text:
Frequently Asked Questions
About 2011 Parking Technology Upgrade
Parking & Transportation Services is upgrading the technology at our parking facilities. This move to automated pay machines will be a significant cost-savings to our department. During the current economic challenge, these efforts will help PTS to continue the programs and services we offer and to keep parking rates low.
Note: this information is subject to updates.
Coupon instructions & Sample Tracking Grid: Prepaid versus Dept
Who does this affect?
This technology upgrade will affect drivers to campus who use public parking. It will affect departments who make reservations and pay for visitor's parking fees. Contract holders should see no change. It will not affect those who use meters, loading zones or official university vehicle spaces on campus.
What does this mean to me?
It means that after an initial trial timeframe, parking attendants will no longer be required in locations using this equipment. Availability of reservations and VIP stamp programs will change because an attendant won't be there to check visitors off a list or input a stamp number into the computer.
What does this mean for my visitor?
For visitors, parking will not change much. They will still pull a ticket as they enter the parking ramp or garage. When they leave, they will insert that ticket into the machine at the exit and pay by either credit/debit card or cash. Checks will not be accepted by automated pay machines.
If a department either paid for parking or provided a discount to visitors, that department will give the guest a coupon. This will allow for the same service provided before.
Where is this happening? What locations on campus will get the new equipment?
PTS started with a pilot program in the 21st Avenue Ramp in late summer of 2011.
|When Automation
|21st Avenue Ramp - West Bank
|Summer 2011
|Lot 37 - East Bank
|February 2012
|Art Museum Garage - East Bank
|February 2012
|Oak Street Ramp - East Bank
|April 2012
|Gortner Avenue Ramp - St. Paul
|April 2012
|4th Street Ramp - East Bank
|May 2012
|East River Road Garage - East Bank
|July 2012
|University Avenue Ramp - East Bank
|July 2012
|Washington Avenue Ramp - East Bank
|August 2012
|Church Street Garage - East Bank
|August 2012
|19th Avenue Ramp - West Bank
|August 2012
|Maroon Lot - East Bank
|August 2012
|Victory Lot - East Bank
|October 2012
|Lot 86 - West Bank
|October 2012
|Lot 94 - West Bank
|December 2012
|Lot 106 - St. Paul
|December 2012
|West Bank Office Building Ramp/C98- West Bank
|February 2013
|Lot 101 - St. Paul
|February 2013
|Lot 104 - St. Paul
|June 2013
All of the parking ramps and garages, along with a few of the parking lots, will be converted to automated pay exit equipment.
Why are you doing this?
This technology is not new within the parking industry and is used extensively in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul as well as at the Twin Cities airport. You have probably noticed the expanding auto-pay options that are available at local gas stations, grocery stores and hardware superstores.
Again, this move to automated pay exiting equipment will be a significant cost-savings to our department. During the current economic challenge, these efforts will help PTS to continue the variety of programs and services we offer as well as enable us to keep parking rates low.
How are you telling the University community about this?
We will be releasing news via multiple methods (two examples are mass emails and notices in Brief). We will also include updates online on this page. Feel free to bookmark it and check back regularly.
When will the VIP stamp no longer be accepted?
Departments with VIP stamps were asked to turn in their stamps and exchange them for parking coupons or vouchers that allow the same service that they offer now. VIP stamps were discontinued on July 1, 2011 and replaced with coupons.
If the VIP stamp program is going away, how will departments accommodate parking for visitors to campus?
The new system will offer two options:
1 - High volume users will have departmental coupons that are billable through EFS.
2 - Low volume users may buy prepaid coupons (paid parking for visitors).
How do you determine high volume versus low volume?
PTS will review your department's previous use of the VIP stamp program and decide based on those numbers.
How many coupons can a department get?
PTS will provide departments with a supply based on their past use.
Can you get the coupons within a few days of ordering them?
Yes. Coupons can be picked up or delivered via courier service within one business day.
Do you need to order coupons per month or per year?
Customers will be able to order coupons as needed via an online form (similiar to reservations).
Do coupons expire?
Are coupons something that we need to pre-mail to our visitors before they come or can we give them to them before they leave the University?
Your department can mail them out ahead of time or hand them out at your office/event.
How will a department pre-purchase coupons?
Departments will fill out an online form asking for a certain quantity of prepaid coupons. PTS will print the request and the department can pick them up or have them couriered to your office.
How will the prepaid coupon work?
Visitors will still pull a ticket as they enter the parking ramp or garage. When they leave, they will insert that ticket into the machine at the exit AND they will follow it up with the coupon. Your department can mail them out ahead of time or hand them out at your office/event.
How are the prepaid coupons paid for?
PTS encourages that departments purchase these coupons with an EFS chartstring.
How much do these coupons cost?
There will be two levels of coupons:
$6 for 0 to 4 Hours
$12 for 4.01 to 24 hours
Are the coupons for set increments (if so, what are they) or are they for actual charges?
The $6 voucher coupon will be valid for parking for up to 4 hours. The $12 voucher coupon will cover an individual's parking for up to 24 hours.
Is there an additional administrative fee per order of coupons or for each coupon?
Will the coupons work in ALL parking facilities?
Yes, the prepaid coupon will work in all public University of Minnesota parking facilities. Note: Fairview Patient/Visitor Ramp is NOT a U of M parking facility.
Parking reservations are available in the Church Street Garage on East Bank.
For all other parking locations, the new system offers prepaid coupons to allow departments to continue to provide paid parking for visitors. These coupons can be picked up at our office or delivered for you using a University courier at your department's expense.
To place an order for prepaid coupons, individuals will need to fill out a simple form online.
During special events on campus, parking facilities often collect fees as customers enter the ramp (NOT at the exit). In these instances, your guests will need the prepaid coupons before they arrive on campus (keep this in mind when planning your communications/mailings). Event parking attendants will accept coupons during events as if they were cash.
If this is a problem for your event, please send an email with as many details as possible to Dillon Fried, Parking Events Manager.
Find out about events affecting parking on campus at our Event Calendar.
Our mission has always centered around the safety of those accessing the University of Minnesota campus. That is not changing with the automation of parking facilities.
While it is true that attendants will not be at each location, there are cameras and call buttons at each exit. Each automated pay machine has a button to reach our main office and a camera at the exit so that our staff can view what is happening.
Additionally, PTS has emergency call buttons in elevator lobbies and stairwells that connect directly with the Department of Central Security.
Security cameras on campus, including those located throughout parking facilities, are monitored 24 hours a day by the Department of Central Security.


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The Healing Benefits of Silver
May 15, 2015
Hosted by Neil Nathan MD
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Today, Dr. Nathan will be joined by Dr. Sean Devlin, a Board Certified Family Physician who has extensive experience treating Lyme disease cancer, and other chronic illnesses. Dr. Devlin has several practices, one at Highland Springs Medical Center in northern California, and another at Integrative Health Solutions in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Today, we will discuss the healing benefits of silver and explore with Dr. Devlin his research interests in cancer and the medical benefits of marijuana.
The Cutting Edge of Health and Wellness Today
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel
Consumers are deluged with information about health; some of it is accurate and valuable, and some of it is misleading, erroneous, self-serving and wrong.
It is our hope that this program will become the premier go-to site for consumers and interested medical practitioners to obtain the most in-depth information in this field that is available today. We hope to educate about and explore the controversies and treatments currently in use at a level of clarity and practicality that we believe is not available anywhere else.
The goal is improved quality of life and new hope for those who have been struggling with their health care to date. We will be discussing the entire field of health with special emphasis on Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Lyme disease, Mold toxicity and Pain.
Neil Nathan MD
Neil Nathan, MD has been Board Certified in Family Practice and Pain Management and is a Founding Diplomate of the American Board of
Integrative Holistic Medicine. With Dr. Rich van Konynenburg he did the ground-breaking clinical research which demonstrated the role of methylation chemistry in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and he has just completed a study with Dr. Robert Naviaux on the metabolomics of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He has written several books, including "Healing is Possible: New Hope for Chronic Fatigue," "Fibromyalgia, Persistent Pain, and Other Chronic Illnesses" and "On Hope and Healing: For Those Who Have Fallen Through the Medical Cracks." He is the host of an internationally syndicated radio program/podcast on VoiceAmerica called "The Cutting Edge of Health and Wellness Today."
He has been practicing medicine for 44 years and has recently relocated his medical practice to the Redwood Valley Clinic in Northern California. He can be contacted most easily through his website, www.neilnathanmd.com, through which consultations are available.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ultimately England' dream of victory in Ashes comes true in a way which catches world's eye. All English players have done bang-up jobs in all departments to decorate their Ashes record. Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, James Anderson and Graeme Swann were the main characters who mesmerized Aussies by catastrophic bowling and bating arts. They secured a comfortable and memorable victory in Ashes second test by an inning and 71 runs.
England firstly restricted Aussies on 245 runs in their first inning and then ruined their bowlers to gave a milestone of 620 as reply. Australia resumed second attempt and tried their best to save the contest by escaping with draw, but England disheartened hosts at every stage, English bowlers again devastated their bating line terrifically and bowled them before their desire level, England got remarkable win by an inning and 71 runs, and took advantage of 1-0 in five test Ashes battle.
Far-fetched victory of hard-headed England
England currently hold the Ashes, can Australia win them back? As it turns out, no.
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text:
- Telephone:
- 0114 2315740 | 07970 121085
Key factsPrint summary
NO DEPOSIT FINANCE AVAILABLE, Full History, Showroom Condition, , 12 months MOT, Full service history, Excellent bodywork, Grey Cloth interior - Excellent Condition, Tyre condition Good, Solid White, 2 owners, £4,475
This car comes with
Alloy Wheels 16in (Lounge), Sunroof, Air-Conditioning, Climate Control, Satellite Navigation, Sunroof Manual (Glass Fixed), Telephone Equipment (Bluetooth Interface), 15in Alloy Wheels, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels - 15in 185/55 R15 Tyres, Alloy Wheels 15in (Lounge), Alloy Wheels 15in (POP), Alloy Wheels 15in (Sport), Blue&Me, Electric Front Windows, Fixed Glass Roof, Radio/CD/MP3 Player, Start&Stop System
- 201904126901740
- 2012
- 12
- £4,475
- 448
- 57,000
- Cars
- 500
- zQv0j+F5rH0=
Vehicle summary
|Body style
|Engine size
|1242 cc
|Fuel type
|Number of doors
|Number of seats
|Gearbox type
|CO2 emissions
|113 g/km
|Insurance group
|Standard manufacturer's warranty (miles)
|No details available
|Standard manufacturer's warranty (years)
|3 years
|Standard paintwork guarantee
|3 years
Performance & economy
|Fuel consumption (urban)
|49.6 mpg
|Fuel consumption (extra urban)
|65.7 mpg
|Fuel consumption (combined)
|58.9 mpg
|0 - 60 mph
|12.9 seconds
|Top speed
|99 mph
|Engine power
|69 bhp
|Engine torque
|75.24 lbs/ft
|1488 mm
|Height inclusive of roof rails
|No details available
|3546 mm
|2300 mm
|1627 mm
|Width including mirrors
|No details available
|Fuel tank capacity
|35 litres
|Minimum kerb weight
|No details available
|Interior features
|Exterior features
|Climate Control
|Fixed Glass Roof
|Space Saver Spare Wheel
|Satellite Navigation
|Body Coloured Door Mirrors Electric/Heated
|Electric Front Windows
|Alloy Wheels 15in (Lounge)
|Leather Steering Wheel/Audio Controls
|Chrome Kit
|Split Folding Rear Seat with Head Restraints
|15in Alloy Wheels
|Steering Wheel Leather
|Electric Mirrors - Body Coloured
|Seats Split Rear
|Sunroof Manual (Glass Fixed)
|Radio/CD/MP3 Player
|Fixed Glass Roof with Sunblind
|Leather Steering Wheel with Commands
|Alloy Wheels 15in (Sport)
|Air Conditioning
|Alloy Wheels 15in (POP)
|Blue&Me - Hand Free System/USB
|Start&Stop System
|Alloy Wheels - 15in 185/55 R15 Tyres
|Steering Wheel with Audio Controls
|Mirrors External (Electric Heated/Folding)
|Leather Steering Wheel (POP) - Upgrade
|Body Coloured Bumpers
|Upholstery - Cloth
|Telephone Equipment (Bluetooth Interface)
|Head Restraints
|Seat - ISOFIX Anchorage Point
|Remote Central Locking
|EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution)
|Driver Airbag
|Passenger Airbag
|Dualdrive Electric Power Steering
|Side and Window Airbags
|Driver Knee Airbag
|Rear Headrests
Please note
This includes MPG figures which are calculated under European Standards, in test conditions, and will vary under normal driving conditions. The information displayed above describes the typical specification of the most recent model of this vehicle. It is not the exact specification for the actual vehicle being offered for sale which may vary. Specifications for older models may also vary. Please contact us prior to purchase to confirm the exact specification of this vehicle.
Thank you for contacting us!
We will aim to get back to you as soon as possible.
There was a problem sending your email.
There may be a technical issue.
Please try again later.


text:
Q: I've read that breast milk can contain environmental toxins and pollutants. Should I feed my baby formula instead?
A: Absolutely not. Granted, breast milk does contain trace amounts of the same chemicals found in cow's milk; our air, food and water supply; our very own bodies; and, yes, in formula. Yet it is still the "cleanest," best food you can feed your baby. And because of its newest additives, while formula may seem better for your baby than breast milk, it's not. So don't let your concern keep you from breastfeeding. Just eat the healthiest foods possible and drink clean water (bottled or filtered, if necessary).
Editor's note: For more information on protecting your baby from toxins during and after pregnancy, click here "Thinking Green."


text:
70.07 - Payments for Travel Lodging Related Direct Billings
Last updated August 24, 2005
A. General Policy. The University of Idaho adheres to the Idaho State Board of Examiners Policy No. 442-50 (State Travel Policy and Procedures, Section 10), which allows direct billing for employees travel lodging expenses. This policy allows lodging costs to be direct billed to the department only upon the prior approval of the Department Head or V.P. Direct billing accounts are established to charge back directly to the university for employee official business-related travel lodging expenses. Direct billing for employee travel related car rental agreements and/or restaurant charges is not allowed. Payments and reimbursements for travel lodging related direct billings remain subject to all other applicable University travel rules.
A-1. Recommended Minimal Use of Direct Billings. Use of direct lodging billing for employee travel purposes should be held to a minimum. The preferred method of handling employee lodging expenses is for the employees traveling on official university business to personally pay expenses as incurred. Then, the employee should submit UI Travel Expense Claims in a timely manner after travel is completed.
B. Procedure. Lodging charges billed directly to the University, in lieu of being paid by the employee while on travel status, are handled in the same manner as UI employee travel advances.
B-1. Employee Authorization. In accordance with APM 70.06, the traveling employee must fill out a Travel Authorization and Encumbrance form [See APM 70.05(B)] authorizing the University to charge the employee's personal account, prior to setting up a direct billing travel lodging account.
B-2. Lodging Vendor Accounts. After obtaining a completed employee Travel Authorization and Encumbrance form, the department must then set up a lodging vendor account by contacting the vendor and providing full billing information. The required billing information includes the college or division, department name, if appropriate, budget number, contact person, and phone and/or email contact. Required billing information must then be provided to accounts payable.
B-3. Payments for Direct Billings. Lodging charges billed directly to the University (in lieu of being paid by the employee on travel status), will be charged to the employee's personal account prior to the invoice payment to the vendor.
B-4. Payment of Employee Account. The direct billing is removed from the employee's personal account when UI Travel Management Services receives a properly submitted Travel Expense Claim [See APM 70.05 (D)] that properly identifies all incurred expenses, official business purpose of travel, and authorized signatures. If the Travel Expense Claim is not properly submitted or the employee does not repay a balance due after sufficient notice, the invoiced direct billing amount will be recovered by payroll deduction.
B-5. Timely Claims and Reimbursement. The employee must account for and return excess reimbursement or allowances of travel expenses within a reasonable period of time.
B-6. Reconciliation. Departments that utilize direct billing for employees' travel lodging expenses must reconcile the billings with employee Travel Expense Claims. Unauthorized employee reimbursements shall be collected back from the traveling employee (e.g., unallowable restaurant or lounge charges, room movie charges, telephone charges, etc.).
B-7. Misuse. Improper use of direct billing or establishing unauthorized UI accounts may constitute misappropriation of UI funds.
C. Information. Please address any questions or concerns regarding payments for travel related direct billings to Accounts Payable at (208) 885-5379.


text:
Giant 'seagull' set to land on Istanbul skyline
The gateway goes behind the scenes of the world's major transport hubs, revealing the logistics that keep goods and people moving. This month, the show is in Istanbul, Turkey.
Wheeling around the skies above the ferry boats and cargo ships, seagulls are as a familiar sight above the Bosphorus as the commuters and containers on it.
Their enduring presence on Istanbul's busy waterway will soon be further cemented with the construction of a new transport hub designed to look like the seabird in flight.
Perched on the western shores of the Bosphorus, the Kabatas Seagull Transportation Hub will enable new and improved connections for ferries, trains, buses and some small ships, says Ali Ulvi Altan, director of major projects for Hakan Kiran Architecture.
"Today this area carries around 60,000 passengers per day … when [the hub is completed it will carry] around 90,000 persons per day by our estimates," Altan said.
The seagull was a natural choice for the design, says Altan, because the bird is the symbol of the Bosphorus.
The Istanbul-based architects will be assisted by Dutch engineering company, Royal HaskoningDHV who will be providing geotechnical, environmental and maritime expertise.
In addition to its iconic design, the project will incorporate green features such as rainwater collection and a renewable energy facility.
Work on the building is due to start next year, Altan says, and should be completed by 2015/16.


text:
£12,499 | Audi A3 1.4 TFSI SE Sportback S Tronic 5dr++SORRY DEPOSIT TAKEN++
Key factsPrint summary
+JUST ARRIVED+SCUBA BLUE+SERVICE HISTORY 19-02-2016 @ 8893 OIL CHANGE+08-07-2016 @ 10353 DUST AND POLLEN FILTER+13-11-2017@22678 BRAKE FLUID+13-12/2017 @ 23068 MULTI POINT CHECK+09-07-2018 @ 25220 OIL,CABIN AND AIR FILTER+2 REMOTE KEYS+ , Blue, 2 owners, +ON A SUNDAY WE RUN AN APPOINTMENT ONLY SERVICE+CALL DARREN ON 07830199320+OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK, £12,499
This car comes with
16in x 6.5J 10 - Spoke Design Alloy Wheels with 205/55 R16 Tyres and Anti-Theft Bolts, Bluetooth Interface, DAB Digital Radio Reception, Drivers Information System (DIS), Front and Rear Electric Windows, MMI Radio - Single CD Player, FM and AM (MW) Reception, Two SDXC Memory Card Readers, MMI Control Panel, Audi Music Interface (AMI), Bluetooth Audio Streaming, Manual Air Conditioning, Start - Stop System, Thatcham Category 1 Alarm, Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator, Voice Control System - for Key, Telephone and Radio Functions
- 201903296406855
- 2014
- 64
- £12,499
- 1250
- 28,000
- Cars
- oRw1+vV4qD8=
Technical specifications
Vehicle summary
|Body style
|Engine size
|1390 cc
|Fuel type
|Number of doors
|Number of seats
|Gearbox type
|Auto Clutch Manual
|CO2 emissions
|114 g/km
|Insurance group
|Standard manufacturer's warranty (miles)
|No details available
|Standard manufacturer's warranty (years)
|2 years
|Standard paintwork guarantee
|3 years
Performance & economy
|Fuel consumption (urban)
|46.3 mpg
|Fuel consumption (extra urban)
|65.7 mpg
|Fuel consumption (combined)
|57.6 mpg
|0 - 60 mph
|9.3 seconds
|Top speed
|128 mph
|Engine power
|123 bhp
|Engine torque
|147.52 lbs/ft
|1421 mm
|Height inclusive of roof rails
|No details available
|4237 mm
|2601 mm
|1966 mm
|Width including mirrors
|No details available
|Fuel tank capacity
|50 litres
|Minimum kerb weight
|No details available
|Interior features
|Exterior features
|Drivers Information System (DIS)
|Rear Wash/Wipe
|12V Socket in the Centre Console
|Roof Spoiler
|Micrometallic Silver Inlays
|16in x 6.5J 10 - Spoke Design Alloy Wheels with 205/55 R16 Tyres and Anti-Theft Bolts
|Storage Compartments in the Door Side Trims, in the Centre Console and under the Front Drivers Seat
|Door Mirrors - Electrically Adjustable and Heated
|Front and Rear Electric Windows
|Space - Saving Spare Wheel
|Front Centre Armrest
|Body Coloured Bumpers
|Sun Visors - Folding and Swivelling on Drivers and Front Passengers Side with Covered Vanity Mirror
|Heated Windscreen Washer Jets
|5.8in QVGA Colour Display Screen
|Start - Stop System
|Cup Holders
|Seat Height Adjustment on Drivers and Front Passengers Side
|Upholstery - Marathon Cloth Upholstery
|4 - Spoke Leather - Trimmed Steering Wheel
|Bluetooth Interface
|Centre Console
|DAB Digital Radio Reception
|MMI Radio - Single CD Player, FM and AM (MW) Reception, Two SDXC Memory Card Readers, MMI Control Panel, Audi Music Interface (AMI), Bluetooth Audio Streaming
|Manual Air Conditioning
|Voice Control System - for Key, Telephone and Radio Functions
|Heated Rear Window
|Multi - Function Steering Wheel with Gear - Shift Paddles
|Front and Rear Floor Mats
|Split-Folding Rear Seats - 60/40 or All
|8 Passive Speakers
|Smoking Package - Includes Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter
|Steering Wheel Adjustable for Height and Reach
|Drivers Airbag
|Front Side Airbag
|Knee Airbag for the Driver
|Thatcham Category 1 Immobiliser
|Manual Child Locks on Rear Doors
|Electromechanical Power Steering
|Head-Level Airbag System for Front and Rear
|Front Passengers Airbag with Deactivation Switch
|High-Mounted Third Brake Light
|Remote Central Locking
|Electromechanical Parking Brake
|Front Adjustable and Rear Head Restraints
|Anti - Slip Regulation (ASR)
|Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
|Daytime Running Lights
|Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC)
|Centre Rear Seat Belt
|ISOFIX Child Seat Mounting - for Front Passenger and Outer Rear Seats with Top Tethering
|Front Fog Lights
|Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator
|Electronic Brake - Force Distribution (EBD)
|Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
|Thatcham Category 1 Alarm
Please note
This includes MPG figures which are calculated under European Standards, in test conditions, and will vary under normal driving conditions. The information displayed above describes the typical specification of the most recent model of this vehicle. It is not the exact specification for the actual vehicle being offered for sale which may vary. Specifications for older models may also vary. Please contact us prior to purchase to confirm the exact specification of this vehicle.
Thank you for contacting us!
We will aim to get back to you as soon as possible.
There was a problem sending your email.
There may be a technical issue.
Please try again later.


text:
110 Beautiful Kitchens
Whether you're planning a complete kitchen overhaul or you're just looking for a few quick and easy updates, these creative kitchens are sure to inspire you.
In the South, a beautiful kitchen is almost always the center of one's home and serves as the heart and soul of the house. Here, we are going to share our favorite kitchen inspiration for those looking for a refresh or starting new. There are many different types of kitchens that grace our pages each month. Some are white kitchens with subway tiles, brass accents, and Carrera marble countertops. Some kitchens are colorful and bold with wooden counter tops, bright blue cabinetry, and polished nickel accents. Others are more modern kitchens with polished chrome and funky light fixtures. Regardless, all of the different kitchens in this curated gallery will inspire you to take a leap and create a stunning kitchen in your own home.


text:
Heartland Institute: A Manifestation of the Kochtopus EmpireRead time: 3 mins
Steve Horn | March 1, 2012
By Steve Horn • Thursday, March 1, 2012 - 11:36
It is nearly impossible to discuss the vast climate change denial echo chamber and not mention the Koch Brothers, Koch Industries, and what some have called the Koch Empire.
Perhaps unsurpisingly then, the origins of the Heartland Institute – whose internal documents were recently leaked to DeSmogBlog – have a direct historical link to the rise of the Kochtopus's wide-reaching climate change denial machine.
It all began in 1977 in Wichita, Kansas, with the creation of the Cato Institute.
David Padden, Cato Institute, and the Rise of Heartland
The Cato Institute was founded in 1977 and originally funded by Charles Koch, of Koch Industries fame and fortune.
It is known today for its libertarian policy stances on issues like the War on Drugs, anti-interventionist foreign policy, and support for civil liberties, and perhaps most notoriously for its climate change denial and pro-polluter stance in energy policy debates. Cato's most infamous talking head today is Pat Michaels, who serves as its "Senior Fellow in Environmental Studies."
One of the key original members of Cato's Board of Directors was David Padden, a Chicago, IL-based investment banker and then owner of Padden & Company, which now also has a spinoff called Padco Lease Corporation. Padden passed away in October 2011.
In 1984, piggybacking off of his role at Cato, Padden founded the Heartland Institute, also serving on its original Board of Directors.


text:
This paper was originally written for one of my history classes and I hope you enjoy the topic. Author's update: After consideration, I have chosen to remove the citations from this paper for this post to prevent the misuse of the paper. I am more than happy to provide interested scholars with a copy.
In 1791, the Miami Indians of Ohio handed the United States its worst military defeat ever. Three years later, the Indians would learn the hard way about revenge. These two events, Gen. Arthur St. Clair's defeat in 1791 and Gen. Anthony Wayne's resounding victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, raise many questions. What made these two battles have such different outcomes? What evidence exists from accounts of travelers years later? What can Americans learn from these events today? Both St. Clair's defeat and the Battle of Fallen Timbers illustrate much about the early republic, how harsh lessons of warfare are taught through defeat, and that these lessons, when their mistakes are corrected lead to resounding success. The two events present an interesting story about the early history of our nation as well as relations with Native Americans at that time.
The frontier of the new United States was a wild and dangerous place in the late 18th century. New settlers to the Northwest Territory faced the prospect of Indian raids and the still present British forces stirring up the Indians and threatening war. Unfortunately, for Washington, settlers killing of peaceful Indians and raiding of Indian villages undermined the effort of conciliation by Washington's administration and led to its failure. The United States faced challenges to their authority in the Old Northwest from persons like Joseph Brant, who encouraged fellow Indians to rise up and retake their lands. At this time, American governmental policy was to settle issues arising in the old Northwest with the Indians peacefully. George Washington and Henry Knox attempted to achieve peace through purchasing Indian land as opposed to conquering it through bloodshed. It was in this environment that Arthur St. Clair led his army to defeat while serving as the territorial governor. Estwick Evans, a traveler in the region in 1818, noted the site where the battle took place. He stated, "On the river Calumet, which enters the Wabash, stands fort Recovery, and just above this fort is the place of St. Clair's defeat." This account illustrates that this battle was so significant that even people years later noted it.
Leading up to the battle the frontier was in turmoil. Raiding expeditions by Indians were growing in frequency and a scout of St. Clair's reported that many Indians in the region possessed "bad hearts." As a result, Washington sent an expedition in 1790 under the command of Josiah Harmar to deal with the Indians, which consisted of poorly trained militia and others. Harmar met defeat, suffering around two hundred casualties. This defeat led to Washington authorizing the expedition led by St. Clair the next year. Things did not proceed well for St. Clair prior to the battle. Recruiting the army for the expedition was difficult and St. Clair described the army as being "collected from the streets . . . [as well as] from the stews and brothels of the cities." Furthermore, many officers in the army had marginal experience fighting Indians. These issues ultimately led to the disastrous battle between St. Clair and the Indians.
What happened at the site described above by Evans was an event of unspeakable slaughter and horror. On November 4, 1791, Maj. Gen. St. Clair, having hoped "to establish a fort at the head of the Maumee River" became engaged near the Miami village named Kekionga against the Miami chief Little Turtle. Little Turtle, whose tribal name was Michikinikwa was one of the most respected and powerful chiefs in the region, which made him a formidable opponent for St. Clair's force of around 1,400. Capt. Thomas Morris illustrated the power of the Miami in his account of the battle. Morris described the Miami as "the very people who have lately defeated the Americans in three different battles". Shortly before daybreak, an Indian force of 1,040 warriors, composed of Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, as well as Ottawa, Chippewa, and various other tribes, encircled the American camp. The battle began when the Indians attacked the camp of a group of Kentucky militia approximately 270 strong, with a force of around 300. The Kentuckians fled in all directions and their pursuers eventually caught many of them. One of the militia, a man named Bradshaw, later recalled that upon being able to shake his pursuer, tripped him, and "drove [his] hunting knife through his throat, severing his jugular [vein]". Another soldier described how a Captain Smith's head smoked after he was scalped. The panicky militia left St. Clair's army in a weakened state as the Indians attacked.
The main body of the American force, which consisted of much of the U.S. army as well as many camp followers, took positions in their rectangular encampment area of about 400 by 75 yards, which is why the militia was encamped in a separate area. With the militia in a retreat, St. Clair's force now faced the full brunt of Little Turtle's force. Thomas Irwin, a survivor of the battle later wrote that St. Clair and his other officers believed that the Indians "would not attack an army where there was so many [cannon] with them". As the morning continued, St. Clair would begin to find out just how wrong his assumption was. Unfortunately, for St. Clair, his artillery was ineffective and made no dent in the Indian onslaught. The battle that ensued around St. Clair was one of the three that Capt. Morris referred to in his journal.
The battle began to wear away at St. Clair as he realized that the Indians were destroying his army. He ordered Col. William Oldham to lead a counter-attack similar to that of the Indians. Oldham reportedly told his commanding officer, "No, damn it, that's suicide. I won't do it". St. Clair, shocked at this act of insubordination, responded to Oldham saying, "You'll do it, Colonel, or by Christ I will run you through". Right after this exchange, a ball tore off the back of Oldham's skull and he fell forward dead in front of a stone-faced St. Clair. St. Clair attempted to rally his men, raising his sword and leading Oldham's men in a bayonet charge against the enemy's left flank. He repulsed the Indians briefly, however his men dropped so quickly that after three attempts too few men were available to mount a fourth charge. The troops discarded their equipment and fled to Fort Jefferson almost thirty miles south, which saved the army from suffering a "frontier Cannae." The traveler Francois André Michaux later mentioned an officer who fell in the battle, Maj. Gen. Hart. He stated that, "This officer, of the most distinguished merit, fell in the famous battle that General St. Clair lost in 1791, near Lake [Erie], against the united savages".
The result of Little Turtle's attack was frightful. According to the above account, "The battle raged for three hours with the carnage among the Americans about twenty times that among the Indians". The cost to the Americans:
. . . totaled 914, including 630 dead and 184 wounded. In addition, almost half of the estimated 200 camp followers, made up of wives, children, and prostitutes, were killed. Fewer than 500 of the 1,400 soldiers escaped with a whole skin.
Clearly, Little Turtle had handed the Americans not only a horrible strategic defeat, but a psychological one as well. Of the American dead, 37 were officers, compared to an estimated 151 Indians killed. How Little Turtle's forces defeated the Americans so soundly lies in their style of fighting as well as some interesting allies.
The Indians enjoyed a system of organization that would be advantageous to them as they fell upon the Americans. The Indians had put aside all of their differences and formed a tribal alliance, in which all tribes were enthusiastic in their roles in defeating the whites. One of the successes in this alliance was the presence of an overall leader in Little Turtle. In addition to Little Turtle, the warrior Tecumseh played a role prior to the battle as a scout, though he did not take part in the actual battle. In addition to Tecumseh, Little Turtle also had a white man on his side at the battle. William Wells, Little Turtle's son-in-law, was captured years earlier at age 13 and had since fought alongside his adopted people with bravery. Wells also played a role at Fallen Timbers, which will be discussed later.
Another advantage that Little Turtle's force possessed was in tactics. According to an account from the battle, the Indians "concentrated their shots on the active officers whom they could easily distinguish". The account continued, mentioning that "General St. Clair had six bullet holes in his clothing but was not wounded.", however "General Butler was killed". The Indians were able to use advantages that favored them and would ultimately win the day. However, this incredible victory would be short lived, as the Indians would eventually face a revitalized American army under a new, tougher commander, "Mad" Anthony Wayne.
After the disastrous defeat of St. Clair's army, the United States faced the threat of Indians with a much smaller army since many had been killed or wounded in the battle. The defeat spread panic across the frontier as far away as Pittsburgh, but fortunately, for the United States, the Indians did not follow-up on their victory. One of the consequences for the young republic that resulted from this defeat was the first Congressional investigation under the federal Constitution. St. Clair wished to resign his commission and retire while keeping his generalship. However, President Washington decided not to allow this. The investigating committee did not directly criticize St. Clair; however, they found one key area that may have contributed to the defeat. The committee noted,
. . . that the 2,300 men gathered at Fort Washington were reduced to 1,700 "fit for duty" by the time the army began the last leg of its journey on October 24; and that their numbers were further reduced to 1,400 on October 31 when "about sixty of the Kentucky militia deserted in a body and the first regiment [of regulars] was detached with a view to cover a convoy of provision . . .
In the end, St. Clair resigned his commission on April 7, 1792 and Anthony Wayne, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, took command. The stage was set for Wayne to enact revenge on the Indians.
Wayne, an experienced Indian fighter, drove the ideas of "tactics, training, and discipline" into his new "Legion of the United States". The Legion consisted of four "sub-legions", which consisted of two battalions of infantry, one battalion of riflemen, a troop of dragoons (cavalry that fought both mounted and dismounted), and an artillery company. This organization placed the combined arms under one command, with each sub-legion commanded by a brigadier general. By the autumn of 1793, Wayne was ready and pushed northward. However, a lack of supplies forced Wayne to halt his push and his army encamped at Greenville, where he continued to train his men. By the summer of 1794, Wayne's army was ready to move. In addition to the training, Wayne gained an important ally. William Wells, the adopted white son-in-law of Little Turtle was negotiating on behalf of the Indians in 1792 at Vincennes. While at the meeting, Wells reunited with his brother, who convinced Wells to return to Kentucky where Wells joined the army as a scout. Wayne was ready for a fight, and having made no contact with the enemy on the eve of the battle, he set his men to the task of constructing a camp, which they named Camp Deposit. Little Turtle was confident that he could defeat Wayne and make him "walk in a bloody path". Little Turtle had every reason to be confident, having defeated St. Clair's poorly trained army three years earlier; however, Wayne was not St. Clair and Little Turtle would learn that the hard way.
The "confederated" Indian tribes moved into position on August 18, having fasted in order to make stomach wounds less severe. However, they did not meet the enemy, soon grew weak from hunger and thirst, and dwindled in numbers until only around 500 remained to meet 1,000 Americans. In addition, a sever thunderstorm on August 19 forced many Indians to leave the area to seek shelter at their camp near Fort Miami, a British fort. Among those who remained were Tecumseh and his Shawnee warriors. According to the journal of William Clark, of future Lewis and Clark fame, the battle on August 20 began with, "a [shower] of Rain [which] prevented our move at the [hour] appointed". Clark further noted that by seven that morning the army had formed "Line of March" and was experiencing difficulties as they faced thick woods on their left and "a number of [steep ravines]" on the right. Clark added that after two hours that the advance guard of the army spotted the enemy and took fire. It was Tecumseh and his fellow Shawnee who ambushed the advance guard, but soon fell back as they realized that the advance guard was part of a much different, better-disciplined army. The battle that would go down in history as the Battle of Fallen Timbers had begun.
After the initial encounter with the Indians, the advance guard retreated to the main body of the army. The right flank of the army, led by Gen. Wilkinson, upon taking enemy fire, immediately "formed [and] returned fire". A combined infantry and mounted charge, in which Capt. Campbell, the leader of the mounted troops was killed, forced the Indians to quit the field. The Indians attempted to attack the left flank, but were repulsed. A cavalry charge drove the enemy back about three-quarters of a mile, and the army replenished itself with whiskey, pushed the enemy from the field, and then advanced to within one mile of a British garrison. Having accomplished this, the army then made camp near the British garrison.
Wayne's resounding victory did not come without a price. What Gen. Wilkinson described as "a mere skirmish" cost the Legion 133 men, of these 33 were dead including two officers. According to the journal of Clark, the two officers were Capt. Campbell and Lt. Towles, and the number of American dead was 240, compared to 30 to 40 enemy dead out of a force of 900 Indians and 150 Canadians. Clark's figures may be in dispute, due to different figures appearing in other sources. However, Clark was at the battle, but the problems with Clark's figures are that they appear to make the victory hollow due to difference in number of lives lost on both sides. One thing that remains constant is that Wayne had achieved an incredible victory over the Indians.
In the aftermath of the victory, the Indians were in a panic. The British commander noted with disgust that the Indians "behaved excessive ill . . . and afterwards fled in every direction". He further added that "their panic was so great that the appearance of fifty Americans would have totally routed them" Another British officer, Lt. Col. England, noted, "that the confederated tribes no longer could be relied on for the primary defense of the Detroit region". These observations illustrate the magnitude of Wayne's victory.
For days after the battle, Wayne remained near the British outpost, Fort Miami. They burned villages and crops of their recently defeated foes. This was in an effort to draw the British force at Fort Miami out to fight. Wayne realized that the British commander, Major Campbell, intended to hold the post and remain inside in defiance of Wayne's blustering and displaying his army in front of the fort. Wayne did not want the blame for starting a war between the U.S. and Britain, and, realizing that his tactics did not affect the British, soon withdrew his army to focus on destroying the Indian resistance.
Travelers to the region years later noted both battles and even met with people who served at Fallen Timbers and fortunately, their experiences remain. George W. Ogden passed through the areas of Greenville and Fort Recovery, and noted, "just above this fort is the memorable place of St. Clair's defeat". Francois André Michaux noted that the army marched against the Indians in defense of settlers and that the repulsion of the Indians, culminated in Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers. Estwick Evans mentioned a meeting with a Col. P. who was "an officer under General Wayne, during his famous expedition against the [Indians]". Tilly Buttrick traveled in the lower Sandusky, which was known to be "an important Wyandot village" prior to Fallen Timbers. Buttrick pressed on to Greenville, where Wayne built a fort and established his headquarters after the battle. Edward Flagg mentioned having met with a pioneer who had hunted "where Boone, and Whitley, and Kenton once roved". The man named Kenton that Flagg refers to is Simon Kenton who served with the army during Wayne's campaign. These travelers knew of the events surrounding the places they visited and met with many people along the way who had taken part in them, thus making the stories of their travels more interesting and valuable to historians today.
While St. Clair forced a congressional investigation, Wayne forced a peace. Having defeated the Indians and establishing his base at Greenville, in 1795, Wayne prepared to make peace with the Indians. Major Thomas Hunt, commander of Fort Defiance, reported to Wayne the conditions of the Indians. He stated that, "The poor devils were almost starving to death before they got here". Timothy Pickering, the negotiator, wanted the treaty to hand over more territory to the United States. Wayne was allocated $25,000 in various goods, which included hats, blankets, knives, axes, wine, and liquor. On July 15, 1795, Wayne began the council, stating, "Younger brothers, . . . I take you all by the hand" and "Rest assured of a sincere welcome . . . from your friend and brother Anthony Wayne". Using the Treaty of Paris (1783) and the Fort Harmar Treaty, Wayne justified the Americans right to the Indian lands. While Little Turtle argued that the Americans were taking the best Indian lands, many chiefs accepted the treaty and the council closed on August 10 with Little Turtle swearing allegiance to the United States on August 12. With the signing of the Treaty of Greenville, the war between the United States and the Northwest Indians was over.
St. Clair's defeat and the Battle of Fallen Timbers illustrate both the weakness of and strength of the new republic. St. Clair's bungled campaign led to the worst military defeat at the hands of the Indians for the army. Even though he should have been able to use his superior numbers to crush the Indians, his cockiness and coldness would be his downfall. On the other hand, Little Turtle, fresh from this victory would view the American army with contempt and thus would meet his own defeat at the hands of a much more experienced Indian fighter and general, Anthony Wayne. These two events shaped the history of the new nation, with St. Clair's defeat bringing about the first congressional investigation in the history of the constitutional system. Wayne's victory would eventually allow for the creation of a new state, Ohio and ensured that the United States controlled the northwest. Travelers observed these events in their accounts years later, illustrating the impact that these battles had on history. The mistakes St. Clair made led to the United States reexamining its strategy against the Indians. Wayne learned from St. Clair's undisciplined army by instilling strong discipline in his Legion. He also utilized his army better than St. Clair, with his troops regrouping and returning fire instead of breaking as St. Clair's army did. In addition, Wayne waited until his enemy was weak in contrast to St. Clair's cockiness, which caused St. Clair to be surprised. In contrast, Little Turtle and his forces did not learn from their victory and underestimated the resolve of their enemy, which would lead to their defeat and loss of their land. These two events are important illustrations for both early American history and the history of Native Americans as well.


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Sorry, its a bit of a mad lip swatch day today! Had a busy hectic day yesterday hence the simple posts!
The Clarins Sun Lip Balms are gorge- if they bring them out again this year I will buy the new shades too. They feel like balms but are really pigmented and glossy AND they have SPF.
This is the pink version:
There are about £7 from Strawberrynet (they were actually released last year).
Yay or Nay? What SPF do you use on your lips in the summer – do you bother with it at all?


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Osram VIP R 150/P24 Modified Lamp
Osram $126.00 Each
Lamps ordered will be shipped the next business day by UPS or USPS Priority Mail. Large orders may qualify for a discount and may not qualify for next day shipment. If you do not know what lamp you require or for lamps not listed, email your request or call 336-882-2854. To order, please use our secure shopping cart above or call 336-882-2852 or 800-692-3051. Click to go to our Home Page, View Cart and to find Shipping Information.
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If you have compliments, complaints, suggestions, or help with areas not listed above please contact:
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Inkplicity™ Canon PIXMA MG7150 Remanufactured Printer Ink Cartridges are original printer ink cartridges which have been precisely refilled. The ink cartridges and printhead nozzles have been carefully cleaned. After refilling, each cartridge is electrically tested in a printer to ensure outstanding print quality, flawless performance and consistent reliability. Inkplicity™ offers a 100% quality satisfaction guarantee on all of our products. With uncompromising quality and up to 78% discount savings, these guaranteed ink cartridges are perfect for brand shoppers seeking the best value. Along with excellent quality and low cost ink cartridges, Inkplicity™ provides other valuable benefits. Our Canon PIXMA MG7150 eco-friendly, USA-made refills help save the environment. Fast delivery and free shipping on orders above $30 provides the most convenient and economical shopping experience. Also, our friendly, reliable customer service team is available and willing to respond to any refill need.
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SugarCRM has sprinkled its customer relationship management (CRM) software over the IBM LotusLive collaboration suite in a bid to sweeten the collaboration tool integrations that the two companies jointly go to market with. This announcement is the first in a series of offerings that follow SugarCRM joining the IBM Global Alliance Portfolio as a cloud solutions provider.
"The integration of LotusLive capabilities with SugarCRM provides a powerful set of tools for all of our users," said Larry Augustin, chief executive officer of SugarCRM. "Now, sales and support professionals can connect directly with prospects and customers in an instant, helping to provide higher service levels and shorter sales cycles."
SugarCRM will demonstrate the integration with LotusLive from its booth at Lotusphere 2011, which starts today at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Since LotusLive and Sugar are cloud-based solutions, no software installation is required. The LotusLive integration with Sugar is intended to provide sales, marketing and customer support professionals with an integrated user experience when using LotusLive File Sharing and Online Meetings from within the Sugar application.
Suggesting that the integration between LotusLive and SugarCRM is a "no-brainer," Clint Oram, cofounder and CTO at SugarCRM has said that everyone working with customers today can benefit from simple, intuitive web-based tools to better connect and share information. Oram also specifies that the new integration will enable web and audio meetings directly from the Sugar user interface — additionally, it will also allow the user to attach notes and documents to a Sugar record, and share them with customers via LotusLive.


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Jeff Neely, the high-level federal administrator who organized a lavish conference in Las Vegas, and his wife Deborah, have emerged as the central characters in a growing scandal over wasteful government spending, as new details emerge about their cavalier use of taxpayer funds.
Testimony from three Congressional hearings this week revealed that the $822,751 Vegas conference was part of a pattern of reckless spending that Neely fostered in the General Services Administration's Region 9, where he served as both acting regional administrator and regional commissioner for Public Buildings Service.
In addition to the Las Vegas conference, Neely is also being investigated for a 2010 conference he organized for GSA interns in Palm Springs, 115 missing electronic gadgets that were part of a Region 9 employee rewards program (including one that was traced to Neely's daughter), and suspicious contracting/kickbacks.
But the most remarkable details relate to the government-funded trips Neely took with his wife, including a 17-day trip to Hawaii, Guam, and Siapan this February that happened to coincide with Mrs. Neely's birthday.
Here's an email exchange about the trip that was read at yesterday's Congressional hearing:
"Rough schedule per our conversation. Guess this'll be your birthday present?" Neely said.
She replied: "Its yo birthday....We gonna pawty like iz yo birfday!"
But Deborah Neely did more than just accompany her husband on his work trips. According to testimony from the GSA inspector general and other employees, she also planned private parties in his Vegas hotel suite, directed GSA event planners to buy more food, and even posed as a GSA employee at a Long Beach trade show.
Photos from Deborah Neely's Google Plus page indicate that her husband's job was deeply intertwined with their family life. Here's a snapshot of what it was like to be the Neelys.


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I had a friend from high school "friend me" on Facebook years ago. He's a preacher now and even though I'm an atheist I kept him as a friend as I had no problems with him until he started outright attacking atheist. This shouldn't come as a surprise but his most recent post became an attack on me as I know I am his only atheist friend. I unfriended him after this post. Even though I knew he was wrong and I could refute his claims, I just got tired of his hate. I attached his post below, what do you think I should have done:
Views: 936
I unchecked and thus suppressed the News Feed from everyone who bores me on Facebook. I see no reason to delete them, because I can pretty much mute whatever they say. If someone posts on my wall, however, and I don't like the post, I just delete it. Consequently my page is not very active, but all the stuff I find interesting (which isn't a lot in facebook) remains visible.
It seems to me that the technique of saying nothing, or not replying, is far more relaxing than engaging in histrionics on the internet. Un-friending seems really pointless to me.
I unchecked and thus suppressed the News Feed from everyone who bores me on Facebook.
Same here. Seems the best and easiest solution. You don't have to see the idiotic posts, but you always have the option to pop by for a good laugh when you are in the mood.
I have the "Fundies Say the Darndest Things" FB page for that:(https://www.facebook.com/darndestthings)
I wish I had your strength. I am very nosey and ready almost every post people write. And it's hard not to read something from someone that hates me for the way I think and yet reached out to me as a friend. I don't want to be someone's sparing partner. Debate is great and all but it seems very self serving for him as he doesn't care about my opinion at all.
I had these Jehovah's witnesses visit my house for a year every weekend...I didn't send them away. I just voiced my opinion and they listened and I listened to them. It was nice to at least have a dialogue that was in an attacking tone. They finally gave up on me as I was not going to change just because they were persistent. Nor was I going to send them away because their viewpoint was different from mine.
I'm just wondering if I was being a "bad atheist" and not taking the opportunity to spread the "good word" of being "good without god"?
No such thing as a "bad atheist". There is no rulebook. You just do what you think is best. If you can't stand that person, then unfriend them. If they are not your friend, and they clearly hate you for your atheism, then don't waste your time with them and don't feel bad for getting rid of them from your life.
I guess what I'm more concerned about is the bigger picture. The widening gulf of thought between Reason and Faith. It is the cause of many issues today and I feel like cutting off all ties from religious people because they hate me for not believing in what they believe in just causes the gulf to widen even more.
I basically have 3 choices when it comes to dealing with this problem: (1) ignore them (2) confront them (3) join them. There is no way I will join them so I either confront them or ignore them and I feel ignoring them will cause more problems in the world as a whole.
I know you can't reason with crazy but I feel like being a "missionary" for Reason is actually a good cause. But I don't want all the drama and stigma. It's tough to deal with as I live in Oklahoma, the reddest state, and I'm attacked on a daily basis from friends and family...it may be small quips here and there...either in person or the internet...but it hurts none the less to be treated this way.
THEY are not oppressed. I don't attack THEM. THEY have a church on literally every corner...but I'm treated like a social pariah and I don't wear my heart on my sleeve. I keep to myself unless I see a social injustice occurring that was caused by religious oppression.
So my question is, should atheist be vocal or not? If not, then are we not the cause of all the problems as we are not sharing our feelings on issues which could cause someone to wake up and see our way may be a better alternative?
I think yes - be vocal - but quietly and calmly.
I would confront the friend and let him know that you saw it and that it hurt you and could he please explain himself.
I imagine its made you feel betrayed - Tell him that.
It shocked you - Tell him that.
Is that what his Jesus teaches? What sort of Christian is he?
You thought that you could trust him.
Then say nothing.
Oddly enough, the more I talk about with like minded people, the less it bothers me. I don't hold his opinion of me in high esteem so I think "un-friending" him was the best thing to do. I'm so glad I joined this site. It really does make me feel better to know there are more people out there like me.
Thank you for replying. I have a G+ account but I never use it. I might give it another chance. Until then I need to do a better job with my privacy setting on FB and do a spring cleaning of my Friend's List.
Hi Randy
I dont think a lot of Christians will admit that they adhere to this passage but Ive been told that they do take it seriously, It might be a good place to start a conversation with him if you decide to.
2 Corinthians 6:4 KJV
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
The only problem is the 2 Corinthians 6:4 KJV passage says: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
I do believe you mean 2 Corithians 6:14 KJV: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
"I dont think a lot of Christians will admit that they adhere to this passage but Ive been told that they do take it seriously,"
The passage is often used by Christians and Pastors to discourage inter-faith marriage or marriage to an atheist/agnostic/anti-theist, but could also apply in the context of friendship as well. However, regarding friendship, the only way this passage is adhered to most often by Christians is if they live in an area where there is less cultural diversity and the culture itself is not open-minded.
Thank You Barry:
I tend to write when I should be running out the door so I'm often in a rush...
I love that everything is cross checked. Its great.
"However, regarding friendship, the only way this passage is adhered to most often by Christians is if they live in an area where there is less cultural diversity and the culture itself is not open-minded."
Like home schooling?
Re: The KJV - I just like it.
What version do you use?


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GTVsource has discovered that at least some versions of the ASUS CUBE offer Airplay functionality right out of the box, a somewhat surprising find given that Google is known to be working on an open alternative to Airplay.
The explanation is that the CUBE software is based on ViMu Player, which incorporates Airplay as an experimental feature. Airplay functionality is currently limited to video – still images and music don't yet work. Click More for video demo …
Google's own remote-play functionality is currently limited to YouTube videos.


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Major Section: MISCELLANEOUS
Examples: ACL2 !>(case-split-limitations (w state)) (500 100)With the setting above,
clausify will not try subsumption/replacement
if more than 500 clauses are involved. Furthermore, the simplifier,
as it sweeps over a clause, will inhibit further case splits
when it has accumulated 100 subgoals. This inhibition is implemented by
continuing to rewrite subsequent literals but not splitting out their cases.
This can produce literals containing
See set-case-split-limitations for a more general discussion.


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More advantages


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In July, gas infrastructure company APA Group bought the 80MW Emu Downs wind farm and development rights for an adjacent 130MW site located 200 kilometres north of Perth for A$171 million (US$175 million).
APA group managing director Mick McCormack said the company's core business remains gas infrastructure, but added that the partnership of variable wind generation and fast-start gas-fired electricity generation is critical in Western Australia due to the isolation and smaller scale of the state's integrated electricity network.
The A$750 million (US$768 million) Collgar Wind Farm began exporting electricity in May. Developed by international investment bank UBS and superannuation fund Retail Employees Superannuation Trust, the wind farm consists of 111 Vestas V90 turbines built over 18,000ha at Merredin in the state's south-west.
Alistair Craib, CEO of the 206MW project, said it is "tracking along really, really well" and the company expects all turbines will be generating by mid-September - four months ahead of schedule.
He confirmed comments made by UBS global head of infrastructure asset management Dr Paul Moy in June that the company would look at more projects in Western Australia.
Meanwhile, Verve Energy is developing a 55MW wind farm at Mumbida 40 kilometres southeast of Geraldton in a oint venture with Macquarie Capital Group. The company has also assessed the feasibility of a wind farm at Milyeannup, 20 kilometres east of Augusta; and is building an additional 12.8MW as an extension of the existing 21MW Albany Wind Farm.
Slow starter
Compared with south and eastern Australia, Western Australia has experienced relatively little wind-energy development, with four wind farms over 20MW capacity in operation.
Western Australia has abundant coal resources and its economy is driven by the export of natural resources. It also enjoys good wind-energy opportunities and industry stakeholders believe further development is likely.
Neil Prentice, advisory services manager for the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia, said the wind industry in Western Australia has not always had the right climate for investment.
Craib suggests there has not been much wind-energy development in the state for a few reasons, including the state's smaller population density and less developed grid - Western Australia is not connected to the National Electricity Market, but has a standalone Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) that operates in the South West Interconnected System.
"I think it's reasonable to expect that you will see more development in Western Australia," said Craib. "I think the thing that needs to be accounted for is where does (the electricity) go? Wind farms put a lot of strain on the system."


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The church of Ouzande was popularised in Galicia by means of Castelao's drawings. What remains of the original Romanesque design is the entire apse and part of the walls. Unlike that of Frailes and following the more usual type in A Estrada, the church of Ourzande has a semi-circular sanctuary with a straight section. It is decorated with corbels, mainly featuring representations, in which contortionists and figures of animals stand out. On the top of the roof, facing west, there is a ram bearing the cross, the Agnus Dei or Passover Lamb.
Inside the apse we can see semi-circular arches with a slight tendency towards a horseshoe shape, which is the case of the barrel vault covering the straight section and that leads to the curved section with a half-domed vault. These arches rest on capitals decorated with floral adornments, geometric intertwining, hunting scenes or aggressive animals.
The façade features the scar left in the stone by the original discharging arch of the Romanesque door; this indicates that the church alterations carried out in 1781 respected the original church's perimeter.
+info: www.turismo.aestrada.com


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Unusual New HIV Drug Resistance Mechanism Revealed
Pittsburgh Researchers Show How Therapy-Induced Resistance to "NNRTI" Drugs Works at 58th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting in San Francisco
7-Feb-2014 9:00 AM EST
Available for logged-in reporters only
58th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting
Newswise — WASHINGTON D.C. Feb. 18, 2014 -- For the more than one million people with HIV/AIDS in the United States (and the over 34 million people living with HIV/AIDS around the world), antiretroviral drugs such as efavirenz and other so-called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in combination with other antiretrovirals can be a lifeline, because they slow the progress of viral infection, prolonging life. Unfortunately, studies have shown that these benefits themselves can be short-lived in the clinic: therapy with NNRTIs can lead to single (or "point") mutations in the HIV genetic code -- mutations that make the virus resistant to the drugs.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine now have a good idea why. In work to be presented at the 58th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting, which takes place in San Francisco from Feb. 15-19, cell biologist Sanford Leuba and his colleagues offer new insight into how NNRTIs function and how therapy-induced point mutations actually confer drug resistance.
NNRTIs work by blocking the action of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which HIV uses to convert its own genetic material (in the form of RNA) into single-stranded copies of DNA, which can then be inserted into the genome of the human cells they've infected. Once incorporated, this DNA instructs the host to create new copies of the virus, propagating the infection to new cells and over time attacking the immune system, which can lead to full-blown AIDS.
Using a number of imaging techniques and computer modeling, Leuba and his team showed that, normally, the binding of efavirenz results in the formation of a molecule-sized "salt bridge" that holds the reverse transcriptase in an open state when it is attached to the template it uses in making DNA copies. "The reverse transcriptase can still bind the template, but it continually slides," Leuba explained, "preventing the enzyme from polymerizing nucleotides. The virus cannot replicate."
The point mutations that cause resistance to efavirenz, the researchers found, prevent that salt bridge from forming, "allowing the reverse transcriptase to function normally," he says. "This type of inhibition, which does not involve drug-binding affinity, has not been described previously."
Based on the work, Leuba said, "We have ideas about how to begin designing a new generation of NNRTIs."
The presentation "A Gripping New Mechanism of Drug Resistance in HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase" by Grant Schauer, Nic Sluis-Cremer and Sanford Leuba will be at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 in Hall D in San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center.ABSTRACT: http://tinyurl.com/km59vnu
ABOUT THE MEETINGEach year, the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting brings together more than 7,000 researchers working in the multidisciplinary fields representing biophysics. With more than 4,200 poster presentations, over 200 exhibits, and more than 20 symposia, the BPS Annual Meeting is the largest meeting of biophysicists in the world. Despite its size, the meeting retains its small-meeting flavor through its subgroup symposia, platform sessions, social activities, and committee programs.
The 58th Annual Meeting will be held at the Moscone Convention Center, 747 Howard Street, San Francisco, California.
PRESS REGISTRATIONThe Biophysical Society invites professional journalists, freelance science writers and public information officers to attend its Annual Meeting free of charge. For press registration, contact Alisha Yocum at email@example.com or Jason Bardi at 240-535-4954.
QUICK LINKSMain Meeting Page: http://tinyurl.com/mfjh37p Program Highlights: http://tinyurl.com/mosxrofAbstracts Search: http://tinyurl.com/lbrearu
ABOUT THE SOCIETYThe Biophysical Society, founded in 1958, is a professional, scientific Society established to encourage development and dissemination of knowledge in biophysics. The Society promotes growth in this expanding field through its annual meeting, monthly journal, and committee and outreach activities. Its 9000 members are located throughout the U.S. and the world, where they teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, laboratories, government agencies, and industry. For more information on the Society, or the 2014 Annual Meeting, visit www.biophysics.org


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- Publish date:
- Updated on
- Year
- 1943
British launch Operation Source
On this day in 1943, British submarines attempt to sink the German battleship Tirpitz as it sits in Norwegian waters, as Operation Source gets underway. The Tirpitz was the second largest battleship in the German fleet (after the Bismarck) and a threat to Allied vessel movement through Arctic waters.
In January 1942, Hitler ordered the Germany navy to base the Tirpitz in Norway in order to attack Soviet convoys transporting supplies from Iceland to the U.S.S.R. The Tirpitz also prevented British naval forces from making their way to the Pacific. Winston Churchill summed up the situation this way: "The destruction or even crippling of this ship is the greatest event at the present time…. The whole strategy of the war turns at this period on this ship…."
Attacks had already been made against the Tirpitz. RAF raids were against it in January 1942 failed to hit it. Another raid was made in March; dozens of RAF bombers sought out the Tirpitz, which had been reinforced with cruisers, pocket battleships, and destroyers. All of the British bombers, once again, missed their target.
Sporadic attacks continued to be made against the German battleship, including an attempt in October 1942 to literally drive a two-man craft up to the ship and plant explosives on the Tirpitz's hull. This too failed because of brutal water conditions and an alert German defense. In 1943, the battleship Scharnhorst joined the Tirpitz, creating a threat to Allied shipping that caused all convoys to the Soviet Union to be temporarily halted. Finally, in September, six midget British subs set out to take the Tirpitz down for good. The midgets had to be towed to Norway by conventional subs. Only three of the six midgets made it to their target. This time, they were successful in attaching explosives to the Tirpitz's keel—and did enough damage to put it out of action for six months. Two British commanders and four crewmen were taken captive by the Germans and spent the rest of the war as POWs.
Ironically, the mighty Tirpitz fired its guns only once in aggression during the entire war—against a British coaling station on the island of Spitsbergen.


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Fuel management for commercial vehicles
Fuel management in commercial vehicles is mainly governed by fuel preparation, i.e., filtration and water disposal. The trend toward a so-called world engine, or engine platform for use in every region of the world, gives rise to considerable technical challenges. On the one hand, the engine must meet the partly strict exhaust gas legislation, which leads to a high level of technological advancement. On the other hand, it is this sophisticated level of technology that is confronted with different biofuel shares and fuel quality levels. It is therefore necessary to enable optimal separation of contaminants and water even under these conditions.
Fuel filter modules for commercial vehicles efficiently prepare diesel fuels for the combustion process. For this purpose, they use high-separation filter media and feature an advanced functionality scope. For diesel engines, the functional range of the MAHLE fuel filter modules can be rather complex. The fuel can be cooled or heated, for example, or the water content of the fuel can be separated.
In order to comply with demanding emissions limits, modern diesel engines typically employ common rail injection systems. These are extremely sensitive to solid particles and diesel fuel containing unsolved water. Since world engines are also used in countries with poor fuel quality and varying shares of biofuel, it is necessary to enable optimal separation of contaminants and water even under these conditions.
For this purpose, MAHLE has developed a solution with the active prefilter module that achieves a separation level of up to 98 percent in new condition.
MAHLE electrical heaters are used in diesel and ethanol engines for cold starting and operation at low ambient temperatures. For diesel engines, they ensure that flowability is maintained and prevent flocculation of fuel components that could lead to clogging of the filter.


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|No such thing as a small change
comment on
|( #3333=superdoc: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
First gut reaction was ~> but, on further reflection, I decided that it's a bad match (no pun intended) for the normal meaning/behavior of ~ in Perl. =~ is a regex match and ~~ is a smart(ish) match, but this "safe dereference" isn't doing any kind of matching at all.
So I ended up voting for ->> because it's the same as the normal dereferencing operator, modulo a key bounce, making it quick to type. I think --> would have been more aesthetically pleasing than ->>, plus the added character is non-shifted which makes it a little more convenient to add/remove while debugging/testing, but it wasn't on the list of options.
My real preference, though, would be for -> to do a safe dereference by default, optionally with a warning. (Personally, I'd prefer any warning to only be enabled if explicitly requested, not just by a blanket use warnings or perl -w, but I recognize that this would be inconsistent with current warnings.) Given how often I find myself writing things like if ($foo->bar && $foo->bar->baz) {...}, I have to disagree with the earlier comment saying that if any link in that chain is undef, then you obviously have a problem - it's entirely possible that $foo may simply not have a bar and that's that.
In reply to Re: What operator should perl5porters use for safe dereferencing?
by dsheroh


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Welcome to my official website. I write for young people, teach elementary school, and have children of my own. My life is full of kids, teens and young adults…real and fictitious…and I wouldn't want it any other way.
I'm really interested in history so my books tend to have some element of the past in them. Even though my books are categorized as juvenile or YA fiction and non-fiction I've heard that people of all ages enjoy reading them.
When I'm not writing or teaching my own class, I enjoy visiting libraries and schools where I talk to students about my books. I also like to hear from readers, so feel free to write me!
Thanks for visiting my website,


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Are Recruiters Looking for You On Social Media?
Think only your friends are hanging out on Twitter or Facebook? Think again — especially if you're hunting for your next job.
Employment recruiters are spending more time looking for qualified job candidates on social media, it seems. Because so many professionals are branding themselves as experts on social sites, recruiters are finding it easier to locate people with the skill set they're looking for.
Here's the portion of recruiters that are looking for you on social media (Inc. Magazine):
- LinkedIn: 98%
- Twitter: 42%
- Facebook: 33%
Position Yourself to Be Found Through Social Media
For those of you who haven't put any attention into making your social media profiles a beacon for recruiters to find, Vinda Rao, Marketing Manager for recruiting software company Bullhorn, offers these tips:
Keep your social media profile clean. It does matter: 98% of recruiters used social media for recruiting in 2012, so make sure what they're finding out about you online is professional and appealing.
Can't juggle several social media accounts? Focus on LinkedIn. You'll find more recruiters on LinkedIn than any other social media network. Nearly 100% of recruiters use it, compared to their less frequent activity on Twitter and Facebook.
Are you aiming big or small? Tailor your social networking use to your goal. U.S. recruiters at small companies are less likely to recruit on LinkedIn than big companies, but are more likely to use Facebook or Twitter.
Have some downtime while lounging by the pool or on a long bus ride? Check job opportunities on the go: 53% of recruiters found mobile recruiting technology extremely important.
Your Alma Mater may not matter as much as you think. Fewer than 4% of recruiters say that the name of the school the applicant attended would truly help differentiate her as a candidate.
Depending on what field you studied, research what social network your industry focuses on. Interested in the restaurant or fashion industries, for example? Twitter is your best bet. Security and legal candidates are best suited to search for opportunities on LinkedIn, and those looking for a job in nursing should be perusing Facebook.
Let Your Beacon Shine
The point here is: social media can expand your horizons when it comes to helping you find a job. The more places you look, the faster you'll secure the position you really want. Make sure you shine on social media, and share a variety of updates and links to show that you know your stuff:
- Share links to your blog content and promote relevant content of others. Ask questions to get people to click
- Engage in conversations with other industry professionals
- Answer questions people have about your field on LinkedIn Groups and LinkedIn Answers, or hop on Quora and get involved in discussions
- Retweet relevant content and share your own two cents
- Share your own insight on a subject, and don't be afraid to weigh in on topics that matter to a professional in your field.
Date: August 27th, 2013 / Author: Lindsay / 2 Comments »
Posted in Recruiting / Tags: job search, recruiters, Recruiting, social media


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Weekend box office: The "Inception" brain caper goes according to plan; "The Sorceror's Apprentice" gets a swat in the tuchas
Those of us speculating on the possibility of a surprise in either the high or low direction for "Inception" early on Friday (okay, that would mainly be me), have now been silenced by the weekend estimates. They appear to have come down on the highish side of what the professional prognosticators expected, even if some of them were confessing to uncertainty. (Where did I read that? It's gone now from where I thought I read it but maybe my dreams are being manipulated by a crack team hired by a Japanese billionaire who hates Nikki Finke.)
So, no, Christopher Nolan's highly praised but also controversial science-fiction thriller film for Warner Brothers is officially not "too smart" or too not-franchise-associated to be a hit, if an estimated $60.4 million is enough to constitute a hit these days for a $200 million film. It's also worth noting that it managed this without an artificial boost from inflated 3-D ticket prices. I wonder if some math whizzes out there can compare this to the "disappointing" $77 million opening for "Avatar." Anthony D'Alessandro points out this is the strongest North American opening ever for a Leonardo DiCaprio-headlined movie, which includes "Titanic."(That box office stinker only made about $28 million domestically it's first weekend.)
Still, as always, the question remains "legs" and how the word-of-tweet-facebook update-txt-mouth goes. The L.A. Times reported that the film scored a B+ on Cinemascore, reportedly dividing the audience by age with under 25-ers giving it an A and us oldsters giving it a B-. So are middle-aged filmgoers more discerning or younger ones more open to real genius? (Hey, politically, I tend to agree more with under-25 years olds more than people my own age who mostly loved Ronald Reagan, who I believe peaked in "Storm Warning" with Ginger Rogers.)
You can follow us on Twitter @moviebuffs and on Facebook as well.
Posted in: Animation, Movie Comedies, Movie Dramas, Movies, News, Sci-Fi Movies
Tags: Avatar, Cinemascore, Cyrus, Despicable Me, Disney, Focus Features, Ginger Rogers, Harry Potter, Headlines, Inception, Jay Duplass, Jerry Bruckheimer, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lisa Cholodenko, Prince of Persia, Ronald Reagan, Standing Ovation, Storm Warning, The Kids are Alright, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Titanic, Warner Brothers


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Chasing the End Zone -- An Update on "Ultrasensitive" Viral Load Tests
Reasons For Hope:
Sometimes science moves so fast that it seems impossible to keep up with it. As proof of this, better tests for measuring viral load have arrived on the scene. They are called "ultrasensitive" viral load tests. These ultrasensitive tests establish a new standard of care in HIV treatment by allowing improved monitoring of a drug combination. Reaching undetectable on an ultrasensitive test is now the latest goal of antiviral therapy. However, these new tools for measuring virus in the blood also expose some of the problems with currently prescribed HIV regimens. In fact, some who are on antivirals may have reason to be concerned about how well their drugs are keeping HIV in check.
A New Goal for Therapy
Viral load is the amount of HIV found in a sample of a person's blood. The less HIV found in the blood sample, the less virus one has throughout the body. The less HIV throughout the body, the more slowly HIV disease will progress, if it progresses at all.
Until now, the most sensitive test for measuring viral load (the test which measured the smallest amount of virus per blood sample) has been the old Amplicor HIV RNA test. That test measures accurately down to 400 copies of virus per milliliter (ml.) of blood. However, the new ultrasensitive tests, several of which now exist, all measure viral load down to about 50 viral copies per ml. of blood. Testing undetectable at 50 copies with an ultrasensitive test means that an antiviral combination is keeping viral load as low as available tests can now measure. This is the new goal of antiviral therapy! Studies show that being undetectable at 50 copies on an ultrasensitive test means that antivirals will likely work longer than if viral load is detectable above 50 copies. Of course, this is true as long as the medications are taken on time, and as prescribed, such as with or without food.
The Illusions of Undetectability
Unfortunately, there are still no guarantees even if your viral load is undetectable on an ultrasensitive test. A presentation at this summer's World AIDS Conference showed that those who tested undetectable at 50 copies still had signs of replicating HIV after a year on a protease, AZT/3TC triple regimen. As it is reproducing in the presence of antivirals, such virus could mutate and become resistant to the drugs. Viral load would then increase, or rebound, as the mutant strain of HIV reproduces, unchecked, throughout the body. In fact, there have already been reports of that happening to some people after they reached undetectable on the ultrasensitive viral load test. As a result, doctors are now prescribing combinations even stronger than the standard triple regimens for their patients. It is hoped that these stronger regimens will keep all the HIV inside a person from reproducing and resistance won't develop.
In addition, it is important to remember that you are still infected with the virus when testing undetectable on an ultrasensitive viral load test. HIV has not been completely cleared from the body! In fact, data show that even when the ultrasensitive test is unable to detect virus in a person's blood, significant levels of HIV can still be found in a person's semen or other bodily fluids. This means you can still potentially infect other people with HIV. Therefore, you should continue to practice safe sex no matter how low your viral load is. This includes those who are HIV positive who have HIV infected sex partners. There is now preliminary evidence that someone who is already HIV infected could, in some cases, be co-infected with another person's strain of HIV. This is called superinfection. If this HIV strain is already drug resistant, it might jeopardize that person's antiviral treatment. Until the risks of HIV superinfection are clearly understood, safe sex between positive partners is strongly advised. This will also prevent exposure to other germs that could jeopardize one's health and increase viral load.
More Chinks in the Armor
The ultrasensitive tests have revealed other limitations of commonly prescribed antiviral regimens. As a result of the new test's increased sensitivity, many on combo therapy who were undetectable using the previous generation of viral load tests, may discover detectable viral load with an ultrasensitive. If the viral load levels are high enough on the new test, at several thousand copies for example, then some resistance has probably already developed to the drugs.
In addition, those whose viral loads test at a very low level on the ultrasensitive test may have reason for concern. In one study, several patients, who were also on a protease, AZT/3TC triple combo, had virus detectable between 50 and 400 copies. This means they would have been undetectable on the older, less sensitive viral load tests. When researchers looked at that detectable virus, they discovered that it was already developing resistance to the triple regimen. Again, some doctors are prescribing stronger drug combinations for their patients. This to insure that viral loads will be brought below 50 copies to prevent, or at least slow down, the development of such resistance virus.
If you are on antivirals and low level detectable virus is found on the ultrasensitive after being undetectable on an older, less sensitive viral load test, don't make an immediate treatment decision based on those results. Confirm the results by repeating the test within two weeks, using the same ultrasensitive test and lab. If low level detectable virus is confirmed, discuss with your physician possible reasons for the increase in viral load. Have you been ill recently, or have you not been taking your antivirals as prescribed? Both could result in an increase in virus. If either wasn't the case then your drug combination was probably not strong enough to keep HIV in check to begin with.
What to Do?
Those who discover they have detectable, low level viral load levels on the new tests, may want to reinforce their regimens by adding other antivirals into the mix. This may prevent further resistance from developing and keep the drugs working longer. Or, a switch to a new, stronger, combination of antivirals may make sense. Both should be done while viral load is still low. At that point, it will also be easier for the new drugs to get viral levels down to undetectable.
For those with detectable virus who may be unable to assemble a new, viable combination of antivirals because they have used up all available drugs, there are new antivirals coming on line or in clinical trials which may offer some benefit. Ask an HIV knowledgeable care provider about such new treatments.
Sit Tight
The other alternative for those on therapy with detectable viral load is to sit tight with your current regimen, that is at least according to data presented over the past year by Dr. Steven Deeks of San Francisco General Hospital. Deeks has shown that patients who stayed on antivirals have remained healthy for years after resistance developed and viral load rebounded. That is as long as they have had significant CD4 t-cell increases as a result of therapy. The increased number of CD4 cells, and possibly a weakened form of the virus as a result of the antivirals may be the reason these patients have remained healthy despite drug resistance and viral load rebound.
However, the downside of this approach is the longer you stay on a regimen while viral load is detectable, the more likely cross-resistance will develop. Cross-resistance results when HIV, after developing resistance to one antiviral, becomes resistant to other similar antivirals you have yet to take. So staying on a regimen while viral load is detectable could limit the efficacy of other antivirals you may need later. This is why it is vital to always choose antiviral combinations carefully, keeping in mind how cross-resistance could eliminate the potency of drugs you have never used.
In addition, when you stay on a regimen while viral load is detectable, those viral load levels will continue to rise. This will make it harder for future combinations of antivirals to bring those levels back down. So again, the decision to stay on or switch off antivirals should be made while viral load levels are still low, as well as before cross-resistance has developed to other drugs.
Accessing an Ultrasensitive
Ultrasensitive tests have already become widely used by laboratories and doctors. In fact, you may have had one done without knowing it. Ask your doctor to see if the viral load test he or she is using is an ultrasensitive test. If your doctor is not using one then you are not getting the best care possible. Make sure your caregiver fixes this situation by getting you access to the new tests.
If you have trouble getting the ultrasensitive test due to lack of health care coverage, a free tests program has been set up by one test manufacturer. Roche Diagnostics is offering free samples of the new Amplicor ultrasensitive test to those who demonstrate financial need. The program provides vouchers for two baseline tests, then three additional tests afterward. For more information, call the Amplicor patient assistance program at 1-888-TEST-PCR. Funding for viral load tests for those with limited means should also be available through most state ADAP programs.
Not Again!
Although the ultrasensitive tests are an improvement over previous, less sensitive viral load tests, they offer no guarantees. HIV is present in the body with transmission of the virus still possible when testing undetectable on an ultrasensitive. Also, viral replication may be ongoing and resistance can develop to antivirals, albeit more slowly, when viral levels are undetectable on the new tests. So the ultrasensitive tests are not perfect tools for monitoring HIV infection and treatment. However, the ultrasensitive tests may not have the final say on measuring viral load; further improvements may be on the way. There are even still more sensitive viral load tests in the experimental stage of development. These "supersensitive" tests can measure down to one copy of virus per ml. of blood. It is hoped that even at such low levels, these "Super" tests will be proven more accurate at measuring viral load and predicting long term health than the ultrasensitive tests. If so, that would mean another new goal for antiviral therapy and even better monitoring of HIV infection. It could be that it's only a matter of time before science advances yet again and the goal of antiviral therapy changes once more.
(The Boston AIDS Writers Group consists of Robert Folan-Johnson; David Scondras, Robert Krebs and Jon Hultgren from Search For a Cure. The Review Panel consists of Dr. Cal Cohen, Research Director of CRI, New England; Paul R. Skolnik, MD, Associate Professor or Medicine, Tufts University; Dr. Robert Kikka, Chiron Diagnostics; Dr. Tony Japour, Abbot Pharmaceuticals; Ken Mayer, Director, Brown University AIDS Project; Dr. Beth Sommers, Research Coordinator, AIDS Care Project; Dr. Greg Flynn. The ideas expressed in this article are those of the Boston AIDS Writers Group and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Review Panel.
The AIDS Writers Group is coordinated by Search For a Cure, a non-profit HIV Treatment Education organization. If you have any questions or would like to receive the Reasons For Hope series in its entirety you can contact Search For a Cure at 58 Burbank Street, Boston, MA 02115. They can also be reached by phone at 617-536-2474, by fax at 617-266-0051, or by e-mail at email@example.com.)


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You can go ahead and cancel that bikini wax you've got scheduled for this weekend because apparently, the, uh, furry look is in—at least if you ask Cindy Barshop, owner of NYC luxury spa Completely Bare.
She just debuted a new line of fox fur and feather "merkins" (read: special decorative patches that cover your crotch) for sale at her spa chain, Completely Bare. Yep, we're talking about actual wigs for your hoo-ha, tailored to fit your nether-regions and applied with special adhesive by a trained technician. This is coming from the same salon that dreamt up vajazzling, so we can't say we're too surprised—but we are curious to see if this catches on.
The "Foxy" bikini package includes a neon fox fur piece, while the "Carnivale" package comes with bright feathers, if that's more your thing. All products used are apparently all natural and will last for a minimum of three days. But these merkins don't come cheap—each clocks in at about $200. Hey, beauty is expensive.
We're all for accessorizing, but we're not sure how we (or our va-jay-jays) would feel about doing this. And our biggest question: What would your man do if he stripped you down one night and randomly found some fur or a bunch of feathers down there? Would he freak or be kinda turned on? Guess there's only one way to find out...
Are these sexy or totally crazy? Would you consider getting one?