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Product Information
Important Sizing Note: The following measurements are the dimensions of the actual product, not of the pet they fit. After measuring your pet, make sure all measurements fit within the following dimensions (with a little room to spare in the chest and neck).Size 9
This jacket has an adjustable fit and is great for deep chested dogs. Water resistant fabric and reflective trim are a great addition to this jacket.
My Boston is tall, lean and muscular because he runs on my farm with the heelers acting tough, until he freezes. Other coats haven't fit right...he's not a short fat Boston but this coat fits perfectly. I love the belly underwrap and the straps that come up over his back to snap. It's about 20 degrees in the morning and he no longer freezes when he goes outside. Ranch proof, rough dog proof and perfect if you have an active Boston! Best coat ever!
We ordered this jacket for our Great Dane. We use a harness to walk him and this jacket slips on over his head just the same way, so it was easy to get on him. It is big enough for a huge dog. We are excited for cold weather to get here so he can show it off!
The very first Winter Jacket/coat that I purchased for my dog was this one in RED from Baxterboo and now have the BLUE for him. It's fantastic, very lightweight and non-restricting yet VERY warm, without boy over heating. It's made very well, washes easy and line dries in 5 mins. He has a Beautiful thick white double coat but as a Senior he needs his vital organs protected just as any dog and this does the trick. I can use his Hurtta padded collar or harness over it.
He absolutely loves it and runs to me when I remove it from it's hanger. He has at least 20 coats and this is my favorate. On freezing days you can always put a sweater under it if your pup doesn't have a double coat. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SUPERB COAT
This jacket was on special for $25.00 marked down from $95.00. I love it and so does my dog. It is warm and covers him perfectly. I got him a size too big but I am going to keep because on these freezing Chicago winters this jacket will keep him extra warm . I would have paid $200.00 for it. Quality jacket!
Jacket is exactly as described. Fits beautifully, is adjustable for a perfect fit! A very high quality item.
Nice jacket. Recommend. Especially like the clasp with the lock.
Nice warm coat that doesn't restrict movement. Got it for my senior boy and I am sure it will keep him snug and comfortable through the winter's snow and cold.
I like the fact that this coat keeps the chest cleaner and is so easy to use.
Yes I am excited to review this! This was the first coat that we have ever found that is actually roomy and fits! My mastiff puppy is currently 190 pounds with a 28 inch neck, his coat has alot of growing room left and actually covers his rump! It stays on well and does not slip to the side and I like the full chest coverage and the way it closes. The weather in my state is currently -33F with windchills around -50F below zero, he was half froze when he went out for potty time but with the coat (which is made so males can easily urinate without getting any urine on the coat itself) he can go out, do his necessary business and still stay warm enough to play for a few minutes! this coat should still fit him when he is full grown, I am very pleased.

subset: commoncrawl


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2nd wave brings freezing rain, snow to eastern SD
SIOUX FALLS (AP) -- A second wave of freezing rain and snow is getting ready to move through eastern South Dakota, prompting officials to tell residents to stay home and stay off the roads.
Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether says residents need to hunker down, as the storm is going to last a while.
National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Heitkamp says another quarter inch of rain is expected in Sioux Falls, followed by winds gusting to 30-40 miles per hour and 4 to 7 inches of snow in Sioux Falls after midnight.
As much as 10 to 16 inches of snow is expected north and west of the city.
An early spring storm walloped South Dakota early Tuesday, downing large tree limbs and cutting power to thousands of homes and businesses.


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California is putting restrictions on citrus fruit and plants in Tulare County after two recent detections of Asian citrus psyllid.
The measure stops short of a full quarantine, but if another psyllid is found — it would be the fourth detection — that will trigger a two-year quarantine. The current restrictions will be in place for six months.
"It's shorter in duration than a quarantine and encompasses a smaller area," said Steve Lyle, spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. "It could be removed in six months if we don't find additional psyllids."
Growers affected by the interim measure must follow the same practices. Fruit can leave the area, but only after removal of leaves and stems. Nursery stock cannot leave the zones unless grown in pest-resistant structures. The limits typically prove more costly to nurseries than growers.
The two restricted areas in Tulare County each consist of a 5-mile radius around find sites in the Strathmore and Terra Bella areas. A 20-mile radius was weighed in earlier discussions.
The psyllids, which can carry citrus greening disease, were collected in traps there in October and November, respectively. Another trapping dates to December 2011.
"The question is whether the three psyllids detected in Tulare County are evidence of an established population or just some hitchhikers from counties that already have the psyllid," Lyle said Dec. 4.
The affected area is about 163 square miles. A map can be downloaded.
CDFA also recommended that commercial growers — anyone with 25-plus trees per acre — treat groves before harvest, an eradication effort backed by Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual.
The goal is to stop development of a breeding population within the 200,000-acre San Joaquin Valley industry. Unlike recent Southern California finds, the psyllids in Tulare County were in an area of dense commercial plantings.
"We believe the 5-mile eradication target coupled with a strong recommendation for producers to spray within 800 meters of a detection is the appropriate mandate," Joel Nelsen, president of the trade group, said in a news release. "The previously suggested 20-mile zone would exacerbate the spread of (the psyllid) in the opinion of the industry and eradication should be the goal, not control and not suppression."
"The burden is on the industry," Nelsen said in the release. "As long as producers cooperate in the eradication effort, CDFA will uphold their role in the partnership."
Citrus greening disease — or HLB — has not been found in Tulare County. Psyllid findings are common in California, but only one case of HLB has been identified, in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County.
Traps will be checked throughout the six months of restrictions.
"If we find more we'll move to a quarantine," Lyle said.
CDFA is working with Kinoshita's office and the USDA.
A Dec. 11 meeting in Tulare, Calif., will address the measures and answer questions. The meeting is set for 9 a.m. to noon at the International Agri-Center, in the Heritage Complex Auditorium on Laspina Street.
Speakers include Ted Batkin, president of the Citrus Research Board, and Marilyn Kinoshita, Tulare County agricultural commissioner. Information is available at 559-738-0246 or info@citrusresearch.


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Wong Tack mulls GE13 candidacy
Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tack has confirmed that various NGOs have proposed for him to stand as a candidate during the next general election.
For the rest of this story and more, subscribe for only RM150 a year (full news access)
or RM420 a year (full news + full archive access). If you're already a subscriber, please sign in.


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Lorely Burt, MP for Solihull, defeated Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso by a margin of 32 to 27 in the final ballot.
St Ives MP Andrew George came third in an earlier vote.
The post of chairman became vacant after Paul Holmes resigned earlier in this year when he became the party's housing spokesman.
'Job to do'
Ms Burt said: "I am absolutely thrilled to have been elected after a close contest.
"The party has a job to do: to bring Liberal Democrat policies to the forefront of British politics. In a small way I hope to be able to contribute to that."
Party president Simon Hughes said: "Lorely deserves hearty congratulations.
"She has already shown she is a popular colleague in and beyond the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons, and she will have the support and encouragement of all other Liberal Democrat MPs."
Ms Burt's election comes as the Lib Dems are choosing a leader to replace Sir Menzies Campbell, who resigned last week.
The only two declared candidates so far are home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg and environment spokesman Chris Huhne.
What are these?
Most Popular Now | 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now.";


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On Wednesday 14 October, Money Box Live with Paul Lewis was broadcast live from the Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow.
It was part of the BBC's Money Matters Roadshow - an event where teams of financial experts were on hand to offer advice.
See behind the scenes with our
photo gallery.
Paul Lewis and his guests took your questions on savings, investments and pension planning, in front of a live audience.
Topics up for discussion included:
Just how can you get a good rate of return for your money with interest rates so low?
How will the fluctuations on the financial markets affect your pension pot?
The expert panel:
Graham Hooper of Bestinvest
Jackie Coyne, MacDonald Reid Scott Financial Services
John Douglas, Finesco Financial Services
Other BBC programmes broadcasting at the centre included BBC Radio 4's You and Yours, BBC2's Working Lunch, and Reporting Scotland.
Presenter Paul Lewis Producer: Lesley McAlpine
What are these?
Download or subscribe to this programme's podcast
Most Popular Now | 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now.";


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Report: Twitter Valued At Around $4B, Again
JP Morgan is pursuing a 10 percent stake in Twitter that would value the microblogging site at close to $4.5 billion, according to the New York Times.
If true, the Wall Street bank's valuation of Twitter is roughly the same as another firm's bid for Twitter shares in January. Felix Investments, a private equity firm, was reportedly trying to sell shares that valued Twitter at $4.1 billion.
The vehicle being used is JP Morgan's Digital Growth Fund launched last week, according to a regulatory filing sparsed by the Wall Street Journal. The fund had raised $1.22 billion to invest in dot-com companies.
The Times article suggests that JP Morgan could be using Twitter to give its new fund the same panache as Goldman Sach's own dot-com fund, which in January raised $1.5 billion to invest in Facebook at a valuation of $50 billion. The Guardian reports that JP Morgan's fund is also eyeing a stake in Zynga, the creator of FarmVille and CityVille Facebook apps.
JP Morgan declined to comment.
In recent weeks Twitter has clamped down on popular third-party apps Ubertwitter, Twydroid, and TwapperKeeper for violating its terms of service.


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A Virgin Australia passenger aircraft bound for Los Angeles was forced to divert to Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon following a security threat which is understood to have been a hoax.
The Boeing 777, which had departed from Sydney at about 11am, dumped fuel before it landed at Brisbane Airport in the late afternoon.
The plane has since been checked by police and is due to depart Brisbane for LA at 10pm (Brisbane time).
A Virgin spokeswoman said all passengers and crew on VA1 had safely disembarked the twin-aisle plane
"A full search of the aircraft has been conducted by the AFP, and the AFP has confirmed the travelling public and aircraft have been cleared of any potential danger." she said.
"The safety of our guests and team members is always our highest priority."


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It's $10 Tuesday
It's the 3rd Tuesday already and that means it's $10 Tuesday. We are hoping that 100 of our JARM friends will donate $10 by going to our website at www.jarmission.org and donate through Paypal. Last month, with your help, we raised $354. While you are there , browse our new website, take a look at our adoptable animals and read our just published fall edition of the JARM Journal, full of information, our fall calendar of events and an update of what's happening. As alway, we sincerely appreciate your support.


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Tobramycin Inhalation Solution Administered by eFlow Rapid Nebulizer: Scintigraphy Study
This study has been completed.
Information provided by:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: November 14, 2006
Last updated: May 4, 2007
Last verified: May 2007
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
This study assesses the aerosol delivery characteristics (measured by in vivo lung deposition, nebulization time, serum tobramycin concentrations, and pharmacokinetic parameters) and safety of tobramycin inhalation solution administered for inhalation by PARI eFlow rapid electronic nebulizer (no compressor) vs. PARI LC PLUS Jet Nebulizer (with compressor) in healthy subjects and in subjects with cystic fibrosis.
|Cystic Fibrosis
|Drug: Tobramycin
|Phase 1
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|A Phase 1, Single-Dose, Open-Label, Two-Way Crossover, Pharmacoscintigraphy Study of Aerosol Delivery Characteristics (Measured by In Vivo Lung Deposition, Nebulization Time, Serum Tobramycin Concentrations, and Pharmacokinetic Parameters) and Safety of Tobramycin Administered for Inhalation by PARI eFlow® Rapid Electronic Nebulizer (No Compressor) vs. PARI LC PLUS (TM) Jet Nebulizer (With Compressor) in Healthy Subjects and in Subjects With Cystic Fibrosis
Resource links provided by NLM:
Genetics Home Reference related topics: cystic fibrosis
MedlinePlus related topics: Cystic Fibrosis
Drug Information available for: Tobramycin Tobramycin sulfateU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Novartis:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Lung deposition of tobramycin when inhaled using either PARI LC PLUS jet nebulizer or PARI eFlow rapid Electronic Nebulizer
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Nebulisation time for inhaling tobramycin using PARI LC PLUS jet nebulizer or PARI eFlow rapid Electronic Nebulizer
- Correlation between tobramycin deposition and serum tobramycin concentrations and pharmacokinetics
- Safety of tobramycin when inhaled using either PARI LC PLUS jet nebulizer or PARI eFlow rapid Electronic Nebulizer
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|May 2006
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 65 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
All subjects:
- Provide written informed consent prior to the performance of any study-related procedures.
- Be 18 to 65 years of age at screening.
- Weigh within ± 25% of the ideal using the body mass index method.
- Able to comply with all protocol requirements.
Healthy Subjects:
- Be healthy males or non-pregnant, non-breast-feeding healthy females.
- Have an forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of at least 80% of predicted or greater based on age, sex, height, and race based on European Community for Steel and Coal (ECSC) equations
Subjects with Cystic Fibrosis:
- Be chronically colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa .
- Have a diagnosis of CF by documented sweat chloride of 60 mEq/L or greater by quantitative pilocarpine iontophoresis test (QPIT) and/or genotype with two identifiable mutations consistent with CF, accompanied by one or more clinical features consistent with CF.
- Have an FEV1 of 25% or more of the predicted value, calculated using ECSC equations based on age, sex, height, and race.
- Able to tolerate a 1-week washout interval with no inhaled tobramycin or other aminoglycoside treatment.
- Be clinically stable in the opinion of the referring investigator at the CF unit.
Exclusion Criteria:
All subjects:
- Participation in a clinical research study within the previous 1 month.
- History of alcohol or drug abuse.
- Positive result for drugs of abuse.
- Regular alcohol consumption in males and females of more than 21 units and 14 units per week, respectively
- Known hypersensitivity to salbutamol.
- Current smoker or smoked within the last 12 months.
- Breath carbon monoxide reading of greater than 10 ppm either at the prestudy medical examination or on a study day prior to dosing.
- Females of childbearing potential, who are pregnant who plan to become pregnant during the course of the study, who are breast feeding, or who are sexually active and either not using a reliable form of contraception or not surgically sterile.
- Clinically significant abnormal biochemistry, hematology, or urinalysis.
- Positive hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) results.
- Treatment with any investigational drug within 1 month before screening.
- Treatment with loop diuretics within 7 days before study drug administration.
- Serum creatinine or blood urea above the upper limit of normal for sex and age, or an abnormal urine analysis defined as 2+ or greater proteinuria.
- Known local or systemic hypersensitivity to aminoglycosides.
Healthy Subjects:
- Screening FEV1 less than 80% of the predicted value for sex, age, height, and race using ECSC equations
- History of chronic respiratory disorders, including asthma.
- Treatment with tobramycin or other aminoglycosides within 1 week prior to the study.
- History of adverse reaction or allergy to tobramycin or other aminoglycosides.
- History of infantile bronchiolitis or a history or the presence of asthma or wheezy respiration.
- Upper respiratory tract infection (excluding otitis media) within 14 days of the first study day or lower respiratory tract infection within the last 3 months.
- Treatment with any medication that may affect the respiratory tract within 1 week of the first study day and throughout the study (oral contraceptives, Hormone Replacement Therapy [HRT], and paracetamol are permitted);
- Failure to satisfy the Principal Investigator regarding fitness to participate for any other reason.
- Donation of blood within the previous 3 months.
- Treatment with diuretics or history of renal failure.
- Radiation exposure from clinical trials. No subject whose occupational exposure is monitored is eligible to participate in the study.
Subjects with Cystic Fibrosis:
- Screening FEV1 less than 25% of the predicted value for sex, age, height, and race using ECSC equations
- Treatment with inhaled or intravenous aminoglycosides within 7 days before study drug administration.
- Current treatment with inhaled tobramycin delivered by the PARI LC PLUS jet nebulizer who do not have a washout period of at least 1 week before entering the study.
- Hemoptysis more than 60 mL at any time within 30 days before study drug administration.
Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00399945
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00399945
|United Kingdom
|Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom
Sponsors and Collaborators
|Study Director:
More Information
Keywords provided by Novartis:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on August 21, 2017
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00399945 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|November 14, 2006
|Last Updated:
|May 4, 2007
Keywords provided by Novartis:
Cystic fibrosis, tobramycin, PARI eFlow, PARI LC Plus, nebulizer, pharmacoscintigraphy
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Cystic Fibrosis
Pathologic Processes
Pancreatic Diseases
Digestive System Diseases
Lung Diseases
Respiratory Tract Diseases
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
Infant, Newborn, Diseases
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on August 21, 2017


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There's nothing better than having dessert for breakfast, especially if it reminds you of Apple Pie.
First lets make the Cooked Apple, you will need:
- 1 medium apple diced (your choice if you peel it or not)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 packet sweetener of choice
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp of water
While your apple is cooking we can start the oatmeal base, what you will need:
- 1/2 cup of quick oats
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (unsweetened cashew milk work as well but other milk could alter the SmartPoints value)
- half a mashed banana
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- half of the Cooked Apples (set the other half aside to top your baked oatmeal with)
Place the quick oats, unsweetened almond milk, mashed banana and ground cinnamon into a bowl and mix well. Add in half of your Cooked Apple once it's done and mix the oatmeal mixture and apple together. Spray your baking dish with cooking spray of choice and pour the mixture in.
Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated oven set at 380°F.
Once your oatmeal is done, take it out of the oven and top with the remaining Cooked Apple.
**This recipe can also be made into muffins by placing the mixture into a muffin tin. You should be able to get 3 muffins out of this recipe


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After laying groundwork for over 2 years, OpenChurch.com has now officially launched!
We've already added free training materials by Granger Community Church including a Communications Manual, Guest Services Manual, and a Performing Arts Volunteer Orientation Packet.
We'll be adding free church graphics by an assortment of contributors in the weeks to come and hopefully more training materials, curriculum, and ebooks in the months to come.
Why did it take so long to launch?
Everything took much longer than expected, but God refined us in the process. We wanted to launch in 2011 but didn't until 2013. These are the lessons learned.
- We had terrific advisors and made the mistake of focusing on their advice more than God's voice. There is certainly a time and place for man's pragmatism and expertise, but without God and his timing, man's strength is futile.
- We planned to launch large and hit the ground running. To reference Proverbs 24:27, we built the barn before planting for the harvest. Part of this was a sense of noble urgency to resource the Kingdom. Part of it was overconfidence (I was unaware of this). Part of it was pride in wanting something that impressed man, won their approval, and made me look good (I was in denial of this).
- We were overconfident about fundraising. We said, "Look at our rolodex! Look at our advisors!", and then nothing happened. Instead we had to self-fund over 90% of the first 2 years with funds that God providentially provided. Three times God has rescued us and providentially met our needs.
- We were overconfident about web development. We said, "We've built social networks! We've sold startups!", but after 6 months of development, the original site was unusable for our needs. The day after our developer left, a new premium WordPress theme was released for $59 that pioneered new features that we could rework to meet our basic needs.
- We were humbled.
- We learned how to better hear God's voice.
- We learned to give God the credit for all things good.
- We learned how to trust God and His sovereign providence.
- We learned that obedience is more important than looking good.
- We retooled our logistics to cut costs by 72% and streamline our process.
- I simplified my family's lifestyle in order to be more agile for the Kingdom.
Your support is still appreciated.
If God continues to bless it, the ad revenue from Church Relevance should be enough in 2013 to cover my living expenses so that I can focus full-time on Open Church. However, we still have hosting and operating expenses as well as long-term goals. This is made possible by generous donations from people like you.
Moving forward.
We still plan to build out a large network of volunteers and follow our initial blueprint. With our new, leaner operating model, it will take much longer to develop these long-term goals. A larger operating budget definitely makes it easier to scale to these goals, but right now we are focusing are being obedient in the small things. Small but swift steps lead to momentum.
In these early stages, we're going to prioritize downloadable resources over articles since free resources are more scarce than ideas in God's Kingdom.
Prayers are appreciated.


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I bought the Kodak w1020 Digital Frame so I could access photos from my computer's hard drive, but I can't get it to access my photos over wireless. It has picked up the signal from the wireless router and lists my computer as a device, but no photos show up. The frame itself asks me to press "allow" on the computer to grant access, but I'm not sure where I am supposed to do this. I have hit "allow" everywhere Norton 360 will let me.
The troubleshooter tells me that the Norton firewall may be blocking access, but it says the same thing even when I turn Norton off.
Any ideas? Thanks!
You should find the photo over wireless and you have to make sure if you had setup the device correctly by following the manual. If it still shows the same problem, then something is wrong with your Kodak Digital Photo Frame. Contact the Kodak Technical support to get help or simply return the product to another one.
if I were you I would contact Kodak and ask them about it, most likely they've encountered this problem and will have a fix for you


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That looks familiar!
When Pippa Middleton stepped out for her big sis' royal wedding style experts experienced a fashion flashback. That's because the 27-year-old's ivory Alexander McQueen dress looked almost identical to the one Cameron Diaz wore to the Golden Globes (also by McQueen, but in red).
No word if the maid of honor was inspired by the A-list star's red carpet look, but one thing is certain: with her stunning figure and huge smile, the younger Middleton, who was named the No. 1 Society Singleton by Tatler in 2008, received almost as much attention Friday morning as the bride.
While tradition dictates that guests should never wear white to a wedding, she did just that in her form-fitting cowl-neck dress, which was accented with small silk-covered buttons in the back.
Commemorate Will & Kate's big day with our Us Collectors Edition: Royal Wedding with all the photos, anecdotes and details of the wedding. Available for pre-order now and on sale May 6.


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SCAI Imaging Center
Can an overnight stay at the hospital be considered "outpatient" under the Medicare system? What impact does status have on payment rates to the facility and to the physician, and how does status impact patient co-payment?
The simple answer to your question is yes, a Medicare patient can remain overnight in the hospital and still be considered an "outpatient." The reason for this contradiction occurs because Medicare differentiates among three types of status:
The status assigned to a patient does not impact Medicare's reimbursement to the physician, but it can have a significant impact on payment to the facility and on how much the patient is charged for copayment. Here are few guidelines that clarify status assignments:
How CMS Defines Status
For a patient to qualify for inpatient status, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) instructs:
"Review of the medical record must indicate that inpatient hospital care was medically necessary, reasonable, and appropriate for the diagnosis and condition of the beneficiary at any time during the stay. The beneficiary must demonstrate signs and/or symptoms severe enough to warrant the need for medical care and must receive services of such intensity that they can be furnished safely and effectively only on an inpatient basis." [Medicare Program Integrity Manual; Chapter 6.5.2].
CMS defines observation status as follows:
"Observation care is a well-defined set of specific, clinically appropriate services, which include ongoing short-term treatment, assessment, and reassessment before a decision can be made regarding whether patients will require further treatment as hospital inpatients or if they are able to be discharged from the hospital….the purpose of observation is to determine the need for further treatment or for inpatient admission. Thus, a patient receiving observation services may improve and be released or be admitted as an inpatient."
"Observation care is a well-defined set of specific, clinically appropriate services, which include ongoing short-term treatment, assessment, and reassessment before a decision can be made regarding whether patients will require further treatment as hospital inpatients or if they are able to be discharged from the hospital….the purpose of observation is to determine the need for further treatment or for inpatient admission. Thus, a patient receiving observation services may improve and be released or be admitted as an inpatient."
Observation status cannot be determined retroactively. If it is not ordered initially and clearly documented in the patient medical record, then the facility and provider will not be able to bill for these services.
Why does status impact payment to facilities but not to physicians? Because physician work is the same whether the patient is classified as outpatient or inpatient. In contrast, the resources used by the facility are significantly different for outpatient vs. inpatient. Physician services and facility outpatient services are paid under Medicare Part B, whereas facility inpatient services are paid under Medicare Part A. Facility observation services are also paid under Medicare Part B unless the patient subsequently qualifies for and is admitted as an inpatient.
The difference in payment between the Medicare Part A Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and the Part B Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) can vary significantly. The IPPS pays the facility based on Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRGs). The HOPPS pays the facility based on Ambulatory Procedure Classifications (APCs). As Tables 1 and 2 indicate, coronary stent placement services qualifying for inpatient status are reimbursed between $10,047 and $17,759, whereas these services are paid only $5656– $7279 when classified as outpatient.
By focusing on the difference in facility costs for outpatient vs. inpatient status, it becomes clear that, when outpatient facility costs exceed $5,660, the patient typically pays more for outpatient services than he or she would for inpatient services.
For More Information
Medicare has crafted educational materials to assist providers and their facilities in determining the appropriate patient status. For guidance on hospital inpatient admission decisions, go to http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/ Downloads/SE1037.pdf. For guidance on outpatient observation services, see section 20.6 at http://www.cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/bp102c06.pdf.
Please note: SCAI is committed to making every reasonable effort to provide accurate information regarding the use of CPT®, and the rules and regulations set forth by CMS for the Medicare program. However, this information is subject to change by CMS and does not dictate coverage and reimbursement policy as determined by local Medicare contractors or any other payor. SCAI assumes no liability, legal, financial, or otherwise, for physicians or other entities who utilize this information in a manner inconsistent with the policies of any payors or Medicare carriers with which the physician or other entity has a contractual obligation. CPT codes and their descriptors are copyright 2010 by the American Medical Association.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Foundation, 1100 17th Street NW, Suite 330, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202.741.9854 | Toll Free: 800.992.7224 | Fax: 800.863.5202 | Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Great Value on a First Class Modern Large Cruise Ship: Celebrity Solstice Cruise Review by ravencruiser35
Overall Member Rating
Great Value on a First Class Modern Large Cruise Ship
Destination: Eastern Caribbean
Embarkation: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
While Aqua Class did allow access to the spa services without the daily charge it was extremely difficult to gain access to the Persian Garden. The Persian Garden is basically a room with 7 tiled and heated lounge chairs along with a steam room and sauna room located on either side. While my finance and I were able to get into the room, our friends traveling with us were unable to access this room as it was usually full. The spa check-in area managed the number of people in the More Persian Garden at any one time and would tell passengers wanting to enter that the would have to come back later if full. After our friends made numerous attempts to secure admittance, they were always denied access and told it was full. Crew working the Spa check-in did not want to create a waiting list even if if you were willing to stay close buy to the desk. They should have also monitored what was going on in the room as it appeared to be a common practice for people to let their friends/family in once they had procured entrance. In summary it was just poorly managed by the Spa crew. The spa treatments themselves were excellent but there were apparently too few nail polish colors to choose from with a manicure.
The main reason to choose Aqua Class is to gain access to BLU. This was a quiet, relatively small dining area next to the other specialty restaurants that served good food in reasonable portions(without rich fattening sauces). We did migrate to the Murano one night for a special occasion but that was a fiasco. Our waiter questioned everyone on why they chose how to have their lobster prepared (broiled or steamed or thermidor)and was overall annoying. The food and service were fair and definitely not worth the additional money. Back to BLU... the service from the maitre'd to the server (Mildred) and her assistant was first class. There was one evening when we sat at a table for 6 in the front of the room (there are only two round tables of 6)where the service was poor. It was night and day compared to the service at the round table of 6 in the back of BLU. Two people at our table ordered Margarita specials and the server (who took the order) brought one frozen and one not frozen. In addition, an assistant brought an entree to the table and asked if anyone had ordered the dish. We said we did not, but he would wander around and actually came back and asked us two other times whether we had order the dish.
Food outside of BLU at the Oceanview Cafe was fair while the pre embarkation lunch we had at Bistro on Five was quite good. It was definitely worth the $5 charge. The fast food at the pool grill was above average. We did order room service appetizers in the evening which were excellent.
With regard to the Sommelier, after we had broke a pattern of ordering multiple bottles each evening by ordering just a glass or two for the table she seemed to become annoyed and her demeanor changed drastically. Overall wines were very reasonably priced.
Service at all of the bars was good, but there were few crew members taking drink orders from passengers around the pools. The pool chairs do fill up early but the crew were removing passenger belongings that would be placed in chairs to "reserve" for extended periods of time.
The wine bar Cellar Masters was very cozy and nice place to try various wines from all over the world. The bar hosts a very good wine tasting with a red and white selection from 6 different countries along with appetizers. It is reasonably priced and lasts one hour.
While the average age on the ship was in mid-50's it would have been nice to hear some music from the 80's and 90's along with the 50's and 60's. This music would be repeated all day long with no variety. Entertainment on the ship outside of the Cirque to Soleil show and a very talented "Piano Man" named Will Foraker was not that great. The comedy show was a repeat each night. There should have been different performances during the week. The nightclub Quasar was a ghost town almost every night.
The ship is very well laid out and easy to navigate about. There was little motion on the ship, even with a 40 mph headwind one night that was kicking up the seas.
The Aqua Class cabins on the Penthouse deck were also well designed with great bathrooms for a space with less than 200 SF space and a decent size balcony. (All of the ship's non suite baths have a shower with a curved door and the Aqua Class cabins have showers with upgraded shower heads.) The cabin attendants took down the barriers between our cabin and the cabins of the two other couples traveling with us which made the space very roomy and a great place to have cocktails and appetizers before dinner.
A caution about the Aqua Class cabin balcony locations....unless you want a balcony with an extended overhang from the Resort Deck above with obtrusive poles blocking you vision and creating an effect that you are in a cave, book a cabin forward of the the forward elevator lobby where there is no overhang. We realized this when we booked our trip after reviewing the outside of the ship on Youtube. Youtube also provides some very good views on the Solstice's cabins. These forward Aqua Class cabins also provide quick access to the pool areas and spa as they are just one deck up.
With Aqua Class you receive Evian water each day. We had asked our cabin attendant to make sure there was always a couple bottles at all times (bottles were relatively small). He generally was able to meet this request but some days he did not. When their supervisor had asked us if everything was to our satisfaction we said we would like to always have some water bottles in the cabin. The supervisor indicated that he knew our attendant was bringing more than two bottles a day and that he was not supposed to be doing this. This came across as rather unprofessional as we were made to feel that were were asking our attendant to do something that was against the rules. The cruise line stresses that in the spa class that you receive bottled water but it is not clearly disclosed that the amount you receive is limited. Asking for four or even six of these bottles a day for two passengers was not really excessive and should not be an issue. Both cabin attendants were very attentive and strived to please all of their passengers.
Overall the Solstice is a very well designed ship and the Aqua Class cabins are a very good value given their ship location and access to the restaurant BLU. If you are looking for a less hectic cruise on a larger recently commissioned ship with excellent staterooms and good food choices Solstice is your ship. If you want a superior dining experience select an Aqua Class cabin. Less
Published 03/19/10
Cabin review: A21533 AquaClass
Aqua Class 1533- Great Location , no excessive overhang over balocny, upgraded shower, bed is closer to balcony and provides close access to pools and spa.Read All AquaClass (A2) Reviews >>
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FISHERMAN Harry May says he is "humbled and delighted" to be receiving a top national honour for his bravery in trying to save a young disabled woman after her wheelchair plunged into the sea.
Clair Perkins, 20, drowned despite desperate attempts to save her after her wheelchair rolled into the sea off the Cobb in Lyme Regis last October.
Now Mr May and South West Air Ambulance paramedic Nigel Lang are to receive Royal Humane Society testimonials on vellum after their names were put forward by West Dorset coroner Michael Johnston.
He nominated them after the inquest into Clair's death heard how the men repeatedly dived down into the icy water in a bid to release her from her chair.
Mr May said although he was honoured to be nominated for the award, nothing could diminish the tragedy surrounding the death of Clair, from Solihull, who suffered from a debilitating neurological disease.
He added that her parents, Mark and Paula, had sponsored a candle to remember Clair at the recent Candles on the Cobb ceremony and he had sent them a photograph of it being lit.
In addition to the awards, the pair also won the personal praise of Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the Royal Humane Society.
Speaking at the Society's London headquarters as he announced the awards he said: "What happened was truly horrific.
"But Mr May, Mr Lang and Clair's father all went in the water to try and rescue her.
"Her father had to leave the water because of the cold.
"However, Mr Lang and Mr May braved the bitter cold in their fight to save Clair.
"They richly deserve the awards they are to receive."
Clair was airlifted to Dorset County Hospital where the resuscitation team managed to restore her breathing but sadly she never recovered consciousness and died later that day.
Mr Wilkinson added: "Everything that could have been done was done to try and save her."


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Multidisciplinary Management of Pediatric Soft-Tissue Sarcoma
Multidisciplinary Management of Pediatric Soft-Tissue Sarcoma
The article by Drs. Neville, Raney, and Andrassy is a well-written and informative review of salient issues in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas. Not surprisingly, given the senior authors acknowledged expertise in the field of surgical management of pediatric tumors, the article is heavily weighted toward the surgical perspective, and consequently, offers only a superficial treatment of the role of radiation therapy in the local control of these tumors.
Each year in the United States, approximately 350 children and adolescents are diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, and a slightly greater number are diagnosed with tumors that are collectively referred to as nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcomas.[1] Over the past 3 decades, largely as a result of the lessons learned from the sequential, multi-institution Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Studies (IRS), a consensus, risk-based treatment approach has been developed.[2-5]
Unfortunately, due to the relative rarity of this disease, there have been few prospective, cooperative-group trials in children with nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcomas. Their management is, therefore, to a much greater degree, based upon extrapolation from the approach to the adult patient.
Initial Work-up
Virtually all patients with rhabdomyosarcoma will have micrometastatic disease at diagnosis. Thus, local measures almost never constitute adequate therapy. The initial work-up must define both the local extent of the primary tumor, as well as document all sites of radiographically detectable regional nodal and/or distant metastatic disease.
In addition to the staging studies described by Neville et al, all patients should undergo bilateral bone marrow aspirates and biopsies, and patients with parameningeal primary tumors should have a lumbar puncture performed for cytologic evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid. It is imperative that adequate imaging studies (computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging) of the primary site be performed before the initial diagnostic biopsy.
Given the locations at which these tumors present, the relatively young age of patients who get these tumors, and their uniform degree of chemosensitivity, only a small minority of patients will have tumors for which an initial attempt at complete surgical resection is warranted. The guiding principles of the initial biopsy should, therefore, be (1) to place the biopsy incision in a fashion that will not compromise subsequent attempts at complete surgical resection; (2) to obtain enough tissue to submit for routine processing, as well as for freezing for subsequent molecular genetic analyses (generally not possible with fine-needle aspiration); and (3) to avoid functionally and cosmetically impairing procedures.
The role of lymphatic mapping with sentinel node biopsy is far from clear; the authors enthusiasm for this procedure notwithstanding, its utility in the surgical staging of rhabdomyosarcoma remains, at best, unclear.[6] Although IRS V encourages the evaluation of this approach in the surgical staging of appropriate patients, it should be combined withrather than replacethe age- and site-specific recommendations for lymph node dissection that constitute the gold standard for defining the extent of nodal disease.
Identification of Subtype
Once the histologic diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma has been confirmed, it is critical that the subtype be accurately determined. Although the authors were correct to state that alveolar subhistology was not identified as an independent, adverse prognostic factor in patients with extremity tumors treated in IRS IV, the overwhelming body of literature supports the view that alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas behave more aggressively and have a worse prognosis than embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas.[7,8]
More than 80% of patients with alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas will have a characteristic translocation between the long arm of chromosome 2 and the long arm of chromosome 13referred to in shorthand notation as t(2;13)(q35;q14).[9,10] This translocation juxtaposes the PAX3 gene (or, rarely, the PAX7 gene located at chromosome 1p36), believed to regulate transcription during early neuromuscular development, and the FKHR gene (a member of the forkhead family of transcription factors). Presumably, this oncogenic fusion transcription factor then abnormally activates the transcription of one or more genes that contribute to the transformed phenotype.
Although the precise consequence of this tumor-specific translocation remains to be elucidated, cDNA microarray analyses have shown that the PAX-FKHR fusion expressed in fibroblasts specifically turns on an array of myogenic factors. Every effort should be made to submit fresh, frozen tumor material for polymerase chain reaction testing to precisely confirm a diagnosis of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. This is particularly important in light of data suggesting that patients with the variant PAX7-FKHR translocation may have a more favorable prognosis than patients with the more common t(2;13).[11,12]
Chemotherapy Treatment Guidelines
As summarized by the authors, for any given stage and group tumor classification, current chemotherapy treatment guidelines differ significantly based upon histologic subtype. Given the failure of IRS IV to improve outcome among patients with unresectable stage II or III embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, as well as patients with alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas, our current treatment strategy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) for this high-risk group of patients combines the following measures: As both window and subsequent maintenance therapy, irinotecan (Camptosar)which, unlike topotecan (Hycamtin), appears to have extremely promising activity in patients with relapsed rhabdomyosarcomais added to a more intensive, high-dose alkylator and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy backbone. Concurrently, we incorporate the more aggressive use of second-look surgery and novel radiation techniques (see below). Following a period of 9 to 12 weeks of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (during which time, prompt and dramatic tumor regression is the norm), local control measures need to be initiated.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is an important component of the multidisciplinary management of pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas. Unfortunately, the article by Neville and colleagues provides inadequate, and in some cases, inaccurate information about the role of radiation therapy.
According to the current standard of care for rhabdomyosarcoma, as defined by the IRS Group, the need for radiation therapy depends upon the clinical group assigned prior to the initiation of chemotherapy. Patients who have a complete resection up front with negative surgical margins (group I) do not require radiotherapy unless they have alveolar or undifferentiated histologic subtypes.[13] In general, patients with lymph node involvement, microscopically positive margins (group II), or gross disease (group III) before chemotherapy, will require radiotherapy, regardless of their response to chemotherapy and/or subsequent surgery.[14]
The recommended radiation dose varies according to specific clinical details. IRS V is currently investigating dose reductions for some groups of patients. Radiation therapy is also necessary for involved lymph node regions and sites of distant metastases.
Ewings Sarcoma/PNET
In this article, extraosseous Ewings sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is included with other nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcomas. This entity deserves separate consideration since its biology, natural history, and treatment options differ significantly from the other sarcomas.
As in rhabdomyosarcoma, systemic chemotherapy is the backbone of therapy for Ewings sarcoma. This tumor is also very radioresponsive, and thus, should be managed with definitive radiotherapy for local control when surgery would result in loss of form or function. Conversely, outside of a clinical trial, there is no proven role for the use of systemic chemotherapy in the other pediatric nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcomas, except in patients who present with either unresectable or metastatic disease.
Most of our understanding of the role of radiation therapy for nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcomas is derived from trials conducted in adult patients. A landmark study by the National Cancer Institute prospectively randomized patients to receive or not receive adjuvant radiation therapy following complete resection of extremity sarcomas.[15] Local control was significantly improved for those patients who were treated with radiotherapy.
Similarly, a prospective, randomized trial of adjuvant brachytherapy for soft-tissue sarcomas was conducted at MSKCC.[16] Patients with high-grade tumors who were treated with adjuvant brachytherapy after complete resection experienced significantly improved local control. The vast majority of patients in both trials had negative surgical margins. Radiotherapy did not impact overall survival in these studies.
Patients with positive margins or unresectable disease obviously require radiotherapy. Adjuvant radiation therapy is also recommended for patients with large (> 5 cm) or high-grade tumors when margins of resection are clear.
Brachytherapy is highlighted in this article as a desirable method for delivering radiation. We agree with the authors that this technique is often optimal for sparing normal tissuesan especially important goal in children. Data are not yet sufficient to prove that brachytherapy has equivalent efficacy to external-beam radiation for pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas, and therefore, it should only be used for carefully selected patients.
The authors suggest that brachytherapy be used as a sole radiation modality when surgical margins are positive. This statement should be interpreted with caution, however, since a report from MSKCC showed that patients with positive surgical margins had better local control when external-beam radiation was used in conjunction with brachytherapy, rather than brachytherapy alone.[17]
In closing, new technologies in radiation oncology promise to improve the outcome for children with soft-tissue sarcomas by increasing the dose to the target and decreasing doses to normal tissues. These advances include intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).[18,19]
1. Gurney JG, Young JL Jr, Roffers SD, et al, in Ries LAG, Smith MA, Gurney JG, et al (eds): Cancer Incidence and Survival Among Children and Adolescents: United States SEER Program 1975-1995. National Cancer Institute, SEER Program. NIH Pub No. 99-4649. 111, 1999.
2. Maurer HM, Beltangady M, Gehan EA, et al: The Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study I: A final report. Cancer 61:209, 1988.
3. Maurer HM, Gehan EA, Beltangady M, et al: The Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study II. Cancer 71:1904, 1993.
4. Crist W, Gehan EA, Ragab AH, et al: The Third Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study. J Clin Oncol 13:610, 1995.
5. Baker KS, Anderson JR, Link MP, et al: Benefit of intensified therapy for patients with local or regional embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: Results from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study IV. J Clin Oncol 18:2427, 2000.
6. Neville HL, Andrassy RJ, Lally KP, et al: Lymphatic mapping with sentinel node biopsy in pediatric patients. J Pediatr Surg 35:961, 2000.
7. Tsokos M, Webber BL, Parham DM, et al: Rhabdomyosarcoma: A new classification scheme related to prognosis. Arch Pathol Lab Med 116:847, 1992.
8. Newton WA Jr, Gehan EA, Webber BL, et al: Classification of rhabdomyosarcoma and related sarcomas: Pathologic aspects and proposal for a new classificationAn Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study. Cancer 76:1073, 1995.
9. Shapiro DN, Sublett JE, Li B, et al: Fusion of PAX3 to a member of the forkhead family of transcription factors in human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Res 53:5108, 1993.
10. Davis RJ, DCruz CM, Lovell MA, et al: Fusion of PAX7 to FKHR by the variant t(1;13)(p36;q14) translocation in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Res 54:2869, 1994.
11. Kelly KM, Womer RB, Sorensen PH, et al: Common and variant gene fusions predict distinct clinical phenotypes in rhabdomyosarcoma. J Clin Oncol 15:1831, 1997.
12. Lynch JC, Triche TJ, Qualman SJ, et al: Prognostic significance of PAX3-FKHR and PAX7-FKHR gene fusions in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (abstract). Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 19:584a, 2000.
13. Wolden SL, Anderson JR, Crist WM, et al: Indications for radiotherapy and chemotherapy after complete resection in rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Studies I to III. J Clin Oncol 17:3468, 1999.
14. Godzinski J, Flamant F, Rey A, et al: Value of postchemotherapy bioptical verification of complete clinical remission in previously incompletely resected (stage I and II pT3) malignant mesenchymal tumors in children: International Society of Pediatric Oncology 1984 Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors Study. Med Pediatr Oncol 22:22, 1994.
15. Yang JC, Chang AE, Baker AR, et al: Randomized, prospective study of the benefit of adjuvant radiation therapy in the treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremity. J Clin Oncol 16:197, 1998.
16. Pisters PW, Harrison LB, Leung DH, et al: Long-term results of a prospective, randomized trial of adjuvant brachytherapy in soft-tissue sarcoma. J Clin Oncol 14:859, 1996.
17. Alekhteyar KM, Leung DH, Brennan MF, et al: The effect of combined external-beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy on local control and wound complications in patients with high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremity with positive microscopic margin. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 36:321, 1996.
18. Merchant TE, Zelefsky MJ, Sheldon JM, et al: High-dose rate intraoperative radiation therapy for pediatric solid tumors. Med Pediatr Oncol 30:34, 1998.
19. Miralbell R, Cella L, Weber D, et al: Optimizing radiotherapy of orbital and paraorbital tumors: Intensity-modulated x-ray beams vs intensity-modulated proton beams. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 47:1111, 2000.


text: A simple chore made harder but a demanding kitty queen. I was sitting happily folding my laundry on my bed I turn to grab another sock and turn back and suddenly I get this look. "My laundry," she says. So my wonderful smelling freshly folded clothing has now been invaded by her majesty.


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Lyfe Kitchen Is Bringing its Fancy Fast Food to Fancy Dallas
Not your everyday Filet-O-Fish
The last time I heard about Lyfe Kitchen it was mentioned in an article in the New York Times Magazine a little more than a year ago. Mark Bittman was lamenting the options for affordable, healthy dining on the quick in America, and was resigned to bean burritos from Taco Bell and veggie sandwiches from Subway, it seemed.
The available of healthier fast food has been changing, though. Bittman mentioned a few businesses he recently found in L.A., including Lyfe Kitchen, which he endorsed as a good (albeit expensive) fast food restaurant. Maybe the endorsement helped the chain, because they're about to drop three location in the Dallas area soon.
With locations planned for in Plano (opening June 13), Preston Center (opening June 27) and West Village (opening July 25), it's not hard to figure out Lyfe's demographic. The average meal price, by Bittman's calculation, is about $15 -- not exactly a replacement for a Big Mac with fries and a milkshake.
Instead they'll have a stuffed sandwich with melted cheese, roasted vegetables and basil, served alongside hot tomato sauce for dipping called the Pizzadillawich. There's also sweet potato fries, and buffalo chicken wraps made with Greek yogurt and kale. A news release about the restaurant makes claims that ingredients will be sourced locally but a spokesperson said a list of suppliers for the Dallas locations was not available yet.
It's going to be nice to have another option for food that doesn't sit in your stomach like a 7-layer burrito, and based on the performance of True Food Kitchen, which opened in the Preston Center last year and has been mobbed ever since, I'm guessing these places are going to kill it. Still, it would be nice to see a more affordable version of convenient and more healthful food offered in other neighborhoods that could use a few more choices. Southern Dallasites need more than Rudy's Chicken.
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At First Utility we always have our finger firmly on the pulse when it comes to new technology, online consumer habits and ensuring that our customers are getting not only the best price. By all means shop around and compare gas and electricity from other providers but we are confident that at First Utility our prices are comparable. There really is no excuse for not switching to us now.
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London (CNSNews.com) - President Bush's first meeting with European Union leaders ended Thursday with the two sides unable to bridge their differences over the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.
A joint statement issued after the summit in Gothenburg, Sweden said both sides recognized the need for strong leadership to reach a global solution on climate change, but that gaps remained over Kyoto.
Bush last March announced he was abandoning the 1997 treaty negotiated in Kyoto, Japan, which calls on specified nations to reduce their emission of "greenhouse gases" claimed to contribute to global warming.
He said he would not accept a treaty that would "harm our economy and hurt our American workers," and pointed out that it did not place the same demands on the developing countries to reduce their emissions.
The decision was roundly condemned by the EU, which said it would nonetheless press ahead toward the goal of ratifying the protocol next year. Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson reiterated that position at a press conference after Thursday's summit.
Before leaving for his first European tour this week, Bush announced new funding for research into climate change, but the step left the EU and environmental activists unimpressed.
The talks over Kyoto were described in a statement released after the meeting as "one of the most complicated items on the agenda."
"As expected, no agreement was reached on this issue at the summit. Both sides reaffirmed their previous statements," the statement read.
It was agreed that a group of representatives would be set up, to continue discussions on issue of climate change "in a constructive and flexible manner."
An optimistic Bush told his European hosts he was looking forward to a "constructive relationship."
His administration was, he said, "deeply committed to a prosperous Europe and whole Europe and a free Europe."
The joint communique voiced similarly upbeat sentiments, saying the bilateral relationship was founded on enduring ties and shared fundamental values. There was no reference in the text to the death penalty, which the EU strongly opposes.
"What unites us far outweighs that which divides us," the document said. "From this foundation, we are determined to forge a common and cooperative approach to the complex and changing global environment in which we live and the new challenges we face."
Other issues on the table Thursday included trade and the situation in the Middle East, the Balkans and Korea.
The U.S. and EU issued their first joint statement on the situation in Israel and the Palestinian Authority areas, giving their full backing to the recommendations of the fact-finding commission headed by former Sen. George Mitchell, aimed at reducing the level of violence and returning the antagonists to negotiations.
It urged both sides to implement the recommendations unconditionally, and affirmed support for the principle of "land for peace" - the relinquishing of land captured by Israel during previous wars in return for peace with its Arab neighbors.
The EU welcomed Washington's decision to resume talks with North Korea.
Last March, Bush expressed skepticism about the likelihood of Pyongyang complying with any future agreements on its missile program, and he said he would not soon resume talks on the subject begun under the Clinton administration.
The EU saw the move as detrimental to efforts to improve relations between North and South Korea, and senior EU officials subsequently traveled to the divided peninsula for their own talks.
On trade, the sides discussed how to resolve bilateral disputes quickly, to avoid escalation. A new round of World Trade Organization talks will start in the fall.


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Polo Club Small Canvas and Timber Trunk Table - Ivory
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Alluring Trunks
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Luxury on the Go! Once there was a time when porters took care of luggage. Appearing elegant and decorative, an army of trunks were loaded into the baggage car or the ships hold. Royalty and upper-class in the Belle Epoque traveled with specialized trunks. Armoires, bars, libraries, and of course hat-trunks and trunks for the prize-winning poodle. Antique French trunks with famous brand names now catch exorbitant sums at auction. Except for the logo, the trunks are closely inspired by the old, classic travel trunks of yore.
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PHOTO: Near-Empty Arena For TNA On Friday!
By Matt Boone on January 18, 2014
The following is a photo of TNA's poor house at their live event in Alabama on Friday night:
[nggallery id=2304]
Comments (43)
That's pretty good for a tNA crowd.
Hey, I don't see Creature bragging about TNA in this post. I wonder why.
TNA=Totally No Attendance
Doesn't change the fact that the event was better than anything PG WWE can do.
The arena could be completely empty and TNA and ROH are still better than WWE.
Put that in your Universe pipe and smoke it.
You think that picture will change what I believe?
You think I could be bullied into changing what I believe?
You people should know better by now.
Does that also include the pre-Attitude Era PG WWE?
WWF had blood pre-Attitude Era – Bundy at WM2? Billy Jack Haynes at WM3? Flair at WM8? Numerous house shows – just mentioning high-profile shows you might have seen or heard of.
THAT'S a big reason the Universe hates me too. Glad you brought this up.
Because I always shoot down this lie in flames.
The old "WWF was PG" garbage people try to rewrite history with.
Even when WWF had that cartoon – WWF had blood at house shows – AND tv – Snuka, Muraco, Piper – lots of bloodbaths with those guys – Tito and Greg the Hammer fighting over the IC belt – those guys bled. I know – I was watching. Look up some of those matches or get those dvds WWE makes covering matches back then.
SO YES – pre attitude era – WWF had plenty of blood – even with a cartoon airing – this is fact too – look it up – although I think you and your Universe actually know this but you try to rewrite history, and I won't allow it – by stating truth.
Want more truth? TV ratings weren't even in existence until 1997, making these Universe claims moot, irrelevant, unsubstantiated, and flat out wrong, like everything else they say:
""The TV Parental Guidelines system is a television content rating system that was first proposed on December 19, 1996 by the United States Congress, the television industry and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and went into effect by January 1, 1997 on most major U.S. broadcast and cable networks""
So you Universe members saying WWF was PG in the 80s is a bunch of bunk as tv wasn't even rated then – let alone house shows.
Aaaaaaah – the truth – the WWE Universe's worst nightmare – along with COTN!
(breathes on nails, wipes on shirt, crosses arms and smiles in satisfaction)
First of all I've been a fan all my life and I'm in my late twenties now and saw the matches you mentioned. So your complaining about the lack of blood in WWE today? I went to a house show a couple of years ago and Goldust got busted open, match stoped for a minute to check on him then the match continued.
Sounds like you want the wrestlers to catch a nasty infection or even bleed to death to satisfy your personal blood lust.
Plus insulting people on the internet who have different views then you or does not have a hard on for nostalgia like you do shows the type of person you are.
It shows I'm a person of unflappable integrity.
God bless you and yours.
If WWE would release every episode of WWF shows before the Attitude Era the majority of them would have been PG. Plus not every episode from the Attitude Era was TV-14, in fact half of the episodes didn't have blood in them.
I like the half with the blood.
Anyone who thinks blood and cursing is what makes wrestling good is an immature halfwit.
End of.
anyone who likes something different than you or has different tastes is an immature halfwit.
Real mature – WAAAAA someone likes something different WAAAA – he's a halfwit – WAAAAA
Proves my point.
Anyone who's gonna tell me they've never seen a Universe member, ie WWE supporter, on the net act like jerks and type garbage, is either blind or a liar.
Isn't it nice, that he is in denial? I think it's nice
TNA is TV-14, but they censor the "b" word
That's because they are sick of that word, as a result of all the little Universe IWC members all over the net calling Dixie that repeatedly.
You people think this picture is going to change my mind, opinions, and beliefs on pro wrestling, WWE, TNA, and ROH?
(waits a few seconds)
(a few seconds more)
Of course not, Cant fix Stupid.
How many minds do you think your anti-WWE garbage has changed, moron?
(waits a few seconds)
(a few seconds more)
No amount of mental gymnastics or rationalization can excuse this.
If TNA truly had a good product, this kind of thing wouldn't happen. That is the god's honest truth.
It doesn't have a damn thing to do with "not being known" enough, because 12 years is more than enough time to get your name out there.
Honestly, making fun of this company is starting to feel like pushing a retarded kid down the stairs.
I just want to know why he keeps talking about "The Universe" as if anyone replying to him is really a part of that whole schtick. And we all know how uncool WWE is with their their total dominance of pro wrestling, their making money hand over fist, and their new network. I'd say put that in your TNA pipe and smoke it, but it seems your TNA pipe is practically empty.
I just think he is a very sad lonely person who just doesn't like WWE today and hates anyone who does. Also I think he is one of those fans that lets nostalgia get the best of them, every era in WWF/WWE has a fan base, every person in/have been in WWE has a fan base. I've been a fan for twenty years and while I miss and enjoyed those eras I don't mind the current era either cause one I don't believe in nostalgia and two I don't compare the eras.
Every promotion has a fan base and a hate base and if someone is a fan of wrestling in general they should in my opinion just accept it even if they are not a fan of that promotion. If WWE wasn't the dominant company in the wrestling industry another company would be and that company would receive so much hate (and love at the same time) no matter what they do. If WWE ever loses it's top spot in the industry there is pretty much a guarantee that what ever company replaces it will get the same things that WWE has going for it.
He's not any of those things.
He's some bored kid who's obviously trying to irritate you and it's working.
Actually I'm having a laugh reading his posts. Trolls will be trolls I suppose.
I don't see what the big deal is. Sure it means that events in arenas that didn't have a huge crowd and while it means there's not much money coming in for TNA and the arena it is not a sign that TNA is going under, if more future events are like this then they will start to worry. If WWE is strong enough to bounce back from poor attendance records I'm sure TNA will be if they have enough money that is.
That's another thing I want to bring up. How TNA fans have this strange fanaticism towards it. Like it's fandom is some kind of bizarre cult.
I'm not talking about the fake poster, since it's a gimmick, but when you think about it – the persona he's adopted is almost like a VERY accurate parody of the typical TNA fan.
They get SO HOSTILE when you criticize TNA even in the slightest. Even if you are simply giving ideas on how to improve it.
And when you bring up legitimate complains about TNA, that anyone with any knowledge about pro-wrestling whatsoever would agree with, they resort back to "WELL WWE DOES XYZ" like that excuses the garbage that TNA produces.
That's a cop-out. If you robbed someone, but this guy you don't like raped someone, would you say "WELL HE RAPED SOMEONE!!!" as a defense? Like that excuses your robbery?
Not if you aren't a lunatic. Which a lot of TNA fans seem to be.
If you don't believe me, just go to their forums and try to offer up any form of criticism at all and watch what happens.
I often see the comparisons between fan bases for just about anything and religions. Most fans are okay to talk to and accept the criticism you have and respond to them in a nice way while other fans are way too overprotective of what/who they are a fan of and throw a fit and very aggressively respond to the criticisms while insult you in the process.
It's those fans that gives the entire fan base a bad name (much like how religious extremists gives their religion/ other religious believers a bad name).
And you typing that whole post shows you have some "strange fanaticism" also.
Universe members don't get hostile – you see the things said to me?
Universe members don't get upset when I point out the changes WWE has done that I don't agree with? People wanna crucify me for it – I say I don't like the blood ban as an example – OMG they go crazy like that is so bad and horrible even though big time Flair cage matches always had blood, as an example.
Universe members don't get upset? I'll tell you what ticks them off the most – they have that pic with low TNA attendance.
I say I don't care – I still like it – and I still think TNA is better – THAT….THAT is what REALLY drives the Universe nuts – has since you waged your little war against me at the Inc.
Since day ONE it has ALWAYS been- I don't have the right to like TNA more because their ratings and attendance are less.
And I've said from day one I don't care and don't believe that means WWE is better.
THAT drives the Universe bonkers – you included – always has.
I keep saying I like TNA more – you and your minions throw numbers at me – and you can't wrap your had around the fact it has no bearings on what I personally like and choose to watch in the comfort of my own living room.
Bottom line is this – you talk about TNA fans and their fanaticism – your Universe is just as bad- WORSE!
Calling Dixie the B and C word – writing mods to ban me – cussing at me –
Yeah – that Universe sure lets things slide off their back, don't they.
Don't act like you are so different.
Like I say – you typing this post I'm replying to shows you're no different.
You've trolled me over like 5 sites – I swear – I have a private profile – if and when I disappear and you can't find me – you'll have a big void in your life.
When I criticize TNA – you're right up in my face, telling me how wrong and stupid I must be to have that opinion. Same with anyone else here that dares say anything about TNA.
When I give it some credit, like I did Thursday night. Surprise – radio silence, you're dumbfounded.
Unlike you, I am honest about what I watch. If something deserves credit, I will say so.
But that's not your gimmick, so that's probably too much to expect.
Also, you calling ANYONE ELSE here a troll is hilarious.
Bottom line is you criticizing TNA fans, with you Universe-ites running around calling Dixie the B and C word – is beyond ridiculous and downright hypocritical.
I've seen WWE slanted people all over say the most horrible things – funny how you ignore that – and point out TNA fans.
So you just post about TNA fans? If you had integrity you would mention it happens on both sides.
I like TNA – you show ZERO ability to respect anyone who likes different things than you and talk civilly.
Thinking different than you is not a crime.
Someday you'll HOPEFULLY realize that….
…but I'm not holding my breath.
I'm not under some legal passage to like something about WWE – I hate them and everything they do.
And if you are gonna hate someone over not liking WWE – that's on you – not me – and you have growing up to do.
I'm not under any obligation to like something about WWE.
I've said that from day one too – and no one can ever answer:
WHY, as a fan of TNA and ROH, do I have some obligation to like something about WWE.
No one has ever been able to answer that – why? – because I'm not under any obligation.
That's like saying a guy who likes oranges is under an obligation to like tangerines also.
He doesn't have to.
Just curious, at what point did anyone here say that you have to like WWE? You keep bringing it up while I can't see any explicit evidence of anyone telling you that you have to like them. Are you by any chance under obligation to express that you're not under obligation to like them?
See, this is why I can't take you seriously. You're so obviously fake.
"And if you are gonna hate someone over not liking WWE – that's on youy – not me – and you have growing up to do."
Yet you've reminded everyone here with post after post about how much you hate "Universers" or "Universe-ites" or whatever stupid demonym you came up with.
I honestly, truly, legitimately do not care what you like or don't like. I don't know you from a ham sandwich and I never will.
Anyone who gets offended because I choose to mock a company that is truly awful and black mark on this industry, as if I am saying something about their mother, needs therapy ASAP.
That company had over 1.3 million people watch it – and just because you think it is "awful" or a "black mark" doesn't make it fact or mean I have to think that.
Here's a zinger for you – I think, no, I KNOW….. WWE is a "black mark" and "awful".
I think the changes the company has gone through are terrible and they sicken me.
Your homework for the weekend?
Dwell on that.
I don't take you seriously either, cha cha.
And water carrier? The ULTIMATE example of that is someone who takes the side of the "more popular" side ie higher ratings, etc., and throws those numbers in the faces of the other side and acts like they are so above and better than them.
THAT'S a water carrier, bubba.
Dwell, on all this, but especially on how WWE is a black mark in many people's eyes.
And their numbers don't change that – in fact, it makes them even MORE of a black mark.
You gotta lot to think about this weekend.
Obviously you don't have to agree with me. It's not you I'm trying to convince.
It's the people reading this. DUH.
Here's a fact, and this might be the most honest thing I say to you:
Pro-wrestling really isn't something to get so worked up over. Much less "hate" anyone over. And if you truly feel hatred for someone because of the pro-wrestling they choose to watch, then I can't even begin to understand you or the way you think.
Political beliefs and religion are barely a basis for hatred. Pro-wrestling is so insignificant that it shouldn't even be on the radar.
There are over 300 million people in this country (I'm assuming you live in America) and the majority of them think that ALL pro-wrestling, no matter what company it comes from or who produces it, is fake, childish garbage and have thought that way since the 1970's.
So even if you don't like my opinions, or Emily's opinions, or the opinions of whoever else you talk to, you've still got to remember that.
That is a far bigger cross to bear for pro wrestling fans than PG wrestling, or bloodless wrestling, or whatever it is you people complain about.
So as Richard Prior once said, "Have a Coke and a smile and shut the **** up!"
Great post! Wish I could give you more vote ups!
This stuff isn't hard to figure out, Em.
Well said!
His silence speaks volumes.
I might be an old man, but I can still logically and verbally out-maneuver these juvenile trolls.
I hate to do this but im gonna try one last attempt to reason with you, first off yes i agree tna has had some good 'matches' in recent history, but i live in the uk i dont really have access to the amount of wrestling you do in the usa, so i have two shows i can watch the last match i watched from tna was sting vs hogan it was sloppy slow and damn near lost all respect i had previously for both wrestlers…… you complain continuously about the undertaker being old but damn man that match was horrible least his match with punk was watchable and yes he is slowing down as he gets older but he isnt taking anyones slot having one match in a 3-4 hour show where as you had hogan,sting,Nash,booker-t,bischoff, all basicly killing tna, i did a test on my girlfriend yesterday i named asked her to name 5 wrestlers from tna that never appeared in wwe she couldnt do it (can you we know you like to Google wrestlers real names) you slate wwe soo bad but with their has beens tna would never still exist…. so yes i prefer wwe to tna as wwe is better produced and better ran… and i also agree with you some time the pg stuff does get in the way of a really good match BUT i can sit through a whole monday night raw and say well that was not too bad, i cant with tna sorry thats just my honest opinion, so on a lighter note while your watching tna lets play a drinking game every time someone whos appeared on wwe tv is on your screen you have to down a beer, if your not old enough to drink then heres another one, try not to tell every one you despise wwe then COMMMENT ON EVERY BLOODY POST OF THERES you can choose to ingnore it
You couldn't be more wrong. Every time you talk about TNA's alleged superiority over WWE, I LOL audibly. If it's so great why are the arenas damn near empty now? Why are even long-term TNA fans convinced the company is in a death spiral? Meanwhile WWE is more popular than it's been since the end of the Attitude Era and is about to launch a streaming network that will be available worldwide. You are utterly delusional. The superiority of TNA you keep trumpeting, exists only in your mind and the minds of a maybe another handful of people.
The way you call Dixie those curse words and talk down to anyone who dares to think differently than you?
You have no place talking about people's "fanaticism".
You are the ultimate example of pot and kettle.
again booking above your needs..smh when will they learn they will not draw over 1100 if lucky to a house show..book a smaller venue that holds hundreds not thousands
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Guild Wars
Review by Tectonic_Corn
"The game that changed MMORPGs."
This game is one of the best games I have ever played. The way it is made is one of the most innovative games I have seen. It has completely changed the entire MMORPG category, and I don't care what other people think, this is an MMORPG.Anyways, onto the review:
Graphics: 10/10
Wow! These graphics are stunning! Forget all about WoW, because these graphics are incredible. Light shines off your cape, realistic spells fly through the air, and above all that, the characters look wonderful. Graphics definitely do not hurt this game.
Sound: 7/10
The sound for this game wasn't all that good, nor was it awful. I did not find it mute-worthy, as so many others did, and it seemed to fit the mood most of the time, but the music department could have been better. I did enjoy the battle sounds, such as spells being casted, hammers being swung, etc.
Gameplay: 10/10
This is the real meat of the game, and the part I definitely have to call the highlight of the game. First let's start with the character: the level cap in this game is 20, which I think is an excellent idea, because once your character has reached level 20, all the battles are based on skill, not how many hours of your life you've wasted training and training and training. Also, when you make your character, you choose from six classes to be your character's primary profession. The six classes are: Warrior, Monk, Mesmer, Elementalist, Necromancer, and Ranger. All of the classes have attributes, which you get to raise as you wish when leveling up. Later on, you get to have a secondary profession, with its own set of attributes. There is no downside to having a second profession, but choose carefully because each class has a special attribute which can only be raised if it is your primary. Anyways, onto the battle system: Your character can use skills in battle. You can find skills in numerous ways. The problem is that you can only bring 8 skills into combat, so strategy is a big issue here. Also, in battle, this game is not meant to be a hack and slash game. Dodging arrows, selecting skills, running and chasing are all part of combat. In MOST cases it will not be a match where the players sit and whack each other until one team dies.
Story: 8/10
Okay, obviously it a bit hard to have a good story in an MMORPG, but the story of Guild Wars is surprisingly compelling. The Charr (a race of incredibly ugly creatures) are wiping out the human race. You must rise from the ranks of ordinary people to stop them. While a bit melodramatic, the story is fine and fits well with the game.
Overall: 10/10
You can't stop playing this game! It'll always keep you coming back for more, whether to play PvP or Roleplaying!
Reviewer's Rating: 5.0 - Flawless
Originally Posted: 05/31/05
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In the past two years, we have increased our services by 45% in an effort to step up to the growing economic crisis. And in this past year, giving has been down 21% – this is a devastating combination! In an attempt to counteract this, we have already taken two pay reductions, stopped our 401K match, and laid off 8 faithful staff members.
We have developed a sustainability plan that will strengthen us in the long run, but it will not fill the immediate gap in our funding or get us through the next few months.
Unless we can raise $2,800,000 by June 30th, we will be forced to close the doors to Hope Gardens Family Center. This option is our last resort – Hope Gardens has proven to be a life changing and life giving environment for many women and children, and it is heartbreaking to imagine bringing the 34 families back down to the streets of Skid Row.
We hope you will PLEASE take this time to considering a gift so we can continue to provide for the 119 women and children that call Hope Gardens home. We need your help now more than ever. Thank you for all your support and please keep us in your prayers.
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In the market, most seafood is labeled either farmed (aquaculture) or wild (fished). Apparently many types of fish are raised by using techniques from both methods. For example, Alaskan salmon may be labeled wild even though they originate in fish hatcheries. Are you as disturbed about this as I am?
We need better labeling of fish
Scientists from the UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) have published an article in the journal Marine Policy which asserts the need to add a designation beyond farmed or fished — hybrid.
The hybrid designation would indicate that those fish have been raised using methods from both aquaculture (hatcheries or farms) and from fishing techniques. The importance of this is emphasized by the researchers because it would increase our knowledge of how fish and shellfish are really raised throughout the world.
I want to know if it is truly wild for health reasons
Until the 1970's polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other synthetic chemicals, were added to paint, plastics, and other products and have found their way into fish. A landmark study in 2004 found that PCB concentrations were almost eight-times higher in farmed fish because of farm-feed contamination.
Although a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that the health benefits of eating the omega-3-rich fish outweighs the potential dangers of PCBs, I'm not convinced.
Additionally, the fats in farmed fish are higher in inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids than wild fish.
We need an accurate record of how seafood is raised
According to Mary Turnipseed, second author and a former postdoctoral fellow at NCEAS,
Seafood production is a critical part of global food security, but the way we study and talk about it often obscures how to achieve the thing we care the most about: increasing the supply of sustainably produced seafood to feed a rapidly growing human population. We need to start collecting more accurate data on how seafood is really produced in today's world, and a first step will be through replacing the old farmed-fished dichotomy with a farmed-fished-hybrid classification scheme.
Aquaculture: farms and hatcheries
In aquaculture, many techniques are used — fishing may be involved in production. For example, Bluefin tuna farms obtain their stock by fishing for juveniles and raising them in cages until they are large enough. These farms also fish for feed, and use 10 to 20 kilograms of feed fish for every kilogram of tuna they produce.
I didn't know tuna could be farmed — they are so big and out in the ocean! I buy tuna with the idea that it is always wild. I guess not.
According to Dane Klinger, first author and a Ph.D. student at Stanford University,
Farming fish and shellfish is generally a different way to produce seafood than fishing. While fisheries traditionally interact with their target population only at the time of capture, aquaculture, in its 'purest' state, controls the entire lifecycle of the organism, from egg to harvest. However, many common types of seafood are produced using techniques from both fisheries and aquaculture.
The researchers examine several popular seafood products that are harvested using a combination of techniques generally ascribed to either fisheries or aquaculture.
The authors reviewed several cases of fisheries (wild) that are augmented by aquaculture (farmed). A percentage of the Alaskan salmon population is raised in hatcheries and then moved to fisheries (and labeled wild). There are hatcheries (farms) that are stocking scallops in New Zealand waters, and hatcheries that are stocking eastern oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.
American lobsters are fed by bait placed in traps until they reach legal catch size. In fact, the amount of bait provided to lobsters in one season is often greater than the volume of lobster catch in the same season, by a factor of two.
Are these fish wild or are they farmed?
That is the question asked by these researchers. United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is the primary source of information about the global seafood industry.
However, the reporting of data from both developing and developed countries to the FAO is incomplete. The researchers feel that adding the hybrid category would help in the global understanding of how the fish are raised.
The traditional categories of seafood production — fisheries (wild) and aquaculture (farmed), do not clearly account for the growth potential and environmental impacts of the seafood industry.
The authors conclude by stating the urgency of adding the hybrid category:
Without these data, transformations in the market for a critical food and livelihood source for billions of people could occur, with global analysts and policymakers being the last to know.
Here's what is urgent
We need to reduce environmental impacts. In order to do so, we need a more accurate way of tracking and categorizing seafood. The farms and hatcheries that rely on wild fish for feed and wild juveniles to stock the farm, actually put additional pressure on the ocean. If large quantities of bait are used in wild fisheries that is even more pressure and we may not have a good picture of the amounts of fish the ocean can produce.
This is important for sustainability in the seafood industry. I would also like to be sure of where the fish I eat is coming from and whether it is farmed or wild…
or hybrid.
What about you? What do you think about this new category of seafood? Leave a comment and let me know!
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Perversion of democracy
Perversion of democracy
When Rob Gleason, chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, proclaims in his column "Pa. GOP is on the rise" (Jan. 18 and TribLIVE.com) that "the GOP is still by far the dominant party in statewide politics," he may be right. But just in case he's not, Republicans have introduced House Bill 94, seeking to allocate most of Pennsylvania's presidential Electoral College representatives by congressional district, with two electoral votes going to the overall state winner.
Congratulations, Republicans! If you can't stop Democrats from voting, make sure their votes aren't worth anything!
One person voting Republican in a rural congressional district would be equal to thousands of Democrat votes in an Allegheny County congressional district. What a perversion of democracy!
Whatever happened to the democratic ideal of one man, one vote?
Billie Mannheimer
Squirrel Hill


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Cycle Show finds cycle spending recession proof
UK consumers are still investing their hard-earned cash on all things two-wheeled despite the country being in the longest economic slump for more than a century, according to a survey conducted by The Cycle Show.
The survey, carried out on cycleshow.co.uk in August 2012, which delved into the spending habits of cyclists, found that 8 out of 10 (81% of respondents) have spent significant amounts on a new bike in the last 18 months or are planning to buy one in the next 18 months.
- Of the 55% of people that have purchased a new bike in the last year and a half, 33% said they spent between £1-1999, while 25% said they had spent upwards of £2000
- 27% of those surveyed said they planned to buy a new bike in the next 18 months, with 63% saying that they planned to spend between £1000 and £3000
- 79% of those planning to purchase already own a bike and are upgrading, with the upgrade being the desire for a lighter-weight model
- Of those cyclists that have bought a new bike in the past 18 months, 14% said they had invested because they had started to commute or were regular commuters and wanted to upgrade, while 15% said they were starting to race competitively or had improved in cycling and wanted an upgrade
Chris Holman, Cycle Show Director said "This survey demonstrates that whilst people are trying to make savings in their everyday lives, the majority of cyclists will continue to invest in the latest bikes, with a lot more serious first-time buyers coming into the market as well."
He added, "Whether it's measured by medal count, participation or cash spent on bikes, cycling can no longer be classed as a minority pursuit. Some will be inspired by Britain's greatest cyclists, including Olympic Gold Medallists Ed Clancy and Joanna Rowsell, who visitors to The Cycle Show will have the opportunity to meet, while others will be commuters looking to take the next step in cycling. Ultimately though, it would appear that despite the recession, cycling is a buoyant market in the UK."
The Cycle Show will have a wide range of 2013 models on display, from a whole host of exhibitors, ranging from the more affordable bikes right through to high-end brands including Pinarello, Colnago and Cinelli – with these brands ridden by Olympic Gold medallists, Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Victoria Pendleton and Joanna Rowsell.
A full list of exhibitors can be found at: www.cycleshow.co.uk/exhibitorlist.
The Cycle Show 2012 organisers are also 'delighted to announce that Sir Chris Hoy will be at the Cycle Show on the morning of trade & press preview day on 27th September from 09.30am to 12.30pm. This is a once in a lifetime chance to meet the man himself who picked up his sixth gold medal at London 2012 making him the most successful British Olympian.'