text:
It's a great time to play Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Earlier this month, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market organized a clever fundraiser: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. The event was arranged like a progressive dinner but with a twist - no one knew where each course would be served. At the start of the evening, we arrived at the Inn at Canal Square for an aperitif and directions to our various destinations.
Before introducing the numerous hosts and hostesses, we learned how these generous supporters of the HLFM handle the unexpected. Due to last-minute emergencies, two of the planned dining sites had to cancel their participation. Volunteers already cooking for 12 or 15 guests offered to find more seats at their tables, and several new hosts were recruited a short day before. What a wonderful illustration of the community connection to the market.
Our first stop was a short walk to the Lewes home of John Mini and Robert Perri. I recognized Robert from one of the tomato festivals and wondered if his appetizers would be as delicious as his prize-winning tangerine tomato tart. One look at the kitchen island and I knew we wouldn't be disappointed – bottles of wine nestled in ice, glasses arranged in tidy rows and a stack of Williams Sonoma cheese plates at the ready.
We were so engaged in meeting the other guests and chatting with our hosts, it took a few invitations before we moved into the dining room. Here we discovered colorful platters and silver trays of elegant appetizers arrayed across the dining room table. They were so perfectly plated and garnished, it was challenging to decide where to begin.
I started with a bold shrimp salad (lots of cayenne) on miniature pumpernickel slices. When we were unable to identify the faint sweetness, Robert told us he'd spread a delicate molasses butter on the bread. Another flavor surprise was the combination of Asiago, Parmesan, green onion and chili on crostini garnished with sun-dried red pepper. For those of you who find sun-dried tomato too aggressive, you'll enjoy the subtle sweetness of these (you can find them at Taste of Italy).
The caviar-topped egg salad in the photo captures Robert's objective for these first-course selections – classy but casual. He chose a comfort food like egg salad, paired it with crisp sourdough toast miniatures and finished with a dollop of red caviar. When asked what kind of caviar is best, Robert advised choosing whatever your wallet can handle.
My favorite of all the appetizers didn't make it into the picture – pastry shells filled with a mixture of merguez sausage, chopped kale, shallots and Madeira – a spicy, rich mouthful. My puzzled look started a tutorial on merguez, something I'd never tasted before. Native to Morocco and common to France, merguez is a fresh (not cured) sausage made of ground lamb, harissa (hot chili paste) and spices. It's typically grilled and served with couscous, or eaten like a hotdog in a roll with mustard.
Sampling this selection of unusual combinations and novel flavors helped me appreciate Robert's thoughts on appetizers. He suggested looking for foods you really enjoy eating and finding ways to serve them so people can just pop little bites in their mouths while still holding a cocktail and a conversation.
Since he didn't have his recipes handy when we spoke, I don't have Robert's inventions for this column. Instead, here are three appetizers that feature a few of my favorite foods – some treats to nibble until I can get to the Historic Lewes Farmers Market Saturday morning.
Stuffed Phyllo Cups
mini phyllo (filo) cups
1 T olive oil
1/2 C minced onion
1 minced garlic clove
1 lb lean ground beef
1/4 C dry red wine
1 T minced parsley
1/8 t nutmeg
1 t grated lemon zest
Parmesan cheese for garnish
Arrange phyllo cups on a serving platter; set aside. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Add the meat to the skillet and cook until no longer pink, stirring constantly to crumble the meat. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until heated through. Spoon the meat mixture into the phyllo cups and garnish with Parmesan cheese.
White Bean Squares
2 red or orange bell peppers
15-oz can cannellini beans
2 T flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 cloves garlic
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 t lemon zest
1/4 C olive oil
salt & pepper, to taste
snipped chives for garnish
Seed and core the peppers. Cut peppers into strips 1-inch wide and then into squares. Arrange pepper pieces skin side down on a serving platter; set aside. Place the remaining ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place a dollop of bean puree on each square of red pepper and garnish with chives.
Blue Cheese Snacks
3/4 C blue cheese
1/2 C cream cheese
1/4 C minced celery
1/2 t cracked black pepper
1/3 C sun-dried red peppers
Pumpernickel bread
Cut out small pieces from the center of the bread slices using a decorative cookie cutter; arrange on a serving plate. Bring the blue cheese and cream cheese to room temperature. Place cheeses, celery and pepper in a mixing bowl. Blend thoroughly until combined. Spread cheese mixture on bread and garnish with a piece of sun-dried red pepper.
Most Popular
UPDATE: Hurricane Jose briefly closes...
UPDATE: Baby dies in crash north of...
Glenn Matthew Short, Cape Henlopen...
Senior apartment complex underway in...
New project surfaces at proposed...
Maryland man cited in Route 1 crash...
One old and two new in Dewey
Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi classes begin...
Entertainment Briefs
Schell Brothers wins Lewes Dragon...


text:
Is anyone GLAD they had drains, or feel like there was a benefit to them?
- AimeedoubleGs
- Pasadena, CA
- Last updated: 5 years ago
I finally found a surgeon who takes my insurance and does the caliber of work I expect (yay!) but she is a real stickler about drains. She told me people hate them, but she thinks they are necessary to prevent the low risk of hematoma. So far all I have heard is that drains are by far the worst part of the recovery if you have them, and I am thinking this alone might be enough to make me pass on her. Has anyone had a positive experience with drains? Does anyone feel like they helped them in any way towards their recovery?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Federal Signal Corporation Appoints Braden Waverley As Interim Chief Financial Officer
Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS), a leader in environmental and safety solutions, today announced the appointment of Braden Waverley as the interim chief financial officer of the Company effective October 10, 2012. Mr. Waverley will replace Bill Barker, who is departing the Company to join Trustwave as its chief financial officer.
"During the last year, Braden provided the Company with invaluable advice and support as a consultant on strategic alternatives for the intelligent transportation division, Federal Signal Technologies, which was sold to the 3M Company last month," said Dennis Martin, Federal Signal's president and chief executive officer. "Braden played an integral role in managing the sale process, including interfacing with potential acquirers, capital markets participants and multiple operating functions inside the Company. We are delighted that Braden has agreed to continue to serve as a consultant to the Company in this key leadership position while we conduct a search for a permanent chief financial officer."
Prior to joining Federal Signal in a consulting capacity last year, Mr. Waverley served as Executive Chairman of CombineNet, Inc. and was an investor and advisor to multiple, early stage companies. His capital markets experience ranges from private equity and venture capital to public markets. Mr. Waverley has over twenty years of operations and general management experience, including global executive management responsibilities with Dell Inc. and Motorola, Inc. Mr. Waverley holds a master's degree in business administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Posted-In: News Management
© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


text:
In Living Colors
Echocardiography has been around for more than two decades, but recent technological advances—especially in the quality of image resolution—have increased its precision in evaluating the structure and function of the heart. So accurate are the state-of-the-art, $250,000 machines now in use at Hopkins, it's possible to diagnose heart defects as early as 16 to 20 weeks after conception, providing a prenatal diagnosis that gives advance warning of many cardiac problems to parents and physicians.
"We can be very accurate in diagnosing congenital heart diseases," says Philip J. Spevak, M.D., director of pediatric echocardiography, a service that acts as an important resource for other hospitals and is now exploring the viability of telemedicine to make access to its technology and expertise even easier.
The labs currently receive videotapes via courier from many regional hospitals and even some from around the world. While these facilities can conduct their own echocardiograms, they rely on Spevak's expertise and on Hopkins' echo-reading equipment for precise interpretations of the results. With the telemedicine project, the transmission of digitized echocardiographic data would take place over high-speed lines. "The image quality is great," Spevak says. "We've tested the technology, so we know that it works." Such a system also might simplify the logistics of cardiac surgery and reduce the cost. Currently, a cardiac echo expert must visit the operating room twice—once at the beginning and again when the operation is finished in almost any pediatric cardiac surgery. With a digital system, the echo could be viewed in real time from a distant location.
Hopkins is still in the early stages of implementing digital video transmission, but Spevak is enthusiastic about its potential. "This is going to be a big help," he says, "because we'll be able to see the data at the same time" as will doctors in their own offices, allowing for discussions of results that may help the outside doctors learn more about the imaging of congenital heart disease. It may also eliminate the need to transfer some patients, by helping doctors decide more quickly which patients can be treated at community hospitals and which require more specialized care here.*BG


text:
Would herbal hormone help in teen acne in stablizing the oil supply in the body?
Can Herbal Hormone Help with Teen Acne?
Doctor Answers 1
Not Studied Yet
There has been very little in the dermatology literature regarding using herbal hormones for acne. I am assuming you are referring to the use of phytoestrogens for this purpose.
Estrogens in general help acne since they use up some of the sex binding globulin. This leads to decreased activation of testosterone. Estrogen itself also causes decreased oil production of the sebaceous glands.
There are many phytoestrogens in soy isoflavones. Lessers, but still abundant amounts, are found in yams and red clover. I suppose you could try these and see how they help. Warning: if you have breast cancer or a strong family history of breast cancer these should be avoided since they could worsen an estrogen-dependent tumor.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


text:
Here's the Honest Trailer for Man of Steel, via Screenjunkies. I don't know, I thought Henry Cavill did a fine job as Superman, but maybe I was just distracted by his hot bod. Also, I can't believe I never thought of the fact that both of his dads were Robin Hood. -Vince
FOLLOW Vince on Twitter. FAN US on Facebook. SUBSCRIBE to the Frotcast. NOMINATE for Comments of the Week.
A Wahlburger's Reality Show Starring Mark & Donnie is Coming to A & E |FilmDrunk|
Yahoo!'s 30 for 30 On the Final Game in 'Space Jam' is Incredible |UPROXX|
LA Weekly did a piece on our favorite actor Jonathan Brandis. |LAWeekly|
Huge piece on the Reverend Moon cult, which I thought was an isolated 80s thing. Nope. Still around. Still super weird. |TheNewRepublic|
Someone Posted a Craigslist Ad Offering a Wedding Ring for Chiefs-Broncos Tickets |With Leather|
This Seems Legit: Conan Brings Another Exclusive Look at Ben Affleck's Batman |Gamma Squad|
There's Allegedly a Trent Richardson Orgy Tape |Kissing Suzy Kolber|
'Rap God': Eminem Beats First-Week Sales Expectations |Smoking Section|
Bad taxidermy is the perfect mix of hilarious and terrifying |death&taxes|
Checking In On Amy's Baking Company |Videogum|
28 Magical Beauty Products That Are Pure Genius |BuzzFeed|
Hold On To Your Suspenders, George RR Martin Calls Fan Fiction 'Lazy' |Pajiba|
Vagina Selfie: The Art of Lindsay Lohan |The Superficial|
Lady Gaga Thinks Perez Hilton Wants to Kill Her |IDLYITW|
Sports Media is Obsessed with Scandals, and It's Bullshit |BroBible|
Miley Cyrus Got Naked in Yet Another Music Video |Guyism|
25 Things You Didn't Know about Black Friday |The Chive|
Best Songs with 'Dog' in the Title |Ranker|


text:
Oral Micronized Progesterone for Perimenopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
This study is ongoing, but not recruiting participants.
University of British Columbia
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Jerilynn Prior, University of British Columbia
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: October 31, 2011
Last updated: May 8, 2017
Last verified: May 2017
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
The purpose of this study is to test whether a oral micronized progesterone reduces the Vasomotor Symptom Score comprised of the number and severity of hot flushes and night sweats in perimenopausal women. Oral micronized progesterone is molecularly identical to human progesterone, a steroid hormone. It is sold by prescription for use to prevent endometrial cancer in women taking estrogen in menopause. This research study will test whether progesterone reduces perimenopausal hot flushes and night sweats. It will also test whether progesterone improves sleep disturbances and anxiety.
|Hot Flushes Night Sweats
|Drug: Oral micronized progesterone Drug: placebo
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Oral Micronized Progesterone for Perimenopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: Sweat
Drug Information available for: ProgesteroneU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Jerilynn Prior, University of British Columbia:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS)/ VMS Score [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]
Participants will complete a daily calendar (Daily Perimenopause Hot Flush Calendar) to record frequency and severity (quantified by numerical scale ie 0=none to 4=extreme) of hot flushes and night sweats. The VMS Score will be calculated as follows:
Daily VMS Score = (# night sweats) x (severity) + (#hot flushes) x (severity).
Outcome is the average daily VMS Score during the final 28 days of therapy, to be analysed with 28-day run-in scores as covariate.
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Frequency of VMS [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]Frequency (count) of hot flushes/hot flashes and night sweats per day from prospective daily calendar records. Outcome is the average daily VMS Frequency (day + night) during the final 28 days of therapy, to be analysed with 28-day run-in scores as covariate.
- Severity of VMS [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]Severity (0-4) of hot flushes/hot flashes and night sweats per day from prospective daily calendar records. Daily summary score is the maximum of daytime and nighttime severity. Outcome is the average daily severity during the final 28 days of therapy, to be analysed with 28-day run-in scores as covariate.
- Sleep problems and anxiety [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]
Daily average rating of sleep problems (0-4) and anxiety (0-4) from prospective daily calendar records.
Outcome is the average daily rating during the final 28 days of therapy, to be analysed with 28-day run-in scores as covariate.
|Study Start Date:
|October 2011
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|June 2017
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|June 2017 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: oral micronized progesterone
Oral micronized progesterone is Prometrium 300 mg at bedtime daily
Drug: Oral micronized progesterone
300 mg as 3-100 mg capsules taken orally at bedtime daily for 12 weeks
Other Names:
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Comparator
Drug: placebo
placebo comparator, taken as 3 round capsules at bedtime daily for 12 weeks
Detailed Description:
This is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of oral micronized progesterone (300 mg daily at bedtime) for perimenopausal women living anywhere in Canada. Using the self-reported maximum menstrual cycle length in the previous year, women will be stratified as in Early Perimenopause (<60 days) or Late Perimenopause (>=60 days). The design includes a 28-day baseline run-in followed by 12 weeks of randomized therapy.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|35 Years to 58 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Between 35-58 years of age
- At least 4 vasomotor symptoms (VMS) per day, on average, for at least 2/4 weeks or at least 56 over a four-week period. In addition, women should report having VMS of moderate or severe rather than mild intensity. Women reporting fewer VMS than this, but who report night sweats that awaken them from sleep on two or more nights per week will also be included.
- Perimenopausal status either based on irregularity of menstrual periods, or by onset of new perimenopausal symptoms in women with regular periods.
- At least one menstrual period within 12 months of study enrollment
- Ability and willingness to complete the Daily Perimenopause Hot Flush Calendar recording instrument.
- Ability to understand, speak, read and write English.
- Women who are at high risk for breast cancer (ie first degree relative with breast cancer, known/suspected history of breast cancer) will be required to have a normal mammogram and clinical breast examination within 12 months of study enrollment.
Exclusion Criteria:
- VMS without perimenopausal etiology.
- Women who have had a hysterectomy and/or ovariectomy.
- Peanut allergy (because peanut oil is used in the progesterone formulation.)
- Current or recent (within the last 6-mos.) use of hormonal therapies (estrogen, progesterone, hormonal contraceptives, hormonal fertility treatments), or plans to initiate use during the study period. Two exceptions: women using progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD) will not be excluded as it is felt that level of hormone released will not have an effect on VMS and women taking very low-dose transdermal progesterone therapies who have VMS and meet inclusion criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If enrolled, they will be required to continue and document use of this very low-dose hormone therapy throughout the entire trial.
- Planned pregnancy or fertility treatment during the study period.
- Women who are breastfeeding.
- Participants with a score greater or equal to 15 on the Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Women assessed as needing further investigation and/or treatment for depression will be excluded.
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01464697
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01464697
|Canada, British Columbia
|Participation from home or in-person at University of British Columbia/Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR)/Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
|Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 1M9
Sponsors and Collaborators
University of British Columbia
|Principal Investigator:
|Jerilynn C Prior, MD FRCPC
|University of British Columbia
More Information
Additional Information:
Keywords provided by Jerilynn Prior, University of British Columbia:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
Additional Information:
Prior JC, Hitchcock, CL. Progesterone for Vasomotor Symptoms: A 12-week Randomized, Masked Placebo-controlled Trial in Healthy, Normal-Weight Women 1-10 Years Since Final Menstrual Flow (Abstract). Endocrine Reviews 31(3): S51, 2010.
|Responsible Party:
|Jerilynn Prior, Principal Investigator, University of British Columbia
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01464697 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|October 31, 2011
|Last Updated:
|May 8, 2017
|Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
|Plan to Share IPD:
Keywords provided by Jerilynn Prior, University of British Columbia:
hot flushes/hot flashes
night sweats
sleep problems
negative mood
vasomotor symptoms
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Hot Flashes
Signs and Symptoms
Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists
Physiological Effects of Drugs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


text:
SANTA CRUZ -- In the hours after a rape or other sexual assault, victims can face a whirlwind of problems.
Some people hesitate to call 911 because they fear a hospital examiner won't be sensitive to what they just endured. Yet if they don't report a sex assault, the experience can haunt them for years and the perpetrator might not be brought to justice, authorities said.
The Santa Cruz County's Sexual Assault Response Team includes nurses, forensic examiners, victim advocates and members of law enforcement to help sexual assault victims at Dominican and Watsonville Community hospitals. This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To raise awareness, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office tracks the number of domestic violence related calls made to law enforcement in the county. Those calls are reported daily in the Sentinel. So far this month, 289 calls have been received.
No one denies being a victim of a sexual assault is a harrowing and life-changing experience. But the nurses who see the victims do everything they can to respect the victim's comfort and condition first while doing their part to collect evidence from their bodies and their clothing.
"We actually say, 'You can run the show,'" said Diane Deese, coordinator of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners team. "The victim is completely in control."
Deese started to work on an early version of the team in Santa Cruz County in 1985. The Sheriff's Office took the reins in 2000 and it now includes an interdisciplinary staff from the medical, forensic, advocacy and law enforcement fields.
When any law enforcement agency in Santa Cruz County takes a report of a suspected sexual assault, they can use the team's services.
Victims often call 911 to report a rape or other sexual assault, or sometimes a family member will notify authorities. Victims are sometimes attacked by men who have drugged their drink at a bar, for instance, or sometimes a child has been attacked sexually and a parent reports it.
The Sexual Assault Response Team gets about three to nine cases each month.
For adult victims, police will set up the victim with an advocate from Women's Crisis Support-Defensa de Mujeres. That advocate can accompany the victim to the hospital.
Because a rapist can leave evidence of an attack on the victim, police need a hospital visit to document bruises, cuts, blood, semen and stained or ripped clothing.
"The sooner we can get the victim in, the better chance we have of preserving physical evidence," said Santa Cruz County sheriff's Sgt. Jim Ross, who supervises the Sexual Assault Response Team.
If the victim does not want to come to the hospital immediately, Deese advises them not to wash their clothing and not to shower. Although testing has improved to the point that even clothing that has been washed can yield detectable amounts of DNA, nurses said.
If the victim agrees to be examined at the hospital, the advocate usually accompanies that person and meets Deese or another nurse, who are on call 24 hours.
"The basic purpose of it is to counteract the horrific experience that the person has just gone through," said Lauren Zephro, supervisor of the team.
Just this week, the Sexual Assault Response Team's work resulted in a 65-year to life sentence for a man who raped a 23-year-old woman at knife point at the Kind Grind Coffee Shop in Santa Cruz in 2008.
Just hours after that extreme, morning attack, Deese examined the young woman.
In a painstaking collection process, Deese was able to collect semen from the attacker that later provided a DNA link to the perpetrator, who was arrested and convicted in a 2012 trial.
The victim didn't know the man, but the DNA match helped authorities solve the case.
"She came literally straight from the incident. It doesn't happen that often," Deese said.
Cathy Chase Bautista, a registered nurse on the Sexual Assault Response Team, said while some attacks are random and unavoidable, there are things women can do to be on the alert.
It's wise to count the number of drinks consumed while out at night, she said, and avoid trying to drink as much as men who weigh more and have higher tolerances. Keep an eye on drinks at all times in a bar to avoid having it drugged.
She urged victims to have the courage to seek help. Rapists often are repeat offenders, and speaking up can stop more people from being victimized.
Not reporting it can lead to other problems including eating disorders, depression or post traumatic stress disorder, among other things, she said.
"It's wise to get treatment and support, because it's such a grave invasion," she said.
To report an attack, call 911.
Follow Sentinel reporter Stephen Baxter at Twitter.com/sbaxter_sc


text:
Carmex lip balm
£2.55 (£34 per 100g)
Product Summary
Classic Moisturising Lip Balm
Petrolatum, Lanolin, Cetyl Esters, Paraffin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cera Alba, Camphor, Menthol, Salicylic Acid, Vanillin, Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol
Please note that while we take every care to make sure the product information displayed on our website is correct, product recipes are regularly changed. This may affect nutrition and allergen information therefore you should always check product labels and not rely solely on the information presented here.If you require specific advice on any Waitrose branded product, please contact our Customer Care Team. For all other products, please contact the manufacturer.This information is supplied for personal use only. It may not be reproduced in any way whatsoever without the prior consent of Waitrose Limited nor without due acknowledgement.


text:
You can search for articles in back issues of Contingencies from July/August 2000 to March/April 2009 using the search box to the right. Simply type in subject words, author's name, or article title and click search. To search for articles from May/June 2009 to the present, go to the current digital issue of the magazine and use the search function on the left of the top navigation bar.
Second-Order Effects
By Sam Gutterman
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WORSE THAN SMOKING? Well, what about getting fat? I was reading a story the other day that hypothesized the real reason that Parisian women are less obese than their American counterparts is that they smoke more. Has the huge push to reduce smoking been a factor contributing to the current obesity epidemic in the United States? Together with the baby boomers' fear of mortality, this weight increase has in turn increased the American demand for faddish (though sometimes effective) diets and changes in eating and exercise habits. Some believe the popularity of fast food in France has led to the recent rise in youth obesity there.
In the public policy-making arena, it's easy to find examples where second-order effects of policy decisions haven't been sufficiently considered—the effect of various pension reform and regulatory efforts on defined benefit pension plans, for example. Although a cost-benefit analysis has been the kiss of death to many a proposal (similar to sending a proposal to a committee for "study"), I believe that probable second-hand third-order effects should be identified and reflected in the analysis of proposed new or modified programs.
A pet peeve of mine regarding politicians is that long-term effects of their proposals never seem to be seriously discussed. Even 10-year government budget estimates seem to be bandied about primarily to justify a political position and not to clarify the real reasons and their effect on the private and public environment. Certainly from an actuarial perspective, both long-term and second-order effects appear totally absent from any public policy discussions of retirement and health care issues.
An example might be a proposal designed to assist a specific population segment such as the very rich or the very poor, or a special interest group. A second-order effect might be the development of a new industry whose sole purpose is to take advantage of the new program (to the possible detriment of an existing industry) or the development of its own bureaucracy that will likely deliver limited net value to the original targeted population, be inconsistent with the program's original objective, and be difficult to eliminate. Take the 1960s war on poverty programs, for example.
Usually new or revised stakeholder incentives are key factors that drive these effects. Incentive compensation is a frequent example. Even a seemingly innocuous change in a comp formula might result in unintended negative consequences elsewhere. Very early in my career, I designed a branch manager compensation program whose incentive formula turned out to emphasize expense management. The short-term result was indeed a significant reduction in expenses, but at the cost of a reduction in recruiting, production, and long-term sales capacity. More extensive sensitivity testing and probing interviews might have avoided the problem.
To help overcome these concerns, explicit and transparent assumptions should be used and communicated to the decision-makers, particularly an analysis of possible adverse incentives and the reactions of all the affected stakeholders. The relationships among assumptions—whether due to policyholder, market, or insurer behavior—are second-order effects that have to be reflected in insurers' product design and pricing.
Examples of unsound actuarial practice include changing crediting rates for annuities without reflecting corresponding changes in policyholder behavior (as seen in voluntary persistency rates), creating marketing product bells and whistles without reflecting their expected costs, or introducing an attractive new product without considering its substitution effect on profitable existing products.
A management development trainer once taught me that almost any strength carried to its extreme would develop into a weakness, a lesson I still remember. For example, it's great if a young actuary develops relevant and current technical skills. Nevertheless, if that smart young man or woman becomes too good at using these skills, he or she might become viewed strictly as a techie, with limited opportunity for advancement into broader areas when such a move might have contributed to both the firm and the individual. Careful mentoring and challenging temporary positions outside current specializations might help provide that opportunity.
We as a profession and as individual actuaries should encourage full consideration and disclosure of second-hand third-order effects, over both the short term and the long term.
SAM GUTTERMAN is director and consulting actuary with PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP in Chicago.
Contingencies (ISSN 1048-9851) is published by the American Academy of Actuaries, 1100 17th St. NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20036. The basic annual subscription rate is included in Academy dues. The nonmember rate is $24. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC, and at additional mailing offices. BPA circulation audited.
This article may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official policy of the American Academy of Actuaries.
March/April 2006
New Catastrophe Models for Hard Times
Inside Track:
Up To Code:
Policy Briefing:
Statistical Miscellany:
2006 Directory of Actuarial Software


text:
If you're looking for a few Christmas stocking stuffers, professors and others at UCDavis have been busy over the past year writing books that would be good to read over the winter holidays.
Here are a few suggestions that can be obtained either at area bookstores, or online.
"Wonder and Delight: A Dolph Gotelli Christmas" by Dolph Gotelli (http://Wonderanddelightbook.com, $75, 360 pages). Known as "Father Christmas," UC Davis environmental design professor emeritus Dolph Gotelli has now featured his collection of toys and Christmas memorabilia in a book containing 570 color photos suitable for any holiday coffee table. For decades, Gotelli has mounted a number of museum exhibitions using toys from his collection -- and this book gives everyone a chance to view them.
"The American Way of Poverty: How the Other Half Still Lives" by Sasha Abramsky (Perseus Books, $26, 329 pages). Looking at long-term poor and the working poor, Abramsky, a UCD lecturer and freelance journalist, looks at the tens of millions of people whose lives are shaped by financial insecurity. Ultimately, he suggests ways "for moving toward a fairer and more equitable social contract." The New York Times Book Review just named the book one of the 100 notable books of the year.
"Smarty Marty's Got Game" by Amy Gutierrez (Cameron & Co., $17.95, 40 pages). This children's book shatters stereotypes for girls in sports and tells the story of a character named Marty, who teaches the game and her love of baseball to her younger brother. Gutierrez, a 16-year career sports journalist who covers the San Francisco Giants, is a 1995 UCD graduate of the Department of Communications.
"Song of Siwa: the Marzuk-Iskander Festival" by Louis Grivetti (XLIBRIS, $16.36, 242 pages). Louis Grivetti, professor emeritus of nutrition, worked at the Siwa and Qara oases of Egypt during the mid-1960s, and wrote this fictional epic to honor the residents of these remote desert areas. With many elements based on historical events, it relates the transcribed oral tradition of a band of early Stone Age hunters, led by Marzuk, who fled southwestern Europe, crossed the Mediterranean Sea to North Africa and ultimately reached safe haven in Siwa. It culminates with the visit of Iskander (Alexander the Great) to Siwa oasis, an event still revered at the oasis today.
"The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832" by Alan Taylor (WW Norton & Co., $35, 624 pages). This Pulitzer prize-winning UCD history professor brings to light the untold stories of slaves who used war to escape slavery, and when newly freed, helped free others. Taylor focuses on the relationship between slave owners and enslaved people in the period between the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, often called "the second American Revolution." The book is a finalist for the National Book Award.
"One Hundred Apocalypses and Other Apocalypses" by Lucy Corin (McSweeney's, $17, 192 pages). A collection of short stories by Corin, a UCD associate professor of English, illuminates moments of vexation and crisis, revelations and revolutions. An apocalypse might come in the form of the end of a relationship or the end of the world.
"Representing the Good Neighbor: Music, Difference, and the Pan American Dream," by Carol A. Hess (Oxford University press, 49.95, 336 pages). This is the first book, according to the publisher, to examine in detail the critical reception of Latin American music in the United States. The author, a UCD associate professor of music, compares the work of three of the most prominent Latin American composers: Carlos Chavez, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Alberto Ginastera.
"Courtesans, Concubines and the Cult of Female Fidelity" by Beverly Bossler (Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series, $36, 480 pages). Bossler, a professor of history, specializes in the study of society, family and gender in China. Her most recent book traces the influence of commercialization and entertainment on gender relations in China in the 10th to 14th centuries. Bossler illustrates how women intersected and interacted with men, influencing the social, political, and intellectual life of the Song and Yuan dynasties.
"Eating Right in America: The Cultural Politics of Food and Health" by Charlotte Biltekoff (Duke University Press, $22.95 paperback, $79.95 cloth cover, 224 pages). Biltekoff, formerly a chef at the acclaimed San Francisco restaurant "Greens" and now an assistant professor of cultural studies, and food science and technology at UCD, critiques dietary reform in the United States from the late 19th century emergence of nutritional science through the contemporary alternative food movement and campaign against obesity. She says she intends not to change eating habits but rather to "illuminate the politics of dietary health in America, so we can better understand what happens when we define good diets, talk about eating right or try to improve peoples' eating habits."
"Making the News: Politics, The Media and Agenda Setting" by Amber Boydstun (University of Chicago Press, $25, 280 pages). In her book, this assistant professor of political science looks at how the media can influence public policy and what makes policy issues resonate with the media. The publisher says: "Boydstun documents this systemic explosiveness and skew through analysis of media coverage across policy issues, including in-depth looks at the waxing and waning of coverage around two issues: capital punishment and the 'war on terror.'"
"Prometheus Reimagined: Technology, Environment, and Law in the Twenty-first Century" by Albert C. Lin (University of Michigan Press, $75, 316 pages). Lin, a professor of law at UCD, asks how governance institutions should adapt when innovation evolves faster than lawmaking and calls for a more democratic approach to technology regulation. Lin specializes in environmental and natural resources law. He is a former attorney for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.


text:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -Douglas Davis scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half and Princeton opened Ivy League play with a 63-46 win over Brown on Friday night.
The Tigers (10-5) took a double-digit lead with 11:19 left in the first half and kept that cushion the rest of the game. Princeton led 40-18 at halftime en route to its third straight win and eighth in the last nine games.
Davis was 6-for-11 from the field and 4-for-8 from 3-point range.
The Tigers, ranked No. 2 in Division I in scoring defense at 55.1 points per game allowed - behind Old Dominion at 54.8 - had its largest lead at 58-32 with 9:17 left.
Matt Mullery led the Bears (7-13, 1-2) with 10 points. He scored 19 last year when Brown beat Princeton 61-43 in Providence.
The Tigers outshot the Bears 43.9 percent (25-for-57) to 30 percent (12-for-40). Brown made 20 of 28 foul shots compared to 4 of 8 for Princeton.


text:
Posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Opera Westminster will present "Wiener Blut" ("Viennese Blood") Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m. in Orr Auditorium. The production is free and open to the public.
Johann Strauss' operetta, which premiered several months after his death, provides an evening of waltzes and singing.
The event is coordinated by stage director Dr. Anne Hagan Bentz, Westminster associate professor of music.
Assisting in the production are Westminster faculty Mihai Valcu as conductor and Marie Libal-Smith as accompanist. An orchestra of Westminster faculty, students, and guest artists will provide instrumental support.
Guest artist Daniel Byerly will portray Count Zedlau. The dance troupe includes Westminster students, as well as Westminster faculty Dr. Jacque King, assistant professor of business; Dr. Sandra Webster, professor of psychology and faculty development officer, who will be partnered with Ronald Webster, network technologies specialist; and community members Nathan Parrott and Bob and RuthAnn Sholler.
Contact Bentz at (724) 946-6045 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com for additional information.


text:
Journey -- Greatest Hits
By Dan Coates
Piano - Easy Piano
Easy Piano. Arranged by Dan Coates. This edition: Easy Piano. Artist/Personality; Book; Piano - Personality Book; Piano Supplemental. Rock. 68 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.38820).
Item Number: AP.38820
ISBN 0739084542. Journey.
Journey defined '80s rock. Their signature song, "Don't Stop Believin'," is the best selling song in iTunes history. Pianists will delight in these easy piano arrangements. Each arrangement includes lyrics and chord symbols. Titles: Only the Young * Don't Stop Believin' * Wheel in the Sky * Faithfully * I'll Be Alright Without You * Any Way You Want It * Ask the Lonely * Who's Crying Now * Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) * Lights * Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' * Open Arms * Girl Can't Help It * Send Her My Love * Be Good to Yourself.


text:
Provost Ronald J. Daniels and Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Vincent Price are pleased to announce that Dr. John W. Fantuzzo, Diana Rausnitz Riklis Professor of Education in the Graduate School of Education, has been appointed the fourth Albert M. Greenfield Professor of Human Relations, effective January 1, 2008.
Dr. Fantuzzo has devoted his career to helping low-income children in high-risk urban settings. He has worked closely with Head Start for more than 20 years, conducting landmark studies on the impact of violence and early social/emotional adjustment problems on school readiness and early school success. These studies have identified key risk factors that threaten academic achievement, providing educators and policy-makers with a comprehensive understanding of the multiple, overlapping risks that can imperil children's academic achievement and educational well-being.
Working with Dr. Dennis Culhane of the School of Social Policy and Practice and Dr. Trevor Hadley of the department of psychiatry in the School of Medicine, Dr. Fantuzzo developed the Kids Integrated Data System (KIDS), an integrated database that allows investigators to combine records on individual Philadelphia residents to follow them from birth to age 18. This integrated system greatly improves the ability of professionals to identify multiple risks and study their cumulative and interactive impacts on educational outcomes. KIDS is now being expanded as a resource for large cities across the country.
Dr. Fantuzzo is also working with his GSE colleagues on a large research project that develops and tests new strategies to enhance the school readiness of low-income, urban preschoolers. This study, funded by a consortium of government agencies, has already created significant improvement in math and reading skills in its first trial group.
"John perfectly embodies the values of the Greenfield professorship," said Provost Daniels. "His commitment to improving the lives of children has made a meaningful difference in our community and across the country. And it is matched only by his dedication to his own students at Penn, who consistently praise his caring, attentiveness, and dedication."
Dr. Fantuzzo developed and directs Penn's Riepe Mentors Program, which involves undergraduates in Riepe College House in mentoring young students in West Philadelphia schools. In 2005, he received Penn's Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Involvement Award, which recognizes members of the Penn and West Philadelphia communities whose active service to others best exemplifies the ideals of Dr. King. In 2004, he was the third recipient of the Head Start Research Mentor Award, previously awarded only to those most directly involved in the program's founding.
A GSE faculty member since 1988, Dr. Fantuzzo earned a PhD in clinical psychology from the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology (1980), an MA in theology from the Fuller Theological Seminary (1976), and a BA in Psychology magna cum laude from Marietta College (1974). He previously taught at California State University at Fullerton, and the University of Rochester.
The Albert M. Greenfield professorship, designated for a distinguished scholar in the field of human relations, was created in 1972 by a gift from the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation. The foundation supports activities that carry on the humanitarian vision of the late Mr. Greenfield, who chaired the board of Bankers Securities Corporation and the Philadelphia Planning Commission.
The Honorable Louis Pollak, Judge of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and former dean of the law schools at Penn and Yale University was appointed the first Greenfield Professor in 1974. He was followed in 1982 by Dr. Houston Baker, now professor of English at Vanderbilt, and in 1999 by Dr. Lawrence Sherman, director of Penn's Jerry Lee Center of Criminology, who was recently named Wolfson Professor of Criminology at the University of Cambridge.


text:
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Life expectancy and complication reductions
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 33. For the last 6 years have been on oral meds (amaryl, actos, metformin and januva). Recently I began taking humalog/insulin injections prior to meals. I have been staying active and working out and have been managing my weight. My blood pressure is in good shape and my cholestoral is managed through lipitor.
Are there any studies or books out there that will tell me what my life expectancy is reduced by if 1) my a1c, blood pressure and cholesterol are managed properly 2) if those items are not managed properly. i keep reading about the UKPDS tables but can`t seem to find one the actual table to review. Do you have any feedback on the 2 items listed above?
I don't really have an easy answer to your questions. What information is obtainable really need to be inferred from reading the scientific papers about the studies - life expectancy is usually not calculable from most current diabetes and blood pressure treatment studies. Insurance companies may be able to draw these conclusions from their claims data but life expectancy is not a common measure in medical studies.
Robert M Cohen, MD
Professor of Clinical Medicine
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati


text:
Men's Socks
- By Feature
- By Material
Ladies' Socks
- By Feature
- By Material
- By Feature
- By Material
- By Feature
- By Material
- By Feature
- By Material
- Quick Shop
- Sale
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- Celebrity Legwear
- Fashion Trends
Lopez brings glamour to football
The summer of football is finally under way and thousands of people are in Brazil to catch some of the action themselves.
But unlike the majority of players and fans donning sportswear, Jennifer Lopez slipped into a sparkly number to perform at the opening ceremony at the Arena Corinthians last week.
She wore a carnival inspired outfit including a glitzy green body suit with embellished nude tights paired with high heels to elongate her already long and slender legs.
The star belted out the official song We Are One along with Pitbull and Claudia Leitte in a celebration of bringing all nations together for the tournament.
And the entertainment didn't stop there as over 600 dancers performed traditional Brazilian routines to the packed stadium.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Be inspired by sport this summer
The summer of sport is in full swing; the football has begun and tennis comes next before the Commonwealth Games explodes towards the back end of summer.
So it's time to embrace this jam-packed season of sport by pulling on the new sportswear trends.
While some may want to dust off their tennis rackets and don their full sports kit - sports socks and all - others may prefer to channel sporting influences through their everyday style.
For those interested in the football, anything goes in terms of colour. Blue, red and white each mirror the England team's kits, so why not jazz up your work uniform by slipping on a pair of novelty England socks ?
If tennis is more your thing, then there is no other option than white so ditch the dark clothing.
Enjoy afternoon tea while watching Wimbledon - just making sure not to drop strawberries on your white ensemble.
And finally, the Commonwealth Games. Mimic the lycra look with scuba-like fabric dresses and skirts paired with dolly socks and sandals or even patterned tights for a more daring look.
To top off these sport-inspired outfits, there is only one accessory colour to go for - gold. Think gold jewellery, gold studs, piping and embellishments.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On…Treat Your Feet!
Jenny dons sports socks for fun run
Actress Jenny Agutter took part in the annual Dulwich Park Fun Run on Saturday along with hundreds of members of the public.
The Call the Midwife star wore a blue dress, sports socks and trainers before the fun run began before changing into something more appropriate for the run itself.
The event, which was in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, offered a wide range of options to choose from including a 10k or 5k race, a one-mile family friendly fun run or even a buggy push race.
There was even something for those who didn't take part in the running as there were food and drink stalls, face-painters and other activities going on after the races ended to celebrate 50 years of fighting cystic fibrosis.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Stromae sets the trend in Morocco
Belgian hiphop and electro singer-songwriter Paul Van Haver certainly knows how to entertain a crowd.
Stromae, as he is also known, is widely recognised around the world for his unique collection of music, including 'Alors on danse', which went to number one in several countries around Europe back in 2009.
But his individual style of clothing is making waves as well - most notably the outfit he wore on stage at the recent Mawazine Music Festival in Morocco.
The 29-year-old performed in a matching navy cardigan and knee high socks combination. He topped off the look with a white shirt, navy shorts and navy bow tie, much to the delight of the spectators at the event.
Music fans can catch Stromae at Festival Europavox in Clermont Ferrand, France on June 7, before appearances at Alcatraz in Milan, Italy, on July 1, and Rock Werchter in Werchter, Beligium, on July 6.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Graduate Fashion Week showcases modern-day armour look
London's Graduate Fashion Week has come to a close after four days of epic fashion hitting the catwalk.
One designer whose work stood out was that of 22-year-old Shan-Liao Huang, of Shih Chien University in Taiwan, who showcased both mens and womenswear during the event.
Shan-Liao's androgynous collection was inspired by the army and exuded grey tones and oversized pieces throughout to create a look of modern armour.
One model took to the catwalk wearing a distressed outfit, completed with pulled up black socks and metal features including metal boots and a metal cage bag.
The event saw graduates' work from 42 universities from around the world. Shan-Liao Huang won the award for Best International Collection.
The event was held at the Truman Brewery in London and saw several fashion-forward celebrities attend, such as Sam Faeirs, Amy Willerton and Diana Vickers.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Rapper Iggy Azalea showcases her 'fancy' pins
The annual Summertime Ball took place at Wembley Stadium over the weekend with stars such as rapper of the moment Iggy Azalea giving a fashion and music masterclass.
Artists from around the world flocked to the London venue to put on an incredible performance for the 80,000 spectators in the audience at the Capital FM-hosted event.
Azalea had a surprise up her sleeve as she introduced her special guest Charli XCX to perform Fancy alongside her.
Iggy wore a typically leg-lengthening ensemble involving short shorts paired with nude high heels and a bomber jacket while Charli XCX opted for a monochrome dress which she toughened up with biker boots and ankle socks .
Ellie Goulding, Pharrell Williams, Cheryl Cole, Rita Ora, Calvin Harris and The Vamps were among the many acts who also performed at the Summertime Ball.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Venus brightens up 'Wimbledon whites'
Venus Williams has suggested she will be rebelling against the 'all-white' clothing rule at this year's Wimbledon.
The tennis ace tweeted that while she may be wearing Wimbledon whites, including all visible clothing such as socks , top and skirt, she will be brightening up her clothing with colourful underwear.
According to official guidelines, all garments of clothing that are visible must be white with only a single trim of colour - no wider than 1cm - and florescent colours are not allowed.
The former world number one, who missed last year's tournament and was knocked out in the first round in 2012, began her bid to bag the title for this year's competition on Monday.
She successfully made it through to the second round after beating Spain's María Teresa Torró-Flor 6-4 4-6 6-2.
Serena Williams, Venus' younger sister, will take on Anna Tatishvili on Centre Court for their first round match on Tuesday evening.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Ward shows off all-black outfit
Sophie Ward wowed crowds while attending the World Pride Power List 2014 wearing an all-black outfit.
The actress, who was at the event with her wife Rena Brannan, stole the show in a sleeveless top, dress and high heeled shoes. She completed the look with black tights and carried a petite clutch bag for the occasion.
Sinitta, Dr Christian Jessen, Bobby Norris, Anthony Cotton and Peter Tatchell were among the eclectic list of names in attendance at the Corinthia Hotel in London.
The World Pride Power List, nominated by members of the public, celebrates influential people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
This year's list saw the introduction of straight allies - 10 individuals who stand up for LGBT rights - for the very first time in its history.
Ward and Brannan were married in a well-publicised ceremony held in August 2000, although the wedding had no legal standing. They entered into a civil partnership together 10 years later.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Revellers ready for wet Glastonbury
Glastonbury festival fashion is going to be pushed to the limit once again this year with heavy rain set to descend on the popular music festival.
Expect to see plenty of knee high socks with wellies and ankle socks with sturdy shoes as downpours soak revellers over the course of the five-day event.
Hats will also be out in force to protect against the wet weather as some of the biggest names in the music industry take to the stage in the muddy fields near the village of Pilton in Somerset.
Heavy metal outfit Metallica, indie band Arcade Fire and rockers Kasabian will be the three headline acts, while the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Jack White, The Black Keys, Lily Allen, Ed Sheeran and a host of others will also be performing.
The wet forecasts means umbrellas and disposable raincoats are also likely to be common sights in the crowd. Good luck!
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Calvin Klein goes back to basics
Calvin Klein's men's underwear range is taking centre stage at the famous brand's show at Milan Fashion Week.
The fashion powerhouse is showcasing its range of vests, pants and undershirts along with a more edgy item - cycling shorts!
The cycling shorts were seen on many of the models during the show worn under loose shorts to give a retro vibe.
One male model strutted along the catwalk wearing orange shorts with red cycling shorts underneath, paired with white socks and high top trainers.
The collection oozed simplicity and minimalism throughout, as the items featured plain colours as opposed to anything patterned or overly vibrant.
A number of well-known faces watched the show from the front row including singer Iggy Azalea and her NBA star boyfriend Nick Young.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Lianne La Havas teams socks and tights
A wealth of celebrities attended the Women For Women International and De Beers Summer Gala on Sunday.
The official Women For Women Twitter page tweeted ahead of the evening to inform followers that Lianne La Havas and Lily Cole would be attending the fundraiser.
And neither Lianne nor Lily disappointed, as the pair arrived looking fabulous.
Lianne opted for a patterned monochrome playsuit paired with black tights and boots. She added a splash of colour with red accessories in the form of socks , a bag and a hair scrunchie.
Lily, however, wore an all-yellow ensemble made up of a matching patterned dress and jacket with golden sandals at the Royal Opera House event in London.
The Women For Women International charity supports women survivors of war to help them rebuild their lives.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Rebecca Minkoff supports Baby Buggy event
Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld have hosted their annual Baby Buggy Bedtime Bash in New York's Central Park.
Since 2001 the non-profit organisation, Baby Buggy, has helped out families in need by providing children's essentials such as nappies, clothes, pushchairs and bottles.
Fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff showed her support by attending with her son Luca. Rebecca opted for a low-key black ensemble while Luca went for a spot of colour in a stripy blue t-shirt, shorts, trainers and socks .
The event attracts over 1,000 people each year and it's no wonder since there is everything from carnival rides and games to face painting and other activities - and the best part is that it's all in aid of the children's charity.
Bridget Moynahan, Alexandra Wentworth and Carly Ciarrochi were among some of the other well-known guests to attend the charity event.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Kit out your dad this Father's Day!
Struggling for gift ideas this Father's Day? Look no further than socks!
You should never underestimate the joy a new pair of socks can bring, especially for dads who rarely, if ever, buy socks for themselves.
Do your old man a favour this year and kit him out with a fresh supply - you can even jazz him up at the same time!
There is a sock to suit every taste and style you can think of, with an endless array of designs and colours to choose from, so get creative. After all, how many chances do you get to improve his dress sense?
There is also a sock for every occasion, whether it's something for the office or the gym , so buy accordingly.
You can also go down the novelty route with a cool cartoon character from his childhood or a cheeky slogan - these are guaranteed to put a smile on his face and inject a bit of fun into his wardrobe!
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Grayson Perry wears neon socks
Artists flocked to The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition preview party in London earlier this week.
Photographer David Bailey, model Alexa Chung and singer Ricky Wilson attended the bash, but there was one guest in particular who stole the limelight.
British artist Grayson Perry arrived at the event in an eye-catching ensemble, featuring fluorescent orange knee high socks and a matching umbrella, a fluorescent pink wig with matching shoes and pink, red and cream coloured clothing.
It seemed as though his wife Philippa Perry had taken some fashion tips from her Turner Prize winning husband too as she opted for a multi-coloured jacket and neon orange trainers.
The Summer Exhibition showcases some of the very best artwork in the industry at the moment from unknown and emerging artists to big household names.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Angie works fish net tights
Angie Everhart dressed to impress at the Pathway to the Cure Fundraiser Benefit this week.
The actress wore a simple black smock dress with draped arms but vamped it up with fish net tights and over-the-knee boots.
She added a splash of colour in the form of a red clutch bag which mirrored the look of a 'STOP' road sign.
The star, who has been seen on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, kept her hair and make up simple yet elegant to let her outfit do the talking.
The Pathway to the Cure Benefit took place at the Santa Monica Airport in California to raise breast cancer awareness.
It saw a wealth of celebrities attend including Alessandra Ambrosio, Sophia Bush, Michelle Trachtenberg and Adrian Grenier among many more.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
'Crazy socks' dress code at Bush bash
Texans have marked the 90th birthday of George H W Bush with a crazy socks party.
The former US President is well-known for wearing unusual socks and invitees to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station were asked to wear the silliest socks they can find to celebrate his birthday - and that of his wife Barbara, who was 89 on Sunday.
The family had their own party at the Bushes' summer retreat at Kennebunkport in Maine.
The couple, who live in Houston for most of the year, enjoyed free cake and ice cream at the museum.
Those who were unable to make it might like to create their own pair of socks for the former President. The HappyBirthday41.com website allows users to make their own sock designs and show them off on the KPRC Local 2 Facebook page.
Men's collections head for runway
Designers Agi & Sam appeared buoyant with their suits and socks on display as the London Collections: Men SS15 got under way in the capital.
The young duo were caught in jovial mood at the after-show party at the Sanderson hotel following their event-starting turn, seeming more than happy to give us a flash of their socks. Super stylish, of course.
Until June 17, plenty of footwear and accessories labels will be strutted up and down the catwalk, with Agi & Sam, Nicholas Kirkwood - who has won the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and Accessory Designer Award at the British Fashion Awards - and Craig Green making up the collections on the opening day.
The latest treat for fashion fans came from JW Anderson's catwalk show, with the AW13 collection featuring bandeau tops, ruffled shorts and boots, and the SS14 including halter-neck tops and Oxford bag trousers.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Choo's men's line will makes its runway debut next month, before the final day sees design duo Baartmans & Siegel showcase their masculine designs.
Brazilian dancers wear stockings at launch
MCM launched its 'Munchen Cute Monsters' Limited Edition Collection at the Sloane Street store in London on Tuesday.
The MCM flagship boutique hosted the event with special guest Lily Allen taking to the decks to provide guests with musical entertainment for the evening.
The singer-turned-DJ wore a simple white dress and gold accessories - which proved a direct opposite look to the Brazilian dancers who performed throughout the evening.
The dancers were dressed in typical Brazilian style, wearing brightly coloured gladiator sandals, hold-up stockings , feather head dresses and embellished bikini style costumes.
Other familiar faces at the event included Leah Weller, Felicity Gilbert, Tolula Adeyemi and Madame Kim.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Socks and hats make perfect festival accessories
Fashionable festival-goers assembled in London's Victoria Park for the Field Day Festival over the weekend.
Luckily the weather stayed bright meaning those in attendance were able to truly find that summer spirit by wearing classic festival clothing, including vest tops and denim shorts.
Many people opted for a dolly socks and shoes combination while others decided to cover up with a hat to keep cool throughout the day.
The festival saw headline performances by Metronomy on Saturday and Pixies on Sunday.
As well as live music, the festival also offered activities, games, contests and competitions to keep everyone happy.
Festival season is now in full flow as summer approaches, so those heading to one over the coming months can take style tips from those at Field Day.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Neil Patrick Harris dons tights
The 68th annual Tony Awards took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Sunday.
How I Met Your Mother actor Neil Patrick Harris looked suave and sophisticated as he walked the red carpet in his tuxedo - but his second outfit of the evening proved just a touch more daring.
He slipped into something a little more comfortable - or perhaps uncomfortable - as he donned a punk rock-inspired drag outfit for his performance with the rest of the cast of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
He opted for a denim dress with cartoons and writing emblazoned across it, sheer black tights , gold platform boots and topped it off with a full face of make up and blonde wig.
The star moved through the audience during his performance, giving Orlando Boom, Sting and Samuel L. Jackson a closer look at his well-honed dance moves.
Harris also picked up his first Tony Award for the Best Actor in a Musical award.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!
Maisie Williams shows off new look
Actress Maisie Williams is making waves in the world of fashion as well as the big screen.
The 17-year-old, best known for her portrayal of Arya Stark in the popular television series Game of Thrones, was recently snapped at a special screening of The Fault in Our Stars in London sporting a black outfit complete with hat and rocker boots.
She wore grey and red socks to complement the red, green and gold peacock on her top, while bangles and chains topped off the eye-catching look.
It is a far cry from the getup she has to wear on set of the hit HBO programme - and it's clear to see she has fun expressing herself off camera!
Other guests who attended the screening at The May Fair Hotel included singer Gabrielle Aplin and Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo.
But it was Maisie who stole the show with her fresh, hip style that caught the attention of the photographers.
The Fault in Our Stars tells the story of two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them along on an amazing journey.
News brought to you by SockShop. Go On...Treat Your Feet!


text:
Fresh off its run to the girls basketball state tournament, Argyle landed a few notable players on the 10-3A all-district team.
Junior center Delaney Sain was named the district's offensive player of the year, while freshman Vivian Gray was selected as 10-3A's newcomer of the year. Sain and Gray were also named to the Class 3A all-tournament team after Argyle's loss to Waco La Vega in the 3A state championship game on Saturday.
The rest of Argyle's starting lineup — junior Jesse Sheridan, freshman Madison Ralston and sophomore Olivia Gray — were all first-team selections.
The Argyle duo that shined throughout the postseason for a very young Lady Eagles squad was not the only local players to earn superlative awards in their respective districts.
Krum senior Caylee Thomas was District 9-3A's offensive player of the year. Thomas' teammate, sophomore Haley Lewis, was tabbed as the district's sixth man of the year. Krum lost to Frisco Lone Star in the first round of the 3A playoffs, one year after the Lady Cats reached the Class 3A state semifinals.
In District 5-4A, Guyer senior Quamese Moss was named the defensive player of the year, while junior Jada Calloway was the district's sixth man of the year. The two Lady Wildcats helped the team reach the area round of the Class 4A playoffs, where Guyer lost to Cleburne by two points.
Guyer freshman Lauren Heard and sophomore Bre Wickware earned first-team nods, joining Lake Dallas sophomore Ashley Hayes and Denton junior Alex McIntosh.
Guyer junior Ola Akinniyi, Guyer senior Sarah Mack, Lake Dallas senior Taylor Davis and Denton senior April Pena all made 5-4A's second team.
Ryan junior Carissa Sanders represented the Lady Raiders on District 5-5A's first team, while junior Ashtyn Lovett landed on the second team. Sanders played a large part for a Ryan team that was decimated by injuries throughout the season. The Lady Raiders narrowly missed out on the 5A playoffs.
District 5-5A
MVP — Morgan Easley, Flower Mound Marcus, Sr.
Offensive Player of the Year — Lauren Cox, Flower Mound, Soph.
Co-Defensive Players of the Year — Ashley James, Flower Mound Marcus, Sr.; Jasmine Richard, Flower Mound Marcus, Sr.
Newcomer of the Year — Kenzie Grill, Flower Mound, Soph.
Co-Sixth Man of the Year — Courtney Fields, Flower Mound, Jr.; Rebecca Huddleston, Lewisville, Soph.
Coach of the Year — Fred Jones, Flower Mound Marcus
First team — Alexus Jones, Flower Mound Marcus, Soph.; Taylor Roof, Flower Mound Marcus, Jr.; Vanessa Jones, Flower Mound Marcus, Sr.; Monisha Neal, Lewisville, Sr.; Kayla Mount, Flower Mound, Jr.; Grace Pospichal, Hebron, Jr.; Kristin Cunningham, Hebron, Sr.; Carissa Sanders, Ryan, Jr.; Caitie Galvin, Coppell, Sr.
Second team — Bridgette Stephens, Lewisville, Fr.; Marin Mills, Flower Mound, Soph.; Jessie Larson, Flower Mound, Sr.; Victoria Miller, Hebron, Soph.; Molly Pospichal, Hebron, Jr.; Mary Leigh Rock, Hebron, Soph.; Naomi Hawkins, Lewisville, Soph.; Ashtyn Lovett, Ryan, Jr.
Honorable mention — Ryan: Sydney Lundgren, Faith Pittman, Tichina Coleman
District 5-4A
Co-MVPs — Mercedes Brooks, Wichita Falls Rider, Soph.; Ashley Reid, Rider, Soph.
Offensive Player of the Year — Tyalyn Woodward, Trophy Club Nelson, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year — Quamese Moss, Guyer, Sr.
Newcomer of the Year — Kaycie Dunkerley, Azle, Soph.
Sixth Man of the Year — Jada Calloway, Guyer, Jr.
First team — Abreanna Harrison, Rider, Soph.; Ashley Hayes, Lake Dallas, Soph.; Eshay Hervey, Wichita Falls, Jr.; Alex McIntosh, Denton, Jr.; Lauren Heard, Guyer, Fr.; Bre Wickware, Guyer, Soph.; Morgan Prentice, Azle, Sr.; Valerie Matlock, Azle, Jr.; Madison Edwards, Nelson, Sr.; Sydney Smallwood, Nelson, Sr.
Second team — Skye Catletti, Rider, Sr.; Emily Shaver, Rider, Jr.; Taylor Davis, Lake Dallas, Sr.; Sha-Dazha Williams, Wichita Falls, Jr.; April Pena, Denton, Sr.; Ola Akinniyi, Guyer, Jr.; Sarah Mack, Guyer, Sr.; Peyton Berger, Azle, Soph.; Taylor Fulfer, Azle, Jr.; Shaila Wolter, Nelson, Jr.; Dekesha Butler, Nelson, Sr.; Kaitlyn Dodd, FW Brewer, Sr.
District 9-3A
MVP — Ariannah Kemp, Gainesville, Sr.
Offensive Player of the Year — Caylee Thomas, Krum, Sr.
Co-Defensive Players of the Year — Haley Dennard, Decatur, Sr.; Chandler Kemp, Gainesville, Soph.
Newcomer of the Year — Macen Stripling, Decatur, Jr.
Sixth Man of the Year — Haley Lewis, Krum, Soph.
First team — Murphy Graham, Decatur, Sr.; Shelby Drews, Decatur, Jr.; Katie Isham, Decatur, Sr.; Kylee Myers, Krum, Soph.; Mackenzie Ripple, Krum, Jr.; Cozy Avery, Gainesville, Jr.; Brittany Royal, Gainesville, Jr.; Jacey Beam, Sanger, Soph.; Carissa Spiker, Sanger, Soph.; Brooke Lewis, Sanger, Soph.; Leah Guinn, Bridgeport, Sr.; Landry Walsh, Bridgeport, Jr.
Honorable mention — Krum: Haley White, Sadie May; Sanger: Corey Hammonds
District 10-3A
MVP — Zoie Miller, Frisco Lone Star, Sr.
Offensive Player of the Year — Delaney Sain, Argyle, Jr.
Defensive Player of the Year — Kyense Davis, Celina, Jr.
Newcomer of the Year — Vivian Gray Argyle, Fr.
First team — Jesse Sheridan, Argyle, Jr.; Madison Ralston, Argyle, Fr.; Olivia Gray, Argyle, Soph.; Kendyl Wright, Aubrey, Jr.; Callie Wells, Celina, Sr.; KJ Stastny, Celina, Jr.; Sara Cantu, Celina, Sr.; Whitney Apari, Lone Star, Sr.; Michole Amos, Carrollton Ranchview, Sr.
Second team — Bailey Eschle, Argyle, Sr.; Scarlett Gregory, Aubrey, Soph.; McKale Grant, Celina, Fr.; Kenzie Juergens, Celina, Jr.; Taylor Gaffney, Lone Star, Soph.; Bria Greene, Lone Star, Sr.; Alexa Jackson, Ranchview, Sr.; Taylar Walker, Ranchview, Jr.
District 9-2A
MVP — Lexie Ducat, Brock, Jr.
Offensive Player of the Year — Makenna Burt, Paradise, Sr.
Co-Defensive Players of the Year — Lauren Hart, Alvord, Sr.; Taylor Fulmer, Brock, Sr.
Co-Newcomers of the Year — Rachel Harrell, Brock, Soph.; Baylee Chapman, Peaster, Fr.
Coach of the Year — Chance Westmoreland, Brock
First team — Makayla Neighbors, Paradise, Sr.; Courtney Kerr, Paradise, Jr.; Sydney Herbel, Millsap, Soph.; Bailey Ivey, Brock, Jr.; Rachel Williams, Brock, Jr.; Madi Mayfield, Brock, Jr.; Amber Montgomery, Boyd, Sr.; Marissa Schedcik, Alvord, Sr.; Katie Claborn, Alvord, Jr.; Olivia Seli, Peaster, Jr.
Second team — Jolee Carswell, Millsap, Jr.; Trisha Jacbos, Brock, Soph.; Cydnie Bynum, Brock, Jr.; Allie Popeck, Brock, Soph.; Abby Harrell, Boyd, Jr.; Kenzie Elkins, Boyd, Jr.; Brianna Ponder, Alvord, Jr.; Kaylee McConnell, Paradise, Jr.; Jett Preather, Paradise, Jr.; Rachel Smith, Peaster, Sr.
District 12-2A
MVP — Grace Goodhart, Sunnyvale, Jr.
Offensive MVP — Regan Hestand, Gunter, Sr.
Defensive MVP — Bria Johnson, Sunnyvale, Jr.
Newcomer of the Year — Hannah Neal, Farmersville, Soph.
Sixth Man of the Year — Bree Adkins, Gunter, Jr.
Coach of the Year — Jill McDill, Sunnyvale
First team — Ivy Alexander, Sunnyvale, Fr.; Kimmy Blackburn, Leonard, Jr.; Sheridan Lewis, Sunnyvale, Sr.; Mackenzie Mazerolle, Gunter, Jr.; Haven Neal, Farmersville, Sr.; Allison Ray, Pilot Point, Jr.; Brittney Rich, Farmersville, Sr.
Second team — Emily Ames, Sunnyvale, Jr.; Chasity Cummings, Leonard, Jr.; Malena Farber, Leonard, Sr.; Jaimie Hughes, Gunter, Sr.; Emma Moreno, Van Alstyne, Jr.; Mikayla Watson, Gunter, Soph.


text:
This week on BJPenn.com Radio, hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be joined by three ultra-tough MMA stars including UFC light heavyweight slugger Joey Beltran, former UFC middleweight Jake Rosholt and devastating UFC welterweight Matt "The Immortal" Brown.
After being cut from the UFC's heavyweight division at the start of the year, Beltran returned to the organization this past July as a light heavyweight at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman. Beltran was defeated by James Te Huna via unanimous decision. The bout earned Beltran "Fight of the Night" honors as he absorbed an incredible amount of punishment from Te Huna and still managed to stay on his feet for the duration of the bout.
A three-time NCAA Division I wrestler, Rosholt was last seen in the UFC three years ago at UFC 106 losing via submission to Kendall Grove. Since then, Rosholt has gone 6-2-1 in other organizations and is set to headline Xtreme Fight Night 9 in Oklahoma against fellow UFC vet Anthony "Rumble" Johnson. The bout will take place in the 205-lbs division and the winner will certainly edge themselves closer to potentially getting resigned by the UFC.
Recently married, Brown has reignited his career with a three-fight win streak over Chris Cope, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Luis Ramos. He will fight on the main card of UFC on FOX 5 against fellow slugger Mike "Quick" Swick in what is bound to be an action packed battle.
The show will begin promptly at 6:30pm eastern. If any of you have any questions for our hosts or our guests you can call 646-915-9927, email firstname.lastname@example.com or hit us up on Twitter @BJPennDotComRad
BJPenn.Com Radio is now on Stitcher Radio: Click Here.
For those of you who use ITunes BJPenn.Com Radio is available for download by clicking here.


text:
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Inherited Disorders and Birth Defects
STDs and Birth Defects
I am currently a 10th grader doing a research paper on the Surgeon General`s 10 leading health indicators. My topic is on responsible sexual behavior. I would like to know how do STDs affect the body and cause birth defects?
About 2-4% of babies are born with a birth defect (congenital malformation). Causes of birth defects such as chromosomal abnormalities and mutations in specific genes cause many of these, but about 10% of birth defects are due to teratogens. A teratogen is any drug, chemical, physical agent, maternal disease or infection that causes a structural (birth defect) or functional abnormality by affecting the embryo or fetus during pregnancy. The exact mechanism of how infections, including sexually transmitted infections, affect the developing embryo or fetus is not known in many cases. However, there are 4 major principles about why some agents (such as an STI) can be teratogenic. These include:
1) Timing - when during pregnancy did the exposure happen – was it during the time when organs are forming (early in pregnancy) or after the organs have formed
2) Dose – how much and /or for how long – usually the higher the dose or the longer the exposure, the more risk there is to be a problem
3) Genetic differences - the genetic make-up of the mother and the developing fetus plays a role in deciding if an agent will cause birth defects – not everyone who is exposed will have problems
4) The agent itself – not all chemicals or infections cause birth defects
Teratogens can cause malformations (birth defects), poor growth, problems with functioning or death (lead to miscarriage or stillbirth). Ways in which a teratogen can cause damage include: cell death, altered metabolism which leads to such things as the loss of precursors or substrates in cells, decreased energy sources for cell development or functioning, changing cell migration or cell interacting with one another and disruption of tissues.
Infections during pregnancy, including some sexually transmitted infections, can cause birth defects and other problems such as miscarriage, premature (early) delivery, and low birth weight. These include rubella (german measles), varicella (chicken pox), parvovirus B19 (Fifth disease), toxoplasmosis (a parasite found in cat feces), syphilis, cytomegalovirus (CMV which is a type of herpes virus), herpes simplex virus and HIV. If the mother has an infection during pregnancy, the virus or bacteria or parasite can be passed on to the developing fetus (via the placenta) so that the fetus becomes infected as well. Using the principles of teratology, the infection can lead to birth defects, poor growth, mental retardation, miscarriage or stillbirth.
The March of Dimes has a very good overview of birth defects, including infections during pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (website below). Good luck with your project.
Anne Matthews, RN, PhD
Associate Professor of Genetics
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University


text:
I recently participated on a panel at the Watermark Church in Dallas, after a screening of 'A Place at the Table', a documentary about hunger and food insecurity in America. It's was an important time of helping some treasured friends of CitySquare (and mine), become more aware of the plight of many of our neighbors in our city who work hard, but simply don't make enough to eat.
This is a subject we need to keep in front of everyone: in a country as rich as ours, no one should go hungry the fight against hunger and food insecurity must go beyond charitable responses!
Bill Moyers has picked up on this issue and made it the subject of a recent broadcast. Take the time to watch it...and try to do so without squirming around the impulse to explain away this gross inequity in our nation. We should all be ashamed that we allow this to exist...the implications go far beyond the need for something to eat...
"The story of American families facing food insecurity is as frustrating as it is heartbreaking, because the truth is as avoidable as it is tragic. Here in the richest country on earth, 50 million of us — one in six Americans — go hungry. More than a third of them are children. And yet Congress can't pass a Farm Bill because our representatives continue to fight over how many billions to slash from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps. The debate is filled with tired clichés about freeloaders undeserving of government help, living large at the expense of honest, hardworking taxpayers. But a new documentary,A Place at the Table, paints a truer picture of America's poor."
""The cost of food insecurity, obesity and malnutrition is way larger than it is to feed kids nutritious food," Kristi Jacobson, one of the film's directors and producers, tells Bill. She and Mariana Chilton, director of the Center for Hunger-Free Communities, explain to Bill how hunger hits hard at people from every walk of life."
""There's no opportunity for people who are low-income to really engage in our democracy," says Chilton. "I think they're actively shut out.""


text:
Disguised as Birds
0 Shouts - 4,927 Scrobbles
www.disguisedasbirds.comRead More...
Disguised as Birds was born in 2004 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Although Disguised as Birds' power indie rock sound tends to have a lot of dreamy, shimmering, jammy qualities, it regularly returns to explosively heavy rock bombast that puts their overall approach on grounds close to those of Shiner, Regulator Watts, Jawbox, Shipping News, Juno, etc. Still, despite the artsy leanings, Disguised as Birds unquestionably has the vibe of a classic rock band. In spirit (if not in incessant riffing) they pack a great deal of SOUL into every measure of every tune.
Still, Disguised as Birds can be dubbed nothing but original. They have formed a ridiculous amount of musical telepathy and toghetherness that is rare for an indie band. Originally conceived as a power trio (Kristopher Endicott: guitar/vocals, Tony Ciske; bass, and Christopher Bongers; drums), Disguised as Birds rehearsed and played out in and around the Midwest for a year before recording a full length record with Shane Hochstetler (CALL ME LIGHTNING) in 2005. Looking to recreate the record's layered vocal harmonies live, the band recruited Chris Chuzles as a second vocalist - just in time to sing on five of the self-titled album's tracks. Chris Bongers then moved to Madrid, Spain to play with punk-rock band Los Bultacos, so the Birds added Milwaukee ace drummer Kevin DeMars to the fold.
Disguised as Birds have a loose and powerful live sound. Influenced by all things rock and roll, art, and the often cold and bleak environment in which they live; this is a band that can pummel, sprint, or soar.
Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
Top SongsTotal plays on Last.fm over the last 6 months
- New Demons - 346 plays
- Dancing Bear - 234 plays
- Black Circles - 307 plays
- 07 Paper Doll - 294 plays
- Let the Boy Watch - 172 plays
- Hayabusa's Lament - 303 plays
- Cigarette Ghost - 211 plays
- The Robe - 173 plays
- Just Can't Hold - 172 plays
- Fallen Windows - 85 plays


text:
Nokia 603, 700, 701
Owners of the Nokia 603, 700 and 701 may want to keep an eye out for some new software heading their way, as Nokia has begun pushing out the Belle Feature Pack 1 to those Symbian-powered devices. The new software is rolling out over the air in stages and contains a number of enhancements. According to a report from All About Symbian, some of the goodies included in Belle FP1 include new widgets, an improved pull-down notifications bar, an updated browser and multitasking view and an increase to the clock speed of all three handsets from 1GHz to 1.3GHz.
Although the majority of Nokia's focus may be on Windows Phone and its Lumia devices, it's good to see the company continue to support its Symbian devices with updates. It's not yet clear if Belle FP1 will be making its way to older Symbian devices like the N8 and C7. If you've got a 603, 700 or 701, though, be sure to let us know when you see the update make its way to your neck of the woods!


text:
AFTER the calm of the Christmas break and a quiet first week in January, the rest of the month will see extensive armoured manoeuvre training across the Plain. This will result in much vehicle movement and heavy use of the tank crossings, particularly on the Tilshead/Chitterne road, A360, and A345.
There may be some military training noise during unsociable hours, with helicopters and other aircraft flying at low altitude.
January 9 to 17: Ex Pashtun Warrior will test 20 Brigade Operation Group prior to deployment to Afghanistan. The permissive stone tracks in the Tilshead/Chitterne/Shrewton triangle (Copehill Down) will be closed in the interest of public safety.
January 15 and 16: Land Warfare Centre will have their first run out on the Copehill Down area and Larkhill Ranges in Challenger 2 tanks.
January 16 to the end of the month sees 4 Regiment Royal Artillery with 105mm light gun dry training on the Plain and live firing on Larkhill Ranges.
January 20 to 24: Exercise Badger's Hole will use light armour across all areas plus Challenger 2 tanks from the Kings Royal Hussars on low level manoeuvre drills.
Training will peak in the last week of January with Ex Lion's Strike, the largest armoured exercise conducted on Salisbury Plain, which will use the west and centre.


text:
Harrisburg residents in need of a trash can can get one for free Saturday at the city's new public works facility.
City Council Public Works chairwoman Sandra Reid has been collecting donations for the last several months and now has 1,400 to give away.
"These are $32, heavy-duty cans," she said.
Reid has made it her mission to help clean up the city and, more importantly, educate residents about how to properly dispose of trash. She said in the future, the city will likely begin fining households that do not own at least one trash can, so this is an effort for residents to get a jump start.
"It's about the quality of life. The residents are going to feel so much better when everybody is on the same page," she said. "I don't really want to ticket anybody, so come out and get one for free!"
To giveaway will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 1820 Paxton Street. Free recycling bins will also be available for pickup. Residents are simply asked to present an ID proving they live in the city.


text:
IE10 seemed nice and quick and stable so I thought I'd take the offer of the upgrade to IE11.
It doesn't seem to do an awful lot that's different.
It does however crash on every page with a Disqus discussion thread.
And something - I think it might be Disqus - has left what looks like developer's debugging code in instead of removing it when the site went to production.
Resulting in the amusing message "Scanstyles does nothing in Opera/Firefox/Webkit" or similar appearing in a pop up box on some sites - the Telegraph home page always does this.
Finally, it is noticeably slower, and has a tendency to pause for no explainable reason when finishing rendering larger pages.
Don't do it yet


text: DDoS attacks are on the rise. That statement by itself might not be that interesting because in this climate of "cyber insecurity", it probably wouldn't surprise anyone that the number of attacks is increasing. However, what is more interesting, and even more troubling for networks, is that the size of these attacks is on the rise, with some attacks reported at over 400 Gbps. And yet the same solutions that were used for much smaller attacks are being used in attempt to detect and mitigate these security threats.


text: Benjamin L.Russell <DekuDekuplex at Yahoo.com> wrote: > >OTOH, laziness(yin) and strictness(yang) make a far better pair of > >unified opposites than the schemeish eval and apply (which's outer > >essences are both yang, changing to yin only by means of what they > >execute[2]). > > Indeed. But strictness would not characterize Haskell, would it? > Not by itself, no. But Haskell, as a language that's neither strict nor lazy, but non-strict (and can therefore combine eagerness and laziness) is closer to the Tao of execution than any "purely strict" or "purely lazy" language. One, after all, cannot be without the other: Both are not separate, but distinguished only by our perception. > >What about a chicken holding a curry dispenser? In any case, I don't > >think a sloth is a bad choice as a mascot: It's most likely the most > >efficient animal on earth, and seeing it, you're bound to be > >mystified how it manages to get anything done. > > It's indeed efficient, but also slow; while Schemers are accused of > knowing the value of everything, but the cost of nothing, a sloth > mascot could cause Haskellers to become accused of knowing the > efficiency of everything, but the speed of nothing, no? > I'd say we know the necessity of everything, but the schedule of nothing. ...the point I'm trying to make here is that the appearance of swiftness is not everything: A tight loop executing nop's may seem busy, but won't tell you much interesting stuff. Imagine a cute sloth peeking out of a PC case, together with "Lazy bum is executeing ur prugram, but only half of it" > >Water overcomes stone: > >Shapeless, it requires no opening: > >The benefit of taking no action. > > > >Yet benefit without action, > >And experience without abstraction, > >Are practiced by very few. > > Nice poem. Did you write it yourself, or can you document the source? > It's out of the Tao te Ching, by, allegedly, Lao Tzu. It hints at Wuwei[1], or, from another angle, Kant's Categorical Imperative. [1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_wei -- (c) this sig last receiving data processing entity. Inspect headers for copyright history. All rights reserved. Copying, hiring, renting, performance and/or quoting of this signature prohibited.


text:
* Subject to change without notice.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Best Uses
Reviewed by 3 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-3
Best Uses
Great bike for casual trail riding and city riding. Its a little on the heavy side but doesn't feel like it when your riding. Amazing Hydraulic Brakes. Shifts a little roughly sometimes but all in all very good bang for your buck.
Best Uses
Good starter bike to get into the sport. Definitely glad I got the M as I was back and forth between the L. If I were going to bike 30 miles for my leisure, I would have went L or a different bike. This fits my style of riding through the woods and trails. I also have a BMX and motorcross background.. I like the feel of whipping the bike around through the trails and it handling it well.
Best Uses
This bike is very durable, fast, maneuverable, comfortable....for the money its a 2k bike for almost 500 w/tax....that's a great deal...one issue is the bike is a little heavy but only for lifting into a car .....its a very fast bike for such big tires...I love this bike...never thought I would be happy about someone stealing my Cannonade but I got a great upgrade because of it!!!
Displaying reviews 1-3
Previous | Next


text:
PRZOOM - /newswire/ -
Dunstable, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, 2013/01/25 - Global tablet sales reached 64 million units in Q4 2012, representing quarterly growth of nearly 100% and year-on-year growth of 119%, according to the latest industry research from Futuresource Consulting - Futuresource-Consulting.com.
The Q4 period accounted for nearly half of all tablet sales last year, culminating in total sales of 136 million units for 2012, says Arun Gill, Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. This clearly demonstrates the impact that tablet devices are having on consumers spending habits and lifestyle choices, as the category continues to push through the roof.
Competitively, Apple remained the market leader and experienced high demand for the new 7 inch iPad, although limited supply capacity did result in some missed opportunities.
Samsung saw success with a range of new tablets in 2012, particularly the competitively-priced Galaxy Tab 2. The release of the Nexus 10 in collaboration with Google may help to challenge Apples dominance in sales of larger-screened tablets.
Amazon capitalised on increasing demand for smaller tablets and retained a comfortable market share with the release of its Kindle Fire HD.
Asus and Googles Nexus 7 also gained from increasing demand for smaller tablets. The high sales volumes reflected the assault that cheaper Android tablets are making on Apples market share.
Microsoft saw challenging sales following the release of its flagship Surface tablet running Windows 8 RT, though the upcoming release of the Surface Pro is expected to help turn this around.
The heightened demand for smaller and cheaper-priced tablets continues to impact the average retail price. Despite this price erosion, the overall value of the tablet market will continue to climb and prospects for the industry are extremely positive, with strong growth throughout the forecast period to 2016.
Agency / Source: Futuresource Consulting
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick PRZOOM - Press & Newswire Visibility Checker
Distribution / Indexing: [+]


text:
Paul Magdalino
Paul Magdalino FBA (born 10 May 1948) is Bishop Wardlaw Professor of Byzantine History in the University of St Andrews, Professor of Byzantine History at Koç University, Istanbul; and a Fellow of the British Academy.
His research interests include Byzantine history: the society, culture and economy of the Byzantine world from 6th to 13th centuries; the city of Constantinople; prophecy, scientific thought, the formation of Byzantine religious Orthodoxy.[1] He is well known for his monograph on the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Manuel I Komnenos (1143-1180), which challenged Niketas Choniates' negative appraisal of the ruler. Magdalino received the 1993 Runciman Award for his work.[2]
Magdalino was educated at the University of Oxford (1970 BA, 1976 D.Phil.). He has worked as a Lecturer and Reader in Mediaeval History in University of St Andrews (1977-1999), as a Bishop Wardlaw Professor of Byzantine History in the University of St Andrews (1999-2009), and as a Professor of History at Koç University, Istanbul (from 2005).[3]
He is a fellow of: Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies; Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in Early Christian Humanism, Catholic University of America; Alexander-von-Humboldt Stipendium at Frankfurt and Munich; Humanities Research Centre at Australian National University. He is Directeur d'études invité, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Directeur d'études invité, École pratique des Hautes Études, section des sciences religieuses.[4]
He was a Visiting Professor of History at Harvard University in 1995-6; in 2002 he was elected Fellow of the British Academy.[5]
Magdalino is a member of several editorial boards and research committees: 'The Medieval Mediterranean' at Brill monograph series; 'Oxford Studies in Byzantium' at Oxford University Press; Committee for the British Academy project on the Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire; Senior Fellows Committee at Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies; La Pomme d'or Publishing; Byzantinische Zeitschrift journal.[6]
- (with Clive Foss) Rome and Byzantium (Oxford, 1976).
- Tradition and Transformation in Medieval Byzantium (Aldershot, 1991).
- The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos, 1143-1180 (Cambridge, 1993), pp.xxvi+527, winner of the 1993 Runciman Award.
- Constantinople médiévale. Études sur l'évolution des structures urbaines, Travaux et Mémoires, Monographies 9 (Paris, 1996) pp. 117; Serbian translation, Belgrade 2001.
- The Byzantine Background to the First Crusade, Canadian Institute of Balkan Studies (Toronto, 1996) pp.38
- L'orthodoxie des astrologues. La science entre le dogme et la divination à Byzance (VIIe-XIVe siècle), Réalités byzantines 12 (Paris, 2006), pp. 194.
- Studies on the History and Topography of Byzantine Constantinople (Variorum, Ashgate, Aldershot 2007).
- (with Nelson, Robert S.) The Old Testament in Byzantium (Harvard University Press 2010).
Books as editor[edit]
- The Perception of the Past in Twelfth-Century Europe (London, 1992) pp.x+240.
- New Constantines: the Rhythm of Imperial Renewal in Byzantine History, 4th-13th Centuries (Aldershot, 1994) pp.x+312.
- (ed. with D. Ricks) Byzantium and the Modern Greek Identity (Aldershot, 1998) pp.x+187
- Byzantium in the Year 1000 (Leiden, 2003), pp. xx+284
- (ed. with Maria Mavroudi) The Occult Sciences in Byzantium (Geneva, 2007) pp. 468.
- ^ http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/saims/researchassoc.htm
- ^ http://www.pommedor.ch/magdalino/pub_1.htm
- ^ http://www.pommedor.ch/magdalino/cv.htm
- ^ http://www.pommedor.ch/magdalino/cv.htm
- ^ http://www.britac.ac.uk/fellowship/elections/index.cfm?member=4382
- ^ http://oip.ku.edu.tr/sites/oip.ku.edu.tr/files/OIP/paul_magdalino.pdf