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Karen Ballard/©2008 by Paramount Vantage
NOW JOB: Daniel Craig (left) and Liev Schreiber play brothers fighting the Nazis in 'Defiance.'
Fighting Back
Edward Zwick argues that resistance is good for the soul in real-life World War II drama 'Defiance'
By Richard von Busack
IN HIS biography of John Sturges, local film critic Glen Lovell quotes the director's idea that it was odd that only those who saw service in World War II could make good movies about it. This problem worsens the farther we get away from that war. Edward Zwick's true-life war movie Defiance sports Daniel Craig on the poster, looking most defiant.
Craig is the fastest draw in the movies today. He has his gun out and discharged by the time most male actors are mulling over the use of deadly force. Certainly Craig looks like he could single-handedly take Hitler downtown. Defiance's photography is not bad: old-world Grimm Brothers woods, shot in Lithuania, looking sometimes ancient, sometimes dawn-fresh; the snow scenes have all due crispness.
But the rest of Defiance wearily insists on the humanistic qualities of a group of partisans fighting for their lives, dividing up the forceful and gentle qualities of such warriors evenly between a pair of Jewish brothers. Ultimately, the film insists that Craig's Tuvia Bielski was a real-life Moses leading his people to safety.
Defiance starts in August 1941, with the German drive into Russia. A family of Jewish brothers survive the murder of their parents; chief among them are Tuvia (Craig), the smarter one, and Zus (the bull-calf Liev Schreiber), the tougher one. In Belarus' Lipiczanska forest, other refugees join their band. Zus and Tuvia squabble over the approach to fighting off the Germans. As elder brother, Tuvia takes the role of avenger, executing the local officer who bounty-hunted the Bielskis' family for the Germans.
Sickened by the bloodshed, Tuvia decides never again to lower himself to the level of his enemies. Zus, in his grief, pounds his head against a tree; now daubed with a bloody mark of Cain, he leaves and takes up with a Red Army–led band of guerrillas, despite Soviet cruelty and anti-Semitism. The two brothers conduct tension-wracked meetings over the years: "You're my brother," Tuvia reminds him; "So you remember," Zus answers back. Eventually, the two meet in the middle, with the resolve to kill the Nazis but kill them respectfully.
Why is Zwick, who exudes humanism like a blintz exudes cream cheese, drawn to war films? How Zwick's film Glory worked is now clear. There haven't been that many Civil War movies, and the former co-creator of TV's thirtysomething had the war mostly to himself, visually speaking—not to mention a cast of first-rate actors. The action sequences in Defiance, by contrast, never seem to take off. A raid on a German convoy at night starts with the trip-wiring of a Nazi motorcycle; the sabotage is interrupted by the arrival of a German transport truck with mounted machine gun and searchlight, thus stalling what should have been a knockout moment.
The film's climax, a partisan band's attack on a Nazi tank, should have been thrilling, too. But Zwick's bleeding heart just isn't in it; he's more involved in a re-enactment of The Godfather's famous intercutting between a baptism and a Mafia night of long knives. In Defiance, the two points are a wedding in Tuvia's woods, sparkling with airborne snowflakes or pollen or something, complete with hora dancing, crosscut with Zus leading a shootout at a German headquarters (done with avant-garde stuttering frames to make it look like stop-motion animation).
Incidentally, this wedding sequence makes lawful what had previously been convenient relationships between the civilians, who took common-law spouses for the duration. They use the phrase "forest husbands." (Wish I hadn't seen that episode of The Simpsons where a marauding bear is loose, and a mountain man, voiced by the late Charles Napier, speculates that the savage bruin was going to make a "forest bride" out of Homer.) Tuvia demands that the women not produce babies during the woodsy exile, but that order is broken: a rape victim of the Germans learns to tearfully love the life inside her.
Defiance could have been a film in which the humanity of the hunted was implicit. But as we get farther from this titanic war, we keep getting films that consider the strife was all just good for the soul. Defiance deems that the political side of the struggle is meaningless. There should be onscreen disclaimers: No endorsement of the USSR is implied in any way!
Zwick includes chess matches between a rabbinical school teacher and the movie's one left-winger. The intellectual is now getting some good calluses for a change, sawing wood and hammering shelters. The lefty exclaims: "If my friends at the New Socialist Club could see me now! I haven't read a book in months!" The teacher/rabbi (his status is a little vague; he's identified as a teacher but he acts as resident holy man) characterizes the world war as a spat going on between "a man with a little mustache and a man with a big mustache [Stalin, that is]."
The script reminds one of Robert Warshow's comment about E.B. White's equally inane propaganda essays during World War II: "In this humane and yet knowing atmosphere, history and destruction and one's own helplessness become small and simple and somehow peaceful, like life back home on the farm. ... History may kill you, it is true, but you have taken the right attitude."
DEFIANCE (R; 137 min.), directed by Edward Zwick, written by Clayton Frohm and Zwick, based on the book by Nechama Tec, photographed by Eduardo Serra and starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber, opens Jan. 16.
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Direct application of henna to the skin to create a temporary tattoo is a process known as mehndi. Henna is a plant-based coloring that is approved in the United States only as a hair dye. It is not approved for direct application to the skin.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of skin injury when henna products are used to create temporary tattoos. The most common problem caused by henna is a skin reaction (contact dermatitis) to the pigment in the dye. Permanent loss of skin color (hypopigmentation) in the design of the original tattoo has also been reported.
The risk of developing a severe allergic reaction to henna increases after an episode of contact dermatitis. For that reason, it is recommended that you avoid hair dyes containing henna if you have had a previous problem with an allergic reaction to henna in a temporary tattoo.
Your first henna tattoo should be in a place where you can cover it if it lasts longer than you expect. It is not a good idea try to remove your henna tattoo; let it naturally wear off. Be very careful not damage your skin—do not scrub or pick at your tattoo.
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Current as ofNovember 20, 2017
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If you have had a heart attack, your doctor has probably prescribed medicines that you will need to take for a long time. These medicines help improve blood flow to your heart, prevent blood clotting, and reduce your risk of having more heart problems in the future.
Below you will find an overview of medicines usually prescribed to treat heart attack and information about their benefits, risks and side effects.
If you have questions or concerns about the medicines you are taking, be sure to ask your doctor for more information.
Why are these medicines prescribed after a myocardial infarction?
- To reduce the chance of another myocardial infarction (MI).
- To help to prevent heart disease from getting worse.
The medicines are usually taken each day for life. This leaflet discusses the typical situation. However, the exact medicines prescribed for you can depend on factors such as the type of MI you had, as well as any other illnesses you may also have.
Your doctor will discuss your medicines in more detail.
ACE Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are a group of drugs that can help if your heart is not pumping blood well. This type of medicine improves blood flow by helping to open (dilate) your arteries and lower your blood pressure.
If you have ACS, your doctor may want you to take an ACE inhibitor alone or in combination with other medicines, such as a diuretic or a beta blocker.
Side effects. ACE inhibitors don't usually cause troublesome side effects. The most common side effect is a dry cough.
More rare side effects include dizziness, reduced appetite, fatigue (feeling out of energy), problems with the kidneys and an increase in the level of potassium in the blood.
Risks. Because ACE inhibitors can cause birth defects, pregnant women should not take this type of medicine.
In rare cases, ACE inhibitors can lead to a serious allergic reaction (called an anaphylactic reaction) that causes swelling in certain areas of the body.
This reaction is more common in black people and people who smoke. It can be life-threatening. You should get immediate medical attention if you experience swelling after taking an ACE inhibitor.
Your doctor may want you to take a low dose of aspirin each day. Aspirin helps keep your blood from forming clots. Blood clots can clog the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart (called the coronary arteries).
Blockages in the coronary arteries increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Side effects. Common side effects of aspirin include nausea and upset stomach. Some people feel nervous or have difficulty falling asleep when taking aspirin. Call your doctor if your symptoms are severe.
Risks. Aspirin can increase your risk of stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding (bleeding in your stomach and intestines).
Doctors usually prescribe a low dose of aspirin (between 81 mg per day and 162 mg per day) for people who have ACS. The low dose provides the same benefits as a higher dose, with less risk of internal bleeding.
Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of aspirin therapy. He or she will prescribe the aspirin dose that is right for you and tell you exactly how to take it.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are a group of drugs that lower the heart rate and blood pressure. They also help improve blood flow to the heart, reduce chest pain and prevent more damage to the heart.
If you have had a heart attack, your doctor may prescribe a beta blocker. He or she may want you to take a beta blocker alone or in combination with other medicines, such as a diuretic or an ACE inhibitor.
Side effects. The side effects of beta blockers tend to be mild. Common side effects include cold hands, fatigue, dizziness and weakness.
Less common side effects include shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, depression and decreased sex drive.
Risks. Beta blockers are not recommended for people who have asthma. This type of medicine can trigger severe asthma attacks.
Beta blockers may make it difficult to recognize signs of low blood sugar (such as rapid heartbeat) in people who have diabetes. If you have diabetes, your doctor will probably tell you to check your blood sugar often.
Stopping beta blockers abruptly increases the risk of heart problems. If you need to stop taking a beta blocker, it's important to stop gradually, according to your doctor's instructions.
Antiplatelet Drugs
Antiplatelet drugs are sometimes prescribed along with aspirin therapy. This type of medicine helps prevent blood clots by not allowing certain cells in the blood (called platelets) to clump together.
This reduces the risk of blockages in the coronary arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Side effects. Some common side effects of antiplatelet drugs include nausea, upset stomach, stomach pain, diarrhea, itching and a rash. Talk to your doctor if you experience side effects while taking this medicine.
Risks. Because antiplatelet drugs prevent blood clotting, they can increase the risk of serious bleeding in some people.
Diuretics (also called water pills) help the body get rid of extra sodium (salt) and fluid. This type of medicine lowers your blood pressure by reducing the amount of fluid flowing through your blood vessels.
Diuretics are very commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure. They are sometimes used in combination with beta blockers and ACE inhibitors.
Side effects. Common side effects of diuretics include increased urination, increased thirst, fatigue, muscle cramps and low blood pressure.
Less common side effects include increased blood sugar, increased cholesterol, irregular menstrual periods in women and impotence in men.
Risks. People who take diuretics can have too much or too little potassium in their blood, depending on the type of diuretic they take.
If you have had a heart attack, your doctor may prescribe a statin. Statins are a group of drugs used to lower "bad" cholesterol (also called LDL, or low-density lipoprotein) levels.
Statins may also help increase "good" cholesterol (also called HDL, or high-density lipoprotein) levels.
Most people who take statins will take this type of medicine for the rest of their lives.
Side effects. Muscle pain is the most common side effect of statins. The pain can be mild or severe. Less common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, gas and constipation.
People who take statins may also get a rash. This side effect is more common when a statin is taken in combination with another drug used to lower cholesterol levels (called niacin).
You are at higher risk of having side effects from statins if you:
- Are a woman.
- Are age 65 or older.
- Have liver or kidney disease.
- Have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- Take several types of medicine.
Some people may feel discouraged by the side effects caused by statins. However, the side effects are not usually life-threatening.
Your doctor can help you find ways to manage them. If you are worried about side effects, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking statins.
Risks. In some people, statins can cause liver damage. Your doctor will probably want to have your liver function tested on a regular basis.
Source & More Info: familydoctor.org and patient.co.uk


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Most Web browsers include an option for preventing Web sites from programmatically opening new browser windows, to block unwanted pop-up windows. While such pop-up windows, particularly advertisements, have become a too-common annoyance, there are legitimate uses of pop-up windows.
CommonSpot uses pop-up windows for many contextual information and action dialogs. For example, while a CommonSpot page remains open in the main browser window, you can view and modify corresponding Page Properties in separate browser windows. Similarly, you can add content elements to a page and/or edit them using dialogs that open in separate browser windows while the current version of the page remains visible in the main browser window. As you execute various functions in separate dialog windows, the view of the page in the main window is updated.
Pop-up windows greatly enhance multi-level action dialogs and are an essential design feature of CommonSpot.
Browsers that include pop-up blocking features also allow you to selectively disable pop-up blocking. Disabling pop-up blocking for a CommonSpot site will not affect the blocking of unwanted pop-up windows for other web sites. For CommonSpot to work properly, pop-up blocking must be disabled for contributors, for each CommonSpot site.
To set popup blocking exceptions for CommonSpot, see Help for your Browser. You will typically find this option associated with Tools, Privacy, Security, or Internet Options.
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April 02, 2014
By -, -
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kenny Combs of Oklahoma Baptist has been selected as the NAIA National Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week and Jordan Reeher of Concordia (Ore.) has been named the NAIA National Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Combs and Reeher were selected based on their performances from March 24-30.
Combs, a sophomore from Midwest City, Okla., recorded NAIA-best times in the 100 Meters and 200 Meters at the Oklahoma Baptist University Invitational on March 29 in Shawnee, Okla. He outpaced the 12-man field in the 100 Meters with a time of 10.38 and bested his 21 competitors in the 200 Meters, finishing in 20.93. He also ran a 53.42 in the 400 Meter Hurdles at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on March 27 in Austin, Texas, good for a third-place finish. It was also the No. 3 400 Meter Hurdles time in the NAIA this season. All three times were 'A' standard marks, earning Combs an automatic place in the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
Reeher, a junior from Prineville, Ore., competed in his first-ever decathlon at the Mt. Hood Multi Meet on March 28 in Gresham, Ore. The All-America sprinter and 400 meter hurdler turned in the NAIA's No. 4 point total of the season—and the third-highest in program history—with 6,052 points, en route to his first-ever decathlon victory. Reeher bested the 11-man field in 3-of-10 events: the 100 Meters (11.33), 400 Meters (49.19), and the long jump (6.49 meters, 21' 3.5"). He also set career-bests in the 400 Meters (49.19), 1500 Meters (4:30.18), 110 Meter Hurdles (16.33), Pole Vault (2.93 meters, 9' 7.25") and the Javelin Throw (40.81 meters, 133' 11") as part of the decathlon.
For the complete Men's Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week calendar, click here.
Track Nominees: Cameron Hampton, Missouri Baptist; Nick Zink , William Woods (Mo.); Taylor Tafelsky, Milligan (Tenn.); Anthony Simpson, Bryan (Tenn.); Austin Basterrechea, College of Idaho; Matthew Clowes, Concordia (Ore.); Damion Flores, Eastern Oregon; Wes Jones, Evergreen (Wash.); Miles Taylor, Oregon Tech; Mike Blaszczyk, St. Francis (Ill.); Sam Atkin, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho); Sam Housh, Doane (Neb.); Taylor Bodin, Northwestern (Iowa); Garret Ehlers, Morningside (Iowa); Emory Nash, Dillard (La.); Reed Lunsford, Culver-Stockton (Mo.); Phillip Cheriyout, Missouri Valley; Nickola Shingles, Central Methodist (Mo.); Dayshawn Berndt, Baker (Kan.); Garrett Daugherty, Tabor (Kan.); Lewis Taylor, Friends (Kan.); Anthony Perry, Ottawa (Kan.); Taylor Parker, Southwestern (Kan.); Brandon Sherier, McPherson (Kan.); Michael James, Berea (Ky.); Seth Prince, Indiana East; Austin Childress, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Brandon Ford, Cumberlands (Ky.); Demytreus Gipson, Campbellsville (Ky.); Herbert Beyale, III, Haskell (Kan.); Sam Taylor, William Penn (Iowa); Tyler Ernst, Clarke (Iowa); Connor Doppler, Jamestown (N.D.); Atsu Nyamadi, Wiley (Texas); Pierre Banks, Wayland Baptist (Texas); Csaba Matko, Oklahoma City; Rashaun Tanner, Emmanuel (Ga.); Tyler Hollimon, Northwood (Fla.); Joe DiGregorio, Embry-Riddle (Fla.); Dareyus Person, Indiana Tech.
Field Nominees: Brandon Sissel, Milligan (Tenn.); Brian Wickham, Eastern Oregon; Anthony Johnson, Evergreen (Wash.); Ryan Njegovan, St. Francis (Ill.); Dillon Carmichael, Doane (Neb.); Tyler Rathke, Hastings (Neb.); Andrew Christen, Morningside (Iowa); Cody Boellstorff, Concordia (Neb.); Sean Wilson, Dillard (La.); Lindon Victor, Benedictine (Kan.); Nick Homan, Central Methodist (Mo.); Andrew Longboy, Missouri Valley; Cody Viergever, Baker (Kan.); Logan Holmer, Culver-Stockton (Mo.); Dylan Biedron, Friends (Kan.); Paul Rotering, McPherson (Kan.); Seth Derr, Bethany (Kan.); Cory Waites, Saint Mary (Kan.); Cayd Bloomquist, Southwestern (Kan.); David Orr, Berea (Ky.); I-Rell Patterson, Campbellsville (Ky.); Cameron Smoak, Cumberlands (Ky.); Phil Stand, Haskell (Kan.); Kohl Gregory, Clarke (Iowa); Cornelius McCastle, William Penn (Iowa); Lance Maxwell, Grand View (Iowa); John Ampomah, Wiley (Texas); Jordan Patterson, Oklahoma Baptist; Evan Doremus, Oklahoma City; Samuel Dorismond, Florida Memorial; Zach Farner, Embry-Riddle (Fla.); Bryan Tirado, Northwood (Fla.).
2014 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week (Field, Track)
Week 1 (March 19): Nate Moses, Concordia (Ore.); Brad Liston, Shawnee State (Ohio)
Week 2 (March 26): Darien Moore, Concordia (Ore.); Justin Scruggs, Wayland Baptist (Texas)
Week 3 (April 2) : Jordan Reeher, Concordia (Ore.); Kenny Combs, Oklahoma Baptist


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Difference between revisions of "Wikitravel:Routebox navigation"
Revision as of 13:19, 20 December 2008
Routebox navigation is a supplement to the Get out section of an article which allows the user to browse directly from article to article along a given route or combination of routes, and gives the user a quick way to see what destination articles are nearby at a glance. The box contains a logo for each route in the center. To the left and right of the logo are 1) the direction the route follows, 2) the next minor destination, i.e. the next destination for which we have an article, and 3) the next major destination or major thoroughfare junction. More detailed descriptions of how to choose these follows in the sections below.
A set of templates is used to create the boxes. The template is named according to the number of routes to be displayed. Thus, a box which displays 3 routes must be named routebox-3. The template is placed at the end of the Get out section, just before the Wikipedia and language links, and looks like this: Template:Routebox-3 The above box is produced by the following code:
{{routebox-3 | placename=Cityville | image1=US-62.png | imagesize1=22 | directionl1=N | majorl1=[[Altus (Oklahoma)|Altus]] | minorl1=[[Lawton (Oklahoma)|Lawton]] | directionr1=S | majorr1=[[Lubbock]] | minorr1=[[Paducah (Texas)|Paducah]] | image2=US-83.png | imagesize2=22 | directionl2=N | majorl2=[[Shamrock]] | minorl2=[[Wellington]] | directionr2=S | majorr2=[[Abilene]] | minorr2=[[Paducah (Texas)|Paducah]] | image3=US-287.png | imagesize3=22 | directionl3=N | majorl3=[[Amarillo]] | minorl3=[[Memphis (Texas)|Memphis]] | directionr3=S | majorr3=[[Wichita Falls]] | minorr3=[[Quanah]] }}
Listing order
Preference should be given in the following order:
Criteria for route inclusion
Preference should be given to routes which are most often used by travellers in the given area. For example, listing a passenger train route through the western US is considered too much detail since 99% of travellers go by car in the region, and trains in the region don't have regular service which allows for hop-on hop-off use. Similarly, listing roads in a Central African country doesn't make much sense either, since the vast majority of travellers see the area by bus or hired car. Disagreements about whether a given route should be included should be addressed on the discussion page of the region or country for which the route applies.
In general, to be included, a route should have at least 4 destinations for which we have articles. Smaller routes such as state highways should be omitted if they duplicate the same access path as another route. Like other sections of our articles, the number of listings should never exceed nine. Destinations under 1 million people should generally not exceed 5 listings.
Assigning directions
Directions should be assigned according to official signage when available. In general, the two directions indicated by the routebox should be consistent for the length of the route when possible. Exceptions can be made when official signage indicates, or for loop lines such as a highway which circumnavigates an island or, for example, Tokyo's Yamanote line.
Assigning major destinations
Criteria for what is assigned as a major destination in each direction depends on the relative importance of the route.
For major national routes
For major national routes, the norms are major junction cities of the region and national parks. Major cities are typically cities of 500,000 or more. For highway systems with designated control cities such as the US Interstate system, this serves as a good guide as to what should be designated as a major destination.
For lesser national routes and subnational routes
For lesser national routes which tend to pass through smaller towns the criteria is less stringent as to what can be selected as a major destination. The same control destinations should be included as those for the major routes, but in addition:
Assigning minor destinations
The minor destination in each direction should always be the next place along the route for which we have an article. This should include any national parks or state parks unless the next city falls inside of said park. Care should be taken in assuring that nothing is skipped. Running names from a map into our search engine is generally a good way to ensure complete coverage.
Termini, merging, and rural junctions
A fictitious box below illustrates how the above points should look when utilized: Template:Routebox-4
Rest areas, travel information centers, and picnic areas
Rest areas, travel information centers, and picnic areas can be inserted in addition to the two destinations in each direction. They should only be inserted when they fall between the current article and the next destination and should be spaced with a single space and hyphen on the appropriate side in the field of the minor destination, as in the fictitious box below:
Inserting a new article in a pre-existing route
When inserting a new article along a route for which routeboxes are already implemented, don't forget to visit the article for the adjacent minor destinations and adjust the links to include the new article.


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Lake Of The Woods VA Real Estate & Land for Sale
0 Properties Found
The median home value in Lake Of The Woods, VA is $204,500.
This is
lower than
the county median home value of $224,400.
The national median home value is $185,800.
The average price of homes sold in Lake Of The Woods, VA is $204,500.
Approximately 73.75% of Lake Of The Woods homes are owned,
compared to 9.22% rented, while
17.03% are vacant.
Lake Of The Woods real estate listings include condos, townhomes, and single family homes for sale.
Commercial properties are also available.
If you see a property you're interested in, contact a Lake Of The Woods real estate agent to arrange a tour today!
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There are currently no properties in Lake Of The Woods VA Please click the Refine Your Search button below to find other properties in the area.
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Lake Of The Woods ZIPs22508 Land For Sale


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Gail A'Brunzo
In her role as Wildlife Rescue Manager, Gail works with a variety of rescue, rehabilitation and release projects around the world, supporting ground-breaking programmes such as the release back to the wild of Amur tigers in Russia, clouded leopards in India and grizzly bears in Canada. Working closely with the US office on the campaign to end private ownership of big cats, Gail's team helps with relocation of animals found in poor conditions. In cooperation with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, the Wildlife Rescue Division is helping big cat sanctuaries improve and become sustainable.
Before taking on her present position, Gail served as Animal Rescue Programme Officer, responding both domestically and internationally to natural and man-made disasters, bringing her shelter setup and management experience to a variety of situations worldwide. She also developed the evaluation and measurement tools utilised by the Animal Rescue and Companion Animal programmes to determine the effectiveness of projects IFAW supports.
Gail was instrumental in developing IFAW ERN (Emergency Response Network)-New England, which draws on local community volunteer response groups to assist during large-scale disasters. Gail's sheltering expertise has also been utilized US state and national disaster response organizations including the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP).
Member, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Emergency Animal Sheltering Workgroup (EASW), USA
Shelter Manager, Cape Cod MA Traffic Plan, Camp Edwards Emergency Animal Shelter, USA
Member, National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP), USA
Member, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, USA
Operations Section Chief, State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team (SMART), USA
Executive Director, Bradford County Humane Society, USA
Registered Veterinary Technician, Allentown Animal Clinic, USA
Registered Veterinary Technician, Mansfield Veterinary Clinic, USA
Bachelor of Science (BSc), Business Administration/Management, Saint Joseph's College of Maine, USA
Associate of Science (AS), Veterinary Technology, Harcum College, USA
FEMA ICS: Multiple level certification


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Incoming Freshman Helps Rescue Lafayette Womanby Brent Harris • June 24, 2008 Share:
Brandan Alford, a member of the Wabash Class of 2012, joined his Lafayette American Legion baseball teammates in rescuing a women trapped under a minivan Saturday afternoon. Alford, Emilio Domondon, Andrew West, and Kory Banes lifted the vehicle off 72-year-old Helen Williams, who was trapped under a tire.
Alford is a third baseman for the Lafayette American Legion Post 11 baseball team and plans to play for the Wabash baseball squad, as well.
A complete story regarding the rescue can be found in Tuesday's Lafayette Journal & Courier.


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Predicting Weight Gain and Weight Loss Associated With Overeating or Fasting
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00687115
Recruitment Status : Recruiting
First Posted : May 30, 2008
Last Update Posted : December 6, 2018
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
This study will investigate how to better predict why some individuals gain or lose weight more easily than others. It will examine whether the increase in the amount of energy a body burns in 24 hours with overeating or the decrease over 24 hours with fasting can help determine how easily someone gains or loses weight.
Healthy people between 18 and 60 years of age who have a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 kg/m(2) and 24 kg/m(2) (for overfeeding study) or a BMI greater than 27 kg/m(2) with a body weight less than 350 pounds (weight loss study) may be eligible for this study. The study requires a 10-week admission to the NIH Clinical Center (2-week baseline, 6-week overfeeding/weight loss, 2-week post-weight change).
Participants undergo the following tests and procedures during the hospital admission:
- Medical history, physical examination and laboratory studies
- Questionnaires to assess eating behavior, food preferences, body composition, and activity level
- Body composition assessment (height, weight, waist circumference, and fat mass and muscle content through DXA and MRI scans)
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- Meal test to measure the response of certain hormones to food
- Activity monitors to determine activity level
- Metabolic chamber study to measure calories burned over 24 hours and monitor body temperature
- Free-living energy use study to measure calories burned under normal home conditions over 7 days
- Fat and muscle biopsies
- Dietary intervention: Measurements of food intake and energy loss over a 6-week overfeeding (1.5 times the subject s normal food intake) or weight loss (one-half the subject s normal food intake) program
Followup procedures after the inpatient stay:
- Height and weight measurements at 6 months (overfeeding study participants) and monthly for the first year, at 3-month intervals for the second year, and then yearly for 3 more years (weight loss study participants)
- Yearly visits (2-night inpatient stay) for all participants for repeat meal test, DXA, oral glucose tolerance test, behavioral questionnaires and, in women who can become pregnant, pregnancy test
|Condition or disease
|Obesity Diet Therapy Weight Loss Weight Gain Nutrition Therapy
|Behavioral: Weight Loss Behavioral: Overfeeding Behavioral: Overfeeding Low Pro
|Phase 2
For obese individuals, losing weight and keeping it off are extremely difficult, whereas some other individuals are thin and report trouble gaining weight. In most weight loss and overfeeding studies there is a large variation in the amount of weight lost or gained, and it is not clear whether an individual s response to an intervention can be predicted. Measurement of the amount of energy an individual uses over 24 hours (24 hour energy expenditure or 24-EE) and the response of 24-EE to overfeeding and fasting may help predict which individuals will have the greatest changes in weight with changes in energy balance. In previous work, 24-EE responses to overfeeding and fasting were related such that individuals with the greatest increase in 24-EE upon overfeeding tended to have the smallest decrease in 24-EE upon fasting ( spendthrift phenotype) and those individuals with less increase in 24-EE during overfeeding had a greater decrease in 24-EE with fasting ( thrifty phenotype). Those with the spendthrift phenotype who had a greater increase in 24-EE in response to overfeeding gained less weight over time. Furthermore, studies have shown that diets with very low protein content may magnify the variability in response to overfeeding.
The aim of this study is to determine if a phenotype defined by 24-EE responses to overfeeding and underfeeding is related to weight loss or gain in 4 different under- and overfeeding settings: an inpatient weight loss group for obese individuals who will be administered one of two diets based on a 50% reduction of their daily energy needs for six weeks (standard reduction diet or calorie reduced diet that is still high in protein; 6 week weight reduction, 10 week stay, n=20/standard reduction diet group and n=10/relative high protein diet), and two overfeeding groups for lean, weight gain resistant individuals: a low-protein overfeeding group at 150% of daily energy needs for 6 weeks overfeeding (6% protein, 64% carbohydrate, 30% fat; 10 week stay, n=10), and a normal protein overfeeding group at 150% of daily energy needs for 6 weeks overfeeding (20% protein, 50% carbohydrate, 30% fat; 10 week stay, n=10). We will also examine additional metabolic and behavioral measurements to determine how they relate to weight change and changes in 24-EE. These include sympathetic nervous system activity, behavior, adipose and muscle tissue energy content, and abdominal adipocyte size. The study will evaluate the relationship between the percent increase in 24-EE in response to overfeeding/underfeeding and the amount of weight change over time in each subject. These findings may provide important information for predicting and adapting specific individualized interventions for obesity.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Estimated Enrollment :
|140 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Predicting Adaptive Thermogenesis
|Study Start Date :
|May 16, 2008
|Estimated Primary Completion Date :
|January 1, 2020
|Estimated Study Completion Date :
|March 31, 2020
- Behavioral: Weight Loss
liquid diet at 50% of weight maintaining intake
- Behavioral: Overfeeding
Overfeeding at 150% of weight maintaining intake
- Behavioral: Overfeeding Low Pro
Overfeeding 150% of normal intake at <5% protein
- The primary goal of the current study is to determine if changes in energy expenditure in response to acute over- and underfeeding are related to variation in changes in weight and body energy stores with longer-term over- and underfeeding. [ Time Frame: On going ]
- Determine if hormones, responses to behavioral testing, adipocyte size, body composition, core temperature, spontaneous activity, and food absorption/excretion are related to changes in EE with over/under-feeding and variation in weight change. [ Time Frame: On going ]
- Isotopic analyses of hair/plasma samples will calibrate the relationship between the isotope ratios of human samples and a known, controlled diet, and they would demonstrate whether these relationships are altered during weight gain or loss. [ Time Frame: On going ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 60 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
- BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m(2) for the weight loss protocol but body weight less than 350 pounds to accommodate the DXA scanner.
- BMI less than or equal to 24 kg/m(2) (and BMI greater than or equal to 18.5 kg/m(2) for the overfeeding protocols. A history of low BMI and difficulty gaining weight.
- Age 18-60 years, to minimize potential co-morbid conditions which may indirectly affect EE. Minors under the age of 18 will be excluded because growth and pubertal issues are significant parameters that could affect our outcomes and also because the time requirements of the study are such that they would interfere with school schedules. Women who are post-menopausal will be excluded from the study as changes in their metabolism could affect the baseline measurements which are hypothesized to predict weight change.
- Healthy, as determined by medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests
- Current smoking
- Type 2 diabetes (according to the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria)
- Impaired glucose tolerance (according to the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria) for those participating in the overfeeding study arms only
- Endocrine disorders (Cushing s Disease, pituitary disorders, and hypo- and hyperthyroidism)
- Chronic pulmonary disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that would limit ability to follow the protocol (investigator judgment) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; only subjects with mild or exercise-induced asthma on no medications or on beta-adrenergic agonists only (such as albuterol) will be allowed to enter the study (provided use of these agents is not required for one week before study entry).
- Cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and peripheral artery disease)
- Hypertension (blood pressure measurement higher than 140/90 mm Hg (overfeeding study) or 160/95 (weight loss study) on two or more occasions or use of anti-hypertensive medications)
- Diagnosed gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g., Crohn s disease and ulcerative colitis), malabsorption syndromes (e.g., celiac disease), gastric ulcer (active); only subjects with gastro-esophageal reflux will be allowed to enter the study
- Presence of a pacemaker or other implantable devices/shrapnel which may interfere with the MRI or CorTemp measurements
- Liver disease (cirrhosis, active hepatitis B or C, and AST or ALT greater than or equal to 1.5 times normal)
- Renal disease (serum creatinine concentrations greater than or equal to 1.5 mg/dl and/or overt proteinuria)
- Central nervous system disease (cerebrovascular accidents, dementia, and neurodegenerative disorders)
- Cancer requiring treatment in the past five years, except for non-melanoma skin cancers or cancers that have clearly been cured or in the opinion of the investigator carry an excellent prognosis (e.g., Stage 1 cervical cancer)
- Alcohol (more than 3 drinks per day) and/or drug abuse (such as amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, or marijuana)
- Current or past history of: bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or presence of psychotic symptoms, bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa, or current major depressive disorder
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Taking weight loss medications
- Weight change of plus or minus 5% in the last 3 months
Conditions not specifically mentioned above may serve as criteria for exclusion at the discretion of the investigators. Additionally, potential subjects might be excluded if they demonstrate a style of interpersonal relationships that would inhibit successful completion of the study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00687115
|Contact: Susanne Votruba, Ph.D.
|(602) 200-5336
|United States, Arizona
|NIDDK, Phoenix
|Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85014
|Contact: Susanne Votruba, Ph.D. 602-200-5336 email@example.com
|Principal Investigator:
|Susanne Votruba, Ph.D.
|National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00687115 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|May 30, 2008 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|December 6, 2018
|Last Verified:
|November 2, 2018
Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
24 Hour Energy Expenditure
Respiratory Chamber
Weight Loss
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Body Weight
Weight Loss
Weight Gain
Signs and Symptoms
Body Weight Changes


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Seattle Honda/Toyota Dealer Decides To Try To Sell Cars Like Tesla Does, Rather Than Trying To Shut Tesla Down
from the that's-one-step dept
Apparently, some dealers are finally realizing that if you can't beat 'em by trying to make them disappear, perhaps you ought to compete. Via Jalopnik, we learn of a dealer in Seattle (who owns both a Honda and a Toyota dealership) who has decided to adopt what he thinks is the "Tesla model" for selling cars -- single price, no haggling, no separate finance department whose there to screw you over on the deal terms, and transparency about the loan rates.
What's more, the dealerships have no F&I managers. Salespeople handle the loans. Learning to do that isn't easy, so Miller and Mohammadi have hired contractors to do some paperwork and walk the salespeople through the process.Of course, the story also notes that this shift hasn't been easy. Most of the existing sales staff left as they couldn't deal with this setup, and sales at the dealership dropped significantly -- though they've since rebounded. And, of course, there have been other dealers in the past that have adopted "one price/no haggling" setups, but studies have shown that many customers don't trust such deals, assuming that the "one price" is likely to be higher than they could get by negotiating, even if they don't like haggling.
Prices are fixed, and so are interest rates. Customers who need financing can refer to a chart on the wall, tracing their finger from their credit score to the amount of the loan.
While I think it's a smart move to try to compete, rather than ban, innovative competitors like Tesla, it feels a little bit like a cargo cult copying situation, where the focus is on copying the obvious superficial aspects of what Tesla is doing, but not the deeper hidden reasons. In Tesla's case, it's a combination of factors that are selling those cars, including the cool factor, the environmental factor and the overall prestige of the car. Hondas and Toyotas, while recognized as reliable, don't have all of those factors. Plus, since the Tesla sales model is for all Teslas, there is no other option, so no one feels that the single price offering is a rip off. That's not the case when a single dealer does something.
So I think it's good that this dealer is looking for a better model, but it's going to involve a lot of experiments and innovating, beyond just copying some of the superficial aspects of what Tesla does.


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William Henry Smith, 82
William Henry Smith, 82, of Columbia City, passed away at 2:10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, at Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City. Born Dec. 5, 1929, in Wolf Lake, he was the son of Mickey A. and Ruie Malington (Hile) Smith.He graduated from Wolf Lake High School with the Class of 1949. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in October, 1954. On April 12,1974, he married Nancy (Mettler) Wagner at Reverend Graham Kleespie's home in Columbia City. A lifetime resident of Wolf Lake and Columbia City areas, he and his wife lived at their present home since 1979. A former employee of Pennsylvania Railroad, he also worked for Dana Weatherhead, Columbia City, for 16 years. In 1990, he retired from the U.S. Postal Service, Columbia City, with 27 years of service where he worked as a rural route carrier, clerk, and the janitor service department. His memberships included Wolf Lake VFW Post #4717; Shriners of Fort Wayne; 30 year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Post #1906; American Legion Post #98; 34 year member of the Masons Lodge of Fort Wayne; Scottish Rite of Fort Wayne; and Due Guard Lodge #278, Larwill. Surviving relatives include his wife of 38 years, Nancy Smith of Columbia City; children, Vicky (Mike) Tallent of Maryville, Tenn.; Tammy (Steve) Parkison of Crown Point; Debbie (Jeff) Zickafoose of Albion; Dave (Kate) Lotter of Churubusco; DeLaina (Mike DeMuyt) Cole of Kendallville; Tonya "Tony" (Bob) McKay of Syracuse; Doug Smith of Columbia City; Holly Brooks of Lavernia, TX and Mickey Smith of Chicago, Ill.; daughter-in-law, Vicki Wagner of Albion; sister-in-law, Louise Smith of Fort Wayne; brother and sister-in-law, Tom (Cindy) Mettler of Columbia City; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Tim Wagner; first wife, Kathleen (Rider) Lotter Smith; four grandchildren, Clinton Collier, Jonathon Zickafoose, Melissa and Christopher Parkison; brothers, Harry, Charlie and Tom Smith and sisters, Lodema Thompson, Jennie Capps and Annie Anderson.Visitation will be held Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. The funeral service will be held Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home with Sharon Brockhaus, certified funeral celebrant, officiating. Graveside military honors will be presented by the Whitley County Korean War Veteran's Honor Guard with burial at Thorn Cemetery, Ormas. Memorial gifts may be given in Mr. Smith's memory to Wolf Lake VFW Post #4717 or Shriner's Children Hospital. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to leave a family condolence or sign the online guest register.


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Holy Week 2014 in Denver was one for the books as 1,000 Catholics and pro-life supporters April 15 prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet in front of the Colorado State Capitol with Archbishop Charles J. Aquila and Father Ambrose Omayas, assistant administrator of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver.
Praying in opposition to the Reproductive Health Freedom Act — a bill that sought to impact pro-life legislation, both old and new, and that would have precluded any regulations already on the books regarding abortion clinics — their peaceful protest ended in victory as Senate Bill 14-175 was struck down the following day.
Supported by NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado and Planned Parenthood, the bill — described by those touting it as the first of its kind in the nation — would have established a fundamental right to abortion and prevented the state from creating new laws that deny or interfere with access to anything deemed related to reproductive health care.
"In just a few days we were able to raise a united front in opposition to Senate Bill 175 and in defense of unborn children, the most innocent of all people," Archbishop Aquila wrote in a pastoral letter April 16. "Congratulations to the people of good will throughout Colorado who listened to God's call to be active in politics and to defend life at every stage!"
At Mass on April 13, Archbishop Aquila said the bill "would prevent lawmakers from enacting laws such as ultrasound requirements, certain health code regulations for abortion facilities or waiting periods for those who are considering an abortion."
"It also has the potential to do away with Colorado's parental notification law, which requires that parents be notified when their child is thinking of having an abortion," he said. "Beyond that, if sex education in public schools is considered reproductive health care then parents may forfeit their right to opt their children out of the classes. For those of you who are parents it is critical for you to understand that this bill is undermining your authority and responsibility as parents.
"Proponents of 175 argue that their ability to access contraception and abortion would be in danger if this bill is not passed, but during testimony on the bill not a single person in favor of the bill, and there were few present, would cite an instance of not having access to contraception or abortion," he added. "In other words, this bill is not needed and will only serve to strengthen the hand of those who promote a culture of death, of those who promote totalitarianism of those who want to strengthen their bottom line at the expense of the innocent."
On April 14, less than 24 hours prior to the Senate bill's reading, Archbishop Aquila called for witnesses to life to come pray with him at the State Capitol.
"I have just decided to head to the west steps of the capitol Tuesday, April 15, at 3 p.m. — the Hour of Divine Mercy — to beg God for his intercession so that this legislation is stopped," the letter read. "I prayerfully ask that those of you who can, will come and join me."
More than 1,000 faithful showed up, according to archdiocesan officials.
"We have to stand for life," said Melissa Montoya, 60, of Northglenn, Colo. "We have to do it at whatever level we can."
The bill was abandoned soon after the Senate gallery overlooking the voting floor filled up with about 150 of those who attended the prayer rally. Democrats hold a one-seat advantage in the Colorado Senate, but reports indicated several Democrats were uncertain on their stance toward the bill. All Senate Republicans reportedly planned to vote against the bill.
Fearing they didn't have the votes for the bill to pass, the bill was never brought up for a vote.
"They didn't feel they had 18 votes. They need 18 votes to get it passed," said Sen. Kent D. Lambert, R-Colorado Springs.
The scope of the generic term "reproductive health information" was one aspect legislators were concerned about, stating that some sex trafficking concerns and investigations would be hampered by such a bill, in addition to the fact that filters on computers in public schools and libraries might then be done away with as pornography could also be considered reproductive information and unregulated under the bill as it stood.
"(This) could also legalize child pornography because it prevents the government from restricting access to information on human sexuality," Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs, said in a text message.
The bill itself only numbered three pages, with a summary of only five lines: "The bill prohibits a state or local policy that denies or interferes with an individual's reproductive health care decisions or a state or local policy regarding reproductive health care that is inconsistent with, or that denies or interferes with access to information based on, current evidence-based scientific data and medical consensus."
The visual of more than 1,000 pro-lifers on the steps of the Capitol — with seminarians, priests and key bishops — was enough to move the vote, many said.
"What (Democrats) ran into was a firestorm of public dissent. Period," Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, told the Denver Post. "A firestorm of public opposition to this political hatchet job is what Senate Bill 175 was. They got called on it."
Along with the rally, others flooded senators with phone calls and let their voices be heard in face-to-face opposition in Senate hallways before and after each session while they waited for the bill to be read.
At the rally, Archbishop Aquila told the crowd he had heard from many who did not even know who their senators were and said people need to better educate themselves on politics.
Opponents of the bill, however, know the pro-life movement must continue to fight.
"We don't want to stop cold turkey," said Denver Catholic Catie Weasler, who attended both the rally outside the Capitol and the anticipated hearing on the Senate floor. "We want to continue forward for life. This should be the impetus to do something more."
Anna Maria Basquez writes from Colorado.
Copyright © 1996-2018 Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.


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I am currently updating and reconsturcting the blogs - and consolidating them into one site blog with the various themes. The NDE Blog is down for repair and reconstruction.
Spiritual Forums
The Spiritual Forum site has several sections which cover the topic of 'near death experiences' and I comment on my own personal experiences throughout the forums.


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The weekend ends gently, like an angel's sigh.
Shorebirds - blue herons and snowy egrets, along with the occasional seagull - arc across the sun-kissed surface of the Vernon River, a twisted ribbon of light glimmering in the waning sun. I watch the boaters come in one by one, white wakes trailing them.
And then I see Max.
Max is a young boy who loves to fish. He is sitting at the end of my dock, pole in hand. His eyebrows are all knotted up, lips pursed. He has something on the line.
Suddenly the line parts, whipping up towards the sky. He's lost it, his glittering fish escaping into the olive swirl of the ancient river.
I stroll out to him. Armies of fiddler crabs scuttle out of my way. Minnows swim in tight circles in the shallows. Waves lap at the dock, kissing the barnacles as they sleep.
"Hey, Mr. Mark," Max says, grinning.
He shows me his catch, housed in a battered plastic pail: a handful of shrimp, hauled in with a cast net; a couple of sea trout; a single pop-eyed mullet. It's a reasonable haul for a Sunday afternoon.
I have my running gear on: a pair of new Gel Asics, my GPS, my iPod.
I bid Max a good evening and left the dock to circle through Rose Dhu.
There are no dogs in sight, which I am grateful for. The wind picks up just enough to shudder the palm trees a bit. They rattle like dry bones. I never simply hear that sound; I feel it, always, a hoarse chuckling someplace inside me.
The run goes well. I make it home after five miles, drenched in sweat. My nerves all jangly. But it's a good jangly, a friendly hey-we're-back-home jangly.
Daphne is kneeling in the yard in a floppy hat and oversize sunglasses. She's wearing garden gloves, digging furiously at some leafy plant with a hand shovel.
I lean down to kiss her. She smiles sweetly at me, wrinkling up her nose.
"You need a shower," she says.
"Very diplomatic, my dear," I reply, smiling back.
As the sun burns its way into the horizon, we prepare our dinner. It's often just the two of us now. We're inhabiting the same space, breathing the same air. After a lifetime of family chaos, that might seem like too much contact, but it isn't. The time together is precious. Dinner is a time to reconnect, to catch up. It's the anchor to our day.
Daphne and I clean up the kitchen after eating and settle down to watch something on television. Sometimes, in the flickering half-light of the TV screen, we hold hands like a couple of middle school kids. This is always a profound comfort for me. It centers me, calming my soul and reaffirming my place in the universe.
Life, at its barest essence, is distilled into these small moments: conversation among friends, savoring a fine wine, the touch of a lover's hand. But today's world envelops us in a media whirlwind.
We are all too connected, too wired; indeed, we are so connected that we are disconnected. We text, e-mail and phone each other, wasting hours posting the inane and mundane on Facebook and Twitter, but we neglect those simple things that define us as human. The end result is that we exchange a virtual existence for the real thing. And then - too soon, always too soon - the hours become days, the days become years, and suddenly it is all over: our children grown, our breath gone ragged, our hearts spent.
As midnight approaches, I set the clock and turn out the light.
I kiss Daphne goodnight each evening, without fail, ever since the first time she had cancer. She's had it twice. We rarely talk about it outright anymore. Still, the haunting specter of our own fragility is always there, like the proverbial monster under the bed. We are both aware we cannot take tomorrow for granted.
In this time of supercharged politics and global distress, it is a good thing to take stock of those things that really matter at the end of the day. And this is the stuff that matters: the love of one's family, the Earth's fragile beauty, the good memories of the day-to-day we take with us into eternity when we leave this place at last.
I thank God for these simple gifts.
For it is these myriad tiny splendid things that make all the difference in life.
Mark Murphy, M.D., is a Savannah physician, writer and author of a new book, "The Shadow Man."


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Ukraine death toll climbs, but information scant
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The only thing clear about the death toll in eastern Ukraine, where government troops are battling separatist rebels, is that it's mounting.
After a faltering start, government efforts to reverse the tide of a pro-Russian insurgency have in recent weeks taken on an urgent impetus. It has frequently meant deadly results for the civilian population, however, as the army deploys heavy artillery and airpower to strike rebel forces that have used residential areas for cover.
General Prosecutor Vitali Yarema said this week that authorities will seek to uncover the case of any casualties in the area falling within the government's ambitious security operation.
"Every death, every physical injury, every body of an unidentified individual found will be entered into the unified register of pre-trial investigations, and each case will be investigated as much as possible," he said.
Lawlessness and daily fighting have made it deeply problematic for the government to give solid figures. The Health Ministry announced Thursday that 478 people had died in eastern regions affected by the unrest since April. Officials later scrambled to clarify that this included deaths from natural causes and that it wasn't possible to know yet who had died directly as a result of fighting.
The ministry said it will work on drawing up more detailed figures, but that this could take several weeks.
The United Nations, which in mid-June ventured a death toll of 356 people, including 257 civilians, has expressed increasing alarm at the number of noncombatants caught up in the major fighting that followed the end of a 10-day cease-fire at the end of last month.
U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay last week noted in a report that at least five children had been killed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in June.
"There have also been reports of the use of landmines, which have allegedly led to three deaths and left several people injured," she said.
More information is forthcoming about military deaths. As of Friday, the Defense Ministry has confirmed that just over 200 servicemen have perished in fighting.
Even here confusion and crossed wires have muddied the picture, however.
One of the single biggest losses came Friday, when rebels hit a mobile army base near the Russian border with a barrage of rockets, killing 19, according to the Defense Ministry. Hours before the military provided that figure, an official with the Interior Ministry grimly announced the loss of 30 troops, only to then be corrected.
Meanwhile, the deputy of the separatist Donetsk People's Republic, Andrei Purgin, told The Associated Press on Friday that more than 500 rebel fighters have been killed in action.
Both sides have regularly traded accusations that the other is low-balling casualty figures to avoid deflating morale among supporters.


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A Mallu Barcelona fan.
(from @gestapoed's tweet)
Goaing away from home
2 weeks ago
A dictionary of everyday observations and random humour in words (and phrases) that don't exist, but should. What's a sniglet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniglet This site is dedicated to Rich Hall, the grand-daddy of Sniglets. The aim is to make this the biggest punsite in India. Run by a bunch of maniacs who have nothing better to do, apparently.
Just knowing that there are mountains near you.


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Sex and RevolutionPosted: April 10, 2011 Filed under: Relationships, Spirituality | Tags: lingam, narcissist, sacred sexuality, velveteen 6 Comments
Oh good, I was hoping the title would get your attention. If you have been following along, you now know about the Briefcase Test, a handy way to measure the feasibility—and sanity—of any religious or social group you may come into contact with. But that is not the only tool you will need in order to stay sane here in California.
The story I am about to relate happened a few years ago in the midst of my divorce. Divorce is a process I recommend highly to those who wish for something even more painful and longer lasting than childbirth. It is an excellent way to change your life completely—provided, of course, that you survive it. And some of the biggest challenges you must survive during a divorce are those moments when what had been a jumble of half-conscious thoughts and suspicions suddenly comes together in your mind to form a shocking new picture of reality. The force of truth in those moments can lay you flat. Read the rest of this entry »


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Description:HP T1500 XR low voltage UPS
Option Part# 204155-002
Assembly Part# 242688-003
Overview:In the world of Uninterruptible Power System (UPSs) it's all about power - the power to protect the power to communicate the power to guarantee maximum data integrity. Now you have the power to select the most technically advanced cost-effective power protection available - the Compaq UPS. ??The Compaq UPS incorporates Enhanced Battery Management an exclusive technology that doubles battery service life optimizes battery recharge time and provides advanced notice of the end of useful battery life. With Enhanced Battery Management you have a lower total cost of ownership and industry leading protection.


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With summertime weather hitting lots of the country in late winter this year, overnight backpacking trips can now conveniently move to April and May. Just in time, an impressive new crop of hiking and camping gear has sprung up along with the cherry blossoms, promising easier times on the trail in any season.
Roomiest two-man tent
Kelty Vista 2 tent: The first two-man free-standing tent that actually fits two full-grown men, due to a unique design with near-straight-up walls.
Likes: Two people can sit up in this tent comfortably — an impossibility in other two-man tents that use the traditional X-pole design, which crosses two poles from corner to corner. The Vista 2 also uses X poles but gets rid of the sloping, confining sidewalls by adding two short "brow" poles that run horizontally from door to door, holding the walls straight up. It's a simple, brilliant, effective idea. While camping, a friend and I marveled at the room inside and didn't know what was more impressive — the Utah Canyonlands or this. Well vented, with plenty of zip-close mesh windows, and includes a rain fly.
Dislikes: Though still easily lugged in a backpack, at 6 pounds it's light but not ultralight.
$269. (866) 349-7225. kelty.com
Pressurized hydration pack
Geigerrig Rig 1600: Medium-sized overnight backpack with a built-in hydration system consisting of a patented pressurized fluid container that sprays water, making it more useful than traditional suck hoses and even able to filter water.
Likes: This is the first real improvement in hydration packs since the category's debut 15 years ago. Just bite on the valve and water sprays into your mouth, no sucking required, due to the pressure applied on the water bladder by a separate air chamber that you fill via a shoulder-strap pump. Use the valve to spray your face, clean a wound, even shower. Other nice features: big zip pockets on the waist belt for quick, on-the-go access to camera and snacks, well-organized storage space for clothing and larger items and a zippered, waterproof pouch for small items like cellphone, wallet and lights. The bladder can be refilled quickly from its own zippered compartment. An optional 2-ounce Geigerrig filter ($28) can be attached to the drinking tube nozzle for safe refilling in the wild. A variety of pack sizes for cycling and running.
Dislikes: No carabineer attachment points or straps on the outside of the pack for carrying a sleeping bag, axes or other gear.
$145. (801) 823-3336; http://www.geigerrig.com
Pint-sized sleeping pad
Klymit Inertia X-frame ground pad: Highly sculpted inflatable 6-foot-long ground pad that weighs only 9.1 ounces (10.1 ounces with pump) and folds to the size of a soda can, easily making it one of the world's lightest, most compact ground pads.
Likes: Provides good off-the-ground support when you lie flat on your back. I blew it up by mouth in just 43 seconds. A huge space- and weight-saver for a backpacker. A pump, stuff sack and patch kit are included.
Dislikes: At 16 inches wide, it is too narrow; my arms and elbows were on the ground at all times. Some part of your legs will touch the ground if you roll over, sleep on your side or even just wiggle too much. The fact that it includes a patch kit worries me; what good is a de-inflated ground pad with big cutouts in it?
$99. (888) 559-6481. klymit.com
Hot little light
Petzl Tikka XP2: Innovative 60-lumen headlamp that integrates a high-output white light with a red LED and a wide-angle lens.
Likes: A good value that offers versatile lighting options in a small, light (4 ounces) package. Three white-light modes include a focused long-distance beam that projects to 60 meters, a diffused flood for hotspot-free map-reading and a power-saver with a claimed 160-hour burn. The red light, accessed through the same button, offers a safety strobe or a gentle beam useful for minor night vision and reading inside a tent without disturbing sleeping partners. A "charge light" indicator comes on when half the burn time is used up. It can be powered by three AAA batteries or Petzl's optional Core Pack lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery ($41.95), which comes with a wall charging cord.
Dislikes: The light leaks through the bottom of the clear plastic case into your eyes. Some users have recommended applying a strip of duct tape to black it out.
$54.95. (801) 926-1500. http://www.petzl.com
Wallack is the coauthor of "Bike for Life: How to Ride to 100" and "Barefoot Running Step by Step." firstname.lastname@example.com


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In a post on the Mass Effect 3 Facebook page, Executive Producer Casey Hudson broke the bad news: "Mass Effect 3 will be released in the first three months of 2012. The development team is laser focused on making sure Mass Effect 3 is the biggest, boldest and best game in the series, ensuring that it exceeds everyone's expectations."
As if to soften the blow, BioWare also released two new images from the game, seen above and below.
Sharkey says: EA has already lined Battlefield 3 up for a holiday 2011 release -- complete with a ridiculous $100 million marketing campaign. I'm guessing this move is as much to give BF3 the holiday spotlight as it is to give BioWare a few more months to polish Mass Effect 3. Not to mention EA and BioWare's other huge sci-fi game coming in the fall, Star Wars: The Old Republic. Take your time, BioWare, with Skyrim and the next CoD also set for a holiday season launch, gamers will have their hands full.


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Fontana Traffic Court
Your court address in San Bernardino County Fontana Traffic Court is 17780 Arrow Boulevard Fontana, CA 92335
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- Speeding Over 100 MPH – CVC § 22348(b)
- U-Turn Tickets – CVC § 22103
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San Bernardino Traffic Attorney
Attorney Rowland Dinkins has a track record of successfully defending clients in traffic violation cases in the Inland Empire. He has been providing clients in the Inland Empire with compassionate personal traffic ticket representation while working hard to obtain a successful resolution through either reduction of the charge, reduction of the fine, or the outright dismissal of the traffic ticket. Mr. Dinkins will personally review your case, give you the individual attention you need, and help you solve your traffic ticket problems. He prides himself in keeping the client informed and giving his clients the best possible result.
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Who's the Monday morning quarterback?
It was almost inevitable that someone would sue the University of Colorado and CU psychiatrist Lynne Fenton, who had been treating alleged killer James Holmes before the Aurora theater shootings, so Tuesday's announcement was hardly a surprise.
What was unexpected, however, was to see who in The Denver Post article expressed caution and even skepticism over the chances for the lawsuit's success — the person quoted as saying, "There are so many possibilities that stem from failure to act it is almost like Monday morning quarterbacking after the Broncos lose."
It was former Denver District Court Judge Christina Habas, an attorney whom the article notes is "representing several shooting victims in civil lawsuits against Cinemark, the company that owns the theater."
After all, some would argue that the lawsuits against Cinemark amount to Monday morning quarterbacking, too. See my Wednesday column, for example.


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Joanne shares a tuna and white bean salad recipe straight from the Mediterranean that will make you want to dine al fresca. Charlie joins in and learns a technique for cooking juicy lemon perfect for tossing with herbs and orecchiette for a light and simple pasta salad. They finish the meal with pineapple sprinkled with a secret ingredient for a perfect ending. Recipes: Tuna and White Bean Salad with Basil and Tomatoes, Orecchiette with Lemon Chicken and Herb Salad, Pineapple Chunks with Olive Oil and Salt. Student: Charlie Baldwin.
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SPRI will be launching an exciting offering of many new products at the 2013 IHRSA show. Stop by the booth to see not only new products but to also receive the entirely redesigned SPRI product catalog.
This year, SPRI celebrates the 30th anniversary of the company, so stop by the SPRI booth to take advantage of some great discounts that will only be available during the show!
Booth No. 1135
This company is an exhibitor at IHRSA and an advertiser in the February 2013 issue of Club Industry.
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 1, 2010) - Senior Cheniece Cason (Moreno Valley, Calif.) made the most of her final game in an ETSU uniform Saturday afternoon, as the standout shortstop broke three Lady Buccaneer records against Gardner-Webb from the ETSU Softball Complex.
Cason, who was five hits shy of breaking Janine Sprague's single-season record (70, in 2004) entering the day, went 2-for-3 in the 2-1 game one win over the Runnin' Bulldogs, while it was her one-out double in the bottom of the seventh in game two that moved the Moreno Valley, Calif. native past Sprague with her 71st hit of the year. Unfortunately, Cason was left standing on third and the Lady Bucs fell 2-1 in the nightcap.
Along with breaking the single-season hits record, Cason's .372 batting average and .425 on-base percentage also marked ETSU bests.
With the spilt, the Lady Bucs' season came to an end as the Blue and Gold finished the 2010 campaign, 21-35. Gardner-Webb moved to 21-30 after getting the game two victory.
Freshman Lucy Schneider (Dade City, Fla.) put the Lady Bucs ahead 1-0 with a solo home run in the fourth, and sophomore infielder Amy Campbell's (Chattanooga, Tenn.) two-out RBI single in the sixth proved to be the game winner as the Lady Bucs defeated Gardner-Webb, 2-1, in game one Saturday afternoon from the ETSU softball Complex.
Senior righty Darci Gilbert (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) finished her career with the victory (5-9) after going the distance and allowing one run on five hits. Gilbert also struck out two and issued no walks. Gardner-Webb's Cindy Broomhower suffered the loss (7-11) in relief as she was tagged for one run on one hit in one inning of work.
Both teams had scoring chances in the first two innings, but Schneider snapped the scoreless affair with a leadoff homer to dead center - putting the Lady Bucs up 1-0 in the fourth.
Gardner-Webb missed a golden opportunity in the third when the Bulldogs had the bases loaded and only one out. However, Gilbert forced Mandy Ward to hit a chopper to short - and Cheniece Cason fired a rocket home to get the second out at the plate. Then, with two outs, Gilbert again induced another ground out to short - keeping the shutout intact.
The Bulldogs tied the game at one in the fourth, when pinch runner Jessica Milligan scored on Ashley Whitlock's one-out tapper down the first base line. With Milligan on second, Massenzo - ETSU's catcher - charged the ball and tossed a strike to Arielle Garner (Buchanan, Ga.) at first to get Whitlock out. However, with Gilbert not protecting the plate, Milligan took advantage of the miscue to even the game at one.
Fortunately, ETSU responded in the bottom half of the inning when Campbell drove home Massenzo with a two-out double to right-center - giving the Lady Bucs the 2-1 lead and eventually the one-run victory. Massenzo began the inning with a leadoff walk and moved to second on Katie Henderson's (Jackson, Tenn.) sacrifice bunt. Campbell provided the heroics after Broomhower fanned Whitley Hensley (Erwin, Tenn.) as the Chattanooga, Tenn. native zoned in on a 2-2 pitch and found the gap in right-center to plate Massenzo.
The Runnin' Bulldogs put the game-tying run on second in the seventh, but Gilbert forced Jane Savage to hit into a game-ending grounder to third.
Cheniece Cason joined the record books with her 3-for-4 effort, but two solo home runs from Christa Fullwood was all the offense Gardner-Webb needed as the Runnin' Bulldogs forced a split with a 2-1 victory over the Lady Bucs.
Senior Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) allowed only two hits; unfortunately, both left the yard on two Fullwood solo homers. Hardy tossed all seven innings and struck out four, but the right-hander finished the season at 4-12. After suffering the loss in the opener, Broomhower earned the win (8-11) after issuing one run on six hits in seven innings of work.
Fullwood led off the game by taking a 1-2 pitch over the fence in right-center to give Gardner-Webb the early 1-0 advantage.
The Lady Bucs responded when Trisha Massenzo's RBI single to right tied the game at one after Cason came charging home.
Gardner-Webb regained the lead, 2-1, when Fullwood put a charge into a 3-2 pitch and sent the ball sailing over the scoreboard in right with one out in the third.
After surrendering the second home run to Fullwood, Hardy settled in and retired 14 of the final 15 batters she faced, but the Lady Bucs were unable to give the Rocklin, Calif. the lead.
ETSU was never able to get anything going offensively until the sixth and seventh innings.
In the sixth, the Lady Bucs had runners on first and third with two outs, but Broomhower kept Amy Campbell from coming home to score when she struck out Arielle Garner swinging. Then, in the seventh, Cason blasted a one-out double; however, after she advanced to third on Katy Jett's (Talbott, Tenn.) ground out to the circle, Broomhower recorded her eighth punch out of the game by getting Lucy Schneider out swinging to end the contest.
Saturday marked the final game for seniors Cheniece Cason, Marissa Hardy, Darci Gilbert, Katy Jett, and Trisha Massenzo. All five ETSU stars have shown excellence both on the field and in the classroom, and will be truly missed by the Lady Buccaneer faithful.
With ETSU losing these key seniors, the Lady Bucs return 12 letterwinners while also bringing in six fresh faces for the 2010-11 season.
For more information on Lady Buccaneer softball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.


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A day after the first talks between the Dalai Lama's envoys and Chinese officials in a year, both sides have reportedly agreed to hold further meetings.
Sunday's talks, held in the city of Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, were aimed at easing tensions after antigovernment riots in Tibet in March that have cast a shadow over the buildup to China's Olympic Games. For weeks, international leaders have pressed China to reopen talks with the Dalai Lama's envoys.
Reuters reported Monday that government officials told China's state Xinhua news agency that further discussions would be held "at an appropriate time."
Tibet's government in exile said the new talks had been "vital," according to Agence France-Presse.
"The fact we are once again in contact is very vital for a solution to the Tibetan issue," Thubten Samphel, spokesman of the northern India-based Tibetan government-in-exile, told AFP by phone.
"It is also very good that China agreed to honour a meeting later."...
"The issue of Tibet is too complicated and one cannot expect one or two rounds of talks will lead to solutions, but what is important is that the two sides are talking, which will help in dispelling mistrust,"
The rhetoric from China seemed less encouraging, however.
The Associated Press reported that China criticized the Dalai Lama, whom it has long accused of wanting Tibetan independence, even as talks got under way.
"[State news agency] Xinhua quoted Chinese experts on Tibet as saying the Tibetan Youth Congress, an exile group, was the "armed spearhead of the 14th Dalai Lama group" dedicated to separating Tibet from China.
It quoted a researcher from the Beijing-based China Tibetology Research Center as saying the Tibetan Youth Congress was behind the March 14 riots.
"We hope the 14th Dalai Lama could truly give up 'Tibet independence,' stop secessionist activities, stop instigating violence, stop disrupting the Beijing Olympics, effectively prevent TYC's violence and denounce its terrorist acts," Xinhua quoted Liu Hongji as saying.
The Dalai Lama has long denied that he is a separatist. But he has pushed for greater autonomy for Tibet and accused China of human rights abuses in his homeland, which he fled in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
Two decades later, his envoys met Chinese officials for the first time. But talks were suspended in 1994 before being revived in 2002. Still, the mainstream Chinese view is that the Dalai Lama is responsible for provoking ethnic conflict, reported The Christian Science Monitor.
Bloomberg quoted China's president, Hu Jintao, as saying that the Dalai Lama had a hand in the recent Tibetan riots.
"We sincerely hope the Dalai Lama and his supporters will show through concrete actions they have stopped activities of splitting the country, stopped plotting and inciting violent activities and stopped undermining the Beijing Olympics, to create conditions for further consultation," Hu said.
The Chinese media, including People's Daily Online, has been similarly aggressive in its rhetoric.
"Listen to what a person says and watch what he does," as an ancient Chinese saying goes. We hope the Dalai side will put the national interest first, comply with the aspirations of all Chinese people, including those of people of all ethnicities in Tibet and comply with the tide of historical development, and truly halt activities to separate the motherland, stop inciting violent moves and stop activities to disrupt Beijing Olympic Games, so as to create favorable conditions for contact in the next step.
In an opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph, journalist David Eimer said it would be foolish to expect too much of the latest round of talks between China and the Dalai Lama's envoys.
"Those who see the talks as a hopeful sign that China is willing to compromise should look at the confrontational language still being used by officials this weekend to describe the Dalai Lama and his followers.
Such phrases as "Dalai Clique" are a throwback to the Cultural Revolution of the Sixties and Seventies, when the enemies of Mao Tse-tung were the "Anti-Party Clique."
Such language is deployed when China feels threatened. These days, it is accompanied by the aggressive nationalism that has replaced the Maoist mantras once chanted.
President Hu Jintao is not a man to back down in the face of the Dalai Lama. Mr Hu sealed his place as a future president by ordering the bloody crackdown on the last major protests in Tibet in 1989, when in charge of the region.
His successor in 2012 will come from a different generation, one perhaps more prepared to listen. Until then, it is hard to see any change.


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City will benefit from European exit - Ferguson
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) –
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says that Manchester City's European demise has given Roberto Mancini's side a clear advantage in the race for the Premier League title.
City, who host leaders United on Sunday, failed to clinch a place in the Europa League after finishing bottom of their Champions League group following defeat by German side Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
Yet Ferguson told a news conference in Manchester on Friday that fewer games and distractions would aid their neighbours as they look to defend the title they won last season.
"I honestly think it is an advantage to City," said the long-serving United manager.
"The less games, the less chance of injuries. It gives them a full week to prepare for games now, but on the other hand, you have to keep (players) happy.
"They have a big squad, probably a bigger squad than most teams. I think they would rather have European football. Any big team would want European football all the time, and that's the biggest disappointment to them.
"But out of that disappointment, the advantage is there for them in terms of use of players and time to prepare for games. So there's no question it's an advantage to them."
United will open up a six-point lead at the top of the table if they win at the home of their neighbours.
Yet the 19-time champions of England arrive at the Etihad Stadium having lost three of their last six league and cup games and with concerns about the performances of their defence.
In addition, memories of the 6-1 thrashing his players suffered at the hands of City in October 2011 remain fresh in Ferguson's mind.
"It did (have an impact), particularly the 6-1 defeat, because of the goal difference. It turned us right round and that's what cost us (the title)," he added.
United have managed just four clean sheets in 23 league and cup games this season, and Ferguson added: "It's not as though we are ignoring it.
"City will have expected us to have worked on that this week. We have lost, I think, 10 goals from set plays this season, which is a lot.
"We hope to find a solution and if you do find a solution, it makes a difference. It will be a tight game on Sunday, there won't be a lot in it and we have enough players to make an impact."
As for the prospect of opening up a six-point lead, Ferguson said: "It wouldn't mean a great deal because there is such a long time to go until the end of the season."
Ferguson believes either United or City will win the title, claiming Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have fallen too far behind in the table.
"I think it's going to be close between the two sides," he said.
"We have that gap over Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. It would be difficult to think the two of us would collapse and allow another team to get in."
Ferguson reiterated his statement from last season that City were now United's biggest rivals in the league before questioning the number of penalties his rivals have been awarded in recent times.
"It's 21 in the last year, isn't it? Something like that. If we were to get that number of penalty kicks there would have been an inquiry in the House of Commons, and protests."
Captain Nemanja Vidic had hoped to return to the centre of defence after three months out with a knee injury.
But Ferguson says the Serbia defender is not ready, while Nani (hamstring) is a definite absentee.
Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa (knee) is also a doubt, along with Tom Cleverley (calf).


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Green Room Dividers by Jean-Marie Massaud
Yesterday we rounded up vertical gardens. Lush and green, it's a look we love because it feels cool and breezy, especially as we roll into summer. Unfortunately, the version we love—where foliage thickly covers a whole wall—seems like an idea we'll have to table until we're a homeowner. Or will we?
Designer Jean-Marie Massaud read our mind and designed these dividers which make green walls for renters possible. Used horizontally or vertically, they encourage plants to grow and climb and can be used as a divider indoors or out. We could imagine them on a bedroom wall where, entwined with ivy, we'd feel like Sleeping Beauty, hidden away behind her overgrown castle walls.
For more information, click here.