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Organizing your personal finances can be an important part of your life. You need to do all of your research so that you don't wind up losing a ton of money or even losing out on expenses that you need to cover. There are some tips listed below to help you begin.
Cashing in your change can be one of the most beneficial things to do. This can allow you to put away extra money to earn interest for the future. Check under couch cushions, and in your pants to accumulate all of your change. Cash this in at the bank as soon as possible.
Signing up for direct deposits eliminates the hassle of making a special trip to the bank every payday. It also helps you to avoid lost or stolen paychecks and will reduce impulse purchases that are made between the time your check is cashed and the time that it is deposited into your account.
Budgeting is one of the most important things to do with personal finance. Write down everything you spend money on for one whole week or a pay cycle. This will force you to look at what you spend money on and perhaps reevaluate it. You can then see where you can cut back or spend more with.
To maximize the money in your wallet, try not to shop on an empty stomach. When you are hungry, you are more prone to an impulse purchase, given your higher levels of stress and anxiety. Additionally, you will usually spend money on fast food, which will add up over time.
If you plan to open a bank account think about what services you need from the account. Quite often banks charge fees for various services unless you keep a minimum balance. You will have to decide if keeping your money tied-up in a minimum balance is worth the extra services.
If you are lucky enough to have it as an option consider increasing your contributions, or starting an IRA or 401k. Many employers will even match however match you put in at three or four percent, so it's like free money.
To really save yourself some money, pay for everything in cash. Cash does not bounce, and when it is in your wallet, you always know how much money you have. Save yourself trips to the ATM though, as fees can eat up your money. Instead, get cash back at stores.
Credit card debt is a major problem in United States. Nowhere else in the world experiences it to the extent we do. Keep yourself out of debt by only using your credit card when you have money in the bank to spend. Alternatively, get a debit card instead of a credit card.
Do some research about tax deductions. There are many different items you can deduct: Any expense related to your job or business, some medical expenses, expenses linked to education or the profit you made from selling a home, for instance. Keep track of your finances and make sure you save your receipts and bills to do your taxes properly.
You can save money by finding cheap activities for your kids. Many parents think that the only way to please their children is to take them to expensive places. This is just not necessary. Bring them to the library for storytelling or take them to the park and let them play ball.
Embrace frugal living by giving up smoking. This, of course, is not easy for many people. However, in addition to the money you save by not buying cigarettes, you will also save on health-related costs. Quitting smoking cuts down on your health insurance, life insurance and long-term medical expenses.
Keeping track of your finances is a vital part of knowing where you currently stand. Apply for paperless statements, which will allow you to view all of your debits, credits and miscellaneous transactions online. This is very convenient and can allow you to maximize the organization of all of your accounts.
Organizing your personal finances can be very rewarding, but it can also be a lot of work. Regardless if you know what to do and how to organize your finances smarter, you can have a better financial future. So, do yourself a favor by doing your research and applying the above tips to your personal finances.

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to the Indy's annual Fall Arts Preview, our look ahead at upcoming local art events and performances. You may notice that this guide looks different from others in the past. For one, there's not a wall of text extending page after page. We're trying something new, in which the art guide is, well, more artistic. That means a more selective, curated approach to the season. We figure you, the ever-resourceful reader, will enjoy this edition more and trust you'll keep a watchful eye on events as they're covered in the future.
And hey, if you hate it, let us know.
To keep up with all that's happening, watch our Listings section each week for developing events, as well as peakradar.com, a truly user-friendly website that catches all the good stuff well in advance.
For now, though, we hope you enjoy this amuse-bouche — a little taste of the newest and most exciting events ahead.
The season, for our purposes here, starts this very weekend with the Commonwheel Artists Co-Op Labor Day Weekend Art Festival (commonwheel.com/festival.html), returning for its 41st year. The arts and crafts that will be displayed at Manitou's Memorial Park are truly quite varied, making it a great place to shop whether you're seeking high-end work or picking up some charming smaller gifts.
The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (csfineartscenter.org) will unveil El Mac: Aerosol Exalted on Oct. 3 with a day-long street-art festival complete with food trucks, performances by Stoney Bertz and The ReMINDers (among others), and a b-boy battle. The prolific El Mac — who did the most recent album cover for No Doubt — will show some of his portable large-scale works.
Later in October, the FAC will open Springs Surreal (Oct. 24), a juried show of strictly local artists — about time! — ahead of an exhibit of works by René Magritte and other famous surrealists (Nov. 7).
Head to Old Colorado City on Sept. 20 for the all-new Vintage, Antiques + Art in the Park (vintageantiquesandart.com), a fundraiser for the Old Colorado City Foundation that features goods from locals, along with drinks and entertainment. Entry is $10 and includes a beverage/wine ticket.
For more local art, this time straight from its source, hit up the Monument-centric Front Range Open Studios (Sept. 12 and 13, frontrangeopenstudios.com) for a self-guided tour into the workspaces of more than a dozen locals specializing in sculpture, jewelry, glass and custom furniture.
That same weekend, the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo will host the Fall Fine Arts & Cultural Festival (natureandraptor.org/art-festival), a free affair with live music, food and drink, Native American performers, and Pueblo art — including special exhibits like Justin Reddick's Diary of a Servant's Heart from Kadoya Gallery.
A new celebration this year is MACnificent 2015, slated for Sept. 11 at The Cliff House in Manitou Springs. The event honors local arts advocate Chuck Murphy's 80th birthday, while also raising money for the Manitou Art Center. An auction will feature works by the likes of Karen Khoury, Eric Bransby, Floyd Tunson, Laura BenAmots and others, with Gov. John Hickenlooper appearing as guest speaker.
The Pikes Peak Arts Council will host its annual excellence awards (pikespeakartscouncil.org/PPAC-Awards) Oct. 21, this time at the FAC. The Colorado Springs Rotary Club will also host its annual Butterflies and Friends launch Oct. 24. Though renamed "Flight" (csflight.org), it continues to raise money for local school programs through the auctioning of metal butterflies decorated by local artists.
COPPeR will pick up the second year of Arts Month (peakradar.com/artsmonth) in October with a themed approach for each week: Week 1, theater and film; Week 2, visual art; Week 3, music and dance; Week 4, poetry, prose and comedy. It all kicks off Oct. 1 with the free Artini party at The Mansion. Expect performances from poets, dancers, aerialists, comics, musicians and much more.
On to performance. Click here for our look at the theater season ahead, but in addition, watch out for great free talks in the annual Prologue Lecture Series (theatreworkscs.org/prologue1516.html) at TheatreWorks. Highlights this fall include New Yorker writer and critic John Lahr on Sept. 20 and, per its website, Olympia Dukakis, listed only as "Fall 2015." Stay tuned.
Ormao Dance Company will honor its 25th anniversary with concerts from Oct. 23 through 25 at the Colorado Springs School (ormaodance.org). Featured choreography comes from dance star Larry Keigwin, of New York's Keigwin + Company, and noted independent choreographer Hsin-Yu Kao of Taiwan.
In music, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic (csphilharmonic.org) kicks off its season Sept. 19 and 20 with Rachmaninoff's 2nd Concerto. Other concerts will be devoted to Shostakovich and Dvorak, as well as Pops shows for Frank Sinatra (Sept. 25 and 26) and the music of Star Wars over Halloween weekend. Meanwhile, the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs (chamberorchestraofthesprings.org) kicks off its 32nd season with a new partnership with First United Methodist Church for a show devoted to organs Sept. 12, and follows up with themed shows Sun and Open Sky (Oct. 3 and 4) and Elements (Nov. 7 and 8).
Hear Here (wheretohear.org), this bastion of local poetry, has changed its routine with a new Third Thursday location (the Lon Chaney Theater). You can also celebrate the written word with the one-year birthday of Mountain Fold Books (mountainfoldbooks.org) Sept. 12; see p. 25 for details.
And finally, in film, the 28th annual Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival is scheduled for Nov. 13 through 15 (rmwfilminstitute.org/festival). Select films will also be screened in October for those who cannot attend the festival.


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The SafeCloud Database, an innovative database system developed by SafeCloud Technologies and INESC TEC, was incorporated with the Maxdata's CLINIdATA, ensuring that all data processing and storage is carried out safely, thus not disclosing any sensitive, personal or business information to third parties. This experimental pilot shows the final results of the SafeCloud project and more than 100 healthcare professionals were invited to test it.
It should be noted that the results of this experimental pilot show that the security and reliability features incorporated in the SafeCloud Database are its major asset, and there is obviously still scope to improve the system performance.


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How much does it cost to advertise on Kidsguide and what do you get?


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Miss USA Alyssa Campanella has admitted that her "jaw dropped" when she was named the winner of the competition.
Campanella was representing California when she won the Miss USA 2011 pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Speaking on NBC's Today this morning, she said: "They list the runner-up first and of course you don't want your name called at that point. When Giuliana Rancic said, 'The Miss USA 2011 is Ca...' I knew... My jaw dropped to the floor."
Campanella, from Sherman Oaks, triumphed over Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham in the final. Before the result was revealed, co-host Andy Cohen told the audience that Campanella and Durham were close friends.
"We were actually hoping it would come down to us two because we'd be happy either way it went," said Campanella. "So when it came down to us two we were so excited."
Campanella, 21, will now represent the USA at the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 12.
Watch more of Alyssa Campanella's appearance on Today:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


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Sunburn Festival 2017. wakad, pcmc
New Decade. New Experience. New Memories. SUNBURN Festival is back, Bigger and Better this 2017.
Presenting to you a 4-Day Festival featuring the mega Artists, DJ SNAKE, Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and many more.
Dates: 28th December – 31st December.
Venue: Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune.
Rates: Early Bird GA: ₹5952 Reservations
on: +91-9987688449.
P.S: Many more Artist Announcements to follow. Wink Entertainment – Exclusive Offline Ticketing Partner.


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October 21, 2019 Do not miss your chance to catch Cautious Clay live.
Author: Maxamillion Polo
Subscribe toour Newsletter
Singer @mayaxcumming tells her queer coming-of-age story in "Apricots" Video
Watch it here: bit.ly/37BL9GH https://t.co/N1W1pK6q40
.@benkesslermusic and @LizzyMcAlpine paint a picture of pure emotion on "False Art"
Listen here:… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
'Sleeping Bag' is a straightforward artistic expression of @nikoxrose's sound and musical identity. All 6 tracks on… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…


text: Saul Retav 55 Report post Posted October 7, 2016 The complexity and expense of TU's will basically limit their use to large-ish organizations which will lead to political borders as in RL. But will there be some mechanicism that allows "private ownership" of land? That is, if an organization wants to rent out smaller parcels of its 1km TU to individuals or companies (e.g. a government allowing private land ownership within it's borders), what might that look like in-game? It seems like there should be some kind of mechanism that facilitates that, right? 2 Violet and Ben Fargo reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Good morning - As we all know the
New Orleans Saints are going to be playing against the Indianapolis Colts in the SuperDuperBowl down in on Sunday February 7. Now picking out different apps or dishes to make to represent Miami New Orleans & is like shooting fish in a barrel. It's coming up with something to represent Miami Indianapolis or the great state of that has me bamboozled & perplexed. So far the only Indiana things I can think of are Corn, Milk, the Indy 500, Breaking Away, Hoosiers, Notre Dame & the Touchdown Jesus. Not exactly an "In the know" type of list, is it ? Indiana
So here is what I need from you - HELP !!!! If you have a recipe idea, I would love to hear it. If you have a theme or an inspiration I can steal & follow, bring it on. Thanks and there will be pictures & prizes on game day.
That's what's cooking behind the shades for now - 12 more days until kickoff


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STRUCTURE OF INHUMANITY, the "epic, melodic death/power metal" band featuring PYRAMAZE/ECHOTERRA keyboardist Jonah Weingarten, ex-ARSIS bassist Noah Martin, SUSPYRE vocalist Clay Barton, SUSPYRE drummer Gabe Marshall, and the twin axe assault of newcomers Mike Iuzzolino and Brandon Ellis, will film two videos — for the songs "Red Ashes" and "The Ruin" — in January with acclaimed director Scott Hansen.
Commented Weingarten: "We are thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to work with such an excellent director. Scott's work speaks for itself, and we are confident that through this collaboration we can offer people a visual incite into what STRUCTURE OF INHUMANITY is all about. Prepare to have your collective faces melted!"
STRUCTURE OF INHUMANITY's track "The Passing Phase" is available for streaming on the group's MySpace page. The song comes off the band's debut, entitled "Completion Integration", which was co-produced by James Murphy (TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY) and Peter Wichers (SOILWORK), both of whom also make guest appearances on the effort. Murphy also mixed and mastered the CD, the drum tracks for which were laid down by former FIREWIND skinsman Brian Harris.
STRUCTURE OF INHUMANITY is currently negotiating with labels and looks forward to finding the right home for the band to release this "melodic metal assault."


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Reversal of Cardiac Dysfunction After Long-Term Expression of SERCA2a by Gene Transfer in a Pre-Clinical Model of Heart Failure
Author + information
- Received October 12, 2007
- Revision received December 5, 2007
- Accepted December 10, 2007
- Published online March 18, 2008.
Author Information
- Yoshiaki Kawase, MD⁎,
- Hung Q. Ly, MD, MSc⁎,†,
- Fabrice Prunier, MD, PhD‡,
- Djamel Lebeche, PhD⁎,
- Yanfen Shi, MD†,
- Hongwei Jin, PhD⁎,
- Lahouaria Hadri, PhD⁎,
- Ryuichi Yoneyama, MD, PhD§,
- Kozo Hoshino, MD∥,
- Yoshiaki Takewa, MD, PhD⁎,
- Susumu Sakata, PhD¶,
- Richard Peluso, PhD#,
- Krisztina Zsebo, PhD⁎⁎,
- Judith K. Gwathmey, VMD, PhD††,
- Jean-Claude Tardif, MD†,
- Jean-François Tanguay, MD† and
- Roger J. Hajjar, MD⁎,⁎ (roger.hajjar{at}mssm.edu)
- ↵⁎Reprint requests and correspondence:
Dr. Roger J. Hajjar, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Center, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1030, New York, New York 10029.
Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the effects of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a) gene transfer in a swine heart failure (HF) model.
Background Reduced expression and activity of SERCA2a have been documented in HF. Prior studies have reported the beneficial effects of short-term SERCA2a overexpression in rodent models. However, the effects of long-term expression of SERCA2a in pre-clinical large animal models are not known.
Methods Yorkshire-Landrace pigs were used (n = 16) to create volume overload by percutaneously severing chordae tendinae of the mitral apparatus with a bioptome to induce mitral regurgitation. At 2 months, pigs underwent intracoronary delivery of either recombinant adeno-associated virus type 1 (rAAV1) carrying SERCA2a under a cytomegalovirus promoter (rAAV1.SERCA2a) (n = 10; group 1) or saline (n = 6; group 2).
Results At 2 months, study animals were found to be in a compensated state of volume-overload HF (increased left ventricular internal diastolic and systolic diameters [LVIDd and LVIDs]). At 4 months, gene transfer resulted in: 1) positive left ventricular (LV) inotropic effects (adjusted peak left ventricular pressure rate of rise (dP/dt)max/P, 21.2 ± 3.2 s−1 group 1 vs. 15.5 ± 3.0 s−1 group 2; p < 0.01); 2) improvement in LV remodeling (% change in LVIDs −3.0 ± 10% vs. +15 ± 11%, respectively; p < 0.01). At follow-up, brain natriuretic peptide levels remained stable in group 1 after gene transfer, in contrast to rising levels in group 2. Further, cardiac SERCA2a expression was significantly decreased in group 2 whereas in group 1 it was restored to normal levels. There was no histopathological evidence of acute myocardial inflammation or necrosis.
Conclusions Using a large-animal, volume-overload model of HF, we report that long-term overexpression of SERCA2a by in vivo rAAV1-mediated intracoronary gene transfer preserved systolic function, potentially prevented diastolic dysfunction, and improved ventricular remodeling.
Despite recent advances in treatment strategies, heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide (1) with annual mortality rates ranging from 25% to 30% in post-infarction HF patients (2). These facts highlight an important gap between current therapeutic approaches and key underlying biological processes relating to cardiomyocytes in the setting of chronic cardiac dysfunction.
At the cellular level, HF is characterized by disturbances in excitation-contraction coupling (3,4). Alterations in calcium (Ca2+) handling lead to impaired efflux of intracellular Ca2+ with defects in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ loading and release. The pivotal role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a) pump in Ca2+ homeostasis has been described, with reports of consistently decreased levels of SERCA2a protein expression and activity in the failing human heart (5–7). Prior reports have shown that targeting SERCA2a by gene transfer is feasible and represents a novel therapeutic modality to improve diastolic and systolic disturbances in HF (8–10).
Short-term expression, low efficiency, and immune response elicited by current vectors has mitigated the therapeutic applicability of gene transfer (11). Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have emerged as promising viral vectors due to more efficient uptake and stable, long-term expression of transferred genes (12). Moreover, the AAV1 serotype may be ideal for targeting the heart due to its tropism for muscle tissues. Using a swine model of volume-overload HF, we investigated the impact of SERCA2a overexpression by AAV1 gene transfer. Herein, we show that the latter can lead to long-term increases in SERCA2a tissue expression with both structural and functional cardiac improvement.
Animal care and all procedures were approved by local institutional committees and were performed in accordance with the "Principles of Laboratory Animal Care by the National Society for Medical Research and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" (NIH Publication No. 86-23, revised 1985).
Volume-overload HF model creation
Yorkshire-Landrace swine (n = 26, 33.5 ± 1.8 kg) underwent the procedure to induce volume-overload HF. All study animals were sedated with telazol 6.0 mg/kg intramuscularly and mechanically ventilated with isoflurane 0.5% to 2% and oxygen. As previously reported (13), mitral regurgitation (MR) was created by inserting of an 8-F sheath into the internal carotid artery then under fluoroscopic guidance, a bioptome (BIOPAL 7, Cordis Corp., Miami, Florida) was positioned in the left ventricle (LV) to rupture the chordae tendinae of the mitral valve apparatus. Serial hemodynamic were obtained with a high-fidelity, pressure transducer catheter (Millar Instruments Inc., Houston, Texas). Severe MR at creation was confirmed angiographically (contrast dye reflux into the pulmonary veins) and hemodynamically (increased LV end-diastolic pressure >16 mm Hg). Subsequently, study animals were allowed to recover and treated with daily oral furosemide (20 mg) and nitroglycerin (2 mg).
Recombinant AAV1 carrying SERCA2a (rAAV1.SERCA2a) vector construction
Vector production, harvest, purification, and testing were done as previously described (14). The rAAV1.SERCA2a vector used in this study contains an AAV serotype 1 viral capsid and a single-stranded ∼4.5 kb DNA containing the human SERCA2a cDNA driven by a CMV immediate-early promoter/enhancer, a hybrid intron, and a bovine growth hormone poly-adenylation signal, all flanked by 145 nt AAV2 inverted terminal repeat sequences necessary for replication and packaging of the vector DNA in the capsid. The vector was manufactured using standard calcium phosphate transfection methods in adherent 293 cells. Three plasmids were used, 1 containing helper functions from adenovirus, 1 containing the AAV rep2 and cap1 genes, and the third containing the vector genome. Final vector preparations were more than 95% pure as judged by SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, California).
Vector delivery
At 2 months, swine underwent intracoronary injection of either rAAV1.SERCA2a or saline. On the day of injection, the virus was kept on ice after thawing. Subsequently, 1012 DNAse resistant particles of rAAV1.SERCA2a solution or a similar volume of saline was diluted in buffer (130 mM NaCl, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 1 mM MgCl2) (total volume of 10 ml). The mixture was then mixed with 10 ml of autologous whole blood in preparation for injection. A 7-F femoral artery sheath was placed and a coronary guiding catheter was then selectively engaged into the coronary artery ostium. After confirming catheter positioning by coronary angiogram, either rAAV1.SERCA2a or saline was delivered via a standard injection pump over 10 min.
Cardiac parameters measurements
All parameters were collected at baseline (pre-MR creation), at 2 months (pre-virus/saline injection) and at 4 months (sacrifice). The average of at least 3 consecutive cardiac cycles was used for each measurement.
A 6-F Millar MIKRO-TIP catheter (Millar Instruments Inc., Houston, Texas) positioned within the LV cavity was used to collect the following parameters: systolic pressure, LV end-diastolic pressure, peak LV pressure rate of rise (dP/dt)max and decline (dP/dt)min and Tau value (time constant of isovolumic relaxation); (dP/dt)max/P was calculated as (dP/dt)max/(systolic − end-diastolic pressure).
Transthoracic echocardiograms were performed under similar conditions (i.e., while study animals were mechanically ventilated with isoflurane 0.5% to 2% with breath holds during image acquisition) using the GE Vivid 7 cardiovascular ultrasound system (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) with a 3-MHz transducer. Serial echocardiographic data were collected in a blinded fashion. The Teichholz method was employed to calculate LV volumes and ejection fraction (LVEF) (15). The parasternal long-axis view was used to measure left ventricular diameters at end-diastole (LVIDd) and end-systole (LVIDs). Mitral regurgitation volume was measured using the PISA method (16).
Tissue and blood samples
At study completion (4 months), intracoronary cardioplegic solution (Plegisol, Hospira Inc., Lake Forest, Illinois) was used to perform humane euthanasia. Tissue samples from various organs (heart, brain, skeletal muscle, liver, adrenal glands, kidneys, lymph nodes, and ovaries) were placed in 10% formalin solution for histological assessment. Tissues collected for Western blot and enzymatic analysis were snap-frozen with liquid nitrogen. Serial blood samples were collected for brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements.
The microsomal fraction was prepared from snap-frozen swine heart (5 to 10 g of heart muscle), pulverized in liquid nitrogen, and homogenized in a buffer solution containing 5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 2 mM EDTA, and 8.5% sucrose with a Potter homogenizer. The homogenate was centrifuged at 1,000 × g for 10 min. The supernatant was then centrifuged for 15 min at 9,000 × g, the resultant supernatant was spun twice for 15 min at 20,000 × g. Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles present in this latter 20,000 × g supernatant were pelleted by a 1-h 110,000 × g spin. The pellet was resuspended in 500 μl of the homogenization buffer. All centrifugations were performed at 0 to 4°C. Protein samples were prepared from isolated swine microsomal fractions, matched for protein concentration (using the Bradford method), and separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. Membrane blots were incubated with antibodies against SERCA2a and phospholamban (ABR-Affinity Bioreagents, 1:400 dilution, Golden, Colorado) overnight at 4°C. Reactive bands were visualized by chemiluminescence (PE Life Sciences, Inc., St. Petersburg, Florida), and films from at least 3 independent experiments were scanned and densities of the immunoreactive bands were evaluated using NIH Image software. Protein levels of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were used as internal control. Density values of bands of SERCA2a and phospholamban were normalized against GAPDH values.
RNA isolation and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
The mRNA levels of SERCA2a were measured using RT-PCR. Total RNA was isolated using TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen) and by adding chloroform after tissue disruption. After centrifugation, the RNA in the supernatant solution was precipitated by adding an equal volume of ice-cold isopropanol. RNA pellets were obtained by centrifugation at 12,000 g for 10 min at 4°C and washed by 75% ethanol. Pellets were resuspended in RNase-free water (Invitrogen). The cDNA was synthesized from 1 μg of total RNA using iScript reverse transcriptase (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, California) in a final volume of 20 μl. GAPDH mRNA levels served as internal controls. The annealing temperature for PCR reaction cycles was adjusted for each specific primer set. Density values of bands of interest from 3 independent experiments were normalized against GAPDH values.
Statistical analysis
Continuous variables were reported as mean ± standard deviation. The 2-sided paired Student t test was used to analyze differences within the same group whereas the unpaired t test, for between-group differences. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
A total of 26 female Yorkshire-Landrace swine were subjected to MR creation. Throughout the study, no significant difference in body weight was documented between study groups. At 2 months, the 16 surviving swine were injected either with rAAV1.SERCA2a (n = 10, group 1) or Saline (n = 6, group 2). Three animals died after virus injection: 1 was due to a post-catheterization stroke-like syndrome; another presented a persistent febrile state with deteriorating general status, and, lastly, 1 expired from worsening HF. Thirteen animals (n = 7 from group 1; n = 6 from group 2) survived to 4 months.
Cardiac function and remodeling
This severe MR model resulted in a compensated state of HF as shown by the absence of overt systolic dysfunction in both groups (Table 1). No significant difference was documented between the saline and SERCA2a groups for the following parameters: heart rate (2 months: 94 ± 26 beats/min vs. 83 ± 10 beats/min, 4 months: 88 ± 13 beats/min vs. 86 ± 17 beats/min, respectively; p = NS), peak LV pressure (2 months: 94.9 ± 24.0 mm Hg vs. 92.4 ± 8.0 mm Hg, 4 months: 103.4 ± 14.8 mm Hg vs. 100.6 ± 16.8 mm Hg, respectively; p = NS), and end-diastolic pressure (2 months: 10.9 ± 5.5 mm Hg vs. 9.7 ± 3.5 mm Hg, 4 months: 14.0 ± 1.2 mm Hg vs. 13.9 ± 8.4 mm Hg, respectively; p = NS). A significant difference was documented between the saline and SERCA2a groups for LVEF (61.5 ± 7.4% vs. 70.6 ± 3.5%, respectively; p < 0.05) (Table 1), (dP/dt)max (1,396 ± 383 mm vs. 1,822 ± 317 mm Hg/s, respectively; p < 0.05), and adjusted rate of rise, (dP/dt)max/P (15.5 ± 3.0 s−1 vs. 21.2 ± 3.2 s−1, respectively; p < 0.01) (Fig. 1).
Diastolic function was also evaluated after MR creation. Both groups had comparable Tau values from at 2 months. However, after injection, a trend favoring the SERCA2a group was found with isovolumic relaxation abnormalities progressing in the saline group in contrast to the SERCA2a group (Fig. 2).
At 2 months, the volume-overload HF model was successful in inducing significant changes in ventricular parameters LVIDd as well as LVIDs compatible with remodeling in both groups (Table 2). Moreover, when looking at the progression of ventricular dimensions over time (indirect evidence of ventricular remodeling), there was significant difference between study groups favoring the SERCA2a group (Fig. 3).
Of note, no difference in MR regurgitant volume, as measured by PISA method, was noted in both groups at the time of injection (47.9 ± 26.4 ml, saline group vs. 52.3 ± 21.8 ml, SERCA2a group; p = NS). At follow-up, the values for the regurgitant volume in the saline group at 2 months and 4 months, respectively, were 47.9 ± 26.4 ml to 62.4 ± 35.6 ml, and in the SERCA2a group 52.3 ± 21.8 ml to 47.9 ± 25.8 ml. The difference between 2 months and 4 months in terms of the regurgitant fraction in the saline group was +22.1 ± 30.2 while in the SERCA2a group it was −4.4 ± 16.3 (p = 0.1).
Cardiac tissue expression of SERCA2a and phospholamban
Cardiac tissue expression of SERCA2a was significantly decreased in the saline group relative to the normal heart group. Conversely, SERCA2a expression levels were restored to normal levels in the SERCA2a group (Fig. 4A). Further, despite a lack of difference in SERCA2a mRNA levels between the saline group and normal heart group, mRNA levels were significantly higher in the SERCA2a group when compared with levels seen in either the saline group or the normal heart group (Fig. 4B). Finally, the relative protein expression of phospholamban was comparable among the different groups as shown in Figure 5.
Additional assessments
Adjusting for body weight, the SERCA2a group had significantly smaller total LV muscle mass (3.0 ± 0.4 mg/kg vs. 3.6 ± 0.4 mg/kg, respectively; p < 0.05) and smaller total right ventricular muscle mass (0.9 ± 0.1 vs.1.1 ± 0.1 mg/kg, respectively; p < 0.01) relative to saline group. In collected cardiac tissue samples, no evidence of histological changes compatible with acute myocardial toxicity (inflammation response, myocarditis, or vasculitis) related to rAAV1.SERCA2a gene transfer was documented. In addition, histological analyses did not reveal any direct evidence of toxicity after gene transfer to other end-organs (results not shown). Despite a wide range of total creatine kinase (CK) levels (between 293 to 1,469 U/l), none of the CK-MB fractions reached significant levels in both groups.
The rAAV1.SERCA2a gene transfer did not adversely affect hematologic parameters. No reticulocytosis or white blood cell count increases (including eosinophils) were documented nor were there increases in fibrinogen levels in the SERCA2a group. Further, at 4 months, no altered renal (electrolytes, creatinine, blood-urea-nitrogen) and hepatic (aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin) functions were found (results not shown). Finally, serial evaluations of BNP revealed comparable levels between study groups at baseline. At the time of sacrifice, the saline group showed a significant increase in BNP levels relative to baseline (12,664 ± 4,336 pg/ml vs. 5,704 ± 962 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.05) whereas such a difference was not noted in the SERCA2a group (7,472 ± 1,456 pg/ml vs. 4,970 ± 2,509 pg/ml, respectively; p = NS). Moreover, there was a distinct trend favoring the SERCA2a group at 4 months relative to the saline group, with regard to deterioration of BNP levels (7,472 ± 1,456 pg/ml vs. 12,664 ± 4,336 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.051) (Fig. 6).
At the molecular and cellular level, disturbances in excitation-contraction coupling characterize the underlying defects relating to contractile function seen in HF (17). A pivotal component of calcium handling is the SERCA2a pump (17–20). Early experiments have shown that chemically induced decreased levels of SERCA2a could be improved (21) as well as shortening and calcium transients by adenoviral gene transfer of SERCA2a (8). Prior short-term, small-animal studies have shown that gene transfer, to restore SERCA2a expression and activity, can lead to functional improvement in failing hearts (9,10). Our study extends these results by showing that long-term overexpression of SERCA2a by in vivo rAAV1 gene transfer can positively impact cardiac function and structure in a large-animal model of HF.
SERCA2a expression using rAAV1
Reduced SERCA2a protein levels and activity have been reported to occur in failing hearts (5,7). Prior reports have shown the successful restoration of the SERCA2a pump levels with a catheter-based technique in a small-animal model of HF with homogenous expression patterns obtained after gene transfer by adenoviral vector (22). However, the latter vector system only allows for transient transgene expression (on the order of days to weeks) (23). In an effort to favor clinical applicability and effectively target chronic progressive disease states (such as HF), more efficient vector systems associated with long-term transgene expression are required.
Adeno-associated viruses are replication-defective, nonpathogenic parvoviruses with a single-stranded DNA genome (24,25). These viruses are emerging as promising vectors, exhibiting serotype-specific tissue or cell-type tropism, increased in vivo transduction efficiency to both dividing and nondividing target cells, sustained expression (from several months to years), and reduced immunogenicity compared with other viral vector systems (12,26). With documented greater tissue-specific tropism for certain AAV serotypes, transition towards clinical applicability is increasingly feasible; AAV serotype 1 offers attractive biological profiles, such as muscle tropism and ability to bypass pre-existing immunity (i.e., neutralizing antibodies) due to natural infection (27,28). Concerns of adverse immunologic response from prior experience with adenoviral-mediated gene delivery do not seem to apply to rAAV1 since our histological specimens did not reveal any evidence of inflammatory reaction. In this study, we have thus shown that, using the rAAV1 vector, SERCA2a mRNA and protein levels can be successfully and safely overexpressed in swine hearts up to 2 months after delivery.
Cardiac gene transfer
An important challenge to clinical translation of pre-clinical findings has been the efficiency of current myocardial gene transfer strategies (11). Direct intramyocardial viral vectors injection has been reported in pre-clinical studies. However, major technical drawbacks of this approach remain: 1) a limited surface area of the myocardium efficiently transfected; and 2) the surgical nature of this route would conceivably not represent the ideal strategy for the majority of HF patients.
Intracoronary delivery remains an attractive alternative due to its limited invasiveness as well as for the possibility to attain widespread myocardial gene delivery. Initial studies in large-animal models using adenovirus have reported conflicting results in terms of consistency of transfection rates of this delivery strategy (29,30). Potential hurdles hampering efficient viral vector transfection are size and type of vector employed, vehicle composition, coronary flow and pressure, and time of exposure of the vector to the coronary endothelium (31). Our group has previously reported on the reproducibility, feasibility, and safety of percutaneous antegrade myocardial adenoviral gene transfer with concomitant coronary venous blockade in swine hearts (32).
In this study, to simplify the process of intracoronary injection and to test the myocardial transfection efficiency of a different, more cardiotropic viral vector, we chose slow, selective left coronary artery rAAV1.SERCA2a delivery. This approach not only resulted in successful transfection (increased SERCA2a protein and mRNA levels), but, more importantly, in documented improvement in functional and physiological parameters.
Effect of SERCA2a on cardiac function and structure
Results from transgenic animals (33) as well as small-animal studies have convincingly shown enhancement of contractility resulting from overexpression of SERCA2a. With respect to disturbances of Ca2+ handling, the need to better define gene transfer in large-animal models is underscored by known discrepancies between species. Whereas in rats 90% of cytosolic Ca2+ is handled by the SERCA2a pump, in human hearts, the latter's contribution falls to 75% with the remainder of cytosolic Ca2+ being managed by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (20). Further, surprising findings of human dilated cardiomyopathy caused by mutation leading to reduced expression of phospholamban, a direct inhibitor of SERCA2a activity, stands in stark contrast to pre-clinical reports (34). Translational research thus represents not just a logical but necessary step before clinical application.
Bearing in mind known limitations of LVEF as a reliable estimate of systolic function in the setting of severe MR, we believe that our HF model is physiologically relevant in that study groups were most likely in a compensated state of dilated cardiomyopathy. This state represents a commonly occurring, clinically pertinent scenario with increasing numbers of compensated HF patients due to advances in both medical and device therapies. In light of this, the present study represents, to our knowledge, the first report documenting that gene transfer (with rAAV1.SERCA2a vector) significantly impacted on parameters of inotropy, showed a favorable trend for lusitropy, and improved remodeling in the setting of a large-animal model of progressive HF.
Study limitations
An important drawback of this study is the small number of study animals. Though associated with high mortality, this physiologically relevant large-animal model of HF allowed us to show discernable differences (for example, in systolic function and ventricular parameters of remodeling) or trends towards significance (such as was the case for diastolic dysfunction) between study groups. In addition, in our model of MR, Tau as one of the indexes of diastolic dysfunction may be hard to interpret. Greater number of surviving animals would have probably provided more robust statistical comparisons. Moreover, a more extended period of follow-up after gene transfer might have been more insightful for the progression of the HF model and to better contrast the positive effects of SERCA2a overexpression relative to the saline group. The potential pro-arrhythmic effect of SERCA2a gene transfer remains controversial (35,36). While we did not monitor for arrhythmias with continuous loop-recordings or Holter monitors, no documented deaths after gene transfer were sudden. In contrast to previous reports in pre-clinical studies, 2 months after SERCA2a transfection, there was no evidence of sudden death or clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias.
Clinical implications
The delivery methodologies we describe in this study can be directly transferred to the clinical setting in patients. Since issues with biodistribution and safety profiles of rAAV1.SERCA2a have been resolved, gene therapy trials with rAAV1.SERCA2a have begun.
In a volume-overload model of HF, long-term overexpression of SERCA2a by in vivo AAV1-mediated gene transfer (via intracoronary delivery) can preserve systolic function, potentially prevent diastolic dysfunction, and improve ventricular remodeling. These encouraging results pave the way for further studies to better define safety and feasibility of this promising therapeutic approach to HF.
The authors would like to thank Kim Wagner for her review of this article and Catherine McMahon and James Lough for their special assistance.
This study was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health: R01 HL078691, HL071763, HL080498, HL083156, and a Leducq Transatlantic Network (Dr. Hajjar); HL075934 (Dr. Gwathmey); and K01 HL076659 (Dr. Lebeche); and a grant from Celladon, Inc. (Dr. Hajjar). Dr. Hajjar is cofounder of Celladon, Inc., a biotechnology company commercializing rAAV1.SERCA2a for the treatment of heart failure; Dr. Zsebo is chief executive officer of Celladon; and Dr. Peluso is a staff scientist at Targeted Genetics, which manufactures rAAV1.SERCA2a for Celladon. Drs. Kawase and Ly contributed equally to this work.
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- brain natriuretic peptide
- creatine kinase
- dP/dt
- peak left ventricular pressure rate
- heart failure
- left ventricle/ventricular
- left ventricular ejection fraction
- LVIDd
- left ventricular internal diastolic diameter
- LVIDs
- left ventricular internal systolic diameter
- mitral valve regurgitation
- rAAV1
- recombinant adeno-associated virus type 1
- reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
- SERCA2a
- sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase
- Tau
- time constant of isovolumic relaxation
- Received October 12, 2007.
- Revision received December 5, 2007.
- Accepted December 10, 2007.
- American College of Cardiology Foundation
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As 2015 comes to a close, it's easy to see that this was another great year for local musicians of all kinds. From ambient hip-hop to thrash metal, mainstream rap to garage rock, we compiled our favorite releases of the year. - Chris Shaw
Juicy J- 100% Juice mixtape (Self-released)
Juicy J continued to kill the rap game in 2015, but his best work came in the form of a mixtape called 100% Juice. While many a mixtape can feature one or two hits amongst tons of filler, 100% Juice delivers on just about every track, with the song "Ain't No Rappers" being one of the best rap songs of the year, local or not. – CS
Self-recorded and written by Evil Army ringleader Rob "Evil" Wilkerson, Violence and War is six songs of blazing, old-school, battle-themed thrash metal (think Sodom, Deströyer 666, etc). Like the reissue of Evil Army's debut LP and excellent 2013 I, Commander 7" EP, Violence and War was released by Cleveland's venerable Hell's Headbangers label in September and hopefully signals a phase of reborn activity for one of Memphis' longest-running metal hopes. – Andrew Earles
Julien Baker- Sprained Ankle (6131)
This 20-year-old, Arlington-born singer-songwriter's debut earned her national recognition and a spot on the New York Time's best albums of the year list. Songs like "Blacktop" and "Good News" are lonely music for driving without knowing your destination. – Eileen Townsend
The Sheiks- "I'm Broke" B/W "I'm Gonna Make It in My Mind" (Ballroom)
You probably recognize the members of the Sheiks as Jack Oblivian's backing band, but the three-piece is also capable of writing rippers of their own. "I'm Broke" sees the band going in a slightly more aggressive direction, and the result is one of their best songs to date. – CS
The AQuaDice- VHS (Self-released)
I'll admit, I don't know much about Vash, the woman behind the ambient hip-hop project the AQuaDice, whose VHS I've been listening to all week. But this producer/engineer/artist and "eclectic dreaded hippie" (according to her Soundcloud) is a talent to watch. VHS is washed-out and soulful at once, and very cool. – ET
Gimp Teeth- S/T cassette (Self-released)
Eight songs of wonderfully weird/off-kilter hardcore, if that's the best description for it, by a band that have fit themselves into a wild array of shows this past year and should be graduating to the next level if this release is further indication of the band's potential. – AE
Yo Gotti- The Return mixtape (CMG)
Gotti's song "Down in the DM" perfectly captures the weird world of sexting and social-media hookups. Sure, there are 20 great songs on this thing, but "Down in the DM" outshines them all and can be heard on local rap radio stations approximately every 18 minutes. I'm not complaining. – CS
Reatards- Grown Up, Fucked Up (Goner)
After being out of print for years, the second, final, and best full-length of the Reatards' original '90s run was once again made available on vinyl by Goner Records. Originally released by Empty Records in 1999, this LP is a crucial piece in the Jay Reatard discography and historical narrative. – AE
A scorcher of a tape from Jack Oblivian, featuring a collection of demos, outtakes, and rarities mostly recorded in his Midtown apartment. With 22 songs in total, Dream Killer is an inside look at how Jack Oblivian cranks out his hits, and the amazing comic book-style artwork from Michael Watson makes this release feel like a professional one instead of a demo tape. Dream Killer is worth buying a cassette player for. It's that good. - CS
Cities Aviv- Your Discretion Is Trust (Collect)
The music of Gavin Mays, aka Cities Aviv, has been called "post-Internet rap" and "cloud rap" in a nod to the Tumblr circles where it first gained traction. Whatever you call it, one thing is clear from Cities Aviv's eclectically sampled and styled latest: It's great. – ET
PreauXX- Forever. I Will. (TRDON)
PreauXX told the Flyer earlier this year that the title for his latest album was an attempt to kill the underdog title that he's always had as a Memphis rapper. It worked. Forever. I Will. finds the Memphis MC confident in his abilities as he raps about everything from falling in love to the social injustices that inspired the Black Lives Matter movement. Cities Aviv (also on this list) appears on two tracks, and the production by IMAKEMADBEATS and Alexander Odell make this one of the best underground albums of the year. – CS
NOTS- "Virgin Mary" B/W "Shelf Life" (Goner)
NOTS secured a relationship with venerable label Heavenly Recordings for U.K. distribution, which also released the limited-edition "Reactor" remix for the band's first tour overseas. These two songs continue the promise of last year's We Are Nots debut full-length on Goner, and point toward an equally productive 2016. – AE
Dirty Streets- White Horse (Alive)
Sure this album is just a couple months old, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best Memphis rock records of the year. With the help of producer Matt Qualls, Dirty Streets have done it again, wearing their influences on their sleeve in the best way possible. This band has always been excellent live, and White Horse proves that the three-piece know their way around a studio as well. – CS


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01 January 2015
Histopathology images of pulmonary vascular disease: Arteritis in peripheral pulmonary arteries
Arteritis in peripheral pulmonary arteries. (a) Diffuse mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates in a child with a congenital cardiac shunt and pulmonary hypertension; (b) Inflammatory cells within the intimal lesion in a case of idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Hematoxylin-eosin stain, objective magnifications 20x and 40x, respectively.
Additional keywords: inflammation,arteritis,shunt,occlusion,lesion


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Privacy Policy
PRIVACY POLICY LA Productions a company registered under number 4113164 in England with its registered office at Wilson Henry LLP 145 Edge Lane Liverpool L7 2PF website laproductions.co.uk LA Productions is committed to protecting your privacy. We will only use the information that we collect about you lawfully in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2016. Information Collected We collect information from details you supply to us through the interactive sections on the website and from email messages you may send to us. We only use your personal data on relevant lawful grounds as permitted by the General Data Protection Regulation 2016, the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Privacy of Electronic Communication Regulations 2003. Use of Personal Information We collect information about you for three reasons: firstly, to process any email enquiries, secondly to provide news if you are a subscriber, invitations to launches /screenings and finally to provide you with the best possible service. We will give you the chance to refuse any email from us by replying to an unsubscribe button. The type of information we will collect about you includes:
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Get in a Spin – and get into shape
New Spinning Studio will make you fit for purpose
If you are aiming to lose weight or improve your fitness: get in a spin – the Boiler Room Fitness Spinning Studio to be precise.
Spinning is a studio cycle workout set to music and it can be as intense or as gentle as you wish.
Owner Michael Hynes said: "The great thing about Spinning is that workouts are great fun – and they really work.
"Spinning is becoming something of a global phenomenon because it is a minimum impact exercise routine.
"There's no stress on the joints that you might get running for example, and it helps build up strength in the knees and ankles.
"The idea is that you work to a musical beat – at the pace that suits you.
"You can increase or decrease the intensity of your workout by adjusting the Spinning resistance.
"In effect, you can alter the type of "terrain" you are covering."
The studio will be coming soon to the Western Health and Racquets Club in the West End.
You can keep up to date on the studio's development at www.boilerroomfitness.co.uk or on their Facebook page.
Why not register now?
Two to three classes a week are guaranteed to help you achieve your personal goals.
And the classes, run by experienced professionals, accommodate all levels from beginners to experienced individuals.


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Cooperative science research network needed! – AMLC
The Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC) celebrated its 35th Scientific Meeting in the Universidad de Costa Rica at San José, Costa Rica on May 23-27, 2011. With more than 30 institutions involved in marine research, education and resource management, the AMLC aims to encourage the production and exchange of information between researchers and resource managers, increase marine and environmental awareness and promote assistance and collaborative efforts among its members. Representatives from several universities, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations participated in the conference.
Dr. Kurt Grove, CRA team member, carried out a scoping session with about 35 participants of the annual meeting in regard to what efforts (research/information) are currently needed to better management and conservation strategies in the Caribbean. In general, the group suggested that a cooperative science research network is urgently needed to disseminate important data that is critical for making decisions in management and that transbounds all sectors (private and public) and political interests (national and international). They emphasized that the transfer of knowledge should be a transdisciplinary and transboundary endeavor made by researchers, resource managers and governance at all levels in order to integrate the efforts of all sectors into conserving our local resources. Most participants voiced their need for more vertical and horizontal communications between research laboratories and agencies/organizations, which should also help to influence policy makers when making decisions that affect local communities. Efforts to convey the results of scientific research to resource managers in layman's terms so that it is understandable and applicable to management was also considered a main concern. One of the most frequent obstacles mentioned by the group was the lack of participation or representation from important organizations/agencies that could make an impact on science policy. An interesting comment that had not been made in previous discussion sessions is the need for resource managers to use locally-obtained data (which may not be available or doesn't exist), not necessarily regional, and that can be applied to their area. An area of research that was emphasized as a need was the inventory and population status of important coastal species (e.g., land crab Cardisoma).
AMLC members expressed their interest in continuing efforts to exchange research information and data among the marine laboratories in regard to management and conservation of marine resources. A proposal was made to continue discussing topics that involve questions that are relevant for governance and for local or regional issues.
To address the concern about finding information/data pertinent to marine and coastal studies in the Caribbean by way of a web portal, the UPR-SG currently provides a publication database with more than 700 resources (and growing!) that includes reports, thesis, documents, peer-reviewed articles and websites, regarding management and conservation in the Caribbean. We have over 10 different subjects (categories such as climate change, coral reefs, mangroves, sediments, etc.) for you to review!
AMLC holds its Scientific Meetings every other year, of which peer-reviewed Proceedings are published as Supplemental Editions of the International Journal for Tropical Biology (Revista de Biología Tropical) and publish newsletters (in English and Spanish) twice per year. For more information on AMLC's contributions to the community of marine researchers and resource managers, please visit their website here!
Contributed by: K. Grove (Thanks to those that helped take notes of the session!)
Edited by: J. Seda
Posted in: SessionsLeave a Comment (0) ↓


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Round Rock ISD is committed to supporting all students and staff in becoming responsible digital citizens, informed information consumers and producers, and safe users of technology resources. Our activities and interactions online form our digital footprint and shape the online communities of future generations.
This website is a coordinated effort to bring digital citizenship to students, teachers, parents, and our community. It is the result of ongoing, multidisciplinary teamwork including instructional technology specialists, teachers, counselors, librarians, community members and students to create a resource that is flexible and informative.
Together, we will "RROCK" the Web!
Round Rock ISD Digital Citizenship Monthly Themes
August- Acceptable Use
September- Internet Safety
October- Cyberbullying
November- Digital Citizenship Week
December- Digital Footprint and Identity
January- Cyberbullying
February- Relationships and Communication
March- Privacy and Security
April- News and Media Literacy
May- Media Balance and Well-Being


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Why men should pay on the first date? November 16 2017, 0 Comments
Hey Beauties!
For our first blog post, we thought about talking about something that no one ever wants to talk about: how expensive it is to be a woman in the modern dating world and why men should pay for the first date.
Men usually are attracted to women with bouncy and shiny hair, right? Well, we all know that perfect hair costs a little fortune every single time we have to get it done... which is at least every eight weeks!
Shiny, gel nails? Black, luscious eyelashes? Gorgeously smooth legs waxed by a professional? Eyebrows arched to perfection? Fab clothes?
And men think all of this happens by magic? No, (unfortunately) we did not wake up like this.
Also, this effort is not only time consuming; it costs a lot of money. Our friend Sonya will explain it to you in details in the video below:
So, bottom line, this is why we think men should pay for the first date.
We did our part by getting glammed, so let them do their part by paying the bill, right? After all, relationships are a two-way street.
What do you think girls? Should men pay for the first date or not? Let us know in the comments!


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It is easy to forget that the nine-year war in Afghanistan began its life as "Operation Enduring Freedom". In the discursive vacuum that followed 9/11, such trivialised and overblown rhetoric was commonplace – as were notions that security and democracy in Afghanistan and the Middle East could be achieved through US-led invasion and occupation.
While the original "war on terror" paradigm has long been discarded – foreign secretary David Miliband has stated the obvious that the strategy was simply wrong, as was the implication that the correct response to terrorism was foremost a military one – here we are still fighting its wars.
And most British people do not buy the justifications offered by the government for doing so. Its reasoning on Afghanistan has been incoherent, inconsistent and disingenuous. First Tony Blair, then Gordon Brown, told us that priority number one was Osama bin Laden and ridding the world of al-Qaida. Then we were getting rid of the Taliban. We were the benevolent invaders, bringing democracy to a downtrodden people. Or we were stabilising the region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Our streets would be safer. It was about women's rights or the opium trade.
In Washington, Barack Obama considers General Stanley McChrystal's request for up to 40,000 more troops, which would take the number of foreign troops in Afghanistan towards 150,000. Yet he knows that the deployment of thousands more foreign soldiers has so far failed to stem the tide of Taliban influence. Recent insurgency attacks in Kabul, Peshawar and Baghdad show the violence and insecurity in the region only seem to be increasing.
What's more, the grotesque parody of the recent elections exposed the hollowness of "democracy" in what is now the world's second most corrupt regime.
Despite the efforts of the UN and the western powers, there is no credible national government in Afghanistan. In part, wilful amnesia in foreign policy has prevented us from learning from past mistakes; attempts to impose a western model of democratic governance on a failing state, with ill-informed notions about the culture, geography or history of the place and its people, are bound to end badly. Worse still, attempting to do so through the barrel of a gun and via million-dollar bribes to corrupt warlords and criminals can only result in a failure of devastating proportions.
Every possible strategy for the way forward contains unpalatable elements – such is the depth of this quagmire. But what we know is that military action, characterised by desperation rather than well-considered strategic aims, has failed to achieve security or democracy. To reach that long-term goal of securing rights and freedoms, we need a strong, accountable and legitimate government – as well as a multilateral agreement with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries to provide guarantees of support for Afghan security.
The failure to address what one American official describes as the "criminal mafia" surrounding the newly inaugurated president, Hamid Karzai, has given Taliban insurgents another argument with which to appeal to ordinary Afghans. And while Karzai has been strong-armed into committing to anti-corruption measures by western dignitaries, there are signs that he may already be falling short of his promises.
Pressure must be maintained on Karzai, but the international community must play its part in preventing criminals from profiteering from US and Nato military contracts.
Nato and the UN need to pursue talks with traditional leaders and the more moderate Taliban groups over a potential power-sharing agreement, and halt Nato offensives with the aim of agreeing a ceasefire – enabling foreign troops to withdraw. Afghan Taliban loyalty seems generally to lie with tribe and locality – not to a nationalistic, homogenous organisation – so we must focus aid efforts on local communities and help build solid political institutions from the top down to provide good governance at every level.
Sustainable economic development should be a top priority. According to a recent survey by Oxfam, the majority of Afghan people blame poverty for the war. Military solutions are not the answer here; people need support for agriculture, improved infrastructure, education and health services. In a manner typical of foreign invaders, western governments have thrown money at the problem – and it has failed to reach those who need it most. The UK should now be funding a concerted NGO effort on the ground, rather than channelling the majority of its aid through corrupt government officials. And having evaluated their programmes aimed at developing the capacity of the Afghan government, they should continue and expand those found to be effective.
Some are rightly concerned that if foreign troops leave, there will be even more bloodshed. Withdrawal will create a power vacuum that al-Qaida and the Taliban can occupy. However, we know that the current strategy is not working. What people want more than anything is security – and more military action will not bring security. We must halt offensive missions now.
At the same time, the international community must increase the humanitarian and reconstruction effort, build capacity and promote good governance. Following our misguided foreign policy endeavours, we have a responsibility to leave the country in order. We need to genuinely win hearts and minds, tackle corruption head-on, drop our misguided and unsuccessful war against drugs and instead work with farmers to promote development from the ground up. We must switch our efforts towards creating friends and allies among the people of the region, transparently operating for their interests and making every effort to hand over control of affairs as rapidly as possible.
Only Afghans can solve Afghan problems – and they must be empowered to do so without the burden of foreign occupation.


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In a few weeks, my life will change once again. That's when our dog Chuck will begin living with my daughter Emily. She's been working toward this goal for some time, and is finally getting out on her own with a condo where she can have Chuck move in.
Our dog Chuck has been a shared part of all our lives for six years now. He was originally discovered on the streets of Chicago by my son Evan and some friends at a very late hour. They brought him back to their fraternity house and cleaned him up. Reportedly he was covered in white paint, cold and shivering from the cold spring air.
They held a beer bash to raise funds for his vet bills and Chuck lived in the fraternity house with my son for several months. He got the name Chuck because the guy who owned the frat house was named Chuck. My politically savvy son named the Dog after the frat house owner who said, "Well, I can't kick him out if he's named after me."
When my son began traveling for his work in admissions for the University of Chicago, Emily asked if we could keep Chuck at our house. My late wife Linda was not keen on the idea. In fact she'd long discussed a book she'd like to write titled 1001 Reasons Not To Own A Dog. She'd had family pets as a kid and some of them were rather interesting, to say the least.
Yet the first night Chuck came to stay, he won her heart with an attentive little mind and a propensity to snuggle. Those two built a bond, and Chuck was there for her through countless days of chemo and surgery recovery as well as bright sunny days sitting together in the garden. Through health and through challenges, Chuck was a stalwart buddy.
I was worried he'd be devastated on her passing. In fact, he did sit at the front window quite a bit wondering when and if she might come home. I kept up our routine of walking him twice a day as I'd done since he came to live with us. My daughter was living at home at that time following graduation from college, and Chuck was an important partner in helping her process grief.
When my son Evan came back home for visits from New York City, Chuck was always ecstatic. Their original bond has never dissipated. That dog is full of love and he shows it, sometimes too much. We've never trained him not to jump up when greeting family, friends or strangers. It's a bit obnoxious, but it only lasts about 30 seconds. His loving character is revealed in a rather enthusiastic way.
With all the comings and goings in our lives these past six years, it has remained my responsibility to walk and feed the dog. There's a rhythm to all that, and it has helped on many occasions to have to walk the dog when dealing with change or difficulty in life. More than once during my wife's health challenges there were times when the world could find me bent down and crying at the side of the dog, stroking his fur as he looked at me with his deep, dark eyes. He seemed to understand, and by the time I'd get home the tears would be dried and Chuck would pile back into his couch routine.
My caregiving responsibilities did not end with her passing, however, as my father was still in my care. For thirteen years since he'd had a stroke in 2002, and my mother passed away in 2005 I took care of my father. He died several weeks ago of fairly natural causes. We're having a Memorial Service in his honor tomorrow. Even he grew to love Chuck, who would hop up into his lap on the wheelchair or beg to be placed on my dad's lap when he visited in his Volkswagon van.
It strikes me that when Chuck leaves my home there will certainly be a void in my life. Yet the bond would never have taken place had my son not helped save Chuck that night, and Emily had not wanted to bring him home. To me, this next step is a natural extension of both their love and their character.
So sharing the pup is what we do. And it's time for Emily to have her well-earned time with the dog she so loves. He'll still come for visits pretty frequently I bet. She's a busy gal with her boyfriend Kyle, whose dog Dozer is a pit mix with a heart of gold and the voice of a UFC announcer. So Chuck will have some weekend visits now and then, and that will be fun.
First we'll all be celebrating Thanksgiving as a family. Chuck loves when tons of people come over to visit. I tell him in the morning, "All your people are coming today. Then when the first car pulls up I ask, "Who's here?" He piles up onto the sofa back to look outside and paw the big window. His nose marks cover the glass in a wide swath. He'll whimper and whine a bit when he sees who it is. He even recognizes the sound of certain trucks.
Changing times
On Thanksgiving morning my companion Sue and I will rise early to race in a Turkey Trot. We rise early to do quite a few things actually. This past
summer during training for her Ironman triathlon there were many weekend trips to Wisconsin and early bike rides. Always that means finding someone to look out for Chuck or take care of him overnight. A neighbor across the street can help once in a while, and family members have taken him in when we're on one of our athletic junkets. But honestly, there might be a touch of relief not having that obligation. It will be the first time since 2000 that I'm not directly responsible for the caregiving of another. I can't really tell you how that will feel. Good or bad, it is what it is.
As for Chuck, I'm sure I'll miss his little face and snuggling with him when he climbs under my covers once he eases out of his crate with a long stretch in the morning. Then he takes a couple steps and jumps up onto the bed. That little dog has been a big part of my life for a long time. Longer than the years I spent in college or other ostensibly significant periods of time. Our pets are a big part of our lives. Fortunately Sue has some really great cats that live with her. Fur Friends are important.
Chuck and I have also walked an estimated 1000 miles together over the years. When we get near home I give his leash a nudge and say, "Let's run!" For fifty or so yards we sprint full tilt toward the house. He has three modes of locomotion. Walk. TripTrot. And bounding run. He's just a touch faster than me at a full sprint. But I can still motor too.
It's that last bit of speed that I really enjoy seeing in him. He's still a healthy pup and not too old to really motor. His ears fly back and his paws swing forward and back with speed. We're flying home and I almost always start laughing and tell him "Good Boy!" when we cut across the yard and head back inside.
Usually, he goes and takes a long drink from the plant watering can. That's what he prefers over a boring little bowl. Then he often sacks out on a chair or the couch for a good long nap. He loves it if someone sits next to him to quietly scratch his ears or stroke his fur. He also loves his "brush," and he'll sit up and look back at you to encourage you to use it if you say the word.
He's got all kinds of funny little quirks like that. From his crooked smile with a snaggle tooth on one side to the foxlike arc of his face, he's a Schnoodle with character, caregiving and community all built into one little dog.
It's time to Share the Pup however. Which means I'll engage in my long time practice of petting other people's dogs. A few weeks back after Run Club in Naperville, it was a nice day outside and that's what I did. I wandered around downtown after running and did some shopping while stopping to pet the dogs I met along the way. They are all souls like us. Perhaps not gifted with the same brand of intelligence, but they all have their unique and valuable qualities. It's a nice thing to share in this world.


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More than 62,000 fewer visits to Norfolk's recycling centres since charges introduced
PUBLISHED: 06:00 31 October 2018 | UPDATED: 17:24 31 October 2018
© Archant Norfolk 2014
More than 60,000 fewer visits have been made to Norfolk's recycling centres since controversial waste charges were introduced earlier this year.
More than 60,000 fewer visits have been made to Norfolk's recycling centres since controversial waste charges were introduced earlier this year.
The latest figures from Norfolk County Council reveal visitor numbers over the past five months are still well below where they were in 2017.
It comes after the Conservative-controlled council removed a concession which had allowed people to leave up to 80 litres of DIY waste at its recycling centres for no charge.
As of April 1 this year people have had to pay £3 for getting rid of a bag of rubble and item of timber, and £9 for plasterboard.
Figures show 62,864 fewer people visited the county's 19 recycling sites between May and September this year, compared to the same period in 2017.
July saw the biggest drop, with 31,231 fewer visits compared to the same month last year.
The county council attributed the dip "partly" to a reduction in garden waste, which it said was caused by the heat wave.
A council spokesman said: "How people use recycling centres is also changing, so the figures alone do not tell the full story.
"We believe people are making fewer trips with more materials, and we are also seeing a welcome increase in the use of our reuse shops."
June was the only month to see an increase year-on-year in visitors, with numbers jumping from 114,553 in 2017 to 116,667 in 2018.
The figures also show the amount of waste being dumped has dropped by more than 10,000 tonnes.
Between May and September last year 37,652 tonnes was dumped, compared to 26,972 tonnes in 2018.
Earlier in July motions were put forward for the council to suspend or stop the waste charges, however county councillors voted to keep them in place.
The council said the move would save it £500,000 a year, but critics have previously said it has led to an increase in fly-tipping.
Labour councillor Terry Jermy said he was "not surprised" by the latest figures.
He said: "We [the Labour group] have highlighted not just the drop in attendance, but also the increase in kerbside collections, which could cost the district councils dearly."
A county council said it will continue to monitor the use of its recycling centres closely.
A council spokesman added: "We would always urge people to check our website to see what you can take along to a recycling centre as it's free to bring all your household waste including sofas, fridges, carpet and underlay, and green garden waste.
"It's important to look closely and see what the facts and figures over a period of time are telling us.
"We know that year after year around 90pc of fly-tipped waste could have been left at a recycling centre for free. And the latest figures available do not suggest that there's been any significant rise the amount of construction and demolition waste being illegally dumped in Norfolk since April 2018."
• Check what you can take to a recycling centre here: www.norfolk.gov.uk/recycling
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Eastern Daily Press. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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Notes from the underground market
Iso Rabins is an urban forager. He collects mushrooms, wild greens and acorns, which he grinds into flour. Like any ambitious food entrepreneur, he hoped one day to sell his wares at a farmers market in San Francisco, where he lives.
But Rabins, 29, couldn't get into a market. The strict rules require that any vendor be the primary producer of the food sold. And, technically, wild foods have no producer. And so, like any ambitious food entrepreneur, the founder of ForageSF found a cunning way to get his products to customers: an underground market.
The first one was held in December at a private home in the city's Mission District. Eight vendors and nearly 200 buyers showed up. Last week, Rabins held the fourth underground market with 70 sellers hawking jams, beef jerky, hand-churned bacon butter and prepared foods such as Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and raclette, a French mountain specialty of melted cheese and potatoes. More than 2,000 attendees signed up online to attend. In doing so, they acknowledged that some of the foods for sale may not have been produced in an inspected kitchen. Shoppers also paid a $2 entry fee to help cover the costs of the venue.
"There are all of these people who make really amazing stuff at a highly professional level. But they can't make that jump to a farmers market or to selling in a store," Rabins said. "We think of ourselves as an incubator."
The market, Rabins says, lowers the financial barriers to entry. But, more important, it helps vendors overcome what he calls emotional hurdles. Many of the vendors are passionate about what they make, but they can't believe producing beef jerky could be a viable business. "They need someone to walk up and say, 'This is the best beef jerky I've ever had,' " Rabins said.
The underground markets are a twist on underground restaurants, a trend that also began in San Francisco. And they are spreading just as quickly. Underground markets have sprouted in London, Amsterdam, even Boise, Idaho.
But are they legal?
Initially, the San Francisco Health Department wasn't pleased with the idea. Inspectors showed up at the first market. And although they didn't shut it down, they made clear it isn't legal to sell foods that have not been prepared in a certified kitchen.
To get around that, Rabins has made the market a club. The only people who can come are those on his e-mail list. To be on the list, you must attest that you understand you are buying truly homemade foods. "It's tenuous," admits Rabins. "The reason the Health Department is there is to put checks on these things. And I support its existence." He said he vets all vendors that sell at the market to make sure they have a lot of experience making their products and that they know how to store and transport them.
What do you think? Are underground markets a good idea, or a food-safety disaster ready to happen? Anyone ready to start one in Washington?
-- Jane Black
Jane Black
June 8, 2010; 1:00 PM ET
Categories: To Market, To Market | Tags: Jane Black, farmers markets
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Not a surprise that I love the idea! Hmm, may HUSH Supper Club should consider a bit of underground marketing of the HUSH garden's surplus herbs and veggies this summer in addition to HUSH suppers...
Reminds me of Michael Pollan's foraging of mushrooms and wild boar.
Posted by: GeetaHUSH | June 8, 2010 11:00 PM | Report abuse
I have to ask that you rethink this statment,"technically, wild foods have no producer." I am a person who produces wild foods and together wild harvested products - including American Pine Nuts. In fact, I am a producer who is certified wild crop organic by Oregon Tilth and as a processor of wild crops.
It is not as simple as cut and snip, wash it, cook it - especially if one is certified. Producing wild crops takes skill and its hard work. I am glad to see people taking note of wild crops as speciality agriculture. It has been going on for generations.
Penny Frazier
A Wild Crops Farm
Posted by: penny9 | June 14, 2010 11:16 PM | Report abuse
I AM A "wild crops producer". I own 20 acres of CERTIFIED "wild organic" land and have a lease access to 100 acres of the largest private forest in the US that is also "certified wild organic". I think the farmers market is in the wrong for denying these hard working people a venue. Not that conventional farmers don't work hard, they do, I know these people, and I'm telling you they REALLY work long hard hours. The issue here, I think is, "do wild crafters use food handling safety guidelines?" As a producer processor of these types of products I can say, YES! Most of us are very picky about how our products are handled, that's because in order to continue to make a living we must have a quality product. Good quality means good handling practices. I would think most "wild crops producer / processors" handle product better than the local McD's or BK. We have pride in OUR products. They are fresh, clean and wholesome. No need to go "underground", our farmers market welcomes us with open arms.
Posted by: ozarkdomes | June 15, 2010 9:15 AM | Report abuse
Sadly, it seems likely that that requirement that market vendors are producers of their wares relates more to the desire to exclude resellers and wholesalers than to the exclusion of wildcrafters and food foragers. It's a shame that the farmers' market as an institution does not have the awareness and flexibility to address this emerging issue, unless exclusion to the benefit of "farmers" is the true objective.
Posted by: ddub1 | June 15, 2010 1:49 PM | Report abuse
How unfortunate that mother nature, as the "primary producer", is not permitted to sell her wares at the farmer's market via good land stewards. I suppose if corn were growing wild it would not be permitted, either?
Is the forest owner allowed to sell their own goods at the farmer's market referenced in this article? That would work okay in areas like the NE where the woods are all privately held, but it would seem like a punishment for keeping woods in the public trust.
Responsible harvesters do much to ensure the continuing bounty of their chosen grounds, even when those grounds are public lands, such as ensuring the health of the ecosystem that their native foods grow in. Penny is correct that it takes more intelligence and labor than running around in the woods with a shovel and a bucket to make a living off truffles and mushrooms.
Perhaps the SF farmer's market could request that harvesters of private lands show proof of permission to harvest, like a permit or land ownership.
Posted by: stephmvasquez | June 15, 2010 11:23 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.


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Saroléa returns to racing with electric superbike SP7
Saroléa was the first Belgian producer of motorcycles, and one of the first producers of motorcycles in the world.
The factory was established in 1850 as a weapons factory by Joseph Saroléa, and then began making bicycles and then started manufacturing motorcycles and racing them, but by World War II the company's production had declined and the motorcycles they were building were produced for military use by the Belgium Army.
In 1963 the company closed and now fifty years later the Belgium marque is making a comeback to the world of two-wheel racing, but this time they are going electric and will be competing in the 2014 Isle of Man TT Zero and the FIM eRoadRacing series with the new Saroléa SP7.
The Saroléa SP7 electric superbike is built almost entirely from carbon fiber, and features a monotube frame chassis and a carbon fiber monocoque swingarm and with the extensive use of lightweight alloys the bike weighs in 200 kg(441.5 lbs).
With a top speed of 250 km/h (155.4 mph), the new Saroléa is powered by a 400 Nm (294.8 lb-ft), 180 hp motor, and has a direct chain drive, no clutch and a single speed design and employs regenerative braking and can accelerate from 0 - 100 km/h (0-60 m/h) in just 2,8 seconds.
The company and the team is run by Torsten Robbens, who designed the Saroléa SP7, and Robbens is a former winner of the SPA 1000 and Le Mans 1000 KM, who then worked in Formula 1 and was the youngest team manager ever to win the Le Mans 24, and was the team manager for Audi Sport Japan team Goh.
At the moment it is unknown who the rider will be for IOM TT Zero, while Belgium supersport and endurance champion and Vice world champion e-Power Thijs De Ridder who helped developed the SP7 power train will be riding the Saroléa in the eRoadRacing series.


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As Clarissa Pinkola Estés says,
"The psyches and souls of
women also have their own
cycles and seasons of
doing and solitude,
running and staying,
being involved and being removed,
questing and resting,
creating and incubating,
being of the world and returning to the soul-place."
These gorgeous White Sage, lavender, & rose floral smoke wands are not only lovely to look at, they are an energetic masterpiece...handcrafted with the intention of supporting the magical journey of womanhood.
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Use as you would traditional sage during ritual.