text:
Manufacturer Offer
Loyalty Offer : $500 offer on select Toyota models
$500 Offer
Applies to multiple models.
Offer only valid 6/18/2019 through 7/08/2019
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-All New Toyota vehicles with 20,000 miles or less are eligible for the rebate (excluding fleet models). -All Toyota models are eligible to be targeted for the offer. -The program uses three models to identify eligible customers based on the likelihood that customers will be in-market to purchase or lease a new vehicle within the next six months (180 days). -Targeted Retail Customers: -Have an equity position AND are likely to be in market in the next six months (180 days). -To manage volume, this model does not target every customer with an equity position. -Targeted Lease Customers: -Selected by Toyota Lease Loyalty Model AND likely to terminate current lease and return to Toyota. -To manage volume, this model does not target every off-lease customer. -Eligible customers will receive a $500 rebate offer to finance or lease a new Toyota vehicle with TFS by direct mail or Email based on customer opt-in. -Only available to customers approved by TFS at Tier 1+ through Tier 3. -- Offer provided by Toyota Motor Credit Corporation
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[Warning: This story contains major spoilers from Thursday's episode of Scandal. Read at your own risk!]
President Fitzgerald Grant is less than a day out of his coma and he drops the dreaded "D" word!
That's right, Scandal's Commander in Chief (Tony Goldwyn) wants to do the unthinkable while in office: divorce his wife Mellie (Bellamy Young). Does Fitz's new lease on life mean he hopes to get back together with Olivia (Kerry Washington)? And seriously, can Scandal actually pull off a presidential divorce? TVGuide.com hit the set of Scandal during ABC's winter press tour to get the scoop!
Scandal Postmortem: What's next for Fitz? Tony Goldwyn speaks!
Can the President actually get a divorce?
Telling Mellie he wants a divorce was not a fleeting comment. "We will see him make an effort to see if divorce is possible," executive producer Shonda Rhimes told reporters. Still, not everyone will believe him. "Some people will assume this is part of the accident and some people will think that it is very, very real. I think he's done pretending. For a very long time, he's been a man who has wanted to be done pretending and hasn't had the opportunity to walk away from this life that he feels caged into. He's a man who has everything and hates having everything. He tried to do it once last season, but now he feels that this is really his chance."
What will Fitz's relationship with Olivia look like now?
"It's going to be complex," Rhimes says. "Him saying, 'I want a divorce,' to his wife... puts him in a hopeful, excited place where he thinks that anything is possible. Whether or not he continues to believe that anything is possible remains to be seen."
Will Hollis' (Gregg Henry) role in the attempted assassination of Fitz be uncovered?
Rhimes says they're "going to unravel what was behind the assassination attempt "soon." And if you're still curious as to how Hollis fits into Fitz's life, Rhimes says, "Hollis and Verna [Debra Mooney] were part of Fitz's father's world and that's where they came from in the first place. Hollis is the money guy, the first big donor. In our writers' room world, he's one of the Koch Brothers. For us, that's how that started."
By stealing the election, Olivia crossed a major line. Can she be redeemed?
"I think Olivia has always been an anti-hero," Rhimes says. "It is a very dark journey. I don't think that Olivia Pope is a good person doing good things. We talk a lot about the fact that she says, 'The white hat is starting to feel like it doesn't fit my head anymore.' I think that's very true."
Scandal: Our 3 craziest theories why Huck was set up
When will America's baby be born?
"America's baby is coming sooner than you think," Rhimes says of Mellie and Fitz's bundle of joy and adds that the birth will certainly have an impact on Fitz's decision to get a divorce. "It will have an interesting effect, an effect that maybe is not what you'd anticipate."
Is James (Dan Bucatinsky) done investigating the rigged election?
James would give up his quest if he and husband Cyrus (Jeff Perry) got their baby, but that hasn't happened yet. Baby Beene/Novak fell by the wayside when Fitz got shot, remember? "There's really interesting stuff coming with James and Cyrus," Rhimes says. "One of my favorite scenes I've ever written in my entire life is coming up with James and Cyrus. It's a big one and it's about all of that. A lot is revealed."
Do you hope Fitz and Olivia will get back together?
Scandal airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Enjoy unlimited movies and TV episodes from Netflix Abundant online entertainment including Facebook, DailyMotion, YouTube Leanback and moreExclusive O!Easy technology (O!Capture, O!Direct, O!MediaShare, AutoPlay) made HD fun easyWireless N and Gigabit Ethernet support allows you to stream HD files smoothly Shop Modal header Mini in Size. Massive on Entertainment. Limitless HD Fun Made Easy ASUS-exclusive O!Easy Technology, a user-friendly interface, and support for a myriad of file formats, the ASUS O!Play Mini Plus set top box ticks all the boxes when it comes to multimedia entertainment for the home. Enjoy unlimited movies and TV episodes from Netflix O!Play Mini Plus offers access to the most popular worldwide online streaming service Netflix One-click Netflix hot key on the remote control to access a variety of movies, videos, and TV episodes. Track what movies or videos your Facebook friends are watching via Netflix* Enjoy videos on Netflix right away. We offer you a one month free trial along with O!Play Mini Plus (Netflix version). * This service is currently available in Canada and Latin America Abundant online entertainment services Tons of online entertainment services are available with just a few clicks away Online video sharing services: YouTube Leanback and Dailymotion Facebook - One-click O!Capture hot key via the remote control to share photos and videos to your friends on Facebook! Web album: Picasa and Flickr Thousands of Internet TV channels/Internet radio stations, online stock, RSS and more Wireless N and Gigabit Ethernet support allows you to stream HD files smoothly Thanks to built-in Wireless N (802.11n) Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet connections, the O!Play Mini Plus streams blazingly fast Full HD media without any stuttering images. 4-in-1 card reader for easy access to huge range of photo formats The O!Play Mini Plus brings you multi-format high quality photo viewing joy for any perfect moments. Share memories with family and friends, with support for SD/MMC/MS/xD card formats and JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF and TIFF image formats. O!Easy Technology made HD fun easy Easy to Share O!Capture - One-click to share media files on Facebook Browse all your photos and videos on TV via O!Play Mini Plus. You can also share it over the Facebook wall in just a single click via the O!Capture key. Easy to Play AutoPlay - Plug-n-play videos The exclusive AutoPlay functions allows you to plug and play videos via USB hard drive or SD/MMC/MS/xD card without any additional settings needed Step 1: Create an "AutoPlay" folder in your storage device Step 2: Copy video files into the new AutoPlay folder Step 3: Plug the USB hard drive or SD/MMC/MS/xD card to O!Play Mini Plus Step 4: Videos will play automatically on your HDTV Easy to Stream O!Direct – One-click to stream media files from your PC/NB to a HDTV The ASUS exclusive O!Direct function offers you fast and reliable one-click streaming of content from PC to TV. Hassle-free streaming brings broader enjoyment in the living room in both wired and wireless modes, without the need for USB storage devices and their storage restrictions. O!MediaShare - Cable-free media streaming from your smartphone/tablet to a HDTV Download the application from Apple App Store or Android Market. You can stream your favorite media files from your smartphones and tablets and display the content on a HDTV via O!MediaShare. You can also stream online content such as Facebook albums and YouTube videos to the O!Play Mini Plus. Full HD 1080p and Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel surround support Are you satisfied with the quality of traditional DVDs? The O!Play Mini Plus allows you to experience stunning full HD 1080p video, up to 6 times the resolution of traditional DVD, with every gorgeous cinematic details right on the living room TV. The O!Play Mini Plus supports Dolby TrueHD and takes full advantage of Blu-ray sound quality with 7.1-channel surround. 100% lossless high quality sound is identical to the music and movie enthusiasts. With both high-quality of audio and video support, it is time to enjoy a true HD multimedia experience for music, photos and movies. * O!Play devices do not support playback of copyrighted or protected optical media content. Exclusive RightTxT auto subtitle detection and decoding Exclusive RightTxT detects and displays the correct subtitles, automatically and in real time, ensuring a more convenient movie viewing experience.


text:
Our love for V8 Supercars has a lot to do with its ability to combine the big throaty muscle car feel of NASCAR with the corner-charging, crash-happy excitement of BTCC. But is this weekend's chaotic start at the Surfers Paradise 600 more NASCAR or more BTCC?
Whatever the influence, a stall by James Hinchcliffe at the start of the race starts a chain reaction that leaves his teammate Ricky Taylor upside down with the first 100 meters. Unlucky.


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Medicare Part D: Things People With Cancer May Want to Know
The Part D drug benefit is prescription drug coverage for people with Medicare. Here you'll find information to help you decide whether to enroll in a Part D drug plan, and if so, how to decide which plan is best for you.
- Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage
- Special things people with cancer need to think about
- Who should enroll in Medicare Part D?
- Making a Part D plan decision
- Getting help to pay Medicare Part A and/or Part B premiums (the Medicare Savings Programs)
- Formularies and drug coverage
- Where can I use my Part D drug coverage to fill my prescriptions?
- How much will the Part D drug plan cost?
- Things to know once you've chosen a Part D drug plan
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text:
RENTON, WASH.—Richard Sherman does not believe in video game curses.
The Seattle Seahawks' All-Pro cornerback will have his image plastered on the front of the next version of EA Sports' popular Madden football game. It's an honour that's allegedly been fraught with peril for some past recipients who have either had sub-par seasons or suffered injuries the year they were on the cover.
"I don't think about anything like that. It's just something that's been fabricated, I think," Sherman said Monday.
The video game cover, the result of winning an online vote, is just another byproduct of what's become an off-season of accolades for Sherman. Whether it was new endorsements or a contract extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, there have been plenty of opportunities for Sherman to become distracted from his job.
Yet whenever the Seahawks were holding a session as part of their off-season program, Sherman was there. Seattle coach Pete Carroll noted Monday that Sherman has missed "maybe a day" of the voluntary off-season program.
"It's voluntary but I'm a ball player. What else am I going to be doing? When you're a ballplayer at the heart and this is what you sleep, breathe and eat, this is where you want to be," Sherman said. "I couldn't imagine myself being anywhere else because you just feel the itch to be back on the field, to be back with your teammates, to be back out there getting better."
That's not to say Sherman hasn't enjoyed being a Super Bowl champion. The perks have been plentiful, from endorsement deals to a contract that will keep him in Seattle through the 2018 season and pay him $40 million in guaranteed money. But that's meant little on the practice field during OTAs, other than providing fodder for teammates to joke with their star cornerback.
"I think it's more about love for the game that allows us not to get complacent," Sherman said. "That's why you've got All-Pros and Pro Bowlers are out here every day of OTAs playing like they're still fifth (round) and undrafted players trying to fight for a job. That's how it's always going to be."
Carroll said he believes Sherman has handled the off-season hoopla as well as possible while maintaining his commitment to the team. Part of that commitment means educating the younger players Seattle has drafted or signed in the hopes of finding another gem in the draft like Seattle did getting Sherman in the fifth round.
"That's the kind of program we run here. You can show them better than you can tell them, with your actions. You fly to the ball, you play hard, you play disciplined, sound football and when they have questions you're there to answer their questions and you push them and make sure they know their assignments," Sherman said. "It's not like a lot of other programs where you are closed off and can't talk to anybody. We make sure we're open books."


text:
Members of the National Security Council are:
The National Security Council is chaired by the Prime Minister.
The Deputy PM is the Deputy Chair of the Council.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne
Foreign Secretary William Hague
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond
Secretary of State for the Department for International Development Andrew Mitchell
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander
The Minister for Government Policy, Oliver Letwin, is based in the Cabinet Office.
Minister for Government Policy Oliver Letwin
Other Cabinet Ministers attend as required (i.e. depending on what the Council is discussing). Similarly the Chief of the Defence Staff, Heads of Intelligence Agencies also attend when required.
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You're the life of the party (you host them too most of the time) because you're just always in the mood to have a good time. Even in slumber or while you have friends sleeping in your guest room, you feel the need to inject some fun spark in the moment, in the form of a cool-coloured Fireworks alpaca blanket. Chic, warm and cozy, the alpaca in it will make sleep, a memorable event too.
Material - 80% Alpaca 20% Acrylic ONE SIZE - 70"x90"
HANDWASH in cool water. Air dry. Low setting on dryer for 10 minutes for maximum flufiness.
DRY CLEAN is always a recommended option.
MAINTAIN using a light bristly brush direction of the alpaca fiber. Iron on low in same direction.
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A natural, hypoallergenic & sustainable material coming from the yearly shear of the eco-friendly Alpaca. The spun fibers are artisanally loomed into lustrous garments. Eco-friendly packaging whenever possible, including biodegradable bags and recyclable
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text: My brother and his wife have always been two people I look up to for most things. They have three beautiful children, two successful creative careers, and a strong faith in God. There have been big changes in their household recently – they've moved into their "forever" house and have just celebrated two birthdays. Moving into a new home (and moving out of an old one) is so bittersweet. They wanted to capture the spirit of the only home their children have known so far, and I was so honored to help them remember where they have grown up as a family. Although a house is only walls and a roof, I hope that their new space will give them room to celebrate more birthdays and create the memories they will cherish for a lifetime. Happy birthday Alan and Minnette! We love you all very much.


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More journalists were killed on the job in 2012 than at any point since Reporters Without Borders began keeping a tally 17 years ago.
The Paris-based nonprofit said Wednesday that eighty-eight reporters were killed, a third more than last year, as several countries underwent rebellion and revolution that endangered the journalists covering the hot spots.
"The high number of journalists killed in 2012 is mainly due to the conflict in Syria, the chaos in Somalia and to violence by the Taliban in Pakistan," Christophe Deloire, the head of the organization, said in a statement.
The group said 17 professional journalists, including veteran U.S. war correspondent Marie Colvin for the U.K.'s Sunday Times, were killed in Syria, along with 44 citizen journalists and four collaborators.
Citizen journalists' cell phone videos of bombings and life in Syria's makeshift hospitals provided some of the most candid accounts of life in the warzone, but the cost was often their lives.
"Without their action, the Syrian regime would be able to impose a total blockade on information in some regions and carry out its massacre with nobody watching," the nonprofit said.
Improved surveillance equipment allowed governments to track the physical location of people publishing news online, and citizen journalists often lacked the resources to escape the country if targeted.
Somalia was the second most dangerous country for journalists, where 18 reporters were killed, followed by Pakistan with 10 and Mexico with six deaths, mostly by organized criminals in drug cartels.


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The Rough Guide Snapshot to Johannesburg and Pretoria is the ultimate travel guide to this region of South Africa. It leads you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions, from the Apartheid Museum to Soweto Tours and live music to the Cradle of Humankind.
Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you make the most of your trip, whether passing through, staying for the weekend, or longer. Also included is the Basics section from the Rough Guide to South Africa, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria, including transportation, food, drink, costs, health, national parks, and safety.
Also published as part of the Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland.
Full coverage: The Central Business District (CBD); Johannesburg Art Gallery; Braamfontein; Hillbrow; Parktown; Melville; Sophiatown; Alexandra; Gold Reef City; the Apartheid Museum; Soweto; the Cradle of Humankind; Pretoria.
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My AccountLibrary Catalog
The Cambridge Public Library is well known for innovation. In 1994, we became the first library in the world to offer free, high-speed Internet access. Our commitment to digital resources has not wavered. Each year, we provide over 100,000 hours of free access to the Internet.
At the new Main Library, we have over 50 computers for Internet access that are connected to printers (10 free pages per day; 15 cents each page after; black and white printing only) and over 50 more for catalog and database searching. There are also two desktop publishing stations equipped with scanners and the latest publishing software in the Information Commons.
Also all of our branches have computers that can access the Internet and perform basic computing tasks like word processing. All of these computers are equipped with Jaws assistive technology software that can read text to you as well as magnify text on the computer screen.
In addition, all Cambridge libraries have free, high-speed wireless access and wireless printing.
Cambridge Public Library Computer Use Policy


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|Home » Laser Toner Cartridges
Best Laser Toner CartridgesNow you can order your laser toner cartridges, new drums, recycled, brand new laser toner and so much more online from anywhere in the world! At Castle Ink you'll find the best deals on all brands of laser toner cartridges for your printer. Our high quality, replacement laser toner is fully guaranteed and available at deeply discounted prices. To find replacement laser toner cartridges for your printer simply click on your printer brand from the below list:
We now carry Kyocera Tk-1142 toner!
Product quality is 100% guaranteed at Castle Ink. We stand behind our products - if for any reason you are not completely satisfied with our laser toner cartridges we'll happily accept them back for a full refund. We're confident that you'll find our remanufactured toner cartridges to be of the highest quality. With decades of manufacturing expertise, we've come to expect a lot from our products -- and so should you. All laser toner cartridges are evaluated and subjected to testing under extreme conditions. The end result is a laser toner cartridge that enhances the quality and performance of your equipment. Experience longevity and superior performance when you purchase your copier toner, laser toner, and toner cartridges at Castle Ink. Start your search for laser toner that fits your printer by using the search boxes below.


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EXCLUSIVEMichael Douglas' ex-wife wants to make something perfectly clear -- eating out was safe when he was married to her.
Douglas told a British paper over the weekend ... his 2010 throat cancer was "caused by HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus."
Diandra Douglas -- whose epic divorce from Michael in 2000 was one of the richest marital settlements in history -- tells TMZ she does NOT have HPV ... period.
Guess the ball is in your court now, CZJ.


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Butterfly-Shaped "Papillon" Nebula (inset) Found in Nebula N159
A NASA Hubble Space Telescope view of a turbulent cauldron of starbirth, called N159, taking place 170,000 light-years away in our satellite galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Torrential stellar winds from hot newborn massive stars within the nebula sculpt ridges, arcs, and filaments in the vast cloud, which is over 150 light-years across.
A rare type of compact ionized "blob" is resolved for the first time to be a butterfly-shaped or "Papillon" (French for "butterfly") nebula, buried in the center of the maelstrom of glowing gases and dark dust. The unprecedented details of the structure of the Papillon, itself less than 2 light-years in size (about 2 arcseconds in the sky), are seen in the inset.
A possible explanation of this bipolar shape is the outflow of gas from massive stars (over 10 times the mass of our sun) hidden in the central absorption zone. Such stars are so hot that their radiation pressure halts the infall of gas and directs it away from the stars in two opposite directions. Presumably, a dense equatorial disk formed by matter still trying to fall in onto the stars focuses the outstreaming matter into the bipolar directions.
This observation is part of a search for young massive stars in the LMC. Rare are the cases where we can see massive stars so early after their birth.
The red in this true-color image is from the emission of hydrogen and the yellow from high excitation ionized oxygen. The picture was taken on September 5, 1998 with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2.
The Hubble observations of the Papillon nebula were conducted by the European astronomers Mohammad Heydari-Malayeri (Paris Observatory, France) and co-investigators Michael Rosa (Space Telescope-European Coordinating Facility, European Southern Observatory, Germany), Vassilis Charmandaris (Paris Observatory), Lise Deharveng (Marseille Observatory, France), and Hans Zinnecker (Astrophysical Institute, Potsdam, Germany).
Their work is submitted for publication in the European journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Credit: M. Heydari-Malayeri (Paris Observatory) and NASA/ESA


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Augustana Nursing Program Ranked No. 1 in South Dakota
Augustana's nursing program has been ranked the No. 1 program in South Dakota, according to RegisteredNursing.org.
Nursing Students Provide Free Blood Pressure Screenings
Augustana nursing students provided free blood pressure checks on Monday to kick off the 2017 Big Squeeze, a community-wide high blood pressure awareness initiative organized by Live Well Sioux Falls.
2017 Covenant Award Nominees Recognized
Meet the 45 students who were recognized in chapel earlier today as nominees for the 2017 Augustana Covenant Awards.
The Tenacious Trombonist
When junior trombonist Matt Watt was named a 2017 winner of Augustana's premier Concerto-Aria competition following his auditioned performance of "Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra" by Gordon Jacob, people took notice. They noticed his musical talent. But they also noticed something he was missing. Watt was born with a condition called ectrodactyly, a rare limb malformation affecting his hands. Each of his hands has five knuckles, but only one finger. This is his story.
Newsmaker: AU Prof Discusses Correlation Between Vitamin D and Athletic Performance
Dr. Shane Scholten, assistant professor of exercise and sport sciences at Augustana, talked with KSFY-News about his research studying the correlation between vitamin D and athletic performance.
New Annotated Edition by Augustana French Professor Illuminates Classic Fairy Tales
A new edition of "Histoires ou contes du temps passé: contes de ma mère l'Oie by Charles Perrault" ("Tales and Stories of the Past: Mother Goose Tales by Charles Perrault") features an introduction, extensive annotations and a glossary by Augustana's Dr. Scott Fish, associate professor of French. We caught up with Dr. Fish to learn more about the book.
Augustana Partners with Zeal to Launch Boot Camp for Student Entrepreneurs
Augustana is partnering with the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship to offer a new program designed for undergraduate and graduate student entrepreneurs.
In the News: Augustana Journos Discuss 'Journalism Renaissance'
Augustana journalism students spoke with KELO-TV on how the current political climate, the "fake news" phenomenon, and the importance of storytelling are fueling their desires to deliver the news.
Boe Forum With Neil deGrasse Tyson Draws Thousands to Campus
Nearly 4,000 people filled the Elmen Center on Monday night to hear acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson speak at the 20th Boe Forum on Public Affairs.
Petersen Named Assistant Director of Bands and Music Education
Dr. Larry Petersen has been named assistant director of bands and music education. In his new role, Petersen will direct the Blue & Gold Band and the Athletic Bands, as well as lead the coordination of the Augustana music teacher education program.


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Bringing Awareness To Diabetes: The Diabetic You (Directed By "Charless Mattocks" A Young Black Celeb Chef On Such Shows As Dr. Oz) [Documentary Trailer]
"The Diabetic You" Trailer
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Reman Mythology: The Online Novel
December 08, 2010
In case anyone is searching for my maiden name (Amy Kim Ganter) and wondering what I'm up to, I thought I'd leave a notice here that my old webcomic Reman Mythology has been steadily updating as an illustrated novel, entitled "Rema," over at http://remanmyth.blogspot.com.
The writing is rough as I've had no formal training, and it has its flaws, but if you read the webcomic in the past and enjoyed it I'm pretty sure you'll like the novelization as well. It has much in common with webcomic -- it's still a story of Tabby, Philip, and how their relationship changes the world -- but so much is different, you're sure to be surprised.
Yes, this is the book I've worked on for the last five years in isolation. It's the novel I've been blogging about since 2007, and it is a labor of love. I'm so glad to finally share it with anyone willing to give it a read.
Thank you so much to anyone who supported me and this story over the years. The only way I can think of repaying you for your interest is to see this project through to end. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I love writing it!
Other places you can find me --
My regular art blog: http://felaxx.blogspot.com
Twitter (I tweet alot): http://twitter.com/amykibuishi
Tumblr (mostly reblogs): http://felaxx.tumblr.com
Deviantart: http://merofi.deviantart.com
New Blog, New Projects.
October 12, 2010
Just a quick note: I've set up a blogger account (http://felaxx.blogspot.com) for all future updates, including today's post, which you can read here.
Now to redesign the rest of my website... :P
March 24, 2010
Two -- count 'em -- TWO art posts in a row! ... Don't worry. I won't make this a habit.
This is straight up 2B pencil on smooth bristol. Chapter one sample illustration for the book I'm working on:
Also, a photo of me and my l'il bumpkin from a day ago:
*cough cough*
March 21, 2010
Sure is dusty in here. Phew! Hi, whoever is poking their heads in here. I am still alive, actively updating my twitter account (of course!). Don't worry, you haven't missed much. I only started tweeting a couple weeks ago.
I have finally gotten around to uploading a drawing, and here it is! It is a china marker study for a larger piece I plan on doing. I really enjoyed using the china marker, it is very forgiving. :)
Those are all characters in my latest book project (except the demons are kind of random). Yes, the dolphin is included! I really love drawing them and they're so much fun to write. I'm still tweaking and perfecting my manuscript before sending it anywhere, so don't hold your breath! It'll still be a long while before it sees the light of day.
In other news, our son Juni is doing great. He is now 4.5 months old, and his personality is really starting to show. He's curious, very observant, and likes to be with people. Maybe all babies are like that, but this is what I've noticed about him! You can see recent pictures of him on the flickr account I share with Kazu, if you'd like.
Obviously, I won't be updating this website all too often. I still want to give the whole thing an overhaul. I even have a design set up! But finding the time between writing my book project and taking care of Juni in order to update my website is unrealistic.
For now, please add me if you use twitter (username: @Merofi), and I will continue to post sketches when available. See you there!
My life for the last two weeks...
November 19, 2009
And all is well. More pics of our new son if anyone needs to see it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/studioamzu/sets/72157622715273185/detail/
news archives
All material within this website are © Amy Kim Ganter/Kibuishi.
Do not use images without permission. Please do not directly link to images on this site.
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Catamount Football Wraps Up Its Open Week
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina football team put the finishing touches on its off-week on Thursday after a week's worth of practices dating back to Sunday. WCU head coach Mark Speir talked about the progress he felt his squad made during the ...
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SEC Predictions: Picking every game against the spread
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Tennessee routs Western Carolina with early TDs
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Sociology : a Down-to-earth Approach
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Dennis L. Kolson, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Neurology
Member, Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania
Member, Basic Research Committee, Dept. Neurology, University of Pennsylvania
Member, Center for AIDS Research, University of Pennsylvania
Member, MD/PhD Combined Degree Admissions/Advisory Committee, University of Pennsylvania
Contact information
280C Clinical Research Building
University of Pennsylvania
415 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104/6146
Office: 215 573-3505
Fax: 215 573-2029
Lab: 215-573-3504
Graduate Group Affiliations
Cell and Molecular Biology
Search PubMed for articles
Search PubMed for articles
Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.
B.S. (Biology)
Pennsylvania State University, magna cum laude, 1977.
M.S. (Biological Sciences)
University of Pittsburgh, 1980.
Ph.D. (Biological Sciences)
University of Pittsburgh, 1984.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, cum laude, 1985.
Post-Graduate Training
Intern In Medicine, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 1985-1986.
Resident in Neurology, Duke Univ. Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, 1986-1989.
Fellow in Neurovirology, Univ. of Penn., Philadelphia, PA, 1989-1992.
Amercian Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, 1990.
Permanent link
Perelman School of Medicine
> Details
Description of Research Expertise
Research Interests
Mechansims and determinants of HIV induced neuronal injury. Neuronal cell responses to virus induced injury.
Key words:
neuron, hippocampus, apoptosis, gene expression, single-cell mRNA, HIV, chemokine receptor, NMDA receptor.
Description of Research
My laboratory is focused upon pathogenesis of HIV-1-infection of the central nervous system (CNS) as a model for neuroimmune-mediated neurodegeneration. Within the CNS, HIV productively infects macrophages and microglia, with subsequent neuronal damage and loss by several mechanisms, including NMDA receptor mediated excitotoxicity and apoptosis. In vitro modeling shows that such infection results in the release of soluble neurotoxins that act in part through activation of neuronal NMDA receptors with subsequent activation of cell death pathways, including apoptosis cascades and calpain activation. Specific NMDA receptor subunits (NR2A, NR2B) are critical for such degeneration. In addition, dysregulation of glial (astrocyte, macrophage) neurotransmitter and oxidative functions may subserve both apoptotic and anti-apoptotic roles. HIV infection initiates neurodegeneration through mechanisms that are shared by other neurodegenerative diseases and understanding these mechanims has broad therapeutic implications for other such diseases.
Interestingly, neurons appear to initiate pro-survival resoponses to injury that involve release of neuropeptides and chemokines. We are focusing on one such unique neuropeptide, apelin, and its cognate receptor, APJ and the novel role that this receptor/ligand interaction might play in modulating neuronal responses to injury. We have found that apelin peptide is released by injury hippocampal and cortical neurons (in addition to physiological relase from pituicytes) and that it can modulate NMDA receptor function through phosphorylation, internalization, and suppression of NMDA receptors. We are thus focusing on how neuronal cell function is modulated by virally-induced stress responses in the CNS and how this applies to neurodegeneration, and how HIV infection might mimic other degenerative conditions. Major unanswered questions include:
1. What pathways are reponsible for neuronal damage and glial cell dysfunction in HIV infection?
2. How can NMDA receptor modulation alter neuronal susceptibility to HIV-induced damage?
3. Are specific genes turned on/off in neurons that are particularly vulnerable/resistant to HIV-induced injury?
4. What is the role of endogenous neuronal survival pathways (apelin/APJ) in preventing HIV-induced damage?
5. How can in vitro modeling be used to define targets for neuroprotection against HIV-1 and other neurodegenerative diseases?
6. How does the unfolded protein response (UPR) in HIV-infected macrophages modulate neurodegeneration?
To address these questions, we have developed several in vitro neuronal cell culture systems. We utilize primary rodent hippocampal and neocortical cell cultures as well as a unique human neuronal cell system utilizing NT2.N neurons in mixed neuronal/glial cell cultures to model HIV-1-induced neurodegeneration. We have developed a novel in vitro model using mixed cultures of human monocyte-derived macrophages with rodent neurons and astrocytes to analyze effects of HIV infection in the central nervous system. We have found that developmental susceptibility to HIV-1-induced neurodegeneration is determined by NMDA receptor subunit expression, and that the macrophage kynurenine metabolic pathway is a major contributor to the production of HIV-1-induced excitotoxin expression. We have also demonstrated that excitotoxic injury to neurons induces release of a novel neuropeptide, apelin, that can promote neuronal survival through modulation of NMDA receptors. Our current projects involve in vitro and in vivo analysis of cell death pathways in neurons that are induced by HIV-infected macrophages, analysis of the role of specific NMDA receptor subunits in determining neuronal vulnerability to HIV-induced damage, analysis of the unfolded protein response in macrophages and how it modulates neurodegeneration, and how apelin neuropeptide alters cellular responses through NMDA receptor modulation.
Rotation Projects
1. Analysis of NMDA receptor subunit expression and phosphorylation patterns in hippocampal and cortical neurons susceptible to HIV neurotoxicity
2. Analysis of the macrophage unfolded protein response.
3. Identification of the downstream pathways of death in neurons by HIV-1, including the role of calpain activation.
4. Analysis of apelin/APJ function in neural cells.
Lab personnel:
Patricia Vance, MS - Research Specialist
Lorraine Kolson, BS - Research Specialist
Denise Cook - Neuroscience PhD student
Stephanie Cross, Neuroscience MD/PhD student
Description of Clinical Expertise
multiple sclerosis, neurological complication of AIDS
Selected Publications
Kolson DL, Sabnekar P, Baybis M and Crino PB
Gene expression in TUNEL-positive Neurons in HIV-infected brain
. J. Neurovirol. 10((suppl. 1)): 102-7, 2004.
Patel SH, Kolson DL, Glosser G, Matozzo I, Ge Y, Babb JS, Mannon LJ and Grossman RI.
Correlation between percentage of brain parenchymal volume and neurocognitive performance in HIV infected patients.
Am. J. Neuroradiol. 23: 543-549, 2002.
Chen W, Sulcove J, Frank I, Jaffer S, Ozdener H and Kolson DL.
Development of a human neuronal cell model for HIV/macrophage-induced neurotoxicity: apoptosis induced by HIV-1 primary isolates and evidence for involvement of the Bcl-2/Bcl-xL-sensitive intrinsic apoptosis pathway.
J. Virology 76: 9407-9419, 2002.
Ge Y, Grossman RI, Babb JS, Rabin ML, Mannon LJ and Kolson DL.
Age-related total gray matter and white matter changes in normal adult brain. Part I. Volumetric MR imaging analysis.
Am. J. Neuroradiol. 23: 1327-1333, 2002.
Ge Y, Grossman RI, Babb JS, Rabin ML, Mannon LJ and Kolson DL.
Age-related total gray matter and white matter changes in normal adult brain. Part II: quantitative magnetization transfer ratio histogram analysis.
Am. J. Neuroradiol. 23: 1334-1341, 2002.
O'Donnell, LA, Chen W, Agrawal A, Sulcove J and Kolson DL.
Potential neuroprotective role of APJ/apelin interactions: protection against HIV-induced apoptosis.
NIMH workshop: Viral and Host Genetic Factyors Regulating HIV/CNS Disease, Rockville, MD. 2002.
Martin-Garcia J, Kolson DL, Gonzalez-Scarano F.
Chemokine receptors in the brain: their role in HIV infection and pathogenesis.
AIDS (in press). 2002.
Kolson DL.
Neuropathogenesis of central nervous system HIV-1 infection.
Clin. Lab. Med. 22: 1-15, 2002.
Ge Y, Grossman RL, Udupa JK, Babb JS, Kolson DL and McGowan JC.
Magnetization transfer ratio histogram analysis of gray matter in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Am. J. Neuroradiol. 22: 470-475, 2001.
Ge Y, Grossman RL, Udupa JK, Babb JS, Nyul LG and Kolson DL.
Brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: fractional volumetric analysis of gray matter and white matter.
Radiology 220: 606-610, 2001.
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Taking Part in Research Studies: Fact Sheet For Women
I do not want to be a guinea pig. Why should I participate in research?
What are the benefits of joining a clinical trial?
What are the risks?
How do I know if I have been given all the information?
What if I change my mind about participants but the research is already underway?
What else should I know about medical studies?
Who participates in clinical research and how are they selected?
What if I might be pregnant?
How can I find out about clinical research?
What is the difference between a clinical trial and an observational study?
I have heard that clinical trials have different phases. What does that mean?
Q. I do not want to be a guinea pig. Why should I participate in research?
A. There is a great need for women in research trials. Women should participate in research because there are so few answers to some of the biggest questions in women's health. Before 1993, studies that tested new drugs had special eligibility criteria that prohibited women from participating. Those criteria have been dropped and all women are now eligible to participate in drug studies. We do not know why heart disease kills more women over 50 years old than men of the same age. We have huge gaps in knowledge about breast cancer. We do not know much about the menstrual cycle. We do not understand why eating disorders are so prevalent in young women and nearly impossible to cure in some of them. Almost nothing is known about these topics because, until recently, most research was done using men as subjects. This is now beginning to change, and a woman can help researchers find out more, if not for herself, for her mother, her best friend and especially for her daughters.
For more information:
Research Volunteers: Medical Heroes
Research Studies for Women
Q. What are the benefits of joining a clinical trial?
A. Some other reasons why you might want to participate in research (or clinical trial) are listed below. However, the kind of benefits you receive depend not only on the specific study in which you participate, but can also depend on which part of the study you are randomized into, if you participate in a clinical trial. You might want to participate:
- to receive free screenings and exams,
- to learn more about health topics,
- to meet other volunteers,
- to potentially gain access to new drugs and interventions before they are widely available,
- to receive close monitoring of your health care and any side effects,
- to have a more active role in your own health care, and
- to help answer questions that can improve the health of future generations
For more information:
Taking Part in Research: Benefits and Risks
Q. What are the risks?
A. You should also consider that there may be potential risks when participating in research, especially if you are randomized to the treatment group of a clinical trial. Potential risks include:
- if you are receiving a new drug or procedure that is being tested, it may have side effects or risks unknown to the doctors, side effects and results may be worse than from interventions that are currently used, even if a new approach has benefits, it may not work for you, and health insurers and managed care providers do not always cover all the care costs in research.
For more information:
Taking Part in Research: Benefits and Risks
Q. How do I know if I have been given all the information?
A. If you volunteer to participate in a study, you will go through a process called informed consent. During informed consent you will learn the key facts about a study before you decide whether or not to participate. These facts include details about the study approach, the intervention actually given in the study, the possible risks and benefits and the tests you may receive. The researcher will give you written information called a consent form that goes over key facts. If you agree to take part in the study, you will be asked to sign this form. You are encouraged to take the form home and discuss it with your family, friends, or others before you make your decision. If you decide to join the research study, be sure to ask for a copy of the consent form, so you can look it over at any time.
Do not hesitate to ask questions until you have all the information you need. This is an important decision, and you should be comfortable with whatever choice you make. In fact, you should feel free to ask the research team questions at any time. Informed consent is more than a form; it is a process that continues throughout the study. For example, you may continue to have questions throughout the study, and your discussions about these questions with the health-care team are all part of the informed consent process. Informed consent continues as long as you are in the study.
For more information:
Informed Consent: What it Means to You
Q. What if I change my mind about participants but the research is already underway?
A. You can change your mind and leave the study whenever you want, before the study starts or at any time during the study or follow up period. Remember that participating in research is always voluntary. Even if you decide to participate in a study, you can always withdraw from the study without it affecting the relationship with your health care provider.
For more information:
Informed Consent: What it Means to You
Q. What else should I know about medical studies?
A. Only you can make the decision about whether or not to participate in research. Before you make your decision, you should do a little of your own research:
- Learn about your specific disease, condition, or health status.
- Find out what kind of study is being done and learn about that kind of study design.
- Find out about the research studies that might be appropriate for you.
- Get answers to all of your questions.
- Determine the potential risks and benefits of your participating in the study.
- Talk about this information and how you feel about it with your own doctor and/or nurse, family members and friends to help you determine what is right for you.
For more information:
Research Studies: Should I Take Part?
Q. Who participates in clinical research and how are they selected?
A. The short answer is: lots of different people participate in clinical research and they are selected in various ways. Women who participate in clinical research are volunteers who meet special criteria determined by the research study's purposes. Every study identifies some specific characteristics that the participants should have in order to participate in the study. These characteristics are called eligibility criteria. They may include a diagnosis with a particular type of disease, the presence of certain symptoms, the absence of certain diseases or conditions, age and general health. Eligibility criteria are a key part of medical research. They help assure that the study results answer the research question. They also help doctors identify who will benefit in the future from the approach being studied if it is shown to work. For example, in cancer prevention studies, a new drug may work for people with one type of risk factor but not for another. Eligibility criteria also help insure the safety of participants by protecting them from known risks. For example, some drugs can only be given safely if a person has normal kidneys or liver. In this situation only persons with normal kidney or liver function are allowed to participate in the study.
For more information:
Being a Partner in Research: Ways to Take Part
Taking Part as a Healthy Volunteer
Q. What if I might be pregnant?
A. Between 1977 and 1993, the Food and Drug Administration prohibited the inclusion of women of childbearing age in the early phases of research studies that tested new drugs, unless the woman had a life-threatening disease. The FDA was concerned about the possible effects of experimental drugs on fetuses. However, many women of childbearing age are unlikely to get pregnant. For instance, women using oral, injectable, or mechanical contraception, women whose partners have had vasectomies, women who are not sexually active, and lesbians, are not likely to get pregnant. In addition, there are important scientific benefits to including women in early phases of drug research. If sex differences in the way a drug works are identified in early phases of the research, then subsequent studies can be designed more suitably so that researchers can figure out how the drug should be used to benefit women.
Secondly, it is unethical to prevent women from making their own choices about their bodies and their pregnancies. Recent laws and court decisions suggest that women should have the right to make their own risk-benefit choices about their pregnancies in employment situations, for example, and are entitled to know all the potential risks.
Third, it is possible to reduce the risk of fetal exposure through study design. By either administering the drug during or immediately following a woman's menstrual period or after a pregnancy test, or counseling women in trials about the need to use reliable forms of contraception, the potential risk to fetuses can be avoided. Finally, it is better to know if a drug affects fetuses or affects pregnant women differently by testing the drug in a small number of pregnant women than for drugs to be used by many women during pregnancy without reliable information on their maternal and fetal effects.
For more information:
Someone is Watching Over You
Q. How can I find out about clinical research?
A. You can find out about research studies in several ways. Sometimes researchers place advertisements and announcements in newspapers or on the radio. Other times, your own health care provider may be conducting research herself, or may know of available research studies for which you can volunteer. Or, a researcher may give a talk at a church or women's group asking for participants. Sometimes you can get on a mailing list at a National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health and be notified of available studies. If you think you are interested in participating in a study you have heard about, you can call the research study office. The research staff will ask you some questions to see if you meet the eligibility criteria for that particular study. You may also have to come in for tests or exams to make sure you have the condition that is being studied, or the level of health that is required for you to participate safely. If you are eligible or asked to come in for tests or exams, you will be told more about the study so you can decide whether or not you want to participate, and be asked to sign a consent form before you participate.
For more information:
How to Find a Clinical Research Trial
Research Match and You
Q. What is the difference between a clinical trial and an observational study?
A. In a clinical trial, researchers are testing a new treatment, exercise, vitamins, drugs, or other forms of therapy, and comparing it to standard treatment, (the usual care recommended by doctors in that particular situation). Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new interventions. There are at least two groups of people in the study, one group receiving the new therapy and one group receiving standard therapy. Sometimes the group receiving standard therapy gets what is called a placebo, a dummy pill, or treatment, that looks identical, so that no one can tell which group they are in. When neither the researchers nor the participants know which group is which, it is called a double masked or double blind study.
An observational study means the investigators are doing just that, observing. They are not giving participants any treatment, but only checking their health and perhaps monitoring special items, like a woman's cholesterol level or blood pressure, for example.
To illustrate the difference between these two kinds of studies, suppose researchers at a mammography center are conducting a study. Staff at the center might ask a woman whose mother had breast cancer to join a study for healthy women who have a history of breast cancer in their family. Now let us say researchers split these women into two groups. One group took extra vitamin E, while the other took a dummy pill. They agreed to come back every nine months to have another mammogram. After three years, the investigators would see if one group had fewer breast cysts or suspicious lumps. This would be a clinical trial.
It is important to note that in a clinical trial, both groups, those taking the standard therapy and those taking the new therapy, are necessary to understand if and how the new therapy works. Without the group taking the placebo, researchers would not know if the new therapy works better than, worse than, or the same as standard therapy.
In an observational study, researchers might ask women to enroll in a study about breast cancer prevention. They might ask women to come into a clinic for mammography screening and to answer questions about their health and health behaviors. The researchers could then look at the questionnaires of any women who developed breast lumps to see if there might be any common patterns in the health indicators or health behaviors that are different in women who did not develop breast lumps. Information learned from this kind of study would not necessarily be conclusive, but researchers would use this information to propose a clinical trial to find a definite answer to the question. The observational study is, in a sense, a preliminary study; however, it is vital. Without these preliminary findings, researchers would not know what to test in the more conclusive clinical trials.
For more information:
Clinical Research: Studies with People
Q. I have heard that clinical trials have different phases. What does that mean?
A. Most clinical research that involves the testing of a new drug has an orderly series of steps. This allows researchers to ask and answer questions in a way that expands our information about the drug and its effects on people. Based on what is learned in laboratory experiments or previous trials, researchers formulate hypotheses or questions that need to be answered. Then they carefully design a clinical research study to test the hypothesis and answer the research question. It is customary to separate different kinds of trials into phases that follow one another in an orderly sequence. For instance, cancer clinical research generally falls into one of three phases.
- Phase I Trials: These first studies in people evaluate how a new drug should be administered (orally, intravenously, by injection), how often, and in what dosage. A Phase I trial usually enrolls only a small number of participants.
- Phase II Trials: A phase II trial provides preliminary information about how well the new drug works and generates more information about safety and benefit. Each Phase II study usually focuses on a particular type of cancer, for example.
- Phase III Trials: These trials compare a promising new drug, combination of drugs, or procedure with current, standard therapy. Phase III trials typically involve large numbers of people in doctors' offices, clinics, and cancer centers nationwide. If you participate in a Phase III treatment trial, you are likely to be randomized (assigned by chance) to a group receiving either the new intervention or the standard intervention.
Trials designed in this way are also called randomized controlled trials. If you are assigned the standard intervention, you receive what experts view as the best treatment available in the realm of routine medical practice. If you are assigned the new intervention, you receive a treatment that some experts think may have significant advantages over the standard. The reason that the clinical trial has been started is that the superiority of one treatment over the other has not yet been firmly established.
For more information:
What is a Clinical Trial?
Contributions to this FAQ on Clinical Trials: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health sponsored by the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services
For more information:
Go to the Women's Health health topic.


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Mitt Romney begins West Coast fundraising visit
Less than 24 hours after clinching his party's nomination for president, GOP candidate Mitt Romney launched a lucrative California fundraising swing Wednesday that included an event at a French-style chateau that is one of America's most lavish private homes.
Fresh from his victory Tuesday in the Texas primary, Romney and wife Ann were the stars of two glitzy campaign events on the Peninsula, including the marquee affair for 300 at the sprawling Chateau Carolands in Hillsborough.
Romney also picked up the endorsement of former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and George Shultz at the event, which guests paid from $2,500 to $50,000 to attend.
"We care about the future of this country and the future of the world and I'm delighted to join so many friends here in supporting and, in my case, endorsing Gov. Mitt Romney for president of the United States," Rice said. "We have to defend the country, not just from (a position of) strength and power but from a sense of values of who we are."
Some Democrats and Republicans had criticized the site of the fundraiser, a California Historic Landmark whose owners, Charles and Ann Johnson, completed a $20 million renovation a few years ago and who support a variety of causes.
But Romney embraced the location and called it an example of private enterprise.
Cites Silicon Valley
He noted he was in Silicon Valley, which he called "venture capital headquarters of the world," but also told donors that innovation in business happens all over country.
Romney circled back on the tussle between his campaign and President Obama's over Solyndra, the Fremont solar energy firm that went bankrupt after receiving a $535 million federal loan guarantee from the Obama administration. Romney's campaign brought up the issue in an ad this week.
"They don't understand how the free economy works," he said of the administration. "There's a profit motive that encourages people to invest themselves and their resources to start businesses, the by-product of which is putting people to work."
While the former Massachusetts governor's visit to the Bay Area should have been a victory lap after sewing up more than the 1,144 delegates needed for the GOP nomination, the campaign was distracted earlier in the day by headline-grabbing real estate magnate Donald Trump.
The reality TV star, who raised $2 million for Romney in Las Vegas on Tuesday, provided what many Republicans considered an embarrassing distraction by repeatedly raising questions on cable TV and social media about President Obama's birthplace.
On Wednesday, Trump tweeted: "I want to see Barack Obama's college records to see how he listed his place of birth in the applications."
Romney gets pounded
Obama strategist David Axelrod, speaking on Current TV's "The War Room," pounded Romney on the issue.
"The question is why Gov. Romney wouldn't repudiate those tactics," Axelrod said. "Why would he stand with him and not have anything to say about it? I think Mitt Romney will do what he thinks is good for Mitt Romney. He wants Donald Trump's money - and, therefore, he'll tolerate what Donald Trump has to say."
GOP strategist Mark McKinnon said Romney left the impression that he will "associate with anyone if he thinks it will further his ambition."
Romney defended himself to reporters Wednesday aboard his campaign plane, saying he has many followers and one goal - to get the majority of the votes for president in November.
His campaign attempted to divert attention from Democratic attacks on his record at the Bain Capital private-equity firm and focus attention on Obama's record on creating jobs.
But Democratic Party leaders pounced on the Romney campaign's choice of Republican Meg Whitman as co-host of a poolside "ladies lunch" Wednesday honoring his wife at the Palo Alto home of Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers and his wife, Elaine.
Whitman, the billionaire CEO of Hewlett-Packard, recently announced that HP plans to lay off thousands of employees. Two years ago, as a candidate for California governor, she promised to create 2 million jobs in her first term, if elected.
Democrats react
Wednesday evening's fundraiser at the 65,000-square-foot chateau, co-chaired by Shultz and former Gov. Pete Wilson, brought sharp attacks from Democrats.
"Nothing like a fundraiser in a 95-room mansion with a billionaire CEO about to fire 25,000 employees to dispel the notion that Romney enjoys firing people," said California Democratic Party spokesman Tenoch Flores.
The fundraiser was held in a tent on the grounds of the mansion. Tickets started at $2,500, went up to $10,000 for those who wanted a photo with Romney and hit the $50,000 mark for those who stayed for dinner inside the house itself.
An organizer told the crowd it was the Romney campaign's most successful event in California but would not reveal how much money was raised. Proceeds will go to the Romney campaign and the Republican National Committee.
The historic Carolands home, built by heirs of the railroad-car magnate George Pullman, includes a stunning, 75-foot-tall atrium - the largest enclosed space of any private home in America. The 6-acre estate includes elaborate gardens patterned after Versailles in France.
Favorite GOP venue
The locale, which was considered in the 1930s as a possible Western White House, has been a favorite venue for GOP groups and fundraisers, including a 2008 visit by then-President George W. Bush to raise money for the Republican National Committee.
But some Republicans shook their heads at what they said was an ill-chosen location as Romney faced attacks related to his considerable wealth.
"I don't get it," said one leading GOP strategist who spoke on condition of anonymity. "There's no spinning it back." The choice of Carolands conveyed a message, the insider said, that "other than the White House, this is the second-biggest White House in the country."
Carla Marinucci is The San Francisco Chronicle's senior political writer. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Re: What is "Natural" - Is "Organic" the same thing?
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:42 pm UTC
mosc wrote:Organic exists because you have a considerable consumer base with income more than sufficient for their lifestyle who can spend disposable income on food. It's a somewhat arbitrary definition of a standard that doesn't affect much but does differentiate your product from less expensive products. If you want to make tastier than normal apples, it's hard to put up a sign that says "just like that guys but they taste better". Getting an organic stamp is a way to get customers to try your product under the premise that it is different (superior) to your competition. Not that all organic food tastes better. This market niche has extended to the point where people look for it where it makes little sense (organic potatoes for example) and will buy inferior products even if they are more expensive if they contain the label.
Food is organic or not organic. It is tasty or not tasty. It is fresh or not fresh. It is costly or cheap. None of these things are directly related.
It's funny; I basically agree with your final sentence, but I disagree with a lot of the way you got there.
Certainly organic *is* a product differentiator, but it is one that comes with a cost to the producer, and is not simply marketing material (though certainly some people incur the cost to get up to certification standards based solely on the goal that they'll get a good return on that investment). Third party organizations must specifically certify that your product is different than conventional, so it's not like this is Joe company owner asserting "hey, my apples are rocksauce." They actually have to follow specific guidelines and be validated as following laws.
The point of organic has never been any attempt at making food taste better. It's pretty strictly an environmental thing. If you are concerned about specific chemicals frequently used as fertilizers, or antibiotics in food, or other similarly niche issues about what farmers are putting into soil and what you're putting into your body, then you may find that spending the premium that organic imposes is worthwhile. If you're aiming for superior taste, that's completely subjective and in no way guaranteed, and yes, not related to organic in any sense.


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Well, if she couldn't be a coddling mother to ONE,
why not try being a coddling mother to MANY!
The year? 1996. The zip? 77840. The outcome? What do you think?
Getting ready for the girls to move in. One more week of being alone and then 40 girls move in with me! Help!
My zip is 77840.
Acting Workshops
3 years ago


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BURLINGAME — It's been a season of dominance for the Woodside High School girls soccer team.
The Wildcats defeated Burlingame 2-0 on Thursday to remain unbeaten. Woodside (13-0-2, 8-0-1 Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division) has scored 47 goals and allowed only four in 15 matches.
"They've had a tremendous influx of young talent," Burlingame coach Philip De Rosa said. "They're loaded and young and going to be good for a while."
Of 22 players on the Woodside roster only three are seniors. Only one of those seniors starts. Sophomore Lauren Holland is the leading scorer on the season with nine goals and 13 assists.
"She may be our best all-around player," Woodside coach Jose Navarette said. "I'm sure that once she's done here she will play at the Division I level
Junior Erika Negrete scored Woodside's first goal Thursday off a breakaway in the eighth minute. It was Negrete's eighth goal of the season.
Speedy freshman Jillienne Aguilera scored in the second half to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. It was also the eighth goal of the season for Aguilera.
"She's very fast," Navarette said. "With her it's all about focus and finding a way to use her speed."
The defense that's only allowed four goals all season is anchored by junior sweeper Gianna Rosati, a talented player who has still found a way to score nine goals despite spending most of the game stationed in front of sophomore goalkeeper Sabrina Proctor.
"We've been able to play with three defenders because our ball handling has been so effective," Navarette said. "Rosati has been fantastic and so has Randall Stafford, who I moved from midfield."
Aragon 3, Carlmont 2: Alexa Smith scored two goals as Aragon (6-6-5, 2-2-5) pulled the upset over second-place Carlmont (10-3-2, 6-2-2). Jenny Winterbottom had two assists.
Boys basketball
Leland 50, Independence 45 (OT): Nate Rohrer scored 21 points and Wes Owen added 14 as Leland (15-6, 8-3) fought off an upset bid by visiting Independence in a BVAL Mount Hamilton Division game. Jeremy Ishimaru led Independence (6-15, 1-10) with 14 points.
Leigh 61, Santa Teresa 58: Kyle Morrison scored 18 points and Kimo Francisco had 15 for Leigh (16-5, 9-2). The Longhorns led 49-39 after three quarters and withstood a Santa Teresa rally.
Piedmont Hills 55, Oak Grove 29: J.J. Espanola, Eros Mendoza and Walter Bateast had 11 points apiece for Piedmont Hills (17-4, 9-2), which had a 34-10 lead at halftime.
Girls basketball
Westmont 48, Pioneer 34: Savannah Scott scored 26 points to pace Westmont (13-8, 6-5).
Santa Teresa 55, Leigh 43: Cassidy Sanders-Curry scored 14 and Alyssa Hirasawa had 12 for the Saints (14-7, 8-3).
Contact Glenn Reeves at 650-348-4345 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/GReeves23.


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Mystery Illness
It was the last football game of the season. We made a grand entrance on one of the city's fire trucks, and with a win it seemed like the perfect way to end out my eighth grade season. Then suddenly on the way home from the game I was hit with a sudden illness, and in one swift motion I flung the door of my mothers car open into a concrete pole and hurled all over the roadway. Being younger I wasn't so concerned about the fact that I threw up, but instead I was amazed that the swing of the door into the pole didn't even chip the paint. This small event was only the beginning of what turned out to be a long story.
A few weeks later my parents and I made a trip to New York City for fall break. I, never really being to a large city like that, was incredibly excited. Upon arriving in New York we dropped off our luggage at my aunts apartment, then made our way down towards Battery Park. This particular day I had no feelings of uneasiness, however, as the trip went on I grew ill. From the second day on I threw up every single morning and felt terrible the rest of the day. Finally my father stepped up and decided that he had had enough and that we needed to head home early in order to obtain a diagnosis for what ever was happening to me. We were all confused on what it was that could be causing my unpredictable bouts of sickness. I was vomiting every morning, and the only thing I would throw up would be clear phlegm.
I headed to my family doctor as soon as possible after our return, where I had multiple tests run. They ordered a cat scan for me for the next day at the hospital. Never having any kind of major illness up to that point, the idea of any kind of radiation infested scan seemed odd and intimidating. Yet, it was completely necessary. After receiving my exam I got a call from my doctor saying that I needed to go straight to Louisville, Kentucky to the hospital there because they were unable to treat me in my hometown. My whole family was caught up in a giant web of confusion. What could be wrong with me? Why did we have to go all the way to Louisville to get help? I didn't know what to think or what to expect. I was admitted that day to the hospital, and was a few days later confronted by my father with the news. I had to have surgery.
The next day the doctor came in to talk to me and prep me for surgery. Before they took me from my room my pastor came and prayed with us, then I was gone. All I can remember is getting sick from the first dose of anesthesiology and then no more. I woke up in the recovery room wrap up in a multitude of warm blankets. Soon I would be moved the intensive care unit where I would stay for what seemed like days on end. With no TV or real communication of any type due to a tube stuck down my throat to pump my stomach, I saw myself in a different world where I had no real perception of time, space, or even who was there or not there with me in my curtained off section of the unit.
I eventually got out of intensive care and moved to a room in the normal section of the hospital. Here I stayed for a week or so. My recovery was very quick after getting out of intensive care. However, I remember one night in particular when the doctors took me off of morphine. The pain I felt was unbearable. I called the nurse in multiple times to try to help me, but all they could do was give me some codeine and see if that helped. The pain that night was so bad that I had to sleep in a chair in an attempt to relieve it. Sadly that didn't do much either. Soon I would be leaving for home. It was perhaps one of the most exciting days of my life up to that point. I felt like I had been freed from some sort of prison where I had been waiting for so long, like Nelson Mandela. From then on for the next five years I would have to go to my doctor for regular check ups, which always included a cat scan. Sometimes these check ups even included a two, day four hour, scan that check for any sign of something going wrong with my body.
Up to this point I was unaware of what had actually happened or what had really been ailing my body. I didn't really think about it much, just went through the motions of my tests and check ups. However, soon I would find out the truth about what had led to such an extensive surgery and recovery. After one of my check ups, my father and I preceded to the hallway of the huge medical building that my doctor's office was located in. It was there that my father broke the news to me that I had actually had cancer. He told me everything. The cancer was what he called the "good" kind, and was slow growing. He also told me that it was a very rare form of cancer, and that not many children ever got it. He continued to tell me that the doctor had removed forty percent of my liver, and that the liver is the only organ that regenerates itself. He told me that we were lucky that it was slow growing and that it didn't do much harm and was easy to cure. All the tests, all the check ups they were searching for any possible remnants of that cancer. This really hit it home for me and allowed me to fully understand what had happened. I understood my journey, my parents stress, their emotions, and their mental suffering. I understood their love for me, and their generosity. My understanding was complete.
Looking back on this I see that I have learned many things because of it. I learned my mortality, and understood that I am not invincible. I learned to take more time for the things that matter most to me. I paid more attention to what is given to me and found a new definition for family and friendship. When thinking about the day I learned I had to have surgery and looking back on when I was taken in for preparation, all I can remember is being as calm ever just willing to let what would happen, happen. Perhaps I should try to be like that a little more now, after all I am a college student, and the last thing I need is extra stress.