), Cactus Jack vs Sabu (ECW TV) and Mick Foley's 1986 WWE debut: "Jack Foley" & Les Thornton vs. The British Bulldogs). We're also treated to four Promos ("Cane Dewey" [below left], "Anti-Hardcore", "Spitting on the WCW Tag Belt" and his ECW farewell speech), a "WWE Confidential" featurette and a post-match Interview (after Cactus Jack's match with Vader).
Disc 2 follows suit with another handful of Promos (four WWE segments before his debut as "Mankind", plus "Music To My Ear", "The Birth of Mr. Socko" and two "Las Vegas" segments with Al Snow [below right]), a pair of Interviews with Jim Ross and a 2000 segment with "Commissioner Foley" and Kurt Angle. It's a shame we couldn't get a few extra matches...but that's what the bonus disc is for, right?
Disc 3 is technically part of the main feature, so the main contents have been listed above. As far as extras go, each of the four matches has been paired with a bonus Alternate Commentary with Mick Foley and Joey Styles. These are great additions to an already packed set; not only do they add another retrospective layer to the show, but the pairing of Styles and Foley should make ECW fans feel right at home. Though the bonus matches don't include intros from the man himself, these new commentaries serve as suitable replacements.
Overall, this is a fairly comprehensive assortment of bonus features, though the complete lack of Japanese footage keeps it from scoring even higher. All extras are presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratios; like the main feature, subtitles and Closed Caption support are not included.
Die-hard WWE collectors may grumble at the thought of a double-dip, but Greatest Hits and Misses: Hardcore Edition is one step closer to being the most comprehensive look at Foley's successful career. His down-to-earth personality is represented well by personal introductions and new audio commentaries, standing in sharp contrast to some of the colder and more brutal moments of footage. This all adds up to more than six hours of pure wrestling satisfaction; at times, it's as entertaining, suspenseful and dangerous as the sport's ever been. WWE's three-disc package offers a successful update to an already great release, maintaining a decent technical presentation and adding a handful of worthwhile new extras. Roughly three years after the initial release, disciples of Mick Foley should certainly find Greatest Hits and Misses worthy of a second purchase. Highly Recommended.
Randy Miller III is an affable office monkey based in Harrisburg, PA. He also does freelance graphic design projects and works in a local gallery. When he's not doing that, he enjoys slacking off, second-guessing himself and writing things in third person.


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Attention recorders: It's a 92-minute show tonight.
Please keep all discussion in here until 12:30am ET, 9:30PM PT.
Enjoy the semifinals!
Printable View
Attention recorders: It's a 92-minute show tonight.
Please keep all discussion in here until 12:30am ET, 9:30PM PT.
Enjoy the semifinals!
I'll be watching through the eyes of you guys. Here's hoping Erin/Maks deliver something spectacular. If they have to go out this week, let's hope it's a 4th place finish no one will ever forget.
And remember Tom has some big announcement tonight.
I will be MUTING any khate parts
wow, Brooke's dress is awesome
Kate's there tonight?!
I read an article today that said Khate was moping since she got booted cause she got used to the media...What? I thought she hated the "p" people...
anytime she appears on my TV it will go silent well, I might watch the first bit just to see her make a fool of herself
Erin and Maks up first and they both look gorgeous.
So are they bringing her back just to get on TV? Tony surely can't believe all the boo hooing she surrounds herself with.Quote:
Originally Posted by tapper01;3906043;
So is she there tonight-and if so, why? For the children?
Its Josh Groban and the singer is butchering it...
Erin does look gorgeous.
Aside from returning to the show's finales on May 24 and 25, Gosselin will now also serve as a "Dancing" correspondent on "Entertainment Tonight" from Monday to Wednesday.
After being voted off the show, Kate has reportedly been "moping," a source tells Us Weekly.
"She was sure she'd make it to the final four," the source says. "Kate misses the media coverage. She got used to the publicity."
as per MSNBC


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I'm IN LOVE with the new Kobe's. Always a fan of the shoes Kobe comes out with. Especially with all these new color ways! These shoes feel super light on my feet, I can move so much quicker compared to other shoes! Definitely a good buy


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Estrada eager to rejoin starting ranks
Estrada eager to rejoin starting ranks
CINCINNATI -- Marco Estrada spent one last day Monday at Camp Hoffman, the afternoon workout for Brewers relievers. Beginning Tuesday, he'll be a starting pitcher again. "I'm very happy," Estrada said, no offense intended to his buddies in the relief corps. "I really appreciate the opportunity, because this is what I want to do -- I want to be a starter. I love starting."
The Brewers activated Estrada from the 15-day disabled list after Monday's series opener against the Reds, and he will pitch Tuesday opposite Cincinnati right-hander Bronson Arroyo. It will be Estrada's first outing since May 23, when he strained his right quadriceps legging out a first-inning double. To make room for Estrada, the Brewers optioned reliever Mike McClendon back to Triple-A Nashville.
Estrada spent his downtime working on some modifications to his windup, which he hopes will improve his command once back on the mound.
"I'm just trying to prepare myself mentally for this," Estrada said. "My first [rehab] outing in [Triple-A] Nashville, I felt a little weird. Not physically, just being out there facing a hitter again. I felt a little out of whack.
"But I'm ready for tomorrow. I'm looking forward to bringing [the adjustment] out and putting it all together."
He threw 75 pitches in his final outing at Nashville and felt "pretty good," so Estrada figures he should be good for 90-100 pitches on Tuesday.
"Physically, I'm there, he said. "It should be a normal outing."


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There is something you want, isn't there? Is it more success? More money? Greater impact? More control? The question is, do you want it enough to part with your time, money, and energy for some insight into how to make it a reality? If so, Making It Happen is the book for you.
Are you ready to answer the call? Are you going to leave your current organisation better than when you arrived, or set up a successful company of your own? Is your career going to be worth talking about? What will you tell your children, and your children's children, about your life? Will they be proud? Will they want to retell your story? Will your life be an example of what is possible?
The world is full of ideas – everyone has them – but the world does not have enough people who know how to turn their ideas into great results. Peter Sheahan is here to help you to make a difference.
©2010 Peter Sheahan (P)2010 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
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by Angela Nazworth | August 8, 2012 5:24 pm
Popular pizza chain Papa John's (NASDAQ:PZZA[1]) plans to raise its prices, and its founder and CEO is blaming Obamacare for the increase.
John Schnatter, who openly supports Mitt Romney, said during a recent shareholders call that when Obamacare goes into effect in 2014, the chain will be hit with higher costs, Politico[2] reports. The CEO estimates that Obamacare will cost 11 to 14 cents per pizza.
"We're not supportive of Obamacare, like most businesses in our industry. But our business model and unit economics are about as ideal as you can get for a food company to absorb Obamacare," Schnatter said.
Schnatter also made a promise to shareholders.
"If Obamacare is in fact not repealed, we will find tactics to shallow out any Obamacare costs and core strategies to pass that cost onto consumers in order to protect our shareholders best interests."
The opinions contained in this column are solely those of the writer.
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