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WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2012 (HealthDay News) -- The first new weight-loss drug in 13 years was approved Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The drug, Belviq (lorcaserin), was approved for obese adults who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes, and is to be used in combination with a low-calorie diet and exercise, the FDA said.
"Obesity threatens the overall well-being of patients and is a major public health concern," Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release. "The approval of this drug, used responsibly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle, provides a treatment option for Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition."
However, Dr. David L. Katz, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center, said that even the best weight-loss drugs can do little to reverse a problem now affecting much of the population.
"Belviq is unlikely to rank among the best of drugs," he said. "While it is better than placebo at fostering weight loss, its effects appear to be modest. And while trial results are reassuring so far, there are still concerns about a potential for damage to heart valves seen with drugs of this kind."
Right now there is no information of the cost of the Belviq, said David Schull, a spokesman for Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH of Zofingen, Switzerland, the maker of the drug. It will be distributed in the United States by Eisai Inc., of Woodcliff Lake, N.J.
"Eisai will launch the drug after the Drug Enforcement Administration completes its scheduling," he said. "More information will follow as Eisai moves toward launch."
This isn't the first time Belviq was up for FDA approval. In 2010, Arena sought approval but was turned down because animal studies showed the drug was associated with tumor growth.
New data supplied to the FDA that allayed these fears led to the drug's approval.
The drug works to help suppress appetite by activating an area of the brain called the serotonin 2C receptor. The weight-loss drugs fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine, best known as "fen-phen," targeted a different part of the serotonin system, and were pulled for the market because they boosted the risk of heart valve damage.
Belviq was tested in three trials that included nearly 8,000 obese and overweight people who were treated for a year or more. Treatment also included dieting and exercise. Those taking Belviq for a year lost 3 percent to 3.7 percent of their weight, compared with those receiving a placebo, the FDA said.
Forty-seven percent of people without type 2 diabetes lost at least 5 percent of their weight, compared to 23 percent of those on placebo. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, 38 percent lost at least 5 percent of their weight compared to 16 percent who took the dummy pill, the agency said.
Overall, more patients taking Belviq lost weight than patients taking a placebo, the FDA said, and the drug was also "associated with favorable changes in glycemic [blood sugar] control in those with type 2 diabetes."
Heart valve function was found to be similar between those taking Belviq and those on placebo, the FDA added.
Samantha Heller, an exercise physiologist and clinical nutrition coordinator at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., said, "Obesity is often associated with alterations in endocrine function, metabolism, hormones that regulate appetite and more."
For many people struggling with weight, these disruptions in the balance of hormones and metabolism make it difficult to lose weight, she said. People may feel hungry all the time, fatigued or lethargic. Losing weight for people who are obese is rarely as simple as eating less, she added.
"If Belviq can actually help people begin losing weight, then it may be a great idea. However, it is important to note that in the studies, nutrition and exercise counseling, education and support were an integral part of the process," Heller said.
"People need to understand that lifestyle modifications are essential for successful weight loss, weight maintenance, and fitness programs. The weight loss reported in the studies is modest and the placebo group lost weight too, indicating that ongoing lifestyle counseling and support have a positive impact with and without medication," she said.
There are some issues with the drug, the FDA said. First, Belviq should be stopped if patients don't lose at least 5 percent of their weight within 12 weeks, since they're unlikely to benefit from taking the drug for any longer period of time.
Second, the drug shouldn't be taken during pregnancy, the agency said.
Belviq may cause serious side effects, including "serotonin syndrome," particularly when taken with certain medicines that increase serotonin levels or activate serotonin receptors, such as drugs used to treat depression and migraine. The drug may also cause problems with attention or memory, the FDA said.
Other common side effects in non-diabetic patients include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, and constipation. In diabetic patients, side effects can include low blood sugar, headache, back pain, cough, and fatigue, the FDA said.
The agency is requiring Arena to undertake six post-marketing studies to look for any problems with Belviq, particularly the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Another weight loss drug, Qnexa from Vivus Inc., is still awaiting FDA approval. An FDA advisory panel recommended approval in February.
More information
For more on obesity, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.


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Curt Fortin – Musician / Actor, "Bon bini beach"
Curt Fortin is born on the 27th of September in 1978 on the sunny island of Aruba.
At a very young age, Curt knew what he wanted to do with his life. Acting and singing. He had his first band at the age of 14 and toured across the Netherlands, Bonaire, Curacao and even his birthplace Aruba.
Besides his music, Curt directed a short movie in 1999 called "Little Man" which was aired by a local television station in The Hague. However, his passion for music kept him busy. In 2000 he recorded a few songs en hosted a radio program every Sunday at a local radio station.
In 2002 Curt began his acting career in a soap opera "Onderweg naar morgen" and the television series "Bon bini beach". He also played the part of "Roberto" in the musical "De Zevensprong".
Last year (2005), Curt was officially introduced as the new television host of the Dutch "Top of the Pops", a music program that suits him per perfectly and a place where he can express his love for music.
Curt is now busy working on his debut album.
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subset: commoncrawl


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The following is a schedule of the times that polls close in each of the states and the District of Columbia. Keep in mind that many states are in between time zones. This means that polls in certain parts of these states close an hour earlier than in other portions of each state. However; the networks and their cable affiliates can not by law, officially call a state for any candidate until all the polls in that state have closed. The times indicated here reflect the time when all polling sites in each state have officially closed.
In addition to these closing times, White House 2012 offers a timeline which includes when each state will probably be projected for Governor Romney or President Obama and it also provides an estimated running total of the Electoral College vote that each candidate probably will have at the top and bottom of each hour.
Throughout the day, the networks will be conducting exit polls. By law they cannot reveal what the results of these polls are. However; once voting has stopped, the networks can start using these exit polls to make their projections. If there exit polls did not show a clear a winner in a state, that state may not be called right away. In this election, expect that to be the case in several states. The following timeline offers a prediction of approximately when each state will be called.
Of course there is a very good possibility that in several states, a combination of irregularities and extremely close vote totals could prohibit them from being projected for hours, days or even weeks. If the race is actually as close as we are being led to believe by the mainstream media in places like Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida, and Ohio, it could be a long night. However, Wh12 believes that most states will be called promptly and that the longest delay we may see in the official projection of a state will be an hour or an hour and a half. And the two most likely states for such a delay are Ohio and Wisconsin, where the election could actually be as tight as predicted.
7:00 pm Eastern Standard Time:
At 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the first 6 states and 60 electoral votes in the presidential election could be called. Unless there is a surprise result in the works, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, and South Carolina should quickly be called for Governor Romney, while Vermont is quickly called for President Obama. Media outlets probably will not be quick to call Virginia. That may not happen till some time around 8:00 pm. But if the official returns show Romney with a lead in certain key districts within Virginia and their exit polls showed similar trends throughout the state, Virginia could be called relatively quickly. If it is, expect it to be a very good sign of who will win the election. An early projection for one candidate or the other here would be a good sign that whoever won is running much stronger than expected, not just in Virginia but nationally as well.
Obama 3 / Romney 44+ (not including Virginia)
Possible Surprises:
If Virginia is called for Romney within a half an hour of 7:00, it would be a clear indication that the race in Virginia was not quite as close as some expected and a sign of just how inaccurate polling has been due to their use of 2008 turnout models, a decision which significantly underestimates Romney's strength. It would also be a sure sign that Romney is probably doing far better nationally than most analysts thought possible.
7:30 pm Eastern Standard Time:
On the half hour, polls close in North Carolina, West Virginia and Ohio. Expect West Virginia to be called for Romney about one second after the polls close there. North Carolina may take a little longer. If it is called before 8:00 pm, that will be another sign of a strong night for Romney.
Obama 3 / Romney 49+ (not including Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio)
The Ohio Factor:
Based upon White House 2012's analysis and projection, if Romney wins Ohio he is certain to win the election. If he does not win Ohio, Romney still has a good chance pulling a victory off. That said, unless exit polling from throughout the day indicates a much stronger than expected show of support for one candidate or the other, the networks are not likely to call Ohio for at least an hour.
If Ohio is called early for Obama, it could be a sign that Romney is underperforming. It would also indicate that Obama may be benefiting from a last minute surge that could possibly play out in other battleground states in the region, such as Iowa and Wisconsin.
If Ohio is called early for Romney, start playing Hail to the Chief for him. Not only would a quick call of Ohio for Romney mean that he is running much stronger than he was expected in Ohio but nationally as well. Furthermore, according to the White House 2012 analysis, President Obama can not win the Electoral College vote without Ohio in his column.
8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time:
At 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, the results of 17 states and 172 electoral votes are to be determined. The only surprises that could possibly occur within this set of poll closings exists in Florida, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.
Obama 99 / Romney 92+ (not including Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio)
In Pennsylvania the surprise could be that it is not called for President Obama within a half hour of 8:00 pm. If it is not called for the President by 8:30 pm, it will be another sign that the election is much tighter than anticipated in a state that should be solidly behind the President, and that he is in trouble. While Pennsylvania should ultimately go for President Obama, in the small outside chance that it goes to Romney, the election will over and so is the presidency of Barack Obama. Given the certainty in how the bulk of other states are going, it is impossible for Barack Obama to reach the 270 electoral votes he needs to win reelection without Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes in his column.
New Hampshire:
New Hampshire is suppose to be close and while most polls give President Obama a slim lead there, White House 2012 is confident that these polls are over-estimating Democrat turnout by incorporating the 2008 turnout models into their 2012 polls. This is a main reason why WH12 believes Governor Romney will ultimately win New Hampshire. The only surprise here will be whether or not New Hampshire is called quickly for Romney. If Romney is having a better night than expected, New Hampshire will be called for him within 15 or 20 minutes. If President Obama happens to win New Hampshire, all this will actually mean is that Romney may not win with the electoral landslide that WH12 anticipates.
Here again, an early call for either Romney or Obama will be quite telling. In addition to proving the race is not as close as we have been led to believe, if it goes to Barack Obama, Mitt Romney is in trouble. If it goes to Romney, the night is not over, but the fat lady will be warming her vocal chords up to offer a a final musical tribute the Obama years. The only real surprise in Florida will be whether or not it is called for Romney early. If Florida is called for Romney within a half hour of polls closing, consider that to be further indication of Romney outperforming expectations nationally and a good sign that he will be President-Elect before the night is over.
Late Call in North Carolina and Virginia:
During the 8 o'clock hour, if North Carolina and Virginia had not yet be called for Romney, they will be. If Florida, Ohio and New Hampshire still have not been projected for either candidate, late projections for Romney in Virginia and North Carolina would bring his total electoral vote count to 120. At this same point, President Obama will have 99 electoral votes.
Obama 99 / Romney 120+ (not counting Florida, New Hampshire and Ohio)
8:30 pm Eastern Standard Time:
No race here. Arkansas should be called for the Romney-Ryan ticket before the clock hits 8:31 pm.
Obama 99 / Romney 126+ (not counting Florida, New Hampshire and Ohio)
Late Calls from Ohio, New Hampshire
Somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00 pm, unless exit polls indicated that Romney was running much stronger than expected and the networks already called them, Ohio and New Hampshire should be projected for Romney.
That would leave us with;
Obama 99 / Romney 148+ (not counting Florida)
9:00 pm Eastern Standard Time:
**Romney declared the winner sometime during this hour**
13 states and 153 electoral votes will be determined during the 9 o'clock hour. 60 of them are likely to go to president Obama and at least 83 will be won by Mitt Romney.
Obama 159 / Romney 231 (not including Florida and Wisconsin)
Watch Out For Wisconsin and Michigan:
Both of these states have long been considered solid blue states for the Obama-Biden ticket but in the closing days of the campaign they have become much closer than Democrats had anticipated. White House 2012 believes Wisconsin will be won by Romney. The big surprise here is may be whether or not it is called for Romney quickly. A quick decision in Wisconsin for Romney's will most likely mean that if he has not yet been declared the President-Elect, he will be within the hour. If Barack Obama wins Wisconsin this may only mean that Romney is not winning a landslide victory in the Electoral College, but he will still be on track to winning.
Michigan should not be much of a contest. While Romney may poll far better than most polls indicate, President Obama should still pull this state out in his favor. Again a late call of Michigan for him means the election is too close for comfort for President Obama and that a sign that he is underperforming nationally. A quick call of Michigan for President Obama simply means that Romney is still on target to reach the 270 votes he need to win the presidency. If Michigan happens to be called for Mitt Romney, he will officially become the President-Elect.
Late Call in Florida and Wisconsin Puts Romney Over the Top
Florida may not be called until some point during the 9 o'clock hour, probably towards the top of the hour. Exit polls may convince networks that his lead is strong enough to allow the networks to project Florida before 9:00 pm but if they haven't they will now, and that will give Romney the 260 electors votes to the President's 159.
At some point during this hour, Wisconsin will also be called. If it goes to Romney as WH12 projects, that will give Romney 270 electoral votes and make him the President-Elect.
Obama 159 / Romney 270
10:00 pm Eastern Standard Time:
Montana and Utah will be called quickly for Mitt Romney. Nevada and Iowa may take a little longer to but at some point during the 10 o'clock hour, expect all 4 states to go to Mitt and for Romney.
Obama 159 /Romney 291
11:00 pm Eastern Standard Time:
No surprises here and each state will be called quickly.
Obama 237 / Romney 298
12:00 am Eastern Standard Time
Alaska which Barack Obama has never been competitive in, goes for Romney and is called as soon as the polls close.
Obama 233 / Romney 305
White House 2012's final Electoral College Projection
For a deatiled analysis visit here.
Filed under: Election Night, Electoral College Maps, General Issues & Events | Tagged: 2012 Poll Closing Times, chronological order of state poll closing times, election guide, election map, election night guide, election night poll closing times, election night schedule, election prediction, election projections, electoral college map, General election Polling Hours, Guide For Watching Election Night Results, Mitt Romney for President, pol closing times, poll closures, poll hours, poll times, polling, Polling Hours General Elections, presidential election, presidential election results, presidential exit polls, state by state presidential election results, when does each states polls close, when will Mitt Romney be declared the winner, when will the networks project the winners, which state closes their poll first, White House 2012, Who will win the presidential election, wordpress political blogs | Leave a comment »


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My father started smoking when he was only 9 years old, the same age I was when I swore I would never smoke in my life. The same age I was while he lay sick for a year in a hospice (that's where you go when you know you're going to die).
Growing up, I saw my dad smoking all the time. He tried quitting, but he never could. He just kept lighting up time and again. I didn't know then what would happen if he continued smoking. If I had, you can be sure that I would have nagged the hell out of him to quit.
My dad was such an awesome guy. We did everything together: went to ballgames, went camping every summer, made models of airplanes and ships, cooked dinner for my mom every night. Then he got sick and on Christmas Day, 1988, he died of lung cancer.
So many kids light up for the first time when they're 12 or 13 or even younger. And then they never stop. They go through high school, lighting up outside before and after class and in the bathrooms during their free periods. I just don't understand. Can someone explain to me why smoking is so "cool"? And why, even with all the information we now have about the immense risks involved, kids won't stop doing it?
I often wonder how much longer my dad would have lived if he hadn't started smoking when he was a kid. I also wonder if kids who start smoking now realize what could happen to them down the road of life.
That's why I was glad to hear President Bill Clinton announce that the government is no longer going to stand by and let this happen. In August, he approved a new federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule that will make it harder for kids to buy cigarettes and for cigarette companies to target kids with their advertising. The president's goal is to cut tobacco use by children and adolescents in half within seven years.
It's about time, I say. I know some of you laugh off the seriousness of smoking, but do you know what the statistics are?
—Every single day, 3,000 young people in the U.S. become regular smokers, and nearly a third of them will die prematurely from diseases related to their smoking.
—Each year, smoking-related diseases claim the lives of 400,000 Americans. That's more than the number killed by AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, illegal drugs, and fires combined. Yes, combined!
Don't get me wrong. I don't hate smokers. My favorite person in the whole world, my grandfather, smokes two packs a day. I also have several close friends who smoke. I don't want to give them a hard time, I just want to be sure that everyone who smokes also knows the risks they're taking. So I do the usual "you know smoking can kill you" bit. They ignore me or tell me that they've tried quitting and just couldn't, and then the conversation is over. I don't mind. I know that smoking doesn't kill everyone. But why take the chance?
Quit for the People Who Love You
I also know that quitting is easier said than done. I saw my father go through many attempts. I only wish he had asked me for help. He was afraid of the withdrawal symptoms, as I'm sure a lot of people are. But that in itself should tell you something. If quitting smoking can make you feel bad, imagine what not quitting will do.
And there are ways to make quitting easier. Get a friend to help keep your mind off of the cigarettes. Reward yourself for every month that you're clean. Don't think about what you're losing by quitting. Think of what you'll be gaining.
And most importantly, the next time you're tempted to light up, think about the people around you who love you. Your death will hurt them even more than it will hurt you.


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O2/Trauma/AED Back Pack
Color Coded Pouch Set
Large Athletic Trainer Bag
Ultimate Responder Bag
Fieldtex Products is a 200-person contract sewing manufacturer based in Rochester, NY. We have been producing soft sided cases, bags, holsters, and web assemblies for a wide variety of OEM customers in markets including medical, industrial, and communications.
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Leonard Garcia's return to the UFC will have to wait.
The featherweight veteran has suffered an undisclosed injury in training and has been forced out of a planned appearance the The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale.
With less than two-weeks' notice, Ian Loveland (13-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC) now steps in to face Tyler Toner (11-2 MMA, 1-1 WEC) on the evening's preliminary card.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed that verbal agreements are in place for the matchup, which was first reported by Sherdog.com, and bout agreements are expected to be finalized shortly.
Featuring a light heavyweight contest between Stephan Bonnar and Igor Pokrajac, The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale takes place Dec. 4 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The main card airs on Spike TV.
A 27-year-old Team Quest product, Loveland comes to the UFC on the strength of six-straight victories. "The Barn Owl" is a three-time IFL veteran who has also competed under the SportFight and King of the Cage banners.
In 20 career contests, Loveland has gone to a decision just once.
Toner looks to rebound from a September loss to Diego Nunes. The unanimous decision snapped a six-fight win streak for Toner that included a April win over Brandon Visher.
Toner's two career losses have both come via decision.
For the latest on The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Tyler Toner)


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Olweus Bullying Questionnaire is now available online. Students can take this secure version in the computer lab, saving schools the time and expense of shipping and processing printed questionnaires. Administration instructions and final reports are delivered electronically. Available in English and Spanish.
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The results of your questionnaires are compared to a national database. You will receive a standard report with narrative that interprets the results and graphs of key data for use in PowerPoint presentations. With this option you have an opportunity to purchase a trend report for an individual school or entire school district. Also included are new cyber-bullying questions, the option of a Spanish translation, and space for two multiple choice questions customized to your student population. For ease of use we have included a complete administration packet including a parent consent form in English and Spanish.
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As DOD focuses on budget cuts, total lifecycle costs must be part of the equation
Stan Soloway is president and chief executive officer of the Professional Services Council.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has issued a harsh yet realistic assessment of the Defense Department's fiscal condition. He predicts strained defense budgets for years ahead that demand reductions in the Pentagon's "bloat" and mandate attacking sometimes sacred cows. His stated goal of saving $15 billion—a proverbial drop in DOD's $570 billion budget bucket—is eminently achievable, but faces enormous obstacles.
Although some have focused on Gates's mention of cutting contractors and the assumption that replacing contractors with government civilians will save money, no objective analysis supports such a claim. However, Gates did identify some other related, important and unsustainable trends. For example, military personnel costs have nearly doubled since 2001, even though military end strength has only grown by 11 percent. Likewise, DOD civilian personnel costs have risen by almost 50 percent, even though the civilian workforce has grown only 8 percent. Those trends place enormous strain on the defense budget and should weigh heavily in DOD insourcing and workforce shaping efforts.
If certain positions must be performed by government employees, the costs associated with those positions are simply something we have to bear. But if there are options for who performs the work, total lifecycle costs —no matter what budget pays them—must be a significant factor in the sourcing decision. Indeed, the evidence strongly suggests that the savings DOD is assuming through insourcing are largely illusory. They do not account for the total lifecycle costs to DOD of internal performance or the largely ignored, taxpayer-shouldered burdens that will be placed on the Office of Personnel Management, which has the responsibility for post-retirement support of government employees.
In the case of military personnel costs, the sacrifices made by our troops make reductions in benefits difficult to justify. But it is precisely because those costs are so high that we should be extremely judicious about replacing contractors with military personnel in the performance of support activities. Unfortunately, we are seeing that happen more and more. In short, we should recognize that the tooth-to-tail personnel costs were among the reasons for the shift from military performance to contractors in the first place.
Finally, Gates has declared his intention to take on the bureaucracy itself. This requires that he and his top leaders embark on renewed, re-energized and relentless pursuit of serious change to DOD's business processes, largely through the use of technology. Reform or transformation has been on every recent secretary's agenda, and some success has resulted. But the hoped for, long-term impacts have proven elusive, often because the system fought back and won, the initiatives lacked a real strategy for change and/or suffered from only periodic leadership attention.
Nonetheless, the possibilities are there. For example, DOD is spending more than $50 billion this year on health care. Even if the secretary's initiative achieves only a 5 percent cost reduction there, that would equal almost 20 percent of his total goal. The same is true with scores of other DOD business processes and systems, where redundancies, burdensome requirements, and entrenched bureaucracies remain. In each case, it's not just the process or system changes that will make a difference; the ripple effects across the department's business operations could multiply the immediate benefits several times over.
This is obviously much easier said than done. And Gates's success will ultimately be determined by his ability to overcome daunting obstacles in a relatively short time. But the country cannot afford for him to not try. And despite two wars, he has declared his willingness to take it on. That's a commitment we should all cheer.
About the Author
Stan Soloway is a former deputy undersecretary of Defense and former president and chief executive officer of the Professional Services Council. He is now the CEO of Celero Strategies.
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Mr. Soloway: We are a mid sized company that is getting hurt by the latest round of in-sourcing. We were privy to a recent communique from USAF/AMC that seems to push an across the board review of all contracts as in-source targets with a goal that has been laid on AMC. The quote follows: "AMC/CV provided tentative approval to press with implementing these conversions. Even with converting the 48 contracts AMC-wide, we (AMC) will fall short by ~$5M of the FY11 target. Gen Findley's guidance was we needed to press harder on this to identify ALL of contracts within AMC for review as potential insourcing candidates in order to meet existing dollar decrements and future insourcing targets." I thought there was a message from gates that said to cease and desist from insourcing until further study was completed.If there was such a message it's not being followed. Can PSC take up this gaunlet and point out the fallacy in their thinking that they save money when they are not including the other overhead costs in their calcualtion? i would like to know if there is a public forum to discuss this latest government initiative. Thanks for your time. Tom
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Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers talks with Hitachi Vantara CTO Gary HIx discusses how many of the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic might become permanent fixtures in the market.
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Clad Cannon
From The PSPedia2
|This article pertains to a weapon which is exclusive to the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Portable 2.
Item details
- The Japanese name of this weapon is クラッドキャノン.
- This weapon is available only from the PlayStation Store where it can be downloaded for ¥200.
- Comes with a fixed 50% light attribute.
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The Movement of Juvenile Cases table provides statewide,
historical information on the number of juvenile cases added and disposed
by major case type and the number of cases pending at the end of the
fiscal year. The table dates back to the
1984-85 fiscal year.
Movement of Juvenile Cases 1991-92 to 2018-19 – PDF
The table above breaks down juvenile matters into four major case types:
|Glossary of Terms
Note on Table Creation: The information in the tables comes from databases that are always being updated. As a result, the tables only show the information that was in the databases on the day they were created. Information in the databases can change because cases that were disposed at the time the table was created were later reopened, or because of the late entry of data. Because of this, all of the tables are created on the 5th business day after the close of the fiscal year.


text: Rotomatic® tuners that automatically lock the string as you tune. For 6-in-line pegheads. Internal-cam locking string posts and 18:1 fine tuning are built into Rotomatic midsize cast housings to fit 6-in-line pegheads. As you tune, the post automatically locks the string. You'll need fewer string wraps, change strings faster, and your tremolo will have more accurate return-to-pitch.Also available for 3-left/3-right pegheads. These midsize Rotomatic tuners feature compact metal knobs with adjustable tension, lifetime sealed lubrication, and 18:1 gear ratio for fine tuning. Sets of 6.Mounting screws and threaded hex peghead bushings with washers are included.10mm (13/32") diameter pegholes required. CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.


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Q: My husband had a chest x-ray because they thought he may have pneumonia (thankfully he didn't), and they found an aneurysm in the part of his aorta just as it leaves his heart. We have a bunch more tests ordered, but I was hoping you can tell us about this condition so we understand it better.
A: The aorta is the major artery delivering oxygenated blood from the heart to other arteries in the body. It originates just after the aortic valve in the heart, initially going up towards the head (the ascending thoracic aorta, and the arteries that bring blood to the heart itself, the coronary arteries, branch off from this part of the aorta), then just after three other major arteries branch off from it in an upwards direction (the brachiocephalic trunk, the left carotid and the left subclavian) it bends toward the back and downward toward the abdomen (the descending thoracic aorta, which has the thoracic arteries branch off from it). It is called the abdominal aorta once it passes through the diaphragm into the abdomen, and it then bifurcates into the common iliac arteries which carry oxygenated blood to the lower body including the pelvis, legs, etc. A true aneurysm is a sac-like dilatation of an artery caused by a full-thickness weakness in the arterial wall (a partial thickness defect is a pseudoaneurysm) that increases its size by at least 50 percent. Aortic aneurysms occur in up to 3 to 4 percent of patients over age 65. Aortic disease is one of the 15 most common causes of death in the U.S.
About 1/3 of all aortic aneurysms are thoracic aortic aneurysms or TAAs, and 2/3 are abdominal aortic aneurysms or AAAs. I will concentrate on TAAs in today's column.
Most TAAs are identified while they are not causing any symptoms; instead they are noted on an imaging test done for other reasons (such as a chest x-ray done to evaluate possible lung disease). When this occurs a more specific test, such as a CT scan with contrast (to make the blood 'light up' on the image) or possibly an MRI with contrast, is done to better characterize the aneurysm, as well as to look for aneurysms in other arteries (having a TAA is a big risk factor for having other aneurysms). However, complications of a TAA can occur, and these can cause symptoms and even death.
A dissecting TAA (where the compromised inner wall of the aneurysm fails, allowing blood to flow into the artery wall itself, potentially squeezing the true arterial lumen and compromising the artery's delivery of blood) can cause chest pain which may have many characteristics similar to a heart attack. An ascending TAA can affect the function of the aortic valve, causing it to be compromised requiring valve replacement. Acute rupture of any aortic aneurysm is usually immediately life threatening.
A symptomatic TAA requires immediate intervention. Open surgery is where the chest is opened and the aorta is directly visualized and the aneurysm repaired with a graft to strengthen it, and is usually required for ascending TAAs and for some descending TAAs. Minimally invasive intervention, where a stent is 'snaked' through arteries up to the aneurysm and placed there to strengthen it (called endovascular repair), may be considered in patients with a descending TAA (depending on the specifics of its size, location, etc.).
Risk factors for developing a TAA include certain genetic conditions (such as Marfan, Turner, Ehlers-Danlos, familial thoracic aneurysm, Loeys-Dietz, or other syndromes), factors that increase the risk of atherosclerotic disease (such as high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, etc.), and certain inflammatory/infectious diseases. Since risk factors for atherosclerotic disease are also risk factors for a TAA, medical treatment of these (good blood pressure control, good cholesterol control, cessation of smoking, etc.) is indicated.
The risk of rupture/complications of an aortic aneurysm depends on how rapidly the aneurysm is expanding, how big it is, as well as other factors (such as the specific shape/type of the aneurysm, its cause, etc.). Guidelines typically recommend periodic imaging for a TAA less than 5.5 cm in diameter (for small patients a correction for body size may be used instead, typically 2.75 cm per meter squared of body surface area), and consideration of intervention (the treatment is the same as for symptomatic aneurysms except the indicated procedure is done electively) for TAAs larger than this. Certain genetic conditions with increased risk of rupture may have recommendations for intervention at smaller diameters, as can other factors (such as a family history of a ruptured aneurysm). In addition, rapidly expanding aneurysms may benefit from intervention at smaller diameters.
Patients diagnosed with a TAA will need lifetime surveillance to determine if/when intervention is needed. Even after treatment they will continue to need surveillance as they are at risk for compromise of the treatment (for example stent complications), recurrence of the aneurysm, and/or development of other aneurysms. Common recommendations include imaging every 6 months until the rate of expansion and size is better understood, then annual surveillance thereafter (unless something changes and further surveillance or intervention is required).
Jeff Hersh, Ph.D., M.D., can be reached at email@example.com


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I find that to be disturbingly true.
Some people apparently have dreams of killing, or being killed or axe murderers and stuff like that - of doing things that are unthinkable. They awake terrified that these might be things they will do, when in fact their hormones are just running wild during their REM sleep.
I also dream crazy, horrible nightmares - more and more lately.
Mine are always what I consider the Sophie's Choice/Kobayashi Maru variety. I'm always presented with the unwinnable situation - which could result in death for my children - and in it I spend my nightmare working out HOW I would thwart that.
How I would cheat, and beat the machine.
How will I escape a car sinking in water, with now 4 children? What is my plan? Fire? Hiding from a madman - how will I keep them quiet?
I wake up dripping with sweat - and sometimes go look in their room so that I can just hear them sleep for a few minutes.
I always win, in my dreams, but it doesn't make the terror any less.
I can swim onto the top of my car somehow, and get them all onto the roof with me - despite any obstacles I can do it. I am stronger than I actually am, I am faster than I actually am -
I am unwilling to accept the alternative.........and therefore........I win.
But as my heart pounds in my chest and I feel my next family member squirm in my tummy........I wish these nightmares would stop.
Mommy will keep you safe. Now stop.


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My mother joined our household, of four, for a family Easter. One grandson, who is only home in the summers now, is working in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Our oldest daughter and family (with three grandsons) had their own celebration in So Bend. Eight other grandchildren, who live in Wyoming, have long been missing from our embrace. It was a comfortable and enjoyable day, with the two grandsons who live with us.
Dinner was ham, mashed potatoes, corn, deviled eggs, guacamole and chips, baked beans and Easter Bread. We remembered the salad on Monday. No one was about to forget the blackberry pie, nor the two pineapple pies. We try to make sure that everyone has something that is their favorite.
I am not a game person, feeling that I should, and would rather, be painting or writing or sculpting, rather than playing with cards. Sometimes the noise of it is just too much. But, I even joined them for a game of Tryce. The fifteen year old took over after that. They continued to play games until it was time to take my mother home.
Sunday evening, I started thinking about what I would consider my most memorable things in life to be.
My family would have to top the list. Moments I have spent rocking a child, having one come to me with problems or happy events, or just to show me a flower or rock they have found. This makes me incredibly sad that I have never even met my youngest granddaughter.
Other memories are:
My mother serving me tomato soup and grilled cheese when I was ill and home from school. That's traditional mid-western comfort food.
Dad always bringing me a treat in his lunch box is another great series of moments. One, where the child, me, never really realizes that it's food right from our own cupboard/refrigerator. It always tastes better out of his black metal lunchbox. Do I sense a pattern of food developing?
My oldest daughter remembers things from when she was two. She remembers odd things. Not those things you remind them about every holiday. She remembers moments you just would not believe someone that young would remember; just plain, ordinary, everyday moments.
My first memories involve my paternal grandfather. He had familial palsy or Parkinson. We are not sure which really, but by the time he was in a wheel chair and visibly shaking, I was around two years old. I remember bringing him a glass of water. The next memory is from his funeral. My dad was crying. This is a family thing I have inherited. I could write a whole blog on the things that make me cry, (not blubber cry, just a few tears down the cheek) but should tv tell me about someone doing something nice for someone else. Or, should the time be when I am sitting and watching a parade. (Don't even ask.) Anyway, my aunt took me for a walk during my grandfather's service and I remember the patterns of the sun shining through the trees on the sidewalk and how beautiful they were.
To this day, I still love shadows: venetian blind shadows or trees on the wall, or just a glass sitting on the window sill.
Here is a list of other moments I remember:
A whale breaching off the eastern coast. They are so right when they say, "If you have to ask. It's not a whale."
Petting a lion.
Feeling the skin of an elephant. I monopolized my spot, in amongst a row of children at the zoo, but it was just soooo cool. It felt like a balloon full of water.
A Harrier jet stopped in mid air over Chicago skyscrapers. I have never heard the streets of the city so deadly quiet. Then slowly it's nose pointed toward the sky and BAM! It disappeared skyward, in an instant.
Sitting on the porch, when I was maybe five, watching a storm come in over the field behind our house.
Wrapped in a blanket, I sat and watched a full lunar eclipse, in the quiet wintery night, in Wyoming. Sometimes I just have to experience the world alone, with no talking going on.
Another night, I went out alone and the house was surrouned 360 degrees by lightening storms.
Wyoming skies are great. One day after a storm, I saw three rainbows in the sky at once.
Coming home and getting out of the car every night for "x" days and seeing Haley's comet.
Laying in a sleeping bag, in the sand, watching a meteor shower.
Sitting in a hot tub, after skiing, and sort of seeing the aurora borealis. I didn't have my glasses or contact on, so it was rather blurry.
The sound of a bagpiper in a quiet campground in Nova Scotia.
The sound of a bagpiper in the college quad after the death of a friend.
The feeling of immersion in the music, and being in sync, when playing a violin duet with, my teacher, Rainer Schwartzkopf. The one thing I miss more than just about anything in the world is studying with Rainer. He is in Wyoming and I am in Indiana.
Watching the sun set within sight of Indian cave homes from my van and not getting ejected from sleeping in a National park where I shouldn't have been, sleeping in my van. Thank you to whomever I owe a thanks. Karma, I hope. It was a sight I will always remember.
They all are.
Hope you have dozens too.


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Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.: The triceps kickback is an exercise you can do with resistance tubing to strengthen and tone the back of your upper arm. As the name implies, the triceps kickback targets the triceps muscle, located here in the back of the upper arm. Strong triceps can help you with activities that require you to push away from your body.
Nicole L. Campbell: To do the triceps kickback with resistance tubing, start by standing on the tubing with the ball of your foot.
The closer you place your foot to the handle, the more resistance you'll get during the exercise. Grasp the handle with your palm facing down and lean forward.
Tighten your abdominal muscles and maintain a neutral, balanced arch in your back. Then extend your elbow backward until your arm is nice and straight. Keep your elbow close to your body, then slowly return to the starting position. You'll feel tension in the muscles in the back of your upper arm.
When you're doing triceps kickbacks, keep your wrist rigid and your abdominal muscles nice and tight. Make sure your movements are smooth and controlled.
For most people, one set of 12 to 15 repetitions is adequate.
For best results, remember to keep your wrist rigid and your movements smooth and controlled.
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Welcome to the official website of the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association (HSCA). We are fortunate to be located in the beautiful State of Hawaii where the sunshine is warm, the breezes are cool, and the beaches are inviting all year 'round. We have the cleanest air and the friendliest people. Flowers are always in bloom and our coastlines are a photographer's dream.
Chiropractic is alive and well in Hawaii. Our doctors practice on five different islands, each one offering a different practice environment from busy, energetic urban centers to serene and laid-back tropical landscapes, and everything in between.
The HSCA represents the chiropractic profession in Hawaii. About a third of the practicing chiropractors in the state are members of our organization, but all doctors benefit from the work of the HSCA. Membership in the association is open to all licensed doctors in Hawaii. Out-of-state doctors are welcome to join (a Hawaii license is not required, but an active license in another state is required).
The HSCA keeps in touch with every doctor in the state through periodic newsletters, our pipeline of information to the profession. It includes information about the activities of the association, changes in the local and national scene, and professional articles pertinent to the practice of chiropractic.
We monitor the legislative session each year. All bills affecting chiropractic are scrutinized and our position on each bill is made known to legislators and committees hearing the bills. Our aim is to protect and preserve our rights and privileges to practice in the State of Hawaii.
We work closely with the American Chiropractic Association and the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations, as well as allied professions in Hawaii such as acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, and naturopathy. We try to build strong bonds with members of the medical community by building trust and working synergistically with many medical specialties.
We hope the information you find on our website is helpful. We invite you to visit it often as the content changes from month to month. Please feel free to contact us. We are able to answer your questions and look forward to hearing your comments.
Hawaii State Chiropractic AssociationPO Box 22668Honolulu, HI 96823-2668Phone: 808-926-8883Fax: 808-926-8884E-mail: email@example.com
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First Drive: 2013 Ford Flex
Maxi-Wagon Gets Sleeker, More Powerful
The updated 2013 Ford Flex crossover -- Taurus Contry Squire, sans wood siding, if you're so inclined -- was first shown to the public last November at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. It arrived bearing a sleeker nose, some fresh safety gear, improved brakes, and an improved version of the base 3.5-liter V-6. We've finally gotten some time behind the wheel, but first, a recap of all of the revisions.
In the engine room, electric power steering assist becomes standard and variable valve timing proliferates from the intake to all four cams. Together, the steering and cam-twiddling improve efficiency enough to boost output by 23 horses and 7 lb-ft, while fuel economy improves by an estimated 1 mpg city and highway to 18/25 mpg with front-drive and 17/24 on all-wheelers. On the safety front, Ford adds all of the crash prevention and mitigation gear that debuted on Flex's platform-mates: adaptive cruise control with forward collision alert and blind-spot monitoring from the Taurus, and the inflatable seat belts and Curve Control from the Explorer. Push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, power tilt/telescoping steering, power folding mirrors, and the new and much improved MyFord Touch are also added to the options list.
Stylewise, the prominent grille bar now extends into the headlamps and has been stripped of its big Ford oval, replaced by letters spelling F L E X in a font so bold you half-expect them to be reversed, AMBULANCE-style, for legibility in rearview mirrors. From the rear, you'll see dual exhaust outlets on all models and you'll notice that the blue oval has been similarly demoted from a large central badge to a smaller one in the lower right corner. There are six new wheel designs as well. Inside, the seat trim, steering wheel, and instrumentation are all upgraded for added poshness.
The engineers also launched a mission to hush the Flex, wrapping the shock towers and rear wheelhouses with sound absorbers and improving the hood insulator and firewall insulation. They've also added a few tasks to the anti-lock braking system's to-do list, including Curve Control (which senses when a driver has entered a turn too fast and sheds up to 10 mph so the car stays on course), and a rudimentary torque-vectoring system that lightly brakes an inside wheel when accelerating through a turn to route more torque outboard. For the record, Motor Trend is generally opposed to using the brakes to make the car go faster. Since they're doing more work, the brakes get a larger master cylinder, retuned booster, larger vented rotors all around from the Taurus SHO (except with the base 17-inch wheels), and upgraded friction materials.
How does it all work? The added power and broader torque curve are readily noticeable on the base V-6, which steps off with greater authority, though we wish the shifts happened quicker and with less torque sag. The new brakes feel great -- nice firm pedal, minimal travel, easily modulated for smooth stops. And try as I could, I found no fault with the electric power steering. Its weighting felt natural; the quicker ratio is welcome; and with most of the rubber isolation out of the system, the driver can sense road-surface texture through the rim, but not changes in road-surface grip. Interior noise levels are remarkably low, allowing front-seat conversation to be easily heard from the third row. EcoBoost models dial all of the above impressions up several notches, with truly naughty acceleration rates and slightly crisper steering feel.
Flex sales may not be setting any records, but the car is luring more buyers into the Ford brand than any other model, and each one appeals to its owner to such an extent that the Flex boasts the highest retention rate in the Ford family. With prices rising only $745-$1420 depending on model variant (the Titanium version has been eighty-sixed), these mid-cycle spiffs certainly stand to make those repeat buyers even happier.
|Front-engine, FWD/AWD, 6-7-pass, 4-door, wagon
|3.5L/285-hp (est)/253-lb-ft (est) DOHC 24-valve V-6; 3.5L/355-hp/350-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6
|6-speed automatic
|4450-4650 lb (mfr)
|117.9 in
|201.8 x 75.9 x 68.0 in
|5.9-8.0 sec (MT est)
|16-18 / 22-25 mpg (est)
|187-211 / 135-153 kW-hrs/100 miles (est)
|0.94-1.06 lb/mile (est)


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5th Street Ohana
A perfect place to stay while visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 5th Street Ohana is located only two miles from the park and 45 minutes from Hilo. The town of Volcano Village is small and is better suited for those who want a quiet, relaxing stay. Still, there are a few convenient stores, restaurants, a local farmers market, and other attractions.
With Hawaii Volcanoes National Park being comparable in size to the Island of Oahu, there is plenty to do and see. If you love hiking, birding, and sightseeing, this is the place for you. Currently, there is an eruption site in Halema'uma'u Crater that produces a spectacular glow at night. Most people spend two to three nights in Volcano to explore the park and the south, eastern side of the island.
South of Volcano, one can find beautiful black and green sand beaches, along with other diverse landscapes. This region is called Ka'u. Ka'u has a few small towns, but is becoming more well-known for their coffee production; a great place to stop roadside or at the Ka'u Coffee Mill for some tastings.
Designed for travelers and families, 5th Street Ohana offers you the comforts of home. Our staff is devoted to our guest's happiness. Welcome to our Ohana!


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A few days ago, as I was checking-out at a grocery store, the employee who had just rung me up said 'Happy Holidays'. The statement was sincere, it was not meant in mockery, and I could tell that the employee was having a good day. But before I could thank him, someone standing behind me shouted, 'You mean 'Merry Christmas', right?' At this point I was in shock over the nerve of this person and the employee became defensive. I shook my head at the customer behind me and simply walked away. I wasn't about to get involved in a debate at the check-out line.
My story above is becoming a common one. But there is more happening here than simply the interjections of a rude person. In that ten seconds of dialogue, something is lost that is really the tragedy of this whole 'war on Christmas' that FOX News has so eagerly forced upon the public. The loss is the loss of sincerity. That employee wasn't trying to insult me, or start a debate, or infuse secularism into our culture. That employee wasn't trying to offend the rude person behind me in line. The employee was only trying to be courteous. They didn't know me from Adam and, rather than making the assumption that I'm a Christian, he went with the generic 'Happy Holidays'. And by that, as a sane human being, I was able to recognize that he meant he hoped that I had a joyous celebration of whatever holiday I practice.
But as a result of this ridiculous 'war on Christmas' nonsense, that employee was castrated by someone behind me; someone he had to now check-out. Unlike me, who can walk away, he had to stay there and listen to that person rant about how the secular agendas of the socialist government are stripping away the rights of Christians, blah blah blah. And as a result of that, that employee may be hesitant to wish anyone a Happy Holidays, or a Merry Christmas, or a Happy Hanukkah, for fear of being chastised for it. All sincerity he had, all the joy he had, stripped from him because some jerk who follows Glenn Beck on Facebook couldn't mind his own business.
There is another side to this story, though. Because since that event, every time someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, I get a twitch. Are they being sincere or just nudging me to say something back, just to get a rise out of me, or to start a debate. Are they being serious? Sarcastic? Cynical? I can't tell anymore. My 'sincerity meter' is broken. And that is a real shame. I love this time of year. I love the idea of the holiday season. I like the ideal Dickens Christmas. It doesn't have to be religious for me; it certainly wasn't religious for Dickens.
This season is supposed to be about charity, and good works, and family fun, and feeling new and whole again with the start of a new year just around the corner. Instead I'm pulling the hood over my head and shadowing myself from season's greetings because I am afraid to get into a polemical battle of rhetoric over the 'reason for the season'. I have to drive behind people with 'Keep Christ in Christmas' bumper stickers, most of whom have no idea how ludicrous those stickers are really. I doubt I am the only one disenchanted this year.
The irony of it all is that secularism isn't trying to take Christmas away; it was secularism that gave us Christmas, the way we celebrate it today, in the first place. When the Puritans came to this continent, they outlawed the celebration of Christmas. They didn't come here for religious freedom. Religious freedom implies that they came here to start a colony where other religions could practice peacefully. No, they kicked you out if you practiced any other religion other than their own. The first place in this country that celebrated 'religious freedom' was the colony of Rhode Island (originally Providence) when its founder was kicked out of the Massachusetts Bay colony because he had different religious views. It was also the first colony to renounce the British during the Revolutionary War period.
Christmas was not a part of American culture. Protestants didn't really celebrate it–certainly not the Puritans and Quakers, but Catholics did and Catholics were not the most beloved citizens of the time. It was not until the Victorian period, until Dickens and Irving idealized Christmas, that it became fashionable to celebrate. And even still, it was not made a legal holiday until after the American Civil War. And in a large sense, Christmas was secularized so that protestants could also celebrate it; it was no longer just a Catholic religious celebration but a celebration that became, truly, a universal holiday. For coverage, I direct your attention to Jon Stewart:
In one part of the segment Stewart trusted the History Channel and as a result suffered a pants on fire rating from Politifact (whoops!), proving one again that the History Channel does not live up to its name and, frankly, is untrustworthy (though lay people will continue to trust it, regardless). Despite this, Stewart is correct about almost everything else. And he makes his case quite well, even with his one incorrect statement about legislative branch.
Though I would like to make it clear I am not 'against Christmas'. In fact I think 'Merry Christmas' has a place in the season, just as does 'Happy Holidays' or 'Seasons Greetings'. I have a post on it here:
I am greatly concerned this time of year for the sincerity that has been a part of this season since the late 19th century. If we don't act towards preserving it, it will be lost to us. It will become a cynical season, one where nobody trusts anybody and everyone is more concerned about the polemics of the debate than about giving to each other regardless of religious, social, or cultural backgrounds. It is upsetting to think that this part of the season is doomed. But if certain people have their way, we can kiss the joy of this season goodbye.
Filed under: Belief | Tagged: Fox News, happy holidays, War on Christmas | 3 Comments »


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One exciting piece of hardware I received with my Digikey order was an Arduino Uno board (R3). There was conflicting information whether or not it could be used as an ISP (in-system programmer), so I decided to see for myself. It turned out that with just one tweak, I could use the $26 device to program my AVR chips, essentially eliminating the need for a separate ISP such as $22 USBtiny!
This is obviously good news for any beginner with a budget, so I decided to write a short tutorial on how to do it. I used my USB password generator as a guinea pig for this project, so if you have wanted to try that out, this post also doubles as tutorial on how to build it on breadboard (good idea in any case before soldering it anywhere). Read on for details!
Minimal circuit for AVR-powered USB
For this exact project, you'll need the following components (of course you can also build something else, as long as the Arduino can power it):
- ATtiny45/85 (the 20PU version, not the low-voltage one)
- 2 resistors, 68 ohm
- 2 pullup resistors, 2k2 and 4k7 ohms
- USB connector (instructions how to build it)
- Breadboard and wire
- 2 zener diodes, 3V6, 0.25W (too much watts and it might not work)
If you're really cheap, you could probably use just one pullup, wiring it to RESET while programming and then to D+ after you're ready. Click the image for larger version, here's the schematic if you need it.
Update: As Ross McKenzie pointed out in the comments, 0.1 uF capacitor between VCC and GND should also be included. It seems to work without it most of the time, but it would be safer to have one there (to ensure the AVR chip being programmed gets a steady supply of power).
Wiring the Uno for Programming
If you haven't flashed AVR chips before, it might be useful to know that the method used here is called serial programming with 6 pin interface. With dedicated ISP programmers you have the option to power the chip yourself (for example from external 3.3V source), but with Arduino as ISP, the safest bet is to power the chip from Arduino 5V and GND power connections.
In addition to powering the chip, you should know where the MOSI, MISO and SCK pins are in your microcontroller of choice. You can find this information from very beginning of Atmel's datasheets, along with rather clear instructions for how to power the chip (for ATtiny45/85 we only need VCC and GND but some ATmegas for example have multiple VCC/GND pins that need to be connected as well as the AVCC pin). Here's the pinout of ATtiny45/85 for reference:
Here are the connections you need to make – note that because Arduino is already supplying 5V, I have detached the USB connector and used two jumper wires from the power rail to the breadboard rows 14 (VCC) and 17 (GND, behind the green wire). This is because the USB connector seemed to provide slightly higher voltage than the Arduino (about 0.1V more), and I thought it would be safest not to wire both at the same time, as current flowing from USB to Arduino circuit may not be such a good idea.
|Arduino pin
|Circuit pin
|5V, red
|Used to power the chip during programming with same voltage as the programmer
|GND, blue
|Common ground
|10, orange
|This line is pulled LOW to start programming
|11, green
|"Master out, slave in" – used for data from Arduino to chip
|12, yellow
|"Master in, slave out" – used for data from chip to Arduino
|13, white
|"System clock" – used synchronize the (SPI) data communications
Once everything is wired up, you only need to upload the ArduinoISP sketch to your Arduino. If you're running the 1.0 version of the Arduino IDE, there was some kind of timing/serial buffer/library mismatch and you need to tweak
heartbeat() function to reduce the
delay(40); to
delay(20);. I don't exactly know the cause for this, but some sources talked about buffer issues and it just might be that a shorter delay avoids filling some transmission buffer. Older 0022 version worked "out of the box".
After flashing, your 'duino should work as avrisp-compatible programmer for avrdude (and most likely also AVR Studio):
avrdude -P com18 -b 19200 -c avrisp -p attiny45 -U flash:w:main.hex
I've updated the USB password project zip to also contain a Makefile.uno that uses the Uno as a programmer. Furthermore, to help updating the fuses I added a new build target "fuse". So once you've got everything wired up, just go to the directory and type the following commands to update fuses and flash the USB password firmware:
make -f Makefile.uno flash make -f Makefile.uno fuse
That's it! You are now equipped to flash any 8-bit AVR chip, anywhere, anytime (provided you carry your Arduino around, of course) with firmware of your choice.
Where next + sponsor appreciation
Thanks for reading! I'd also like to remind all readers, that if you have a topic in mind you'd like me to cover, I'm taking suggestions via comments and e-mail (jokkebk at codeandlife.com). I'll also take this opportunity to thank Martin, for the first donation supporting this blog. I really appreciate it! I already spent the donation on parts for project I'm hoping to cover here in the future. :)


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Wishlist/Bible Reader
From Openmoko
Most handheld platforms have some sort of bible, or religeous text reader. An excellent example would be bible+ for the palm platform. A good generic approach so that the reader was designed to read any religeous text would be a good idea.
This is probably redundant if a good generic ebook reader can be be found/developed. What are compelling advantages of a "bible reader" over an "ebook reader"?
Most religeous texts are broken into separate books. Another issue is that individuals may want to see dual language versions with a religeous text (IE, for the new testament, greek/english). Beyond the segmentation into books, each verse of a religeous text is usually noted. If I were reading a traditional book, I wouldn't care what verse I was reading, but with a religeous text, the verse/line pairing is important. I am fairly sure that these approaches are true of all abrahamic religeons, however, I would suspect that they are also true of other religeons as well.


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Entry-level Pentax K2000 announced
Per an announcement this morning, Pentax is expanding its line of consumer DSLRs to include a true entry-level model.
The Pentax K2000 enters the manufacturer's lineup as the presumptive replacement to the K100D Super. Building on the same 10.2 megapixel CCD imager that has supported several previous Pentax models, the K2000 features a number of carry-over technologies in addition to its sensor.
Updated technologies
A 2.7-inch LCD similar to the spec from several previous Pentax models supports image review and navigation functions. The visual interface has also been refreshed to look slightly more inviting and less industrial; a master screen provides a basic overview that includes exposure information, white balance settings, and file format data. A penta-mirror viewfinder with a matte focusing screen offers 96 percent field coverage an 0.85x magnification – good numbers all around for an entry-level body.
The K2000 also utilizes a version of Pentax's SAFOX VIII auto focus system with five cross-type sensors arranged in a cross pattern. According to Pentax, the new system realizes improvements in low light focusing performance when compared to previous SAFOX VIII cameras.
In-body image stabilization via a sensor shifting mechanism has been a part of Pentax's standard approach to DSLR design for some time now, and the new K2000 uses the same CCD-shift Shake Reduction system employed by its predecessors.
Usability improvements
A few improvements and tweaks should improve usability and functionality of Pentax's latest entry-level DSLR. Dynamic range expansion and shadow adjustment technologies introduced in the last generation of new Pentax models are also featured here. Auto sensitivity control on the K2000 can be configured to take advantage of the sensor's full ISO 100 to ISO 3200 range. Continuous shooting is also possible at up to 3.5 frames per second (in full-resolution JPEG mode).
Although it retains Pentax's typical metal chassis under plastic, the K2000 will hit markets as the only current Pentax DSLR to not sport weather/dust sealing as standard fare. The K2000 does feature Pentax's typical combination of low-pass filter coatings and a sensor vibration mechanism to help keep dust inside the camera's mirror box from marring shots.
User-friendly interface, power sources
Perhaps the most notable new feature of the K2000 is its user-friendly built-in information system. A dedicated "Help" button provides on-screen explanations for camera modes, settings, and buttons in language that's easy even for those with limited photography experience to understand. Combined with the K2000's simple, transparent physical interface – a reduction of the system seen in the K100 series models – the Help button should make this camera more accessible than any effort to date from Pentax.
In spite of smaller size and lighter weight than current Pentax K models, the K2000 continues the manufacturer's commitment to AA power in its consumer line, utilizing four alkaline, NiMH, or lithium cells rather than a rechargeable lithium pack. While some may be put off by the K2000's continued use of AA power, the fact that the new model ships with a set of lithium cells that are good for a claimed 1650 shots may be enough to win some converts.
DA L kit lenses launched
In addition to the K2000 body, Pentax is releasing a pair of DA L kit lenses built especially for the new camera. Fully compatible with Pentax's current K mount variant, the lower cost DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL lens takes the place of the second-generation DA 18-55mm as the kit lens in this application.
Additionally, Pentax is also releasing a DA L 55-200mm f/4-5.6 ED telephoto zoom. Optically similar to their regular DA counterparts, the new DA L lenses appear to differ primarily in terms of build quality.
Overview, pricing, and availability
Billed as a "system designed specifically for consumers who are ready to make the transition from a point-and-shoot digital camera to Digital SLR photography," the K2000 helps refocus Pentax's brand on compact size and ease of use at the entry level. There's really nothing revolutionary here, however, and the K2000's large number of hand-me-down parts may look a bit tired to some.
That said, a suggested retail price of $699 with the new kit lens slots well with other cameras offering this range of features, including the Nikon D60 and the Canon Rebel XS.
We'll be posting our hands-on look at the K2000 and new lens a little later in the day. Stay tuned…
Pentax K2000 Specifications:
|10.2 megapixel, 23.5×15.7mm CCD
|Pentax KAF3 mount; compatible with all K mount lenses
|2.7″, 230K-dot TFT LCD; Penta-Mirror optical viewfinder (96% coverage, 0.85x magnification) with diopter adjustment
|Shutter Speed
|30-1/4000 seconds
|Shooting Modes
|Auto Picture, Picture, Scene, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Bulb
|Scene Presets
|Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night Scene Portrait, Standard Flash-Off, Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum, Stage Lighting, Night Snap
|White Balance Settings
|Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent W, Fluorescent D, Fluorescent N, Flash, Color Temperature, Manual
|Metering Modes
|Multi, Center-Weighted, Spot
|Focus Modes
|AF Auto, AF Single, AF Continuous, Manual
|Drive Modes
|Single, Continuous High, Continuous Low, Self Timer, Remote, Auto Bracket
|Flash Modes
|On, Off, Red-Eye Reduction, Wireless
|Self Timer Settings
|10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off
|Memory Formats
|Internal Memory
|File Formats
|Max. Image Size
|Max. Video Size
|Zoom During Video
|4 AA batteries
|USB 2.0, video output
|Additional Features
|Shake Reduction, Custom Image Functions, Dust Reduction System, dedicated Help button


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K-W-L (Know, Want to Know, Learned)
K-W-L (Ogle, 1986) is an instructional reading strategy that is used to guide students through a text. Students begin by brainstorming everything they Know about a topic. This information is recorded in the K column of a K-W-L chart. Students then generate a list of questions about what they Want to Know about the topic. These questions are listed in the W column of the chart. During or after reading, students answer the questions that are in the W column. This new information that they have Learned is recorded in the L column of the K-W-L chart.
The K-W-L strategy serves several purposes:
- Elicits students' prior knowledge of the topic of the text.
- Sets a purpose for reading.
- Helps students to monitor their comprehension.
How to use the K-W-L strategy
- Choose a text. This strategy works best with expository texts.
- Create a K-W-L chart. The teacher should create a chart on the blackboard or on an overhead transparency. In addition, the students should have their own chart on which to record information. (Below is an example of a K-W-L chart.)
- Ask students to brainstorm words, terms, or phrases they associate with a topic. The teacher and students record these associations in the K column of their charts. This is done until students run out of ideas.
K Column Suggestions
- Have questions ready to help students brainstorm their ideas. Sometimes students need more prompting than, "Tell me everything you know about _____," to get them started.
- Encourage students to explain their associations. This is especially important for those associations that are vague or unusual. Ask, "What made you think of that?"
Ask students what they want to learn about the topic. The teacher and students record these questions in the W column of their charts. This is done until students run out of ideas for questions. If students respond with statements, turn them into questions before recording them in the W column.
- Have questions ready to help students brainstorm their ideas. Sometimes students need more prompting than, "Tell me everything you know about _____," to get them started.
- Ask an alternative question for generating ideas for the W column. If, in response to "What do you want to learn about this topic?" your students are either having trouble coming up with ideas, or are saying, "nothing," try asking one of the following questions instead:
"What do you think you will learn about this topic from the text you will be reading?"
Choose an idea from the K column and ask, "What would you like to learn more about this idea?"
Come prepared with your own questions to add to the W column. You might want students to focus on ideas in the text on which the students' questions are not likely to focus them. Be sure not too add too many of your own questions, however. The majority of the questions in the W column should be student-generated.
- Have students read the text and fill out the L column of their charts. Students should look for the answers to the questions in their W column. Students can fill out their L columns either during or after reading.
L Column Suggestions
In addition to answering the W column questions, encourage students to write in the L column anything they found especially interesting. To distinguish between the answers to their questions and the ideas they found interesting, have students code the information in their L columns. For example, they can put a check mark next to the information that answers questions from the K column. And they can put a star next to ideas that they found interesting.
Have students consult other resources to find out the answers to questions that were not answered in the text. (It is unlikely that all of the students' questions in the W column will be answered by the text.)
- Discuss the information that students recorded in the L column.
W Column Suggestions
Ogle, D.M. 1986. K-W-L: A teaching model that develops active reading of expository text. Reading Teacher 39: 564-570.
Following is an example of a completed K-W-L chart that students might complete if they were reading a text about gravity.
Topic: GRAVITY
|It keeps us from floating around.
It makes things fall.
There is less gravity on the moon.
Isaac Newton discovered gravity.
|What is gravity?
Why is there less gravity on the moon?
How did Newton discover gravity?
What determines how fast something will fall to the ground? (teacher question)
|Gravity is the force that pulls objects towards Earth.
The amount of gravity there is depends on the masses of the objects involved. The moon is a lot less massive than the earth, so there is less gravity on the moon than there is on earth.
Air resistance determines how fast something will fall to the ground.
* The students' question about Newton was not answered in the text. Students should be encouraged to consult other sources to find out the answer to this question.


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Giant panda
|Giant panda
|Scientific classification
|Kingdom Information
|Phylum Information
|Class Information
|Order Information
|Family Information
|Genus Information
|Species Information
|A. melanoleuca
| A. melanoleuca melanoleuca
A. melanoleuca qinlingensis
|Population statistics
|2,000-3,000 (2006)
|Conservation status
The giant panda, or panda bear, is a large black and white mammal native to central-western and southwestern China, today classified as a member of the bear family (Ursidae),[1] though its unusual unbearlike features and habits for a long period consigned it to its own family (the Ailuridae).
The giant panda has a diet which is 98% bamboo, with other foods including fish, honey and yams. The giant panda is an endangered animal, with an estimated 3,000 pandas alive in the wild, though intensive conservation efforts have been made by the Chinese.
Evolutionists such as Stephen Jay Gould have tried to claim that the panda's thumb, which is a modified seamoid bone, is evidence of evolution. Gould claimed that an actual Intelligent Designer would have made the panda's thumb the same as the human thumb. But all this shows is variation, not evolution, possibly occurring in the panda. This argument also assumes that the Designer would want to design the panda the same way He designed the human. This assumption depends on revelation or hubristic assumptions about the nature of God.[2]
The World Wide Fund for Nature uses a giant panda as its logo, and the animal has been an enduring symbol for wildlife conservation for over 40 years.
In Popular Culture
Pandas are quite popular in culture, despite their low population. Below are some examples:
In the movie Kung Fu Panda and its two sequels, Po, the protagonist, is a panda.[3]
The fourth expansion of World of Warcraft, Mists of Pandaria, has a race called the Pandaren, which are modeled after Pandas.[4]
- ↑ Giant Panda classification
- ↑ Woodmorappe, John, Panda thumbs its nose at the dysteleological arguments of the atheist Stephen Jay Gould, Journal of Creation 13(1):45–48, April 1999.
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441773/
- ↑ http://us.battle.net/wow/en/game/mists-of-pandaria/


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Riders this week: 10,812
Rider miles this week: 111,645
Gwyneth Paltrow was spotted riding from Sag Harbor to East Hampton last Saturday morning. Some people thought she was on her way to the Grand Opening of the Restoration Hardware Store on Main Street in East Hampton. Others said she was off to Cyril's in Napeague, but in the crowds that day nobody was able to keep track of where she got off.
Sarah Palin, who has been traveling around the country with her entourage visiting bowling alleys, motorcycle gang conventions, shrimp boat docks and Walmarts to be with her "people," also came out to the Hamptons last week to visit the little fishing shack she owns in Hampton Bays and sit in her rowboat to be photographed "fishing." She also visited the Hampton Subway building on Ponquogue Avenue and ate a hoagie in the cafeteria with some of the workers, then walked down to the Hampton Bays subway platform across the street to be photographed next to a subway train. [expand]
The Hamptons Subway maintenance crew, which has been collecting debris and other junk from the subway tunnels for the past year, will hold it's annual auction next Thursday at 4 p.m. in the lobby of Hampton Bays HQ. Items include an unused Kleenex box, magazines, baby bottles both full of milk and not, car keys and wedding rings. This is the third year this auction has been taking place and it's hoped that there is a bigger turnout than in the past and that more of this stuff is sold than before. Recycling is a big part of saving our planet, after all.
Straphangers can now have a microchip embedded in their heads that will allow them to go through the turnstiles without having to swipe a subway card. The procedure can be performed by any doctor in the community licensed by Hampton Subway to do the job. The cost of each trip using the chip, during the first year, is $1 instead of $2 deducted from a pre-arranged credit card. (The secretaries in your physician's office are also trained to do this.) The volunteers who tested these chips in a three-month pre-approval test (required by the Metropolitan Transit Authority) say that the chips also work on the turnstiles of the Atlanta subway system, and, surprisingly, also open certain hotel room doors and locked cars.
As reported last week, flocks of endangered piping plover birds were repeatedly seen fluttering around in a tunnel between East Hampton and Wainscott. If they nested on the tracks, the subway would have had to shut down. Due to the creative thinking of Bobby Benton, a messenger trainee at our Hampton Bays headquarters, it was decided to temporarily remove all the vent gratings above the tunnels that sit flush in the ground throughout the Hamptons. We did and the piping plovers, bless them, flew away.
I was privileged to have an invitation to meet with Sarah Palin when she was at her fishing shack in Hampton Bays last Thursday. It came at the last minute and so unfortunately, I had to leave in the middle of one of our monthly meetings with disgruntled subway passengers. When you get an invitation like this from a great woman, you do what you have to do. But when I got to her fishing shack, her rowboat was there along with all her household help, but Sarah was nowhere to be found. She'd gone off in her tour bus to meet with some unemployed blue-collar workers in a bar in Mastic Beach. She's an impulsive woman, that Sarah. She gets my vote. [/expand]


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bones wrote:OK, then, here's your chance to prove it. As you no longer have access to Wasp, here's an MP3 I made of the patch I was talking about. Literally two minutes work to go from the Avalon preset to this - https://1drv.ms/u/s!AhDr3VAcPPPegZY7nGt2J8LzZ8Un8Q
You're kidding right ? That's the sound you want to use to prove Wasp is still relevant ? And you had to tweak an existing Wasp patch ? As I said earlier I loaded up Orion and gave Wasp a listen earlier today so obviously I still have access to it so post the actual patch and the .sfs file.
bones wrote:Of course, that was followed by about half-an-hour of wrestling with DUNE 2
Maybe if you had spent time with it you wouldn't be wrestling with a synth that a lot of people find quite easy to program.
bones wrote:For me it's the filters I can't get to work as well. Wasp's LP Fat and LP+Notch are what makes Wasp so handy/nasty and irreplaceable.
I'm sure that Rich is fascinated to learn his new synth doesn't sound as good as his old synth. Luckily the vast majority of users disagree with you....


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Parable of the Good Samaritan
In Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells a powerful story about a traveler who is assaulted by thieves and left for dead. Two people his listeners would hold in high esteem ignore the man, while a person his listeners would despise (Samaria) helps the victim, brings him to an inn to be cared for, and promises the inn-keeper that his expenses will be reimbursed.
The Good Samaritan may represent the Christian. Even when religious leaders, like the priest or Levite who passed by the hurt man, while not acknowledging a soul in despair, the Christian will. He rescues the heathan man from death on the side of the road. The Jews hated the Samaritans; they were half-breeds, a mix of Jews and Gentiles. This makes the irony greater that the Jew, robbed and beaten, was aided by a Samaritan, much like the Christians today are persecuted by God-denying heathans.
The Good Samaritan may represent Jesus Christ, who saves the sould on the road to destruction, putting him on the right path. The Jew had been travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho, which is a road downhill, from the city of God to the cursed city, originally belonging to the Cannanites. The interpretation is that the man is on his way to hell, and along the dangerous road he is attacked. The Lord rescues him from sin, curing his wounds with oil, carrying him "on his own beast. Luke 10:34" Jesus brings him to the inn, which represents the church, and provides the saints there with the rescorces ("two pence" Luke 10:35) to nurse him back to health. The Samaritan sayes "Take care of him; and whatesoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee." In the same way, Jesus will come again and reward his church for tending to lost souls.


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I have a youtube channel where I express myself through crazy comedy videos. I have over 2 million subscribers and 500 million video views. I want to connect with my fans one on one and I hope to do a tour so I can meet and hug them ALL! :)
Categories: Comedy
All video content is provided by Youtube, and any questions, comments, or concerns regarding such content should be directed to Youtube


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Grinners Catering Perth
Who We Are
First established in 1987, Grinners Catering Perth have become one of Australia's largest award winning catering groups. If you have used Grinners Perth before, our dedication to an unrivalled level of service certainly won't come as a surprise to you.
But, on the other hand, if you are yet to experience the ultimate catering service - when you choose Grinners Perth you will be pleasantly surprised!
Please take some time to browse our franchise site and you too could be enjoying the 'Grinners Experience!'
View Larger Map


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Admissions / Exchange Programs
Exchange Programs /
Exchange Student Program and Visiting Student Program
Seoul National University offers international students various ways to study, not only as degree-seeking students but also as short-term students such as exchange or visiting students. A large number of international students in the past have enjoyed studying at Korea's most prestigious university and learning about Korea and Korean culture. SNU annually accepts about 600 international students for exchange programs.
Exchange Student Program
The Exchange Student Program is for students from SNU's partner universities who wish to study at SNU for one or two semesters and transfer credits to their home institution. Since the first student exchange agreement with the University of Tokyo in 1995, SNU has signed more than 800 academic exchange agreements with institutions all around the world.
To be an exchange student, candidates must be officially nominated by their home institution and pay the tuition fee to their home institution, not to SNU. On-campus housing is provided and fees for taking Korean language courses will be partially supported. For more information on this program, visit the website of the SNU Office of International Affairs.
Visiting Student Program
The Visiting Student Program is offered to students who are from non-partnering universities but want to study at SNU for one or two semesters. The students must pay the tuition fee at SNU and may request a credit transfer at their home institution. On-campus housing is not available for visiting students, and there is no financial support for the Korean language program. To apply for the visiting student program, students must apply directly to the SNU Office of International Affairs.SNU OIA website
Last updated in 2020


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The 'Today' Show launches new book club
NEW YORK >> NBC's "Today" show is investing in readers.
The morning program announced Tuesday that it is starting a new book club. Its first club pick is "The Bone Season," the debut novel of 21-year-old Samantha Shannon. Published by Bloomsbury, it's the first in a planned seven-part series set in a dystopian futuristic London.
The "Today" show had a book club about 10 years ago. It lasted about three years.
This time the show has combined forces with Google+ Hangout to open up a discussion about the books among "Today" personalities, authors and fans.
New selections will be made every four to five weeks. The chosen reads will have stickers on their covers like Oprah's Book Club, which was featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Winfrey has revived her club on the OWN network, now called Oprah's Book Club 2.0.


text:
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|S&S Worldwide
|Allergen - Latex
|Instructions Included
|Battery Type
Reviewed by 3 customers
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Comments about Story Starter Toss 'n Talk-About® Ball:
The residents at our care facility have enjoyed getting together and tossing this ball to one another and hearing the responses to which starter has been touched.
Best Uses
Comments about Story Starter Toss 'n Talk-About® Ball:
I use this product at my facility and it's great for residents with dementia. It help to simulate their imagination besides being an easy tool for hand/eye coordination.
Best Uses
Comments about Story Starter Toss 'n Talk-About® Ball:
A great new way to get everyone talking and laughing! The story starter lines are great for any age group and are sure to get the creative juices flowing. The illustrations are really fun too and the ball is thicker than most inflatables so it's sure to last for years!
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