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Artificial insemination of equines has been around a long time and, through the years, has had a profound impact on the horse industry. Most of the impact has been of the positive variety, but there also have been some negatives. Just when artificial insemination (AI) first made its appearance on the equine scene is open to debate. There is the somewhat romantic, and perhaps apocryphal, story of an Arab chieftain who allegedly stole some semen from a prize stallion owned by an adversary. The chieftain then inseminated his prize mare with this semen to obtain a "super" foal. That incident, the story goes, took place in 1322.
Whether that story is fact or fiction is irrelevant, but it does underline the fact that artificial insemination has been around for a good many years. B.W. Pickett, PhD, of Colorado State University, one of the pioneers in the field of research who helped turn the debatable AI approach for achieving pregnancy into a commonplace procedure, tells us that it was in 1776 that a researcher named Spallanzani used stallion semen to observe the effects of cooling spermatozoa. Spallanzani, says Pickett, is the "recognized father of AI."
With that much of a head start, one would think that AI in the equine industry would be the most sophisticated among the species of animals where it is employed. Unfortunately, this isn't true. The beef industry, for example, routinely uses frozen semen successfully, while the equine industry still struggles to find a way to achieve a satisfactory pregnancy rate with that approach. (One country that has made heavy use of AI for a number of years, says Pickett, is China. There, in 1959, approximately 600,000 mares were inseminated.)
Perhaps the prime reason for the disparity in progress is the role the horse has played in agriculture as compared to beef. While a growing population demanded more and better food on the table at the turn of the century, stimulating research into beef production, horses were on their way out as a utilitarian animal.
Tractors and trucks replaced horses and mules from rural fields to city streets. The number of horses in the United States dropped drastically. After a time, the draft horse, the mainstay of farming in the countryside and dray work in the city, had entered the "rare breed" category.
Then came a switch in attitudes. The horse was newly discovered as a recreational entity. People found that trail riding could be great fun. Still others discovered an exciting world of competition involving horses of all breeds and abilities, and soon horse shows proliferated.
Racing had been around since the country was founded, but it, too, received added impetus. The number of equines involved in racing increased as people with more money and an increasing amount of leisure time found their way to the racetrack.
Horses were on their way back, but in different trappings. It wasn't long before leaders of the industry decided it was time to play catch-up in the world of research, especially as it related to artificial insemination. Some universities developed ambitious and aggressive research programs to determine the best approach to take in obtaining pregnancies via AI, then added another dimension with embryo transfer.
The research continues today, with the latest breakthrough involving the use of the endoscope to place sperm at the uterotubal junction. More about that later.
The use of AI mushroomed as more knowledge and better techniques became available. Today, the only major equine registry still holding out against the use of AI is The Jockey Club, which registers Thoroughbreds.
It wasn't always that broadly accepted, says Pickett, who presented many of his views on the subject in a recent article titled "Physiology and Philosophy of Breeding Horses" that appeared in the Journal of Veterinary Science.
"For years," Pickett tells us, "many prominent horse breeders were vehemently opposed to utilization of AI within their breeds. Much opposition was out of fear and ignorance. Many believed that a) foals would be weakened and malformed; b) the procedure was against nature; c) mares would become sterile; d) offspring would be degenerate; e) sex ratio would be altered; f) there would be semen mix-ups; g) diseases would be spread; h) inbreeding would occur, and many other erroneous wives' tales.
"Actually, none of these things has occurred with any more frequency than observed with natural service. In fact, AI often provides a better solution to problems expressed by these fears than natural service."
The primary objective during the breeding season, Pickett continues, is to impregnate the maximum number of mares in the minimum amount of time.
"This reduces labor costs and other expenses," he notes, "and provides earlier foals, thus shortening the foaling season, again reducing labor and expenses. Artificial insemination can aid in accomplishing these goals."
When discussing the impact that AI has had on the equine industry, one must first understand the advantages it provides as well as the disadvantages.
Pickett outlines a number of advantages for using AI. They can be distilled to 10 key points:
1. Permits disease control. Artificial insemination is used effectively to control venereal disease. This can be accomplished in two ways. First, the amount of semen placed in the mare's uterus can be reduced sufficiently so that the number of potentially pathogenic organisms is reduced below the number necessary to cause disease. Second, an extender, which dilutes the semen, can be used that contains antibiotics capable of killing the organisms causing venereal disease.
"For example," Pickett says, "the utilization of AI, with a seminal extender containing gentamicin sulfate, probably would have been effective in controlling Taylorella equigenitalis, the causal agent of contagious equine metritis (CEM) in 1977."
2. Reduces the possibility of injury to the mare and/or stallion. Some stallions and some mares react violently during the breeding process. The result can be a stallion which is injured by being kicked or a mare which is savaged by a stallion becoming overly aggressive. Also placed at risk with this type of behavior are the handlers of the stallion and mare.
With AI, a phantom mount or a gentle mare which is acceptable to the stallion can be used for the collection of semen. Once a stallion has been taught to use the mount and ejaculate into an artificial vagina, the risk of injury diminishes significantly.
Using AI also reduces the problems involved when a small stallion is mated to a tall mare or vice versa.
3. Permits use of stallions which have developed poor breeding habits or have been injured. "Stallions have been trained to ejaculate into an artificial vagina (AV) without mounting a mare," Pickett says. "A stallion that cannot be used in natural service because of injury or chronic lameness, etc., can often be trained to ejaculate in this manner and be used in an AI program. In at least two instances in which a stallion was unable to obtain an erection, but showed excellent sex drive, training to an AV was accomplished. Stallions that have been mismanaged, kicked, or otherwise injured during the breeding process occasionally develop poor breeding habits. It is common for these horses to dismount quickly while in the process of ejaculating."
When that happens, of course, much of the ejaculate is lost on the ground. About the only way to circumvent those problems via natural cover is to catch the dismount sample and inseminate with it. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the quality of the semen would be compromised under that scenario.
4. Permits evaluation of semen at each collection and immediate recognition of minor changes in seminal quality. "Formation and maturation of spermatozoa require about 57 days in the stallion," says Pickett. "When AI is used, semen can be evaluated at each collection. In conjunction with an effective herd health program, this will aid in identification of causes of reproductive failure that may otherwise go undetected. When deterioration of seminal quality is observed, steps can be initiated immediately to correct the problem, or mares can be switched to another stallion, preventing disastrous reproductive performance and loss of reputation of the stallion and farm."
5. Aid in identification of reproductive problems. AI can help pinpoint reproductive problems whether they originate with the stallion or with the mare.
6. Prevents overuse of a stallion, particularly early in the breeding season, and enables mares to be bred at the most opportune time for maximum chance of reproduction. Overall, this is perhaps one of the key advantages of AI and an area in which it has had great impact. Some popular stallions are swamped with mares early in the breeding season. In the past, some of them would have been turned down or been bred at a later date. Now, with the use of semen extenders, several mares can be bred with each ejaculate, with the actual number being determined by the stallion's fertility.
AI is of particular value if a stallion is sub-fertile. Such a horse, when breeding natural cover, might be able to impregnate one mare daily at most, and often fewer. However, if that one ejaculate is collected and extended, the number can be increased.
"When several mares need to be bred on a given day, AI can prevent overuse of the stallion and still enable mares to be bred at the proper time with the optimal number spermatozoa," Pickett said. "Cattle semen can be collected, extended, cooled to 5� Centigrade, and used to breed cows for up to five days without an appreciable loss of fertility. However, too little information is available to recommend this procedure with stallion semen. Our current recommendation for maximum reproductive capacity is to collect, extend, and inseminate fresh semen immediately.
"When numerous mares are booked, AI is the only realistic solution to breeding these mares at the appropriate time for maximum reproductive efficiency. The operative phrase here is 'reproductive efficiency,' with special emphasis on maximum, because there are some stallions which can cover effectively 200 or more mares naturally during one breeding season.
"Our current recommendation is to collect the stallion every other day and inseminate all mares that have been in estrus two days or longer, or when it has been determined by ultrasonography and/or rectal palpation that ovulation is imminent."
7. Permits breeding of abnormal mares which could not be used in natural service. Fitting into this category are mares which have been injured or have other disabilities. Also fitting into this category would be the mare which shows no outward signs of estrus at any stage of her cycle. Such a mare might react with violence to the stallion if he attempted to mount. Using palpation and ultrasound to determine when she ovulates allows a mare to be impregnated via AI even though she does not demonstrate the classic signs of being in heat.
8. Permits more effective use of older, more valuable stallions. "As stallions age," Pickett tells us, "degenerative changes occur in the testes that reduce the number of spermatozoa produced per gram of testicular tissue. Also, in many cases the spermatozoa produced by older stallions have a great number of abnormalities and poorer viability, which can further reduce fertility. With a properly spaced seminal-collection schedule, reliable seminal-evaluation procedures, and properly timed inseminations, more pregnancies can be obtained with an older stallion by AI than by natural service. In many cases, this is the only method of obtaining foals from an old, valuable stallion."
9. Increases the genetic pool and permits progeny testing. Breeding horizons have definitely been broadened by the advent of AI. In the past, if a breeder in New York wanted his or her mare bred to a stallion in California, it involved a great deal of planning and forethought. First of all, the trip would be a long one for the mare. Secondly, there would be a good deal of transportation expense involved. Thirdly, the mare would be out of the owner's care and control for an extended period.
With AI, those constraints have been removed. The mare can remain in her home stable under normal routine while semen is collected from a stallion thousands of miles away and flown to her area.
The above is especially true of mares with foals at side. Added to the cost and inconvenience in shipping a mare and foal cross-country is the threat of injury and/or disease to the foal.
Progeny testing with AI also is a valuable asset. Pickett puts it this way: "There has been very limited progeny testing in horses. There are several conditions in horses assumed to be hereditary, but definite proof is not available. The best method of truly determining the mode of heritability is through AI."
10. Results in higher pregnancy rates than natural service. "Horses have the lowest reproductive rate of all species of farm animals," Pickett maintains. "The major causes of this subfertility appear to be genital tract infections, hormonal dysfunction, the arbitrary January birth date, inadequate management, and lack of selection for fertility."
One of the early indicators that AI was more efficient than natural service in getting mares pregnant came in a study conducted from 1967 to 1970 involving five Quarter Horse and seven Thoroughbred farms. The majority of the Quarter Horse mares were bred with AI while all of the Thoroughbred mares were bred via natural cover.
Of the Quarter Horse mares involved in the study, 51% became pregnant on the first cover compared to 43% for the Thoroughbred mares. The percentage for pregnancies after five services was 84% for the Quarter Horses and 75% for the Thoroughbreds.
The same trend was observed for maiden and barren mares and mares bred on foal heat. With Quarter Horses, 89% of maiden mares became pregnant after five services, compared to 76% for Thoroughbreds. With barren mares, 46% of the Quarter Horses became pregnant on the first service, compared to 34% for the Thoroughbreds. After five services, the spread remained–82% pregnant for the Quarter Horses and 66% pregnant for the Thoroughbreds.
For mares bred on foal heat, 58% of the Quarter Horses became pregnant compared to 41% of the Thoroughbreds.
In commenting on the study, Pickett had this to say:
"We believe these differences were due to utilization of AI by Quarter Horse breeders, since 69% of the Quarter Horse mares were bred with AI compared to none of the Thoroughbred mares. We are not sufficiently naive to believe that AI is not used on some Thoroughbred farms. However, the farms in this study were large, well-known Thoroughbred farms where AI could not have been utilized without detection. Breed difference does not appear to be a logical explanation since many of these mares were 100% Thoroughbred lineage being bred to Quarter Horse stallions and vice versa. Further, many of the Quarter Horse mares had a high percentage of Thoroughbred blood."
Further proof of higher conception rates was provided in a study undertaken by the Arabian Horse Registry, which, in recent years, has been a leader in the utilization of artificial insemination and transported semen, both cooled and frozen. From 1972 to 1976, the Registry was involved in a developmental program involving artificial insemination. In 1977, the Registry formally approved AI. Several years ago, the Registry also approved the use of frozen semen.
As part of the Arabian Registry's developmental program in the 1970s, data were compiled by a research committee concernng pregnancy rates at a Standardbred farm, comparing natural cover to AI.
During the period when data were collected and analyzed, some 1,466 Standardbred mares classified as being "normal" were bred on the farm. Of that number, 913 were bred AI and 553 were bred via natural cover. The conception rate for the AI bred mares was 83.1% while the conception rate for natural cover was 74.5%. In addition, the AI-bred mares had a live foal rate of 73.8% compared to 68.7% for natural cover.
During that timeframe, the Standardbred farm also bred 905 mares which were classified as being "problem mares." Of that number, 563 were bred AI and 342 were bred by natural service. The AI mares had a conception rate of 44.8% compared to 31.3% for those bred by natural cover. The AI mares had a live foal rate of 35.2% compared to 24.6% for natural service.
"It was determined that there were significant differences in conception rates and live-foal percentages between AI and natural service for both normal and problem mares," said Pickett of the study. "Thus, it is obvious that efficiency of reproduction was higher when AI was utilized compared to natural breeding. This was particularly true with 'problem mares.' For example, the percentage difference between AI and natural service for live foals from normal mares was 5.1% compared to 10.6% for problem mares.
"These differences support the contention that problem mares bred by AI are more likely to become pregnant and deliver foals than problem mares bred by natural service."
By perusing the above, one quickly can conclude that there are a number of advantages to using artificial insemination and transported semen, and that these advantages have, and will continue to have, a positive effect on the equine industry.
However, there also are some disadvantages to AI that should be articulated.
Foremost is the technology involved. While the technology is an advantage, its implementation by the small breeder would have to be considered a disadvantage. Pickett estimates that at least 20 mares a year must be bred at a particular farm in order to justify the use of artificial insemination.
In most breeds, farms that breed 20 mares per year are in the minority. The number is far fewer at most farms.
The largest registry in the horse world is the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Debbie Black of the AQHA registration department put it this way: "The backbone of our breed is the small breeder–the person who has five or fewer Quarter Horses."
Also, the backbone of that and other breeds is the person who owns a stallion, but only breeds five or six outside mares per year. It would be difficult for that individual to justify the expenditure involved in purchasing the necessary equipment for an AI program.
The same is true for some breeders in the Rocky Mountain West where horses roam huge pastures. In many instances, owners of these individuals find that pasture breeding is the best way to go.
In the minds of some, the large number of mares that one stallion can breed in a given year by using AI could be construed as being a disadvantage because that narrows the pool of available mares for other stallions. It does not appear to be a valid concern. True, some stallions do breed to a larger book than they would with natural cover, but in checking with a number of registries that approve the use of transported semen, it does not appear that one or two stallions dominate.
For example, the American Quarter Horse Association records show that in 1997, a total of 176,024 mares were reported as being bred. The average number of mares bred per stallion was six. There were only 42 stallions that bred 100 mares or more. By far, the largest number was for stallions which bred 10 mares or fewer–25,336.
The AQHA has permitted the use of artificial insemination on the farm for many years. This means that stallions could be collected and the semen used to inseminate mares that were on the same premises. However, it has only been since 1997 that shipped cooled semen has been approved. The shipped semen must be used within 72 hours. As mentioned earlier, frozen semen has not been approved.
Black said that in 1999, some 30,838 stallions were reported as breeding mares. Of that number, certificates for shipping cooled semen were obtained for 1,100 of them.
Numbers were not available for mares bred on premises via artificial insemination.
While the figures indicate that no one stallion is breeding hundreds and hundreds of mares because of AI and shipped semen, the capability definitely is there.
Pickett provided some eye-opening information when turning his attention to the potential for breeding mares via artificial insemination.
"The first assumption that must be made," he says, "is that management is ideal and that there are sufficient facilities and personnel to perform the inseminations in a reasonable period of time (approximately one hour) after seminal collection. If a daily spermatozoal output (DSO) of 3.5 billion to seven billion is assumed, depending on season of the year, the number of mares that can be bred can be predicted."
He goes on to say that it is recommended that a stallion be collected every other day when the semen is going to be used for AI. This means that the spermatozoal output should be seven to 14 billion, double that of the daily collection.
Also figured into the equation is progressive motility of the spermatozoa. Progressive motility is a characteristic "most commonly used on the farm to predict fertility and estimate the number of mares to inseminate."
In attempting to arrive at numbers of mares which could be inseminated per ejaculate, Pickett and his colleagues used spermatozoal motilities ranging from 25% to 75% and spermatozoal outputs ranging between seven and 14 billion per ejaculate.
They then prepared a table showing what could be done under ideal conditions. If 500 million spermatozoa were used per insemination from an ejaculate of seven billion and the progressive motility was 25%, they reasoned, then three mares could be bred per ejaculate.
However, if there were 14 billion sperm per ejaculate and the progressive motility was 75%, then 105 mares could be bred with that ejaculate.
However, in a normal breeding program, it would be rare that a mare would be inseminated only once.
"In an AI program," Pickett says, "most mares are inseminated more than once for maximum reproductive efficiency. The highest pregnancy rate utilizing the largest number of mares has been obtained with three to four inseminations per cycle, which was without the benefit of ultrasonography.
"Assuming that each mare is inseminated three times, the numbers (in the above referenced table) should be divided by three; thus, the number of mares which can be inseminated with each collection is one to 35.
"Further, if one assumes 70 breeding days per season, then the number of mares that can be inseminated per season in an AI program, based upon these calculations, would range from 70 to 2,450. It is blatantly obvious that more mares can be inseminated, particularly under ideal management, than has been predicted or recommended in the past; particularly if ultrasound is used to maximum advantage and mares are bred only once per cycle.
"In our example, if mares were bred only once per season, the number of mares that could be inseminated would range from 210 to 7,350. It has been reported that in 1960 in China, the two most popular stallions were used to inseminate 4,415 and 3,095 mares for conception rates of 76.9% and 68.1%, respectively. It appeared that 100 million progressively motile spermatozoa were used per insemination.
"One need only compare what was considered a normal book in the early 1900s to what is normal today to recognize that there is a trend toward breeding more mares to popular stallions. Further, current predictions of how many mares can be bred utilizing natural breeding or AI have been grossly underestimated.
"Management is the key to success."
Endoscopic Guidance
While the numbers presented by Pickett are on the verge of being mind boggling to the average breeder, there is more to come. Among the latest in technological advances is the use of the endoscope to inseminate mares artificially.
There have been a number of experiments conducted in this country and England, but little has yet appeared in the literature. What is known and has been reported is that the endoscope makes it possible to deposit spermatozoa at the uterotubal junction–that point where the fallopian tube empties into the uterus.
What this means is that the normal course taken by the spermatozoa through the uterus–often resulting in death to many of the microscopic travelers–can be avoided. Instead, the spermatozoa are placed in a safe haven where they quickly come into contact with the descending egg.
One of the first reports given on the procedure was at the 1998 AAEP meeting in Baltimore. But before you start hounding your veterinarian to use this technique, please note that while it is very promising, it still is in the developmental stage and needs further work and better equipment before it is ready for on-farm use.
Reporting on the procedure was J.J. Vazquez, MVZ, University of California, Davis. Involved in the study were 10 cyclic mares ranging in age from five to 15 years. Their reproductive history was unknown to the researchers.
The mares were sedated, then inseminated with seven million sperm cells. The sperm was from a fertile stallion. Using an endoscope and a polyethylene catheter inserted through the endoscope, the semen was placed onto the surface of the uterotubal junction. Prior to insemination, each mare had received 2,500 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin intravenously when a 35-millimeter follicle had been detected.
Three mares were diagnosed as pregnant with a fetal heartbeat 25 days after ovulation. Of the three mares which were pregnant, one mare was inseminated within 12 hours of detected ovulation and the other two mares were inseminated 24 and 48 hours prior to the detection of ovulation.
Vazquez told his listeners at the convention that one of the reasons for the low success rate was because of the large gauge diameter of the insemination catheter used "and the poor accessibility to the uterotubal lumen in the mare."
He went on to say that the procedure demonstrates that positive results can be realized with a small number of spermatozoa via this method.
"To our knowledge," he said, "this is the first report of successful (non-surgical) uterotubal insemination attempts in the literature. Although the number of mares included in this study (10 mares) is small, this study provides preliminary evidence that a low number of spermatozoa can result in pregnancy if sperm are deposited non-surgically on the surface of the uterotubal joint ipsilaterally (pertaining to the same side) to impending ovulation. This procedure may serve as a possible assisted reproductive procedure for the management of subfertile stallions with sub-optimal number of normal motile spermatozoa or as an alternate procedure for insemination with cryopreserved (frozen) spermatozoa."
There has been a great deal of research work conducted on the procedure since that outlined by Vazquez a little more than a year ago, although much of it still is unreported in scientific literature. In one study, it was found that a 64% pregnancy rate could be obtained on a per cycle basis with as few as one million progressively motile spermatozoa. Researchers have even found that pregnancy can be obtained with as few as one thousand progressively motile sperm.
This compares with normal AI procedures that often use 500 million progressively motile spermatozoa.
As Vazquez pointed out in his conclusion, the procedure will be a major assist for sub-fertile stallions. It also means that if the market were there, it would open the door to breeding even more mares to fertile stallions than the ambitious numbers already discussed by Pickett.
As mentioned, there is no question that artificial insemination in general, and shipped semen specifically, has had an impact on the equine industry. Other than The Jockey Club, there are virtually no registries that do not permit artificial insemination and very few that do not permit transported cooled semen. It is far easier to list the registries that do not permit transported cooled semen than those that do.
Included in the list that do not permit transported cooled semen as of figures available in 1998 are as follows:
American Indian Horse Registry; Colorado Ranger Horse Association; The Jockey Club; Mountain Pleasure Horse Association of North America; Palomino Ponies of America; Pony of the Americas Club; United Quarab Registry; and Universal Perkehner Society.
When it comes to transporting frozen semen, however, there still are some major holdouts, although some of these registries indicate they are studying the matter.
Leading the list of registries that do not permit registration of foals conceived with frozen semen is the American Quarter Horse Association. Following in alphabetical order are the other registries that do not permit the use of frozen semen: American Andalusian Society; American Indian Horse Registry; American Miniature Horse Association; American Paint Horse Association; Appaloosa Horse Club; Belgian Draft Horse Corporation; Colorado Ranger Horse Association; The Jockey Club; Mountain Pleasure Horse Association; National Spotted Saddle Horse Association; Norwegian Fjord Association of North America; Palomino Ponies of America; Pony of the Americas Club; Spanish-Norman Horse Registry; and United Quarab Registry.
(Information concerning registries that do not permit the use of frozen semen also was for 1998.)
So, Who's Using AI?
While equine registries in general have embraced transported cooled semen, a sampling of registries large and small indicates that the majority of the mares still are bred on premises, either by natural cover or by AI with fresh semen.
In the Arabian breed, for example, Debbie Fuentes of the Registry reports that only about 12% of the mares currently are being bred with transported cooled or frozen semen. By late fall of 1999, she said, the group had registered 9,627 foals born that year. Of that number, only 1,149 were conceived with transported cooled semen–right at 12%.
Current figures demonstrate that there has been growth in the use of transported semen by the Arabian horse industry since its approval in 1995. In 1996, some 9.6% of foals were conceived via transported cooled semen. In 1997, that figure had increased to 10.6%. In 1998, it was 12.3%.
In the Quarter Horse industry the number of mares bred by transported cooled semen is far lower than the number bred on premises by either natural cover or AI. Black says that in 1998 there were 186,458 AQHA mares bred. Of that number, 8,424 were inseminated with transported cooled semen.
She said that breeding reports were received for 30,838 stallions in 1998, and of that number, permits were obtained for 1,110 for shipment of cooled semen.
A registry that is among the smallest–but one in which both transported frozen and cooled


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Neutropenia is characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood. Neutrophils normally comprise 45-75% of circulating white blood cells, and neutropenia is diagnosed when the absolute neutrophil count falls to <1500/ μL. Slowly developing neutropenia often goes undetected and is generally discovered when the patient develops sepsis or localized infections.
There are many causes of neutropenia, and immunosuppressants are a common iatrogenic cause. Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant drug that is being used for nearly 50 years now in organ transplantation and in diseases with suspected autoimmune etiology. Dermatologists use azathioprine as a steroid-sparing agent in various dermatoses such as psoriasis, immunobullous diseases, photodermatoses, and eczematous disorders. [1] The drug has been used in ulcerative autoimmune disorders such as Crohn's disease and pyoderma gangrenosum. On the other hand, it has also been implicated as a cause of ulceration associated with neutropenia. [2] Most reports of neutropenic ulceration document involvement of the buccal mucosa and oral cavity. We report a case of multiple severe cutaneous ulcers associated with long-term azathioprine use in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris.
Full article available at: http://www.ijp-online.com/article.asp?issn=0253-7613;year=2012;volume=44;issue=5;spage=646;epage=648;aulast=Laha

subset: commoncrawl


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Hot races: 15 candidates, 7 seats, 14 questions
It's not a presidential election year, and frankly, the Albemarle County and state General Assembly elections don't have quite the same cachet and voter-drawing power as those with name-brand national candidates.
Yet the locals running for office are the people who directly touch the quality of our lives. Those people we elect to county seats live here. They'll be voting on how the county grows, whether property taxes are raised, and how they're spent. They decide whether to allow Target to be built, and whether the county can afford recycling. They redistrict schools and decide which criminal cases to prosecute.
On the state level, this is the year of the uncontested race. State Senator Creigh Deeds and delegates Steve Landes, Mitch Van Yahres, and Rob Bell all have free rides to another term.
County-wise, Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Camblos and Board of Supervisors chairman Lindsay Dorrier of the Scottsville District are also unopposed.
The Hook takes a look at the county races that are being challenged: two Board of Supervisors' seats, four School Board seats, the sheriff, and the not-contested-but-still-on-ballot soil and water conservation directors– whatever those are (see sidebar).
The sheriff's race is heating up, with two challengers drawing a bead on incumbent Ed Robb. When a deputy claimed he was shot by a black man earlier this year, Robb immediately decried the incident as a "hate crime," only to have to backtrack when Albemarle police found the deputy's story sketchy. Given that its low-profile mission is to transport prisoners, maintain the security of the courthouse, and serve warrants, the Sheriff's Office has seen a lot of controversy this year. Yet three men want this job.
Ed Robb
Incumbent Candidate, Albemarle County Sheriff
Ed Robb
Age: 65
Day job: Sheriff of Albemarle County
Immediate family: Wife Gretchen; sons Mark, 44, Matt, 41, and daughter Amy, 38.
Party: Republican
Why run? I decided to run four years ago because I wanted to promote volunteer programs that don't cost the taxpayers anything and that had not been done here before: a search and rescue team, a reserve safety and security unit to complement local, state, and federal law enforcement, a crime prevention academy to teach people how to protect themselves, a youth program, and to revitalize the mounted patrol.
What do you do better than your opponents? I'm highly experienced, with 37 years in law enforcement. In my four years as sheriff, I've exhibited leadership ability and managed the budget in this agency and others. I worked for the FBI for 20 years.
Past political experience: Sheriff, Virginia state senator, and vice chairman of the Republican committee in 1991.
Political hero: Ronald Reagan, Harry Truman, and Theodore Roosevelt
Past newsworthiness: An illustrious career as an FBI agent, about which a book was written called Friend of the Family. Also as a Virginia state senator and as sheriff.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? Crime prevention through education
Pet peeve: People who draw conclusions without having the facts and details
Most influential book: The Bible
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? A horse
Motto: Never quit.
Larry Claytor
Candidate, Albemarle County Sheriff
Larry Claytor
Age: 49
Day job: Master police officer/forensic specialist, Albemarle County Police Department
Immediate family: Wife Deborah; sons Michael, 20, Chris, 17, and Jon, 12
Party: Independent
Why run? Being sheriff of Albemarle County has been a long-term goal. I am presently in the 30th year of my local law enforcement career. I have much to offer, and I see this as an opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Albemarle County.
What do you do better than your opponents? I have worked harder to prepare myself for this position. I am very approachable, diplomatic, self-controlled, and willing to listen to and work with people from all walks of life. I feel that my patience and personality are two of my greatest virtues. I will be visible, accessible, and on the job everyday. I am a certified Virginia police officer and police instructor. I have worked as a deputy sheriff in Albemarle County and have performed all of the tasks presently carried out by the Sheriff's Office. I have also worked to obtain a background in business management. I have served as treasurer of the Fraternal Order of Police; vice president of the Charlottesville Host Lions Club; president, treasurer, and executive board member of the Virginia Forensic Science Academy Alumni Association; ordained deacon and president of the Baptist Men's Group at Crozet Baptist Church; president and board member of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad.
Past political experience: I sought the Republican nomination for sheriff in 1999.
Political hero: Sir Winston Churchill
Past newsworthiness: I have been on the frontline of local law enforcement in this area since 1974. I have made arrests and obtained convictions of numerous murderers, rapists, and robbers. The first rape case to use DNA evidence from the Virginia State lab was an Albemarle case. In 1993, my crime scene work was highlighted in Virginia Police Chief magazine, and I've been endorsed by the Albemarle Law Enforcement Association.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? The people's candidate
Pet peeve: People who are not accountable
Most influential book: The Bible
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? A wise old owl
Motto: You've got to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
Barry McLane
Candidate, Albemarle County Sheriff
Barry McLane
Age: 48
Day job: Director of meal operations at Worldstrides
Immediate family: Wife Linda; son Brady, 21; daughters Jenna, 16, and Macy, 13
Party: I'm independent because I don't believe the sheriff should be affiliated with any political party.
Why run? The Sheriff's Office needs some professional management. I want to take what I've learned in the private sector– like customer service– and take it to the public. I think I can do a better job. And I'd be more visible and not just be a groundhog that comes out every four years.
What do you do better than your opponents? I'm a professional manager. I know how to set realistic goals. Since 1984, I've had 12,000 hours of ride-along observation with the Charlottesville police, and I served two and a half years as a reserve deputy.
Past political experience: I don't have any political experience. I've knocked on 5,000 doors and only had 10 closed in my face.
Political hero: Rudy Giuliani
Past newsworthiness: Founder of You've Got a Friend Foundation that promotes a positive image of law enforcement; chairman of the Charlottesville police citizen's advisory panel 1994-95.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? I'm the public service candidate.
Pet peeve: Traffic around here, like when the left lane is closed and people pass you in the right lane and then want you to let them in.
Most influential book: The Bible
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? A bald eagle
Motto: Change lanes with McLane.
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors
Charles Martin and Walter Perkins' decisions to not run for reelection create two openings that could change the balance of the Board of Supervisors on growth issues– the big issues that face the supes. The White Hall district's Perkins was known to argue that property owners have rights in how their land is used, and Martin provided a voice for the struggling middle class, which he says needs a Target more than it needs more boutique shopping here.
Vying for Martin's Rivanna district seat are Republican Ken Boyd, who's finishing a term on the Albemarle School Board, and Democrat Peter Hallock, whose main concern is growth– both of the plants at his nursery, the Garden Spot, and of the county.
In the White Hall race is Democrat Eric Strucko, who struck out in a run against Perkins four years ago. Since that time, he's been building a base through nonstop community activism. His opponent, David Wyant, an NFL referee, cites native Albemarle roots. He's the fourth generation to own the Wyant Store in the heart of White Hall.
Ken Boyd
Candidate for Supervisor, Rivanna District
Ken Boyd
Age: 55
Day job: Owner of Boyd Financial Services, a financial planning company
Immediate family: Wife Brenda; sons Casey, 35, Patrick, 33, Cory, 20, and daughter Kelley, 27; grandson Josh, 10
Party: Republican
Why run? Because we need leaders experienced in local government, who have the patience and stamina to wade through the bureaucracy and put the interests of Albemarle citizens first.
What do you do better than your opponent? Since my opponent is a newcomer to local politics, I don't know much about him. As a member of the Albemarle County School Board, with a background in finance, I understand the educational needs of this community, and the complex budget process.
Past political experience: Four years Rivanna District representative on the Albemarle County School Board; Virgil Goode and Rob Bell campaigns.
Political hero: Ronald Reagan
Past newsworthiness: Questioning the cost of dredging the current reservoir to increase capacity and proposing more permanent long-range solutions, such as completing the Buck Mountain Reservoir, where the county already owns the land. While a School Board member, I voted against allocating money for a new press secretary for the superintendent while teachers still have to spend their own money on school supplies for the classroom.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? As a member of the School Board, I consider myself an education candidate, but equally important to me are our long-range water needs, adequate jobs, uncontrolled growth, and transportation issues.
Pet peeve: Negative campaigning
Most influential book: There are many, but the most recent is People Styles at Work by Robert Bolton and Dorothy Glover Bolton. It taught me how to be a better listener and fully consider differing points of view, traits that are important in becoming a more effective government leader.
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? My Jack Russell dog, Zeus. He has it made and probably gets more attention from the family than I do.
Motto: Listen, do your own homework, and don't procrastinate.
Peter Hallock
Candidate for Supervisor, Rivanna District
Peter Hallock
Age: 60
Day job: The Garden Spot owner with my wife.
Immediate family: Wife Andrea; daughter Jeannette Hallock-Solomon, 30; sons Gardiner, 28, and Harold, 24
Party: Democratic
Why run? Because I feel I have the experience and skills to help Albemarle County face the difficult challenge of growing without losing our unique character and quality of life. I want to ensure that we improve our school system, as I believe education is the key to vibrant economic opportunity.
What do you do better than your opponent? I'm a consensus-finder. I know how to work with opposing points of view and find a middle ground suitable to all.
Past political experience: Albemarle County Affordable Housing Committee; Albemarle County Fiscal Impact Committee; Child, Youth and Family Service Board; Little Keswick Foundation for Special Education; Albemarle Smart Growth Initiative; Piedmont Environmental Council; Democratic Steering Committee
Political hero: Emily Couric
Past newsworthiness: None. I've been quietly working behind the scenes for the past 30 years trying to make Albemarle a better place to live while running my small business.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? Smart growth candidate
Pet peeve: People who say we can grow indiscriminately without raising taxes and affecting our quality of life.
Most influential book: Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? A horse, of course
Motto: Don't pave over paradise.
Eric Strucko
Candidate for Supervisor, White Hall District
Eric Strucko
Age: 38
Day job: Vice president of finance, business planning, and analysis at the Association for Investment Management and Research
Immediate family: Wife Laurie; son David James, 5, and daughter Claire Constance, 1
Party: Democratic
Why run? To give back to the community that has given my family so much. Everything I have done in the community over the past decade comes together at the Board of Supervisors' job. I think my work with smart growth and rural area preservation, financial management, fire and rescue services, two school boards, and business development makes me a highly qualified candidate. I believe that my plan to improve schools and strengthen education, provide neighborhood infrastructure and public safety services, protect the county's rural character and natural resources, and create economic stability and good jobs, all with no tax rate increases, makes me the best candidate.
What do you do better than your opponent? I have done a better job of communicating my specific, relevant experience and my specific, relevant plans to the voters. I avoid sound bites that do not provide any real information. I have stronger qualifications for the supervisor job, and have a plan of action if elected. Experience is the difference.
Past political experience: Albemarle County Democratic Party, working on various campaigns. Also, I am very familiar with the local political process, having appeared before the Board of Supervisors many times and having been appointed by them to the Development Initiatives Steering Committee and the Housing Committee.
Political hero: Benjamin Franklin
Past newsworthiness: Helping create the Neighborhood Model, the Crozet Master Plan, and new smart growth policies in Albemarle County (as the chair of DISC). Helping create a strategy for constructing affordable housing in Albemarle County using nonprofit organizations instead of government (as chair of the Housing Committee).
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? The experienced and qualified candidate with a clear plan
Pet peeve: Self-righteousness
Most influential book: "The Gospel according to Matthew," especially Chapter 5
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? A small-mouth bass... a tireless fighter and survivor. (I do a lot of fishing in the James River.)
Motto: "Do the right thing, and have the strength and courage to do the job."
David Wyant
Candidate for Supervisor, White Hall District
David Wyant
Age: 56
Day job: Consulting engineer
Immediate family: Wife Gail; daughter Silvia Dowell, 36; sons David, 31, and Donald, 25
Party: Where? Yes, Republicans enjoy them too!
Why run? Want to serve the people and have a diverse group of skills, especially engineering expertise.
What do you do better than your opponent? I have walked the walk and know the history of the county. My family has lived in this county for over 200 years, giving me a unique and important perspective.
Past political experience: None, other than working with various governmental agencies, such as Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Soil and Water Commission, county planning, zoning, inspection, and engineering departments, Architectural Review Board, and VDOT.
Political hero: Honest, down to earth, straight shooting politicians (unfortunately in short supply)
Past newsworthiness: One of 120 select individuals to officiate NFL football games
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? Common sense candidate
Pet peeve: People who are not open-minded; people who do not play fair
Most influential book: Possibility Thinking by Robert Schuller
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? Seabiscuit– he beat the odds!
Motto: Common sense for the future of our families and children
Albemarle County School Board
Next year's School Board meetings surely won't be as exciting without gadfly Gary Grant, who stunned supporters and detractors in March when he suddenly announced he wouldn't be running for a second term.
Thanks to Grant's Constituents Report and its thorough accounts of School Board goings-on, the board received this dubious distinction: It was listed on the Freedom of Information Complaint List by the Virginia Coalition for Open Government for adopting a gag order on topics discussed in closed session. On the other hand, teachers whose performances don't merit contract renewal probably appreciate the board's mandatory vow of silence.
Only one incumbent– Steve Koleszar– is running for reelection to the four open School Board seats, and he's being challenged by former Hollywood-guy Denny King, who still makes hotel reservations from his Esmont home for the cast and crew of movies, such as Tom Cruise's Last Samurai or Nicole Kidman's Cold Mountain.
Even before Grant announced he wasn't running, Ivy activist Brian Wheeler had jumped into the race for the at-large seat. After Grant bowed out, Linda McRaven– who didn't win the Republican nomination for the White Hall supervisor seat that went to David Wyant– says she was approached to throw her hat into the otherwise uncontested at-large ring.
The Rivanna District seat opened up when Ken Boyd decided to run for supervisor. Sue Friedman, whose husband is president of Piedmont Virginia Community College ("He has nothing to do with the race," she says) is up against contractor Franklin Micciche.
And in the White Hall District, Chuck Ward is not running for reëlection– but his wife, Louise, wants to keep his seat in the family by fending off lawyer Barbara Massie, who hails from a family of Albemarle educators.
Before leaving public office, Grant lobbed one more incendiary device when he wrote a letter to the Daily Progress advising candidates that filling out the Coalition for a Responsible School Board's lengthy questionnaire is a waste of time, arguing that candidates' time would be better spent going door to door.
So far, Micciche and King have heeded his advice and declined to fill out the questionnaire (King sent in a letter), and Massie and McRaven say they've answered only some of the questions. McRaven calls the depth of detail requested "absurd."
Grant also claimed the public was uninterested in the candidate forums sponsored by the coalition.
"In the past, they were not terribly well-attended," concedes coalition founder and chair Allen Freeman. Yet the coalition has dutifully scheduled three candidate forums before the election (see sidebar for a listing of all forums).
Linda McRaven
Candidate for County School Board, At-Large Seat
Linda McRaven
Age: 57
Day job: Administrator/business manager for historic structure restoration and construction company. Editor of books and magazine articles in the field. Coordinator of workshops in log, stone, post-and-beam work, blacksmithing, and other pioneer skills.
Immediate family: Husband Charles "Mac"; daughters Amanda, 27, Lauren, 25, Chelsea, 23, Ashley, 21, and son Charlie, 18.
Party: I think conservatively, hence, Republican.
Why run? My children convinced me that my 22 years of experience guiding them through the Albemarle school system have prepared me to make a meaningful contribution to the school board responsibilities. I have "been there, done that." I have worked with 456 teachers, 15 principals, eight schools and their staffs, and seven bus drivers. I have been redistricted five times. I never missed a parent/teacher conference. I have been a teacher's helper. I've been involved in all the PTOs, in school sports as well as drama, music, and multicultural programs. I was instrumental in curriculum development, classroom organization, teacher search, site location, and site planning, as well as school construction [for the Free Union Country School].
What do you do better than your opponent? My track record gives evidence of my ability to get things done. Bottom line, my experience as a parent, as a business owner responsible for staying within budget, and as a school founder allows me to look at issues from the perspective of students, teachers, administrators, parents, and taxpayers, as well as to ask necessary questions. I can successfully consider a broad range of views, find balance and take meaningful action without raising taxes.
Past political experience: None as a candidate, but I have been involved in politics since childhood. I worked in the JFK, HHH, and LBJ campaigns, as well as for Senate, House, and gubernatorial campaigns in Florida and Virginia. I have a BA in International Affairs from George Washington University and worked on Capitol Hill for years. I am an avid reader and talk-radio listener to keep abreast of local politics.
Political hero: JFK inspired the young "me" to be an active American citizen. Faye A. Moore, my dynamic and brilliant mother, as well as Ronald Reagan taught me that political philosophies are not stagnant, and one can mature in one's understanding of civic responsibilities and love of country.
Past newsworthiness: Our unique construction work building, restoring, and preserving historic structures of log, stone, and post-and-beam has been the subject of books and much publicity both locally and nationally.. Our love of history, respect for individual achievement and educational growth, as well as respect for all children, has extended to such "out of the box" efforts as the creation of an outdoor summer theater dramatizing stories of local history, the founding of a small community school, and a fine arts center.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? Of course, I am an "education" candidate.
Pet peeve: People who whine and complain, but who are never part of the solution
Most influential book: The Bible
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? I love to quilt, make my "nest," and appreciate beautiful dance movements, so I would want to come back as a barn swallow.
Motto: If you don't want my peaches, don't shake my tree.
Brian Wheeler
Candidate for County School Board, At-Large Seat
Brian Wheeler
Age: 37
Day job: Chief information officer, SNL Financial
Immediate family: Spouse Jean Wheeler; daughter Abby, 11; son Sam, 7
Party: School board races are nonpartisan. As a result, I will not accept a party's endorsement for this campaign. Candidates who do accept such endorsements get tremendous advantages come election day, but I think they are running against the spirit of a nonpartisan school board.
Why run? In 1999, my daughter landed in a second grade class of 27 children. That's a lot of young kids for one teacher. I raised my hand at the PTO meeting and asked, "What are we going to do about this?" I wasn't satisfied with the answer. That led me to create an Internet email newsletter and website focused on Albemarle schools. I collected information about class size and the budget, and shared it with parents around the county. I earned the respect of school administrators and elected officials because I stuck to the facts and wasn't an alarmist. Within six months, we engaged the school board, the administration, and ultimately the board of supervisors to get more funding for education. The school board adopted my proposal for class size emergency relief, and it has been in the budget helping schools around the county ever since.
Thus, I want to run for school board because I will play an important role improving what is already a good school system. I want Albemarle to have an exceptional school system. I have lived in this area for 19 years, and I'm ready to put my substantial business experience, and my experience as a parent leader in this school system, to work for Albemarle.
What do you do better than your opponent? The voters can be the judge of which candidate is better than the other, and more importantly, which will be a better member of the school board. I got into this race in February 2003 to challenge Gary Grant, and spent 10 months researching the race, talking to voters, and attending almost every school board meeting. As a parent advocate, I have dedicated the past four years to improving our public schools through activities including my volunteer work building a dozen Internet newsletters at schools and community groups around Albemarle, my service as a PTO president, and my three years of service on the county Parent Council.
Past political experience: This is my first run for any political office.
Political hero: Emily Couric
Past newsworthiness: The Daily Progress has dubbed me a "fixture" at the school's budget hearings. The Hook has documented my work with the Ivy Community Association as we have fought to prevent Faulconer Construction from moving next door to a county school. WVIR has chronicled everything from my advocacy for increased investments in education to my company's recent elimination of 90 percent of our SPAM email.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? I don't think the voters get much from presidential campaign slogans. Albemarle needs fewer federal unfunded mandates and more attention by the General Assembly in Richmond to pay their fair share for public education. I guess that makes me the "kids first candidate."
Pet peeve: All things inefficient
Most influential book: Space, by James Michener. I actually came to Charlottesville because of UVA's telescopes.
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? My golden retriever has it pretty good.
Motto: A little organization is good. A lot of organization moves mountains.
Franklin Micciche
Candidate for County School Board, Rivanna District
Franklin Micciche
Age: 49
Day job: Home improvement contractor
Immediate family: Wife Jeanne; son James, 19, and daughter Caroline, 13
Party: Independent
Why run? Tax burden created by poor spending choices, particularly construction
What do you do better than your opponent? I offer experience in most components of the day-to-day operations of the school district. The system will benefit mostly from my construction expertise. When it comes to policy decisions, I will absorb all the information available, hear what is being said by different factions, and make good decisions.
Past political experience: College student government president, fire commissioner candidate, many committees, Albemarle County Tax Equalization Board. Most important: voicing my opinion often at public hearings and directly to those making decisions.
Political hero: Ed Koch, former mayor of New York City
Past newsworthiness: Involvement with Tax Equalization Board
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? The regular guy
Pet peeve: Political correctness
Most influential book: The Grapes of Wrath
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? A buck deer
Motto: Speak your mind.
Sue Friedman
Candidate for School Board, Rivanna District
Sue Friedman
Age: 50
Day job: Director, Regional Business Assistance, Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
Immediate family: Husband Frank; son Alex, 16
Party: N/A as school board elections are nonpartisan.
Why run? Education is the most important service provided by the public sector. Educational quality that leads to student success is our goal. I am committed to this goal.
What do you do better than your opponent? I do not know what my opponent does. I know what I do. I am committed to and experienced with education, both personally and professionally. I listen and value communication.
Past political experience: Involved, informed citizen and voter
Political hero: Robert F. Kennedy
Past newsworthiness: Appointed member of the superintendent's equity and diversity committee, 2000-2003; Leadership Charlottesville Class of 2000
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? The best education representative for all Rivanna District citizens
Pet peeve: Registered voters who don't vote
Most influential educational book: The Neglected Majority by Dale Parnell
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? My dog
Motto: The Golden Rule
Stephen Koleszar
Incumbent Candidate for County School Board, Scottsville District
Stephen Koleszar
Age: 56
Day job: Retired accountant
Immediate family: Wife Marilyn; sons Luke, 32, and John, 28
Party: Democratic
Why run? I want to maintain and build on the tremendous improvements our schools have made over the last eight years. I want to continue our momentum even after Dr. Castner retires.
What do you do better than your opponent? I have much more experience. I have served on the board for eight years. I have served on the CATEC, Piedmont Regional Education Program, Virginia School Board Association, and Virginia High School League boards. I have earned the confidence of parents, community, and staff in southern Albemarle.
Past political experience: I won two prior school board elections.
Political hero: Martin Luther King
Past newsworthiness: Service on the school board
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? I have a proven record of working with parents, community, and staff to improve education for all the children in Albemarle County.
Pet peeve: All our delegates and senators say that their highest priority is education. But the state is still underfunding K-12 education by close to a billion dollars.
Most influential book: There are so many, I don't want to be pinned down to one book.
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? That's a pretty silly question.
Motto: Education for all
Denny King
Candidate for County School Board, Scottsville District
Denny King
Age: 59
Day job: President/CEO Location Lodging Worldwide, Inc., Owner - Scottsville Fitness Center, Inc.
Immediate family: Partner Judy Bushkin; daughters Amy, 38, Jill, 36, and son Ryan, 24; granddaughter Katie, 14
Party: Independent
Why run? To support and improve the continued excellence of the Albemarle County public schools, with new energy and fresh ideas needed to guide us through the changes and challenges facing our growing county. We simply cannot maintain the status quo.
What do you do better than your opponent? I believe that change, especially when it represents new ideas and a renewed energy, is not only good, but it is absolutely essential for government to work efficiently and effectively. I will keep the best interests of the students, their parents, the teachers, bus drivers, and all school employees as my number one priority.
Past political experience: None
Political hero: Thomas Jefferson
Past newsworthiness: I take great pride in my contributions to my profession, community, and my fellow man. I take a much greater pride in doing them anonymously.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? I want to be known as the candidate who keeps his promises to the people. Period.
Pet peeve: Citizens who refuse to take advantage of one of the greatest privileges that all Americans have– the right to vote
Most influential book: Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? The bald eagle
Motto: Don't waste time. Make every moment count.
Barbara Massie
Candidate for County School Board, White Hall District
Barbara Massie
Age: 53
Day job: Attorney with Chandler Franklin & O'Bryan
Immediate Family: Mother, sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews
Party: Running as an independent
Why run? I have a heart for the kids in the Albemarle County schools and want to see all of them reach their full potential.
What do you do better than your opponent? I cannot comment on my opponent, but my strengths include 1) relating well to kids of all ages; 2) analytical ability that helps me to break problems down into their component parts; 3) ability to work in a group and reach consensus.
Past political experience: I have assisted delegates Steve Landes and Rob Bell in their re-election campaigns, but in general I have not been a political activist.
Political hero: I tend not to have any one political hero. I admire leaders who act according to principle and who understand our nation's foundational principles.
Past newsworthiness: In January 2003, I was a candidate for a local judgeship.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? I am "a voice for education." I want to speak up for more parental involvement in their children's education, and for deference to the parents' role in their children's education.
Pet peeve: TV game shows with canned applause
Most influential book: It is difficult to pick just one, but one modern book on political theory that I like is The Roots of American Order by Russell Kirk.
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it be? Preferably not a skunk. There are a lot of skunks on the road to Crozet where I live– and I think there are quite enough skunks in the world already.
Motto: Unity and focus will get the job done.
Louise Ward
Candidate for County School Board, White Hall DistrictLouise Ward
Age: 51
Day job: Volunteer at Western Albemarle High School and Crozet Elementary; employed part-time by Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Greenwood
Immediate family: Husband Chuck; Dad, 94; daughters Carrel, 25, and Laura, 23; sons-in-law Tamas, 27, and Kevin, 24; host son Manuel from Germany, 25
Party: School Board candidates run as independents.
Why run? 1) for the kids, 2) to make a difference, 3) to serve the community, and 4) to have someone knowledgeable about Albemarle County schools on the school board.
What do you do better than your opponent? I am very flexible with my time; I am a mother and a regular volunteer in the schools.
Past political experience: I never ever considered running for an elected office. My only interest is the School Board.
Political hero: Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Past newsworthiness: Soloing an airplane when I was eight months pregnant; also performed a 100-foot drop on a zip-line when I was a chaperone at Space Camp.
George Bush called himself the education candidate. What candidate are you? The common sense candidate because I don't come into this race with a pre-conceived political, legal, or financial agenda. I want to do what is best for the education of the 12,000-plus kids in Albemarle County.
Pet peeve: "So many books, so little time."
Most influential book: The Diary of Anne Frank
If you were to come back as an animal, what would it? A racehorse
Motto: "Reading: It's an adventure!" and "Be Happy!"


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Axis Drums & Percussion
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#21 Haley Elliott
|Lexington, Tenn. (Trinity Christian Academy)
2013: Played in 56 of 57 games as the designated player.…Tied for third on the team in homes runs with seven…Tied for third in doubles (eight)…Fourth in slugging percentage (.427)…Fifth in RBI (21)…Fifth in total bases (64)…Third on the team in sac bunts (five)…Tied for fourth in walks (16)…Hit by pitchers seven times, tops on the team…Eight multiple hit games (seven with two, one with three)…Six multiple RBI games (five with two, one with three)…Longest hitting streak of the season was three games…Season high three hits vs. Louisiana (2/9)…Season-high three RBI vs. Stetson (4/28)…Played in 26 Atlantic Sun games…In A-Sun games connected for 11 hits in A-Sun games including four doubles, two home runs and six RBI.
2012: Played in 52 games with 49 starts for Lipscomb... Hit .298 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI on her way to second-team All-Conference honors... Split her time between first base and designated player... Her 0.21 home runs per game number was good for 109th in the nation... Ranked seventh in the A-Sun in slugging (.574), eighth in RBI, fifth in home runs and 10th in total bases (81)... Scored the game-winning run twice and drove in the game-winner on five occasions... Hit the game-winning walk-off home run against Butler (Feb. 18)... Went 2-for-3 with a double and the game-winning RBI against Louisiana-Monroe (Feb. 26)... Homered and drove in four runs in 2-for-2 performance in the first game against IPFW (March 7); drove in the game-winning run in both contests against the Mastodons... Homered on back-to-back days at Cal Poly (March 23-24), going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI against the Mustangs... Homered and drove in three runs in the second game at Jacksonville (April 1)... Went 2-for-3 with a home run, a run scored and three RBI against Stetson (April 7)... Had a season-high three hits, including a home run, a double, a run scored and two knocked in at Mercer (April 21)... Helped the Lady Bisons stave off elimination in the A-Sun Tournament with a 2-for-4 performance against USC Upstate (May 10), scoring one run and driving in three, including the game-winner.
2011: Big bat primarily contributed as a designated player in her first season, although she did spell Mollie Mitchell as a catcher on occasion... Earned a spot on the A-Sun All-Freshman team... Hit .227 with five home runs, five doubles and 21 runs batted in as a freshman... Had three multi-hit games in her first campaign... Homered in back-to-back games against Samford (Feb. 25) and Radford (Feb. 26)... Break out game came against ETSU (Mar. 25), when she went 3-for-3 with two homers, three runs scored and three RBI in the Lady Bisons 9-0 victory... Had six multi-RBI games, including three with three runs batted in: ETSU (Mar. 25), Jacksonville (Apr. 8) and North Florida (Apr. 9)... Hit .309 in A-Sun games, and was tied for eighth in the conference with 14 RBI... Member of Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team.
High School: Played on four District, Region, and Substate championship teams at Trinity Christian … Played on four Class A state championship teams … Earned All-State and All-Region honors as a junior and senior … Earned All-District honors as a sophomore, junior and senior … Garnered West Tennessee 1st Team honors as a junior and senior … Coached by Robert Craft.
Personal: Haley Denise Elliott … Born June 17, 1992 … Daughter of Brad Elliott and Rhonda Crowe … Has two brothers, Aaron and Cameron … Accounting major … Nickname is "Haybale" … High School teammates of Ivy and Ellen Renfroe, who play softball at Tennessee and Katie Henderson (East Tennessee State)


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A total of 71 people have been dismissed so far as possible jury candidates in the George Zimmerman murder trial.
Tuesday was day two of jury selection, with lawyers conducting one-on-one interviews with candidates.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012. He has pleaded not guilty, saying it was self-defense.
U.S. & World
Circuit Judge Debra Nelson is presiding over the case, which is expected to last more than a month.
Everyone who was interviewed had heard something about the story of Zimmerman and Martin.
"It was two people being in the wrong place at the wrong time and two people instigating something that probably could have been avoided," said one juror candidate.
"And there was like a struggle and the gun went off and then the young man died and Zimmerman was injured through the struggle," said another.
This portion of jury selection is specifically focused on pretrial publicity, and how much potential jurors have seen, heard or read.
Attorneys from both sides asked a lot about the news.
"Based on the questionnaire you filled out you have some information you have gleaned from the media is that correct?" asked Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda.
"Yes sir that it is correct," the potential juror said.
"And would that have been from local and national or just local?" de la Rionda asked.
"Just local," said the potential juror.
"OK," de la Rionda replied.
Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, asked another juror candidate: "Your default national program is the Today show?"
"Yes sir," the person replied.
"Did you say you saw something about this case on the Today show?" asked O'Mara.
"At the very beginning when it happened," said the potential juror.
Jury selection can be a tedious process, but critically important legal experts say, as the people chosen is often where a trial is won or lost.
Nelson has ruled that the identities of potential jurors will be kept confidential but potential jurors won't be sequestered, as defense attorneys requested.
Potential jurors are only being referred to by their jury numbers in court.
George Zimmerman has sued NBCUniversal, the parent company of this site, for defamation. The company has strongly denied his allegations.


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This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
The Avalon LS offers high-quality compact pontoon boat with the luxurious and reliable construction for which Avalon is well-known. The The LS Cruise mode provides an economically-efficient pontoon speed boat with convenient features like the rear-facing bench. At a compact 8' wide, the LS Cruise offers high speeds and a smooth, comfortable ride.


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The interactive map above shows some of the key locations in connection with the "Trial of the Century" and other events in the life of OJ Simpson.
The map includes locations that became familiar to the millions of people who watch both the June 17, 1994 slow-speed pursuit on Southern California freeways and the ensuing murder trial. Locations also include those that played a role in Simpson's life after his criminal trial acquittal.
- The OJ Simpson Case: Galleries, Timeline
Click on the locations on the left of the map to learn more about the importance of each site.
- Mobile Users: Click Here for Larger Version


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With the University of San Diego lifting the curtain Friday night on its new baseball complex, it's time to get the names right.
It's Fowler Park, thanks to Ron Fowler's deep pockets.
It's also called Cunningham Field, in appreciation of John Cunningham's 34 years as the former baseball coach.
But something is missing, and do we dare offer the obvious?
Any chance the pitcher's mound is christened "Rich Hill?''
Without Fowler's dough, this state-of-the-art facility remains on the drawing board.
Minus Cunningham's devotion to USD baseball, the venue is a dream not fulfilled.
But don't overlook the impact of Hill, the baseball coach putting the Toreros on the map by being ranked in the top 25 for eight straight years.
"His record speaks for itself,'' Cunningham said.
Hill's mouth speaks for all, or does it just seem that way? If Hill's eyes are open, his lips are moving, talking about a future that only he can imagine.
"He has more fire in his belly than anyone I've seen,'' Fowler said. "There are people with high energy, then there is Rich Hill. He takes it to another level.''
Much like the gem of a venue where his team plays.
The $13 million stadium has the bells and whistles associated with the big leagues. There's plush, then there's Fowler Park, and please remember to wipe your feet so not to stain the cushy clubhouse carpet.
What's that? There's a dedicated room where players' plop their muddy cleats before entering – oh brother.
"There are probably 25 things that make it special,'' Hill said. "It's like going to Disneyland with the attention to detail.''
The happiest place on earth is wherever Hill sets up shop. His upbeat personality is unmatched; his never-say-die attitude can't be ignored.
That's why when naysayers doubted the stadium being built – raising funds during a recession – they didn't stand a chance.
Not with Hill, 50, on the other side.
"A roadblock is a temporary obstacle to him,'' Fowler said. "He will fight through, over and under it, to get to where he needs to get. He plays by the rules, but he plays to win. If he sees anything in his way, it will not keep him from the ultimate goal.''
Like visualizing a first-class stadium behind the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The skinny on Hill is he's been in the Bob the Builder mode for some time.
"I think he probably spent the last nine months with a hard hat on on a permanent basis,'' Fowler said. "He was down there telling them how to do it and what to do. His energy is contagious.''
Fired up and ready to go? That's Hill, as he can't wait to show off a sold out Fowler Park on Friday against San Diego State.
His gums start flapping about Fowler Park's dimensions mimicking the Omaha stadium where the College World Series is played. Or the eight-foot outfield walls which encourage spectacular catches. Or the batter's eye being placed just right. Or the fans being so close to the action, he said, "it's like watching a game in your living room.''
If so, and sharing the couch with Hill, go ahead and hit the mute button. Hill's message is seldom silenced, and that won't change.
Although when entering the inspiring Fowler Park the impossible happens. Briefly, he is speechless.
"It hits me in the face like freezing cold water,'' said Hill, who has earned six NCAA tournament invitations and won five West Coast Conference titles. "Every day I go down there the first word out of my mouth is 'wow' and my jaw drops. Then I think about the older guys that made it happen.''
Hill is quick to share Fowler Park's glory, mentioning past coaches, players and administrators having a hand in the No. 12 Toreros being dealt such a sweet one regarding their home field.
All that's left is Friday's first pitch.
"I'll feel good if it's a strike,'' Hill said, "and bad if it's a ball.''
Sound logic, and we're positive Hill sounds off either way.


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Lime Light Exclusives 5 (Features Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Swizz Beats, Pharrell, Pusha T + More) [Mixtape Teaser][User Submitted]
"Download Lime Light Exclusives 5 for FREE at HDMixtapes.com"
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This weekend, I prepared some felt Corgi shapes for an bead embroidery workshop. Cutting out the felt for my little dogs is a lot of work in itself! And, after cutting out the pieces, I stitch them all together & attach tiny glass eyes and noses. I think that preparing the felt foundations ahead of time will make it easier for beginning beaders..
If you are interested in making a beaded Corgi pin or pendant, there are still a few spots left. This one-time workshop is scheduled to take place on Sunday January 27 from 10am-3pm. Please check Boston Bead Company's website for details! Thanks for your interest! 😀


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This is an actually radio add by a gun store in Mason Texas for a concealed handgun license course. It's the end that funny or sad or something. The reason I've posted this to Atheist Nexus is at the end of the add he says he won't teach the gun class to Non-christian Arab or Muslims. I was just wonder if he'd teach the class to non-Christian Atheists. Not that any of us would be caught dead in a redneck, hillbilly crap hole like his store.
Views: 210
You've made me feel not quite so badly with regard to NC! I didn't think that was possible Karl! Thanks!
I feel bad for you that you live in a place where the local culture is so thoughtless and bigoted. I would feel scared knowing that people around me may be carrying concealed hand guns. I have a feeling he won't have a lot of godless liberals or "Moslems" wanting to take his course, anyway.
Keep Austin weird!
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Last week, Science had an article discussing the formation of the earliest stars from cold dark matter and a smattering of hydrogen. This week's issue of Nature has a letter discussing how dark matter can be used to model the formation of entire galaxies. The cold dark matter model has done a good job explaining the mass distribution of the universe from shortly after the big bang to present day. It avoids the question of what dark matter is made of by simply assuming it is composed of particles that interact only via gravitational forces—something straight forward, if not terribly easy, to model.
Using over 1 million processor hours on the 'Jaguar' Cray XT3 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a group of researchers from the US and Switzerland modeled a collection of 1.1 billion particles, each with a mass of 4100 suns, as they formed structures due only to gravitational forces. The system is roughly the size of the Milky Way, and the simulation followed the matter from a redshift of 104.3 to the present (a span of about 13 billion years). The cosmological parameters used to describe the simulation's universe were derived from data returned by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe.
According to the authors, the simulation "provides the most accurate predictions on the small-scale clustering of dark matter so far available and puts constraints on the local subhalo abundance and properties." The simulations resolved over 40,000 subhalos in a region of space just a few hundred kiloparsecs from the central Galactic halo.
Previous simulations of this type were unable to resolve this many small-scale structures. These subhalos had roughly equal mass distributions over a given range. In addition to mass distributions, the researchers were able to compute the phase space density of the halos and found that these calculations agreed very well with the densities inferred from stellar motion observations in dwarf galaxies.
The authors view the results as supporting the cold dark matter model, since its produces small-scale distributions that match astrophysical observations. They also point out that various candidates for dark matter particles, such as sterile neutrinos or self-interacting dark matter, can be ruled out, since they do not predict the correct distribution. Based on the results of their simulation, the authors make predictions about the nature of extra-galactic gamma ray emissions that should arise from dark matter annihilation reactions. They hope that the newly launched Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope will be able to detect, or at least place constraints on, these gamma rays.
Nature, 2008. DOI: 10.1038/nature07153


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Other Ambient (and related) Music / Somnia 007: Bluetech - Phoenix Rising« on: November 06, 2008, 10:02:19 PM »
bluetech returns with his first new material since 2005. after splitting his musical expression into multiple aliases, phoenix rising marks his return to eclectic, ecstatic, and emotional electronic music, and exists as a precursor to an expansive album entitled the divine invasion coming early 2009 on aleph zero records.
music incubated in dreams, flows of energy from ancestral sources, the shape of the wind.
grab one while they are here, as they are only available from the somnia website and limited to 777 copies worldwide, soy inks on recycled paper, sewn and sealed in wax with incredible cover art by ray massini
listen to full streaming samples and purchase here:


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"Payback time!" I joked Tuesday afternoon on Facebook.
"Here I sit in a hallway while my students anonymously evaluate my class/teaching. I encouraged them to give honest critique ... then I gave them candy and $5 bills (not really ... can't afford it)."
I was kidding about the money and candy but serious about honest critique and that I can't afford $5 bribes.
College students turn the tables and evaluate instructors this time of year, but the feedback could also be about facilities, equipment, expectations, whether desired outcomes were met, etc.
Their ability to do this is necessary, useful and cathartic. The private sector has a roughly equivalent process in 360-degree reviews.
Typically, course evaluations are anonymous; instructors don't see results until after grades are posted, so whatever they say couldn't jeopardize their grade. Unfortunately, evaluations also occur at the most stressful time of the semester, the week before finals.
Although always concerned and for legitimate reasons (not just my usual paranoid tendencies), I'm not too freaked out about students' course evaluations.
What worries me is their perception of the worth of a college education on a grand scale.
The New York Times and Newsweek have published major stories recently that ask whether college is worthwhile ... and growing numbers of current and would-be students think it's not. Both pieces are well written and raise compelling, disturbing points.
Because of record-setting debt (student loan debt exceeds $1 trillion) and a stagnant economy, more students are "hacking" their post-secondary education with a patchwork of volunteerism, free online courses, traveling, and – as the stars in both stories are doing – developing apps that sell big, thus providing all the money they'll ever need.
Closer to home, last week I graded papers on the couch with the TV on. Doing so is counterproductive, but I wanted to watch the Northern Illinois University Huskies play in the MAC Championship game.
I seldom watch sports, I'm critical of how much we as a society invest in playing games, and I'm really critical of the money colleges spend on athletics.
But I often teach athletes and it was a big game, so watching it was the least I could do. As the joke goes, "Never let it be said that I didn't do the least I could do."
I was transfixed. The Huskies played heroically. We nearly lost everything in a couple of horrible moments, then pulled out a win. It was awesome.
So awesome that the national sports media, upon learning the Huskies had earned a trip to the Orange Bowl, think we're unworthy.
On Sunday, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit called the win "a sad state for college football," adding that "I love MAC football, but to put them in the BCS is an absolute joke to the rest of those teams that are more deserving. I can't believe we're even having this discussion."
We challenge students to live up to their potential – maybe even beyond their potential – and when they do, we blast them and bury them in debt, mostly because government is increasingly unwilling to support education, and because we pay administrators and coaches exorbitant salaries?
Something is very wrong with this picture.
In 1984, a funny, poignant movie titled "Teachers" starred Nick Nolte as a maverick but quality high school teacher and Judd Hirsch as his well meaning, burned out principal. The plot was about how schools fail students by allowing them to graduate when they still can't read.
Near the end, Nolte hopes Hirsch will help fix this tragedy.
"They're not here for us," he says. "We're here for them."
• Jason Akst teaches journalism and public relations at Northern Illinois University. Contact him at email@example.com


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Anthony Rubenstein necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 112 diseños de 30 diseñadores freelance.
reThinkX.com presents reThinkCali.com - A Project of the New America Foundation
reThinkX is an innovation in crowdsourcing. reThinkX is a proprietary online platform that allows anyone - whether an individual, a non-profit group, a start-up, a government, or an enterprise - to harness the power and wisdom of the crowd. It combines all the social networking and mass communication tools necessary for organizing, with tools for easy mass collaboration, and adds innovative tools to channel the crowd using techniques proven by the MIT Media Lab and others.
Our first beta program is reThinkCali.com, an innovative effort to crowdsource new solutions to fix California's broken governance. reThinkCali.com is holding the world's first Virtual Constitutional Convention, where e-delegates will rewrite the California State Constitution using Twitter and other social media. reThinkCali.com is a non-profit project of the New America Foundation. It has been featured in the Huffington Post, the L.A. Daily News, and many other on-line and off-line news sources.
Our target audience are web users aged 13-65, who are now or desire to be opinion-makers and thought leaders. The people behind reThinkX and reThinkCali.com are among the most prominent and forward thinking people in California policy-making, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood.
The reThinkX logo must be modular, so that we can plug anything into where the X is, like we have now with reThinkCali. But reThinkX is also our brand so it needs to be able to stand alone as a logo. We must be able to easily change colors of the logo and add different endings in place of the X (like Cali). Think of it this way: reThink is our brand and X or Cali is our product - i.e. whatever we're asking the crowd to reThink.
While this contest is really only for our logo, we will also be needing a favicon/icon. In fact, please enter our contest in the Icons section, so you can compete in that contest too and win both! Please keep the favicon/icon in mind as you do this logo, and showing us an example is probably a good winning strategy. This will the main icon/symbol for our brand and will be incorporated into other branded graphic elements.
Deliverable is a layered hi-rez PSD.
Not to burst anyone's bubble:
We've seen a lot of proposed logos based on thought-bubbles. We know our name has the word "think" in it, but we're kind-of frothed over with though bubbles. That's doesn't mean a great thought bubble design can't win this contest, but be forewarned that we've seen a lot already so you should feel really strongly that you've got a bubble we can't refuse.
Mock-ups of a few pages of our site are attached including the temporary place-saver logo.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Oooh! I just had to share that there is a give away over at Rosey Rebecca's blog for Oikos!! I have a new found love for this Greek Yogurt and just had to share! 🙂 The honey is especially tasty, but I like the vanilla, too. I am hoping to win so I can try the blueberry next. Another tip? Kroger had these BOGO in the past week. Not sure when the sale ends, but I hope it is still going on! 🙂
Filed under: Gluten-free Products | Tagged: oikos | Leave a comment »


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What motivates you to run and how did you start running?
I started running back in freshman year of high school. One of my best friends at the time wanted to become involved in a school sports team that she could stick with throughout high school and the cross-country team accepts everyone. She didn't want to do it alone (new schools are scary!) so I decided to join her and we began training together. I had to quit a couple months in due to injury and was not able to run any other year due to having a job or being involved in other activities. However, every summer I would run when those responsibilities were no longer there. It wasn't until this past summer (in 2010) that I really got serious about running and loving it after I discovered healthy living blogs on a random StumbleUpon venture.
I run for stress relief. I run for strength. I run for a challenge. I run for recovery. I run for health. I run for inspiration. I run for companionship. I run because I can. As for when I'm actually on my run, my iPod loaded with tons of upbeat music is what keeps my legs moving in the moment. And the satisfaction of what I just accomplished at the end of it keeps me coming back for more.
If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?
Honeycrisp apples, since they are only around for a few months in the fall, are insanely expensive for a fruit, and are, without a doubt, the greatest tasting type of apple on the planet that we call Earth.
Why don't you like shopping?
With all of the changes that my body has gone through since I hit puberty (which was about a week after I turned 11, by the way), I have had a lot of trouble accepting my new body since it keeps changing. I still wear clothes that I acquired in middle school, not because they fit (they don't) but because I don't want to spend money on new clothes when my body is just going to continue changing anyways. It's always hard for someone who is uncomfortable in their own skin to try on clothes. For me, I see cloth that doesn't hang the way that it should on a woman and so get discouraged and end up hating this beautiful article of clothing that would otherwise look fabulous on the female form.
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I've always been a big fan of the name Guinevere/Gwenevere. That way, my nickname would be Gwen!
What do you want to do when you graduate?
Since I'm a Dietetics major at MSU right now, I want to do my internship following graduation so that I can become a Registered Dietitian (RD). I either want to get into Clinical or Private Practice (much further down the road). I'm just now finishing up my second year, so I have a lot of time left to research positions and visit with program directors before I apply anywhere as a senior. I have not yet decided if I will be pursuing a Masters Degree, but I know that nowadays it's pretty essential to have one in this field if you want to do more.
Do you count calories/stick to an eating schedule/eat intuitively?
I do count calories, because I'm still struggling with my ED. I also want to make sure that I'm eating enough to be able to fuel my training and am hoping that the weight will slowly start coming back on (as muscle, I hope).
I also have a sort of eating "schedule", but that is more because I suffer from severe IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, not to be confused with IBD). In managing my condition I have to take medications whenever I eat but I can only take so many pills in a day. I've been working hard for the past 6 or 7 months to find my ideal pill/eating routine which minimizes my symptoms and the one that I have now has seemed to work pretty well for the time being.
I'm still working on eating intuitively, but I think that I'm still a ways off from that and will probably be postponed until I've got my weight managed.
What is a typical day of eats?
I'm hoping to answer this in my first ever What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW) post (hopefully in the next week or two?)! While I try to switch things up throughout the week to avoid monotony and ending up hating my favorite foods, I'm sure that after a few weeks of participation in WIAW you will be able to get a fairly good picture of my typical day.
What are your hobbies?
Blogging, cooking/baking, running, reading (more so when I don't have classes that I have to read for instead). I've never been much of a "hobby" person. I knit on occasion when it's around Christmas as an easy, yet full-of-love, gift for people. I tried scrapbooking for awhile but that didn't last.
Are you 100% recovered from your ED?
To be honest, no, I am not recovered. My ED went into remission during high school, but since I started college has sprung up again. I in no way consider this a relapse, because I am not restricting or performing my rituals like I did when I was first diagnosed, but I am still exhibiting many of the same mental patterns. It's a process that, for some like me, takes years and a lot of support to fully get over an ED and I truly think that I am making progress. However, I can't attach a percentage to it.
I'm now on Formspring! I plan on doing a Q&A post once I get enough responses. Seriously, ASK ME ANYTHING. My running, family, school, ED, nothing is off limits. And it's completely anonymous, so don't hold back. I hope to have even more of these Q + A posts when I get even more questions! Perhaps these (above) have given you a few ideas?


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The company that owned Fit 'N Fitness, its manager and an employee will have to pay $30,000 in restitution and penalties to more than 100 Massachusetts consumers who purchased pre-paid memberships to a club that never opened.
Manager John Copell and employee Gail Barbas solicited memberships from September 2007 through September 2008 for the proposed Taunton, MA, club, according to a complaint filed in October 2009 in Bristol Superior Court in Taunton. Copell and Barbas accepted pre-paid memberships ranging between $99 and $349. Although they had promised consumers that the club would be opening "soon," the property appeared abandoned in November 2008, according to the complaint.
"In this case, consumers were deceived into paying money for services they never received and a membership that never existed," Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a statement. "We are pleased that those responsible for taking this money have finally been ordered to return it back to consumers."
The judgments were entered last week. In addition to the orders of full restitution, the defendants are permanently prohibited from owning, managing or working in any business engaged in the sale of health club memberships or related services, nor are they allowed to take advance fees for services not yet rendered.


text: The Smithsonian has collected more than 142 million objects-from flags and fossils, to sculptures and spacecrafts, to toys and tapestries. There's something for everyone at the Smithsonian. In Smithsonian Kids your child can check out lots of fast, fun, cool, scary, patriotic, and beautiful things from the Smithsonian, learn facts about them, and also send free E-cards to friends!