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The Effect of Intermittent Rifampicin on Raltegravir (RIFRAL)
|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. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01424826
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : August 29, 2011
Last Update Posted : October 31, 2013
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Condition or disease
|HIV Tuberculosis
|Drug: Raltegravir Drug: Rifampicin
|Phase 1
The aim of this study is to optimise the dosing of raltegravir when coadministered intermittently with rifampicin. The co-administration of rifampicin and antiretrovirals (ARVs) is both complicated and problematic due to the potent induction of metabolism by rifampicin. Rifampicin induces cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which results in reduced plasma concentrations of two groups of ARVs, the protease inhibitors (PIs) and the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). This pharmacokinetic interaction precludes the use of PIs and severely compromises the effectiveness of the NNRTI, nevirapine, as it potentially results in the loss of antiviral activity due to sub-therapeutic concentrations which will also lead to antiretroviral resistance.
Rifampicin also induces phase II enzymes including UDP-glucuronosyl transferase. The HIV integrase inhibitor, raltegravir, is primarily metabolised by UGT1A1 and therefore, there is the potential for a pharmacokinetic drug interaction with rifampicin. In fact, previous studies have shown a decrease in raltegravir AUC, CMAX, and C12 when co-administered with daily rifampicin. During directly observed therapy (DOTs) for TB, rifampicin is often given intermittently (e.g. 3 times a week). Although several studies have examined the interaction between raltegravir and daily rifampicin, currently there are no data regarding the pharmacokinetics of raltegravir when rifampicin is co-administered intermittently.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|18 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Single Group Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|A Single Arm, 3 Phase Study to Determine the Effect of Intermittent Dosing of Rifampicin on the Pharmacokinetics of Raltegravir in Healthy Volunteers
|Study Start Date :
|January 2012
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|June 2013
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|July 2013
- Drug: Raltegravir
400 mg bd for minimum of 28 days and maximum 35 days
- Drug: Rifampicin
< 50 kg 600 mg 3 times/week for a minimum of 27 days and maximum of 34 days > 50 kg 900 mg 3 times/week for a minimum of 27 days and maximum of 34 days
- Drug: Raltegravir
800 mg bd for 4 days
- Change in raltegravir area under the curve (AUC) 0-12h [ Time Frame: Day 28 and day 33 ]
- Number of participants with adverse events [ Time Frame: 40 days (up to + 7 days) ]
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 and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- The ability to understand and sign a written informed consent form, prior to participation in any screening procedures and must be willing to comply with all study requirements.
- ≥ 18 years
- Male or female subjects
- A female may be eligible to enter and participate in the study if she:
- Is of non-child-bearing potential defined as ether post-menopausal (12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea and ≥ 45 years of age)or physically incapable of becoming pregnant with documented tubal ligation, hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy or
- Is of child-bearing potential with a negative pregnancy test at screening and agrees to use one of the following methods of contraception to avoid pregnancy
- Complete abstinence from intercourse from 2 weeks prior to administration of IP, throughout the study and for at least 4 weeks after discontinuation of all study medication
- Double barrier method (male condom/spermicide, male condom/diaphragm, diaphragm/spermicide)
- Any intrauterine device (IUD) with published data showing that the expected failure rate is < 1 % per year
- Any other method with published data showing that the expected failure rate is < 1 % PER YEAR
- Hormonal contraception plus a barrier method. Hormonal contraception alone will not be considered adequate for inclusion into or participation in this study due to one of the study drugs being rifampicin.
All subjects participating in the study will be counseled on safer sexual practices including the use of effective barrier methods (e.g. male condom)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any significant acute or chronic medical condition
- Pregnant or lactating women
- Women of childbearing age unless using non hormonal contraception
- Males who are not using contraception
- Evidence of organ dysfunction or any clinically significant deviation from normal during screening including laboratory determinations such as abnormal LFTs
- Positive blood screen for HIV-1 and 2 antibodies
- Positive blood screen for hepatitis B or C antibodies
- Positive IGRA screen for TB
- Current or recent (within 3 months) gastrointestinal disease
- Clinically relevant alcohol or drug use or history of alcohol or drug use that will hinder compliance with treatment, follow up procedures or evaluation of adverse effects
- Use of proton pump inhibitors
- Exposure to any investigational drug or placebo within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug
- Consumption of grapefruit and Seville oranges or products containing grapefruit or Seville oranges within 1 week of first study drug and for the duration of the study
- Use of any other drugs including over-the-counter medications and herbal preparations, within 2 weeks prior to first dose of study drug
- Previous allergy to any of the constituents of the pharmaceuticals in this trial
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): NCT01424826
|United Kingdom
|Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen Univeristy Hospitals NHS Trust
|Liverpool, United Kingdom, L7 8XP
|Principal Investigator:
|Saye Khoo
|University of Liverpool
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Helen Reynolds, Research Nurse, University of Liverpool
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01424826 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
2010-021461-73 ( EudraCT Number )
|First Posted:
|August 29, 2011 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|October 31, 2013
|Last Verified:
|October 2013
Keywords provided by Helen Reynolds, University of Liverpool:
Healthy volunteers
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Mycobacterium Infections
Actinomycetales Infections
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections
Bacterial Infections
Raltegravir Potassium
Anti-HIV Agents
Anti-Retroviral Agents
Antiviral Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
HIV Integrase Inhibitors
Integrase Inhibitors
Enzyme Inhibitors
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Antibiotics, Antitubercular
Antitubercular Agents
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Leprostatic Agents
Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inducers


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CHIPLEY � Providing Medicaid benefits to people without improving the incentives for physicians to accept federal benefits is a �cruel joke,� said Sen. Don Gaetz on Tuesday.
CHIPLEY � Providing Medicaid benefits to people without improving the incentives for physicians to accept federal benefits is a �cruel joke,� said Sen. Don Gaetz on Tuesday.
Gaetz (R-Niceville) met with Northwest Florida Community Hospital CEO and President Pat Schlenker and a handful of doctors and hospital staff when the Senator was in Northwest Florida for a �Neighborhood Day.�
�For the federal government, Medicaid reform was all or nothing,� Gaetz said. �The governor went from saying �no, no, hell no,� to �may I have two scoops please?��
The Florida Legislature adjourned in May without expanding the state's Medicaid program, passing up more than $50 billion in federal funding and dealing a defeat to Gov. Rick Scott.
And with little fanfare, perhaps the most controversial issue of the session fizzled, leaving roughly 1.1 million Floridians uninsured for now. It was unclear whether Scott will call a special session or if the issue will still be unsettled when the Legislature reconvenes next March.
The Senate had passed a bill supported by Scott, but the House Republican leadership had refused to consider it, so the bill died at adjournment.
The House and the Senate had different ideas of what Medicaid reform should look like in Florida, but in the end, the state took Washington�s mandates.
Gaetz said he supported increasing physician reimbursements under Medicaid as a means to encourage more physicians to accept the benefits.
It once seemed obvious that Medicaid expansion wouldn't happen in Florida, as Scott had entered politics in 2009 running national cable TV commercials criticizing the President Barack Obama's health care plan.
Scott made a dramatic about-face when he announced his support for Medicaid expansion under Obama's Affordable Care Act, calling it the "compassionate" and "common sense" choice since the U.S. Supreme Court had upheld the law sometimes called "Obamacare." But the House and Senate voted against a straight Medicaid expansion early in the session, saying they didn't want to expand an already broken system.
Scott, the Senate, House Democrats, Florida hospitals, health advocates and a diverse mix of business and labor groups all lined up in support of a bill proposed by Republican Sen. Joe Negron that would have drawn down more than $50 billion from the federal government over the next decade and given it to an estimated 1.1 million Floridians to purchase private insurance.
The proposal would have saved the state money, but House Republicans resisted accepting any funding tied to the federal law and instead passed a bill that would use $237 million in state funds to cover about 115,000 residents. The Obama administration has sought to offer health insurance to more Americans by extending the Medicaid eligibility levels to those making up to 138 percent of the poverty level. But the House plan only addressed residents making at or below 100 percent. That's roughly $11,000 a year for a single person and about $19,500 for family of three.
Scott slammed that plan, saying it would doubly tax Florida families as they would be paying federal taxes to pay for people in other states but would get no benefit themselves.
�Just because we give you a Medicaid card, doesn�t guarantee you will have access to health care,� Gaetz said. �I learned from my experience as a hospital administrator that nothing happens in a hospital until a doctor signs an order.�
Gaetz said he met with a Washington County resident earlier in the day who said he could not get an appointment to see a physician through his Medicaid coverage.
�Until we can provide more coverage, giving out another million Medicaid cards is just a cruel joke,� the senator said.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will also bring mandates that are going to negatively impact rural hospitals, Gaetz said. �It is going to take all of your skills and abilities to maintain the level of care that you are currently providing.�
Schlenker said that under the new Medicaid reimbursements, the hospital is getting about 96 percent of the allowed payments, which means the hospital pays the remaining four percent out of its own funds.
�If your business is running at a four percent loss, then you wind up having to move that cost on to your other, insured patients,� Gaetz said. A business won�t stay in business long if it loses four cents on every dollar, he added.
The federal government will continue to put constraints on the rural hospitals, Gaetz said. �I wish I could tell you there was some magic solution, but there isn�t,� he said.
Insurance premiums are also expected to rise as the Affordable Care Act continues to be implemented. �Blue Cross of Florida predicts their rates will increase by 50 to 60 percent,� Gaetz said. Part of that increase comes from the federally mandated reduction of six categories or �bands� of coverage to three categories.
With fewer categories of age, the average premium for each band will increase.
�Since I am older, I want to thank you for subsidizing my insurance from now on,� Gaetz joked.

subset: commoncrawl


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Edit offline user's startup itemsTuesday, July 1st, 2008
As administrator, you might not only want to edit only your own startup configuration and the global startup configuration, but also the startup configuration of invidual users.
In order to implement this feature in Startup Manager, we could provide some list with user names in Startup Manager and mount the user registry based on the selection in this list. But the fact is that this is only possible on Windows NT.
So we should ask ourselves the following question: "Is it OK to drop support for Windows previous to Windows 2000? ". In my own opinion it is, but what do you think?


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Astoria just might be the next fashion center of New York City, and local merchants made their case for that designation last Tuesday night.
"Starry Night, Astoria Bright" brought together dozens of the neighborhood's finest clothing and jewelry makers for a night of shopping and socializing at the famous Cup Diner.
"People don't think we have good shopping in Astoria," said Cynthia Radalj, proprietor of Candy Plum boutique and co-creator of the shopping night. "There's so many new stores, between restaurants and boutiques, we wanted to bring new customers into the area."
Retailers from all over Astoria set up booths and tables inside the Cup Diner, creating a makeshift gallery of hand-crafted baubles, one-of-a-kind accessories, and locally-made outfits from the trendiest shops in northwestern Queens.
Shirts, dresses, bags, wallets, and necklaces were among the easiest items to find, and items would suit a gift recipient of any taste.
"Fashion is moving into a very hand-made, almost organic direction," said Radalj.
The participating stores are part of a growing movement of handmade items, as individual artists and craft makers wanting to make a go at the fashion business are finding Astoria as an inexpensive, artist-friendly place to open for business.
"Just as a lot of larger businesses have been moving into the area's traditional shopping districts like Steinway and Broadway, the shopping scene is moving to Ditmars, 30th and 31st avenues," said Radalj, who explained that larger chain stores were also moving in to the neighborhood. "These smaller stores are offering something different and special."
Working with Kristie Foster, owner of Kris Tees, Radalj has been organizing special events that highlight the best of local businesses. They put together a successful fashion show last June that showed off the summer styles of area designers. The show was such a hit, that they began considering another event. In September, they struck upon the idea of holding an event to encourage holiday shopping, which ultimately became Starry Night, Astoria Bright.
More than 50 stores rented out individual tables inside the Cup Diner, and hundreds of people came to shop and spend. The merchants and shoppers were ably assisted by a squad of silver-spandexed roller girls, who glided across the restaurant's floor and made sure that everything ran smoothly.
"I've gotten very good feedback from designers," said Radalj. "We had people from all over Manhattan and Queens coming out to shop. It was a very solid amount of people, and everyone I spoke to about selling or buying was very happy."
The event was successful not just because of the large number of sales made, but also because it brought so many diverse Astoria businesses together under the same roof. The event was chance for neighboring - and even competing - stores to meet and familiarize themselves with each other, giving designers a chance to bond and help create a stronger shopping scene for both the owners and shoppers.
Hundreds of shoppers gathered at the Cup Diner for a gift-buying extravaganza that showcased the best of Astoria's local designers and artisans.
Councilman Peter Vallone poses at Starry Night, Astoria Bright with the event's roller girl facilitators.


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Exciting news announced yesterday on Lew Bryson's blog "Seen Through a Glass" -- a potential, new half-hour television series about the craft beer industry called "American Beer Blogger"! What a cool idea: a TV show about a guy who goes around visiting places, drinking beer, asking questions, and writing about it, as Lew says. If you're not convinced, check out his video (believe me...it's worth the 2:25 of your time!):
But in order to get this show up and running, the producers (Green Leaf) need to raise $60,000. The money will go toward editing and marketing the idea to a TV channel. So if the idea sounds good to you (it does to me!), Lew is asking you to help them reach their financial goal by pledging some money to their Kickstarter. (I've also attached a widget at the end of this post.)
About Lew: he is a drinks writer from the Philly area. He has a couple other blogs, including "Why the PLCB Should be Abolished" and "Session Beer Project". He also authored the book "Pennsylvania Breweries". Intelligent, witty, and very real writing - good stuff all around. I definitely recommend that you check out his work.
A big "thank you" to my in-laws for turning me on to Lew! Hopefully after this post, I'll have done the same for you all. Prost!


text:
The cardiac catheterization and interventional laboratories at USA Health University Hospital contain state-of-the-art equipment and provide advanced diagnostic techniques to establish the presence or absence of heart disease as well as current interventional procedures to alleviate symptoms of heart disease and improve quality of life. Our staff provides capable and compassionate care to our patients and our patients are confident that their safety and comfort is our first priority.
We provide diagnostic and interventional services for individuals who suffer from symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and patients can usually be discharged the same day as their procedure.
The laboratories are also utilized for device implantations including ICDs, cardiac resynchronization therapies and implantable loop recorders.
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please notify the department 24-hours in advance. For questions about your upcoming procedure, you can contact the Cardiac Cath Lab at 471-7160, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
© 2018 USA Health


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- SpecsConvert Specs to MetricArm Length6.56 'RPM1600 rpm
- About Company
Located in Taiwan - a vital communication position of the Asia-Pacific region - Buffalo Machinery is a global provider of metal working machines, which produce strong, robust and precise machine tools together with exceptional customer service. Buffalo Machinery provides a complete line of CNC vertical machining centers, CNC horizontal boring and milling machines, CNC lathes and 5-axes high speed machining centers. These products can be used and applied to multiple industries including, but not limited to: aerospace, automobile, energy, shipyard building, die and mold, medicine, agriculture, oil and gas.


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ASUS Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 Review
ASUS Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 Testing:
Moving data to and from an external device is something we all do as a means of backing up sensitive data, whether it be family pictures, movies, music, or projects. The speed with which this transfer occurs is measurable and can improve with different tools. I will be using ATTO version 2.47 to measure an external drive's read/write performance through the USB 3.0 interface. The default test algorithm is used for this test. Motherboards that support a boost to the USB spec, such as USB 3.0 Boost on the ASUS offering and XFast USB on the ASRock, will be used as they show the maximum potential speeds.
The results in this test are interesting, as they show how well each manufacturer's USB 3.0 speed boost technology works. ASUS' implementation has the edge in larger file sizes, while the Extreme 4 does incredibly well using smaller file sizes. Overall, using Turbo Mode in ASRock's XFast LAN software is one way to increase throughput throughout the whole usage range, although if you are transferring data to and from an external drive, you most likely are using larger file sizes. The Sabertooth leads the way by a modest margin as the block size goes up. Either way, the boost in performance is a point of difference.


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Occupational & Environmental Medicine Services
Recognized by the State of Connecticut Department of Labor as a full-service Occupational & Environmental Medicine Program, we offer an array of services. Our Occupational Medicine offices are open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm for treatment of work-related injuries or illnesses and for follow-up care. After-hours care is coordinated with our community-based Emergency Department locations.
Screening and Surveillance Services
- Urine Drug Testing
- Breath alcohol Testing
- PPD Screening (Tuberculosis Screening)
- Pre-placement Physical Exams
- Disability Exams
- Exposure Evaluations
- Independent Medical Exams
- Fitness for Duty Exams
- FAA and DOT Exams
- Firefighter Medical Exams
- Haz-mat Surveillance
On-Site Services
Many of our clients have chosen to offer on-site physical examinations for their employees, as well as immunizations, including tuberculosis testing and hepatitis vaccines.
On-site Guidance for Specific Workplace Issues
- Ergonomic issues
- Workplace safety
- Noise levels
- Air quality problems
- Higher than usual injury rate
- Communicable diseases
Educational Services
The Middlesex Hospital Occupational Medicine Program provides seminars for employers or designees on a variety of subjects, workers' compensation, drug testing, communicable diseases and indoor air quality.
- Workers' Compensation
We treat both the initial injury and provide ongoing injury management.
- Immunization Programs
We can provide flu shots, tetanus and hepatitis vaccinations.
- Drug Screening Services
We offer both breath alcohol testing and urine drug screening with SAMSHA-approved testing facilities and 5- or 10-panel testing.
- Pre-placement Physical Exam
Performed at the time an offer of employment is made, this ensures the applicant's ability to perform essential job functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Fitness for Duty Exam
Determines a worker's current health status as it relates to his or her ability to safely perform a job at their existing level or with accommodations.
- Surveillance Exam
Testing can be performed for workers who have environmental exposures such as lead, asbestos or other agents.
- Hearing Loss Prevention Programs
We conduct audiological hearing tests in compliance with OSHA regulations.
Industry-specific Examinations:
- Department of Transportation Exam
Required at least every two years to ensure the ability of all commercial drivers to perform their duties in accordance with federal regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- Federal Aviation Administration Exam
Conducted by a senior FAA examiner, initial and periodic exams are available to both commercial and recreational pilots.
Customized Service
We can tailor any of our services to meet the needs of your company and your employees. For more information on customization, or any of these services, contact the Occupational Medicine Marketing Department at (860) 358-2753.
Request More Information


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Hi everyone. I've made considerable revisions to my website at http://asmith.id.au and added a great deal more content for robotics and hydroponics.
Lately I've been working on a bootstrap loader for PIC16F88 microcontrollers, and a simple real-time operating system to go with it. All the common lisp and PIC assembler source code for the hardware programmer and bootstrap loader is available from the website now.
A related project to create an effective very high level programming language for PICs, based on finite state machines, is also well under way. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the topic.


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Earlier this month in Korea, LG launched the G Flex, a quad-core smartphone that features an arched touch screen and rear control buttons. The device was announced after LG revealed it had successfully developed curved smartphone batteries.
Design and Display
The curve is not immense; it is more like a continuous, gentle bend. It actually seemed to make the otherwise large 6-inch OLED display a little easier to manage. The thin, curving form served to minimize the extra-wide flatness that normally would follow a phone this size. It hugs the face nicely, and LG claims the curvature helps amplify audio in and out when making calls. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Round, the curve goes top-to-bottom. The G Flex is equipped with a 6-inch curved OLED screen.
Pixel Resolution
The curve also worked particularly well for videos: the HD display has a 1,280x720-pixel resolution and seemed particularly clear and glare-free, which matches what CNET TV editor David Katzmaier says holds true for larger curved-display OLED televisions.
Weirdly, the Flex does not indeed flex; an LG rep encouraged us to try, and we pressed the device down on the table face-first, against every instinct not to. It held up against the pressure, and is meant to survive being sat on.
The rear finish, which LG says is "self-healing," is derived from paint finishes in the automotive industry. Hydrogen in the finish is involved in the surface expanding over time after being scratched, sealing up any damage.
The handset includes an aforementioned contoured battery. According to LG, the 3,500mAh battery uses patented technology that takes advantage of its unique shape to perform more reliably. Powering the device is a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor (the same blazing fast CPU that is seen in the Nexus 5 and the LG G2 flagship) and a 450MHz Adreno 330 GPU for ultrasmooth gameplay. For shutterbugs, the phone is equipped with a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and is LTE-enabled. Other features include 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and NFC.
Additional news feature
Additional new features to LG's Optimus 3.0 user interface include Q Theater. This lets you view photos and videos directly from the lock screen. There is also an urgent call alert, which flashes the LED notification light when you miss several calls in a row from the same number, and swing lock screen, which changes the lock screen image depending on how you hold the phone.
Though contoured handsets have been around for years, the design has never reached mass appeal. Now with Samsung and LG both releasing new curved smartphones, however, it looks like a renewed interest is reemerging. In and of itself, the G Flex sports impressive specifications regardless of the curved screen.


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Josh Hall one of our Vancouver Canucks bloggers is back with his Wednesday Detroit Red Wings vs. Vancouver Canucks matchup preview. 10 p.m. ET, FSN (Detroit), TSN (Vancouver). Roberto Luongo has turned things around. The former team captain has posted a 6-0-1 record over his last seven outings. Pavel Datsyuk has been red hot for Detroit, registering 23 points over his last 16 games.
Game 34: The Vancouver Canucks Order Up Some Red Wings
December 20, 2011 By


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Whether you enjoy roleplaying video games or not, the one thing you can't deny is that these titles owe a huge debt to the pen and paper roleplaying games that preceded them. Obviously all Dungeons & Dragons-branded games were spawned by the pen and paper game of the same name, but the list of titles that feature less obvious inspiration reads like a comprehensive listing of every game ever created. To wit: World of Warcraft has spent the past decade as the most successful subscription-based massively multiplayer online game in existence, yet a quick glance at twenty-year-old books from the Warhammer pen and paper game makes it pretty apparent that Blizzard lifted almost the entirety of the game's aesthetics from that long-running series.
Given how easily these pen and paper ideas translate to the world of games, it should come as no surprise that a number of these games have officially made the leap to video games. The aforementioned Dungeons & Dragons is the most obvious example of this, but other pen and paper titles like Warhammer (as well as its Warhammer 40,000 variant) and Shadowrun have also made the leap. One series that has been unexpectedly underrepresented in the realm of video games however is Games Workshop's Space Hulk franchise, a line of pen and paper games that tasks players with commanding a group of heavily-armed, futuristic space marines as they battle against an obscenely hostile universe full of ravenous aliens, dangerous weaponry and a wealth of bizarre people (both human and otherwise).
Instead of leaving Space Hulk to slowly fade into arguable obscurity among those who prefer virtual settings to using their imaginations and complicated multi-sided die however, Games Workshop announced this morning that a new video game based on Space Hulk is currently in development for the PC, Mac and iOS platforms. Though rendered in full 3D, developer Full Control is crafting a turn-based tactical shooter. Not only does this mimic the gameplay seen in Space Hulk's original pen and paper iteration, it also means that the end result should be something akin to the recent, phenomenal XCOM: Enemy Unknown — and, assuming Space Hulk is successful, may also indicate a true renaissance for the turn-based, tactical shooter subgenre (and the possibility that the game may also appear on modern gaming consoles).
Below this text you can find a 30-second long teaser clip for the upcoming Space Hulk. As a teaser it does little to demonstrate Space Hulk's gameplay, and it doesn't really establish any sort of plot for the title, but it does show off rather attractive CGI models for the game's space marine protagonists. Likewise, the aesthetic and tone of the teaser suggest that developer Full Control has a solid grasp of the gritty, overly-worn feel that has made the Space Hulk universe so engaging to millions of pen and paper gamers. The ships and space stations you explore in Space Hulk won't be the shiny, sterile environments you've seen in so many futuristic Hollywood films, but will instead more closely resemble the decrepit dungeons and ramshackle castles found in the majority of roleplaying videogames. That said, this is still a game set in deep space, so expect your foes to range from Giger-esque extraterrestrials to conniving bipedal species that would rather swindle you out of your hard-earned cash than melt your skin with acidic blood.
As of now there is very little information available on Space Hulk, though we expect Games Workshop and Full Control to amend that shortly. Once useful information comes available, we'll bring it to you. Hopefully that vague "2013" release window skews toward the first half of the year, rather than the latter.


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Difference between revisions of "Machu Picchu"
Revision as of 14:32, 18 September 2013
These remarkable ruins became known to the scientific world in 1911, after the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham was led to the site by locals. Perched dramatically 1000 ft above the Urubamba river, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also the end point of the most popular hike in South America, the Inca Trail.
The story of Machu Picchu is quite a remarkable one; it is still unknown exactly what the site was in terms of its place in Inca life. Current researchers tend to believe that Machu Picchu was a country resort for elite Incas. At any given time, there were no more than 750 people living at Machu Picchu, with far fewer than that during the rainy season. The Incas started building it around AD 1430, but it was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
One thing that is clear is that it was a remarkably well hidden place, and well protected. Located far up in the mountains of Peru, visitors had to travel up long valleys littered with Inca check points and watch towers. Remarkably, the Spanish conquistadors missed the site. However, many people are said to have knowledge of the ancient city as it was referred to in some text found in the 20th century; even so, it was not until Bingham that Machu Picchu was scientifically discovered (he was on a trip sponsored by the Yale University, actually looking for Vilacamba, the last Inca hideout).
Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place.
Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are located in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century.
Flora and fauna
Both are abundant and varied. Typical plant life in the historic reserve of Machu Picchu includes pisonayes, q'eofias, alisos, puya palm trees, ferns and more than 90 species of orchids.
The fauna in the reserve includes the spectacled bear, cock-of-the-rocks or "tunqui", tankas, wildcats and an impressive variety of butterflies and insects unique in the region.
The lay of the land, the natural surroundings and the strategic location of Machu Picchu lend this monument a fusion of beauty, harmony and balance between the work of the ancient Peruvians and the whims of nature.
Get in
There are a few ways to reach Machu Picchu:
- hike the Inca Trail (you need to book months in advance in high season and you cannot go independently)
- hike another trail—for example, the Salkantay trek that finishes in Hidroelectrica or Santa Teresa (see below), or the Choquequirao trek (from Choquequirao to Santa Teresa).
- train from Cuzco or Ollantaytambo, either on a day trip, or overnighting in Aguas Calientes. Overnighting allows you to visit the park early or late in the day and avoid the worst of the crowds, and on sunny days, gives you a nice window of reprieve from the beating sun. Don't forget sunblock. Train tickets are probably the most expensive in the world (by km). A one way ticket from Ollantaytambo will set you back 55-80 USD and from Cuzco even more. There is a luxurious service that can cost as much as 700 USD. The rail company, Peru Rail, is run by concession by foreign investors, so much of the money does not stay in Peru. (Some people take this into account when they choose their way to get to Machu Picchu.)
- minibus to Hidroelectrica through Santa Maria and Santa Teresa (altogether around 40 soles one way, allow 6-7 hours, you might have to change in Santa Maria and/or Santa Teresa). Then you can walk along the railway from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (free, 2.5-3 hrs) or take the train (15-18 USD one way). If you go for this option, ask around agencies in Cuzco as it might be cheaper to buy a package that includes the trains to and from Hidroelectrica, buses from Aguas Calientes to MP, minibuses between Hidroelectrica and Cuzco, accommodation in Aguas Calientes and the ticket to MP. The package might be cheaper than going independently, although you will be less flexible once you buy the package.
- Some agencies organise a combination of biking, hiking, zip lining and bussing to Machhu Picchu that is an interesting way to get there and can take up to three days. This is usually marketed as the Inca Jungle Trek (see below). Prices vary but around 300 soles is a reasonable price.
The wet season in Peru is from November (often only really taking off in December) until the end of March, so then it is best to include a few extra days for flexibly dealing with delays.
From Aguas Calientes, there are two ways to reach the ruins: by bus (18 USD for a return ticket, with each leg taking 20 minutes) or walking (free steep hike), as described below.
Depending on when you arrive, the site may be quite crowded or nearly deserted. The busiest periods are in the dry season (June-August), with the slowest being in February, the height of the rainy season, when the Inca Trail is closed. Most visitors arrive on package tours and are in the park between 10am and 2pm.
To access the site (there is a checkpoint down at the bridge next to the campsite in Aguas Calientes), you must have a ticket for Machu Picchu - which are available on in advance from machupicchu.gob.pe or from various ticket offices described on that website. Machu Picchu tickets are NOT sold at the entrance gate and are limited to 2500 per day, with entrance to Huayna Picchu being further sublimited to 400.
By bus from Aguas Calientes
If arriving by train into Aguas Calientes, walk out of the station and keep going roughly straight through the warren of handicraft stalls and over a foot bridge to the bus departure area. Frequent buses leave to the ruins (US$18 each way for adult foreigners) starting at 5:30AM. There's often a queue, so if you're intent on being on the first bus up, you should arrive at least 90 minutes early. The journey takes around 1/2 hour to slowly wind around the switchbacks and up to the park. Busses depart when full, which typically means they run quite regularly. At popular times, there may be a lengthy queue for the busses, so plan the return trip accordingly in order not to miss train departures. Advance train bookings are recommended, as trains are often sold-out, particularly return trains.
By foot from Aguas Calientes
From Aguas Calientes to get to the ruins themselves it is also possible to walk along a similar 8 km route that the buses run, which will take about 1-2 hours up, and around an hour back down. This route is mainly stairs, connecting the switchbacks that the buses take. It is a strenuous and long hike but is very rewarding, recommended to start around 05:00 when the gate at the bridge opens (it takes around 20 minutes to walk from Aguas Calientes to the bridge, so there is little use in starting from Aguas Calientes earlier than 4.40 am), to make it to the top before sunrise. The descent is fairly easy, just take care when the steps are wet. Keep alert for the bus drivers that rarely brake for pedestrians.
By foot via the Inca Trail
Hiking the Inca Trail is a great way to arrive as you first see the city through the Sun Gate (instead of arriving from below as you do from Aguas Calientes). Both the four-day and two-day hikes are controlled by the government. Travelers should be fit enough to walk for days and sleep in tents. Every traveler needs to travel with a tour agency because of the rules and regulations of entering the park. Some of these approved tour agencies: Tierras Vivas, Cusi Travel, Llama Path, Wayki Trek and Peru Treks.
There are also other options available for hiking to Machu Picchu. This is important to know as the Inca Trail hike is limited to the amount of people that can go on it each day, including porters. As such, there is a much steeper price on this trek and it is necessary to book far in advance to get a place on the dates you will be there.
Two other cheaper, but equally as good, options are the Salkantay Trek and the Inca Jungle Trek. Most, if not all, tour agencies in Cuzco offer these. The Salkantay Trek is a 4-5 day trek through the Salkantay Mountain Pass (4600 masl, mind the altitude!) and can also be done independently if you have the gear and some experience. The scenery is amazing and if you go in the rainy season you will be rewarded with dozens of waterfalls. Though, at the same time, you will be wet for the most part anyways. The other option, the Inca Jungle Trek, is a three day trek that begins with a drive to the top of a mountain and then a bike ride down to the bottom. A full day of hiking follows the next day to Aguas Calientes.
Both of these alternatives can be booked a couple days in advance when you arrive in Cuzco and can be much cheaper options and good ways to stay away from the crowds before getting to Machu Picchu. Prices, as of December/January 2011 was anywhere from US$180-200 for the entire trek. Do your research in Cuzco and pick the tour company you feel most comfortable with. Some groups will offer slightly more(sleeping bag included, etc) than others.
The Inca Jungle Trek is an agency tour, but the "backdoor" route they use is also an option for independent travellers wishing to go-it-alone. Minivans and buses are cheap (15-30 soles) from "Terminal Santiago" in Cusco and take you to either Santa Maria or Santa Teresa. Santa Maria is further away from Aguas Calientes than Santa Teresa but is a nice option for those wishing to hike an alternative Inca trail used locally. The walk takes you through the mountains and tiny villages, even people's farms and offers impressive views of the valley. You can end up in Santa Teresa the same day and there are villages, such as Huacayupana and Quellomayo en route which offer an alternative view of local life and accommodation if you don't make it to Santa Teresa that day. Walking on from here to Santa Teresa is along the river (May - November) and by road during rainy season, although it is advisable to get advice before taking this route between December and April due to severe weather. From Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica is a 25 minute taxi or minibus ride and from here you can walk the 2 to 3 hour flattish trek to Aguas Calientes which is one of the nicest parts of the journey.
The Peruvian government has imposed a 500 person pass limit per day on Inca Trail traffic. Passes do sell out far in advance, particularly for the high season. Travelers must have a valid passport in order to purchase a pass at the time of reservation. Many local tour operators have since opened up alternate trekking options that allow for similar trekking opportunities in the area. Most visit other Inca ruins, not as well excavated, and finish with the train trip up to see Machu Picchu at the end. One such option is the Choquequirao Trek, which starts in Cacharo and ends in Los Loros or the Cachiccata Trek which starts in Racca and ends in Cachiccata.
The current fee schedule and online tickets are available at the official government website and from ticket offices listed on that website. As of March 2012, the entrance fee is 128 soles, with discounts for children and students with an ISIC card.
There are three types of tickets: (1) only entrance to MP, (2) MP + climbig Huayna Picchu, (3) MP + climbing Cerro Machu Picchu (aka Montaña). The number of visitors climbing each of the hills is restricted to 400 a day. Huayna Picchu is not as high and easier and therefore more popular. Tickets for it might sell out more than a week in advance. Montaña is higher and more difficult, but the views are actually better. Tickets for it sometimes sell out. You can check the availability for any, at any time on the website.
When preparing your budget, do not forget to include train tickets and bus tickets. Food at the site is US$ 36 for a lunch buffet. Officially, you are not allowed to bring food inside, but no one checks backpacks. If you bring it in a transparent plastic bag, they will ask you to store it at the entrance. Officially, disposable plastic bottles are not allowed either, but no one seems to care about this. Again, it is best to carry everything in the backpack. In the rush at the entrance they don't have time to check everyone.
Students get a 50% discount of all entrance tickets. Your best bet is to show an ISIC card. They sometimes also will accept your university card, although if you are above 25 years of age, they will insist on the ISIC card, although there is no regulation about that whatsoever. You can try to argue but good luck! - the staff, especially at the ticket office in Aguas Calientes, can be quite arrogant and they really want your money anyway.
Most hostels can sell entry permits and bus tickets. Don´t buy them at the travel agency at the Ollantytambo train station, as they don´t actually sell you tickets, but a receipt that you need to give to a person to get your tickets, you´ll end up running all around Aguas Calientes looking for this person. You can buy your ticket at the Aguas Calientes cultural center. 5:30AM-9PM.
Be sure to bring your passport, as it is requested upon entry. There's a popular stamp booth as you exit where you can prove to your friends you've been there, though it is technically illegal to mark your own passport.
Only small packs are allowed in the park (no more than 20 litres), but there is a luggage storage at the entrance mostly used by Inca Trailers.
Only 2,500 people are allowed to enter Machu Picchu each day. The government website (http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/) lists how many tickets are available for each day. Also, visitors must purchase tickets for Huayna Picchu in advance and there is now an additional fee to hike Huayna Picchu (as of Jan 2013 Entrance fee for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu was 152 soles). From October 6, 2012 to early June, the online site was NOT accepting foreign credit cards. You had to go through a travel agency or hotel in Peru or pay at Banco de la Nacion (on Avenida del Sol in Cuzco) to purchase your reservation, otherwise it would simply expire within six hours. Now, (that is, as of June 17, 2013), you CAN indeed purchase tickets with a foreign credit card. This obviously is a major and important reversion to the older policies which did let you complete this purchase.
Get around
There are no vehicles of any kind in the park, bring some comfortable walking shoes, especially if you plan to do any of the hikes such as Wayna Picchu. No walking sticks are allowed. The main ruins are fairly compact and easily walkable.
Take your time walking around the site, as there are many places to see and explore. Although it is not necessary, taking a guided tour does provide a deeper insight into the ancient city, its uses, and information on the geography of it. Keep in mind that relatively little is known about the history and use of the ruins, and some of the stories told by the guides are based on little more than imaginative hearsay. Guides always wait at the entrance and cost 120 soles for a group.
If you have some energy in you, there are a few great hikes involving a bit of legwork. Do make sure that you've taken the time to acclimate to the elevation either in Cuzco or Aguas Calientes for a couple days before exterting yourself too much, especially on Wayna Picchu.
Officially, you are not allowed to bring any food or water bottles into the park, and must check these in at the luggage storage at the entrance. In practice, however, bags are rarely searched, and most people have no problem getting a small bottle of water and some snacks in with them, which you'll definitely want, especially if you're planning to stray from the central set of ruins. Buy these beforehand, as they're much more expensive at the site itself. Don't even think of leaving a shred of trash behind you.
The concession stand near the entrance of the site is appropriately overpriced given their captive audience. Once in the site, there are no food or drinks for sale, though it is possible to leave and return.
Due to the fact that this is a protected park, further construction in the area is nearly impossible. Thus, there is currently only one expensive hotel at the site itself. Almost everyone who wants to stay overnight near Machu Picchu books a hotel in nearby Aguas Calientes.
Machu Picchu is a world heritage site, very popular, very well marketed and indeed situated in a place of exceptional natural beauty. This is where the good news end. On the other hand, it can be extremely expensive to visit (most of the time you will be treated as a walking ATM), it can be very crowded, very touristy, much of the staff around the site and in Aguas Calientes look like it's a long time since they last smiled and they can be very arrogant. Many people therefore choose not to visit. Below are some alternatives. If you are interested in Inca ruins, try those around Cuzco, Ollantaytambo and the excellent Choquequirao. If you still go to Aguas Calientes, but decide not to pay for the entrance to Machu Picchu, you can climb Cerro Putukusi (highly recommended even if you visit MP) [4], right next to Aguas Calientes (1-2 hrs up, 1 hr down) to get fantastic views of the site and the surrounding nature. Also, the branch of the Salkantay Trek that ends in Hidroelectrica, has good views of MP from further away and some ruins, where you can camp and enjoy the view to MP.
Get out


text: Hi.. I have a Postfix( Version 2.8) mail server & 16 Public ip address pool. But by default Postfix uses ip address of eth0 lan card on every email so only one ip address is used as source of every mail. So can you help me how to rotate my ip address pool with postfix so that every time the source address will be different on each mail or bunch of 20/30 email.


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DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a woman and will be 59 in a month. I'm in excellent health. I've worked out seriously with weight-bearing exercises for nearly 30 years. I have great muscle tone, and I believe I am height/weight proportional (5 feet, 2 inches tall, weigh 130 pounds).
Is it inevitable that women gain weight as they age? Is it possible to maintain weight past menopause? I have slowly gained five pounds in the past year, and I've developed a little bulge under my navel. I've increased my cardio workout to lose weight, while continuing my weight-lifting regimen. I seem to be getting results slowly but surely. But that bulge is still there. Should I just learn to live with it? — D.H.
ANSWER: Many women would be very envious of your good health and even your current weight and waistline numbers. However, in your case, it is healthiest to continue at the same weight you have been all your life. Also, abdominal fat is the most metabolically active fat, and the one most likely to increase your risk of heart disease.
It's not inevitable that you'll gain weight. Both men and women tend to slow down a bit metabolically as we age. Unless exercise increases or food intake decreases, you are at risk for weight gain. Highly processed, starchy foods may increase your risk of weight gain.
Slow but sure results definitely are best, so keep at it and don't get frustrated.
DEAR DR. ROACH: What can you tell me about prurigo nodularis? Is there a cure? — N.R.
ANSWER: "Prurigo" is from the Latin word for "itching," and so prurigo nodularis is a chronic skin condition of itchy nodules, most commonly on the outsides of the arms and legs. The itching can be quite severe. Because prurigo nodularis sometimes is associated with systemic medical disease, the dermatologist normally will look for kidney and liver problems and chronic infections.
Unfortunately, there is not a cure. Most people get relief from steroids, and ointments tend to be more powerful than the cream form. Placing a bandage on top further increases effectiveness. Injection of steroids can be done by an expert, usually a dermatologist.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 69-year-old circumcised male with no particular problem until a year ago, when I got a small, painful tear in the skin of my penis while having sex with my wife. It healed within two or three days, but this has happened each time we have sex, sometimes on the same site and sometimes further around. I've stopped having sex because it happens every time. Can you suggest a solution? — R.C.
ANSWER: My first thought is that this might be due to trauma, and that a lubricant might be a really good idea. However, since it has been going on for so long, I am a bit concerned about a possible skin issue, so I'd recommend a careful exam by your doctor, a dermatologist or a urologist.
READERS: The booklet on asthma and its control explains this illness in detail. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach — No. 602, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to [email protected] or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Health newsletters may be ordered from www.rbmamall.com.
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TALLAHASSEE | Florida State tailback James Wilder Jr. was charged with failing to appear in court because of a suspended driver's license.
TALLAHASSEE | Florida State tailback James Wilder Jr. was charged with failing to appear in court because of a suspended driver's license.
Wilder voluntarily turned himself in to the Leon County Sheriff's Office on Sunday and was released on a $500 bond, spokesman Lt. James McQuaig said Monday afternoon.
His next scheduled court date is Jan. 24.
This was the third arrest in a year for Wilder. On Feb. 22, he was charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer without violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. In April, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence.
Wilder was placed on probation for six months and was directed to take an anger management course, write a letter of apology to the arresting officer and pay court costs.
He was directed also to take part in a work camp and, on one of the days he was ordered to serve in May, Wilder blew a .01 on his blood-alcohol test. He was dismissed for the day, wasn't able to finish his probation and then spent about a week in jail.
Florida State does have a "three strikes policy," but it's not clear how severely Wilder would be penalized or if he would be suspended.
An FSU spokesman said Monday that coach Jimbo Fisher is not expected to comment on Wilder.
In August, the Tampa native spoke about the arrests and said he had stood before the Florida State players and coaches, apologizing for his actions.
"I definitely appreciate it, for everybody having my back and supporting me and not releasing me off the team," Wilder said. "I think that shows how much the team really loves me and wants me to contribute toward this season."
Wilder ran for 635 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2012. He and Devonta Freeman, who had 660 yards and eight touchdowns, picked up the rushing load after senior Chris Thompson was injured in the Oct. 20 win over Miami.
Both Wilder and Freeman will be juniors in the fall. Florida State also will have Mario Pender, who took a redshirt last season after suffering a sports hernia injury in August.
A former Mr. Football at Tampa's Plant High, Wilder is the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player James Wilder.


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Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 24th Jun 2013 15:20 UTC, submitted by sheokand
Pretty cool stuff: the PlayStation 4 apparently runs on a version of FreeBSD 9.0 modified by Sony and renamed to 'Orbis OS'. Second generation developer kits use GNU GRUB to boot, and allow you to boot into a graphical or a console mode. Not much else is known at this point, but it's a fun bit of information, and perhaps a boon to homebrew developer and hackers.
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RE: Here come the license debates...
by gan17 on Mon 24th Jun 2013 22:38 UTC in reply to "Here come the license debates..."
RE[2]: Here come the license debates...
by Laurence on Tue 25th Jun 2013 07:58 in reply to "RE: Here come the license debates..."
I'd rather be a BSD zealot complaining about the GNU bootloader being employed, but that's just me =P
I must admit I was surprised to see GRUB there. I'm guessing that will be gone by the time consumer devices hit the shelves though (or at least modded so it doesn't look fugly and can't be (accidentally) tampered with by end users).


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Why are some people confident that they are on the right path, and others doubt themselves every step of the way?
There is a wonderful formula for anyone who is figuring out how to take the next step in his or her life: inner freedom. It is more than a formula, it is a state of being.
Spring is upon us, the nature reminding us about an experience of inner spring that is available at any moment. Observe how nature renews itself every day and every season. Every new cycle brings about new beauty and new appreciation for life. Take an opportunity to rediscover that inner spring splendor is possible yet again.
The Joy Compass 12 Steps to Successful Retirement Series has been developed for Let's Talk Money! Sirius XM Channel 141.
Step 2. Figuring out Social Security helps you:
▪ Estimate the income you will receive;
▪ Navigate important decisions around early, normal or delayed retirement;
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▪ Prevent a big Medicare mistake; and more.
The only mistakes to regret in life are those that could have been prevented. While all of us navigate the world of economic uncertainly, there are some fundamental principles that still hold. Keep them in mind, and you will avoid the common mistakes that retirees make with their finances.
Take financial advice from friends and family over that of professionals
Julia Valentine: I would like to start by thanking you for editing the Joy Compass book and many articles that appear on the website. I love the work you have done. You are such a great editor. Everything that you touch comes out a hundred times better. It's been confirmed by friends and family, by everyone who has seen the "before and after" versions. You have received uniform praise.
Joan D. Saunders: Thank you — that's what I'm here for.
Having become a collector of experiences, rather than an accumulator of things, I take delight in all events wondorous, miraculous and warm to both my heart and my touch. This Christmas, my gift came unexpectedly when I walked into the Museum District Bed & Breakfast in Richmond, Virginia. My stay came at the end of a strenuous December book tour. The bus I took from D.C. was delayed, and I when I opened the door of the B&B, exhausted, my watch showed 1:10AM.
Modern retirement is riddled with uncertainty and is much riskier than it was decades ago when there were many safeguards and veritable guarantees in place. The burden of assuring a suitable retirement nest egg has shifted from employers and the government to individual retirees. Even with this now common knowledge, far too many have still not adapted to the changes and find them self ill-equipped or, worse, entirely unable to retire when desired.


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Coker women's soccer team lost a close 1-0 game to Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday (Sept. 28) night, at the Queens Sports Complex.
It was a quiet first half as both teams battled to take the lead. Eventually the first 45 minutes would end with both teams tied at zero to head into the break.
Queens was able to jump out to a 1-0 lead just ten minutes into the second half, which would prove to be the game winner for the Royals.
Lizz Morris tallied 12 more saves on the year, while Bailey Van Order led the offense with two shots on the night.
Coker will end a four game road stand next week, as they return home on Tuesday (Oct. 1) to face Converse in a non-conference match up. The game is slated for a 6:00 PM start time.


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In addition, a variety of character costumes, and stages will be available as downloadable content.
Key Features:
- Legend mode, follows the storyline of the entire manga, starting with a re-imagined version of 'Raoh' and covering 'Celestial Emperor' and 'Land of Shura'. This faithful adaptation ensures that this mode can be enjoyed by both fans of the manga and new comers to Kenshiro's post-apocalyptic world. Different characters will be controlled for each episode while 'boss' encounters will feature entire famous scenes from the manga, recreated in intricate detail.
- Over 20 playable characters will be available, including Falco, Shachi, Shew and Juza.
- Dynamic new moves. The destructive power of the techniques of Hokuto Shinken and Nanto Seiken meet the intense action of the Warriors series to produce a thrilling experience. In addition to the signature moves of the first title, new actions such as 'sprint' and 'dodge' have been added to the move sets.
- Dream Mode introduces new, original storylines to the Fist of the North Star Universe while bridging the gaps between parts of the main story, often focusing on some of the series' minor characters.
- Online Co-Op and Versus play. For the first time, Dream Mode will be playable in co-op or versus play via the internet.
More articles about Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2


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Saia Faingaa called into Wallabies squad after Tolu Latu pulls out with broken arm
Experienced Queensland Reds rake Saia Faingaa has been called into the Wallabies squad after an injury to Tolu Latu further depleted Australia's thinning hooking stocks.
Latu was forced out of the squad after breaking an arm in a Sydney club game on the weekend.
He joins Australia's two most senior hookers Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau on the casualty list heading into the first Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship game against New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.
Although technically the third-choice player in the position, 27-year-old Faingaa has far more caps than the combined tally of the players ahead of him.
He has played 29 Tests, though only seven as a starter, while mooted starter Nathan Charles earned his first two caps off the bench in the recent series against France.
James Hanson, the other hooker previously named in the squad, made his only Test appearance as a substitute against he All Blacks in 2012.
Prop Sekope Kepu was confident Charles and Hanson had the goods to take on the formidable New Zealand pack despite their lack of international experience.
"It's not like you're pulling guys that haven't played at Super Rugby level and guys like Hanson and Charles played massive amounts of games this year and credit to them they've played really well," he said.
"It's their chance to step up to the plate.
"I've no doubt they are looking forward to soaking up the occasion and taking the opportunity."
Even so, Kepu would not be surprised if the All Blacks targeted Charles.
"I'm sure they will look at that and as much as they might focus on us, our focus is on ourselves," Kepu said.
"It's all about challenges and I'm sure the pack is up for this weekend. We're pretty excited."
Topics: rugby-union, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, qld


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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Monogrammed Gems
5 comments:
That's so funny, I asked my hubby for a monogrammed necklace too for Christmas. I asked for the one from Jennifer Zeuner though. I have her sideways cross necklace and it is great quality, so I know I can't got wrong with hers. It's a little pricey, but worth it! http://www.jenniferzeuner.com/z10-large-swirly-3-initial-pendant.htmlReplyDelete
Love mammogram jewelry! These are great picks.ReplyDelete
Isn't That Charming.
I have 2 of these necklaces, a T (for Thatcher) and an S (for Sawyer). I wear both letters on the same chain. Need to get the C (for Cohen).
Check this out http://www.thevintagepearl.com/ I have tons of stuff from The Vintage Pearl. My favorite being the necklace with my boys names. And their store is in Tulsa!
Doesn't it just feel like the whole world is getting more sentimental these days??? I have been smitten with all the monogramming lately, too! I definitely am adding a piece of monogrammed jewelry to the Christmas list (whew! It's getting loooong!) (c;ReplyDelete


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Nokia Launches Fund to Invest in Smart Vehicles
May 5, 2014 9:29 AM PT
Nokia has created a US$100 million fund earmarked for investing in firms that specialize in connected and smart vehicles.
The move comes days after the Finnish firm forked over its handset unit to Microsoft.
Nokia already has a mapping-and-location company called "Here." The new fund will be designed to support the growth of the ecosystem around Here's mapping and location products and services, the company said.
Nokia is far from the only tech outfit hopping on-board with cars. Google has partnered with GM, Honda and Audi, among others, to integrate Android into vehicles' dashboards, enabling Android-powered devices -- and the apps and music contained therein -- to interact with vehicles.
Apple, meanwhile, has created its own CarPlay iPhone system that allows iPhones to be plugged into cars.
"Vehicles are becoming a new platform for technology adoption very similar to phones or tablet," said Paul Asel, Partner at Nokia Growth Partners.
[Source: BBC]
Physicists Confirm New(ish) Element
The periodic table's 117th element -- known as "ununseptium" -- has been confirmed.
Ununseptium originally was created in 2010 by a group of Russian and American physicists. Their work, however, had to be corroborated by a separate independent team, per the edict of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
The confirmation came from a team at Germany's GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Iron Research, whose findings appeared in Physical Review Letters.
Both the aforementioned U.S./Russia tagteam and the German crew created the element by firing calcium isotopes at radioactive Berkelium, which apparently is as complicated as it sounds: "Making element 117 is at the absolute boundary of what is possible now," Professor David Hinde from the Australian National University told IFL Science.
[Source: IFL Science via The Verge]
Hon Hai in Talks to Purchase Chunk of Asia Pacific Telecom
Electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry, oft called by its trading name of "Foxconn," reportedly is in talks to buy 22 percent of Asia Pacific Telecom.
The would-be deal between the two Taiwanese companies would be worth $464.48 million and represent all Asia Pacific Telecom stock held by government-owned enterprises.
Both companies won licenses to provide 4G communication services on a network that is expected to come online later this year.
Buying into Asia Pacific Telecom would net Hon Hai access to 2.1 million subscribers and 3,000 wireless base stations, according to The Commercial Times.
Hon Hai, the world's largest electronics contract manufacturer and a cog in the international supply of iPhones, wants to diversify its offerings because of slowing sale of profitable items such as iPhones, according to the company's chairman.
Smartphone sales growth of 19 percent is expected this year, down from 39 percent in 2013, according to IDC.
[Source: Reuters]
Canada Post Hopes Web Helps With Traditional Business Decline
Canada Post is hoping that online-related services such as delivering packages from e-commerce sites will make up for a lag in its traditional mail-delivery options, according to Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra.
Canada Post currently is losing money, but Chopra hopes new services centered on Web-based retail will return the company to financial stability. It already offers services for retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.
Chopra has dubbed online grocery shipments as the "next battleground" in the "war for convenience."
[Source: Bloomberg]


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|Fremont, Calif.
|High School:
|American HS
2012 Cross Country: Redshirted during the season.
2011 Cross Country: Led Sacramento State in all six meets in which she competed…narrowly missed earned all-Big Sky honors after placing 14th at the conference championships…her time of 21:28 at the NCAA West Regional was the second fastest in school history at that meet…finished third at the Aggie Open and fifth at the Hornet Jamboree…best 5K time was 17:30.7 at the Santa Clara Invitational.
2010 Cross Country: Ran in five meets…fastest 5K time was 17:50.1 at Santa Clara.
2009 Cross Country: Competed in seven of the team's eight meets as a true freshman…led the team in her first two meets, running 18:52 at the USF Invitational and 18:03 at the Hornet Jamboree…placed sixth at the WAC Preview and seventh at the Hornet Jamboree for her highest finishes…ran 20:37 at the WAC Preview for her best 6K time.
High School: A 2009 graduate of American HS in Fremont, Calif...competed in cross country and track & field all four years...finished third in the 1,600 at the 2009 Sacramento Meet of Champions with a time of 5:03.42...ran 10:43 in the 3,200 at the California state meet...won the 2008 Mission Valley Athletic League title in the 1,600...was the MVAL cross country champion as a senior...was a two-time team MVP in cross country and track & field...top cross country times were 18:20 at the North Coast Section meet and 18:28 at the California state meet.
Personal: Majoring in family and consumver science...parents are Craig and Maria Mitchell.


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The Crestview High School band's concert prep band, Jazz Ensembles I and II, the concert band and the symphonic band, interspersed with the Sax to the Max and Trois Hautbois small ensembles, played to a standing-room-only audience at their May 16 spring concert.
My feet were tired after the Crestview High School band concert May 16.
No, I didn't walk to the school.
The music was just so toe-tappin' good I couldn't keep my feet still.
I often marvel that the Big Red Machine we enjoy on the field at Jack Foster Stadium is the same 250-plus well-disciplined, talented and enthusiastic kids we see twice a year in concert.
Split into their respective ensembles, we enjoy them even more without the distraction of cheering, game scores and boiled peanuts.
The concert prep band, Jazz Ensembles I and II, the concert band and the symphonic band, interspersed with the Sax to the Max and Trois Hautbois small ensembles, played to a standing-room-only audience.
The jazz groups got the Pearl Tyner Auditorium swinging with favorite big band tunes such as "In the Mood" and "Sing! Sing! Sing!"
Senior Olivia Dunn provided a stunning vocal for Jazz Ensemble I's performance of Jesse Harris' "Don't Know Why."
The concert band outdid itself on two sophisticated numbers, Gustav Holst�s "March from First Suite in E-flat" and Mahler's Symphony No. 3 "Finale."
The former was one of the first "really substantial concert works" for concert bands, assistant director Charley Andersen said. The latter piece grew and swelled until it hit a spine-shivering crescendo.
Another selection that struck an emotional chord was the lovely Percy Grainer setting of "An Irish Tune from County Derry," popularly known as "Danny Boy," which the symphonic band sensitively and skillfully handled.
The Big Red Machine soon begins summer band practice in preparation for its 2013-14 season.
Meanwhile, jazz lovers can get another taste of Jazz Ensembles I and II in concert at 7 p.m. May 28.
VIDEO: See "Related Media" at top left of this article.
Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.


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Consensus Report
Science, Medicine & Animals (2004)Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review; while the reports represent views of the committee, they also are endorsed by the Academy. Learn more on our expert consensus reports.
The necessity for animal use in biomedical research is a hotly debated topic in classrooms throughout the country. Frequently teachers and students do not have access to balanced, factual material to foster an informed discussion on the topic. This colorful, 50-page booklet is designed to educate teenagers about the role of animal research in combating disease, past and present; the perspective of animal use within the whole spectrum of biomedical research; the regulations and oversight that govern animal research; and the continuing efforts to use animals more efficiently and humanely.


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Google acquires Quickoffice; Drive enhancements incoming?
Quickoffice is one of my favorite productivity-oriented Android apps on the market. I regularly turn to the tablet-version of the Quickoffice application to get key tasks done where Google Drive (formerly, Docs) simply doesn't cut it. Google has announced via the Google Blog today that they have officially acquired Quickoffice, and will be integrating Quickoffice technology into future ... Read More »


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Sharks get boost from return of Hertl and Torresby Eric Gilmore
SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Sharks had been waiting all season to have rookie forward Tomas Hertl and veteran Raffi Torres in the lineup together for a game. That finally happened Thursday, and the timing couldn't have been better for the Sharks.
After battling back from severe right knee injuries, Hertl and Torres played huge roles in the Sharks' 6-3 victory against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round series.
Hertl had a goal and an assist in his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, flashing the offensive skill that made him a strong contender for the Calder Trophy early in the season before being injured. He skated on the third line with center James Sheppard and Tommy Wingels.
Torres scored a goal and had a team-high seven hits, setting the tone for San Jose in a physical game with his wrecking ball style. He skated on the fourth line with center Andrew Desjardins and Mike Brown.
"I think he brings a different element, which is obviously positive," Desjardins said of Torres. "Finishing his checks. It's a presence that I think is important, especially against a team like L.A. It was definitely good to have him out there.
"It's great to see [Hertl] back. He's pretty much at full bore already, just jumping in. It's great to see as well. I think it also adds another completely new dynamic with his offensive ability."
Torres was on the ice Friday for the Sharks' optional skate as they began preparing for Game 2 of the best-of-7 series at SAP Center on Sunday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS, FS-W, CSN-CA).
"I feel as good as I can feel right now," Torres said. "It was a pretty physical game last night, but overall I feel pretty good. I got a good night's sleep, surprisingly. Just a light day today, go and get a good sweat and prepare for tomorrow then for Sunday."
Hertl stayed off the ice Friday but said he feels good and he couldn't stop smiling about winning his first NHL playoff game and scoring his first postseason goal.
"I'm happy because my last goal was maybe before four months," Hertl said, laughing. "It's good for me. I feel good."
When the Sharks lost a second-round series to the Kings in seven games last spring, Hertl was playing in the Czech Republic and Torres was suspended after Game 1 for a shoulder-to-head hit on L.A. center Jarret Stoll.
Hertl's goal Thursday was his first since he scored against the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12. At that point he had 15 goals, but one week later he took a knee-on-knee hit from Kings captain Dustin Brown that severely damaged two ligaments and put his season in jeopardy. Hertl had surgery Dec. 31 and missed the next 45 games. He returned for the Sharks' final two regular-season games.
"He's obviously a kid who's got a tremendous amount of skill out there," Torres said. "He's not afraid to hold onto that puck. He's a big body. He holds onto that puck where a lot of guys would get rid of it and just play it safe. He can be pretty dominant out there. It's early for him, too, so he's only going to get better."
Hertl had a huge first period with four shots and a goal. He also drew a holding penalty on Kings defenseman Drew Doughty on a breakaway, giving San Jose its first power play of the game at 9:44.
Hertl scored his first playoff goal at 19:08 of the first period, giving the Sharks a 2-0 lead. Wingels pushed the puck down the left wing, stopped and spun above the circle and zipped a pass to Sheppard in the slot. Sheppard barely made contact, but the puck trickled forward to Hertl, just to the left of the crease, and he knocked it into a wide-open net before Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick could recover.
Hertl made up for lost celebration time, going down to one knee and pumping his fist as he glided along the boards.
"I love scoring," Hertl said. "It doesn't matter whether it's regular season, playoff time, I love to score."
Torres scored midway through the second period, ripping a rebound past Quick from the slot and giving San Jose a 4-0 lead. After scoring, Torres raised his arms in jubilation as he looked into the stands.
"It was nice," Torres said. "Just following up a play. That's pretty much what we worked on today, 10 minutes of shooting and getting the puck off your backhand and shooting. It probably only happens once or twice a game if you get lucky. So you've got to be ready when it does."
Torres injured his right knee on Sept. 20 in a collision with Anaheim Ducks forward Emerson Etem during a preseason game and had surgery six days later. Torres missed San Jose's first 59 games, returned to play five of the next six, then had a setback and missed the Sharks' final 17 regular-season games.
But when the puck dropped Thursday, Torres began hitting every Kings player in sight.
"That's Raffi," Hertl said. "It's crazy, it's nice. It's [so] many hits. All the guys are happy that Raffi is again playing. Raffi is very, very important for our team."
Going into Game 1, Sharks coach Todd McLellan said he wasn't sure how Hertl and Torres would handle the playoffs after missing so many regular-season games.
"There is risk in playing them," McLellan said Friday. "Last night that risk paid off. As we go forward you'd like to think they'll become more comfortable in games of this intensity after not playing very much and just get better as the series goes on.
"But it can also go the other way, where the fatigue and the energy level gets a little bit low. We'll monitor as it goes, but we liked the ingredients that they brought to the lineup. They contributed the way they needed to and the gamble paid off, for one night anyhow."


text: The Kansas City Chiefs didn't get a leisurely day of meetings and meals to kick off training camp. They ran. Not just a shake-out-the-cobwebs run. A timed run, the last part of their pre-camp physicals. Don't make time, don't practice Saturday. Clearly, this isn't the pat-on-the back, glad-to-see-you greeting the Chiefs got from coach Herm Edwards.


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I am friends with a couple who was recently thinking maybe they wouldn't have kids.
"What kind of a world would we be bringing a child into?" she asked, her eyebrows rising in despair.
They are both dear friends of mine. He is actually one of the finest people I know – smart, fair, generous, kind. All I could think was that it's a tragedy that this person wouldn't be leaving a legacy. That the good would just drop off once he and those who he directly influences pass on. As, one by one, those souls fade away, so to would his – to sound a little kooky – force of good.
"You can't do that," I said, sounding maybe a little childlike. "That just lets the bad win."
There are so many days lately, too many, that I go to bed telling my husband we are going to move to an island off the coast of Canada yet to be rattled by a natural disaster and small enough that the rage of any alienated citizens can be ameliorated by a vigilant baker-mom.
But then I realize this just isn't an answer.
Hope comes in the form of action. I don't have enough wealth to be a benefactor or the time to be a great volunteer, but I've got enough in me to share a smile, to hold a door, to give of the tiny, daily kindnesses that feed the chain of humanity that will always win out over the crazies and the bads.
Bless the people that flew in from far and wide to help people dig muck out of their homes after Sandy, and those that will carry a candle for the many Newtown vigils. The human spirit is bigger and stronger than the inconceivably horrible thing that happened today.
I'm not a traditionally religious person, but I believe deeply in the ripple effect and that it takes actions big and small to save the world. May the losses suffered by the Newtown families today change all our lives.
It is on every single one of us to do what they can to create a community of man that can withstand the forces of death and destruction.
I am angry and I am sad and I am scared, but somehow, as I look around those I love and those that keep me on the right track every day – the guy I buy coffee from every morning who tells me to have a nice day, the editors I work with who would never miss a colleague's birthday, the bus driver who doesn't grimace when I hold up the line by letting my kid insert the fare, all the subway riders who gave up seats for me when I had a pregnant belly – somehow, in the face of the devastation we see today, I find hope.