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Thursday, March 21, 2013
Guest post: Cardiologist, interrupted
Our story of trying to conceive started when I was 27. I was in residency then, and had just gotten married. I was looking forward to a year of rather cush rotations. I happily tossed my pill in the trash. The first six months were not so bad. We hardly gave it a second thought that I hadn't gotten pregnant yet. After all, we were both very fit and in excellent health. My cyles were regular as clockwork. It was bound to happen in the next few months. Except that it didn't.
After a year, we had some very basic testing done. Gynecological exam and ultrasound for me, sperm analysis for my husband. Everything came back stone cold normal. We were back to the drawing board. By then, our marriage was definitely suffering under the strain of TTC (internet messageboard speak for Trying To Conceive). All the temperature charting, ovulation predicting and sex under duress were taking their toll. I was completely micromanaging it all, and my husband told me in no uncertain terms that I was driving him up the wall.
In the meantime, I had finished residency and moved on to a cardio fellowship in a prestigious, somewhat malignant program. In hindsight it was never a good fit. I was the only woman on the service, and the attendings and other fellows were as macho as they come. When I chose to go there, I was completely blinded by the prestige of the place. When I started work, I was told in no uncertain terms that they wouldn't appreciate me getting pregnant. I just let the remark slide, thinking that it all wouldn't be so bad if I just worked hard enough.
A few months in, when I least expected it, I realized I was two days late for my period. That had never happened before. I finally unwrapped one of those pregnancy tests we had optimistically bought 18 months before. And yes: pregnant. We were madly happy and naively optimistic. I didn't announce, because I was afraid of the repercussions. I just double leaded and kept on cathing. I treated myself regularly to sneaking into the echo lab after hours, looking at the tiny flickering heartbeat and dreaming about the future.
When I was seven weeks along, I was rounding the ICU with the whole team when suddenly I felt the worst pain I'd ever had in my life. I ran to the bathroom and collapsed on the floor of the stall. This could not be good. I went over to L&D, where the OB confirmed my worst fear: the little heart had stopped and I was having a miscarriage.
To say that I was devastated is an understatement. I can't find the words to describe the grief, depression, emptiness and hopelessness of that period. I couldn't eat. I had horrible nightmares about having to resuscitate my tiny baby. I contemplated suicide to be with my child. I had such overwhelming guilt about staying in the cath lab, thinking my baby died of irradiation. It's completely irrational, but it took me over a year to shake off that guilt. Physically, I was crippled by anemia after a serious hemorrhage.
When I returned to the hospital, I was in for a nasty surprise. Everyone knew what had happened to me through the hospital grapevine. But no one understood. I was expected to pull as much weight as I had before the miscarriage. It didn't occur to any of my collegues or bosses that I would need an easier time. And I just couldn't take it, physically and mentally. Another thing that had changed, was that I no longer gave a flying f*ck about anything at the hospital. I lashed out like a wounded animal at anyone who gave me a hard time. Fellows, nurses, attendings, it didn't matter anymore. I alienated a lot of people during that period. I wish I could say that I could have done things differently, but I just didn't have any strength left for diplomacy. My attendings behaved like jerks, and no-one showed the least bit of compassion during the most difficult time of my life. I was so out of it with grief and depression that I couldn't have done it differently, even if I had realized the consequences at that time.
Several months after the miscarriage, my husband and I had a long talk about the future. We'd been trying to get pregnant again the whole time. It was clear that if we ever wanted to have biological children, we'd need treatment. We consulted with a fertility specialist. He stressed that that the single most important factor determining the chance of success in infertility treatment is the age of the woman. We had no time to waste.
It was very clear at that point what the priorities were. The hospital I was working in didn't have a fertility clinic, and taking any amount of time off work for IVF was out of the question. It was time for an organized retreat.
At the end of the clinical year, I continued my training in another hospital. I had rotated there before and knew a lot of people in the staff. Among them were several women, all with families. The group of cardiology fellows was almost 50% female, the atmosphere was pleasant and collegial. This hospital has a large fertility center, and I became a patient there. For the next 8 months we did back-to back cycles. First stimulated IUI, later IVF. The funny thing is that I hardly missed any work time for all this. The other fellows knew what was going on, and they simply covered for me for the duration of whatever test or procedure I had to undergo. In exchange, I took some late shifts for them so they could pick up their kids from daycare. It was a great deal for both sides. Working in this environment made the contrast with my previous place all the sharper. It's not about working less hard, it's about not giving people such a hard time about work.
And then, at the second IVF cycle, we got our lucky shot: I got pregnant. I have to admit that I was completely paranoid about miscarrying again. I put the ultrasound probe on my belly for a quick heartbeat check almost every day. I became uneasy when I was away from the ultrasound machine for an entire weekend. I struggled with traumatic memories of my miscarriage. But I'm out of the first trimester now and things are progressing well. Slowly, the sun is coming out again.
The extent of the career damage from my miscarriage-depression didn't come out until later. I got a lot of bad rep from my previous hospital, and was passed over as a candidate for a job I really wanted because of it. The people I rubbed the wrong way are quite influential. I'll have to find a new track in my career, where references from those people don't matter as much. But I don't worry about it. It's never too late to reinvent oneself professionally. I'm an excellent cardiologist, and I will land on my feet no matter what. I just had to do the really important things first.
9 comments:
Wow, congratulations! That is quite the story. Having been through a miscarriage and now almost to the end of my first trimester of my second pregnancy, but minus the years of trying/IVF that you have been through, I sympathize with your plight. I certainly hope for a successful pregnancy for you! And congratulations on finding a much more supportive fellowship. It is amazing the difference that makes. I have no doubt you will land on your feet and find the right job when you are done.ReplyDelete
That is an amazing journey of courage and strenght....life is tough but i guess as long as one knows what they want .....its good!ReplyDelete
the baby will spread sunchine in your life i am sure
- AnonymousMarch 21, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Thank you for sharing. I myself am a medical coder and educator. I have done different things through the years in the medical field but this is my love. Regarding miscarriages, first let me say I have six children from ages 25 down to 7. That being said I have had 13 miscarriages. No one seems to know why really. Most likely because of a lack of hormone was the prevailing thought. Nothing we tried helped except, right after a loss I was able to maintain the next pregnancy. Depression is a common factor. It felt like falling into a well. In fact I would describe it as literally feeling the hormone leaving your body and dragging you down with it. I don't think if one had not experienced it they could possibly understand. I feel lucky that I knew what was going on and it was short lived. For me this feeling never lasted more then a week or two. Only one time did I feel differently. My cousin was pregnant at the same time I was. I lost my baby and she had hers. I didn't feel up for the baby shower and made a lame excuse. Still my Christmas I was fine.ReplyDelete
My last child was born when I was 38. I think we would have kept going if my health had not gone down hill. My last two pregnancies and deliveries were harder. They were the only ones I had an epidural with. The physician insisted since my BP was so high. My husband had a vasectomy. Now I am ready for grandchildren.
Heart-wrenching tale. I know so many friends who struggled with fertility for years and IVF was the key. Good luck to you!ReplyDelete
Infertility is a special hell (I have had the misfortune of visiting). Best of luck with everything professionally & personally. You are absolutely right that you will recover from this setback and find yourself in a better position for yourself and your (growing!) family.ReplyDelete
So many nurses go through miscarriages and infertility, I find it just insane that none of them reached out to you. Sounds like the political aura of the hospital prevented even the smallest human kindness. This will make you a better doctor and definitely an :"every day is a blessing" kind of mom. I have no doubt you will reshape your career and emerge from all of this. Sharing your story has just made a lot of women grateful for perhaps an easy pregnancy and more empathetic to their colleagues who may not have even let on they are struggling.ReplyDelete
I am an NP who has a lone IVF/ICSI/FET baby (after 2 failed IVF cycles...this was our one frozen embryo left!). I gotta tell you that motherhood after going through everything like that is just an amazing experience. Congrats and a healthy pregnancy to you!
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for sharing! Congratulations on your marvelous little person growing inside you! I wish you the best and know you will find the job that is perfect for you just how you eventually found the fellowship that was perfect for you!ReplyDelete
I read your post a few days ago, and have been thinking.ReplyDelete
It was such a rough and lonely journey...
You braved it, and shared so candidly - Thanks!
Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and a motherhood full of contentment!!


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The Most Amazing Christmas Light Displays in America Slideshow
'Tis the season for decking the halls, and while some families focus on trimming the tree, others are all about decorating as many things as they can with twinkling lights. America has a reputation for going big, so it's no surprise that holiday light displays across the country amp up the Christmas magic with lots of megawatts.
In addition to the delicious eggnog, the warm gingerbread cookies and the Christmas ham, as well as looking forward to that first dusting of snow if you are lucky enough to live in a place that guarantees you a white Christmas, for many people, one of the greatest joys of the holiday season is heading out to see some dazzling holiday light displays. Whether you enjoy the biggest and brightest professional displays at theme parks or want to bask in the do-it-yourself glow of a residential neighborhood, there's a jaw-dropping work of art ready to light up your life and knock your socks off. Here are 27 of the best places you can visit to see Christmas lights this holiday season.iStock
ABQ BioPark (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Since 1998, Albuquerque's botanical garden has hosted River of Lights, the largest walk-through light show in New Mexico. More than 400 sculptures and animated displays are illuminated with 2 million bulbs, which require 8 miles of extension cords. The decor also includes traditional Southwestern luminarias, or paper bag lanterns. Guests can ride around the park aboard the Polar Bear Express while enjoying a toasty hot chocolate.Flickr/John Fowler/(CC BY 2.0)
Bellingrath Gardens (Theodore, Alabama)
Flower bulbs during the day are illuminated with light bulbs at night at this light display in Alabama. The Magic Christmas in Lights show at this Southern estate home features more than 1,100 set pieces, 3 million lights and 15 scenes spread across 65 acres that are accompanied by nightly choral performances. Many of the displays, which complement the same themes of the gardens in the daytime, were designed by former Disney imagineer Claire Graham.Flickr/Jared/(CC BY 2.0)
Bentleyville Tour of Lights (Duluth, Minnesota)
On a sprawling 20 acres along the shores of Lake Superior lies America's largest free walk-through lighting display. The Bentleyville Tour of Lights is named after Nathan Bentley, a man whose home light display grew more and more elaborate until he got an offer from the city of Duluth, Minnesota, to let his creativity run wild at Bayfront Festival Park. More than 200,000 visitors a year come to admire the ever-growing display, whose centerpiece is a 128-foot animated tree.Courtesy of Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Busch Gardens (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg claims to have the largest light display in North America thanks to its more than 8 million lights. The 50-foot-tall central Christmas tree alone has 500,000 lights for a musical show that plays every half hour. Even off-season rides like the water attraction Escape from Pompeii become part of the icy exhibit.Flickr/Jess Cadorette/(CC BY 2.0)
The Coeur D'Alene Resort Holiday Light Show (Coeur D'Alene, Idaho)
Idaho's top resort is home to the country's largest holiday display on water. Visitors take a boat cruise to experience 250 floating scenes made of 1.5 million lights. Employees of the award-winning hotel spend more than eight weeks preparing the display and use more than 5 miles of electrical wiring.Courtesy of The Coeur D'Alene Resort
Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver, Colorado)
Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanic Gardens is considered one of the best light shows in the state of Colorado. In fact, some people choose to pop the question and get engaged with the dreamy enchanted display as their backdrop. Along with stationary lights that can be viewed with HoloSpex glasses, the gardens also have interactive displays, including a large field of sound-reactive, animated LED lights.Flickr/Amy Aletheia Cahill/(CC BY-SA 2.0)
Dyker Heights (Brooklyn, New York)
The tree in Rockefeller Center in Manhattan might get all the hype, but this Brooklyn neighborhood has given it a run for its money as a premier NYC holiday attraction since the 1980s. More than 100,000 people pass through the New York neighborhood every holiday season. While you can take in the professional displays on your own, there are multiple guided tours that will give you the history of the traditions and the families that participate.Dreamstime
Glittering Lights (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Thanks to its colorful casinos, Las Vegas has earned the nickname of America's City of Lights. It's fitting, then, that Sin City would have a stellar Christmas light display that shines as the best in Nevada. During the holiday season, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is turned into a 2.5-mile drive-through light show featuring more than 3 million lights and 400 animated displays.Yelp/Rob A.
Hersheypark (Hershey, Pennsylvania)
What's a better companion to a winter wonderland than chocolatey treats? Take a trip to Pennsylvania where more than 4 million lights are put up around Hersheypark, including 200,000 that flicker in a choreographed light show. There are four different shows every night during the holiday season as well as a 2-mile drive-through display called Sweet Lights.Flickr/Ben Ferenchak/(CC BY 2.0)
Kauai's Festival of Lights (Lihue, Hawaii)
For almost 20 years, the intricate homemade decorations by Josie Chansky drew visitors from across the island and the country. A fellow island resident recognized the beauty of her efforts and turned her collection into an installation at the Country Historical Building. The Festival showcases Chansky's work as well as hosts "Santa's Workshop events" where volunteers create new ornaments and folk art of their own to add to the display with themes from sea creatures to spam, celebrating the rich culture of Hawaii.Courtesy of Kauai's Festival of Lights
The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill (Clifton Mill, Ohio)
This still-operational water-powered mill in Ohio gets layered with lights during the holiday season. More than 3.5 million lights, put up over the course of three months, cover the building, gorge and nearby trees, and there's even a 100-foot "waterfall" of lights. Every hour, the lights all go out while Christmas songs play before majestically exploding back on all at once. There's also a synchronized light show alongside the covered bridge.Flickr/Tina Lawson/(CC BY 2.0)
The Lights of Christmas (Stanwood, Washington)
The largest light display in the Pacific Northwest can be found at Warm Camp Beach in Washington state. In the winter months, 15 acres of the camp's property becomes home to 1 million Christmas lights. Enjoy the lights as well as live entertainment, holiday shopping and fresh hot doughnuts.Yelp/Sheila H.
Miracle on 34th Street (Baltimore, Maryland)
"Christmas Street" in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, earned its nickname after two Christmas fanatics moved to the 700 block of 34th Street more than 70 years ago and inspired their neighbors to go all out. Now, thousands of visitors stop by each year to admire the street's custom and unique decor, including a neon crab sign and a hubcap Christmas tree.Flickr/Karol Olson/(CC BY 2.0)
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Newport Beach, California
Although it's called a parade, this yearly event in Newport Beach is more of a display, as it runs for an entire week along a 14-mile route and includes both decorated homes and more than 100 boats of different shapes and sizes. Everything from kayaks to yachts are literally decked out with extravagant themed displays based on pop culture worlds like Minions, Peanuts and Star Wars.Courtesy of Visit Newport Beach
Nights of Lights (St. Augustine, Florida)
Located in the First Coast region of Florida, the nation's oldest city doesn't hold back when it comes to decorating for Christmas. St. Augustine's historic district is decorated with 3 million lights, which can be viewed on foot, on a carriage ride, on a Christmas train, on a helicopter or on a sailboat.Yelp/Andy J.
Nights of a Thousand Candles (Murrells Inlet, South Carolina)
If you're looking for something more unique than the typical Christmas lights, the traditional but still breathtaking Nights of a Thousand Candles could be the new holiday tradition for you. More than 5,500 hand-lit candles as well as twinkling lights illuminate the sculpture garden inside of South Carolina's Brookgreen Gardens. Take in the 80-foot-tall fir tree while strolling with a cup of cider or cocoa and enjoying the seasonal sounds of carolers and handbell choirs.Flickr/John Hensler/(CC BY 2.0)
Oglebay Festival of Lights (Wheeling, West Virginia)
More than a million visitors a year check out this West Virginia park and resort's yuletide display, which covers 300 acres and a 6-mile drive. There are almost 70 illuminated installations, including a snowman named Willard in honor of TV weatherman Willard Scott, who visited the fest in 1986. The park grounds are home to two different musical light shows, one in the Good Zoo and another in the gardens.Courtesy of Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City (Branson, Missouri)
Missouri's 1880s-themed park, Silver Dollar City, doesn't shy away from using the latest, greatest technology to light up more than a thousand Christmas trees for the holiday season. More than 6.5 million lights adorn the park, and 100,000 bulbs light up the nine musical floats in Rudolph's Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade. Main Street Square also features a five-story tree decorated with 400 ornaments and 350,000 LED lights that "dance" along to music in a light show.Flickr/amslerPIX/(CC BY 2.0)
Peacock Lane (Portland, Oregon)
Visitors to this southeast Portland neighborhood's decades-long tradition can enjoy free cocoa and cider while driving or walking by four blocks of displays, which range from modest and traditional to professional and over-the-top. In 2017, Oregon's Peacock Lane earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning its English cottage and Tudor style homes can't be demolished by developers.Flickr/Aaron Parecki/(CC BY 2.0)
Rhema Christmas Lights Extravaganza (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma)
Since 1982, Rhema Bible Church in Oklahoma has transformed its campus into a captivating display of more than 2 million lights synchronized to both classic and modern Christmas tunes that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. The Rhema Park Bridge is draped with over 90,000 lights alone. While the show can be enjoyed on foot, horse-drawn carriage rides are also available for even more country Christmas cheer.Courtesy of Rhema Christmas Lights
The Riverside Festival of Lights (Riverside, California)
Located in Southern California, the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa hosts its annual Festival of Lights, which attracts more than 500,000 visitors every year. The uniquely West Coast display includes 200 animated figures, the world's largest man-made mistletoe and falling "snow." Visitors who choose to stay in the hotel can get even more special holiday experiences, such as Santa's elves coming to tuck in the kids at night.Flickr/Don Graham/(CC BY-SA 2.0)
Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland (Sevierville, Tennessee)
Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland claims to be the world's largest fully synchronized LED Christmas light and music show. Originally starting in Tennessee, it has expanded to multiple locations in different states. Their main Sevierville location display features hundreds of thousands of LED lights on more than 1,000 different light circuits blinking along to Shadrack's custom-arranged and -recorded holiday songs.Courtesy of Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland
Tacky Lights Tour (Richmond, Virginia)
Richmond, Virginia, has established itself as the "Capital of Tacky Lights," thanks to a yearly list of gaudy homes published by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. To make the cut, homes must have a minimum of 40,000 lights, though the Phifer family house, a highlight of the tour, has more than one million. The tour's 50-plus houses attract visitors from hundreds of miles away who rent buses, limos and trolleys to take them along the tour's route.
Flickr/Kim @ LiaH/Public Domain
Austin Trail of Lights Zilker Park (Austin, Texas)
Every year, Austin's Zilker Park is transformed into a Texas-sized winter wonderland that attracts more than 400,000 visitors each year. Everything's bigger in Texas, and at 155 feet tall, the Zilker Holiday Tree is the largest man-made Christmas tree. As for the trail itself, 40 light displays and 100 lighted trees with a total of 2 million lights are spread along a 1.25-mile walk.Flickr/Steve/(CC BY-SA 2.0)
Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
Though Disney World has retired the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights to construct the new Star Wars themed land, "the Happiest Place on Earth" still has plenty of Christmas magic on display. The park-spanning spectacle includes 1,000 trees, 300,000 yards of ribbons and bows, 8.5 million lights and more than 800 performers every night. Elsa from "Frozen" illuminates Cinderella's Castle in a show in the Magic Kingdom, a 50-piece orchestra and full choir accompany Epcot's Candlelight Processional and the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Studios becomes the backdrop for a projection show. Both kids and adults alike are sure to be amazed by Disney's holiday light display, which is just one of many reasons to visit Walt Disney World at Christmas.Dreamstime

subset: commoncrawl


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Frequently Asked Questions
What is F.O.G.?
Fats, Oils, and Grease (F.O.G.) is found in common food and food ingredients such as meat, fish, butter, cooking oil, mayonnaise, gravies, sauces and food scraps.
Why is F.O.G. a problem?
F.O.G. can build up in your private side sewer or in the public sewer system and can block it, resulting in a sewage backup into your home, onto the street, or in our natural water bodies.
How does it build up in the sewer system?
Everyday washing of plates, pot, pans and cooking equipment sends F.O.G down drain. Small amounts of F.O.G. washed down the drain over time can eventually build up in the sewer system.
What is a side sewer?
It is the section of pipe that carries wastewater from your home or building's plumbing system to the public sewer main (usually located under the street).
Who is responsible for maintaining the side sewer?
Property owners are responsible for maintaining and repairing their side sewer.
I don't pour oil down the drain, so I shouldn't have any F.O.G. buildup in my side sewer. Correct?
No, you may still have a problem if you wash even small amounts of food and F.O.G. from your plates, pots, pans and cooking equipment down the drain. Over time this can still build up in your sewer.
What do I do if I have a backup?
Call a plumber or side sewer cleaning service first, as the problem is most likely to be in your home's side sewer. However, if sewage is coming into your property when you are not using water, you should call for a Seattle Public Utilities' maintenance crew immediately at (206) 386-1800.
If I do have a problem, what questions should I ask?
- Where is the blockage? Have your drain cleaning service write down where they believe the blockage is located. Also, have them mark the spot on the ground. This information is helpful in determining if the problem is within the City's area of responsibility. The mark can also be helpful if you must dig up the pipe to repair it.
- What is causing the problem? Have your service provider write down the probable cause of the blockage. Knowing the type of blockage will help determine what method should be used to open it, and if regular maintenance is needed in the future.
Doesn't the City take care of blockages?
If the blockage is in your side sewer, you are responsible for the maintenance and repair. If the blockage is in the public sewer system, the City will clear the problem.
Why should I care about F.O.G. buildup and backups?
F.O.G. buildup can cause sewage to backup into your home or property or others near you. If you are identified as a source of the F.O.G. discharge, you can be held accountable for cleanup costs (Seattle Municipal Code 21.16).
What can I do to prevent F.O.G. buildup?
There three things you can do:
- Pour cooled F.O.G. into a covered, disposable container and throw it into your garbage. COOL IT, CAN IT, TRASH IT.
- Scrape all remaining food scraps from your plates, pots, and pans into your food and yard waste cart before you wash your dishes.
- Use sink strainers to catch food waste during dish washing, and regularly empty the strainer into your food and yard waste cart.
Can I bring my waste cooking oil to a recycler?
Yes, there are businesses in the Puget Sound area that accept waste grease, such as Standard Biodiesel or General Biodiesel.
Is using my garbage disposal OK?
F.O.G. will still build up in your side sewer if you use a garbage disposal. We prefer that you scrape all remaining food scraps from your plates, pots, and pans into your food and yard waste cart. Soak up remaining fats, oils, and grease with a paper towel and also dispose of them in your food and yard waste cart.


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Itchy's Alphabet®
Teaching Children to Read with Phonics
A cutting edge phonics program designed to teach Children alphabet skills, focusing on letter sounds and lower case letter formations.
This systematic, multi-sensory phonics program features an alphabet songs CD, alphabet game cards, alphabet stickers, erasers, reproducible blackline masters for printing practice, reproducible readers, automaticity drills, b –d reversal packages, vowel characters, alphabet wall cards and an alphabet book. We have recently created a set of picture cues for the shapes of the letters for both French and Spanish.
Our Teaching Guide offers phonics lesson plans with a children's story, follow-up language arts activities, phonological awareness activities and words to read and spell. This program will meet the needs for pre-K, kindergarten and beginning first grade phonics programs.
It is especially valuable for teaching these beginning phonics skills to special needs children and children with learning disabilities. Children love Itchy – it truly is a "child-centered alphabet phonics program"!Learn More


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Imaging Technology Group
The primary mission of the Imaging Technology Group (ITG) is to provide state-of-the-art imaging facilities for researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This service mission is accomplished through two facilities: the Microscopy Suite and the Visualization Laboratory.
A secondary mission of the ITG is to develop advanced imaging technologies with an emphasis on projects in remote instrument control and scientific visualization.
Image of the Week
Male Mosquito Antenna
October 8, 2002
ESEM image of an antenna from a male mosquito (original photo 505x), part of the specimen stage used during the October 2nd Bugscope session.
Image Courtesy: Michele Korb
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Imaging & Visualization Forum
Please contact ITG to propose a topic for this date.
ITG welcomes proposals for future Forums, please contact ITG for details. Previous Forums are available online.
Visualization Laboratory Acquires New Image Pro Plus v7 Image Analysis SoftwareThe Visualization Laboratory has acquired new image/video analysis software, Image Pro Plus version 7 (by Media Cybernetics). The software is capable of handling a range of image data for numerical analysis, including microscopy images, photographs, and video files. A major functionality for video or image sequences is the ability to track moving objects in a scene and derive a range of statistical information. Other measurment and processing functions are included, along with the ability to create macros for applying repeated/automated step-by-step procedures. Image Pro Plus is installed on the Visualization Laboratory computer "Krasner".
Image Credit:
Posted: July 18, 2011
Katharine Sharp goes digital
Travis Ross, visualization laboratory manager at the Beckman Institute, recently performed a 3D scan of the Katharine Sharp Memorial, a bas-relief sculpture of Katharine Lucinda Sharp, university librarian and founding director of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (1893-1907). The sculpture was created by Lorado Taft and hangs in the Main Library.
The final 3D image was created by stitching together 40 individual scans, each capturing the rich texture of a piece that was originally sculpted in 1921. GSLIS Dean John Unsworth requested the scan, which uses advanced technology to further memorialize a groundbreaking leader, not only of this campus, but in the field of library and information science.
"We're grateful to the Imaging Technology Group and the Library for helping us turn Katharine Sharp into information that can now be shared freely," said Unsworth.
Image Credit: Photographer: L. Brian Stauffer, 3D Image: Travis Ross
Posted: July 7, 2011
Advanced Functional Materials Cover by ITG
The March 22, 2011 issue of Advanced Functional Materials cover features an image by ITG's Janet Sin-Hanlon. Created for the article "Biosensors: Control of Nanoscale Environment to Improve Stability of Immobilized Proteins on Diamond Surfaces", authored by Adarsh D. Radadia, Courtney J. Stavis, Rogan Carr, Hongjun Zeng, William P. King, John A. Carlisle, Aleksei Aksimentiev, Robert J. Hamers and Rashid Bashir, the image depicts antibodies attached to a diamond surface, improving protein function.
Image Credit: Janet Sinn-Hanlon
Posted: March 22, 2011


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Latex Gloves
Vital for working with sheep that may be infected with listeria, ringworm, fungus, CL or sore mouth. All can infect humans. All are very painful and last for weeks.
Latex gloves should also be worn when conducting postmortems and for examination & disposal of aborted fetal material that may be infected with chlamydia organisms.
Common Uses
- Package of 100
- 3 sizes
- Powdered with an absorbable dusting powder
Users should consider circumstances of use in deciding whether to remove residual powder from the glove after donning. Powder can be removed by wiping gloves thoroughly with a sterile wet sponge, sterile wet towel or other effective method.
Listed below are recommended optional components or related items. Your particular situation may require alternative recommendations. Please call and talk to our consultants if there are any questions at 800-282-6631.
SuperLube™, 8 ozItem #550800 -
An all-purpose antiseptic OB lubricant for lambing and kidding. Very useful if a lamb (or kid) goes dry during birth.$5.00
Scales and Slings
Lamb & Kid SlingItem #887600 -
Soft mesh securely holds newborn lambs and kids. Useful for weight lambs or transporting from the drop pen to the lambing jug.$12.00
Docking and Castrating
Pocket ScalpelItem #888001 -
For castration, fetotomy, docking, postmortems, etc. Keep two in your kit so that a fresh sharp scalpel is always to hand.$0.95
ForcepsItem #888003 -
The best and safest way to handle suture needles around livestock.$13.50
Suture Needle and 2/0 ThreadItem #888031 -
Suture needle for minor livestock cuts. Handy to have"just in case."$5.50
Plastic Boot Covers, XL (fits men's 11 & above), pkg. of 50Item #888050 -
Provides a sterile plastic barrier so that you neither spread disease to other farms nor bring organisms home from somewhere else.$17.00


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- Jun 30, 2009
- 101 Comments
- Articles
Five Minute Upgrade – Making Your Design Pop
1. Brighten Colors
If you have a design that you just feel isn't anything special – stop – crank up the color intensity – then reevaluate. Saturation plays a big role as far as mood goes. If you ever feel like you're lacking inspiration when it comes to color schemes there are some great online tools, not to mention our own color series.
2. Use Monochromatic Themes Sparingly
Monochromatic themes are great, there are some great black and white designs and sometimes using only a single color makes designing easier. The point is to explore other colors as well without getting too hung up on one in particular. Branching out to more than one color palette means you can provide emphasis with something other than the lightness/darkness of a shade of blue.
3. Layout on a Grid
Here's the deal, align your text and things will look better, not to mention it will increase your scannability. There should be some rhyme or reason to how you have placed your text, if there isn't you risk a clumsy look which gives the impression that little thought went into it.
4. Take the Time to Polish
This was discussed wonderfully over at PsdTuts a while back but there are a few key things to keep in mind.
- Don't be afraid to use shadows sparingly, helps fight the flat and boring look.
- 1px lines are great at clearly defining edges.
- Using faint gradients over text and backgrounds gives a subtle 3D look.
5. Defy Image Boundaries
Overlap your images in ways that are out of the ordinary. Wrap around banners, pop-up images, anything that shakes the normal "color inside the lines" mentality websites are so often designed around. If you are fascinated as to how to go about doing this, check out Lee Munroe's article on Designing Out Of The Box.
6. Add Whitespace
Give your user room to appreciate what you've done, it will help them focus on each element and not feel overwhelmed. Think of the padding as the frame for your work.
7. Textures
Adding noise to a background, including some rock pattern that fades into the backdrop, scribbles, whatever. Do something that makes your background a piece of artwork in its own right while complimenting the foreground.
8. Strokes
Don't have them, use them. Strokes can be used in addition to the above effects to differentiate the foreground from the background. They can be a good substitute if you are trying to avoid gradients and maintain a more 2D look.
The Wrap Up
You're now armed with a handful of tricks that can have an positive effect on your projects. Use your best judgment, not all of these adjustments are appropriate for every project. If you're interested in a good example of all these steps put into play, check out Marketcircle's website.
Got any other eye candy/tweaks you like to use? Let us know in the comments, share the wealth.


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Foundation / Corporation
US Trust, Bank of America - David and Betty Sacks Foundation
Grants of up to $10,000 to Texas nonprofit organizations for a broad range of charitable activities in the areas of education, human services, the arts, and child and animal welfare. Funding is intended specifically for the fine and performing arts, and for literary, scientific, and religious pursuits. Grants may also be awarded to purchase sports equipment, or for sport facilities and competitions.
GrantWatch ID#: 146882
Grants typically range between $3,000 and $10,000.
The majority of grants are one year in duration; however, occasionally multi-year support will be considered.
Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates/changes/addendums/conferences/LOIs.
Application Portal: https://www.grantrequest.com/SID_1116?SA=SNA&FID=35250
To discuss the application process or for questions about this foundation, send an email and indicate the foundation name in the email subject line, to: email@example.com
Debra Goldstein Phares
SVP, Philanthropic Client Director
USA: Texas
Grants to USA state agencies to encourage and support volunteerism. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take up to several weeks to complete. Funding is intended for programs that support, manage, and recruit volunteers. Priority will be given to prog
Grants of $10,000 and in-kind services to USA nonprofit organizations and public agencies for programs that address the needs of people with memory loss and dementia. Funding is intended to enable new programming, as well as to provide support for caregivers and familie
Fundraising opportunity for USA, Canada, and International nonprofit organizations to host a jazz concert held in honor of their organization or cause. Applicants must contact the funding source prior to applying. In addition to funds raised through concert ticket sales
Grants to USA nonprofit organizations to reduce social inequality and promote solutions to the climate crisis. Eligible programs will address the areas of racial and economic justice, corporate and political accountability; voice, creativity, and culture; and an inclusi
Grants to USA, Canada, and International independent filmmakers for feature-length films in eligible genres. Funding is intended to support nonfiction films at any production phase from development through post-production. Films should demonstrate effective storytelling
Grants of up to $3,000 to USA and Canada nonprofit organizations for projects to protect wildlife and natural habitats. Funding is intended for campaigns to save specific species and ecosystems. Eligible activities include public policy work, litigation, advocacy, and d
Grant of $9,000 to a USA, Canada, or International graduate psychology student for research and demonstration projects that foster understanding of the relationship between self-identity and scholastic achievement, primarily for children in kindergarten through eighth g
Grants to USA, Mexico, and Haiti nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and government entities for programs and services that improve the quality of life for underserved children. Focus areas include working families, equitable communities, and thriving children. The Fu
Grants to USA and territories nonprofit organizations and government agencies in eligible regions for programs and projects addressing cancer prevention and early detection. Funding is intended to provide the resources needed to fund vital community-level activities in
Donations to USA nonprofit organizations for programming support for arts, pre-K-12 education, and literacy programs across the country. In addition, sponsorship opportunities are provided to USA for-profit and nonprofit organizations focusing on literacy, the arts, a


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So I think it's time we returned to a grammar basic, one that will help you strike the right tone, whether you're giving a speech, a presentation or just having a workplace or social conversation. It's the simple declarative sentence.
Declarative sentences are often defined as much by what they are not as by what they are. Declarative sentences contain no commands, no questions and no exclamations. They are straightforward statements, rather than explanations. Direct and plain, they also are confident and focused.
How can you use declarative sentences more effectively? Use them to replace the things they are not:
- Practice comparing how they sound in place of almost-questions. Instead of "I think we should go to the park at lunch?" with a raised inflection at the end of the sentence, "I think we should go to the park at lunch" sounds much more authoritative.
- Replace commands with group declarations: Take the time to say "Let's stop arguing," instead of "Stop arguing!" Makes a big difference. Why? In effect, you're inviting a change in behavior, saying "Let us..." Old-school, but subtly effective.
- Dial back your exclamations and explanations: Enthusiasm's great--unless it's unrelenting. Make sure your exclamations count, and choose declarative sentences. The same is true if you over-explain. A simple declarative sentence can save you many minutes of sounding defensive, if you use it right. Read Do you over-explain? 5 speaker tricks for using data and details wisely for more ideas.


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Medium Shelburne Bowl
Simon Pearce Medium Shelburne Bowl. At first glance, the Shelburne Bowl appears to be just a simple glass bowl. But on closer inspection you'll notice intricate details that can only be achieved by master craftsmen. The surfaces are covered with intricate, refined folds that capture and refract rays of light, creating a prismatic masterpiece that's as luminous as it is practical. Fluted edges and weighted bases further distinguish this exquisite glass bowl. Measures H4 1/2″ W9 3/4″


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I know many of you have been wanting this post for a while, but it's finally here: my solar panel system for my tiny house. I wanted to get the feel for what it is like to live off the grid so I could share more details with you all about what it's really like.
So first, the high level details of my system:
- 3,975 (3.9 Kw) of panels – fifteen, 265 watt panels – Canadian Solar
- Batteries 1,110 amp/hr total – Twelve, 370 amp/hr 6 volt Trojan L16 flooded lead acid (series parallel)
- Cost for parts about $20,000
- Off grid, battery bank, plus 5,550 watt backup generator
- 24 volt system
Specific Parts:
- (15) Canadian Solar CS-6p 265 Watt Poly Black Frame (Spec Sheet)
- (1) Schneider SW 4024 (Spec Sheet)
- (2) Schneider MPPT 60 Charge Controller (Spec Sheet)
- (12) Trojan L-16 6v 370 AH Flooded Lead Acid Batteries (Spec Sheet)
- (1) Schneider System Control Panel (Spec Sheet)
- (1) Schneider Interconnect Panel (no spec sheet)
- (1) Midnight Solar MNPV 80AMP Dinrail Breaker (Spec Sheet)
- (2) Midnight Solar Surge Protection Device AC/DC (no spec sheet)
- 50 Amp RV power Inlet (Spec Sheet)
Before anything I needed to determine the best placement for the solar panels to make sure it had good solar exposure and didn't fall into shadows too much. To do this I used a tool called a "solar path finder" which is a semi reflective dome that you position at the location, then snap a photo. The photo is then loaded into a program and spits out a whole bunch of calculations.
So once you upload the image into the software and then trace the treeline outline, you enter in your location, date and time. It then can calculate how much power you'll produce based on 30 years of weather patterns for your exact location and tree coverage.
Then it spit out all the calculations:
With that in mind I knew what I could expect out of the system I had designed. It also was a way to verify my assumptions.
Once I verified that the system was going to be well suited to my needs I had to build my panel support racking. I did this out of pressure treated 4×4's that were each 10′ long. These things about about 300 lbs each so I don't have to worry about wind picking up the panels. I opted to build them because it was cheaper than some of the turn-key option out there and most of the for purchase ones required me to cement in the ground; I rent my land, so I wanted a mobile solution. The racking is technically mobile, but not easily so. If I remember correctly it was about $500 in materials to build this part.
Next we installed the panels. This part was pretty quick and the stands worked out perfectly. The panels are 250 watt Canadian solar panels. They are wired in groups of three, then paralleled into the system. To give you a sense of scale, these panels are 3.3 wide and about 4 feet tall.
Now I know many people want to know why I didn't mount these on my roof or could they mount them. You technically can mount on your roof, but honestly the number of panels that you need to practically power your house is too many for the roof.
There is some other major bonuses of being on the ground:
- Much cooler, roofs are very hot places in the summer and solar panels drop in efficiency when hot
- I can put my house under deciduous trees, this means in summer I'm in the shade, in winter I get the solar gain
- Way easier to clean and monitor
Cleaning your panels is pretty important because you loose efficiency as residue (bird poop) builds up. Also as I learned just a few days ago, when it snows, you need to clear your panels. Cleaning becomes super simple and a lot safer when you don't have to climb onto a roof via a ladder.
Just this week we got a decent snow, 3 inches, which is quite a lot for Charlotte. The first thing I had to do when I woke up was clear off the panels because with the snow, they made no power. This was compounded because since it was cold, I needed more heat. I can't imagine having to drag the ladder out and try climbing on a icy roof… No Thanks.
Next I built a cabinet to house all the gear. I wanted a stand alone space because the batteries are so heavy. At 118 pound each, plus cabling and other equipment the whole unit is over 1,100 lbs. The top and bottom sections are divided so that the gasses from the batteries don't go up into the electrical section and explode. More on that later.
The batteries are wired in series parallel. The batteries are 6 volt each, in series of 4 the create a 24 volt unit, then I have two of these 24 volt units in parallel. The reason I choose to go 24 volt over a 48 volt (which is more efficient) was because the equipment was a little cheaper, but also it allowed me to select components that I could add more panels and batteries very easily without doing equipment upgrades (just a factor of the abilities of the units I choose). This way I can add up to 15 panels and a lot more batteries without upgrading the electronics; I can also stack these inverters so if I ever go to a normal sized house, I just add another unit and it just plugs into my current one.
In this photo going left to right: Din Breaker Panel, Charge Controller, Interconnect w/ control panel, inverter. In general the power flows in the same manner (but not exactly).
- Breaker Panel: manages power from solar panels
- Charge Controller: manages power to batteries etc.
- Interconnect: a main junction box and breaker, holds control panel interface
- Inverter: takes power in many forms then outputs to they type of power you need
Once the power goes through the system it outputs to a huge cable that you can see sticking out of the bottom of inverter then goes right. From there it runs to this:
This is a 50 amp RV style plug. The reason I did this was two fold. City inspectors are less picky when it comes to non-hard wired things. This setup also lets me roll into any RV campground and hook up seamlessly.
The plug goes into a 50 amp RV female receptacle. This is important that you don't have two male ends to your cord. This is dubbed by electricians as a "suicide cord" because if you plug in to a power source, you have exposed conductors that are live; accidentally touch them, you complete the circuit and zap!
You want a female end to your cord so that you reduce the chance of being shocked. I also turn off my main breaker at the power source when I make this connection, then turn it back on.
If all these mentions of watts, volts, amps, amp hours etc are making your head spin a little, you may need to go back to the basics. I have an ebook called Shockingly Simple Electrical For Tiny Houses which guide your through all the basics. As of now, it doesn't go too deep into the solar aspects, but the basics of electrical, wiring, power systems and determining your power needs are covered in depth and designed for those who are totally new to the topic.
So once the power passes through the power inlet it goes to the panel. Near the bottom you can see the backside of the power inlet, it has a large black cord coming out of it, into the box and ties to the lugs. From there it goes out to the house.
Back outside now, looking at the cabinet, on the sides of it, you can see the vents. When you use lead acid (LA) batteries you have some off gassing as the batteries discharge and recharge. These gasses are volatile and can ignite, possible leading to an explosion. So to take care of this I installed two vents like this which provide adequate venting. As mentioned before my battery section is isolated from the electronics section where a spark could occur.
This off gassing is a concern with Lead Acid Batteries, but other battery technologies don't have this issue. I choose LA batteries over AGM (absorbent glass mat) because LA's have more cycles and cost a bit less. Lithium Ion at this point is cost prohibitive. My batteries should get about 4000-5000 cycles (11-14 years) before I need to replace them. I figure in about 5 years battery technology will have progressed so much I'll change early. New batteries will cost me about $4,000 of the LA variety.
Here is my grounding wire for my system. This is actually one of two, another is located at the panels them selves. My house is also grounded to this through the cable hook up and to the trailer itself. A really important note: ground depends on a lot of things, one of which is if you house electrical panels is bonded or not, if you don't know what that means, read up on it, its very important.
The other component of this system is the generators. In the winter months I may need to top off my batteries every now and then, basically when its been really cold and very cloudy for a week or more. I had a Honda EB2000i already which I really like. It's very quite and small. The one downside to the Honda is that it only does 1600 watts and only 120V and I needed more power and 240V. So I picked up another generator, a 5500 watt 240 volt Generac for $650.
Here is a video that compares the two generators in terms of size, noise, output and price.
So that's the surface level details of the system, I'm going to be doing something in the future which will be a how to size, choose parts, hook up and all the other details of doing solar for your tiny house, but that is a longer term project, most likely will take about 6 months to pull together in the way I'd like to do it.


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It's been about 10 years since I picked up a camera for the first time with the purpose of capturing and sharing one of life's little moments. At that time I was working for the school newspaper at Uniontown High School. Luckily for me I had a few individuals at the school who wanted nothing but the best for my future and they helped me and dragged me along for a few years until everything finally clicked. I've not thanked them enough over the years.
Only in the past few days have I realized the lack of thanks I've given them. At Captured Images, Gary and I have been putting together a collection of some of our favorite photos to display in one of our storefront windows. He and I were putting together a few words about ourselves and our love for photography. This is what I came up with:
"Growing up in a small town provided ample opportunity to dream of faraway places and the things that made those places magical. Of course, as a youngster, those places included castles, dragons, knights and even a sword or two. The woods behind my home didn't include any of those magical things but there was plenty to explore and discover.
Little did I know that there were places across the country just like these magical places in my mind (Minus the dragons and armored knights, of course).
I've always enjoyed the outdoors and what it provides. Camping and fishing and visiting the mountains are a few of my favorite pastimes. Only in the past few years have I discovered photography. Nowadays, there is nothing I would rather do than grab a camera and sit under a tree waiting for the sun to set or for a bald eagle to swoop down for an evening meal.
Photography provides an opportunity for escape from the real world and a chance to fall back into my dreams and discover the beauty that can be found just around the bend, down the river and even in my own backyard."
To some people photography might be a hobby. To others it might be a job. I consider it neither. It's literally the essence of who I am. For that I am truly blessed.
If you get a chance to stop by the studio, 118 S. Main St., in Fort Scott feel free to stop in and chat.