text:
The key but under-acknowledged role of foreign military advisors in U.S. history
- By Thomas E. RicksThomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at email@example.com.
On the train from Exeter to London the other day I was re-reading retired Lt. Gen. Dave Richard Palmer's Summons of the Trumpet, partly because I decided I didn't really get it the first time around when I read it a couple of years ago. I also picked it up again because it as close as I think anyone has come to writing an operational history of the Vietnam War.
The book is good, but a bit dated in places. I think General Palmer is over-optimistic about the implications of the Ia Drang fight. He also seems credulous about the Gulf of Tonkin incident, especially in his interpretation that Hanoi was foolish to launch such an attack.
That said, overall I think it is the best book I've been able to find for an overview of what actually happened in the war, rather than what people were saying about it.
This is what Palmer writes about the important role foreign military advisors played in the creation of these United States of America (pp. 27-28). They might be appreciated by anyone trying to advise Afghan forces nowadays:
"There was once a time when the American army needed foreign advisors. . . Having neither a nucleus of professionals nor a backstop of military tradition to draw on, Congress turned with scant hope to Europe for trained officers. They came. Lafayette, Steuben, Kosciusko, Dekalb, Pulaski, Duportail — just to mention a few of the better known names is to evoke an image of the vitally important role they played in the winning of our War of Independence.
These advisors tackled an awesome task: molding an army from raw material in a backward country in the midst of war. A strange and often inhospitable environment seriously complicated their job, not to mention problems created by the barriers of language and other cultural differences. Then, too, buffeted by puzzling and sometimes petty crosscurrents of political and personal jealousies, . . . the foreigners often suffered acute frustration and actual bitterness. Nonetheless, they persevered.
. . . Another unchanging reality of advising is the more or less constant cocoon of frustration enveloping the advisor. Adjusting to advising is a greater individual challenge than can be easily imagined by anyone who has not done it.


text:
Downey Jr.'s son in rehab
Robert Downey Jr.'s son is receiving treatment for a suspected prescription medication addiction
The actor's 20-year-old son, Indio Falconer Downey, has been admitted to a rehabilitation facility according to his mother, actress and singer Deborah Falconer.
Deborah, who left Robert in 2001 following his repeated trips to rehab, confirmed her son's admittance to the unnamed institution but stressed that Indio is not an addict.
"He was not addicted. He was taking one pill a day," she told the National Enquirer.
She added that Indio is receiving "holistic, natural and orthomolecular. We are hoping to do it the homeopathic way rather than with medications. He's being treated with vitamin supplements and organic foods."
Indio plays in a rock band, and has recently played at legendary LA night spot The Viper Rooms.
A friend close to the family opened up on how hard this has been for 48-year-old Robert, and what a shock it was.
"This is a nightmare for Robert because his boy has never been in trouble before. He's praying for Indio's recovery," the source said.
Iron Man star Robert has had a well-documented history with drugs and rehab, and was arrested in 1996 for possession of heroin, cocaine and an unloaded handgun.
He even served a one-year prison sentence in 1999 after missing a required drug test.
He has since had one of the biggest comebacks in Hollywood history, and this year topped Forbes highest paid actor list, reportedly earning $50million for playing Tony Stark in the third Iron Man movie.
© Cover Media

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The mother of a man charged with stealing works by Picasso, Monet and Matisse has apparently backtracked on a confession that she burned the paintings in order to protect her son.
Olga Dogaru told a Bucharest court Monday that she did not burn the paintings in her stove, contradicting earlier statements, news agencies reported. The court was ruling on whether to keep her under arrest. Her lawyer, Catalin Dancu, said in televised statements that he did not believe that the paintings - stolen in a daring heist in the Netherlands - were burned. He could not be reached for comment.
Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu, director of Romania's National History Museum told The Associated Press that he did not believe Dogaru's latest reported comments, saying museum scientists found "a large amount of paint, canvas and nails" in ash from Dogaru's stove.


text:
Thanks for helping us sort this video!
Thanks for helping us associate the correct Pornstars to this video!
Aiutaci: queste pornostar appaiono in questo video?
Pornstar Name:
I want to know ho she is
Short, sweet and to the point. Wish I could have seen what she looked like.
Was fuer eine kleine geile Anal-Fee. Wie geil sie quiekt wenn sie sich den Dildo in den Arsch schiebt. Schade nur, dass man nicht sieht wie dieses geile Loch nach der Penetration aussah
still hot. i love wanking to this one
whats with the tapping? makes me think this is pre recorded.
Damn thats hott You have a nice pussy and a nice ass! I'd love to give you anal sometime or do cam 2 cam with you ;)
Some errors occurred, please try again later


text:
DOJ leaning towards filing antitrust suit against Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger
The Bloomberg report says that DOJ attorneys have been contacting outside sources in the past few weeks in order to shore up the case.
EU charges Google with antitrust violations, abusing web search power
The EU alleges that Google diverts traffic from competitors to favor its own goods and services, particularly when it comes to partner websites for shopping.
Stubhub files antitrust suit against Ticketmaster and Golden State Warriors
StubHub general counsel Michelle Fang says that the Warriors and Ticketmaster control both the primary and the secondary market for tickets, leaving few options for fans who want to go to a game.
Kraft and Heinz to merge, create North America's third-largest food company
The deal is an attempt to shake up sluggish business for the companies, particularly Kraft, which has suffered as some consumers look towards healthier options.
New FTC rules could make challenging antitrust cases tougher
The revisions "return to the approach of an earlier rule that automatically suspends administrative litigation, upon respondents' request, after the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction in the matter has been denied."
Antitrust Division renews emphasis on compliance programs
Given the expense and intrusiveness of compliance monitors, companies in the United States and abroad should pay close attention to guidance about how to avoid them.
Another lawsuit filed in response to alleged contact lens price conspiracy
Another lawsuit has been filed against the major manufacturers of contact lenses claiming the companies violated antitrust laws as they conspired to artificially fix prices.
Supreme Court ruling prevents dental board from limiting competition
A new Supreme Court decision is seen as a victory for increasing competition in healthcare, but for many dental practices it was similar to a kick in the teeth.
Judge rules against American Express in DOJ antitrust lawsuit
U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled in favor of the Department of Justice, saying that American Express's rules on allowing merchants to promote other cards were anticompetitive.
FTC files antitrust challenge on Sysco/US Foods merger
The FTC has turned its attention to the proposed merger between Sysco and U.S. Foods. The commission has filed an administrative complaint charging that the merger would violate antitrust laws.


text:
Oak Marsh at Amelia Island Plantation
AMELIA ISLAND, FL - Of the three golf venues at Amelia Island Plantation, Oak Marsh appears to be the most complete, the most likely course to have been designed as a comprehensive, harmonious eighteen holes. It wasn't.
What is now the Oak Marsh course was formerly two separate nines known as Oak Marsh (first nine) and Oyster Bay (second nine). Both were designed by Pete Dye and part of the resort's original 27 holes (along with the Oceanside nine which is now part of the Ocean Links course) in 1974.
Pete Dye would eventually become the most influential golf course architect of this generation, but in 1974 he was only beginning to establish his reputation. He had several remarkable courses to his credit, most notably the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, The Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio, and Harbor Town on Hilton Head Island, but many of his ideas from that period were considered radical and not widely accepted in the world of architecture.
Those feelings about Dye have changed in the last 25 years (as most of the nay saying architects from that era have faded into oblivion along with their out-dated courses) and he has continued to evolve his style. He hasn't, for almost two decades, seemed to be interested in making the smaller, shot-placement golf courses that brought him renown, but Oak Marsh remains a remnant of the time when he did, a time when Dye was revolutionizing the field of golf course architecture with these types of designs.
The course is a preserved historical example of change. In the 1960's and into the 1970's, at the height of the Robert Trent Jones 7,000-yard "hard par, easy bogey" monster courses, Dye was building gems like Harbor Town that reintroduced the elements of shot-making, flair, variety, and the short par four. These elements are still found at Oak Marsh.
Indeed there is an anachronistic feel to this course. Even though Bobby Weed renovated many of the greens and bunkers in 1998, no substantial changes have occurred since its opening and Oak Marsh remains a quintessential Pete Dye course from that beginning era of his career.
Golf course architecture has turned back away from efficient, tightly designed courses of this style, which is why Oak Marsh continues to stand out as a fascinating anomaly among the grand, resort-scale courses that now proliferate Florida.
Oak Marsh is patterned very much in the mold of Harbor Town. It's a low-profile design marked by narrow fairways that are bordered by trees and resort homes. Bunkers and water are used stylishly, yet efficiently to add visual punch as much as strategic interest. Five holes border and fade into the marshes and afford sweeping vistas of the Intracoastal Waterway. Unlike Harbor Town, however, the greens at Oak Marsh show considerably more variation and are marked by significant movements. While not quite small, each one is just large enough to offer two or three strategic pins.
Oak Marsh measures a modest 6,580 yards from the back tees. Whereas Ocean Links demands precise approach shots and an acute short game, driving the ball between the lines is the prerogative at Oak Marsh. Several holes demand commanding drives and those in control off the tee will often have straightforward mid- and short-iron approaches into the open, sloping greens.
Despite originally being two distinct nines, Oak Marsh comes off now as a highly composed course, one that achieves a greater design balance than either Ocean Links or Long Point. The first nine is probably a little more understated and basic overall, particularly the first five holes, and the second nine (formerly Oyster Bay) shows a bit more panache with four marsh holes, more assertive bunkering, and larger greens.
Each nine begins inland near the Amelia Links clubhouse and gradually loops its way out to the far reaches of the property near the marshes. The sides begin rather modestly, with naked, straightforward holes through the trees and homes, but each builds toward a rousing three-hole finish.
There are three, good short par fours here. The first is the third, 317 yards from the back tees. A bunker jutting into the right side of the fairway must be cleared to get near the green with the drive, and two bunkers short right and left must be threaded. The opportunity for a short pitch for birdie is a strong temptation, and being bunkered is not a horrible result either.
The eighth, a 342-yard par four bisected twice by a canal is the ultimate expression of target golf, a term frequently used to describe Dye courses from this era. The middle tees are set at only 309 yards, but there is no way to drive this green. The water must be cleared off the tee and it runs down the right side of the fairway before cutting back in front of the green at an angle from the right. The fairway is basically an island to the left and the key is to advance the drive, for most, an iron or fairway metal, to a point that affords the best angle back over the hazard to a green that is sloped liberally from back to front.
Ten is a wonderful short par four, only 307 yards at its longest. Bunkers cut into the fairway at the landing area from both sides and a small pond sits short of the green to the right. It takes courage and accuracy to attempt to get home from the tee, and the green is a cool shape, really two tiny compartments connected through a narrow waist. A back right pin position over the water is tricky.
The par threes at Oak Marsh are all excellent. On the second nine, Dye routed the course so as to use the areas near the marsh for his short holes, while on the first nine he created two solid inland holes. The fourth is 169 yards but the shot must be played over a flashed up bunker that fronts the center of the green. The seventh is a treacherous hole, 184 yards from the tips over water to a bulk-headed green angled sharply away from the tee right to left. Anything short is wet, bunkers surround the green, and there is little room to bail out to the right. The 13th at Ocean Links is almost an exact replica.
Twelve is a straightaway, picturesque 193 yards with the sprawling waterway on the left. From the rear tees the 16th plays 171 yards directly over the marsh, although the regular tees are set at an angle where no carry is required.
The final holes on each nine are quite impressionable and are the types of holes that make resorts famous. Nine is a satisfying par five of 527 yards with plenty of room in the fairway. The hole is flat and broad and the marsh runs all the way up the right, eventually crowding the green on that side.
Seventeen is a big, difficult par four, 441 yards long, where the drive from the championship tees must heroically carry the marsh to find part of the fairway. From the landing area, the hole bends to the left around the marsh and the direct line to the green is over the corner of it again, although there is plenty of room to miss short and right.
Eighteen, playing opposite the ninth in its reverse image, also requires a drive that must clear a portion of the marsh that accompanies the fairway along the left all the way to the clubhouse. The third shot on this 523-yard hole (or the second for the truly mighty player) will be flown over the marsh one last time to reach one of the largest greens on the course.
Oak Marsh is probably the least visceral of Amelia Island Plantation's three courses, yet it satisfies in a pure and wholesome way. There are few flaws here, and the course plays steady and interesting, if not exciting, until it can bring the player to the edges of solid land, where the views of the Intracoastal and the shot demands suddenly kick up. This course is the most prototypically Pete Dye, so those wishing to experience his golf ideas from this point in his career will not want to miss it.
Low-season rates (November through January, July through September) are $90. In the high season the charge is $130.
Oak Marsh is the most accessible course by foot and walking is permitted after 4pm.


text:
Now, the initiated will be aware that that wasn't such a bad plan. The Panda's light, economical and nimble, making it an ideal partner for this challenge. The car was apparently showroom specification, with the exception of an extra fuel tank, two spare wheels, sump guards, strong springs, and a relocated air intake. Oh, and a foam mattress across the back seat for the co-driver to catch the occasional zizz.
Farm Africa – a charity that works with families in rural Africa, helping them to produce food more effectively by providing training and support to farmers.
So, a slightly daft deed for a good cause. Such things we can only celebrate here, so hearty congratulations to the pair, and of course, to the Panda, for making it (relatively) unscathed.
You can read more about the team's exploits at their website.


text:
Executives from Fiberlink, Vembu Technologies and VisioTech Solutions join group
CompTIA, the non-profit association for the information technology (IT) industry, announced recently the addition of two new members to its Vendor Advisory Council.
Joining the council are Francois Daumard, director of channel development for Fiberlink, a provider of enterprise mobility management solutions; Len Srinivasan, vice president, channel partner development for Vembu Technologies, a provider of cloud storage, online backup, cloud content management and other cloud-based solutions for small and medium businesses; and Adeel Javaid, president, VisioTech Solutions, which offers cloud-based solutions in healthcare, security, backup, storage and other areas.
These three companies join 16 other top technology vendors on the advisory council. Executives from these hardware manufacturers and software vendors share their in-depth knowledge of the IT channel. Their strategic near-term insight guides CompTIA in the development of education programs, credentials, research and other initiatives designed exclusively for IT channel companies.
"The rapid adoption of cloud computing and mobility has altered the way organizations buy and deploy technology solutions," said Annette Taber, vice president, channel strategies, CompTIA. "It's also shifted the dynamics between technology vendors and their channel partners.
"We've engaged some of the best minds in the IT channel on our Vendor Advisory Council to help us understand and respond to this changing environment," Taber continued. "The addition of Fiberlink, Vembu Technologies and VisioTech Solutions brings new expertise to this effort."
The council is currently examining several issues related to the evolving IT channel, including strategies for more effective channel communications; partner business evolution training programs; and the role and value of distributors in a cloud-centric world.
Other companies represented on the CompTIA Vendor Advisory Council include ADTRAN, Autotask, ChannelEyes, Cisco Systems, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Microsoft, NEC Display, Panasonic, Red Hat, SaaSMAX, Virtual Instruments, VMware, Xerox and XiloCore.
CompTIA has also established a Partner Advisory Council, which solicits input from the largest solution providers; and a Telecom Advisory Council, a group centered on the growing convergence of telecom and IT.
About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. To learn more, visit www.comptia.org.
SOURCE: CompTIA


text:
These warm chocolate girl photo Holy Baptism cards share lots of photos of your beautiful daughter, all in color, or using one photo as the focus in color with the rest in a lovely sepia to blend with the lovely chocolate brown! Soft pastel pink is used for accents in damask and swirl patterns, as well as the text background for your invitation and optional polka dot graphic accents for interest.
Change all the colors, wording & patterns to suit your own celebration by visiting the product page for this design here: Colorful Photo Baptism Invitation. Simply request the pink & chocolate brown version as your starting design if desired.


text:
Global battle against cancer is not possible to be won by treatment alone, prevention is always better than cure and early stage cancer detection can prevent the mortality casued by this fatal disease every year. In our research, we are functionalizing a carbon nanomaterial fullerene (C60) with folic acid in the fabrication of highly sensitive biosensor for the detection of early stage cancer.
Folic acid is an essential nutrient for any type of cell growth and that's why when the cells become cancerous they need more folic acid for their abnormal and rapid growth. This folic acid intake inside the cell is carried out by folate receptors. Folate receptor is a cell membrane protein and it has high affinity to folic acid. So in cancer cell we see a remarkable overexpression of folate receptor to supply the folic acid demand for the rapid growth of cells. To use fullerene for the detection of early stage cancer, the first step of our work is to link it with folic acid by chemical reaction. Now when we will introduce the fullerene-folic acid conjugate to the folate receptors a biochemical reaction will occur between the folic acid part and the folate receptor of cells. Due to this biochemical reaction there will be a flow of electrons which will be carried out by fullerene to a biosensor circuit to produce a readable data which will indicate the amount of folate receptors in some particular cell line and that ultimately will tell us about the presence and progression of cancer.
This project is currently funded by the 'Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Malaysia; and very recently a detail review on functionalized fullerene has been published by our research group, doi:10.1016/j.bios.2014.07.044, another paper on our latest experiments and findings are under construction for future publication.
For more details or further queries and any kind of collaboration please feel free to contact below,
email@example.com (Project Head and Research Supervisor)
firstname.lastname@example.com (Project Member and Co-Supervisor)
email@example.com (Research Project (PhD) Student)


text:
WORK at Mistley Quay was affected and neighbours left shocked after part of the quayside collapsed.
The hole appeared yesterday afternoon, swallowing up a forklift truck and several pallets of bricks which were being loaded onto a ship.
No one is thought to have been injured in the incident, but quay owner TW Logistics has said it plans to carry out an investigation into the collapse.


text:
LONDON (Feb. 1)
French officials are considering whether to shorten President Georges Pompidou's visit to the United States later this month and omit New York City from his itinerary in order to avoid demonstrations by Jewish groups against France's arms sales to Libya, it was reported here today. But other sources in Paris said the French Government was in no way disturbed by the refusal of Mayor John V. Lindsay of New York to extend an official welcome to the French chief of state.
President Pompidou is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Feb. 24 as the guest of President Richard M. Nixon. His itinerary will take him to Cape Kennedy, San Francisco, Chicago and New York where he is due March 2 for one day. In New York he is scheduled to lunch with Secretary General U Thant of the United Nations and will be guest of honor at a dinner party to be given by a French-American organization.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported last week that Mayor Lindsay promised that President Pompidou would not receive the gala official welcome that New York normally extends to visiting foreign dignitaries. The welcome usually includes a ticker-tape parade up Broadway and an official reception at City Hall. The Mayor made his promise in a letter to Rep. Bertram Podell, a New York Democrat who is one of the major Congressional critics of France's Mideastern policies.
According to reports from Paris, the official French attitude is that "If Mr. Lindsay does not want to be courteous, that is his right. This does not affect the American Government and it does not affect us." (The Washington Post reported yesterday that President Pompidou had refused to see Arthur J. Goldberg, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and honorary president of the American Jewish Committee. Mr. Goldberg was in Paris last week to attend a conference on the plight of Jews in the Arab countries. According to Washington Post correspondent Jonathan C. Randal, he wanted to solicit M. Pompidou's support for humanitarian efforts to help Jews in Syria, Iraq and Libya and other Arab countries.)


text:
Benjamin Bugaile, son of Earl and Marta Bugaile of Washington, was named to the dean's list at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he is majoring in music education – organ performance. He is a 2010 graduate of Trinity High School.
Eric Horency was named to the dean's list in the School of Business at Robert Morris University. He is a 2011 graduate of Trinity High School, and his parents are Ed and Bonnie Horency.
Christina Jones was named to the dean's list at Grove City College, where she is majoring in English. She is the art director of the Quad, the college's literary magazine. Jones is a 2009 graduate of Canon-McMillan High School, and her parents are Steve and Dotty Jones of Cecil.
Amberley R. Karch was named to the dean's list for the seventh consecutive semester at Washington & Jefferson College, where she is majoring in chemistry. She is a member of Student Affiliates of American Chemical Society, the Film Club and Alpha Lambda Delta Honorary Society, secretary of Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society and an Alpha scholar. Karch also participated in a study-abroad class in Puerto Rico. She is a 2009 graduate of Burgettstown Junior/Senior High School, and her parents are Frank and Diane Karch of Burgettstown.
Kelsey Morris, daughter of Ken and Irene Morris of Washington, graduated from Penn State University, where she majored in biobehavioral health with a minor in psychology. She was named to the dean's list eight consecutive semesters, was a volunteer for THON, a member of the Red Cross Club and a senior staff photographer for The Daily Collegian. She received the William Randolph Hearst Foundation Photojournalism Award. Morris studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, for a semester during her junior year. She is a 2008 Trinity High School graduate and was employed throughout college at Angelo's Restaurant in Washington. Morris has accepted a position at Research & Analytics Professional Services Firm in Wexford.
Brian Resnik was named to the dean's list at Waynesburg University, where he is majoring in environmental science. He is a graduate of Burgettstown Junior/Senior High School, and his parents are Dan and Debbie Resnik of Burgettstown.
Join the conversation
To comment and read comments on the article, please log in as a subscriber
Already a print subscriber? Your current O-R print subscription includes digital access. Fill out the "I am a subscriber" registration form to activate your digital access


text:
Google Chrome runs websites and applications with lightning speed. Chrome is the lightweight flagship ... For Windows XP, Vista, 7.and 8 Fast start-up Google Chrome launches in a snap. Fast ... fast in every possible way. It's quick to start up from your desktop, loads web pages in a snap, and runs .... Free download of Google Chrome 61.0.3163.91
... The new addition of 64-bit support to Chrome, with two brand new 64-bit Dev and Canary channels ... replaces the existing version while preserving all your settings and bookmarks, so there's no need to uninstall ... higher now have systems capable of running 64-bit applications, and this version of Chrome can take full .... Free download of Google Chrome x64 bit 37.0.2062.102
... remote application repository. It is designed to work without having to integrate it during the development process. ... user clicks on the application shortcut from the start menu, or directly from the application launchpad. (See ... so that the solution meets your entreprise's needs: Start your applications: From the Application Start Center From .... Free download of Smart Application Launcher 1.0.6 B003
SE-DesktopApps - the collection of desktop gadget. It includes 6 various components for desktop customization and optimization. Notes gadget allows to take quick notes with auto-save feature. The notes are saved in work folder and shown in desktop gadget for quick access. Clock gadget lets to create beautiful multiform clocks for desktop with useful add-ons, like event reminder and multistage .... Free download of SE-DesktopApps 1.6.2


text:
Known for its musical and architectural legacy, the Austrian capital contains plenty of cultural delights for visitors to explore whilst on holiday in Vienna. Still basking in the limelight of its fin-de-siecle era triumphs, this city contains plenty of attractions to feed the senses throughout the year.
Start planning a break to this breath-taking destination by using the 'Book Now' tool on this page to get the latest details on schedules and availability of flights to Vienna.
There's plenty to see and do on a holiday in Vienna, starting with its MuseumsQuartier. A creative space for the city's more artistically minded citizens, this area is the best place to go to get a feel for this impressive city's storied past. Visit the Hofburg to catch a glimpse of the sparkling jewels of the Imperial Treasury or make a trip to the unmistakable MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art) to study its 7,000-strong collection of modern artwork and its particularly famous collection of Viennese Actionism themed art. The Architekturzentrum Wien is another highlight of the MuseumsQuartier, focussing on the more progressive designs of the 20th and 21st centuries and acting as the national architecture museum of Austria.
If you're lucky enough to be able to plan your Vienna holiday for mid-November to December you'll also be able to visit the city's famed annual Christmas markets. The romantic city goes all-out for Advent and if you happen to find yourself near the centre you'll encounter a barrage of fairy lights, Christmas trees, delicious looking gingerbread and festive decorations. The markets' popularity sees travellers make special trips to Vienna each year simply to attend this beautiful market.
In addition to its internationally famous Christmas markets, the city regularly hosts over 20 outdoor markets throughout the week, held in their iconic hut-like shops. These mainly sell local produce and Viennese delicacies but a handful also stock interesting wares and trinkets that could make the perfect souvenir.
Whilst on your Vienna holiday you also need to make sure that you see some of the city's famous classical music concerts. During the second half of the year you can catch the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra in action at the Festival Hall and the Redoutensale of Vienna's Hofburg Imperial Palace. As well as their usual repertoire of Viennese waltzes and operetta melodies, the orchestra are particularly well known for their New Year's Concerts.
Holidays in Vienna are a popular choice for any vacationer, whether you're looking for a short festive break or planning to spend your summer there. Start planning your holiday now by checking out our cheap flights to Vienna.


text:
Audi & ABC Family Team on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS Snapchat
Audi will elevate the "Pretty Little Liars" viewing experience as the exclusive automotive social partner for nearly all episodes of the upcoming season, including the summer premiere on Tuesday, June 10 (8pm ET/PT), the season finale and the highly anticipated 100th episode in July. Working with the series' producers, and cast, ABC Family and Audi will push the limits of social TV by creating and sharing exclusive show content via Snapchat to engage fans of the most-tweeted TV drama and one of the top shows on television for millennial women.
Audi, ABC Family and show talent, including series star Ian Harding (who plays Ezra), will drive awareness of the program through Twitter and other social platforms to augment the show experience for "Pretty Little Liars" fans and also to help drive the social conversation surrounding the series throughout the season. This social partnership is the first time Audi will surround a scripted TV show for an entire season.
"Audi is a constant part of the social chatter surrounding key pop culture moments and this partnership allows us to continue targeting a new audience," said Loren Angelo, director of marketing for Audi of America. "The recent launch of the all-new Audi A3, an entry-level sedan that doesn't sacrifice design, technology or performance, was a pivotal moment for the brand because it targets first-time luxury buyers and allows us to engage a younger generation. Partnering with a show that is a phenomenon amongst this audience was a natural fit for us to continue to increase brand awareness and perception."
"As the most tweeted scripted series ever, the 'Pretty Little Liars' audience craves content that adds to their viewing experience so this unique partnership with Audi allows us to engage with our viewers in a new and exciting way," said Mark Rejtig, senior Vice president, national sales manager, ABC Family. "Audi is also a leader in the social space and a great brand to partner with as we look to break new ground in the social sphere. Their commitment to the show allows us to do exciting new things for our audience."
In addition to exclusive digital content on Snapchat, Audi will support "Pretty Little Liars" on multiple platforms throughout the season.
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. The Audi Group delivered 1,575,500 vehicles to customers globally in 2013, and broke all-time company sales records for the 4th straight year in the U.S. Through 2018, AUDI AG will invest about $30 billion on new products, facilities and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicles and business topics.
ABOUT PRETTY LITTLE LIARS/ABC Family
"Pretty Little Liars" is produced by Alloy Entertainment, Gaslight Productions and Russian Hill Productions in association with Warner Horizon Television and is executive produced by I. Marlene King, Oliver Goldstick, Leslie Morgenstein and Joseph Dougherty. The series stars Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Tyler Blackburn, Lucy Hale, Ian Harding, Laura Leighton, Shay Mitchell, Janel Parrish and Sasha Pieterse.
Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 97 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today's families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relatable programming about today's relationships - told with a mix of diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a combination of network-defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. For 2014, ABC Family has launched the "WATCH ABC Family" authenticated service which allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on demand access to such popular series at home and on the go via a wide array of devices. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.


text:
CBR Faculty Member V. Ernesto Mendez
Posted by Amy Lipsitz | February 26, 2013
- 03-25-2013
- By CUPS
The field of agroecology has recently received increasing attention from a variety of stakeholders, including academics, policy-makers, development practitioners and farmers and their organizations. The roots of agroecology can be traced to the 1930s. In its original conceptualization, agroecology sought to integrate ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of agricultural systems. However, as interest in the field has grown, debates as to what it really means have emerged. I recently guest edited the inaugural special issue of the re-titled journal Agroecology and Food Systems (formerly Journal of Sustainable Agriculture), with my colleagues Chris Bacon and Rose Cohen, which will be open access for a limited time. Through this compilation of papers we tried to differentiate between different types of agroecologies, and to make a case for an agroecological approach that is grounded in transdisciplinarity, participatory action research and an interest in transforming existing agrifood systems. This may seem wordy to some, but it is worth teasing out the meaning of these terms and reflecting on their importance. We perceive transdisciplinarity as an approach that integrates different academic disciplines, as well as non-academic knowledge (e.g. experiential, cultural), and which is problem-oriented. Participatory action research seeks to bring together researchers and non-researches in an iterative process that includes investigating, reflecting and acting. Finally, by transformative, we mean that we are interested in changing the pervasive political economic structures responsible for a deteriorating agrifood system model. Continue Reading...


text:
Die cut vs. kiss cut sticker still makes people confused and curious about their difference and it seems like a clarification is required here to make everything clear between the two stickers definitions. It is not only about the definitions, but there will also be some explanation about which cutting sticker that can be used based on your need since both have different purpose in use. You need to carefully choose and buy them since both sticker printing have different prices as well.
The Differences between Die Cut and Kiss Cut Stickers
- Die Cut. Die cut means that the cutting sticker can be made in custom-shaped and the material will be cut through by the cutting machine and the shape is given by the backing material to custom sticker. The result will usually be unique.
- Kiss Cut. Kiss cut means that the stickers' borders will have light cuts within them and you can peel them out of the backing material without removing the backing material. You may have heard about the sticker sheet, it is actually multiple kiss cuts on one product. This type is actually the popular one when talking about the pressure-sensitive labels creation technique. There is a sharp metal die that will cut every label's perimeter as the procedure of the kiss cut making; sometimes the laser beam is used instead. For a more convenience, there is a wide option of labels that is produced by the kiss cut sticker printing technique no matter what configuration or the shape it is.
Both types of cutting sticker have differences, like die cut has a better look and appearance and seems more attractive if compared to the kiss cut. Commonly, die cuts are used as price tags, promotional tags, shops' stickers and so on because they are more popular.
Both types also have similarity which is known to be cut based on their patterns when attached to the media or surface that we want.
Which Cutting Sticker Can Be Used?
It becomes a common question that is asked by many people about which sticker printing that we can use for our need. If you need something to promote your business, event, or product, kiss cut sticker is always better because it can be cut following the pattern so we do not need to worry about if the result will only be in square shape. However, if it is for label, die cut cutting sticker is totally the choice because it is more interesting to attract people to have an eye on your product. Now, you can see which sticker printing type that can help you to promote your business.


text:
You may not have thought that gonorrhea could get scarier.
But it has.
Scientists have discovered a new strain of drug-resistant gonorrhea in Japan.
The "superbug," as scientists call bacteria that has mutated to survive, is resistant to all the antibiotics currently used to treat gonorrhea, and doctors warn that it could turn the once easily curable infection into a major health crisis.
Magnus Unemo of the Swedish Reference Laboratory for Pathogenic Neisseria, who discovered the strain, menacingly labeled H041, in samples from Kyoto, told Reuters that the discovery isn't entirely surprising.
"Since antibiotics became the standard treatment for gonorrhea in the 1940s, this bacterium has shown a remarkable capacity to develop resistance mechanisms to all drugs introduced to control it," he said.
Scientists warned last year that gonorrhea could mutate following reports of gonorrhea drug resistance in Hong Kong, China, Australia and elsewhere, according to Reuters.


text:
Yesterday, Bacardi was already considering the future use of the former footballer Vinnie Jones in its advertising and it seemed unlikely that he will be asked back after being convicted of the air rage attack.
In court, Jones got off lightly with 80 hours of community service and a £500 fine after he attacked fellow Virgin airline passengers and told the crew he could get them "murdered for £3,000".
On screen in movies such as 'Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels', 'Snatch' and 'Gone in Sixty Seconds', Jones plays hard-men, underworld-type figures.
However, the loss of the Bacardi work because of the conviction could hit him much harder financially and rule him out of consideration for any future lucrative advertising work.
The drinks firm said it had pulled the ad and would be running a different spot as it continued to weigh up whether to use the former Wimbledon and Welsh international as the face of its advertising.
A Bacardi spokeswoman said: "In the run-up to the Christmas period, we have actually removed that. We do expect appropriate behaviour from people involved in the promotion of our brands."
Jones has since given interviews expressing remorse for his behaviour and in a statement said he "regretted the incident deeply".
Jones has appeared in a number of TV ads for Bacardi Carta Blanca Rum since being signed in 2001 after being brought in by McCann-Erickson.
The agency had another spot starring the actor ready to run, which featured Jones in a race with a woman to see who could mix the fastest Bacardi and Coke. It is now unlikely that this spot will run.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum here.


text:
Androgens promote anabolism in skeletal muscle; however, effects on subsequent muscle function are less well defined because of a lack of reliable experimental models. We established a rigorous model of androgen withdrawal and administration in male mice and assessed androgen regulation of muscle mass, structure, and function. Adult C57Bl/6J male mice were orchidectomized (Orx) or sham-operated (Sham) and received 10 wk of continuous testosterone (T) or control treatment (C) via intraperitoneal implants. Mass, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), and in vitro contractile function were assessed for fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and slow-twitch soleus (SOL) muscles. After 10 wk, Orx+C mice had reduced body weight gain (P < 0.05), seminal vesicle mass (P < 0.01), and levator ani muscle mass (P < 0.001) compared with Sham+C mice, and these effects were prevented with testosterone treatment. Orx+T mice had greater EDL (P < 0.01) and SOL (P < 0.01) muscle mass compared with Orx+C mice; however, median fiber CSA was not significantly altered in these muscles. EDL and SOL muscle force was greater in Sham+T compared with Orx+C mice (P < 0.05) in proportion to muscle mass. Unexpectedly, Orx+T mice had increased fatigue resistance of SOL muscle compared with Orx+C mice (P < 0.001). We used a rigorous model of androgen withdrawal and administration in male mice to demonstrate an essential role of androgens in the maintenance of muscle mass and force. In addition, we showed that testosterone treatment increases resistance to fatigue of slow- but not fast-twitch muscle.
- contractile function
- force
- androgen receptor
recent well-controlled, double-blinded studies have demonstrated unequivocally that androgens regulate muscle mass in humans (29); however, the effect of androgens on subsequent muscle strength is less clear. Anecdotal evidence of muscle anabolism and enhanced physical performance in steroid-using athletes suggests that increased muscle bulk is explicitly linked to enhanced muscle function (66). To date, this premise remains unsubstantiated because of contradictory reports of the effect of androgens on muscle force-producing capacity in both human and animal studies.
In humans, there is clear evidence that physiological testosterone administration increases lean body mass in conditions of low circulating androgens. Testosterone replacement therapy has been effectively used to counteract loss of lean body mass in hypogonadal men (4, 11, 32), older men with normal or low serum testosterone (21, 54), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men with low serum testosterone (2). Similarly, muscle anabolism has been achieved in eugonadal states following supraphysiological administration to young, healthy men (3, 25) and in HIV-infected men with normal testosterone levels (20). However, although some studies have demonstrated enhanced muscle strength following androgen administration (3, 4, 21, 50, 64), others have failed to detect a significant functional effect of androgen therapy despite gains in muscle mass (7, 53, 54, 63).
Issues that still remain to be resolved from the human studies include the dose of testosterone and length of treatment required to increase muscle strength and whether changes in strength occur in a muscle-specific manner. Randomized controlled trials utilizing 20 wk of testosterone administration to subjects treated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to suppress endogenous androgen production have demonstrated a dose-dependent response of lean body mass and leg strength to testosterone in both young (5) and elderly (6) men. In these studies, significant increases in muscle strength were only achieved in subjects that received either high-normal or supraphysiological doses of testosterone. Other studies have shown increased leg and arm/chest strength after 3 or 6 mo of physiological testosterone replacement in hypogonadal men (64), 10 wk of supraphysiological doses of testosterone in normal men (3), or 3 mo of treatment with the potent androgen oxymetholone in elderly men (49). In contrast, in other studies in hypogonadal men, in which physiological replacement doses of testosterone were used, no changes in muscle strength were observed over a 3-yr period despite increased lean body mass (53, 63). Furthermore, a 3-yr randomized controlled trial in elderly men, in which the testosterone dose used maintained serum testosterone within the normal range, also demonstrated no change in muscle strength despite increases in lean body mass (54). Other randomized controlled studies in older men, using low-dose testosterone treatment for 1 or 6 mo, with or without growth hormone treatment, also failed to show any effects of testosterone treatment alone on muscle strength (7, 10, 23). Another 3-yr randomized controlled study showed that elderly men treated with testosterone to achieve physiological levels had a significant increase in lean body mass and increased handgrip strength but no change in lower leg strength (42). Thus, although the data now clearly show that androgens can induce a dose-dependent increase in muscle mass and muscle strength in men, it also is apparent that androgen-dependent changes in muscle mass can occur without significant measurable effects on muscle strength. This may be due to the different methodologies used to quantitate strength or site of measurement (1-repetition leg press or chest press vs. leg flexion/extension or handgrip strength using an isokinetic dynamometer), may be because of muscle-specific actions of androgens, or may be because only high-normal or supraphysiological doses of androgens significantly increase muscle strength.
Therefore, the therapeutic use of androgens to alleviate muscle wasting and enhance physical strength requires further evaluation at both the physiological and molecular level. The mouse is a powerful tool to investigate physiological systems and underlying molecular mechanisms in vivo, and this potential has been further enhanced by the advent of genetically manipulated models (16). Despite the practical advantages of using small animal models to investigate physiological systems, current reports of androgen effects on muscle mass and function in animal models are contradictory. In particular, some studies in rodents have demonstrated significant muscle atrophy following orchidectomy (30), whereas others report no change in either fast-twitch (1) or slow-twitch muscle mass (13) in response to androgen withdrawal. Furthermore, androgen treatment ameliorates immobilization-induced muscle atrophy in some rat models (60) but not in others (67). Functional studies in rats have demonstrated significant correlations between androgen levels and muscle force (13) and fatigue properties (56); however, there are limited studies that focus particularly on androgen regulation of muscle function in the mouse. Early studies in mice showed that androgen withdrawal results in a significant reduction in muscle mass (30, 45) and maximum force production (30). On the other hand, another study failed to detect significant changes in muscle mass, force, or fatigue following high-dose continuous infusion of the testosterone derivative stanozolol (59). To date, no studies have simultaneously assessed the effect of orchidectomy and immediate continuous testosterone replacement on muscle mass and contractile function in a sedentary mouse model.
We have developed a rigorous in vivo mouse model to investigate the effect of continuous supraphysiological androgen administration on skeletal muscle mass and function following orchidectomy and to assess underlying changes in fiber size. The model was designed using orchidectomized and sham animals representing a range of androgen levels to determine the dose-response of skeletal muscle under sedentary conditions. We have tested the hypothesis that elevated androgen levels can sustain muscle mass and force-producing capacity in orchidectomized sedentary mice. In addition, we have studied the effects of androgens on regulation of muscle fatigue properties.
Male C57Bl/6J mice at 8 wk of age were randomly allocated into four treatment groups (n ≥ 8 per group): sham + empty control implants (Sham+C), orchidectomy + empty control implants (Orx+C), sham + testosterone implants (Sham+T), and orchidectomy + testosterone implants (Orx+T). All operative procedures were performed under anesthesia administered by intraperitoneal injection of a 4 mg/ml solution of ketamine (Cenvet, Mansfield, Queensland, Australia) and xylazine (Cenvet; 100 μl/10 g body wt). All animals underwent orchidectomy or sham operation followed by immediate intraperitoneal insertion of three 1-cm testosterone-filled or empty implants for control. Implants were prepared from Silastic laboratory grade tubing (Dow Corning, Midland, MI) and sealed with Silastic adhesive (Dow Corning) as described previously (27). Each 1-cm testosterone-filled implant contained ∼11 ± 3 mg of crystalline testosterone (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO). All animals underwent a 10-wk treatment period with food and water ad libitum before muscle analysis. Animals were housed in a conventional animal house facility, and all experimentation was conducted in accordance with accepted standards of humane animal care as outlined by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and was approved by the Royal Melbourne Research Foundation Animal Ethics Committee (no. AEC2001.023).
Total body weight and growth rate.
Animals were weighed weekly over the 10-wk treatment period. Net total body weight gain was calculated from original and final weight measurements to an accuracy of 0.1 g. Body growth rate (g/wk) was determined by linear regression analysis of weekly body weight data over 10 wk for each animal.
Muscle excision and tissue harvest.
At the end of the 10-wk treatment period, mice were anesthetized and the predominantly fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and slow-twitch soleus (SOL) muscles of the lower hindlimb were surgically excised for mass and in vitro function testing. Animals were then euthanized, and additional hindlimb muscles including the tibialis anterior (TA), plantaris (PLAN), and the levator ani muscle of the perineum [LA; also known as the pubocaudalis and iliocaudalis muscle group (9)] were excised and weighed for wet mass to an accuracy of 0.1 mg. EDL, SOL, and LA muscles were fixed at relaxed length in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 h before histological processing. Additional tissues including the testis and seminal vesicles were excised and weighed for wet mass. In the data analysis, muscle mass was not corrected for body mass, because body mass was the same in all groups before treatment. Body mass is androgen dependent (40), and skeletal muscle mass contributes up to 40% of total body mass (37); therefore, expressing muscle mass relative to body mass after treatment would potentially mask androgen-dependent changes in muscle mass.
Serum testosterone.
After muscle function analysis (∼45 min after initial anesthesia), mice were killed by cervical dislocation and blood was collected from the carotid artery. Serum testosterone was measured in orchidectomized mice by radioimmunoassay following organic extraction as described previously (51). The minimum detectable testosterone concentration of the assay at 95% confidence level is 0.1 nM, and the interassay coefficient of variation range is 3.1–7.5%.
Muscle contractile measurements.
Contractile properties including maximum tetanic force (Po), specific force (sPo), fatigue, time to peak tension (TPT), and half-relaxation time (1/2RT) of the EDL and SOL muscles were assessed in vitro with the use of a force transducer according to methods described in detail previously (46). A frequency-force curve was established for EDL and SOL muscles after successive stimuli at 10–150 Hz and 5–120 Hz, respectively, with a 2-min rest between stimuli. Po was determined from the plateau of the frequency-force relationship, after which the muscle was subjected to a 4-min stimulation protocol to induce muscle fatigue. Muscles were stimulated once every 5 s at optimum length, voltage, and frequency. Po also was determined 5 min after the completion of the fatigue protocol as a measure of the recovery capacity of the muscle following fatigue. sPo was calculated for each muscle by taking into account cross-sectional area (CSA) according to standard procedures described previously (46).
Muscle histology.
Fixed EDL, SOL, and LA muscles were paraffin-embedded, and serial 5-μm transverse sections were cut through the mid-belly region of each muscle sample. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to determine muscle CSA. Analysis was performed only on fibers in true cross section displaying normal polygonal morphology, excluding extracellular matrix. For fiber CSA, images were captured digitally and individual muscle fibers in cross section were traced on screen using Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. The areas of traced fibers were calculated using ImageJ software and were based on a calibrated pixel-to-actual size (μm) ratio. The median fiber CSA for each muscle was calculated from a minimum of 300 adjacent fibers per section and 4 animals per treatment group. All histological analyses were performed blinded to treatment group and assessed in random order with the use of coded sections by a single observer.
Statistical analyses.
Statistical tests were performed using SPSS (version 11.0.2; SPSS, Chicago, IL). Variables were compared between groups with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. Fiber CSA measurements for each mouse were not normally distributed (confirmed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test); thus the median fiber CSA per mouse was calculated and an average obtained for each treatment group. Differences in the average median fiber CSA between treatment groups were compared using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc analyses. Analyses of weight gain over time and muscle fatigue curves were performed by comparing the slopes of linear regression lines to test for differences between treatment groups. Significance was set at P < 0.05. All values are expressed as means ± SE.
We have established a rigorous in vivo model of androgen withdrawal and administration with which to investigate androgen-dependent changes in skeletal muscle growth, structure, and function. Orchidectomized and sham-operated male mice were treated with testosterone or control implants for 10 wk. Human studies have shown a strict dose response of muscle mass and strength to androgen levels (5, 55). Therefore, we chose to have these four treatment groups representing a range of androgen levels from low (orchidectomized) to physiological (sham) to supraphysiological (testosterone-treated sham), to determine the dose responsiveness of skeletal muscle mass and strength in mice.
Establishment of androgen withdrawal/administration model.
Total body weight of animals randomly assigned to each group at the beginning of the study was not significantly different (Fig. 1). After 10 wk, orchidectomized control mice had restricted weight gain compared with sham control and testosterone-treated sham groups (Orx+C, 3.7 ± 0.6 g vs. Sham+C, 6.5 ± 0.8 g, P < 0.05; vs. Sham+T, 7.1 ± 0.7 g, P < 0.05). Testosterone-treated orchidectomized mice gained weight at the same rate as sham control mice (Orx+T, 0.7 ± 0.1 g/wk vs. Sham+C, 0.7 ± 0.1 g/wk) and tended to be heavier than orchidectomized controls at completion of 10 wk of treatment (Orx+T, 28.2 ± 0.6 g vs. Orx+C, 24.7 ± 0.7 g, P = 0.06). Results indicate that animals with depleted androgen levels had reduced weight gain over the 10-wk treatment period compared with mice with normal or administered testosterone levels, and this was prevented with continuous testosterone administration.
Seminal vesicle mass was measured because it is a sensitive biomarker of androgen action (69). Orchidectomy caused a significant decrease in seminal vesicle mass compared with sham controls (P < 0.01; Fig. 2A), reflecting the expected marked decline in androgen action. Testosterone treatment abolished the orchidectomy-induced loss of seminal vesicle mass, indicating that continual testosterone delivery via intraperitoneal implants was maintained for up to 10 wk postimplantation. In addition, seminal vesicle mass was an average of 2.5 times greater in testosterone-treated sham and testosterone-treated orchidectomized animals compared with sham controls (P < 0.001), confirming a supraphysiological level of androgen action in testosterone-treated mice.
To demonstrate the known myotropic effects of orchidectomy and testosterone treatment, we examined the mass of the LA muscle, an androgen-responsive skeletal muscle of the perineum (19). Orchidectomized mice had significantly decreased LA muscle mass (Fig. 2B) compared with sham controls (P < 0.001), and this decrease in mass was prevented by testosterone treatment. Unlike the seminal vesicles, there was no additional increase in LA muscle mass in testosterone-treated sham mice compared with sham controls, possibly representing a plateau in mass at the androgen levels achieved with three implants. Sham mice receiving testosterone treatment also demonstrated a significant reduction in testis mass compared with sham controls (P < 0.05; Table 1). It is likely that the observed testicular atrophy is indicative of suppressed endogenous androgen production due to negative feedback regulation via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by exogenous testosterone (58).
To further confirm that the testosterone implants were functional, we measured serum testosterone levels in orchidectomized mice from blood taken at the completion of muscle function analysis (∼45 min after initial anesthesia). The efficacy of testosterone treatment was evaluated in implanted orchidectomized mice only, because endogenous testosterone levels in intact sham mice are known to fluctuate greatly under stress of surgery and anesthesia (33, 41). As expected, testosterone levels in orchidectomized control mice were low, and treatment with testosterone implants increased serum testosterone levels 50-fold (P < 0.01; Table 1). These results confirm the efficacy of intraperitoneal implants to deliver consistent, sustainable levels of testosterone for up to 10 wk in orchidectomized mice.
These results established the androgen responsiveness of the mouse model of androgen withdrawal and continuous administration, showing predictable biological effects on classic androgen-responsive tissues. In particular, the range of seminal vesicle mass values obtained in the different groups indicated that androgen levels encompassing low, physiological, and supraphysiological levels were achieved.
Muscle mass is androgen dependent.
Using this model, we investigated the effect of different androgen levels on the mass of hindlimb skeletal muscles. To differentiate potential androgen actions on muscles of different fiber type proportions, we examined the EDL, PLAN, and TA muscles, which comprise predominantly fast-twitch fibers, and the SOL muscle, comprising a high proportion of slow-twitch fibers. Orchidectomy significantly decreased the mass of all fast-twitch muscles by up to 17% compared with sham controls (EDL: Orx+C, 9.2 ± 0.3 mg vs. Sham+C, 11 ± 0.4 mg, P < 0.05; PLAN: Orx+C, 15.2 ± 0.4 mg vs. Sham+C, 18.0 ± 0.7 mg, P < 0.05; TA: Orx+C, 39.6 ± 1.2 mg vs. Sham+C, 47.7 ± 1.7 mg, P < 0.05; Fig. 3). The orchidectomy-induced decline in fast-twitch muscle mass was prevented by testosterone administration, given that treated mice displayed up to 18% greater mass than orchidectomized controls (EDL: Orx+C, 9.2 ± 0.3 mg vs. Orx+T, 10.9 ± 0.3 mg, P < 0.01; PLAN: Orx+C, 15.2 ± 0.4 mg vs. Orx+T, 17.7 ± 0.6 mg, P < 0.01; TA: Orx+C, 39.6 ± 1.2 mg vs. Orx+T, 45.3 ± 1.3 mg, P < 0.05). For the slow-twitch SOL muscle, orchidectomized animals also had significantly reduced mass compared with testosterone-treated orchidectomized and testosterone-treated sham animals (Orx+C, 7.3 ± 0.2 mg vs. Orx+T, 9.3 ± 0.4 mg, P < 0.01; vs. Sham+T, 9.5 ± 0.4 mg, P < 0.01), with SOL mass of testosterone-treated orchidectomized and sham mice 27 and 30% higher, respectively, than orchidectomized controls.
These data indicate that both fast- and slow-twitch muscles display androgen-dependent changes in mass, with the slow-twitch muscle particularly responsive to androgen withdrawal and administration. Ten weeks of continuous testosterone administration prevented orchidectomy-induced muscle atrophy and maintained mass at levels comparable to or higher than those of sham control mice for both fast- and slow-twitch muscles.
Androgens affect muscle force in proportion to mass.
To determine the effects of altered androgen levels on skeletal muscle function, we tested fast-twitch EDL and slow-twitch SOL skeletal muscles in vitro for contractile function. Physiological measurements of Po, sPo, fatigue, 1/2RT, TPT, and frequency-force relationships were determined by in vitro electrical stimulation of isolated EDL and SOL muscles from all mice. Po is a measure of the maximum force-producing capacity of muscles (13). This was determined using a frequency-force curve generated for each muscle by applying increasing electrical stimuli until a plateau of maximum force was reached (data not shown). The effect of androgens on EDL muscle force mirrored the changes observed for muscle mass (Fig. 4A), with orchidectomized control animals showing lower maximum force production than sham controls (P = 0.06) and testosterone-treated sham animals demonstrating 25% greater Po than orchidectomized controls (P < 0.01; Fig. 4B). Similarly to the EDL muscle, SOL muscles of testosterone-treated sham animals produced significantly greater force than orchidectomized controls (P < 0.05; Fig. 5B) and displayed overall trends similar to those observed for SOL mass (Fig. 5A). These data show that the maximum force generated by both fast- and slow-twitch muscles is regulated by testosterone, with a dose-dependent relationship between force and testosterone levels.
To determine whether the observed testosterone-induced increments in EDL and SOL force were directly related to the muscle mass, we calculated sPo by expressing force in relation to muscle CSA (Table 2). sPo therefore provides a measure of muscle quality and identifies changes in intrinsic contractile properties of muscle beyond that accountable by mass (55). In both EDL and SOL muscles, sPo remained unchanged across all treatment groups. This indicates that intrinsic muscle contractile ability is not affected by androgen withdrawal or testosterone administration, and altered muscle force is predominantly due to changes in mass.
Androgens affect muscle fatigue in muscle type-specific manner.
Muscle fatigue was measured as the percentage reduction of initial maximum force capacity after 4 min of successive electrical stimulation. Fast-twitch EDL muscle force of control shams was reduced to 18% of the initial maximum force following the fatigue protocol, and this reduction was not affected by androgen withdrawal or administration (Fig. 4C). As expected, the slow-twitch SOL muscle was more resistant to fatigue than the fast-twitch EDL muscle, with sham controls showing a reduction to 36% of maximum force capacity following the fatigue protocol (Fig. 5C). There was no significant difference in SOL muscle fatigue properties of orchidectomized control mice compared with sham controls. However, testosterone-treated orchidectomized mice had significantly enhanced resistance to fatigue compared with both orchidectomized and sham controls (Orx+T, −12.4 ± 0.8% Po/min vs. Orx+C, −18.7 ± 0.7% Po/min, P < 0.001; vs. Sham+C, −16.4 ± 0.9% Po/min, P < 0.05). These results suggest that testosterone treatment increases fatigue resistance in slow-twitch SOL muscle.
Androgens do not affect contraction speed of fast- or slow-twitch muscles.
EDL and SOL muscle contraction speed was assessed by measurement of 1/2RT and TPT. There were no significant differences in 1/2RT or TPT between treatment groups for either EDL or SOL muscles (Table 2), indicating no effect of androgens on contraction kinetics.
Androgen-dependent changes in muscle mass correlate with changes in fiber size.
To determine the structural changes underlying alterations in muscle mass and function, we analyzed EDL, SOL, and LA muscles for fiber CSA. Median LA muscle fiber CSA was decreased by 70% after orchidectomy in control mice compared with sham (P < 0.001) (Fig. 6A). Testosterone treatment in orchidectomized mice prevented LA fiber atrophy and maintained median fiber area at sham control levels, significantly greater than orchidectomized controls (P < 0.001). When LA fiber area was plotted against muscle mass for each mouse, there was a significant correlation between the androgen-dependent changes in median fiber area and changes in mean muscle mass (LA: r = 0.8, P < 0.001; Fig. 6A). In contrast to that for LA muscle, median fast-twitch EDL and slow-twitch SOL muscle CSA was not significantly different between treatment groups because of large variability between samples (Fig. 6, B and C, respectively). However, despite no significant difference in median fiber CSA between treatment groups for the EDL muscle, there was a significant correlation between androgen-induced changes in muscle mass and fiber CSA (EDL: r = 0.5, P < 0.05; Fig. 6B). These results demonstrate that the absence of androgens causes marked atrophy of muscle fibers in the highly androgen-sensitive LA muscle, and this effect is prevented with testosterone treatment. In addition, the strong correlation between LA fiber area and muscle mass suggests that changes in fiber size directly contribute to altered muscle mass. Given the variability in fiber CSA, particularly in the EDL and SOL muscles, the current study would have the power to detect only large changes in area, of ∼60 and 35% for the EDL and SOL, respectively (power ≥ 0.8). Therefore, compared with the LA muscle, changes in EDL and SOL muscle fiber areas that contribute to changes in muscle mass may be too modest to detect using the current methodology.
In the present study, we have demonstrated a crucial role for testosterone in the preservation of skeletal muscle mass, structure, and contractile function in male mice, using a rigorous in vivo model of androgen withdrawal and administration. We also observed an unexpected muscle type-specific effect of androgens on muscle fatigue.
The level of circulating androgens required to maintain muscle mass or promote anabolism in humans or animals is currently not known. Therefore, to be confident of the sensitivity of our model, it was essential to first demonstrate androgen effects on known responsive markers. In line with previous studies (38, 45, 57, 62), androgen withdrawal in our model resulted in a significant reduction in total body weight gain, seminal vesicle mass, and LA muscle mass compared with sham and testosterone-treated animals. There was a clear pattern of response observed for the mass of seminal vesicles and LA muscle across the treatment groups. Testosterone treatment prevented orchidectomy-induced atrophy of seminal vesicles and the LA muscle and increased seminal vesicle mass ∼2.5-fold higher than that of the shame controls, confirming the consistent delivery of androgens via intraperitoneal implants over 10 wk, as previously reported (36). The efficacy of testosterone delivery by implants also was confirmed by serum testosterone analysis in orchidectomized mice. The experimental design of our protocol did not allow us to obtain blood for testosterone assays until the end of a 45-min surgical procedure, making it impossible to obtain physiologically meaningful measures of endogenous testosterone levels in control mice, given the known effects of stress and anesthesia on testosterone in mice (33, 41). Moreover, our group (40) and others (17) have found testosterone levels to be highly variable in mice. Therefore, we used the mass of androgen-responsive tissues as a measure of the overall effect of the 10-wk androgen withdrawal/treatment regime. The fact that seminal vesicle mass was significantly increased in both testosterone-treated groups compared with sham controls strongly suggests that supraphysiological levels of testosterone were maintained over the 10-wk period. Together, these data confirm the androgen sensitivity of our model and show that orchidectomy-induced reduced body weight gain and tissue atrophy are prevented with continual testosterone administration via intraperitoneal implants.
Our study demonstrated a clear relationship between muscle mass and androgen levels. The mass of the fast-twitch EDL was lowest in the orchidectomized control animals and was 18% higher in the testosterone-treated orchidectomized mice and 25% higher in the testosterone-treated sham animals. Although the mass of the slow-twitch SOL muscle was not statistically significantly decreased in orchidectomized mice compared with sham control animals (P = 0.09), the mean mass was lowest in the orchidectomized control animals and was 27% higher in the testosterone-treated orchidectomized mice and 30% higher in the testosterone-treated sham animals. These data suggest the mass of fast-twitch muscles in adult male mice is more sensitive to androgen withdrawal than slow-twitch muscle mass, but the slow-twitch SOL mass may be more sensitive to androgen administration. Our findings are in agreement with an earlier study showing significant atrophy of the fast-twitch TA, biceps bracchi, and EDL muscles, but not the slow-twitch SOL muscle 17 wk postorchidectomy in male mice (45). The molecular basis for the differential sensitivity of muscles to androgens is not completely understood. The density of the androgen receptor (AR) varies among different muscles (31), with greater numbers of AR-expressing myonuclei observed in the highly androgen-responsive LA muscle compared with the EDL (38), and this may explain intermuscular differences in androgen sensitivity. In addition, the basic differences between slow- and fast-twitch muscles, including their different contractile proteins (43), metabolic activity (44), suite of genes expressed (14), and intrinsic activity (28), may contribute to their differential androgen responses.
Supraphysiological testosterone levels in our model maintained mass of fast-twitch muscles from orchidectomized mice within the normal range. For the slow-twitch SOL muscle, there was no statistically significant difference in mass from sham and testosterone-treated sham mice. However, the fact that there was a significantly higher mass in the testosterone-treated sham mice compared with the orchidectomized group but no significant difference between sham control mice and orchidectomized mice suggests that the elevated androgen levels in the testosterone-treated sham mice elicited an anabolic response. It is possible that higher doses of testosterone in this model would result in statistically significant increases in muscle mass; however, this is beyond the scope of the current study.
Few reports exist that clearly demonstrate the effect of androgens on muscle contractile function in mice. In the current study we have unequivocally demonstrated that androgen-induced increases in muscle mass resulted in a proportional increase in maximum force. In contrast, it has been shown previously that continuous infusion of the testosterone derivative stanozolol did not alter muscle mass or contractile properties of EDL or SOL muscle of male sedentary mice after 3 or 6 wk of treatment, despite significant changes in androgen-responsive LA muscle mass (59). These conflicting data may reflect the different sensitivity of muscles to various androgen metabolites. Furthermore, treatment duration has been reported to be a critical factor in evaluating the effect of androgens on muscle, with a study demonstrating hypertrophy of rabbit TA muscle after 12 wk, but not 4 wk, of treatment with nandrolone decanoate (47). Similarly, we observed significant androgen-induced changes in muscle mass after 10 wk of testosterone treatment, but no changes were detected after 4 wk of treatment (data not shown).
The androgen effects on force displayed a similar pattern to that observed for muscle mass, because animals with higher androgen levels tended to have greater muscle force capacity than those with low androgen levels for both fast- and slow-twitch muscles. These results indicate that the androgen-induced effects on muscle force are tightly coupled to, and primarily caused by, changes in muscle mass. Our findings are in agreement with previous studies in humans, which show that androgen-induced changes in maximum force capacity are proportional to muscle mass and that specific force is not regulated by androgens (55). In contrast, a previous study showed that nandrolone decanoate increases specific force of the rabbit TA muscle after 12 wk of treatment (47). Furthermore, orchidectomy has been shown to reduce contractile force in both fast- and slow-twitch muscles of rats despite no change in muscle mass, thus representing a decline in specific force (13). It is possible that the shorter treatment period of 4 wk used by the latter study was not sufficient to induce significant muscle atrophy but may still have resulted in functional deficits due to contractile protein degradation.
Postnatal muscle growth is facilitated by fiber hypertrophy (15). In the present study, androgen-dependent changes in LA and EDL muscle mass were associated with changes in fiber size. Our data indicate that androgen-induced growth of the LA and EDL muscle is facilitated by muscle fiber hypertrophy and that loss of muscle mass following orchidectomy is due to fiber atrophy. In addition, the fact that increased muscle mass was accompanied by a parallel increase in maximum force suggests that androgen-induced increases in muscle mass arise through increased synthesis of contractile elements, rather than changes in noncontractile protein synthesis as suggested by previous reports (56).
Muscle fatigue is characterized by a decrease in force production and a slower contraction speed (65). Female muscles have been shown to be more fatigue resistant and to recover faster from exercise-induced fatigue than male muscles in human studies (22, 26). Surprisingly, our study demonstrated that the slow-twitch SOL muscle of testosterone-treated orchidectomized mice had increased resistance to muscle fatigue compared with sham and orchidectomized controls despite a trend of increased force production. A previous study has shown that rats treated with nandrolone decanoate had increased fatigue resistance of the fast-twitch plantaris muscle (56). Similarly, resistance to fatigue of the EDL muscles was improved in sedentary female rats after 5–6 wk of treatment with nandrolone phenylpropionate (18). In another study, EDL and SOL muscle fatigue indexes were not significantly altered after 3 or 6 wk of continuous infusion of stanozolol in male sedentary mice; however, postfatigue recovery of the soleus muscle was enhanced after 3 wk of treatment (59). Although the mechanism of androgen regulation of muscle fatigue remains unclear, androgens have been shown to modify mitochondrial size (48) and metabolic enzyme activity (34), indicating a possible role in oxidative metabolism. In addition, an effect of androgens on calcium flux and sarcoplasmic reticulum function has been previously identified (8), suggesting a site for androgen regulation of muscle function and fatigue. Our findings suggest a novel role for androgens in control of fatigue resistance of slow-twitch muscles in male mice.
The androgen-dependent effects on muscle mass and function observed in our model mostly likely arise from a combination of direct actions of androgens on skeletal muscle and indirect actions on other target tissues. Androgens act directly on myogenic cells (15, 52), and it is likely that a significant portion of the anabolic androgen action occurs directly in skeletal muscle. However, indirect actions contributing to changes in muscle mass and function could include modulation of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I axis (61), actions on motor neurons (68), or effects arising due to androgen-dependent changes in spontaneous activity (12).
Although androgens act predominantly directly through the AR (35), some effects are also elicited via the estrogen receptor (ER) through aromatization of testosterone to estradiol (39). It is possible that the supraphysiological androgen levels observed in our model could lead to elevated estrogen levels, and androgen effects on muscle fatigue may be elicited via an ER-mediated pathway. A recent study using ERβ knockout mice demonstrated that muscle fatigue and subsequent recovery are regulated by an ER-mediated pathway (24). The increased fatigue resistance of SOL muscles following testosterone treatment in our study could potentially be due to increased aromatization to estrogen either locally or systemically. It is possible that a balance between androgen and estrogen levels may enhance muscle mass and strength while preserving resistance to fatigue. Further investigation is required to delineate between AR- and ER-mediated effects of androgens, possibly with the use of nonaromatizable agents such as 5α-dihydrotestosterone or nandrolone. In addition, the use of AR knockout mice (40) would be beneficial to identify the potential direct mechanisms of androgen action on skeletal muscle mass and function.
In summary, we have demonstrated that androgens are essential for the maintenance of fast- and slow-twitch muscle mass, structure, and strength and that supraphysiological testosterone administration to orchidectomized mice can prevent orchidectomy-associated muscle atrophy. Our results have shown that androgens alter muscle fatigue in a muscle type-specific manner. Rigorously characterized models such as the one described in this study are essential for the further investigation of the anabolic actions of androgens in muscle. Moreover, the use of genetically modified mice will further delineate key pathways, forming a crucial step in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for treatment of muscle wasting disorders.
This research was funded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant 350334, the University of Melbourne, and an Eva and Les Erdi Major Research Grant. A. Axell was supported by a Melbourne Research Scholarship, University of Melbourne, and H. E. MacLean was supported by NHMRC RD Wright Career Development Award 359226.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
- Copyright © 2006 by American Physiological Society


text:
NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
London, United Kingdom, 2009/09/23 - Lombardi insurance customer to keynote London BPM conference.
Lombardi®, a leader in business process management (BPM) software, today announced that one of its customers has been selected to present at the upcoming IRM UK BPM Conference Europe 2009. The three day event will be held on 28 30 September, 2009 at the Radisson Portman SAS Hotel, London, UK. The theme of the conference is Working Harder for Process and Performance Improvement.
Mr. Toby Redshaw, CIO at Aviva Group, has been selected as a keynote speaker by IRM UK to share his BPM experiences during the conference. The keynote session is entitled Big and Agile, and will be held on Tuesday, 29 September, 2009 at 13:40 14:25 local time. During the session, Mr. Redshaw will share real-world insight on how companies can get started with BPM, how they should grow fast for maximum impact, and lessons learned from over four years in the trenches with modern BPM.
Additionally, Jim Rudden, Lombardis vice president of global marketing, will present Eleven Habits for Highly Successful BPM Programs. During the session, Mr. Rudden will share important guidance for ensuring long-term BPM success with proven project development and deployment capabilities. The session will be held on Wednesday, 30 September, 2009 at 12:05 12:50 local time.
Lombardi staff will be available as part of the conference sponsor exhibition to demonstrate its award-winning BPM product portfolio, located in the Ballroom of the hotel. The session is open to all conference attendees. For more information about the conference and to review the complete agenda, visit irmuk.co.uk/bpm2009/.
About Lombardi
Lombardi (lombardi.com) is a leader in business process management (BPM). We offer award-winning BPM technology and services to help our customers, partners and government agencies around the world succeed with their process improvement initiatives.
Lombardi is behind some of the largest, most successful BPM implementations in the world. Our customers include AARP, Aflac, Allianz Group, Applied Materials, Aviva Plc., Banco Espirito Santo, Barclays Global Investors, Chiquita Brands, Dell, Financial Services Authority, Ford Motor Company, Hasbro, ING Direct, Intel, Jaguar Land Rover, Mirant, National Bank of Canada, National Institutes of Health, OAD Groep, Pfizer, PHH Arval, SIRVA, Symantec, UCLH, Wells Fargo, Yale University and numerous governmental agencies.
Lombardi, Teamworks are registered trademarks and Teamworks Process Optimizer, Teamworks Portal, Teamworks for Office, Teamworks for SharePoint and Lombardi Blueprint are trademarks of Lombardi Software, Inc. All other company/product names and service marks may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Written by / Agency / Source: Lombardi Software, Inc.
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick Newswire Today Visibility Checker
Distribution / Indexing: [+]


text:
GosuCup overall Final: Tonight!
Posted by Philipp "ereskigal" Hartmann at 12 November 2009 13:56
It was silent around the GosuCup in the last days and weeks, but tonight the first chapter of GosuCup will end.
After some roster problems and organisationtrouble both, fnatic and xFz.int, are ready to fight the battle for the first place of GosuCup. Tonight at 19:00 CET it will come to an end.
Fnatic leads the bo3 through their winner bracket advantage, but nothing is decided yet.
The game will be streamed over GarenaTV, and shoutcasted for the Germans on ESL-Radio (The link is posted below).
Place your bet on tonight's match, and discuss the winner. Will fnatic take it home safely? Or will xFz manage to beat them?
Gosubet - of the final
ESL Radio - Stream with paranoia


text:
Press Releases
Pro-Choice Updates
NARAL in the News
Get Email Updates
Powered by EveryAction
|Home > News > Press Releases > 2010
August 26, 2010
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts Releases Voters Guide for Every District Announcing Complete List of Statewide and State Legislative Endorsements
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts released its pro-choice Voters' Guide, which includes candidates' positions on choice from all 200 legislative races.
Boston, MA Today, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts the leading statewide advocate for privacy and a womans right to choose released its 2010 Voters Guide along with its entire slate of endorsements going into the primary. The only resource for pro-choice voters living in every district in the Commonwealth, the guide lists endorsements in four statewide contests and 96 state legislative races while providing information about the candidates positions on choice in the remaining 104 legislative districts.
"NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is very proud to be the definitive resource for voters committed to protecting privacy and promoting reproductive choice, said Andrea Miller, the organizations Executive Director. "Voters deserve to know whos pro-choice and whos not so that they can cast a vote on primary day that reflects the values shared by the vast majority in the Commonwealth.
Earlier this month, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts released its slate of 80 endorsed incumbents as well as support for Governor Deval Patrick, Lt. Governor Tim Murray, and Steve Grossman for Treasurer. Release of the Voters Guide coincides with additional endorsements in 14 open seats across the state. Those candidates include, but are not limited to: Gail Cariddi (D-North Adams), Katherine Clark (D-Melrose), Dave Dennis (D-Fall River), Karen Payne (D-Roslindale), Jesse Reich (D-Ayer), and Michael Walsh (D-Westwood).
Miller added, "NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is committed to doing all that we can to ensure that women in the Commonwealth are able to make personal, private decisions about pregnancy and parenting and that includes protecting safe, legal abortion and improving access to birth control. One of the best things voters can do this year is to support candidates who do the same, which is why we are encouraging voters to elect a pro-choice candidate in their district.
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is the driving force behind the election of many pro-choice state legislative candidates. With 20,000 members across the Commonwealth, the organization provides direct assistance to candidates, mobilizes its pro-choice grassroots base in targeted districts, trains candidates and volunteers, and produces and distributes the onlystatewide pro-choice Voters Guide.
# # #
Andrea Miller
617-556-8800 x12
617-556-8800 x12


text:
As the new year rolls forward, we move on to the January Holiday Calendar, which highlights holidays, oddball observances, and other days of note throughout the month that you can tie into an unforgettable promotion. Did you know that January 11 was Milk Day? Yad sdrawkcab si 13 yraunaJ dna!
Take a moment, peruse the calendar, and read our ideas on ways to use these days to your advantage in your next marketing campaign. If you have a better idea than the one we suggest, why not tell us about it?
When? January 3
What? Since drinking straws are not absolutely necessary to enjoy most beverages, they may seem like a luxury item, but many drink containers would be utterly useless without the straw. The modern drinking straw was patented on January 3, 1888 by Marvin C. Stone, a factory worker who sought to improve pre-modern straws, which were made of rye grass and made beverages taste like grass. Instead, he used a piece of paper coated in wax to enjoy his beverages, and soon after the trend caught on.
How? As mentioned already, several types of drink container would be nearly useless without a drinking straw, such as one of our perennial favorites, the custom water bottle. Custom Water Bottles are great for nearly any promotional campaign.
When? January 5
What? With 12% of the world's bird species and 30% of parrot species facing extinction, now is as a good a time as any to take up ornithology and study our winged friends. In addition to appreciating the birds flying outside our homes and offices, National Bird Day seeks to educate and enlighten individuals on practices in the pet industry that exploit birds from of other countries. For more information on National Bird Day, be sure to visit the Born Free USA National Bird Day homepage.
How? What better way to encourage bird-watching than with a pair of Customized Promotional Binoculars? We have several styles available, so you are sure to find some that will fit your marketing budget.
When? January 7
What? "Old Rock Day" does not sound very glamorous, does it? Perhaps a flashier term for "old rocks" would be "fossils" or "gemstones." In any event, Old Rock Day is a good time to discuss geology and the earth's history. Can you name the three types of rocks? Why, it's sedimentary (and igneous and metamorphic), my dear Watson!
How? We got rocks. Rock Stress Balls, that is.
When? January 11
What? We celebrate Milk Day on January 11 because milk was supposedly delivered in bottles for the first time on January 11, 1878. I use the term "supposedly" because the back story for the holiday is apocryphal at best. In any event, January 11 is a good day to enjoy a tall glass of ice-cold milk.
How? Seriously, we have an extensive selection of stress balls. We even have multiple varieties of Cow Stress Balls from which to choose for your next Milk Day promotional campaign.
When? January 12
What? Don't tell your boss, but January 12 is Work Harder Day. My cursory Internet research did little in illuminating the history behind the day, but use January 12 as a day to stay focused and work diligently.
How? Work harder by working smarter. One of the best ways to work smarter is by being organized. Perhaps a Personalized Desk Organizer will kick-start your next advertising plan.
When? January 13
What? Poetry Break Day is another one of those holidays that may have started as an idea in a classroom and has blossomed into a full-fledged day of observance. Use the day to take a moment and read a poem or jot down a haiku or two.
How? To encourage prospects, customers, or employees to write on Poetry Break Day, why not purchase some Personalized Promotional Jotters?
When? January 16
What? According to Wikipedia, "National Religious Freedom Day commemorates the Virginia General Assembly's adoption of Thomas Jefferson's landmark Virgina Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. This vital document became the basis for the separation of church and state, and led to freedom of religion for all Americans, as protected in the religion clause in the US Constitution's First Amendment.
How? National Religious Freedom Day is a good day for churches to connect with their parishioners with a promotional event. After all, without the First Amendment, who knows whether they would be here? Promotional Hand Fans are always a good choice.
When? January 19
What? Popcorn, first discovered thousands of years ago by Native Americans, is one of the oldest forms of corn. Evidence of popcorn from 3600 BC has been found in New Mexico. The product saw a spike in sales during the Great Depression due to its being comparatively cheaper than most other snack products, and it has not dwindled in popularity ever since.
How? This is an easy one. Promote your business, organization, or cause on Popcorn Day by getting some Promotional Popcorn Tins.
When? January 21
What? Perhaps you remember Hat Day from those years in elementary school. Hat Day, like Casual Fridays, is a good way to lighten the mood at your office or workplace, so consider celebrating the event this year.
How? On Hat Day, connect with clients by handing out Custom Hats, which are a good way to keep your company or brand on the top of everyone's minds.
When? January 24
What? Who doesn't love receiving a sincere compliment? Give one to everyone you see on January 24 and promote goodwill among your fellow human beings. In a world where too often we approach others with cynicism or caution informed by xenophobia, Compliment Day is a reminder to be nice to those around you.
How? Kind words go far, but kind deeds go further. Pay your top prospects and clients a compliment by getting them a handsome Leather Corporate Gift.
When? January 27
What? Roughly five weeks into Winter and already feeling depressed? Miss all those heavy desserts from the holidays? Jonesing for your chocolate fix? If this sounds like you, then you should consider celebrating Chocolate Cake Day by baking a chocolate cake, enjoying some chocolate cake, or at least thinking about some cake. While the health effects of chocolate are up for debate, it's no secret that chocolate makes most of us feel good. Really good. Some even say that chocolate is better than kissing, if you can believe that.
How? While we don't offer chocolate cake here at InkHead, we do offer the next best thing: Cake Slice Stress Balls! (OK, so it may not be the next best thing, but it's pretty darn good.)
When? January 29
What? Perhaps it's a testament to the inquisitive nature of the human spirit, but we love puzzles and the many forms they take. Sudoku, crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, and other brain-teasing games are not only fun, they also stimulate our brains and enhance our mental agility. January 29 is a good day to challenge your office staff to complete the New York Times crossword (without the Internet!), engage in Sudoku showdowns, or play a rousing game of Scrabble during their lunch break.
How? While InkHead offers many promotional puzzles and puzzle games, perhaps the best are our Custom Rubik's Cubes, guaranteed to provide hours of computation and deep thought to its recipient.
When? January 31
What? Backwards Day most likely started as a classroom tool to teach youngsters about the differences between "front" and "back," but it's still a fun day to celebrate as an adult. Wear an article of clothing backwards, have breakfast food for dinner, or sign your emails with your name in reverse. As silly as it may seem, using a day like Backwards Day as a tie-in for your promotional campaign can be a boon to your company.
How? Custom computer monitor mirrors are a good promotional item to get for Backwards Day. After all, mirrors show things in backwards or reverse, rather than the way they really are.
When? February 2
What? We've all heard the story: A groundhog saunters out of its hidey-hole on February 2, has a look around, and depending on whether he sees his shadow, either Winter persists for another six weeks or Spring arrives early. Frankly, I can never keep straight which condition means what outcome, so I consulted Wikipedia for clarification.
If it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow, the groundhog will depart his home, therefore signifying the Winter's imminent end. On the other hand, if the day is sunny and the groundhog "sees its shadow," it will retreat back into its hole, and Winter will persist for another 6 weeks. Seems counter-intuitive to me, but what do I know? I'm not an Early American folklorist by any stretch.
Also interesting is that due to the dearth of groundhogs indigenous to Alaska, Alaskans as of 2009 celebrate Marmot Day instead of Groundhog Day. Thanks, Sarah Palin.
How? Customized Sunglasses would make a clever promotional item to use as a tie-in for Groundhog Day, given that the Sun plays such a vital role in determining whether the groundhog will see its reflection.
When? February 5
What? Disaster Day sounds a bit ominous, no? Mayhap a more appropriate title for this day is "Disaster Preparedness Day," but that just doesn't quite the same ring to it, does it? In any event, February 5 is a good day to make sure you have an emergency evacuation route mapped out for any buildings you may occupy on a given day. Also, since many of us may never experience carnage inflicted by a natural disaster, Disaster Day is a good day to go over the importance of fire safety with your children (as well as any pyromaniacs you may know).
How? Thinking outside the box on this one somewhat, but our fire extinguisher salad dressing dispensers would serve as a great reminder to recipients that they should make sure they have a home evacuation route planned in the event of emergency.
There are a lot of ways to promote your business, but tying your next marketing campaign to a wacky holiday or unusual observance will make your efforts stand out above the rest.
As always the items featured in this post are subject to availability, so be sure to check with one of our Promotions Specialists before ordering to ensure that we have sufficient stock available.
We are InkHead Promotional Products, and it's Your brand. Your message.


text:
Get the most health benefits out of a farmers market A farmers market has more than just local, fresh food. It's a chance to connect with nature and be more social. Try these ideas the next time you venture out.
By clicking "Continue," you will leave lillyforbetterhealth.com and go to a third-party website.
Click "Continue" to proceed, or click "Cancel" to close this window and return to lillyforbetterhealth.com.Continue Cancel