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Anatomy of a Murder |Anatomy of a Murder| Theatrical release poster by Saul Bass |Directed by||Otto Preminger| |Produced by||Otto Preminger| |Screenplay by||Wendell Mayes| |Based on||Anatomy of a Murder (novel) by John D. Voelker| George C. Scott |Music by||Duke Ellington| |Edited by||Louis R. Loeffler| |Distributed by||Columbia Pictures| Anatomy of a Murder is a 1959 American courtroom crime drama film. It was directed by Otto Preminger and adapted by Wendell Mayes from the best-selling novel of the same name written by Michigan Supreme Court Justice John D. Voelker under the pen name Robert Traver. Voelker based the novel on a 1952 murder case in which he was the defense attorney. The film stars James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Eve Arden, George C. Scott, Arthur O'Connell, Kathryn Grant, Brooks West (Arden's real-life husband), Orson Bean, and Murray Hamilton. The judge was played by Joseph N. Welch, a real-life lawyer famous for berating Joseph McCarthy during the Army-McCarthy Hearings. This was one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to address sex and rape in graphic terms. It includes one of Saul Bass's most celebrated title sequences, a musical score by Duke Ellington (who plays a character called Pie-Eye in the film) and has been described by a law professor as "probably the finest pure trial movie ever made". In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, small-town lawyer Paul Biegler (James Stewart), a former district attorney who lost his re-election bid, spends most of his time fishing, playing the piano and hanging out with his alcoholic friend and colleague Parnell McCarthy (Arthur O'Connell) and sardonic secretary Maida Rutledge (Eve Arden). One day Biegler is contacted by Laura Manion (Lee Remick), the wife of US Army Lieutenant Frederick "Manny" Manion (Ben Gazzara), who has been arrested for the first degree murder of innkeeper Bernard "Barney" Quill. Manion does not deny the murder, but claims that Quill raped his wife. Even with such a motivation, it would be difficult to get Manion cleared of murder, but Manion claims to have no memory of the event, suggesting that he may be eligible for a defense of irresistible impulse—a version of a temporary insanity defense. Biegler's folksy speech and laid-back demeanor hide a sharp legal mind and a propensity for courtroom theatrics that has the judge busy keeping things under control. However, the case for the defense does not go well, especially since the local district attorney (Brooks West) is assisted by high-powered prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott) from the Attorney General's office. Furthermore, the prosecution tries at every instance to block any mention of Manion's motive for killing Quill. Biegler eventually manages to get Laura Manion's rape into the record and Judge Weaver (Joseph N. Welch) agrees to allow the matter to be part of the deliberations. However, during cross-examination Dancer insinuates that Laura openly flirted with other men, including the man she claimed raped her. Psychiatrists give conflicting testimony to Manion's state of mind at the time that he killed Quill. Dancer says that Manion may have suspected Laura of cheating on him because he asked his wife, a Catholic, to swear on a rosary that Quill raped her. This raises doubt as to whether the act was non-consensual. Quill's estate is to be inherited by Mary Pilant (Kathryn Grant), whom Dancer accuses of being Quill's mistress. McCarthy learns that she is in fact Quill's daughter, a fact she is anxious to keep secret since she was born out of wedlock. Biegler, who is losing the case, tries to persuade Pilant that Al Paquette, (Murray Hamilton) the bartender who witnessed the murder, may know that Quill admitted to raping Laura but Paquette is covering this up, either because he loves Pilant or out of loyalty to Quill. Through Pilant, Biegler tries to persuade Paquette to testify for the defense, but Paquette refuses. During the trial, Laura claims that Quill tore off her panties while raping her; these panties were not found in the crime scene, where she alleges the rape took place. Pilant, unaware of any details of the case, voluntarily returns to the courtroom to testify that she found the panties in the inn's laundry room. Biegler suggests Quill may have dropped the panties down the laundry chute, located next to his room, to avoid suspicion. Dancer tries to establish that Pilant's answers are founded on her jealousy. When Dancer asserts forcibly that Quill was Pilant's lover and that Pilant lied to cover this fact, Pilant shocks everyone by stating that Quill was her father. Manion is found "not guilty by reason of insanity". After the trial, Biegler decides to open a new practice, with a newly sober McCarthy as his partner. The next day Biegler and McCarthy travel to the Manions' trailer park home in order to get Manion's signature on a promissory note which they hope will suffice as collateral for a desperately needed loan. It turns out the Manions have vacated the trailer park, however, with the trailer park superintendent commenting that Laura Manion had been crying. Manion left a note for Biegler, indicating that his flight was "an irresistible impulse"—the same terminology Biegler used during the trial. Biegler states that Mary Pilant has retained him to execute Quill's estate. McCarthy says that working for her will be "poetic justice". On July 31, 1952, Lt. Coleman A. Peterson shot and killed Maurice Chenoweth in Big Bay, Michigan. Voelker was retained as defense attorney a few days later. The trial started on September 15, 1952, and Assistant Attorney General Irving Beattie assisted Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney Edward Thomas. Voelker used a rare version of the insanity defense called irresistible impulse that had not been used in Michigan since 1886. The jury deliberated for four hours on September 23, 1952, before returning a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Two days later, after Peterson was examined by a psychiatrist who judged him sane, he was released. Peterson and his wife were divorced soon after the trial. Hillsdale Circuit Court Judge Charles O. Arch, Sr. tried the case. The film was shot in several locations in the Upper Peninsula (Big Bay, Marquette, Ishpeming, and Michigamme). Some scenes were actually filmed in the Thunder Bay Inn in Big Bay, Michigan, one block from the Lumberjack Tavern, the site of a 1952 murder that inspired much of the novel. Though set in and filmed in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the world premiere for the 1959 film was held at the United Artists Theater in Detroit. This was subsequent to a local premiere at the Butler Theater in Ishpeming, Michigan. The Lumberjack Tavern is still in existence today. The murder scene body outline is still there, although it is possibly a restoration and not the original outline. The members of the jury panel from the original trial were contacted and asked to sit on the set. With the exception of a few that had either died or moved, most appeared in the film. The missing ones were replaced with local residents. The role of the judge was offered to both Spencer Tracy and Burl Ives, but ultimately went to Joseph Welch, who had made a name for himself representing the U.S. Army in hearings conducted by Senator Joseph McCarthy. It was Welch who famously asked of McCarthy, "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" Welch accepted the part only after Preminger agreed to let his wife be on the jury. Chicago newspaper columnist Irv "Kup" Kupcinet has a small uncredited role in the film. Duke Ellington, who composed the music, appears as "Pie-Eye", the owner of a roadhouse, with whom Jimmy Stewart's character plays piano. The film examines the apparent fallibility of the human factor in jurisprudence. In various ways all of the human components—the counsels for defense and prosecution, the defendant and his wife, and the witnesses have their own differing positions on what is right or wrong, and varying perspectives on integrity, justice, morality and ethics. It is to be noted that the reliance on credibility of witnesses, and the "finding of facts" based upon those determinations, is the "Achilles heel" of the judicial process. One controversial legal issue in this film is possible witness coaching, a violation of legal canons. The only plausible legal defense Lt. Manion has—the insanity defense—is virtually spelled out to a befuddled Manion by his prospective counsel, who then temporarily suspends the conversation and suggests that Manion rethink his factual/legal position. Witness coaching by the prosecution is even more blatant as they call in other jail inmates awaiting sentencing to testify against Manion, and is portrayed as subornation of perjury to an extent. The first suggests that the defendant may be concealing the truth and manipulating his story in order to obtain the best possible verdict, and the latter that the prosecution dangled a possible lighter sentence through plea bargain as an incentive to perjury. Thus, there could be a synergy: compounding the inherent fallible nature of the process with the malleability of memory, the potential mendacity of witnesses, the showmanship and "magic tricks" involved in trials and advocacy, and the self-interest, venality, morality, poor perception and recollection, and ethical standards of the participants. Indeed, the unreliability of judicial decisions based on demeanor has been legally established. In protracted litigation, confabulated memory—filling in the blanks and recreating memories—is common, and research has documented the tendency. Repetitive and suggestive questioning tends to plant the seeds of memory. The book and the film are examples of the lawyers' dance. "Horse shedding" of witnesses is well known, if controversial and potentially unethical; it is not just an occasion to directly orchestrate perjury. What is more problematic is that it is possible to reach a point where "if you believe it, then it isn't a lie." Thus, even letter-perfect "bona fide" certainty of belief is not equivalent to a certification of accuracy or even truthfulness. This process is called "horse shedding", "sandpapering", or "wood shedding"—the first and last terms being metaphorical references to the location of such a "collaboration." The language used during the film startled Chicago, Illinois Mayor Richard J. Daley, and his Police Commissioner. As a result, the film was temporarily banned in the heavily Catholic city. Preminger filed a motion in federal court in Illinois and the mayor's decision was overturned. The film was allowed to be exhibited after the court determined that the clinical language during the trial was realistic and appropriate within the film's context. In another federal lawsuit in Chicago, the daughter of the real-life murder victim from the 1952 sued Dell Publishing and Columbia Pictures in July 1960 for libel over accusations that the book and movie "followed [the actual trial] too closely" and portrayed the two women in an unflattering light; the suit was dismissed less than a year later in May 1961. Anatomy of a Murder has been well received by members of the legal and educational professions. In 1989, the American Bar Association rated this as one of the 12 best trial films of all time. In addition to its plot and musical score, the article noted: "The film's real highlight is its ability to demonstrate how a legal defense is developed in a difficult case. How many trial films would dare spend so much time watching lawyers do what many lawyers do most (and enjoy least)—research?" The film has also been used as a teaching tool in law schools, as it encompasses (from the defense standpoint) all of the basic stages in the U.S. criminal justice system from client interview and arraignment through trial. The film was listed as No. 4 of 25 "Greatest Legal Movies" by the American Bar Association. The film earned an estimated $5.5 million in rentals in the U.S. and Canada during its first year of release. Film critics have noted the moral ambiguity, where a small town lawyer triumphs by guile, stealth and trickery. The film is frank and direct. Language and sexual themes are explicit, at variance with the times (and other films) when it was produced. The black and white palette is seen as a complement to Michigan's harsh Upper Peninsula landscape. The film is "[m]ade in black-and-white but full of local color". Bosley Crowther, film critic for The New York Times said, "After watching an endless succession of courtroom melodramas that have more or less transgressed the bounds of human reason and the rules of advocacy, it is cheering and fascinating to see one that hews magnificently to a line of dramatic but reasonable behavior and proper procedure in a court. Such a one is Anatomy of a Murder, which opened at the Criterion and the Plaza yesterday. It is the best courtroom melodrama this old judge has ever seen... . Outside of the fact that this drama gets a little tiring in spots—in its two hours and forty minutes, most of which is spent in court—it is well nigh flawless as a picture of an American court at work, of small-town American characters and of the average sordidness of crime." In June 2008, the American Film Institute revealed AFI's 10 Top 10, the best 10 films in 10 "classic" American film genres, after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. Anatomy of a Murder was selected as the seventh best film in the courtroom drama genre. The Internet Movie Database rates it number 23 of 1,177 trial films. ' It holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 40 reviews with a consensus: "One of cinema's greatest courtroom dramas, Anatomy of a Murder is tense, thought-provoking, and brilliantly acted, with great performances from James Stewart and George C. Scott." |Anatomy of a Murder| |Soundtrack album by Duke Ellington| |Recorded||May 29 and June 1–2, 1959 Radio Recorders, Los Angeles |Duke Ellington chronology| The jazz score of Anatomy of a Murder was composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and played by Ellington's orchestra. Several of the Ellington band's sidemen, notably Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, Russell Procope, and William "Cat" Anderson, are heard prominently throughout the film, and Ellington himself appears briefly as "Pie-Eye," the owner of a roadhouse where Paul Biegler (Stewart) and Laura Manion (Remick) have a confrontation. Despite being heard "in bits and pieces" the score "contains some of his most evocative and eloquent music... and beckons with the alluring scent of a femme fatale." Including small pieces by Billy Strayhorn, film historians recognize it "as a landmark—the first significant Hollywood film music by African Americans comprising non-diegetic music, that is, music whose source is not visible or implied by action in the film, like an on-screen band." The score avoids cultural stereotypes which previously characterized jazz scores and "rejected a strict adherence to visuals in ways that presaged the New Wave cinema of the '60s." Detroit Free Press music critic Mark Stryker concluded: "Though indispensable, I think the score is too sketchy to rank in the top echelon among Ellington-Strayhorn masterpiece suites like Such Sweet Thunder and The Far East Suite, but its most inspired moments are their equal." The score employs a "handful of themes, endlessly recombined and re-orchestrated. Ellington never wrote a melody more seductive than the hip-swaying "Flirtibird", featuring the "irresistibly salacious tremor" by Johnny Hodges on the alto saxophone." A stalking back-beat barely contains the simmering violence of the main title music" The score is heavily dipped in "the scent of the blues and Ellington's orchestra bursts with color." The AllMusic review by Bruce Eder awarded the album 3 stars calling it "a virtuoso jazz score—moody, witty, sexy, and—in its own quiet way—playful". Ellington's score won three Grammy Awards in 1959, for Best Performance by a Dance Band, Best Musical Composition First Recorded and Released in 1959 and Best Sound Track Album. |The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide||| Track listingAll tracks written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, except as indicated. |1.||"Main Title/Anatomy of a Murder"||3:57| |3.||"Way Early Subtone"||3:59| |4.||"Hero to Zero"||2:11| |5.||"Low Key Lightly"||3:39| |6.||"Happy Anatomy" (band-movie version)||2:35| |8.||"Almost Cried" (studio)||2:26| |11.||"Happy Anatomy" (P.I. Five version[a])||1:28| |12.||"Upper and Outest"||2:23| |CD reissue bonus tracks| |13.||"Anatomy of a Murder" (stereo single)||2:44| |14.||"Merrily Rolling Along (aka Hero to Zero)/Sunswept Sunday" (movie stings & rehearsal)||3:49| |16.||"Happy Anatomy" (band-studio five version)||2:43| |17.||"Polly (aka Grace Valse, Haupe, Low Key Lightly, Midnight Indigo)"||3:35| |18.||"Polly" (movie stings)||3:54| |19.||"Happy Anatomy" (Dixieland version)||2:15| |21.||"Almost Cried (aka Flirtibird)" (P.I. Five/movie version)||2:13| |22.||"Soundtrack Music: Anatomy of a Murder (Duke Ellington a la Guy Lombardo)"||2:29| |23.||"Anatomy of a Murder" (mono single in stereo)||2:36| |24.||"The Grand Finale (Rehearsal/Lines/Interview/Music/Stings/Murder)"||10:47| - Duke Ellington: piano - Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker, Herbie Jones, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Gerald Wilson: trumpet - Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman: trombone - John Sanders: valve trombone - Jimmy Hamilton: clarinet, tenor saxophone - Johnny Hodges: alto saxophone - Russell Procope: alto saxophone, clarinet - Paul Gonsalves: tenor saxophone - Harry Carney: baritone saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet - Jimmy Woode: bass - James Johnson: drums After Traver's novel was published, St. Martins Press planned to have it adapted for the stage, intending a Broadway production, which would then be made into a film. Before he died in December 1957, John Van Druten wrote a rough draft of the play adaptation. Some time after that, the publisher then made the film rights available, and these were purchased by Otto Preminger. References in media and popular culture The making of the film is the subject of the song, "Marquette County, 1959", by Great Lakes Myth Society. The lyrics read: "Jimmy Stewart came to Marquette County in 1959/ And he was shot for two months there/ And all the pines wept stardust for a while/ And the Duke would play his soundtrack there/ As Preminger had cast him in the film/ His character was Pie-Eye". Awards and honors - New York Film Critics Circle Awards: NYFCC Award Best Actor, James Stewart, Best Screenplay, Wendell Mayes; 1959. - Venice International Film Festival: Volpi Cup; Best Actor, James Stewart; 1959. - Three Grammy Awards (see above) - Producers Guild of America Awards: PGA Award; Top Drama; Top Male Dramatic Performance, James Stewart; Top Male Supporting Performance, Arthur O'Connell; 1960. - Michigan Product of the Year. - Best Actor in a Leading Role: James Stewart - Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Arthur O'Connell - Best Actor in a Supporting Role: George C. Scott - Best Cinematography, Black-and-White: Sam Leavitt - Best Film Editing: Louis R. Loeffler - Best Picture: Otto Preminger - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: Wendell Mayes; 1960 - Best Film from any Source Otto Preminger, USA - Best Foreign Actor James Stewart, USA - Most Promising Newcomer Joseph N. Welch, USA; 1960. - DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, Otto Preminger; 1960. - Best Motion Picture, Drama - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: Lee Remick - Best Director, Motion Picture: Otto Preminger - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Joseph N. Welch; 1960. - American Film Institute Lists - AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies: Nominated - AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills: Nominated - AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores: Nominated - AFI's 10 Top 10: #7 Courtroom Drama - P.I. Five consists of Duke Ellington, Ray Nance, Jimmy Hamilton, Jimmy Woode, and James Johnson - "none". Variety: 6. July 1, 1959. - "none". Harrison's Reports: 106. July 4, 1959. - Anatomy of a Murder at the Internet Movie Database - Asimow, Michael (February 1998). "Picturing Justice film review from a legal perspective". - King, Susan (December 19, 2012). "National Film Registry selects 25 films for preservation". Los Angeles Times. - "Army Officer Held for Murder of Big Bay Tavern Proprietor: 'Mike' Chenoweth, Former State Policeman, Slain Following Alleged Rape". The Mining Journal. Marquette, MI. July 31, 1952. p. 1. ISSN 0898-4964. - "Atty. Voelker Retained by Lt. Peterson". The Mining Journal. Marquette, MI. August 5, 1952. p. 2. ISSN 0898-4964. - "Judge Arch Allows Motion by Prosecutor for Additional Witness in Murder Case". The Mining Journal. Marquette, MI. September 15, 1952. p. 2. ISSN 0898-4964. - Pepin, John (2009). Anatomy '59: The Making of a Classic Motion Picture (DVD). Marquette, MI: WNMU-TV. - Thomson, Kimberley Reed (February 2003). "The Untimely Death of Michigan's Diminished Capacity Defense". Michigan Bar Journal. 82 (2): 17–19. ISSN 0164-3576. - "Lt. Peterson Not Guilty Because of Insanity". The Mining Journal. Marquette, MI. September 23, 1952. p. 1. ISSN 0898-4964. - "Last Chapter Written in Murder Case: Judge Frees Lt. Peterson from Custody". The Mining Journal. Marquette, MI. September 25, 1952. p. 2. ISSN 0898-4964. - Krajicek, David (January 17, 2009). "Killing of Michigan Bar Owner in 1952 Inspired Film 'Anatomy of a Murder'". Daily News. New York. Retrieved September 11, 2013. - "John D. Voelker". 50th Anniversary "Anatomy of a Murder". Northern Michigan University. 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2011. - United Artists Press and Marketing. ""Anatomy of a Murder" Premiere (1959)". Promotional trailer showing premiere activities and publicity surrounding the release of Otto Preminger's film ANATOMY OF A MURDER (United Artists). Online Video Guide. Retrieved February 21, 2014. - Frank, Jerome (1973). Courts on Trial. Princeton University Press. pp. 23–24. 318. - Thomas, Edward Wilfrid (2006). The Judicial Process: Realism, Pragmatism, Practical Reasoning and Principles. Auckland University Press. pp. 318–324. ISBN 978-0-521-85566-2. - Shaul, Richard D. (November–December 2001). "Backwoods Barrister" (PDF). Michigan History. 86 (6): 82. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2011. - Saltzburg, Stephen A. (2006). Trial Tactics. American Bar Association. pp. 225, 231. ISBN 1-59031-767-X. - Keeton, Robert E. (1973). Trial tactics and methods (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Little, Brown. p. 456. ISBN 0-316-48572-1. - Societé d'Avancé Egyptienne v Merchants Marine Insurance Co. the Palitana, 140 Lloyd's Law Rep, 152 (1924). - Underwood, J. & Pezdek, K. (1998). "Memory suggestibility as an example of the sleeper effect". Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 5 (3): 449–453. doi:10.3758/bf03208820. - Garner, Bryan A. (1999). Black's Law Dictionary (7th ed.). St. Paul, MN: West Group. pp. 742, 1342 and 1598. ISBN 0-314-22864-0. - Gerhart, Eugene C. (1998). Quote it Completely!: World Reference Guide to More Than 5,500 Memorable Quotations. Wm. S. Hein Publishing. ISBN 1-57588-400-3. - Shaul, Richard D. (November–December 2001). "Anatomy of a Murder" (PDF). Michigan History. 86 (6): 89. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2011. - "Cinema: The New Pictures, July 13, 1959". Time. July 13, 1959. - Schumach, Murray (1964). The Face on the Cutting Room Floor. William Morrow and Company. - "Chicago Loses Bid to Censor Movie". The Deseret News. July 9, 1959. Retrieved October 28, 2011. - "Anatomy of a Murder Target of Libel Suit". Detroit Free Press. July 18, 1960. p. 2B. - "Anatomy of a Murder Libel Suit Dismissed". The News-Palladium. Benton Harbor, MI. Associated Press. May 17, 1961. § 3, p. 11 – via Newspapers.com. - Verrone, Patric M. (November 1989). "The 12 Best Trial Movies". ABA Journal. 75 (11): 96–100. ISSN 0747-0088. Retrieved June 10, 2015 – via Google Books. - Brust, Richard (August 1, 2008). "25 Greatest Legal Movies". American Bar Association Journal. Retrieved February 24, 2012. - "1959: Probable Domestic Take". Variety. January 6, 1960. p. 34. - "A collection of professional reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 22, 2007. - Monaghan, John (January 20, 2009). "The movie that put Ishpeming on the map: UP plans events this summer to mark 50th anniversary of Anatomy of a Murder". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. - Crowther, Bosley (July 3, 1959). "A Court Classic". The New York Times. - "AFI's 10 Top 10". American Film Institute. June 17, 2008. Archived from the original on June 19, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2008. - "Best trial movies". Internet Movie Database. - "Anatomy of a Murder". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 14, 2013. - McGregor, Tony. "Duke Ellington's Anatomy of a Murder soundtrack music". Jazz Forum@Xing. Retrieved August 28, 2012. - Cooke, Mervyn (2008). History of Film Music. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-01048-1. - "A Duke Ellington Panorama". Retrieved May 14, 2010. - Stryker, Mark (January 20, 2009). "Ellington's score still celebrated". Detroit Free Press. - Eder, B. "AllMusic Review". Retrieved May 17, 2010. - Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 69. ISBN 0-394-72643-X. - "Anatomy of a Murder 50th Anniversary". Northern Michigan University. - Winer, Elihu (1964). Anatomy of a Murder: a court drama in three acts. New York: Samuel French. ISBN 0-573-60530-0. - "CD Review: The Great Lakes Myth Society". Blogcritics. - Great Lakes Myth Society. "Marquette County, 1959" (audio). Retrieved April 5, 2014. - "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved February 3, 2013. - "AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved February 3, 2013. - "AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved February 3, 2013. - Meslow, Scott (December 19, 2012). "The 25 films added to the National Film Registry in 2012". Retrieved January 4, 2012. - Baulch, Vivian M. "When Hollywood Came to the Upper Peninsula". The Detroit News. - Bergman, Paul & Asimow, Michael (2006). Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel. ISBN 0-7407-5460-2. - Bergman, Shirley J. (November–December 2001). "The Real Trial" (PDF). Michigan History. 86 (6): 90–91. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2008. - Machura, Stefan & Robson, Peter, eds. (2001). Law and Film: Representing Law in Movies. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishing. pp. 15, 17, 129. ISBN 0-631-22816-0. |Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anatomy of a Murder.| - Anatomy of a Murder at the Internet Movie Database - Anatomy of a Murder at Rotten Tomatoes - Film: Anatomy of a Murder TV Tropes.com - Anatomy of a Murder at the TCM Movie Database - Anatomy of a Murder at AllMovie - Criterion Collection Essay "Anatomy of a Murder: Atomization of a Murder" by Nick Pinkerton - Anatomy of a Murder trailer at the Internet Archive - Anatomy of a Murder at American Film Institute - Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, John D. Voelker Biography and bust. - 50th Anniversary Celebration of Anatomy of a Murder at Northern Michigan University - Michigan Archive, Michigan History Arts and Letters, John D. Voelker.

Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tianjin Liver Disease Institute, Tianjin Infectious Disease Hospital, Tianjin, China. Aim: Previous studies have shown significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-6 in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), but the relationship between circulating levels of IL-6 and ammonia is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between both variables in cirrhotic patients with MHE. Methods: Psychometric tests including number connection test part A (NCT-A) and digit symbol test (DST) were performed to diagnose MHE in 85 cirrhotic patients. Simultaneously, circulating levels of IL-6 and ammonia were measured. Results: Thirty-two (37.6%) cirrhotic patients were diagnosed with MHE. IL-6 and ammonia were the independent predictors of the presence of MHE (P < 0.05 for both variables). Circulating levels of IL-6 and ammonia correlated with the severity of MHE represented by results of NCT-A (r = 0.56, P < 0.05 and r = 0.39, P < 0.05, respectively) and DST (r = -0.48, P < 0.05 and r = -0.47, P < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between circulating levels of IL-6 and those of ammonia in patients with MHE (r = 0.61, P < 0.05), and a positive additive interaction was found between IL-6 and ammonia on the presence of MHE, with a significant synergy index of 1.51 (95% confidence interval = 1.12-3.46). Conclusion: The present study demonstrates a significant correlation and a positive additive interaction between IL-6 and ammonia in cirrhotic patients with MHE, suggesting that IL-6 may have a potential synergistic relationship with ammonia in the induction of MHE.

We chatted with the show's makeup artist, Julianne Kaye, to get the scoop on what went on backstage and to steal a few of her beauty secrets! Julianne Kaye: I came on to Fashion Star through Maybelline New York, who is one of the sponsors of the show. I had done a few things with Maybelline in the past, so I was really honored when they chose me to represent their brand on the show. I didn't really know what to expect, but I've always loved the brand since I was a teenager, so I knew we could knock it out of the park. JK: It's definitely a whirlwind. I collaborate with the contestants on camera about the clothes, hair and the overall vibe that they're going for. Most of them have clear visions of what they envision for the runway shows, which obviously helps with the creative process, but overall, I 'get' each contestant and their style, so a lot of trust is put in me to execute the makeup for them the way I see fit. JK: The first thing I look at when doing a client is the wardrobe. To me, the fashion comes first, then the makeup should complement that. At the end of the day, you want people to notice your overall style, not the crazy makeup trend that you're wearing. It's most important to look pretty! JK: Beautiful looking and radiant skin is a must from the catwalk to the sidewalk. We're always adding pops of shimmer to the highlights of the cheekbones and the inner corners of the eyes; this makes any woman look great. Another trick we do backstage, because we're so pressed for time, is we use the lipstick that we use on the lips, on the apples of the cheeks. This creates a nice overall synergy with the makeup and adds some luminosity to the look. And you'll see personalized content just for you whenever you click the My Feed . SheKnows is making some changes!

NVIDIA plans to launch their Desktop Optimus a.k.a Synergy at COMPUTEX Taipei this coming June and the best thing is that it is available freely and no license agreement is needed. This technology works pretty much similar to LucidLogix`s Virtu where it allows dynamic swapping between iGPU and dGPU based on the application`s nature and also uses Intel Sandy Bridge Quick Sync technology while doing video transcoding jobs." You do software updates to get the most from favourite programs right? Updating a motherboard BIOS can in a timely manner is also critical. The guide to Flashing a Motherboard BIOS spells out the often complicated steps in plain english. PCSTATS Tips

All About Jazz needs your help and we have a deal. Pay $20 and we'll hide those six pesky Google ads that appear on every page, plus this box and the slideout box on the right for a full year! You'll also fund website expansion. Saturn's Child is one of several new releases brought to you by the brand new modern jazz-based "Omni Tone" label. Smart packaging, insightful liners and premium sound quality come to the forefront along with two splendid new releases by members of the "red-hot"New York Jazz Composers Collective. Along with trumpeter Ron Horton's Genius Envy (see Nov '99 AAJ review) we are enamored with the absolutely stunning duet performances by much in demand vibraphonist Joe Locke and a man who seemingly possesses the skilled hands of a surgeon behind the keys, pianist Frank Kimbrough. Saturn's Child is a striking foray into supremely intuitive interplay and lush melodicism via charming and bittersweet phraseology coupled with the duo's sensitivity, compassion and mutual "musical" respect for one another which is evident from the opening moments of Frank Kimbrough's composition, "727". Light, airy thematic statements by Locke who is rapidly becoming one of the top session musicians in jazz besides a successful solo career rides the crest of the wave atop Kimbrough's rhythmically inclined left-hand chord voicings. Here and throughout, Kimbrough and Locke engage their thoughts and demonstrate uncanny synergy as they delicately articulate sleek, smooth passages which are at times, somber, pensive and in many instances, spiritually uplifting. Joe Locke's "Saturn's Child" features a poignant yet zestful theme through clear well stated unison lines as if the song was truly intended to be a bedtime lullaby. Locke's serene "Trouble Is A Gorgeous Dancer" features a catchy melody all with a touch of class and finesse as the gentlemen alternate solo chores while ultimately converging to restate the endearing and quite memorable theme. Here, the recurring motif serves as a bridge for Kimbrough's inspiring and somewhat ethereal ruminations, displaying artful use of harmonics, tremolo and conveying somewhat of a majestic presence. These men perform as though they were seeking that ever elusive - "pot of gold", mainly from a musical and/or artistic standpoint. Perfection seems attainable on Saturn's Child as the story evolves on Kimbrough's "Waltz For Lee" while the duo create an affable, positive groove over a simple waltz motif. Lush romanticism on "Empty Chalice" and - ever so soft - poetry in motion on the light-as-a feather ballad "I Still Believe (In Love)" are magnetically appealing and further indicate the duo's powerful compositional skills. Accolades aside, Saturn's Child may be the logical heir to Chick Corea and Gary Burton's momentous and critically acclaimed "Crystal Silence" outing on the ECM label. Kimbrough and Locke have created a sparkling gem here... Saturn's Child is music of a higher order, a colossal effort!! Highly Recommended... Jazz is a creative explosion of individual freedom and communication. I was first exposed to jazz when I was a kid. My father had a music store. The best live performance I ever attended was Kenny Garrett in Harlem, New York. The first jazz record I bought was Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins. My advice to new listeners is keep listening!

Former Coastal Synergy Group Member Jay NaPier Goes With The Official Coastal System and Training Nashville, TN (WebWire) August 2nd, 2007 -- Former Coastal Synergy Group Double High Five Club Member Jay NaPier leaves the Coastal Synergy Group and goes with The Official Coastal Vacations systems, training and support system. Jay told us, “Over the last 8 months the Coastal Synergy Group has lost it’s original focus. The idea of being a support group has changed into a group focused on selling training cds, coaching, online theatre systems, mortgage reduction programs and training events.” said NaPier. “As a business owner it’s important to choose what tools and marketing you use to market your business because the end result your looking for is a profit. Every expense must be proven and must bring results.” NaPier recently negotiated the first wholesale leads program for Coastal Vacations. www.CoastalBudgetLeads.com is the result and allows members to market their business for as littel as 66 cents per lead. “I went back to the Official Coastal Vacations System and Training because the focus is on results, not profiting from selling to their members. Coastal freely shares what works with all their members and all Coastal Vacations members and directors can choose to move over to the official Coastal System as I have.” said NaPier. Over the last 24 months The Coastal Vacations Board of Directors have worked to improve the websites, training and tools available to Coastal Members. The most recent improvement is a state of the art contact management system, called ContactTalk that allows member to communicate with their prospects by phone and by email, without the chance that their hard work could be violated by a system owner. “While disconnected groups within Coastal have chosen to pick and choose what they share with their group, I’ve freely shared all information about Coastal Vacations with my team. Allowing each team member to choose what works best for them and their personality.” Said NaPier. Coastal Vacations quarterly training events have become very popular, as they are not focused around theories, but on training that members can quickly apply to their business for profit. Nashville, Tennessee is the location for the next Coastal Vacations Training Seminar - Saturday September 8th at the Nashville Convention Center will be the next location for the Nationwide Coastal Vacations Training Seminars. Nashville, Tennessee is one of the best locations for a training event as it’s withing 600 miles of over 50% of the US, providing the best accessability. Massive improvements are in store for those who attend this event. The September event has been held in Orlando, Florida, however September is huricane season and a location outside of the huricane zone makes more sense. Coastal Vacations is a 14 year old association of entrepreneurs who sell wholesale vacation packages. They market 3 membership packages including Domestic and International, where members can earn $1000 - $9,705 per transaction. The packages include trips and accommodations from major companies in the travel industry, including: Carnival Cruise, Marriott, Alamo, Access, and many more. Members can plug into their proven turnkey marketing system and start earning thousands their very first month in business Jay NaPier has had the benefit of working with top mentors for years. Jay started his first business at 17, owned his own advertising agency at 20 and owned his first restaurant franchise at 24. NaPier said, “There are a lot of people who have been kept from the Offical Coastal Vacations System, Training, and support. The Coastal Vacations Board of Directors are providing the best training and support for Coastal Vacations member.” said NaPier. NaPier is the real deal when it comes to home business. NaPier was featured in the November issue of Home Business Connection Magazine and in the Home Business Advertiser. NaPier uses a system that utilizes printed, live conference, one on one coaching, and audio/video training. NaPier’s team uses the Official Coastal Vacations System. The System consists of full contact management system, online movie presentation, autoresponder system with pre-made templates, toll free voice mail, autodialer system and 6 websites. Those seeking information about Coastal Vacations should contact Jay directly at 615-573-2536 NaPier Marketing Group 615-573-2536 Home Office 1006 Bobby Ct West Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072 # # # - Contact Information - Jay NaPier - Contact via E-mail This news content may be integrated into any legitimate news gathering and publishing effort. Linking is permitted. News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.

While Brett Verkaik ’03 didn’t picture himself in the food industry, it so happened that he often found himself in work situations where he had to ponder food products and presentation. That background has served him well, as Verkaik and three other partners have opened Standard Market in the Chicago suburb of Westmont—and the related restaurants Standard Grill, adjacent to the market, and Bakersfield, just across the street. Standard Market has been getting plenty of attention from Chicago media and from national food publications and organizations for its dynamic approach to fresh food processing and presentation. “What we’re about is a chef-driven celebration of food,” said Verkaik. “We set out to create a European-style, open-air perishable market with the goal of having the best butcher shop, scratch bakery, fisherman’s wharf, farm-stand produce and house-made deli all under one roof. We create everything in-house from scratch rather than just resell what vendors sell us. We’re helping the consumer cook and eat better.” The spacious market feature a number of glassed-in work stations where Standard staff members can be observed making sauces and dips, baking bread and pies, and cutting fresh fish and meat. “The open-kitchen concept is important to us,” Verkaik said. “You can see our chefs, where our product comes from and how it is processed. The term ‘high-quality convenience’ is usually an oxymoron. Our model is a hybrid, and we create an audience for the product, expertly preparing it for the customer’s benefit.” Verkaik calls this “food theater.” Verkaik and his partners hope that this innovate approach pays off, not only in the market itself but also in the restaurants—currently the Standard Grill and Bakersfield—with the idea of expanding the market and restaurant locations across Chicagoland. These dining facilities will all feature the fresh food and professional culinary skills supplied by Standard Market. The market also feature a popular “What’s for Dinner Tonight?” meal each day with a tantalizing option made fresh, of course, by the culinary team for reheating and easy dining at home. Verkaik prepared for his career at Calvin by majoring in business, working part-time in a local food store and trying his hand at a variety of internships, so he could determine his gifts and interests. “I think a business student should have at least three internships before they graduate,” he said. “You need to gain a basic understanding of business, build a networking system among professionals and start to develop a direction for your career.” Even the internships that helped him rule out careers were important times of learning and growing. “If you’re going into accounting, you can see the path toward what’s ahead, but in general business that road is not so evident because the options are so wide. God has opened a lot of doors for me. He has put me in the right place at the right time. You have to build off of your experiences and perform well,” said Verkaik. After Calvin, Verkaik was hired by Bolthouse Farms out of Bakersfield, Calif., (hence the restaurant name) to market its juice line in west Michigan. Promotions ensued, and he became the company’s national merchandising director. He began recruiting and hiring young Calvin alumni, who have followed in his footsteps. “The intent was to establish a pipeline that was Calvin-heavy,” he said. “Bolthouse was a Christian company [prior to being purchased by Campbell’s] so Calvin grads—hard working, well trained, faith focus—were a natural choice. Many have been offered jobs and many have been promoted.” It was through Bolthouse that Verkaik and his three partners met and later decided to launch Standard Market and Grill. “We’ve been open now for just over a year, with little idea what might happen because what we’re doing is so new, “said Verkaik. “But we’ve seen how successful our synergy of market, grill and restaurant has worked, and we’re excited about the future.”

Archive for February 6th, 2010 February 6, 2010: Bill Willers (about the author) / Op Ed News (OEN) – February 4, 2010 A wide appreciation of the implications of “Conspiracy Theories” by Harvard law professors Cass Sunstein and Adrian Vermeule (**Note: the link is at the bottom of this article) has been slow in coming. What makes the article and the views expressed therein all the more significant is that author Sunstein in 2009 was made Administrator of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget by President Obama (click here). (Note: The 2008 article at the Social Science Research Network’s website appeared in virtually identical form in the Journal of Political Philosophy 17(2), 2009, pgs 202-227, except that the Journal’s version, which carries the title “Conspiracy Theories: Causes and Cures”, lacks several terminal pages dealing largely with 9/11 theories outside the U.S.. References to pages below are for the easily downloaded online article for those who want the entire article. The actual Journal is scarce and requires $41 for a download.) While the article’s title suggests conspiracy theories broadly, the 9/11 Truth Movement is the paper’s focus, and it reveals substantial concern regarding that Movement’s ongoing advance. Particularly ominous is that the authors, who use “theorists” and “extremists” interchangeably, limit their focus “to potentially harmful theories”. To whom, one might wonder, would the 9/11 Truth Movement, so “worrisome” for the authors, be harmful? And why do the authors consider the 9/11 Truth Movement such a “serious threat” that it should be “broken up or at least muted by government action”? (pg 21) The authors contend that conspiracy theorists suffer from “cognitive blunders” and “crippled epistemology”. Using psycho-philosophic parlance they are saying those failing to accept the official story of the 9/11 Commission, leading members of which admitted it was “set up to fail”, cannot think straight. But the “theorists/extremists” they wish to censure include by now thousands of physicists, architects and engineers using only physical facts and data; substantial figures in theology and philosophy applying elementary logic; military, political and intelligence personnel from all over the world with lifetimes of experience in how the system — including its underbelly — functions. So, what is proposed? “Practically speaking”, the authors write, “government might do well to maintain a more vigorous counter-disinformation establishment.” (pg 19) They recommend that government officials respond “to more rather than fewer conspiracy theories [which] has a kind of synergy benefit: it reduces the legitimating effect of responding to any one of them, because it dilutes the contrast with unrebutted theories.” (pgs 15, 29) Such advice assumes that all theories — or aspects of a single theory — are essentially equal in validity or lack of validity — an odd position for legal minds supposedly sensitive to fine distinctions. But that would not matter when the point is simply to defeat citizen efforts. More menacing, however is that the authors suggest “planting doubts [to] undermine the crippled epistemology [through] cognitive infiltration” of groups by governmental agents or by forces appointed by government. (pgs 3, 14, 15, 22, 29)”Government agents (and their allies)”, they write, “might enter chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups and attempt to undermine percolating conspiracy theories.” In light of such proposals for dealing with citizens seeking truth, that Cass Sunstein is “one of America’s leading constitutional scholars” (See above link to the White House announcement) is appalling. The authors contend that “crippled epistemology” arises from the “sharply limited number of (relevant) informational sources” used by conspiracy theorists, this making the theories “especially hard to undermine or dislodge; they have a self-sealing quality, rendering them particularly immune to challenge.” (pg 3) This drips with irony, for information coming from the expertise found within the 9/11 Truth Movement, while both extensive and diverse, has been limited only through censoring by the U.S. Government. What’s more, there has rarely been a “theory” more resistant to opposing information — more absolutely and officially “self-sealing” — than the mockery that is the official 9/11 Commission Report. As one reads through the Sunstein/Vermeule article it is clear that the authors, while aware of the now infamous Popular Mechanics article — that absurd prop for the official governmental account (pg 18) — have carefully avoided any relevant material from within the mountain of easily available credible information that would dash their thesis. For academics ostensibly wedded to truth this is shameful. Consider from page 20 the following misrepresentation of the position of the 9/11 Truth Movement: “After 9/11, one complex of conspiracy theories involved American Airlines Flight 77, which hijackers crashed into the Pentagon. Some theorists claimed that no plane had hit the Pentagon; even after the Department of Defense released video frames showing Flight 77 approaching the building and a later explosion cloud, theorists pointed out that the actual moment of impact was absent from the video, in order to keep alive their claim that the plane had never hit the building. (In reality the moment of impact was not captured because the video had a low number of frames per second.” This is a classic “straw man” set up to be knocked down. The intensely grainy few frames made available (of the many certainly detailed security camera records that exist) were not adequate to identify Flight 77. But in this instance it is beside the point anyway, because ‘moment of impact on the video’ was never a central issue in a case consisting of an abundance of strong evidence. The authors certainly know this as they seek to create the false impression that ‘moment of impact on the video’ is the centerpiece of the 9/11 Truth Movement’s case, an impression the authors can then refute. And the authors continue: “Moreover, even those conspiracists who were persuaded that the Flight 77 conspiracy theories were wrong folded that view into a larger conspiracy theory. The problem with the theory that no plane hit the Pentagon, they said, is that the theory was too transparently false, disproved by multiple witnesses and much physical evidence. Thus the theory must have been a straw man initially planted by the government, in order to discredit other conspiracy theories and theorists by association.” This convolution is rife with falsehood. Witnesses have been conflicting, but of greater import is that abundant physical evidence actually points in a direction contrary to the official narrative. After creating one straw man, the authors cite (manufacture?) “conspiracists” who, once convinced that Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, now see the contrary view as a government-sponsored straw man. Sunstein and Vermeule thereby create scenarios that carefully avoid the considerable evidence countering the government’s explanation of 9/11. The authors flit between conspiracy theory generally and 9/11 specifically, in this way suggesting connections that denigrate the 9/11 Truth Movement through association with people “mentally ill and subject to delusions” (pg 9), “conspiracy entrepreneurs — who profit directly or indirectly from propagating their theories” (pg 9), and, most disturbingly, Holocaust deniers. (pgs 7,8) While some have sought to connect the 9/11 Truth Movement with Holocaust denial (e.g., the former head of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, who made the association twice in the same interview –click here)there is no such relation either in the inclination of researchers, or in the thought processes involved, or in fact. One suspects therefore that such association is simply one more attempt to silence a movement that is alarming certain powers because if its seemingly unstoppable growth. Readers of the article are guided toward a false impression that 9/11 conspiracy theories outside the U.S. are virtually limited to the Arab -Muslim world. The authors write that it is likely “that the virulence of conspiracy theorizing in Muslim nations has a great deal to do with social cascades and group polarization, and with weak civil liberties and lack of a robust market for ideas in many of those nations.” (pg 26) As to the prospect that elements of the U.S. Government might be involved in such an incident as 9/11, the authors maintain that for many people in Islamic nations “it is far from jarring to believe that responsibility lies with the United States (or Israel)”. (Parenthesis around “or Israel” in the original, pg. 10) The implication that the 9/11 Truth Movement outside the U.S. is fundamentally a Muslim/Arab phenomenon is an extraordinary lie of omission, because the 9/11 Truth Movement is indeed global and incorporates experts of every sort, including scientists and demolition specialists, a past president of Italy and even the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. And what, one might ask, of the protests at European Union Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium that have drawn demonstrators from all over Europe? What of the open discussions on the very floor of the Japanese Parliament that reveal agreement with the 9/11 Truth Movement? “Extra resistance to correction through simple techniques”, the authors write, “is what makes conspiracy theories distinctly worrisome.” (pg 5) “Worrisome”? Their concern is mirrored by Philip Zelikow, who was appointed by Bush to direct the 9/11 Commission and who became the primary instrument in the prevention of information flow to the Commission, and hence its planned failure as declared by Commission members. They quote Zelikow thus: “Our worry is when things become infectious …..”. The Tonka Report Editor’s Note: The only “conspiracy theories” concerning the tragic events on 9/11 are coming from the bloated bowels of the murderous cabal that has hijacked our government! – SJH Link to original article below… Written by Steven John Hibbs February 6, 2010 at 10:43 pm Posted in 9/11, Big Brother, Bush Regime, COINTELPRO, Communism, Conspiracy, Controlled Demolition, Corruption, Deception, Disinformation, Education, False Flag, Fascism, First Amendment, Free Speech, Freedom, Geo-Politics, Government, History, Israel, Law and Justice, Media, Middle East, New World Order, Obama, Obama Regime, Orwellian, Pentagon, Propaganda, Psyops, Socialism, Terrorism, U.S. News, War, War Crimes, White House, World Disasters, World Government, World News, WTC 1 & 2, WTC 7, Zionism

For February, we're spreading the TechNet Guru love… Over to the Wiki! This is a new category for TechNet Guru. Starting with the TechNet Guru Contributions for February. Here you can see our articles in this new category. Currently none, but there are two weeks left! And you can find the forum announcement and discussion here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/f149b4cf-fe19-4003-b1c2-161a34e10fac/spread-the-love-be-our-technet-wiki-guru-this-valentines?forum=tnwiki So what's this new category about? Well, you can create Wiki articles about… - Troubleshooting, Clarification, or Best Practices on creating articles on TechNet Wiki. A lot of articles already exist, but you never know what someone might think of! Or maybe a section of an article could be made in depth into its own article! - Portals of Wiki articles. So on TechNet Wiki, we have portals. They are Wiki articles that list off other Wiki articles about a specific topic. So you can pick a new topic (a product, technology, or scenario across multiple products) You can find all our portals here: Portal of TechNet Wiki Portals - Lists of Curahs that curate Wiki articles. You might need to understand what Curah is or how to create Curahs. So you can check out the Curah! Portal. The great thing about TechNet Guru is that even though we're encouraging people to make these articles, they have to be good ones in order to get the medals! =^) Do you have any other ideas of types of articles that could fit in this category? Also, what about a category about TechNet and MSDN Gallery? You know, articles that tie into the Gallery. Here are some blog posts that Craig and I wrote about how to synergize the Wiki with the Gallery: - Wiki Life: Should I use the Gallery or TechNet Wiki? - Synergy between the TechNet Wiki and TechNet Gallery Have a great Sunday! – Ninja Ed

|By the Project for Excellence in Journalism The cable news landscape is changing in ways that are more subtle than in previous years, and that hints at differences not only in the purpose of cable news but also the channels people go to at different times in different ways. For 2006, four trends stand out: But with subscribers reaching a plateau, viewership among the three main channels is declining. And with more competition from the Web, PDA’s, phones and more (see Digital) the trends of 2006 are only likely to continue. The Three Types of News on Cable The journalism on the cable news channels, the analyst Andrew Tyndall suggests, serves three distinct sets of needs.1 The first is News on Demand, updating the latest headlines available at any time during the 24-hour news cycle. The second is Crisis Coverage, wall-to-wall, comprehensive, on-the-scene, constantly updated journalism on a handful of essential stories that occur each year — Katrina, 9/11, the invasion of Iraq, the Clinton impeachment, or the undecided election. The third is Prime-time Personality, News & Opinion Programming, the evening shows that include a mix of nightly-newscast-style headlines, opinionated commentary, newsmaker interviews, analysis and true-crime celebrity programming. These are the shows that Fox News and others have made into distinctive programs, not tied to breaking news, that people arrange their schedule to watch, so-called appointment viewing. A close look at which cable audience numbers are declining, and at which times — dayparts, to use industry jargon — reveals the different patterns of how people are now beginning to use cable. Common sense suggests that news on demand would be the kind of coverage most vulnerable to the rise of the Internet, PDAs and other technologies for instant headlines. Indeed the declines in 2006 in the most basic numbers — average audience — seem to confirm that. But the audience data suggest something more. The audiences for prime-time news and opinion programming dropped even more than daytime, a sign that it’s not just news on demand that is losing its appeal. Some prime-time opinion and personality programming on CNN and even more on Fox News may be losing sway. The audience for crisis coverage — long cable’s biggest draw in raw numbers — is harder to discern from 2006. The numbers were not strong compared with other years, but it may be that the crises of 2006 simply did not command the kind of interest of previous ones. And the problems at Fox News, new this year, appear to be across the board, hinting that the news channel may be facing its first significant signs of getting middle aged. For all that, if a fourth channel, CNN Headline News, is thrown into the mix, the message becomes slightly more nuanced. Its audience grew substantially in 2005, putting it within arm’s reach of MSNBC. But in 2006, despite the gains of one notable prime-time program, the news channel over all saw viewership decline. Cable Audiences: Viewership Declines By the most basic measure, average audience each month, the viewership for the main three news channels collectively in 2006 was down in both dayparts.2 Cable news viewership can be measured in two different ways to arrive at an average monthly audience. The first is “median,” which measures the most typical audience number each month. The industry tends to use a different measure, “mean,” which creates a simple average from each day’s total. We report both here, though we believe mean tends to exaggerate the effect of big stories and thus is less accurate than median (see sidebar on measuring the audience). By both measures, however, the numbers for the three main channels were not good. Using median, the most typical audience, the prime-time audience for the three cable channels together suffered an 8% decline in 2006. In viewers, that means 2.5 million people were watching cable news during prime time in 2006, down from 2.7 million in 2005. A year earlier, 2004, prime-time audience was up 4% from 2003. While we had noted previously that the pace of audience growth in cable had fallen sharply since 2003, this was the first time in six years that there was an actual decline. The trend in daytime viewership was similarly negative. Daytime median audience for all three channels fell 4% in 2006, to 1.5 million viewers, down from 1.6 million in 2005. A year earlier, daytime median audience had risen by 3%. Calculating cable news viewership for 2006 based on the mean, as the cable channels do, paints an even bleaker picture The mean prime-time audience for all three channels combined fell by 12%, to 2.50 million, down from 2.84 million the year before. A year earlier, prime audience was essentially flat, growing less than a percent. In daytime, the mean audience fell 11% in 2006, to 1.54 million, down from 1.73 million in 2005. A year earlier, the mean daytime audience had grown 7%. Deeper probing into the different ways of calculating reveals still more clues about why the audience is down. For instance, the fact that the declines in median audience were greater at night, when the opinion- and personality-driven programming are on, reinforce the idea that cable’s problems go deeper than just people gravitating to other sources for breaking news. And the greater drop in mean, the measurement more sensitive to audience spikes, supports the idea that the channels enjoyed less of a bounce in 2006 from crisis coverage than in years past. 2006: Channel by Channel The losses in viewership, however, were not consistent across the three main channels. Fox News, the only channel that was gaining in years past, began to lose audience, and did so at the steepest rate of all. MSNBC, in turn, began to gain. The Fox News Channel Fox News remains the cable leader, but for the first time since its launch, it saw losses in viewership year-to-year. What’s more, the drop was consistent across the course of the year and across the dayparts, as well as being sharper than its competitors. From January to December 2006, Fox News’s median prime-time viewership fell by 14%. That was in sharp contrast to the year before, when it was the only cable news channel to see an increase (9%). The story was repeated in daytime, when its median viewership dropped 12% in 2006. A year earlier it had grown 5%. If we look at the mean, things don’t change for the better. Fox News saw almost equal declines in the two dayparts, 16% in prime time and 15% in daytime. Indeed, comparing the number of viewers in 2006 to 2005, Fox News saw a decline in virtually every month, with the greatest gap in the latter half of the year (incidentally, when the big stories of 2006 took place). Fox News Viewers Source: Nielsen Media Research, used under license If one accepts the notion that daytime is more a period for news on demand, and the evening more a time for personality and opinion programming, Fox News appears to be suffering equally in both kinds of news. That raises several possibilities. Fox News could be losing viewers to other cable channels (some MSNBC and Headline News programs are growing). Or some of its viewers could be gravitating to other media. And in fact the declines in both dayparts suggest that the problem may be some of both. Some analysts, such as Andrew Tyndall, also raise the question whether Fox News aligned itself too closely with Bush Administration and the Republican Party. If so, it could be suffering a backlash as the political winds change. Or it may be in part an age problem; the Fox shows may have become familiar. The lineup in prime time has not changed appreciably in recent years. If that is the problem, then just as CNN began to do in the late 1990s, Fox News may find that it has reached a peak with its current programming and begin to re-imagine some of its shows (something CNN has continued to struggle with). It also may be that its competitors, notably MSNBC and Headline News, have found ways to finally begin to chip away at some of Fox News’s audience. Whatever the causes, if the declines continue, they may be compounded by something else: both CNN and MSNBC have more popular Web sites. That could draw even more breaking-news audiences away (see Digital).3 For all this, of course, one should not lose sight of the fact that Fox News remains the dominant channel, both in terms of overall audience and individual shows. In 2006, more than half the people watching cable news were watching Fox News (as they have since 2001). The mean audience for Fox News in prime time was 1.4 million in 2006. That is more than triple the viewership of MSNBC (378,000) and almost double that of CNN (739,000). More than half (55%) of all viewers watching prime-time cable news in 2006 were tuned into Fox News. During the day, 54% of the viewers watching the three main cable news channels were tuned to Fox, again about double CNN and more than triple MSNBC. Fox News averaged 824,000 viewers, against 472,000 for CNN and 244,000 for MSNBC. By program, Fox News had nine of the top 10 shows, according to Nielsen rankings.4 Only CNN’s Larry King broke that monopoly at No. 7. The “O’Reilly Factor” was again the most-watched show on cable news, averaging 2 million viewers a night. The Top 10 Cable News Shows Source: Nielsen Media Research figures at MediaBistro.com At CNN, meanwhile, viewership declined as well in 2006. The median figures show a fall that was not as steep as in 2005. It saw a loss of 2% in prime-time median viewership from January to December 2006, far better than the 11% loss in 2005. CNN’s daytime median viewership was actually up 6% from the year before, in contrast to the decline at Fox News, and better than last year, when it lost 7% of its daytime viewers. Looking at the numbers using mean, CNN executives have more cause for concern. The channel saw a drop of 12% in average prime-time viewership and about the same decline, 10%, in its average daytime audience. Even with the drop in overall prime-time audience, some shows did see gains. “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” for instance, grew 30% in the fourth quarter of 2006, while Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer’s shows saw 15% and 18% growth.5 Those shows fared even better among viewers 25 to 54 years old, whom advertisers covet. Dobbs grew 57% in the 25-to-54 demographic in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to same period in 2005. “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” was up 50% and “Anderson Cooper 360” was up 24% in the same audience age range (See News Investment).6 If Fox News’s declines were one major change in the cable news landscape, the other big shift came at MSNBC, where viewership by any measure grew in both daytime and prime time in 2006. The channel’s prime-time median viewership figures rose 7% in 2006 compared with a loss of 2% the year before. It performed equally well during the day. Daytime median viewership grew 7% in 2006, building on the 3% rise in daytime in 2005. The metric the industry tends to use, mean, also showed growth at MSNBC. Its average prime-time audience was up by 3%. In daytime, there was 1% growth. What factors are working in the channel’s favor? Could MSNBC be benefiting from a change of guard or changes in programming, or was it simply a matter of having news to report? One potential explanation is greater synergy with NBC News — many top-rung NBC anchors appeared on the channel for election coverage, with favorable results. Top executives say they plan to continue such sharing of talent. Synergy is also expected to increase with the physical shift of the MSNBC operations to NBC News’s New York headquarters from New Jersey (see News Investment). MSNBC executives also believe that the changing political climate in the country is helping the channel. Phil Griffin, an NBC News vice president, was quoted in Variety as saying, “The mood has changed and people are looking for a different kind of coverage.” One prime example of cashing in on the changing political climate is Keith Olbermann’s show, “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” (8 p.m. ET). Olbermann’s is one MSNBC program that has bucked the general trend and increased its key demographic audience in 2006. Compared with the same quarter a year earlier, Olbermann saw a 67% rise among viewers 25 to 54 in the fourth quarter of 2006 (also see News Investment) and a 60% rise in the overall audience.7 The steady audience numbers also could help MSNBC’s position on the company ladder as NBC Universal begins its re-structuring and digital initiative in 2007 (see Ownership). Yet all this needs to be kept in context. MSNBC still lags well behind its two chief rivals and is even challenged by CNN’s second network, Headline News. CNN Headline News In 2005, as we reported last year, CNN’s sister channel, Headline News, began to emerge out of the cable news shadows and to rival MSNBC in viewership. In 2006, some of its momentum seems to have waned. Despite the launch of an edgy prime-time conservative talk show that saw big gains, Headline News’ overall prime-time and daytime viewership declined slightly. Its mean prime-time audience was 302,000 in 2006, down 2% from the year before. That left it further behind MSNBC’s 378,000. In daytime, the channel averaged 218,000 viewers, a much steeper decline, 11% compared with 2005. Here, it is still shy of MSNBC but closer, at 244,000. The drop in daytime viewers, which was as bad as the drops at CNN or Fox News, may speak to the declining news-on-demand appeal of cable. Those are the hours when Headline News follows it traditional wheel format of headlines only every half hour. CNN Headline News Source: Nielsen Media Research, used under license In prime time, its decline was not as steep as its sister CNN (12%) or Fox News (16%). That is due at least in part to the success of some of the channel’s opinionated prime-time shows, particularly among young audiences. At the front of that group is Glenn Beck, a former conservative talk radio personality, who anchors from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. His show grew 119% overall in audience and more than tripled (up 165%) among 25-to-54-year-olds in the fourth quarter of 2006. Beck is up against some of cable news’ bigger shows (Fox News’s “Fox Report” with Shepard Smith, MSNBC’s “Hardball” with Chris Matthews and CNN’s “Situation Room” with Wolf Blitzer). But their fourth quarter gains in audience were no more than 20%.8 Beck stands out, in part, because he may be among the most pugnacious conservatives on cable TV, and ideological edge, particularly from the right, is a new identity for Headline News. Beck’s show is actually the second most popular Headline News show. In first place is the legal talk show “Nancy Grace” (8 p.m. ET). Grace, a lawyer, began making audience inroads when she went on the air in 2005. Her performance in 2006 was more complicated. The show’s overall audience declined 16% in the fourth quarter while its audience in the 25 to 54 demographic grew 8% (see News Investment).9 That might have something to do with competition – MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann airs at the same time and he’s been seeing huge gains among both the 25-to-54-year-olds and over all audience. The drop also came, among other things, as Grace became embroiled in controversy when one of her guests committed suicide after a Grace interview. Headline News is also attracting viewers in the morning. Its morning show “Robin & Company,” hosted by Robin Meade, has seen a ratings surge, especially among the younger demographic. According to CNN, the show’s ratings in October 2006 showed a 71% increase from the previous year among people 18 to 34. Further, “Robin & Company” gets about 90% of all viewer response to Headline News’s daytime shows, most of which is positive.10 Another method cable networks use to measure their audience is “Cume,” short for cumulative audience. The term refers to the number of different individual (“unique”) viewers who watch a channel over a fixed period. Viewers are counted as part of a TV channel’s Cume measurement if they tune in for six minutes or longer (they are typically calculated over the course of a month). Like average audience, Cume is measured by Nielsen Media Research. CNN has historically led in terms of Cume and used the to leverage itself to advertisers — arguing that advertisers can reach a greater number of different consumers through its channel over time, even though its average audience lags significantly behind that of Fox News. This year, CNN, which provides the Project with data on Cume, released figures only for the final month of the year. According to those numbers, at least, CNN continues its lead. But the trend lines, again, are strongest for MSNBC. It grew about 27% in December 2006, year-to-year. CNN’s sister channel, Headline News, was next, with a 24% growth in Cume audience. Cable News Cumulative Audience Source: Nielsen Media Research, data provided by CNN The Cume numbers also reveal something else. Cume was growing — at least in December. Indeed, all four channels had a higher cume in December 2006 than in 2005. This stands in stark contrast to the average audience trends. If the December numbers are typical, they suggest that more people tune in to the cable channels now than a year ago, but are not staying as long. It may also say something about the nature of the major news events of 2006 in contrast with years past — the so-called crisis coverage component of cable journalism. That question deserves a closer look. Crisis Coverage: The Big Stories of 2006 What is happening with crisis coverage on cable? As noted above, the steeper declines seen in mean audience (as distinct from median) suggest that the cable channels benefited less from crisis coverage in 2006 than in years past. Over the last decade, the cable channels saw their growth stimulated by major crises. Viewers would come for the big events — often in huge numbers — and many of them would begin to watch the channels more afterwards. Are cable channels now also losing sway in this area? Or was 2006 somehow a slower news year than in years past? One way to examine those questions is to take the big months of the year, when coverage spiked because of major news events, and compare these spikes to the ones registered during previous crises. In 2006, the big stories were the summertime crisis in the Middle East in July and August and the mid-term elections in November. (The Middle East crisis overlapped with another major event, the foiled terrorist plot to bomb American planes in London.) The Middle East crisis and the terrorist threats led to a surge in cable news viewers in August. CNN saw its August 2006 prime-time audience up 19% and its daytime audience up nearly 40% compared with August 2005. The month also saw it generate the largest number of total viewers in the year. MSNBC’s prime-time audience grew just 4% (although daytime was up 36%) compared with August 2005. Fox News actually saw a 29% dip in prime-time viewership, while daytime viewers grew 5%. November, the month of the mid-term elections, saw no such spikes. There was little growth in viewership in the three channels over November the year before — growing only 10% over October 2006 in prime time, even though the election occurred in the second week of the month and, given the dramatic results, carried on with coverage for weeks after that. In daytime, the channels actually lost about 1% of their viewers. Compare that to the spikes registered in earlier years. In August 1998, when video of President Bill Clinton’s deposition before a grand jury was released, cable news registered a 71% spike in both daytime and prime-time viewers from the previous month. The hanging-chad elections in November 2000 that ultimately brought George W. Bush to power had everyone riveted to the cable news channels — and registered 91% growth in prime-time viewers and 156% growth in daytime compared to the month before. What to make of the smaller spikes in 2006? Of course it is impossible to conclusively compare different news events in different years. Some analysts, such as Andrew Tyndall and the former CNN correspondent Charles Bierbauer, believe that the crises of 2006 were simply not as compelling, as news events, as those of other recent years. That is certainly possible, perhaps even likely. A mid-term election and a Mid-East crisis may not be news on the same magnitude for Americans as Katrina, the overthrow of Saddam Hussein or September 11. Nonetheless, given the other declines in 2006 and the growing range of options Americans have for news, it is also possible that the spikes in cable viewership from major events may just become smaller. It’s a question that deserves monitoring. The Demographics of the Cable News Audience Who is watching Cable News? Over all, the typical cable news viewer is likely to be male and middle-aged (mean age of 48 years) with a college education. There are some variations by channel. The average Fox News viewer is about 48 years old as well and earns a higher income, while the average CNN viewer is a year younger, and more likely to have a lower income. The MSNBC viewer is likely to be younger still, but with a better income than CNN. We provide a more complete profile of the cable news audience, and what the demographics might signify, in the Public Attitudes sub-chapter. 1. Adding up viewers of all three networks in 2004 for both prime time and daytime gave us 5.35 million viewers. The same calculation in 2005 resulted in 5.50 million viewers (Nielsen Media Research data for January to December 2004 and January to December 2005). 2. Annual figures until August 2005 showed a .3% decline in daytime audience and 6% growth in prime time. In September, however, daytime audiences shot up by 12%, while prime time rose by 8%. By December 2005, the daytime average leveled out to 7%, while prime time fell to .2%. Thus, Katrina led to a sharp increase in averages for September, and when the story died down, the averages dipped back down. The dip was especially steep for prime time averages. (Source: Nielsen Media Research) 3. Between 2000 and 2004, Fox News extended its reach on cable systems by almost 40 million subscribers. CNN, which had reached its distribution potential (already carried on most cable systems), gained only 10 million more potential subscribers over those four years. 4. In 2004, CNN averaged 15 million more unique viewers per month than Fox News. Cume is based on mean average, not median, but the fact that CNN leads each month does suggest that its advantage here is not based just on big stories. (Source: Nielsen Media Research, data provided by CNN) 5. CNN posted steep viewer losses during the month of February 2005, slipping 21% in prime time and 16% in daytime. It even lost in the key 25-54 demographic to third-place MSNBC during the speech. That, however, could be accounted for by the fact that the audience watching the State of the Union address is heavily Republican and inclined toward Fox News. The pattern was repeated during the State of the Union Address in 2006 — Fox News had the highest viewership among all the cable channels. See Michael Learmonth, “CNN Flops in February as Fox News Surges,” Daily Variety, March 2, 2005. Also see Michael Learmonth, “Fox Nets Record Aud for Prexy Speech: State of the Union address draws in 6.46 million viewers,” Daily Variety, February 1, 2006. 6. Fox News recorded 87 million unique visitors that month while MSNBC had 69 million. (Source: Nielsen Media Research, data provided by CNN) 7. Survey data about Katrina reinforce the Cume data. A Pew poll in September found that 31% of Americans said they were “getting most” of their “news about the disaster” from CNN, while 22% cited Fox, 9% MSNBC. CNN, then, alone commanded nearly the same percentage as all the three broadcast networks, ABC, CBS and NBC, combined (network news got 34% while local news got 19%). Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, “Two in three critical of Bush’s relief efforts,” Pew Research Center , September 8, 2005 . (Respondents could cite more than one news source) Online at: http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=255 8. Toni Fitzgerald, “CNN Headline News topples MSNBC,” Media Life Magazine, March 31, 2005. 9. This report separates the two CNN channels in audience analysis because Nielsen Media Research, which aggregates data on audience figures, provides figures for each channel individually. 10. Toni Fitzgerald, “CNN Headline News topples MSNBC,” Media Life Magazine, March 31, 2005. 11. “Desperate No More? Networks See a Rebound in Viewers,” The Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2005 . Wolzien has since left the investment firm Sanford C. Bernstein & Company Inc., to semi-retire and start a consulting practice, Wolzien LLC. John Eggerton, “Wolzien Exiting Sanford Bernstein”, Broadcasting & Cable, July 15, 2005 . 12. “Cable and VCR Households,” TV Basics: Online Brochure, Media Trends Track, Research Central, Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) Web site. 13. Mike Tierney, “Fox now the big dog in cable news — and growing,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 9, 2005 . 14. See 2005 Annual Report: Cable TV, Content Analysis (‘Differences among cable channels’). 16. See 2004 and 2005 Annual Reports.

Now that the link-hype has died down and every design blog has pointed to Creative Review’s exposé — which you should read to get the details, since there is nothing else to add or go by — of Peter Saville’s logo design for Kate Moss I thought this would be a good time to discuss. With Moss’ clothing collection ready to launch on May 1st through British fashion enabler Topshop, and a myriad of other brandable opportunities stemming from Kate’s seemingly impossible rebirth the need for a unique identity was inevitable. So how in the world do you brand Kate Moss? How do you capture her chameleon-like looks, almost tripolar personality and indelible contribution to the fashion world? Typography, indeed, seems the only way out without falling into trite imagery. But what typeface could embody the snowballing synergy of what Debbie Millman calls “[the] one brand — one brand above all others — that has risen from the ashes of death and defeat to recapture acclaim and glory”? Bodoni? Gotham? Serifa? Nuptial Script? The problem is that any of these and a hundred other typefaces would be appropriate. With the help of Paul Barnes, Saville made the recommendation to Miss Moss of using Alexey Brodovitch’s quirky Albro typeface that captures a little bit of Kate Moss at every turn, at every line and at every curly ball. The sum of its parts might not be the prettiest result — at least I don’t think so — but when something (or, in this case, someone) can be anything and everything, why not actually design identity that has something for everyone? Plans are in development for coming back to Europe in Spring of 2018 with the current top contender host city of Barcelona.

I've used a Synergsitic Designers Ref Squared, Res Ref MKII and Nordost Eldorado. I believe the Nordost works best and used they're around $300. The most knowledgeable person when it comes to Wadia players is Steve Huntley from Great Northern Sound. While there is always a "better", more expensive cable available, he recommended a PS Audio Lab Cable as one that does everything fairly well, not really drawing attention to any specific frequency range and not costing an arm and a leg. I personally use one on my Wadia 861 and I'm pleased with it. Others have recommended an Acoustic Zen Krakatoa and that works fine too! I don't know what you're looking to spend for another PC, but there are quite a few out there that aren't rediculously expensive and most will significantly improve the performance of your Wadia. Good luck in your search... P.A.D PURIST AUDIO DESIGNS . BUY IT USED ON AUDIOGON . THERE WAS A COLOSSUS POWER CABLE A FEW DAYS AGO . I'VE HAD THESE WITH MY LEVINSON / ACCUPHASE SYSTEM AND I WAS VERY PLEASED . GOOD LUCK ! I MAY BUT IT MYSELF FOR A NEW HEADPHONE AMP THAT I WANT ! SEEMED LIKE A FAIR DEAL .....WILL NOT "BREAK THE BANK" AND WOULD BE AN EASY RE-SALE IF YOU WERE NOT HAPPY . THEIR "DOMINUS" POWERCORD IS ACTUALLY "WATER-FILLED." THAT ONE MIGHT BREAK THE BANK.....MAYBE NOT ! RAMIRO Thank you everone for the great advice. Ucmgr, have you tried the Mini Lab on the Wadia? BTW Ramiro....The Dominus would definitely break the bank....I wish the bank was larger! Contact Sergeui at Stealth. He is a member here. He will make a sound recommendation. I've used the HACs with good results. MAke sure the female IEC connector is snug. I haven't tried the Mini Lab cable myself, but for $250-400 you should be able to get a Audio Lab. If you contact Steve, he's really the one that might be better able to help you. Your wadia is so good, it's worth using the best power cord. Try the king cobra V2. I've used it on my wadia 861. I also tried the PAD dominus. The dominus was great but the king cobra won by wide margins - bigger depth, great soundstage, much detail. My old 861 with the king cobra was in the same league as my current 270 + 27ix (with standard pc's). There seems to be a magical synergy between wadia and the king cobra V2. You get it at audiogon for about 1000 $. It's well worth the investment. I use a Shunyata King Cobra v2 on my Wadia 861 and think it works really well. Anyway this was also recommended as almost the perfect cord for this player by Steve Huntley I’ve had great experiences with my Wadia 20 Transport and Dodson DA-217 MK II D using the BMI Whale and/or BMI Shark. I heard that the King Cobra V2 is the best there is for a Wadia 861. You're probably right in saying that a unit as good as the 861 deserves as good a power cord as one can afford. I've just never could swallow spending as much on a pc, but I'll turn around and do just that for a pair of interconnects. I might just give one a try! If you want a great power cord that is better than PS Audio (IMO), try the Pure Note Sigma. Only $150 for a 1m pure silver cord with Wattgate connectors. I have tried a bunch. I like the Acoustic Zen Krakatoa. I compared it to the Powersnakes King Cobra and it makes the King Cobra sound dull and lifeless, like a piece of junk really in comparison, plus the King Cobra costs 3x as much If you can spend a few bucks more I think the David Elrod power cords would be even better. I have tried Elrod cords replacing the Krakatoas on my amps where I found them to be much better, but I have yet to replace the Krakatoa on the CD player with an Elrod cord, but based on my experience with the amps I would bet it will be better on the CD player as well. Have both the BMI WHALE Elite mk2 and SHARK on my WADIA 861 cd player. The Whale sounds nice, but the Shark is head and shoulders. The results were amazing in the imaging and resolution department. Detail and accuracy increased without being bright or too aggressive. The Shark is a perfect match on my WADIA 861. I use the king cobra V2 or the Shark to great effect on my cdp. They have different qualities from each other, but they are both at the top of my list. I use the emc-1, I hope you don't mind it is not a Wadia. I have tried nine different cords so far, all about in the same general price range. I would like to try the Anaconda by Shunyata as soon as I can rustle up some more money. I also thought, a king cobra V2 is much too expensive for a pc, but what I heard was convincing. I now believe that powercords are as important as IC's or speaker cables. By the way, with my 270/27ix I use electraglide cables with excellent results, but I may try a king cobra V2 for the 27ix, which is the critical part. An electraglide genghis khan might even be better but also more expensive than king cobra V2. I might test both. With these top pc's Why is that many PC are named after some kind of fish/mammal or snake? Just an observation. I'll second UCMGR's recommendation of a PS Audio Lab Cable. My buddy has an 860-x and I have a Wadia 301. We're both using Lab Cables and are very happy with the results. They seem to be very neutral, as was mentioned- improving everything, without coloring anything. You may have a different objective, but that's always mine in these matters. Just replaced my ESP Essecce PC on my 860x with Tara's "the one"PC with noticable improvement. The new Tara cord seems to give added substance or body to the music without any audible downside.The improvement was especilly noticed in the bass region.( Listen through KEF Ref.3/2 )

Some will tell you it will degrade the purity of the stereo image. Others will tell you how it can open up the sound. I'm with the later camp, if you can get a good blend. I have used two subs, now I use one near a corner all the way to one side. You would never know where the sub is, it integrates completely with the soundfield. Some rooms are not fullrange speaker friendly, in some stand mounts w/sub ultimately work the best. My own experience is that it's very difficult to integrate a single subwoofer well. Multiple subs are a bit easier to get to integrate, far more effective and potentially less detrimental to imaging - again, this assumes good subs well-integrated. A poorly integrated sub can certainly hurt imaging and resolution. If I wanted more bass and was weighing adding a single sub vs going to full range, I'd look at full range. If I really wanted the depth and performance of great subs well done, I'd look at a multiple sub system like the Swarm system by Audiokinesis, paired off with Duke's speakers. If you're just looking to buy multiple subs I could also recommend used ACI Force XL's as a great alternative if you don't mind that the company is no longer in business. I've only heard AK Swarm subs with his speakers - I'd imagine they might work well with others if you just by the Swarm, but I'd consult with Duke on that. 2-3 small subs like the ACI would go nicely with monitors - again integration is still key, and your room and contents will play a bit roll there. No. Stereo imaging is not impaired by a sub, provided that you've managed the x-over properly. Even if you screw that up, you're probably okay on the stereo separation front, so long as you're crossing resonably well below 100hz. PS As Jax points out, a lot of things go easier with subs when there's more than one to work with. I find the contrary to be the case, provided you have a good sub, properly integrated. The deep bass opens up the sound stage a lot as compared to a stereo that rolls off at ~50hz +, and in no way degrades the stereo separation or imaging. It could kill you enjoyment of the music. Very easily. and, with some effort, could also improve same. When I shut my sub off, the stage gets narrower. Sub is playing well with panels. One of the best things you can do is add a powered sub or subs to a system. If done correctly, it frees up the amp to power the mids and highs adding much better performance. I'm with MagFan an Stringstee, on this, I think a sub always adds to a system, no matter what the speakers. I am shocked when I turn off the sub(s) with my Maggies, how much bass they put out. Then when I put the sub back into the system (I cross it over at 41 hz) I'm shocked again at how deep the image gets, and how much slam there is. It does take time to set up a sub properly though, so they are not muddy, but it's worth the time. I have full range Von Schweikert VR4sr's driven by Audio Space Ref.3.1. I felt the bottom end was mostly missing with only 42 watts per channel. I called Albert and he suggested his new subwoofer with a no questions asked 90 day in home trial. The differece is substantial. My soundstage actually opened up a great deal with much more inner detail audible. The synergy between the speakers and subwoofer makes the sub "disappear". On recordings with lots of bass, the sound is full and deep. On recordings with less bass, you can't tell the sub is in the room. As with all things audio, your mileage may vary. Happy listening. Hi, again, Mac. Agreed about setup. I spent about an hour doing first placement of sub. I listened over a period of the next few days making 'little' adjustments. No joy and the bass remained 'thick'. Finally, I turned the x-over all the way down. That is an indicated 30hz, but who really knows? I turned it UP until I heard it again than down sightly. I adjusted the vol. again than the crossover frequency again. It's been untouched in a couple months. the variation between recordings is a far bigger problem now than any possible improvement to the basic setup. My final adjustment? x-over under 40hz and the sub 1 foot from a side wall and nearly 3 feet from the 'front' wall. The sub is in the same plane as the panels. When I rotated the panels around, I shut off the sub and when I had the panels properly adjusted, turned the sub back on and my bass disappeared. OOOPS! Flipping the phase switch on the sub restored the bass. If I had the $$, time and inclination, I'd work on NOT running my panels full range. I suspect there are additional benefits in that direction, but also a whole new learning curve. Magfan, You made this comment: "If I had the $$, time and inclination, I'd work on NOT running my panels full range. I suspect there are additional benefits in that direction, but also a whole new learning curve." For my tastes, I found taking some of the lowest-frequency bass load off the main panels made at least as big an improvement as adding more and lower-frequency bass did. Articulation of subtle nuances (and some not so subtle) improved dramatically. My main complaint with add-on subwoofers is most just add bass and do not give the main speakers some relief where they need it the most. And you are right--it is a new ball game. I can never get why people buy very expensive top shelf amps and then let the bass be done by amps built into the subwoofer cabinet. Is that really the best way to do things? Or do most people have a really good amp to run the subs too? How about using a seperate amp and preamp to run a subwoofer system? As a side note, I have caught a dealer demoing SET amps but had a powered subwoofer playing hidden behind some other speakers. I am getting very good at detecting bass that should not really be there. I can tell if a subwoofer is in the system and it usually annoys me too much. imo, a sub is not really needed if you have great full range speakers AND the room to support low HZ. but they may be fun to play with and that is okay at time too. My understanding is that high quality amplification is less important for bass than for other areas of the audio frequency band. But yes, there are certainly passive subs that let you choose the amp to use with the subs. I use a pair of passive NHT subs with 2 bridged Emotiva BDP-1s. The main advantage of this for me is the ease of dialing down the level of the bass easily for late-night listening. Most of the subwoofer attenuators are around the back. and awkward to reach for... Your comment spoke to me . People that want more bass are really just not getting enough satisfaction from their system. They seem not to know why, so of course they seem to blame the lack of bass. Bad move...... If the system was satisfying the bass would be the least of the problems. You are right on. woith some speakers only going down to ,,say 50 hz, your missing alot so maybe a sub is right in some systems. sounds real audio; I am with you. Subs exagerate the lower end. Watching a movie great use a sub. Listening to music, NO THANKS! Take a good/great full range speaker over a sub any day. Respectfully disagree that subs necessarily exaggerate the lower end. In my experience, the only time this happens is when the crossover is not properly set and/or the output is too high and/or the sub is not properly positioned. Seamless integration of a sub-based system is not always simple, but once achieved, the end result is absolutely musical. I use a passive sub so I could cherry pick the best matching amp , cables , cords , ect . I have used many different subs and set ups and found them all hard to integrate , many folks will never get it right . As to the original question , I don't feel a sub will kill stereo sound and if set up right can give a much fuller sound stage . Happy listening . Disrespectuflly disagree that "subs exaggerate...." Until someone has set up a subwoofer using RTA (and/or digital room correction), they should probably refrain from sweeping generalizations about what a sub does or does not do. A properly set-up subwoofer will produce measurably superior bass performance vis a vis the vast majority of full range speakers in the vast majority of rooms. Not a sweeping generalization - a fact. There is a pretty simple reason: Most full range speakers are designed for placement out in the room. If this is where you generate your bass response, you will virtually always get serious cancellations at frequencies which can be calculated by their distance to the nearest wall and (to a lesser extent) further boundaries. A properly placed sub will mitigate those cancellations. If a sub is exaggerating the low end, it is a poor sub and/or it has been improperly set up. This doesn't mean that you have to prefer a sub to a full range speaker - merely that you can almost always get the sub to measure better, if you do it right. Well first its important to understand bass is stereo not mono, and one subwoofer (unless its crossed over very low to complement a full range speaker) will collapse the soundstage. Thier really are two options, of course getting a full range speaker with enough bass on there own to satisfy you or getting two subwoofers one for the left one for the right. But to get quality bass information, carefull choice in subwoofers, cross-over adjustments, and placement are critical. It is definitely more difficult to acheive good sound with subwoofers then placing a pair of full range speakers. This takes someone with advanced setup skills to get right. 40 years hi-end audio video specialist You raise an excellent point about quality of amplification for subwoofers. I have two comments. The amp in a subwoofer, which is an active speaker, is designed for a driver operating in a very specific and relatively narrow frequency range. The same reason that "chip" amps can be used in many active studio monitors, yielding excellent sound, also applies to subwoofers. Also, the notion of quality amplification is way overblown in the audiophile community. Within the totality of an audio system an amplifier is far down on the list of sonic contributors. The speakers and the room are the main factors that need consideration. I can tell if a subwoofer is in the system and it usually annoys me too much. A properly set up speaker system with a sub will not call attention to the sub. However, just as it takes a speaker designer much effort to get a seamless transition between drivers in a single cabinet, adding a subwoofer to a speaker system takes effort to integrate the additional driver. Using a bass management controller and EQ can make this process much easier and yield a better outcome. imo, a sub is not really needed if you have great full range speakers AND the room to support low HZ. The fact of the matter is that all floorstanding speakers, even great full range ones, have a fundamental limitaion -- the bass driver is physically attached to the same cabinet as the mid/treble drivers. For the best speaker setup in a room, the bass driver needs to be placed independently of the mid/treble drivers. Given the digital bass management and room correction systems available today, there's no rational reason to not fully embrace adding one or more subwoofers to a 2-channel system. Well first its important to understand bass is stereo not mono, and one subwoofer (unless its crossed over very low to complement a full range speaker) will collapse the soundstage. I believe it's been well established that frequencies below even 80 Hz can not be localized by human beings with normal sized heads. There is no evidence that using a left and right channel sub has any benefit. It has, however, been demonstrated that using mulitple subs in a room can produce a smoother response over a wider area when afforded complete placement freedom. Regarding soundstage... In my own experience adding a subwoofer seems to perceptually expand the soundstage, particularly the depth. Larry Greenhill has mentioned the same effect in his subwoofer reviews for Stereophile. Ohjoy40...I respectfully disagree with your comment. The bass that comes from a sub IS perceived as mono..whether stereo recorded or not. Bass is non=directional. What makes it seem like stereo, are the overtones, not the 30 or 40 cycle fundamental. These overtones are reproduced by the regular speaker, and thus seem directional. There is no need to spend lots of money on a "state of the art" amp to drive a "state of the art" sub. The built in "usually" class D (big power vs small size) is very good...the sub has a very limited range, without need for those subtle nuances we all love to listen to on our full range speakers. Regarding soundstage... In my own experience adding a subwoofer seems to perceptually expand the soundstage, particularly the depth. Larry Greenhill has mentioned the same effect in his subwoofer reviews for Stereophile. This is exactly my experience. Further, some of the assertions made in this thread seem to be based on a "perfect world" basis where we have unlimited funds, and unlimited flexibility in our listening environment. I think when you allow for the fact that this is rarely true for most of us, a subwoofer will provide a more optimal imaging than the alternative full range floor standers that may have limited low end due to budget, or sub optimal placement due to room limitations. Re: expanding soundstage. I've heard the same effect, but not consistently. Most recently it's become quite apparent on Allen Toussaint's "The Bright Mississippi" which I believe - and I am speculating here - features a very large bass drum. With the subs on-line, the recorded acoutic sounds much larger when that drum is struck. However, I rarely hear this type of dramatic evidence of this effect on most other recordings. Isn't bass mixed to mono below.....say 80hz? Given that bass wavelengths are longer than the longest dimension of MOST rooms, I'd say a sub was not locatable, eyes closed. In large rooms, this may change. I suspect that alot of information regarding a venue's acoustic space is very low frequency info that you can't quite hear on an obviouos manner, but is notable by its absence. If I had to use a subwoofer, I would only do so with close to full-range, or full-range speakers over a very narrow span with a very x-ver in the 30-40hz range. The less you ask of a sub the better it will interate and add without subtraction. Martykl...Actually, I hear it quite differently. If you have a system that can accurately reproduce the lowest frequencies accurately (I am not commenting on your system) you will clearly hear low end pitch differentiation on those very powerful low notes. This is clearly the work of the bass player. Yes the drummer's kick drum adds some concussion when appropriate, but those lows are clearly the work of the bassist. I further speculate, that it is an old Kay plywood bass that's been electrified, and plugged directly into the recording board. In the song "Day Dream", the bass starts the tune, and the drummer comes in a couple of measures later. I'm not sure that we're taliking about the same thing - but we might be. I'll go back and listen again, but I'm not necessarily talking about the lowest frequencies on the recording - rather a percussive sound (maybe +/- 50hz fundamental as a guess, but clearly below where a kick drum impacts) that seems to "bloom" when the subs are on. OTOH, we might be talking about the same thing since, as I indicated in my OP I was speculating as to the source. I'll cue it up again and post back. Thanks for the insight. Most "fullrange" speakers with really good bass response are very expensive, even in high end audio $$$. Ohjoy40 Kevin may have the luxury of a listening room where a speaker's mid/high sound and bass response both work in the same placement. I would guess many of us are not so fortunate as to have the optimum listening room and to afford a great fullrange speaker. The subwoofer "compromise" is often used even with speakers that have impressive low end. A properly set up sub should not be heard- only missed when turn off. I found the subwoofer to add more dimension and overall better sound. I use the Merlin TXM-mme bookshelfs on stands. I added the JL112 sub and very carefully tuned it, almost to the point you are uncertain if it is on or not. With tympanis and pipe organs I get the goosebumps! Also my preamp, McIntosh C2300 has selectable preamp outputs. With the press of a button I can have the sub in or out of the system. For the most part the sub is always playing. A vote for the subwoofer providing it is carefully adjusted, placed and matched. I got a chance to listen to "Mississippi" again. I believe that you're right re: Day Dream, but my post was actually refering to something different, like the series of drum beats that begins less than a minute into St. James Infirmary. I believe that it's higher in pitch than the passage you reference, but removing the subs on this song causes the stage to collapse (on my system) dramatically. I do believe that it's a bass drum struck with a mallett, but can't be sure. The same collapsing stage occurs on Day Dream, but it's more dramatic on "Infirmary" in my system - for reasons unknown. BTW - Don't know the old Kay basses, but I have (quite recently, actually) played one of their old archtops. It was a pig and I'm not sure why anyone is fond of these things. Different strokes, I guess. In response to the original poster, a subwoofer has a pretty simple job to do...play frequencies in the 100 to 20Hz (or lower) range. It's apparent you want more bass. Provided your bookshelves are capable of playing down to 80Hz or so, and you cross them over properly, there's no reason why you wouldn't enjoy the added low end reinforcement a subwoofer provides, with one caveat...some sort of EQ would provide the best integration with your room. The SVS AS-EQ1 is an amazing little piece of equipment. So your decision really depends on your budget. A decent sub and EQ could cost from $1500-$2000. Are there full range speakers out there in this price point that interest you? If so, would they sound any better than your admittedly "great" bookshelves? The added benefit of a sub (or my preference, dual subs), is that you can just turn them off, giving you added flexibility. Or just turn around and sell it(them) if it's not to your liking. You still get to keep the speakers you like. There is no need to spend lots of money on a "state of the art" amp to drive a "state of the art" sub. Disagree. Most subs (I mean 99%) simply distort so badly that they ruin the sound (at least at usable SPL's in the ultra LF range of 20 to 30 Hz). It is EXTREMELY difficult to produce low frequencies at reasonable SPL without distortion and therefore extremely expensive to do it right (to audiophile standards). The same can be said for speakers - it is just plain difficult to do ultra-LF well - the manufacturer may claim performance to 20 HZ on a full range speaker but what they don't tell you is that you will be hearing upwards of 10% THD at anything nearing useful SPL levels. Distinct bass lines from drums is something that can be heard on a good system as the timbre is quite different (even if they may overlap in frequency range). The trick is to have a critically damped design as opposed to a ported resonant design. (although resonance gains efficiency and SPL it has a down side in that it destroys timbre and will make differences between bass and drums that much harder to hear) Here is a little more why I believe resonance and THD is important in ultra LF. Resonance is important because of "masking". Masking is what is used to create lossy MPEG files that sound almost identical to lossless files. Masking is the well known fact that loud low frequency sounds will mask higher frequency sounds to the human ear/brain system. Therefore, if you cannot hear these higher frequencies (due to LF sounds) then this detail can simply be removed from the audio files (reducing the file size dramatically), whenever there is "masking" going on. All you need is a clever algorithm to recognize when masking will occur and you can compress any file. THD is especially important in ultra LF because your hearing sensitivity increases dramatically from 20 Hz to 100 HZ. Typically you are some 40 db more sensitive in hearing at 100 Hz compared to 20 HZ. This means that even minuscule levels of distortion in the ultra LF (20 to 30 Hz) can still amount to highly audible harmonic distortion effects at 100 Hz and above (altering dramatically the timbre of the sound). Since the distortion is harmonic it generally does not sound bad (and will not change the fundamental note) but most subs, which distort badly, will make everything sound extremely bass heavy (making it much harder to hear details) Of course, since it doesn't sound bad most people think these subwoofers are amazingly "impressive" - as they hear such heavy handed bass (deep bass they think). Actually a good precision subwoofer should not sound "impressive" at all! I've tried at least 4 different amps ( 3 were bridged Stereo amps ) on my passive 18" sub , the better and pricier amps were very important and not just for impact , For 2 channel music . I also tried some different crossovers , including one with room correction , hate to say it , but the more I spent the better it got . As good as it is , We seem to listen to most music without it , but its a must for watching movies . Put the sub between the two speakers. Problems solved. "Put the sub between the two speakers. Problems solved." Umm, no. Problem is worse. A lot worse. not in my home. but then again, i've got two wired as stereo so no threat here. I use a Visonik of Germany, 8" sub unit in between my John Blue JB4's which are on 5" high stands.(These are full range units which do a good job with bass, for their size) My music room is very small: 10 x 15' long. The sub is turned down very low. The stereo imaging does not seem to be affected at all. When I turn it off, you definately hear that it's missing. If the idea of a stereo is to get the best sound you possibly can get in your environment, and a sub is a gain to your musical experience, Go For It! After all, how boring would it be if we all agreed. I use two small sealed subs in my setup, equalized with the Velodyne SMS1. Both subs are situated between the speakers. I love the results. Lot's of technical info in prior posts, but one key for me was to cross over the subs to kick in BELOW the lowest frequency of my monitors, so that the subs do not overlap the monitors. Trying to integrate subs to overlap with your monitors, or to otherwise replace the low frequencies of the monitors, is a different beast and very difficult to accomplish in most rooms, in my experience. The other key, was to learn to set the subs at a modest volume level. It's tempting to crank the subs volume, but as is often said, if you can hear the subs they'rep probably too loud. This is especially true in a music only system. I can't hear my subs specifically, but if I turn them off, I immediately miss them. It took a lot of tweaking to get my subs to integrate the way I wanted, but it was worth the effort. I highly recommend the use of an equalizer or equalizing software and a good spl meter is a must. I also recommend a sealed sub - I had a ported sub previously and it was much more difficult to control in my room (YMMV).

So … I mentioned earlier that my disc priesty buddy wanted to try 2v2 arena this season. Early in the week we tried 3 matches, and died horribly to go 0-3. Knowing that we were going to be finishing our 10 matches for the week tonight, I decided to shell out the gold for dual specs and at least go in with a real pvp-centric spec instead of the usual 57/3/11. Fortunately, Velinath over at Fireball Spam posted an arcane build that he* has been testing out in duels and is curious to see how it holds up in the arena. I have a couple points moved around, but otherwise followed it pretty closely. It held up pretty well. I expected us to go 0-7 and go drown our sorrows at the Legerdermain. Instead, we went 15-20 and actually … had a great time! Somehow I need to find a way to move some points into Incanter’s Absorption. You see, unlike Velinath, who is doing 5v5 in a four DPS team, I am only doing 2v2 with a disc priest as my partner, so I will be the sole recipient of the lovely bubbles (other than himself, that is). It’s funny … I had mentioned the talent to Fiak as we were waiting for the first match to begin, wondering whether it was worth taking and would work well with PW:Shield. Then here we are, after I have logged off for the night, and I see that Matt Low posted over at Wow Insider earlier tonight about the synergy between arcane mages with this talent, and disc priests. Granted, the article was focused on raiding Ulduar, while here we are talking about arena, but that doesn’t change what it does. There were a few times tonight where we were lacking enough burst to finish a player off. Perhaps this would provide the extra spellpower to do it. I will be testing it out for sure. *my apologies, Velinath, if you are not a he.

New Auris goes on sale in early 2014 Auris Touring Sports offers dynamic design, best-in-segment functionality and large, flexible loadspace. As the hybrid battery is located beneath the rear seats, there is no compromise in the size of the loadspace and its luggage capacity. The new model will broaden the appeal of Auris and is expected to help increase the model’s European segment share to more than five per cent by 2014, its first full year of sales. Auris Touring Sports is built exclusively by Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) at its factory in Burnaston, Derbyshire, alongside the Auris hatchback and Avensis models. It has the same 2,600mm wheelbase and 10.4m turning circle as its sister hatchback, but is 285mm longer overall – all dedicated to the extended loadspace. With the rear seats in place the load area is 1,115mm long and 1,452mm wide, giving a capacity of 530 litres. With the rear seats folded the length increases to 2,047mm; with loadspace height up to 890mm, the maximum capacity is a class-leading 1,658 litres. As well as being more capacious than its rivals, Auris Touring Sports offers better functionality, too. It is unmatched in offering Toyota’s one-touch Easy-Flat folding rear seat system, a dual-level loadspace floor and a two-way tonneau cover (standard on Icon, Sport and Excel grades), a roller-type luggage net, shopping bag hooks, aluminium roof rails and a 12V power outlet in the boot. As witnessed in the new Auris hatchback, the strong and distinctive exterior design maximises the aerodynamic benefits that come with the model’s lower overall height and the dynamic improvements offered by its lower centre of gravity. It shares the same front-end treatment as the hatch, displaying key elements from Toyota’s new design language with focus on emphasising the car’s width and low stance in the shape and arrangement of the lower grille, front bumper and fog lights, together with a keen-edged look created by the narrower upper grille and headlamp units. In profile it also shares the hatchback’s steeply raked windscreen, which flows into an extended roofline with aluminium roof rails and an integral rear spoiler. Some versions of Auris Touring Sports will be available with a Skyview panoramic roof; measuring 1,553 by 960mm, it is one of the largest in its class and increases the sense of light and space in the new interior. The extended three-panel side glazing is emphasised by blacked out pillars, with a piano-black finish to the central B-pillar. The effect is underscored by a chrome trim above the powerful crease along the car’s rising beltline. At the rear there is new a bumper and tailgate design, with the loadspace sill set 100mm lower than on the hatchback, and a ‘floating’ chrome-finished spoiler. As on the hatchback models, the design of the rear lamp units reinforces the shape of the rear wing, as well as the new D-pillar design and rear screen. Auris Touring Sports reinforces Toyota’s commitment to improving the dynamic abilities of its vehicles to give customers a more engaging driving experience. To this end, it carries forward all the improvements made in the new Auris hatchback. These include a more rigid bodyshell, a lower centre of gravity, improved suspension and steering, a better driving position and improved NVH performance. It will be available in the UK with the same powertrain options as the hatch: 1.33-litre Dual VVT-i and 1.6-litre Valvematic petrol units; the 1.4-litre D-4D diesel; and full hybrid – a first in the family/compact estate car market. The full hybrid’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system features a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine and an electric motor, giving a maximum power output of 134bhp/100kW. This enables nought to 62mph acceleration in 11.2 seconds and a top speed of 109mph. Conversely the hybrid’s CO2 emissions are a class-leading 85g/km; indeed emissions performance across the range is highly competitive with the 1.33 and 1.6 petrol units rated at 127 and 139g/km respectively and the 1.4 D-4D diesel at 109g/km.

March 4, 2014: Every once in a while in the career of a coach/teacher/professor, there is a group of students that brings the magic. I’m know Miss Jenn feels that way about her dancers; I’m sure Coach Rundle feels that way about our Albion Britons; and I have a sneaking suspicion that Coach Peters feels that way about the 2013 Winneconne Wolves football team. (*\o/* to all the WHS cheerleaders reading this!) In my 15+ semesters of teaching non-science majors about all things astronomy, I’ve had three classes (so far) that stand out in my memory. The students in these classes were inquisitive and eager to learn – and going to class each day, to teach them about topics that are literally out of this world – was exciting and fun for me. Sure, there are individual students who were outstanding in other semesters (you all know who you are), but in terms of a group synergy, an easy rapport, a class to look forward to teaching each day… these are the classes that stay in my memory. This past fall, I had a great group of students in my introductory astronomy class, a course that non-science majors can take to satisfy their laboratory-class graduation requirement. Some of the students who take this class are not interested in astronomy – they take it merely for the requirement – but lately, many of the students who take my class are actually interested in astronomy. Wow! And, oh! what a difference that makes! One of my favorite labs for intro astronomy students, is Comets in the Classroom, an activity where students learn about comets then actually make one out of dry ice and other ingredients. Results can be spectacular: Students in the astronomy class are required to write a paragraph about comets in general and then comment on how their comet accurately (or not) reflects real comets. They turn in the summary and that’s usually the last time they think again about comets until the exam. This time, however, one student wrote about her comet-making experience on one of the college’s blog pages. I did not expect that. She mentions that quirky photobombing professors can be endearing to the students. I think students can be just as endearing to us.

I'm sure that many of you have noticed that nutrition and the quality there of, is one of my biggest concerns. Well, that and Ass-Kicking workouts. But this article was spawned mainly in response to a thread I came across on the message boards. For those of you who haven't figured it out, I go by the nickname EricS. Anyway, on the boards I came across a thread entitled "Protein Absorption: When is it a waste?" Now digestion is one of my favorite of all physiological topics, so I couldn't resist to look at this one. Much to my dismay, there were some serious misinformed people here. I sat and responses like this: * I found this strange because whey and casein both come from milk, yet they seem to think whey is not a food but casein is. I had to step in there and shell out some studies to prove that it wasn't marketing hype. I will assume that anyone reading this knows that it isn't just hype and I shouldn't need to reference myself in this matter. The responses came flooding in much to the tune of "Use it only after a work out or its wasted" or "Its wasted because it is absorbed too fast". So I felt the need to step in again and explain why protein (and that counts ALL protein, not just whey) can be oxidized for fuel. After that no one really came back to the discussion so I'll just assume that they understood the error of their ways. And to be honest I've seen many threads like this and that is why I felt the need to write this article. I think to many have the wrong impression on how to use supplement to make them effective. Crash Course In Physiology To start we need to understand only 2 simple laws of human physiology. The first being that the brain's #1 and favorite source of fuel is glucose, or the human form of "sugar". Yes, the brain can live on other sources, but it would much rather live off of glucose and will put up one hell of a fight to do so. This brings us to the second point, which is that all 3 of the macronutrients, fats, carbohydrates and proteins can be converted into glucose. And for the record, protein is easier to convert than fat. If you have read some of my other articles I talk a lot about insulin. I'm sorry but you are going to have to hear it again! Insulin, in most cases, is secreted proportionally to the appearance of glucose in the blood. The faster the rate of glucose appearance, the faster the insulin secretion, and likewise, the more glucose, the more insulin. Now that we have that settled, we can move to the next important thing - The brain has tons of insulin receptors! So when blood sugar and insulin gets too low, the brain is the first to know. Now comes the tie-in: because the brains favorite source of fuel is glucose, it will take the next thing you put in to your body and use it to restore glucose and glycogen levels. Yes, even proteins [1,2,8]. Ok, so the lesson is over, but it was a necessary one. As you can see if you are one who attempts to use a whey protein supplement (Not to be confused with a MRP), you can easily see that it is going to be used for exactly what we don't want. Using whey protein supplements to fill the gaps as meal replacements is a bad idea. When blood glucose and insulin levels are low al the protein is going to be used to restore those glucose levels, i.e. for energy. And that is expensive energy. I can think of quite a few less expensive ways to get my glucose levels back up. It doesn't matter how fast or slow a protein may be absorbed, glucose restoration is top priority and it will be done first. So have protein alone, is pointless in muscle building efforts. Whether its whey, casein, egg, or a chicken breast, much of it is oxidized when eaten alone. So how do make our protein supplements work the way we want? Well, it is actually very simple. Make sure that you glucose and insulin levels are up and constant before chugging down a protein shake or amino acid supplements [6,7,9] (especially Glutamine ). The smart thing to do would be to use you protein supplement exactly as that, SUPPLEMENTS. Meaning in addition to your small meals. In fact, this method has recently been shown to be so effective that it stood the sports medicine and nutrition world on its head ! In that study, they used a large portion of whey as the protein intake. 1.5g/kg was the minimal intake for all subjects. I'm going to go on a limb and say that is a far cry from what you take in a day, isn't it? Back to the question at hand, carbohydrates are the key. More specifically, the combination of types of protein and carbohydrates are what is really the key. Almost exactly like I had outlined in part 2 of anabolic aerobics, the combination of hydrolyzed whey proteins and low glycemic carbohydrates act in synergy to increase nitrogen retention [4, 5, 3]. We all know that taking whey with a high GI carb is good for after a work out, but you need (and I stress need) to shift gears in your carbohydrate intake. It is that important to your muscle building efforts. So outside those 3 hours after your workout, low is the way to go! Your small meals should be actual meals with protein, fats, and low GI carbs. Your best bet for these carbs are vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, green beans, etc. Low GI starches/legumes are acceptable as well. And then as you are finishing your meal, start sipping on your whey protein drink. I have found this to be incredibly effective and I have stated eating big bowls of vegetables with every meal. Even with my MRPs. Not only do vegetables provide some carbohydrate to restore glucose level, but also it keeps insulin constant, which prevents the oxidation of other material for energy. And they are a great way to get in fiber, which is something the average bodybuilder is lacking. - When glucose levels are low (between meals) protein supplements are oxidized. - When glucose and insulin levels are up, protein supplements are channeled more towards muscle protein accretion - Low GI foods and Hydrolyzed Proteins combined greatly increase nitrogen retention - Throw down a big bowl of vegetables when ever possible (bulking or cutting, you can never overeat vegetables, except the potato) - Use your supplements as supplements in addition to whole food, not in place of. - Carbohydrates are the missing key; adding oil to a protein shake won't cut it. Slowing down digestion means nothing. I hope now that you can understand how to use your supplements correctly and get the most out of them. I think it is strange to read through the message boards and see someone who is considered "veterans" or the "go-to-guys" ramble on about something that is completely ass backwards. And God forbid that anyone try to tell them differently, that would be a cardinal sin. I will admit that I do enjoy learning and researching, but it I find it rather disturbing that one must take it to this level to sort through the junk just to figure out what is right and what is wrong. I think the major reason behind my research endeavors is I feel that if you are going to give someone advice, you'd better know what you are talking about, and make sure its right. Hopefully I can make that aspect of your bodybuilding journey that much easier. So remember, there is a right way and a wrong way to use?Whey! Source Of Information 1. Rasmussen B, et. a. An oral essential amino acid-carbohydrate supplement enhances muscle protein anabolism after resistance exercise. J. appl. Physiol. 88: 386-392, 2000 2. J. L. Bowtell, K. Gelly, M. L. Jackman, A. Patel, M. Simeoni, and M. J. Rennie. Effect of oral glutamine on whole body carbohydrate storage during recovery from exhaustive exercise. J Appl Physiol (1999) 86: 1770-1777 3. P.J. Cribb, A.D. Williams, A. Hayes, M.F. Carey THE EFFECT OF WHEY ISOLATE AND RESISTANCE TRAINING ON STRENGTH, BODY COMPOSITION AND PLASMA GLUTAMINE. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 34(5), 2002 4. Anges, SD. M. et al. Dietary composition and physiological adaptation to energy restriction. Am. J. Clin. Nutri. 2000: 71(4) p901-907. 5. Pollain MG, et al. Effect of whey proteins, their oligopeptide hydrolysates and free amino acid mixtures on growth and nitrogen retention in fed and staved rats. JPEN. 1989:vol13#4:382-386. 6. J. L. Bowtell, G. P. Leese, K. Smith, P. W. Watt, A. Nevill, O. Rooyackers, A. J. M. Wagenmakers, and M. J. Rennie Modulation of whole body protein metabolism, during and after exercise, by variation of dietary protein J Appl Physiol 1998 85: 1744-1752. 7. Tessari, P., S. Inchiostro, G. P. Biolo, R. Trevisan, G. Fantin, M. C. Marescotti, E. Iori, A. Tiengo, and G. Crepaldi. Differential effects of hyperinsulinemia and hyperaminoacidemia on leucine-carbon metabolism in vivo. J. Clin. Invest. 79: 1062-1069, 1987 8. Bolio GYR, w al. An abundant supply of amino acids enhances the metabolic effect of exercise on muscle protein. Am J Physiol. Endo Metab. 273: E122-E129, 1997. 9. Castellino, P., L. Luzi, D. C. Simpson, and M. W. Haymond.. J. Clin. Invest. 80: 1784-1793, 1987 Effect of insulin and plasma amino acid concentration on leucine metabolism in man

Genee is an artificial intelligence startup, but we’re not talking robot-overlord AI. Really, it’s a smart chatbot that helps schedule meetings. It accepts commands in natural language and handles the back-and-forth drudgery of scheduling. Microsoft envisions using the technology inside the Azure cloud, as a feature for Office 365. This won’t exactly change the landscape of public cloud services. But it shows that Microsoft wants to get creative with features as it tries to catch up to Amazon Web Services (AWS). The cloud titans realize they can’t compete on price forever, so they’ve been stressing features for developers as well. Microsoft, because of Windows and Office, has ties to the enterprise end user that competitors don’t, and the Genee deal seems to be an attempt to build on that advantage. Microsoft is No. 2 in public cloud market share but lags AWS. Recent figures from Synergy Research show that AWS’ market share exceeded 30 percent in the second quarter of 2016, while Azure’s hadn’t reached 15 percent. On the other hand, Synergy shows Microsoft grew 100 percent year-over-year compared with AWS’ 53 percent. Microsoft started from a smaller base, true, but the numbers suggest it’s OK to consider Azure an up-and-coming competitor. Founded in 2014 by Ben Cheung and Charles Lee, who will be joining Microsoft, Genee raised $1.45 million last August, when the service started its public beta. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Genee’s own service will be shut down on Sept. 1.

Ultimate Monk (DnD Optimized Character Build)/Multiclassing the Ultimate Monk From D&D Wiki - 1 Introduction - 2 Classes - 3 Honorable Mention - 4 Conclusion: What's the ideal? Plunging into the class progression tables for the first time, certain variants may give the appearance of a crowded jumble of classes placed atop each other with no rhyme or reason. Each class and each level, however, serves a critical purpose in maximizing the effectiveness of the Ultimate Monk (both from a raw-power perspective and a roleplaying (providing abilities and tactical options that are dramatic and fun to use) perspective. The classes used in the 3.5E progressions, and the reasoning behind them, are listed below. That an Ultimate Monk needs levels in monk should come as a surprise to no one, but what is character optimization, if not a process by which we question what we think we know about the limits of a player's choices? But in this case, we do need the monk; no one else has the monk's unarmed strikes, fast move, and flurry abilities (not to mention he is the prerequisite class for another essential class, Psionic Fist.) A harder question is, how many level of monk do we need? You can get by with as few as 3, which opens the door to Psionic Fist. A Monk 3/Psionic Fist 12 with a Monk's Belt has maximal damage from unarmed strikes (which is a mark the Ultimate Monk always must hit.) On the other hand, many good things await the monk on the standard progression. If he abandons it at Monk 3, he will never achieve ki Strike (magic) (4th), removal of the flurry attack penalties (at 5th and 9th levels), a bonus unarmed combat feat (6th), improved evasion (9th), greater flurry (11th), immunity to poisons (11th), dimension door (12th), SR (13th), or ki strike (adamantine) (16th). (There are many other abilities you lose out on, of course, from slow fall to the potentially lethal quivering palm attack (15th); but in the author's opinion, it is the (lack of the) powers listed above that really hurt.) There is no settled answer to how many levels of monk one needs, but the Ultimate Monk will in most variations take at least 11 levels. The primary drivers of that decision are the combat feat, improved evasion, and greater flurry. Ki strike (adamantine) is mostly a cinematic flourish for the monk, whose massive-damage strikes laugh at hardness deductions anyway. There are other ways to get spell resistance; there are other ways to access dimension door. The Psionic Fist prestige class allows you to continue to improve the monk's AC, unarmed damage, and move bonus whilst rapidly acquiring devestating combat buffs via the Psychic Warrior power list: Claws of the Beast, Precognition, Offensive, Inertial Armor, Animal Affinity, Psionic Lion's Charge, Empathic Transfer, and finally, via the Expanded Knowledge feat, Metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is at the heart of the build and every variant must have at least 9 levels of Psionic Fist, to access it. Usually we will prefer 10 levels, for the extra 5th-level power and for the increase in the Ultimate Monk's power point reserve. Some variants may go higher, to increase the effective manifester level of the monk's powers (most of them scale, meaning every increase in manifester level increases the combat power of the monk considerably). Also note that the combined monk + psionic fist level continues to bring AC and speed bonuses after level 20, as shown on the Epic Monk table. The primary attraction of the drunken master prestige class (introduced in Complete Warrior) is Stagger, an ability acquired at the second level which allows the monk to move in any pattern (not just in a straight line towards the foe) in a charge action. This is more flexible than the single 90 degree turn offered by some other feats (Psionic Charge, Fleet of Foot) and is extremely powerful, especially when combined with abilities (like Psionic Lion's Charge) that allow the monk to make a full attack after charging, and/or the Hustle power, which allows an extra move action, which can allow the monk to move after charging. The ability to do unarmed strike damage with improvised weapons is also highly useful at the upper levels, when the monk's unarmed strike abilities far outstrip normal weapon damage (and improvised weapons, unlike bare hands, can also be thrown.) Two levels of Drunken Master are optimal. Ultimate Monks take one or two levels of Psychic Warrior in some variants, mostly for the bonus feats. These can be psionic feats or fighter bonus feats. If the acquisition of psychic warrior levels is delayed to after the 20th level, they may be Epic feats. Psychic Warrior also gives the player a couple more first-level powers, and a slightly increased power reserve. It does not change the monk's manifester level, however; levels in psychic warrior overlap with, and do not stack with, levels in psionic fist. On no account should the Ultimate Monk take more than two levels in psychic warrior. Ultimate Monks take one or two levels of fighter for the same reason they take psychic warrior: feats. The same considerations apply. A single level of elocater gives the Scorn the Earth ability, which allows the monk to run or charge over any sort of terrain, move across leaves through treetops or along the edge of a sword. The impact of this power is partly cinematic, but mostly practical. Especially combined with the two levels in drunken master, it gives a character who can charge in most situations. And the usefulness of the extremely high base move of the monk is greatly potentiated by an ability that removes restrictions on movement and, indeed, opens up new vistas. The first-level elocater gains +1 manifester level in an existing class, so it is important to pick up elocater only after you have made a start on psionic fist (as discussed in the section on psionic fist, manifester level makes a huge difference in the impact of psychic warrior powers). This means, unfortunately, that you have to be done with straight monk at that point, since (unlike Psionic Fist and Drunken Master) elocater is not one of the prestige classes which can ignore the 3.5E monk multiclassing restriction (unless you chose to expend a precious feat slot on Monastic Training, a feat that allows you to ignore any one class and continue to take levels of monk. This forces you to leave elocater until fairly late, but the benefit of elocater increases the more mobile the monk becomes, so it's not the end of the world. This Complete Warrior prestige class is an absolute godsend to the Ultimate Monk. Every level brings new wonders to the shapeshifter. 1st level, immunity to stunning, critical hits, +1 damage category for the monk's unarmed strike and any other natural weapons a form has. 2nd, +4 Str and Con (untyped bonus!) while transformed. 3rd, +5 feet to your reach while transformed (hello, AoO). 4th, fast healing 2 and heal 10 points as a full-round action (with Concentration check DC = damage sustained). Warshaper is the perfect addition to the Ultimate Monk build's exploitation of the synergy between Metamorphosis and monk abilities. Initiate of the Draconic Mysteries The main benefit of this class is up to two increases in the monk's unarmed damage size category (+1 at 4th and 8th levels.) It also brings with it at the higher levels improved evasion and spell resistance, so it also represents, in a sense, a way to continue the monk progression without continuing the monk progression. Two die increases sounds too good to pass up, but eight is a lot of levels. The size category damage can be buffed twice with relative ease -- with Improved Natural Attack and a single level of Warshaper -- and the question at that point becomes; at what point is increasing unarmed damage less important than buff initiative, defense, attack bonus, mobility and psionic powers? IoDM is a great class, but the Ultimate Monk will typically not enter it until Epic levels, because there are too many other uses for the four levels that net another increase in unarmed damage. Monster classes can mesh well with the Ultimate Monk and create a very powerful character. See Ultimate Monk (DnD Optimized Character Build)/Monster Classes for details. Fist of the Forest The Fist of the Forest prestige class, from Complete Champion, brings with it some great benefits, especially getting your Con bonus as a bonus to AC. It also boosts you monk unarmed damage (but not beyond the usual cap of 2d10, so we're not overly excited) so it is a boon to those seeking to do without maximum levels in Monk/Psionic Fist. It also carries with it certain requirements to live outside "civilized" areas. The author does not own Complete Champion, and thus is not comfortable making a decision to include FoF in the standard progressions. For a build that does (to wonderful effect) see Yet Another Monk Build. A single level of dervish brings the ability to take 10 on Jump and Tumble checks, and the ability (once per day) to repeatedly move and strike via the dervish dance. While tempting, a level of dervish is probably not worth it in most cases. To use the dervish dance with the monk's unarmed strikes, you need Versatile Unarmed Strike, which allows your unarmed strike to function as a slashing weapon. You need several ranks in Perform (dance) and Combat Expertise and Weapon Focus as prerequisites (these are weak-ish feats the monk does not usually take). So while we mourn the loss of "take 10" on Jump and Tumble, the Ultimate Monk must needs give the dervish a pass. Maneuvers and stances, introduced in the Tome of Battle in 2006 and now better known as the basis for the radical changes to the combat options in 4e, offer an alternative to psionics in obtaining the buffs most useful to the Ultimate Monk. The swordsage and warblade classes, and the Shadow Sun Ninja and Master of Nine prestige classes, mesh well with the Ultimate Monk, for several reasons. One, the critical monkish skills like Jump, Tumble, Balance, and Concentration tend to be class skills for initiator classes. Second, their maneuvers and stances can be used over and over (no power points or spell slots to worry about). Third, these abilities are often unmagical (and unpsionic), making the monk's martial arts mastery immune to disruption by antimagic effects, as seems proper. Initiator class levels will probably start to pop up in certain Ultimate Monk progressions, but cautiously, as psionics have their own advantages, and we have limited levels to play around with. Monkish Prestige Classes In addition to the Psionic Fist, there are many other prestige classes whose levels stack with monk levels to determine proficiency in one or more monk abilities (speed, AC bonus, and unarmed damage being the most common, flurry common, slow fall rare). There are more than a dozen of these classes, from Arcane Fist to Zerth Cenobite. They are scattered among many different sourcebooks, however, which can make reviewing your options difficult. The author is working on a table of these classes including the source and which monk abilities they stack. Conclusion: What's the ideal? The inability to create one optimal progression for all character roles, player preferences, and campaigns is the reason there are multiple variants of the Ultimate Monk. Each differs slightly in emphasis. That said, leaving aside monster classes, an optimal progression in terms of the end result (as opposed to maximizing power at the early levels) would probably be something on the order of Monk 1-3 + Psionic Fist 1-2 + Drunken Master 1-2 + Psionic Fist 3-10 + Monk 4-13 + Elocater 1 + Psychic Warrior 1-2 + Fighter 1-2. Variant #1, Monster to Abbot, has not incorporated drunken master or elocater levels, but otherwise follows this progression closely. Variant # 2, Drunken Master, has the Drunken Master levels, but not the level of elocater (which will be introduced soon.) The end product is powerful and versatile enough that matters of taste and roleplaying should determine; regardless of the exact progression, fighting power will not be wanting.

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Naval Submarine Base New London On the east bank of the Thames River near Groton, CT, New London Naval Submarine Base was the birthplace of the submarine force. It was originally a Navy yard, converted to a submarine base in 1916, and greatly expanded in World War II. The advent of nuclear power required an improvement in training and support facilities. By 1959, New London had become the largest submarine base in the world with 8,210 active personnel. In 1969, the base also took on logistical and training responsibilities for fleet ballistic missile submarines. In 1974, the Naval Submarine Support Activity was established. By 1979, the base supported the new Los Angeles and Ohio class submarines. Major units included Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, and Naval Submarine Support Facility. The base was recommended for closure by the DoD in the 2005 BRAC Recommendations (see BRAC 2005 below for details). In 1868, Connecticut gave the Navy land and, in 1872, two brick buildings and a "T" shaped pier were built and officially declared a Navy Yard. This new yard was primarily used as a coaling station by Atlantic Fleet small craft. On October 13,1915, the monitor Ozark, A tender, and 4 submarines that accompanied her arrived at SUBASE. Future submarines and tenders followed and in 1916 the Navy established it as a submarine base. Following World War I the Navy established schools and training facilities at SUBASE. Today the Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE NLON) is located on the east side of Thames River in Groton CT. All submariners in today's Navy will be stationed here for training and perhaps a tour onboard a fast attack submarine or with a pre-commissioning crew while their new submarine is under construction. SUBASE NLON is home to more than 40 tenant commands including the submarines and crews of Submarine Group TWO, the faculty and students of the Submarine School, and the Naval Submarine Support Facility (NSSF). The base supports twenty one attack submarines and the Navy's nuclear research deep submersible NR-1. The base occupies approximately 500 acres and has over 400 buildings, with the housing and support facilities for 10,000 active duty and civilian workers and their families. New London Harbor is on the northern shore of Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Thames River, including the ports of New London and Groton, and the Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE). The main harbor comprises the lower three miles of the river from Long Island Sound to the vicinity of the bascule railroad bridge and twin Highway 95 bridges that span the river between New London and Groton. The main harbor includes Greens Harbor, Shaw Cove, and Winthrop Cove. The inner harbor extends approximately nine miles upriver from the highway bridges to the city of Norwich, CT. The main harbor is open to the south through the mouth of the Thames River. Hills or bluffs with elevations exceeding 100 ft exist east and west of the main harbor except for some fairly flat topography on the lower portion of the harbor's eastern shore. The low elevations expose the harbor to southeasterly winds. The topography is more pronounced along the river above the highway bridges. Bluffs exceeding 200 ft on both sides of the river create a channel for north and south winds. Many references state that the channel depth is 40 ft to the mouth of New London Harbor and 36 ft from New London Harbor to the SUBASE. However, SUBASE harbor pilots state that dredging had increased the channel depth to 40 ft from the mouth of the Thames River all the way to the SUBASE. The harbor pilots further state that the newly dredged depth is still insufficient for Ohio Class submarines to safely proceed upriver to the SUBASE. The upriver limit of Ohio Class submarines is a line approximately between the US Coast Guard Station on the west side of the Thames River and the Electric Boat facility on the east side. The SUBASE is located on the Groton (east) side of the Thames River approximately 1-1/2 nmi north of the highway and railroad bridges which separate the main and inner harbors. The SUBASE pier complex consists of a mix of concrete piers and wooden piers. Most of the piers have deck heights approximately 5 ft above high tide level or approximately 8 ft above mean low water (MLW). An ongoing construction project is gradually replacing the older, wooden piers with more modern and substantial concrete piers. As of October 1996, a total of 15 submarine berths were available. The adjacent topography which provides considerable shelter from the easterly components of wind. It should be noted that the potential storm surge height at the SUBASE is calculated to be 17.4 ft in a worst case scenario, or approximately 6.2 ft above the 100-year flood level. In this instance a worst case storm is a Category 4 hurricane moving north at a 60 kt forward speed of movement. A pilot is required for all submarine arrivals and departures at the SUBASE. Arriving submarines will normally board pilots north of buoys 5 and 6. According to DMAHTC (1995), boarding south of the buoys can be imprudent due to cross channel current set. Pilots will normally remain on departing submarines until the vessels are south of the highway bridges. The SUBASE has a complement of two US Navy YTB class (2,000 hp) tug boats, one 2,600 hp tug and one 1,600 hp tug to assist submarines and other vessels at the facility. One tug will be assigned for arrivals and departures of all naval ships, except that two tugs are to be used for SSBN submarines. Three tugs are required for any undocking. According to Fleet Guide New London, the Electric Boat Company provides tugs for ships undergoing contractual trials regardless of berth location. New London Harbor has several commercial tugs up to 3,200 hp available for use at the port. Arriving commercial vessels usually go to the inner harbor without assistance, although a tug may be required when head winds and contrary currents exist. Large vessels normally require tugs for docking and undocking evolutions. Four general use anchorages exist in the New London Harbor area, designated as anchorages A, B, C and E. The locations of Anchorages A, B, and C are within the limits of New London Harbor. Anchorage E is located approximately 1/2 nmi east-southeast of the seaward end of the entrance channel. All are said to provide good holding. Anchorage A has depths of only 15 to 18 ft at mean lower low water (MLLW) and a bottom of mud and soft mud. Anchorages B and C have depths of 20 to 30 ft with a mud bottom. Anchorage E has depths of 42 to 50 ft, with an unspecified bottom type. The preceding bottom types have been interpolated from sparse descriptive data printed on DMAHTC Chart 13213. Other bottom types may exist in the anchorages. New London Harbor has more than 30 wharves and piers of various sizes and configurations, which are used as repair berths and for mooring recreational craft, fishing vessels, tugs, barges, ferries and government vessels. Depths alongside the various facilities range from 10 to 30 ft. Berthing at the US Coast Guard Station consists of two large piers, Pier 4 and Pier 7, and other mooring facilities for small craft. Piers 4 and 7 were formerly assets of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC). NUWC closed as of January 1, 1997 and turned the piers over to the control of the US Coast Guard Station. The northernmost pier, Pier 7, is a 656 ft concrete pier capable of accommodating one Ohio Class submarine on its north side. Water depth on the north side of the pier is 42 ft at mean low water (MLW). Shallower depths exist on the south side of the pier. Deck height is approximately 15 ft above MLW. Pier 4 is a 555 ft long, wooden pier. Depths alongside Pier 4 are 19-20 ft at MLW. Deck height is approximately 8 ft above MLW. Pier 4 is exposed to seas moving northward into the harbor. Pier 7 is afforded limited protection from wave motion by Pier 4. State Pier is located on the west side of the Thames River just south of the railroad bridge. The pier was previously leased and controlled by the US Navy because the USS Fulton, a submarine tender, was semi-permanently moored to four concrete dolphins located just northeast of the pier. The Fulton was decommissioned and no replacement vessel was assigned. The pier has now reverted to civilian use. As of October 1996, the pier was undergoing extensive renovations. Before renovations, the deck height of the pier was 10 ft above MLW. Alongside depths vary from 39 ft at MLW on the east side, 30 ft on the face, and 29 to 33 ft on the west side. When leased by the US Navy it was normal practice for departing vessels moored at the pier to back into the center of the channel and then proceed forward, down the channel to Long Island Sound. The Coast Guard Academy Pier is used by the Academy's sailing ship Eagle (WIX-327), a Coast Guard Cutter, and miscellaneous small craft. Depths alongside the 410 ft long pier range from 17 ft on the face, 19 ft along the south side, and 15 to 17 ft on the north side. The pier is exposed to southerly winds. The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation has a variety of docks with deck heights approximately 6 ft above MLW. The facility is reserved for ship building, refitting and repair. Submarines in various states of repair may be found there, including unmanned new construction vessels. The facility also has a variety of barges, including berthing barges for the personnel of vessels undergoing refitting or repair. Hess Dock is privately owned by the Hess Oil and Chemical Division, Amerada Hess Corporation. The facility is located on the east side of the Thames River opposite Greens Harbor. The T-headed pier has a 55 ft face and 960 ft of berthing space, with dolphins. Deck height is 8 ft with an alongside depth of 40 ft. Use of the facility is primarily limited to oil and chemical barges. Larger vessels go to one of the four anchorages available at New London. Greens Harbor is a small craft basin with general depths of 6 to 17 ft. Located just north of the New London Harbor entrance, Greens Harbor is exposed to southeast winds. Shaw Cove is a well protected, dredged basin for small craft located between the Coast Guard Station and the downtown New London wharves. A railroad bridge with a swing span crosses over the entrance to Shaw Cove. Clearance under the span is 6-1/2 ft. Winthrop Cove, at the northern edge of the downtown New London wharf area, contains facilities for ferry boats making regular runs to/from the harbor. Winthrop Cove is exposed to southeasterly winds. Secretary of Defense Recommendation: Close Naval Submarine Base New London, CT. Relocate its assigned submarines, Auxiliary Repair Dock 4 (ARDM-4), and Nuclear Research Submarine 1 (NR-1) along with their dedicated personnel, equipment and support to Submarine Base Kings Bay, GA, and Naval Station Norfolk, VA. Relocate the intermediate submarine repair function to Shore Intermediate Repair Activity Norfolk, at Naval Shipyard Norfolk, VA, and Trident Refit Facility Kings Bay, GA. Relocate the Naval Submarine School and Center for Submarine Learning to Submarine Base Kings Bay, GA. Consolidate the Naval Security Group Activity Groton, CT, with Naval Security Group Activity Norfolk, VA, at Naval Station Norfolk, VA. Consolidate Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory Groton, CT, with Naval Medical Research Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Forest Glenn Annex, MD. Relocate Naval Undersea Medical Institute Groton, CT, to Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL, and Fort Sam Houston, TX. Consolidate Navy Region Northeast, New London, CT, with Navy Region, Mid- Atlantic, Norfolk, VA. Secretary of Defense Justification: The existing berthing capacity at surface/subsurface installations exceeds the capacity required to support the Force Structure Plan. The closure of Submarine Base New London materially contributes to the maximum reduction of excess capacity while increasing the average military value of the remaining bases in this functional area. Sufficient capacity and fleet dispersal is maintained with the East Coast submarine fleet homeports of Naval Station Norfolk and Submarine Base Kings Bay, without affecting operational capability. The intermediate submarine repair function is relocated to Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity Norfolk at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and the Trident Refit Facility Kings Bay, GA, in support of the relocating submarines. Consolidating the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory with assets at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Forest Glen Annex will create a DoD Center of Hyperbaric and Undersea Medicine that will increase synergy by consolidating previously separate animal and human research capabilities at a single location. The consolidation of Navy Region, Northeast with Navy Region, Mid-Atlantic is one element of the Department of the Navy efforts to reduce the number of Installation Management Regions from twelve to eight. Consolidation of the Regions rationalizes regional management structure and allows for opportunities to collocate regional entities to align management concepts and efficiencies. The total estimated one-time cost to the Department of Defense to implement this recommendation would be $679.6M. The net of all costs and savings to the Department during the implementation period would be a cost of $345.4M. Annual recurring savings to the Department after implementation would be $192.8M with a payback expected in three years. The net present value of the costs and savings to the Department over 20 years would be a savings of $1,576.4M. This recommendation indicated impacts of costs for at the installations involved, which reported $11.3M in costs for waste management and environmental compliance. These costs were included in the payback calculation. Naval Submarine Base New London reported $23.9M in costs for environmental restoration. Because the Department would have a legal obligation to perform environmental restoration regardless of whether an installation was closed, realigned, or remained open, this cost was not included in the payback calculation. Assuming no economic recovery, DoD estimated that this recommendation could result in a maximum potential reduction of 15,808 jobs (8,457 direct jobs and 7,351 indirect jobs) over the 2006-2011 period in the Norwich-New London, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area, which would be 9.4 percent of economic area employment. In another recommendation, DoD would realign Naval Submarine Base New London and two other locations by relocating all mobilization functions to Fort Dix, NJ, designating it as Joint Pre-Deployment/Mobilization Site Dix/McGuire/Lakehurst. This recommendation was part of a larger recommendation to consolidate mobilization funcitons at several other sites. This recommendation would realign eight lower threshold mobilization sites to four existing large capacity sites and transforms them into Joint Pre-Deployment/ Mobilization Platforms. This action would be expected to have the long-term effect of creating pre- deployment/mobilization centers of excellence, leverage economies of scale, reduce costs, and improve service to mobilized service members. These joint platforms would not effect any of the services units that a have specific unit personnel/equipment requirements necessitating their mobilization from a specified installation. The realigned, lower thresholds mobilization sites had significantly less capacity and many less mobilizations. Assuming no economic recovery, this recommendation could result in a maximum potential reduction of 5 jobs (3 direct jobs and 2 indirect jobs) over the 2006-2011 period in the Norwich-New London, CT, metropolitan statistical area (less than 0.1 percent). Community Concerns: The New London community argued the closure of the Submarine Base would eliminate a critical US military strategic presence. Advocates repeatedly expressed concerns that the closure would sever longstanding synergies with the Submarine School, Submarine Development Squadron 12, Electric Boat Company (which designs, constructs, and maintains nuclear submarines), Naval Undersea Medical Institute and such nearby facilities at Newport, RI, as the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Surface Warfare Officers School and the Naval War College, as well as loss of nearby college and university centers of undersea research. They argued DoD's closure recommendation deviated from the 20-year Force Structure Plan because it was premised on fewer attack submarines than their understanding of the requirement, and would restrict the future Navy because of insufficient basing capacity. Further, they asserted DoD undervalued New London's military value by not considering tenant commands such as the Submarine School, piers, Submarine Support Facility, and synergy relationships. Advocates claimed closure costs were greatly underestimated due to environmental considerations, personnel relocation and reconstitution of facilities at Norfolk, VA, and Kings Bay, GA. Similarly, savings were overestimated because of unrealistic personnel savings and construction requirements at Norfolk and Kings Bay to accommodate relocations. Last, the community projected a much greater economic impact on the local and extended area because of jobs associated with not only the base, but also those losses attendant with supporting facilities, including Electric Boat. The Norfolk, VA, community expressed confidence that they and the Naval Station can support all personnel, submarines and equipment. The Camden County, GA, community supported the closure recommendation, claiming the Navy can adequately support the current 55 Fast Attack Submarines. They claimed a lower force structure number would simply add to excess capacity. They backed DoD's assessment of relative military value for submarine bases. Kings Bay, a multi-use base, would provide synergy opportunities by collocating Fast Attack Submarines with a Fleet Concentration area that provided operating, training and maintenance interchange with Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines as well as Fleet Surface and Aviation units. They asserted that DoD calculations adequately considered construction costs, environmental considerations and potential savings. Advocates for Kings Bay indicated that with several thousand acres of unencumbered, developable land, there is ample capacity to accommodate relocated personnel, submarines, support and equipment. The community adamantly claimed there would be more than an adequate amount of high quality housing, educational and quality-of-life facilities to support an increased military population since the military presence would still be less than that supported in Camden County ten years ago. Commission Findings: The Commission found that excess capacity exists in the surface-subsurface category, that significant savings would accrue, and that a solid business case was made for closure of Submarine Base New London. However, the Commission also found that decoupling and displacing long-standing collocation relationships with undersea centers of excellence, the Submarine School and a nearby submarine construction company could adversely affect operational readiness. In addition, the Commission found the argument of overall economic impact compelling. Further, the Commission's analysis found serious doubts about the threat assessment and resultant Force Structure Plan basis for the number of required Fast Attack Submarines. These factors combined to present an inherently unknowable and therefore unacceptable security risk to national security if the base were to close. Commission Recommendations: The Commission found that the Secretary of Defense deviated substantially from final selection criteria 1, and the Force Structure Plan. Therefore, the Commission recommends the following: Realign Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut by consolidating Navy Region Northeast, New London, CT, with Navy Region, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, VA. The Commission found this change and the recommendation as amended are consistent with the final selection criteria and the Force Structure Plan. The full text of this and all other recommendations can be found in Appendix Q. |Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list|

We examine the business model of traditional commercial banks in the context of their co-existence with shadow banks. While both types of intermediaries create safe "money-like" claims, they go about this in very different ways. Traditional banks create safe claims with a combination of costly equity capital and fixed income assets that allows their depositors to remain "sleepy": they do not have to pay attention to transient fluctuations in the mark-to-market value of bank assets. In contrast, shadow banks create safe claims by giving their investors an early exit option that allows them to seize collateral and liquidate it at the first sign of trouble. Thus traditional banks have a stable source of cheap funding, while shadow banks are subject to runs and fire-sale losses. These different funding models in turn influence the kinds of assets that traditional banks and shadow banks hold in equilibrium: traditional banks have a comparative advantage at holding fixed-income assets that have only modest fundamental risk, but are relatively illiquid and have substantial transitory price volatility. What is the business of banking? Do banks primarily create value on the liability side of the balance sheet as in theories of banking emphasizing liquidity creation? Does the essence of banking reside on the asset side as in theories emphasizing banks' ability to monitor borrowers? Or does the special nature of banks derive from some synergy between their assets and liabilities? And what defines the role played by traditional banks in a modern financial system where they compete with market-based intermediaries such as "shadow banks"? To address these questions, we present a model in which traditional and shadow banks co-exist in the marketplace. We begin with the premise that a primary function of both types of intermediaries is to create safe, "money-like" claims that are of value to households because they are useful for transactions purposes. However, traditional banks and shadow banks go about this task in different ways. Traditional banks create safe claims with a combination of costly equity capital and asset holdings that have relatively safe long-run payoffs. This structure allows their depositors to remain "sleepy": they do not have to pay attention to transient fluctuations in the mark-to-market value of bank assets. In contrast, when shadow banks such as broker-dealers and hedge funds create money-like claims such as repurchase agreements, they use less of the costly equity capital, but hold assets that can be seized and easily liquidated at the first sign of trouble by investors who must remain vigilant. A central feature of our model is that such liquidations by shadow banks create fire-sale effects, in that they temporarily push asset prices below fundamental value. So, on the one hand, traditional banks' more stable deposit funding structure has an advantage, in that it gives them the ability to hold investments to maturity, riding out transitory valuation shocks until prices revert to fundamental values. On the other hand, this stability comes at a cost, as it requires traditional banks to put up more capital against a given investment than shadow banks. Because the endogenous fire-sale discount is greater when shadow banks hold more of an asset, this tradeoff pins down the equilibrium holdings of any given asset category across intermediary types. In particular, in an interior equilibrium, the relative holdings of banks and shadow banks must be such that the expected loss to a shadow bank from liquidating an asset at a temporary discount to fundamental value is just balanced by the added cost that a traditional bank pays to obtain more stable funding. Alternatively, for some types of assets we can have corner solutions, in which case the model speaks to the specialization of traditional and shadow banks in asset holdings. This logic leads to our main finding: for traditional banks there is a critical synergy between the asset and liability sides of the balance sheet. Issuing stable money-like claims is complementary with investing in fixed-income assets that have only modest fundamental risk, but that are relatively illiquid and may have substantial exposure to interim fire-sale risk and the accompanying transitory price volatility. In our view, this synergy between funding structure and asset choice is at the heart of the business of commercial banking, and is what fundamentally distinguishes traditional banks from shadow banks: traditional banks are patient investors that can invest in illiquid fixed-income assets with little risk of being interrupted before maturity. While our formal model emphasizes fire sales (Shleifer and Vishny 1992), our message would also emerge in other models in which early liquidation can occur at prices below fundamental value. For example, early liquidation can be costly in models that combine noise trader shocks with limited arbitrageur risk-bearing capacity (DeLong et al 1990, Shleifer and Vishny 1997).1 We see transitory non-fundamental movements in asset prices as central to understanding financial intermediation, and especially the connection between the asset and liability sides of intermediary balance sheets. A stable funding structure is an important source of comparative advantage for holding assets that are vulnerable to transitory price movements. After developing the model, we use the Financial Accounts of the United States (formerly the Flow of Funds) to provide some simple aggregate evidence consistent with the model's key predictions. Specifically, looking across fixed income asset classes, traditional banks have a larger market share in more illiquid assets, be they loans or securities. Similarly, looking across financial intermediary types, intermediaries with more stable funding such as traditional banks have asset portfolios that are more illiquid. In this way, our model yields a novel synthesis of several aggregate facts about the structure of financial intermediation. There is a vast literature on the economic role of banks. Our work connects most closely to two strands of this literature. One strand, formalized first by Gorton and Pennacchi (1990), focuses on the deposit-taking function of banks, and stresses their role in the creation of liabilities which, precisely because of their safety and immunity from adverse-selection problems, are useful as a transactions medium. Banks are special in this view because they are the institutions that create private, or "inside," money.2 This liability-centric view of banks surely captures an important element of reality. In particular, it helps make sense of the fact that, in contrast to nonfinancial firms, banks have capital structures that are highly homogenous in both the cross section and the time series--banks are almost always heavily deposit-financed. At the same time, this liability-centric view alone cannot be a complete theory of banking, because it does not speak to the asset side of bank balance sheets.3 For example, although it does not necessarily follow as a logical matter, the liability-centric view has led some observers to advocate narrow banking proposals, whereby bank-created money is backed entirely by safe liquid assets, such as Treasury bills.4 And yet as a positive description of commercial banking, narrow banking is very far from what we observe in the world. Indeed, we show that money creation through deposit-taking is too expensive for narrow banking to be a viable business strategy for commercial banks. A second group of theories explicitly addresses the question of what ties together the asset and liability sides of bank balance sheets--i.e., why is it that the same institutions that create private money choose to back their safe claims not by investing in T-bills, but rather by investing in loans and other relatively illiquid assets? What is the nature of the synergy between the two activities? In a classic contribution, Diamond and Dybvig (1983) argue that banks allow households who are unsure of the timing of their consumption needs to more efficiently invest in long-lived projects which are costly to interrupt early. Diamond and Dybvig emphasize deposit insurance as the source of stability that keeps depositors sleepy and prevents runs. We recognize that deposit insurance is critical in reality, and in fact could play a key role in a version of our model extended to consider the tail risk of assets. But here we analyze an additional reason for the stability of bank liabilities not present in Diamond and Dybvig, namely banks' selection of the assets in their portfolios.5 Specifically, we emphasize that--precisely as a mechanism of ensuring the stability of their liabilities--banks specialize in holding fixed income assets that may be subject to interim price volatility, but have relatively predictable long run cash flows. In other words, in addition to government deposit insurance, conservative asset choices play a crucial role in supporting stable money creation. In this regard, we note that commercial banks hold not only loans, but also marketable securities, often in very substantial amounts. Moreover, these securities holdings have a particular pattern. Banks tend to stay away from the most liquid securities, such as Treasuries, and concentrate their holdings in securities that are less liquid and whose market prices are more volatile. These include mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and corporate bonds. At the same time, banks do not hold equities, whose cash flows are too risky. These patterns provide an important clue as to the business of traditional banking more generally, and to the complementarity between asset and liability structures, which our model seeks to explain.6 Our work is also related to several other familiar themes. First, a number of papers have explored the joint roles of banks and securities markets in allocating credit and satisfying the demand for liquidity (Holmstrom and Tirole 1997, 2011; Diamond 1997). Second, a recent body of work has studied the shadow banking system and its role in the financial crisis (Brunnermeier and Pedersen 2009; Coval, Jurek, and Stafford 2009a and 2009b; Shleifer and Vishny 2010; Gorton and Metrick 2010 and 2011; Shin 2009; Stein 2012; Gennaioli et al 2013; Kacperzcyk and Schnabl 2013; Krishnamurthy, Nagel, and Orlov 2013; Chernenko and Sunderam 2013; Sunderam 2013; Weymuller 2013, Moreira and Savov 2014). Finally, the evidence we develop using the Financial Accounts draws on research which seeks to measure the mismatch between the liquidity of intermediary assets and liabilities (Brunnermeier, Gorton, and Krishnamurthy 2011 and 2013 and Bai, Krishnamurthy, and Weymuller 2013). The plan for the paper is as follows. In the next section, we present some motivating evidence on the nature of the assets and liabilities of traditional banks, with particular emphasis on banks' securities holdings. In Section III, we present our model, in which traditional banks and shadow banks compete as potential buyers of assets with varying degrees of fundamental and liquidity risk. The model yields predictions that we then examine empirically in Section IV. Section V discusses some additional features of modern banking that appear to be consistent with the model. Section VI briefly discusses policy implications of the model and Section VII concludes.II. Motivating Evidence Banks' liability structures are highly homogeneous: banks are almost always financed largely with deposits. This finding holds both in the cross-section and over time. In the cross-section, Table I shows various balance sheet items as a share of total assets at the end of 2012 for US commercial banks. To assess the cross-sectional heterogeneity in balance sheets, we show the value-weighted average share, the 90 percentile, and the 10 percentile for each item. To avoid the idiosyncrasies associated with the smallest banks, we focus on banks with assets greater than $1 billion. Table I reveals a high degree of homogeneity in the amount of deposit funding. The average bank finances 76% of its assets with deposits. A bank at the 90 percentile in terms of the distribution is 89% deposit-financed, only a bit more than a bank at the 10 percentile which is 74% deposit-financed. A similar pattern holds in the time series for the banking industry as a whole. Figure 1 shows the evolution of the aggregate balance sheets of US banks from 1896 to 2012. As shown in Panel A, banks' liability structures have been very stable over the past 115 years. Deposits have financed 80% of bank assets on average with an annual standard deviation of just 8%. These patterns are in sharp contrast to those for non-financial firms, where capital structure tends to be far less determinate, both within industries and over time. This suggests that for banks--unlike non-financials, and counter to the spirit of Modigliani and Miller (1958)--an important part of their economic value creation takes place on the liability side of the balance sheet, via deposit-taking. This is broadly consistent with the literature that has followed Gorton and Pennacchi (1990). There is considerably more heterogeneity on the asset side of bank balance sheets, and in particular in their mix of loans and securities. In the 2012 cross-section, a bank at the 10 percentile of the distribution had a ratio of securities to assets of 6.9%, while for a bank at the 90 percentile the ratio was almost six times higher, at 40.7%.7 One interpretation of this heterogeneity is as follows: while lending is obviously very important for a majority of banks, a bank's scale need not be pinned down by the nature of its lending opportunities. Rather, in some cases, it seems that a bank's size is determined by its deposit franchise, and that taking deposits as given, its problem becomes one of how to best invest them. Again, this liability-centric perspective is very different from how we are used to thinking about non-financial firms, whose scale is almost always presumed to be driven by their opportunities on the asset side of the balance sheet. While banks are quite heterogeneous in their loan and securities mix, within the category of securities banks appear to have relatively well-defined preferences. As can be seen in Table I and Panel A of Figure 2, banks hold very little in the way of Treasury and agency securities: these two categories accounted for just 7.7% and 5.8% of total securities holdings on a value-weighted basis in 2012. The bulk of their holdings are in agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and other types of mortgage-linked securities such as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS): these collectively accounted for 57.7% of securities holdings in 2012. Also important is the "other" category, which includes corporate and municipal bonds, as well as asset-backed securities, and which accounted for 29.3% of holdings in 2012. This composition of banks' securities portfolios is not what one would expect if banks were simply holding securities as a highly liquid buffer stock against unexpected deposit outflows or loan commitment drawdowns. It also appears--superficially, at least--at odds with the narrow-banking premise that one can profitably exploit a deposit franchise simply by taking deposits and parking them in T-bills. Rather, it looks as if banks are purposefully taking on some mix of duration, credit and prepayment exposure in order to earn a spread relative to T-bills. And indeed, over the period 1984 to 2012, the average spread on banks' securities portfolio relative to bills is 1.73%. In this vein, it is interesting to ask how profitable banks would be in a counterfactual world in which their deposit-taking behavior was exactly the same, but instead of allocating their securities holdings as they actually do, they followed a narrow-banking strategy of investing only in T-bills. The profitability of a narrow bank that takes deposits DEP at a rate and invests them in T-bills paying R , while incurring deposit-related noninterest expenses of NONINTEXP (e.g., employee salaries, bricks-and-mortar expenses associated with bank branches, and other operating expenses), and earning deposit-related noninterest income of NONINTINC (e.g., services charges on deposit accounts) is given by We carry out this calculation for the aggregate commercial banking industry from 1984-2012. To compute the gross deposit spread, R - R , we use the rate on 3-month Treasury bills as our proxy for R and compute R from Call Reports as the interest paid on deposits divided by deposits. Deposit rates appear to embed a significant convenience premium relative to short-term market rates, as the gross deposit spread averages 0.87% over our 29 year sample. We next add the noninterest income that banks earn from service charges on deposit accounts from Call Reports. This averages 0.49% of deposits over our sample. Finally, we subtract the non-interest expense associated with deposit-taking. This is not directly available from Call Reports: banks report their total noninterest expense, but we are only interested in that portion attributable to deposit-taking.8 As detailed in the Appendix, we use a hedonic-regression approach to infer the expenses associated with deposit-taking. Although these expenses have trended down due to advances in information technology, they remain substantial, averaging 1.30% of deposits over the past 29 years. Combining these pieces as in equation (1), we estimate the average profitability of narrow banking between 1984 and 2012 to be 0.06% of deposits (0.06% = 0.87% + 0.49% - 1.30%).9 In other words, the interest rate differential between deposits and short-term marketable rates and the associated fee income is largely offset by the direct costs of operating a deposit-taking franchise. Given these numbers, it is perhaps not surprising that banks choose to invest in riskier securities that earn a spread relative to T-bills. Of course, the large costs of deposit-taking that we document ultimately represent an endogenous choice for traditional banks, and so must be explained as an equilibrium outcome in any fully satisfactory model. For example, banks could always choose to hold down costs by offering fewer physical branch services to their customers, similarly to money-market mutual funds. We return to the endogeneity of deposit-taking expenses below. Our synthesis of these stylized facts is that traditional banks are in the business of taking deposits and investing these deposits in fixed-income assets that have certain well-defined risk and liquidity attributes, but which can be either loans or securities. The information-intensive nature of traditional lending--in the Diamond (1984) delegated monitoring sense--while clearly important in many cases, may not be the defining feature of banking. Rather, the defining feature may be that, whether they are information-intensive loans, or relatively transparent securities, banks seek to invest in fixed-income assets that have some degree of price volatility and illiquidity, and so offer a higher return than very liquid and safe Treasury securities. In this sense, small business loans, asset-backed securities, and CMOs are on one side of the fence, and Treasuries on the other. Before proceeding, we should address a natural first reaction to this interpretation. Perhaps banks' propensity to invest in risky securities merely reflects the fact that they are taking advantage of the put option created by deposit insurance. The evidence we have assembled on the patterns of banks' securities holdings may just reflect a moral hazard problem, and nothing more. One way to address this hypothesis is to redo the analysis in Panel A of Figure 2, restricting the sample to those banks with the highest levels of capital at any point in time--those above the median of the distribution by the ratio of equity to assets. This is done in Panel B of Figure 2. The basic patterns for highly capitalized banks in Panel B are very similar to those in Panel A for all banks. Given that these highly capitalized banks are less likely to impose losses on the deposit-insurance fund, we suspect that there is something deeper here than can be explained by a simple appeal to deposit-insurance-induced moral hazard. We develop a simple model in which banks and shadow banks compete as buyers of a collection of assets with different degrees of fundamental and liquidity risk. The essence of the tradeoff is that banks pay more--by raising more equity capital--to create money-like claims that are not only safe for investors in the short-run, but also stable, and unlikely to run when there is bad news. This stability allows banks to avoid inefficient fire sales of their assets. The basic structure of the model is similar to Stein (2012). The model has three dates, t = 0, 1 and 2. There are N long-lived risky assets indexed by i = 1, 2, ..., N. Asset i is available in a fixed supply of Q . For simplicity, we assume that the payoffs on these assets are perfectly correlated, and assets only differ in the magnitudes of these payoffs in the bad state of the world. The individual assets in our model might correspond to corporate loans, mortgages, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), US Treasuries, or even equities. The model features three types of actors: households, traditional banks, and shadow banks. Households do not directly own any of the risky assets. Instead, households invest in safe and risky claims issued by traditional and shadow banks, which in turn back these claims by holding the underlying risky assets. Intermediation is efficient here because households are willing to pay a premium for completely safe claims, and some form of intermediation is required to create safety--none of the primitive assets are themselves safe. Outside of this demand for safe money-like claims, households are assumed to be risk neutral. In other words, once a claim has any risk at all, the discount rate applied by households is fixed at a discretely higher level. This corresponds to the following household utility function, taken from Stein (2012) When 0, the discount rate applied to safe, money-like claims, 1/( + ), is less than the discount rate applied to risky claims, 1/ . As in Stein (2012), Gennaioli et al. (2013), and DeAngelo and Stulz (2013), the assumptions of the Modigliani-Miller (1958) theorem no longer hold and the value of a risky asset may depend on the way it is financed using safe and risky claims. The timing of the model is as follows. Each asset i pays R at t = 2 if the aggregate economic state of the world is good, but a lower amount z R if the aggregate economic state at t = 2 is bad. At time 1, there is an interim news event about the future economic state. With probability p, the interim news is good, which means that the aggregate state will be good at time 2 and all assets will definitely pay R. With probability (1-p), the news is bad, which means that there is a subsequent probability of (1-q) of the bad state and low payoff on all assets at time 2. Thus, in the bad-news state at time 1, the fundamental value of asset i is F = qR + (1-q)z . Our central assumption deals with the difference between the fundamental value of asset i at time 1, and its market value. We assume that, if there is bad news at time 1, the market value of asset i is k F = F . When k 1, this market price reflects a fire-sale discount to fundamental value. The value of k is endogenous and asset-specific and depends on the equilibrium quantity of asset i that is liquidated at time 1. We return to this feature momentarily. To examine the different ways the risky assets can be held and used as backing to create safe claims, we consider two intermediation structures: traditional banking and shadow banking. At t = 0, households can invest in either traditional bank deposits or shadow bank deposits, both of which are completely safe and are valued at β + γ per dollar paid at t = 2. Alternatively, households can buy bank equity or shadow bank equity, both of which are risky and are valued at β per dollar paid in expectation at t = 2. In equilibrium, fraction m of risky asset i is purchased by shadow banks at t = 0 and fraction 1-μ is purchased by traditional banks. We examine how the equilibrium market shares of traditional and shadow banks vary as we change the properties of the asset in question. A traditional bank uses a stable, hold-to-maturity strategy for generating absolutely safe short-term claims. The bank plans to always hold the risky asset to maturity, so the maximum amount of safe money-like claims that can be created is z , which is the worst-case payoff at time 2. The remainder of the asset purchase must be financed by raising risky equity capital which is more expensive. Since asset i always pays off at least z , a depositor in a traditional bank can sleep through whatever news comes at time 1 and still be assured of having a safe claim. In other words, a bank has enough capital so that its deposits are endogenously sticky; there is no reason for bank depositors ever to withdraw at date 1, so the bank never has to sell assets at a fire-sale discount. Alternatively, one can think of the bank as having acquired government-backed deposit insurance--which allows depositors to sleep through time 1--and the deposit insurer as having imposed a capital requirement on the bank that is sufficient to reduce its expected losses to zero. The total value of claims the bank can issue at time 0 using the risky asset i as backing is An alternative intermediation structure is a shadow bank, which is a composite structure consisting of a highly-leveraged intermediary (HL) such as a broker-dealer or a hedge fund, along with a money market fund (MMF). The HL buys the risky asset, and issues short-term repo against it, which is then held by the MMF. MMF deposits and HL equity are owned by households. The MMF has no capital, so for its deposits to be riskless investments for households the repo that the MMF holds must also be made riskless. The way these repo claims are kept safe is that if there is bad news at time 1, the MMF seizes the collateral and sells it at the fire-sale price of k F . The maximum amount of safe money that can be created by a shadow bank is therefore k F . Unlike the traditional bank depositors protected by bank equity capital, an MMF that invests in repo cannot afford to sleep through time 1; the MMF's ability to pull the plug at this interim date is essential to keeping its claim safe. Shadow banking deposits are thus an endogenous form of "hot" money: they are unstable rather than stable short-term funding. The total value of claims the shadow banking system can create using the risky asset i as a backing is then given by We assume that shadow banks face a downward-sloping demand curve at time 1, so the fire-sale price is a decreasing function of the amount of the asset that is liquidated. Formally, let be an exogenous parameter that indexes the illiquidity in the secondary market. We assume that , so demand is downward sloping, and , so more illiquid assets have steeper demand curves. Finally, as a normalization, we assume that for all : when , the asset is perfectly liquid and there is never any fire-sale discount. As shown in the Appendix, a fire-sale discount of this form can be micro-founded as in Stein (2012).10 Since intermediaries are risk-neutral and there are no benefits of diversification built into our model, intermediaries' willingness to hold asset i is not impacted by their holdings of asset j i. As a consequence, market equilibrium in any asset i naturally decouples from that in asset j i. An equilibrium for asset i is a such that Formally, since security i is held entirely by traditional banks when and entirely by shadow banks when .11 Since shadow banks dominate traditional banks when there is no fire-sale discount (i.e., we always have (1)), we only have a corner equilibrium where the assets is held entirely by traditional banks when . By contrast, if , then shadow banks must always hold some of the asset in equilibrium. At an interior equilibrium where both traditional and shadow banks hold the security, the fire-sale discount k is such that both traditional and shadow banks earn zero profits by buying the asset and issuing claims backed by it. Thus, at an interior equilibrium, we have Solving equation (6), the equilibrium fire-sale discount is The equilibrium in our model is in the spirit of Miller (1977). While the aggregate mix of unstable ( ) versus stable funding (1- ) for each asset i is pinned down, so long as we are in an interior equilibrium, any small intermediary is indifferent between setting up shop as a bank or as a shadow bank. Relatedly, the model is silent about the boundaries of financial firms--e.g., whether a holding company winds up housing both traditional and shadow banking operations. Equation (6) says that the equilibrium fire-sale discount is locally independent of asset illiquidity at an interior equilibrium where both traditional and shadow banks hold the asset. In this region, a change in asset illiquidity impacts the mix of asset holders--an increase in illiquidity raises the market share of banks--but leaves the fire-sale discount unchanged. However, if the assets are sufficiently liquid ( is very low), the market share of traditional banks is eventually driven to zero, so the fire-sale discount is increasing in asset illiquidity for very low levels of . The model can be used to characterize the kinds of assets for which the traditional banking model dominates. To do so, we must examine the roles of the two factors that drive the tradeoff between traditional banks and shadow banks: the money premium for safe claims which is controlled by and the strength of the fire-sale effect which is controlled by . First, if = 0 and , we have --the risky asset is held entirely by traditional banks. If there is no premium for safe claims, shadow banking is dominated by traditional banking: unstable short-term debt forces inefficient liquidations and has no offsetting monetary benefits relative to stable deposit funding. Conversely, if 0 and = 0 so that for all , then --the asset is held entirely by shadow banks. The entire advantage of traditional banks' stable funding is that it enables them to ride out temporary departures of price from fundamental value without liquidating assets. If there is no fire-sale risk and the price at time 1 always equals fundamental value, then stable funding has no value; however, when > 0, raising stable funding is always more costly than raising unstable funding. The ideal asset for a traditional bank is one that has very little fundamental cash-flow risk (i.e., z is high so a bank can use it to back a lot of money-like deposits), but that is exposed to meaningful interim price re-pricing risk (i.e., is high so fire-sale risk looms large for its shadow bank counterparts). In general, when both > 0 and 0, there is a meaningful trade-off between the two intermediation structures and we will have an interior equilibrium. In the case of an interior equilibrium, we can ask how the equilibrium market shares of shadow banks ( ) and traditional banks ( ) vary with the exogenous model parameters. Specifically, differentiating equation (8), we immediately obtain the following comparative statics for the fraction of an asset held by traditional banks: 1. : An increase in asset illiquidity increases the equilibrium share held by traditional banks. By assumption, an increase in asset illiquidity makes the demand curve for fire-sale liquidations at time 1 steeper. Although a change in asset illiquidity has no effect on the equilibrium level of the fire-sale discount in (7), this change alters the mapping between the ownership mix and the fire-sale discount in (8). When is high, the fire-sale discount is highly sensitive to the volume of forced sales by shadow banks, so traditional banks end up holding more of the asset in equilibrium. 2. : An increase in the worst-case cash flow z increases the share of the risky asset i held by traditional banks in equilibrium. An increase in reduces the money-creation advantage of shadow banks relative to traditional banks, and therefore needs to be compensated by a rise in which implies a rise in to restore equilibrium indifference between traditional and shadow banks. We think of a higher as being associated with less fundamental cash-flow risk. Thus, all else equal, traditional banks have a comparative advantage at holding assets with little fundamental cash-flow risk. Taken together, these two results suggest that traditional banks have a comparative advantage at holding illiquid fixed income assets--i.e., assets that can experience significant temporary price dislocations, but at the same time, have only modest fundamental risk. Agency MBS might be a leading example of such an asset, since they are insured against default risk, but are considerably less liquid than Treasury securities, and for a given duration, have more price volatility, since there is significant variability in the MBS-Treasury spread. The model also explains why even absent any institutional or regulatory constraints, banks would endogenously choose to avoid equities--equities simply have too much fundamental downside risk. Because their value can fall very far over an extended period of time--i.e., because their z is close to zero--equities cannot be efficiently used as backing to create safe two-period claims. As such, they are not good collateral for bank money. By contrast, to the extent that they are highly liquid, they do make suitable collateral for very short-term repo financing. In other words, equities can be used to back some amount of shadow-bank money. In addition, we have the following comparative statics which impact all assets: 3. : An increase in the money premium on safe claims lowers traditional banks' equilibrium market share of all risky assets. When the premium associated with safe money-like claims is higher, the fire-sale discount must rise to maintain equilibrium (i.e., must fall), so the fraction of risky assets held by shadow banks, , must rise. 4. : An increase in the probability of good news at time 1 lowers the share of all risky assets held by traditional banks.When the interim good state is more likely, a larger fire-sale discount (lower ) is needed to restore indifference and the market share of shadow banks, , must rise in equilibrium. Intuitively, bank's stable funding structure functions as a costly form of insurance against fire-sale risk; this insurance naturally becomes less valuable when a fire sale is less likely (i.e., when p rises). Comparative static #3 suggests that an increase in the demand for safe, money-like assets should trigger a migration of intermediation from traditional to shadow banking. Indeed, some observers have argued that such an increase in money demand played a role in fueling the rapid growth of shadow banking prior to the recent financial crisis. 14 Comparative static #4 suggests that intermediation activity tends to migrate away from traditional banks and towards shadow banks during economic expansions when p is high. In summary, our model provides a way of understanding why traditional banks lost significant market share to shadow banks during the run-up to the recent financial crisis. In this section, we provide some simple aggregate evidence bearing on the model's predictions. We think of this analysis more as a synthesis of known high-level facts about the structure of financial intermediation than as a true test of the model. We first describe how we take the model to the data, then our measurement approach, and finally the results of some simple cross-sectional regressions suggested by the model. A key testable implication of our model is that, all else equal, traditional banks should hold a higher market share in more illiquid assets: . Prediction 1: Looking across assets and holding constant fundamental asset risk, banks should have a larger market share in asset classes that are more illiquid. Our model features just two intermediary types: traditional banks with stable funding and shadow banks with unstable funding. In reality, there are many intermediary types with a range of funding stability. Generalizing our theory, we would expect intermediaries with more stable funding to hold more illiquid assets with high fire-sale risk. Prediction 2: Looking across assets and holding constant fundamental asset risk, more illiquid asset classes should be held by intermediary types with greater funding stability. Since our theory has predictions for the cross-section of asset types, it naturally generates related predictions for the cross-section of intermediary types. Specifically, the portfolio share of shadow banks in asset i is The average illiquidity of assets held by shadow banks is Prediction 3: The asset portfolios of commercial banks are more illiquid than the asset portfolios of shadow banks, controlling for fundamental risk. As above, we can generalize this to obtain a prediction that we can apply to the broader cross-section of intermediary types, including insurers and finance companies. Prediction 4: Comparing across intermediaries, those with more stable funding should have asset portfolios that are more illiquid, controlling for fundamental risk. Let j index intermediary types and let i index instrument types--i.e., different types of assets or liabilities. Let measure the illiquidity of asset type i. For instance, US Treasuries should have ILLIQUID = 0 and small business loans might have ILLIQUID = 1. Similarly, let measure the contractual maturity length of liability type i and measure the stickiness of liability type i. Stickiness is opposite of runniness, which is the tendency for liability holders to withdraw funds following an adverse shock. For instance, short-term commercial paper might have STICKY = 0, while long-term (non-redeemable) equity would have STICKY = 1. Let A and L denote intermediary j's assets and liabilities of instrument type i and let denote the total assets of intermediary type j. Then the Asset Illiquidity Index for intermediary type j is defined as the weighted average illiquidity of its asset holdings Our measurement approach is in the spirit of Brunnermeier, Gorton, and Krishnamurthy (2011, 2013), who suggest constructing a liquidity mismatch index--the difference between asset illiquidity and funding liquidity--for different financial intermediaries. This approach is implemented in Bai, Krishnamurthy, and Weymuller (2013) for bank holding companies. We assemble data on the assets and liabilities of various types of financial intermediaries using the Federal Reserve's Financial Accounts of the United States (formerly the Flow of Funds Accounts). We examine data on commercial banks, property and casualty (P&C) insurers, life insurers, money market funds (MMFs), government sponsored enterprises (GSEs), finance companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and security broker-dealers. We use data on intermediary balance sheets as of 2012Q4. However, the findings of our analysis do not depend significantly on when we look at the data. In an effort to avoid subjective judgments, wherever possible we assign numerical values for ILLIQUID , MATURITY , and STICKY based on the bank liquidity requirements put forth under Basel III. Specifically, for each instrument type, we attempt to choose values of these parameters based on the proposed calibration of Basel III's Net Stable Funding Requirement (NSFR) in Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (2010) and the final calibration of the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) in Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (2013), hereafter BCBS (2010 and 2013). However, we do need to apply some judgment in mapping the instrument types considered by Basel III to our aggregated Financial Accounts data. We also need to assign values for liability types issued by non-banks that are not considered by BCBS. As we detail in Appendix B, we have made every attempt to do so in the spirit of BCBS (2010 and 2013) and consistent with empirical evidence. The most important auxiliary assumption we make is that the policy-related liabilities of life insurers are quite sticky whereas those of P&C insurers are somewhat less sticky.15 Consider first our ILLIQUID index for assets. We associate ILLIQUID with the parameter in the model. We assign ILLIQUID = 0 for US Treasuries, ILLIQUID = 0.15 for GSE-backed MBS, ILLIQUID = 0.5 for corporate equities, ILLIQUID = 0.75 for consumer debt and home mortgages, and ILLIQUID = 1 for unsecured (C&I) and secured commercial real estate (CRE) loans. Next, consider our STICKY and MATURITY indices for liabilities. Starting with bank deposits, we assign STICKY = 0.7 and MATURITY = 0.1 for wholesale bank deposits, STICKY = 0.8 and MATURITY = 0 for retail time and savings deposits, and STICKY = 0.9 and MATURITY = 0 for transactions deposits. Turning to non-deposit liabilities, we assign STICKY = 0.6 and MATURITY = 0.6 for corporate bonds and STICKY = 0 and MATURITY = 0 for non-deposit, short-term funding. For insurance policy liabilities, we assume STICKY = MATURITY = 0.9 for life policies and STICKY = MATURITY = 0.6 for P&C policies. Prediction 1 says that traditional banks should hold a higher market share in more illiquid assets. A simple way to assess this prediction is to compute banks' market share for each asset type Panel A of Figure 3 shows the result. The estimated regression is As predicted, there is a strong positive relationship between asset illiquidity and banks' market share. Of course, this is just a descriptive cross-sectional regression with 12 observations. It is also a univariate regression, whereas our theory suggests a bivariate relationship: banks' market share of a given asset should depend on both the asset's illiquidity and its fundamental safety. If the two characteristics are correlated--as they likely are--then (18) suffers from an omitted variable bias. To address this concern, we run a multivariate regression of banks' market share on asset illiquidity and fundamental safety, expecting positive coefficients on both. This approach yields Turning to Prediction 2, other intermediaries besides traditional banks may also have stable funding and thus may also have a comparative advantage at holding illiquid assets. To capture this we compute the average funding stability of holders of a given asset as (20) Since is a generalized version of (1- ) in the model and corresponds to , Prediction 2 suggests that we should observe a strong positive relationship between the two in the cross-section. This is shown in Panel B of Figure 3 where we plot versus . The estimated regression is given by ILLIQUID_i , R2 =0.41. (21) Again, we see a strong positive relationship. The of this regression rises from 0.41 to 0.64 if we exclude corporate equities and mutual fund shares. Figure 3 confirms the core message of our model. Banks hold virtually no Treasuries despite their extreme safety. Treasuries are not exposed to interim fire-sale risk, so they are not profitable enough for banks. By contrast, banks are significant holders of GSE-backed MBS. These securities have limited downside risk, so banks can use them to back nearly as much safe short-term debt as a shadow bank. At the same time, GSE-backed MBS are more exposed to fire-sale risk than Treasuries, which makes them more attractive to traditional banks. Figure 3 also shows that banks have a dominant market share in illiquid home mortgage loans, holding approximately 76% of unsecuritized whole loans. Banks are also the largest holders of illiquid commercial and multi-family home mortgages. Going beyond Figure 3, even within the category of home mortgages, banks tend to hold less "plain-vanilla" products, for which liquidation costs are likely higher. Specifically, banks are the dominant holders of second-lien home equity loans and other mortgage products falling outside of the conventional mortgage markets supported by the GSEs.17 Finally, Figure 3 shows that banks remain significant holders of unsecured loans to firms, holding 48% of all C&I loans. As with home mortgages, when one looks within the category of C&I loans, banks seem to specialize in those that are the most illiquid. For instance, banks have been steadily losing market share in the market for C&I loans to large firms, which has become increasingly liquid in recent decades. At the same time, banks remain the near exclusive providers of C&I loans to small- and medium-sized firms, which continue to be highly illiquid. According to the 2012Q4 Financial Accounts, banks hold 37% of C&I loans to non-financial corporations, but 86% of C&I loans to non-financial non-corporate businesses, which tend to be much smaller. C.2 The cross-section of intermediary types Prediction 4 suggests that in the cross-section of intermediary types we should see a strong positive relationship between A_ILLIQUID and L_STICKY . Since the stickiness of liabilities as opposed to their contractual maturity is the key to avoiding costly liquidations, we expect to see weaker relationship between A_ILLIQUID and L_MATURITY . In particular, we expect traditional banks to look like an extreme outlier in this regard because their assets are highly illiquid given the short contractual maturity of their liabilities. Panel A of Figure 4 plots A_ILLIQUID versus L_STICKY . As predicted by the theory, we see a strong positive relationship and the estimated regression is While we have focused on the aggregate structure of financial intermediation, the banking literature contains some complementary micro evidence also consistent with our theory. Using the Survey of Terms of Business Lending, Berlin and Mester (1999) find that, in the cross-section of banks, those with greater access to sticky "core" deposits (i.e., transaction and saving deposits) are more likely to form stable lending relationships with firms, thereby providing borrowers with insurance against transitory market shocks. Black, Hancock, and Passmore (2007 and 2010) find that banks with a large supply of core deposits tend to specialize in more illiquid information-intensive loans, whereas banks which are more reliant on wholesale funding tend to specialize in easy-to-value loans.18 In our model, traditional banks create stable funding in two ways. First, they limit their reliance on deposits and use more equity financing. Second, they invest in assets with relatively little long-run cash-flow risk. This combination of capital structure and asset choice makes it possible for bank depositors to remain sleepy and ignore asset price volatility. Thus our story for banks is precisely the reverse of Diamond and Rajan (2001), who stress the monitoring function of bank depositors. The Diamond-Rajan (2001) model is closer to our account of shadow banking, since shadow-bank investors must remain vigilant and ready to pull the plug if the news is bad. The two principal strategies of traditional bank regulation--deposit insurance and capital requirements--support the business model of banks we have described. Deposit insurance stabilizes liabilities, while capital regulation makes it possible for deposit insurance to be offered at a fair price. As noted above, one interpretation of our model is that traditional banks purchase actuarially fair deposit insurance from the government, with the capital requirement set at , so that actuarially fair deposit insurance is free. In addition to regulation, our model may help shed some light on the accounting practices of traditional banks and market-based intermediaries. Broker-dealers, bank trading departments, mutual funds, and hedge funds, all of which typically lack access to stable short-term funding, operate on a mark-to-market accounting basis. This means that, even if a decline in security prices is temporary and driven by non-fundamental factors, it impacts their accounting earnings. In contrast, accounting conventions for banks shield their earnings from transitory changes in the unrealized market value of loans or securities. These "temporary impairments" flow through another liability account called "accumulated other comprehensive income" and only impact reported earnings if the gains or losses are realized by selling the security. If one adopts the traditional view that movements in asset prices are driven entirely by fundamental news about future cash flows, then banks' accounting practices seem perplexing. However, to the extent that asset price movements are driven by non-fundamental shocks and banks' stable funding structures enable them to ride out such transient shocks, then there may be some logic to these accounting practices.19 The model may also have something to say about the bricks-and-mortar costs associated with bank deposit-taking. We have estimated these costs to be quite high, averaging on the order of 1.30 percent of deposits over the period from 1984 to 2012. These costs ultimately represent a choice--banks could always choose to offer their customers fewer and less attractive branch locations, fewer opportunities for interacting with a human teller, and so forth. One view is that these amenities are simply a separable flow of services to depositors, conceptually analogous to paying more interest. However, an interesting alternative is that they represent a deliberate effort to build loyalty by creating a form of switching costs. By contrast, a money market fund complex--which also takes deposits, but which invests exclusively in short-term assets--has less reason to spend as heavily on a branch network. A central set of issues in current discussions of financial regulation concerns the migration of intermediation activity from the traditional banking sector to the shadow banking sector. While our model has some interesting normative implications, it is not well-suited for performing a complete and balanced policy analysis. Given the nature of the cash-flow uncertainty that we have assumed, the deck is stacked, from a normative perspective, against the shadow banking sector. This is so because the worst-case scenario outcome of z is not so bad for the kinds of assets that traditional banks hold, which means that they can create completely safe claims without ever exposing a government deposit insurer to any risk of loss. In a more realistic model, with an extremely adverse state of the world that would more than wipe out all bank capital, creating safe traditional bank claims would inevitably expose taxpayers to some tail risk. This could be socially costly to the extent that deposit insurance creates moral hazard problems, government fiscal capacity is limited, or traditional banks do not fully understand tail risks (see Gennaioli et al 2012 and 2013). In contrast to traditional banking, shadow banking does create negative externalities in our model, as the social costs of fire sales exceed the private costs (Stein 2012). This is because the ability of shadow banks to create money-like claims is constrained by the time-1 liquidation value of their collateral. An intermediary that switches from traditional to shadow banking fails to internalize how this switch reduces liquidation prices and, thus, the feasible amount of money creation by other shadow banks--i.e., there is a pecuniary externality. As a consequence, in the private-market equilibrium the shadow banking sector is too large and the traditional banking sector is too small, compared to the social optimum. A regulator wishing to restore the social optimum can do so by imposing a set of minimum required haircuts on shadow banks, in an effort push money creation back to traditional banks. These regulatory haircuts are effectively an extra capital requirement that the shadow banking sector must set aside when raising short-term funding against risky assets, above and beyond what the private sector demands simply to make the short-term claims safe. Specifically, a regulator imposing an additional haircut of h only allows shadow banks to create of safe claims using the risky asset i as collateral. These haircuts function as a Pigouvian tax on the fire-sale externality associated with the shadow-banking sector. In the Appendix, we show that these optimal shadow-banking haircuts, denoted by , have a simple and intuitive form: Again, however, we reiterate the caveat: while the formula for the optimal haircut captures some interesting and economically relevant effects, it represents only one side of what in the real world is a more complex tradeoff. A more complete normative analysis would introduce costs of over-relying on a government-backstopped traditional banking sector. The effects that we have identified would continue to show up in such a richer model, and would still have something useful to say about cross-sectional differences in optimal shadow-banking haircuts across assets. We have argued that the specialness of traditional banks comes from combining stable money creation on the liability side with assets that have relatively safe long-run cash flows but possibly volatile market values and limited liquidity. To make this business model work, banks limit their leverage, rely on deposit insurance, but also hold loans and securities that are relatively safe in the long run even if they are vulnerable to short-term price fluctuations. Some preliminary evidence is consistent with the predictions of our model. In the cross-section of fixed income assets, the most illiquid assets have the highest share held by commercial banks. As the model predicts, banks specialize in holding relatively safe fixed income assets but are not afraid of illiquidity. In a cross-section of types of financial intermediaries, intermediaries with stickier liabilities hold less liquid assets. Banks, in particular, appear as having extremely sticky liabilities, as well as very illiquid assets. More casual evidence, such as the near absence of both Treasuries and equities in bank asset portfolios, also supports our view. 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This table illustrates the balance sheet composition of US commercial banks as of December 31, 2012 using Call Report data. We restrict attention to commercial banks with assets greater than $1 billion. Collapsing all commercial banks owned by a single bank holding company into a single banking firm, our $1 billion size cutoff leaves us with 501 banking firms as of year-end 2012. The table shows the value-weighted average balance sheet shares and (the equal weighted) 90 and 10 percentiles of bank balance sheet shares. Panel A shows results for all banks. Panel B shows results for highly capitalized banks whose equity-to-assets ratio exceeds the industry median. |Panel A: All Banks: ||Panel A: All Banks: 90 %-tile||Panel A: All Banks: 10 %-tile||Panel B: Highly Capitalized Banks VW Average||Panel B: Highly Capitalized Banks 90 %-tile||Panel B: Highly Capitalized Banks 10 %-tile| |Loans (gross) Real Estate||25.2%||62.0%||19.7%||27.4%||62.2%||17.6%| |Loans (gross) C&I||9.7%||20.7%||3.0%||11.1%||23.4%||3.1%| |Loans (gross) Consumer||9.3%||9.2%||0.2%||10.4%||11.0%||0.1%| |Loans (gross) Other||8.7%||8.8%||0.1%||9.2%||8.5%||0.1%| |Loans (gross) Less Reserves||-1.2%||-0.6%||-1.9%||-1.3%||-0.5%||-2.0%| |Liquid Assets: Cash||10.2%||16.8%||2.2%||9.0%||14.1%||2.2%| |Liquid Assets: Reverse Repos||4.1%||1.4%||0.0%||2.2%||1.8%||0.0%| |Liquid Assets: Securities - Treasuries||1.6%||1.4%||0.0%||1.9%||1.2%||0.0%| |Liquid Assets: Securities - Agencies||1.2%||10.2%||0.0%||0.9%||7.7%||0.0%| |Liquid Assets: Securities - MBS Passthroughs||6.8%||14.5%||0.2%||7.3%||14.5%||0.3%| |Liquid Assets: Securities - CMOs and CMBS||5.2%||14.9%||0.0%||4.6%||13.3%||0.0%| |Liquid Assets: Securities - Other Securities||6.1%||13.4%||0.3%||4.6%||12.6%||0.2%| |Trading Assets (net)||3.8%||0.1%||0.0%||2.9%||0.1%||0.0%| |Other borrowed money||5.7%||9.4%||0.0%||5.4%||9.7%||0.0%| |TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY||100.0%||100.0%| We estimate the profitability of narrowing bank using The text describes the computation of all the components of (A1) for the US commercial banking industry, except for the non-interest expense associated with deposit-taking NONINTEXP/DEP. This term is not directly available from Call Reports: banks report their total noninterest expense, but we are only interested in those expenses attributable to deposit-taking. To get an estimate of the expenses associated with deposit taking, we adopt a simple hedonic approach. Specifically, each year we run a cross-sectional regression of NONINTEXP /ASSET on asset shares, liability shares, and other controls: We choose the independent variables so that the intercept term for year t, a , can be interpreted as the operating expenses associated with a "mutual-fund-like" bank that owns a portfolio of long-term marketable securities and finances these assets using only wholesale funding and equity. The slope coefficients in (A2) are interpretable as unit noninterest expenses associated with various activities. We use cross-sectional variation in banks' asset mix to identify the . We control for real estate loans (RELOAN /ASSET ), C&I loans (CILOAN /ASSET ), consumer loans (CONLOAN /ASSET ), other loans (OTHLOAN /ASSET ), and trading assets (TRADING /ASSET ). Liquid assets (cash, interbank loans, and securities) and other assets are the omitted categories absorbed in a . To identify the , we control for transaction deposits (TRANSDEPOSIT /ASSET ), savings deposits (SAVEDEPOSIT /ASSET ), and foreign deposits (FORDEPOSIT /ASSET ). Time deposits and other borrowed money are the omitted liability categories that are absorbed in a . Finally, we control for bank size (ln(ASSET )) and noninterest income not associated with deposit-taking or credit intermediation (OTHNONINTIC /ASSET ).21 The coefficients for transaction deposits and saving deposits are of primary interest for our cost attribution analysis and are shown in Figure A1. These coefficients are interpretable as the unit noninterest expenses associated with various types of deposit-taking. For instance, the coefficient of 3.4% for transaction deposits in 1984 means that a bank which was 100% funded with transaction deposits had an expense ratio 3.4 percentage points higher than the baseline wholesale-funded bank.22 Figure A1 shows that estimated unit cost of transaction deposits has fallen steadily over time, from 3.4% to 1984 to only 0.5% in 2012. This downward trend makes sense in light of the numerous technological developments, primarily information technology, that have reduced the costs of deposit-taking. In contrast, Figure A1 shows that the unit cost of savings deposits hovered around 2% from the late 1980s to 2008. However, the costs of savings deposits has fallen sharply in the past 4 years, arguably because banks have benefited from large deposit inflows due to the low-interest rate environment and expanded FDIC guarantee programs. Using these cross-sectional regression coefficients as our proxies for the relevant unit costs, we estimate the aggregate noninterest expense associated with deposit-taking activities as In other words, to come up with an estimate of deposit-related operating costs, we apply our estimated unit costs to the deposit mix of the aggregate banking industry. Figure A2 shows the time series of estimated profits from deposit taking from 1984 to 2012. We first show the gross deposit spread, R - R , which is the net interest income associated with narrow banking. The interest rates paid on transactional and savings deposit accounts embed a significant convenience premium relative to short-term market rates. As a result, the gross deposit spread averages 0.87% of deposits over our 29 year sample.23 We next add noninterest income associated with deposit taking, NONINTINC/DEP, which has averaged 0.49% of deposits. Finally, we subtract our estimate of the noninterest expense associated with deposit-taking. While estimated deposit-taking expenses have trended down steadily over time, these expenses are substantial, averaging 1.30% of deposits. Combining these pieces as in equation (A1), we arrive at our estimates of the profits generated by narrow banking. Between 1984 and 2012, these profits average 0.06% of deposits. This 0.06% figure is an upper bound on the profitability of narrow banking. Specifically, as noted above, our attribution of non-interest expenses includes an unallocated fixed overhead cost which is not attributed to deposit-taking or lending at the margin. These overhead costs are significant, and average 0.63% of deposits from 1984-2012. Thus, one needs to ask how much of these fixed overhead costs should be allocated to deposit-taking. If 50% of these fixed costs are allocated to deposit-taking, the estimated profitability of narrow banking falls to -0.25% on average. We assemble data on the financial assets and liabilities of various intermediary types from the Federal Reserve's Financial Accounts of the United States (formerly the Flow of Funds Accounts). We examine data on commercial banks, property and casualty (P&C) insurers, life insurers, money market funds (MMFs), government sponsored enterprises (GSEs), finance companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and security broker-dealers. We exclude a handful of financial sectors included in the Financial Accounts. First, we exclude the Federal Reserve (L.108), taking the view that it should be consolidated with the Federal Government from the standpoint of financial intermediation. Second, we exclude pension funds (L.116), mutual funds (L.121), and closed-end funds and ETFs (L.122) on the theory that these "real money" intermediaries are essentially just veils for the household sector. Third, to avoid double-counting issues we do not treat MBS and ABS issuers as separate sectors. Finally, we exclude Holding Companies (L.129) and Funding Corporations (L.130). For each financial intermediary type, we construct an aggregate balance sheet using data in the Financial Accounts. This requires some straightforward manipulation of the Financial Accounts Data. There are three minor subtleties. First, we do not count GSE-backed MBS--which were consolidated onto their balance sheets following the implementation of FASB 140 in December 2010--as GSE assets. Second, to operationalize equation (17) for banks' market share in each asset class, we compute banks' holdings as a share of all assets held by the domestic Financial Business sector in Table L.107. In other words, we compute banks' share of intermediated assets holdings. Third, for each category of loans (home mortgages, commercial mortgages, multifamily mortgages, consumer loans, and C& loans) we adjust the amount of outstanding loans to net out securitized loans. Thus, holdings of these assets represent intermediaries' holdings of (whole) loans, whereas holdings of securitizations are accounted for separately as either holdings of GSE-backed MBS or as corporate bonds for private securitizations. Next we need to choose values for ILLIQUID , MATURITY , and STICKY . Our approach is to choose values based on the liquidity risk measurement proposal set forth under Basel III. We use parameter values associated with the BCBS (2010) proposal for the Net Stable Funding Requirement (NSFR) and the final BCBS (2013) Liquidity Coverage Requirement (LCR). First, using BCBS (2010), we use the NSFR's Required Stable Funding factor as a first guide for assigning ILLIQUID and the Available Stable Funding factor as guide for STICKY . Second, using BCBS (2013), we used the LCR's haircut factor for the computation of High Quality Liquid Assets as a second guide for ILLIQUID and the assumed percentage outflow factor as second guide for STICKY . The inputs from the NSFR and LCR are summarized in Table AI. Our approach is to use these BCBS factors whenever possible. In general, the NFSR and LCR factors paint a similar picture of asset illiquidity and liability maturity and stickiness. However, when the two are in conflict we lean towards the LCR weights, reasoning that the represent the most up-to-date consensus among policy-makers and market participants. There are some categories such as GSE-debentures and corporate bonds where it does not make sense to assume STICKY = 1 and MATURITY = 1: some of these bond are short-term and are prone to run. Therefore, we assume STICKY = MATURITY = 0.4 in both cases. We also need to assign values for liability types issued by non-banks that are not considered by BCBS (2010, 2013). We are forced to fill in these assumptions. However, we have made every attempt to do so in a way that is consistent with the spirit of Basel III and is motivated by existing empirical evidence wherever possible. The main question here concerns the length and stickiness of the policy-related operating liabilities of life and P&C insurers. We assume that both life and P&C policies are fairly illiquid assets with ILLIQUID = 0.4. In the case of life policy liabilities, we assume STICKY = MATURITY = 0.9 so the liabilities of life insurers are comparable to retail bank deposits. For P&C insurers, we assume that STICKY = MATURITY = 0.6, so the liabilities of P&C insurers are equivalent to corporate bonds. Our final parameter choices are shown in Table AII. Before getting into the policy analysis, we need to be a bit more explicit about the origins of the fire-sale discount in our model. Recall the key reduced-form properties we have assumed about this discount, namely that , so demand is downward sloping, and that , so more illiquid assets have steeper demand curves. These properties can be micro-founded in an elaborated version of Stein (2012). For each asset i, we assume that there is a separate group of n specialist buyers, who can step in and buy the asset if it is liquidated at time 1. As will become clear momentarily, assets with low values of correspond to those with high values of . In other words, asset illiquidity ultimately derives from the fact that there are relatively few specialist buyers available to absorb a given asset. Specialist buyers are also owned by households: all their profits accrue to households at time 2. Each individual specialist buyer has war chest of 0 W = 1 available at time 1, which can be used either to buy up fire-sold assets at a discount, or to invest in new real projects. Each specialist buyer's investment of in a new project yields a gross return of g ( ) = log( ). Recall that liquidated assets sell at a discount to their fundamental value of =qR+(1-q) and thus yield a gross expected return of 1/ to a specialist buyer who purchases them at time 1. Since the total volume of liquidations in asset i is , and since these liquidations must be absorbed by specialist buyers, each buyer must absorb / of the liquidation, investing = W - / in new projects. At an interior optimum, the expected return to buying fire-sold assets must be equal to the expected return to investment in the new project, which implies: Given our functional form assumption that ( ) = log(K ), this expression boils down to: Since is nothing more than an inverse measure of asset illiquidity , we now have a micro-founded expression for the fire-sale discount with the desired properties that and . (The former always holds and the latter holds so long as which we henceforth assume). While this micro-founding exercise is extremely simple, it is necessary for the normative analysis that follows. This is because in order to model the social costs of fire sales, we need to relate the costs to the foregone real investment by the specialist buyers that is an inevitable consequence of these fire sales. With this bit of machinery in place, we can now examine the policy implications of the model. Since households own shadow banks, traditional banks, and specialist buyers, the household utility associated with asset i equals the value of all shadow banking and traditional banking claims backed by asset i plus the expected profits earned by associated specialist buyers As shown in (C3), the expected profits earned by each specialist buyer are the sum of their expected net return on new real investment, , plus their expected net return on asset purchases in the bad state, . However, since the fire-sale losses incurred by shadow banks represent a gain for specialist buyers, the terms of trade between these intermediaries cancel out from the standpoint of household welfare. As a result, the relative size of the traditional banking and shadow banking sectors only impacts household welfare in two ways: the initial amount of monetary services enjoyed by households and the magnitude of the fire-sale problem as captured by the amount of specialist buyer output following the bad state at time 1. One can think of the latter as a stand-in for the severity of the collapse in real output if bad news arrives at time 1, triggering a financial crisis. Specifically, ignoring irrelevant constants, initial household utility is given by The second line of equation (C4) follows from the fact that the total amount of money created by shadow banks and traditional banks using asset i as backing is plus the fact that each specialists' investment in new real projects in the bad state is . Since intermediaries pick taking as given, a private market equilibrium corresponds to where we use one star to denote the private market solution. Recalling that the first order condition for (C5) implies that an interior private market equilibrium satisfies which is equivalent to equation (6) in the main text. Relative to the private market equilibrium, the social planner's solution also takes into account the fact that . Specifically, a social optimum corresponds to Recalling that , an interior social optimum must satisfy where we use two stars to denote the social planner's solution. Relative to (C6), the net private benefit of shadow banking is reduced by a factor that depends on the elasticity of the first-sale price with respect to , . As a result, when , a social planner would like to lower the amount of shadow banking intermediation relative to the private market. A planner can implement the social optimum in our model by imposing a minimum haircut requirement on the amount of repo that shadow banks can issue to MMFs. Although the private market imposes a haircut, the planner needs to require even larger haircuts so shadow banks can only create of safe repo using asset i as collateral. Specifically, (C8) implies that the social optimum can be implemented by imposing an additional haircut of Finally, given our assumption that ( ) = log(K ), we have so, all else equal, the elasticity of the fire-sale price with respect to is greatest for assets with few specialist buyers (i.e., for illiquid assets with large values of ). The Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) factors are based on BCBS (2010). The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) factors are based on BCBS (2013). Long-term means having a contractual maturity greater than 1 year. |Net Stable Funding Ratio factors: ILLIQUID||Net Stable Funding Ratio factors: STICKY||Net Stable Funding Ratio factors: LENGTH||Liquidity Coverage Ratio factors: ILLIQUID||Liquidity Coverage Ratio factors: STICKY||Liquidity Coverage Ratio factors: LENGTH| |Long-term debt and all long-term time deposits||100%||100%||100%||100%| |Uninsured retail demand deposits and short-term ( 1 yr) retail time deposits||80%||0%||90%||0%| |Short-term wholesale funding, including wholesale deposits.||50%||0%| |Other Liabilities: Short-term unsecured whole-sale funding from small business cutomers||90%||0%| |Other Liabilities: Short-term unsecured whole-sale funding from clearing, custody, and cash-management||75%||0%| |Other Liabilities: Short-term unsecured whole-sale funding from large business customers (insured)||80%||0%| |Other Liabilities: Short-term unsecured whole-sale funding from large business customers (uninsured)||60%||0%| |Other Liabilities: Short-term secured whole-sale funding (depends on collateral)| |Money market instruments (short-term low default risk debt)||0%||0%| |GSE-backed MBS and debt||20%||15%| |Corporate bonds rated AA- or higher||20%||15%| |Equity: must be large-cap index and listed on a public exchange||50%||50%| |Corporate bonds rated A- or higher for NFSR (BBB- or higher for LCR)||50%||50%| |Commercial and industrial loans||100%||100%| |Residential mortgage loans||65%||100%| Table AII: Instrument Parameters Values Used in Our Exercise: This table lists the instrument names found in the Financial Accounts and the values of ILLIQUID, LENGTH, and STICKY assigned to those instruments. |Instrument Name in the Financial Accounts||ILLIQUID (assets)||LENGTH (liabilities)||STICKY (liabilities)| |Agency- and GSE-backed securities||15%||60%||60%| |Bank loans not elsewhere classified||100%||100%||100%| |Checkable deposits and currency||0%||0%||90%| |Corporate and foreign bonds||50%||60%||60%| |Customers' liability on acceptances outstanding||0%||0%||0%| |Depository institution reserves||0%||0%||80%| |Deposits at Federal Home Loan Banks||0%||0%||80%| |Equity in government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)||100%||100%||100%| |Federal funds and security repurchase agreements||0%||0%||0%| |Government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) loans||15%||60%||60%| |Holding companies net transactions with subsidiaries||100%||100%||100%| |Large time deposits||0%||10%||70%| |Life insurance reserves||80%||90%||90%| |P&C insurance reserves||80%||60%||60%| |Money market mutual fund shares||0%||0%||0%| |Multifamily residential mortgages||100%||100%||100%| |Municipal securities and loans||50%||100%||100%| |Mutual fund shares||50%||100%||100%| |Net interbank transactions||20%||0%||0%| |Nonfinancial business loans||100%||100%||100%| |Open market paper||0%||0%||0%| |Other loans and advances||100%||100%||100%| |Private foreign deposits||0%||10%||20%| |Securities borrowed (net)||0%||10%||20%| |Small time and savings deposits||0%||0%||80%| |Syndicated loans to nonfinancial corporate business||100%||100%||100%| |Total miscellaneous assets||100%||100%||100%| |Total miscellaneous liabilities||100%||100%||100%| |Total time and savings deposits||0%||0%||80%| |U.S. government loans||0%||0%||0%| |Unidentified miscellaneous assets||100%||100%||100%| |Unidentified miscellaneous liabilities||100%||100%||100%|

If you've got enough love but not enough money to throw a wedding (not to mention go on a honeymoon), then how does $100 for the whole affair sound? Hard Rock Cafe New York will send 10 couples down the aisle on Valentine's Day with a "One Love" wedding and honeymoon package. Included are two Bob Marley Signature Series T-shirts (easy best man/maid of honor matching outfit?), a ceremony in a private chapel, reception with cake, photos under the restaurant's Times Square marquee, and, thanks to the magic of synergy, four days and three nights at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Already married? Getting divorced just to take advantage of this deal probably goes against the spirit of Valentine's Day, but couples looking to renew their vows can also apply. The offer is only slightly too good to be true — you'll have to foot the bill for airfare, ground transport, taxes and meals. The rest of the rules are easy though: Couples must be 18 or older, U.S. residents, and have the $100 in hand on Feb. 14. Send an email for your chance at getting together and feeling way better than all right. If you're not one of the lucky 10 couples, you can still get in on everything minus the honeymoon for $50.

I had the opportunity to attend an Avnet/EMC/VMware/Brocade sponsored for channel partners EVO-RAIL VSPEX Blue BootCamp. In a nutshell it was all you can drink information from a firehose— about EVO-RAIL specifically the EMC VSPEX BLUE. EVO RAIL is a new beast of an animal. It is a different breed. No, not in and single dimension you measure. The combination of technology presented is a synergy. Definition: Synergy is the creation of a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts. Yes; you can get the the form factor for compute separately. You can also do the same for VSAN and ESXi vSphere 5.5 and networking. but you cannot get what the entire VSPEX BLUE offering of EVO RAIL provides TOGETHER. I get ahead of myself. You have to have perspective to understand where we are today. To me that means if you don’t know where you come from you cannot know where are you today and where you will be tomorrow. It is all relative. EVO RAIL is a clustered system. It is a Datacenter in a 2U form factor. Not just compute but a modern hyper converged solution. Sure. Another IT buzzword. Is it just talk? I would say no. Everyone is talking about it but only a few are “doing it”… more often than not the IT industry is a buzz with the new technology of the day. In this case it is Hyper-converged. To put it simply storage is local to compute. What a minute how is that different than 15 years ago when Client-Server model was the norm and storage was already local to the compute. Compute meaning the processing of the server CPU. Well lots has changed. How is it better. A snapshot of what is the current available technology: - Compute is way, way faster and more dense. - Networks are 10 gigabit vs Fast Ethernet 100 Base-T or FDDI Optical rings are no longer the only viable choice. - Storage is IOPs crazy. - And add to that the agility of VMware Virtualization! So look at the speed of compute, network and storage. Technology will continue to get faster and better (lower cost for the return on investment). But what really hasn’t changed much is the complexity of the solution. There are many moving parts but how do you delivery your solution today to support legacy applications and have the agility to respond to changing business objectives. The old phrase “turning an oil tanker on a dime”. Is IT today an Oil tanker? Does your private cloud have the agility your business requires? How will the current toolset respond? How will your staff? Oh what was that “IT staffing has been reduced and that is a trend that hasn’t gone away” IT organizations are forced to do more with little… queue in viable alternatives… Do you outsource.. the simplest short term gain, but not always the best long term investment. I view EVO rail as a datacenter in a box. EVO-RAIL VPSEX Blue is Not the Cluster in a box solution but much much more. This reminds me of the forerunning of MCSC cluster in a box. Like I said.. perspective. Where has the IT industry been before relative to where it is today. I recall back in the day when cluster in a box was a viable (and the best solution at the time) era 2000. That was only a high-availablity MSCS cluster with one node active at a time. Yes, I deployed and supported a few of these solutions. It was cutting edge back then. Adjusted for inflation: $1000.00 USD in 2000 is $1395.20 so the CL1850 was $27,864.00 (2000 $) or $38,569 in 2015 $. But what did you get for your IT dollar? Each “node” in the CL1850 - 1 GB RAM (128-MB 100-MHz registered ECC SDRAM memory) - 2 Pentium III processors @550MHz - 3 NICS (one dedicate for internode communication) 100 BaseT Shared Storage System: - 218.4 GB (6 x 36.4-GB 1′′ Ultra3 10,000 drives) Form Factor 10U Fast forward to 2015….What does EVO-RAIL VSPEX BLUE PROVIDE: Each EMC VSPEX BLUE appliance includes: AKA WHAT’S UNDER THE HOOD?? - 4 nodes of integrated compute and storage, including flash (SSD) and HDD — 2U - VMware EVO:RAIL software including VMware Virtual SAN (VSAN), Log Insight 12 cores @ 2.1GHz per node - 128 or 192 GB memory per node - Choice of 10 Gigabit Ethernet network connectivity: SFP+ or RJ45 - Drives: up to 16 (four per node) - Drives per node: 1 x 2.5” SSD, 3 x 2.5” HDD - Drive capacities - HDD: 1.2TB (max total 14.4TB) - SSD for caching: 400GB (max total 1.6TB) 14.4TB capacity RAW Additional Software Solutions – Exclusive to VSPEX-BLUE - EMC VSPEX BLUE Manager providing a system health dashboard and support portal - EMC CloudArray to expand storage capacity into the cloud (license for 1 TB cache and 10 TB cloud storage included) - VMware vSphere Data Protection Advanced (VDPA) for centralized backup and recovery - EMC RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines for continuous data protection of VMs. Includes licenses for 15 VMs. The question still remains. Is your IT infrastructure an Oil Tanker? OR Can you turn on a dime?? How does your IT respond the the ever changing business demands? Is EVO RAIL for everyone? There are a lot of use cases that EVO RAIL VSPEX BLUE will work perfect for. But, No it isn’t for everyone. BUT what it does is usher in a new consumption of IT that is different manner. You will not have to be provision your datacenter in the same piece meal function. You can commoditize that to a pre-validated solution that is supported by a single vendor. This graphic has a lot more details than this single blog post can explain! I will try to explain each section that helps to make VSPEX BLUE a different redefined EVO RAIL solution. EMC VPSEX BLUE MANAGER – VSPEX BLUE Manager users can conveniently access electronic services, such as the EMC knowledge base articles, access to the VSPEX Community for online and real-time information and EMC VSPEX BLUE best practices. EMC VPEX BLUE WITH ESRS – ESRS is a two-way, secure remote connection between your EMC environment and EMC Customer Service that enables remote monitoring, diagnosis, and repair – assuring availability and optimization of your EMC products *EMC VSPEX BLUE SUPPORT EMC EMC VSPEX BLUE WITH RECOVERPOINT FOR VMs – Protects at VM-LEVEL GRANULARITY, OPERATIONAL AND DR AT ANY POINT IN TIME EMC VSPEX Blue with VDPA and DATA DOMAIN – Built in Deduplicated Backups, powered by EMC Avamar EMC VSPEX BLUE & CLOUD ARRAY – Block and File upto 10 TB FREE. “EMC CloudArray software provided scalable cloud based storage with your choice of many leading cloud providers enabling limitless Network Attached Storage, offsite backup and disaster recovery and the ability to support both Block and File simply” VSPEX BLUE MARKET – Built into the VSPEX MANAGER dashboard. This unique feature enables customers to browse complementary EMC and 3rd party products that easily extend the capabilities of the appliance. Again there are a lot of take aways for the VSPEX BLUE – EVO RAIL solution. Contact me if you more information.

To Press Releases listSep 15, 2015 Nestlé Confectionery’s bubbly chocolate brand AERO has unveiled a collaboration with British fashion designer Matthew Williamson to create a beautiful limited edition wrapper design. The new high-fashion design will feature on AERO Milk Chocolate and AERO Peppermint single bars, with stock available from 28th September. The new-look packaging is an update on Matthew’s signature butterfly print; vibrant and beautifully crafted, taking cues from the bubbly nature of AERO’s famous texture, while all the time channelling the fun-loving and indulgent spirit that Matthew is best known for. Combining an exciting fusion of soft pink and mint shades, subtly highlighted with luxurious metallic tones, Williamson has created a feminine design that celebrates the key elements of AERO. Designer, Matthew Williamson said: “When I began gathering inspiration for the design, I instantly saw a synergy between the unique bubbly texture of the AERO chocolate and my past work with the butterfly motif. Both have an essence of spontaneity and feeling free so the basis for my design was clear from the off.” Rob Marsh, Senior Brand Manager for AERO, Nestlé UK & Ireland added: “Matthew Williamson is a well-known high-fashion designer and we are thrilled to have worked with him on this project. These limited edition wrappers are an eye-catching celebration of British design and bubbly AERO chocolate. We’re excited to see Matthew’s beautiful wrappers on shelves this autumn.” This autumn will also see the total AERO brand benefit from a £2 million media campaign, including Outdoor, Digital and Video On Demand advertising*. Within this, the Matthew Williamson limited edition bars will benefit from bespoke digital activity on Facebook designed to bring the campaign to life. For more information on the Nestlé Confectionery range please contact: Nestlé UK Press Office on 020 8667 6005 or email firstname.lastname@example.org Notes to editors: - *correct at time of printing - Nestlé Confectionery’s AERO is a much-loved chocolate brand worldwide and is renowned for its light bubbly texture. Launched in 1935, 2015 has seen it celebrate its 80th birthday. - The Matthew Williamson limited edition designed AERO bars will be launched in the single impulse bar format, in both milk and peppermint flavours, available from 28th September. Visit AeroChocolate.co.uk and Facebook.com/AeroBubblyChocolate for the latest news from Matthew Williamson for AERO and the rest of the AERO family too.

NA LCS week 5 wrapped up with Cloud9 tied with TSM at 7/5. Despite some great games, the teams score is sitting well below their usual dominance over the North American scene. A huge number of roster swaps and the addition of support staff on many NA teams has raised the competitive level of the region. Although analysts predicted unchanged Cloud9 roster would sweep the early season while region adapted to their changes, the team has had a rocky start. I spoke with Meteos regarding the teams performance and his impressions of the other teams. Did All Stars affect your ability to prepare for the first week of summer split? Meteos: Not having Hai affected our ability to prepare for the summer split. having to play with another mid laner changes the team chemistry and then going back changes it further. Trying to take time off to see family between All Stars and the summer split cut into our practice time as well which has lead to us under performing. Did the changes in play caused by the 4.7 patch influence this at all? Meteos: I don’t think this specific patch affected our performance. The game is constantly changing, we just haven't practiced enough to keep up with it. Did any teams stand out right away as having adapted in particular? Meteos: Dig and LMQ looked really good the first week. Your first match against TSM was fairly methodical. Do you think TSM was also still a bit uncomfortable with the new roster? Meteos: Possibly. I think the biggest factor in the first C9 vs TSM game was the preparation. I think we prepared better than they did, on top of having the blue side advantage which gave us a better draft for the match What's your impression of Amazing as a jungler? Meteos: Amazing looks good, he has really good mechanics and plays all of the meta junglers. Despite having quite possibly the most major roster change, Dignitas came out gates at a full sprint while many other teams are still building synergy. What do you think has allowed them to show up so strong? Meteos: They're good players with a good supporting staff on the team. They've been practicing a lot in solo queue which has given them really strong mechanics. They usually get an advantage early game which they use to snowball into mid and late game. One of the main criticisms of their roster shift was that it wouldn't necessarily improve the team strategically. Do you think they have changed on that front? Meteos: Dignitas quite possibly has the strongest supporting staff this season, including a coach, several analysts, and a life coach so the players can focus on the game. I think that a devoted supporting staff can really improve a team. Cloud9 and CLG have now faced off twice. Both teams are known for being the most strategic teams in the NA LCS, but both games between you two ended up becoming huge bloodbaths with a lot of aggressive flashes and fights. Can you think of any reason the games play out this way? Meteos: I think games between C9 and CLG turn into blood baths because both of our teams like playing aggressively and we go for fights and plays when we’re behind even if it’s risky. Although Curse has had a rough run so far, many of their games have been extremely close. Do you think there are any deciding factors preventing them from getting more victories? Meteos: Curse looks like a good team but it seems like random stuff goes wrong in their LCS matches. Not sure if there’s any one thing prevents them from getting more wins. Despite their losses, Curse manages to draw out many of their games and keep matches extremely close but Cloud9 was able to close out their match in under 30 minutes. Do you think you did anything differently or did everything just go right? Meteos: Our game versus Curse went really well from the beginning. We got 3 early kills and were able to snowball the game by taking their objectives and having full vision control of the map. It’s almost impossible for a team to come back from that deficit unless we mess up. LMQ has been performing very well and developed an early lead on Cloud9 in both you matches. In the first match, however, Cloud9 managed to come back from the early deficit. What was the situation in that match? Meteos: LMQ outplayed us really hard early game and were able to get a huge gold lead early in the game from dragon, turrets, and first blood. They invested a lot of gold into vision control so we had to play really carefully and do our best to farm up while conceding control of the map. We picked some good fights and managed to get back into the game and ultimately, I think, it came down to us out scaling them with our picks and having a good team comp against them, even if our picks weren't good in lane. What is your impression of their style compared to other Chinese teams such as WE and OMG? Meteos: I find it hard to compare styles between teams. In my opinion it just seems like every team does their best to win without really worrying about style. Most teams play meta champions, try to win lanes, and then snowball their early game advantages into vision control and go from there. LMQ is pretty aggressive compared to most other teams that we play. With talent acquisition like Altec and, more recently, Helios on EG, is it possible to tell if it is a good pick up right away or is it hard to say without time? Meteos: Like most roster changes, only time will tell how it works out. There are a lot of factors that go beneath the surface with players rather than just their skill in the game such as their commitment to improvement, their ego, their communication skills, and their synergy with each other. Thanks for answering my questions. Any shout outs you would like to add? Meteos: Sure, I’d like to thank our sponsors. HyperX, Logitech, Alienware, Lol-Class, NEEDforSEAT, Homejoy, sideqik, and the Airforce Reserve.

Stay invested and continue to invest even at current levels: Neeraj Deewan, Quantum Securities “Auto ancillary is one space where there is still potential as lot of things are happening with emission norms” Rate cut likely in December, not October: Neeraj Gambhir, Nomura Capital "It is a close call I think there is some possibility that we might see a rate cut now given the fact that at least in the short term the inflation outlook is quite benign." Watching auto, PSU banks and power finance cos this quarter: Neeraj Deewan, Quantum Securities “Recently we have initiated a covering on Navkar Corporation. It is a logistic company.” The charmed life of legendary cameraman Mahendra Kumar Mahendra Kumar’s neighbours were used to the famous elderly man’s movements between his quarters, often early in the morning. Nitish Kumar may visit Gujarat at Hardik's invitation "Now, Nitish Kumar will challenge Modi in Gujarat, thanks to the invitation of Patidar leader Hardik Patel," another senior JD-U leader said. Akshay Kumar besotted with Manali's beauty! Akshay is having a fun time shooting the last schedule for 'Jolly LLB 2'. Budget 2016: Synergy in asset management needed, says Neeraj Kumar Gupta Neeraj Kumar Gupta said that the named DIPAM will help leverage assets of state-run enterprises and attract fresh investments. Coal India Director N Kumar passes away Kumar had graduated in mining engineering (B.Tech-Mining) from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad in 1980. He joined Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) as junior executive trainee the same year. Invest in this market only if you get stocks with decent valuations: Neeraj Deewan, Quantum Securities "Tomorrow if the Nifty opens even flattish, maybe a 10-20 points up also, I think that would be taken as a good buy. " Strategic sale will not be confined to loss making PSU: Secretary Neeraj Kumar Gupta The government will soon come out with a policy on strategic sale of state-owned companies and the disinvestment will not be confined to loss making enterprises. India salutes martyred sepoy Sudees Kumar Sepoy Sudees Kumar lost his life in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army on the Line of Control (LOC) in Rajouri district. Wait for management commentary on Tata Motors: Neeraj Deewan, Quantum Securities Among auto component companies. Minda Industries has been one which still has potential KASAULI LIT FEST - Kanhaiya Kumar in slugfest on nationalism Till the interjection, Kanhaiya Kumar --constantly described by fellow panelist Madhu Kishwar as Kanhaiya Lal -was at his eloquent best treating the literary session almost like an election speech Prohibition key to India competing with China: Nitish Kumar But Bihar became a dry state once again as the new stringent Bihar Excise and Prohibition Act came into force from "Gandhi Jayanti" on Oct 2. Government had a special relationship with Chhota Rajan: Neeraj Kumar The government had a special relationship with underworld don Chhota Rajan, said former Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar.

Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 11 Speed Di2 Group Just when you thought shifting quality and reliability couldn't get any better, Shimano ups the ante with their Dura-Ace Di2 9070 components. While some might consider Dura-Ace Di2 9070 a luxury, but we have yet to meet a rider who didn't want ultra-reliable, precise, lightning-fast shifts across an 11-speed cassette with just a button click. This is a complete offering of Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 components to turn your steed into a compete Di2 equipped bike. It provides perfect synergy for Dura-Ace 9070 electronic shifting and world class braking in one complete package. Upgrade Group Includes - Shimano Dura-Ace ST-9070 Di2 STI levers - Shimano Dura-Ace FD-9070 Front Derailleur - Shimano Dura-Ace RD-9070 Rear Derailleur - Shimano Internal Di2 Seat Post Battery and internal battery charger - Internal Junction Box - 6 E-tube wires and 3-port Cockpit Junction Box Configure your Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 Upgrade Kit by selecting the components that have options on the upper right menu, then Add to Cart. Keep in mind, it is helpful to know where the battery is designed to be located on your frame, where you plan to locate the lower junction box (internal or external on the bb cable guide area) and if your frame is factory designed for Di2 internal routing. If possible, also measure from the lower Junction Box to rear derailleur, front derailleur, battery and Cockpit Junction to determine E-tube wire lengths.

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens The role of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens in the MIROR Project is two-fold: a) to work on the synergy between technology and psychology by studying the relationship between children's cognitive abilities and the technological development necessary in the project; b) to carry out a number of the experiments of the project in Athens, in various school settings, including special needs schools, hospitals for children with mood/psychiatric disorders, and study the impact of the MIROR system in these areas, and its potential therapeutic uses. Christina Anagnostopoulou - Scientific responsible and Principal Investigator Christina Anagnostopoulou is an Associate Professor in music informatics and cognition at the Department of Music Studies, University of Athens. She studied Music (BMus Hons) and Artificial Intelligence <http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk> (MSc in knowledge-based systems) at the University of Edinburgh. Her PhD, also in Edinburgh, was on computational and cognitive modelling of music analysis. She has taught at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow on various topics in music analysis and AI, and from 2002 to 2006 she was a lecturer at the Department of Music and Sonic Arts, <http://www.music.qub.ac.uk>, Queen's University Belfast. During that time she led the Music Informatics and Cognition research group, and got her postgraduate qualification in Higher Education Teaching. Angeliki Triantafyllaki - Member of the Research Group Angeliki Triantafyllaki has a background in Music Education (PhD, University of Cambridge) and Educational Psychology (MPhil, University of Cambridge and BA, University of Athens). She initially trained as a pianist (Athens National Conservatoire) and as a school teacher (BA, University of Athens). Since completing her PhD she has worked as a researcher on a range of projects in creative and performing arts education (University of the Arts London, University of Cambridge, University of Athens). In February 2010, she joined the Department of Music, University of Athens, as a teaching associate and is currently a postdoctoral researcher on the EU project MIROR at the same Department. Her research interests are cross-disciplinary and span the areas of pedagogy, psychology and sociology in creative and performing arts education. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented in international and national conferences. Antonis Alexakis - Member of the Research Group Antonis Alexakis is a part-time PhD student at the Department of Music Studies, University of Athens, currently working on the computational music analysis of children's and patients' music improvisations. He holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Patras, Greece, and an MSc in Knowledge-Based Systems, from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland. He has had extensive involvement in European research projects (4th & 5th FPs). He has been technical project leader and project manager in commercial transactional IT projects for several years, bid manager in large public sector call for tenders, and is currently the Co-ordinator of the NSRF MIS system which monitors all public investments in Greece. Maggie Melissari - Member of the Research Group Maggie Melissari is a part-time research fellow in the MIROR project and a full-time music teacher in primary education. She holds a degree in Musicology from the Department of Music Studies, University of Athens, and a piano performing diploma from the Greek Conservatoire. She is working in various community music placements, including psychiatric rehabilitation and gypsy children day centres.

According to today’s (8 July 2011) METRO, a food manufacturer has produced a dessert which, it is implied, will help you diet. …a food manufacturer claims to have created a dessert that is not only the least calorific in the country but also could quash sugar cravings. Bio-Synergy’s caramel flavoured Skinny Mousse is less than 50 calories and contains chromium, a mineral thought to help regulate blood sugar levels. I regret I have not provided a link; I can’t find the item on their website. Google did find me the manufacturer’s website where I found this gem: The New Guilt Free Indulgence With Less than 50 Calories per serving Bio-Synergy would like to introduce the newest product in the Skinny range. The lowest calorie and healthy dessert on the market, Bio-Synergy Skinny Mousse! The new guilt free indulgence Bio-Synergy Skinny Mousse will hit the chillers in the Dairy aisle at the start of July! This low calorie dessert is enhanced with chromium which contains naturally occurring amino acids which helps suppress your sugar cravings. For advice from our nutrition and training experts: firstname.lastname@example.org and email@example.com This set off the woodar – particularly the bit about chromium containg amino acids so I emailed the “nutrition experts”: I note with interest the information on your website regarding your new Bio-Synergy Skinny Mousse: “This low calorie dessert is enhanced with chromium which contains naturally occurring amino acids which helps suppress your sugar cravings.” I have three questions and an observation with regard to this statement: Q1. How much chromium has been added to each portion? Q2. What peer-reviewed evidence is there that chromium suppresses sugar craving? The observation is that chromium is an element and does not contain amino acids. I appreciate that whoever wrote the information on the website may have misunderstood the science which leads to my third question: Q3. In what form is the chromium in this dessert? ie is it in elemental form or a compound? If so, which one(s)? [phone number given] Received a reply from Daniel Herman which in full is:- Thanks for your email. EFSA have approved the benefits of Chromium and our products are all reviewed by Public Analysts who also advise UK trading standards. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us. Sent from Bio-Synergy Doesn’t exactly answer my questions. I shall be responding to this effect shortly. I also found the Daily Mail’s version of the story: It’s the stuff of fantasy for desperate dieters. Not only does a new dessert on sale at Tesco contain fewer calories than an apple, but according to claims from its manufacturers, the creamy pudding could actually help slimmers to lose weight. The 60-calorie mousse, made by drinks company Bio-Synergy, contains a natural ingredient that can actually reduce the desire to binge on sugar, the store claimed today The caramel-flavoured treat a dessert which contains chromium, a mineral said to cut sugar cravings. Tesco say the ingredient has been the subject of numerous studies and clinical trials and has been approved by EFSA (European Food Standards Agency) as a food supplement. Clinical trials eh? No links of course so the next step was to contact Tesco, as it would appear to be they who are making the claim. I searched Tesco’s website but could not find anything remotely resembling a Press Office. Most of the email addresses given are to people who want to sell you stuff. The best I could come up with was one for customer services. I haven’t been a customer since Shirley Porter was in Leader of Westminster Council but I could not find anything better so I sent them this: I note that in today’s Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2012262/Tesco-launch-diet-mousse-fewer-calories-apple–help-LOSE-weight.html)that your stores are now selling Bio-Synergy Skinny Mousse “which contains chromium, a mineral said to cut sugar cravings. “Tesco say the ingredient has been the subject of numerous studies and clinical trials and has been approved by EFSA (European Food Standards Agency) as a food supplement.” I would be grateful if you could give me the references for these studies and clinical trials, including links if they have been published online. [phone number given] I have received an auto-response but nothing further as yet. When I get anything else I’ll let you know.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Citrix Systems addressed a number of IT pro demands for VDI-related product enhancements this... week with several virtual desktop management tools and more ways to manage cloud-based applications in the enterprise. At the Synergy conference held here, the company showed an updated version of its XenClient client hypervisor, HDX performance enhancements, an updated application management portal similar to VMware's Horizon App Manager, a free tool for enterprise IT to use on the iPad for remote desktop management, and more. Some IT professionals said the products mark the start of mainstream adoption of virtual desktops and cloud computing. "What we are seeing with these technologies is that we are at an inflection point in the old computing paradigm," said Don Lee, managing director of Ontario -based virtualization integration firm Gibraltar Solutions Inc. "It used to be that companies gave employees laptops and told them how it was to be used. Now, end users are dictating IT." Citrix VDI offerings expand Citrix wants to make XenDesktop simpler for enterprises to install and manage, since many XenDesktop projects fail because of their complexity. For example, one IT pro said his company uses XenApp, among other Citrix products, but it could not get XenDesktop to work. The Missouri health care organization switched to VMware View. "It's a shame, because Citrix XenDesktop offers so much more," he said. To help improve the success rate of XenDesktop projects, Citrix announced a free, online consulting service for XenDesktop customers called The Success Accelerator. IT pros can register their projects and describe their entire environments. Citrix consultants and partners will provide customized tips, reference architectures and integration and design suggestions. In XenDesktop 5, Citrix also added installation and management wizards. XenDesktop 5 Service Pack 1 supports the XenServer IntelliCache feature, which reduces virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) storage costs. Citrix also acquired Kaviza's VDI-in-a-box product this week to give small and midsized businesses an entry point for VDI. The product supports Citrix technologies including HDX, and it will carry the Citrix logo later this year. Citrix Receiver, XenClient and HDX An updated Citrix Receiver with more device support and the ability to run from any browser impressed some conference attendees. Citrix demonstrated the delivery of Android apps to a Windows desktop via Citrix Receiver and the ability to deliver a Mac virtual desktop using XenDesktop on Mac hardware via Receiver. Tied to the new Receiver abilities is the new NetScaler Cloud Gateway, a product that lets IT turn the Citrix Receiver into a portal for end users' personal, Software as a Service and enterprise apps. It can be accessed from any device using a single sign-on, so apps and data "follow" end users wherever they are. The NetScaler Cloud Gateway, which ships in the third quarter of 2011, gives IT a way to control all the apps and their end users' access and to perform user provisioning, app workflow requests, licensing data and service-level agreements. Administrators can also cut access to data and apps remotely. Citrix also previewed the second generation of XenClient, its bare-metal client hypervisor. XenClient 2 supports many more hardware platforms, including chips other than Intel vPro and AMD graphics support. The tradeoff for using non-vPro hardware is graphics fidelity, but high-definition video still runs with good performance, said Peter Blum, director of XenClient products. Citrix also disclosed XenClient XT, a version of the bare-metal client hypervisor for "extreme" environments that require high security and isolation and need to run high-end graphics and modeling. It is due out in June. In addition, the vendor announced GoToManage for the iPad. This tool lets IT pros take over an end user's entire system to troubleshoot it remotely on an iPad. It supports physical and virtual desktops and lets IT manage networks and servers. The tool is free for individual IT pros. Support for new tools on the iPad is important, said IT pros, because iPads and other mobile devices are making their way deeper into enterprises. One admin at a manufacturing software company in Santa Barbara, Calif., said his organization adopted XenDesktop 5 this year because many of its employees need access to their desktops remotely, on iPads. "It's what our users want to use," he said.

The continuing globalization of the pulp and paper industry, at least in the Australasian region, was underscored by the recent announcement that, subject to the usual regulatory approvals, Oji Holdings of Japan together with Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) will jointly acquire the pulp & paper business of Carter Holt Harvey Limited (“CHH”) and related companies (collectively “CHHPP Group”), which manufactures pulp, paper and packaging products in New Zealand and Australia. CHHPP Group is ultimately owned by Rank Group Limited. Oji will take a 60 percent share of CHHPP and INCJ, a government-backed innovation agency that attracts private sector investment to "promote innovation and enhance the value of businesses in Japan," will have 40 percent of the joint venture vehicle that will make the investment. This acquisition was almost inevitable given the way that Oji and Nippon Paper compete head to head in Japan. In 2009, Nippon Paper acquired the key manufacturing assets of Australian Paper, which was then the manufacturing arm of PaperlinX, which itself had been spun off from Amcor in 2000. The assets acquired by Nippon were principally the Maryvale and Shoalhaven mills. By any measure, the Australian Paper assets seemed to represent a good buy. For A$600 million (US$455m) at the time (with a potential performance bonus of an extra A$100m), Nippon Paper acquired a just completed major kraft mill expansion and new bleach plant at the Maryvale mill, which cost not a lot less than the entire purchase price. The kraft pulp mill had a capacity of 330,000 metric tons plus 100,000 tonnes of NSSC pulp. The 5 paper machines on the site had a combined capacity of about 600,000 metric tons. The Shoalhaven mill has an annual capacity of only 16,000 metric tons, but as a specialty mill, many of the products sell for very high prices. It was reported at the time that the book value of the assets purchased was A$1.1 billion. The Oji purchase is somewhat more expensive (NZ$1.037 billion) and includes the Pulp Business (which has 2 bleached softwood kraft mills – one at the Kinleith Mill and one adjacent to – and previously part of – the Norske Skog Tasman Mill) with a total capacity of about 565,000 metric tons of market pulp. It also includes the Paperboard Business, which incorporates the linerboard machine at Kinleith Mill (annual capacity 340,000 tonnes) and a corrugating paper machine at Penrose (capacity 85,000 tonnes). The Packaging Business includes three corrugated packaging facilities in New Zealand at and two in Australia as well as paper bag and paper cup manufacturing. CHH is understood to have been “on the market” since at least 2010, driven by pressure to reduce the $US18 billion of junk-rated corporate bonds held by Reynolds Group, which is controlled by the Rank Group (although apparently not legally owned by them). Naturally, the official line from the Rank Group is that CHHPP no longer fitted with the strategic profile of the Rank Group. Both reasons are probably relevant. After this divestment, CHH will consist of a building supplies business which has been previously, but unsuccessfully, offered for sale. This division includes significant timber and timber product manufacturing and marketing operations in Australia and New Zealand, as well as a trade supplies group in New Zealand. The CHH carton board mill at Whakatane was previously excised into the Reynolds group, when Hart sold off the Australian and New Zealand Printing assets of CHH principally to Australian printer Colorpack, with some also acquired by Amcor (but now part of the Orora assets). The Rank Group is the private investment vehicle for Graeme Hart, who is reputed to be the wealthiest person in New Zealand. It has 3 main companies – Reynolds Group Holdings, Automotive Group and CHH. Reynolds Group Holdings has two segments – Food Packaging (which includes Closure Systems International, Dopaco, Evergreen Packaging, Graham Packaging, Pactiv, and SIG Combibloc) and the Consumer Products division, which is made up of the various Reynolds brands and subsidiaries. The CHH businesses were acquired by the Rank Group for NZ$3.3 billion from International Paper when it decided to withdraw from New Zealand in 2006. Almost immediately, Hart began restructuring the company, selling CHH's forests to US-based Hancock Timber Group for about NZ$2 billion, as well as other assets for over NZ$300 million. In December 2006, the Rank Group also purchased International Paper’s liquid packaging business, Evergreen Packaging for NZ$725 million. In May 2007, Rank Group bought Swiss packaging company SIG for NZ$3.2 billion. SIG Combibloc is the world’s second largest food and drink carton packaging company after Swedish giant Tetra Laval. In August 2007, the Rank Group purchased for US$450M Blue Ridge Paper Products of North Carolina, which was merged with Evergreen Packaging. These assets make Rank Group arguably the world’s biggest paper packaging products business. Oji was a logical buyer of the CHH paper businesses because it already owned Pan Pac Forest Products in Napier in New Zealand, which is an integrated forestry, saw milling and pulp facility as well as the CHH synergy with its domestic and global operations. Oji has identified synergies from joining the two businesses. Oji identifies paperboard and packaging products as their core products and they have either acquired or built a total of 21 plants/facilities (including green-field projects) in Southeast Asia and India over recent years. Back home in Japan, Oji and Nippon seemed to have been always locked into a contest to be No. 1. So far, Oji has remained triumphant, although there was not a lot in it until recently. Oji’s history goes back to 1873. It was divided into 3 companies after World War II, but subsequently through mergers and acquisitions it re-emerged as one of the largest paper companies in the world. In the PwC top 100 for 2012 (most recent data), Oji was rated the third largest company globally (up from No. 4) after International Paper and Kimberly-Clark with sales in excess of US$15B. Nippon Paper remains at No. 6 with sales down a little to just over US$13B. Oji has a growing international face. Of its 156 subsidiaries, 70 are overseas. It has businesses in Asia, Europe, North and South America and Oceania. Its paper operations span the full range of paper products and enhanced papers. They have invested significantly in raw materials with several plantations in Australia, New Zealand, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. More recently, there appears to be a divergence in the corporate aims of the two Japanese companies. Even so, in their difference there is something of a sameness! Oji has a goal to restructure its business portfolio to grow through “incubation of its R&D oriented businesses, expansion of overseas business, establishment of a material and process integrated business model, promotion of forest resources and environment marketing, expansion of its trading business and enhancement of global competitiveness through aggressive cost reduction.” In 2010, Nippon published a vision for 2015 to be one the top five companies in the global industry with 30% of its business to be international and 30% from sources outside of the pulp and paper industry. By 2013, the goal had been transformed to create a future as a “comprehensive biomass company” with significantly scaled back sales and profit targets. The new goals were launched as a “giant step toward the birth of a new Nippon Paper Group” in which there was a merger of its three main operating groups. Under the new structure, Nippon’s domestic paper business will shrink in the long term. New businesses will be created while restructuring its existing businesses. Looking to the future, Nippon has significant forests in Japan and overseas, and its accumulated wood science technologies acquired in paper-making will be harnessed in their “advanced application to grow into a comprehensive biomass company that offers products and services with diverse values.” Specifically, Nippon is exploring the huge potential of wood resources for the production of industrial materials, such as packaging containers and functional sheets, biochemicals - including cellulose nanofibers and other new materials - and agricultural and food materials, as well as energy business including the electricity supply. In the Australian context, the company signalled its frustration with slow progress of its Australian Paper (AP) operations to achieve international competitiveness with recent changes in senior management. Part of the challenge with AP is that its main operations at Maryvale were developed to supply both the printing and communications papers market as well as the packaging market, but they are now an arm’s length supplier to the newly spun off Orora. AP is now at a distinct disadvantage to the soon to be Oji controlled CHH, which has vertically integrated containerboard through to box plant operations. Would acquisition of Orora by Nippon solve this problem and also assist with their business diversification goals? Conversely, would acquisition of AP by Orora make more sense (thereby recreating the company that started as Australian Paper Manufacturers back in 1868)? Despite the divergence of the Oji and Nippon strategies it seems unthinkable that Nippon would retreat and leave Australasia to Oji. Whichever way the market structure evolves, Australasia is now inextricably part of the global scene. Although neither the CHHPP businesses nor the AP business have integrated ownership of the extensive biomass resources in Australia and New Zealand, they are significant customers, with the potential to be even more so. If the way these companies will grow their demand is unclear, it nevertheless seems inevitable that they will increase their biomass demands in the future and both may indeed shine brightly as comprehensive biomass companies.

2012-10-07, 05:35 PM (ISO 8601) Re: League of Legends XXXVIII: Featuring Mumble, The Giant Halibut Maokai is already really popular, though. Tons of pro junglers play him, and nothing has really be innovated at the championships that you don't already see in solo queue. "Far from wrong" is pretty much exactly how I would describe it, because in essence is just revolves around placing champions into the roles with which they have the most synergy. That is to say, the "meta" is "put champions where they work best." Originally Posted by Djinn_in_Tonic Bruiser top isn't necessarily part of the meta, and the champions that actually fill each lane are less important than the lane set-up in general. Champions who are rarely-used edge cases more often than not are ignored because their design is lacking rather than their place in the meta. A solid 60% of the champion base has been picked or banned at the championships thusfar, and that's a strong showing. Last edited by ex cathedra; 2012-10-07 at 05:38 PM.

- About this Journal · - Abstracting and Indexing · - Aims and Scope · - Annual Issues · - Article Processing Charges · - Articles in Press · - Author Guidelines · - Bibliographic Information · - Citations to this Journal · - Contact Information · - Editorial Board · - Editorial Workflow · - Free eTOC Alerts · - Publication Ethics · - Reviewers Acknowledgment · - Submit a Manuscript · - Subscription Information · - Table of Contents BioMed Research International Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 941767, 7 pages Prevalence of Past and Reactivated Viral Infections and Efficacy of Cyclosporine A as Monotherapy or in Combination in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis—Synergy Study: A Longitudinal Observational Study 1Novartis Farma Italia, Origgio (Va), Italy 2Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy 3Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy 4Istituto Ortopedico Pini, Milan, Italy 5Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Parma, Italy 6Ospedale Regionale F. Miulli, Acquaviva delle Fonti (BA), Italy 7Azienda Ospedaliera Sant’Anna e San Sebastiano, Caserta, Italy 8Ospedale San Martino, Genoa, Italy 9MediData srl, Modena, Italy Received 27 December 2013; Accepted 10 March 2014; Published 2 April 2014 Academic Editor: Giuseppe Valacchi Copyright © 2014 Delia Colombo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. We have prospectively evaluated psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients for (1) seropositivity for former viral infections and seroconversion and (2) efficacy of cyclosporine A (CsA) alone or in combination with other immunosuppressants in a time period of 12 months. Screening included HBV antibodies and antigens, HCV antibodies and RNA, HSV 1-2, HZV, EBV, and CMV IgG, and IgM, HHV-6 DNA, and HIV 1-2 antibodies. PsA was evaluated by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). At baseline, 126 (56%) out of 225 evaluable patients had 2 or more seropositivities indicative of former infections, and 31 patients (13.8%) presented seropositivity for HCV, HBV, HSV-1 and -2, HHV-6, EBV, or parvovirus infection; one of them, positive for HBAg, was treated with lamivudine, while the remaining 30 received no specific treatment. None of the 31 patients developed virus reactivation. A reduction () of PASI, BASDAI, and VAS scores was observed at 6 and 12 months. The treatment of PsA with CsA as monotherapy or in combination was safe and effective. In vitro experiments and clinical findings, including those from our study, suggest that CsA as monotherapy or in combination with biologics might be the treatment of choice in PsA HCV-positive patients. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a disabling complication which occurs in 6% to 39% of psoriatic patients [1, 2]. The clinical picture is characterized by skin and nail psoriasis associated with heterogeneous spondyloarthropathy, usually manifesting as synovitis, enthesitis, dactylitis, and spondylitis . In most patients, the skin disease precedes musculoskeletal involvement. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of PsA in patients with psoriasis . Its early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment can relieve pain and inflammation and, possibly, help prevent progressive joint involvement and damage . Over the past years, advances have been made in the understanding of genetic and molecular mechanisms of PsA and its management . Patients with PsA are often treated with systemic immunosuppressant agents (e.g., steroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine A, biologic drugs), which might increase the risk of reactivation of past infections or the acquisition of new infections. Such infections could possibly be life-threatening. Despite the influence of these treatments on the development of infections, data addressing this issue are scant. Aims of this study were to evaluate, in a population of patients with PsA, seropositivity for former viral infections or suggestive for acute viral infection, efficacy of cyclosporine A (CsA) administered in routine clinical practice alone or in combination with other immunosuppressants in a time period of 12 months, and the occurrence of adverse events during the study period. 2. Patients and Methods The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee at each participating center and signed informed consent was obtained from participating patients. This was a cross-sectional and longitudinal study (12 months), carried out in 238 consecutive patients with diagnosis of PsA performed within 8 years from baseline, treated for at least 3 months with CsA as monotherapy or in combination with one or more systemic drugs. The diagnosis of PsA was performed according to the CASPAR criteria . Psoriasis was evaluated by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) . PsA was evaluated based on the joints involved, the patients’ and the physicians’ global assessment of the disease using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) . The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was used to evaluate inflammation of the spine. Baseline screening for latent and acute viral infections included hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies (anti-HBs and anti-HBc) and surface antigen, hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and RNA, herpes simplex virus 1-2 (HSV 1-2) IgG and IgM, herpes zoster virus (HZV) IgG and IgM, human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) DNA, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgG and IgM, human immunodeficiency virus 1-2 (HIV 1-2) antibodies, cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG and IgM, and parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM. Follow-up visits were performed at 6 and 12 months to investigate new pathologies and treatments, evolution of PsA (PASI, VAS, and BASDAI), and occurrence of adverse events. Data are reported as mean ± SD, median (), or percentage, as appropriate. Changes in the PASI and BASDAI values at selected time points were compared using the paired t-test. 3.1. Patients and Treatments Two hundred thirty-eight patients with PsA were screened in 24 centers. Thirteen patients not fulfilling the inclusion criteria were excluded from the analysis which, therefore, was conducted on 225 patients at baseline. The number of patients evaluable at 6- and 12-month followups was 177 and 174, respectively. Eleven patients (4.9%) had been vaccinated for HB and were excluded from baseline and follow-up analysis for HBV seroconversion. Demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline are reported in Table 1. The most common type of psoriasis was psoriasis vulgaris (plaque psoriasis). As expected, PsA was equally distributed among males and females, and, on average, the diagnosis of psoriasis required less time than the diagnosis of PsA; the time between psoriasis and PsA diagnoses was 9.3 years (±13.6), on average. Median time () from the diagnosis of the disease to the first systemic treatment for psoriasis or PsA was 4 years ( 1–13). One hundred five patients (46.7%) had comorbidities; cardiovascular comorbidities were observed in 62 patients (27.6%). Systemic, topic, and other treatments at baseline and follow-up visits are reported in Table 2. At baseline, all patients were treated with oral CsA for at least 3 months, 48.9% as systemic monotherapy, 16% in combination with methotrexate, and 10.2% in combination with biologic agents; 78% of patients received also topic treatments. During the study period there was a modest decrease in the use of CsA as both monotherapy and in combination with methotrexate, while a significant increase was observed in the combination CsA/biologic agents (Table 2). The study period was also characterized by a decrease in the frequency of topic therapy (from 78% at baseline to 59% at the end of the study). 3.2. Prevalence of Latent Viral Infections At baseline, 56% of evaluable patients had 2 or more seropositivities indicative of former viral infections (Figure 1). The most frequent were VZV (95.3%), HSV-1 (92.2%), EBV (89.2%), CMV (77%), and HSV-2 (67%). No subject showed HIV antibodies. None of these patients experienced reactivation or new onset viral infections or other infectious diseases during the following 12 months. A linear relationship was observed between the number of executed tests and infections (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.80865, ). 3.3. Prevalence of Critical Viral Infections At baseline, 31 patients (13.8%) presented seropositivity for HCV, HBV, HSV-1 and -2, HHV-6, EBV, and parvovirus B19 (Table 3). One of them, positive for HBsAg, was treated with lamivudine, while the remaining 30 received no specific treatment or prophylaxis. In all these patients the viral infection was asymptomatic. During the following 12 months all 31 patients continued their immunosuppressive treatment of PsA and none developed virus reactivation (Table 3). Two HCV-RNA-positive patients and one HBsAg-positive patient were negative after 12 months. 3.4. Evolution of Psoriasis and PsA during the Study Period Evaluation of psoriasis and PsA during the study period was one of the secondary objectives of the study. PASI, VAS, and BASDAI were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. A progressive and significant ( versus baseline) reduction of PASI was observed at 6 and 12 months (Figure 2), indicating an improvement of psoriasis during the study period. Similarly, there was a decrease in the global activity of PsA during the study, shown by a decrease in both VAS and BASDAI ( versus baseline) (Table 4), indicating an improvement in the musculoskeletal involvement of PsA. 3.5. Adverse Events Eighteen adverse events were reported in 15 patients (Table 5). These adverse events were considered to be correlated with the treatment in 10 cases (to CsA in 9 cases and to infliximab in 1 case). One serious adverse event occurred (syncope); the patient fully recovered. No deaths occurred. 4.1. Chronic and Acute Viral Seropositivity PsA is an uncommon disease affecting 0.3–1% of the general population [1, 9]. Therefore, the strength of this study is the high number of patients recruited and the execution of viral serologic tests not routinely performed in clinical practice. The primary endpoint of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of latent and acute viral infections in patients with PsA. Our data confirm previous observations from the literature indicating that patients with PsA are exposed to multiple viruses with increased prevalence compared to the normal population (Figure 1). However, the most interesting finding of our study was that 31 patients with serologic findings suggestive of critical viral infections, despite immunosuppressive therapy, did not develop any virus-related clinical symptoms . These patients were all chronically treated with CsA as monotherapy or in combination with other systemic immunosuppressants (Table 3). Although old and new immunosuppressive agents have the potential to induce virus reactivation, data from the literature are very limited in PsA, and the guidelines for the treatment of PsA do not provide therapeutic indications for patients with acute or latent viral infections . However, the possibility that PsA patients also have viral infections is not negligible, and the administration of immunosuppressants to patients with moderate or severe forms can be necessary even in the presence of latent viral infections. A few considerations can be made for HCV-positive PsA patients. The literature reports that systemic administration of corticosteroids in liver transplant recipients can increase HCV infectivity and exacerbate underlying viral infections [12, 13]; therefore, corticosteroids should probably be avoided in PsA HCV-positive patients. On the contrary, in vitro studies have shown that CsA inhibits HCV replication by inhibiting cyclophilin B [14–16]. Moreover, patients treated with CsA after liver transplantation have lower HCV titers and reduced frequency of deaths or graft losses than patients treated with tacrolimus [17, 18]. Few cases of patients with PsA and HCV treated with CsA are reported in the literature. Miura et al. described 4 patients with dermatologic diseases and HCV infection treated with CsA: in 3 cases, CsA was safe and it reduced HCV-RNA load and serum liver enzymes; the fourth patient showed a modest increase in alanine aminotransferases (ALT) levels but no change in blood HCV-RNA load. Galeazzi et al. used CsA in 20 patients with rheumatologic disorders (4 with PsA) and concomitant HCV infection; they reported that HCV RNA load decreased significantly after 6 months. Giannitti et al. treated 7 patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis and HCV infection with CsA and anti-TNF-alpha in combination and found that HCV RNA decreased significantly. Our results support these earlier observations. An interesting and unexpected finding of our study was that two HCV- RNA-positive patients at baseline evaluation were negative after 12 months of treatment with CsA. 4.2. Efficacy during Routine Clinical Practice During the 12-month period of the study, we observed a progressive improvement in our patients’ cutaneous and musculoskeletal clinical picture. We hypothesize the improvement to have been related in part to the progressive therapeutic effect of CsA and, in part, to the increased number of patients who received biologics in combination with CsA. Our study shows that PsA patients have a higher prevalence of viral seropositivity than the healthy population. Systematic screening for infections could improve identification of PsA patients at risk of developing active infections. In our patients, the treatment of PsA with CsA as monotherapy or in combination was effective and safe. In vitro experiments and clinical findings , including those obtained in our study, suggest that CsA as monotherapy or in combination with biologics might be the treatment of choice in HCV-positive patients if PsA needs systemic treatment, but caution and close laboratory and clinical monitoring are necessary prior to and during treatment. Conflict of Interests Delia Colombo is a part-time employee of Novartis Farma Italy and received grants from Allergan and Aventis. Sergio Chimenti has received advisory/speaker honoraria and/or research funding from Abbvie, MSD, Novartis, and Pfizer. Paolo Grossi has received advisory/speaker honoraria and/or research funding from Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, Biotest, Astrazeneca, Gilead, and Astellas. Antonio Marchesoni has received advisory and speaker honoraria from Novartis. Sergio Di Nuzzo, Vito Griseta, and Anna Gargiulo have no conflict of interest. Aurora Parodi has received advisory/speaker honoraria and/or research funding from Abbvie, Almirall, Galderma, Leo Pharma, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and Shire. Lucia Simoni is an employee of Medidata srl, Italy. Gilberto Bellia is an employee of Novartis Farma Italy. On behalf of the SYNERGY study group, Synergy Study Group included D. Casanova (Parma), V. Griseta (Bari), S. Chimenti (Rome), A. Gargiulo (Caserta), A. Parodi (Genoa), F. Ayala (Naples), F. Bardazzi (Bologna), G. Camplone (Rome), R. Foti (Catania), P. G. Calzavara-Pinton (Brescia), S. Donelli (Piacenza), N. Aste (Cagliari), C. Lauriti (Pescara), G. Cruciani (Rome), S. Calvieri (Rome), A. G. Galluccio (Benevento), C. Meschini (Viterbo), G. A. Vena (Bari), G. Altomare (Milan), P. Frugiuele (Cosenza), C. Giannitti (Siena), M. Govoni (Ferrara), P. P. Sainaghi (Novara), and G. Valenti (Catanzaro). The authors thank Roberto Imberti who provided assistance with English language editing. - P. 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by Gustavo Codas The first great spontaneous, popular rebellion at a national level against neo-liberal globalization was the Caracas Uprising of 1989. In 1992, a group of Venezuelan military rebels, led by Hugo Chavez, sought to give it a political expression. In 1990, in the midst of the confusion provoked by the final crisis of bureaucratic socialism, on the initiative of the Workers Party (PT) of Lula and with the support of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) of Fidel Castro, the first Sao Paulo Forum was held with the participation of a broad spectrum of progressive and left-wing parties from all across Latin America, to debate political strategies for coming out of the back-wash in which they found themselves in the struggle against neo-conservatism. The first action against the mainstream articulated at an international level was the campaign for the 500 years of indigenous, black and popular resistance which a variety of Latin American organizations deployed around the commemorations of 1992. The first political response to neo-liberal globalization at a national level with world-wide repercussions was the Zapatista indigenous uprising of January 1, 1994. The most marginalized and excluded sector, the most socially “backward” in the hemisphere, the poor native peoples of Mexico, rose up against the most “modern” expression of the neo-liberal offensive, NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. The first great demonstration against the effects of neo-liberalism in the North was the general strike of 1995 which shook France and challenged the stagnation of the formerly powerful European trade unionism which had built the welfare state and now, impotent, watched it collapse. The first lasting electoral victory of an alternative political project to neo-liberalism was that of Chavez en 1998. Previous cases such as that of Aristide in 1991, in Haiti, did not resist the pressures from the right and from imperialism and failed or were diverted from their course. In 1996, at the Inter-Galactic Gathering called by the Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico, the most diverse social and political actors from the North and the South of the world converged on the same space for the first time, all with the common denominator of being willing to confront neo-liberalism. In 1999, at demonstrations against the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle, United States, overcoming mutual distrust, both the “new” movements and many of the “traditional” social organizations from all over the world joined together in the first demonstration with international representatives with a broad, political-ideological diversity, but all opposed to neo-liberal globalization. Just prior to 1997, the Hemispheric Social Alliance (HSA) emerges in which new and traditional movements from all across the hemisphere join in questioning the FTAA, the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the leading project of US imperialism for the continent. All these processes and events occurred in a world context dominated by the global, neo-liberal drive – a drive that was political, economic and cultural. This is to say, they were struggles against the flow, against the mainstream, but under an environment broadly favorable to neo-liberal capitalism and the social and political forces associated with it. When the People’s Summit was organized by the HSA in Quebec, Canada, in April 2001, in parallel to the official summit of Presidents, only one head of state of the 34 present expressed his discontent with the FTAA and his affinity with the protest movements: Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. In this context, still on the defensive in relation to neo-liberal, no-option thinking and the end-of-history ideological wave, at the World Social Forum (WSF) of January 2001 in Porto Alegre, there was an attempt to put together a venue for bringing such diverse actors together. It was hoped they would find synergy.. That they would exchange diagnoses. That they would come to know each other’s programs. That they would decide upon joint action in each case it was wanted. It was like a point of support for many agendas: the WSF was important for that moment when struggles were scattered across too many points of the planet to be interconnected, associated, or internationalized. Within that perspective, the first Forum incorporated the Social Movements Assembly (SMA) which from the outset took on a strong leading role in the search for agendas of common action. It was an initiative of the organizations of the international Via Campesina, of militant trade unions from various countries and the World March of Women, amongst others. The success of this approach became visible when, at the European Social Forum in November 2002, in Florence, Italy, and the WSF of January 2003 in Porto Alegre, the SMA agreed to promote the day of global action against the war of the United States against Iraq, which mobilized millions of people all around the world. Finally, neo-liberal globalization met with a high-level response, and the call of the farmers’ international to “Globalize the Struggle!” was fulfilled. Today the global and regional situation of capitalism and of the forces ranged against it is different. And this challenges not only the WSF but also other expressions of international and regional movements that have opposed neo-liberalism over all these years. And thus the HSA is also being re-discussed, having played such an important role in defeating the FTAA in the continental campaign which culminated in victory at Mar del Plata in 2005. Since the electoral victory of Chavez in 1998, a large part of Latin America has seen presidential electoral victories for progressive forces. Although there were also two victorious coups for the right, in Honduras, 2010, and in Paraguay, 2012. In the countries with progressive governments, the social movements confront different challenges from the head-on opposition to neo-liberal political projects; but the fact is that those movements often times have different and even contradictory points of view with the progressive governments on key issues. Those experiences of progressive governments are very diverse. Their lowest common denominator is their opposition to US imperialist domination. That is a basic area of convergence for those governments with social movements. But what happens in the various cases where, on the rest of the agenda, there are different postures and even counter-positions? And we should recognize that this occurs not just in the more timid progressive experiences (such as those of the Southern Cone, which in spite of their relatively low-profile programmes, were vital to stopping FTAA in 2005), but also in processes which are clearly revolutionary. Or, is this not the case with the conflict of the government of Evo Morales with some indigenous sectors in relation to TIPNIS in Bolivia (without getting into a discussion of who is right)? The decade of the 1990’s was marked by the sensation of victory for US unilateralism inaugurated by the first war in Iraq. But, now, a few years on, the tectonic plates of world power have moved. The U.S. has not lost its status of first economic, geo-political, and military power, but several other poles dispute it regionally (the clearest is China) and are looking to inter-relate at a world level. On the part of the progressive governments there is little doubt about the need to play this game, on the terms on which it is set up: that various poles are emerging against the uni-polarity of the U.S. Is it possible to think through world geo-politics starting from the movements or will we only think through the general demands of represented sectors? Does the internationalism of social movements have something to say in relation to the design of world, inter-state power? The neo-liberal recipes went into their final ideological crisis during the capitalist collapse of 2008. But, in many cases they continue being applied, above all in the North, even without the support of any legitimacy. They still operate on the ideological terrain opened up in the decade of the 1980’s by the recently deceased M. Thatcher, she who claimed “there is no alternative” (TINA) to neo-liberalism. Because if there are alternative ideas, in general political forces capable of promoting alternative programs have not emerged. It is no longer enough to criticize neo-liberal capitalism, we need to set out a counter-proposal and organize a majority political force with that program. The social movements and the NGO’s (those which in the Forum are misnamed “civil society”, as separate and in counter-position to the political parties and governments on the left) are characterized by fragmentation. The left-wing or progressive political parties which survived stand out for the backwardness of their programs. Where will the response come from? Only in Greece can we see the apparent crystallizing of a combination of protests with the construction of a counter-hegemonic political and social force which is promoting a program for overcoming the crisis. This example is important, but scarcely sufficient to face up to the generalized European crisis. The political forces of religious Muslim inspiration set themselves up some time ago as one of the world’s principal anti-imperialist poles; yet they have huge differences of world view with the greater part of western social movements. Is it possible to build bridges? With what methodology? With what objectives? In fact, events have passed all of us by. The Arab, anti-dictatorship revolutions and the movements of the indignant and others in Europe and the United States have had their own dynamics outside the WSF or the interconnections which were created or strengthened starting from the WSF. This is to say, no international or regional grouping or space has launched them or oriented them or shielded them. The two political processes which have most sought to overcome the limits of the old democratic neo-colonialist regimes, the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela and the pluri-national revolution in Bolivia, are political initiatives which depend on governments spurred on by the capitalist siege on those experiences. And although powerful social mobilizations have taken place there, they have not fostered social movements which express the new moment and drive it forward. It is not possible for all that diversity to be included in a single process or space. For some long time still, we will have to continue with the diversity of initiatives, and that could be good, if we work through it correctly. We need each one of those experiences to achieve common conquests, aspects on which there is already convergence, possible syntheses. It is necessary to keep the dialogue open, with the comprehension that today there is no guiding party, there is no world lighthouse, there is no party of the world revolution dictating anti-mainstream formulas, and if there are good critical theories of the dying civilization, there is as yet no synthesis of what might be the alternatives. In the WSF, “civil society” has criticized the top-down culture of political parties and governments on the 20th Century Left. There was good cause in the criticism, but a self-critical vision was lacking on its own limitations. The administrators of the WSF – its international council, its organizing committees – prioritized their institutionalization and the control of “their brand” over trying to interpret the changing currents of the world. And amongst those currents were some which preceded its creation, others in its first years and some which from some four years ago at a global level, present unprecedented opportunities. The WSF sometimes and in some circumstances has known how to be flexible, and if those who administer it had synchronized more with these times, it would offer today a space where all that complexity could meet in friendship, without conditions, overcoming dogmas of the Forum itself, seeking political syntheses which permit the construction of forces with the capacity to dispute power and with a political perspective capable of overcoming the failed experiences of the previous century. The world of counter-hegemonic struggles and of attempts at alternatives in the 21st century is broad, very diverse all around the planet and without owners. Better that it be thus. It probably does not fit in just one space, no matter how open and flexible it might be. In this new context, if the Forum process is to be something more than an important antecedent, it has to be open, and rather than try to absorb or curtail energies with pre-established criteria, it has to define a new method which helps to liberate them. (Translation: Don Lee). – Gustavo Codas is a Paraguayan journalist and economist, Master of International Relations. This text is part of ALAI’s Spanish language magazine América Latina en Movimiento No. 484, http://www.alainet.org/publica/484.phtml URL of this article: http://www.alainet.org/active/63707

With Landry gone and Ezeli on the mend until at least the rest of the year, their number one priority should be a backup big man who can play both PF and C. Ekpe Udoh was a fan favorite when he was a Warrior and is a terrific defender who can play PF and C. He is not particularly good at much else, but has proven that when he's on the court, the team is almost always on the plus side because of the hustle and little things he does that don't show up in the box score. His help defense is impeccable, he alters many shots, is mobile, and he times blocks well. I suspect we can get him for almost nothing since Bucks are stacked at PF/C with Sanders, Ilyasova, Ayon, Gooden, Henson, and now Pachulia (recently signed). $6.0M 2014-15 Qualifying Offer which we would decline to maintain cap flexibility ESPN Scouting ReportUdoh fills a need without adding salary that could jeopardize their 2014 cap flexibility. + Lean, athletic shot-blocker who moves well defensively and can protect rim. + Has 15-foot range but very poor offensive instincts. No moves or handle. + Very poor rebounder for size. Needs to reduce fouls. Makes free throws. Udoh can't rebound or score, but man, can he play defense. Synergy again rated him as one of the best defenders in the league, and his teams once again had a major defensive improvement with him on the court. Golden State gave up 10.7 points per 100 possessions less with him on the court, while in Milwaukee the change was 5.2 points. Opposing centers racked up a decent player efficiency rating against Udoh, but that's because he was busy playing sheriff. He ranked fifth in blocks per minute among centers and in the top third in steals. He's both a capable pick-and-roll defender and a very strong rim protector, and despite his inexperience his defensive instincts are all on key. He's a bit undersized for a center and at age 25 he may not improve much from here, but defensive value alone makes him a very good backup. Fouls, however, remain a problem, as he had one every 7.4 minutes. Udoh would be a starter if he could play offense, but he's pretty bad at this end. He can make open jumpers and hit 38.4 percent of his shots beyond 10 feet, but he just doesn't have the instincts or ball skills to get himself easy chances near the basket. He's a low-mistake player, at least, cutting his turnover rate sharply last season, and his 75.4 percent from the line was very good for a center. Surprisingly, he's also a terrible rebounder. Udoh was the league's third-worst center in both defensive rebound rate and overall rebound rate. This is partly because of how often he's going for blocks, but regardless he'll have to do better.

Social Media in the workplace is a topic that has come about in the past number of years, and is causing increasing concerns for organisations in terms of management of employees and data protection issues. Archive for the ‘HR and recruitment’ Category When we look at all the avenues we now have for online outsourcing, there are four different levels of services we can tap into. In the age of Facebook, Kickstarter and Groupon, startup teams are getting younger, more ambitious and diverse, but the synergy amongst team members are not always there. This is why even the most innovative and creative startups can learn from established companies about effective human capital management and team development. Startups hire quickly for growth and are firing even quicker when employees don’t work out. Act fast, be fair and move on. Recognizing problems early can save a lot of work later on down the road. Sometimes you have to see the signs and fix things before it’s too late. It’s not about the death of employment. It’s about the birth of efficient employment. As a small business owner, it can be a challenge finding just the right employees. What’s the right fit? How much background should they have? Too much education or too little? Can they be over qualified, or not qualified enough? Are you one of the forward-thinking employers or managers who loves to give workers incentives rather than be forced to hand out punishment? OSHA may have some harsh words for you: Stop it! As a leadership coach I consistently am asked to help improve manager performance with managers in a variety of businesses. A poorly functioning remote team can eat away at your effectiveness and completely destroy productivity. If even one of these problems is a persistent issue in your company, you’re better off calling the team home and focusing on working together in person.

Center named one of six winners nationwide AURORA, Colo. – A highly specialized adolescent treatment service center in the metro area has been honored as one of the best in the country. Synergy provides highly specialized treatment for substance abuse, conduct disorder and other co-occurring mental health disorders. It has been named one of six national winners of a Science and Service Award for Treatment of Substance Abuse and Recovery Services. This award is given by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Synergy is part of the Addiction Research and Treatment Service (ARTS) in the Division of Substance Dependence in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Elizabeth Whitmore, PhD, is Director of the Synergy Outpatient Services and is a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Psychiatry Department. Whitmore said, “This national honor recognizes the intense dedication of our treatment staff, who struggle daily to provide humane, caring, scientifically-supported treatments to profoundly troubled adolescents and their families.” The Science and Service Awards recognize programs that are uniquely successful in offering “evidence-based treatments”. These are treatments that have a strong scientific research base demonstrating their efficacy. Synergy’s award recognizes its use of Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) for adolescents and their families, a treatment that Synergy often integrates with the Community Reinforcement Approach. MST addresses all dimensions of adolescents’ lives, aiming to decrease their antisocial behavior and substance abuse while improving functioning in their families and communities. This cost-effective, sustainable, family-oriented intervention is provided in adolescents’ homes or community locations, outside of hospitals or residential settings. Therapists in the center are state-certified drug abuse counselors, usually with Master’s degrees in Social Work. A team of psychiatrists from the Department’s Division of Substance Dependence provide psychiatric services. Synergy also has CU-owned residential (live-in) services for adolescent males on the campus of the old Fort Logan Mental Health Center.ospital. Faculty at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine work to advance science and improve care. These faculty members include physicians, educators and scientists at University of Colorado Hospital, The Children’s Hospital, Denver Health, National Jewish Health, and the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Degrees offered by the University of Colorado School of Medicine include doctor of medicine, doctor of physical therapy, and masters of physician assistant studies. The School is located on the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus, one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system. For additional news and information, please visit the CU Denver newsroom online. Contact: Jackie Brinkman, 303-724-1525, [email protected]; 303-501-4250 (cell)

PharmaMar Initiates a Pivotal Phase III ATLANTIS Study with PM1183 in Combination with Doxorubicin in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer MADRID, August 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmaMar (MSE:PHM) today announced the start of a pivotal Phase III ATLANTIS study evaluating efficacy and safety of PM1183 (lurbinectedin) in combination with doxorubicin versus topotecan or the combination VCR (cyclophosphamide, adriamicine (doxorubicin) and vincristine) in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) after the failure of one prior platinum-containing line. Topotecan is the only drug approved both in USA and Europe for this indication. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150203/727958-b ) ATLANTIS is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, and controlled Phase III clinical trial that is to include 600 patients at clinical sites across 21 countries. The primary endpoint of this study is to improve the progression free-survival (PFS) of those patients that will be evaluated by an Independent Review Committee following Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1). Secondary objectives include overall survival (OS); duration of the response (DR); along with quality of life indicators; response rate (RR) according to the RECIST 1.1 criteria; and also the correlation between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. "We are pleased to start this pivotal Phase III clinical trial after PM1183 demonstrated encouraging results of the Phase IB study, where 67% of the patients responded to the treatment of lurbinectedin in combination with doxorubicin. In the Phase IB study we have seen a complete response, with total remission of the symptoms of the illness in 10% of the patients", explains Dr Arturo Soto, director of Clinical Development of PharmaMar´s Oncology Business Unit, who also adds "that the novel mechanism of action of PM1183, along with the synergy observed in the combination with doxorubicin, could provide a new treatment option for patients with small cell lung cancer, an indication that has such a poor prognosis" . Media Relations (+34-638-79-62-15) and Investor Relations (+34-914444500)

We recently read several interviews from last week's CES of ARM Holdings (NASDAQ:ARMH) CEO Warren East. Over the last several years, Mr. East has been one of the most successful CEOs in the semiconductor industry, building a semiconductor IP powerhouse in the mobile and tablet space with partners including Broadcom (BRCM), Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) and, of course, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). Going forward, the server market represents one of ARM's largest opportunities, and ARM's partner, Applied Micro Circuits (NASDAQ:AMCC) is positioned to be a major beneficiary. We believe there may be near-term catalysts that drive AMCC significantly higher. According to respected technology business writer Eric Savitz' article in Forbes, "East says the company is taking dead aim at the market for server processors. There's plenty of room for gains in that market, where ARM at this point has no share at all." The reason that servers have become so relevant to ARM is their expertise in low-power, high-efficiency architectures. Savitz comments that East "notes that by some estimates IT equipment now suck down 10% of the world electric power...in the next few years that the amount of data creates could increase 100x, or maybe 1000x." According to East, "They are going to switch to ARM because it is all about the power." This is relevant to AMCC, because with its upcoming X-Gene 64bit ARM-based processors, AMCC will be ARM's first partner to enter the low power server market - a multi-billion dollar opportunity. While ARM has multiple partners, AMCC's 64bit processor has at least a full year head start on potential competitors. Addressing a critical market need Source: AMCC August 2012 Investor Presentation As seen in the graphic above, AMCC's 64bit X-Gene holds a unique place in the market, with high-performance and low power. For anyone interested in a more in-depth technical analysis, we suggest reviewing this report from the Linley Group (Linley acknowledges that their "paper is sponsored by Applied Micro, but all opinions and analysis are those of the author, and in our view, Linley is a highly reputable organization). According to the Linley Group, the reason for the X-Gene power advantage stems from: Whereas Intel has only recently begun to retrofit its Xeon processors for lower power, ARM processors are designed from the ground up for power efficiency. This focus comes from ARM's heritage in mobile phones and other battery-powered devices, but more recently, the company and its partners have expanded into the digital home (e.g., set-top boxes), microcontrollers, and even wireless infrastructure. The same technology can be applied to PCs and servers. While certain workloads will not be appropriate for X-Gene, and well-entrenched x86 environments will be difficult to penetrate, we expect AMCC/ARM to have a significant opportunity in the cloud segment, where there is primarily open-sourced software, and not an established Intel beach-head. Not a typical value stock, or is it? As value investors, we tend to shy away from story stocks such as AMCC. We like strong balance sheets, healthy cash flow, and significant margins of safety. However, there are occasions when we believe stocks offer the prospect of highly asymmetric outcomes. With AMCC, it is our view that should they successfully penetrate the server space - a multi-billion dollar opportunity - there is the potential for a positive return of several hundred percent (or more) versus relatively modest downside. We also believe, that for reasons that we detail below, the buyside does not fully appreciate how cheap shares of AMCC are. One of our first sanity checks when looking at any story stock is reviewing insider trading activity. Notably, for AMCC, since May 2012, 6 different directors and 3 different officers, including its CEO, have purchased shares of AMCC - some multiple times. The only sales during this period have been to cover the tax consequences of option exercises. On December 17th, Seeking Alpha author Ashraf Eassa published an article titled: Applied Micro: Starting to look like a good short. To summarize his key points, Mr. Eassa argues that AMCC 1) has an awful track record over the last decade-plus, 2) has "deteriorating" fundamentals, 3) is going to be challenged to compete successfully against Intel's vast resources, 4) is at a disadvantage due to Intel's leadership in process technology (40nm vs. 32nm - and later in 2013 28nm vs. 22nm), and 5) is expensive at 50x his target of $5 a share - based on EPS of $0.10 in FY14 (it is a March FY, so this is basically calendar 2013). We assess Mr. Eassa's points below. AMCC has an awful track record, but they also have ARM On Mr. Eassa's first point, we completely concur. AMCC has little to show for the last decade. They have destroyed value, made bad acquisitions and have been a poor performer. That being said, we believe this sets a low bar in terms of expectations, and leaves shares being relatively under-owned by major institutions - we are nothing, if not contrarian. Also, we would argue that while AMCC has been awful, ARM has been incredible. Virtually, anything that ARM has asserted, it will accomplish, it has accomplished - usually exceeding expectations. We are willing to take AMCC's failures with a grain of salt, given their alignment with worldbeater ARM. With its entrance into servers, AMCC is tackling a gargantuan competitor with a well established customer base accustomed to running Intel servers. Fortunately, ARM has significant experience developing an ecosystem. Red Hat (RHAT) has signed on in developing an ARM-based platform and we anticipate continued growing support. Fundamentals are improving, not deteriorating We strongly disagree with Mr. Eassa that fundamentals are deteriorating, and the facts bear this out. Revenues grew over 10% sequentially in the September quarter, and the company guided to 8-12% sequential revenue growth in December - at a time when many semiconductor companies are experiencing declines. If March is flat with December, it is forecast to be up, then March will be up y/y. Mr. Eassa is backward looking in referring to negative y/y comps. AMCC's core OTN business has improved dramatically off of cyclical lows. The projected growth in December and March is from OTN, with X-Gene only coming later. Management has also guided to breakeven for March, reducing concerns over cash burn. Far from deteriorating, growth is accelerating in an otherwise tepid semiconductor sector. AMCC can compete with Intel with the help of ARM We disagree with Mr. Eassa that AMCC will not be able to compete with the mighty Intel. Thanks to the help of ARM, and server OEMs who desperately need a better solution (see Mr. East's quote above), we think there is market share to be won - and even a few percent produces material upside to AMCC's numbers. We have been espousing this view since last February. While Mr. Eassa points out that Intel has a staff of 100,000, versus 700 at AMCC, he neglects to mention that ARM has a team of 1,600 engineers who, for years, have been laser-focused on the power/efficiency challenge. In our view, that is the essence of why X-Gene will succeed. ARM has built its company around low-power. X-Gene comes into the market with a heritage of low-power behind it. Intel will have to shoe-horn the higher performance Xeon, or improve the performance of the lower-end atom. Despite its considerable manpower, we don't think Intel can get it done by sheer size. Just as in mobile, for the low-power, high performance segment, Intel is behind the curve. Fortunately for ARM/AMCC, the X-Gene comes at precisely the right time. Cloud environments are exploding in number, and power and total cost of ownership are increasingly important issues. Seeking Alpha author Timothy Phillips recently wrote an article speculating that Facebook's (NASDAQ:FB) January 15th announcement is that they are entering cloud service. In this article, Mr. Phillips refers to Facebook's Open Compute Project, which they started over a year ago. The Open Compute Project is: We started a project at Facebook a little over a year ago with a pretty big goal: to build one of the most efficient computing infrastructures at the lowest possible cost. We decided to honor our hacker roots and challenge convention by custom designing and building our software, servers and data centers from the ground up - and then share these technologies as they evolve. The result is a data center full of vanity free servers which is 38% more efficient and 24% less expensive to build and run than other state-of-the art data centers. By releasing Open Compute Project technologies as open hardware, our goal is to develop servers and data centers following the model traditionally associated with open source software projects. That's where you come in. This does not sound like Facebook is looking for the status quo - if there's a better mousetrap, and it doesn't have to come from Intel, we believe it will be considered, and we expect it to be X-Gene. Notably, the 4th Open Compute Summit will be held beginning Wednesday, and AMCC's CEO Paramesh Gopi will be presenting a keynote, as will Intel CTO Justin Rattner. We strongly doubt that Mr. Gopi will present vaporware in front of some of his most important colleagues, and think the event could provide further evidence of AMCC's progress. Our perspective is supported by the fact that according to AMCC's press release on Monday, January 14th, at the event "Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) will be showing a prototype server chassis featuring the X-Gene Platform at its booth #A3." Transistor dimensions are only part of the equation Mr. Eassa seems particularly focused on the difference in process node between AMCC and Intel's parts. He is fixated on the idea that an AMCC 40nm part is unable to compete with an Intel 32nm part, or at the next node, AMCC at 28nm will fail against Intel's 22nm or 14nm. We acknowledge that Mr. Eassa has probably studied more engineering in a semester, than we have in our lives, but we have consulted with plenty of engineers, who disagree with his perspective. To paraphrase a famous quote, "it's not size of the semiconductor package, it's how you use it." Or in this case, what you pack into it. But don't take our word for it. In this past weekend's Barrons, ARM CEO Warren East is quoted as saying: "How much does the chip cost, how fast does it go, and how much power does it consume... the only benefit of a new geometry is to get more chips out of a wafer." While a smaller die-size unquestionably gives Intel a cost advantage, and the ability to pack in more transistors should be an advantage, it's simply an oversimplification to say just because it's a smaller process node, it wins. Without getting into too much technical detail (read through the previously mentioned Linley report), we believe the X-Gene provides a more highly integrated solution and because of Intel's decades long heritage it has to be compatible with less efficient CISC code, vs. ARM's use of more efficient RISC code. In summary, process node is simply one of multiple dimensions impacting chip performance. For equipment vendors, their ultimate purchase decision will come down to performance and total cost of ownership. AMCC offers a lower total cost of ownership As this slide above illustrates, the more efficient X-Gene SoC provides reduced cost of ownership. Its higher level of integration versus Intel results in lower cost of memory, power usage, and cooling. We have high conviction that customers view total cost of ownership in their purchase decision, and don't simply look at performance in a vacuum. AMCC shares are not expensive Lastly, and most importantly to us as value investors, AMCC shares are not expensive, though they may superficially appear to be. Admittedly, they are not as cheap as when we were acquiring them around $7, and when they were on fire sale several months ago below $5, but they still offer a very attractive risk-reward profile. Given current sell-side estimates of an EPS loss of $0.49 for FY13 (March) and positive EPS of $0.10 for FY14, our assertion that the stock is not expensive might appear absurd. We expect the company to have $1 (or slightly more) per share by the end of March, and to be cash flow neutral. When we look at the company, we look at it in 2 buckets: its core OTN business and the X-Gene business. Dividing these buckets, it becomes apparent that the core business is significantly profitable, while X-Gene is losing a lot of money. We'd like to take credit for this idea, but it actually comes from AMCC itself. Business profitable x/X-Gene Source: AMCC June 2012 Investor Presentation From this slide, it is clear that X-Gene is an ongoing drag on earnings and is projected to negatively impact 2014 EPS by $0.76. We note that these are pre-tax numbers, that should be fairly representative of after-tax, due to sizable NOLs. The way we view the opportunity at AMCC is that if X-Gene is successful, numbers go way up, not just in FY13 and FY14, but well beyond, and this become a colossal home-run - think Mellanox (NASDAQ:MLNX) 3 years ago. But if X-Gene fails, it simply gets shuttered, and we own an $8 stock ex-cash, earning $0.82 - actually higher today given 2 consecutive earnings beats and a headcount reduction - or around 9x EPS. So potentially massive upside versus modest downside. In our view, Mr. Eassa's analysis of EPS is flawed. If one believes that X-Gene will be an unmitigated disaster, then to also count those expenses in your op-ex calculation makes little sense - especially since AMCC is providing the tools to do the math. AMCC also could be an interesting buyout candidate in either case. Should X-Gene prove successful, as we expect it to, STMicro (NYSE:STM), Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN), Broadcom or others could all be interested buyers. If X-Gene is a failure, then AMCC would have $1 of cash, approximately $4 of NOLs and R&D tax credits (our calculation of present value using IRS 382 calculation - see below) and $50-60 million of EBITDA. Assuming no operational synergy (highly improbable) and a takeout multiple of 6x-8x EBITDA plus cash plus NOLs, we arrive at a value of $9-$12 in a downside case. Significant NOLs/Deferred tax assets Source: AMCC FY2012 Form 10-K, page F-30 As of the end of FY12 (March), AMCC had over $1.1 billion of federal net operating loss, and research and development credit carryforwards. On a taxed basis, these are valued at approximately $470 million. These numbers should be higher at the end of FY13, given losses this year. We believe a conservative estimate of the present value of these deferred tax assets based on 70 million shares outstanding is $4 per share. While at first glance, with significant operating losses, and just over $1 of cash per share, AMCC does not look cheap, with significant NOLs and a business that can be purged accretively if it fails, AMCC is actually quite the value, offering significantly asymmetric opportunities. It's difficult to find true secular growth stories. We are hopeful that AMCC will prove to be the case and be a long-term winner and a multi-bagger. While this doesn't have the same margin of safety as our typical investment, the widespread insider buying and partnership with ARM buttress our confidence. Further, AMCC's ability to shed a money-losing operation, should it fail - an element we believe is not fully recognized when taking a cursory look at numbers - significantly reduces potential downside. We have confidence that AMCC is addressing a very sizable challenge with tremendous growing market demand. This week's Open Compute Conference could be one of many important signposts on AMCC's route to success. Disclosure: I am long AMCC. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Additional disclosure: We conduct thorough research on our ideas, but our views are our own. Please do your own research.

Abstract : The main objective of this thesis is to study the motor flexibility in complex movements when an unexpected event makes the initial motor plan inefficient. In this way, three kinematic and electromyographic studies and a fourth with functional magnetic resonance imaging were realized. (1)The main result of the first study clearly demonstrate that during complex movements express motor corrections in the upper and lower limbs, with latency responses of less than 100 ms, were revealed by contrasting electromyographic activities in perturbed and unperturbed trials. Such findings could indicate that visual on-going movement corrections may be accomplished via fast loops at the level of the upper and lower limbs and may not require cortical involvement. (2) When an unexpected target jump occurred, correction times were strongly correlated together for some pairs of muscles independently of their occurrences during the motor sequence and independently of the location of the muscles at the anatomical level. This second study suggests that the CNS re-programs a new motor synergy after the target jumps in order to correct the on going reaching movement. (3) When the target size is varied during the initial motor plan execution, the movement duration can increase independently of the variability of the final endpoint. These results suggests that when the speed-accuracy trade-off is unexpectedly modified, terminal feedbacks based on intermediate representations of the endpoint velocity are used to monitor and control the hand displacement. (4) Finally, when catching a falling ball and the possibility of prediction about the ball weight was manipulated, the last study of this thesis showed that both the right and left cerebellum is engaged in processing sensory-motor errors, and more particularly the lobules IV, V and VI. For classical loops involved in motor flexibility, sensory-motor errors are processed within the cerebellum. However, some shorter sub-cortical loops seem also to be involved for faster motor corrections. The coordination between these different loops needs to be explained more precisely.

- Available Spaces |---||Office Space||For sale: Contact for Pricing||21,875 sqft| |---||Office Space||For sale: $1,250,000||13,932 sqft| 4425 W 63rd St is an office property for lease in Chicago, IL. The property currently has 2 office spaces for lease and is marketed by RE/MAX Synergy and World Business Chicago. SUPERB 2 STORY ELEVATOR OFFICE BLDG. ON BUSY 63RD ST. NEAR MIDWAY AIRPORT! GREAT MEDICAL FACILITY TOO! WELL MAINTAINED WITH OVER 300K IN IMPROVEMENTS - BLDG. FACADE, HVAC, ROOF, ELEC. FLOORING, WROUGHT IRON FENCE, AND MORE. GOOD LONG-TERM TENANTS AND PLENT OF PARKING, BOTH COVERED AND OPEN. 2064 SQ. FT. UNIT AVAILABLE FOR OWNER-USER, OR TO LEASE OUT. STREET SIGNAGE W/LED SCROLLING. A GREAT INVESTMENT! PRICE JUST LOWERED FROM $1,599,000.00! Please describe your commercial real estate requirements. We'll create a list of matching properties that meet your criteria. - Steven Goldstein, agent and Rofo Pro

Patrick truly is an amazing interviewee. After our video interview, he said he’d love to answer questions from my blog readers too. I told him, sure, I’d gather those questions. After some time, he even sent me a reminder to forward the questions to him! And so I did!😀 Tell me where else I can find an interviewee like that, who is so giving, and enthusiastic about sharing? I have 2 questions: 1. Do studio apartments have a good market for resale, say 3-5 years after purchase, when I decide to move in to HDB or condo after marriage? 2. How much will these studio apartments cost by 2013? How much cash/ CPF do I need to accumulate by then for this housing? Is it advisable based on my current financial status? (I have close to $30k of CPF and liquid cash. Secondary source of income is through investment which is expected to be 5~9% p.a.).” In my humble opinion, it is hard to make a general statement about the ‘Studio’ segment of the property market. There are many other specific information needed to make a better-informed decision. For example, Studios can be ‘mainstream’ or ‘shoebox’ units. They can be from the low, medium, or high end segment. In addition, they can be purchased from the primary or secondary (resale) market. There are a few key factors to help you make a wiser decision. - Purpose. Why do you want to own a Studio? For example, is it for use as a living space or as an investment asset? The principle is simple. If you don’t know what you want in your life, no property investment will satisfy you. - Profiling. What is your risk-reward appetite? The principle is simple. Don’t fall in love with the property, fall in love with the numbers. For example, can you afford the property? Can you support the future cashflow? How secure are your current and future career and financial positions? To do a proper analysis, you need to use your head, not your heart, to make an objective, balanced and pragmatic decision. - Performance. Do you have the K.A.S.H (knowledge, attitude, skills and habits) to invest wisely in property? The principle is simple – Most consumers have transacted an average of about five properties in their lives. In other words, they may not have the experience and expertise to make a sound judgement. Prior to making a decision, you may wish to further your real estate education or even sign up for a real estate agent’s course so as to know the tips and traps of property investment. - Passion. In the final analysis, life is for living. Will the property help you to enjoy your life and live it to the fullest? The principle is simple – The property investment must serve you, and not the other way around. Life is short and there is no dress rehearsal. Please acquire a property so that it will help to add value to your life. - Priority. Is property investment the most important thing to do? The principle is simple – The property investment decision must be made in an objective, balanced and pragmatic way. It is a decision that will influence and affect other decisions. Acquiring a property is not the only thing to do in life. There are other decisions and actions that may be just as important, if not more important. It is a decision that has to be seen in proper perspective and from a holistic point of view. I wish you the best returns for your property investment. It includes both financial as well as non-financial returns. 2) Question From Reader Jimmy: How much did luck (versus hard work) play a part in your success? What roles did your mentors play in getting you into the property line? 2a. I believe that working hard and working smart are two sides of the same coin and you cannot succeed in life without any one of them. I have a simple formula called APEX that I adopted almost from the beginning of my working life. Let me share it with you. In a nut shell, A – Attitude. Success is an adopted attitude. Without a positive perspective, you will never achieve positive results. P – Planning. I believe every task starts and ends with planning. You need a plan to ensure that you achieve win-win results. Through the plan, you can better galvanise human and other resources. You can systemize the operation, and enhance the synergy and alignment of all the resources so as to optimise your productivity. The plan must be iterative. In other words, you need to review it constantly so as to improve upon it. When the task is completed, there should be a plan to ensure that the learning experience becomes a platform for further achievements. E – Execution. What stands between planning and achievement is execution. Execution is likened to a highway that will take you from where you are to where you want to go in life. The key to execution is leverage. According to Buckminister Fuller, “Leverage is doing ever more with ever less”. It is taking massive action to do the right thing and in the right way so as to achieve the right results. X – Excel. In HSR, we have a saying, ‘Anything worth doing is worth doing with passion and excellence. Passion means you need to love what you do. Excellence means you do it to the best of your abilities. You need to constantly review every experience and action to see how you can go farther and faster in life. 2b. First, I must say that I have many mentors in my life and I continue to look out for even more mentors. I have mentors in every major area of my life. I believe success leaves footprints. If I follow the footsteps of successful people I will achieve the same or better results in an easier, better and faster way. My mentors may not have directly influenced my decision to be in the real estate business. However, they have contributed to my life and prepared me for my real estate calling. Their valuable lessons and feedback have helped me to enhance my success rate. As they say, “When I stand on the shoulders of giants, I can see clearer and farther to my desired destination.” 3) Question From Reader Perry: How does HSR training help in the process of prospecting affluent clients? Can new agents really start off serving the affluent market? HSR is arguably the market leader in real estate agents’ training. We have more trainers, training programmes, and training resources than most companies. In total, we have conducted more than 500 man-hours of training last year. You can hardly find another company that is so committed in helping agents to achieve success in our industry. By doing so, we laid a strong foundation for our agents to succeed in every major market segment, including the affluent market. HSR started our company serving high net worth individuals at the top end of the market. Since then, we have been active in marketing luxury properties in prestigious locations. In addition, we are also active in selling global properties. As a result, we are in the best position to help agents expand their business in the high end of the property market. 4) Question From Reader Clarence: How do you convey love to others? What are the most effective ways to do so? We must first recognize that our Creator has created us with love, and to love Him and others. Love is inside each and every one of us. We need to be mindful of it and live it out in our life. In addition, we need to continue to strengthen our capacity and ability to love. The paradoxical truth is that the more we extend our love to others, the more love we will have. And the better we will become in sharing the blessing of love with others. To love others, we need to learn how to love ourselves. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot love others effectively. It will also be harder for others to love us. For example, when was the last time we tell ourselves sincerely, tangibly and generously that we love ourselves? Are we grateful and thankful for every part of our being? How do we appreciate ourselves by looking after every major area of our lives, such as improving our health, fitness and energy level? While we are loving ourselves, we should at the same time extend our love to others. It is a part of the same process of having more love in our life. By firing both engines of love, we enhance our love quotient. To love others, it starts with our mind. The seeds of love that we sow in our mind will help us to reap the fruits of love in our life. The external act of love is very often a reflection of the landscape of love in our internal being. So, do we want to love others in a deeper way? Can we learn to see good in others? Are we willing to intensify our love for them? Even when we are disappointed by the responses to our love, do we believe it can make us stronger and more resilient in spreading love to others? We can begin by extending small acts of kindness and graciousness to the people around us. A pat on the back, a word of appreciation, a small present, a short little note to encourage another person – all these actions can mean a lot to others. According to research in the field of positive psychology, it can also increase our happiness. To progress, we can seek out like-minded people who believe in promoting love. You can find many of them in religious, charity and grassroots organisations. By putting our flames of love together, we can blaze a trail together. Truly, ‘What the world needs now is LOVE…’ Grace… is overwhelmed. Seriously, Patrick practises what he preaches. How else did he participate in that video interview and still answered these questions from blog readers? And all for no payment at all. Gosh! Patrick’s such a gem. I believe I owe him a lunch now. What say you, Patrick?🙂 Interested in joining my Readers Panel? Enter your email address in the Subscription box on the right now!🙂

"When you walk in, you see a shrine to tea." (Howard Schultz, CEO SBUX) On October 24, Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) inaugurated its "Teavana Tea-Bar" line at the flagship site on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, half-way between the Met (Metropolitan) and Guggenheim museums, a block east of Fifth Avenue and one of the lovelier sections of Central Park. Location is everything and this location (they call it "Museum mile," now) is perfect for the product SBUX has debuted, a sensation in blond-wood, expensive pastries and loose leaf tea satori. The blend of profit, pricey Asian chic and atmosphere is easy to satirize but the question is whether the venture will boost or hamper the wondrous emergence of SBUX as one of the most profitable brands and concepts in the markets. I believe that Tea-Bars gradually will gain traction and expand the customer base a bit. In part, however, SBUX is competing with itself here and what will carry the day is the discretionary income of their patrons. SBUX acquired Atlanta-based Teavana and its hundreds of sites in December 2012. Like its recent partnership with Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ:WFM), another great, fast-growing (and debt-free) health food company, the venture and recent launch is part of SBUX's work to keep growing at the cutting edge of health and social consciousness. The downside is that for a couple of years, the Tea-Bar concept may blur the primary identity of SBUX as a chic and socially aware nexus for strong coffee, Wifi and a mood of sensitivity to everything our culture bids us celebrate in primitive places, peoples and products. The clichés in coverage have arrived hot and heavy: "coffee is fast, tea is slow," etc. Worldwide there are twice as many tea drinkers as coffee but it's not clear that this matters as much as possible static over the brand and whether the new focus will complement rather than blur the main product. SBUX has lots of coffees: it has wrapped itself thickly in the tailored-to-taste idea and it has paid well. The main point about SBUX is its superb profitability: with revenues 27 x debts and cash flow alone more than 4 x debts, SBUX is at a level few companies can match. With ROE 27.9 and 11.7% growth, it sets a standard of excellence as a cash producer. Its five-year price chart is one of the most impressive features of the markets: it is up 33% in six months, 90% in a year, nearly 200% in three years and about 750% in five years. Studying the chart is instant satori for investors. The question is whether Schultz and Co can blend their Tea-Bar Zen into the liquidity that pays the bills and leaves some for extras. With 1000 tea-bars planned and 18k stores named after Captain Ahab's first mate already selling coffees and snacks, my view is that SBUX continues to be aligned with cultural trends. Though its growth is unlikely to match the past, it should continue to climb impressively. SBUX has 2.1 million followers on Google and its new venture features walls of loose tea, canisters of brightly colored herbs and phials of exotic-colored herbal essences that have the look of a tidy lab suitable for museum display. One can tweet an eGift card to a fortunate associate, get a pumpkin or chocolate chai latte and order protein-packed parfaits while helping native indigenous people who still lack potable water. America's about coffee but the elite, and those who want to be perceived as part of the sensitive and primal-oriented elite, yearn for the "softness" and "Zen-like" eastern ambiance of Tea. When Schultz says, the Teavana initiative "romances the theater of tea with a visual experience," he talks the talk of chic consumerist spirituality. The titanic revenues of SBUX should help muscle its way to a tastefully blissful share of the world's $90 billion tea market. The Western Hemisphere are mostly about coffee but this does not mean that SBUX's Tea-Bars will live or die by expansion into Asia and Africa. Rather, there surer bet is an expansion of a taste for stylish teas among their core audience in North America and Europe. Investors and trend-watchers must realize that SBUX is selling style, lifestyle, a sense of cultural awareness and unstated superiority in the way it presents its pricey products. From the star-crowned, flowing-haired mermaid of its famous new-age logo to the many charitable activities by which it funnels some of its immense profits to the third world, SBUX has a distinct and sheltered place among those who sell or force us to buy change one must believe in. It is all about partnering, combating "climate change," wind farms and being green with envy of the simple, down-home affordability and superior taste of pink and orange Dunkin' Donuts (NASDAQ:DNKN) who brought out "Vanilla Chai" coffee years before big SBUX discovered the term and made its own version of the Tazo - tea treat. Still, SBUX has Vanilla Frappacino's and like all their drinks a barista can customize it for you and make you feel as if you matter as a person and not just a consumer. It has lots of sodium, cholesterol and 45% of the saturated fat your body needs in a day but it's pretty. The entire vast line-up is like this: a factory of boutique-like moments presented with a bit of personal touch. The management have great insight into postmodern culture. Through its canny social positioning, SBUX is a de facto branch of the EPA and UNESCO and as safe from hassles as a giant company can be in a hyper-regulatory era: more power to them. America is changing and for the top 10%, culturally diverse teas that hint at nirvana will become an established mark of social status. Chinese officials may rail against high prices ($4.42 for a latte) but SBUX prices are not modest in America either: $14.95 for some salads at the chi-chi Tea-Bars. But as a Chinese customer said (previous link), they go for the brand and the "touch of class" and so it is here. When the lower 90% are not having coffee at home, they will head to DNKN, a Honey Dew Donuts or similar site. Those who feel elite will be at SBUX. The elite will be at places whose names we don't know and that are not franchises. Savvy CEO Schultz should make the most of the great location on Madison Avenue. Low-key celebrity visits and brochures about the great Eastern art collection at the Met should be in display cases. The art of tea and of psychological escape from what this country has become in the new age should combine in a profitable synergy. Investors might want to wait a bit for a lower entry point to SBUX: the indices have had a great run and need a breather. The lower line of the long-term S&P up-channel is in the 1670-80 area. Many events or simply the structural weakness of the economy might bring the index down to the 1700 area briefly. However, many who have waited for this market to significantly correct mostly have waited in vain and had to chase. Since SBUX is a great company well-positioned at the nexus of numerous cultural trends and with an innovative driver to reinforce the flair of its identity, it's worth owning. Even if it bases for a year, it is aligned with the culture and brilliantly run. 3Q earnings are a short-term issue. Do your own study but from here it looks like a buy on any meaningful pullback. Disclosure: I am long DNKN, WFM. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Nobile is Montemaggiore's own special blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Every year the exact blend may vary slightly—the 2006 Nobile is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Syrah—but the synergy between these two varietals always produces a wonderful, age-worthy wine. - Tasting Notes Vineyard Profile: Estate Vineyard Located on a mountainside high above Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County, the rocky soils of Montemaggiore's estate vineyards produce intensely flavored grapes at naturally low yields. Using biodynamic practices and organic materials, we farm Paolo's Vineyard without chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. The 2006 growing season started slowly with late spring rains, but was quite warm overall with ten days in mid-summer of 100+°F temperatures. While the heat-stress was mitigated by irrigation, the slow start resulted in uneven ripening, thus an extended harvest. Our yields in 2006 were 50% of normal, but we expected this single-vintage reduction due to a changeover in pruning style. The final unique aspect of 2006 was the first crop from our new Syrah vines of the 877 clone. With the Nobile blend, Cabernet's strengths (structure, ageability, and depth) are combined with syrah's strengths (breadth of flavors, soft tannins)—thereby yielding a wine that's appealing fruit aromas, easy to drink young or aged, and a lot of complexity to keep you sipping! More on Nobile Winemaking ▶ Being a balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this wine goes well with the dishes that traditionally go well with each varietal. Nobile pairs well with a grilled steak, braised short ribs, grilled sausage, roasted squash, braised lamb shanks, and polenta with grilled portobellos. Consider our recipe for osso buco.

TechRadium, a little known Texas-based player in the emergency mass-notification field, didn’t just wake up this month and decide to sue Twitter for patent infringement. The company says it didn’t care about Twitter when the Twitterati was watching the tweets of NBA superstars, musicians, politicians and news outlets. But then TechRadium began seeing promotional materials and news accounts of companies, school districts and local governments using, or considering adopting, the microblogging service as their emergency notification system – muscling into TechRadium’s wheelhouse. “Honestly, that’s what got us the attention of Twitter,” said Shawn Staples, TechRadium’s attorney. “We don’t really give a damn about social networking. TechRadium is concerned that it developed these patents by extending a lot of time and money and is protecting its market.” Now the lawsuit, filed August 5 in a Texas federal court, could become a financial thorn in Twitter’s side. Heavily venture-funded, the free three-year-old microblogging service is working to find a business model. Patent law is complex, and legal experts interviewed by Threat Level declined to predict the outcome of the lawsuit, but they agreed it’s not a frivolous claim. TechRadium appears to have some legal legs to stand on in the nation’s first lawsuit attacking Twitter’s tweeting protocol. In fact, TechRadium has already used its patents to win a licensing agreement in a separate infringement case. That case, also in Texas, targeted rival mass-notification company Blackboard of California. The lawsuit was dropped after Blackboard agreed to license the same three patents (.pdf) at issue in the Twitter case. Blackboard at first claimed that the patents, dating to 2006, were invalid. But Blackboard did not produce evidence of “prior art,” or demonstrate that the patents were obvious. Now, experts say, the Blackboard settlement bolsters TechRadium’s case against Twitter. (.pdf) “That settlement becomes evidence of some weight of the non-obviousness of the patent,” said Jordan Sigale, a patent attorney and partner with Loeb & Loeb in Chicago. Blackboard’s general counsel, Matthew Small, confirmed that the company licensed TechRadium’s patents as part of a June out-of-court settlement. He added that TechRadium also licensed a patent (.pdf) from Blackboard. “We cross licensed one another,” he said. Because of a confidentiality agreement, terms were not disclosed. The case was settled in the Eastern District of Texas, a patent-friendly court and magnet for patent infringement cases. That said, patent attorneys caution that, sometimes, patents become invalidated, even after their owners have received licensing fees from them. So even with the licensing agreement with Blackboard, TechRadium’s patents could still be attacked. And it’s unsettled whether they even apply to Twitter. The stakes are high, not just for Twitter, but for its vast and growing user base. Twitter has about 20 million users, and to true fans, a world without the 140-character microblogging service is akin to a world without oxygen. And while Twitter may not be making money, it has given rise to a cottage industry around it — from URL shorteners and makers of background skins, to iPhone apps that can feed a Twitter junkie’s habit on the go. This fledgling industry piggybacks on Twitter’s allegedly infringing protocol. Twitter, based in San Francisco, did not respond to repeated e-mail and phone messages for comment. It must respond to TechRadium’s complaint by month’s end. Patent attorney Sigale says he thinks TechRadium isn’t seeking to put the unprofitable Twitter out of business. He said the lawsuit amounts to “asking for a license agreement.” Win or lose, Twitter has an expensive legal battle ahead of it. But its popularity could give it an edge that Blackboard didn’t have; the company has already obtained some free, outside counsel of sorts. Two weeks ago, Article One Partners of New York, an online community of lawyers, scholars, scientists and others, began scouring for evidence that TechRadium’s intellectual property was not as unique as the Sugar Land, Texas company claims. Cheryl Milone, Article One’s chief executive, said its community has forwarded more than 100 submissions in the study’s first week alone — all in an effort to debunk the patents. The submissions have yet to be reviewed. “We select studies that we think will be of interest to our community,” Milone said. “Because we are a crowd-sourcing community, there’s a clear synergy between the Article One community and the Twitter community,”. TechRadium’s patents concern its emergency notification system IRIS, the Immediate Response Information System, which has dozens of paying clients. The system, TechRadium clams, “simultaneously delivers uniform, reliable and verifiable emergency messages to an unlimited number of contacts within seconds, across all means and devices of communication.” Its customers include the military, schools, utilities and local governments. Among them are the U.S. Army, Littleton Police Department, QWest Communications, Lincoln University, San Antonio School District, American Red Cross, United Way and others. Twitter breaches the patents, according to TechRadium, because Twitter’s messaging system also is carried across various “means and devices of communication” – including texting, websites, cellphones and RSS feeds. At first glance, the similarities between IRIS and Twitter are clear: They each allow a messenger to send a single message to a select group via multiple technological platforms. But that also seems like a ridiculously obvious use of modern technology. Apparently it was novel when TechRadium began applying for its patents ahead of its first one granted in 2006 — novel enough for patent examiners, anyway. Some of the specific claims in TechRadium’s patents are less Twitter-like. According to TechRadium’s patents, message recipients prioritize where their messages should be sent, so an alert might first be sent as a mobile text message, and then, if unacknowledged, transmitted in a voice phone call. The patents also describe the chosen device sending a response back automatically to the sender to confirm that a message was received. None of that squarely applies to Twitter. “That’s going to be a big deal as to whether or not there’s infringement,” Sigale said. “Who’s side would I rather have here? Boy. I think there’s arguments to be made on both sides.” Staples, TechRadium’s lawyer, countered that the company must prove that one of the elements in its patents apply to Twitter. “Every claim in a patent stands on its own. To infringe the patent, you only have to infringe one claim.” George Borkowski, chairman of the intellectual property practice at Venable LLP in Los Angeles, suspects TechRadium has plenty of other litigation targets in its sights. That’s because mass-notification companies now number in the dozens. Their ranks began increasing in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, which left the student gunman and 32 others dead in 2007. “It’s part of the patent-enforcement strategy: You see who is possibly infringing and you make a list of people to go after,” Borkowski said. “I’m sure they’ve made an assessment.” Staples, when asked if more companies are likely to fall into TechRadium’s legal crosshair, replied: “I think there are some out there.” - Lawsuit: Twitter Method Infringes Patents - Weak Password Brings ‘Happiness’ to Twitter Hacker - Oklahoma Man Arrested for Twittering Tea Party Death Threats … - AP Issues Strict Facebook, Twitter Guidelines to Staff - Britney, Obama Twitter Feeds Hijacked Following Phishing Attack …

View N Shepherd Dr & W 14th St in a larger map Around town there has been a lot of talk about proposed food truck parks. Dennis Laviage and Steve Schwartz have a slightly different idea for the Heights area. Their concept is like a food truck park with no wheels. Their planned “Kitchens on 14th” is a collection of food-service businesses operating out of shipping containers in a park-like setting. Laviage, the proprietor of C&D Scrap Metal in the same neighborhood, owns the 25,000 square foot property at Shepherd and 14th Street with Schwartz, who is managing partner of Synergy Wealth Partners, a wealth management practice. Kitchens on 14th will be in a park-like setting with communal eating areas, trees and water features, Schwartz said. Possible vendors for the repurposed container spaces are Mexican-, Asian-, burger-, Cajun-, waffle-, and barbecue-themed operations. No tenants have yet been signed. We’ll have more on this in Nancy Sarnoff’s Sunday real estate column.

Trying to motivate your employees without success? Here are some mistakes that even the best managers make at times. - Short-term incentives It’s great that you’re giving your staff incentives for doing well in a bid to keep work motivation high. However, by giving out shopping vouchers or time off work to reward your employees every month, you may cause them to aim only for certain short-term rewards, derailing them from achieving major milestones. Additionally, it makes the work environment very transactional in nature; if your employees are constantly asking what’s in it for them when you bring up a new initiative, something has gone wrong. Instead, find out what motivates each individual other than just a competitive salary and incentive perks. Some people do well because they enjoy the synergy they’ve developed with their team, others thrive on being complimented on their work ethics and having achieved results. When you know what drives the individuals in your team, you can then act accordingly to help them love what they do. - Work flexibility privileges Offering employees the chance to work remotely or with flexible hours can be a great to improve work motivation. Remote working gets rid of commuting time, and allows some employees to flourish given the space to work from the comfort of their own home. On the flip side, without proper management, it can lead to a lack of productivity. So do set daily or weekly targets for your employees to work towards, and consider using cloud co-working programs like Google Drive to monitor their progress if the need arises. - Being overly positive Being an optimistic person in life is great, but sometimes it pays to consider the possible negatives when taking risks as well. We all hope for the best case scenario, but it pays to have strategies in place to deal with any setbacks that may occur. A positive attitude is important, but it’s more prudent to hope for the best, and plan for the worst. - Cultivating a competitive work culture Introducing some competition always gets things going, but it can also bring out the worst in some people. If someone isn’t playing fair, it’s best to nip things in the bud quickly and peacefully before any conflicts occur. Find ways to reward the whole team for building each other up, so everyone wins. - Always being there for your team Being a leader isn’t an easy job. On the one hand, you have to ensure your team’s performance, so it’s tempting to jump in when things go awry. On the other hand, however, too much hand-holding can result in your team becoming complacent and too dependent on you. It’s natural for your team to look in your direction for guidance and mentorship in a crisis, but sometimes, it pays to let go. We’re not saying to leave them in the lurch, of course. Instead, appoint employees whom you think will make reliable project leads, and observe from a distance to see how things play out. This forces your team to become self-sufficient, increases productivity in the long run, and allows employees to show their work motivation. - Showing them who’s boss While it’s normal to set your employees straight when they’ve done something wrong, do remember to give them credit where it’s due. A harsh boss will only lower morale; fear might force your employees to put their noses to the grind, but it won’t bring out much creativity and inspiration. Instead, you’ll find people doing exactly what they’re told – nothing more, nothing less, which can severely limit your team’s potential. Be authoritative, not authoritarian. Create a place for employees to love what they do.

Place your bets - Burswood directors spurn Packer bid Burswood's board of directors has rejected a $1.40 per share takeover bid from Kerry Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting, saying the hostile move did not recognise the Perth casino's financial performance or growth prospects. The board's decision was announced along with earnings guidance of a net profit of $43.5 million for the 2004 year, and the release of an independent expert's report valuing Burswood at between $1.52 and $1.68 per share. PBL, however, warned that its cash offer, valuing Burswood at $686 million, was "the only offer on the table". The board's rejection came as Tabcorp's chief executive, Matthew Slatter, told AAP he would not rule out making a bid for Burswood. However, some market commentators remained sceptical of any rival bid or that PBL would increase its offer for Burswood, which values the Perth casino at $686 million. "PBL is in the box seat. Why would they budge?" CCZ Equities analyst Tony Waters said. Burswood chairman Don Watt told shareholders PBL needed to take into account the casino's 2004 forecast of $43.5 million, a strong improvement on the previous year's results. "PBL's offer clearly does not recognise this and is inadequate," Mr Watt said. The independent expert's report by Lonergan Edwards & Associates concluded PBL's offer was neither fair nor reasonable. The report said Burswood's shares would fall if PBL's offer lapsed. However, it said the offer reflected only a partial premium for control and did not fully recognise the synergy and efficiency benefits PBL could generate once it took over Burswood. PBL's chief executive officer, Peter Yates, said he was surprised by Burswood's rejection given that in the 12 months prior to PBL taking a strategic stake, the shares traded in the range of 65c to $1.04. "Moreover, the analysis seems to overlook the fact that for the better part of the last decade the company has been unable to produce a sustained earnings increase," Mr Yates said. "The target's statement is misleading. Burswood's directors have used a multiple higher than their independent expert, and then applied it to forecast earnings that are inflated by an abnormally high win rate which is clearly not sustainable," he said. Mr Yates also questioned Lonergan's inclusion of a range of surplus assets in its valuation. "In addition, Lonergan has treated growth in Burswood's core business as if it were a surplus asset - this is effectively double counting." Burswood shares rose 1c to $1.46; PBL slipped 4c to $12.39.

As we head into week 8 we’ll be hoping to uphold our 80% prediction rate and possibly improve it; forever aiming for that perfect week. We’ll be focusing on 2 games as per usual with the remaining games to be concluded in smaller paragraphs on each day. The 2 chosen games for day 1 will be Unicorns of Love vs. Origen and Team Vitality vs. G2 Esports, day 2 will be Elements vs. Unicorns of Love along with Fnatic vs. Team Vitality. Make sure you tune in on March 10 for Day 1 of the EU LCS! Preview, predictions and more information about EU LCS Week 8 will be added when the previous week and the League of Legends tournament at IEM Katowice 2016 is over. EU LCS Season 6 – Spring Split Week 8 | Facts: - Dates: 03/10/2016 – 03/11/2016 - Start Time: 09:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST / 18:00 CET - 10 Matches | 5 per match day - Location: EU LCS Studio – Berlin, Germany – view ticket info - Patch: LoL 6.4 - Live stream for all matches - Betting Odds for all matches available - Predictions and Betting tips below - View Standings LCS EU Spring Split 2016 - Hashtags: #LCS #EULCS - Hashtag Best Plays: #LCSBigPlays Schedule and Results – 2016 LCS EU Spring Split Week 8 LCS EU Spring Split 2016 – Week 8 | Day 1 Match #1: Fnatic vs. Giants 1 : 0 (March 10, 09:00 AM PST/ 12:00 PM EST/ 18:00 CET) Match #2: H2K vs. Roccat 1 : 0 (March 10, 10:00 AM PST/ 01:00 PM EST/ 19:00 CET) Match #3: Unicorns of Love vs. Origen 0 : 1 (March 10, 11:00 AM PST/ 02:00 PM EST/ 20:00 CET) Match #4: Team Vitality vs. G2 eSports 0 : 1 (March 10, 12:00 PM PST/ 03:00 PM EST/ 21:00 CET) Match #5: Elements vs. Splyce 0 : 1 (March 10, 01:00 PM PST/ 04:00 PM EST/ 22:00 CET) LCS EU Spring Split 2016 – Week 8 | Day 2 Match #1: G2 eSports vs. Giants 1 : 0 (March 11, 09:00 AM PST/ 12:00 PM EST/ 18:00 CET) Match #2: Elements vs. Unicorns of Love 1 : 0 (March 11, 10:00 AM PST/ 01:00 PM EST/ 19:00 CET) Match #3: Fnatic vs. Team Vitality 0 : 1 (March 11, 11:00 AM PST/ 02:00 PM EST/ 20:00 CET) Match #4: Splyce vs. H2K 0 : 1 (March 11, 12:00 PM PST/ 03:00 PM EST/ 21:00 CET) Match #5: Roccat vs. Origen 0 : 1 (March 11, 01:00 PM PST/ 04:00 PM EST/ 22:00 CET) Substitutes and Roster Changes | Fantasy LCS Updates Giants are making big changes to their roster. Smittyj is the new Top Laner, Wisdom the new Jungler and Sonstar the new ADC for the LoL team. > Source H2K: Currently it is not sure if Forg1ven (ADC) can continue to play for the rest of season 6. He recently received a conscription to military service which would take 9 months. We will keep you updated. > Source Update: Forg1ven has been granted a temporary deferment of military service > Source Origen: xPeke is returning to the LCS stage. According to a recent tweet, xPeke is starting Mid for Origen in week 8 of the EU Spring Split. PowerOfEvil cannot play due to health problems. > Source >> View all Teams and Players: EU LCS Spring Split 2016 make sure to update your Fantasy roster or learn more about Fantasy LCS here. Betting Odds Comparison* An overview of the available betting odds will be added when they are online. BET365 INFO: Find LCS betting in the menu on the left: E-Sports (LoL – LCS Spring Split) Please notice! Odds shown might have changed in the meantime. Follow the links to take a look at the current betting odds. Week 8 | Day 1 – Match #1: Fnatic vs. Giants Head to head record: Fnatic 1:0 Giants Start Time: March 10, 09:00 AM PST/ 12:00 PM EST/ 18:00 CET Fnatic have still been performing in a hit or miss matter, they’re either dominating or being dominated and they’re going to need to step up their consistency if they want to take down the top of the ladder teams but for the time being they’ll be facing off against Giants. Giants have been underperforming and although they’ve made slight improvements they’ve not managed to climb any higher up the ladder, remaining at the bottom of it. When facing off against Fnatic they’re going to need a dominating early game with a precise and decisive strategy to capitalise off of it. Prediction: Fnatic Victory. They’ve been performing on a higher skill level across the board, their team play and macro management are the likely factors that will get them ahead during the match and I think that once they gain a lead they will be unstoppable against the Giants. Week 8 | Day 1 -Match #2: H2K vs. Roccat Head to head record: H2k 1:0 Roccat Start Time: March 10, 10:00 AM PST/ 01:00 PM EST/ 19:00 CET Roccat are fighting for a way to climb up the ladder but they’re coming up short, now they’re going to face off against possibly the best team in Europe and they’re going to need to have made a significant amount of improvements to really stand up against them. H2k have been making strong stands but have been running into a bit of trouble recently, with possible departures of their marksman they might run into some trouble. Prediction: H2k Victory. Even if they’re in need of a new marksman and their current one can’t stay with the team I think they’ll be able to adjust. They were able to play competently with a substitute in the middle lane and I expect them to be able to continue doing great things. They’ve proven to be the better of the 2 teams and I expect that to really show here. Week 8 | Day 1 -Match #3: Unicorns of Love vs. Origen Head to head record: Unicorns of Love 0:1 Origen Start Time: March 10, 11:00 AM PST/ 02:00 PM EST/ 20:00 CET An exciting match indeed, Origen are a team that ended up on a slightly lower part of the ladder but they managed to take down the Unicorns of Love before and have proven to be a fair challenge to most other teams. They’re currently on a 7:7 score but they’re sure to bring trouble. Unicorns of Love are on a 9:5 score but have been inconsistent lately and have fallen to teams that they should have been able to take down confidently, this is due to more recent changes to their jungle and they’re really going to need everything to go smoothly here to redeem their head to head record. Unicorns of Love: Although they held a top spot in Europe for a while whilst tied with a few other teams they’ve started to fall a bit short after they made more changes to their jungler. After the replacement stepped in they’ve looked a bit weaker during the earlier stages of the game which will be an important factor when facing off against Origen. Origen: Consistently taking down mid and low tier teams, this match could certainly mean a lot for Origen. If they are able to once again take down the Unicorns of Love they will be that one step closer to redeeming their earlier performances of the season. They’ve run into trouble when facing off against the strong teams on the ladder but this could be a big step up for them. I think Origen are coming into this with a slight advantage, they’ve performed consistently against the middle and low tier teams whereas the Unicorns of Love have been a bit shaken in every single game due to inconsistency. With a change in their jungle the Unicorns will need to improve their early game and somehow apply more pressure as Origen scale extremely well as a team into the later stages of the game. The Unicorns of Love are going to want to bring out some strong picks that can have early game impact so I’ll be expecting either a Gragas or Rek’sai in the jungle to help bring some of that pressure with to the lanes. Their top lane has shown great comfort on tank champions and I expect them to pick up Nautilus if possible, if it’s unavailable then a Poppy could be their fall-back or they might bring out the Rammus top once again. Their middle lane has shown that he’s proficient on Viktor and I expect that to be a priority pick for the team. Their bottom lane will more than likely attempt to pick up Lucian as a marksman paired with either Thresh or Alistar on support so they can have lane pressure and crowd control for the later stages of the game. Once they’ve drafter they’re going to want to get an early line of vision across the enemy’s jungle, using the knowledge they gain of the enemy jungler to gank lanes that can’t be counter ganked. Applying pressure across the map early is of great significance here because Origen is extremely proficient at the later stages and will scale better than them. Origen will want to pick up a high impact early game jungler along with a handful of champions that can scale to the later stages of the game. I expect a Nidalee or Lee Sin to pop up in the jungle along with a Quinn or Fiora to make an appearance in the top lane, allowing Origen to split push. Their middle lane has shown great versatility and mastery of a lot of champions so it’s hard to decipher what he will pick but I’ll be looking for either Leblanc or Ahri, unless they aim to deny the Viktor pick. Their bottom lane has always paired a tank support with a marksman that has multiple power spikes so Alistar or Nautilus with a Corki or Lucian seem like their most likely bottom lane. After champions select and once the game starts Origen are going to want to build a wall of vision along the river to deny the enemy jungler, their main objective should be surviving the earlier stages of the game and only applying pressure when the risk is significantly lower. If they can survive the earlier stages of the game they should be able to pressure UoL into situations where they’re trying to defend objectives while an Origen member split pushes to gain more map control and possible structure objectives. Prediction: Origen Victory. Not only do they hold the head to head record between the 2 teams they’ve had slightly more consistent performances, UoL have been losing matches unexpectedly and I think they’re not going to be able to punish Origen enough in the earlier stages of the game to set back how superior they will perform later on. Week 8 | Day 1 -Match #4: Team Vitality vs. G2 eSports Head to head record: Team Vitality 1:0 G2 Esports Start Time: March 10, 12:00 PM PST/ 03:00 PM EST/ 21:00 CET This match has the potential to determine a first place team; both VIT and G2 are on an 11:3 score sitting right by the top of the ladder and only one of them is going to come out ahead here. It’s going to be a challenge for both teams as their opponents on both sides are known for putting out strong performances but only one of them will come out on top, who do you think it will be? Team Vitality: Team Vitality has made improvements, they looked a little rough during the earlier stages of the season and were a little shaky but since they picked up some tempo they’ve been an unstoppable force. They’ve managed to take down the majority of the other top performing teams and could make a name for themselves as the best team in Europe at this time. G2 Esports: Yet another top team still sitting in their place at the top of the ladder but now it’s under contention. They’ve been performing slightly worse than VIT but are sure to give this match everything they’ve got. They might play with slightly less risk but with how dominating they’ve shown they can be they might decide it’s best to shut down VIT early. I think VIT are at quite an advantage here and that’s without taking into consideration their head to head record. They’ve been performing on a slightly better level than G2 and have been more stable and consistent at the same time. Even when they’re hit with difficulties during a game they manage to bring it back and build a lead using fantastic shot calling and sometimes make really bold moves to pressure their opponents. Team Vitality is likely to pick up their currently favoured Quinn in the middle lane, that’s if it’s not taken from them or banned away. If it’s unavailable then I expect them to fall back onto a utility mage such as Zilean or possibly even Lulu. Their jungler has shown great proficiency on Nidalee and if they’re looking for that early game pressure it’s definitely a strong pick for them, a fall-back choice could be Lee Sin as it can be played in a similar way during the earlier stages of the game. Their bottom lane seems likely to pick up Tahm Kench as a support if it’s available, Thresh if it’s not open, paired with a Corki or Kog’maw. Their top lane has shown comfort on multiple types of champions but has recently stuck with tanks that have reliable crowd control, Nautilus fits this roll extremely well and I expect it to appear if it’s available for them. Once they’ve drafted they’re going to want to work on denying vision as quickly as possible, a set of pink wards in the river paired with wards by the enemy jungle earlier in the game will assist them in controlling lanes and objectives early. Once they’ve got control they’re going to want to use this superior vision to flank their opponents and force fights once they have minor advantages such as item powerspikes. Building a lead in the early game is important to avoid G2 making a quick some back. G2 Esports is going to want to pick up their middle lane comfort, Lissandra, or fall back onto something that could be reliable such as Ahri. The bottom lane for G2 has always stuck a tank support paired with Lucian when possible so a combination of Lucian and Alistar would be great for them. Their jungler is going to want to pick up Gragas if it’s available, as a contested pick it might not be, with Lee Sin as a reliable fall-back champion. Their top lane has shown versatility across play styles however I’d like to see them pick up Fiora if it’s open however on the likely chance that it isn’t then a Poppy in the top lane could be another remarkable choice. After their team composition is together they’re going to need to get pressure on the lanes as quickly as possible, I expect the jungler to make some aggressive moves around level 4 to try and gain a small advantage for the lanes however avoiding the vision of G2 will be difficult. They should get a line of vision across the lanes to avoid global pressure from the enemy jungler and should wait to catch out their opponents before engaging fights. If they can single out their opponents or force them into reactionary situation they should be able to capitalize on them and take quite a large lead. Prediction: Team Vitality Victory. G2 have a weakness that is easier to capitalise on, when they fall behind they often keep up their aggression and this can work out for them however it can also create dire situations for them where they give their opponents an even larger gold lead. I expect VIT to be prepared for early game skirmishes and I think they’ll take a lead at around 14mins with jungle pressure in the lanes. With this lead they’ll be able to force objectives and pressure the G2 structures for a fairly methodical win. Week 8 | Day 1 -Match #5: Elements vs. Splyce Head to head record: Elements 1:0 Splyce Start Time: March 10, 01:00 PM PST/ 04:00 PM EST/ 22:00 CET Both teams are in a fairly dire situation and it’s not getting any easier for them. These teams are currently sitting on a 4:10 score and are desperate to take more victories before the split starts to close out. Elements might hold the head to head record but they’ve not been able to take a single victory for weeks whereas Splyce can hold their head slightly higher as they managed to take down Fnatic recently. Prediction: Elements Victory. It’s a fairly odd comparison to make but looking over both teams and their performances lead me to believe that Elements is the superior team of the two. When they lose they’re less dominated and when they win it’s more calculated. If they manage to get even a slight lead against Splyce I expect them to slowly build it with very little risk involved. It could be an extremely slow match to watch or it could turn into an explosive clown fiesta. After a strong day 1 of predictions we’re heading into day 2 trying to keep without our clairvoyant 80% average prediction rate, with the odd upset here or there. For day 2 we’ll be focusing on 2 games as per usual and the remaining games will be quickly concluded in their own paragraphs. For the focus matches we’ll be looking at are Elements vs. Unicorns of Love along with Fnatic vs. Team Vitality. I chose these games because they’re matches that are important when heading to the Spring playoffs and I’m sure the close skill levels between the contending teams will bring us some exciting games. Make sure you tune into the live matches on March 11th! Week 8 | Day 2 – Match #1: G2 eSports vs. Giants Head to head: G2 Esports 1:0 Giants Start Time: March 11, 09:00 AM PST/ 12:00 PM EST/ 18:00 CET There is an extremely large skill difference between these teams and G2 are extremely favoured here, they’ve got better macro management and their laning from individual player skill is also slightly better, their rotations are stronger and they understand their win conditions. Giants are going to need to communicate a lot during this match and react quickly to turn the tempo in their favour. Prediction: G2 Esports Victory. Such as large performance difference is impossible to ignore, Giants are improving and there’s little doubt about that but when they’re going against one of the top teams in the region they’re sure to have an extremely rough time. Week 8 | Day 2 – Match #2: Elements vs. Unicorns of Love Head to head record: Elements 0:1 Unicorns of Love Start Time: March 11, 10:00 AM PST/ 01:00 PM EST/ 19:00 CET There is quite a difference in the ladder scores of both of these performing teams and things are looking worrisome for Elements. Unicorn of Love have made quite a few changes to their team over the course of the split but they’ve been able to adapt comfortably each time so Elements are going to need to dig deep and try and gain an early lead through great rotations and macro management to take down the Unicorns. Elements: The potential is there, that was made clear when they began to dominate the early game against Splyce in day 1 however they’re going to need to do much more, they didn’t take advantage of their tempo as much as they should but their reactive plays could cause trouble for the Unicorns. Unicorns of Love: The Unicorns had quite a good match against Origen on day 1 and they understood their win conditions however they’re were overzealous when trying to close out the game and it really cost them. They’re going to need to evaluate their options more and balance the risks and rewards better to accelerate any lead they’re able to gain here because a few missteps could cost them yet another game. It would appear that UoL are at an advantage here, they’ve got more wins over the season and their day 1 performance was really quite strong, regardless of the missteps. They understood where their advantages where and they knew their win conditions, which they really tried to play to, however EL on day 1 had shown a more aggressive side which is going to need to be kept in check. Elements are going to want to build a similar composition to what they used in day 1, something similar to what Origen run as well. A split pushing based team composition that will allow them to play the map and capitalise when they have a lead. For this they’re going to want something tanky in the top lane that can split off fairly well such as Nautilus or Poppy. Their middle lane should focus on wave clear and poke so an Azir, Viktor or Corki would be ideal. Their jungler is likely to pick up either Gragas or Elise as he’s shown great comfort and mastery on both of these champions. For the bottom lane they’re likely to pick up Thresh or Braum as a support paired with Lucian or Corki however I’d like to see them pick up the Alistar. Once their composition is locked in they’re going to want to take the early turret trades, setting their jungle focus on invading or ganking the middle lane. If they can take an early rift herald they should be able to build a large wave to push multiple turrets quickly for a small lead. If they can push those turrets they’re going to want to push their line of vision through the enemy jungle and capitalise on any positioning errors from UoL and focus heavily on taking objectives and sticking to their win conditions, split off and push objectives whilst only taking team fights when at an obvious advantage. Unicorns of Love will want their comfortable picks, something they know they can get through the early game with and that has great wave clear and a lot of team fight potential. I expect them to have a focus pick on Gragas for their jungler who will likely play Rek’sai if Gragas is unavailable. Their top lane is likely to tunnel on a tank such as Rammus or Nautilus that can do a lot in team fights and can apply a lot of pressure throughout the game. Their middle lane is going to want to pick something that can have pressure across the lanes or has a significant amount of wave clear such as Viktor or Gangplank however I’d like to see a Corki pick. Their bottom lane has shown a lot of versatility on marksmen so I’ll be looking for their most commonly picked Lucian paired with either Thresh or Alistar. After their champion select they’re going to want to try and get regular laning and avoiding the swap. If they can avoid the swap they should be able to build up their team fighting potential at the earlier stages of the game and will be able to force objectives as soon as they see a small advantage on the map such as an opponent out of position. If they can force their opponent to take fights with hard engages they should be able to take the fights with their superior composition and take the advantage they need to accelerate through the game. Prediction: Unicorns of Love Victory. They’ve shown that they have better execution of their win conditions and although they can over step and lose an advantage they’re not likely to do so with a significant lead. I expect them to be able to take a lead against Elements and force their way through team fights and intro a victorious position. Week 8 | Day 2 – Match #3: Fnatic vs. Team Vitality Head to head record: Fnatic 0:1 Team Vitality Start Time: March 11, 11:00 AM PST/ 02:00 PM EST/ 20:00 CET This is a fairly odd match-up to analyse, Team Vitality are sitting in a better position in the standings and should be in an advantageous position against Fnatic however with IEM Katowice ending and Fnatic putting on fantastic performances for the majority of it they got a lot of extra competitive matches played that would be considered worlds class practice. All teams can analyse the games but Fnatic got to learn from it first hand and that could help close the skill gap between the teams. Fnatic: Their game against Giants went as expected but they pulled it off significantly better than I had expected, this means that their games during IEM really were a fantastic form of practice. The only deaths they took during the game gained them huge advantages and they had shown great mastery of pressuring the map. Team Vitality is going to need to watch out for Spirit in the early stages of the game. Team Vitality: They took a fairly rough loss against G2 Esports and were pushed down to 3rd place on the ladder with the top 2 positions being tied between G2 and H2k. It’s not going to come easy to make that climb back to the higher standings on the ladder as Fnatic had phenomenal practice but if they can devise a strategy to gain an early lead and deny the advances of Fnatic they might be able to take the match during the later stages. I think Fnatic are coming into this with an advantage regardless of the current standings, even though they’re a few wins behind Team Vitality I think the first-hand experience they gained during the international IEM Katowice tournament has accelerated their learning and has given them a fantastic platform to learn from. Team Vitality is going to need to analyse the matches and devise a strategy to get through the increasingly improving Fnatic. Fnatic are going to want to try and get their strongest picks that compliment what they’ve learned from their practice recently. For their jungle they’re going to want to pick something that can quickly apply pressure and has access to early ganking, I expect to see a Lee Sin or Nidalee in the jungle for Fnatic with a Corki or Lissandra in the middle lane; the wave clear will be extremely useful. Their top lane is likely to try and pick up Rammus or Nautilus as the tanky nature of these champions can assist in pressuring objectives early and opens up their options to dive towers or single out opponents. Their bottom lane is going to attempt to pick up Braum or Alistar paired with either Jhin or Kalista because of the synergy between the champions and the ability to take over team fights. Once they’ve got through champion select they’re going to want to take the lane swap and pressure the middle lane with their jungler, looking for an opening to teleport to either secure an objective or take an early team fight. They should be able to pressure the lanes significantly faster than VIT and gain an advantage that can be used to accelerate their pushing; I expect to see an early rift herald that is used to take deeper turrets. Team Vitality are going to want to stick with what they know and stay away from the surprise picks that they’re unsure about, this means less Nasus because professional players know not to get a Zzrot portal against one. Sticking with champions such as Lee Sin or Nidalee in the jungle with a Quinn in the middle lane will assist them greatly when coming into this game as it allows them to apply early and late game pressure in the lanes and opens up their options to split push. Their top lane should stick with something tanky such as Nautilus or Poppy to control team fights and focus on locking down their opponents. Their bottom lane should stick with the Corki or Kalista that they’ve shown comfort on paired with a tanky support such as Tahm Kench or Thresh however with Alistar and Braum being extremely strong picks right now I’d like to see one of them picked. Once they’ve locked in and prepared themselves they’re going to want to avoid the lane swap as I think Fnatic would take a larger advantage with it, they should ward up objectives early and pressure any early attempts at taking them. If they can get through the earlier stages of the game comfortably they’re going to want a deep line of vision in the enemy jungle and use this vision advantage to split push the lanes, only taking a team fight when they’re at an advantage. They should be able gain a lead in the middle or late game which will open up their win condition. Prediction: Fnatic Victory. Team Vitality aren’t going to make it easy at all but I think Fnatic are likely to build an early lead after perfecting the lane swapping and early objectives and this will lead to them being able to pressure the lanes more and take those advantages that open up their own win condition. Week 8 | Day 2 – Match #4: Splyce vs. H2K Head to head record: Splyce 0:1 H2k Start Time: March 11, 12:00 PM PST/ 03:00 PM EST/ 21:00 CET H2k are at an advantage very obviously here, Splyce managed to take their victory on day 1 however it was extremely close and they didn’t have the best drafting phase. H2k will be sure to punish this with extreme pushing of structures and won’t let up any pressure unless it puts them in a difficult position. Splyce are going to need a few early game champions to contest this however they’ve not shown much comfort on those types of champions. It’s going to be a difficult journey for them to really secure that 7th place position to avoid possible relegation. Prediction: H2k Victory. An advantage as clear as the one between these 2 teams is impossible to ignore, I expect H2k to take kills across the map with superior lane pressure and they might take a few deaths but overall I think the game is going to pan out in their favour. Once they’ve got the advantage I expect them to relentlessly pressure the map and objectives whilst rotating, leaving Splyce in a tough position to do anything. Week 8 | Day 2 – Match #5: Roccat vs. Origen Head to head record: Roccat 0:1 Origen Start Time: March 11, 01:00 PM PST/ 04:00 PM EST/ 22:00 CET Origen is at a clear advantage here however Roccat have put up some seriously good fight against some of the stronger teams. XPeke is likely to be playing once against as PowerOfEvil is currently ill and unable to perform to the best of his abilities. This means that Origen once again have that solid shot calling in the middle lane that Is likely to give them early game advantages after applying pressure to the lanes. I expect to see some overzealous moves from Origen that Roccat might be able to punish but if Origen play to their win conditions they’re going to give Roccat a tough time throughout the game. Prediction: Origen Victory. Roccat are in a tough position here, pressure from the upcoming relegation matches could throw them off slightly and if they’re unable to perform to the best of their abilities then Origen are going to run away with this game fairly easily. You might also be interested in: *.) Odds may have changed by now – no guarantee! The predictions are the opinion of the author. About The Author: Predictions by Addam ‘Canvas’ Burrows, English Literature and Journalism student of 2013. Diamond League Marksman. Contact Addam ‘ Canvas’ Burrows on Twitter!

Dr. Kendall L. and Mrs. Toby Baker, BFA ’06, give of their time as they pass out treat boxes to ONU students during fall quarter exams. Greetings from Ada and ONU!! In the Fall issue of the Alumni Journal, you may remember that we interviewed individuals who excelled in various capacities outside of their daily routine by following their ‘passions’. In this issue, we want to focus on The Giving Spirit. It is no surprise that many members of the ONU family graciously donate their time and resources to make their communities and our world a better place. In the pages that follow, you will learn how graduates and current students have given back in so many ways, whether it be by working for Engineers without Borders, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity or coordinating food drives for those in need. Also, you’ll read about alumni who have given back financially to Northern, whether it be as a Lehr Society Member supporting The Campaign for Ohio Northern University’s Tomorrow or as a young alumnus who has joined our GOLD Society. At Northern, our mission is and always has been education FIRST. We encourage our students to excel in the classroom but also to explore beyond the classroom and to give back to others in their own individual ways. An ONU education instills the importance of service and focusing on the common good rather than one’s own selfinterest. This issue also includes one of my favorite parts of the Alumni Journal, namely “The Ties That Bind.” As you know, this section always features stories inspired by friendships that began at Ohio Northern and have lasted, in some cases, sixty plus years. Many of us, like the illustrations shared in this journal, are all bound together by the relationships we have built at Ohio Northern University—friendships that will last a lifetime. Enjoy this issue of the journal and please accept Toby’s and my very best wishes for a warm, happy and fulfilling 2010. May you always remember to have in your heart, a Giving Spirit and to stay in touch with your ties from ONU. Thank you for all you do for Ohio Northern University. Dr. Kendall L. Baker President, Ohio Northern University Hello and Happy New Year! I hope that 2010 will be a year filled with good health, happiness and cherished connections for you and your family. Thanks so much to all of you for your notes, calls and positive feedback regarding the new design of the Ohio Northern University Alumni Journal. We will continue to bring you stories and updates about your fellow classmates and your alma mater. Vol 70 - Issue one Winter 2010 President Kendall L. Baker Vice President for Academic Affairs (Interim) and Dean of the College of Law David C. Crago Alumni Journal Editors Josh Alkire Associate Director of Communications Ann Donnelly Hamilton, BA ’99 Director of Alumni Affairs Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Karen P. (Casper) Condeni, BA ’74 Carol Flax Director of University Communications and Marketing Vice President for University Advancement Thomas R. Stevick Laurie Wurth Pressel Vice President for Financial Affairs Robert W. Ruble Vice President for Student Affairs Adriane Thompson-Bradshaw Executive Assistant to the President William L. Robinson, BSEd ’61, Hon.D. ’05, H of F ’05 Publisher Thomas R. Stevick Vice President for University Advancement Please continue to keep us updated as you begin the new year and feel free to send your comments and suggestions to me at firstname.lastname@example.org. We look forward to hearing from you and, as always, please stop and visit us at the Alumni House, 115 West Lima, when you are back on campus! Warmest regards, Ann Donnelly Hamilton, BA ’99 Director of Alumni Affairs Art and Design Jeni Bible Contributing Writers Josh Alkire, Laurie Wurth Pressel Contributing Photographers Kenneth Colwell, Tim Glon, Jose Nogueras, Mary Wilkin Class Notes Editor Brendon Boone, BA ’09, Karla Geise, BSBA ’07, Sonja Umbs, BA ’08 Send Class Notes news via e-mail to: email@example.com POSTMASTER Send address changes to: OHIO NORTHERN ALUMNI JOURNAL 525 S. Main St., Ada, Ohio 45810-1599 OHIO NORTHERN ALUMNI JOURNAL (USPS 404-840) is published by Ohio Northern University, 525 S. Ma in St., Ada, Ohio 45810-1599. 419-772-2000. Periodicals postage paid at Ada, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Phone: 419-772-2000 Fax: 419-772-2932 OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY was founded in 1871 and is a private, co-educational, student-centered institution of higher learning that offers quality, nationally ranked sciences, arts and professional programs in its five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, Pharmacy and Law. www.onu.edu 4 The Giving Spirit 16 Student Organizations 18 On the Tundra 20 Sports 22 Now Showing 26 Campaign 31 Class Notes 44 Northern’s Cubs 46 In Memoriam 50 Campus Connection The giving spirit abounds on Ohio Northern University’s campus. Students experience it each day in their interactions with the dedicated professors, caring alumni and generous donors who make up the ONU community. After graduating from Northern, many ONU alumni carry their passion for service into their new lives. For some, service becomes a vocation; for others, it becomes an avocation. Despite the demands of careers, graduate school and families, they continue to share their gifts for the betterment of society. In the following pages, you’ll discover that the giving spirit is determined and joyful through the voices of alumni and students who have made service to others a way of life. 4 ames E. Cates, BA ’67, had just graduated from Columbus East High School, and his immediate plans called for enlistment with the U.S. Air Force. One of 12 children, Cates never put much thought to college education. He didn’t exactly pay much attention to his high school career, either. Working late nights at restaurants, attending high school three or four times a week, Cates was more concerned about earning money to help his family. College just wasn’t in his world. An offer he almost refused But then a strange thing happened. Cates sat on the offer for two days before mentioning it to his mother. College was so far away from what he knew, so far away from anything he ever thought about, he found it difficult to take higher education seriously. “I wasn’t going to go. But my mother pushed, so I went back to see Dr. Eibling again,” he says. “We talked, and he suggested Northern. He said, ‘I’m the chairman of the board, so if you need help or guidance, it’s the school I know best.’ So that’s why I came` to ONU.” Cates received a mysterious phone call from Dr. Harold Eibling, superintendant of Columbus Public Schools and chairman of the board at Ohio Northern University. Eibling explained to Cates that four anonymous area businessmen were willing to finance Cates’ college education, as long as he adhered to four conditions: He had to attend one of three specific schools. He had to major in engineering. He had to maintain a 3.0 GPA in every quarter. Finally, he could not make any attempts to discover the identity of the four benefactors. Cates stepped on Ohio Northern’s campus as a freshman in fall 1963. With low expectations, he called his Air Force recruiter, explaining that he was going to give college a try, but would most likely be available for enlistment in January. His Northern experience A few weeks into his Northern journey, a moment of tragedy provided the intense focus Cates needed to survive. After years of working in foundries, his father suffered a heart attack. Cates traveled home on a rainy night in September 1963, expecting to drop out of school to help care for the family. His three older brothers were in the military, and his three older sisters were married, so he felt like he was the only one left to help his mother. He went to the hospital to visit his father, who sat up in his bed and asked his son what he was doing in Columbus, away from Ada and away from his studies. “I told him, ‘Dad, you almost died.’ He says, ‘I’m not going to die. I’m going to live long enough for you to get out of school. I’m probably not going to live long enough to raise the rest of these kids. But I’m counting on you to get out of school and help your mother.’ And that was when I really learned how to focus in life. The next four years, I focused more in my life than I think I have ever focused since.” Even with this renewed focus, college challenged Cates on several fronts. Academically, he felt like everyone else had a head start, because his high school had not prepared him well for the mathematics he needed for engineering. This would soon change. “I studied 15 hours a day; that’s about how long I had to study to keep up,” he recalls. “Because I was so far behind everybody, I used to spend six hours a night just on my math.” Socially, Cates found himself in a very unfamiliar world. “Most of the kids on campus were from the middle class,” he explains. “What they thought were problems weren’t problems for me. It was the first time I had three meals per day, and they were complaining about the food. I thought it was the best food there was!” Academic and social struggles weren’t the only hurdles Cates faced. “At the time, I think I was only the second black kid in the engineering school in 100 years at Northern. This was the civil rights era. So it was just really hard.” “Jim was a freshman in Lima Hall, where my wife, Gretchen, and I lived,” says William Robinson, BSEd ’61, Hon. D. ’05, H of F ’05, then dean of men and head resident of Lima Hall. “There’s an interesting story about white students and their parents refusing to have Jim as a roommate. The local minister of one of the students even came to me to protest the rooming situation. Neither of those students survived ONU, but Jim graduated with honors.” Of course, Cates emerged from this situation a better person. “People would seek me out to put their kids in the room with me so I could tutor them,” he says. “I became a pretty good math tutor, and that helped me make some money so I could send it home to my mother. Mary Cates, Jim Cates, BA ’67, and William Robinson, BSEd ’61, Hon. D. ’05, H of F ’05, at a San Francisco Area Alumni Event. “Every quarter I got better and better. I eventually graduated cum laude.” Welcome to the tech world After graduating from Ohio Northern, Cates earned a master’s degree in computer and information science from Ohio State University before beginning a long career with IBM. “I managed worldwide languages, databases, artificial intelligence, etc. I did a lot of research and development and worked my way up to corporate director at IBM,” he says. Cates left IBM after 21 years, taking executive leadership, WW IT deployment and corporate VP management positions with a number of companies in California’s Silicon Valley, including Altera, Brocade, Information Technology Solutions (now Keane Consulting), Synopsys and Silicon Graphics. “I became a specialist at working at a company for three to four years, taking on the task of transforming the entire company – people, business processes and technology. I rolled out worldwide business integration systems, what you call ERPS (enterprise resource planning systems).” CIO Scholarship Foundation Along the way, Cates co-authored two books, CIO Wisdom and Climbing the Ladder of Business Intelligence. He convinced his fellow authors to devote the books’ royalties to a scholarship fund, and, just like that, the CIO Scholarship Foundation was born. He’s been president of the group since 2003. To continue funding this foundation, Cates developed his “rent-a-CIO” model, in which companies donate $5,000 to the scholarship fund in exchange for two hours of consultation with three volunteer CIOs. During these two-hour sessions, the CIOs evaluate new opportunities and technologies for the donating companies. To date, the CIO Scholarship Foundation has distributed more than $160,000 in scholarships. The Foundation is involved with four universities and a community college district (San Jose State University, Clarion University, Ohio State University, UC Berkeley and Foothill-De Anza Community College District) and another charitable organization: the Glow Foundation. Glow Foundation In 2006, two Stanford University graduate students approached Cates, seeking his involvement with the Glow Foundation, a nonprofit organization that addresses the financial barriers facing high-potential, lowincome students as they attempt to enroll in college. The Glow Foundation does more than give out scholarships to deserving students. It educates and explains basic financial principles. Participating students work with mentors to learn about budgets, how set up bank accounts and where to apply for scholarships. The students must then put together a college budget that details what schools they would like to attend, how much it costs and how they plan to pay for it. Glow mentors and board members then examine the students’ progress, analyze the submitted budgets and distribute scholarships that fill in the gaps. Glow partners with Wells Fargo and Silicon Valley Bank and their volunteering employees to effectively deliver this student mentoring and financial training. Cates played a large part in funding Glow during its first year. He serves as a chairman of its board, and several other board member mentors have come from his network of colleagues. “2010 will be a difficult year for Glow funding due to the economic challenges all organizations are facing,” he says. To date, Glow Foundation has provided financial education to approximately 580 students and college scholarships to 79 students. “Just like me, it’s the first time they’ve had anyone actually tell them about a world outside of where they live,” says Cates. “They’re in really dangerous areas, and it’s a tough life for them. Just like mine was for me.” “I’ve helped kids all my life since I left ONU,” he continues. “It’s just a passion inside of me, because I know what would have happened had someone not helped me.” The importance of giving back While Cates readily acknowledges the impact his Northern education and experiences have had on his life, to this day he still has no idea about the identity of those four mysterious businessmen. “The deal was I never try to find out. I honored that. So no, I don’t know who they were,” he says. He can, on the other hand, cite a handful of people who made his educational journey possible: his mother and father, Harold Eibling, Bill Robinson, Frank Bringle McIntosh (president of the University from 1949-66). “There were a lot of people who helped me as I tried to move into a world that I had never seen before,” he says. “These people helped me get the courage to make the jump to a higher standard of living, and I have traveled the world. But more than that, this adventure helped me define a magnificent purpose for my life: mentoring and helping youth, the guardians of the nation’s future.” Because of his life experiences, Cates understands how important it is to repay the kindness afforded to him by others. He urges other graduates to do the same. “Once you get your degree, don’t forget to give back. Especially if you’re like me, where somebody helps you turn your life around. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a requirement for you to give back and help at least one more person.” And that’s just what Jim Cates has done, several times over. To learn more about the Glow Foundation, visit www.glowfoundation.org Service and sacrifice Close your eyes and picture your typical lawyer. You might see a perfectly tailored suit, legal brief in hand. Now drop the briefcase and replace it with a rifle. And mess up the hair with a heavy helmet. Trade the suit for camouflage fatigues. Not your typical attorney That’s Travis Elms, JD ’04, a judge advocate general (JAG) in the U.S. Army. As a JAG, he primarily acts as a military prosecutor. But there’s more to it than that. “When I was in Iraq, I was the sole legal advisor for a 4,000-person unit, and I practiced contract fiscal law and prosecuted individual misconduct cases. I also served as a legal advisor for administrative investigations and practiced international and operational law.” Elms attended Ohio Northern University’s Pettit College of Law because he knew he wanted to be a lawyer someday. He just didn’t know what he wanted to specifically do or practice. He needed a career to match the aspirations. This all changed during his second year at ONU. “In law school, a JAG officer came to campus and conducted interviews for an internship position during the summer between my second and third years. So I did the interview and was offered a six-week internship at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.” Sensing that he had discovered the perfect fit, during his third year of law school Elms applied to enter the U.S. Army. He was accepted in December 2003. “Somewhere inside me, there was a calling to serve, and when I found the JAG Corps, it was almost like a light bulb going off. I realized, ‘This is what I think I went to law school for. This is what I enjoy doing.’” Elms says he has always been patriotic and always interested in serving. Yet he never realized the breadth of career options available with the armed forces. If he had known, he may have enlisted much sooner. “I was pretty naïve, and I thought everyone in the Army was just an infantry soldier,” Elms says. “I didn’t realize that there were many other professions. You can be a nurse. You can drive a truck. You can be an engineer. You can do a communications job. You can work exclusively as a law enforcement officer or a criminal investigator.” Elms officially joined the Army in January 2005. He was deployed to Iraq in July 2007 and remained there for more than 15 months. He’s currently stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. At other times, Elms worked with contract and fiscal law. His unit dealt with engineering and reconstruction (building schools, hospitals, etc.), and Elms was tasked with the fiscal elements of these reconstructions. “It’s very complicated to spend money appropriately. To spend improperly is a criminal offense,” he says. “So I was the legal advisor, making sure the right money was spent on the right projects. And I spent a lot of time advising on contracts.” Elms performed operational law, too, instilling the rules of engagement to his fellow soldiers so that they could operate in accordance with the Law of War. “I would meet these guys before missions, brief them on the current rules of engagement, and assure them that they had all the necessary tools to make the right decisions,” Elms explains. “These are tough young kids, but they always have a fear in the backs of their minds that they’re going to do something wrong or they’re going to hurt somebody that they shouldn’t hurt. Or they won’t react in time, and they’ll end up being hurt or their fellow soldiers will be hurt. I found it personally gratifying to ride along with these guys, be a part of their daily lives and give them confidence.” The future Five years into this journey, Elms acknowledges the sacrifices required from a military career. His family moves frequently, and when not deployed he often travels to places like Korea for weeks at a time. Because such things can be very taxing on a family, Elms’ future seems to be up in the air. While Elms enjoys what’s he doing and would “love to stay for 20 years,” his wife, Elizabeth, although extremely patriotic and supportive, may have other ideas. “I only get 49 percent of the vote,” he says, laughing. Not your typical soldier While in Iraq, Elms served many roles, and no two days were ever the same. At times, Elms acted as a trusted advisor to his commander. “They say that 10 percent of a commander’s job demands 90 percent of their time,” he explains. “So it was rewarding to be able to shoulder some of that burden and tell the commander, ‘I’m going to take that burden, filter it, fix it and then feed it back to you in manageable pieces so that you can focus on the mission.’” Travis Elms, JD ’04, with Colonel Peter “Duke” DeLuca (left) and General David Petraeus (right). ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’ Kate Johnson uses her engineering expertise to bring clean water to villagers in Cameroon, Africa, improving their health and future. Engineers without borders The family of Kate Johnson, BSCE ’07, bestowed upon her two invaluable gifts: a natural aptitude for engineering and a sincere belief in the words of St. Luke, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” These gifts have guided Johnson’s young life. They’ve led her to a successful career as a civil engineer and inspired her to reach out to residents in developing countries who are in desperate need of clean water. “It’s hard to imagine that some people don’t even have access to fresh water when I have so much,” she says. “Giving back is a way to restore the balance.” Johnson inherited her engineering gene from a long line of ancestors. Her father, two grandfathers and two greatgrandfathers were all engineers. “I was just 3 years old when I knew I wanted to be an engineer,” says Johnson, with a laugh. When she graduated from Ohio Northern in 2007, she became her family’s fourth generation, but first female, engineer. After graduation, Johnson joined Burgess and Niple, a prestigious engineering and architectural firm in Columbus, Ohio, where she works on a wide range of water-related projects, including financial rate studies for water and sewage, flood mapping for municipalities, and waste-water treatment systems for manufacturing companies. Shortly after starting her new job, Johnson began to give back. She became a founding member of the Central Ohio Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB). EWB’s mission is to partner with developing communities to improve their quality of life through the implementation of environmentally sustainable, equitable and economical engineering projects. Volunteers include engineering students, professors and professionals who want to make a difference. Johnson accepted the lead role for a EWB-sponsored project to install a clean water system in an impoverished village in Cameroon, a country in West Africa. In February 2009, she and four other EWB members spent one week in the village of Batoula assessing needs. The experience was overwhelming, says Johnson. “I am so lucky I live in a developed country,” she reflects. “The conditions in which these people live, and the hardships they deal with every day, are unimaginable.” Contaminated water is a major problem for the villagers. The village’s existing water system, built by the French in the 1960s, has fallen into disrepair and become infected with surface water. In addition, there are several weeks each year when water sources run dry, and villagers have to travel several miles for water. A lack of clean water has caused the deaths of hundreds from malaria, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and other waterborne diseases long ago eliminated in the U.S. “In my view, clean water is an essential life force,” says Johnson. “If you have access to clean water, you will be healthy and stay alive, and from there you can begin to better your life.” Johnson’s team took their data back to the U.S. and designed plans and raised funds for a new water system for the village. They will return to Batoula early in 2010 to install a hand-pump system. Their longterm plan calls for a solar-powered system with several water spouts throughout the village. “We’ve made a five-year commitment to the project,” explains Johnson, who hopes to extend additional help to the village in the areas of health, education and business development. Volunteering with EWB has changed her outlook on life, says Johnson. She’s become less materialistic and more appreciative of her many blessings. She was overcome by the graciousness and happiness of the people she encountered in Cameroon. Everywhere she walked in the village, people stopped her to express their gratitude for her assistance. “They had virtually no materials goods, and yet they were happy because they had a strong sense of family and community. It gives you a perspective on what’s really important.” Recognizing the ‘ah-ha’ moment “Northern was a big part of my Christian journey.” Servant leader When Peter Paige, BSBA ’00, arrived on Ohio Northern University’s campus as a freshman, he had a lucrative future as an accountant all mapped out. But his faith led him in a different direction, inspiring him to serve others as a minister in the United Methodist Church. to offer small prayer groups and religious retreats. “Northern was a big part of my Christian journey,” says Paige. “It was a great place to grow and learn.” Growing up as the child of two pastors in Michigan, Paige knew the stress involved in ministering at small churches struggling to survive. It wasn’t the path for him, he thought. A straight-A student in high school, he decided to pursue his interest in business and become a certified public accountant. During an accounting internship in Lansing, Mich., his junior year, Paige slowly came to realize that ministry was his life calling. Bored and lonely, cut off from his supportive network of college friends, he had “lots of me and God time,” he says, with a laugh. “I realized that all the church stuff I was planning to do on the side should really be my main focus. But it wasn’t an easy decision to arrive at.” At Northern, Paige excelled in the classroom and became a campus leader. He was a resident hall assistant, the president of Northern Christian Fellowship and an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. During the three years that Paige was part of the leadership team for Northern Christian Fellowship, the group grew from 60 members to 200 members and expanded Paige completed his business degree from Northern and then enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky for a master of divinity degree. His first appointment was the associate pastor of missions and finance at the Greater Leipsic Multi-Site Parish in Leipsic, Ohio. Four years later, he was appointed head pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Kenton, Ohio. Every day, Paige serves the members of his congregation with a special blend of compassion, encouragement and understanding. He revels in what he calls the “ah-ha moments” – times when someone to whom he is ministering realizes that God loves and accepts them unconditionally. Paige brings many gifts to the pastor position. His business expertise makes him a capable administrator of church finances. His youth brings a fresh outlook and enthusiasm to a congregation that was ready for a change. His leadership style encourages others to use their gifts to serve God. “I did not become a minister to lead a Church, but to listen to God and to equip everyone around me to do His work,” he says. “I’m not as smart as God. The Spirit will lead people. I’m just there to encourage them to become who God wants them to be.” Paige is married to Jenny (Kline), BSME ’02, an engineer at Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. in Findlay, Ohio, and they have three small children. “I like how much of a difference I get to make every day for my children.” Inspired teaching In fall 2001, Ohio Northern University hosted a talk by Erin Gruwell, the educator behind The Freedom Writers Diary book and the 2007 Freedom Writers film. Already well known for transforming the lives of students in a racially divided urban community in California, Gruwell’s presentation that day changed the life of at least one ONU student in Ada. “Her story blew my mind,” says Stephanie Carr, BA ’05, a sophomore education major at the time. “It opened my eyes to the possibilities, and I decided that, as long as I teach, I want to work with urban kids.” Exactly where to teach these urban kids was also quickly decided. At age 15, Carr had participated as a camper in Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project), a program that coordinates mission trips for church youth groups. While in Tennessee, these youth groups volunteer on projects like building porches and sheds, painting houses, and performing yard work. “The very first time I was in camp, I said, ‘I want to do this someday and be on staff and live here all summer long.’ So I did that for a couple of summers in college, fell in love with Tennessee and decided when I graduate, I’m coming down here.” Looking back, I was so thankful So, with career goals and locale already settled, Carr took a job teaching language arts to eighth graders in an “urban district” in Nashville, Tenn. Her first year, however, got off to a rocky start, with one class in particular presenting major problems. “My third period made me want to cry every day when I was teaching. Every day! Picture what it’s like in the movies, but five times worse,” she says. Full of self-doubt and feelings of failure, Carr persevered and eventually got through to them, thankful in retrospect for the way things turned out. Describing that first year as a learning process, Carr says her students taught her what it means to be strong and how to overcome difficulties with a good attitude. It’s my calling in life Today, Carr teaches reading to about 120 seventh graders at Madison Middle School in Nashville, Tenn. More than just a teacher, she plays several roles during the course of a typical day. “I’m a social worker. I’m a youth pastor. I’m a mind reader, a psychologist, a mother,” she says. The hard work is worth it, however, because helping these kids is Carr’s calling in life. Although they come from different worlds, she knows that she can make a difference. “My kids have very hard lives,” she says. “It’s a life that I will never live and never experience. They have more sadness and tragedy than I can even comprehend. But being in school every day is how they’re going to have a chance at a better life as an adult.” “I like how much of a difference I get to make every day for my children,” she continues. “They need school, and they need their teachers in ways that the suburban or more middle-class demographic do not.” Her efforts are paying off. Last year, 98 percent of her students (100 percent of the girl and 94 percent of the boys) met the Tennessee’s standard proficiency requirements. “I truly believe that every child can behave appropriately and learn at high levels. So, whatever it takes, I’ll do it. I give 110 percent. It’s about them, and the numbers last year prove it.” No matter what she has to do, it seems Carr will do it. She’s made home visits. She’s done before- and after-school tutoring. She’s met with kids on Saturdays. “I even go to basketball games to talk to parents,” she explains. “Parents who avoid official meetings at school will often be at sporting events and willing to talk.” As dedicated as Carr is to her students, there used to be a chance that she would impact the lives of animals instead. “When I was deciding to go to college, I narrowed it down to two things: I was going to either go to Penn State and be pre-veterinary, or go to Ohio Northern and be an English teacher.” With all due respect to our four-legged friends, the students at Madison Middle School are definitely better off for her decision. At Northern, the giving spirit is everywhere. Here are just a few of ONU’s many student service organizations… Orange Noses is a service group that inspires others through the joy of clowning and professional entertainment. Members of Orange Noses share their love, make people smile and draw them closer to Christ. ONU Recycles unites the student body in awareness and action with regard to environmental concerns. It facilitates recycling on campus, educates others on current green issues and promotes environmentally friendly practices. “Giving future generations a cleaner, sustainable world is the ultimate gift.” – Jennifer Smith, junior mechanical engineering major from Granville, Ohio, and coordinator of ONU Recycles “Smiling is contagious. One of the greatest gifts you can give to someone is to make them smile.” – Chris Corrado, senior marketing major from Cincinnati, Ohio, and founder of Orange Noses Habitat for Humanity ONU’s chapter of focuses on eliminating substandard housing both in the local community and around the world. In addition to raising money and advocating for housing solutions, students help to construct a home in Hardin County almost every year. Each spring, the ONU chapter sends out three teams of volunteers to cities in the southern U.S. to build homes for people in need. “The giving spirit does not mean giving due to obligation; it means giving openly, freely and lovingly. This ‘spirit’ of giving and kindness is what makes organizations like Habitat for Humanity so wonderful.” – Jenny Pelton, senior language arts education major from Hicksville, Ohio, and president of ONU’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity Ada Friends is a mentorship program that pairs ONU students with Ada elementary students. The elementary students benefit from the stable, positive influence of the college students as role models, mentors, confidantes, tutors and friends. “I have learned to put someone else ahead of myself without exception.” – Gwen Smith, junior youth ministry major from Bluffton, Ohio, and mentor for Ada Friends Helping Hands is a service group that welcomes new students and their families by providing them with physical assistance moving their belongings into the residence halls. “Helping Hands means curbside service and a friendly smile. It shines a great light on the nature of the student body here at Northern.” – Sarah Hatch, senior psychology major from Spring Valley, Ohio, and coordinator for Helping Hands Green Chemistry Guru on Campus The Mathile Center for the Natural Sciences, which was dedicated on Oct. 16, 2009, has become the cornerstone of ONU’s signature science programs. The student-centered academic research and learning facility blends hands-on teaching excellence with advanced technology in a functional modern environment. The building includes 21 classrooms, five seminar/conference rooms, 21 laboratories, 34 offices and four storage spaces. The 95,145-squarefoot structure connects the Meyer Hall of Science with the Robertson-Evans Pharmacy building. “One key aspect of this place is how well it brings people together,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gray, professor and chairman of the department of chemistry. “Every classroom, lab and discussion area promotes strong interactions between students and faculty – this is really what we love to do, and what we do best. Maybe it is just my imagination, but it appears that our students even seem happy to be here in this building for classes at 8 a.m.!” The Mathile Center is named for Clayton L. Mathile, BA ’62, BSBA ’06, and his wife, MaryAnn, who initiated the campaign to construct the center by pledging $5 million, plus an additional $5 million in matching funds. Dr. Paul T. Anastas, known as the “Father of Green Chemistry,” was the featured guest speaker during the 2009 Keiser Distinguished Lectureship in Life Sciences in October. He spent four days on campus interacting with faculty and students. His schedule included a public lecture titled “Green Chemistry, From Here to Sustainability,” which he delivered to a large crowd in the Freed Center for the Performing Arts. Anastas is professor in the practice of green chemistry in Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical Engineering. He also serves as the director of Yale’s Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering. His research focuses on the design of safer chemicals and chemical processes to replace the use of hazardous substances. President Barack Obama recently nominated Anastas to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Research and Development. Anastas has worked in Washington, D.C., before, serving as director of the Green Chemistry Institute from 2004-06. He also served as the assistant director for the environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He is credited with establishing the field of green chemistry during his time working for the EPA as the chief of the Industrial Chemistry Branch and director of the U.S. Green Chemistry program. Anastas received his Ph.D. from Brandeis University where he trained as a synthetic organic chemist. Front row from left: Cara Schroeder, a junior biology major from Sidney, Ohio; Toby Baker, BFA ’06; Clayton Mathile, BA ’62, BSBA ’06; MaryAnn Mathile; Dr. Kendall L. Baker, Ohio Northern University president; Ryan Brune, a senior mechanical engineering major from Decatur, Ind. Back row from left: Austin Moyer, a junior mechanical engineering major from New Washington, Ohio; Andrea Meers, a sophomore international business and economics major from Lodi, Ohio; Ashley Bonamer, a freshman biochemistry major from Broadview Heights, Ohio; Morgan Belling, a second-year pharmacy student from Rochelle, Ill.; Kelly Jensen, a fourth-year pharmacy student from Hudson, Ohio; Jennifer Pelton, a senior language arts education major from Hicksville, Ohio; David Walters, a senior mechanical engineering major from Circleville, Ohio. For the third consecutive year, ONU is ranked No. 2 among Midwest baccalaureate colleges in America’s Best Colleges 2010, which is published annually by U.S. News and World Report. ONU has joined the Yellow Ribbon Program, which allows eligible military veterans to attend ONU tuition-free for up to four years beginning in fall 2009. For more information, visit www.onu.edu/yellowribbon From the abundant white swamp oak and honey locust, to the unusual mountain maple and metasequoia, Ohio Northern’s campus is populated with trees whose stately majesty enhances the natural beauty of the grounds. The Arbor Day Foundation has honored Ohio Northern University as a 2009 Tree Campus USA university for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. Learning and ‘Games’ Staging Games turned out to be more than child’s play for Northern dancers who spent a week with Donald McKayle, a world-renowned choreographer and director, preparing for their Freed Center performance of the dance production. “Actually having the opportunity to meet and work with someone of this caliber was amazing. We literally were working with a living legend,” says dancer Amanda Fannon, a junior communication arts major from Kenton, Ohio. Ohio Northern is the second institution in Ohio to be named a Tree Campus USA campus or university and among only a handful in the nation, joining such institutions as Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. “Over the years, we have had the foresight to plant more than 100 species of trees on our campus to use both academically and for their aesthetics,” says Dr. Terry Keiser, professor of biological sciences. “I remember when we were essentially just bare fields. Look at the natural beauty now! I am proud to have been a part of this.” Tree Campus USA honors college and universities and the leaders of the campus and surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. Tree Campus USA is supported by a grant from Toyota. Ohio Northern met the five required core standards of tree care and community engagement in order to receive Tree Campus USA status. Those standards are establishing a campus tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree-care plan, verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan, involvement in an Arbor Day observance and the institution of a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body. The Raabe College of Pharmacy marked its 125th anniversary with a blacktie celebration on Sept. 12 attended by more than 200 guests. A spectacular fireworks display closed the evening’s festivities. McKayle and his assistant, Stephanie Powell, worked one-on-one with dancers during their campus visit in September. This personalized approach enabled each dancer to improve their technique, balance, flexibility and confidence. “The students were like sponges,” McKayle said. “They were very receptive, and they were eager.” McKayle is the winner of numerous accolades, including a Tony Award for Best Musical for Raisin. He has been nominated for multiple Tony Awards in directing and choreography as well. His productions are performed all over the world, and he has choreographed more than 90 works for dance companies in the United States, Canada, Israel, Europe and South America. The ONU dancers performed Games at the Freed Center in early October. The production follows the interactions of a group of children as they go about playing on city streets. Broken up into three parts, Play, Hunger and Terror, the audience is exposed to the relationships of the children and how they cope with the world around them. As dance theatre, Games is unique in that there is no instrumental music. Songs from the rich heritage of oral transmission in both the rural and urban communities of the United States accompany the dance movement and are performed a cappella by the cast of singers and dancers. ONU was featured as one of the nation’s top schools in The Princeton Review’s annual college guide, The Best 371 Colleges: 2010 Edition. The Kern Foundation has awarded Dr. J.D. Yoder, professor of mechanical engineering, a KEEN III grant of $75,000 to expand ONU’s entrepreneurship efforts directed at undergraduate engineering students. For more on these news stories, and others, visit www.onu.edu/news Sports Polar Bear spirit on display Fresh paint and attention-grabbing banners in the main gymnasium of the Ohio Northern University Sports Center are helping the Polar Bear spirit shine. “We are going for the ‘wow!’ effect,” said Tom Simmons, BSBA ’85, BA ’86, director of athletics. “This is our house, and we want to create an electric atmosphere for our players, the visiting teams and the fans.” Updates include brighter paint colors, ONU logos at the end of each court, new signage, colorful banners and rail skirting. Simmons has obtained sponsorships from local businesses to offset the cost of the updates. Reaching 500 victories “We are planning cosmetic updates for all of our sports facilities in the future,” said Simmons. “We’re kicking our Polar Bear spirit up a notch.” Head volleyball coach Kate Witte (above center) has reached an impressive 500 career victories. She achieved this distinction when the Polar Bears defeated Hope College (Mich.) during the Wittenberg Border Battle in September. In her 19 years at Ohio Northern, Witte’s teams have compiled an impressive 518-156 record, a winning percentage of 0.769. “It is a great honor to be part of a very successful volleyball program,” said Witte. “The collective effort of players and assistant coaches has allowed me to reach this personal milestone.” Witte added that her biggest joy in coaching is interacting with her players and watching them grow into classy, mature young women. The 2009 volleyball team ended the season ranked No. 6 in the final Sports Imports/AVCA Coaches poll with a 30-4 record. Check out www.onusports.com for up-to-date game schedules, scores, team information and coaching staff bios. photo credit: Scott Heckel/Canton Repository Former Ohio Northern All-American Jason Trusnik, BA ’06, has been traded to the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. The linebacker was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007. Brian Hofman was named the Division III National Assistant Volleyball Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Five Polar Bear teams – women’s soccer, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s soccer, and volleyball – competed in the NCAA Division III Championships this fall. Women’s basketball head coach Michele Durand achieved her 100th win in her ninth season as the leader of the Polar Bear team. The Northern football team ended its season with an 8-2 record but did not receive a bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. 2010 WINTER Sports Schedule Indoor Track and Field Scholarship Winter Golf Outing Naples, Fla., March 14-15, 2010 Come join us at the inaugural Ohio Northern University Scholarship Winter Golf Outing to be held at the Golf Club of the Everglades in Naples, Fla., on March 14-15, 2010. This special event supports current and future students at Ohio Northern. More than 80 percent of ONU students receive some form of financial aid every year, yet most still graduate with significant debt. Scholarship support enables students to pursue their dreams of a top-tier ONU education. Thanks to Clyde, BSEd ’61, H of F ’83, and Pearl (Myers) Quinby, AA ’61, 100 percent of your golf fees will go to scholarships at ONU. For more information, contact Tom Stevick or Bill Robinson, BSEd ’61, Hon. D. ’05, H of F ’05, at 419-772-2035 or visit www.onu.edu/alumni February 6 at Mount Union Invitational 13 All-Ohio Championships at Otterbein 19 JOE BANKS INVITATIONAL 20 at Kent State 26-27 OACs at Marietta March 5-6 Last Chance at Mount Union 5-6 Last Chance at Iowa State 12-13 NCAAs at DePauw (Ind.) February 3 MUSKINGUM* 6 at Mount Union* 10 at Wilmington* 13 MARIETTA* 17 at Baldwin-Wallace* 7:30 p.m. 20 JOHN CARROLL* 23-27 OAC Tournament 1 p.m. noon 6 p.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m./1 p.m. TBA TBA TBA 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. February 2 BALDWIN-WALLACE* 9 at Mount Union* 20 OAC Championships at Mount Union 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 10 a.m. March 5-6 NCAA III Championships at Cedar Rapids, Iowa Swimming and Diving January 15 at Kenyon w/Oberlin 16 MOUNT UNION* 23 at Baldwin-Wallace* February 18-20 OAC Championships at Akron, Ohio 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 10 a.m./6 p.m. March 17-20 NCAA III Championships at Minneapolis, Minn. Save the Date June 25, 2010 Fourth Annual Athletic Alumni and Friends Golf Outing has been scheduled for June 25, 2010. February 3 at Muskingum* 6 MOUNT UNION* 10 WILMINGTON* 13 at Marietta* 17 BALDWIN-WALLACE* 20 at John Carroll* 23-27 OAC Tournament 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. *OAC Game HOME MATCHES IN BOLD Event Highlights Feb. 20 Peking Acrobats Jan. 4-Feb. 19 In a Little While Elzay and Stambaugh Galleries Paintings by Ivan J. Fortushniak Feb. 10-14 Urinetown Wednesday through Saturday, 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. matinee Freed Center One of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, Urinetown is a tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. 8 p.m. Freed Center A troupe of China’s most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists and gymnasts, complemented by live musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments, brings its 2,000-year-old tradition to the Freed Center. March 31 University Singers 8 p.m. Freed Center The University Singers will join the Monroe Street United Methodist Chancel Choir and Community Chorus, with members of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, in a presentation of the famed Beethoven choral/orchestral work Missa Solemnis in D Major, Op. 123. April 28-May 2 42nd Street Wednesday through Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. matinee Freed Center Come and meet those dancing feet! Follow the adventures of talented, aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer as she learns the ropes to becoming a Broadway star and, along the way, learns some life lessons about luck and love. April 30-May 2 Weekend of Art Feb. 18 Symphonic Band Winter Concert Ohio Northern University Save the date for a fabulous Weekend of Art, beginning with a relaxing evening of fireside jazz while staying at the luxurious Inn at Ohio Northern University. Saturday includes art presentations, art-play, lectures, an inside look at 42nd Street, excellent seats to the Saturdaynight performance and much more. There’s even special art programming for children. 8 p.m. Freed Center Feb. 19 The Toledo Symphony 8 p.m. Freed Center 22 April 7 African Children’s Choir 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Freed Center Human rights activist Ray Barnett heard the singing of one small boy during Uganda’s bloody civil war and was inspired to create his first African Children’s Choir with orphaned children from the Kampala and Luwero areas of Uganda. Experience the vibrant, outstanding musical talent of some of the world’s most vulnerable, yet gifted children. A complete brochure of information will be sent soon. Reserve your room now by calling The Inn at Ohio Northern University at 419-772-2500 and referencing ONU’s first annual Weekend of Art. This is a partial listing of Freed Center events. For a complete listing and ticket information, visit www.freedcenter.com Hall of Fame As part of Homecoming weekend in October, ONU’s Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed six new members. Pictured left to right: James Ricketts, Brad Rogers, Cortney (Roof) Simpson, Lori Kane, Mary (Bouic) Schmidt, Matthew Wolf From 1981-84, Lori Kane, BSBA ’86, helped the ONU volleyball team compile a cumulative record of 149-31-2 (0.824) as a four-year starter. During her senior season, Kane led the team to the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships and a trip to the NCAA Regional Finals. As a junior in 1983, she led the team with 297 kills and was named First Team All-OAC and First Team All-Ohio. She also earned First Team All-OAC and First Team All-Ohio honors as a senior in 1984. Kane was a two-time volleyball team MVP (1983-84) and a member of the ONU women’s basketball team for two seasons. Today, Kane is the vice president of administration at MedBen in Newark, Ohio, where she resides. As the ONU volleyball team’s setter from 1994-97, Cortney (Roof) Simpson, BA ’98, recorded 4,153 assists (the fourth most in school history) and 216 aces (the third most in ONU history). She led her squads to four OAC Regular Season Championships and four OAC Tournament Championships. Her teams also made the NCAA Tournament all four years and made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Quarterfinals from 1996-97. As a junior, Simpson was named All-Great Lakes Region and Second Team All-OAC. As a senior, she was named AllGreat Lakes Region, First Team All-OAC and Second Team Academic All-OAC. Currently, Simpson is a teacher for Clark-Shawnee Local Schools and lives in Springfield, Ohio, with her husband, Christopher, and their daughters, Reagan (6) and Maura (2). Mary (Bouic) Schmidt, BSPh ’94, was a starter on the 1989 NCAA runner-up volleyball team and went on to lead her teams to OAC Regular Season Championships from 1990-92 and OAC Tournament Championships from 1990-91. Schmidt was named First Team All-OAC and the OAC Player of the Year in 1991, and she was a back-to-back All-Midwest Region honoree in 1991 and 1992. Schmidt led the team in kills and hitting percentage in 1991 and 1992 and total blocks in 1989 and 1990. All time, Schmidt is fifth in total blocks (361), fifth in solo blocks (91) seventh in kills (1,212) and 10th in hitting percentage (0.288). Schmidt is currently a pharmacist for Medco Health Solutions in Columbus, Ohio. She and her husband, Michael, live in Plain City, Ohio, with their two children, Zachary (5), and Zoe (2). As an ONU wrestler in 1988, Brad Rogers, BSME ’90, was an NCAA All-American after finishing sixth in the 126-pound weight class at the NCAA Championships. He returned to the NCAA Championships in 1989 and 1990, and he earned Academic All-America accolades from 1988-90. In 1990, Rogers set an ONU single-season record with 118 takedowns and won the Clyde A. Lamb Award for being the top male student-athlete in the Ohio Athletic Conference. His 34 victories in 1990 are tied for the eighth most in school history, and he is currently in 10th place on ONU’s all-time wins list with a 98-30-1 career record. Today, Rogers is a senior engineer at M&M Mars Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. He and his wife, Maureen, live in Dublin, Ohio. They have three children: Chris (22), John (16) and Kira (6). Matthew Wolf, BSPh ’98, won an amazing 14 OAC Championships during his four-year track and field career. That number ranks second all-time at Ohio Northern. Aside from winning OAC Championships, Wolf also set OAC records in the 400meter dash outdoors and the 300-meter dash indoors. Wolf helped Northern win its first OAC Indoor Track and Field Championship in 1996 due in large part to his victories in the 55-meter and 300-meter dashes. He earned All-America honors on four separate occasions. Wolf is currently a managing consultant with Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions in Chesterbrook, Pa. He and his wife, Nicole, reside in Palmyra, Pa., with their children, Caden (3) and Carson (2). In 1958, James G. Ricketts, BSEd ’60, led the Polar Bear basketball squad in scoring with 356 points and steals with 27. For his career, Ricketts is ninth all-time at ONU in both free throws made and free throws attempted. His 1,176 career points made him the all-time leading scorer at ONU upon his graduation, and he is now 21st on Ohio Northern’s all-time list. Ricketts has worked as a correctional consultant since 1985 and has been the CEO of Technology Systems International Inc. since 1994. He and his wife, Judy, live in Scottsdale, Ariz., and have three grown children: Robin, Daniel and Kimberly. Homecoming Weekend 2009 he campus could have been mistaken for a tropical paradise on Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 9-11, 2009. Given the beautiful weather, Ohio Northern University’s “Tropical Tundra” theme could not have been more appropriate. Thousands of alumni and friends came back to Ohio Northern for a weekend full of entertainment, celebration and Polar Bear pride. Hundreds of students participated in different activities held across campus throughout the week. Events included Texas Hold ’Em, Tropical Olympics and Hula Dancing lessons. The most popular event, however, was “Smashbash.” For a dollar, students could swing a sledgehammer at an old car painted in the Homecoming football game opponent’s colors. This was a great way for students and faculty to take a break from the daily routine of work and school! Dr. Anne Lippert, who recently retired as vice president of academic affairs, was the grand marshal for this year’s Homecoming parade and festivities. This year’s Homecoming queen and king were Jenny Pelton, a senior language arts education major from Hicksville, Ohio, who represented Habitat for Humanity, and Sean McKee, a third-year pharmacy student from Salem, Ohio, who represented residence life. outside Dial-Roberson Stadium, each of these nine classes had a table set up with a large collage celebrating their time at ONU. The tent area was one of the most populated during the Homecoming festivities, as many offices and programs on campus had displays set up for alumni. The dining service also provided a well-received tailgatestyle lunch for current students, alumni, family and friends. Ohio Northern’s current athletes responded well to all of the festivities, as our nationally ranked volleyball team, men’s and women’s soccer teams, and football team each handily defeated their respective OAC opponent. Greek Life at Ohio Northern welcomed back alumni with social gatherings such as cookouts, golf outings, open houses, dinners and meetings. While all alumni are celebrated on Homecoming weekend, the classes of 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004 were honored in a unique way. Underneath the massive tents set up Homecoming 2009 was a weekend filled with fun and fellowship. The months of hard work put in by students and faculty came to fruition to ensure each and every one of our visitors had a unique experience. We hope to see all of our alumni and friends back for Homecoming 2010 on the weekend of Oct. 8-10. On Friday evening, six new members were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Numerous others awards were given throughout the campus, including the Distinguished Service award from The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration and the William L. Robinson Young Alumni Award. Murray honored with Young Alumni Award Amy (Widner) Murray, BS ’95, who graduated from ONU wit h a degree in environmental studies, has been named the recipient of the 200 9 William L. Robinson Young Alumn i Award. Since 2006, Murray, an environmental specialist, has been em ployed by Cornerstone Environment al Group LLC, where she assists with environmental compliance issues in the areas of solid waste management, sur face water compliance and air com pliance. She specializes in special wa ste profile reviews to ensure that commercial and industrial wastes are no n-hazardous in classification prior to Sub title D landfill acceptance. This award is given eac h year to an individual who is commit ted to Ohio Northern, his or her pro fession, and the community. The award named in honor of Bill Robinson, BSEd ’61 , Hon. D. ’05, H of F ’05, who has served the University for more than 50 years in numerous capacities and has been a positive While at ONU, she was influence on countless a member of the students and Professional Association alumni. In 2005, Robinson of Women in was awarded Science, Kappa Theta Alp an honorary degree and ha and ONU named to the BEARS. ONU Athletic Hall of Fam e. As an alumna, Murray has served as the secretary of the ONU Alumni Board and the vice president of the Cincinnati Alumni Club for ONU. Murray and her husband , Michael, BSCE ’95, are members of the Henry Solomon Lehr Society. They reside in Liberty Tow nship, Ohio, and have three children: Rachel, 7, and twins Jessica and Amanda, 5. Phi Kappa Theta University The Inn at Ohio Northern room No. 3 designated its meeting Conference as the “Phi Kappa Theta ing weekend. com Room” during Home The Phi Kappa Theta fraternity was closed in 2005, and its house was torn down. Former brothers Mark Palmer, BSBA ’76, JD ’79, BA ell, pb ’79, and Jack Cam to honor the ve dri g isin dra initiated a fun y by encouraging legacy of their fraternit $500 or more fellow brothers to give ced on a to have their names pla ed meeting nam ly plaque in the new 70 donors n tha re mo e, room. To dat 0, and two have contributed $50,00 are displayed es commemorative plaqu p support the hel ds fun at The Inn. These of the Inn. marketing and branding Phi Kappa “The generosity of the can build a we ans me Theta brothers a marketing new Web site and launch e Eichelberger campaign,” says Tallen of The Inn. er (left), general manag honor of the Having a room named in t they tha ans me y nit ter former fra s, pu explains still have a place on cam e wanted a “W Palmer and Campbell. and The Inn g, lon be l stil place for us to t that,” Palmer is an ideal place to do jus says. supporting the Individuals interested in t or exploring Phi Kappa Theta projec ies at The other naming opportunit vick, vice Ste Tom Inn should contact ement, at anc adv y rsit ive president of Un 419-772-2036. ’84 ’04 of Business University’s James F. Dicke College Jim Fenton, dean of Ohio Northern Outstanding Service the with ’68, A cham) Cotner, BSB Administration, presented Cheryl (Bur ing service to and have provided sustained and outstand Award, which honors individuals who ration and Ohio inist Adm y impacted the College of Business whose contributions have positivel Northern. Anonymous (4) Dr. Oliver E. Accountius Mrs. Doris J. Walker Atteberry Dr. and Mrs. Kendall L. Baker Dr. and Mrs. Victor G. Beghini Mr. and Mrs. Walter W. Bettinger II Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Blankemeyer Mrs. William J. Blazek Dr. and Mrs. Robert J. Blickensderfer Mr. Raymond O. Bolton Mrs. Janet Ruth Boltz Mrs. Jeanne E. Bredbeck Mr. and Mrs. Philip M. Brooks Dr. Inara M. Brubaker Mr. and Mrs. William Brian Burgett Mr. and Mrs. C. Lawrence Busch Dr. and Mrs. Bruce E. Burton Mrs. M. Jean Augsburger Butturff Mr. Robert L. Caldwell Mr. Jerry R. Churchill Dr. and Mrs. Carl D. Clay Dr. Mary Elizabeth Deming Combe Dr. and Mrs. Frank R. Cosiano Mr. and Mrs. H. James Dial, Jr. Oren Dickason Family Dr. and Mrs. James F. Dicke, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. James F. Dicke II Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. D’Innocente Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Elshoff Mrs. Sally Stoltz Evans Mr. Thomas R. Evans, Jr. Drs. DeBow and Catherine Freed Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Gronlund Dr. and Mrs. Daniel S. Guy Dr. Vern H. Hakes Dr. Wayne A. Hamilton Mrs. Pamela L. Shanely Hampson Mr. and Mrs. Edwin C. Hart Mrs. Eva Mae Easterday Hartzell Dr. and Mrs. Charles B. Hedrick Mrs. Helen J. Heller Mrs. Paula Jones and Mr. Don E. Henderson Mr. Harold C. Hodson Mrs. Nellie M. Balyeat Hoghe Mr. and Mrs. Dale N. Howard Dr. Gordon E. Hughes Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Kain Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Kalbfleisch Ohio Northern is most appreciative of the significant support of the following individuals who have contributed $100,000 or more to the University during their lifetime. Life Members of the Lehr Society Anonymous American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Fernau C. and Corinne M. Bader Memorial Fund Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence C. Barrett Mr. and Mrs. John J. Bishop Cleveland Foundation Dr. and Mrs. James F. Dicke II Mr. Donald E. Duran, Jr. The East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church The George and Faye Harris Charitable Foundation Mrs. Beverly A. Hawk George D. and A. Beatrice Hawkey Family Foundation Hon. and Mrs. Richard D. Heeter Dr. Metta Lou Henderson Dr. Brian D. Hofman Professor and Mrs. Terry D. Keiser Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Kim Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Kucklick Lubrizol Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Malbasa Marathon Oil Company Marathon Petroleum Company, L.L.C. Dr. and Mrs. Donald E. Milks Dr. and Mrs. Paul H. Miller Presdent’s Partners $10,000-$24,999 Kern Family Foundation Kokosing Construction Company Kroger Company Ms. Pamela A. Lambert Lexi-Comp, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Roy S. Lodolyn Dr. and Mrs. Clayton L. Mathile Mathile Family Foundation Henry and Geraldine Metzger Charitable Trust Mr. and Mrs. Oscar J. Mifsud Mifsud Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Douglas F. Mock Mr. and Mrs. John P. Nee The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, Inc. Dr. Ervin W. Pierstorf Dr. and Mrs. Patrick M. Prikkel Qualtrics Rite Aid Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Randy Stefanovic Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Walker Mr. and Mrs. Victor Warmsby Mr. and Mrs. John R. Zika Anonymous Mrs. Dorothy Elizabeth Whibley Arthur Arts Midwest Mrs. Doris J. Walker Atteberry Dr. and Mrs. Kendall L. Baker Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Baker, Jr. Bank of America Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Baumgarten Mr. and Mrs. Larry F. Boord Captain Barbara Jo Bowyer Hon. and Mrs. Thomas F. Bryant CDM Cargill, Inc. Chrysler Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Carl D. Clay Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Compton Cooper Tire and Rubber Company Foundation Mr. and Mrs. J. Kenneth Ehlers, Jr. Engineers Foundation of Ohio Ernst & Young, L.L.P. Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Fowler Dr. and Mrs. Bruce C. French Great Lakes Soccer Academy Dr. J. Richard Grunder HeartLight Pharmacy Services Dr. and Mrs. Charles B. Hedrick Mr. and Mrs. Steven C. Hug John M. and Lydia B. Cooper Foundation President’s Associate Fellows $2,500-$4,999 Metanexus Institute Mr. and Mrs. David W. Miller Mr. and Mrs. Anthony R. Moore New England Foundation for the Arts Ohio Northern N-Men’s Association ONU Football Parents Club Ohio Ready Mix, Inc. Dr. Patricia Anne Parteleno Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers, Inc. Procter and Gamble Fund Mr. and Mrs. James W. Pry II Mr. Robert P. Saltsman Dr. and Mrs. Carroll E. Sammetinger Mr. and Mrs. Eric R. Samuelson Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Sifferlen Smile Design Institute Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Sniscak Springfield Foundation Ms. Janice Lynn Pilarczyk Sweress Teledyne Isco © Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Thompson Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Vukovich Mr. Earl Isaac Salo Mrs. Patricia Jane Sawvel Dr. Patricia and Mr. John Scharer Mr. Clinton and Dr. Susan Schertzer Mrs. Mertie Marie Parker Schlaudroff Mr. and Mrs. Wolfhart K. Schubach Mr. and Mrs. Raymond F. Schuck Dr. Anne Lippert and Mr. Jeffrey Schulman Mr. and Mrs. Gregory J. Schultz Mr. and Mrs. Douglas E. Seeley Hon. and Mrs. Henry E. Shaw, Jr. Drs. Paul D. and Susan Y. Shin Mr. and Mrs. David B. Shuffelton Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Smith Mr. Melvin L. Smith Mr. John C. Souders Dr. and Mrs. Jim L. Spahr Mr. John W. Spear Ms. Stephanie LuAnn Spirer Dr. and Mrs. Jon E. Sprague Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Sprang Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Stahler Mr. and Mrs. R. Jeffrey Stephens Mr. Robert J. Stevens Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Stevick Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Stigliano Mr. and Mrs. Lee E. Stockton Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Storch Mr. and Mrs. Roy P. Stype III Mr. and Mrs. Paul B. Super Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Swick Karen Christine Swinehart, M.B.A. Ms. Christine R. and Mr. John W. Taradash Mr. John William Taylor Miss Beth Ann Toalston Mr. and Mrs. John Towne Troy Foundation Mr. and Mrs. William E. Tucker Mr. and Mrs. James E. Turner Mr. Thomas Lane Tuttle U.S. Bank Dr. Charles VanDyne Dr. and Mrs. Stephen C. Veltri Mr. Jon P. Vickery Mr. Michael Nick Vitantonio Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, L.L.P. Mr. and Mrs. David W. Walker Mr. and Mrs. Jared T. Walsh Rev. and Mrs. Merle D. Walter, Jr. Mr. Ronald J. C. Ward Mr. Ronald James Ward, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Watts Mr. and Mrs. Mark F. Welter Wetherill Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Hanley H. Wheeler Mr. and Mrs. Dennis L. White Mr. John E. and Dr. Cecelia M. Wigal Mr. Scott and Dr. Teresa Wilcox © Mr. James Lehr Kennedy © Robert “Whitey” Thompson Mr. and Mrs. John W. Kemper Drs. Karen L. and Thomas L. Kier Mr. and Mrs. Joel R. Kimmel Mr. K. Donn Kirk Ms. Sarah E. Powers-Kirn and Mr. Edward W. Kirn III Dr. and Mrs. David F. Kisor Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kleine III Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Kline Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Knapp Mr. Stephen J. Kolinski and Mrs. Anmarie Gladieux-Kolinski Captain Ed Krebs and Mrs. Mary Jo Bremyer-Krebs Mr. and Mrs. William L. Kress Mr. and Mrs. David L. Kriegel Kriegel Family Charitable Trust Mr. and Mrs. Tae Jin Kwon Mr. and Mrs. C. Robert Lamb Mr. T. Jeffery Lawhorne Mrs. Mary Flower-LeMaster and Mr. Bruce E. LeMaster Mr. and Mrs. James M. Leach, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Lee A. Lemke Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lepucki Mr. George Valeren Leshy Mr. and Mrs. Phillip L. Lettrich Mr. Jerry Lewis Dr. and Mrs. James P. Leyda Mr. Stanley Liartis Lima Communications Corp./ W. L. I. O. Television Dr. and Mrs. Louis F. Lobenhofer Mrs. Mary Jo Lockshin Mr. and Mrs. Mark R. Longbrake Mr. Mark Vernon Lorson II Mr. and Mrs. Jay Love Mr. and Mrs. David P. Lucius Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Ludwig Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Mabee Dr. Martha S. MacDonell and Mr. Alexander D. MacDonell, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas MacGillivray Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Mains Hon. Joseph P. Mallone Dr. Sekhar Mamidi Ms. Nancy S. Shaw and Mr. Roger W. Marble Marietta Community Foundation, Inc. Marketing Strategies, Ltd. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen W. Marmon Hon. Cheryl L. and Lt. Colonel Brett S. Mason Mr. Richard M. Mast Mr. William G. and Mrs. Carol Liber May Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Mays Miss Martha Sue Mazak Mr. and Mrs. Scott McClintock Dr. and Mrs. Robert W. McCurdy © Mr. Merritt Redick Dr. and Mrs. John A. Berg Mr. and Mrs. Brendan C. Berry Dr. Lois J. Birkhimer Mr. and Mrs. Phillip S. Black Ms. Sherri L. Bleichner Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth W. Block Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bockrath Mr. and Mrs. Richard R. Borowski Dr. and Mrs. Bruce A. Bouts Mrs. Robert L. Bowden Dr. and Mrs. Christopher P. Bowers Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund Dr. Dawn Alisa Brooks Mr. and Mrs. James R. Buck Mr. and Mrs. David E. Burke Mr. and Mrs. Lowell E. Burnett Mr. John A. Burns and Mrs. Lorrie Zacharias Burns Ms. Kimberly T. Nelson and Mr. Kevin F. Cadden Dr. Sandra Kay Calvert Dr. and Mrs. Vince D. Cameron Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Carbetta II CardinalHealth Mr. and Mrs. Phillip D. Caris Mr. and Mrs. Keith L. Carlson Dr. and Mrs. Keith Carlson III Mr. and Mrs. Michael G. Casale Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Castelli II Dr. Joseph John Catera Mr. and Mrs. James E. Cates Cedar Point Chevron Humankind Mr. Joseph Victor Ciminillo Ciminillo Research, L.L.C. Citizens Charitable Foundation Dr. Wesley Clarke Miss Dorothy Coil Mr. and Mrs. John E. Coler Mr. David Lee Cooper Mr. Donald A. Cope Dr. and Mrs. Frank R. Cosiano Dr. Jennifer L. and Mr. Patrick E. Counts Dr. Marcus F. Cox Cranston & Associates, L.L.C. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew P. Crousore Rev. and Mrs. William E. Croy, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David A. Cunningham Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Dasher Dave’s Pharmacy Mr. Duane A. Davis Mr. and Mrs. Rodney G. Davis Mr. Michael Wayne Dean Mr. and Mrs. R. Gene Deifendeifer Deloitte Foundation Mr. Willis R. Deming Dr. Philip DenBleyker Mr. and Mrs. Daniel E. Depperman Mr. and Mrs. Vincent C. DiMaggio Members of the Lehr Society have a special place in the University family. More than 90 percent of the total donor contributions to ONU come from members of the Lehr Society. We are honored and humbled by the support of our Lehr Society. Thank you for making Tomorrow possible at ONU. Lehr Vase Recipients Anonymous American Chemical Society American Electric Power Service Corporation Apotex Corporation Barnes & Noble, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Walter W. Bettinger II Mr. and Mrs. William B. Bredbeck Mr. and Mrs. Rhett W. Burgess Mr. and Mrs. William B. Burgett Mr. and Mrs. C. Lawrence Busch CVS Pharmacy, Inc. Corna/Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. Dr. and Mrs. James F. Dicke, Sr. Mr. Willis E. Dobbins Mr. and Mrs. Clay R. Folsom Giant Eagle, Inc. Grob Systems Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Gronlund Mr. Emory M. Hall Mrs. Ruth M. Koltz Hall Hillier Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Hudson © Mr. James Lehr Kennedy James Lehr Kennedy Foundation President’s Circle $25,000 plus Professor and Mrs. Terry D. Keiser Mrs. Claire S. Kennedy Mr. James Lehr Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Kerscher Mrs. Wendy Focht King Koops Mr. and Mrs. David L. Kriegel Mr. and Mrs. Edwin R. Lassettre Mr. Nathan L. Lindabury Mr. and Mrs. Roy S. Lodolyn Dr. Robert B. Love and Mrs. Leoma J. Wittenberg-Love Mrs. Bertha Ludwig Mr. and Mrs. Jaan Mannik Dr. and Mrs. Clayton L. Mathile Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hill McCracken Mr. Coburn C. Metcalf Mr. and Mrs. Oscar J. Mifsud Dr. and Mrs. Donald E. Milks Dr. and Mrs. George B. Miller, Jr. Mrs. Wendell A. Moats Mr. and Mrs. John P. Nee Mr. and Mrs. Philip S. Oleson Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Petite Dr. Ervin W. Pierstorf © Mr. Merritt D. Redick Hon. and Mrs. Gerald J. Rone, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland E. Rone Mr. Earl Isaac Salo Dr. and Mrs. Cyrus Samrad Mr. John P. Schooley Dr. Albert A. Sebok Drs. Paul D. and Susan Y. Shin Mrs. Josleen Reine Choueiri Shuhaibar Dr. and Mrs. Harrison Shutt Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Smith Dr. C. Austin Sprang Mrs. Robert M. Stow Dr. and Mrs. Robert W. Summers Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Walker Mrs. Ronald W. Wander Mrs. Virginia E. Fisher White Mrs. Maralyn Little Wiechart Mr. Arthur D. Worsencroft Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. Armes Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Baker, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Barbee Mr. and Mrs. John M. Barr Ms. Amy Jo Beaschler Mr. and Mrs. R. Scott Bodie Capital Group Companies Dr. and Mrs. Dwight L. Carhart Commerical Services, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony S. Condeni Mr. and Mrs. John M. Cotner Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. D’Innocente Leasure K. Darbaker Trust Dayton Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Donaldson Duane Reade Mr. Jason Scott Duff Mr. and Mrs. Daniel E. Dumbauld Dr. and Mrs. Joe S. Edwards, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James J. Elacqua Mr. Thomas R. Evans, Jr. ExxonMobil Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Ferris Mr. Neil F. Freund Mr. Jeffrey Todd Gillson Gillson Financial Group Dr. and Mrs. Daniel S. Guy Mrs. Helen J. Heller Ms. Pamela Sue Hershberger Mr. and Mrs. Ivan N. Hoghe Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. Dr. Gordon E. Hughes Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Kaufmann Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Kenney Kirby Lester Dr. and Mrs. John G. Koontz Liberty National Bank Lincoln Financial Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Lipski Mr. and Mrs. Carroll V. Lovett Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey L. McCracken McCracken Pharmacy, Inc. McKesson Foundation, Inc. Medco Health Solutions, Inc. Medi-RX Pharmacy President’s Fellows $5,000-$9,999 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Moore Mrs. Helen Alice Picking Neff Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clark Neff, Sr. Ohio Arts Council Ohio Space Grant Consortium Mrs. Laurie Thompson Palmer and Dr. Mark J. Palmer Mr. and Mrs. Orlando A. Petrillo Mrs. Elizabeth Remsburg-Bell Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Rencheck Robinson Fin Machines, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. David A. Schaller Schwab Charitable Fund Dr. Albert A. Sebok Dr. and Mrs. Harrison Shutt Target Wabash Center Walgreens Wal-Mart Foundation Ms. Stacey Renee Ward Mrs. Maralyn Little Wiechart Wiechart Charitable Lead Annuity Trust Mr. J. Richard Wuest and Dr. Suzanne R. Eastman-Wuest Dr. and Mrs. Gordon K. Acheson Hon. and Mrs. Anthony A. Alaimo Alexander and Baldwin, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Neil L. Allen Dr. and Mrs. Jeffery C. Allison American Society of Civil Engineers American Trim Ameriprise Financial Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Arno Mr. and Mrs. George D. Atkinson AT&T Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Baker Mr. and Mrs. John H. Barber Dr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Barker Mr. Lawrence R. Barton Dr. and Mrs. Eric T. Baumgartner Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Beal Mr. and Mrs. James B. Beatty Captain Ryan Harris Beery Dr. Sandra Ruth Beichler Mr. and Mrs. Gary E. Benes Lehr Society Members $1,000-$2,499 Judge Thomas Bryant Committee Miss Katherine Frances Karas Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Koger Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. Kramer Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Lamb Laminate Technologies, Inc. Eli Lilly and Company Mr. and Mrs. Coburn C. Metcalf Dr. and Mrs. Michael M. Milks Mr. and Mrs. Jay K. Molter Ms. Sandra Bouwman and Mr. R. William Moore, Jr. NAPA Auto Parts National Association Chain Drug Stores Education Foundation New York Life Corporation Dr. Clyde A. Painter Mr. and Mrs. James R. Pullins Mr. and Mrs. Dwight M. Reed Mr. and Mrs. James C. Reichardt Ms. Brenda L. Reichelderfer Mr. and Mrs. Allen P. Reinhardt Professor and Mrs. James B. Reiselman Dr. Walter S. Ritzman Dr. and Mrs. William L. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. James W. Rogers Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Ross A. G. Samuelsson Company Drs. Gary K. and Janet S. SeGall Shell Oil Company Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan S. Smalley Mr. and Mrs. Barry P. Smith Specialty Medicine Compounding Pharmacy Summit Funding Group Drs. Christine and Robert Swager Teton Aircraft Design, L.L.C. Miss Martha E. Thompson Time Warner Cable Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Vandervoort Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Walker Mr. and Mrs. Kenny R. Walkup, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David Weimer Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. White Miss Carmen Sue Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Frederick S. Wintzer Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. Wong Mr. Ronald L. Woofter Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Zoeller Dow Chemical Company Dow Corning Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Philip Dunkin Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Elshoff Mr. Shawn Eric Endsley Mrs. Sally Stoltz Evans Mr. and Mrs. Mike Everson Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ewald Fairfield County Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Falber Mr. and Mrs. Randall L. Fannin Mr. and Mrs. Harry N. Faulkner Dr. and Mrs. James W. Fenton, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. William T. Ferri Mr. Patsy A. Filaccio Mr. and Mrs. Roger E. Fischbach Mr. and Mrs. George Fornadley Mrs. Mary Jane Kiefhaber Frazer Mr. and Mrs. Mark Friedley Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Frommer Mr. David Allen Fry, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James D. Gallagher Mr. and Mrs. Gary L. Garrett Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Gmyrek Mr. Gerald M. Goeke and Mrs. Patricia Ann Maslen-Goeke Mr. and Mrs. Christopher V. Goff Mr. and Mrs. Robert Goldman Goodrich Corporation Dr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Gossel Drs. Michele A. and Paul L. Govekar Ms. W. Jean White Daniel and Mr. Stewart A. Graham Mr. and Mrs. William E. Green Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Gregory AR-HALE Family Foundation, Inc. Mrs. Ann E. Donnelly Hamilton and Mr. Loren Joseph Hamilton Dr. Wayne A. Hamilton Mrs. Pamela L. Shanely Hampson Hanson-Neely Funeral Home Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hardin, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Hawk Mr. and Mrs. Leo J. Hawk Mr. Steven Michael Hawk Mr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Hawk Mr. and Mrs. Bruce E. Hays Mr. and Mrs. Ralph D. Hays HealthTran, L.L.C. Mr. and Mrs. James Heckbert Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Henschen Mr. and Mrs. T. Joseph Hermiller Drs. Edith Mae and F. Michael Herrel Mr. Lionel K. Higley Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Hilderbrand Mr. Michael Hofmann and Ms. Molly A. Shoup Hofmann Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. Hollinger Mrs. Marjorie L. Stedcke Hollinger Mr. Thomas Holtsberry Hon. and Mrs. James J. Hooper Dr. and Mrs. J. Michael Hoopes Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Hovis Mr. Zachary Sean Huffman Mr. and Mrs. John H. Hull IBM Corporation Mr. and Mrs. D. Michael Ingram Dr. Susan J. Insley Mr. and Mrs. Brian A. Jablonski Hon. and Mrs. Thomas K. Jenkins Dr. and Mrs. Richard E. Johnson Johnson & Johnson Dr. Ronald J. Jones Mr. and Mrs. John G. Kaiser, Jr. Mr. Vincent L. Kavanaugh McDonalds of Ada Mr. and Mrs. William A. McKell Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel McManness Mr. and Mrs. John E. McWilliams Dr. and Mrs. Richard P. Meininger Drs. Steven Mershon and Candada J. Moore Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation Mid-West Vascular Institute, Inc. Middletown Community Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Miller Mr. Paul and Ms. Cindy R. Miller Mr. and Mrs. R. Scott Miller Mr. Scott Kevin Miller Dr. and Mrs. Bradley W. Mitchel Mrs. Virginia A. Mitchell Mrs. Dolores Moore Mr. and Mrs. William W. Moore II Hon. Joe M. Moorhead Morgan Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Evan W. Morris Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Moser Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Murray Mr. H. Dale Musgrave Mr. Dallas J. Myers Mr. and Mrs. Randall S. Myers Mr. and Mrs. Neil G. Naiman National Association of Chain Drug Stores Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Neely Mr. and Mrs. Kurt D. Newman Dr. Hong Xuan Nguyen Mr. and Mrs. Larry E. Niederkohr Mr. Kenneth E. and Mrs. Sandra L. Nihiser Rev. Robin W. and Dr. Robin R. Obetz Oglesby Construction, Inc. Ohio Council of Retail Merchants Ohio Pharmacists Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. P. Milan Orr Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio Dr. and Mrs. Steven D. Paisley Mr. and Mrs. David T. Parks Mr. Gerald James Pascador Dr. Tiffany Marie Patterson Mr. and Mrs. William A. Patterson Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company Pi Sigma Alpha Chapter/Nat. Political Science Honor Society Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Pope Mr. and Mrs. Jon M. Postoloff Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Previte Mr. and Mrs. James R. Pritchard II Dr. Megan Marie Pritchard Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Prizel Mr. Jason Michael Pugsley Ms. Cherie F. Quain Quest Diagnostics Mr. and Mrs. Clyde C. Quinby, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. Rectenwald Mr. Merritt Dean Redick Mrs. Wendy A. Tiburski-Reid and Mr. Daniel F. Reid Renaissance Charitable Foundation, Inc. Professor and Mrs. David A. Retterer Mr. and Mrs. Larry R. Rheinbolt Mr. and Mrs. John Rife Professor Arden E. Roberson Mr. and Mrs. Randall S. Rogers Mr. Michael Romary and Dr. Catherine A. Albrecht Mr. and Mrs. John Romosan Dr. and Mrs. Robert W. Ruble Dr. and Mrs. William E. Ruse This listing reflects giving during the 2008-09 fiscal year, in addition to all leadership gifts received as of Nov. 20, 2009. Annual members of the GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Society are graduates from the last 10 years who make leadership gifts at the $250 or $500-$999 level. Mr. and Mrs. Brendan C. Berry Mr. and Mrs. Douglas S. Bogar Ms. Martha Elizabeth Claypool Mr. and Mrs. Jason A. Cleland Deanna R. Cook, Esq. Dr. Meghan Virginia Davlin Mr. and Mrs. J. Kenneth Ehlers, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Faurote Mr. James Anthony Ference Mr. and Mrs. Justin P. Friesner Dr. Emily Alyse Gruenhagen Mr. Justin Robert Hiskey Miss Amanda Renee Ingram Ms. Amanda Marie Kalal Mr. Jason C. and Dr. Jennifer J. Kline Mrs. Sheryl A. Kuzmick McGaha Miss Marcella Louise Lape Dr. Lukas Perry Leitnaker Dr. Erica Leigh Lepore Teresa E. McCall, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. Cory A. Murray Mr. Brian Joseph Petrucci Miss Robin Marie Porter Ms. Sarah N. Prasher Dr. Kelly and Mr. Greg Prymicz Mr. and Mrs. Andrew M. Roecker Mr. Mark Alan Shallcross Mr. and Mrs. Matthew A. Skeens Mr. and Mrs. Brandon A. Steele Mr. Justin Austin Stiles Dr. Matthew Alvin Tupps Dr. and Mrs. Timothy R. Ulbrich Mindi L. Wells, Esq. Miss Elizabeth Carolyn Young GOLD Society Donors Mr. and Mrs. David J. Williams Mr. and Mrs. Scott D. Wills Ms. Marcia Schettler and Mr. John Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Craig A. Wing Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Wing Dr. and Mrs. Ora A. Winzenried Mr. and Mrs. James P. Withrow Professor Kate J. Witte Ms. Esther M. Woodworth Mr. Ronald Wyss Xerox Foundation Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Charles Yoost Drs. Kimberly A. Broedel-Zaugg and Thomas A. Zaugg Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Zembower Mr. William Karl Zimmerman Ms. Theresa I. Parker and Mr. Robert S. Zlasney Mr. Christopher Michael Zoeller L eaving A L egacy You can leave a lasting impact. Consider endowing a scholarship with a cash gift or by bequest. A scholarship endowment is a fund invested for current income and long-term growth so that it lasts in perpetuity. A designated percentage of the annual income is spent each year to fund the scholarship to help students attend your alma mater. By funding an endowed scholarship, you are expressing a dedicated belief in Northern, now and forever, all while supporting The Campaign for Ohio Northern University’s Tomorrow and creating your own personal legacy. R eneee L euthold Douglas Leuthold, BSCE ’76, and Renee Leuthold recognize that their education made a difference in their lives. After graduating from ONU, Doug earned his MBA at Bowling Green State University where he met Renee. He worked for Bechtel Corporation for 12 years and then formed Advanced Fiber Technology (AFT). The AFT Fiberizer process ushered in technology in the area of low-density cellulose insulation that paved the way for new advances in wall spray. Doug designed, fabricated, installed and helped startups of the AFT Fiberizer process at plants around the world. In early 2001 he opened his own manufacturing facility for recycling wastepaper into cellulose insulation and other industrial fiber applications and recently won a 2009 R&D 100 Award for their innovative Phase Change Material (PCM) cellulose insulation. The Leutholds want to foster entrepreneurship and encourage students to find their direction in life. They’ve funded two scholarships by testamentary bequest for students attending ONU’s College of Engineering and College of Business Administration. The Leutholds’ gift honors the enduring commitment to student excellence at Ohio Northern University. Contact Ken Block Executive Director of Development Name (Include maiden) ______________________________________________________________________ Class_ _____________________ Year_______________ Degree_______________________________________ Home Address_ ____________________________________________________________________________ City_ _____________________ State___________________ Zip_______________________________________ Telephone (__________)_____________________________________________________________________ E-mail address______________________________________________________________________________ q Check box if you would like your e-mail address included in the Class Notes section of the Alumni Journal Employer _______________________________________________________________ If a new job, check q Job Title __________________________________________________________________________________ Business Address (For Location Purposes)_______________________________________________________ City_ _____________________ State___________________ Zip_______________________________________ Business Phone (__________)_ _______________________________________________________________ Spouse’s Name (Please include maiden name)___________________________________________________ Is your spouse an ONU graduate? Year_ ___________ Degree_______________________________________ Spouse’s Job Title _ __________________________ Employer______________________________________ News/Comments_ __________________________________________________________________________ What’s New? Moved? Changed jobs? Promoted? Received an award? Said “I do”? How about that new baby? Help keep us and other alumni up to date on your accomplishments. Or, fill out the form electronically at www.onualumni.com _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ William L. Robinson Young Alumni Award The William L. Robinson Young Alumni Award, established on May 29, 2004, was created to honor and recognize Robinson’s 45 years of influencing Ohio Northern University students and to ensure that his legacy continues for the next 45 years. The annual recipient demonstrates passion and loyalty toward their profession, community and alma mater, Ohio Northern University. • Applicants must have graduated within the last 15 years from ONU. • One female and one male may be selected per year. • Individuals will be chosen by the selection committee and honored at ONU’s Homecoming. • Any person affiliated with ONU may nominate the individual by sending a letter of reference and their résumé, along with the following nomination form. Nominee__________________________________________________________________________________ Degree_ ______________ Class Year____________________________________________________________ Your Name_ _______________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________ City_ _____________________ State___________________ Zip_______________________________________ Daytime Phone_____________________________________________________________________________ Below, please furnish detailed information in support of your nomination. (Use additional paper as necessary.) _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Mail to: Office of Alumni Affairs Ohio Northern University Ada, OH 45810 e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.org fax to 419-772-2568 For more information, please call 866-ONU-ALUM Fold this side in first Please fold along dotted line so that ONU address and postage appear OFFICE OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY 525 S MAIN ST ADA, OH 45810-9989 Please fold along dotted line so that ONU address and postage appear Fold this side in second and tape along edge e ebrat 9, cel 0 ’ D harm wis, P er) Le d friends. g n i s l an Ho lumni nd Erin ( armD ’07, a ding day with a Dustin Lewis, Ph d e w their Ryan H ensley, BS ’08, and Liza (K atterhenry) Hensley, Pharm D ’09, enjoy the ir wedding day. Class Notes Alumni Events Please visit www.onualumni.com or call the Office of Alumni Affairs at 1-866-ONU-ALUM. Feb. 12: San Francisco, Calif., Alumni Event Feb. 13: San Diego, Calif., Alumni Event Women’s Basketball Alumni Game Jerry Stephens, JD, lives in Sebring, Fla. Robert Swager, BA, DD ’71, works full time scheduling his wife, author Christine Swager, for book signings, TV spots and lectures. The Swager’s live in Moore, S.C. Feb. 18: Engineering – CPD, Columbus, Ohio Earl Dworkin, BA, is in the medical insurance industry and is the owner of Dworkin Insurance Service. He lives in Palo Alto, Calif., and can be reached at email@example.com March 3: Orlando, Fla., Alumni Event March 4: Tampa, Fla., Alumni Event March 6: Venice, Fla., Alumni Event March 7: Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Alumni Event March 14 and 15 (See ad on page 21) First Annual ONU Scholarship Winter Golf Outing Morris Shepherd, BSCE, participated in the Senior Olympics in Southwest Ohio. He received the bronze medal for spot shooting in the basketball competition. He placed fourth in the 100-meter dash and won the bronze medal in the 200meter dash. He resides in Batavia, Ohio. March 17: Pharmacy Law – CE, Southeastern Ohio Thomas Jenkins, JD, served the Marion County Family Court as a judge for almost a quarter of a century. He is retired and resides in Marion, Ohio. March 19: Philadelphia, Pa., Alumni Event March 20: New York City, N.Y., Alumni Event March 24: Pharmacy Law – CE,Canton/Akron, Ohio March 27: The Polar Bear Ball at the Columbus Zoo April 1: Cincinnati, Ohio, Alumni Event April 8: Toledo, Ohio, Alumni Event April 22: Engineering – CPD, Cleveland, Ohio April 30: ONU Alumni Baseball Game Wander Field, Ohio Northern University April 30-May 2: First Annual ONU Arts Weekend April 30: Columbus, Ohio, Alumni Event May 2: Cleveland, Ohio, Alumni Event May 22: Polar Arctic Day at the Columbus Zoo June 4-6: Alumni Weekend at ONU Honoring the Class of 1960 June 26: ONU Alumni and Friends Athletic Golf Outing at Colonial Golfers Club, Harrod, Ohio Robert Thompson, BA, JD ’66, is the president of Sage Financial Design Inc. He lives in Simsbury, Conn. Ted E. Uhl, BSME, is employed with Chromalloy LLC. He and his wife, Patricia, live in Hesperia, Calif. Sandra Cipiti, BSEd, is the music director for the Lord of Life Lutheran Church. She lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Barry Hensel, BA, is vice president for the Circles of Care Inc. He and his wife, Pamela (Whittington), BS, reside in West Melbourne, Fla. Dennis Franks, BSPh, is a retired physician. He and his wife, Kathleen, live in Haines, Alaska. Robert Thompson, BA ’63, JD, is president of Sage Financial Design Inc. He lives in Simsbury, Conn. Judy (Cannon) Benes, BA, is a hearing screener for ENT Neonatal of Northern Virginia. She lives in Clifton, Va. Toby Clark, BSPh, was elected to the Board of Pharmacy Practice of the International Pharmacy Federation. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org and resides in Charleston, S.C. Thomas Heydinger, JD, represents the 58th District in the Ohio House of Representatives. He lives in Norwalk, Ohio. Richard Smith, BA, is retired from the ministry. He and his wife, Betty, live in Canal Fulton, Ohio. Alice (Smith) Dewar, BA, is the superintendent for the Leipsic Local School District. She lives in Leipsic, Ohio. William Gardner, BA, JD ’73, is an attorney advisor for the Social Security Administration. He lives in New Canaan, Conn. Gary Lamb, BS, is a real estate agent for Realty USA. He lives in Rochester, N.Y. Gary Benes, BS, is a pharmacist with Safeway. He lives in Clifton, Va. Rose Herl, BS, is a pharmacist with the Medicine Shoppe. She lives in Ashtabula, Ohio. Richard Brown, BSPh, is retired. He and his wife, Sue, sold their Brown Drug Company stores to various pharmaceutical companies and continue to operate Boomerang Marketing Inc., which manufactures and markets fishing lures. They currently enjoy retirement and time with their grandchildren. They reside in Sanibel, Fla. Bruce Kolbe, BS, is a pharmacist with the REM Corporation. He lives in Newark, Ohio. Elaine (Fossa) Loeffert, BA, is a secondgrade teacher with Westerville City Schools. She lives in Westerville, Ohio. Shelley (Pickard) Piazza, BSPh, is a pharmacist with CVS. She lives in Jamestown, N.Y. Sherman G. Yerian, BSEd, and Diane Glick were married. The couple resides in Bridgewater, Ga. Alan Ciklin, JD, is the managing partner of Casey, Ciklin, Lubitz, Martens & O’Connell. He has been selected for inclusion in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Alan will be listed in the specialty of Real Estate Law. He resides in Palm Beach, Fla. Jerome Karlin, BA, is the assistant program director with Cornucopia Inc. He lives in University Heights, Ohio. Robert Swager, BA ’54, DD, works full time scheduling his wife, author Christine Swager, for book signings, TV spots and lectures. The Swagers live in Moore, S.C. Hiram Tanner, BSCE, is the manager of sewer pumping for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. He was also elected the president of the Chesapeake Water Environment Association. He lives in Mitchellville, Md. David Wright, BSME, is a senior project engineer for Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. He lives in Tupelo, Miss. Nancy (Wood) Allison, BA, is the director of secondary instruction with Findlay City schools in Findlay, Ohio. She can be reached at email@example.com Robert Braidwood, BSPh, is the pharmacy manager for the Medicine Cabinet Pharmacy. He lives in Corbin, Ky. William Gardner, BA ’68, JD, is the attorney advisor for the Social Security Administration. He lives in New Canaan, Conn. Thomas Kane, BA, retired from Lorain City Schools. He was the wrestling coach for 20 years and the football coach for three years. He lives in Lorain, Ohio. David A. Brudapast, 32 BSPh, is the director of pharmacy at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Paul Caswell, JD, is the director of pension compliance for Paychex. He lives in Escanaba, Mich. Denise Evans Sukup, BSEd, is a middleschool language-arts teacher with PandoraGilboa Local Schools in Pandora, Ohio. Tom Greenawalt, BSME, retired from the Largo, Fla., Facility for Raytheon. He is the president of Greenwood Games. He and his wife, Jean (Rotsinger), BSME ’82, live in Palm Harbor, Fla. Jack Schron, JD, is the president of Jergens Inc., a family-owned manufacturing business in Cleveland begun by his father and grandfather. An SME member, Jack has been active in SME for many years, including both local Cleveland involvement and national involvement. He currently serves as a member of the SME Board of Directors. Jack previously served on the SME Board Work Group on Governance and the Audit Committee. He resides in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Nancy (Fredlund) Stack, BSPh, is a pharmacist for the Herkimer, N.Y., Wal-Mart Pharmacy. She resides in Herkimer, N.Y. Carl “ Doug” Lowe H of F ’05, Te , BA ’63, Joe W illiams, BA ’6 rry Kei 6, William ser his wif e, Michael D. Blythe, BA, is an attorney for the town of New Windsor in New Windsor, N.Y. Andrew J. Cesarz, BSPh, is a staff pharmacist with Rite Aid. His wife, Cathy (Carpenter), BSPh ’76, is a supervising pharmacist with Rite Aid. The couple resides in Mayville, N.Y. Joseph DaPare, JD, lives in Charleston, S.C., with his wife, Deborah (Blatnick) DaPore, BSPh ’82. Paul D. Elkovich, BSME, is the vice president, Turbine-Generator Service, with Alstom Power Inc. in Midlothian, Va. Rita Lutes, BA, relocated to Portland, Ind. Michael W. McConnell, BSPh, is a pharmacist with Walgreens. He and his wife, Barbara, reside in Medina, Ohio. Jay W. Myers, BSPh, is a pharmacist with Rite Aid Pharmacy in Benwood, W.Va. Eric M. Richards, BSPh, is a clinical pharmacist with Bayshore Medical Center. He resides in Seabrook, Texas. John West, BA, LW ’79, was appointed as a Board of Trustee member for the Arizona Science Center by the Jennings Strouss & Salmon PLC law firm. He lives in Phoenix, Ariz. Stephen Dobush, BA, is a financial service representative, registered representative and investment advisor for Partners Financial Group. He lives in Garfield Heights, Ohio. Carl Draucker, JD, is the treasurer for Hiram College Board of Trustees. He is with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. He is also an adjunct faculty member in the University of Akron’s master of taxation program. He resides in Hudson, Ohio. Jeffrey W. Fram, JD, is an attorney with Denman & Lerner Co. LPA in Mentor, Ohio. Edward Hardy, BA, is the president of the Greater Pittsburgh Vascular Technologists and was highlighted nationally by the Society for Vascular Ultrasound in November 2009. Edward is the chief vascular technologist at UPMC Passavant Hospital. He and his wife, Susan, live in Cheswick, Pa. Donald “Christopher” Hart, BSPh, gave a presentation at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy annual conference in July 2009 in Boston, Mass. He lives in Port Washington, Ohio. Chris’s email address is firstname.lastname@example.org William McMillan, BSPh, retired from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. For the past 11 years, he has served as the licensing administrator and director of internship Robinson, BSEd ’61, Hon , BSEd ’ . D. ’05, 64, and Bob Gronlund, BA ’64, Ho DeOnne n. D. ’09, and , enjoy brea kfast together at The at Ohio N Inn orthern Universi ty. after working as compliance specialist for four years. He will continue to serve at the Plain City United Methodist Church as their choir director and organist. He and his family live in Plain City, Ohio. Dain Akin, JD, is an attorney with the Akin Law Group LLC in Westerville, Ohio, where he also resides. Steven M. Culver, BA, is the assistant director, office of academic assessment, with Virginia Tech. He resides in Blacksburg, Va. Karen (Keyse) Fields, BA, is the vice president of global academic programs, provost, and EVP for the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She resides in San Antonio, Texas. Neal Pitts, JD, of Orlando, Fla., has been appointed judge of compensation claims by the governor of Florida. Nancy Brady Smith, BSPh is a pharmacistdiabetes educator with Walgreens in Norwalk, Ohio. Mark Butler, BSPh, is a commander in the 59th Clinical Support Group in the U.S. Air Force and has been promoted to colonel. He lives in Beavercreek, Ohio. Steve Patonai, BSPh, is the CEO for Auburn Regional Medical Center. He resides in Auburn, Wash. John West, LW, BA ’76, was appointed as a Board of Trustee member for the Arizona Science Center by the Jennings Strouss & Salmon PLC law firm. He lives in Phoenix, Ariz. Gregory Milanich, BSPh ’80, lives in Brecksville, Ohio, with his wife, Elaine (Paro), BSPh ’85. Mark Miller, BA, had his latest book, The View of the Courts from the Hill: Interactions between Congress and the Federal Judiciary published by the University of Virginia Press. Mark also recently became a full-time professor at Clark University. He lives in Worchester, Mass. John Payne, BA, is the president of Bradley Payne LLC, a financial advisor group. He lives in Circleville, Ohio. Michael Schobelock, BSPh, is the associate director of medical affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. He and his wife, Kelli, live in Grove City, Ohio. Robert J. Sgroi, JD, is a partner with McIntyre, Tate & Lynch in Providence, R.I. Susan (Osowski) Ayers, BSPh, works for Kaiser Permanente as the regional manager. She lives in Broadview Heights, Ohio. Greg Ferrall, BA, married Kendra Murr. The Ferralls live in Saint Marys, Ohio. John Green, JD, has joined the Dayton office of Thompson Hine LLP. He is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Transactions and Securities and Health Care Practice groups. He resides in Dayton, Ohio. Stuart Hazlett, BA, is a member of the Senior Executive Service, serving as a deputy director to the director of the Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy. He resides in Alexandria, Va. J. Mark Hickman, BA, was promoted and assigned as the combustion integrated rack payloads project manager at the NASA Glenn Research Center. He resides in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Steven Kelley, BA, is a managing trial attorney for CNA Insurance. He lives in Independence, Ohio. Barbara Krier, JD, was named the 2009 Child Advocate of the Year by the Children’s Rights Committee of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association. Barbara is a 20-year veteran of the York County Public Defender’s Office. She resides in York, Pa. Elizabeth Martini, BA, is the vice president and counsel of the Ohio National Financial Services. She is responsible for legislative and regulatory matters as well as compliance and government relations. She resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mary McDeavitt, BA, is the director of proposals and marketing for TolTest Inc. She lives in Painesville, Ohio. Gary Sandeen, BSPh, is a pharmacist with Tops Pharmacy. He lives in Cassadaga, N.Y. John Smith, BA, has been named the 45th editor-in-chief of Military Review, the U.S. Army’s professional journal. He also taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He resides in Leavenworth, Kan. Regard Yakou, BSCE, is a project manager with Hill International. He lives in Danville, Calif. Mark Tillack, BSPh, is touring with his show, “Musical Mark’s Kid’s Show.” The current theme for his show is the effort to save bats. He resides in Brinkhaven, Ohio. Gene Baker, BSPh, is a pharmacist with Discount Drug Mart. He lives in Canton, Ohio. Jill (Santee) Bock, BA, and her husband, Kurt, have opened up Bruegger’s Bagels in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The Bocks live in Gotha, Fla. Craig Clay, BSEE, is the senior manager and systems engineer for Cisco Systems. He lives in Seabrook, Texas. Holly (Reidel) Cronau, BSPh, was named the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians 2009 Educator of the Year. Her e-mail address is email@example.com and she lives in Powell, Ohio. Deborah (Blatnick) DaPore, BSPh, opened up a second pharmacy in Charleston, S.C. The pharmacy offers traditional prescription services and MTM counseling. The pharmacies are also PECA-certified to do compounding. She and her husband, Joseph, JD ’76, live in Charleston, S.C. Deborah can be contacted at plantationpharmacy@ yahoo.com Bimal Dassani, BSPh, is a regional vice president for Rite Aid. He lives in Macedonia, Ohio. Robert Gamler, BSPh, is a pharmacist for CVS. He is living in Midland, N.C. Jean (Rotsinger) Greenawalt, BSME, is a systems and software engineer for Raytheon. She and her husband, Tom, BSME ’75, live in Palm Harbor, Fla. Mark Grimslid, BA, is employed with Valmont Industries. He lives in Mishawaka, Ind. Steven Kaplan, BSPh, lives in Troy, Ohio, with his wife, Patricia (White), BSPh ’84. Keith Laffin, BA, is employed with the city of Bedford, Ohio, where he also resides. Lee McClish, BSME, is an RCM manager with Graphic Packaging. He resides in Ashland, Ohio. Rosemarie (Viney) Morris, BSBA ’82, is the vice president of finance and operations with the Arthritis Foundation. She lives in Mason, Ohio. Jeanette (Spear) Murphy, BSPh, is a pharmacy manager for Kroger. She lives in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Suzanne Plummer, BA, is a specialeducation teacher for Moriarty-Edgewood Schools. She lives in Edgewood, N.M. Dan Reep, BS, is a senior engineer for ChickFil-A Inc. He lives in Peachtree City, Ga. Anne ( Colton) Rickard, BA, was named Art Teacher of the Year for 2008 by the New York State Art Teachers Association. Gloria (Frankenfeld) Stacy, BSPh, is a staff pharmacist with CVS. She lives in Tiffin, Ohio. Richard Weiner, JD, is a reporter and freelance writer. He lives in Beechwood, Ohio. Hanley Wheeler, BSPh, and his wife, Mary (Murphy), BSPh ’82, live in Fishers, Ind. Hanley works for CVS Caremark, and Mary is retired. Dale Younkman, BS, is a clinical pharmacist with St. Luke’s Hospital. He lives in Jacksonville, Fla. Paul Abrahamsen, JD, is employed with Legal Aid of Western Michigan. He lives in Kalamazoo, Mich. Deborah (Tobin) Gross, BSPh, is a pharmacist for Marc’s Pharmacy in Solon, Ohio. She resides in Beachwood, Ohio. Alicia Handwerk, BA, is the bureau chief for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. She lives in Columbus, Ohio. Karen (Kopp) Kohr, BSPh, is a staff pharmacist for Wal-Mart at Palmyra, Pa. She lives in Palmyra, Pa. Ramona Porter, BA, is an academic advisor for Ohio State University. She lives in Grove City, Ohio. Michael Rencheck, BSEE, is the president and chief executive officer for AREVA NP Inc. He resides in Powell, Ohio. Eric Spence, BA, is the senior vice president of sales for Jeld-Wen Inc. He lives in Klamath Falls, Ore. David Williams, BSBA, is the vice president for Merrill Lynch. He lives in Toledo, Ohio. Sally Brooks, BS, BSPh, is the vice president of physician services and engagement for United Health Group. She lives in Milford, Ohio. Danny Bubp, JD, is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 88th House District. This is his third term as a state representative. He also Gloria (Miller ) Clous e, BSEd Marilyn ’64, Jon (Crebs) Clouse, BSPh Hoback ’72, Gerald Clouse, BSPh ’65, time fo , BSEd ’6 r a pho 2, and Richard to durin Hoback, BA ’62 took g their cr uise of the Dalma tion coast. Alisa (Bow volun e) Lenhar d teer, reac t, BA ’89, a hes o proud M ut to H ethodist P trip in olar Bear an onduran 2009. d full-time children o See m n her fourth ore at w mission ww.sewick leyumc.org currently runs his own law practice, the Law Office of Danny R. Bubp. He resides in West Union, Ohio. Carol Cover, BA, is a transcription technician for the Cleveland Clinic. She lives in Euclid, Ohio. Kevin Freese, BSME, is the chairman and chief executive officer of Bridge Development Group Ltd. He lives in Kirtland, Ohio. Geraldine Guerin, JD, is a registered nurse for Lifeline Health Care Group. She lives in Horse Cave, Ky. Jeffrey Habegger, BSBA, is a senior project manager for WRScompass. He lives in Miamisburg, Ohio. Michael Hatfield, BSEE, is the material group director for air vehicles for the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He and his wife, Darlene, live in Centerville, Ohio. Cindy (Thatcher) Hunsacker, BSBA, is a TD services account manager for Teradata. He lives in Springboro, Ohio. William Johnson, BS, is a pharmacy manager for Rite Aid. He lives in Sandusky, Ohio. Patricia (White) Kaplan, BSPh, was named 2009 Miami County Fair Homemaker of the Year in August 2009. She and her husband, Steven, BSPh ’82, live in Troy, Ohio. Laird Lile, JD, was included in the Florida Super Lawyers 2009 list of Top 100 Lawyers in Florida. He was the only attorney in Naples, Fla., and the surrounding areas to receive this recognition. He also had the honor of moderating a panel of real property and estate attorney experts at the Annual Convention of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar in May 2009. Laird and his wife, Laurie, live in Naples, Fla. Randall Moore, JD, was one of 38 attorneys from the Roetzel & Andress law firm to be chosen as Ohio’s Super Lawyers by Law & Politics magazine, Northern Ohio Live magazine, and Cincinnati magazine. He lives in Canton, Ohio. William Muller, BSEE, is employed with Matrix Research and Engineering. He lives in Mason, Ohio. Kelly Reidel, BA, is an EPMO project consultant for Progressive Insurance. He lives in Chesterland, Ohio. David Bennett, BSBA, is a commercial loan officer for the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. He and his wife, Christiana, live in Anchorage, Alaska. Martin Daniels, BSBA, is the district director of financial aid for Pierce College. He resides in Snoqualmie, Wash. Annette (Peter) Drake, BSCE, is a science teacher in Brookville Local Schools. She lives in Englewood, Ohio. Michael Jenkins, BS, is a senior software consultant for Sogeti. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Eric Klintworth, BSEE, and his wife, Bonnie (Merrymon), BSPh ’85, live in Westerville, Ohio. Eric is employed with Star Dynamics Corporation, and Bonnie is employed with Mount Carmel East Hospital. Catherine (Mathile) Laden, BSBA, was elected to the Board of Trustees for Summit Country Day. She and her family live in Cincinnati, Ohio. James Laird, BS, is a sales associate for Glaziers of Northwest Ohio. He lives in Ada, Ohio. Phillip Lettrich, BSPh, and his wife, Susan (Di Nezza), BSEE ’85, reside in Kirtland, Ohio. Phillip is the director of professional relations for Emdeon, and Susan is the director of performance and process improvement for FirstEnergy Corp. Laura Mandos, BSPh, was chosen by her students to receive the 2009 Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching and was presented with the award at the graduation ceremony for the University of Sciences in Philadelphia in May 2009. This award is given annually to a faculty member recognized by the students as the most outstanding instructor at the University. Laura resides in Boothwyn, Pa. David McCarley, BA, is the vice president for EH4 Solutions Group. He lives in Gloucester, Mass. Elaine (Paro) Milanich, BSPh, is the manager of clinical client services for Universal American. She and her husband, Gregory, BSPh ’80, live in Brecksville, Ohio. Robin Patterson, BS, has been appointed as the principal of the Los Amigos High School in Orange County, Calif. Robin lives in Santa Ana, Calif. Charles Stechschulte, BS, is a software project engineer at Emerson Network Power. He lives in Delaware, Ohio. Cecelia (Peters) Wigal, BSEE, is the assistant dean of undergraduate programs and a professor in the college of engineering and computer sciences for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She and her husband, John, live in Chattanooga, Tenn. Peter M. Burnham, BA, is a marketing manager with TEAC Australia. He resides in Victoria, Australia. Mark Butler, BA, is the assistant principal for Benjamin Logan Local Schools in Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he and his wife, Jill, also reside. Todd Butler, BS, is the associate dean of academic affairs for Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky., where he also resides. Janet A. (Gutchess) DeHart, BSPh, BS, is an analytical lab technical in research and development with Spinnaker Coating in Troy, Ohio. Greg Fehribach, JD, was named a distinguished fellow at Ball State University’s Bowen Center. His work at Bowen Center focuses on identifying the barriers people with disabilities face in seeking employment as well as engaging policymakers on how to build inclusive strategies into their communities. He serves on the board of trustees at Ball State and works with Douglas Spiker, JD, was one of 38 attorneys from the Roetzel & Andress law firm to be chosen as a Ohio’s Super Lawyers by Law & Politics magazine, Northern Ohio Live magazine, and Cincinnati magazine. He lives in Columbus, Ohio. Stephen A. Summers, BSPh, is the EpicRx project coordinator with Premier Health Partners in Dayton, Ohio. Lisa (Monbeck) Weeks, BS, married her husband, Jeff. She is a high school math teacher at Graham High School in St. Paris, Ohio. The couple resides in Pleasant Hill, Ohio. John Battershell, BSME, is a centrifugal compressor consultant with Battershell Engineering. He lives in Hamburg, N.Y. Richard L. Hammond, BSPh, is a clinical/ staff pharmacist with Acute Care Specialty Hospital in Canton, Ohio. Jamie Lewis, BS, is the industrial technology and mechanical drawing instructor for Delphos City Schools. He and his wife, Rachelle, live in Harrod, Ohio. Jeffery Makeever, BSEE, was honored by Irish America magazine as a member of its “Irish Legal 100.” Jeffery is the chair of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren’s Intellectual Property Practice and the managing shareholder of the firm’s Rockford office. He resides in Rockford, Ill. Charles Marosek, BFA, is an art teacher for Farmersville ISD. He and his wife, Suzanne (Campbell), BA ’87, live in Greenville, Texas. Arthur Munson, BS, is the owner of Gargoyle Marketing. He lives in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Maria Santo, JD, is the assistant county prosecuting attorney for the Hardin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She lives in Ada, Ohio. David W. Stahl, BSEE, is the vice president, corporate quality and customer satisfaction, with Tellabs in Naperville, Ill. He resides in Arlington Heights, Ill. 2, and n, PharmD ’0 Jeremy Bara Ph ’92, BS n, ra ukin) Ba y. da Michele (Man ng eir weddi celebrate th 34 the university to ensure its facilities and programs are accessible for people with disabilities and the aging population. He and his family live in Indianapolis, Ind. Cheryl (Roller) Luecke, BSPh, lives in Baton Rouge, La. Timothy S. McCall, BSPh, is the director of pharmacy with Ephrata Community Hospital in Ephrata, Pa. Douglas L. Powell, BSEE, is an electrical engineer with Prater Engineering in Dublin, Ohio. Carol Eng, BSPh, is a consultant pharmacist for PharMerica Corporation. She lives in Henderson, Nev. Anna (Reynolds) Esposito, BSPh, is a quality assurance pharmacist for Orchard Pharmaceutical Services in North Canton, Ohio. She and her family reside in Barberton, Ohio. Judith Hyvarinen, BA, is a bookkeeper for the Hammond First Assembly of God. She lives in Hammond, Ind. Thomas Powers, BSBA, is director of assurance and business advisory services at GBQ Partners LLC in Columbus, Ohio. He and his wife, Anne (Evans), BSBA ’88, reside with their family in Powell, Ohio. Brian P. Watts, BSBA, is the president of Anderson Masonry Co. Inc. in Dayton, Ohio. Gail (Firestine) Wiegand, BSMT, is the director of quality assurance, KMC Systems for Elbit Systems of America. She lives in Merrimack, N.H. Jody Benda, BA, is a teacher, athletic trainer and the head volleyball coach at Bath Local Schools. She lives in Ada, Ohio. Angela (Brady) Buelsing, BA, is a business librarian for Clayton L. Scroggins Associates Inc. She resides in Batavia, Ohio. James M. Childers, BSBA, is the vice president of operations and director of imports and exports with Agri-Sales Associates Inc. in Nashville, Tenn. Toni (Williams) Dunbar, BA, is in customer service at Precision Strip Inc. She and her husband, David, BM, live in Troy, Ohio. Kerri A. (Hug) Gearhart, BA, is the director of special education with the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center. She resides in Edon, Ohio. Deana (Fisher) Gordon, BA, was named the educational program coordinator by the Conway Family Business Center of Central Ohio. She resides in Grove City, Ohio. Larry E. Himes, BSBA, and Stacey R. Kolodzik were married on June 17, 2009. The couple resides in Medina, Ohio. Brian A. Keckler, BSEE, is a supervisorU.S. Operations Western Region with SAI Global in Independence, Ohio. Robert Knecht, BS, is a marketing manager with Allied Moulded Products Inc. in Bryan, Ohio. He and his family live in Edgerton, Ohio. Ken Siang Lim, BSCE, BSCSE, is the CEO of NextLabs Inc. in San Mateo, Calif. Kendra (Neibauer) Manduzzi, BSEE, is the resident engineer of Dearborn Trucks for Ford. She lives in Whitmore Lake, Mich. Holly McCluskey, BA, JD ’92, and her husband, Ronnie Mee, were married on Nov. 24, 2007. Holly is an attorney with Siferd & McCluskey, LPA in Lima, Ohio. The couple resides in Lima. Pamela Sweeney, BS, is a clinical resource pharmacist for Community Health Network. She resides in Indianapolis, Ind. Patrick Arbaugh, BS, and his family relocated to Shanghai, China, for the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. Patrick is the director of product development for the Asian Technical Center. Sara M. (Verhoff) Martin, BSPh, is a pharmacist with Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys, Ohio. Jeff Meeker, BSBA, is chief, Ground Systems Division - TRADOC capabilities manager, for virtual training environment with the U.S. Army. He resides in Leavenworth, Kan. Michelle A. (Dolmayer) Roberts, is an oncology pharmacist at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center at Passavant in Pittsburgh, Pa. John Sajovic, BS, is the manager of transformer services for GE Energy. He and his family live in Hudson, Ohio. Emmanuel Santa Teresa, JD, is a deputy staff judge advocate with the U.S. Air Force. He resides in Lompoc, Calif. Wendy Weiss, BSPh, is a pharmacist with UPMC Northwest. She resides in Franklin, Pa. Brian T. Young, BSBA, is a laboratory manager with American Trim in Lima, Ohio. Debra Bowers, JD, was promoted to partner at Kay, Casto & Chaney PLLC after six years with the firm and more than 16 years in legal practice. She resides in Morgantown, W.Va. Rick Cherry, BS, is the owner of Flying Hack Enterprises. He resides in Powell, Ohio. Amy (Maki) Genszler, BA, is a legal assistant for the Hersh Law Offices LLC and was recently recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who. She resides in West Bend, Wisc. Harry Hancock, JD, is the counsel for revenue litigation for the South Carolina Department of Revenue. He lives in Columbia, S.C. Lisa (Cowgill) Haydel, BSBA, is the asphalt supply and logistics manager for Marathon Petroleum Company LLC. He lives in Findlay, Ohio. Brian James, BS, is the general manager for ArcelorMittal. He lives in McDonald, Pa. Phil Mosher, BA, is a trainer for Cash America. He lives in Fairfield Township, Ohio. Jeannine (Rowland) Perkins, BSBA, is a bookkeeper with Safe Passage Inc. She lives in Batesville, Ind. Kevin Warvell, BSBA, and his wife, Mariellen (McKinney), BSPh ’91, both acquired new positions. Kevin is the director of rate strategy for First Energy. Mariellen is the pharmacy manager for the Medical Arts Center Pharmacy. The Warvells reside in New Castle, Pa. Michele (Manukin) Baran, BSPh, and Jeremy, PharmD ’02, were married in May 2008 in Bridgeport, Ohio. Michele is a pharmacist with Walgreens in Washington, D.C. They currently live in Rockville, Md. Fred Bencivengo, BSPh, is the pharmacy district manager for Giant Eagle Pharmacy. He and his wife, Sandy, live in Warren, Ohio. Jo Ann (Petroziello) Collins, JD, is the senior deputy attorney general for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. She lives in Harrisburg, Pa. Michael Foley, JD, is a partner with Rendigs, Fry, Kiely & Dennis LLP in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also resides. Troy Gahm, BSPh, was appointed to the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy by Governor Ted Strickland for the next four years. He can be reached at troygahm@ aol.com and resides in Lucasville, Ohio. Jeffrey Gillson, BSBA, is a partner at New York Life. He lives in Bellbrook, Ohio. Laura Glass, JD, is the manager of sales and training development for Obagi Medical Products in Long Beach, Calif. She resides in Costa Mesa, Calif., and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org Mathew Hargett, BSEE, received the 2008 Young Leadership and Excellence Award by the Automotive Hall of Fame. His award will be displayed in the in the museum. He resides in Broadview Heights, Ohio. Ellen (Ralph) Perry, BA, is the senior associate director of university programming for the University of Chicago. She lives in Oswego, Ill. Donald Ramm, BSCE, is the city engineer for Independence, Ohio, where he also resides. Aaron Rothhaar, BS, is the engineering and maintenance manager for Shelby Welded Tube. He lives in Shelby, Ohio. Todd Smith, BSPh, is a consultant pharmacist for Remedi Senior Care. He lives in Troy, Ohio. Steven Vale, BSBA, is a financial advisor for Key Investment Services. He and his wife, Joy, live in Clinton, Ohio. Maret Vessella, JD, will serve as the chief bar counsel of the State Bar of Arizona. As chief executive officer, she will oversee the State Bar’s Lawyer Regulation Department. Maret lives in Phoenix, Ariz. Farooq Ansari, JD, lives in Mukilteo, Wash., with his wife, Muneera, and daughter, Sarina. He owns Olympic Collection Inc. in Seattle, Wash. He has been selected as a “40 Under 40” award recipient by Puget Sound Business Journal. Olympic Collection was included in the March 2009 Forbes magazine as one of the best 10 collection agencies in the U.S. Philip Bower, JD, is a claims representative for State Farm Insurance. He lives in Emmitsburg, Md. Sandra Brown, JD, joined the Washington office of the law firm Thompson Hine LLP. Sandra is a partner in the firm’s Transportation practice group, which focuses on representing bulk commodity shippers and other entities that use transportation services. She resides in Springfield, Va. Richard Dages, BS, is the senior reliability and project engineer for Flint Hills Resources. He lives in Harrison Township, Mich. Dale English, BSPh, was honored with the Fellow of the American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists (FASHP) designation. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) bestowed him this award due to his excellence in practice and leadership. He lives in Stow, Ohio. Kerrie (Jarvis) Foxall, BSPh, is a pharmacist with the Licking Memorial Hospital. She lives in Hebron, Ohio. Julie (Boyd) Glavicic, BSBA, married her husband, Michael, on Dec. 16, 2008. The Glavicics live in Indianapolis, Ind. Sharon (Tolle) Kelly, BSPh, is a pharmacist for Clark’s Pharmacy in Centerville, Ohio. She lives in Dayton, Ohio. John Lux, JD, is the executive director of governmental affairs at Ivy Tech Community College. He also is an attorney at Lux & Lux in Shelbyville, Ind., where he resides. Gregory Marcussen, BSME, is a chief pilot for Jet Select LLC in Columbus, Ohio. His wife, Mausicha (Frazee), BS ’93, is the president of Marcussen Global Life Sciences Consulting. They reside in New Albany, Ohio. Kurtis Mascio, BSEE, is employed with Stoneridge Electronics. In May 2009, he was inducted into the North Olmstead High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The Mascios are relocating to Charlotte, N.C. to the U.S. Thirty-three law alumni sworn in Supreme Court Ohio Northern University’s Pettit College of Law held its fifth United States Supreme Court admission ceremony on June 8, 2009. The event began the previous evening with a reception and dinner at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill with more than 110 alumni, family members and guests attending. The next morning, 33 ONU graduates were sworn in to the U.S. Supreme Court in an impressive alumni group ceremony. ONU’s group was one of the largest the court had ever had. d, and the clerk called the thern inductees were asked to stan Nor Ohio the y, mon cere the ing Dur the podium and said, ress the court. Johnson approached add to n, nso Joh L. nnie Joh ant, mov following attorneys.” the court, I move the admission of the se plea it may and ice, Just f Chie . “Mr made a motion to the attorney’s state, and Johnson then of er ord the in d calle was e nam h Eac f Justice John G. e read and the motion was made, Chie wer es nam the e Onc p. grou the e mov the Court. the inductees became members of Roberts Jr. accepted the motion, and celebrate. After ered in the East Conference Room to gath s rney atto the y, mon cere the r Afte by the curator of the to the courtroom for a presentation rted esco was p grou the n, ptio rece the t steps for a group photo. marshal’s office and then to the fron thern group and also pride for being a part of the Ohio Nor of se sen a felt ted icipa part who “All hen, director of law court in the nation,” said Cheryl Kitc est high the of part a g bein now for was in awe of the Court ne who took part in this ceremony eryo “Ev . ices serv er care and ni alum and of what was happening.” Education alumni connect online ther the chance to connect with one ano on alumni have program is a Each month, Ohio Northern educati cational topics. The ongoing virtual online to discuss a wide range of edu on, and a cati edu of ent ni affairs, the departm partnership between the office of alum ’68. d id Michael Ingram, BSE member of ONU’s alumni board, Dav hange ideas, and opportunity to share experiences, exc Alumni participants appreciate the cation. As a edu John Berg, associate professor of reconnect with one another, says Dr. ring from old hea to ing with former students. “It is akin moderator, he has enjoyed interact learning about just ices them as students, they were nov , you gain friends,” he says. “When I worked with hing teac In es. interact with them now as colleagu teaching. So it is most satisfying to .” hers teac nt I was able to chat with veteran experience very quickly, and that mea Chad Mason, BSBA, is the Troy Junior High principal. He and his wife, Carrie, live in Troy, Ohio. Jody May, BA, completed his first season as Albion College’s men’s head basketball coach in 2009. Jody served as the assistant men’s basketball coach at Albion College since 1997. He currently lives in Albion, Mich. Barrett Moser, BSEE, is a project engineer for Innovative Solutions Group Inc. He lives in Whitehouse, Ohio. Vernon Neeley, BM, and his wife, Tara (Findley), BM ’07, were married on Dec. 20, 2008. They reside in Defiance, Ohio. Marc Sweeney, BSPh, was appointed the founding dean of the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy. Before moving to the position at Cedarville, Marc had been a part of the leadership team that began the University of Findlay’s School of Pharmacy. He and his family reside in Xenia, Ohio. Lisa (DeMarinis) Tarr, BSPh, is a pharmacist for the Alliance, Ohio Wal-Mart. She lives in Malvern, Ohio. Brian Wagner, BSBA, is the branch manager for the Second National Bank in Versailles, Ohio, where he also resides. Jeffrey Yohe, BSCE, is the technical support manager for the Stark County Metropolitan Sewer District in Canton, Ohio, where he and his wife reside. Judi Calhoun, JD, is a deputy prosecutor for the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office. She lives in Muncie, Ind. Thomas John, JD, is a partner at ICE Miller LLP. He resides in Indianapolis, Ind., and can be reached at email@example.com Edward Kirn, JD, and his wife, Sarah (Powers), JD ’94, are employed with Powers Kirn LLC. They live in Moorestown, N.J. Anmarie (Gladieux) Kolinski, BSBA, BA, is the chief financial officer for Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. She lives in Chicago, Ill. Jill (Clark) Koskinen, BSPh, is a staff pharmacist for the Salem Community Hospital. She lives in Salem, Ohio. Lori (Crawford) Lowery, BFA, is a reading recovery and elementary art teacher for the Upper Scioto Valley School District. She lives in Belle Center, Ohio. David Woodward, BA, is the assistant operations manager for Clear Channel in Lima. He lives in Ada, Ohio. Scott Forry, BS, is the plant engineering manager for Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in Findlay, Ohio. He lives in Morral, Ohio. Brian Elmore, BA, and his wife, Megahn (Frey), BSPh ’95, live in Rio Rancho, N.M. with their family. Their e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.org Laura (Hendricks) Gill, BA, is a fraud control specialist for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. She lives in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Angie (Riedel) Haake, BA, is the branch office administrator with Edward Jones. She resides in Kenton, Ohio. Thomas Koskinen, BSPh, works for Giant Eagle as a pharmacist. He lives in Salem, Ohio. Shelley (Deiss) Moser, BSPh, is a pharmacist for Whitehouse Apothecary. She lives in Whitehouse, Ohio. Andrew Bosron, BS, is the production engineer for Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America. He lives in Kettering, Ohio. Britt Havenar, BSCE, is a civil engineer with the Miami County Engineers. He resides in Sidney, Ohio. Marvin Hudson, BA, is the president of Kilam Enterprises. He lives in Plantation, Fla. BethAnn (Wiley) Leaming, JD, is the director for the Zion Lutheren Church and Preschool. She lives in Fort Washington, Pa. Mark Light, BSCE, was appointed as 4-H educator for Allen and Hardin counties. Mark and his family live in Ada, Ohio. Shelly (Holloway) Neeley, BSBA, is in product support for CentraComm Communications. She lives in Ada, Ohio. Alexa Norris, BSBA, is a store manager for Caribou Coffee. She lives in Westerville, Ohio. Tina (Slone) O’Dell, BSBA, is the marketing manager for CentraComm Communications. She lives in Findlay, Ohio. William Preston, BSPh, works for Brown Mackie College as an instructor of allied health. He lives in Findlay, Ohio. Brenda (Hartz) Rood, BA, and her husband, Charles, were recently married. The Roods live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Carrie (Criswell) Sanshez, BM, is the middle school principal for the Port Clinton City School District. She lives in Port Clinton, Ohio. Susan (Jenkins) Suberbielle, JD, is the legal director for Net Versant Solutions LLC. She and her husband, Thomas, live in Houston, Texas. Phil Wiese, JD, was listed in the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Phil is an associate at the law firm of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs LLP. He resides in Hudson, Ohio. Lynda (Ritter) Abney, BSBA, and her husband, Don, were recently married. She lives in Dublin, Ohio. Jennifer (Hines) Bryant, BSPh, is pharmacist with Target in Exton, Pa. She and her family live in Chester Springs, Pa. Lynda Dawson, BS, is a project coordinator for Right Management. She and her husband, Jamie, live in Raleigh, N.C. Karen Dempster, JD, is the assistant professor of law at the Wayland Baptist University in Fairbanks Alaska, where she resides. She teaches business, political science and education. She lives in Fairbanks, Alaska. Jason Dixon, BSCE, is a principal with Converse Consultants. He lives in Henderson, Nev. Christopher Ensley, BSPh, is a medication safety coordinator at Akron General Hospital. He lives in Canton, Ohio, with his wife, Melanie (Parker), PharmD ’00. Andrea (Kramer) Fetterman, BS, was an award recipient for the Northwest Ohio and Southwestern Michigan region of the 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Program. The national 20 Under 40 program spotlights young, dynamic leaders under the age of 40 who excel in community involvement and professional experience. Andrea resides in Findlay, Ohio. David Gatchel, BS, and Amanda (Shobe), BA ’97, live in Ruskin, Fla. David is the regional manager for Kinder Morgan Terminals, and Amanda is a business unit manager working for IMG Academics. Tracy (Smith) Grebe, BSPh, is the lead clinical pharmacist for WellPoint NextRX. She lives in Mason, Ohio. Courtney Jenkins, BSME, is a chief engineer for Grubb & Ellis. He and his wife, Stephanie (Hurless), BSBA ’97, live in Washington Court House, Ohio. Jayme (Considine) Kmetko, BS, is employed with CVS Pharmacy as the manager of professional and college relations for Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Minnesota. She lives in Poland, Ohio. Justine (Petracci) Lawson, BSPh, is a pharmacist on Coronado Island for the Sharp Coronado Community Pharmacy. She resides in San Diego, Calif. Ryan Margot, BSPh, is the manager and director of operations for South Pacific Trading Company. He lives in Tampa, Fla. Megan (Giesige) McClymonds, BA, is the assistant general manager for Bob Evans. She lives in Cridersville, Ohio. Leslie (Ison) Myles, BA, is employed with Motorist Mutual Insurance. She resides in Commercial Point, Ohio. Amie (Benning) Petty, BA, is married to Randy. She also is a service and support administrator for Montgomery County Board of MRDD. The Pettys live in Piqua, Ohio. Jason Rawlins, BS, is a grounds foreman for the Van Wert Agricultural Society. He lives in Van Wert, Ohio. Jennifer (Markl) Ruediger, BSPh, is a pharmacist with Giant Eagle. She lives in Butler, Pa. Elizabeth (Frank) Williams, BSBA, is an account representative for Honda Trading America in Lincoln, Ala. She and her husband, Thomas, live in Pell City, Ala. Sean Burroughs, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacy coordinator in oncology and outpatient services for the Watauga Medical Center. He lives in Boone, N.C. Jennifer (Funderburg) Cabrera, BA, is a Spanish lecturer for Wright State University. She lives in Beavercreek, Ohio. Michelle (Baker) Cudnik, PharmD, was awarded the Ohio Health-System Pharmacist of the Year Award from the Ohio Health-System Pharmacist Association (OSHP). Michelle is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the Northeastern Ohio Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy. She resides in Canal Fulton, Ohio. Michelle (Woerther) Griffith, BSPh, is an assistant pharmacy manager for Walmart. She lives in Salem, Ohio. James Hartness, BSPh, is a senior regional medical scientist with GlaxoSmithKline. He and his wife, Cary (Gunning), BSPh ’98, live in Batavia, Ohio with their family. Sara (Beanblossom) Huntington, BA, is the director of central Indiana programs for VSA Arts of Indiana. She lives in Indianapolis, Ind. Dawn (Stiverson) Jackson, BSPh, is a pharmacy manager with Giant Eagle. She lives in Powell, Ohio. Addie King, BA, is the assistant prosecutor for the Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office. She lives in West Liberty, Ohio. Marsita (Weber) MacDonald, BA, is a senior accountant with the NRP Group. She resides in Wadsworth, Ohio. Samantha Massie, BSBA, is an accountant with Information Control Corporation. She lives in Columbus, Ohio. Douglas Parker, JD, is a deputy district attorney for Willits and Fort Bragg. He resides in Windsor, Calif. Scott Peterson, JD, is the assistant prosecutor for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. He lives in Garwood, N.J. Troy Shirley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy for the Dublin Methodist & Grady Memorial Hospital. He lives in Powell, Ohio. Jill (Hudson) Corwin, BSBA, is the senior of government assurance at Holbrook & Manter CPA. She lives in Marion, Ohio. Gregory Hach, JD, is working on a software program called Lohrsoft. His invention’s purpose is to help in the identification of potentially reimbursable health care claims. He lives in Staten Island, N.Y., and can be reached at www. freshpatents.com Ann (Donnelly) Hamilton, BA, and her husband, Loren, were married on Aug. 8, 2009 in Troy, Ohio. The couple resides in Ada, Ohio. Sarah (Tallitsch) Jankovic, BSBA, is an accounting supervisor for Cardinal Community Credit Union. She lives in North Ridgeville, Ohio. Melissa Jeffries-Cuadrado, BA, is a lecturer for Texas State University. She lives in Austin, Texas. Stacey (Hope) Maignan, BS, and recently married her husband, Frantz. The couple lives in Raleigh, N.C. Laura (Fichtelman) McGlothlin, BS, is a zookeeper in the “Mainland Asia” exhibit for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. She resides in Worthington, Ohio. Katherine (Klotzbach) Miller, BFA, and her husband, Jason, were married on Aug. 22, 2009. Katherine works for American Greetings in the editorial department. The couple resides in Richmond Heights, Ohio. Leslie (Crawford) Sakson, JD, and her husband, Hugo, were recently married. The couple resides in Florence, Ky. Alfonso Santana, JD, is a senior attorney in Florida. He resides in Orlando, Fla. Jillian (Rapp) Subramaniam, BA, is the early childhood psychologist for Bowling Green City Schools. She lives in Findlay, Ohio, with her husband, Ranjiv, BA ’00. Eric Allen, JD, is the sole practitioner for the Law Office of Eric J. Allen Ltd. He lives in New Albany, Ohio. Lauren Augusta, BS, is the lead kindergarten teacher at Bixby Schools. She is a yoga instructor at Solar Yoga. Lauren resides in Boulder, Colo. Shannon Bettenbrock, BS, is the performance improvement specialist for OhioHealth. She resides in Delaware, Ohio. Tina (Parsons) Boutwell, BA, is a sales representative for Western & Southern Financial Group. She and her husband, Derek, reside in Nevada, Ohio. Stephanie (Jackson) Drew, BA, is the owner of Drew Event Design. Her husband, Darren, PharmD ’00, is a clinical pharmacy specialist at CMC-Northeast. The Drew family resides in Concord, N.C. Melanie (Parker) Ensley, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist at Akron City Hospital. She lives in Canton, Ohio, with her husband, Christopher, BSPh ’97. Steven Gormley, BS, and Allison Ayotte were married on Oct. 4, 2008, in Maple City, Mich. The couple resides in Toledo, Ohio. Lee Ann (Gilhousen) Kitko, BSPh, is a staff pharmacist at Wal-Mart. Lee Ann and her family reside in Clermont, Fla. Christina (Leithauser) Griffin, BSPh, is pharmacist at Rite Aid. She and her husband, Beau, reside in Ada, Ohio. Craig Kubicz, BA, is employed as a civil associate II at Michael Baker Jr. Inc. He resides in Alexandria, Va. James Matthias, BSEE, is the administrative liaison for computing at Augsburg College. He resides in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Ranjiv Subramaniam, BA, is a pharmaceutical sales representative II for UCB Inc. He lives in Findlay, Ohio, with his wife, Jillian (Rapp), BA ’99. Melanie Watrol, BA, is a pathology assistant at Caris DX. She resides in Chandler, Ariz. Jamie (Crisp) Allen, JD, is an associate with Friedman & Mirman Co. She lives in New Albany, Ohio. Daryn Brown, BA, is conference service supervisor for ARAMARK. Daryn and her husband, Ben Kato, reside in New York, N.Y. Jennifer (Thieme) Brown, BA, was selected to serve on the Fort Wayne Center for Learning board of directors. Jennifer resides in Fort Wayne, Ind. Aaron Carns, BSEE, is an electrical engineer at DLZ Corporation. He lives in Hilliard, Ohio, with his wife, Jamie (Walaszczyk), PharmD ’02. Erin Wallace-Cleverly, BS, and Jeremy Cleverly were married on May 24, 2008, in Canton, Ohio. Erin completed her pediatric residency training through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in June 2008 and is practicing pediatrics with Medical Clinic of North Texas Private in Mansfield, Texas. Stephen Harvey, BS, is a state wildlife officer for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. He, his wife, Katie, and their daughter, Ella, live in Delaware, Ohio. Steve Kurtz, BSBA, is a business teacher, assistant varsity football coach and freshman baseball coach at Miamisburg City Schools in Miamisburg, Ohio, where he also resides. Amy (Brodbeck) Jaskowiak, BA, recently married her husband, Nathan. They reside in Clarksville, Ohio. Craig Mehl, BA, works for NASA as an assistant program security officer. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Christopher Plummer, BS, is an environmental planner II for Williamsburg Environmental Group. He and his wife, Laura, reside in Ashburn, Va. Allison (Yungbluth) Ortega, BA, is a teacher and department head for the Donna Independent School District. The Ortega family lives in Weslaco, Texas. Brian Roman, PharmD, is the director of health plan analytics for CVS Caremark. His wife, Rebecca (Naegele), PharmD ’01, is a clinical pharmacy specialist in Pharmacoeconomics at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare Systems. The Romans reside in Moon Township, Pa. Hanna (Wagner) Santee, BS, and her husband, James, were married on June 13, 2009. The couple lives in Las Vegas, Nev. Heather (Moore) Slagle, BA, is a missionary with Campus Crusade. The Slagles reside in Marysville, Ohio, and Heather can be reached at heather. email@example.com Evelina Solias, BA, is an academic/life coach for Sol2Soul, an inspirational speaking resource in Austin, Texas, where she also resides. Tracy (Burton) Vilvens, BS, is a pharmacist at Walgreen’s Pharmacy. She and her husband, Justin, reside Granville, Ohio. Melissa (Kuhn) Wheeler, BA, is the assistant director of government affairs for the Ohio Department of Insurance in Columbus, Ohio, where she also resides. Marguerite Winslow, BA, graduated from a sports medicine fellowship in June 2009. She works at the University of Toledo Medical Center in family medicine and will be a team physician for the university. Jamie (Walaszczyk) Carns, PharmD, is a pharmacist for Medco. She lives in Hilliard, Ohio, with her husband, Aaron, BSEE ’01. John Cerveny, JD, opened his own personal practice, the Law Office of John A. Cerveny P.C. He lives in Lisle, Ill. Jill Doerner, BSBA, received her Ph.D. in sociology from Bowling Green State University on May 8, 2009. She is employed as an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Rhode Island. Jill can be reached at jillkdoerner@ yahoo.com Sara (Wallace) Gudorf, BSME, is a program manager for the United States Air Force. She and her husband, David, reside in Dayton, Ohio. Jeffrey Keister, JD, was named one of North Carolina’s top up-and-coming attorneys by North Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine. Only 2.5 percent of lawyers are chosen for the Rising Stars list. Jeffrey resides in Charlotte, N.C. Todd Kohlrieser, JD, is now the magistrate for the Allen County Juvenile Court. The Kohlrieser family lives in Lima, Ohio. Adam Love, BS, is a development manager of applications for Exceptional Innovation in Westerville, Ohio. The Love family resides in Delaware, Ohio. Jonathan Mattmuller, BS, and his wife, Kristina (Moon), BS ’02, live in Streetsboro, Ohio. Jonathan is a technical services representative for Veolia Environmental Services, and Kristina is a registered nurse for Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Ryan Moran, BA, is director of operations and programming at Salem Communications. Ryan, his wife, Sarah, and son, Ryan, reside in Westerville, Ohio. Jessica (Finkbone) O’Flanagan, BS, and recently married her husband, Michael. Jessica is a registered nurse at the Cleveland Clinic. The O’Flanagans reside in Stow, Ohio. William Ruhlen, BFA, is a vocal director with Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools. He and his family live in Marysville, Ohio. Heather (Phipps) Sunday, JD, and Eugene Sunday were married on Aug. 2, 2008 in Lima, Ohio. The couple resides in Centerville, Ohio. Nicolette (Ryan) Winner, BA, was named to the “40 Under 40” list Brad Bandy, BA, works for McLane Advanced Technologies as a government contractor. He lives in Temple, Texas. Jeremy Baran, PharmD, and Michele (Manukin), BSPh ’92, were married in May 2008 in Bridgeport, Ohio. Jeremy is still on active duty with the U.S. Navy and is a fourth-year medical student at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. The Barans reside in Rockville, Md. Shanna (Stombaugh) Barhorst, BSPh, is a regional consultant pharmacist for Medco. The Barhorst family resides in Anna, Ohio. Deborah (Orr) Burns, BA, and ley. his wife, Ash her husband, Jeffrey, were Eric Lechuk, BS ’03, and married on June 7, 2008, at the Heath Church of Christ. The Burns reside in Alexandria, Ohio. Hanna (W agner) Sa ntee, BS ’01,a nd her husband , James. in the Dayton Business Journal. Nicolette and her family reside in Troy, Ohio. Jason Bandy, BSEE, BSCPE, and Catherine (Lee), BSCE ’04, were recently married. Jason is the plant engineer at the Marathon, Canton Oil Refinery. The Bandy family resides in Bolivar, Ohio. Emily (LeVan) Cornett, BS, is a nurse practitioner at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She and her husband, James, BS, reside in Westerville, Ohio. Christopher Degenkolb, PharmD, and Kerri (DeNucci), PharmD ’03, were recently married. Christopher is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Butler University, and Kerri is a pharmacy manager of clinical services for Wishard Health Services. The Degenkolbs reside in Westfield, Ind. Amber Ferrell, BS, is an OB/GYN resident for the Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she also resides. Joseph Finfera, BSME, is a refining engineer with Marathon Oil Company. He lives in Findlay, Ohio. David Gebbie, BSME, is scheduled to graduate from the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. Graduates from this program earn their silver wings with an aeronautical rating of pilot in the Air Force. He lives in Columbus, Miss. Eric Lechuk, BS, and Ashley Monda were married on Aug. 23, 2008. The couple resides in Brunswick, Ohio. Michael Slagle, BS, is a missionary for Campus Crusade for Christ. The Slagles reside in Marysville, Ohio, and Michael can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org Mic Roman hael, BSCE ’04, and Natalie (Taliafe ello, BA rro) ’06, celeb rate their weddin g with alumni. “Faye is a very special person,” says Hollinger, reflecting on their lifelong friendship. “She is compassionate and giving. It has been wonderful to have her influence in my life.” Old friends are dear friends Four of Ohio Northern University’s oldest alumni share a bond that stretches back more than 60 years to the World War II era on campus. Marjorie (Stedcke) Hollinger, BSEd ’48, Faye (Moore) Leuthold, BA ’48, Mertie (Parker) Schlaudroff, BSEd ’47, and Thomas “Tom” Evans, BSCE ’45, have enjoyed reconnecting over the years at Northern events and reunions. Hollinger and Leuthold have been dear friends since college. “Faye’s sister was my English teacher in high school at Celina, Ohio. When she heard I was attending Ohio Northern, she told me to introduce myself to Faye,” recalls Hollinger. The two first met at a meeting for freshman girls, during which the dean of women sternly cautioned the new students to “never sit on a boy’s lap.” “After the meeting, we made a beeline to meet; it was instant friendship. We were bridesmaids in our weddings, and both of us met our husbands at ONU,” says Leuthold. Hollinger’s husband is the late Henry Hollinger, BSCE ’49, Hon. D. ’82, an Ohio Northern University Board of Trustees member from 1981-98. Leuthold’s husband is the late Russell Leuthold, BA ’46, honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1978. Schlaudroff, who was in the same sorority as Hollinger and Leuthold, has also stayed in touch. She and Hollinger have traveled to Italy together, and she often stays at Hollinger’s house when visiting campus. In 2009, Schlaudroff was awarded the Willis Pitcher award. Schlaudroff and Evans were co-workers at The Coffee Cup restaurant in Ada during their college years. According to Evans, it was the perfect job for hungry college students. He remembers once being asked to work the morning shift at the restaurant. Figuring he would only have to make coffee, he agreed. “But then Dean Raabe of the College of Pharmacy came in and wanted eggs. I had never cooked eggs before in my life. I must have gone through a dozen eggs before I finally cooked two that looked halfway decent,” he says with a laugh. Leuthold’s husband was a regular at The Coffee Cup, where he got to know Evans. “Years later, Tom and I met at Homecoming and spring alumni meetings and became fast friends,” says Leuthold. All four friends recall the many wonderful professors they encountered while attending Northern. Because the University was struggling with low enrollment and scarce funds during World War II, many professors taught without pay – a sacrifice that made a big impression on all of them. Though it has been six decades since they attended ONU, the ties that bind Hollinger, Leuthold, Schlaudroff and Evans to the University are as strong as ever. At Northern, they not only received a quality education, but also discovered fun, laughter, love and lasting friendship. Reunited In June 1967, Carol (Vas) Murray, BA ’65, and Melinda (Overmyer) Sharrit, BSEd ’65, left from Cleveland, Ohio, for a seven-month tour through 22 countries in Europe. In 1969, Murray moved to Seattle, Wash., and Sharrit to Houston, Texas. Over the years, the two friends kept in contact through Christmas cards, letters and telephone calls but never managed to reunite in person. Finally, in May 2009, the two were able to reconnect. Sharrit and her husband, Norm, drove from their summer home in North Carolina to Seattle as part of a two-month vacation. During this trip, Sharrit and Murray were able to spend three days together sharing memories of their trip overseas and their time at ONU. For Sharrit, the highlight of the two-month trip was reconnecting with a dear friend. The ‘time of our lives’ In July 2009, a group of graduates from the 1960s gathered for a long weekend reunion described as “an absolutely magical time.” The reunion was arranged by Thomas J. Hagan, BSPh ’65, who felt that it was past time for the members of the 1960 pledge class of Delta Sigma Phi and other close friends to catch up and rehash old times. “I have touched ONU lightly during the 44 years since graduation,” he reflects. “But what I experienced and learned at ONU has touched me daily.” The guest of honor at the gathering was William Robinson, BSEd ’61, Hon. D. ’05, H of F ’05, the dean of men when Hagan attended ONU. The 27 individuals who gathered for the reunion came from all across the United States and stayed at Hagan’s house. “We spent three days being in our 20s again,” says Hagan. “We ate, and we drank, and we laughed and we laughed and we laughed. Our common thread is ONU. We were all grateful for the times we had, the education, the culture and the fact that we all came together during that time in the 60s and again in 2009. It was as if we had never said goodbye.” ‘The Weekend of Fools’ In 1978, a group of residence hall counselors made a pact to get together once a year – no matter where they were living or what was happening in their lives. They named their annual reunion “The Weekend of Fools.” For the first several years of the reunion, the group gathered at a cottage at Lake Diana in Michigan. Describing the reunions, Thomas Worner, BA ’78, says, “The conditions were terrible, but we always had fun.” As the group matured, the members decided to take turns planning the weekend each year. Over the years, the group has traveled all over the state and even out of state. This past summer, during the third weekend in July, Douglas Burton, BA ’78, Mark Palmer, BSBA ’79, Douglas Mock, BSBA ’78, Lawrence Winkleman, BSCE ’78, Jack Wolfe, JD ’77, and Worner brought “The Weekend of Fools” back to the campus for the first time. During the weekend, the men stayed at The Inn at Ohio Northern University, golfed at Colonial Golf Course and reminisced as they toured campus. The activities and events of the weekend have become more refined over the years; however, the purpose of the weekend is still the same. Burton says, “The jokes are always bad, the photos are worse, but the stories get better every year.” “The group laughs so hard at ourselves that our sides ache,” says Worner. “We are crying and gasping for air. It’s the best medicine for one’s soul.” These men have shared marriages, funerals, births and life together, and the ties made during their time at ONU will forever bind these individuals together. Over the years, other members of the group have included Craig Niedenthal, BA ’78, Michael Garwood, BSPh ’78, Timothy Clemens, BA ’76, JD ’79, Thomas Bramlage, BA ’77, Kipp Kubbs, BA ’76, Patrick Hampson, BA ’77, G. Fred Wilkinson, BSPH ’79, Garry Shirk, BA ’78. 9 ay 200 NU in M O t a n i ether aga Delta Zetas tog Celebrating the Big Five-O In 1959, three ONU social clubs decided to formalize their organizations by joining national sororities. Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Zeta and Zeta Tau Alpha all marked their 50th anniversaries of “going national” with special gatherings this year. Alpha Xi Delta In early May, Alpha Xi Delta hosted a special reunion for sorority alumnae and current members. The reunion t a red i gathe 50th. n provided an opportunity for alumnae to m u l a ir ha Zeta Tau Alp celebrate the tour Alpha Xi’s new sorority house on o t g Homecomin campus. The sorority moved into their new house, part of Northern’s Affinity Housing, in September 2008. During the day, alumnae and students engaged in a philanthropy project for “Autism Speaks,” a program that Alpha Xi supports nationally. The group made modeling clay from scratch that was then delivered to local schools for use with autistic children. In the evening, the group enjoyed a delicious meal at McIntosh Center and watched a slideshow of images of friendships and Zeta T sorority events from the last 50 years. au Alph a Phyllis (Black) Gossel, BSEd ’63, was part of the first pledge class for Alpha Xi Delta as a national sorority in January 1960. “At the time, I didn’t realize the significance of that,” says Gossel. “But looking back 50 years later, I realize it was a special moment in the history of Alpha Xi Delta on ONU’s campus.” “When I was in college, there weren’t a lot of social opportunities available on campus,” she continues. “Joining Alpha Xi Delta provided me with the chance to mily form lasting friendships. Through the e DZ Fa h t d n a aker years, I have kept in regular contact with Dr. Kendall B several sorority sisters. And anytime I go somewhere and meet a fellow Alpha Xi Delta, there is just an instant bond!” Delta Zeta An open house and formal dinner on campus marked the 50-year milestone for Delta Zeta in May. “The reunion was wonderfully organized, and it was great to see so many sisters that I knew and others I did not. There was a letter from our first president that made history really come alive,” said Jami (Cavinee) Dellifield, BA ’94. For Dellifield, another highlight of the evening was reconnecting with her “big sister” and “grand little,” both whom she hadn’t seen for many years. Throughout its 50 years on campus, Delta Zeta has been a source of lasting friendships. “We share a bond that cannot be described,” says Dellifield. “Delta Zeta helps women become the best they can be by providing leadership and networking opportunities. As members of Delta Zeta, we are a part of something bigger and more meaningful than we can imagine.” Zeta Tau Alpha The Zeta Tau Alpha Chapter celebrated its 50th anniversary on ONU’s campus on Oct. 10, 2009. Approximately 250 collegiate members, alumnae and guests, including a few members from the installation in 1959, gathered at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Lima, Ohio, for the gala event. Scrapbooks and memorabilia from Zeta’s history lined the back table, and alumnae happily revisited the Zeta memories that made their college days at Ohio Northern complete. “It was both inspiring and heartwarming to see generations of Zetas coming together, bonding over memories of their college years and revisiting the reasons why they chose to become a part of Zeta Tau Alpha,” says Alex Zoloty, a fourth-year pharmacy student from Parma, Ohio, and current president of Zeta Tau Alpha. “Many years have passed since Zeta Tau Alpha was installed on this campus, but the love and friendship that Zeta sisters have for one another has never changed. This sense of sisterhood and family brings something to its members that no textbook or class lecture could offer. It provides lifelong friendships and the experience of a lifetime.” Jessica (Budkowski) Tansmore, PharmD, married her husband, Charles, on June 27, 2009. The couple resides in Hilliard, Ohio. Jessica (Sladek) Troike, BA, and Joshua, PharmD ’06, were married on Oct. 18, 2008, at the Hiram House Camp in Moreland Hills, Ohio. The Trokes reside in Philadelphia, Pa. Meagan (Wimmers) Tuminello, BS, and her husband, Richard, were married on Oct. 13, 2007. The Tuminellos reside Marina Del Ray, Calif. Nathan Webb, BS, is a test engineer for Keihin Carolina System Technology Inc. in Tarboro, N.C. He lives in Nashville, N.C. Crystal (Jones) Weitz, BA, BSBA, and her husband, Craig, were married in May 2008. The new couple lives in Findlay, Ohio, and Crystal can be reached at email@example.com Allison (Snyder) Widdowson, BS, and her husband, Matthew, were married on April 19, 2008. The couple lives in Richmond Heights, Ohio. Heather (Bennett) Archer, PharmD, and her husband, Allen, were married on March 7, 2009. Heather is a pharmacist with Curley’s Pharmacy in Greenville, Tenn. The couple resides in Jonesborough, Tenn. Catherine (Lee) Bandy, BSCE, and Jason, BSEE ’03, BSCPE ’03, were married. The Bandy family resides in Bolivar, Ohio. David Brown, BA, lives in Parma, Ohio, with his wife, Ashley (Middleberg), BS ’05. Kavish Choudhary, PharmD, is the manager of pharmacy support services at University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics. He resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. Stephanie Creekpaum, BA, graduated with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Indianapolis. She is completing a yearlong postdoctoral fellowship in child clinical psychology through the Indiana School of Medicine at Riley Children’s Hospital at the Riley Child Development Center. Bryan Gortner, BSPh, and Patricia (Fishleigh), BA ’06, were married on April 5, 2008. The couple resides in Wooster, Ohio. Jennifer Harris, BS, resides in Bluffton, Ohio. Leonard Hazlett, BSME, and Aubri Carmichael were married. The couple resides in Hartville, Ohio. Jeanine (Arnold) Lewis, BA, and her husband, Mark, were married on May 26, 2007. Jeanine is a fifth-grade language-arts and reading teacher for Bellefontaine City Schools. She and her family live in Lima, Ohio. Adam Pugacz, PharmD, and his wife, Angela (Swiergosz), BSBA ’04, reside in Fairview Park, Ohio. Adam is a clinical pharmacist for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cleveland, Ohio, and Angela is an accountant for Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Michael Romanello, BSCE, and Natalie (Taliaferro), BA ’06, were married on June 7, 2008. The couple resides in Dublin, Ohio. Sara (Gulbis) Rush, BA, completed her master’s degree from the University of Findlay. The Rush family resides in Ada, Ohio. Laina Schemmel, BS, BSCLS, is a medical technologist for Mercer Health in Coldwater, Ohio. She resides in New Bremen, Ohio. Amy Schuster, BSBA, has been promoted to human resources generalist at Edward Howard. She resides in Rocky River, Ohio. Elizabeth (Stierwalt) Seibert, PharmD, is a pharmacist for Community Hospital and Wellness Center in Bryan, Ohio. She and her family live in Archbold, Ohio. Angela (McClellan) Trent, PharmD, is a pharmacist with the Allen County Health Partners in Lima, Ohio, where she also resides. Thomas Turney, BSME, is a project manager for Extrusion Services Inc. in Akron, Ohio, where he and his family also reside. Brian Wakefield, JD, was awarded the Lloyd O’Hara Public Interest Law Award by the Access to Justice Awards. Brian resides in Dayton, Ohio. Sean Allen, JD, is the assistant state attorney at the office of the state attorney, 17th judicial circuit in Broward County, Fla. He resides in Miami, Fla. Randy Becker, BSME, and Danya (Shepherd), PharmD ’07, were married Oct. 18, 2008. The couple resides in Lexington, Ky. Ashley (Middleberg) Brown, BS, is an intern architect with Herschman Architects. She and her husband, David, BA ’04, live in Parma, Ohio. Elizabeth Grimm, BA, is a kindergarten teacher for Bloom Carroll Primary. She lives in Lancaster, Ohio. Casey Jones, BSCE, works for Blythe Construction Inc. of Charlotte, N.C. as a project engineer. She resides in High Point, N.C. Brandon Kyle, BA, is a psychology intern at Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital. He and his wife, Melanie, reside in San Antonio, Texas. Ellen Landers, BM, is a finished product inventory leader at Procter & Gamble. She resides in Bluffton, Ohio. Kristin (Stoner) Marchman, BA, and her husband, Tyler, were married on Oct. 4, 2008. Kristin graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic from Life University in Dec. 2008 and practices at Synergy Release Sports in Alpharetta, Ga., where she and her husband also reside. Debra Goodenow-Messman, BSEE, is an electrical engineer at NASA Glen Research Center. Rachael (Mathes) McKee, BA, and her husband, Paul, were married. Rachael works for NetJets Inc. in Woodbridge, N.J., as the manager of crew communications. The McKees live in Raritan, N.J. Joseph Meyer, BSEE, and Rachel (Simon), BA ’05, were married on April 7, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nev. The couple lives in Plainfield, Ind. Heather (Byers) Miller, PharmD, and her husband, Michael, were married on July 1, 2008. The couple resides in Lutherville Timonium, Md. Nathan Motter, BA, is a case manager at Auglaize County Department of Job and Family Services and a lieutenant of the Waynesfield Police Department. Nathan resides with his wife, Michelle, and son, Kaleb, in Waynesfield, Ohio. Greg Prymicz, BSBA, and Kelly (Bregar), PharmD ’08, were married. Greg is the corporate partnership executive for Cavalier Hockey Holdings. The couple resides in Willoughby Hills, Ohio. Jessica (Anderson) Ulbrich, BA, lives in Munroe Falls, Ohio, with her husband, Timothy, PharmD ’08. Joshua Wolf, PharmD, is a pharmacist for St. John’s Health System. He and his family live in Ozark, Mo. Cindy (Pinkley) Wolph, JD, was admitted into the practice of law in Ohio on Nov. 17, 2008. She is working on her post doctorate LLM in taxation law at Capital University Law School. She resides in Fostoria, Ohio. Allison (Barbiaux) Yodice, PharmD, and Nicholas Yodice, BS ’07, were married. Allison is the pharmacy manager at Target Pharmacy. The couple resides in Avon Lake, Ohio. Katie (Zwingler), BSME, married Brian Lee, BSBA ’06, on July 19, 2008. The Lees live in Bay Village, OH. Willia m, BS ’ 06, BM ’0 6, and Jessica (Everhart) Humphries, PharmD ’07, celebrate their wedding with alumni and friends. Sarah (Burley) Boone, PharmD, is a night pharmacist for Medina General Hospital. She resides in Oberlin, Ohio. Frank Cea, BA, and Jessica (Leher), BA ’06, were married on Aug. 15, 2009. Frank is an advertising consultant for Commercial Appeal, and Jessica is the art director for the Desoto Times Tribune. The couple resides in Memphis, Tenn. Amanda Dittmar, BSME, is an attorney for Finnegan LLP. She resides in Washington, D.C. Laura (Sudhoff) Geier, BSBA, is administrative manager for Graham , r) Marchman Kristin (Stone sband, Tyler, her hu BA ’05, and day. eir wedding celebrate th Packaging Company. She and her husband, Mike, reside in Celina, Ohio. Jaime Golupski, BSBA, is the treasurer for Fostoria Schools in Fostoria, Ohio. She resides in Walbridge, Ohio. Patricia (Fishleigh) Gortner, BA, and Bryan, BSPh ’04, were married on April 5, 2008. The new couple resides in Wooster, Ohio. Johanna (Clark) Hoch, BS, married Matthew Hoch. She is a research assistant at the University of Kentucky. The Hochs reside in Lexington, Ky. William “Chip” Humphries, BS, BM, and Jessica (Everhart), PharmD ’07, were married on June 20, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga. Chip is working towards his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Georgia Institute of Technology. The couple lives in Atlanta, Ga. Tiffany Johnson, PharmD, is a pharmacist at Continuum Care Pharmacy. She resides in Proctorville, Ohio. Nathan Lieb, BSBA, and Megan (Helser), BSN ’09, were married on July 11, 2009, in Lima, Ohio. Nathan is an associate at Charles Schwab. The couple resides in North Royalton, Ohio. Robert Luther III, JD, has accepted an invitation to publish his article “Unity Through Division: Religious Liberty, Public Virtue, and Pluralism in the Context of Legislative Prayer Controversies” in the winter 2009 edition of the Creighton Law Review. This is Robert’s fifth law review publication and fourth on First Amendment issues. He resides in Pittsburgh, Pa., and his articles may be found at www.robluther.com Abby (Myers) Madaychik, BA, and her husband, Chad, were married on Aug. 8, 2009. The couple lives in Latham, N.Y. Meghan (McGrath) Campbell, BFA, is a high school vocal music teacher with Independence Local Schools. She and her husband, Matthew, PharmD ’07, live in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Allison (Bisig) Oswall, JD, an attorney in the Real Estate Group at Keating, Muething & Klekamp, was recently elected to the Board of Trustees of the Cincinnati Bar Association (CBA). Allison resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Melissa Rengers, BS, works for Geotechnical Consultants Inc. as a geotechnical engineer. She resides in Somerset, Ohio. Natalie (Taliaferro) Romanello, BA, and Michael, BSCE ’04, were married on June 7, 2008. The couple resides in Dublin, Ohio. Joshua Troike, PharmD, and Jessica (Sladek), BA ’03, were married on Oct. 18, 2008, at the Hiram House Camp in Moreland Hills, Ohio. The Trokes live in Philadelphia, Pa. (Check for picture!) Grant Saum, BSCPE, married Jennifer Mattox on Sept. 6, 2008, in Arcadia, Ohio. Grant graduated from undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base. He has been awarded his wings and is assigned to fly the F-15E. The couple resides in Columbus, Mich. Michael Tehan, BSBA, and Erin (Smith), BSBA ’06, BA ’06, were married on Dec. 27, 2008. The couple resides in Columbus, Ohio. Margaret (Schodowski) Wolf, PharmD, is a pharmacy clinical specialist for St. John’s Health System. She and her family live in Ozark, Mo. Greg Badenhop, BSBA, is in his second season as a member of the basketball staff at the University of Wyoming, and he will serve as the director of player development in 2009-10. He is pursuing his master’s of business administration from the University of Wyoming. Greg and his wife, Karlee (Kanuckel), BSBA ’07, reside in Laramie, Wyo. Danya (Shepherd) Becker, PharmD, and Randy, BSME ’05, were married on Oct. 18, 2008. The couple resides in Lexington, Ky. Matthew Campbell, PharmD, lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with his wife, Meghan (McGrath), BFA ’06. George Davis IV, JD, is an attorney for George L. Davis III Co. LLC. Kira (Rankin) Davis, BA, married her husband, Stephen, on June 7, 2008 in Vaughnsville, Ohio. The couple resides in Elida, Ohio. Justin Gresko, PharmD, is a pharmacist for Giant Eagle. He resides in Sheffield Village, Ohio. Jessica (Everhart) Humphries, PharmD, and William “Chip,” BS ’06, BM ’06, were married on June 20, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga. Jessica is a pharmacist for CVS in Midtown, Ga. The couple lives in Atlanta, Ga. Alexander Jarvis, BA, is a team sales representative for Ernst Sporting Goods. He resides in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Dustin Lewis, PharmD, and Erin (Holsinger), PharmD ’09, 42 were married on Dec. 4, 2008. The couple resides in Greenfield, Ohio. Fern McLelland, BA, is a graduate evaluator at the University of Utah. She and her husband, Ryan, JD ’08, reside with their family in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Katherine Mominee, BA, is an adult literacy instructor and for Immokalee NonProfit Housing. She ended two terms of volunteer service with AmeriCorp, where she taught English as a second language and tutored. She resides in Curtice, Ohio. Tara (Findley) Neeley, BM, and Vernon, BM ’93, were married on Dec. 20, 2008. They reside in Defiance, Ohio. Jennifer (Samide) Roffey, BA, and Nicholas, PharmD ’09, were married. The couple resides in Waldorf, Md. Kristen (Vogtsberger) Rutter, JD, married her husband, Bobby, on Nov. 28, 2009, in Cleveland, Ohio. Kristen is assistant director of career services for the John Marshall Law School. The Rutters reside in Chicago, Ill. Rachel (Lunz) Schaaf, BA, and her husband, Eric, were married. Jeremy Smith, BSCPE, married Ashley Hower on Dec. 20, 2008, in Ashland, Ohio. The couple resides in Findlay, Ohio. Emily Stanavich, BS, is a registered nurse at the Ross Heart Hospital at Ohio State University Medical Center. Christina Walters, BA, graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Master of Science in social administration. She is a home-based intervention therapist for the Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties. Christina resides in Jeromesville, Ohio. Corey Wingen, BS, is an assistant athletic trainer at Bethany College. He lives in Bethany, W.Va. Nicholas Yodice, BS, and Allison (Barbiaux), PharmD ’05, were married. Nicholas is a police officer at Case Western Reserve University. The couple resides in Avon Lake, Ohio. Jacob Zimmerman, PharmD, married Ashley Moore on Nov. 1, 2008 in Poland, Ohio, where the couple also resides. Ashley Baader, BSBA, is an associate accountant with JP Morgan Chase in Columbus, Ohio, where she also resides. Kimberly (Kohler) Divito, PharmD, and her husband, Timothy, were married on Sept. 12, 2009. Kimberly is a pharmacist at Rite Aid in Maysfield, Ohio. The Divitos reside in Streetsboro, Ohio. Ryan Hensley, BS, and Liza (Katterhenry), PharmD ’09, were married on June 13, 2009, in Put-In-Bay, Ohio. Ryan is a QA at American Health Packaging. The couple resides in Chillicothe, Ohio. John Heydinger, PharmD, is the pharmacy manager for Rite Aid Pharmacy in Shelby, Ohio. He lives in Mansfield, Ohio. Christopher Keller, JD, and Amanda (Stewart), JD ’08, were and on, BA ’99, lly) Hamilt eir Ann (Donne Loren, celebrate th d, her husban y. wedding da Katie (Z wingler) Lee, BSM E ’05, and B rian Lee, BSBA ’06, celebrate their wedding. married on Aug. 9, 2008, in Lexington, Ky. The couple resides in Coconut Grove, Fla. Ryan McLelland, JD, is an associate attorney at Tejada Law Firm in Sandy, Utah. He and his wife, Fern, BA ’07, reside with their family in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Sara Mraz, BS, is a quality management representative for BioLife Plasma Services in Findlay, Ohio. She lives in Ada, Ohio. Kelly (Bergar) Prymicz, PharmD, and Greg, BSBA ’05, were married. Kelly is a pharmacist at Health One Pharmacy. The couple resides in Willoughby Hills, Ohio. Mallory Rentz, BA, completed her master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania. She is working towards her licensure in school psychology. She works for the Wesley Spectrum Services in Pittsburg, Pa. Adam Ross, BSCE, traveled to England to try out for the Salisbury soccer club. Tara Santarelli, JD, is an attorney for Freund, Freeze and Arnold of Dayton, Ohio. Timothy Ulbrich, PharmD, is assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy. He and his wife, Jessica (Anderson), BA ’06 reside in Munroe Falls, Ohio. Amy Vasinko, BA, received her master’s degree in student affairs administration in higher education from Ball State University. She is the coordinator of Greek Life at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Ga., where she also resides. Dora Wiskirchen, PharmD, works for Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn., as an infectious diseases pharmacotherapy fellow. She lives in Manchester, Conn. Heather (Byers) Miller, Pha rmD ’05, and Michael Miller celebrate their wedding day. Leah Zimmerman, BA, is a math teacher for Washington Court House City Schools. She lives in Washington Court House, Ohio. Lydia Buehrer, BSCE, is employed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation in Preconstruction Support. She resides in Columbia, S.C. Misty (Boyd) Clark, BSBA, and her husband, Timothy, were married. Misty is an insurance agent for AFLAC in Dayton, Ohio. Amanda (Burkhart) Fordyce, and her husband, Kyle, were marred on Oct. 3, 2009. Stephan Kohli Gill, BA, is a communications specialist at NiSource. He resides in Columbus, Ohio. Andrea Hawkins, PharmD, is a staff pharmacist for Walgreens. She resides in Las Vegas, Nev. Liza (Katterhenry) Hensley, PharmD, and Ryan, BS ’08, were married on June 13, 2009, in Put-In-Bay, Ohio. The couple resides in Chillicothe, Ohio. Cassandra Jirous, BFA, is pursuing a master’s degree in art therapy and counseling at Seton Hall University. John Laswell, BM, is the high school band director for Wolf Creek Local School District. He lives in Marietta, Ohio. Erin (Holsinger) Lewis, PharmD, and Dustin, PharmD ’07, were married on Dec. 4, 2008. The couple resides in Greenfield, Ohio. Megan (Helser) Lieb, BSN, and Nathan, BSBA ’06, were married on July 11, 2009, in Lima, Ohio. Megan is a nurse at Parma Community Hospital. The couple resides in North Royalton, Ohio. Haley Marshall, BSBA, is a sales representative for Western Southern Financial Group in Findlay, Ohio. She resides in Kenton, Ohio. Rebecca Meredith, BA, is a preschool teacher for the Goddard School in Pickerington, Ohio, where she also resides. Nicholas Roffey, PharmD, and Jennifer (Samide), BA ’07, were married. The couple resides in Waldorf, Md. Jessica Whalley, BS, is an athletic trainer for Doherty Therapeutics. She resides in Schererville, Ind. Melissa Widman, BA, is an English teacher with Benjamin Logan Local Schools. She lives in Perrysburg, Ohio. Children of Alumni Maxwell. The Booker family resides in Parsippany, NJ. John Porter, BSEE, and his wife, Debbie, a daughter, Hanna Elyse, May 18, 2007. The Porter family resides in Lakeville, Ohio. 1978 Brigid Smith, JD, adopted a daughter, Grace Ann Yi, in 2000 from China. The Smith family resides in Easton, Conn. 1985 Kevin T. Anderson, BSBA, and his wife, Lori, a daughter, Reagan Christine, June 17, 2009. Reagan joins sisters Bradie, McKenna, Avery and Camryn. The family resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. 1986 Todd A. Butler, BS, and his wife, Kristin, a daughter, Sonia Jean, Sept. 19, 2009. Sonia joins brother Jonas. The family resides in Owensboro, Ky. 1991 Ellen (Bolander) Booker, and her husband, George, a daughter, Jasmine Marie, June 25, 2009. Jasmine joins brother Sarah (Burl ey) Boone, Ph armD ’06 Michael Hsin-Wen Chow, BSEE, and his wife, Heidi (Woebkenberg), BSPh ’96, a daughter, Eleanor Long-Mei, March 5, 2009. Eleanor joins big sister Lillian, 3. The Chow family resides in Worthington, Ohio. siblings Rachel and Benjamin. The Sweeney family resides in Xenia, Ohio. 6 BA ’9 olan, N ) n n a Kauff m Ellen ( 1994 Jarrod Buffy, BS, and his wife Robin, a daughter, Braedyn Nikole, Feb. 22, 2008. The Buffy family resides in Waterville, Ohio. Patricia (Gingrich) Sweeney, BSPh, and her husband, Marc, BSPh ’93, a daughter, Anna Christine, Feb. 8, 2008. Anna joins siblings Rachel and Benjamin. The Sweeney family resides in Xenia, Ohio. Michael Luxeder, BSBA, and his wife, Celeste (Urbanski), BSPh ’96, a son, Dixon James, Oct. 20, 2008. Dixon joins siblings, Molly, Alex and Thomas. The Luxeder family resides in Aurora, Ohio. Kimberly (Dickinson) Aldrich, JD, and her husband, Charles, JD ’96, a daughter, Delaney Brooke, July 15, 2008. Delaney joins siblings Nicholas, Andrew and Lindsey. The Aldrich family resides in Asheboro, N.C. Gregory Marcussen, BSME, and his wife, Mausicha (Frazee), BS ’93, a son, Winston Maurice, Mar. 16, 2009. Winston joins brothers Benton, Corbin and Nolan. The Marcussen family resides in New Albany, Ohio. Matthew Loeffler, BSCE, and his wife, Felicia, adopted John Ping from the Jiangxi Province of China. John joins sister Sadie. The Loeffler family resides in Fairfield, Ohio. Vernon Neeley, BM, and his wife, Tara (Findley), BM ’07, a son Miles Parker, April 17, 2009. The Neeley family resides in Defiance, Ohio. Marc Sweeney, BSPh, and his wife, Patricia (Gingrich), BSPh ’94, a daughter, Anna Christine, Feb. 8, 2008. Anna joins anie teph and S , 2 0 ’ ’03 s, BS s, BS Charle David Lesco) Charle ( Kristy (Laytart) Schweingruber, BA, and her husband, Doug, a daughter, Addison Nicole, May 5, 2009. Addison joins sisters Mikayla and Jordan. The Schweingruber family resides in Bluffton, Ohio. Brooke, July 15, 2008. Delaney joins siblings Nicholas, Andrew and Lindsey. The Aldrich family resides in Asheboro, N.C. Regina (Fairchild) Beagle, BSPh, and her husband, Michael, a son, Luke Michael, Aug. 19, 2008. The Beagle family resides in Blissfield, Mich. Heidi (Woeblenberg) Chow, BSPh, and her husband, Michael, BSEE ’92, a daughter, Eleanor Long-Mei, March 5, 2009. Eleanor joins big sister, Lillian, 3. The Chow family resides in Worthington, Ohio. Stacie (Bell) Copeland, BSPh, and her husband, Darby, a daughter, Katie Lynn, Mar. 9, 2009. The Copeland family resides in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Steven Fisher, BFA, and his wife, Holly, a son, Steven Douglas, July 24, 2009. The Fisher family resides in Ada, Ohio. Shawn Johnston, BSBA, and his wife, Janae, a son, Ty Allen, Mar. 17, 2008. Ty joins brother Trey. The Johnston family resides in Baltimore, Ohio. Celeste (Urbanski) Luxeder, BSPh, and her husband, Michael, BSBA ’93, a son, Dixon James, Oct. 20, 2008. Dixon joins siblings Molly, Alex and Thomas. The Luxeder family resides in Aurora, Ohio. Charles Aldrich, JD, and his wife, Kimberly (Dickinson), JD ’95, a daughter, Delaney Season Cole, BS ’00 ’07 armD an, Ph m h t e )R (Geise Sarah Christopher McDaniel, BSEE ’02, and Melissa (Zambrzycki) McDaniel, BSP h ’04 Kevin St auff er, BA ’ 06, and Kristin (Decker) Stauff er, BS ’07 Lisa (Pelter) Goldfuss, BSPh ’ 98 e Nicol d n a S ’02, ove, B 2 L m a Ad , BS ’0 e v o L ) (Clark Alicia (Fehrman) McKee, BSEd, and her husband, James, a son, Maxton Davis, May 28, 2009. Max joins Ellery, 7, and Jackson, 4. The McKee family resides in Willard, Ohio. Ellen (Kaufmann) Nolan, BA, and her husband, Joshua, a daughter, Nora May, Jan. 21, 2009. The Nolan family resides in Medina, Ohio. 1998 Jessica (Brown) Back, BS, and her husband, Dwayne, BS ’97, a son, Clay Jacob, Dec. 21, 2008. Clay joins sister Grace, 6. The Back family resides in Clawson, Mich. Edward “E.J.” Stoepfel, BS, and his wife Toni, a son, William Daniel, Jan. 23, 2007. Will joins sister, Hannah. The Stoepfel family resides in Zanesville, Ohio. David Billiter, BA, and his wife, Tara (Kingsley), BA, a son and daughter, twins Brody David and Peyton Lynne, April 7, 2009. Brody and Peyton join sister Morgan. The Billiter family resides in Lewis Center, Ohio. 1997 Dwayne Back, BS, and his wife, Jessica (Brown), BS ’98, a son, Clay Jacob, Dec. 21, 2008. Clay joins sister Grace, 6. The Back family resides in Clawson, Mich. Jennifer (Hines) Bryant, BSPh, and her husband, Rodney, a daughter, Alexandra Leona Oct. 23, 2008. Alexandra joins brother, Walker James. The Bryant family resides in Chester Springs, Pa. Nicole (Lynch) Clinton, JD, and her husband, Patrick, JD ’98, a son, Jack Edmund, May 3, 2008. The Clinton family resides in Silver Spring, Md. Emily. The Goldfuss family resides in Nevada, Ohio, and they can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org Pamela (Spear) Scholp, BSEd, and her husband, Christopher, BSME ’97, a daughter, Caroline Nicole, Nov. 1, 2008. Caroline joins brother Ethan. The Scholp family resides in Dayton, Ohio. Jennifer (Fazio) Campbell, BA, and her husband, Bill, a son, Colin Thomas, Dec. 19, 2008. Colin joins sister Maggie. The family reside in Raleigh, N.C. Patrick Clinton, JD, and his wife, Nicole (Lynch), JD, a son, Jack Edmund, May 3, 2008. The Clinton family resides in Silver Spring, Md. Christopher Ensley, BSPh, and his husband, Melanie (Parke), PharmD ’00, a son Chase Matthew, Nov. 11, 2008. Chase joins brother Owen. The Ensley family resides in Canton, Ohio. Bracken Foster, BA ’98, and his wife, Kimberly (Brewer), BFA ’01, a daughter, Lucy Ann, July 15, 2009. Lucy joins siblings Ellie and Ethan. The Foster family resides in McConnelsville, Ohio. Leslie (Ison) Myles, BA, and her husband, Pierre, a daughter, Olivia, Mar. 25, 2009. The family resides in 44 Commercial Pt, Ohio. Lisa (Pelter) Goldfuss, BSPh, and her husband, Charles, a son, Noah Thomas, Feb. 22, 2009. Noah joins siblings Tyler and nifer d Jen 2, an 0 ’ A 02 ’ n, BSB BSBA ahlgre gren, l h a Eric D D ell) (Woodd Michelle (Woerther) Griffith, BSPh, and her husband, Daniel, a son, Joseph Michael, Jan. 30, 2009. He joins siblings Corey, Meghan, Emma and Dana. The Griffith family resides in Salem, Ohio. Jeffrey Krause, BSPh, and his wife Stephanie, a son, Cooper Lee, Nov. 28, 2008. The Krause family resides in Duncan Falls, Ohio. Gregory Paisley, BSPh, and his wife, Kimberly, a daughter, Madeline, Apr. 12, 2008. Madeline joins sister Emma. The Paisley family resides in Norwich, Ohio. James M. Wince, BA, and his wife, Anne, a daughter, Addison Caroline, Nov. 28, 2008. Addison joins sisters Alyssa, 7, and Kayla, 4. The family resides in Ada, Ohio. 1999 Keith Barhorst, BSME, and his wife, Dana (Nedderman), BSPh ’00, a daughter, Josie Danielle, June 16, 2009. Josie joins siblings Nolan, 7, Chloe, 5, and Allie, 2. The Barhorst family resides in New Bremen, Ohio. Sarah (Tallitsch) Jankovic, BSBA, and her husband, Thomas, a son, Lincoln Joseph, Sept. 9, 2008. The Jankovic family resides in North Ridgeville, Ohio. Tiffany (Coppler) Mitch, BSPh, and her husband, Todd, a son Carson McClellan, Nov. 4, 2008. The Mitch family resides in Hilliard, Ohio. Jody (Baxendell) Sprowls, BS, and her husband, Anthony, a son, Tristan Anthony, April 14, 2009. Tristan joins sister MacKenzie. The family resides in Prosperity, Pa. Jillian (Rapp) Subramaniam, BA, and her husband Ranjiv, BA ’00, a son Adam Robert, May 18, 2009. Adam joins sister Alana and brother Aaron. The Subramaniam family resides in Findlay, Ohio. Owen Turner, BA, and his wife Julie, a daughter, Alisa Bernadette, Oct. 20, 2008. Alisa joins siblings Olivia and Eli. The Turner family resides in Dulles, Va. Rachael (Wince) Underwood, BA, and her husband, Dwight, a son, Carson Raymond, July 3, 2009. The Underwood family resides in Kenton, Ohio. Mary (Stahl) Wendel, BA, and her husband, Mike, a daughter, Molly Katherine, Dec. 31, 2008. The family resides in Galloway, Ohio. Brian Pohl, BS, and his wife, Michelle, a son, Madden Marcus, Mar. 27, 2009. The Pohl family resides in Fort Collins, Colo. Lisa (Shaffer) Ponziani, BA, and her husband, Anthony, a daughter, Lydia Ann, Oct. 22, 2008 joins brother Joey, 5, and sister Jillian, 3. The family resides in Columbus, Ohio. Christopher Scholp, BSME, and his wife, Pamela (Spear), BSEd ’96, a daughter, Caroline Nicole, Nov. 1, 2008. Caroline joins brother Ethan. The Scholp family resides in Dayton, Ohio. ’04 sh, BA lbis) Ru u G ( a r and Sa mD ’05, sh, Phar u R l e a h Mic Jason H ermiller, B SME ’02, and Je (Brown) ssica Hermiller, BSP h ’02 Stacie (Bell) Copeland, BSPh ’96 Patrick C linton, JD ’ 98, and Nicole (Lynch) C linton, JD ’99 ’05 aran, BA h a G c M ) Erin (Miller Daphne (Woestendiek) Yost, BA, and her husband, Matthew, a son, James, June 26, 2009. James joins brother Joseph. The Yost family resides in Gahanna, Ohio. 2000 Dana (Nedderman) Barhorst, BSPh, and her husband Keith, BSME ’99, a daughter, Josie Danielle, June 16, 2009. Josie joins siblings Nolan, 7, Chloe, 5, and Allie, 2. The Barhorst family resides in New Bremen, Ohio. Katrina (Allen) Burnett, BA, and her husband, Alexander, a son, Braden Alexander, Dec. 30, 2008. The Burnett family resides in Galloway, Ohio. Season Cole, BS, a son, Harvey David, April 15, 2009. She resides in Missoula, Mont. Darren Drew, PharmD, and his wife, Stephanie (Jackson), BA ’00, a son, Jackson Douglas, June 19, 2009. The Drew family resides in Concord, N.C. Melanie (Parke) Ensley, PharmD, and her husband, Christopher, BSPh, ’97, a son, Chase Matthew, Nov. 11, 2008. Chase joins brother, Owen. The Ensley family resides in Canton, Ohio. Robert Kramer, BS, and Tabatha (Neidenbach), BSPh, a son, Tyler, Jan. 6, 2009. Tyler joins brother Brandon. The Kramer family resides in Powell, Ohio. Kelly (Kemski) Miller, BSPh, and her husband, Matt, a daughter, Rylee Morgan, Aug. 14, 2009. The Miller family resides in Davidson, N.C. , rmD ’00 rew, Pha Darren D anie (Jackson) h and Step , BA ’00 Drew and S ’03, A ’01 B , e l g le, B el Sla Micha Moore) Slag ( Heather Danielle (Goenner) Spencer, BS, and her husband, Mark, a son, Mason David, Mar. 23, 2009. Mason joins brother, Drew, 3, and sister, Hailey, 1. The family resides in New Carlisle, Ohio. Ranjiv Subramaniam, BA, and his wife, Jillian (Rapp), BA ’99, a son Adam Robert, May 18, 2009. Adam joins sister Alana and brother Aaron. The Subramaniam family resides in Findlay, Ohio. 2001 Tracy (Coxson) Carothers, PharmD, and her husband, Chad, a daughter, Madison Ann, Jan. 4, 2008. The Carothers family resides in Greenville, Pa. Gary Davisson, PharmD, and his wife, Lisa, a daughter, Anna Kathleen, Nov. 6, 2008. Anna joins brothers Nathan, 6 and Justin, 4. The Davisson family resides in Elida, Ohio. Kathryn (Beall) Eyster, JD, and her husband, Gordon, JD ’01, a son, Henry Maxwell, April 10, 2009. Max joins brother Nic. The Eyster family resides in Shelby, Ohio. Kimberly (Brewer) Foster, BFA, and her husband, Bracken, BA ’98, a daughter, Lucy Ann, July 15, 2009. Lucy joins siblings Ellie and Ethan. The Foster family resides in McConnelsville, Ohio. Michelle (Morman) Ellerbrock, Pharm D ’02 Terri (Cannon) Kohlrieser, JD, and her husband, Todd, JD ’02, a daughter, Abigail. Abigail joins brother, Jackson. The Kohlrieser family resides in Lima, Ohio. Don Morrow, BSPh, and his wife, Bridget (Krupp), BSPh ’02, a son, Brody James, May 5, 2009. The Morrow family resides in Vermilion, Ohio, and they can be reached at db-morrow@ hotmail.com Ellen (Bolan der) Booker, BSBA ’91 Jamie (Liszka) Pope, PharmD, and her husband, Scott, PharmD ’01, a daughter, Zofia Marie, April 23, 2009. The Pope family resides in Charlotte, N.C. Christopher Roscoe, BSME, and his wife, Jaclyn, a daughter, Madelyn Elaine, May 7, 2009. Madelyn joins brother Nolan. The Roscoe family resides in Lewis Center, Ohio. Heather (Moore) Slagle, BA, and her husband, Michael, BS ’03, a son, Jackson Dean, Aug. 17, 2008. The Slagle family resides Marysville, Ohio. dget d Bri n a , 1 ’0 h ’02 , BSPh orrow orrow, BSP M d l a Don (Krupp) M 2002 Shanna (Stombaugh) Barhorst, BSPh, and her husband, Adam, a daughter, Layton Elizabeth, April 1, 2009. Layton joins sister Marlie Danielle. The Barhorst family resides in Anna, Ohio. Chri stop her R osco e, BS ME ’0 1 Grandchild of Robert Irvin, BSEd ’52, H of F ’0 6 David Charles, BS, and his wife, Stephanie (Lesco), BS ’03, twin boys, Cole Stefen and Cael David, July 29, 2008. Cole and Cael join sisters Alexandra and Adrianna. The Charles family resides in Amherst, Ohio. Eric Dahlgren, BSBA, and his wife, Jennifer (Wooddell), BSBA ’02, a daughter, Lauren Kay, May 14, 2009. The Dahlgren family resides in Delaware, Ohio. Jon Dean, BSCE, and his wife, Crystal, a daughter, Madelyn Grace, Feb. 9, 2009. The Dean family resides in Columbus, Ohio. Michelle (Morman) Ellerbrock, PharmD, and her husband, Ryan, triplets, Collin, Claire and Carly, Oct. 8, 2008. Collin, Claire and Carly join brother Ethan. The Ellerbrock family resides in Ottawa, Ohio. Jason Hermiller, BSME, and his wife, Jessica (Brown), BSPh, a son, Reuben Michael, Oct. 14, 2008. Reuben joins sister Stella. The Hermiller family resides in Middletown, Ohio. Joseph Hodgin, JD, and his wife Tracy, a daughter, Kaitlyn. The Hodgin family resides in Greenville, N.C. Todd Kohlrieser, JD, and his wife, Terri (Cannon), JD ’01, a daughter, Abigail. Abigail joins brother Jackson. The Kohlrieser family resides in Lima, Ohio. Adam Love, BS, and his wife, Nicole (Clark), BS, a daughter, Lillian Marie, June 18, 2009. Lillian joins brothers Austin and Dylan. The Love family resides in Delaware, Ohio. Christopher McDaniel, BSEE, and his wife, Melissa (Zambrzycki), BSPh ’04, a daughter, Virginia Grace, June 8, 2008. Virginia joins brother Isaiah. The McDaniel family resides in McArthur, Ohio. Ryan Moran, BA, and his wife, Sarah, a son, Rylan Kade, April 22, 2009. The Moran family resides in Westerville, Ohio. Bridget (Krupp) Morrow, BSPh, and her husband, Don, BSPh ’01, a son, Brody James, May 5, 2009. The Morrow family resides in Vermilion, Ohio, and they can be reached at email@example.com Jennifer (Bichsel) Ruhlen, BM, and her husband, William, BM ’02, a son, Parker Jeffery, April 13, 2009. The family resides in Marysville, Ohio. Nicolette (Ryan) Winner, BA, and her husband, Adam, a son, Grady 46 William, Aug. 14, 2009. The Winner family resides in Troy, Ohio. 2003 Jason Bandy, BSEE, BSCPE, and his wife Beth (Lee), BSCE, ’04, a son Barrett, 1.5, and a daughter, Stella, 3. The Bandy family resides in Bolivar, Ohio. Stephanie (Lesco) Charles, BS, and her husband, David, BS ’02, twin boys, Cole Stefen and Cael David, July 29, 2008. Cole and Cael join sisters Alexandra and Adrianna. The Charles family resides in Amherst, Ohio. Jonathan Ellegood, BA, and his wife, Jennifer (Spencer), BS ’03, a son, Caleb Joshua, June 1, 2009. The Ellegood family resides in Tecumseh, Mich. Michael Slagle, BS, and his wife, Heather (Moore), BA ’01, a son, Jackson Dean, Aug. 17, 2008. The Slagle family resides in Marysville, Ohio. 2004 Beth (Lee) Bandy, BSCE, and her husband, Jason, BSEE ’03, BSCPE ’03, a son Barrett, 1.5, and a daughter, Stella, 3. The Bandy family resides in Bolivar, Ohio. Michae l Chow, BSEE ’92 (Woeb , and Heidi kenber g) Chow , BSPh ’96 Amber (Wells) Del Vesco, ’00 SPh B , PharmD, and her r e ill ski) M husband, Joshua, (Kem y l l e a daughter, K Alexandria Nicole, 6 Ph ’9 July 2008. The Del e, BS l g a e Vesco family resides in Galena, Ohio. ild) B (Fairch Regina Carrie (Nicholas) Drees, BA, and her husband, Scott, a son, Nathaniel, Aug. 4, 2008. The Drees family resides in Versailles, Ohio. Cherie Grant, BA, and her husband, Jeffery Smith, a daughter, Jordan Lynn, Aug. 20, 2008. The family resides in Center Hill, Fla. Jeanine (Arnold) Lewis, BA, and her husband, Mark, a son, Dylan Jeffrey, Dec. 28, 2008. The Lewis family resides in Lima, Ohio. Jeffrey Mangas, BS, and his wife, Lindsay (Hanke), BS ’04, a daughter, Alivia Carroll Nov. 2, 2008. Alivia joins sister Addison Estelle. The Mangas family resides in Blacklick, Ohio. Melissa (Zambrzycki) McDaniel, BSPh, and her husband, Christopher, BSEE ’02, a daughter, Virginia Grace, June 8, 2008. Virginia joins brother Isaiah. The McDaniel family resides in McArthur, Ohio. Sara (Gulbis) Rush, BA, and her husband, Michael, PharmD ’05, a son, Jacob Edward, Feb. 5, 2009. The Rush family resides in Ada, Ohio. Elizabeth (Stierwalt) Seibert, PharmD, and her husband, Kevin, a daughter, Tessa Catherine, Aug. 8, 2008. Tessa joins siblings Natalie Celeste and Oliver Myles. The Seibert family resides in Archbold, Ohio. Thomas Turney, BSME, and his wife, Jo (Howell), BA ’04, a son, Miles Robert, Nov. 18, 2007. The Turney family resides in Akron, Ohio. 2005 Christina (Freeman) Leland, BS, and Bryan, PharmD ’07, a daughter, Abigail, June 6, 2008. Abigail joins brother Braeden. The Leland family resides in West Chester, Ohio. gsley) nd Tara (Kin David Billiter, BA ’98, a Billiter, BA ’98 Erin (Miller) McGaharan, BA, and her husband, Jason, a son, Brady William, July 31, 2009. The McGaharan family resides in Piqua, Ohio. Kristin (Maneely) Rozek, BA, and her husband, Justin, a son, Griffin Robert, Aug. 15, 2009. The Rozek family resides in Sylvania, Ohio. Michael Rush, PharmD, and Sara (Gulbis), BA ’04, a son, Jacob Edward, Feb. 5, 2009. The Rush family resides in Ada, Ohio. Megan (Johnston) Shawver, BA, and her husband, Alan, a daughter, Sophia Loraine, May 13, 2009. Sophia joins sister Olivia. The Shawver family resides in Valdosta, Ga. Joshua Wolf, PharmD, and his wife, Margaret (Schodowski), PharmD ’06, a son, Benjamin Matthew, June 18, 2009. The Wolf family resides in Ozark, Mo. Robert Kramer, BS ’00, an (Neide d Tabatha nbach) Karamer, B SPh ’00 Bryan Leland, PharmD, and his wife, Christina (Freeman), BS ’05, a daughter, Abigail, June 6, 2008. Abigail joins brother Braeden. The Leland family resides in West Chester, Ohio. Sarah (Burley) Boone, PharmD, and her husband, Ken, a son, Derek Arthur, April 20, 2009. Derek joins sister, Leta. The Boone family resides in Oberlin, Ohio. Tara (Findley) Neeley, BM, and her husband, Vernon, BM ’93, a son Miles Parker, April 17, 2009. The Neeley family resides in Defiance, Ohio. Kevin Stauffer, BA, and his wife, Kristin (Decker) BS ’07, a son, Tyler Duane, Feb. 10, 2008. The Stauffer family resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sarah (Geise) Rethman, PharmD, and her husband, Matt, a son, William “Will” John, Aug. 27, 2009. The Rethman family resides in Fort Loramie, Ohio. Margaret (Schodowski) Wolf, PharmD, and her husband, Joshua, PharmD ’05, a son, Benjamin Matthew, June 18, 2009. The Wolf family resides in Ozark, Mo. Kristin (Decker) Stauffer, BS, and her husband, Kevin, BA ’06, a son, Tyler Duane, Feb. 10, 2008. The Stauffer family resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Greg Badenhop, BSBA, and his wife, Karlee (Kanuckel), BSBA, a son, Isaiah, June 30, 2009. The Badenhop family resides in Laramie, Wyo. Shawn Richter, JD, and his wife, Atlantis, a daughter, Annabelle Lucia, Nov. 23, 2008. The family resides in Franklin, Ind. In Memoriam Friends Warren J. Amstutz, Bluffton, Ohio, May 23, 2009. Kathryn M. Bauknecht, Cleveland, Ohio, March 15, 2009. She served as an officer during World War II and worked for the United States government as a chemist. After serving her country, Kathryn was a technical editor for NASA in Cleveland. She was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Bauknecht, LLB ’22, LLD ’79. James R. Condon, Lakeview, Ohio, April 24, 2009. James worked as a custodian at Ohio Northern before his retirement in 2003. James was active in the Lakeview Eagles Aerie 3615 and Moose Lodge 1533 and was an avid Ohio State University fan. He was survived by family and friends. Leah L. Cooper, Akron, Ohio, March 9, 2008. Throughout her career, Leah served as a nurse at City Hospital. She was a member of Firestone Park Presbyterian Church and the Alumni Association of Isabel Firestone School of Nursing. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Cooper, BSPh ’54. Ruth N. Holtzapple, Elida, Ohio, July 18, 2006. She was an active member of her church and was an elementary school teacher for Elida Schools. She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Holtzapple. Dorothea M. (Nihiser) Peltier, Delphos, Ohio, Dec. 1, 2008. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie Peltier. Marcia B. Potter, Wallingford, Conn., Jan. 22, 2006. Marcia received her master’s degree in education and, upon graduation from Eastern Connecticut University, she taught in several school systems throughout the country. She is survived by her husband Edward Potter, BSME ’47, three children, three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Max F. Porter, Mount Sterling, Ohio, Nov. 22, 2005. Max was a licensed funeral director and embalmer for more than 50 years. He established the Porter Funeral Home in 1968. He is survived by his wife, Mary Porter. Audrey J. Sammetinger, Centerburg, Ohio, June 7, 2009. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Audrey served her country from 1944-46. She dedicated her life to volunteer work in the community. She was a board member for the Knox County Public Library and active in the March of Dimes, Knox County Humane Society and The American Red Cross. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll E. Sammetinger, JD ’49. Georgia P. (Lianos) Schoenberger, Sandusky, Ohio, May 24, 2009. Georgia attended Ohio Northern and Bowling Green Normal School. She was an active member of her community. She is survived by her husband, Loren Schoenberger, BA ’47, JD ’49. Ruth (Barlow) Shult, Seattle, Wash., April 19, 2009. Ruth worked as an assistant professor and lecturer in English at Heidelberg College, Ohio Northern University and Ohio State University. She was a passionate and popular teacher loved by her students. She is survived by her husband, Donald. Virginia E. (Fisher) White, Lima, Ohio, Sept. 8, 2009. Virginia taught school for 34 years. She taught at Lima Senior High School, Central Junior High School, Elida Schools, Bluffton College, and Ohio Northern University. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter White, BA ’41, JD ’48, A CIT ’94, LLD ’00. Ethel M. (Kauble) Johnson, AA, Wharton, Ohio, July 29, 2009. She was an active member of her church and was a member of the Wyandot County Retired Teachers Association and the Mt. Blanchard Senior Citizens. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ordell. Alyce W. Jenkins, AA, Lima, Ohio, April 25, 2009. After graduating from ONU, Alyce enjoyed a long teaching career, the majority of which was spent at Roosevelt School. She is survived by family and friends. Norma C. (Strahm) Mawhorter, BA, Toledo, Ohio, June 8, 2009. During her career she taught at a local Toledo high school and coached their basketball team. She was a caseworker for the Lucas County Welfare Department and eventually became the director of Social Service Department at William Roche Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, William. Edna P. (Smith) Branstetter, AA, Spencerville, Ohio, July 22, 2009. Edna was a teacher in both the Spencerville and Lima school systems. She was a member of the Spencerville United Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene, BA ’27. Frances D. (Bauer) Melvin, AA, Hamersville, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1995. Thelma J. (Watkins) Harris, AA, Dade City, Fla., Sept. 18, 2009. She retired as an elementary school teacher from the Wellington and Bay Village, Ohio, areas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter. Gladys I. (Huey) Moze, AA, Port Charlotte, Fla., May 4, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband, William. Eloise (Lugibill) Balmer, AA, Onekama, Mich., Nov. 30, 2007. Ralph O. Borland, BSEd, Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 28, 2009. Ralph was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He retired from the WrightPatterson Air Force Base Strategic Command. He was preceded in death by both his first and second wives, Maxine and Edie. Jack S. Reddick, BSCHE, Blacklick, Ohio, Oct. 9, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carmen. Eleanor R. Baum, BA, Lima, Ohio, July 5, 2008. Eleanor R. Baum, BSEd, Lima, Ohio, July 5, 2008. Claire E. Wible, BA, Dunedin, Fla., Jan. 7, 2009. Leroy “Bud” A. Keel, BA, BSBA, Findlay, Ohio, June 7, 2009. Bud retired from the Marathon Oil Company in the auditing and accounting department. While at ONU he was a member of the Phi Mu Delta fraternity. He was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from ONU in 1986. He was preceded in death by his wife, Verna. Emerson L. Finke, BSPh, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 22, 2009. Emerson was a World War II veteran. He owned and operated the Finke Pharmacy in Oak Harbor from 1951-83. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor. Earl M. Robinson, BA, Enid, Okla., March 4, 2009. Earl was a physician and surgeon; he was the chief of staff at several hospitals. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda “Cassie” Robinson. Jane W. (Weaver) Pease, BSEd, Tiffin, Ohio, Dec. 30, 2008. She taught at East Junior High from 1960 until 1992 when she retired. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert C. Pease. George D. Sauer, JD, Marietta, Ohio, July 10, 2009. George served as a counter intelligence agent for the U.S. Army during World War II. After defending his country, George opened a law practice in Columbus. In 1949, he moved back to Marietta, where he established a private law practice. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth. He is survived by his children and grandchildren. Vernon L. Young, JD, Seaman, Ohio, Dec. 29, 2008. Vernon was a lawyer for Young and Caldwell and a member of the Ohio State Bar Association. He was also a lifetime member of the Republican Presidential Task Force. He is survived by his wife, Eileen. Glen Hover, BSPh, Findlay, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2009. Glen was a World War II veteran. He was the former owner of the Night and Day Laundry and was a projectionist for several local theaters. He is survived by his wife, Lavera. Ruth P. (Byerly) Huber, BA, Bluffton, Ohio, June 18, 2009. Ruth had a very fulfilling career. She used her nursing degree from ONU to help many during the war. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald. Albert J. Nave, BA, Phoenix, Ariz., April 11, 2009. Albert was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He served as a pilot for the U.S. Air Force during World War II. After serving his country, Albert went on to become a CPA and partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, and is survived by his three children, six grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Robert L. Purdy, BA, Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 13, 2008. A World War II veteran, Robert was the director of athletics for the Berea City Schools and held positions with the Athletic Director Association. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy. Fred A. Wilcox, BSME, Fairview Park, Ohio, June 29, 2009. After 47 earning his degree, Fred worked as an engineer at NACA-NASA Lewis for more than three decades. He is survived by family and friends. Lois L. (Perry) Kaylor, BSEd, Wilmington, Del., Nov. 26, 2008. Mary A. (Dumond) Palmer, BA, Cottonwood, Ariz., Dec. 31, 1997. Marilyn P. (Purtell) Amstutz, BSEd, Lima, Ohio, April 9, 2009. Marilyn served the Lima area as a teacher for 34 years. She is survived by her husband, Wendell. Robert “Bob” Q. Dixon, BA, Caledonia, Ohio, March 24, 2009. Bob was a United States Air Force veteran. During his career, he had several businesses in the Marion area. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara. Fred H. Howard, BSEd, Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 14, 2005. Fred was the recipient of a Purple Heart and served in the U.S. Army. He retired from Columbus Public Schools, where he taught. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cleora. Robert C. Smith, BSPh, Uhrichsville, Ohio, April 3, 2009. Robert was a U.S. Army veteran and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1946. After his time in the service, he worked for a number of pharmaceutical businesses. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie. James L. Watson, BSPh, Lodi, Ohio, Jan. 13, 2000. Stanley Weller, BSEd, Lima, Ohio, June 29, 2009. Stanley graduated from Ohio Northern on the G.I. Bill after serving in World War II. After receiving his degree, he taught in the Cridersville School District, Shawnee Local Schools and Bluffton Local Schools before retiring from Lima City Schools. Stanley received his master’s degree in education from Miami (Ohio) University. In his retirement, Stanley was active in his church ministry and chaperoned many youth missionary trips. He donated over 3,000 hours of time to Lima Memorial Hospital. Stanley is survived by family and friends and was preceded in death by his wife, Betty. Robert M. Whitaker, BSPh, Delaware, Ohio, Nov. 13, 2008. Robert was a pharmacist for 50 years and owner Whitaker 48 Pharmacy in Delaware. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Jane, and is survived by two daughters and three grandchildren. Clyde E. Bennet, BSEE, Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 19, 2009. After graduating from ONU, Clyde began his professional career in the insurance industry. He was an active member of the Redford Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and an elder. He is survived by his wife, Martha. Walter F. Hunt, JD, Sylvania, Ohio, March 14, 2009. Walter was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He worked his way up in his railroad career, beginning as a claim agent with the Nickel Plate Railroad in 1950 to the president of Toledo Terminal Railroad by 1983. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred. Floyd E. Roush, BA, Lima, Ohio, Sept. 2, 2009. Floyd was an internal revenue agent and an organized crime detail agent for the U.S. Treasury Department. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary. Cray G. Witt, BSEE, McKeesport, Pa., April 8, 2009. Cray was a World War II veteran. During his time at ONU, he was a member of the ONU Chorus. Throughout his career, he worked for several computer companies, including IBM. He is survived by his wife, Wanda. Joseph R. Bryan, LLB, Canfield, Ohio, Feb. 8, 2009. Joseph worked in many different aspects of law throughout his career, including private practice, the Marine Corps legal office and Mahoning County. He was honored with many law awards throughout his lifetime. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean. Paul R. Cook, BSPh, Findlay, Ohio, Sept. 30, 2009. During his career, Paul worked for B&G Drugstore and eventually became the sole owner. He also opened a drug store in McComb, Ohio. He retired from both in 1997. He is survived by his wife, Margaret. James A. Keller, BSEE, San Diego, Calif., May 1, 2009. James was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked as an engineer for the California Highway Department until his retirement. After his retirement, he moved to Ohio where he became the Van Wert County Engineer. He is survived by his wife, Helen. Amanda (Page) Maxwell, BA, Columbus, Ohio, May 29, 2009. Amanda led a devoted life to public service as she held positions with the Clerk of Courts Whitehall, Legal Secretary Columbus City Attorney and Planner Columbus Department of Development. She was active in the Whitehall Eastern Stars, Guardian Job’s Daughters #57, American Business Women’s Association Flambeau, Professional Legal Secretary’s Association, Pregnancy Decision Health Centers, Daughters of the American Revolution and Bible Study Fellowship. She is survived by her daughter, four sons and 20 grandchildren. James Maxwell, LLB, Columbus, Ohio, March 12, 2008. James served in World War II and risked his life in the D-Day Invasion on Omaha Beach, Normandy. Upon returning home, he earned a law degree and became a city attorney and lawyer as part of the Columbus bar. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis. Leonard Scharfeld, JD, Cleveland, Ohio, area, January 5, 2009. Devoted father to his two children and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lenore. Berniece (Fox) Wilcox, AA ’51, Columbus, Ohio, March 9, 2000. Dale G. Hildebrand, JD, Mount Gilead, Ohio, March 31, 2009. Dale was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II. During his time at ONU, he was involved with the Phi Mu Delta fraternity. He opened his own law practice in 1952 in Mount Gilead and served there until the time of his death. He served in the State House of Representatives for four terms from 1957-65. His wife, Doris, survives him. Robert D. Lehman, BSPh, Rockmere, Pa., July 3, 2009. Robert owned a pharmacy in Chardon, Ohio, for 24 years before his retirement in 1982. He was active in his community and church. He and his wife, Sally, enjoyed traveling throughout the world. He is survived by family and friends. Victor Turf, JD, Santa Rosa, Calif., June 10, 2009. During his time at Northern, Victor was a member of the Student Bar Association Executive Board. Victor led a very active life and participated in many sports: flying, traveling, scuba diving and hiking. He is survived by his companion, Linda Spilman. John A. Clark, BSPh, Solon, Ohio, Jan. 3, 2009. John is a Marine Corps veteran. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy. Elwood D. Debraal, BA, Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 23, 2008. Elwood taught history for 28 years in Royal Oak, Mich. He is survived by family and friends. Mary W. (Webb) Krofft, BSEd, Ada, Ohio, April 21, 2009. Mary was a teacher at Harrod High School and Bath Elementary School. She retired from Ohio Northern after 25 years. She was a charter member of the Delta Zeta Sorority Alumni Association. She was preceded in death by her husband, William. Betty E. Stratton, BSEd, Las Vegas, Nev., March 24, 2009. Betty taught for 30 years in several school districts throughout Ohio. After her retirement in 1979, Betty and her husband moved to Florida but continued to travel and enjoy the country. Besides traveling, she loved music and dogs. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Stratton, BSEd ’53. Betty is survived by her children and grandchildren. Robert J. Baun, BSPh, Tucson, Ariz., May 1, 1988. Herbert A. Fouke, BSEE, Newark, Ohio, March 31, 2009. Herbert enjoyed a long career at Holophane Lighting Company until his retirement. He is survived by his wife, Marcia. Alvin J. Irons, BSME, Wilmington, DE, May 28, 2009. Alvin served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked for Hercules Incorporated until his retirement in 1991 as principal engineer. He is survived by his wife, Arlene. David E. Myers, BSPh, Carey, Ohio, Aug. 2, 2009. David was a committed pharmacist, a U.S. Navy veteran, and involved in his community and the Boy Scouts of America. While at ONU, he was active with the football team, Newman Club, Phi Kappa Theta and Student Senate. He is survived by his wife, Ellena (Lewis), BSEd ’57. James E. Henry, LLB, Worthington, Ohio, March 31, 2009. James was a U.S. Air Force veteran. James retired from the Association of Ohio Retail Merchants as vice president. He is survived by family and friends. Ramon “Ray” N. Moritz, BA, Lima, Ohio, July 20, 2009. Ray was a U.S. Navy veteran and a former youth sports coach and retired from the Ford Motor Company. While at Northern, he participated in the International Business Club and was on the track team. He is survived by his wife, Mary. Clayton C. Pepple Jr., BA, Carrollton, Ga., Aug. 25, 2005. Clayton retired from a career as an educator of 32 years. He is survived by his wife, Suzy. Eleanor L. (Pool) Franklin, BSEd, Cridersville, Ohio, March 25, 2009. Eleanor had a long career in education. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles. Marlin Rosencrans, BA, Ann Arbor, Mich., April 11, 2008. Marlin served in the Navy during the Korean War. He was a marketing director and handy man. He is survived by his partner, Virgie Shelton. Roger I. Andrews, BSEd, New Franklin, Ohio, March 31, 2009. He served for many years on the Akron Board of Education and taught physics at Kenmore High School for 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Madelon. David H. Arnott, BSPh, Akron, Ohio, Aug. 7, 2009. David was a dedicated pharmacist, husband and friend. While at ONU, David was a member of Delta Sigma Phi. He is survived by his wife, Janis. Charles W. Peckinpaugh, BSEd, Lima, Ohio, Jan. 19, 2001. Julia I. (Bankus) Baker, BSEd, Lima, Ohio, March 29, 2009. Mary L. (Schmuck) Kandel, BSPh, Canton, Ohio, Aug. 20, 2008. While at ONU, she was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. She was an active member of her community. She is survived by her husband, James. Arturo “Art” T. Presas, BSEd, Raleigh, N.C., May 18, 2009. Art worked for the Ohio Bureau of Employment Service and was appointed to deputy administrator of the State of Ohio. He also served as the national hispanic director for International Union of Operating Engineers. He was the owner of the A.J. and Associates consulting firm, He was preceded in death by his first wife, Emma Lou, and is survived by his second wife, Veronica. Ronald R. Prusha, BSPh, Chardon, Ohio, Sept. 20, 2008. While at Northern, Ronald was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He worked for Baker Drug in Willoughby until he purchased the store in 1979, changing the name to Prusha/ Es Willo Medical Pharmacy. He sold the pharmacy to Rite Aid in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Patricia. Howard S. Riley, BSEd, Piqua, Ohio, Jan. 2, 2009. Howard was a teacher, coach, and guidance counselor with the Fairlawn School District, Bradford Schools, and the Piqua City School District. He is survived by his wife, Gloria. Robert D. Sterling, BSEd, Brookville, Ohio, July 2, 2009. Robert retired from Wayne High School in 1994, where he taught science, coached football and track, and formed the first women’s cross country teams in the area. After retirement, he enjoyed playing his baritone sax in various bands. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne. William “Bill” E. Marley, BA, Pottstown, Pa., July 21, 2008. Bill served as a sales manager for Swan Corporation for 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Vicki. James C. Hardin, BSPh, Westerville, Ohio, August 15, 2009. Lavere M. (Oen) Lyons, BSEd, Lima, Ohio, March 31, 2009. Lavere taught in Cleveland, Lima and Spencerville, and she worked in offices and banks in multiple cities throughout her career. She was preceded in death by her husband, William. Charles “Chuck” R. McMasters, BSEd, LaFayette, Ohio, Dec. 19, 2006. During his time at Northern, Chuck was an NAIA AllAmerican. He was the head coach of the Ridgewood High School Football program and recently retired from the Ridgewood High School Athletic Department. He is survived by family and friends. John W. Kemper, BSEd, Minster, Ohio, Aug. 19, 2009. John served as a teacher in the Minster Local School System for 29 years. He is survived by his wife, Theresa. Robert M. Storch, BSPh, West New York, N.J., Feb. 11, 2009. While at Northern, Bob was a charter member and president of Theta Chi Fraternity. He was also a member of Phi Delta Chi professional fraternity. Bob was the recipient of ONU’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2003. He was also an occasional guest speaker for ONU’s senior pharmacy classes. Bob received his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1996. His pharmacy career took him all over the country, most recently as vice president of pharmacy and business development for Duane Reade Inc. in Manhattan. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Susan, a son, Alex of Los Angeles, Calif., and a daughter, Anna of Scottsdale, Ariz. His family has set up a memorial scholarship fund in his name with the Raabe College of Pharmacy. Kathryn O. Taylor, BSEd, West Liberty, Ohio, June 11, 2009. After earning an education degree from ONU, Kathryn became an elementary school teacher in the Benjamin Logan School District. She was active in the Harper Methodist Church, where she was a youth leader. She is survived by family and friends around the country. James E. Conley, BA, North Canton, Ohio, Nov. 20, 2004. During his time at ONU, James was involved in many different musical organizations. He continued this after graduation. He was involved in the choir at his church, the Boy Scouts and Mended Hearts Inc. He is survived by his wife, Karen (Delong), BSEd ’69. Robert J. Duffy, BA, Mansfield, Texas, July 13, 2009. Robert was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He was an auditor and audit manager for PRG and the Associates Auditing Firm. He also worked with the Arlington Independent School District and the Key Elementary Schools. He is survived by his wife, Gayle. Terry J. Leopard, BA, Ottawa, Ohio, Dec. 9, 2008. Terry was involved in many organizations in his community. He is survived by his wife, Janet. Ronald E. Pollitt, BA, Fontana, Wisc., Feb. 17, 2009. Joseph M. Burnett, BS, Wapakoneta, Ohio, June 12, 2009. Joseph was a retired EPA lab technician for the city of Wapakoneta. He is survived by his wife, Katherine. Raymond K. Esarey, BA, Winder, Ga., Dec. 7, 2008. Lafayette H. Mayfield, Hon. D., Cincinnati, Ohio, July 18, 2009. Rev. L.H. Mayfield left his legacy in the Cincinnati area and was influential in the community and churches. He especially had a heart for the poor. He is survived by his wife, Gladys. Gary L. Evans, BSEE, Everett, Wash., Nov. 6, 2008. Gary was an employee of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. and had an opportunity to work on the 787 Dream Line. Gary is survived by family and friends. Gerald A. Burks, JD, Galveston, Texas, Aug. 21, 2009. After graduating from ONU, Gerald was admitted to the Ohio State Bar and the Texas State Bar. He also was admitted to practice law before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Throughout his life, he held an influential and successful career. He is survived by family and friends. Pamela R. (Motter) Greenway, JD, Columbus, Ohio, March 28, 2009. During her time at Northern, she served as the editor of the Law Review. She had a successful career and is survived by her husband, Glynn. Duk W. Hwang, BSPh, La Canada, Calif., Jan. 18, 2009. Duk is survived by his wife, Nancy (Byunghwa) Hwang, BSPh ’75. Richard P. Layman, BA, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, April 27, 2006. During his time at ONU, Richard was a member of Delta Mu Delta. He is survived by his wife, Margaret. Robert J. Ross, JD, Kokomo, Ind., Dec. 5, 2008. A retired U.S. Navy veteran, Robert was recently a production supervisor for Delphi. He is survived by family and friends. Richard W. Druckenbrod, BSPh, Durham, N.C., Nov. 26, 2008. He had a successful pharmacy career, including positions with the University of Pittsburgh and Campbell University Schools of Pharmacy. He is survived by his wife, Clarine. Thomas J. Fuller, BSPh, Vandalia, Ohio, May 1, 2009. Tom worked as a pharmacist for 25 years at the Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Linda, and children, Timothy and Lindsay. Richard M. Howell, JD, Greenville, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2009. Before graduating from ONU’s College of Law, Richard attended The Ohio State University. He is survived by his wife, Susan. Kenneth Yaussy, BA, Newton, N.C., Aug. 3, 2009. Kenneth was an active member in his community and church. He was an active participant on ONU’s campus during his time as a student. He was involved in Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Phi Eta Sigma, intramural sports and Beta Beta Beta. He is survived by his wife, Karyn. Tim J. Forsthoefel, BSPh, Pipersville, Pa., April 20, 2009. Tim was the national director of a division of Johnson & Johnson: Managed Markets for OrthoMcNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals. He is survived by his wife, Amanda. Robert “Bob” L. Cooper, BSPh, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 13, 2009. Bob passed away after suffering complications stemming from Leukemia. He went on to earn his doctorate in podiatry from the University of Toledo. Bob practiced medicine as a surgical partner in Cincinnati at the Centers for Foot & Ankle Care. Bob set a record that still stands at Northern, throwing for six interceptions in the 1981 Flash Ball Intramural Championship Game. Bob is survived by his wife, Margo. Deborah A. Wolf, BSPh, Gnadenhutten, Ohio, March 20, 2009. During her time at ONU, Deborah was a member of the Phi Betta Kappa ner Mary Ann Tur Mary Ann (Gardner) Turner, BSPh ’63, died at age 67 on Aug. 29, 2009, at her residence. She was born Nov. 8, 1941, in Lima, Ohio, to Burke and Margaret Baker Gardner, who preceded her in death. On Aug. 28, 1965, she married James E. Turner, BSPh ’63, ACIT ’00, who survives in Ada. Mary Ann was a pharmacist and coowner of Gardner’s Drug Store Inc. in Ada. She and James operated the store for 37 years, buying the business from Mary Ann’s father in 1969. Their business philosophy was to always take care of the customer, even if it meant waking up at 3 a.m. to fill an emergency prescription or making home deliveries to the elderly. The Turners provided internship opportunities for many ONU pharmacy students at their store. Mary Ann also was the director of the Ohio Northern honorary society. She is survived by family and friends. Casey A. Clines, JD, June 10, 2009, Ithaca, N.Y. Casey was employed at Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figer PLLC in Washington, D.C. He will be remembered for his brilliant mind and love of life. He is survived by family and friends throughout the country. Katherine M. (Gruszecki) Meyer, BSPh, Jan. 12, 2009, Hanoverton, Ohio. Katherine was a pharmacist for the Rite Aid pharmacies in the Alliance and Youngstown areas. She is survived by her husband, David. Douglas R. Wright, JD, Falmouth, Ky., June 8, 2009. Douglas taught as an adjunct instructor at Northern Kentucky University and Maysville Community College. On Aug. 13, 1988, he married Judy Walt, and together they established the law offices of Wright & Wright. He is survived by his wife, Judy (Walt), JD ’89. Keith L. Carlson, BSPh, Cridersville, Ohio, June 25, 2009. Keith was a pharmacist for St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima, Ohio. He excelled at his position and had a compassion for the people around him. He is survived by family and friends, including his wife, Tracy (Cohen), BSPh ’93. Boyd E. Graves, JD, Youngstown, Ohio, June 18, 2009. Dr. Graves was a human rights activist and HIV/AIDS advocate. He dedicated his life to research on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS, which earned him acclaim and praise from around the world. He is survived by family and friends. Paul Emery Lane, JD, Martinsburg, Pa., June 13, 2009. Paul was an attorney at the Law Office of Paul E. Lane Martinsburg. He is survived by family and friends. University Student Health Pharmacy for 28 years, filling prescriptions and instructing pharmacy students. “We enjoyed working with young people. It kept us young,” she once said about the couple’s connections to ONU pharmacy students. Mary Ann received a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from ONU and was a member of the Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, the Ohio Pharmacist Association and Rho Chi Honorary Pharmacy fraternity. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Ada and Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Put-in-Bay, Ohio. She also was a member of the Ada Quatre Club, a member of the Putin-Bay Yacht Club and a past president of its ladies auxiliary. Survivors also include a son, Eric Turner of Springfield, Ohio; two daughters, Deeann Beatty of Avon, Ohio, and Jill Fisher of Olmsted Falls, Ohio; and five grandchildren, Jack Beatty, Margaret Beatty, Katherine Beatty, Rylie Turner, Reese Turner and Holdan Turner. She was preceded in death by a brother, Thad Gardner. Freed Center for the Performing Arts Urinetown, the Toledo Symphony, Peking Acrobats, the International Play Festival, 42nd Street and more! Get your tickets online at www.freedcenter.com The Inn at Ohio Northern University Wine tasting with food pairing every month! A gift shop with distinctive items, Sunday brunch, deluxe accommodations, fine dining and a great destination. 419-772-2500 | www.theinnatonu.com • Information about alumni clubs: www.onu.edu/alumniclubs • ONU credit card – rewards you for supporting ONU 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Give back to give forward! Support The Campaign for Ohio Northern University’s Tomorrow! www.onu.edu/development | 419-772-2008 Campus Buildings: 1 Alumni House 2 Biggs Engineering Building 3 Burgett Pavilion 4 Business Services Building 5 Child Development Center 6 Commons Building 7 Counseling Center 8 Courtyard Apartments 9 Dial-Roberson Stadium 10 The Dicke House (President’s Home) 11 Dukes Memorial 12 Elzay Gallery of Art Polar Bear Way ONU Alumni License Plates are not sold on campus. Please contact your local BMV or go to www.oplates.com English Chapel Freed Center for the Performing Arts The Hakes-Pierstorf Family Pharmacy Education Center Heterick Memorial Hill Memorial The Inn at ONU James F. Dicke Hall Lehr Memorial Maintenance Facility Mathile Center for the Natural Sciences 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 McIntosh Center Meyer Hall of Science Multicultural Center Northern on Main Office of Career Services-Lehr Kennedy House ONU Sports Center/King Horn Physical Plant Grounds Dept. Physical Plant Offices Picnic Pavilion (Shelter House) Presser Hall Remington Walk Robertson-Evans Pharmacy Building 35 Science Annex 36 Student Health Center 37 Taft Memorial 38 Taggart Law Library 39 Tilton Hall of Law 40 Weber Hall (Admissions/ Financial Aid) 41 Wilson Art Building 42 WONB Radio Transmitter & Tower Student Housing: 43 5 University Parkway 44 Affinity Village Klingler Road (County Road 35) Fields and King-Horn Sports Center Dial-RobersonAthletic Stadium 28 Softball Field ONU Go Bears! See onusports.com for full schedule of winter and spring games. Wander Field ONU Soccer Field Football Practice Fields 47 52 48 55 51 Shop the ONU Bookstore www.onu.bncollege.com | 419-772-2410 T.J. Smull College of Engineering ONU welcomes Bob Peterson, BSME ’84, to campus on March 15 for the Spotts Lecture. Peterson is director and animator for Pixar (Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., Up). Raabe College of Pharmacy In February, the college will be featured in the Profile Series. The working title is “Effective Medication Management: How Pharmacists are Trained.” Check your cable listings for date and time or visit www.profileseries.com College of Law Coming up: Dean’s Lecture Series speaker (Feb. 24), Legal Scholar Days (Mar. 12, Mar. 26), Law Review Symposium (Mar. 19). www. law.onu.edu Union Street Lehr Ave Advisory services, career fairs, workshops and presentations. www.onu.edu/careers or 419-772-2145 Village of Ada Main Street (State Route 235) 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 Brookhart Hall Clark Hall Delta Sigma Phi Founders Hall Klondike’s Den Lakeview Lima Hall Maglott Hall Northern Commons Northern House Park Hall Phi Mu Delta Polar Place 58 59 60 61 62 Admissions – Weber Hall Did you know that children of alumni get an automatic discount of $7,500 when they attend ONU? There is also a new Out-of-State-Recognition Award. See more at www.onu.edu/admissions Roberts Hall Sigma Pi Stadium View Apartments Stambaugh Hall University Terrace Parking Lots: K 5UP n AF Affinity n Y Bear East n O Biggs n E Clark n n P Pharmacy n n X Dicke n n G Raabe n L Dukes n n I Freed n n S Stadium R Hill n B Stambaugh n J King Horn n n V Stadium View n A Lakeview n U University Inn M Lehr n C University Place n n n Q Lincoln n n n W Wander N Main n n F West Circle n n D McIntosh (Admissions and Financial Aid Parking) T Meyer East n H Meyer West n n South zone n West zone n East zone n Commuters n Faculty and staff Ohio Northern University Office of Alumni Affairs 525 South Main Street Ada, OH 45810 It’s something straight out of a storybook Soon after graduating from high school in the 1960s, James Cates, BA ’67, discovered that four mysterious benefactors had arranged for him to attend Ohio Northern University free of charge. The only caveats? Major in engineering and maintain a 3.0 GPA in each and every quarter. Today, Cates continues to return the favor, working closely with two California charities whose missions are to send high-potential, lowincome students to college. Looking back at his fairytale journey through college, Cates continues to exude a mixed sense of wonder and pride at his accomplishments at ONU. “I called myself a Cinderella student. You know how, at midnight in the story, everything would go away? To me, every quarter was a potential midnight!” Read more about Jim Cates and other stories that demonstrate the Giving Spirit, beginning on page 6.

Go with a Plinius SA-100 used or if you can a Plinius SA-102, sound great with B&W's 28 responses Add your response The Plinius is a nice choice. Still, even the older Used Threshold T200's are as good and stronger in the bass!...and overall strong enough at 100w even. The Pass X150 is also stellar. I'd chose these later over the Plinius in my experiences with 804's. A possible better choice for you however is TO NOT SELL YOUR AMP YET! If you picked up another excellent bass amp(like most any of Parasounds offerings, which have adjustable gain controls), you could use that on the bottom, and yours on top, and BI-AMP! This is a MUCH STRONGER combination and option. Before you go "ditchville" you might consider this. I would bi-amp those speakers, as it seems to be the way to go with them. I've bi-amped those speakers with dual Classe CA151's, and the sound was superb for the money! Actually, it'll save you money, and possibly improve on bass if you end up with, say a Parasound HCA1500 or 2200 driving the bass. The one thing the Parasound's do well is bass indeed! Hope this helps I also agree with wiggle -- If you like B & W Speakers, consider upgrading to the N803's or N802's. In my opinion, there is a big jump in quality from the 804's to the 803's, especially in the depth and tightness of the bass, but also in the overall coherency and sound-stage. And, it *would* be interesting to bi-amp, using solid state for the bottom end and tubes for mid-range up. Like to hear the results of that experiment. But first, I think I would upgrade the speaker before Check out the N803's before you try to solve the problem with the amp! Thx for all your ideas. I cannot put larger speakers in my room, so a couple of questions: Mrwigglerm, did you try other amps (ie more power, known for weight like Bryston, etc)and not get results? If anyone has used a REL sub, once you set it up, do you get consistent sound or do you have to keep adjusting it? Also, unfortunately, I don't have room to bi-amp. The 804s have two woofers in them. How much power do you need to drive them at the same levels as the mid/tweeter? Thanks for your help! I agree with others that bass on your N804's will always be limited. :( Still, a bigger amp or biamping can't hurt. I drive N803's with an (ancient) SAE s/s amp. 200wpc into 8 ohms rising to 300wpc into 4. The old thing has ample dynamics and virtually never clips. Whatever you pick, make sure its output increases significantly into more resistive loads. All the Nautilus are only nominally 8 ohm speakers. They can drop as low as 3, which puts a huge demand on the amplifier's current delivery. Amps do make a difference. I recently added Krell FPB 350 MCX monos to the front left and right and I was able to turn my subwoofer completely off. The Krells really filled out the bass, made it nice and tight, deep and detailed. Then again, my speakers had the capability for that kind of bass -- it just took the Krells to maximize them. I can highly recommend the Plinius -- I heard the combo of Plinius SA-250 and N804. That Plinius was getting everything out of those 804's and thensome. Jeff, I played around a bit with the B and W before I decided on a more neutral speaker. While the B and W series in general, and the 800's in particular deliver great musicality and detailed midrange - what is called the british sound - their low ends are invariably weak. I hope you get what you are looking for in an amp that tries to do what you are looking for, but my gut feel is you need a different speaker for depth and accuracy in the bass. Just my 2 cents - Thx, Arvindh Thanks for all the feedback. Actually, the weight or bass is great on some recordings, but a little week on others, so I'm not sure of a speaker problem for my tastes. I think I'm going to try a little harder driving amp, like the plinius, maybe classe, and maybe bryston. Anyone heard the 804s with a Bryston or Classe? I heard Classe with the CDM7's. Classe Yanked them around by the nose. I didn't see the need for dual bass drivers that the CDM 9's use. B&W was using Classe Omega's on their snail so maybe B&W likes the synergy. I disagree that B&W has "the British sound". Spendor, yes. BBC monitor's also. I don't think British sound means weak in the bass anyhow. Not if you compare B&W to Spendor. From what I've read, B&W made the Nautilus to be neutral and to be used in European homes with solid plaster walls. Sheetrock walls used in US looses bass. Sam Tellig was right IMHO that B&W bass is unbeatable. It is very accurate. Something you can't get with underdamped bass. But it tends to be quick with little overhang hence the feeling of little bass. B&W choose small excursion on the bass for better linearity/less distortion. Active speaker bass is better but for passive designs B&W is pretty good. Better to have too little up to just right bass vs. just right up to overbearing bass IMHO. Karls, I think, had an excellent post last year describing how a 6" bass driver cannot be effective over something like 75-80 dB. A larger or double 6" was good for 90 dB. I'm going by memory so don't quote me exactly. I didn't find Classe, Bryston, or Plinius (why do people recommend Plinius so much anyhow?) to be neutral. But that may not be your goal. Krell would be my first recommendation if you want more punch. The new A3.2cr also is more krell-like but tends to be bright. Sort of the smiley-face equalization. It may measure flat in M-F spec sheet but sure doesn't sound flat into real-world speaker load. Otherwise suggestion for a REL sub is excellent. B&W rolls off pretty evenly and a good sub up to 40 hz would help a lot. Also have you looked into putting speaker more into the corner? N804 has such wide dispersion you can put them 9-10 feet apart and stil not have center image breakup. Jeff, don't know if you're still amplifier shopping, but I just started feeding my N803's with a c-j MF2500A. Absolutely stunning results. We are immensely pleased because it does *exactly* what you said you wanted: musical bass with slam *and* control, very fast and detailed microdynamics. It also eliminated the last vestige of graininess from our system. Lousy digital recordings are still lousy recordings, but they're no longer painful. Dealer demo MF2500's go for about $2300 or you could get an MF2500 used for about $1500 and have c-j upgrade it to "A" status for another $500. Strongly recommended. Agree w/ all the people posting above because EACH one has recommended a power amplifier that is "brute" in terms of current sourcing/sinking capabilty. I own the 604S2 speakers from B&W & from my experience these speakers NEED a "brute" to power them. They "sing" when the volume is turned up a bit(evidence). So, whatever you choose make sure that it has lots of lower volume level current sourcing capability. You are probably not going to exceed 50W from the amp so make sure that it can source ample current at that lower level. Obviously to buy a "brute" with some finesse will cost you money! This, IMO, is WORTH it 'cuz the more clean your power amplification, the better the N804 is going to sound. If you satisfy these 2 criteria the N804 should sound very nice indeed (even tho I agree that you should have gotten the N803 or N802 right from the start! Budget is always a concern so just enjoy what you have). Give it lots of clean power & it will delight you w/ its sound. B&W uses 4th order x-over ckts & this screws up the impedance curve ruling out the littler amps. My 604S2 says 90dB SPL & I thought that this would require a decent amp but I found that I really need a very good amp! The 90dB SPL had me fooled! Agree with Cdc in that Plinius is not neutral to my ear - atleast not the SA-100 Mk3. The SA-102 might be better but I have not heard it. However, the SA-50 (50W/ch BUT class-A) might sound better than SA-100 Mk3. Some of the bigger Parasound amps can source large currents. Their Halo seems to be more refined & on A'gon they even seem to be reasonably priced used. No one has mentioned Pass Labs X series amps. They are expensive but the N804 will thank you. You got tons of good feedback. I have owned N805's, currently own N804's and am familiar with two more systems with N804's and N803's. With N8XX speakers, wimpy amps need not apply, period! Even the N805's that I used to own didn't wake up until I put a gutsy amplifier on them (a Krell). Also, go immediately to the Sound Anchor website. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Instead, spend $225 and get a pair of their dedicated speaker stands. I did. The other three guys that I know who own N804's and N803's heard mine and now have these stands. All four of us got a substantial improvement. Money very well spent! Best of luck and have fun. Unfortunately, there is no standard procedure to determine this! Nothing in the spec will show you this either! It will be determined by the listener him/herself. If the store you are auditioning the B&W has a number of amp brands try on the smaller ones & then some of the bigger ones. You will hear the sound diff. The bigger amps will lend more authority & weight to the sound + they will sound "right". All these terms are fuzzy & each person's ear is diff. so the definition of "authority", "right" is all subjective & I cannot exactly define these for you. I can tell you that the bigger amps sound much better w/ B&W. Sorry for such a non-commital answer! It's very subjective. I agree with Bombaywalla on Pass Labs amps. I had N802's and drove them with a Pass X250. It was a great match. I also had N804's prior to getting the N802's. I drove the N804's with a Krell FPB200 and a McCormack DNA2. I was never disappointed in the bass of these amps with the N804's, but the Pass X250/N802 combo was very special from top to bottom. A common complaint about the B&W 804 Nautilus is their lack of weight. A solution to this is to have them sit on granites stands made by HNE. They cost around US$500 here in the UK but they make a huge difference to bass weight and overall integration of bass with the mids. Without the stands, I find the 804s lacking bass weight and its bass timing somewhat odd. I certainly think that these stands are essential for the 804Ns to sound good. Compared to the N803, the N804's bass is loose and flabby. It's a problem inherent in the speaker -- even when it *is* properly amplified. Before spending a lot of money on accessories, I would trade up to the N803's, which will always have more weight and more satisfying bass. Or, I would take a look at some Sonus Faber Grand Piano Homes, which, IMO, sound better than N804's, cost a little less, and are a lot more efficient -- meaning -- it won't be nearly so hard to drive them. I agree w/ many posters above. Get a good amp and put the speakers on spikes. Try checking out the Soundcare superspikes. These added more base response to my B&W CDM9's then the Odyssey Stratos amp did (150 w/ch). Plus adding a decent OFC speaker wire will help quite abit as well. I second the Krell recommendation above. This addition to my system added quite a bit of base control. I got my superspikes at Spearitsound in Boston.

Baku, July 31, AZERTAC Matej Mugerli of Baku Cycling Project has finished the Tour of Qinghai Lake as second overall. He and Samir Jabrayilov were the only two Synergy Baku Cycling Project riders left in the race after a series of crashes and other misfortunes decimated the team. The final stage of the race in China finished in a bunch sprint, and both riders finished in the same time as the winner. Mugerli was second in the final ranking, only 37 seconds down. Jabrayilov finished 64th overall. “I am very happy with this fine result in a difficult stage race,” Mugerli said. He first moved in to the top ten in GC on the fifth stage, working his way up to fourth place. His good performance in the 12th stage time trial put him into second, where he stayed after the final stage. “The spirit that these two riders showed is spectacular, and we are very proud of them and our staff, but with Mugerli we are not surprised, as Matej has that winning attitude. For him, the glass is never half empty,” said team manager David McQuaid. “The riders who had to leave the race are all doing well, and will return to action again this season. Finally, thank you to the event organizers for the invitation again and for their help during the race.”

Cannabis products, such as marijuana and hashish, comprise the most widely used recreational drugs both domestically and worldwide. This course will provide the most pertinent up-to-date information regarding the demographics and characteristics of cannabis users, the history of therapeutic and recreational use of the drug, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, clinical signs and symptoms, biological and behavioral manifestations of short-term and long-term usage, as well as pharmacotherapy, psychosocial, 12-step and alternative therapy for persons seeking recovery from compulsive use and addiction to cannabis. This course is designed for health and mental health professionals who are involved in the evaluation or treatment of persons who use cannabis, either illicitly or as an adjunct to medical treatment. NetCE is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. NetCE is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. NetCE has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6361. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. NetCE is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. NetCE, #1092, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program. NetCE maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 03/13/2016 to 03/13/2019. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits. NetCE is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). NetCE complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, NetCE is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. NetCE designates this enduring material for a maximum of 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 5 ANCC contact hour(s). NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 3 pharmacotherapeutic/pharmacology contact hour(s). NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 6 hours for Alabama nurses. NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 2.5 NBCC clock hour(s). Social workers participating in this intermediate to advanced course will receive 5 Clinical continuing education clock hours, in accordance with the Association of Social Work Boards. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 5 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit. Completion of this course constitutes permission to share the completion data with ACCME. AACN Synergy CERP Category A. NetCE is authorized by IACET to offer 0.5 CEU(s) for this program. In addition to states that accept ANCC, NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by: Alabama, Provider #ABNP0353, (valid through December 12, 2017); California, BRN Provider #CEP9784; California, LVN Provider #V10662; California, PT Provider #V10842; Florida, Provider #50-2405; Iowa, Provider #295; Kentucky, Provider #7-0054 through 12/31/2017. In addition to states that accept ASWB, NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education by the following state boards: Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners, Provider #0515; Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, CE Broker Provider #50-2405; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Social Workers, License #159.001094; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Licensed Professional and Clinical Counselors, License #197.000185; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Marriage and Family Therapists, License #168.000190; Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, Approval #3011; Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, Approval #1121; Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, Approval #425. NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Association for Addiction Professionals. Provider Number 97847. NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals. Provider Number 5-08-151-0618. NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education by the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators. Provider Number CP40 889 C 0617. This activity is designed to comply with the requirements of California Assembly Bill 1195, Cultural and Linguistic Competency. NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 5 continuing education hours for addiction professionals. The purpose of this course is to allow healthcare professionals to effectively identify, diagnose, treat, and provide appropriate referrals for patients with cannabis use disorders. Upon completion of this course, you should be able to: - Review the history of cannabis use and define the concepts of cannabis use disorder and withdrawal. - Discuss the epidemiology of cannabis use in the United States, including treatment utilization and risk factors for cannabis use disorders. - Outline the pharmacology of cannabis. - Review the established and investigational therapeutic uses of cannabis and delta-9-THC. - Identify acute effects of cannabis ingestion on both physical and psychological systems. - Describe long-term effects of cannabis ingestion and conditions associated with cannabis use, including the associated withdrawal syndrome. - Discuss the prognosis and treatment approaches for individuals who misuse cannabis, including considerations for non-English-proficient patients. Mark Rose, BS, MA, is a licensed psychologist and researcher in the field of alcoholism and drug addiction based in Minnesota. He has written or contributed to the authorship of numerous papers on addiction and other medical disorders and has written books on prescription opioids and alcoholism published by the Hazelden Foundation. He also serves as an Expert Advisor and Expert Witness to various law firms on matters related to substance abuse, is on the Board of Directors of the Minneapolis-based International Institute of Anti-Aging Medicine, and is a member of several professional organizations. Contributing faculty, Mark Rose, BS, MA, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned. John V. Jurica, MD, MPH Jane C. Norman, RN, MSN, CNE, PhD Alice Yick Flanagan, PhD, MSW The division planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned. The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare. Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice. It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners. - HISTORY OF CANNABIS USE - DEFINITION OF CANNABIS USE DISORDERS - EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CANNABIS USE - THERAPEUTIC USE OF CANNABIS - ACUTE CANNABIS EFFECTS - LONG-TERM CANNABIS EFFECTS - CANNABIS WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME - TREATMENT OF CANNABIS USE DISORDERS - Works Cited - Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations Citations Supported browsers for Windows include Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 and up, Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and up, Opera 9.0 and up, and Google Chrome. Supported browsers for Macintosh include Safari, Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and up, Opera 9.0 and up, and Google Chrome. Other operating systems and browsers that include complete implementations of ECMAScript edition 3 and CSS 2.0 may work, but are not supported. #96971: Cannabis and Cannabis Use Disorders Cannabis products such as marijuana and hashish comprise the most widely used recreational drugs both in the United States and worldwide . Although, with a few exceptions, these drugs lack the liability of abuse and dependence seen with other illicit drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms can occur with cannabis products, posing an additional consideration in the management of these patients. This course will provide the most pertinent, up-to-date information regarding the demographics and characteristics of cannabis users, the history of therapeutic and recreational use of the drug, the pharmacology and clinical effects, adverse effects and conditions, and the management and treatment of overdose, toxicity, and use disorders. Although the later part of the 20th century saw a rise in the use of cannabis for recreational, religious/spiritual, and medicinal purposes, humans have been consuming cannabis since prehistory. Cannabis, native to Central Asia, is one of the oldest known psychotropic drugs. Cultivated and consumed long before recorded history, archeological discovery indicates that it was used in China since around 4000 B.C.E. There are several species of cannabis, including Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis sativa is the most widely used variety and can be cultivated in a variety of climates [1,13]. The two main derivatives of cannabis are marijuana and hashish. The term marijuana originated in Mexico to describe cheap tobacco; today, it refers to the dried leaves and flowers of the Cannabis plant. Hashish, an Arabic term, is the viscous resin of the plant [1,13]. The Chinese emperor Shen Nung is believed to be the first to describe the properties and therapeutic uses of cannabis, which appeared in his compendium of Chinese medicinal herbs written in 2737 B.C.E. Following this, cannabis was cultivated for its fiber, seeds, medicinal use, and recreational consumption, which then spread to India from China . In 1839, William O'Shaughnessy, a British physician and surgeon working in India, was the first individual in Western medicine to discover the use of cannabis as an analgesic, appetite stimulant, antiemetic, muscle relaxant, or anticonvulsant. In 1854, cannabis was listed in the United States Dispensatory; however, after prohibition was repealed, American authorities condemned the use of cannabis, claiming it responsible for insanity, intellectual deterioration, violence, and various crimes. In 1937, the U.S. Government introduced the Marihuana Tax Act. According to this legislation, a tax of $1 per ounce was collected when cannabis was used for medical purposes and $100 per ounce when it was used for unapproved purposes . Cannabis was removed from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1942 . Although severe problems associated with abuse and dependence are less common among cannabis users than among other drug users, they do occur. Furthermore, cannabis had the highest rate of past year use or dependence in 2013 of all illicit drugs . (Please note that laws passed in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and the District of Columbia have decriminalized recreational use of cannabis.) Cannabis use disorder is best described as a chronic relapsing disease characterized by compulsive seeking and use of cannabis, accompanied by functional and molecular changes to the brain . The single most defining aspect of cannabis use disorder is the salience of the relationship with the drug. The stronger the relationship, the more likely the patient will continue problematic use despite internal and external consequences. Individuals who use cannabis often believe it is necessary to get through daily activities, alleviate stress, and cope with problems. Physiological adaptation, evidenced by tolerance and withdrawal, is often present but may not be sufficient for diagnosis. Cannabis use disorder is diagnosed behaviorally and is evidenced by cravings for cannabis, preoccupation with use of the drug, sneaking and concealing ingestion, loss of the ability to control cannabis use, and continued use despite significant physical, psychological, social, or occupational consequences . Cannabis use disorder may be further qualified as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of diagnostic criteria fulfilled. Cannabis withdrawal is a condition that occurs following cessation or substantial reduction in use in previously heavy and chronic users . Withdrawal symptoms (e.g., depression/mood changes, anxiety, sleep difficulties, anorexia, physical symptoms) must result in significant distress and/or affect the patient's social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Identifying patients with a cannabis-related disorder can be difficult, as use disorders and associated problems are typically slow to develop. Patients frequently do not recognize they have a problem or do not want to give up their drug use. They may also be attempting to conceal their drug use from parents, physicians, and other authority figures. Unexplained deterioration in academic or work performance, problems with or changes in social relationships, and changes in recreational activities are signs of a possible problem . The 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 43.7% of Americans 12 years of age and older had tried cannabis at least once in their lifetimes, and 19.8 million (7.5%) had used cannabis in the past month [5,57]. Adolescent boys in all age groups are more likely than girls to have used cannabis in the last 30 days . Among ethnic groups, non-Hispanic/Latino mixed race (16%) and Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander (13.4%) individuals 12 years of age and older are the most likely to have used cannabis within the last month, followed by American Indian/Alaska Native (10.8%), black/African American (8.7%), and white (7.7%) . Hispanic or Latino (6.5%) and Asian (2.2%) adults and adolescents are the least likely to have used cannabis in the past month . Of the 24.6 million illicit drug users in the United States, 80.6% were current (past month) users of cannabis, with the majority (64.7%) using cannabis exclusively . In 2013, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 4.3 million Americans met the criteria for cannabis dependence . Approximately 3.4% of adolescents and 1.5% of adults who have used cannabis in the past year meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria for cannabis use disorder; as of 2015, no prevalence data are available for the DSM-5 criteria . Analysis of data from 1992 to 2002 by researchers at the National Institutes of Health revealed that while dependence/abuse rates (using DSM-IV criteria) grew only slightly overall during that decade (from 1.2% to 1.5%), a sharp increase was noted among particular subgroups (e.g., black men/women and Hispanic men 18 to 29 years of age; white men and black women 45 to 64 years of age) . The researchers noted that the increase in use disorders was unrelated to a substantial overall increase in frequency or quantity of use and was possibly associated with higher cannabis potency, decreased cost, and various societal factors [5,57]. The 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health noted a similar rate (1.6%) . It is estimated that there are 6,600 cannabis initiates (12 years of age and older) every day . Approximately 17.4% of persons who use cannabis are daily or nearly daily users, and as noted, cannabis use disorder affects 1.8% of the population, a higher rate than any other illicit drug [5,9]. This rate is mainly attributable to the greater numbers of cannabis users relative to users of other substances . When examining the risk of dependence among those who have ever used a particular substance (referred to as conditional dependence), the rates for alcohol (22.7%), cocaine (20.9%), and tobacco (67.5%) are significantly higher than for cannabis (8.9%) . However, the risk of developing dependence is increased in those who begin using cannabis in adolescence (16.7%) and among those who are daily users (25% to 50%) . The rate of cannabis use by children and adolescents doubled during the 1990s . After a slight decline and leveling off from 2000 to 2007, the rate again began (and continues) to climb . Occasional cannabis experimentation during adolescence, while illegal, is often considered normative behavior and is not strongly correlated with behavioral or emotional disorders in the general population . Although the exact number is unclear, approximately one-half of "very young" individuals who use cannabis more than monthly exhibit behavioral or emotional difficulties. It is unclear if these difficulties exist before or are an effect of cannabis use or of overlapping factors. Genetic behavior disorders, parents who use cannabis, family disintegration, and "loss of trusting attachments to key adults" have been implicated as both causes of adversity leading to cannabis use and of anxiety, depression, and risk-taking behaviors in pre-adolescents . The perceived impact that cannabis has on physical and psychological health, along with other negative factors, strongly predicts use patterns; past-month use rates were 0.6% among adolescents who saw "great risk" versus 9.3% among those who perceived lesser or no risks . Increases in both the prevalence of cannabis use and the potency of cannabis have contributed to the 381% increase in cannabis- and other cannabinoid-related emergency department episodes reported from 2002 to 2011 [62,63]. Cannabis-related conditions that may be seen in an emergency department include chronic addiction to cannabis, acute cannabis psychosis, and cannabis-related schizophrenia . Utilization of treatment services for cannabis dependence has also increased. Adults entering substance abuse treatment programs with cannabis-related problems doubled in the 1990s, and primary admissions for cannabis rose from 13% in 1999 to 17.5% in 2012 . The 2012 percentage of cannabis treatment admissions has surpassed those for cocaine (6.9%) and heroin (16.3%) and is second only to admissions for alcohol treatment (38.9%) . However, these statistics are dramatically higher among adolescents. Nearly 30% of all treatment admission for substance use disorders among adolescents 12 to 17 years of age cite cannabis as either the primary or secondary reason for admission . As was witnessed with adults in the 1990s, the number of adolescents receiving treatment at public treatment centers for cannabis abuse or dependence also doubled during this period . Overall, the proportion of those seeking treatment for cannabis dependence is relatively low in the United States. This may be partially due to the perception of cannabis as a relatively innocuous drug . In a sample of 311 cannabis-dependent users (according to the DSM-IV criteria), the leading reasons for failure to seek treatment included a desire for self-reliance (36.7%), perceived treatment ineffectiveness (16.7%), and avoiding stigma (13.3%) . Cannabis use typically begins in early to middle adolescence, and use tends to peak during late adolescence and young adulthood . Many people first use cannabis out of curiosity, peer pressure, or both, and continue to use it for the desired effects of euphoria, relaxation, heightened sensations and perceptions, and socialization with other users. Factors that contribute to chronic use include easy access, the expectation of few or no legal consequences for use, and attempts to self-medicate physical and emotional problems. A major risk factor for adolescent substance abuse, including cannabis use, is the presence of conduct problems in childhood. This may be because family conflict, poor parental monitoring, parental substance use, academic problems, and association with deviant peers are all risk factors for both substance abuse and conduct problems. More than one-half of adolescents with substance abuse problems also exhibit conduct problems . Co-occurrence of these problems is a strong predictor of poor outcome following substance abuse treatment . Factors associated with cannabis dependence include male gender, adolescent aggression/delinquency, childhood abuse (particularly sexual abuse), and evidence of adolescent risk-taking behaviors, such as cigarette smoking, conduct problems, and involvement in a delinquent peer group [88,89]. One study found that externalizing disorders (e.g., antisocial personality disorder) from proximal developmental periods were a significant risk factor for future cannabis use disorders in adolescents and young adults; internalizing disorders were not . Exposure to multiple risk factors is associated with poorer prognosis. Early subjective response to cannabis is associated with later risk of misuse [16,90]. Participants in a survey reporting five positive reactions to the drug had 20 times greater risk of later use disorder than those who did not experience positive reactions, even after controlling for confounding factors. These findings suggest that early subjective and physiological reactions to cannabis are predictive of later misuse and possibly reflect underlying genetic differences in vulnerability to use disorders. These possible genetic predispositions are likely mediated by individual differences in the responsiveness of the mesolimbic dopamine system to substance use . Several factors associated with successful cessation of cannabis use have been identified. These factors include older age, female gender, married marital status, infrequent cannabis use, absence of delinquent behavior, exposure to formal treatment, higher socioeconomic status, high school completion, and non-using friends [17,92,93]. Analyses of several adoption, family, and twin studies that examined the relationship between cannabis use and heritable factors determined that the use of cannabis (and other licit and illicit substances) is due in part to genetic vulnerability and an overlap of environmental influences [18,94]. There appear to be substantial genetic influences on measures of cannabis involvement that correlate with progression to greater levels of addiction, and an individual's vulnerability to cannabis abuse/dependence is shaped by a common susceptibility to multiple substance abuse and also by risk factors unique to cannabis. Researchers in one twin study clarified the basics of this theory in their conclusion, stating that genetic factors predispose individuals to substance use/abuse whereas environmental experiences determine which class of psychoactive substances a predisposed individual will prefer over another .In a meta-analysis evaluating the relative magnitude of the influence of genetic and environmental factors on problematic cannabis use, researchers estimated that proportion of the total variance attributable to genetics was 51% in men/boys and 59% in women/girls . Early onset and frequency of cannabis use are strong predictors of escalation in other illicit drug use across sexes, populations, ethnicities, and socioeconomic strata. Frequent cannabis use during young adulthood significantly increases the risk of polysubstance abuse, earlier onset of substance dependence, poorer educational and occupational outcomes, multiple health and psychiatric problems, and criminal justice system involvement . Cannabis and other illicit drug use may be correlated. Studies have shown that cannabis is a potential "gateway drug," leading to the use and abuse of more dangerous drugs, such as cocaine and heroin . However, it should be noted that evidence of a causal relationship between cannabis use and progression to other drug use has not been clearly proven . A report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that cannabis's "gateway" effect (if any) is far less important than that of cigarettes and alcohol, and teens who use alcohol and nicotine are 30 times more likely to try cannabis . Analysis of data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions found that 44.7% of individuals who try cannabis progress to another illicit drug in their lifetimes, although the researchers in this study did not control for lifetime alcohol or nicotine use . One theory is that dopaminergic effects of alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine lead users to seek similar effects from other, more potent drugs. Cannabis contains more than 480 known chemicals, more than 100 of which are grouped under the category of cannabinoids [1,96]. The primary psychoactive ingredient is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC), which accounts for up to 25% of the total dry weight of high-potency strains . Other cannabinoids, including delta-8-THC, cannabinol, cannabicyclol, cannabichromene, and cannabigerol, are present in small quantities (typically less than 5% dry weight) and have no significant psychotropic effects compared to THC. It is unknown whether these compounds may have an impact on the overall effect of cannabis . One notable exception is cannabidiol (CBD), which in some cannabis strains can account for up to 5% dry weight and has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy for psychosis, anxiety, and other disorders in small-scale studies [69,70,71]. The psychotomimetic and anxiogenic effects of THC itself are thought to be attenuated by CBD . In a 2011 study, cannabis users who ingested high-CBD-content cannabis experienced significantly lower degrees of psychotic symptoms compared to those who ingested high-THC-content cannabis . Cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) activity accounts for some anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, while the anxiolytic effects of CBD probably result from 5HT1-A (serotonin) receptor agonist activity [72,73]. CBD also exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects . Cannabis is ingested in many forms, but it is most often smoked in the form of a cigarette ("joint") or out of a pipe, water pipe (e.g., "bong"), or improvised vessel (e.g., sawn-off plastic bottle). It may also be added as an ingredient in baked goods, eaten, or drunk as an extract. Because of its relative water insolubility, it is unsuitable for intravenous use . Vaporizing cannabis (heating below its flash point), either with a purpose-built vaporizer unit or with a heating wand and a conventional pipe or water pipe, is becoming increasingly popular, especially among medicinal and/or "health conscious" users. This method of use offers slightly elevated THC availability (allowing the user to "smoke" less) and greatly reduced combustion byproduct toxicity compared to smoking . Cannabinoids are present in the stalks, leaves, flowers, and seeds of the plant, but they are particularly abundant in the resin secreted by the female plant. THC content varies among the available sources and preparations of cannabis. Advances in cultivation (such as hydroponic farming) and plant-breeding techniques have increased the potency of cannabis products over time . During the 1960s and 1970s, an average joint contained about 10 mg of THC. Today, a similar-size joint made of a potent subspecies of Cannabis sativa may contain 60–150 mg of THC. This can increase to 300 mg if the joint is laced with hashish oil or resin. The substantial increase in potency in cannabis products today exposes cannabis smokers to many times the THC dose compared to their counterparts in the 1960s and 1970s. This is an important fact, as the effects of THC are dose-related and early research on cannabis was conducted in the 1970s using doses of 5–25 mg THC. Some researchers consider the research published on cannabis use during the 1960s and 1970s to be obsolete [21,22]. Approximately 50% of the THC and other cannabinoids present in a cannabis cigarette enter the mainstream smoke and are inhaled . Smoking style affects the amount absorbed through the lungs, with experienced smokers who inhale deeply and hold the smoke in the lungs for some seconds before exhaling, ingesting virtually all of the cannabinoids present in the mainstream smoke . The onset of action of inhaled cannabis is within seconds, and full effect is achieved within 30 minutes; vaporized cannabis results in higher serum THC levels after 30 to 60 minutes, but this can vary based on self-administration preferences. The bioavailability after oral ingestion is lower than that seen with inhalation; blood concentrations are as low as 25% to 30% of those obtained by smoking the same dose, partly due to hepatic first-pass metabolism . The onset of effect is delayed (up to 4 hours) after oral ingestion, but the duration is prolonged because of continued slow absorption from the gut . As little as 2.5 mg of THC is enough to produce measurable psychological and physical effects in the occasional cannabis user. Upon transferring to the bloodstream, cannabinoids are distributed rapidly systemically, first reaching the fatty tissues and organs with the highest blood flow, such as the brain, lungs, and liver . Within the brain, cannabinoids are differentially distributed, reaching high concentrations in the neocortical areas, especially the frontal cortex; the limbic areas, including the hippocampus and amygdala; sensory areas, such as the visual and auditory cortex; motor areas, including the basal ganglia and cerebellum; and the pons . Whether THC accumulates in the brain with long-term use is unknown, due to limits in THC access and accumulation imposed by the blood-brain barrier. Cannabinoids are highly fat soluble and accumulate in fatty tissues. From these tissues, the compounds are very slowly released into other parts of the body. In occasional users, the plasma elimination half-life of THC is approximately 56 hours; in chronic users it is shortened to 28 hours. However, due to its sequestration in fat, the tissue half-life is approximately 7 days and complete elimination of one dose may take as long as 30 days . Cannabinoids are mainly metabolized in the liver, where they produce more than 20 metabolites, some of which are psychoactive and many of which have plasma elimination half-lives of the order of 50 hours. The major metabolite is 11-hydroxy-THC, which may be more potent than the parent compound and be responsible for some of the effects of cannabis. Relative to inhalation, first-pass hepatic metabolism with oral ingestion yields a greater proportion of 11-hydroxy-THC . Elimination occurs over several days due to the slow rediffusion of THC from body fat and other tissues. Roughly 20% to 35% of THC is eliminated in urine and 65% to 80% in feces. By five days, 80% to 90% of THC is eliminated, although THC from a single dose can be detected in plasma up to 13 days later in chronic smokers as a result of extensive storage and release from body fat . Cannabinoids act primarily by binding to the CB1 and CB2 receptors. Both of these receptors are part of the G-protein coupled class, and their activation results in inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. Identification of agonists and antagonists of these receptors has stimulated interest in medical uses of cannabis [1,13]. Cannabinoids exert many of their effects by combining with specific receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system. The discovery of cannabinoid receptors led to a search for the endogenous ligand with which the receptors naturally interact. The first substance, discovered in 1992, was eventually isolated and named anandamide after the Sanskrit word for bliss, ananda; 2-arachidonoylglycerol was discovered soon after. Anandamides are derivatives of arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid, and are related to prostaglandins [22,68]. Both anandamides and their receptors lie in neuronal lipid membranes and modulate neuronal activity through intracellular G-proteins that control cyclic adenosine monophosphate formation and calcium and potassium ion transport . The endogenous cannabinoid system is a signaling system that includes cannabinoid receptors, endogenous receptor ligands (termed endocannabinoids), and their synthesizing and degrading enzymes . Core functions of the endogenous cannabinoid system have been described as "relax, eat, sleep, forget, and protect," shorthand for the diversity of processes involving the ECS . The ECS regulates neuronal excitability and inflammation in pain circuits and cascades and also helps regulate movement, appetite, aversive memory extinction, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis modulation, immunomodulation, mood, wake/sleep cycles, blood pressure, bone density, tumor surveillance, neuroprotection, and reproduction. A number of the cannabinoids' pharmacological effects can be explained on the basis of these interactions, examples being tachycardia and xerostomia, which are caused by the effects of THC on acetylcholine . CB2 receptors are primarily found in immune cells, suggesting that cannabinoids may play a role in the immune response . CB1 receptors are found throughout the body but are concentrated in the brain, with the highest density in the substantia nigra, cerebellum, globus pallidus, and caudate nucleus. Other brain regions with high CB1 receptor density include the cerebellum, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and nucleus accumbens. The distribution of CB receptors indicates that the endocannabinoid system has effects on a broad range of behaviors . There are no cases in the literature of death due to toxicity following the maximum oral THC dose in dogs (up to 3,000 mg/kg THC) and monkeys (up to 9,000 mg/kg THC). In animals and humans, it is virtually impossible to induce fatal toxicity, and no human fatalities resulting from cannabis ingestion have been documented to date . The greatest risk for toxicity and potential overdose is among children who may consume cannabis edibles, beverages, or candies inadvertently . In adults, most toxic reactions are mild, but in children, overdose can result in significant respiratory depression . Tolerance to most of the THC effects eventually develops in regular users. Cannabis tolerance primarily results from pharmacodynamic mechanisms, including changes in CB1 signaling ability due to receptor desensitization and down-regulation. THC tolerance varies across different brain regions, possibly explaining why tolerance develops to some cannabis effects but not to others . Tolerance to most THC effects develops after a few doses and then disappears rapidly following cessation. As with many drugs, cannabis can enhance or attenuate the effects of other medications. A combination of dronabinol (a cannabinoid) and prochlorperazine is more effective in reducing chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting than prochlorperazine alone . Cannabis can also augment the sedating effects of other psychotropic substances, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines. A number of synergistic effects may be therapeutically desirable, such as the enhancement of: Muscle relaxants, bronchodilators, and antiglaucoma medication Phenothiazines' antiemetic effect Benzodiazepines' antiepileptic action The cyclooxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin, acetylsalicylic acid, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs antagonize THC effects, reflecting the involvement of cyclooxygenase activity in several THC effects . Use of cannabis for medical purposes was first documented in China thousands of years ago, where it was reportedly used to treat malaria, constipation, rheumatism, and childbirth pain . There are also reports of cannabis mixed with wine being used as an analgesic. Throughout history, the medical use of cannabis has been found in records from Asia, the Middle East, Southern Africa, and South America . Despite being categorized as illegal, cannabis has continued to be an attractive option for self-medication among some patients. In 1978, a compassionate program for medicinal cannabis was established by the U.S. government; this program stopped accepting new candidates in 1991 . Cannabis was reintroduced into medical use in 1996 by popular vote and legislative acts in California. By 2015, 22 states and the District of Columbia had followed suit . (For information on laws pertaining to the medical use of cannabis in your state, visit http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881.) In addition, cannabis is used by millions of patients for medicinal purposes in jurisdictions where it remains illegal for medical use . For some clinical conditions, most of the published research involves oral cannabinoids, and there are questions over the extent this efficacy can be extrapolated to cannabis. Some reports indicate that patients benefiting from oral cannabinoids are likely to benefit from smoked cannabis, but the reverse is not always true . For example, inhaled cannabis trials for the management of nausea and vomiting are sparse. Although RTCs of dronabinol or nabilone predominate and have consistently shown efficacy, patients tend to prefer smoked over oral delivery due to the rapid alleviation of nausea and vomiting, ease of titration, and greater tolerability. Thus, for indications for which cannabis RCTs are few or absent, it seems reasonable to extrapolate non-cannabis cannabinoid efficacy to smoked cannabis. Dronabinol, a synthetic THC derivative, is approved for the treatment of refractory nausea and vomiting caused by antineoplastic drugs used for the treatment of cancer and for appetite loss in anorexia and cachexia of patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) . Dronabinol and nabilone, another synthetic derivative, are generally considered safe, effective antiemetics and are recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network for this use . A vast body of anecdotal evidence from the past 150 years as well as preclinical and clinical trial results strongly indicate a valuable role for cannabis in controlling nausea and vomiting caused by cytotoxic drug administration or secondary to another primary medical condition . A meta-analysis of cannabinoid efficacy in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting found superior antiemetic efficacy of dronabinol, nabilone, levonantradol (not approved for use in the United States), and smoked cannabis compared with conventional drugs and placebo . Cannabis has been safely co-administered with a wide range of other drug agents (as discussed) and acts synergistically with opioids to enhance analgesia and allow opioid dose reduction. Chronic pain treatment often requires multiple drug agents that target different pain mechanisms, and the novel mechanism and superior safety profile of cannabis versus opioids suggests that it can be a valuable addition to therapeutic options for chronic pain [109,110]. In one study, 10-mg and 20-mg doses of THC were found to be roughly equivalent to 60 mg and 120 mg codeine doses, respectively, and a strong sedative effect was observed . A 2010 British study found that improved analgesia was realized with a THC/CBD extract oromucosal spray in patients whose pain was not alleviated with strong opioids . Twice as many patients given the THC/CBD extract had a 30% reduction in pain (the measure of success) than those administered placebo or a pure THC extract. Spasticity is a core symptom of multiple sclerosis, is common after stroke and with other neurological conditions, and greatly limits movement, activities of daily living, and participation in life by those afflicted. Oral antispasmodic agents are of limited effectiveness, and beneficial treatment options for spasticity have not significantly expanded since the late 1990s . Consequently, many patients with multiple sclerosis have sought relief through cannabis use. The oromucosal cannabinoid spray nabiximols appears efficacious in multiple sclerosis but is not yet approved for clinical use in the United States . Several clinical trials of cannabis in multiple sclerosis have been performed, and these studies have demonstrated cannabis efficacy in reducing spasticity and pain [113,114]. The effectiveness of cannabis and THC derivatives as appetite stimulants, coupled with their antiemetic, analgesic, anxiolytic, hypnotic, and antipyretic properties, suggests a unique role in alleviating symptoms in selected patients with cancer or AIDS . A double-blind clinical trial of HIV-positive patients found smoked cannabis increased daily caloric intake and body weight, with few adverse effects . Benefits from smoked cannabis reported by 252 patients with HIV/AIDS included relief of anxiety and/or depression (57%), improved appetite (53%), increased pleasure (33%), and pain relief (28%). However, recent use of cannabis was strongly associated with severe nausea . A review of cannabinoid use in cancer patients found a beneficial effect in stimulating appetite in patients who were receiving chemotherapy or experiencing pain . Interestingly, the results of several preclinical and preliminary clinical testing studies have suggested that cannabinoids inhibit tumor and/or malignant cell growth in pancreatic, lung, leukemic, melanoma, oral, and lymphoma cancers and other malignant tumors . High intraocular pressure is a risk factor for glaucoma, and smoked cannabis has been found to reduce pupil restriction, conjunctival hyperemia, and intraocular pressure by approximately 25% in those with normal range intraocular pressure with visual field changes, healthy adults, and patients with glaucoma . Although other drugs are the preferred first-line agents, some patients and physicians have found cannabis useful when standard therapies fail . Similar to other drugs with an abuse liability, such as heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine, the pleasurable effects of cannabis are the result of the release of dopamine in the reward circuitry, comprised of the subcortical ventral tegmentum, nucleus accumbens, striatum, and medial prefrontal cortex [9,24]. Transmission of dopamine is increased in the nucleus accumbens following acute administration of cannabinoid agonists. The pharmacological actions of cannabinoids are complex. The resulting effects are a unique combination of those found with the use of depressants and hallucinogens. Because cannabinoid receptors are widely distributed through the body, numerous body systems are affected [2,22]. The experience of intoxication is highly variable and is influenced by the dose, the environment, and the experience and expectations of the user . The euphoriant potential of cannabis is probably the single most important characteristic in sustaining its widespread and often chronic recreational use. This effect varies greatly with dose, route of administration, expectation, environment, and personality of the user. However, dysphoric reactions to cannabis are not uncommon. In some cases, use may result in severe anxiety and panic, unpleasant somatic sensations, and paranoia. Anxiety-panic reactions are the most common adverse psychological effects of cannabis use. Flashbacks, whereby the original drug experience (usually dysphoria) is re-experienced weeks or months later, are possible and may represent a psychological reaction similar to that of post-traumatic stress disorder . Following an initial period of excitement after acute ingestion of cannabis, a generalized CNS depressant effect is observed. This may lead to drowsiness and sleep toward the end of a period of intoxication . The changes in perception that result from cannabis and THC affect all sensory modalities. Color and sound perception may be heightened, and musical appreciation may be increased. Temporal and spatial perception is distorted, impairing judgment of distance and time. Even after small doses, persons under the influence of cannabis consistently overestimate the passage of time. Persistent visual changes, some lasting for months, have been documented . As noted, the initial period of excitement and increased motor activity after cannabis ingestion is followed by a state of physical inertia, with ataxia, dysarthria, and general incoordination possibly lasting for several hours. Motor performance, including measurements of body sway, tracking ability, pursuit motor performance, hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and physical strength, is demonstrably impaired . The effects of cannabis on cognitive processes are characterized initially by subjective feelings of accelerated speed of thought, flight of ideas that may seem unusually profound, and a crowding of perceptions. Higher doses can result in out-of-control thoughts, fragmented thinking, and mental confusion. Cannabis is associated with short-term memory deficits; it is believed that these deficits may be caused by an attention deficit combined with an inability to filter out irrelevant information and the intrusion of extraneous thoughts. Memory lapses may contribute to the distortion in the perception of time and poor psychomotor performance in complex tasks . Even low doses of THC (5–15 mg) can significantly impair an individual's ability to perform complex or demanding tasks, including those involved in fine hand-eye coordination, complex tracking, divided attention tasks, visual information processing, digit code tests, and alternate addition-subtraction tasks . Psychomotor performance further deteriorates at higher doses, and impairment can persist several hours following a single dose . Cannabis typically decreases aggression and increases sociability. However, some individuals, particularly those under stress and predisposed to violence, become aggressive after taking cannabis. Research has shown that cannabis users with a history of aggression have a 60% greater likelihood of perpetrating partner violence than nonusers . Violent behavior may be more common among those with acute paranoid or manic psychosis induced by cannabis and polydrug use . Cannabis use can lead to a range of short-lived psychiatric symptoms, including depersonalization, derealization, a feeling of loss of control, fear of dying, irrational panic, and paranoid ideas . After taking a large dose of THC, vulnerable users may temporarily experience a form of drug-induced psychosis. This is classified in the DSM-5 as cannabis intoxication with perceptual disturbances or as a substance-induced psychotic disorder and is diagnosed if the hallucinations are not better explained by another medical or mental disorder and if the symptoms appear during or within two hours of substance use or withdrawal . Cannabis-induced psychosis has the potential to require hospital admission. During the initial diagnosis, this psychosis may be misidentified as schizophrenia, as patients may display characteristic schizophrenic symptoms, such as delusions of control, grandiose identity, persecution, thought insertion, auditory hallucinations, altered perception, and blunted affect . Acute doses of cannabis may induce tachycardia with peripheral vasodilatation, which can result in postural hypotension and a slight decrease in body temperature. Cardiac output may be increased by as much as 30%, accompanied by increased cardiac work and oxygen demand. Because of this, cannabis can aggravate pre-existing heart disease. The absorption of relatively large amounts of carbon monoxide from smoking cannabis also contributes to the long-term cardiovascular risk of chronic cannabis use . Reddening of the conjunctivae, a characteristic sign of cannabis use, is the result of widespread vasodilation . Cannabis smoke contains many of the same constituents as tobacco smoke (minus the nicotine), including bronchial irritants, tumor initiators (mutagens), tumor promoters, and carcinogens. The tar from cannabis smoke also contains higher concentrations of the carcinogens benzanthracenes and benzopyrenes than tobacco smoke tar. Smoking a cannabis cigarette results in inhalation of three times the amount of tar of a tobacco cigarette, and respiratory tract retention is greater than smoking a tobacco cigarette [21,22]. As a result, cannabis use may result in impairment of lung function, leading to airflow obstruction and hyperinflation . Although many carcinogens and tumor promoters are common to tobacco and cannabis smoke, differences in the active constituents result in different biological outcomes. Molecules in tobacco smoke enhance carcinogenic pathways through several mechanisms. In contrast, molecules in cannabis smoke inhibit carcinogenic pathways through down-regulation of immunologically-generated free radical production (the innate response to inhaled smoke and particulate); THC blockade of enzymatic conversion of smoke constituents into carcinogens; the absence of cannabinoid receptors in respiratory epithelial cells (which maintains DNA damage checkpoint mechanism integrity with prolonged cannabis smoke exposure); and the anti-angiogenic, tumor-retardant, and anti-inflammatory activity of many cannabinoid smoke constituents . Large studies assessing the potential risk of lung cancer with chronic cannabis use have reached different conclusions, with one finding no increased risk and another reporting a twofold increase in the risk of lung cancer among long-term heavy users [126,127]. Additional research is necessary to parse these findings. A University of California, San Francisco, study found that vaporizing cannabis eliminates many of the harmful combustion byproducts (e.g., benzene, naphthalene, toluene, other aromatic hydrocarbon toxins) and greatly reduces tar and carbon monoxide from the inhaled charge . Therapeutic plasma THC levels are slightly increased with this administration, and it was determined that vaporizing cannabis is safer than smoking. Cannabinoids, including THC, bind to androgen receptors, and cannabis is considered antiandrogenic. However, the drug's effects on fertility are unclear. Chronic cannabis ingestion appears to have negative effects on sperm quality (e.g., a reduction in the volume and number of spermatozoa, changes in morphology and motility) . In women, regular cannabis smoking may be associated with suppression of ovulation. Chronic use may cause galactorrhea in women and gynecomastia in men. Endocrine changes resulting from cannabis use may be significant in prepubertal users, in whom cannabis use may suppress sexual maturation as well as social and personal development and learning of coping skills. There is no evidence of teratogenicity during pregnancy, but some studies suggest low neonatal birth weight from chronic maternal cannabis smoking, possibly related to fetal hypoxia and placental complications [21,22]. There is some evidence that offspring of mothers who consumed cannabis during pregnancy may be at increased risk for behavioral and conduct problems, impaired executive functioning, and poor school achievement . In addition, adolescents who regularly use cannabis may have impairments of learning and personal development. However, the possible effects of cannabis consumption on educational performance are difficult to demonstrate . As noted, social development and the acquisition of coping skills may also be stunted. In one study, onset of cannabis use before 17 years of age was associated with a significantly increased risk of cannabis dependence, use of other illicit drugs, suicide attempt, depression, and welfare dependence by 30 years of age . Chronic cannabis smoking is associated with bronchitis, emphysema, and squamous metaplasia (a pre-cancerous change), which all occur more frequently in those who have only smoked cannabis than in those who have only smoked tobacco. Individuals who are chronic cannabis and tobacco smokers are at an increased risk for respiratory symptoms and histopathological changes than those who only smoke tobacco or cannabis [21,22]. There is not sufficient evidence of significant immunological damage in humans from cannabis . However, it is important to note that cannabis may be contaminated with micro-organisms, such as Aspergillus and Salmonella, as well as fecal matter. Therefore, a potentially serious adverse effect of cannabis is the risk of infection. In addition, chronic cannabis use may lead to impaired pulmonary defense against infection. The risk of infection is of particular concern in patients with HIV/AIDS due to their increased susceptibility to infection from fungal and bacterial contaminants and epithelial damage from the smoke . Chronic cannabis use has been reported to adversely affect cognitive functioning, demonstrated by impaired cognitive performance on a wide range of tasks, including memory and executive functioning . Impairment of short-term visual and verbal memory persisting for 6 weeks after cessation of cannabis use has been reported, and there is a potential for persisting memory deficits in academic performance in school-aged children and college students. Adolescents and those with borderline or low intelligence quotient (IQ) may be particularly susceptible to these effects [22,128]. A small drop in overall IQ among current but not previous heavy users has also been shown . Imaging studies in cannabis users have identified structural brain changes . In studies using magnetic resonance imaging, heavy cannabis use was correlated with larger cerebellum grey matter volume and reduced amygdala and hippocampus grey matter volume as well as changes in higher functional connectivity in the orbitofrontal cortex network and higher structural connectivity in the forceps minor [25,129]. A prospective study of 1,037 individuals who regularly use cannabis were followed from birth to 38 years of age . The researchers conducted neuropsychological testing at 13 years of age (prior to initiation of cannabis use) at again at 38 years of age and found that persistent cannabis use was associated with neuropsychological decline broadly across domains of functioning, even after controlling for years of education. In addition, is users who began using cannabis in adolescence, these deficits remained even after cessation of use . This study did not take into account potential confounding variables, such as personality, family situation, or socioeconomic status. Overall, claims that chronic cannabis use is permanently neurotoxic have produced little scientific validation. Modestly impaired attention and ability to filter out irrelevant information in former cannabis users has been found in some studies, but other studies have not revealed impairment in cognitive function [24,128]. Although a degree of controversy exists surrounding whether heavy long-term consumption results in cognitive impairment, irreversible impairment seems to be minimal, if it exists at all. Medical use of cannabis for more than 15 years is generally considered to be well-tolerated without significant physical or cognitive impairment . Cannabis use disorders are associated with high rates of other psychiatric diagnoses. The most frequent psychiatric comorbidities are depressed mood, major depression, and dysthymia . It is also possible that cannabis use is a risk factor for serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia . Patients with a history of cannabis dependence are at an increased lifetime risk for a variety of other psychiatric disorders, and current cannabis dependence is strongly associated with alcohol misuse, affective and anxiety disorders, and tobacco use in the past year . However, the pathogenesis of most psychoses is not well understood. Based on postmortem and other studies, abnormalities and dysfunction of the endocannabinoid system may play a significant role in psychological disorders (e.g., depression, suicide, schizophrenia), making the use/misuse of exogenous cannabinoids an ongoing area of research for both therapeutic potential and causation . Although there is little evidence to support a correlation between depression and infrequent cannabis use, a modest association between early-onset or heavy, habitual cannabis use and later depression has been reported . Because there is little evidence of an increased risk of later cannabis use among patients diagnosed with depression, the self-medication hypothesis is not supported. However, research has shown that depression and chronic use of cannabis are associated, and evidence indicates that heavy cannabis use may increase depressive symptoms in some users. It is important to note that this correlation may be the result of common social, family, and contextual factors that increase the risk of both heavy cannabis use and depression. Overall, heavy cannabis use appears to play a minor role in explaining population rates of depression . Healthcare professionals have observed a possible association between habitual cannabis use and psychosis for many years. However, there is considerable disagreement regarding the degree of causation attributable to cannabis use in the development of psychosis among users without an obvious vulnerability to this effect (e.g., genetic factors). There is biological evidence of a possible causal relationship between cannabis use and psychosis, particularly in relation to non-affective schizophrenia-spectrum disorders [19,20]. When administered intravenously, delta-9-THC has been found to induce dose-dependent positive and negative psychotic symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia; an interaction between cannabis use and a polymorphism of the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene that codes for dopamine has also been reported . In theory, cannabis use may precipitate a psychosis in several ways : Acute induction of a toxic or organic psychosis, with symptoms of confusion and hallucination, that remits on abstinence Induction of an acute functional psychosis, similar to an acute schizophreniform state, that lacks the organic features of a toxic psychosis Induction of a chronic psychosis that persists after abstinence An organic psychosis induced by long-term use that only partially remits after abstinence, leaving a residual deficit state (an amotivational syndrome) Based on the literature, it is likely that cannabis use induces psychotic disorders in vulnerable individuals, defined as those with a history of unusual experiences that may be in part genetically mediated . The relationship between cannabis use and vulnerability may explain the small (2 to 3 times) increase in risk for psychosis among cannabis users. This interaction has also been used to elucidate the lack of large increases in the incidence rates of psychoses to correspond with the increase in cannabis use rates among young adults and the earlier age of onset of schizophrenia-form disorders in cannabis users . There appears to be at least some evidence linking cannabis use to the development of psychotic disorders, but some argue that the studies have been flawed. Criticisms of studies linking cannabis and psychosis include failure to separate organic and functional psychotic reactions to cannabis; insufficient discrimination between psychoses; and lack of weighing the evidence for and against the category of cannabis psychosis . Although there is evidence to support the belief that cannabis use may contribute to psychosis in certain circumstances, the possible causal mechanisms are complex . A review of evidence from multiple trials demonstrated a likely causal relationship between cannabis use (particularly frequent, chronic use) and psychotic illness, particularly schizophrenia-spectrum disorders . Furthermore, onset of psychotic symptoms in persons with schizophrenia is earlier (by 2.7 years) in those who use cannabis than in nonusers . The first psychotic episode in cannabis users is more likely to present with positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions) than negative symptoms (e.g., apathy, social withdrawal) than first episodes in individuals who do not use cannabis. Researchers have linked new high-potency cannabis strains with increased emergency admissions for psychosis, implicating not only higher levels of THC but also the absence of CBD, which ordinarily tempers the psychotomimetic effects of THC [79,80]. A British study noted that the typical cannabis product available in the United Kingdom before 2000 was hashish resin, containing essentially equal parts THC and CBD (each up to 4% by weight), and that the typical high-potency herbal cannabis that now dominates the market contains 12% to 18% THC and less than 1.5% CBD. (This is also typical of cannabis available in the United States, particularly strains grown in California .) Researchers suspect that the rise in admissions for psychosis is related to this shift. The study concluded that individuals with a longer duration of use and with a preference for high-potency cannabis are at a much greater risk for enduring psychosis than individuals who occasionally smoke hashish . This is supported by research showing that cannabis psychosis is THC dose dependent and that CBD can reverse indicators of THC-induced psychosis in test subjects [80,81]. There has also been criticism of the belief that chronic heavy cannabis use leads to an amotivational syndrome, described as personality deterioration with loss of energy and drive to work . Some have argued that the supporting evidence for this theory largely originates from uncontrolled studies of long-term cannabis users in various cultures and may be a reflection of ongoing intoxication in frequent users of the drug . More research in this area is required. Cannabis use has also been linked to the development of panic disorder . A study involving 1,000 people 18 to 25 years of age found that 22% reported panic attacks or anxiety symptoms during cannabis intoxication, with women twice as likely as men to report these symptoms . Conversely, in a study of nearly 7,000 adults, the presence of social phobia and panic disorder predicted progression from casual use to cannabis use disorder . An individual's experience of cannabis intoxication may be variable; the same person given the same dose at different times may report different subjective effects. Although many users report a calming, tranquilizing effect, cannabis use may provoke feelings of anxiety or panic in some cases. For patients for whom cannabis use induces panic, a history of previous panic attacks (while sober) may not be present. A study of 66 panic disorder patients found that 24 experienced their first panic attack within 48 hours of cannabis use . It has been suggested that cannabis may provoke anxiety reactions via gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonism, which may provoke CNS excitatory neurotransmission and brain hyperexcitability. Ingestion of high doses of delta-9-THC produces intense anxiety in nearly all users predisposed to anxiety, and the high THC:CBD ratio of cannabis available today may lead to a rise in anxiety/panic disorders among cannabis users in general . In fact, studies indicate that CBD alone has promise in the treatment of social anxiety . Antisocial behavior commonly occurs among cannabis users, and this is particularly evident among adolescent users. Adolescents who use cannabis regularly are at risk of experiencing delinquency, school failure, physical and psychological problems, and selling illegal drugs . A cannabis withdrawal syndrome has been clearly demonstrated and is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including restlessness, nervousness, anxiety, dysphoria, irritability, insomnia, anorexia, muscle tremor, increased reflexes, autonomic effects (e.g., changes in heart rate and blood pressure), sweating, diarrhea, and in some cases aggressive behavior [14,28,29,56]. The most frequent symptoms of cannabis withdrawal are emotional and behavioral in nature and do not typically cause significant physical, medical, or psychiatric disorders . Regular daily use of cannabis can lead to withdrawal symptoms or a full-blown withdrawal syndrome upon cessation of use. With abrupt cessation, withdrawal symptoms emerge within one to two days, reach peak intensity after two to six days, and generally resolve within one to two weeks, though sleep difficulties may persist for more than one month. Cannabis withdrawal syndrome is included in the DSM-5, and it is new to this edition . Three of the following seven symptom clusters must be identified for a diagnosis according to the DSM-5 definition : Irritability, anger, or aggression Nervousness or anxiety Sleep difficulty (e.g., insomnia, disturbing dreams) Decreased appetite or weight loss At least one of the following physical symptoms causing significant discomfort Using the proposed DSM-5 criteria, researchers asked 384 lifetime, non-treatment-seeking cannabis addicts about their worst abstinence experience and found that 40% would be diagnosed with cannabis withdrawal syndrome . According to the DSM-5, 50% to 95% of adults and adolescents who are enrolled in treatment or who are heavy cannabis users report cannabis withdrawal symptoms . Cannabis withdrawal syndrome typically requires heavy, prolonged use to develop and may significantly impact social, educational, and occupational functioning . In a sample of adolescent cannabis users, the majority reported cannabis withdrawal, with an associated inability to perform school work and increased arguing, that began within 24 hours and worsened during the first several days of the abstinence period, especially in heavy users . The majority of adults seeking treatment for a cannabis use disorder report a history of cannabis withdrawal, with most reporting a co-occurrence of four or more symptoms of substantial severity . Neurochemical causes of cannabinoid withdrawal include reduced dopaminergic activity along the ventral tegmental area-nucleus accumbens pathway, and upregulated expression and release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the central nucleus of the amygdala . The onset of abstinence symptoms consistently occurs during the first 1 to 2 days following cessation of cannabis or oral THC administration. Most symptoms return to baseline or to comparison-group levels within 1 to 2 weeks, although irritability, muscle tension, and sleep problems, particularly unusual dreams, may not return to baseline for an extended period. Because most transient symptoms return to baseline and because persons with psychiatric disorders are excluded from studies examining cannabis withdrawal, it is believed that the withdrawal symptoms are not rebound effects indicative of the participants' condition before initiation of cannabis smoking [30,134]. The administration of cannabis during the first 24 to 96 hours of abstinence results in an abrupt reduction and return to baseline of multiple abstinence symptoms, suggesting that cannabis withdrawal syndrome is specific to THC in humans . Cannabis withdrawal has important treatment implications. Multiple symptoms of cannabis withdrawal syndrome are experienced among non-treatment-seeking daily cannabis users as well as inpatients and outpatients with cannabis dependence. In most cases, withdrawal symptoms are clearly observable to persons living with the user, who are able to document the disruption to daily living caused by the symptoms. The majority of persons enrolled in treatment for cannabis dependence acknowledge cannabis withdrawal symptoms, label at least some as moderate-to-severe, and complain that they make cessation of cannabis use more difficult [13,30]. The symptoms of cannabis withdrawal may overlap with other conditions, including disordered eating, sleep disturbances, and depressive disorders, and therefore heavy cannabis use should be considered in the evaluation of patients with weight loss, sleep problems, and other similar presentations . The significance of cannabis withdrawal and its potentially negative impact on treatment retention and relapse to cannabis use has not escaped the attention of researchers. Several pharmacotherapy trials investigating medications of possible utility in cannabis withdrawal have been undertaken. To date, CBD and nabiximols have both been shown to improve withdrawal symptoms, though additional research is necessary to establish efficacy and safety [136,137]. Until fairly recently, cannabis was not considered a drug with a liability of dependence and addiction. In the limited research, withdrawal did not appear to lead to any obvious physical symptoms, and animals failed to self-administer the drug, a behavior usually associated with drugs of addiction . Few studies had focused on the treatment of cannabis abuse or dependence. However, it is now known that individuals can develop a chronic use pattern associated with dependence symptoms and recurrent psychosocial problems [6,56]. Two factors have contributed to the historical lack of research: the common beliefs that cannabis abuse rarely occurred as a primary problem and that cannabis use did not produce a true dependence syndrome. Data contrary to these assumptions first appeared in the late 1980s, and treatment development and efficacy studies specific to cannabis dependence first began to appear in the scientific literature during the 1990s . As medicinal use of the drug has accelerated into the mainstream, and bolstered by the discovery of the human endocannabinoid system, a large amount of research into many facets of cannabis and cannabis use has emerged. Although an increasing number of individuals are seeking treatment specifically for a primary problem of cannabis dependence, most do not do so until they are older than 30 years of age. Young adults and adolescents generally seek treatment only when it is mandated by school officials, parents, or the criminal justice system . The constellation of concerns that bring cannabis users to treatment may not be major socioeconomic or psychosocial problems. Rather, patients tend to express more subtle dissatisfaction with multiple areas of functioning and concerns about future health problems, which motivate the desire to quit or reduce use . Individuals seeking treatment for cannabis use tend to exhibit social impairment and psychiatric distress, report multiple adverse consequences associated with cannabis use, and have a history of repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop using. Most patients perceive themselves as unable to quit . Contrary to the popular belief that dependent individuals have to want treatment before it can be effective, most enter treatment in a relatively involuntary state, often to avoid or to undo the consequences of the drug use . A significant opportunity to intervene is often the point at which drug abusers confront the legal consequences of their substance, especially taking into consideration the fact that more drug users are involved with the legal system than with the drug abuse treatment system . The majority of treatment studies to date involving cannabis use disorders have investigated behavioral and psychosocial therapies. However, given the high rate of relapse and overwhelming numbers of cannabis-dependent individuals, the importance of pharmacotherapy for the treatment of cannabis-dependent individuals, particularly those who have been unresponsive to other treatment modalities, is important . As cannabis withdrawal symptoms may be a factor contributing to continuing cannabis use, medications alleviating these symptoms could be useful. Unfortunately, there is little research completed that evaluates the effectiveness of potential treatment medications on cannabis withdrawal in humans. According to completed studies, no medication, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mixed-action antidepressants, atypical antidepressants, anxiolytics, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, has been shown to definitively decrease cannabis use by humans [7,13,26,85]. There is some evidence that bupropion may be effective in lessening the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal . Bupropion facilitates abstinence from cigarette smoking, in part through its ability to decrease negative mood symptoms, and because similar mood symptoms have also been associated with cannabis withdrawal, it was suggested that this medication may have a place in the treatment of cannabis withdrawal. The authors of one study found that bupropion resulted in less craving for the drug, but other studies have reported worsened mood and continued sleep difficulties, possibly caused by bupropion-associated enhanced norepinephrine activity [13,35,36]. Other researchers have evaluated the role of nefazodone because of its demonstrated effectiveness in clinical populations with conditions also associated with cannabis withdrawal, including depression, agitation, and anxiety. In a 2009 study, nefazodone decreased irritability and the severity of cannabis dependence, but it is unclear if these effects would ultimately result in improved long-term abstinence . A third study evaluated the effectiveness of divalproex, which was chosen for testing based on evidence of successful treatment of some symptoms associated with cannabis withdrawal, such as irritability and mood lability [13,37]. Divalproex was not found to positively affect cannabis withdrawal symptoms; in fact, many withdrawal symptoms (e.g., anxiety and irritability) increased compared to placebo. Divalproex also resulted in psychomotor performance disruptions. Treatment of cannabis withdrawal with gabapentin has shown some promise in a pilot clinical trial . Although the dropout rate was very high (72%), 1,200 mg per day significantly reduced withdrawal symptoms compared to placebo and resulted in decreased cannabis use among those participants that remained .Another agent evaluated for its effect on attenuating cannabis withdrawal is dronabinol (oral delta-9-THC) . Use of dronabinol in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms is based on the concept of substituting a longer-acting, pharmacologically equivalent drug for the abused substance to stabilize the patient, with the intent to gradually withdraw the substituted drug. Oral delta-9-THC is successful in markedly reducing withdrawal symptoms, including self reports of drug craving, anxiety, misery, anorexia, and sleep disturbance . Although use of dronabinol is associated with improved withdrawal symptoms and treatment retention, it has not been shown to reduce cannabis self-administration . An issue of potential concern related to treating cannabis-dependent patients with dronabinol is the abuse potential. Abuse liability is influenced by the neurochemical effects as determined by the route of administration, drug concentrations, and the maximum drug concentrations. Thus, administration of dronabinol would be expected to produce much less reinforcement than smoked cannabis. Another advantage is that, unlike smoked cannabis, dronabinol is not associated with adverse pulmonary effects. Considering all of these factors, the benefits of dronabinol in the treatment of cannabis withdrawal appear to outweigh potential risks . One study compared the treatment efficacy of oral dronabinol and the synthetic THC analogue nabilone . The results showed that nabilone has a longer time to peak effect, is more sustained, has fewer negative cognitive effects, and results in greater mood enhancement characteristics compared to dronabinol. Also, the effects are more dose-related, perhaps making it the better option for cannabinoid-replacement withdrawal treatment. Although dronabinol also decreases symptoms of cannabis withdrawal, the drug is ineffective in preventing relapse . Researchers hope nabilone can prove effective for both purposes in clinical trials. A small study (11 participants) of daily cannabis users found that nabilone decreased reversed withdrawal-related irritability, sleep disturbances, and anorexia, though psychomotor skills were impaired . Nabilone (8 mg per day) also decreased the rate of relapse, indicating the need for further research . In another study, 25 adult outpatients were randomized to either 6 weeks of placebo or divalproex, then switched to the alternate treatment for an additional 6 weeks. No significant between-groups differences were found in regards to treatment retention, with 38% of divalproex subjects and 33% of control subjects completing the entire study. Persons started on divalproex did not display better outcomes in terms of improvement in cannabis use or psychological symptoms than those started on placebo. All 25 patients had low blood levels of the study medications, suggesting poor compliance. However, retention during the first 8 study weeks was high (>75%), suggesting the medication was discontinued because it was poorly tolerated in this population . Other medications studied for alcohol relapse prevention, including buspirone, baclofen, and mirtazapine, have proven ineffective for cannabis relapse prevention [38,87]. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an over-the-counter supplement, has been studied in adolescents with cannabis use disorder . NAC is thought to reinstate normal glutamate activity that is disrupted by chronic cannabis use. The participants who received NAC (1,200 mg twice daily) and contingency management were more than twice as likely to have a negative drug screen compared to those receiving only contingency management . Although clozapine is known to be effective in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, its side effect profile limits its clinical utility. A small pilot study comparing clozapine and the second-generation antipsychotic ziprasidone, both agents were found to decrease cannabis use . Ziprasidone was associated with fewer side effects and better compliance with treatment than clozapine. The American Psychiatric Association recommends that patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder should be offered pharmacotherapies effective for the treatment of cannabis withdrawal and relapse prevention in addition to psychotherapy . Several psychosocial therapy modalities have been evaluated in the treatment of patients with cannabis use disorders. Cannabis users seeking therapy to quit may participate in standard counseling that is typically offered in community-based substance abuse clinics. Individual drug counseling emphasizes abstinence from cannabis and other drugs through use of self-help groups and a 12-step approach . Contingency management (CM) approaches to adult substance abuse are effective behavioral interventions to increase drug abstinence and other treatment goals when integrated with other effective psychosocial treatments . Essentially, CM interventions use reinforcement or punishment contingencies to increase or decrease the frequency of predetermined therapeutic and behavioral objectives . Contingency management programs have been found effective to decrease rates of relapse among patients in treatment for cannabis use disorders . Relapse prevention assists patients with decreasing their vulnerability to relapse by addressing topics such as lifestyle balance and managing high-risk situations . Social support is based on the necessity of group support for change. Topics discussed in the group setting include getting and giving support, dealing with denial and mood swings, and interacting with peers who continue to use cannabis . In brief motivational interviewing, a therapist provides feedback from a comprehensive assessment using motivational interviewing techniques. The therapist also instructs subjects on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques that could be used to abstain from cannabis use [11,41]. One study compared a cognitive-behavioral relapse-prevention treatment; a brief, two-session motivational intervention; and a delayed-treatment control group . The active treatment interventions resulted in greater reductions in cannabis use than delayed treatment. Four months post-intake, participants in the two active groups reported reduced cannabis use compared to the delayed treatment group, reductions in frequency of use per day, lower number of dependence symptoms, and fewer problems related to cannabis use. At 16-month assessment, cannabis use increased in both active treatment groups but was lower than pretreatment levels. Urine drug screens were not obtained, and all drug use data was based on self-report and collateral verification. In another study, 136 cannabis-dependent adults, 18 to 25 years of age, referred by the criminal justice system, were randomized to one of four treatment conditions. CM consistently produced positive effects in terms of treatment retention and cannabis use, both of which were specifically targeted. There were few significant main effects for motivational enhancement therapy/cognitive-behavioral therapy (MET/CBT) over drug counseling. However, additional analysis suggested that a combination of CM and MET/CBT resulted in better outcomes than MET/CBT without CM and drug counseling plus CM. All three treatments were found to be significantly more effective than drug counseling without CM. Participants assigned to MET/CBT continued to reduce the frequency of their cannabis use through a 6-month follow-up. The study population was noteworthy in that the participants were primarily young African American men with an average of five arrests by 21 years of age, 43% of whom met diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder. Most had not completed high school and were unemployed . In another study, efficacy of two brief interventions for cannabis-dependent adults across three study conditions was compared: two sessions of MET; nine sessions of multicomponent therapy (MET, CBT, and case management); and a delayed treatment control. The study followed 450 adult cannabis smokers with a diagnosis of cannabis dependence at baseline who were evaluated at 4, 9, and 15 months following treatment assignment. The nine-session intervention produced superior outcomes compared with the two-session treatment in terms of reductions in cannabis use and its consequences up to 12 months following treatment termination. The two-session treatment was more effective in use reduction than the control. Overall, the findings suggest that both substance abuse treatment programs and behavioral healthcare providers should consider making cannabis-specific treatment more available and accessible. The authors also conclude that cannabis-focused treatments may be necessary for this population to achieve abstinence or to significantly reduce cannabis use. Complete abstinence is not the only clinically meaningful outcome of treatment, and when given the opportunity, many cannabis abusers respond to treatment primarily by cutting back rather than quitting entirely . A study of 90 cannabis-dependent adults seeking treatment randomly assigned participants to receive CBT, abstinence-based voucher incentives, or a combination of CBT and vouchers for 14 weeks. The authors found that, during treatment, abstinence-based vouchers were effective for facilitating prolonged periods of cannabis abstinence. CBT did not contribute to during-treatment abstinence, but it did enhance the post-treatment maintenance of the initial positive effect of vouchers. These results indicate that abstinence-based vouchers are a valuable treatment option, the use of which leads to greater rates of cannabis abstinence during treatment in comparison with a commonly used with CBT for cannabis dependence . The American Psychiatric Association notes that treatment of cannabis use disorder with CBT and MET may be improved with the concurrent use of CM strategies . Combined treatment results in improved initial and long-term abstinence. Approximately one-third of high school seniors (31.1% to 36.4%) used cannabis at least once in 2013 . Less than 10% of adolescents who report substance use disorder symptoms in the past year have ever received treatment, and when adolescents do enter treatment for cannabis use, only 20% believe their use is problematic . These findings suggest the need for interventions to increase motivation for change and encourage treatment entry for this population. One study of the efficacy of psychosocial treatments in this patient population included 97 adolescents who had used cannabis at least nine times in the previous month. Participants were randomized to either an immediate two-session motivational enhancement intervention or a 3-month delayed treatment control. The majority (two-thirds) of the sample described themselves as in the pre-contemplation or contemplation stages of change regarding cannabis use. Cannabis use and negative consequences were assessed at baseline and at 3-month follow-up, and the assessment battery was carefully constructed to not appear biased toward demanding change. Both groups significantly reduced cannabis use at the 3-month follow-up, with an overall reduction in cannabis use by 16% (6 less days) over a 60-day period. Although reductions were modest and no differences between treatments were observed, the study succeeded in recruiting non-treatment-seeking adolescent cannabis smokers who were predominantly in the early stages of readiness for change, overcoming barriers in reaching adolescents who were frequent cannabis users . Kamon et al. reported the results of a 14-week feasibility study of family-based CM with 19 adolescents 15 to 18 years of age . The intervention consisted of a clinic-administered, abstinence-based incentive program; parent-directed CM targeting substance use and conduct problems; a clinic-administered incentive program targeting parental participation; and individual CBT for the adolescent patients. Twice-weekly urine and breath testing was conducted to monitor substance use. The adolescents attended an average of 10.3 of 14 weekly sessions; parents attended an average of 10.6 sessions. By the end of treatment, substance use, externalizing behaviors, and negative parenting behaviors had decreased. Based on results of the urine testing, abstinence increased from 37% at intake to 74% by the end of the study period; 53% of adolescents were abstinent 30 days post-treatment. The efficacy of a family-based CM model to treat adolescent substance use and conduct problems was demonstrated . Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among persons with mental illness and is associated with increased rates of recurrent psychiatric symptomatology and relapse . Unfortunately, the amount and quality of research regarding the psychosocial treatment of these patients is limited. In one study, researchers conducted a randomized, single-blind controlled comparison of routine care with a program of routine care integrated with motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and family or caregiver intervention in patients with comorbid schizophrenia and substance use disorder (including cannabis misuse) . They found that the integrated treatment approach resulted in significantly greater improvement in patients' general functioning than routine care alone at the end of treatment and at one year follow-up . Longer and more intensive treatment may be necessary for dually diagnosed patients, particularly those with chronic mental illness . More research with this population is necessary in order to draw definitive conclusions. Many persons addicted to cannabis lack the resources for inpatient or outpatient treatment for their substance abuse problem or may be in need of ongoing support following treatment. To meet these needs, self-help groups provide a vital resource for those seeking support for abstinence. Self-help groups are non-professional organizations operated by peers who share the same addictive disorder. Self-help group attendance is free . The most successful self-help groups employ the 12-step program and are modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). These groups include Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Marijuana Anonymous (MA). The 12-step model emphasizes acceptance of addiction as a chronic progressive disease that can be arrested through abstinence but not cured. Additional elements of the 12-step model include spiritual growth, personal responsibility, and helping other addicted persons. By inducing a shift in the consciousness of the addict, 12-step programs offer a holistic solution. Groups such as NA and MA are also a resource for emotional support and are perhaps more accurately classified as "mutual help" organizations [46,47]. Spiritual beliefs and endorsement of the disease concept are not prerequisites for NA or MA attendance, and spiritual beliefs have not been found to cause external attribution for previous drug use or possible future lapse events . Relative to the more established AA, there are few studies published on NA. However, the studies that have been conducted reveal important information about how NA functions to help the new member abstain from drug use. Improvement in psychological functioning as a result of NA involvement has been observed . Studies have shown that individuals who have been off drugs and involved with NA for longer periods tend to have lower trait anxiety and higher self-esteem scores. Those who are abstinent for more than 3 years exhibit levels of anxiety and self-esteem similar to the general population . Being active as an NA sponsor over a 1-year period has been found to be strongly associated with substantial improvements in sustained abstinence rates, which suggests that providing direction and support to other newer addicts is a way to enhance the likelihood of one's own abstinence . Marijuana Anonymous (MA), a self-help program specific to persons with a desire to stop using cannabis, was formed in California in 1989 by cannabis addicts who felt their addiction to cannabis was not taken seriously in other 12-step meetings. MA is modeled after AA and NA, and members use the same 12-step model. MA meetings can be found in 36 states in the United States and in many countries . In a study of 1,288 male patients, participation in a 12-step program predicted maintenance of cannabis abstinence and the re-initiation of abstinence after a relapse . Participation in 12-step groups during and after treatment has been associated with positive outcomes among substance users, including cannabis-dependent patients . Clinicians should encourage 12-step group participation as an aspect of treatment. A study conducted by Laudet identified two major obstacles to 12-step program participation: motivation and readiness for change and the perceived need for help . Other obstacles to participation include perceived convenience and scheduling issues. This underscores the importance of promoting motivation for change and the need to assess patient beliefs regarding experiences with 12-step programs on a case-by-case basis in order to find a good fit between patient needs and 12-step resources . For those who are not proficient in English, it is important that information regarding the use and potential abuse of cannabis and available resources be provided in their native language, if possible. When there is an obvious disconnect in the communication process between the practitioner and patient due to the patient's lack of proficiency in the English language, an interpreter is required. Interpreters can be a valuable resource to help bridge the communication and cultural gap between clients/patients and practitioners. Interpreters are more than passive agents who translate and transmit information from party to party. When they are enlisted and treated as part of the interdisciplinary clinical team, they serve as cultural brokers who ultimately enhance the clinical encounter. In any case in which information regarding diagnostic procedures, treatment options, and medication/treatment measures are being provided, the use of an interpreter should be considered. Print materials are also available in many languages, and these should be offered whenever necessary. Lapse and relapse are common among cannabis-dependent outpatients, with relapse rates similar to those found in studies of alcohol, opiate, and smoking cessation. The relationship between lapse and relapse among 82 patients who achieved at least two weeks of abstinence during outpatient treatment for cannabis dependence was examined by Moore and Budney . The authors found that 71% of those who were abstinent went on to exhibit full relapse, defined as 4 or more days of cannabis use per week. Studies of treatment efficacy show that cannabis-dependent adults tend to respond well to a variety of interventions. Although continuous abstinence is a less common outcome, all psychosocial therapies tested demonstrate utility in reducing cannabis use when delivered in both individual and group sessions . As noted, CM combined with CBT or motivational enhancement may enhance outcomes . However, low abstinence rates are an indicator of the difficulty in treating cannabis dependence by psychotherapies in outpatient settings. These suboptimal drug use outcomes suggest that continued development and testing of more effective treatments for cannabis dependence should remain a priority . Comorbid mental disorders are also a risk factor for poorer outcomes. In particular, the presence of antisocial personality disorder is associated with increased rates of addictive and externalizing disorders, use of illicit substances in early adolescence, and rates of hyperactivity. These patients have a relatively poor prognosis for treatment outcome . Cannabis is a significant drug of recreation and abuse. It is nearly inevitable that healthcare professionals in a variety of settings will have contact with a patient who uses or has used cannabis. Therefore, an understanding of the acute and sustained effects associated with the drug will facilitate better patient care. Knowledge of possible therapeutic uses of the drug is also necessary, as cannabis has become a part of the treatment of some chronic diseases. The information provided in this course should allow clinicians to better address the use of cannabis in their patients as well as to discuss the role and effectiveness of cannabis in ameliorating symptoms associated with chemotherapy/cancer, AIDS, and other conditions. 1. Ben Amar M. Cannabinoids in medicine: a review of their therapeutic potential. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;105(1-2):1-25. 2. Volkow ND, Baler RD, Compton WM, Weiss SR. Adverse health effects of marijuana use. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(23):2219-2227. 3. van der Pol P, Liebregts N, de Graaf R, Korf DJ, van den Brink W, van Laar M. Facilitators and barriers in treatment seeking for cannabis dependence. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013;133(2):776-780. 4. Hubbard JR, Franco SE, Onaivi ES. Marijuana: medical implications. Am Fam Physician. 1999;60(9):2583-2588, 2593. 5. 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Filming for the "Hot Cheetos and Takis" video in Minneapolis. , Josh Timmerman Artist of the year 2012: Overachievers and true believers - Article by: Star Tribune staff - December 28, 2012 - 3:43 PM Two projects in the portfolio of Tim Carl -- a colleague of Joan Soranno at HGA Architects -- proved that 2012 was a very good year for modernism. As lead designer of the Nelson Center, an addition to the American Swedish Institute, Carl maintained a sensitive balance of contemporary minimalism (glass walls, skylights and green roof) and traditional folk style (leather-wrapped handrails, oak beams, slate shingles). In St. Paul, he reprised that modernist aesthetic in a renovation and expansion of the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center at Macalester College, where an airy two-story atrium now serves as the lobby for the school's music, visual art, theater and dance programs. MARY ABBEStory of the year: Musician lockouts It is rare when contract negotiations result in the lockout of a city's world-class orchestra. It is unprecedented when that happens to two world-class ensembles in the same metropolitan area. The ongoing dispute between musicians and management at both the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has silenced these bands for the past two months and brought national attention to the current state of the classical-music industry. GRAYDON ROYCECreative kid stuff Much ado was made about Korean rapper/dancer PSY's "Gangnam Style" video crossing the 1-billion-hits mark on YouTube. How about a bunch of grade-school students from north Minneapolis getting 4.7 million hits (and counting) with no corporate promotion -- just backing from a North Community YMCA after-school program? Y.N.Rich Kids' "Hot Cheetos & Takis" delivered some seriously appetizing rhymes about the young rappers' favorite vices. As Toki Wright, local rap star and educator (whose daughter appeared in the clip), said: "Kids can make a lot with a little, and this video shows it." CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDERA debut to remember Minneapolis writer Will Alexander was astounded when his debut young-adult novel, "Goblin Secrets," was named a National Book Award finalist. The call came on his 36th birthday, and at first he thought friends were playing a prank. But in November, in New York City, when his name was read as the winner, it was no prank. "My mind went blank," he said later that evening. "I'm still not used to being a novelist at all. I've only been a novelist since March." Alexander, who sold books at Magers & Quinn and writes occasionally for Rain Taxi Review of Books, teaches English at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. And he is still writing -- a companion book, "Ghoulish Song," is due in March. LAURIE HERTZELGood neighbors As media spun through the endless cycle of Campaign 2012, photographer Alec Soth and writer Brad Zellar decided to engage the country on a human level with a series of road trips through the Rust Belt. Having explored Minnesota's shadowed soul last winter in the book "House of Coates," they expected to trace the decay of community life in hard times. But what they also found -- and documented in three "newspapers" and online at lbmdispatch.tumblr.com -- was a hope that better days lie ahead, and the refreshing openheartedness of people who, Zellar writes, "had been tenderized by their experiences and their lives, yet who took the time to show us their towns, their homes, and in some instances their scars." If ever journalism and poetry can intersect, this must be the place. TIM CAMPBELLThe memorialist Haunted by a 13-second disaster in which 190 people plunged from a bridge into the Mississippi River, photographer Vance Gellert grabbed a camera and spent two years documenting the aftermath of that 2007 horror. Hundreds of photos later, he assembled 50 portraits into "The Bridge," a show at Mill City Museum in Minneapolis that commemorates "what went wrong and what went right." Video interviews and text panels recount the heroic efforts of ordinary people whose lives were changed dramatically by the failure of a bridge. The exhibit ends this Sunday (noon to 5 p.m., 704 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis), but Gellert plans to take his show on the road next year. MARY ABBEYarn king Even in an art form defined by unconventional methods, HOTTEA stands out -- and he did so in bright, colorful ways in 2012. The street art veteran (real name: Eric Rieger) doesn't use spray paint; he covers the city in yarn. This year, passersby saw his HOTTEA tag woven through chain-link fences from Minneapolis to New York. While his brand of "yarn-bombing" has been a gallery darling before, this summer he went big: His massive installation at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts used 84 miles of yarn to create an interpretation of the sun. TOM HORGENTeam players Talk about synergy: The 30th-anniversary roster members of Zenon Dance Company complement each other very well. Newbies Tristan Koepke and Scott Mettille looked right at home dancing alongside veterans Mary Ann Bradley, Tamara Ober, Leslie O'Neill, Stephen Schroeder, Laura Selle Virtucio and Greg Waletski during spring and fall seasons at the Cowles Center. Not only did they mesh consistently, but they did so in a repertory rich with stylistic diversity (modern, jazz and ballroom dance), showing that together they can perform the heck out of any movement that comes their way. Just ask choreographers Wynn Fricke, Mariusz Olszewski, Morgan Thorson and Netta Yerushalmy, all of whom created impressive new works in 2012 for the troupe, led by Linda Z. Andrews. CAROLINE PALMERNever better Whether it was Rock the Garden, Soundset or First Avenue, rapper P.O.S. stole the show from anyone who dared touch the mike. He capped it off with "We Don't Even Live Here," a visionary album exploding with anti-everything angst and a futuristic dance soundtrack. It wasn't just the best local album of 2012, but an all-time classic. And he did it all with bad kidneys -- the illness canceling what would have been a triumphant end-of-the-year tour. A downer? Yes. But his fans responded by crowd-funding a new kidney to the tune of $25,000 in less than a week. He gave his all to create a brash, new Minneapolis Sound -- and his audience rewarded him with Minnesota Nice. TOM HORGENBest director After a spell shepherding August Wilson's works to Broadway, Tony nominee Marion McClinton returned home to the Twin Cities to show us his gifts. He directed two memorable productions this year: Tarell Alvin McCraney's "The Brothers Size" and "Buzzer," both for Pillsbury House Theatre. McClinton also worked at Park Square, investing his shows with his signature musical sensibility and lyricism. ROHAN PRESTONMr. Versatile Twin Cities audiences have savored Raye Birk's emotional depth for many years. This year, he hit the trifecta of an intimate and idiosyncratic portrait in "The Last Word" at Minnesota Jewish Theatre, a big comic triumph in "The Sunshine Boys" at the Guthrie and one of the great Shakespeare roles in "King Lear" at Park Square. It is always worthwhile to watch Birk, an actor so articulate in understanding nuance and human psychology. GRAYDON ROYCEBreakout performer Chicago is trying to claim the talents of Namir Smallwood, who has acted at Steppenwolf and other Windy City venues, but the Twin Cities had him first. Smallwood showed his protean talents this year with estimable performances in "Buzzer," which will be revived this spring, and "The Brothers Size." Whether playing a gadget-distracted black lawyer who returns with two white friends to live in his old neighborhood ("Buzzer") or a fresh-out-of-jail, troubled younger sibling ("Brothers Size"), he delivered like a natural, claiming the audience's full attention as he essayed the quicksilver conflicts and subtleties of his characters. ROHAN PRESTONThe creative voice A successful choral performance requires more than impeccable sound and musicianship. Creative programming is also essential. That has always been a strong suit of the choral group Cantus, but never more so than with last spring's "The Singing Revolution: Songs of the Baltic Awakening," their powerful musical documentation of the peaceful revolution that liberated Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the Soviet Union. WILLIAM RANDALL BEARDComic book hero Cartoonist Tom Kaczynski started 2012 with a lofty new goal of making a name for other comic-book artists. From an attic studio in south Minneapolis, his fledging company, Uncivilized Books, released comics star Gabrielle Bell's "The Voyeurs" to national acclaim. He closed out the year by focusing on his own work: comics powerhouse Fantagraphics released Kaczynski's long-awaited "Beta Testing the Apocalypse." The book is an investigation of philosophy, sci-fi and post-modern ideas -- all intersecting on a multi-paneled, hand-drawn page. When it comes to comics, this guy can do it all. TOM HORGENThe secret is out With the bells tolling louder for record labels, Minneapolis upstart Secret Stash Records enjoyed a breakout year by going against the digital grain. Its vinyl editions of long-out-of-print records by everyone from '70s Ghanaian star K Frimpong to Georgia soul singer Mickey Murray made the label a favorite of collectors. It applied that same amount of care to a first-ever two-LP compilation of mostly rug-swept hometown R&B stars, "Twin Cities Funk & Soul: Lost Grooves From Minneapolis/St. Paul (1964-1979)." What's "lost" was found to be unforgettable. © 2016 Star Tribune

I'm always pleased to see people post their little twenty-line hacks on use.perl, following lines like, "I wanted to do X, but it was annoying to do manually, so I wrote this." It's really weird that I do that less and less as I become more of a coder and less of an admin. (Really, that change is pretty complete by now.) So, I'm trying to get back into the habit of writing little time-savers. My current batch are little scripts to make my Apple-based data available to my old unix-based tools. I want mutt to have my address book, I want my long-defunct countdown calendar to get information from iCal, and so on. I started to write some things in AppleScript, but that was doomed, so I moved to Mac::Glue, but I think I'll have to finish it later this week. Then I'll post it. I'm surprised I haven't seen an addrbook2mutt script before. pudge, who runs use.perl, often bugs the hell out of me, but other times he says things that are really quite reasonable, and one of them was reasonable enough that I remind myself of it now and then. I mentioned some very cheap piece of payware, like Synergy, maybe. He said, "I like to write free software that makes pay software unnecessary." I'd like to do some more of that, myself. This, though, after paying for NetNewsWire. My demo expired, and it's saved me so much time that I didn't want to go on without it. Now that I've shelled out (oof!) $40 for a news aggregator, I need to start really putting it to use. Time to code up some feeds and script some news munging!

|Home | About | Journals | Submit | Contact Us | Français| Previous studies have demonstrated that EGF and bFGF maintain the stem cell properties of proliferating human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (hASCs) in vitro. While the expansion and cryogenic preservation of isolated hASCs are routine, these manipulations can impact their proliferative and differentiation potential. This study examined cryogenically preserved hASCs (n = 4 donors), with respect to these functions, after culture with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) at varying concentrations (0–10 ng/ml). Relative to the control, cells supplemented with EGF and bFGF significantly increased proliferation by up to three-fold over 7–8 days. Furthermore, cryopreserved hASCs expanded in the presence of EGF and bFGF displayed increased oil red O staining following adipogenic induction. This was accompanied by significantly increased levels of several adipogenesis-related mRNAs: aP2, C/EBPα, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), PPARγ and PPARγ co-activator-1 (PGC1). Adipocytes derived from EGF- and bFGF-cultured hASCs exhibited more robust functionality based on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-stimulated lipolysis. These findings indicate that bFGF and EGF can be used as culture supplements to optimize the proliferative capacity of cryopreserved human ASCs and their adipogenic differentiation potential. There is a growing interest in adult human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (hASCs), which are abundant, plastic and useful for exploring the mechanisms of adipose tissue differentiation. The ASCs have been confirmed to differentiate along multiple lineage pathways (adipocyte, chondrocyte, neuronal-like and osteoblast) in vitro at the clonal level, consistent with the definition of a ‘stem cell’ (Guilak et al., 2006; Zuk et al., 2001, 2002; Halvorsen et al., 2000, 2001; Gronthos et al., 2001). It is of interest that the adipogenic potential was most difficult to maintain with extensive expansion of the clonal populations (Guilak et al., 2006). Since the number of human pre-adipocyte cell lines are limited, our laboratory and others utilize primary cultures of hASCs. Consequently, it is necessary that isolated hASCs be cryopreserved for future experiments; however, current techniques for expanding, preserving and inducing such cells leave room for improvement. While it has been reported that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can be cryopreserved without loss of viability or osteogenic potential (Kotobuki et al., 2004), it has been reported that cryopreservation can reduce the viability, proliferation and differentiation ability of CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells (de Boer et al., 2002; Keung et al., 1996; Stylianou et al., 2006). Furthermore, while cryopreservation of intact human adipose tissue has been achieved (Shoshani et al., 2001), studies suggest that optimal viability requires the presence of cryoprotectant agents and controlled rate freezing (Moscatello et al., 2005). We have noted a decreased viability in the cryopreserved isolated hASCs as a function of cell concentration, although differentiation function was generally maintained (Goh et al., 2007). During our efforts to optimize hASC cryopreservation (Devireddy et al., 2005; Goh et al., 2007; Thirumala et al., 2005a, 2005b), we have noted a loss of adipogenic differentiation potentiality in some lots of cryopreserved hASCs post-thaw. To date, a standard expansion procedure for hASCs after cryopreservation has not been recognized. Multiple laboratories, including our own, maintain the hASCs in a stromal medium consisting of Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM)/F-12 Ham’s, supplemented only with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% antibiotics/antimycotics (Mitchell et al., 2006]. Some laboratories have supplemented their expansion medium with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and/or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to accelerate hASC proliferation (Hauner et al., 1995; Iwashima et al., 2008; Skurk et al., 2007), while others have employed commercial media optimized for endothelial cell growth (Miranville et al., 2004; Rehman et al., 2004; Suga et al., 2007). These latter compositions are supplemented with polypeptide growth factors, including EGF and bFGF, that have the potential to increase cell proliferation and modulate differentiation of hASCs. Previous studies have speculated that a synergy exists between EGF and bFGF (Hauner et al., 1995; Suga et al., 2007) but the dose-dependent effects of these two factors in combination have not been examined closely. The effects of EGF and bFGF vary greatly among species; however, numerous studies demonstrate that EGF and bFGF increase proliferation and modulate the differentiation potential of hASCs (Butterwith et al., 1993; Hauner et al., 1995; Tamama et al., 2006; Zaragosi et al., 2006). EGF is a single-chain polypeptide noted for having proliferative and differentiating effects on many mammalian tissues (Hauner et al., 1995; Kurachi et al., 1993). EGF is known to enhance migration and cell proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells while maintaining differentiation potential (Tamama et al., 2006), and the involvement of EGF in adipose tissue development has been postulated based on the correlation between increased levels of EGF and obesity onset in ovariectomized mice (Kurachi et al., 1993). Also, EGF has significant effects on in vitro adipocyte development and function at concentrations comparable to those found in human serum (Hauner et al., 1995). Likewise, bFGF has been found to act as a mitogen and chemoattractant that enhances angiogenesis, migration and adipogenic differentiation of both ASCs and BMSCs (Hauner et al., 1995; Locklin et al., 1999; Schmidt et al., 2006; Vashi et al., 2006). Zarogosi et al. (2006), by inhibiting bFGF receptor signalling, have demonstrated that hASCs express bFGF as an autocrine factor. In similar studies, Rider et al. (2008) found that inhibition of endogenous bFGF reduced the rate of hASC proliferation. Thus, bFGF appears to be necessary for stem cell self-renewal, proliferation and the maintenance of hASC pluripotency. In contrast, the presence of bFGF in osteogenic medium has been noted to inhibit murine ASC extracellular matrix mineralization and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity (Quarto and Longaker, 2006). The addition of bFGF inhibited the murine ASC expression of the BMP 1B receptor in response to retinoic acid; however, this mechanism appears to be species-specific, since bFGF addition was not observed to inhibit human ASC osteogenesis in vitro (Quarto et al., 2008). Recently, we observed that EGF and bFGF induced hASC secretion of the hepatic growth factor (HGF) (Kilroy et al., 2007). This cytokine has the potential to function in an autocrine manner, since hASCs express its receptor (c-Met) mRNA (Kilroy et al., 2007). A related study has determined that HGF expression by human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs correlated with both increased proliferative capacity and adipogenic potential in vitro (Markov et al., 2007). Based on these observations, we hypothesized that the presence of EGF and bFGF would enhance the proliferation and differentiation potential of cryopreserved hASCs. The current study examines the effect of EGF and bFGF with respect to hASC cell proliferation and adipogenesis. Adult human lipoaspirates were obtained with consent from nine female patients undergoing elective liposuction procedures [mean age 36.9 (range 27–62) years; mean BMI 25.6 (range 21.6–29.4); demographic data for one of the nine subjects was not obtained and is missing from these mean values; Table 1]. The hASCs were isolated from the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen after the initial passage at a concentration of 0.5 × 106 cells/ml in 10% dimethylsulphoxide, 10% DMEM/F-12 Ham’s (DMEM/F-12), and 80% FBS according to published methods (Goh et al., 2007). All protocols were reviewed and approved by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center Institutional Review Board. All cells were cryopreserved for a minimum period of >1 month in liquid nitrogen prior to plating (Goh et al., 2007). Vials of hASCs were thawed rapidly with vigorous agitation in a 37 °C waterbath washed once with stromal medium (DMEM/F-12, 10% FBS (Hyclone, Logan, UT, USA), 1% antibiotic/antimycotic (MP Biomedicals, Solon, OH, USA) and cultured at 37 °C, 5% CO2. Following a 48 h expansion, the hASCs were harvested by trypsin digestion and replated at a density of 5000 cells/cm2 in stromal medium. After 24 h to allow for adherence, the stromal medium was converted to DMEM/F-12 containing 3% FBS and 1% antibiotic/antimycotic and supplemented with EGF (0, 0.1, 1.0 or 10 ng/ml) and/or bFGF (0, 0.1, 1.0 or 10 ng/ml). Cells used in proliferation assays were maintained under these conditions for 7–8 days. Cells for GPDH assays, oil red O staining and qRT–PCR were induced for adipogenesis at day 8 of culture with adipogenic medium (DMEM/F-12, 3% FBS, 1% antibiotic/antimycotic, 33 μM biotin, 17 μM pantothenate, 1 μM insulin, 1 μM dexamethasone, 0.5 mM IBMX, 5 μM Rosiglitazone (AK Scientific, Mountain View, CA, USA). After 3 days media was converted to adipogenesis maintenance medium (DMEM/F-12, 3% FBS, 1% antibiotic/antimycotic, 33 μM biotin, 17 μM pantothenate, 1 μM insulin, 1 μM dexamethasone) and cells were fed three times/week (Halvorsen et al., 2001; Mitchell et al., 2006). Cell proliferation was determined on passage 1 hASCs after 7–8 days of conditioning with varying concentrations of EGF and bFGF. Cells from individual wells of a 24-well plate were harvested using 0.05% trypsin in EDTA. An aliquot of cells was stained with Trypan blue, and total number cells per well was determined using a haematocytometer. Cells grown in a 24-well plate for 7 days of preconditioning with varying concentrations of EGF- and bFGF-supplemented conditions were induced for adipogenesis and maintained for up to 9 days. The cells were then washed three times with PBS, fixed in 10% formalin (1 h, 4°C) and stained using oil red O (Halvorsen et al., 2001). The plates were rinsed three times with distilled water and photographs were taken of a representative field for each condition at ×100 magnification. In a subset of studies performed on three independent donors, the oil red O stain retained by the hASCs following adipogenesis was eluted by incubation of the well in the presence of isopropanol. Parallel wells incubated under identical conditions were left unstained, harvested and used to determine total cell counts per well. The optical density at 510 nm (OD510) was determined for the eluted oil red O stain per well using a SpectraMax Plux 384 plate reader from Molecular Devices and the values were normalized relative to the total number of cells per well under each culture condition. Total RNA was extracted from cells using TRI-Reagent according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Molecular Research Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA). Cells cultured in adipogenic medium were harvested 8 days after induction. Real-time PCR was performed in a final reaction volume of 10 μl, including forward and reverse primers (0.1 mM), 1.5 μg reverse-transcribed RNA and 5 μl SYBR green master mix (Applied Biosystems, Warrington, UK), using an ABI Prism 7900 instrument (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The following forward (F) and reverse (R) primer pairs (Accession Nos given) were employed: aP2 (NM 001 442), (F) AAAGAAGTAGGAGTGGGCTTTGC; (R) CCCCATTCACACTGATGATCAT; C/EBPα (NM 004 364.2), (F) GGGTCTGAGACTCCCTTTCCTT; (R) CTCATTGGTCCCCCAGGAT; Cyclophilin B (M60857), (F) GGAGATGGCACAGGAGGAAA; (R) CGTAGTGCTTCAGTTTGAAGTTCTCA; LPL (NM 000 237.1), (F) CAGATGCCCTACAAAGTCTTCCA; (R) TGATTGGTATGGGTTTCACTCTCA; PGC1a (NM 013 261.2), (F) CCCAAGGGTTCCCCATTT; (R) TTAGGCCTGCAGTTCCAGAGA; PPARγ 2 (NM 015 869), (F) AGGCGAGGGCGATCTTG; (R) CCCATCATTAAGGAATTCATGTCATA. The expression levels of each mRNA were normalized to cyclophilin B, which has been used successfully as a housekeeping gene for comparative purposes in both in vitro and in vivo studies by our laboratory (Wu et al., 2007, 2008; Zvonic et al., 2006). The hASCs were seeded in 24-well plates and equal number of wells were preconditioned in the absence or presence of EGF (10 ng/ml) and bFGF (10 ng/ml) for a period of 6 days. At that time, all hASCs were induced with adipogenic medium for 3 days without any EGF or bFGF supplementation and then fed with adipogenic maintenance medium 3 times/week. Twelve days following adipogenic induction, the hASCs were washed with DMEM/F-12 and left overnight in DMEM/F-12 supplemented with 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA). The following day, the adipocyte-differentiated hASCs were washed with phosphate-buffered saline, the medium in each well was replaced with 150 μl freshly prepared DMEM/F-12 containing 2% BSA and supplemented with increasing concentrations of isoproterenol (10−9–10−5 M; Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO, USA) or human atrial natriuretic peptide 1–28 (10−10–10−6 M; Bachem, King of Prussia, PA, USA) (Moro et al., 2004, 2005). Following a 3 h incubation at 37 °C and 5% CO2, the medium was removed and stored at −20 °C for spectrophotometric assay of glycerol release (Catalogue No. F6428, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) (Moro et al., 2005), while the adherent cells were harvested in lysis buffer (150 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris–HCl, pH 8.0, 1 mM EDTA, 2% SDS, 1% Igepal CA-630) for protein determination (BCA Protein Assay Kit, Pierce, Rockford, IL, USA). Glycerol release was normalized as μM/mg protein/3 h. Glucose uptake in hASCs was determined as described by Klip et al(1984). Briefly, hASCs were differentiated in 24-well plates in a manner identical to that used for the lipolysis assay. Twelve days following the induction of adipocyte differentiation, the hASCs were incubated overnight in serum-free low-glucose (1000 mg/l) DMEM medium (Catalogue No. SH30021.01, Hyclone, Logan, UT, USA) containing 1% BSA. The following day, the cultures were fed with serum-free medium with or without 100 nM insulin for 10 min at 37 °C, 5% CO2. The cells were then rinsed twice in KRPH buffer (5 mM Na2HPO4, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 1 mM MgSO4, 1 mM CaCl2, 137 mM NaCl and 4.7 mM KCl), and glucose uptake was assessed with 100 μM 2-deoxy-D-glucose [5 μCi/ml (1,2-3H)-2-deoxy-D-glucose from Perkin-Elmer Life Sciences, Boston, MA, USA) in KRPH for 7 min at 37 °C, 5% CO2. In control wells to monitor for non-specific uptake, 10 μM cytochalasin B was added at the same time as the glucose; subsequently, the non-specific CPM values were subtracted from the experimental points. The cells were then washed three times with PBS and lysed in 500 μl 0.2 N NaOH/well. Aliquots of 400 μl cell lysate were transferred to scintillation vials and radioactivity was counted. An aliquot of 50 μl cell lysate was used to determine protein concentration. The results were normalized by protein concentration and glucose uptake was expressed as ng/mg protein/min. All assays were performed in triplicate. Data are reported as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). Comparison between culture conditions was determined using Student’s t-test, where p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The addition of EGF and bFGF to the cell culture medium significantly increased the proliferation of cryopreserved hASCs in a dose-dependent manner (Table 2). The two growth factors acted in an additive manner. While hASCs grown in 10 ng/ml bFGF or 10 ng/ml EGF alone increased proliferation by 31% and 195%, respectively, relative to controls without growth factors, hASCs preconditioned in the presence of both 1 ng/ml EGF and 1 ng/ml bFGF increased by a factor of 242% relative to controls. In the absence of growth factors, the cultures achieved near confluency, with a mean of 33 281 hASCs/cm2, while in the presence of 10 ng/ml bFGF and EGF the cultures reached a mean density of 75 192 hASCs/cm2. Preconditioning of hASCs with EGF and bFGF led to subsequent dose-dependent increases in oil red O staining of neutral lipids with adipogenic differentiation (Figure 1). The addition of EGF alone was more effective than equal concentrations of bFGF alone with respect to lipid accumulation (Figure 1, representative of n = 4 donors). The effects of the two growth factors were additive, as hASCs preconditioned in 10 ng/ml EGF or bFGF alone had less oil red O staining than hASCs preconditioned with 10 ng/ml of both growth factors. The combined EGF and bFGF induction of oil red O staining was independent of the effect of the growth factors on cell proliferation (Figure 2). When normalized for cell number, the extracted oil red O following adipogenesis increased by a mean factor of 2.4-, 5.6- and 5.3-fold in cells pre-conditioned in the presence of 0.1, 1.0 or 10 ng/ml of both growth factors relative to unconditioned cells, respectively (n = 3 donors; Figure 2). Preconditioning with EGF and bFGF induced dose-dependent increases in adipogenesis-related mRNAs (Figure 3). Significant increases occurred in the expression of mRNAs encoding aP2, C/EBPα, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), PPARγ and PPARγ co-activator-1 (PGC1) as a function of preconditioning and adipogenic induction. In the presence of 10 ng/ml EGF and bFGF, the maximum fold increase in mRNA levels relative to hASCs preconditioned in the absence of EGF and bFGF ranged from a low of ~6.6-fold (C/EBPα) to a high of 19-fold (LPL) (Figure 3). In the absence of adipogenic induction, the presence or absence of EGF and bFGF did not significantly increase any of the mRNA expression levels. The mRNA levels of aP2, C/EBPα, LPL and PGC1 in undifferentiated hASCs were expressed at levels three or more orders of magnitude less than that of the adipogenic-induced hASCs, independent of the EGF and bFGF preconditioning (data not shown). While the mRNA levels of PPARγ in undifferentiated hASCs showed a similar lack of response to EGF and bFGF preconditioning, the baseline level of the mRNA was higher than that of other adipogenic biomarkers. The PPARγ mRNA levels in undifferentiated hASCs were in the range 0.2–0.5-fold of that observed in the adipogenic induced hASCs preconditioned in the absence of EGF and bFGF. Together, these data document that EGF and bFGF preconditioning significantly increased adipogenesis following cryopreservation. The mature adipocytes generated from hASCs preconditioned with maximal concentrations of EGF and bFGF (10 ng/ml) exhibited functionality based on lipolytic and glucose uptake assays. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) increased lipolysis in a dose-dependent manner, based on glycerol release assay, by a factor of ca. four-fold from hASC adipocytes preconditioned with EGF and bFGF; however, ANP had little inductive effect on lipolysis in hASC adipocytes differentiated without EGF and bFGF preconditioning (Figure 4 Right Panel). In contrast, both populations of adipocytes increased lipolysis in response to the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (Figure 4 Left Panel). Mature hASC adipocytes preconditioned with or without EGF and bFGF displayed comparable baseline levels of 2-deoxyglucose uptake (0.290 ± 0.031 and 0.299 ± 0.022 ng/mg/min, respectively); however, the hASCs preconditioned with EGF and bFGF exhibited a significant induction of glucose uptake (0.415 ± 0.077 ng/mg/min, +43%, p = 0.006) in the presence of insulin, while the unconditioned hASCs did not (0.315 ± 0.055, +5%, p = 0.275). This study demonstrates that the use of EGF and FGF supplementation during the expansion culture of undifferentiated cryopreserved hASCs improves their proliferation rate and subsequent adipogenic differentiation and functionality. These actions may be inter-related. The improved proliferative capacity of the cryopreserved hASCs may allow them to achieve a greater density, thereby improving their subsequent adipogenic differentiation upon exposure to inductive agents. The additive effects of EGF and bFGF permit their use in combination at low concentrations to achieve significant results, as opposed to the more costly use of high concentrations of a single growth factor alone. Our results support the original studies by Hauner et al. (1995), which found that EGF had notable effects on the growth and development of hASCs at physiological concentrations (0.5–2 ng/ml). Moreover, our findings confirm and extend a recent report by Suga et al. (2007), which demonstrated that the individual components of a commercial endothelial growth medium (EGF and bFGF) elicited less robust hASC proliferation than the endothelial growth medium itself. Likewise, studies in the murine 3T3-L1 preadipocyte model have demonstrated that EGF supplementation, when added subsequent to induction, enhanced adipogenesis (Adachi et al., 1994). Finally, these studies extend those of Shoshani et al. (2001) and Moscatello et al. (2005), which demonstrated the feasibility of maintaining viable intact human adipose tissue by cryopreservation. Observations made using the human bone marrow MSC model are comparable. Tamama et al. (2006) found that EGF supplementation increased the expansion of BMSCs for in vivo transplantation. Martin et al. (1997) observed that bFGF increased the size of individual BMSC clones by 2.5-fold in vitro, consistent with enhanced proliferation. Furthermore, they found that bFGF preconditioning increased the ability of BMSCs to mineralize their extracellular matrix in vitro and to form bone in vivo, suggesting that bFGF preconditioning enhanced the differentiation potential of the BMSCs (Martin et al., 1997). Recently, Stewart et al. (2007) have shown that chondrogenesis was enhanced by bFGF in equine BMSCs. Thus, these growth factors have been found to modulate ASC and BMSC proliferation and/or differentiation in multiple species. Stromal medium supplementation with EGF and bFGF maintained the differentiation potential of cryopreserved hASCs following expansion and enhanced their subsequent adipogenic response. A dose-dependent increase in qualitative oil red O staining was observed in treated hASCs when compared to their control. PCR analysis in these same experiments demonstrated EGF- and bFGF-dependent increases in mRNA levels encoding adipogenic transcription factors (C/EBPα, PPARγ, PGC1) as well as their downstream targets (aP2, LPL). In addition to providing improved adipogenesis, EGF and bFGF supplementation produced adipocytes with equivalent or improved functionality relative to controls. The hASC-differentiated adipocytes preconditioned with EGF and bFGF displayed enhanced insulin sensitivity based on glucose uptake. While the lipolytic response to a β-adrenergic agent was equivalent in the treated and untreated hASCs, the treated hASCs displayed an enhanced lipolytic response to ANP. Recent studies have demonstrated that ANP, like isoproterenol, is a potent lipolytic stimulus (Moro et al., 2004, 2005). It remains to be determined whether EGF and bFGF act at the level of the ANP receptor or of downstream elements in its signal transduction pathway. Nevertheless, these findings demonstrate that the inclusion of EGF and bFGF during hASCs expansion improve their adipogenic response and the potential functionality of the differentiated adipocytes in vitro. In conclusion, EGF/bFGF preconditioning at concentrations in the range 1–10 ng/ml prior to, but not during, induction of differentiation led to a rapid expansion of hASCs and improved their subsequent adipogenic differentiation. Further studies will be necessary to fully characterize the in vitro and in vivo effects of EGF and bFGF prior to using the two growth factors in clinical applications, but the above lines of evidence support the use of EGF and bFGF as media supplements to improve cell proliferation and adipogenesis of thawed, cryopreserved hASCs. This work was supported in part by support (to J.M.G. and X.W.) from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, and a CNRU Center Grant (No. 1P30 DK072476, to J.M.G and G.Y.) entitled ‘Nutritional Programming: Environmental and Molecular Interactions’, sponsored by NIDDK. The authors wish to thank Ms Laura Dallam for excellent editorial assistance. Conflict of interest statements Dr Gimble consults or collaborates with the following tissue engineering-related companies: Toucan Capital, Cognate Bioservicese, Vesta Therapeutics and Zen-Bio.

>> MyCoperion. Welcome to the new Coperion customer portal for service orders. MyCoperion - Functions and advantages of the portal: › Show Video We create confidence through transparency. We have introduced the MyCoperion online platform offering you a fast, convenient way to keep you up to date about the progress of your spare parts inquiries and orders - anytime, anywhere. ln addition, you can access the digital Spare Parts Catalogue and view your machine documentation. This makes handling of your service orders even more transparent and convenient. |The advantages of MyCoperion at a glance:| |24-hour worldwide availability| |All the relevant information about your current inquiries and orders available at a glance| |An up to date view of the latest delivery dates at all times| |Easy identification of spare parts by the digital Spare Parts| |Synergy permits right sizing of our global spare parts stocks| |Convenient display of your machine documentation| |High data security through an industrially tested, standardized| |Detailed access concept with individual user profiles for your| |And another piece of good news: The customer portal is being expanded gradually – wait and see!| The “Offer Tracking” function gives you an overview of the state of progress of your inquiries. If you want to find out about the status of your spare parts orders, you can find the latest delivery dates and further details about your spare parts orders under the “Order Tracking” function. You can also look at your machine documentation immediately online. The “Operating Manuals” function allows you to navigate conveniently in a user-friendly, intuitively operable user interface and get all the information about your machines in compressed form. We also provide a special feature with the digital “Spare Parts Catalogue”. Here, you can not only easily identify the necessary spare parts in drawings and inquire with a shopping basket function, this tool also offers you the possibility of determining the frequency of use of a spare part. Synergy permits right sizing of your spare parts stocks.

Valuing the Process of Corporate Restructuring We study the process of corporate restructuring for a sample of 298 firms during the 1989-98 period that announce that they are considering restructuring alternatives. We find that restructuring is a lengthy process, with the majority of the restructuring period occurring prior to any definitive proposals for corporate change. Only 70 percent of the firms that initially propose restructuring later make a definitive proposal to sell either all or part of the firm, with other firms taking themselves out of play or declaring bankruptcy. Hence, the market reaction to the initial restructuring announcement underestimates the full wealth effects of completed restructurings. The estimate of the full value of restructuring across the sample firms averages 7.5 percent, with the greatest gains of 30 percent accruing to firms that are acquired. The average gain for the full restructuring period for firms divesting a unit is 5 percent, which is roughly double that estimated for the initial announcement in prior studies of corporate divestitures. |Date of creation:||May 2001| |Date of revision:| |Contact details of provider:|| Postal: 500 E. 9th Street, Claremont, CA 91711| Phone: (909) 607-3041 Fax: (909) 621-8249 Web page: http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/rdschool/papers/ More information through EDIRC Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.: - Mulherin, J. Harold & Boone, Audra L., 2000. "Comparing acquisitions and divestitures," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 117-139, July. - Mark Mitchell, 2001. "Characteristics of Risk and Return in Risk Arbitrage," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 56(6), pages 2135-2175, December. - Fama, Eugene F, 1991. " Efficient Capital Markets: II," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 46(5), pages 1575-617, December. - Gregor Andrade & Mark Mitchell & Erik Stafford, 2001. "New Evidence and Perspectives on Mergers," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 15(2), pages 103-120, Spring. - Schipper, Katherine & Smith, Abbie, 1986. "A comparison of equity carve-outs and seasoned equity offerings : Share price effects and corporate restructuring," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(1-2), pages 153-186. - Malatesta, Paul H. & Thompson, Rex, 1985. "Partially anticipated events: A model of stock price reactions with an application to corporate acquisitions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 237-250, June. - Eckbo, B Espen & Maksimovic, Vojislav & Williams, Joseph, 1990. "Consistent Estimation of Cross-Sectional Models in Event Studies," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 3(3), pages 343-65. - Schwert, G. William, 1996. "Markup pricing in mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 153-192, June. - Clark, Truman A & Weinstein, Mark I, 1983. " The Behavior of the Common Stock of Bankrupt Firms," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 38(2), pages 489-504, May. - Mark L. Mitchell & Erik Stafford, 1997. "Managerial Decisions and Long-Term Stock Price Performance," CRSP working papers 453, Center for Research in Security Prices, Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago. - Mitchell, Mark L & Stafford, Erik, 2000. "Managerial Decisions and Long-Term Stock Price Performance," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 73(3), pages 287-329, July. - Miles, James A & Rosenfeld, James D, 1983. " The Effect of Voluntary Spin-Off Announcements on Shareholder Wealth," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 38(5), pages 1597-1606, December. - Jain, Prem C, 1985. " The Effect of Voluntary Sell-off Announcements on Shareholder Wealth," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 40(1), pages 209-24, March. - Forsythe, Robert & Lundholm, Russell & Rietz, Thomas, 1999. "Cheap Talk, Fraud, and Adverse Selection in Financial Markets: Some Experimental Evidence," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 12(3), pages 481-518. - Jarrell, Gregg A & Poulsen, Annette B, 1989. "Stock Trading before the Announcement of Tender Offers: Insider Trading or Market Anticipation?," Journal of Law, Economics and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 5(2), pages 225-48, Fall. - Bradley, Michael & Desai, Anand & Kim, E. Han, 1983. "The rationale behind interfirm tender offers : Information or synergy?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(1-4), pages 183-206, April. - Hite, Gailen L. & Owers, James E. & Rogers, Ronald C., 1987. "The market for interfirm asset sales : Partial sell-offs and total liquidations," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 229-252, June. - Prabhala, N R, 1997. "Conditional Methods in Event Studies and an Equilibrium Justification for Standard Event-Study Procedures," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 10(1), pages 1-38. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:clm:clmeco:2001-22. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc. For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: () If references are entirely missing, you can add them using this form.

16 posts · 22,895 views We write about science and the environment for regular people. Our goal is to get regular people excited about science. In a roly-poly world filled with roly-poly things (like tumbleweeds and peas), the ability to transform one’s non-roly-poly self into a blur of roly-poly-ness can be essential to survival. Huh? See Exhibit A: The pebble toad (Oreophrynella niger), a tiny toad that lives on the tops of mesas in Venezuela. When threatened by a tarantula, [...]... Read more » Harvey, A., & Zukoff, S. (2011) Wind-Powered Wheel Locomotion, Initiated by Leaping Somersaults, in Larvae of the Southeastern Beach Tiger Beetle (Cicindela dorsalis media). PLoS ONE, 6(3). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017746 Hi, my name is Kelsey and I’m a slacker. (Note: Pete has progressed past the slacker phase into delinquency.) I will try to redeem myself—slowly. I have a whole slew (like five) of completely researched and partially written posts. After careful deliberation, I’ve decided that three of them are keepers. I’ve also decided that if [...]... Read more » Berry, F., & Breithaupt, T. (2010) To signal or not to signal? Chemical communication by urine-borne signals mirrors sexual conflict in crayfish. BMC Biology, 8(1), 25. DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-8-25 Rosenthal, G., Fitzsimmons, J., Woods, K., Gerlach, G., & Fisher, H. (2011) Tactical Release of a Sexually-Selected Pheromone in a Swordtail Fish. PLoS ONE, 6(2). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016994 Superman thought he was pretty freaking super and Mighty Mouse thought he was pretty freaking mighty. Therefore, splendid fairy-wrens must think they’re pretty freaking splendid.* And they probably do (especially when compared to their cousins, the less splendidly named lovely fairy-wren and superb fairy-wren). Alas, despite the splendiferous cockiness that their name suggests, male splendid [...]... Read more » Greig, E., & Pruett-Jones, S. (2010) Danger may enhance communication: predator calls alert females to male displays. Behavioral Ecology, 21(6), 1360-1366. DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq155 In true science writer geekdom, I have spent the last week trying to figure out where the name “blenny” comes from. Of course, it comes from the suborder name Blenniodei (in the order Perciformes) and the family name Blenniidae…yada yada yada. But where does the blenn- come from? Most scientific names come from Latin, but [...]... Read more » Hsieh, S. (2010) A Locomotor Innovation Enables Water-Land Transition in a Marine Fish. PLoS ONE, 5(6). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011197 It’s human nature to think of the big bad animals that eat other animals as powerful and the animals that get eaten as wimpy. Of course, humans are often wrong (see “clusterf**kery”). Copepods get eaten by lots of animals—even by critters like jellyfish and right whales, which are known for their lack of speed—but they’re [...]... Read more » Kiørboe T, Andersen A, Langlois VJ, & Jakobsen HH. (2010) Unsteady motion: escape jumps in planktonic copepods, their kinematics and energetics. Journal of the Royal Society, Interface / the Royal Society. PMID: 20462876 Ensuring paternity is not easy for male red-eyed treefrogs. At night, males perch themselves on the branches of saplings and make a sound called a “chack.” Each male hopes that a female will find his chack to be the sexiest chack of all—if she can even distinguish his chack from those of the other males. [...]... Read more » Caldwell MS, Johnston GR, McDaniel JG, & Warkentin KM. (2010) Vibrational Signaling in the Agonistic Interactions of Red-Eyed Treefrogs. Current biology : CB. PMID: 20493702 Suppose you’re a caterpillar. You’ve just built yourself a nice home by sewing leaves together with silk and then some jackass invades your turf. How do you defend your home? You could walk right over to that intruder and push him, maybe smack him around a bit or even bite him. Ha! That’d teach [...]... Read more » Scott, J., Kawahara, A., Skevington, J., Yen, S., Sami, A., Smith, M., & Yack, J. (2010) The evolutionary origins of ritualized acoustic signals in caterpillars. Nature Communications, 1(1), 1-9. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1002 A recent study reports that grizzly bears are encroaching on polar bear habitat in northern Manitoba. That could be a bad thing—or it could just be a thing. Polar bears and grizzly bears (also known as brown bears) have met before. In fact, they’re cousins. The brown bear came first. At some point (hundreds of thousands [...]... Read more » Lindqvist, C., Schuster, S., Sun, Y., Talbot, S., Qi, J., Ratan, A., Tomsho, L., Kasson, L., Zeyl, E., Aars, J.... (2010) Complete mitochondrial genome of a Pleistocene jawbone unveils the origin of polar bear. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(11), 5053-5057. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0914266107 Rockwell, Robert, Linda Gormezano, and Daryll Hedman. (2008) Grizzly Bears, Ursus arctos, in Wapusk National Park, Northeastern Manitoba. Canadian Field Naturalist, 323-326. info:/ I don’t “have a thing” for critters with remarkable genitalia. (I swear.) But, while researching barnacle sex, I came across a paper about a male beetle with an intromittant organ (penis) so long and flexible that he has to sling it over his shoulder to keep it safe. Clearly, I couldn’t keep such information to [...]... Read more » CLAUDIA GACK*, & KLAUS PESCHKE. (2005) ‘Shouldering’ exaggerated genitalia: a unique behavioural adaptation for the retraction of the elongate intromittant organ by the male rove beetle (Aleochara tristis Gravenhorst). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 307-312. info:/ Sad but true: Barnacles (critters who spend the majority of their lives with their heads glued to a hard surface) may be getting more action than you are. Of course, that depends on how you quantify “action.” Barnacles have a fairly short mating season—compared to our non-stop mating season—but they cram a whole lotta nooky into [...]... Read more » HOCH, J. (2008) Variation in penis morphology and mating ability in the acorn barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 359(2), 126-130. DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2008.03.002 Hoch, J. (2009) ADAPTIVE PLASTICITY OF THE PENIS IN A SIMULTANEOUS HERMAPHRODITE. Evolution, 63(8), 1946-1953. DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00668.x Murata, A., Imafuku, M., & Abe, N. (2001) Copulation by the barnacle Tetraclita japonica under natural conditions. Journal of Zoology, 253(2), 275-280. DOI: 10.1017/S0952836901000243 Neufeld, C., & Palmer, A. (2008) Precisely proportioned: intertidal barnacles alter penis form to suit coastal wave action. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 275(1638), 1081-1087. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2007.1760 On Thursday, scientists rescued a dog from the icy waters of the Baltic Sea…In December, a Portland, Maine “secret Santa” gave 100 strangers $100 apiece…And, so far, Americans have donated $29 million to American Red Cross Haiti relief efforts. Humans are so darn nice. But how exactly did that happen? That’s what scientists at the Primate [...]... Read more » Remember the tale of Nemo (the juvenile clownfish that was fish-napped by a dentist) and Marlin (Nemo’s dad)? Marlin braves the open ocean to find Nemo, meeting a whale-speaking blue tang and a few non-piscivorous sharks along the way. Of course, Marlin and Nemo are reunited (it’s a Disney movie), but could a little clownfish [...]... Read more » Dixson, D., Munday, P., & Jones, G. (2010) Ocean acidification disrupts the innate ability of fish to detect predator olfactory cues. Ecology Letters, 13(1), 68-75. DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01400.x Biro, P., Beckmann, C., & Stamps, J. (2009) Small within-day increases in temperature affects boldness and alters personality in coral reef fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277(1678), 71-77. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.1346 What’s grosser than gross? How ‘bout a 100-mile long wad of E. Coli-infested mucus? (Oh, sorry, did that make you gag? We said it was grosser than gross…) Mucus wads—also known as mucilages—have been reported in the Mediterranean Sea since at least 1729, but recent research found that the loogies are getting bigger, lasting longer and harboring [...]... Read more » Danovaro, R., Fonda Umani, S., & Pusceddu, A. (2009) Climate Change and the Potential Spreading of Marine Mucilage and Microbial Pathogens in the Mediterranean Sea. PLoS ONE, 4(9). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007006 It may be a dog-eat-dog world* out there, but nowhere is the competition fiercer than in the female reproductive tract. Biologically speaking, the goal of every male is to produce as many offspring as possible. To do this, males need to have some kick-ass sperm, but according to a recent study, too much kick-ass sperm can [...]... Read more » Hasson, O., & Stone, L. (2009) Male infertility, female fertility and extrapair copulations. Biological Reviews, 84(2), 225-244. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-185X.2008.00068.x BRETMAN, A., NEWCOMBE, D., & TREGENZA, T. (2009) Promiscuous females avoid inbreeding by controlling sperm storage. Molecular Ecology_id, 18(16), 3340-3345. http://blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04301.x The moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here! Scientists have discovered a way to make something we need (fuel) from a readily accessible, unlimited resource (pee) and a fairly abundant, otherwise useless resource (chicken feather meal). Why do we need new sources of fuel? Ummm, because… Oil is old school. Coal is dirty. Algae is promising, but [...]... Read more » Boggs, B., King, R., & Botte, G. (2009) Urea electrolysis: direct hydrogen production from urine. Chemical Communications. DOI: 10.1039/b905974a Kondamudi, N., Strull, J., Misra, M., & Mohapatra, S. (2009) A Green Process for Producing Biodiesel from Feather Meal. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 57(14), 6163-6166. DOI: 10.1021/jf900140e Just like Brangelina, gay penguins always make the headlines. Years ago, Roy and Silo—two male chinstrap penguins at the Central Park Zoo—tried to incubate a rock. It never hatched. Zookeepers then gave the pair an abandoned egg, which they successfully incubated and raised to be a healthy chick. In 2008, a wily pair of penguins at [...]... Read more » Nathan W. Bailey, & Marlene Zuk. (2009) Same-sex sexual behavior and evolution. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. Do you write about peer-reviewed research in your blog? Use ResearchBlogging.org to make it easy for your readers — and others from around the world — to find your serious posts about academic research. If you don't have a blog, you can still use our site to learn about fascinating developments in cutting-edge research from around the world. Research Blogging is powered by SMG Technology. To learn more, visit seedmediagroup.com.

Mold and Mildew Does anyone know of a company that can check our crawl space for mold? And, ideally, someone who can assess it for as low a fee as possible! -Wanting to make sure my baby stays healthy! I highly recommend Indoor Environmental Engineering to test your attic for mold. Their website is http://www.iee-sf.com/. If you have reason to believe you have mold, spend the money to have the testing done thorouhgly and competently. IEE will write a set of detailed protocols, recommend various remediation companies, and then come back to do a clearance test. Save your money by hiring the cheapest remediation company as long as they give you a fixed bid and guarantee they'll pass the final inspection. Mold free Hi- I'm looking for information on how to deal with a damp, moldy/mildewy smell in the lower level of our home (including in our daughter's bedroom) that comes and goes, appearing particularly after periods of damp weather. I seem to be the only one who smells it so it is pretty much on me to resolve it, but then I have a very sensitive nose. it seems to be worst in the areas around the windows that are single-paned; rooms with double-paned windows seem unaffected. I've looked in the area around the window sills and I can see some dusty-looking areas around the glass edges but they appear to be OUTside, so a swipe with bleach and water may not be the answer there; there is more subtle discoloration around the ledges of windows we often open (we have not been doing so lately because of all the pollen in the air but this isn't good either!) we are on a very tight budget at the moment; does anyone know of a reasonable way to get this problem looked at by some kind of expert, or handle it myself? I am not at all handy. many thanks! --Yuck Smeller I can't rec'md anything about the discoloration around the window ledge- sounds like some kind of water leakage/rot. But I know how to help with the mildewy smell. My bottom floor is cold and smelly too, so I put a small vase in each room, fill it about 2 inches with undiluted white vinegar, and that absorbs odors. Work for kitchens too- love that vinegar! Cold 1st Floor Have you tried a dehumidifier? They are inexpensive and migh be all you need. It would be a good idea to replace your single-pane windows with double-paned windows when you can afford it. It will reduce condensate on the windows in winter. Like dry air You can buy a do-it-yourself mold kit to find out whether the smell is being caused by a dangerous variety of mold. The kits are sold at the Home Depot, and probably other local hardware stores. If the test comes back positive, you can hire a mold specialist to locate the source and get rid of it. I wouldn't waste any time b/c black mold can cause some very severe health problems. Be Safe! Mold and mildew starts to form when you have 2 main things: a substance that can be consumed (wood) and on-going moisture (either from water or vapor load). If you want to remedy mold you have to get rid of the moisture. Vapor loads come from typical household use (shower, cooking, plants breathing, etc.) as well as unsealed crawlspaces and water issues under/around the house. You can measure the humidity level around the house and do an investigation to figure out where there is high humidity (anything above 60% humidity for a sustained period of time can lead to mold issues). My company, Advanced Home Energy, can do this kind of testing and remediation work. Please email me if you are interested in more info. Ori Try a de-humidifier. It worked for my basement. anon We have also been plagued by mold and have found great success in diffusing an essential oil blend called ''Thieves'' which is made by Young Living. This seems to kill the mold and mildew without causing the mold spores to release frantically in a last-ditch effort to survive/propogate. Mold can be a serious problem for your health and your family's. You can write me for more info on get it online. Best of luck! Lisa One of the first things you should try is to place plastic sheeting on the ground underneath the room. You can buy this very inexpesively from home depot or whereever. You just spread it out on the ground, no need to afix it to the ground. This keeps the moisture in the ground from rising up into the room. Worked great for me and it's a very simple solution and a good first step. Then you can try more expensive measures. You can also put a dehumidifier in the room. I have one for sale that I no longer use because the plastic sheeting worked so well. Even though you may think the prolem is in small specific areas like near the window, it is usually a problem of the whole area being high in relative humidity from the moisture rising up from below. sean With the cold weather and the rain, we have developed some mold on our bedroom ceiling (the only room in the house that has this problem) above the head of the bed. We had the attic checked out and it doesn't seem to be a roof leak. Now the mold is starting to get on the furniture. Does anyone know of non-toxic (i.e. not dousing everything with bleach) way to both get rid of the mold and keep it from coming back? We are on a tight budget and can't afford to hire professionals to come in and do it and I don't want anything toxic around my toddler. anon Google ''tea tree oil mold.'' Tea tree oil is a fungicide. It completely took care of mold on our walls. Bleach is a waste of time anyways -- just doesn't do the job. Cathy We had a similar mold problem in our 1924 house. After wiping down the walls with diluted bleach solution and airing the house, we invested in a $350 dehumidifier from allergybuyer.com (I think that's the name) It's a ''comfortaire'' which works amazingly well. We run it in the morning for a couple of hours and again in the evening; it sucks gallons of moisture from the rooms. We are not left to feel dessicated or parched, but the mold issue is GONE. It seems well worth it. Good luck. Hilary I have been suffering with terrible allergies in my home; and am clearly worse in one particular room. There is no mold or water damage present in any obvious places, but a recent air quality report has found high levels of mold spores in the air of this room. I'm afraid there might be mold in the walls. All other avenues have been exhausted. How do I begin to investigate this? Any advice on who to call or steps to take? Thanks! Fed up with horrible allergies Rachael I highly recommend Indoor Environmental Engineering (www.iee-sf.com), 415.567.7700, for mold testing. They thoroughly test your home for mold, develop a detailed, written protocol for removal, and retest to be sure everything's clear. I hired them when I became ill after a gun-for-hire mold inspector sent by my former insurance company (AAA) 'cleared' my home after taking two air samples and literally phoning in a 'protocol,' compared to IEE's 20+ air and surface samples and 16-page protocol. The remediation company I hired to remove the mold said IEE's inspections were the toughest in the Bay Area to pass; they had to redo one area of the house for it to clear at no additional cost (it was a fixed price contract and they had to pass the final inspection), and I've had no health issues since. It was worth every penny. Good luck! terry Our toddler has had several coughs this winter and we have been using a humdifier in his room on many nights. Unfortunately, it has created a lot of mold on the ceilings and walls. I removed a lot of it with Simple Green but am hesitant to use bleach because it seems so strong. Anyone have tips on either how to remove mold or how to humidify a room without growing so much mold? Are there humdifiers that are less mold-producing? We have pretty standard paint in the bedroom--I think flat paint on the ceiling and semi-gloss on the walls. anon I grew up in Berkeley and suffer from mold allergies. I wouldnt recommend using a humidifier at all. The east bay climate breeds mold like no other place in the country. It is hard to find a house that isnt prone to molding, but there are some steps to take to prevent the growth. First you should buy a mold testing kit at ACE hardware for $12.00 and send it away to be analized. it costs about $40.00, but well worth it, especially of you have toxic mold, which is very dangerous! if you rent, your landlord is responsible for treating the mold. This sometimes entails moving out for a couple weeks while they deal with it. But legally, they are responsible for your accommodations while all this is happening. Second, I have had great luck with heat and air. Simply opening the windows once a day to get a good cross breeze can eliminate some of the mold. However, with the rain season, its best to do this when the sun comes out, and afterwards turn the heater on for at least 20 minutes to dry out the walls. Good luck, and be careful! My sister and her kids had toxic mold in their house, and it made them very ill for a long time. kelley Our humidifier manual says not to use it in a closed space. Have you thought about cracking open the window? anon I can't respond to removing mildew, but I know of a product you might try to reduce the mildew in the first place. It's called DampRid and I just learned about it when we moved to Hawaii. We're in a very rainy part of our island and it gets very damp in the house. I found that when we didn't use the DampRid for a few days, it felt more humid in our house and the bedrooms started smelling musty. I'm not sure exactly how it works (I'm sure you can google it), but it has these absorbing particles, that you can refill as needed, and they sit above a container that fills with water pulled from the air. I just put them up high in closets, etc. I bought it at a hardware store and at Walmart here. Give it a try. No mildew for me Hi, Try letting more fresh air into the room during the day. Also, light kills and deters mold- get more light into the room more often. I understand there are special ionic air cleaning machines from Sharper Image with special lights on them that kill mold very effectively. My co-worker says he has one and it works very well. Good lUck David In my experience, in our home (especially in an unheated uninsulated closet next to a heated but uninsulated-walls bedroom) it was not the type of humidifier (cold or warm) that made the difference, but the simple act of having the air be humid and having it condense on cold surfaces (just like the outside of a cola bottle). In our daughter's room we tried to humidify her room when she was young but found that that ended up causing mildew to grow in her closet. Condensation also started to collect on and run down her walls. We ended up feeling that the air here in the Bay Area unlike winter back east) is humid enough and adding more humidity to her room was a net loss, health-wise. So if you do what we did, you'll stop using the humidifier, perhaps crack the window open at night, and avoid the mold and the bleaching/mold killing chemicals altogether. Mom Bleach will only temporarily remove mold. Use a fungicide cleaner to remove mold from surfaces.Also,allow air to circulate in his room to inhibit growth. anon I forgot to mention: EPA-registered mold fungicide anon Hi- The mold may not only exacerbate the cough, but lead to other problems. Bleach is really the best way to clean it - use a solution, not undiluted bleach... I don't know the answer to low-humidity humidifiers... Mike Yes humidifiers can create mold on your walls and inside the humidifier itself. The best thing to avoid the mold is, to not keep the humidifeir on for more thatn a few hours at at time. Also move the humidifier to differnt spots in the room so the mold does not grow from the constant moisture hitting the same place on the celing. Open the window a little in the room when you are using the humidifier that will also slow down mold growth. YOu should never leave water sitting in your humidier when you are not using it. After a few days , empty it, clean it and dry it well (sitting it outside in the sun is a good idea). If you have mold growing in this humidifier get rid of it. If there is mold in your humidifier when you turn it on it will be putting a moldy mist in you room. This is very bad for your sick child. Mold grows where there is moisture and lack of air. I work in the asthma field I recommend people use the humidifiers on a very limited basis. Good luck amy As child, my Mom put a card table over the bed and put a bed sheet over the card table. The humidifier was then put on table next to the bed with bed sheet over the humidifier. This created a tent with the steam inside. The humidifier is put at a lower setting, so the humidity is in the tent. I would then put a de-humidifier in the room to remove the humdidity from outside the tent. Regarding the mildew and mold, that could be why your child has the persistant cough. Removing the sheetrock or plaster and the insulate the walls is the only permanent solution. If that is not possible, spray the area with bleach (let dry), paint the area with a fast dry oil base primer with a mildew additive added to the primer (Kelly Moore paints has it). Then paint the room with any paint of your choice, but with the mildew additive in the paint. Good Luck. Tom Someone mentioned using an air filter from sharper image with an ionizer. I thought there might be a problem with those. Were they recalled? Might be good to look into that or the effects of ionizers. anon Our house has a basement with 6' ceilings, with cracked concrete floor sheathing 1.5 inches thick covering half, and a compacted dirt floor in the other half. We've lived in the house for 8 years. Late last spring a white mold or fungus started growing on the dirt side. The soil was saturated (water table is shallow) when the growth began. I sprayed the white growth with bleach and scraped it off, then put fans in basement to dry it out, coinciding with rain stopping for the summer months. The soil is now dry but the white growth covers the the soil. Has anyone had an experience like this? Could you tell me what you did to stop the growth? How can I tell whether it is mold or fungus? Internet research says that mold can be ameliorated by spraying with bleach, also that it needs moisture to grow but because it grew back this summer after dried out, I am t hinking it could be something else-a fungus perhaps. I am hoping if it is such, that health concerns might not be as serious. We would like to address this with a low cost, do-it-yourself solution if possible, but welcome recommendations for professional help if that is the best route. Thank you in advance for any advice you might be able to provide. Nervous homeowner, winter coming You may be able to get some help with identifying this through the Agricultural Extension office or possibly through Dr. Raabe at the UC Botanic Garden. They will probably want a sample to look at ray Are you sure it's mold? might just be calcium deposits we had extra minerals Could also be efflorescence (sp?) which is not mold, but (I think) minerals that migrate through damp masonry and crystallize upon hitting the air. You may want to look into how you can shunt water away from your basement by draining it before it gets to your house, or putting in a vapor barrier of some sort. I am no expert and hopefully you will find one here hillside homeowner For the people who asked about: *Mold In Basement *Removal of Ceiling Popcorn *Carpenter To Install Skylight *Contractor, pest, heating/duct, electrical needed *Contractor Needed for Garage Door Replacement *Contractor Who Might Call Us Back... We called Glen Larsen when my basement was flooding. He came out promptly and put together a drainage system that solved my problem. He explained things step-by-step and took the mystery out of my water problems. I now have a dry basement have confidence that it won't be soggy this rainy season. We have since used Glen and his crew for many other home improvement and repair jobs in our house, my mum's house, and her rental. He always calls back. You can reach Glen at 510-232-9122 jessica Our house was built in 1898 and the wooden windows, which appear to be original, are drafty. I'd like to get the top-down bottom-up pleated honeycomb shades (blinds?) from Hunter-Douglas or a similar brand. However, I've noticed several older houses in my lower Rockridge neighborhood with these... and they're moldy. I'm looking for advice from someone with an older house with these type of honeycomb blinds. If my windows are open for ventilation all night, is it still likely that the blinds will get moldy? What has been your experience? Any way to avoid the mold with these blinds, while still keeping the look of my older windows (not replacing them with double paned windows)? Thanks! Hi - we have the honeycomb, Hunter Douglas shades on our windows in a 1920s house with the old drafty wood windows. Firstly, shades and curtins work better than just shades. However we do get a lot of condensation on the insides of our windows in the winter. It collects at night when the shades are down and a couple of our shades started to mildew before I realized it. We only have this problem in the bedrooms, not in any other room in the house - I assume this is because the sleeping people put off the moisture that condenses on the windows. So, now I keep the window open a crack behind the shades (they're double hung so I can open the top rather than the bottom) and then open everything up in the morning to air it all out. It doesn't get that cold here so it's not a big deal and the kids all bundle up in bed and stay plenty warm Cameron We are starting to suspect that something in my 3 year-old son's room is provoking allergy symptoms in him. He has NEVER had allergies or health problems before. However, for the past few months, he has had a stuffy or runny nose, itchy nose and face, and even one rash (although this may have been due to sunscreen). At first, we just thought it was one cold after another (fairly typical for his age), but lately both my husband and I have noticed that after we sit in his room for a few minutes (e.g. to read him a story at night), WE start to have scratchy throats and stuffy noses -- after only a few minutes! I plan to take some basic measures such as covering his (organic cotton) mattress in a dust mite proof encasing, removing stuffed animals, dusting and vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum, and maybe even trying an air filter. I am concerned, however, that the cause might be mold, and I really have no idea how to go about investigating this, much less remediating it. There is no visible mold and no odor, but I know there are many types of mold that could cause symptoms that don't have an odor. His room has a carpet (installed 3 years ago), and there is a basement under his room. We have used a humidifier occasionally over the years whenever he has had croup (a couple times per year). I spoke with the asthma nurse at Kaiser, and she said to check the basement under his room to see if there is mold and mildew growing. I'm sure there will be (there was some water on the floor of the basement after all those heavy rains in March), but then what? Does anyone have experience with this who could share the steps to go through in investigating and remediating this type of problem? We are renting, but our landlord is very responsive and would probably be willing to do whatever needs to be done (within financial reason. I just don't really know how to get started. Thanks emily I have been to Dr. Vincent Marinkovich in Redwood City (650) 482-2800. From what I understand, he is one of the two top doctors that specialize in mold related heath problems in the country. He might be covered by your insurance (but the labs are expensive). They also have these simple tests for mold in your home ($20) for which you just set out a petri dish in the room for 20 minutes. These petri dishes might also be available at Whole Foods, etc., where another lab would process them. moldy Check out Sustainable Spaces (www.sustainablespaces.com) out of San Francisco. I have been wanting to do so myself. My daughter seems to be fine but my allergies are horendous in my house -- and definitely worse in some rooms (including my daughter's room). I purchased a Blue Air filter. My research concluded its one of the best on the market. And if you have forced air, a filter for your furnace is a must. I can't say this has helped me much, though. Unfortunately, I'm still pretty miserable. Would love to hear a follow up after you investigate! Rachael In my finished basement I have some mold and dampness on some walls, and I also have some mold and dampness on some parts of a floor (that is covered with that astroturf-like wall-to-wall carpeting). I assumed it was a drainage problem, and that it meant I need to have drains installed. A friend came by recently and looked and said since there was no flooding it might not be a drainage issue. Is this true? If it's not drainage, what is it and how can I get stop the mold from coming back after bleaching it away? Many thanks for your advice on this! Nancy Mold needs water to proliferate. So at some point you had water intrusion and probably still have it. No point in cleaning up the mold until you have taken care of the water intrusion. Hilary Try getting a de-humidifier. This will take the excess moisture out of the air in your basement. My uncle lives in Seattle and uses one in his basement. It works. Good luck! Was raised where it rains Hi! As an interior designer, one thing I'm concerned about is indoor air quality. You probably have insufficient ventilation which causes moisture build-up. I suggest you contact Sustainable Spaces for an evaluation of your home. You can call Matt Golden at (415) 294 5380 X22. Otherwise, I suggest you call Build It Green which is a non profit based in Berkeley. They have tons of resources of buidling professionals dealing with mold issues. I don't have their phone number at hand but you'll find it on their website: www.builditgreen.org Wishing you a healthy home. Celine. a dehumidifier will help a lot- they are typically loud but that should be alright in a basement. I think you run them 12- 24 hours a day. still, try to find out the cause and fix if possible. we have a sump pump in our basement which sometimes gets floody from being below ground level, but if you never see flooding you probably don't need a sump pump. Chris I had a similar issue a short while ago in my detached garage/turned office (slab- on-grade) and found it was from oversaturation of the soil from all the rains. I got some good suggestions from Frank Haskell of Stonebridge Painting & Waterproofing (510.595.1379) to ''deal with'' this act of nature. Good luck. Anonymous I had the exact same problem that kept reoccurring in my basement. It turned out to be a drainage issue that was never dealt with properly. I was referred to a company called Purofirst Oakland East Bay (510) 482-4545 because it is run by a General Contractor who also specializes in mold remediation. It's a great one-stop-shop and I have not had the problem since! Mary We have a 1950's cinderblock home. We now have mold on our bedroom wall (the wall without a heater) and around numerous windows. The windows need to be replaced but I don't know what should happen with the walls or the plastered windowframe area. I would love suggestions on who to call for advice and short/longterm solutions. We have little extra funds right now to pay for this and the bleach and water solution I have been using doesn't seem the safest for us or the kids. Also, if you know of any books about keeping up cinderblock homes I would be grateful. Dreading the Rain Have you thought about getting a dehumidifier? Our house is over 100 years old - and we bleach only once a year - when I start to see the mold (I wear a mask and use straight bleach) and use the dehumifier the rest of the winter. It helps A LOT!!! star We had the same problem - mold on our bedroom (exterior) walls First, we replaced the windows... helped a little Then, we got central heating... helped a little more Finally, we did french drains around that side of the house since there was not much crawl space underneath. That seemed to do the trick! So, the problem for us was obviously moisture & cold. Good Luck! sheila Hello, I am a professional painter, and deal with mold regularly. 1. Wash area with TSP, trisodium phosphate, sold in hardware stores, many other places. This will get rid of it. 2. To keep it away, go to a paint store and ask for mildecide to be added to a can of primer or paint which you use to paint the areas affected. You can also get ''mold and mildue killing'' primer by Zinsser. (You have to ask for the additive,and they have to put it in the paint for you because it has become a somewhat ''controlled substance'' since some kids are now using it as they used airplane glue in the past. to get high. Imagine!) 3. I use this additive quite often, and when it is added to a gallon of paint it is not noticeable by odor, or in any other way, at least to me or most people. I had a woman call me once who had had her whole inside house painted with mildecide additive, then she found out she was allergic to it! But this was the only time I ever heard of any adverse affect on humans. Yes it is a chemical that kills mold, a life form, but diluted in a can of paint, and spread in a wall, it is not a potent volatile chemical to humans, unless you have an allergy or sensitivity. 3. Keep the area well ventilated and exposed to sunlight as often as possible. Watch for recurrance, and if you do see it starting up (the mildecide becomes inaffective at some point. A year?) wash it with TSP before it can get going again. Good luck! Susanne We have mold growing on our bathroom walls and ceilings. Not a lot, but enough to notice (can't smell it yet...) Also the white grout(?) between the tiles has a lot of areas that are dark with either dirt or I suspect, mold. How do we clean this? Is there a fab product? Do I need to do bleach and a toothbrush in between the tile? I was hoping to paint the bathroom in the next few months but need to clean the mold first. Bleach? TSP? Vinegar? I'd rather not use any heavily toxic stuff. Any recs. appreciated. Thanks. missing my house cleaner Just use bleach. The trick is to let it sit for a while (about 10 min) after you apply it. No need to get out the toothbrush, just take an old sponge, use gloves, and sponge bleach onto all of the moldy/mildewed areas. After about 10 min (it will have disappeared) rinse the whole area THOUROUGHLY with water. Your mold/mildew will be gone. Alternatively, you can use a tile product that contains bleach (Tilex mold and mildew? I think?) and just spray it on. Make sure to wear gloves, and make sure to rinse well. To prevent mold in the future just make sure that the bathroom is as well ventilated as possible, and that it dries out completely in between showers. Got rid of my mold I nearly never use anything toxic in the house, but regular chlorine bleach is the fastest and most efficient for killing/ cleaning the mold (I also tried vinegar and a $20 natural enzyme mold product.) Wear gloves and a mask! and ventilate the room as much as possible (fan and/ or open the window is there is one) Chris I've had good results using Oxi-clean (which is in theory for laundry but has a bunch of other uses) or other hydrogen peroxide based non-chlorine bleach cleansing powders and a scrub brush. Julie hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and a tooth brush, then bleach. works great good luck we have this problem too. If the mold is growing in between the tiles on the wall, you can clean it with a toothbrush and almost any kind of cleanser. If it's growing in the caulk (between the tile and the tub, for instance) that's a much bigger problem because most older caulks are silicon based and no amount of scrubbing will remove the mold. Usually the only thing that works is to scrape away the old caulk with a knife (very tedious) and recaulk with one that doesn't contain silica. You can tell the difference because grout is powdery/chalky and the mold is usually brownish and lifts off easily while caulk is shiny/slick, and the mold is usually dark black and looks ''set in'' to the material. good luck! I would definitely call the ''Grout Doctor'' to get rid of the mold. 530-3104. He can also advise you what to do to keep it from coming back. Important to nip it in the bud. Good luck. Beth You're right to be cautious about toxic cleaning products when alternatives work well and don't have the risks of usage or storage. I've ordered products from a company called Melaleuca, The Wellness Company, for 17 years and especially love the bathroom cleaners. (The Melaleuca oil in the products kill mold.) I don't find the website very user friendly, and I can help you understand the process of ordering. lynn Tea tree oil is supposed to work but smell bad, Gratefruit seed extract is supposed to work and smells better. Myself, I am going to call the grout doctor! Yay! muriel We recently found a ton of mold under the house (crawlspace). Does anyone have good recommendations for a mold analysis lab and for people (licenced in this) that do mold remediation? Any anwers will be much appreciated. We really want to move on this soon. Moldy Hi In response to someone looking for mold abatement. I would call Sal at Synergy (510) 259-1700. His company has been doing abatement for years. They did the asbestos abatement in our old house and were quick and professional. We were very happy with them. They handle all types of abatement. margaret Last January we found mold behind our shower wall backing to a closet. We fielded a couple of quotes for the abatement. One was by a real 'slick' guy suggesting all manner of costly investigation. The other guy, Steve Villareal, came out and was a 'real' contractor. He reminded me of my father who was a superindendent for Morrison/Knudsen. He came out for a very fair price and sealed off the area, cleaned out the mold, then sealed it with an anti mold sealant the next day. We are very satisfied with the job. He's licensed and specializes in mold abatement. The company name is Nova Abatement & Construction Services, Inc. Address 3051 Research Drive, Richmond. Phone 510 223-1744, cell 510 734-7602. Good luck. KM Hello! I need a little advice. I am renting a home with a very bad mold problem. I know the source of the problem lies underneath the house and would need a complete plumbing restoration to correct. The issue is that my 16 month old remains sick. Originally we assumed he was just catching a lot of colds but upon speaking with his pediatrician, we learned that he could be having an adverse reaction the mold. I thoroughly clean the visible spores but I\x92m sure it\x92s in the walls. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding de- humidifiers or air purifiers. Pro and/or cons of both. Also, if replacing the plumbing, drywall and carpet is the only real solution, does anyone have advice as to whether or not the Landlord is obligated to make the repairs? We were informed of the mold issue upon moving in (6 years ago) but is was not really a serious problem until now. Any info would be great. Thanks! js You don't say where you live, but the San Francisco Tenants Union in SF on Capp Street can direct you to the similar organization in your area. Rest assured that you are protected, your tenancy is protected and your land lord is responsible for all repairs to abate the mold problem EVEN if you were told about the mold when you moved in. This is not something your land lord should get away with. Mold is dangerous and you won't and can't be evicted for reporting the problem to a higher authority nor will you have to pay for its removal. Good luck. SF tenant I don't think the landlord's ''informed consent'' is an exemption from fixing the problem, but it does make the person unconscionable, unethical, or at the very least ignorant. It is dangerous for anyone, and especially horrible for a baby. The landlord is responsible for doing the work immediately and certainly you could sue if you wanted. This is reason to move ASAP. The mold exposure to your baby can set up a lifetime of allergy and asthsma problems. This is Really Serious. I am an adult with allergies after living in a rented house with similar issues (bathroom pipes behind walls leaking) the landlord let us tear out the carpet- this helped a lot yet not enough- but I continued to smell mold when no one else could smell anything and I continued to have breathing problems at night- finally moved I know it's a big deal to move, but mold exposure is bigger. PRODUCTS: Air purifiers are not effective as they collect just some of the mold spores and even if they claim to germicidally kill the spores, live or dead spores in the room (including in the filter of the purifier) still cause allergic reactions. De- humidifying should definitely help, though best if there is a basement- they are so loud it is unlikely you could find one you could run at night in the house. allergybuyersclub.com has great info./ resources you do not have to buy their stuff necessarily. I did buy their product called ''air free'' can't remember exactly what its deal is, but it's silent, runs all the time, no filters- AND you are welcome to borrow ours for a few months (until you move?) as we are using it in current basement room but no longer need it for bedroom (we moved.) Please e-mail if you want to borrow the air-free thingy (look up on the allergybuyersclub website). Chris Yes, the landlord is responsible for the repairs. Mold is a serious health risk. In fact, this is something you could successfully sue over, though hopefully it will never come to that. sd My otherwise well-functioning washing machine smells bad (mold) when it hasn't been run for a few days. I'm wondering if anyone has had this happen and solved it. Thanks in advance. Jenny We recently got a new washing machine, and the manual states that periodically you should run a hot load with bleach added. Also, you should leave the door open and let it air dry after a load is done. Susan We had a similar problem with our Maytag Neptune front loader, which angered me when considering the money we paid for this high end washer. The users manual suggests ''refreshing'' periodically by mixing a strong bleach solution, rinsing the door of the washer with the solution, then pouring the remainder into the detergent compartment and running a hot cycle. Its a pain to do but gives good results. Kristin The best way I've found to prevent my washing machine from smelling moldy is to do my white loads in chlorine bleach. This kills all the gross stuff in your washing machine. If you do a bleach load every week or whenever you notice a moldy smell, it removes the odor like a charm. Incidentally, contrary to common belief, chlorine bleach is biodegradable. In fact, if you buy a bottle of bleach and don't use it within 6 months, its elements degrade into salt water and you have to replace it if you want it to work. anonymous Try running a warm water cycle with 1 cup of Clorox in water (no laundry). Rinse twice. You may want to do whites for the first load after that too. Leave the washer door slightly ajar if a few days between loads, or at least leave it open long enough to let the thing dry out. If the smell isn't completely gone, do another clorox cycle. hope it works. had it before too Hi! I recently went down to the basement and got out a whole bunch of clothes that I can now fit into again, but they all have that basement-y musty smell. I put them through a wash cycle and they still smell. Is there anything I can do, short of taking the lot to the dry cleaners, to get that smell out? Thanks! domestically challenged I had this problem with towels. Martha Stewart online suggests adding a cup of white vinegar to your wash as you put your soap in. I tried this and it really works! Everyting smells fresher - no vinegar smell as it rinses out. You can also try a cup of baking soda. Good Luck Say, does anyone have any good ideas on how to keep preservative- free bread in your house/kitchen? We've bought several different brands of whole wheat/whole grain breads, and they seldom last more than 4-5 days before mold spots start showing up. We've resorted to refrigerating the bread, but it doesn't taste as good (unless you toast everything); I also heard somewhere that the starch/gluten changes under the colder temperatures, and that's what affects taste/texture. Jim When we buy sliced bread we immediately freeze it and when we buy something fancier we leave it out for a day or two, then slice whatever hasn't been eaten and freeze it. Nothing molds, the taste is virtually unchanged, and all you have to do is pop it in the toaster before eating. If you don't always want toasted bread you could freeze half the loaf right away and leave the rest out to eat untoasted. Anna. We get moldy bread, too. We freeze it and leave the loaf in the freezer. When we need a slice or two, we toast it. My husband likes it REALLY toasted, but I don't. So I let it go in the toaster for a little bit, then take it out before it even gets brown. Otherwise, mold. We also do this with bagels. I'm not a big fan of toasting, but I'm a bigger fan of non-waste. You gotta freeze I have frozen my bread for years. When you are ready to use, remove approriate amount of slices and either toast, or put in microwave for a few seconds. You may have to try a few times wiht the microwave before you get it quite right. If you overdo it, the bread can get stiff. No special storage techniques are necessary. The bread needs to be in plastic and sealed. For artisan loaves, put in plastic bag and squeeze all the air out. I do not recommend that you microwave artisan loaves of sourdough, etc. That does not work. Bring to room temperature over the course of several hours. Leslie For sandwich bread, put it in the freezer as soon as you get home from the grocery store. When you make a sandwich, just take it right from the freezer and it will be almost thawed by the time you have put everything on it and cut in half. Only takes about 10 minutes for a slice of bread to thaw. Of course if it's for somebody's lunch later, it will be thawed by the time they eat it. It will taste very fresh if you freeze it immediately and take it out of the freezer as needed. And by the way, even cold hard peanut butter spreads nicely on a frozen slice of bread. I learned this from growing up in Alabama. You should see the mold on the bread after sitting all day in 90 degrees in a plastic bag! We didn't refrigerate our bread because we thought that made it hard and stale-tasting. Always the freezer. Ginger My three year old has multiple food allergies and some airborne allergies too. He's been taking Zyrtec for a few months and has had great results. We've done all that we can think of to combat the airborne allergens in his room(HEPA air purifier, windows closed, dust mite covers, no stuffed animals in his bed, etc.) but something is still bothering him around 2:00 am, causing massive sneezing attacks. Based on what I've read about airborne allergens, it sounds like he could be having a reaction to mold spores. These attacks do seem to be worse on damp, foggy days. Once he is out and about for the day he's fine. He wakes up from his nap a little congested, but the sneezing only happens in the early am. Does anyone out there have experience with this kind of allergy? I don't know where to begin looking for the mold let alone how to get rid of it. Help! Frustrated mom I have mold allergies, and what you are describing sounds about right. The best thing I did for my mold allergies was to move from Seattle to Walnut Creek. The relative humidity is so low, it really helps!! Another thing that helps is running the A/C...it dries out the air and helps around here. I think the Berkeley/SF area is much more humid and this can cause more problems. I no longer take routine meds for my allergies, it's great. Avoid humidifiers and take care of any leaks and check bathrooms and kitchens regularly for leaky pipes and drippy faucets. I use a bleach solution and clean the windowsills and bathrooms/kitchen frequently. Mold-free mom It sounds as though you have taken a number of important preliminary steps in discovering the reason for your child's allergy attacks. Based on your observations, it does indeed sound like mold is one of the prime culprits. I can share some of my first-hand experience with a mold allergy and hope that what I say will help you take further steps to protect your child's health. Four years ago, I moved into an apartment in Albany and began to suffer from a number of disturbing symptoms--acute asthma attacks, headaches, continuous coughing. Things kept getting worse in spite of the increasingly aggressive asthma/allergy treatments prescribed. I was taking 10 different prescription meds every day--steroids by mouth, by nose, by inhalation; antihistamines, four different types of inhalers, and Singulair. My health kept deteriorating--my doctor told me I was probably allergic to a pollen in my neighborhood and told me to keep my windows closed and stay indoors as much as possible. I had several weekend emergency-room visits, and things only kept getting worse. The more housebound I became, the more severe my asthma. When I finally underwent allergy testing, I found out that I was allergic to mold, among other things. My allergist advised me to ask my housing office to conduct mold testing. The maintenance supervisor came over, poked and peeked around a bit, and sent me a letter stating that there was no mold in my apartment. By the end of my fourth month there, I was told that my asthma attacks were life-threatening, and I was already on the highest doses of all the best medications. My immune system was so depressed by the combination of the severe asthma and the aggressive drugs used to treat it that when I got a cold at the end of the semester, I developed pneumonia and sinusitis. I was coughing so hard that one of the nurses I saw told me I could fracture my ribs. My allergist told me that if I didn't leave my apartment immediately, I would probably die. I ended up having to get a friend to come and get me and my daughter, and I had to leave everything behind in my apartment because I was too sick and too weak to take anything with me. It took three courses of antibiotics to cure the infection. The severe physical and emotional trauma of the 5-month-long asthma flare caused me to develop a chronic pain and fatigue condition I will live with for the rest of my life. I had to take a 2.5- year medical leave from my program of study, and I will never be able to gain back the health and strength I had before moving into my apartment. By the way, even though the maintenance supervisor denied the presence of mold in my apartment, I found mold behind the furniture; and many units of the apartment complex (section B of the student family housing in Albany) was tested for mold in 2001, and dangerously high levels were found. Basically, my advice is not just to medicate the allergies. Do everything you can to eliminate allergens from your child's environment, even if this means moving. I cannot find the words to tell you how much my life and health and the well-being of my family have been disrupted. I cannot find the words to describe the pain I have to live with as a result of my exposure to high levels of mold. Not everyone who is exposed to mold will develop the same symptoms I did, but I don't think it's a risk I would want to take with my children. Have your apartment tested for mold. If your apartment complex will not hire someone to do the testing, find a company that will do it for you. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments. sara We just got our lab report from Nelco Laboratories and found out that, according to their scale we have a ''very unusually high level'' of cladosporium and penicillium mold. I'm not sure how worried I should be. Now that we have a central heating system and have cleaned(clorox) and newly painted our walls I'm not sure what else to do inside. Just last year we put in vents alongside the base of the house where we have a crawl space that, for years had been quite moist but now is not. Has anyone dealt with this before or have familiarity with this type of mold' Please get back to me with any advice or recommendations. Thankyou Finding mold growing inside your home can be a serious issue, depending on the magnitude and extent of the contamination and the susceptibility to mold of people living therein. The health effects of indoor mold chiefly include respiratory, especially allergy-like, symptoms. The Institute of Medicine reviewed the literature and found evidence that mold exacerbates asthma, but there was insufficient evidence that mold exposure leads to the development of asthma. Allegations that indoor mold causes other serious health effects (e.g., memory loss or chronic fatigue) have not been scientifically substantiated. The steps for addressing this problem always start with identifying and fixing the source of moisture. During clean-up, it is important to prevent contamination from spreading from the source area. Moldy rugs, drapes and other fleecy items usually cannot be thoroughly cleaned, so they will need to be discarded. Hard surfaces can be effectively cleaned. People sometimes (erroneously) recommend using bleach to clean, but this is not as effective as using detergent. Also, bleach can be a respiratory hazard (why use one hazardous material to clean another?). You can find abundant literature on-line with details to guide you (see below). If you wear personal protection equipment (e.g., a good dust mask, gloves, etc.), you can do the clean-up yourself. Currently, there isn't any kind of certification for mold abatement services, so let the buyer beware. See our guidance document (below) about hiring professionals, if you need to go that route. In general, mold testing, especially in a case you describe, is a waste of money - use your resources to fix the obvious problem. It sounds like the humidifier use was the source of moisture, and discontinuing its use would be warranted. Jed Waldman, Chief, Indoor Air Quality Section (and Berkeley Parent) California Department of Health Services http://www.cal-iaq.org CA DHS infosheets, including Mold in my home, What do I do? http://www.cal-iaq.org//iaqsheet.htm#Mold CDC Information on indoor mold http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/ U.S. EPA's A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html Guidance document for hiring IAQ professional http://www.cal-iaq.org/FIRMS/Howto.htm We are renting a 1922 home that has some water damage (from the roof and possibly poor sealing from pipes) and the walls and ceiling have large brown stains and damp spots. The caretaker apparently repainted the rooms and now the spots are coming through the paint. The house also has a mildewy smell or old house smell that we can't seem to air out no matter how many times we leave the windows open or use room freshners. This is only the 2nd week of living in this house and we already signed a year lease. Do we keep repainting the walls and using air deodorizers? Any suggestions most welcome. I'm no contractor, but I'm wondering if the house has dry rot. When we purchased our house it had significant water damage from a leaking roof and other problems. The house had significant dry rot and we had to replace a significant portion of our walls. If this is the case with your house and the walls are permeated with mold, I don't believe frequent repainting and air fresheners are going to solve the problem. Especially if the mold is already coming through recently painted walls. Plus, it can be a health hazard to be living amongst so much mold. I guess if it were me, I would check with your city's tenant's rights board to see if this problem gives you recourse to break your lease without penalty. I wish you luck and hope this resolves easily for you. I had this problem in my house in Philadelphia, and it was an ongoing battle. I replaced a few pieces of wet sheetrock (not too difficult -- my house painter did it for a reasonable charge), which got rid of the mold temporarily, but the only permanent solution is to stop the water from coming in -- a tricky problem at best. Obviously, your landlord is responsible for that. Since mold is becoming notorious as a dangerous allergen, you might be able to make a case for breaking your lease. In the meantime, I recommend a dehumidifier and a HEPA or ULPA air purifier (for some reason, there is no one machine that combines these two functions). That might help slightly with the smell. If the house has moldy wood that's out of reach, however, you're probably stuck with it. Sonya This post may overlap with a recent request for advice about items that had gotten moldy in a damp garage. In my case, I have discovered that a number of leather and suede shoes in the bottom of my disorganized closet have become moldy. Yuck. Are the shoes at all salvagable? How should I clean the closet to prevent the mold from speading further this winter? I don't know whether the shoes are salvagable, but here is how to deal with the closet: Wash down the walls and floor with a bleach solution. One handy trick to avoid this problem is to simply leave a lightbulb on in the closet at all times during the winter, when mold is most likely to grow. Janet Mold is a sign of high humidity inside the house, of course. The solution is better ventilation (bathroom, kitchen especially) and/ or dehumdification. It would be important to find out if there is moisture under the house, and correct that and any drainage problems. Then you may want to heat and run a dehumidifier if the problem is not solved by the previous measures. (I took a class on this given by the EPA last year, as mold causes allergies or asthma in some people). Christine V, Berkeley nurse & indoor air quality person I've been doing a bit of searching around on mustiness myself. Primarily what it is is fungus: i.e., mold, mildew, and something else I don't remember. My husband is quite allergic to it. Apparently sunning the stuff can kill the mold, but I haven't tracked down the original sources on how long and in exactly what conditions you have to do the sunning. (Book conservation websites are where I started looking for the info, if you want to pursue it.) Fungicide kills the fungus but causes other problems, obviously. What we decided to do was throw away all our nice moving boxes (that had sat around for 4 years in humid/damp basements), and sun all our books as best we knew how. We're still in the middle of doing this so no results to report yet. Here's another aspect of mustiness. Once you have the mold (which itself is not always obvious from looking, more obvious from breathing), you get other critters too, including the following, which we've been advised that we have (and which I've seen in our books): *** PSOCIDS *** DESCRIPTION: These pale yellow insects are about 1/25 inch long and with short legs and antennae. The species in houses usually do not have wings and remain hidden in damp secluded areas. BIOLOGY: (Liposcellis sp.) These small insects develop from egg to adult in about 65 days. Reproduction occurs throughout the year, the adults live about 3 months. They feed on microscopic fungi and molds in damp locations, starchy part of books and wallpaper, they are sometimes found in cereal. SOLUTION: Remove and discard infested material, vacuum areas. Reduce harborage sites such as old books and magazines. Lower the relative humidity in structure for several days. The above info comes from the website of UPCRC, the Urban Pest Control Research Center, an entomology research/consulting firm that I found on the web (neither a pesticide company nor an anti-pesticide group -- just all about bugs). Joyce Re: Mold Clean with bleach and buy a de-humidifier at Sears. Roger Someone on the eczema list I belong to recommended a company called Hygenaire in Grass Valley CA, 1-800-432-2719. I think they have a website also. I've not tried the mold reduction product yet but am thinking of it. By the way, when I was in college, we successfully won a small claims court case against our landlord for a bad mold situation (we took lots of gory photos). I know it doesn't directly help the mold situation but the cash came in handy. Good luck. Tracy Check out Allergy Control Inc. (www.allergycontrol.com). They have many products to deal with mold, including dehumidifiers, chemicals, and an electronic mold zapper. I can't speak to the efficacy of these products, but other stuff I've bought from this has been good. The catalogue is better than their website, and their staff is helpful on the phone too. Meghan I would suggest you contact Barbara Sparks at the local EPA office; she is the local guru of molds/allergens and an advocate for people too. Also, the USEPA has a good Indoor Air Quality page with a ton of info about molds. Its hard if not impossible for you to identify them; you'd need a lab to do it. But don't waste your money (unless you want it for legal reasons) because it doesn't really matter; no mold is acceptable in living conditions and it should all be removed. You'll find lots of info about how to at that website (basically bleach and water). But remember, if you don't figure out where the moisture source is, it will continue to be a problem. So these are short-term solutions. Best of luck. hilary I don't know anthing about identifying mold, but I can give some suggestions to clean it and avoid it. Straight bleach (or bleach mixed with some water, if the mold is less thick) kills mold faster than anything I know of. I fill a spray bottle with bleach and spray directly on the spots and leave it for 15 minutes or more, until the mold either disappears or can be wiped away with a cloth. Then I rinse the whole area with clean water and a cloth. To avoid mold, we ventilate the house as much and as often as possible. We keep our windows open at least a few inches even at night, and often wide open during the day. For security, you can cut dowels or 1x2's to lock the windows open an inch or two even at night or when you're away. We also ventilate our clothes closets by leaving them open just a crack all the time. And we try to keep all furniture slightly away from the wall, so mold doesn't grow behind it. I know one family who purchased a dehumidifier and were very happy with it, but I always felt like their house was still steamier than ours. It seems like you'd have to keep your windows shut all the time in order for a machine to effectively remove all the water from home air. good luck. Cheri My husband was once informed by a professional painter that the best thing for mold/ mildew is a product called TSP by Jasco. The initials don't Stand for anything that's just what it says on the label. I got a quart of the light green fluid in a plastic bottle at Home-depot for about $7.00. Depending on How big your areas of mold are that should do the job because you do have to dilute the concentrated liquid with warm water as the directions are on the Bottle. It's very safe non-corrosive, non-flammable and no rinse needed and has no odor. I used the product myself for our bathroom that doesn't have a Ventilation system (we just open the window and bought this two-way fan that sits in the window between the window and the ledge etc) but prior to us moving in the previous renters just let the mildew mold take over the bathroom. So basically it preps the area for painting and stops further growth. We also had to paint just to Make it look better and we used BEHR premium plus mildew proof paint which we got at Home-depot for $17.00 a can. We only used one can and since then which Was about a year ago no further mold has grown. On the bottle of TSP it also says: It removes grease, grime, mildew, food stains, crayon, dirt, smoke, old wallpaper paste and wax from painted or unpainted wood. Their website is also on the bottle www.jaasco.help.com. Hope this helps. Warren Someone replied to this list mentioning TSP. TSP is trisodium phosphate and I have read in several places that it's a big pollutant. I would avoid it if possible. Our painter said he can add fungicide to paint which is used in areas where mold often grows (for example, on the south side of our house). When repainting you might find out about that and try it. Fran A recent posting mentioned concern about TSP as a major pollutant. This is true if you were to pour your used solution into the storm drain (never pour anything into the storm drain!). If you pour your solution down the sink, it goes into the sewer system, where it actually helps cultivate the bacteria which break down the other nasty sewage stuff in the waste treatment plant. TSP is not an airborne pollutant. If you get it on your skin, it will irritate it (and it's bad for the eyes), so wear gloves when you use it. I can't remember if earlier writers recommended a bleach solution. This is the most effective and least toxic (and cheapest!) fungicide you can use. It will kill the mold on the wall, where TSP will just wash it way so it can return later. Bleach is the active ingredient in most commercial mildew removers. The fungicide that your painter will add may be something called M-1, which is, at worst, mildly toxic, and mostly to the painter through skin contact. Another solution is to apply an exterior paint (even though this may be an interior wall) because any good exterior paint has an effective fungicide in it. Louise It's really disturbing to read about your mold problem. My husband and I rented a house much like the one you're living in now, and I developed severe allergies and allergy induced asthma while living there. They were caused by the mold which was constantly releasing spores into the air. Some mold releases spores when wet, some while dry. You say that you're not prepared to move and that your landlord is no help. I agree that it's not easy to find a place and to move, but mold exposure is serious, and you should seriously consider relocation. Please contact the rent board at We've washed specific walls with a bleach solution. Other people have suggested TSP. I am wondering if we need to get some of the moisture out of the air. Any suggestions about ways to deal with the problem systematically, rather than just cleaning up as it develops? What experience have people had with mechanical or chemical dehumidifying products? I am living in an apartment condo. Due to the heavy humidity in my apartment, mold is easily spread over the walls, the ceiling and my furniture despite my efforts of openning windows every day. Is there any tool or formula to reduce the humidity in the room? We have also had a serious problem with humidity and mold in our apartment. We have taken some steps which seem to have worked -- judging from our improved health and the lack of huge black growth on the walls. However, it may just be that it hasn't rained as much this year. We purchased a rather large de-humidifier (Sears) and run it just about all the time. When the mold produced chronic bronchitis in my husband, we escalated the attack and purchased an air purifier (HEPA filter) on-line. It was between $300-$400. We also run that most of the time. We washed every last bit of our bedding and threw away everything that looked the tiniest bit moldy. We also repainted our bedroom. We also wash down the walls frequently with one of those Chlorox cleaners with bleach. Get a dehumidifier. It's a machine that cools the air in its vicinity to cause the moisture to condense out. I had one as a child that had a series of coils. The water then drips off the coils into a cup, and you periodically empty the cup down the drain. Good luck! I am responding to the question of humidity and mold. We recently had experience with mold and learned quite a bit. You really need to properly deal with this. Some molds produce allergies but others actually produce toxins which can be dangerous, especially for children. If you have a lot of mold in your apartment, it is worth having it analyzed and then properly removed. We contacted an environmental engineering firm, SINA Environmental, who analyzed and found 3 different kinds of mold and made recommendations on how to best get rid of the mold. Sometimes it can be washed with a 10% bleach solution and then use a fungicide - but sometimes it is not easy and actually requires that containment fields be set up and the sheetrock removed. I believe that you can purchase dehumidifiers to help reduce the level of moisture. You also need to determine the cause of this high humidity. If you rent, this is something your landlord should take care of. If you own, you will have to spend some money to properly deal with it. Otherwise it will continue to return and pose health risks. Simply washing off the wall is usually not adequate. Good luck. Regarding the mold problem; you need to figure out the source of the moisture and stop it, or you will have a continual problem. Possibly a leaky roof that you were unaware of? This should be the landlords responsibility. While I could give you some advice (I used to do a lot of INdoor Air Quality work), I would suggest you get in touch with Barbara Sparks of the EPA (the SF regional office). She is the mold queen there, and VERY much on a crusade to bring this issue to the people's attention. I don't have a number sorry...but you should be able to find it fairly easily. The EPA also has an IAQ web page which has all their publications posted. They have a lot of info for homeowners. (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/). Good luck. For several winters I was disgusted by the amount of mildew and mold that accumulated in my houses and apartments. I've found 3 inch high mold growing on leather sandals, and one year my futon mildewed and caused a severe allergic skin reaction! Anyway, here's some things that we've tried during the last two winters. We are having some success. First, we bought dehumidifying crystals, which you can find at most hardware stores. They are sold in plastic tubs and look like little pebbles of chalk. We fill the bottom of empty yogurt tubs with the crystals and place them in closets. Eventually the tubs fill with water and we empty them out and replace the crystals. We also bought a dehumidifying bar at Ace Hardware. This is a heated bar that warms the bottom of the closet to inhibit growth of mildew. I suppose you could use something like this behind a bed as well. Finally, we open all windows whenever there's a dry, sunny day and allow air to circulate for as long as possible. We try to always open the bathroom window whenever we shower. Since our baby was born, we've been running the heater at night, and this has seemed to help as well. We had a mold problem in San Francisco and I tried using one of those products that is like mothballs but takes moisture out of the air. It came in a can and was white granules. It made us really sick so I don't recommend it. Please be careful of dehumidifying crystals. I believe they are toxic. Ingestion by an exploring child could be fatal. An electric dehumidifier seems like it would be less of a hazard. Peggy Two sources of moisture are bathing and cooking. While taking a bath, do you close the bathroom door to keep the moisture only in the bathroom? After a bath or shower, open the bathroom window and close the bathroom door until the moist air has been replaced by drier air. After a shower, wipe the walls with a squeegee. While cooking, put lids on pots and pans and/or open the kitchen window to allow the moist air to be carried outside. Whenever the weather is reasonable during the day, open the windows to allow some air to circulate around the rooms. I have strong alergies to mold, which have plaqued me my whole life. I also used to live in a place where everything molded (including my beloved book collection- I am still just sick about it). Since you said apartment, I assume you don't own the place and would not be willing to spend the bucks required to fix this problem. Your landlord may not either. Most often, these problems are caused by water getting into the house from outside- not because you are not opening the window when you take a shower. I finially realized my apartment was hopeless when I removed a nail from the wall and noticed that the part stuck in the wall had rusted. I moved. Most of my shoes, books, any organic possesions where either actually moldy or smelled real bad. I had to throw out a lot of things. You can take measures to keep you apartment dry on the inside, and keep the air circulation, but I am very serious when I suggest that you move. It could prevent mold allergies in your child, and save you money in the long run. We had serious mildew problems in our house, which we were able to reduce a great deal by reducing moisture. This meant adding an exhaust fan in the shower (which made a big difference!), improving drainage around the house (still in progress), and other changes. If you live in an apartment, you may not want or be able to add fans, etc. Maybe your landlord can be persuaded to make the necessary improvements -- as it is, s/he may be risking dry rot problems in addition to renting moldy housing. You can also buy a dehumidifyer from someplace like Sears. These use a lot of electricity, much like an air conditioner, which ultimately ends up as heat. It's like having an electric heater that also removes several gallons of water from the air each day. Finally, a friend who lived in a moldy apartment that got bad enough to make her sick eventually discovered that water from the roof was leaking down through the walls. She was forced to move and is suing the landlord. If your apartmnt building has a serious structural problem, you might consider moving now rather than later. Recommendation for moldy apartment: If your child has asthma, her lungs sound congested, you should consider moving as soon as possible. My friend just bought a new house that was built on slab and discovered black mold first under the kitchen sink then all over the house upon being tested by an environmental lab service. They finally tested their blood at the doctor's and discovered they had very high levels of antibodies to the toxic mold, I forgot the name. They are trying to get the builders to take the house back. Toxic mold has been known to cause allergic symtoms, make people sick and feel tired, etc...I'm planning to do a search on physicians on line myself to find out if this is the same common balck mold sometimes growing in the edges of my shower Susan We have a really bad water condensation problem too (it's also contributing to our mold problem but that's another story...) I purchased some chamois towels in the auto parts section of the big Longs Drugs at 51st & Broadway in Oakland and use them each morning to dry off the windows. It doesn't solve the problem long term but seems to be really helping keep everything less wet. We have a similar recurring mildew problem in the house we rent. Our best success in one room has been to a) wash walls,ceiling, and woodwork with a solution of household bleach, ordinary powered laundry soap, and water (these are the chemical components of many commercial mildew cleaners); b)prime everything with Zinsser 1-2-3 latex primer/stain blocker and c) place plastic on the ground (dirt) under the house under that room. That combination has worked for about six months while mildew has recurred in other rooms that only got the solution wash. We are not willing to wash/prime/repaint the whole house without being compensated by our landlord. I work in the remodeling field and should mention a couple of other longer-term solutions. First if the house does not have a finished basement and sits over dirt the dirt should be covered with heavy plastic. Second, mildew grows best in dark locations where moisture exists, and often in a house that is places where condensation occurs such as windows/sills and exterior walls. Condensation occurs when warm moist interior air contacts a cold surface such as windows, walls or the space between walls. When remodeling I encourage homeowners to install dual glazed windows if they are not present and add insulation which helps both reduce condensation and fuel bills. The other obvious items are checking the roof, gutters, or other places water may be penetrating the building. Good luck.

Separate names with a comma. Discussion in 'Past Gen Teams' started by Red~Rum, May 25, 2010. Here's my team I made a while ago. But now that Latias is uber I need some help. So please rate! I would suggest a small set change on Dragonite. I would try superpower over EQ, and 24 speed Evs at the expense of Attack. This will let you OHKO Heatran and Tyranitar leads, as well as Blissey later in the game. The speed will allow you to outrun almost all Metagross leads, though a little more speed can be added for extra insurance. Metagross should run Zen Headbutt over Thunderpunch, as this offers good neutral coverage againt Rotom, Swampert, Zapdos and Gyarados among others. I would also suggest that you run 196 speed Evs to outrun Scarf Rotom-A after an Agility, since Scarf Rotom is a very common Agiligross switch-in which could also give your team some serious trouble. Obviously we need to find a replacement for Latias. I was never quite sure how well that Latias fitted into your team in the first place, so I think we shouldn't necessarily be looking for a like-for-like replacement. Your team is is need of a decent counter to opposing Gyarados. Though you wouldn't much appreciate the electric weakness, a defensive Rapid Spinner Starmie could fit in quite well, helping to check Infernape and Bulky Gyarados, whilst supporting Dragonite and Gyarados in particular with rapid spin. I think you should chuck Swampert's 4 attack Evs into speed, since this could be very important in a Roar war against another Swampert. 8 speed could even be considered, taking the evs out of defence. All but the Starmie suggestion I like due to the electric weakness. I had Latias in mainly for its defensive ability and it was able to fit in good with most of my team. Hi, got your PM. Bulky offense is cool, but one of the most important parts of it is supporting each member properly. As you noted, Latias is banned, so something has to be done there as well. Dragonite seems to be the star of the show here, starting things off by putting the hurt into lots of things. I like that, so I'll work around keeping him there. I have a few suggestions elsewhere, though, that I feel will help the main goal of the team, so hear them out! First, your team lacks a really effective switch-in to Rotom-A, specifically Rotom-H/C, which can run through most of your team and burn the rest. You also really don't support SDScizor all that well with your team by having nothing that can capitalize on the things that force it out. Sub+LO Heatran will give you a lot of trouble as well, since it tends to carry either HPGrass or HPElectric specifically for Swampert/Gyara respectively. I suggest a Choice Band Scizor over your current SD Scizor for a few reasons: Can pursuit-KO Scarfed Rotom-A with ease Powerful U-turns that can give free switch-ins to other things and soften counters a bit Can handle your serious DDMence weakness if Swampert is weakened by using CB Bullet Punch Gives you some immediate power, so you don't have to setup with 4/6 of your Pokemon to do well Run the following set: Scizor @ Choice Band EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe ~ Bullet Punch Also, in place of Latias, I want to suggest Standard Rotom-C for a few reasons: Can beat Swampert with ease, who will give many of your sweepers a tough time Can burn Tyranitar, who with a Scarf will generally frustrate your team (Can burn other things too, which is nice, and isn't setup bait because of it) Swampert and Scizor have excellent synergy with Rotom-C, being able to take out many of the things that try to switch into it Rotom-A is no slouch in attacking with its Thunderbolt or Shadow Ball Rotom-C discourages things setting up on it because of its Will-O-Wisp Retains the ground immunity that Latias provided, as well as giving you another Scizor switch-in Gives you another solid electric resistance for your team Use the following set if you want to use Rotom-C: Rotom-C @ Leftovers EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe ~ Shadow Ball ~ Leaf Storm If you choose to run Rotom-C, it will probably be worth it to use Ice Punch on Metagross over Thunderpunch, since Rotom-C will be an excellent switch-in to any Gyarados that come against your Metagross. Anyway, give these suggestions a try, I think they'll do your team well. Good luck! Rotom-C can't be used? You never specified in the first post that this was a wifi team; you should do that. There's not much else that checks the same things that Rotom-C does... You could really use a few things from that slot: Reasonable secondary Scizor switch-in Beat some annoying bulky waters Secondary electric resistance It'd be nice if it checked Heatran too The only other Pokemon that can remotely handle those things without being Latias, who is banned, or Rotom-A is a Specially Defensive Zapdos with Hidden Power Grass. He's, unfortunately, weak to Stealth Rock, but he's a great Pokemon that will check a lot of threats while being generally hard to setup on. Zapdos also pairs excellently with Scizor and Metagross, so this should work out fairly well. And while he's neutral to Electric-type attacks, a specially defensive set keeps him from being 2HKOed by most. Try the following set: Zapdos @ Leftovers EVs: 248 HP / 228 SpD / 32 Spe ~ Heat Wave ~ Hidden Power Grass If you use this, you should definitely use the Choice Band Scizor I suggested in my last post, since things like Salamence might be gutsy and try to setup on you. Good luck! I got your VM, but I guess the problems been solved. Yeah, to be honest, I agree because the only possible relation to Rotom-C is pretty much Zapdos, except it has more weaknesses related to Rotom-C, but Zapdos also contains Rotom-C's main type attacks; Eletric-, Grass-, and Fire-. So Zapdos still has coverage to help protect against opposing Gyarados and Zapdos also compliments swampert from the likes of Celebi, but your team seems to already cover that problem. There's not much to rate but to also go for CB Scizor that Rising_Dusk has already suggesting because it packs much bigger power and with this set, as you're U-turning, your teammates may switch into things that may be counter such as Heatran where as gyarados just comes in and scare it away with Dragon Dance only or Waterfall. Your team has some nice type synergy as well, anyways, good luck. Zapdos does cover some things I do need but it also brings upon a problem that I can't afford another weakness to rock attacks and stealth rocks. I was thinking about suggesting you another, but I wanted to see what your reply would be. So here goes: Flygon (M) @ Choice Scarf EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Stone Edge It takes Heatran, It revenge kills any Salamence that isn't running 252 Speed EVs with +1 Dragon Dance (speed tie,) it's immune to Ground- attacks, it's immune to Electric- attacks, and it's not weak to Stealth Rock. Another reason I suggested Scarf Flygon is with CB Scizor and its U-turn, both of these choiced U-turners are able to scout a lot and since some of your pokemons can come in and take some hits and counter some of those threats. Flygon is a good choice because it's also a fast U-turn user and has the speed to revenge kill major threats naming Salamence and Scarf Heatran. I left Stone edge in there to kill weakened Gyarados that already have +1 DD as another way to revenge kill. Outrage is for it's main STAB, Earthquake as a secondary STAB and to hit those who resist Dragon- attacks. U-turn for the obvious scout which works so great along side CB Scizor. Try this suggestion, as it should work well in pair with Scizor and Gyarados, and help take down the mentioned threats above, and I think makes a good replacement with Latias, although Latias is just far stronger and faster. Good Luck. I like the suggestion of Flygon except for the fact it sort of brings away the whole theme of bulky sweeping and still leaves me weak to special sweepers. I will be testing Flygon out. Just a quick rate here. I notice with Latias gone you have nothing at all that can switch into Rotom-A, and much of your team is walled by it. For this reason you should definitely replace Latias with Heatran. Heatran @ Life Orb Nature: Naive / EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe ~ Fire Blast / Earth Power / Hidden Power Grass / Explosion This Heatran is a great counter to Rotom-A as it can switch in on nearly every move and hit extremely hard with Fire Blast. If it gets the Flash Fire boost from Will-O-Wisp, its a guaranteed KO. Heatran also is a great lure to Swampert, Suicune, etc. and can 2HKO them with Hidden Power Grass. This is great because then Metagross and Gyarados will have a much easier time sweeping when these Pokemon are eliminated. Good luck. BUMP unfortunately nothing is really working... im thinking bout a toxic stall flygon

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z by Nicholas Tolomeo - 8/24/2010 A – Al Michaels. In a previous life the NBC commentator must have been a degenerate gambler. Always mindful of the point spread and willing to discuss it on the air, Michaels apparently even follows preseason football point spreads. His reaction along with color commentator Chris Collinsworth was almost as stunning as the shocking ending in the San Francisco/Minnesota preseason game Sunday night. With San Francisco up 13-10 and favored by 3.5, Vikings quarterback Joe Webb (who?!) was sacked for an eight-yard loss somehow. The sack resulted in a safety on the very final play of the game to give Minnesota bettors one of the worst beats of their lifetime. This was the following exchange between Michaels and Collinsworth: Al: That will create a safety and end the game, hahaha, you know who I am laughing, don’t you? Al: Of course you do. Chris: There are some people happy and some not so happy. Al: And there are some going I can’t believe what just happened… Chris: …to me or for me. Get up to 50% Bonus at Wager Web! Use Code DOC200 B – Blount, LeGarrette. Blount force trauma was at it again. The Oregon Duck who famously sucker punched a helmetless Boise State player after a loss last season has brought his amateur boxing career to the NFL with him. He punched a helmet-wearing Eric Bakhtiari at Tennessee Titans training camp earlier this week and reports surfaced recently that while in college Oregon Head Coach Mike Bellotti was on the business end of one of Blount’s right jabs. C – Chris Johnson. Fantasy football participants have gathered around the country and conducted their drafts and with about half of the drafts completed, a consensus has been reached and Adrian Peterson is no longer the average No. 1 pick. That honor goes to Chris Johnson, who was drafted on average at position 1.6. Peterson was second with an average drafting position of 2.4. He should not feel bad, though, as other former top picks have fallen even further including LaDainian Tomlinson (No. 90) and Larry Johnson (No. 170). E – ESPN Romance. Kenny Chesney, the unofficial country singer of choice for ESPN, is now fist deep in the Bristol, Conn. all-sports television network. Chesney has been a guest on numerous ESPN productions including “College GameDay” and the “ESPYs” and he even launched his song “Boys of Fall” on Sportscenter last month. Now he has began to date ESPN sideline reporter Jenn Brown, who also happens to be the official spokesperson for Icehouse Beer. I believe that is called Synergy. This is a relationship made in ESPN heaven. F – Favre, Brett. All summer long we heard that the veteran quarterback had not made up his mind about a potential return to the NFL and we heard how it was not about the money. Well it was about the money and Favre knew all along he was returning it just conveniently happened as his team broke camp and with another $7 million potentially thrown his way. Scheduled to make $13 million this coming season, Favre recently acknowledged that the Vikings sweetened the pot to get him to return for a 20th NFL season. His salary is now reportedly $16 million with another $4 million in incentives. One of the incentives is rumored to be $2 million for not ending the season with an interception. G – Gillies, Tyson. Because he is a minor league baseball star, this following arrest was discussed on most sporting shows. If he were not an athlete this would be on “World’s Dumbest Criminals”. Early Friday morning, a cop spotted Gillies walking down a road waving a white shirt looking for a ride home. The pitcher, who was acquired in the Cliff Lee deal, somehow did not have enough money for a cab so the cop drove him to his hotel. Upon exiting the police cruiser, the officer noticed a bag of cocaine on the floor of the backseat. Of all the places to leave your blow, a cop’s backseat is probably not near the top. H – Horned Frogs. The up-and-coming football program is taking another big step with a $105 million renovation to Amon G. Carter Stadium where the Horned Frogs play football. The renovation will be as drastic as it is necessary. The antiquated stadium has not undergone significant renovations since 1956. The work on the stadium begins after the home schedule this season and will be ready for the 2012 football season although TCU will be able to use the stadium in 2011 as construction is ongoing. I – Iowa. For whatever reason, the University of Iowa has picked this fall as a time to begin enforcing long established rules against open alcohol containers and public urination. The University promises to crack down on it, but the police are actually concerned now. No longer can they turn a blind eye to someone relieving themselves in public. This will keep cops busy and they are worried that instead of Kinnick Stadium overflowing, the county jail will overflow. J – Jay Mariotti. The former newspaper columnist in Chicago is taking this whole celebrity thing to heart. Now an ESPN personality living in Los Angeles, Mariotti was arrested on a felony domestic abuse charge against his girlfriend Friday night. The couple was seen having a heated argument at a club in Santa Monica after Mariotti alleged that his girlfriend was flirting with another man. The argument continued in Mariotti’s apartment where things turned physical. Mariotti allegedly pushed, shoved and grabbed his girlfriend and when police arrived she had noticeable cuts and bruises. Mariotti was released on $50,000 bail and nobody at ESPN is commenting. Discussing Jason Kidd’s issues with domestic abuse in a column in 2002, Mariotti wrote: “A domestic abuser is not a hero in any arena.” K – Kelly Hall. The University of Georgia cheerleader may have established herself as the coolest NFL girlfriend when recent photos of her surfaced dominating a keg stand on a party boat. Hall was joined by other bikini clad cheerleaders and boyfriend Matthew Stanford, who was donning a “Get Tanked” shirt. L – Lou Piniella. The Cubs manager had announced his retirement after the season a month ago, but the skipper’s hand was forced on Sunday with his ailing mother not doing so well in a hospital. In a summer of what can go wrong has gone wrong, Piniella had to move his retirement up five weeks and his team sent him off with an embarrassing 16-5 loss. M – Maurice Clarett. The rollercoaster life of the former Ohio State Buckeye may make its next stop in the UFL. With a criminal past, Clarett not only has to make the team in tryouts but first he must be granted permission to leave the state of Ohio to tryout with the Omaha Nighthawks. He cannot leave the state without clearance from the courts based on his 2006 arrest for aggravated robbery and assault that landed him in a Toledo prison for 3 ½ years. See “S” for more information. N –Nordegren, Elin. What started with an SUV crashing into a fire hydrant and a tree on the night of Nov. 27 officially ended on Monday when Tiger Woods and the Swedish-born Nordegren finalized their divorce. The divorce was granted in Spring Break hot spot Panama City, Florida, although no reason was given for the choice of location. O – Ozzie Guillen. You can take Guillen’s name off the list of potential managers to replace Lou Piniella on the north side of town. He was probably on no one’s list in the first place, but this week Guillen made it known that he had it much easier managing the White Sox and he said it as he says most things, in the worst possible way. Guillen said, “I think it’s easy to manage this side because they don’t expect us to win.” P – Profitable Pirates. In the standings they are clear losers, but in financial terms the Pittsburgh Pirates are winners. The Bucs have been raking in the bucks. Reports indicated that the Pirates, who are mired in a stretch of 18 consecutive losing seasons, made $29.4 million while losing 189 games in 2007 and 2008. The opening of the financial books in Pittsburgh also shows that the team is making more than $5 million this year while on a crash course with 100 losses. While the fans suffer the owners are lining their pockets with money in a way that would make even the most cutthroat Pirate envious. Q – Quinn, Brady. I think we all know how this movie ends. Quinn, now with the Denver Broncos, looked lost and confused in his preseason debut. After being traded from Cleveland in the offseason, Brady was supposed to challenge Kyle Orton for the starting job, but now it looks like Brady is helping Tim Tebow’s pro career as Tebow may actually overtake Quinn for the backup role. In a new offense Quinn had trouble reading the defense, threw a pick-six and most scary of all, had Denver fans grateful to have Orton on the roster. R – Ryan Mallett. The 6-foot-7 quarterback went from a backup at Michigan to a Heisman candidate at Arkansas. Fleeing Richard Rodriguez’s offense at Michigan, Mallett is thriving under Bobby Petrino at Arkansas. He is listed at 9/1 on Bodog to win the Heisman. Only Terrelle Pryor (4/1) and defending Heisman winner Mark Ingram (5/1) have better odds. S – Sundquist, Ted. File this one under “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me” category. As general manager with the Denver Broncos, Sundquist drafted Clarett to the surprise of everyone in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Clarett was cut before the season started. Now as director of player personnel with the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL Sundquist is trying to lure Clarett over to his new team. Considering the drafting of Clarett is one of the main reasons Sundquist is working in the UFL and not the NFL, one would think he has learned from his mistakes. Guess not. T – Tyler Thomas Tased. Thomas, an Oregon State offensive lineman, just etched his name in the collegiate football police blotter hall of fame. In an incident too unbelievable to be made up, Thomas found a way to have the following words appear on one citation: nude, three-point-stance, tased. In case you can’t put the three together and figure out what happened, here is a brief rundown of Thomas’s Sunday morning. At 4:51 a.m. a 32-year old women phoned the Corvallis Police Department to report a naked man in the upstairs office of her residence. When the cops showed up on the scene they ordered Thomas to get on the ground but he refused. Then the offensive lineman, who reportedly had been drinking excessively, got into a “three-point-stance” and lunged at the officers who promptly tased him. Thomas has been kicked off the team. Leave it to a Beaver. U – UFC 118. A dual main event headlines UFC 118 Saturday at the TD Garden in Boston. Randy Couture is a heavy favorite at -575 in his bout against James Toney (+350). The other feature bout is B.J. Penn (-325) vs. Frankie Edgar (+250). V – Vincent Jackson. The biggest fantasy draft blunder this year has been the drafting of San Diego Chargers fantasy stud Vincent Jackson. He is only a fantasy producer when he is not suspended and he will likely be suspended six games this season and he will only play if San Diego can work out a trade with another team. In other words try to not make the same mistake fantasy owners across the country have made by drafting Jackson. This is not as bad as past fantasy draft blunders like drafting an imprisoned Rae Carruth, a retired Shannon Sharpe or a deceased Steve McNair. W – Walker, Javon. The two most hated people in Minnesota in 2004 are now the two newest additions to the Minnesota Vikings preseason roster. Favre made his extremely predicable late arrival to the Vikings this past week and now sources report that he will be reunited with his former Green Bay teammate, Walker. Favre and Walker had their best year together in 2004 when both made the Pro Bowl. X – Xavier Nady. The latest Cub to be put on the trading block is the veteran journeyman outfielder. Nady has been traded three times in less than three years and a recent hot streak has players inquiring about him. Nady is one of only 18 players in major league history to go directly to the major leagues without playing in the minors since 1965. The Cubs have already traded Derek Lee, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, and Ted Lilly in the past few weeks. Y- Yellow Jackets. In a case of college football voters and oddsmakers not agreeing, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets checked in at No. 16 in the AP and No. 17 in the coaches’ preseason poll. However, Paul Johnson’s team only has the seventh-best odds to win its own conference. Favorites Miami at 5/2 and Virginia Tech at 3/1 are the only teams ranked ahead of Georgia Tech (10/1) in the polls. Unranked Clemson has the same odds as Georgia Tech and unranked Boston College at 8/1 actually has better odds than Georgia Tech. Z- Zorn, Jim. The Ravens have established a tradition of drenching assistant coaches with Gatorade who have failed miserably as head coaches. Zorn, who was fired after two dismal years in Washington, was the latest victim of a Gatorade shower near the end of a preseason game this week. Last season offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, he of 1-15 Miami Dolphins fame, also left a preseason game drenched. 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BORN INTO CREATIVITY. INSPIRED BY TECHNOLOGY. FOCUSED ON SYNERGY BRAINCLOUD MUSIC AND SOUND Braincloud is a music composition and sound design studio operating from a state of the art facility in Los Angeles. With a premium roster of musicians, vocalists, and sound engineers who possess a comprehensive knowledge of how sound relates and interacts with picture, making possible a finished product that will move and affect the viewer. Music is our greatest passion, not just our job. So you won't get bland needle drop interpretations of music. You'll get songs. Similarly, when it comes to sound design, great care is taken to compliment the music and visuals alike. SFX are not an afterthought, they are integral to making your visual project come alive.

If there's one thing I love about this place it's how dedicated the teachers are. Mr. Alexei and Ms. Ronna have such a true passion for ballet and teaching. My daughter had no prior dancing experience and has only been in their class for about 10 months and in such a short time, she's learned so much. The classes are small so the teachers can focus on ALL their students and provide quality instruction. The teachers genuinely care about their students and their passion for the performing arts is inspiring. There are dance studios all over town but we choose to drive 21 miles farther because IBTI is the best! Having a great tasting room just below the studio is just icing on the cake. Michelle Love this ballet school! The owners and teachers are so professional and helpful. Classes are structured and the kids actually learn something. Highly recommend if you want you child to actually learn technique and style. Christine Our world class ballet school in Lodi, CA, features unique proprietary programs with a meticulously developed curriculum that is based upon the Russian Ballet School. Our distinguished instructors, with experience at the Bolshoi and Marijinsky(Kirov) and in 26 countries provide the effective curriculum, individual attention, care and support to mentor students to their goals. We are dedicated to world class ballet education, training and performance. High caliber ballet training is the innate core of human development at every level; a basic building block of human intellectual and social development. Early ballet arts training is the key to unlock a vibrant future today and for generations to come. High caliber, world class Classical Ballet training, education and performance has the power to synergize, unite and transform people,education and communities. Our instructors have trained , nurtured, coached, directed and choreographed for top principal male and female Ballet dancers in renown Theaters and companies such as the Bolshoi, Marijinsky, ABT, and San Francisco Ballet to name a few. We have developed highly successful age appropriate arts development programs for young children beginning at age 3 that prepare children for an arts career or provide learning "tools for life". We are networked with high caliber world class dance clubs,companies, theaters and academies the world round, and provide internet collaborations and exchanges as well as Summer and Winter break programs and exchanges. More information below. IBTI Studio Class Concert 2016. Jacob, Cossack Dance after a few months of Training. Bravo! IBTI is dedicated to enriching the lives of all students from the very young to adult professionals through preparatory avocation programs for Boys & Girls, Men & Women, Age 3- adult in our avocation division. Programs for aspiring artistic students with extraordinary talent are available at the 9- 23 age levels in our preparatory, professional divisions. All participants must be of sound physical health to participate in our clubs, classes, recitals. Preparatory to Professional Ballet Divisions: Participation is determined by a selective audition process. This program immerses the aspiring artist in a highly personal, individually attentive and intensive program designed for rapid progression, precise technical acumen, greatly increased artistic capabilities and stellar stage technique. The school's exceptional faculty and unique proprietary programs that focus upon individualized attention in a vibrant, nurturing environment is the base of a highly successful ballet program that results in high caliber artists with the proper aesthetics, stage presence, plasticity and the ability to express themselves in styles from classical to contemporary to ethnic. The faculty has a reputation for top pre-professional and professional training programs with a comprehensive, well developed cumulative curriculum featuring a logical progression that is intensive and innovative, based upon the positive placement, alignment and correction of the Russian School. Stretching and strengthening programs and mind, body, injury prevention training is innate to the unique curriculum. The primary goal of the club, school and performance company is to produce elite, classically trained artists with versatility in a range of dance styles and cultures to prepare our young professionals for the World’s stages. The faculty provides the individual attention, care, and support that are needed to guide, assist and mentor each student to surpass their goals and achieve their absolute personal best. We are dedicated to world class Arts education, training, and performance. We sincerely believe that arts training is the innate core to human development, the basic building block of human cultural and intellectual development at every level; the key to unlock a vibrant future today and for generations to come. The arts captivate imaginations and communicate to the very core of the human soul, with an effect and impact upon the human beings that no other communication can offer. High caliber arts education, training and avant-garde, dynamic performance have the power to synergize, unite and transform people, education and communities the world round. The value of one performance truly exceeds thousands of words and communicates what cannot be communicated by spoken word. Art speaks directly to the human soul, with the power to transform each individual and at the same time, humanity as a whole, in untold grandeur ways. The arts truly are the great communicator, the motivator toward harmony and the harbinger of a brighter future. The arts successfully create a synergy between human beings; a thread that weaves humanity together as a whole, giving meaning to the essence of our existence and providing a woven network of harmony amongst humanity. Soar to the greatest heights, experience the power and rewards of world class Art; Become a member Today! International Ballet Theater Institute, 4 1.2 W. Pine Street, Lodi, CA 95240 (209) 403-3897, (209) 334-1974, email@example.com Mr. Alexei Badrak is a graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory and Ukraine Choreographic School..He is laureate of the Moscow Competition of Ballet Masters and the First Award of the United Theater Artists (1986, Moscow). He was director of the Nishni-Novgrod Opera and Ballet Theater, Assistant to Artistic Director Yuri Grigorovich, The Bolshoi Theater, founder and director of Russian Chamber Ballet (a superstar , world touring company of the USSR under the auspices of Y. Grigorovich and The Bolshoi Ballet Theater) and most recently is the co-founder of the International Ballet Theater Institute Inc., a 501 c3 not for profit organization in Lodi, CA USA, since 1997. Mr. Badrak is a ballet master, artistic director and chorographer employing the world-renown Vaganova Methodology. This method of training is used in Russia and is well known as one of the greatest methods to renowned dancers. In order to learn the method, the greatest teachers study at either the Lunacharsky State Institute of Theatrical Arts in Moscow, or at the Choreographic Department of the Conservatory in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad). Mr. Badrak studied at both institutes and obtained from St. Petersburg Conservatory an M.A. in Choreography with a specialty in Artistic Direction (Theater Management). Alexei Badrak completed course work for his Ph.D., 5 years, (Soviet) at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, specializing in Choreography with Yuri N. Grigorovich, the director of training and is a PhD. Candidate in art History at the Saratov State conservatory, Russia. Mr. Badrak is an author and lecturer as well. There are very few individuals as well qualified in the world as Mr. Badrak, now working in the United States, who have completed that level of intensive curriculum training with the vast experience and award accolades that Mr. Badrak possesses. Mr. Badrak is entered in the Encyclopedia of Russian Ballet and the Encyclopedia of Ukrainian Ballet. He is an all Soviet honored and awarded choreographer and director with many classical, contemporary and original choreographic works for stage, television and film. Mr. Badrak has developed his own unique training curriculum in Character and Classical Ballet based upon the Russian methodology, ethnology and technological innovation. It's my opinion that Mr. Badrak is an Artist of the highest creative magnitude, an innovative and prolific Choreographer and Director who extracts and captures the true essence of the individual artist. Mr. Badraks choreography represents the highest level of aesthetics and incorporates the purest, most expressive means to produce exquisite choreography that speaks to the very core of the Human soul. His multiple talents as a Choreographer, Director and esteemed Academic certainly place him in the highest echelons of International Ballet Theater Arts today.

Microsoft is reportedly paying Nokia more than $1 billion to port Windows Phone 7 on its hardware. Data suggests the effect on the U.S. market could be negligible. What does a billion dollars buy you? Microsoft, it apparently buys you a new manufacturing partner. According to a March 7 Bloomberg report , itself quoting two unnamed sources "with knowledge of the terms," the company plans on paying Nokia more than $1 billion over five years to manufacture handsets running Windows Phone 7. Nokia apparently plans on paying Microsoft a license fee for every copy of Windows Phone 7 installed on a smartphone. A final contract remains to be signed, however, and some additional payment-structure details may emerge in partnership between the two tech behemoths will almost certainly alter the mobile landscape in coming years. However, some analysts have expressed reservations over the combined companies' ability to execute in a way that will actually reap benefits. wanted to leave mobile-operating-system development to another company, IHS thinks Google Inc. and its Android software would have been a better choice," William Kidd, an analyst with IHS iSuppli, wrote in a Feb. 14 research note. "Nokia could have reaped many of the benefits it expects with the Microsoft relationship from either Google or Microsoft. But clearly, the unspecified billions in Microsoft cash payments were an important motivating factor in entering into the deal." it could be several quarters before Nokia phones running Windows Phone 7 actually arrive on store shelves. Microsoft deal unlikely to yield any products for nearly one year, Nokia will have no choice, except to remain awkwardly reliant on the Symbian and MeeGo platforms in 2011," Kidd wrote. "This will have a further negative impact on the Nokia's already-eroding position in smartphones." that billion has earned it increased attention from developers. As speculation of a Nokia deal filtered across the Web, more third-party developers launched projects on the Windows Phone 7 platform. measured a 66 percent increase in Windows Phone 7 starts over last week," Peter Farago, vice president of marketing for analytics firm Flurry, wrote in a Feb. 11 posting on his company's blog "From Flurry's point of view, this week's spike in Windows Phone 7 developer activity shows that developers not only believe that Nokia has given Microsoft Windows Phone 7 a shot in the arm, but also that Nokia and Microsoft together can build a viable ecosystem." Even if more developers flock to the platform, at least in the short term, the question remains how much of an impact the Nokia deal will have on Microsoft's overall smartphone market share. In a new report, research firm comScore suggests that Microsoft's share of the U.S. smartphone platform market dipped 1.7 percentage points between October 2010 and January 2011, from 9.7 percent to 8 percent. That trailed Google, which ended January with 31.2 percent of the market, Research In Motion with 30.4 percent and Apple with 24.7 percent. Microsoft did manage to beat Palm, whose share fell by 0.7 of a percentage point during that three-month period to 3.2 carve out more of a presence in the smartphone market, and replace its increasingly antiquated Windows Mobile franchise with a platform capable of battling toe-to-toe with the likes of Google Android and the iPhone, Microsoft released Windows Phone 7 in Europe in late October 2010, followed by an early November rollout in the United States. massive advertising push accompanying that launch, the comScore numbers suggest that Windows Phone 7 is doing nothing, at least in the short term, to halt Microsoft's market share slide in smartphones. Microsoft claims that more than 2 million Windows Phone 7 handsets have been sold by manufacturers to retailers, but the exact number of those devices reaching consumers' hands In the United States, the Nokia deal is unlikely to substantially affect that market share. According to comScore, Nokia fails to place in its Top 5 rankings of either OEMs or smartphone platforms. In the OEM scenario, that ranks it well behind Samsung, LG, Motorola and others; and in platforms, behind even Palm at 3.2 stage, however, offers a better opportunity for some Nokia-Microsoft synergy. According to new data from analysis firm StatCounter, Symbian holds some 30.7 percent of the global market, ahead of Apple iOS at 24.6 percent, Android at 15.2 percent and RIM at 14.5 percent. If Nokia and Microsoft can maintain a healthy fraction of that Symbian-based market through the transition to Windows Phone 7, it would provide a substantial boost to Microsoft's platform. The billion-dollar question, though, is whether that erosion-free scenario can take place, particularly if users begin to see Symbian as a lame-duck platform. Per Kidd's research note, the lack of Windows Phone 7 devices from Nokia until 2012 may also have a negative impact. So what does Microsoft get for its money? The chance to make Windows Phone 7 a player on the international stage-provided it can execute hand-in-hand with Nokia. Considering the latter's minimal presence in the U.S. smartphone market, though, Microsoft may need another strategy if it wants Windows Phone 7 to succeed on these shores.

Pure Groove Systems In less than a decade, Danley Sound Labs has revolutionized the fidelity and efficiency of sound reinforcement in houses of worship and, more recently, arenas and sports venues. The key to that revolution is the innovative loudspeaker and subwoofer designs of Tom Danley, who spent his early years inventing electro-acoustic solutions for NASA and holds seventeen patents, only a fraction of which are for music reproduction devices. He is a broad and deep thinker, and the patented Synergy Horn and Tapped Horn technologies, upon which Danley Sound Labs products are based, cleverly sidestep the compromises that are inherent to conventional loudspeaker and subwoofer designs. Simply put, Danley devices sound glorious at any volume, with rich, honest bass and pleasant midrange. Moreover, the efficiency of Danley devices allows that better fidelity to happen with vastly fewer boxes (and thus with vastly fewer amps and processing). With the help of Pure Groove Systems, Danley Sound Labs plans to expand its revolution to the world of dance music. “I know the current dance music industry standard, and Danley smashes it,” said Damian Murphy, founder of Pure Groove Systems and president of Liquified, the dance music and festival production veteran. “I thought I had heard ‘great’ systems before, but now that I’ve heard Danley, I realized that audiences were settling for something that isn’t that great.’ I feel that it’s my duty to get promoters, artists, and fans the true sound they deserve,” said Murphy. Pure Groove Systems distributes, rents and demos Danley products globally. Danley Sound Labs made its first inroad in the house of worship market in part because that’s where the heart of company president Mike Hedden resides, and the company’s current expansion into the arena market comes with considerable insider knowledge. They lacked that connection to the dance music industry, however. “Danley approached me and suggested a demo for a show we were doing in the Atlanta area,” said Murphy. “They sent Ivan [Beaver] and Chad [Edwardson] with a system to cover 1,500 people. It was just four boxes – two tops and two subs. I admittedly, was dubious, but they assured me it would be more than enough.” Murphy continued, “They were right. It was plenty loud. But more importantly, it sounded rich, clean, and powerful. It was immersive and no matter what was playing, I felt like I was inside the track; and I wasn’t getting my head ripped off, either, despite the volume. The advantages didn’t end there. The consistency of sound was also unparalleled. No matter where I went on the dance floor or on any of the venue’s three balconies, I heard the same enveloping sound. It was unlike anything I had heard in my 25 years in the industry. It was very special.” Murphy reports that all of the numerous Danley systems he has since been a part of share those qualities. The second characteristic of Danley’s designs – efficiency – is also a huge advantage in the dance music industry. “We put up a twenty-box Danley system at a 12,000 person stage at the Lightning In a Bottle Festival,” said Murphy. “An adjacent stage used over 170 conventional boxes to cover a comparable crowd, and their sound was no where near as good as ours. Danley’s efficiency scales, too. Fewer boxes means less time and/or people rigging, fewer amps, less processing, less electricity, smaller trucks, less fuel, and so on. And the fact that the efficiency comes with a dramatic improvement in sound quality… well, you can see why I’m excited to move the industry toward Danley.” Since its establishment in January 2014, Pure Groove Systems has provided Danley systems for several festivals. At Miami Music Week, forty of the world’s top DJs played to 15,000-plus people, over five days, using two Danley J1 Jericho Horns and two Danley BC-415 subwoofers. The previously mentioned “Lighting In a Bottle” Fest used four Danley J1 Jericho Horns, two Danley SH-96HOs, eight Danley BC-415 subwoofers, and six Danley TH-118 subwoofers. The system performed flawlessly fourteen hours a day through the extreme heat and dust of the California desert. Despite rain at Amsterdam’s “Lost In a Moment” outdoor event, DJs kept more than 4,000 people packed on the dance floor using two Danley J1 Jericho Horns, two Danley SH-96HOs, two Danley TH-812 subwoofers, and two Danley BC-415 subwoofers. “Working with the Danley team has been inspiring,” said Murphy. “They’re justifiably confident in their products, but they welcome feedback and are constantly looking to improve. The products sound amazing with any type of musical genre, electronic, rock, pop, classical, etc. I’m devoting myself to traveling the world with these systems to make an impact in my industry. We sell and rent Danley systems or demo them to potential customers in the right situation. I’m willing to do that because I’m confident that once people hear a Danley system, they’re going to want to buy it. There simply is nothing comparable to the clarity and power of these speakers. The difference is obvious.”

|Tribune Libre - Galtung Johan| There is much talk about emerging powers these days. BRIC, the UNSC abstainers over “no fly zone” in Libya; BRICS, adding South Africa for all major continents; BRICS+T with Turkey for the muslim world and peace politics. Is Germany in it? Could be in their interest, but sanctions might be heavy. West defines BRIC in economic terms, still addicted to GD-NP growth; which is also a good measure of “Gross Destruction of Nature Product” as it focuses on value added by the key culprits, processing and trade. But in the name of justice and symmetry any focus on what is emerging invites a focus on the opposite: “demerging”, vanishing, retiring powers. There is not that much space at the top, in the limelight. And one retiring power added greatly to its demise some days ago with that symbol of a social formation some centuries ago, feudalism, that royal wedding. Give it to them; they do pageantry splendidly, with God, Queen, Patria all there, and masses thronging to be party to the past. Protests outlawed. Panem et circenses? The Roman Empire formula? Wrong, only circus. The bread is withering away with the welfare state, like the USA turning to warfare with 400,000 in Washington not knowing where the next meal comes from. They kill civilians to protect them in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Prince William, a RAF pilot, is trained to fly to kill; in the future when states, democracies, carry no licenses to kill, such people will be known as murderers. Kate, however, looks sweet and bright. Knowing the history of English kings she knows what she is in for. Bless her. England-Britain-Great Britain-UK–whatever–is dedeveloping. A country in the process of underdevelopment; like the USA and the PIGS (possibly minus Spain). Victims of a rampant capitalism, it is not strange that they jump backward for some short lasting, costly glory. These eight lines probably carry most of the explanation: * The more “free” the market, the more unequal the distribution. * The more unequal the distribution, ** the more suffering, including starvation, in the lower classes; ** the less buying power for the middle classes; ** the more liquidity available to the upper classes. *** The less buying power, the less real growth. *** The more liquidity, the more betting and financial growth. * The more gap between financial and real growth, the more crisis. Robert Reich in Amerika am Wendepunkt, 2010: distribution is the key. As is the likely 10 to 15 trillion Obama’s debt increase in 2009-2011. The upper classes rule, by definition. A crisis is to them collapsing finance institutions, not collapsing livelihood for the lower and middle classes. There are arguments for some bailout, but not in excess of stimulus. And bailout costs; the PIGS are paying dearly for an economy-quake with Wall Street as ground zero. That bubble is waiting to burst, with the gap between printed money and the value it is supposed to reflect-bubble; and the gap between government people service and debt service-bubble. There could be a bubble synergy with a triple crisis; 2011-12. Not strange that BRICS target economic reform with a “broad-based international reserve currency system” and rule out the use of force to solve international disputes (China Daily in IHT 28 Apr 11, also see IHT 21 Apr 11, comments on their third summit). The West celebrates Alexander the Great, who changed the world known to the Greeks to a super-bubble empire before he died in 323 B.C. at the age of 32. A major exhibition in Madrid with no questions asked, just eulogizing him and his horse Bucéfalo, no words wasted on what happened to common people conquered. How Western. But Afghanistan did its job as tomb also of his empire. States and nations come and go, like we all do. Childhood countries are fumbling to define their role (Africa?); puberty countries have uprisings against ruling and aging countries (Arabs? Muslims?); then there are adult, emerging countries, and tired, retiring countries. Such is life. In that home for the elderly there is even a psychiatric ward for the mentally disordered who think they are exceptional, anointed by God as chosen. Back to that William-Kate country. Much good, yes; but also enormous damage emanated from that little spot in the North Sea. Major problems in the world today are to a large extent of their making: Israel-Palestine-Arab states by Sykes-Picot, Balfour, Churchill; Iraq was a British post-Ottoman construction; in Afghanistan they did enormous damage through their belligerence; then there is “Anglo-Egyptian” Sudan and colonialism in general, in some countries with heavy settlement, like in Zimbabwe, creating enormous problems. Thatcher and Major seem to have favored compensating the British farmers; but Tony Blair, the “socialist” reneged on the promise; wanting to eliminate poverty in Zimbabwe instead. The rest, as they say, is history. The list is much, much longer. So they preach to the world from their retirement, playing golf like retired people often do. Solution? Learn from the Arabs, wake up, revolt–nonviolently, not the CIA-NATO-Libyan way–throw out that crazy, cleptocratic, finance-betting capitalism by designing a real economy banking, turn the economy upside down, start from scratch at the bottom and hang on to it. Use local democracy, NGO democracy, family, company democracy when national democracy is in the hands of cleptocrats living off commissions. Learn from the BRICS-like capi-communism. To retire is to have no other project than staying alive. To develop is to have a project, like livelihood for all. Worth doing. 2 May 2011 |< Précédent||Suivant >| Comme son nom l'indique, cette Tribune est libre. Elle est ouverte à tous les citoyens qui désirent contribuer au débat de société et qui respectent les règles élémentaires de participation à la «Tribune libre» en évitant les propos diffamatoires, haineux, obscènes, et en violation du droit local et international. Les opinions exprimées dans la «Tribune libre» ne reflètent pas nécessairement la position de Hoggar. |Spain “Without Government”–And Then What?| Johan Galtung - 17-10-2016 |The Mediascape: A Guided Tour| Johan Galtung - 10-10-2016 |Meanwhile–Around the World| Johan Galtung - 03-10-2016 |21 September 2016: 10 Pointers| Johan Galtung - 27-09-2016 |The State of the World–By Journalism| Johan Galtung - 19-09-2016 |Wallerstein on the Global Left and Right| Johan Galtung - 12-09-2016 |Islam Right Now| Johan Galtung - 05-09-2016 |The Global Power Imbalance| Johan Galtung - 29-08-2016 |Meanwhile, Around the World| Johan Galtung - 22-08-2016 |Money, Economy, Economics| Johan Galtung - 15-08-2016 |Europe Right Now – EU, Russia| Johan Galtung - 09-08-2016 |Norway Right Now—Compliance| Johan Galtung - 01-08-2016

Christie IMB completes Dolby Atmos testing The Christie IMB, an integrated media block solution that converts and delivers feature-film and alternative content within a secure environment, now supports Dolby Atmos™, the new immersive audio system. The announcement follows beta tests at several large cinema customers of Christie that confirmed the Christie IMB/Dolby Atmos synergy, including support for all of the latter’s functionality including playback. “Combining our powerful IMB with Dolby Atmos, and adding our new Christie Vive Audio™ cinema sound system, enables exhibitors to create a movie experience that is second to none,” declared Craig Sholder, Christie’s VP, entertainment solutions. The Christie IMB firmware update enables the change for all of Christie’s 2K and 4K, DCI-compliant Solaria® Series 2 projectors having a Christie IMB. Built into Christie projectors or easily inserted into previously purchased units, the Christie IMB utilizes industry-standard, non-proprietary storage solutions, giving exhibitors a smooth transition to High Frame Rate and 3D projection standards. All Solaria Series 2 projectors are designed to integrate seamlessly with the Christie IMB and the Christie Previsto™ High Frame Rate technology.

Ouch - harsh title! The article points out how the theoretical synergies from the CVS Caremark merger have yet to appear, noting: The nearly $27 billion merger, however, hasn't driven a major shift in market share, or stopped growth at rival pharmacy-benefit managers, which are known as PBMs, or prompted similar mergers in the sector. The article goes on to quote me as follows: "From what I can tell the jury is still out on whether the retail-PBM combination works strategically" for employers, health plans and consumers, said Pembroke Consulting President Adam Fein. "I think at one level it's been a big win at CVS Caremark behind the scenes." He said that CVS has great leverage in buying generic and branded drugs since it makes almost 20% of the generic purchases in the U.S. I was especially intrigued by comments from CVS Caremark Chairman and Chief Executive Tom Ryan because he confirms some things that you've read on Drug Channels. Mr. Ryan confirmed that the company has overachieved on its planned costs synergies, which should be no surprise to long-time Drug Channels readers. Check out CVS' Channel Power, a Drug Channels golden oldie from September 2007. I describe a lawsuit that disclosed some of the behind-the-scenes economics of the CVS -Caremark deal and highlighted the negotiating challenges for generic drug makers. Very eye-opening for those who are not familiar with the supply chain's Golden Rule: "Whoever has the gold makes the rules." Revenue Synergies TBD In February's blog post CVS Caremark: No Visible Revenue Synergy, I showed you that CVS Caremark's financial statements did not document any revenue synergies from the PBM/Retail combination. If CVS pharmacies are taking retail pharmacy market share, then it's not yet as a result of corporate co-ownership with a PBM. So I was particularly interested in these two quotes from Mr. Ryan in yesterday's WSJ article: "We're probably halfway through the revenue synergies." "But there is no evidence that the PBM business is driving more retail business." Thanks for great feedback on yesterday's post! I either startled or amused enough people to generate a record day for blog traffic. Perhaps I should post more fake news.

Verizon announced this morning that it would acquire Internet pioneer AOL for $50 per share in a deal valued at about $4.4 billion. Verizon says that the acquisition will further its aim of marrying ad-supported digital content to its network delivery systems. “Verizon’s vision is to provide customers with a premium digital experience based on a global multiscreen network platform,” Verizon chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam said in a prepared statement. “This acquisition supports our strategy to provide a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers to deliver that premium customer experience.” While there will be a lot of talk about synergy and integration—shades of the failed AOL-Time Warner merger from 15 years ago—this deal is in fact fairly straightforward. AOL, which had previously pioneered Internet and online access as Q-Link and America Online in decades past, has evolved into a company that sells ads against online content such as its own branded web sites and video. And Verizon, seen as just a “dumb pipe,” wants a piece of the business it is delivering for others. The Verizon press release announcing the deal highlights some of AOL’s key content assets—The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Engadget, MAKERS and AOL.com among them—but this deal is really about the advertising dollars. AOL has “a scaled, mobile-first platform offering directly targeted at what eMarketer estimates is a nearly $600 billion global advertising industry,” Verizon notes. “At Verizon, we’ve been strategically investing in emerging technology, including Verizon Digital Media Services and OTT [over-the-top video], that taps into the market shift to digital content and advertising,” Mr. McAdam says. “AOL’s advertising model aligns with this approach, and the advertising platform provides a key tool for us to develop future revenue streams.” AOL CEO Tim Armstrong will continue to lead AOL’s operations after the acquisition is completed, Verizon says. Technically, Verizon and AOL will merge, with AOL becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon. The firms expect the transaction to close sometime this summer. For AOL, it’s been a long, strange road. The firm began as CVC in 1983 and provided online access to customers with Atari video game systems. Over time, it launched services for Commodore computer users (Quantum Link, or Q-Link, in 1985), Apple computers (AppleLink, 1988), and then the PC (PC Link, 1988). After a few name changes, it became America Online in 1989. Focusing on consumers rather than technical users, American Online usage exploded in the 1990s and the firm was known for its ubiquitous mass mailings and magazine bundles of American Online floppy disks and then CDs. It also expanded into the Internet, first with USENET access. And then AOL bought Netscape in 1999 for $10 billion. America Online merged with Time Warner in 2001 in a deal valued at $164 billion, but thanks to AOL’s outsized market capitalization, AOL shareholders owned more of the resulting company, AOL Time Warner. So in effect, AOL had acquired Time Warner, even though the latter company had more assets and revenues. Regardless, the deal was a disaster, “the biggest mistake in corporate history,” as Time Warner’s Jeff Bewkes put it, as AOL’s core businesses imploded. With key AOL executives leaving the company in droves, AOL Time Warner was renamed to Time Warner in 2003. Time Warner then spun off AOL in 2009. Since then, AOL has fashioned itself as a digital media company and its revenues come mostly from advertising. There are rumors Verizon might sell off all or some of the AOL brands, and that this deal is really about the ads engine. One final note about AOL. Amazingly, over 2 million people still use AOL’s dial-up service.

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Okay, filtering out all of the mediocre items and altars lets you set up some amazing combos. I just played a game using a rogue and taking the scout altar and bank preparations. I bee lined for the first altar and found Binlor. I sacrificed about a 1/3 of the map to gain 150 piety from him (used the resistance-reducing boon 5 times). You can mitigate the cost by using ENDISWAL to burrow into otherwise unreachable tiles. If I had found a nice subdungeon, it would have been even easier. I then converted to Glowing Guardian, starting me out with 50 piety. All of the early map exploration revealed tons of powerups and shops, including one selling the agnostic collar. I bought that, and then desecrated both Binlor and Taurog, giving me 100 piety in total and letting me get Enlightenment at level one! I didn't even need the collar, since I could have desecrated Binlor without it and I had found plenty of garbage glyphs to convert anyway. By level 5 (post-humility) I had about ~80 piety again. At that point I could just ignore GG's complaints about potion use. If the third altar had been Dracul instead of Taurog, it would have been nuts. By level 5 or 6, I could have used Absolution to gains tons of hit points, convert to Dracul, and then have access to Blood Shield and still have tons of piety left over for Blood Swell. The synergy between Absolution, Enlightenment, Blood Shield and Blood Swell is just crazy. I also think I could have easily gotten away with using Binlor's boon 10 times instead of 5, which would have been amazing. I can't even imagine what a Crusader could pull off with 4 altars. I still haven't found the Earthmother. Would she fit into this scheme? I'm starting to regret unlocking Taurog, to be honest.

ADI design INDEX: Slamp wins the award 'Excellence of Design' Avia, designed by #ZahaHadid, has been selected for the Adi #Design Index 2014. The #exclusive #lamp, candidate for the next #CompassodOro, wins the award 'Excellence of Lazio Design' because of its ability of creating a synergy between the international style of the archistar and the continuous research of the italian lighting desing company on innovative patented materials and new technologies. Roberto Ziliani, CEO Slamp, retires the award on November the 27th. 10 Pin521 Follower

Nutrex Research, a well established player in the supplement market have come out with Amino Drive, a new pre- and intra- workout. Amino Drive is the latest addition to the Nutrex “Black” range, joining well known products like Lipo 6 Black, so you know it’s going to be a serious product that delivers results. Nutrex Amino Drive Black Highlights - Good source of BCAAs - Great before or during a workout - Ingredients work together Nutrex Amino Drive Ingredients & Dosage Nutrex Amino Drive Pros & Effectiveness Nutrex Research have put together a solid mix of ingredients in Amino Drive. The branched chain amino acids are dosed really well, and have been added in the 2:1:1 physiological ratio that mimics what is found within the muscle, which many believe is optimal for synthesising new protein. Taurine is a substance with many beneficial effects during a workout. It’s great for preventing cramping and some people find taking it during a workout gives them a good pump. The best thing about the inclusion of Taurine in a mix like this is its ability to mimic insulin. Insulin is known to stimulate the cells to take up both Creatine and BCAAs. These substances are best absorbed under isotonic conditions, which is where the electrolytes come in. There is a clever synergy to the way Amino Drive has been formulated. Glutamine is a great addition to any supplement that is going to be taken before or during a workout, immediately replacing what is being lost before the muscles even have time to even think about catabolism. Amino Drive is stimulant-free. This means the Creatine is better absorbed, there’s less chance of dehydration, and of course, this makes the product versatile. You can stack a stimulant with this product on the days you need it, and leave it out when it’s not required. Nutrex Amino Drive Cons While the BCAAs are really well dosed, a lot of people will find the Taurine and Glutamine are included at a level which is a little low for their liking. Creatine is also present in low amounts, but it is understandable that some people may wish to kick up their levels before or during a workout rather than relying on this supplement as their sole source. It is a matter of personal preference, but some would argue that this supplement would be better sweetened with simple carbs than Sucralose. Glucose in the bloodstream could stimulate a greater insulin rise than Taurine alone which would assist absorption of BCAAs and Creatine. Carbs provide an energy boost mid-workout, and although the taste of this supplement is praised, many prefer the taste of sugar to artificial sweetener. That being said, this product is great for those on a cutting cycle, and not including any sugar gives the option of choosing whether or not to consume any on top of this product. Nutrex Amino Drive Taste & Mixability There is a little bit of grittiness, but nothing out of the ordinary given the ingredients, and overall this product mixes well. The flavour of this product, particularly Gashin’ Grape, has attracted a lot of praise. Nutrex Amino Drive Verdict This is a clever, versatile product which delivers a lot more than a simple mix of BCAAs. This would be great before or during a workout, particularly for those looking to put down lean mass.

The Chix with Stix women's hockey team concluded its season with a seventh-place finish at the Division A women's state tournament April 2 and 3 in Vail. Steamboat went into the tournament on a five-game winning streak, and though the Chix went 1-2-1 in tournament play, all four of its games were decided by two goals or less. "The whole tournament was so tight," Chix player Cathy Wiedemer said. Steamboat and the Colorado Synergy skated to a 0-0 tie to open play in the Red Pool on April 2. The Chix followed the tie with two losses April 3. The first, 5-4, came at the hands of Vail. The second was a 1-0 loss to Breckenridge. Despite the loss to host Vail, the Chix players left the game pleased with the way they played against the eventual runner-up, Wiedemer said. Steamboat defeated Fort Collins, 4-2, to finish seventh. "All different lines scored," Wiedemer said. "We had so much fun." The University of Colorado was the eventual champion after defeating Vail, 3-2, in overtime. Breckenridge took third. Aspen was fourth. The Denver Bandits were fifth. The Colorado Synergy was sixth, followed by the Steamboat Chix in seventh and Fort Collins in eighth. -To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org

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Trained initially as a musician, Rob performed with the contemporary vocal groups The Swingle Singers and Synergy Vocals, giving performance premieres of works by composers including Luciano Berio, Steve Reich, Steven Mackay and David Lang. As Assistant/Associate Rob has worked with directors including David Poutney, Christopher Alden, Tim Albery, Robert Carsen, and Yoshi Oida for companies including Opera North, Bregenz Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, and Opera de Lyon. As Director, recent credits include Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (Threestone), Antiphony (W11 Opera), Mozart’s Idomeneo (Floral Opera), the premiere of The Lady In The Van (University of Hertfordshire), The Beggar’s Opera (Handel House Museum/Royal Academy of Music); Verdi’s Nabucco and La traviata (Riverside Opera), Puccini’s Edgar (English Touring Opera), Hello Life (Greenwich Theatre and Buxton Festival); Young Carmen (St Alban’s Festival), and The Mozart Show (Covent Garden Festival). Rob regularly works training the next generation of performers at the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity College of Music, Royal College of Music, and with Royal Opera Education. Update: February 2009

To talk with anyone privy to or affected by the sale of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette to the New York Times Co., which also owns The Boston Globe, is to come away with the impression that the creation of this regional newspaper powerhouse is, in essence, a non-event. After all, the T&G already went through the wrenching adjustment to out-of-town ownership when the central Massachusetts newspaper was sold to owners of the San Francisco Chronicle in 1986. And in late January, just after the new deal was closed, Times Co. mucky-mucks, including chairman Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr., flew into Worcester to assure employees that their cherished hometown voice would not become a ventriloquist’s dummy for New York puppet masters nor morph into a far-west edition of The Boston Globe. “Your newspaper will endorse those candidates you wish to endorse without telling me where you are headed,” Sulzberger told the staff in a Mechanics Hall meeting, as reported by the newspaper he now owns. “A lot is expected of us in a synergistic kind of way,” announced Richard Gilman, publisher of the Globe and a member of the Times Co. senior management team, “but we will achieve these expectations while remaining separate entities.” For now, at least, the “synergy” is expected to come primarily from combined advertising buys and economies of scale in production and distribution. Much to the relief of T&G staffers and Worcester community leaders–though not all are convinced–the new owners essentially pledged allegiance to the status quo. That’s the good news. And in a time of increasing concentration of ownership in traditional media and consequent loss of journalistic voices, it’s good news, indeed. But it’s also the bad news. Which is not to say there is any shortage of news coverage in the city that goes by the affectionate, if unattractive (and virtually inexplicable), nickname of “Wormtown.” Even today, in terms of reporting the daily events of a small city and local news across a county that stretches from the Connecticut border to the New Hampshire line, the T&G rates as one of the better mid-market newspapers in the country. And the city is home to not one, but two alternative weekly newspapers that fight it out for stories neglected, thinly told, or gotten dead wrong by the mainstream daily. As a result, Worcester is a lively and competitive media market in which readers are surprisingly well served. Surprisingly, because not long ago Worcester was the most monopolized news market in the state. Surprisingly, as well, because Worcester, with its aging population and downtown economy ever on the verge of comeback, would seem an unlikely battleground for an alternative-newspaper war (a war in which, for more than two years, I was a combatant). And surprisingly, because the gaps in each of the publications are so glaring. That the three taken together provide a chronicle of Worcester events that is both aggressive on breaking news and rich in background, perspective, and character is testament to the value of competition in the media marketplace. At the same time, that it takes three newspapers–two of them financially marginal and reaching a fraction of the readers of the dominant daily–to provide anything close to definitive coverage of the second largest city in New England is sad and troubling. There appears to be no commitment, nor even appetite, to give Worcester readers top-flight state, regional, and local news–including breaking events, investigative reporting, and Big Picture perspective–in a single package. Even ownership of the hometown daily by the most prestigious news organization in the country seems unlikely to change that. Trial by fire On December 3, the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co., a mothballed structure just outside downtown, burned to the ground, taking the lives of six firefighters. The inferno was not only the deadliest disaster to hit Worcester since a tornado ripped through the city in the 1950s, it was also an example of breathtaking heroism performed without hesitation in the line of public duty. That these civil servants lost their lives in an attempt to save homeless squatters who, it turns out, accidentally caused the fire–and who had already safely escaped–elevated the tragedy to almost Greek proportions. The fatal fire was also the Telegram & Gazette‘s finest hour. For nine days, the newspaper gave the story exhaustive treatment, with up to 70 staffers–reporters, photographers, editors, columnists, editorial interns–dedicated to covering every angle. Between the search for bodies and the search for answers, events broke daily. But there were personal stories to tell, as well. There were moving profiles of the fallen men. And in a place that is as much big small town as small big city, the stories of people touched by the tragedy spread throughout the community. The T&G tracked them all down. Among the most poignant was James Dempsey’s column on the diner owner who told the fire team about the squatters, and whose conscience now aches with the knowledge that his information sent the firefighters to their deaths. As the city mourned, with President Clinton arriving to share its grief, the T&G as homegrown, if no longer locally owned, institution joined in unreservedly. One memorial edition arrived on doorsteps with small palm fronds attached. And the newspaper was quick to establish, through the local Flagship Bank, a fund to benefit families of the fallen firefighters that has raised more than $6.1 million. In the wake of this Herculean effort came the news from New York: Staffing at the T&G would be reduced by at least 30 people out of roughly 500. The Times Co. offered a generous buy-out package (up to a year’s salary) to employees age 57 and older; 35 accepted the deal, including a dozen editorial staffers. The rationale for the reduction was stark and officious, reflecting a bean-counter’s analysis. By the standard of the 22 regional newspapers owned by the Times Co., the T&G was bloated. As deflating as it was, the move shocked no one at the T&G . Many employees figured that the bloodletting would have been worse under other bidders–William Dean Singleton’s MediaNews Group and Fidelity Investments’ Community Newspaper Co., which recently cut back operations, including staff at its flagship paper, The MetroWest Daily News. “I can’t say it was welcome news,” says publisher Bruce Bennett, a longtime T&G hand who, by all indications, will continue to manage the Worcester paper locally. “But did it surprise me? Probably not. Everything sells because the new owner thinks he can do better.” “The Times Co. is very much aware of the bottom line,” says editor Harry Whitin. “They paid a lot of money for this newspaper”–$295 million, to be exact. But the staff cuts will have an effect, he says. “It means we have to rethink some of the things we do, and find ways to do them that are more efficient.” What the T&G does now is very much shaped by its own long history. What it fails to do is a function of the same, resulting in a news culture that has deep local roots but is also inbred and unambitious. The T&G‘s limits provide lots of editorial running room–though a good deal less room for generating advertising support–for Worcester Magazine and The Worcester Phoenix, the alternative weeklies that operate in its shadow. Making a media monopoly As separate newspapers, the Worcester Telegram and Evening Gazette go back well into the 1800s, but their domination of the central Massachusetts news market dates from the 1920s. The papers came under common ownership in 1920, when inventor and former pressman T.T. Ellis bought the two in rapid succession. In 1925, Ellis sold the pair to George Booth, a former Telegram editor, and Harry Stoddard. Also part of the sale was a radio station Ellis had bought earlier that year. WTAG, which broadcast from the newspapers’ Franklin Street offices, became the electronic news leader of a media market that never did include television (some say, thanks to the maneuvers of Stoddard and Booth). When the T&G’s owners bought out the failing Worcester Evening Post in 1938, the local monopoly was complete. The Stoddard-Booth ownership also cemented the newspaper’s ties to the local industrial elite. Stoddard was president of Wyman-Gordon Co., manufacturer of industrial forgings and castings and a large local employer. Robert Stoddard, who succeeded his father at both Wyman-Gordon and Worcester Telegram Publishing Co., was a founding member of the right-wing John Birch Society. How much Stoddard’s politics affected the news coverage and editorial commentary of the newspapers is the stuff of legend–and local debate. But the editorial stance of the Telegram and the Gazette remained distinctly conservative, Republican, and pro-business in a way that rankled this city of lunch-bucket Democrats throughout the Stoddard-Booth era–and ever since. “The T&G has always been the newspaper you love to hate,” says former mayor Jordan Levy, a die-hard Democrat. That era came to an end in 1986, when the owning families cashed out, selling the properties to Chronicle Publishing Co., family-owned publishers of the San Francisco Chronicle, which in turn sold off WTAG. Though Chronicle Publishing invested in a huge new printing plant in nearby Millbury, the realities of outside ownership began to be felt in 1989, when the two editions were merged into one, resulting in the Telegram & Gazette. The move was inevitable, given the demise of afternoon newspapers across the country and the economically indefensible duplication of staff within the same building. But it came at the cost of the last vestiges of competition in daily reporting. The intramural rivalry for stories between reporters who shared the same desks had been collegial, but real. But it was the recession that really knocked the stuffing out of the T&G. In 1991, with advertising revenue down for the second year in a row, the company cut bonuses for executives and editors and forced other employees to take unpaid one-week furloughs. Then, later in the year, 33 employees were laid off, out of a staff of 527–the first layoffs in memory. The new sense of insecurity inspired a union drive, resulting in a vote for representation by the Newspaper Guild in 1993. Though the T&G has since rebounded financially–which explains last summer’s bidding war–the Depression mindset has never dissipated. Management did invest in a Web site (eWorcester.com), but new newsroom hires have been exclusively part time, at lower pay and benefits. And six years of negotiation have yet to result in a contract with the union. “I had to lay off 33 people in 1991. I never wanted to go through that again,” says Bennett, the publisher. “So I’ve tried to run this operation in a way that’s spare, even Calvinist.” But none of that parsimony spared the T&G from another round of cutbacks under its new owners. These two key events in T&G history–the 1986 sale and the 1989-’91 recession–also, however inadvertently, set off Worcester’s alternative-newspaper wars. The recession drove an existing, but moribund alternative weekly onto the auction block. And sale of the city’s mainstream daily let loose a frustrated heir to the Telegram legacy–and fortune–who was anxious to get back into the newspaper game. Founded in 1976 and named after an early 19th-century publication, Worcester Magazine started out, like most alternative papers of that vintage, as a shoestring operation that specialized in muckraking and anti-establishment attitude. But it had been in decline, financially and journalistically, for several years when the owner put the weekly up for sale in 1992. The failing publication attracted two buyers. One was Allen W. Fletcher, prodigal son of the Booth clan. As a young man, Fletcher had fled the stifling atmosphere of his hometown and his place in its conservative industrial aristocracy. He joined the Peace Corps–two years in West Africa–and studied architecture at Berkeley. When he returned to Worcester in the 1980s, he started out in the family business as a reporter covering the northern reaches of the county, fully expecting to become publisher some day. But Fletcher was left without a dynasty to rise in when other members of the Telegram owning families opted to cash out. Fletcher was devastated. “It was a major personal trauma to me,” he says. But Fletcher dusted himself off and got back into the publishing business, taking over the bankrupt Worcester Business Journal and making it enough of a success to launch a sister publication in Hartford. Worcester Magazine‘s other suitor was Stephen Mindich, owner of The Boston Phoenix. Mindich had taken over The NewPaper, in Providence, RI, and was eager to extend his reach to the west. “Ultimately, there was a bidding war, and we won,” says Fletcher, who launched his retooled Worcester Magazine in January 1993. But that didn’t stop the Phoenix, which launched its own Worcester edition three months later. Although both are tabloids given away for free, the two alternative weeklies took business and editorial approaches so different that it has always been hard to consider them in the same category. Fletcher poured money into local talent. He hired away two marquee names from the T&G--man-on-the-street reporter Paul Della Valle and entertainment columnist Walter Crockett–to become the paper’s editors and put two full-time reporters on staff. Fletcher himself retained the title of executive editor and wrote weekly editorials of (for Worcester) an astonishingly liberal nature, endorsing the legalization of marijuana and a graduated state income tax, among other causes. With Crockett and Della Valle each writing weekly columns, along with longtime political columnist Ken Moynihan, the new Worcester Magazine was rich with local stories, commentary, letters, and political gossip. But the weekly never tied Worcester issues to larger trends and events, eschewing even statewide politics. (Columnist Lou DiNatale, the University of Massachusetts pollster who cut his teeth in Worcester County politics, was dropped after about a year after he kept writing about state politics instead of the Worcester City Council.) Though hard hitting in some of its cover stories, Worcester Magazine was also sensitive about giving offense. A 1994 Della Valle column on a locally authored book drew complaints from auto dealers for its headline–FORMER (OCCASIONAL) SCUM-SUCKING CAR SALESMAN FESSES UP–and a published statement of “regret” from the publisher, Peter Stanton. And the paper’s brilliant photographer, Patrick O’Connor, was abject in apology to the police chief’s complaint about a light-hearted photo of two cruisers parked outside a doughnut shop, captioned “Headquarters.” “I believed that … you and the department would view the picture as innocent ribbing by a friend. I was wrong,” O’Connor groveled. “To yourself and the members of your department, I extend my apologies.” And for a paper that presented itself as an alternative to the T&G, Fletcher’s Worcester Magazine betrayed an abiding affection for the old plantation. The daily’s retirees contributed frequently to the weekly, with former editor-in-chief Ken Botty writing a regular column and former editorial writer Al Southwick submitting features. Worcester Magazine rarely challenged the T&G on fact or interpretation of any story. And even though the personal ties to T&G reporters were closer than ever, there was less newsroom scuttlebutt leaked in the new Worcester Magazine than the old one. In contrast, The Worcester Phoenix brought to town a spare, three-person editorial staff of outsiders–including me, as news editor, until 1995–who had earned their spurs in the Phoenix organization rather than Worcester. Managing editor Clif Garboden was a Phoenix mainstay and I had just finished up a stint as acting news editor of the Providence edition. The Phoenix‘s first–and still only–Worcester-bred editorial staffer was listings coordinator Brian Goslow, who joined two years later. The staffing, modeled on Providence, was skeletal but sustainable in a market that is thin for youth-oriented advertising (though the news editor slot was kept open for most of 1996 to save money). And it was a sufficient, if barely so, editorial infrastructure for a publication that emphasized authoritative local listings, close coverage (by freelance contributors) of a local arts and music scene starving for attention, and a generous offering of The Boston Phoenix‘s trademark arts-and- entertainment criticism and coverage of State House and national politics. For The Worcester Phoenix, local news, then and now, consisted of in-depth stories on politics and local subjects that were edgier than Worcester Magazine‘s and more likely to resonate with statewide and national issues. “It’s almost an embarrassment of riches,” says Melissa Houston, a veteran of Community Newspaper Co.’s Tab newspapers who took over as news editor in 1995, then succeeded Garboden as managing editor. “We’re a little bit outsiders, which turned out to be a good thing. We write stories people here would never dare to write.” Among those stories have been a trademark Phoenix free-speech crusade on behalf of a shock-rock band whose presence on the bill had city officials threatening to shut down an outdoor concert last summer and a startling (for Worcester) piece on a small-town firefighter’s sex-change operation. And then there’s city politics. While Worcester Magazine‘s “Worcesteria” column is the better source of insider gossip on a weekly basis, it was Phoenix news editor Kristen Lombardi who weighed in the day after last fall’s municipal election with a hard-hitting piece on Mayor Ray Mariano’s rising chorus of critics. “The talk that we’re just a Boston spinoff, we don’t get that any more,” Houston contends. But the Phoenix still has difficulty maintaining a consistent local news presence, with some editions lacking a single local story. (Phoenix editors chafe at that charge, given the consistent attention paid to local arts and entertainment.) Local observers were dumbfounded that the Phoenix wrote not a word about the Worcester Cold Storage fire, except in its year-end look-back. Even after six years, the Phoenix can still be tin-eared when it comes to local interests–and sensibilities. With no local news story, the issue of January 21 featured Boston’s GROW JOBS penile-enlargement piece (sure to get their attention on Salisbury Street) and a review of the Ansel Adams show at the Portland (Maine) Art Museum–evidence of the Phoenix‘s new Portland edition. (At least The Worcester Phoenix had the good sense not to use Boston’s banana-and-ruler HOW BIG IS BIG ENOUGH? cover in Worcester, leading instead with the Boston edition’s fine profile of Jane Swift–by then a resident of nearby Northbridge–in the wake of her babysitting woes.) Still, the distinction between the two alternatives is, in some ways, blurring. At Worcester Magazine, homegrown editors Della Valle and Crockett eventually chafed under Fletcher’s rule and the financial realities of weekly newspapers and took off. The current editor has solid professional credentials but no local roots; he, too, will be departing this summer, after a two-year tour of duty. And last year, Moynihan took his political column to the T&G‘s op-ed page. “Overall, we’re very good,” says Fletcher, 52. “But there’s been somewhat of an erosion of the local flavor, that born-and-bred love of Worcester leaching out of every word.” There’s no question that Worcester would be the poorer for losing either one of these repositories of narrative storytelling. The miracle is that both survive. Each one doubts it about the other, but Worcester Magazine and the Worcester Phoenix both claim to be profitable (though barely). WoMag has Fletcher’s hometown commitment and deep pockets to guarantee its longevity, while the Worcester Phoenix has its place in a growing Phoenix empire to justify its existence. And now, with the T&G in the hands of a wealthy new owner that sees it as part of a regional “clustering” strategy, Worcester is likely to enjoy the luxury of three-newspaper attention for a long time to come. “Six or seven years ago, I might have said that’s not possible,” says Peter Kadzis, editor of The Boston Phoenix. “But today, in this age of niche publications, it appears the community is able to support all three.” More of the same But niche publications are what they will likely remain, with the journalistic virtues of each consumed separately, if not by separate readers. The T&G remains Worcester’s paper of record. With its daily circulation of 106,748 (and 133,170 on Sunday, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations), the T&G defines the news for the central Massachusetts area. Worcester Magazine and the Phoenix each pass out 40,000 copies weekly, but with little overlap in readership. There has been little cross-fertilization among the three publications, in either staff or news culture. Unlike Boston, where a steady stream of former Phoenix staffers has taken a bit of alternative journalism to the Globe and Boston Herald, few Worcester Magazine alumni ever got picked up by the T&G in 24 years of publishing. For its part, the T&G rarely–Harry Whitin says about twice a year–leavens its relentlessly daily coverage with a multi-part series on a civic issue or a big takeout on a lifestyle trend. Former mayor Jordan Levy is one who laments the lack of in-depth coverage in his hometown daily. “We’ve got stories to be told,” he says. “We have a political base here that’s rich…. It would be nice to see something more than the Wednesday-morning pickup of the city council meeting.” Among T&G staffers, there’s appeal in the alternatives’ long-form writing and analysis, but little opportunity to practice it. Kathleen Shaw, a 35-year veteran of the T&G and leader of the union, acknowledges the alternatives have done a lot more in-depth reporting. “Every Wednesday, when they come out, they’re all over the newsroom,” she says. “I’d read the Phoenix, read the WoMag, and wish we could do that. We’ve got some tremendously talented people up there. It’s not for lack of ability. It’s lack of manpower.” Whitin says he doesn’t spend much time thinking about what he would do with more manpower. But asked to indulge that fantasy, he says, “I would probably have a small but stable investigative team, and a rover, someone who could cover some of the big stories around New England instead of relying on the wire services.” But mostly, he’d do more of what he does now. “I could never have enough local news reporters. There are never enough news gatherers.”Not if that’s the be-all and end-all of the newspaper. And that’s where the Times Co.’s hands-off declarations are less than reassuring. The T&G could use the variety in reporting and storytelling–not just daily news items but background pieces that put events in perspective, profiles of key figures in the news, and sustained investigations of civic problems–that’s standard fare in The New York Times and The Boston Globe. In Worcester, it seems, that’s bound to remain the exclusive province of small-circulation alternative papers.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in a dynamic cell growth environment © Patel and Kwon; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012 Received: 29 May 2012 Accepted: 10 November 2012 Published: 1 December 2012 Rapid increase in multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) production for their industrial and biomedical applications has led to concerns over the effects of MWCNTs on human health and the environment. Both animal and in vitro studies have provided important findings about MWCNT-induced effects on the lung cells or tissues. In vitro studies have provided a considerable amount of fundamental information on MWCNT-induced effects on the specific lung cells. However, the cell culture systems used in those studies were limited by the absence of dynamic nature of lung tissues. We hypothesized that MWCNT-induced cellular responses such as proliferation, inflammation, and oxidative stress under dynamic cell growth environment may differ from those under static cell growth environment. In this study, we used a dynamic cell growth condition to mimic mechanically dynamic environment of the lung and characterized interleukin 8 (IL-8), reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and cell proliferation for three days following exposure of MWCNTs at different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 μg/ml) to A549 cell monolayer under both static and dynamic cell growth conditions. Our results demonstrated the distinct differences in the levels of inflammatory response and oxidative stress between static and dynamic cell growth conditions. In conclusion, the dynamic cell growth system used in this study provided important changes in cellular responses that were not found in the static cell growth system and were similar to animal studies. The dynamic cell growth system can be considered as a viable alternative to in vivo test system in combination with existing in vitro static cell growth systems to evaluate the effect of MWCNTs on cellular responses in the respiratory system. KeywordsMWCNTs Dynamic cell culture IL-8 ROS GSH Rapid advancement in the field of nanotechnology has given birth to various types of nanomaterials with unique mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown tremendous potentials for their use in diverse applications due to their unique electrical and mechanical properties. Due to their promising potentials in industrial and medical applications, the demands for CNT production has steadily increased in last few years and expected to dramatically increase in near future. It was reported that the global market for CNT production in 2009 was $103 million, which has been projected to reach $1 billion by 2014 with compound annual growth rate of 58.9%. MWCNTs consist of many hollow cylinders of carbon atoms inside one another, which enhance the mechanical, thermal and electronic properties through the increase in higher carbon atoms integration and bigger surface area. Along with the increasing demand in MWCNT production, natural eco-system contamination and human exposure through occupational and medical applications have been expected due to the nano-scale size and non-degradability of MWCNTs[2–4]. In recent animal studies, MWCNT’s high penetrative nature, long retention time, and capability of initiating pathological response inside the lung have been serious concerns[5–10]. Many studies have emphasized on understanding MWCNT-induced effects on either respiratory or dermal systems. The recent animal studies have highlighted the higher retention of MWCNTs in alveoli region after 6 month exposure and the probability of penetrating to nearby tissues[2, 5, 10]. Most of the animal studies focused on investigating long term effects of MWCNT exposure, and showed highly penetrating nature of MWCNTs and increased macrophage assisted clearance in conjunction with elevated inflammation levels[5, 7, 8, 11, 12]. Other studies demonstrated the increased levels of cytotoxic and inflammatory response even within a day following exposure of MWCNTs[5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14]. The systemic approach for the evaluation using animals was helpful to characterize the whole lung response but had a limitation in investigating MWCNT interaction with each individual cell type in the lung. The in vitro cell culture models provided the fundamental information regarding MWCNT-induced effects on individual cell types in the lung. Lung epithelial cells act as a barrier at the interface between surrounding air and lung tissues in respond to exogenous particles such as air-pollutants including CNTs. MWCNTs induce a variety of effects including increased inflammatory response, DNA damage, and cellular apoptosis in A549 cells (immortal human alveolar epithelial cell line), normal human bronchial epithelial cells and rat lung epithelial cells[15–18]. These studies using specific cell type have provided abundant on the response of epithelial cells to external perturbations, but these systems are limited by the absence of dynamic nature of lung tissues. The lung exists in a mechanically active environment, where different amounts of circumferential and longitudinal expansion and contraction occurred during breathing movements. Patel and co-workers recently showed the differences in cellular responses to air pollutants between dynamic and static cell growth environments, and demonstrated that implementing dynamic cell growth conditions was more close approximation of in vivo conditions.. Such changes might have resulted from the altered interactions between cells and air pollutants under mechanically active cell growth environment. In this study, we evaluated the effect of MWCNT exposure on cellular responses under both static and dynamic cell growth environments at different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 μg/ml) of MWCNTs. We hypothesized that MWCNT exposure under dynamic cell growth environment of cells may alter its interaction with cells, and affect the levels of cell proliferation (total cell protein), cellular inflammation (IL-8), and oxidative stresses (ROS and GSH). To test our hypothesis, we used Flexcell Tension Plus 4000T system (Flexcell International, PA) for simulating dynamic cell growth environment, similar to normal breathing condition (5% of equibiaxial surface elongation at the frequency of 0.2 Hz) in the lung[21, 22]. The dynamic in vitro culture system of A549 cells was used to investigate MWCNT-induced effects on cell proliferation, IL-8, ROS, and GSH. This study will provide one of the alternative ways to evaluate nanoparticle-induced effects on human respiratory systems and a detailed insight for the development of a viable alternative to existing static in vitro or in vivo tests. Materials and methods MWCNT solution preparation MWCNTs (length: 0.5-2 μm, outer diameter: 20–30 nm, inner diameter: 5–10 nm, and purity: >95 weight percentage (wt %)) were obtained from Cheap Tubes Inc., VT (SKU # 030404). MWCNT powder used in this study contained about 5 wt % of impurities including carbon black (3.34 wt %), iron (0.24 wt %), nickel (0.94 wt %), and chlorine (0.47 wt %). The stock solution for MWCNTs was prepared by suspending 50.5 mg of MWCNTs in 30 ml of sterile deionized water with 10.08 mg of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). To breakdown the agglomerates and achieve better suspension of MWCNTs, stock solution was sonicated at 60 watts for 30 minutes with a 30 second cooling time per minute on ice using a Sonicator 3000 (MIsonix, Farmingdale, NY). To achieve exposure concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 μg/ml, appropriate amount of stock solution was added to each cell culture media. Right before the exposure study, MWCNT-containing cell culture media were sonicated for 5 minutes with a 30 second cooling time per minute on ice to make uniform suspension. F-12k media containing different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 μg/ml) of MWCNTs were added to A549 monolayers when cells were confluent. Immediately after adding MWCNT-containing cell culture media, cells were grown in either static or dynamic condition for different exposure time (24, 48, and 72 hours). The dynamic cell growth condition was simulated by growing cell monolayers under continuous cyclic equibiaxial deformation with 5% surface area change at 0.2 Hz, which was similar to normal breathing in vivo. Following each exposure time, media and cell lysate samples were collected and immediately stored in aliquots at −80°C until they were analyzed. All samples were analyzed immediately once thawed. Media supernatant samples were used to measure the level of IL-8. Cell lysate samples were used to measure the level of total protein, ROS, and GSH. IL-8 was measured from media supernatant of A549 cell culture using ELISA prepared with IL-8 human antibody pair and buffer kit (Invitrogen, CA). The unit of IL-8 measurement was picograms/milliliter (pg/ml). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement ROS level was measured from the cell lysate of A549 cells using de-acetylated probe 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin (H2DCF) based fluorescence assay to characterize the cellular level of oxidative stress. The H2DCF was prepared from 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCF-DA) by alkaline hydrolysis using NaOH. 500 μl of 1 mM H2DCF-DA was added to 2 ml of 0.01N NaOH and hydrolyzed into H2DCF at room temperature for 30 min. The prepared H2DCF solution was neutralized by adding 10 ml of 25 mM NaH2PO4 and adjusting the pH of the solution to 7.4. Right after pH adjustment, 40 μM H2DCF solution was kept on ice or at 4°C until used. Fresh H2DCF solution was prepared before each ROS measurement to avoid molecular probe deterioration. To perform the ROS measurement, 20 μl of cell lysate was incubated with 50 μl of 40 μM H2DCF and 130 μl of 40 mM Tris–HCl, pH 7.4 for 10 min at 37°C, which initiated ROS facilitated H2DCF oxidization to 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF). Level of DCF was measured using Synergy 4 series multiwell-plate fluorometer (Biotek, VT), which was set at an excitation of 488 nm and emission of 525 nm. The level of DCF (i.e. fluorescence) was correlated to the level of ROS in the cell lysate samples, collected from the experiments. To measure whether MWCNTs themselves interfere the oxidization of H2DCF to DCF, the cell lysate samples with the newly added MWCNTs at 5, 10, and 20μg/ml were tested using the same procedure. GSH level was measured from the cell lysate of A549 cells using GSH-GloTM Glutathione Assay (Promega, WI) to characterize the intracellular level of oxidative stress. The unit of GSH measurement was micro-molar (μM). Total protein measurement Cells grown on each well (9.6 cm2) of BioFlex plates were lysed using 250 μl of RIPA buffer with protease inhibitors (Thermo Scientific, IL). Total amount of protein from cell lysate of each sample was measured using the BCA total protein assay (Pierce, IL) to evaluate cell proliferation. The unit of total protein was micrograms/milliliter (μg/ml). All data from IL-8, ROS and GSH measurement were normalized with total amount of protein measured from cell lysate, collected from respective samples. Statistical analyses were carried out using two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison tests to determine where significance exists (p < 0.05). All graphs were prepared by plotting mean data (sample size, n = 3) with corresponding standard error of mean. Effect of MWCNT exposure on A549 cell growth Effect of MWCNT exposure on cellular inflammation Characterization of oxidative stress by H2DCF measurement Characterization of oxidative stress by GSH measurement In this study, we provided one of the alternative methods for the evaluation of MWCNT-induced effects on cellular responses such as cell proliferation, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress. A dynamic cell growth environment was established to mimic the dynamic changes in the amount of circumferential and longitudinal expansion and contraction occurred during normal breathing movement in the lung. Dynamic cell growth environment may provide a realistic condition for facilitating interaction between nanomaterials and cells, nanomaterials uptake, and hence their effects on cells similar to in vivo[19, 20, 24, 25]. We used Flexcell Tension Plus System to implement 5% cyclic equibiaxial elongation, which is equivalent to 45% of total lung capacity and the amount of stretching experienced during normal breathing condition. Moreover, the equibiaxial elongation frequency was set as 0.2 Hz, which is corresponding to the normal human breathing rate. Under the highest MWCNT exposure concentration (20 μg/ml) in this study, the cell growth medium contained 0.668 μg/ml of carbon black, 0.094 μg/ml of chlorine, 0.048 μg/ml of iron, and 0.188 μg/ml of nickel. Such levels of iron and nickel impurities did not induce any toxicological effects on cells[26, 27]. Our study indicated that MWCNT exposure induced significant changes in cell proliferation, cellular inflammation, and oxidative stress in A549 cell cultures in both cell growth conditions (Figures2,3,4, and5). In both cell growth conditions, A549 cell proliferation significantly increased following 24 hour exposure of MWCNTs at all concentrations as compared to the respective controls, except that at 5 μg/ml of MWCNTs in dynamic cell growth condition (Figure2). Increased cell proliferation and decreased IL-8 level (Figure3) might have been related to the increased level of in GSH during 24 hour exposure of MWCNTs (Figure5). Kang et al. and Horton et al. have demonstrated the increasing GSH levels with A549 cell proliferation, which could explain on the increased cell proliferation during 24 hour exposure of MWCNTs[28–31]. Similarly, the intracellular GSH inhibit IL-8 expression by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation[32, 33]. The possibility of interaction between IL-8 and MWCNTs should not be ruled out to explain the results during 24 hour exposure of MWCNTs[34, 35]. During 24 hour exposure, the levels of ROS significantly increased (Figure4, +p<0.05) in dynamic cell growth condition. Increased level of ROS reduced cell viability and increased NF-κB mediated IL-8 up-regulation[36–38]. Following 48 hour exposure of MWCNTs, cell proliferation was not significantly changed as MWCNT concentration increased in each cell growth condition (Figure2). However, A549 cell proliferation in dynamic cell growth condition was significantly higher than that in static cell growth condition (Figure2, #p<0.05). Similar trends were observed in the IL-8 (Figure3, #p<0.05) and GSH levels (Figure5, #p<0.05), which were significantly higher in dynamic cell growth condition than static cell growth condition. In both cell growth conditions, GSH levels decreased as MWCNT concentration increased and were significantly lower at higher MWCNT concentrations (10, and 20 μg/ml) (Figure5, *p<0.05, and +p<0.05). While GSH level was decreasing, ROS level was increasing in static cell growth condition (Figure4, *p<0.05), which indicated the increase in oxidative stress. However, ROS level in dynamic cell growth condition remained significantly lower at all concentrations of MWCNTs (Figure4, #p<0.05), except that at 20 μg/ml of MWCNTs at which ROS level was significantly higher than the control, but not significantly different from that at same concentration of MWCNTs in static cell growth condition. Increased level of oxidative stress might have down-regulated cell proliferation in static cell growth condition. After 72 hour exposure of MWCNTs, A549 cell proliferation was significantly lower in both cell growth conditions than the respective controls (Figure2, *p<0.05, and +p<0.05). A549 cell proliferation in dynamic cell growth condition was significantly higher than that in static cell growth condition (Figure2, #p<0.05). A549 cell proliferation in static cell growth condition might have been down-regulated by the increased levels of ROS (Figure4, *p<0.05) and IL-8 (Figure3, *p<0.05). Similarly, the decreased cell proliferation in dynamic cell growth condition might have been due to the reduced levels GSH (Figure5, +p<0.05) and increased levels of IL-8 (Figure3, +p<0.05). During the same exposure time, the levels of IL-8 significantly increased in both cell growth conditions, which might have resulted from the prolonged MWCNT exposure (Figure3, *p<0.05, and +p<0.05). In dynamic cell growth condition, the level of IL-8 was significantly higher than that in the static cell growth condition (Figure3, #p<0.05). A549 cell proliferation generally decreased as MWCNT concentrations increased during longer exposure time (48 and 72 hours) in both cell growth conditions. During the same exposure time (48 and 72 hours), A549 cell proliferation in dynamic condition was significantly higher. IL-8 level increased as MWCNT concentrations increased during longer exposure time (72 hours) in both cell growth conditions (Figure3). Increased level of IL-8 can be related to neutrophil migration and mucin production as precursory events to remove MWCNTs from sites of inflammation in the lung[20, 39, 40]. Dynamic cell growth condition facilitated a significant increase in IL-8 level following 48 hour exposure (Figure3, +p<0.05, and #p<0.05), which was similar to the results from animal studies indicating the recruitment of neutrophil in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid within 48 hour of MWCNT exposure[6, 10, 41]. ROS level decreased over the exposure duration in dynamic cell growth condition, whereas it remained increasing in static cell growth condition. After initial significant increase in ROS levels following 24 hour exposure of MWCNTs, ROS levels were reduced to the lower level over the exposure duration in dynamic cell growth condition (Figure4), which was similar to the results from animal study performed by Han et al.. Similarly, GSH levels decreased over the exposure duration in dynamic cell growth condition (Figure5). However, the level of effects was not just due to dose–response as exposure time increase. Especially, following 72 hour exposure, GSH levels in dynamic cell growth condition dramatically decreased as MWCNT concentration increased, while GSH levels in static cell growth condition still increased as MWCNT concentration increased. For the longer exposure at higher concentration of MWCNTs induced more distinct difference in GSH levels between static and dynamic cell growth conditions. Our results strongly demonstrated the distinct differences in MWCNT-induced effects on cell proliferation, IL-8, ROS, and GSH between static and dynamic cell growth conditions. Interestingly, ROS and IL-8 levels in dynamic condition were found to be similar to the results from animal studies. The dynamic cell growth system together with static cell growth system yielded several important findings: (1) All MWCNT exposure concentrations used in this study affected A549 cell proliferation. Cell proliferation in dynamic cell growth condition was higher than static cell growth condition during 48 and 72 hour exposure (Figure2). (2) IL-8 levels were significantly higher in dynamic cell growth condition than static cell growth condition, except those at 5μg/ml of MWCNTs after 24 hour exposure (Figure3). (3) ROS and GSH levels were relatively lower in dynamic cell growth conditions than those in static cell growth condition during longer exposure time (Figures4 and5). 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We’ve been driving Land Rovers and wearing Barbour jackets for years, so it makes perfect sense that the two heritage British brands are finally joining forces on a cool new collection. Barbour was founded in 1894 and holds Royal Warrants from the Queen of England and the Prince of Wales, both of whom are also lifelong Land Rover enthusiasts. Both brands were also featured prominently in the last James Bond film, Skyfall. The collection, which will be for Autumn/Winter 2014 and will go on sale in August, marks Land Rover’s first official clothing collaboration. It will include a range of men’s and women’s outerwear and accessories, and will be sold by both brand’s retail outlets. The collection evokes the classic English country lifestyle that both brands have long been a part of. In addition to waxed and quilted jackets there will be hats, scarves and matching luggage sets. “This partnership fits perfectly with the Land Rover brand; both marques are revered for their all-terrain and all-weather resilience allowing customers to go about their business, whatever the conditions, without compromising on style and comfort,” notes Robin Colgan, Land Rover Global Brand Director. “Barbour for Land Rover will produce clothing which will draw from both brands' rich heritage and shared understanding of how style and functionality work together to culminate in products which are sophisticated, capable, stylish and reliable.” “There is a strong synergy between Barbour and Land Rover – we are both established British brands with years of heritage, renowned for our understated style and synonymous with the British countryside,” adds Steve Buck, Managing Director of Barbour. “The unrivaled reputation of both our brands is founded upon a long history of producing products of the highest quality that combine modern innovation with tradition and heritage. The new Barbour Land Rover clothing range is fit for purpose, luxurious and stylish and we are delighted and proud to be working in partnership with Land Rover."

Demand for smaller, sleeker portable communications devices, is pushing the wireless industry harder than ever to reduce the size of rechargeable batteries.Ritch Russ, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. Driven by increased consumer demand for smaller, sleeker portable communications devices, the wireless industry is pushing harder than ever to reduce the size of rechargeable batteries to help stimulate a stagnant market. This market trend has increased the popularity of ultra-thin lithium polymer and polymer-type batteries. Today's designers are faced with more choices than ever when it comes to power sources. With the availability of Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries, Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, Lithium Polymer batteries (PLB) and Advanced Lithium batteries (ALB), design engineers have a myriad of options to choose from when designing energy solutions for portable and wireless communications devices. How do they determine which solution is best for their application? No single chemistry is a silver bullet to all portable needs, but each presents distinct advantages that must be carefully considered when making this critical decision. Every market segment has unique battery requirements, and the pack designer's "checklist" should include several essential items: form factor, voltage, energy density, temperature performance, drain rate, and cycle life. The Notebook Market Run time is the perpetual mantra of notebook computer designers. Higher temperatures, faster processors, CD-ROM and DVD technology, resulting in increased power demands in the notebook environment, have nearly eliminated Ni-MH as a viable power source for these applications. The highest energy density cell commercially available today, the Li-ion 18650 (18 mm in diameter × 65.0 mm long), is also one of the most economical, making it the choice for most notebooks. With the growing popularity of ultra-thin notebooks and sub-notebooks, prismatic Li-ion cells, with their low-profile form factor, have recently made inroads in computing designs. The number of even thinner battery technologies, has enabled many designers to begin investigating more creative mechanical solutions. PLBs and ALBs have a thickness of only 3 mm and can be produced as thin as 1 mm, thus providing the optimal solution for low profile devices. For example, a PLB or ALB could be embedded between a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the computer's outer casing, where it may be used either as the main power source in a smaller product or as an additional battery to supplement the main battery in a larger, higher-end system. Since many leading battery producers also manufacturer LCD panels, the convergence of these technologies could create more synergy in the marketplace, enabling assemblers to purchase finished LCD, battery and top cover units from a single source. The Cellular Market Historically, pricing pressures in the cellular market have led most wireless phone manufacturers toward Ni-MH solutions in order to keep costs down. In recent years, however, mobile phones have become a fashion statement, with removable, personalized faceplates and sleek designs quickly becoming the norm. As phone form factors began shrinking, the Ni-MH standard evolved from AA to AAA and long-AAA. Subsequently, prismatic Ni-MH cells were designed into low-end and mid-tier phones, while many of the high-end products offered prismatic Li-ion cells. As Li-ion cells became available at much lower price points, they quickly became the standard in mid-tier, and even some so-called "give away" phones. Figure 1. The thin form factor of the ALB and PLB technologies can save board real estate in a PDA which can be used to enhance the phones' features. The same progression is now occurring with ALB and PLB technologies. Standard Li-ion cells range in thickness from 4.8 mm to 14.0 mm, meeting the requirements for most phone models currently available. However, the newer ultra-slim designs and phones incorporating Bluetooth and/or MPEG-4 type technologies, require additional board space, prompting the need for these products to adopt the thinner ALB and PLB cells (see Figure 1). These cells, while offering energy densities equivalent to prismatic Li-ion cells (see Figure 2), currently have a thickness of only about 3 mm. Figure 2. This diagram shows the cell thickness versus effective volume within the cell. based on current ALB technology, applications which are using cells thicker than 5.2 mm are better suited by LIB technology. As cellular phones evolve into "communication tools," incorporating email, photo, video, and wireless data transfer capabilities, battery selection will become even more critical, since such features increase drain rates and thus reduce battery life. Shortened battery life is an unacceptable trade-off for most consumers, so mobile phone designers must aggressively seek ways to optimize battery capacity. The Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) Market PDAs offer designers an even greater challenge due to the variety of form factors and power sources available to them. Designers must wrestle with a number of issues: Will the device fit into a shirt pocket? Will it have Internet capability? Will it have cellular functionality? What kind of operating system will it employ? These are all questions that must be carefully considered when the designer begins looking at the various battery options. The first question is whether the battery should be rechargeable or non-rechargeable? For entry-level models without cellular or Internet capabilities, the answer is simply a matter of economics, leaving alkaline as the obvious choice. Meeting a magical, at times mythical price point for the PDA becomes the designer's primary objective. If a rechargeable battery is designed in to the device, it is reflected in the point-of-sale cost. On the other hand, a non-rechargeable battery, or "batteries not included" option, allows manufacturers to pass the responsibility and liability of battery procurement to the consumer, who in many cases may not consider costs beyond the sale price when purchasing a PDA. Some of the more complex PDAs currently on the market have Internet, phone, MPEG, Bluetooth, and MP3 capabilities that can rapidly drain battery life. By placing a non-rechargeable battery in these devices, the average consumer is forced to become a battery "junkie" constantly having to replace batteries to keep the habit going. In addition, non-rechargeable batteries deter the consumer from using the device's wireless capabilities for fear of draining battery life. PDA manufacturers ultimately want to encourage their customers to use these capabilities to help offset the cost of the units via wireless contracts, much as cellular manufacturers do. Once this occurs, the line between cellular phones and PDAs begins to blur. Most multi-functional PDAs now incorporate Li-ion batteries as well as ALB and PLB technologies. For slim designs that can fit into a shirt pocket, ALB and PLB are the chemistries of choice. ALB and PLB allow PDA designers to form fit a cell under the plastic case, thus maximizing available space, while adding only 3 mm to the overall thickness. Due to the unique drain rate requirements of power tools, the operating environment is far different from that of other devices. Power tools can drain batteries at rates of 50 amps (A), while mobile phone applications drain 500 milliamps per hour (mAh). Newer chemistries available in today's market, such as Li-ion, PLB and ALB, are unable to withstand this level of current drain, making Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) the standard for such devices. In recent years, Ni-MH has made significant progress toward achieving the types of drain rates required, but cycle life, with 500 cycles for Ni-MH versus 1000 cycles for Ni-Cd, is still an obstacle for many power tool manufacturers. With the pricing of Ni-MH 30 to 50 percent higher than equivalent Ni-Cd cells, the feasibility of Ni-MH is limited primarily to high-end applications. High volume power tools, such as screwdrivers and drills, are extremely price competitive, and the average user is not seeking the additional run time which Ni-MH would provide. Professional tools, on the other hand, have started to adopt Ni-MH, enabling construction workers and other professional craftsmen to work longer between charges. Scanners and Other Wireless Devices Other portable markets are highly segmented and use a variety of battery chemistries depending on the targeted customer. Portable scanners, for example, use everything from Ni-Cd cells to PLB. Scanners designed for operation in warehouses and shipping services typically use the higher energy density Li-ion cells, similar to those found in notebook computers. In-store scanners may employ a lower cost Ni-MH or Ni-Cd solution, since they are typically not used for extended periods of time between recharging. Other wireless devices range from wearable PCs, in which form factors and weight are critical, to military radio charging base stations which can incorporate 40 to 50 cells in a pack. Wearable PCs, Internet appliances and eBooks are all rapidly expanding market segments that tend to be on the cutting edge of technology. Depending on the form factor of the system, most use Li-ion, ALB or PLB technologies. Larger systems, such as charging stations and land mobile radios typically choose the highest energy density cell in the market, the Li-ion 18650. On the other end of the spectrum, wireless Bluetooth devices, such as wireless headsets, may incorporate Li-ion coin cell technologies along with PLB and ALB chemistries. Having looked at each market segment, let's invert the equation and examine the strengths and weaknesses of each battery chemistry. Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) Ni-Cd has been in mass production longer than any of the other rechargeable battery solutions listed in this article, so it makes sense that it would be the most robust. At 1.2 volts (V) per cell, most applications require multiple cells in a series and parallel to meet a product's energy requirements. Memory affect has always been a concern with Ni-Cd technology, and thus is a severe limitation for high-end applications. Recycling and environmental issues reduce the feasibility of Ni-Cd for other applications. Compared to other chemistries, Ni-Cd cells have an excellent drain rate capability, cycle life and good performance at extreme temperatures. Although Ni-Cd is an economical solution, the savings comes at the expense of energy capacity. Ni-Cd offers approximately half the run time of its evolutionary partner, Ni-MH, making most Ni-Cd solutions bulky and heavy. Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) Although Ni-MH lacks the robust characteristics of Ni-Cd, and the energy density of a lithium-based technology, it does offer a performance advantage over Ni-Cd at a competitive price. Ni-MH operates at the same voltage as Ni-Cd, 1.2 V per cell. With the major battery market segments (notebook and cellular) moving to lithium-based chemistries, RD efforts have slowed and theoretical capacity limits are drawing near. As a result, efforts are being made to increase cell robustness in order to accommodate other market segments, such as power tools and hybrid electric vehicles. Li-ion has been in commercial production for almost 10 years. As the chemistry has matured, Li-ion cells have become more robust and less expensive. A single Li-ion cell has a voltage of 3.7 V, equal to three Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cells. High energy density and low self-discharge have always been key to the Li-ion's success in the market, and now other cell characteristics are being developed to further enhance the chemistry. For example, manufacturers are now working to develop cells, which will no longer require protection circuitry in order to further reduce the power solution cost. Li-ion cells are divided into two mechanical categories, cylindrical and prismatic. Cylindrical batteries offer the highest energy density of any commercially available rechargeable cell. Cylindrical Li-ion cells are typically between 17 mm to 18 mm in diameter and 50 mm to 67 mm long. These batteries continue to push the technology envelope, spurred on by notebook manufacturers who are accustomed to a technology that accelerates at a speed relative to that of semiconductors. Over the past two years, the energy capacity of the 18650 Li-ion cell has evolved from 1350 mAh to 1600 mAh to 1800 mAh, to today's 1950 mAh. In 2002, the bar will be raised again to more than 2150 mAh. Prismatic Li-ion cells offer a thinner profile with an energy density slightly less than that of their cylindrical counterparts. Slim-line notebooks and mobile phones have created the demand for these cells. Prismatic Li-ion batteries come in a variety of form factors, ranging in thickness from 4.8 mm to 14 mm, in lengths ranging from 40 mm to 67 mm, and widths ranging from 30 mm to 34 mm. With prismatic cells, smaller the size, the lower the energy density. Advanced Lithium Ion (ALB) ALB cells offer the voltage (3.7 V) and energy density of a prismatic Li-ion batteries, but are encased in an ultra-thin aluminum laminate foil package. ALB is safer than standard Li-ion as it contains nonflammable electrolytes and has increased stability under abusive conditions. Figure 3. Capacity for ALB/PLB cells can reach over 1400 mAh. The primary advantage of ALB over Li-ion is its thin design. Advanced lithium cells can be manufactured in form factors as thin as 1 mm and can offer capacities up to 1500 mAh (see Figure 3). Compared to PLB and even prismatic Li-ion, the ALB chemistry offers reduced swelling (less than 0.1 mm under severe conditions) and superior low-temperature performance. For example, ALB maintains over 50 percent residual capacity at -20 degrees Celsius (C). Mass production of ALB began during the last 12 months, so the chemistry still carries a price premium over its Li-ion cousin. However, as yield rates and manufacturing capacities increase, pricing should continue to decrease, matching and possibly eclipsing that of prismatic Li-ion. Since this technology is still fairly new to the market, the energy density of the ALB is expected to continue its rapid increase. Lithium Polymer (PLB) With the exception of its electrolyte, PLB technology is nearly identical to ALB technology. The PLB electrolyte, which is polymer-based, provides an additional level of safety, as it will not leak the liquid electrolyte of ALB. However, unlike ALB, PLB is still somewhat limited in its low temperature and swelling performance, although it will continue to grow more robust in time as development efforts continue. PLB offers the same thin form factor, aluminum laminate foil package as ALB and similar capacities as ALB. Many applications use both PLB and ALB as dual power sources for the same application. Lithium Ion Coin Cell (IVR) With the increasing number of small wireless applications expected to emerge during the next three to five years, the IVR could become a popular choice for very small portable devices, such as wireless headsets and communicator-type watches. The IVR technology is essentially a Li-ion cell compressed inside a coin-sized package. A coin cell's capacity is limited (140 to 150 mAh in a 3.2 mm by 30 mm cell), but it could be just enough energy to power these small devices. Although the technology itself has been around for a number of years, battery manufacturers are just now beginning to look at large scale production, due to strong forecasted demand. For decades, the battery industry advanced slowly, offering Ni-Cd and sealed lead acid as the only sources of rechargeable energy. Now, within the span of nearly a decade, we have made the leap from Ni-MH to Li-ion, then to PLB and ALB. The most common question asked is, "What's next for batteries?" The wireless world we live in is not slowing down. Heightened pressure is being placed on battery manufacturers to power future portable products. The current expectation for growth in battery capacity is 5 to 10 times greater than the 10 to 30 percent increases now being achieved. Many believe the future for batteries will come in the form of fuel cells. Although still in the early stages of development, fuel cells may provide the kind of capacity advances which manufacturers are looking for. Fuel cells will enable consumers to instantly "recharge" their portable devices without having to be near a power source, simply by plugging in a cartridge of fuel, such as methanol. By combining a fuel cell with a Li-ion, ALB or PLB battery, the consumer would be able to recharge when near a power source and "fill up" when on a plane, in the woods or on the beach, without the concern of the dreaded "low battery alert." Depending on technical and manufacturing obstacles, fuel cells could enter the market as early as 2004. In parallel, there are ongoing developmental activities with a variety of other technologies, such as advanced solar cells and motion activated batteries, which could change the face of the rechargeable battery market. Choosing a power solution has become more complicated than ever before. With continuous advancements being made and new technologies becoming available, it will only become more difficult in the future. There is still no single power source that covers the needs of every portable device, but understanding each chemistry's benefits and limitations can determine the success or failure of a new product. As product designs become thinner, smaller and lighter, the variety of cell chemistries and form factors will ultimately enable a more customized power solution approach. Battery development, although not known as a "sexy" technology is quickly picking up steam as we move into a wireless tomorrow. Ritch Russ is the Business Development Director, Display Devices and Components for Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., located in Raleigh, NC. Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson Corp. and licensed by Toshiba Corp.

NANO KOREA, Korea’s leading nanotechnology professional event, is held annually as well as jointly hosted by Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy and the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning with the objectives of encouraging exchange of latest nanotechnology research results and prompt application of the technology in various industries. NANO KOREA, consisting of a symposium and exhibition, will be held for three days from July 13 (Wed.) to 15 (Fri.) at the KINTEX, Korea with the theme “Nanotechnology, the Engine of Creative Economy” At the symposium, approximately 2,000 scholars and researchers of nanotechnology in Korea and abroad will attend to present latest research results and exchange information. At the exhibition, a total of 420 companies from 15 countries will exhibit cutting-edge nanotechnology and application products to create a wide range of business through technology convergence. This year’s Exhibition, in particular, will be held with Micro Nano System, Laser Korea, Advanced Ceramics, High-functional Materials, Smart Sensor to boost technological exchange and maximize synergy to provide the most effective nanotechnology business opportunities to the experts in the field. We focus on producing tangible business outcomes by running and expanding specific business programs for exhibitors including NTbiz Market(Technology transaction meeting, T2B product transaction meeting, IR seminar, International nano business partnering program) In this regards, we sincerely ask for the lively interest and participate in of relevant organizations and companies as well as wish the nanotechnology experts and industry-related personnel participating in the event all the success and prosperity! NANO KOREA Organizing Committee The 14th International The 9th Micro Nano System The 7th Laser Korea The 6th Advanced Ceramics Exhibition The 1st Smart Sensor Korea The 1st High-functional Materials Exhibition T2B Products Pavilion ① T2B product transaction meeting ② International nano business ③ IR Seminar ④ Technology transaction meeting Exhibitor's Beer Party The 14th International Nanotech

As Duncan says the wiring is very suspect on the sensors. If I remember it correctly they are suimply soldered together and taped over?!? I had a problem with mine when I 1st got it, as Duncan says, having the ignition on, and engine off, and the car in reverse you can quite clearly hear a clicking from each sensor if you put your ear to each. Member No. 143 Mods so far: LED sidelights, interior lights and number plate lamps, Rover Xenon Headlights, Kenlowe Fan, Synergy 2 and EGR Bypass

WOES OF TEXTILE SECTOR June 25 - July 1, 2012 The textile industry is the backbone of the economy of Pakistan. It employs 46 per cent of the total labour force of the manufacturing sector. Textile and clothing exports are about 58 per cent of the total exports from Pakistan. However, in recent years, the textile industry of Pakistan is facing crisis such as electricity and gas load shedding, unsatisfactory law and order situation, terrorism and target killing and high cost of doing business. It continues to suffer despite assurances by politicians and bureaucrats. Furthermore, the effects of unprecedented energy crisis have started appearing on the export horizons of Pakistan. According to a recent figures released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, country's textile exports fell by 10 per cent during eleven months (July-May) of the outgoing financial year 2011-12 as they were recorded at $11.273 billion in period under review against $12.472 billion of same period last year. According to the figures, the product wise details showed that raw cotton exports increased by 31 per cent during eleven months of the outgoing financial year, cotton yarn exports decreased by 19.89 per cent, cotton cloth exports went down by 3.13 per cent, cotton carded exports slid by 61.58 per cent, yarn exports dropped by 18.44 per cent, knitwear export dipped by 13.19 per cent, bed wear 15 per cent and towels 9.51 per cent. Tents export rose by 101.75 per cent, readymade garments exports decreased by 6.45 per cent, art silk and synthetic textile exports decreased by 15.90 per cent, made up articles export (excluding towels and bed wear) was cut by 7.56 per cent and other textile materials exports increased by 4.77 per cent. The negative effect of the energy shortage and slowdown of global demand are visible in decline in quantity of exports despite increase in the unit values of the majority of items. Due to this phenomenon, the quantum exports of 'high value added' items such as knitwear, bed wear, towels and readymade garments have shown negative growth during the period under review. Depressing fact is that Pakistan was losing exports in a situation when the regional competitors are growing fast. Bangladesh has almost doubled exports in last two years, and now reached to $23 billion through its readymade garments. Bangladesh's export to EU in 2010 was nearly six billion euro while Pakistan's garment exports less that one billion euro. In 23 garment categories of package, Pakistan had significantly lower average unit price than Bangladesh signifying Pakistani exporters are targeting different market segments than their competitors in Bangladesh. The readymade garments industry of Pakistan, which was growing at a rapid pace until the recent years, is reported to be continuously nose-diving since 2008-09. The importance of the garment sector in the overall economic perspective is twofold. On one hand, the sector has the potential to be the engine of Pakistan textile export growth, while on the other the sector is the largest source of creating low cost employment in the country at all levels. Time has come that government pays some heed to the garment sector and especially the knit garment sector in future policies. Along this, the non-performing loans (NPLs) of the industry have reached to more than 30 per cent of its portfolio, which is quite alarming and prime cause of drop in local sales and exports, adversely affecting the viability of industry. The textile industry in Punjab has also pleaded for immediate resumption of power and gas supply. A confused economic agenda of the central government has pushed textile industry to the wall in Punjab, as it seems that political priorities are dearer to the government than industrial growth. The textile industry is losing fast due to energy shortage. Despite knowing the fact that Punjab has 54 per cent of the documented weaving industry, 60 per cent textile processing mills, 65 per cent knitwear units and 30 per cent readymade garment producers of the country, the prevailing energy situation is quite awkward. A good number of electricity-fed units are already closed. Cost of doing business has hit through the roof. Meanwhile, the units on gas are under severe threat of disconnection, as the government is mulling to divert gas from textile to IPPs. The textile industry is presently receiving five days a week gas supply. It has already suffered supply disruption for 180 days in first nine months of 2011-12. The gas load shedding to textile industry for one day in a week decreases the production of textile finished products. Last month, National Assembly Standing Committee on Textile Industry was informed that textile sector would continue facing 500 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd)gas shortfall and face gas load management until September 2012. During the next fiscal year, this shortfall will increase from 500 mmcfd to 700 mmcfd for the textile sector. The government is diverting gas from textile to feed the thermal generation, as running power plants on imported furnace oil is next to impossible. Resultantly, the industry has little option to grow. Labour is out of job. Bank payments are becoming impossible. Defaults are on the cards and the NPLs are on the alarming rise. The textile mills are unable to carry on 24/7 operations even on expensive electricity against cheap electricity, as the government has withdrawn exemption from load shedding before depriving it from gas supply. Every time, the government vows to remain committed on industrial growth but the monster of energy shortage smiles at government. This monster is operational in the shape of CNG pump stations. The middle class vehicle owners always look for cheap CNG and the pump owners exploit it very tactfully at the cost of the growth of textile, fertiliser and IPPs industries. The political priorities of the government are stronger than industrial one. But, this is not all. The government has failed to convince the public on industrial growth of country. A communication gap between the two sides has resulted into wrong decision-making followed by inflation, joblessness and dwindling economy. A small effort was recently made by the industry through a print and electronic media campaign. But, an absence of political will to do on the part of government ruined the effort altogether. The industry lost over Rs10 million in a week time on the media campaign, which went down to drain due to inability of the government to cash it. There are several other internal reasons behind the decline of textile export and more importantly the high financial costs are adding fuel to fire. Frequent price fluctuations create a serious problem for the industry, particularly for those who manufacture garments on orders. As the non-mill sector mostly manufactures cloth against advance payments, frequent price fluctuations make it difficult to comply with the orders. The effect of these fluctuations is, however, less severe for the mill sector as the cloth manufactured therein is usually readily available. Poor law and order situation also restricted the textile export. Foreign importers of garments are unwilling to visit Karachi to check the quality of garments offered for sale. Instead, they suggest Dubai, Colombo and Dhaka as places for such visits. Due to this situation, industrialists are considering shifting of their production facilities to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries. Along with this, government increased minimum wage to Rs9000, which increased the fixed cost of the textile finished product. Because of this, the prices of the textile product increased and in this way, the Pakistan textile products lose competitiveness with the neighbouring countries prices. Ultimately, many textile owners shut down their textile mills. Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa textile owners cannot compete with Sindh textile owners because the dyes and other finishing material are first transported to Punjab from Karachi port and the finished textile products again are transported to Karachi port for export purposes. Ultimately, double transport costs on the Punjab textile products make them relatively costly. The railway system in Pakistan is in poor condition because of less availability of locomotive engines, single track and corruption in railways. Railways are not a good option to transport the textile containers to Karachi. Last option to transport the containers is through trailers, which take lot of time in transportation from Punjab to Karachi, and are expensive, increasing prices and shrinking profit margin of textile mill owners. Earlier, the textile sector enjoyed a pivotal position in the exports of Pakistan. In Asia, Pakistan is the 8th largest exporter of textile products. The contribution of this industry to the total GDP is 8.5 per cent. Textile industry has proved its strength in global market during the last four decades. It has proved its strength even in post quota era by not only sustaining its position but also showing growth during 2005 to 2007, but exports declined to $11.1 billion in 2008 due to financial and economic meltdown globally. For Pakistan, which is the world's 4th largest producer and 3rd largest consumer of cotton, the development of a textile industry making full use of its abundant resources of cotton has been a priority area towards industrialization. However, government failed to address the industrial grievances. Government should realise that the textile and clothing industry has been the main driver of the economy for the last 50 years in terms of foreign currency earnings and jobs creation. Moreover, it will continue to be an important engine for future growth of the economy. There is no alternative industry or service sector that has the potential to benefit the economy with foreign currency earnings and new job creation, especially if synergy is developed amongst different subsectors and efforts are made to aggressively grow the readymade clothing sector. Pakistan textile products will have a big potential to capture big share of world trade but there are lots of reasons, which force the industry to step back from using the full capacity of textile machinery to earn more and more foreign exchange for the country. If government does not take immediate steps to counter all these problems, then Pakistan trade deficit will increase further in coming years. Interestingly, Pakistan is the only regional country where power generation has declined in the last five years, as disclosed by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. According to its report, Pakistan generated only 89.1 terawatt hours of electricity in 2011 against 98.2 terawatt hours in 2007. On the other hand, electricity generation in Bangladesh increased from 31.3 terawatt hours in 2007 to 42.7 terawatt hours in 2011, in China from 3,281.6 terawatt hours to 4,700.1 terawatt hours and in India from 797.8 terawatt hours to 1,006.2 terawatt hours under the same period. Since 2007, India added over 300 terawatt hours, Indonesia 40 terawatt hours and Malaysia 12.5 terawatt hours of electricity, while Pakistan reduced its generation by 9.1 terawatt hours from 2008 to 2011. After taking oath, one can expect that Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf tries to remove the label of "Raja Rental", which is associated with him due to incompetence and corruption found in the rental power projects during his holding portfolio of ministry of water and power in the present government. His incompetent handling of the power sector in the first half of this government's tenure has not been forgotten (despite his successor's lacklustre performance) and for his alleged corruption in the infamous rental power projects, about which the nation was promised that it would end all energy woes, but achieved nothing. It is urgent that the problems being faced by textiles and other industries as mentioned above are solved by the government on priority basis, so that the industries continue to contribute to the economy. Already the demonstrations against load shedding are turning violent. Before the situation gets out of control, sincere measures and planning to address the crisis from all ends is the need of the hour. Urgent and immediate steps need to be taken to tap new and sustainable energy sources including coal, wind, solar and even nuclear power to resolve this crisis.

Team work sucks! Let me repeat that – Team work sucks! Team work sucks because most often everyone on the team doesn’t pull their own weight. I’ll try not to be too cynical here – but you can’t expect to throw people together – call them a team – and have them perform without teaching them what it means to be part of a team – And what it takes to be a good team player. Worth Remembering … “Coming together is a beginning – Keeping together is progress – Working together is success” – Henry Ford Making teams work is a challenging and difficult process. Nonetheless, you can increase the likelihood that your team will succeed in accomplishing individual and team goals by carefully managing the setting of team goals and priorities, how team members are selected, trained and compensated. Team goals may vary depending on the role that teams play in your organization. Problem solving teams, self-managed teams, cross functional teams, work teams and virtual teams. Teams can be brought together, based on each team members area of expertise, to work on a specific project and once that project is completed the team is disbanded. (Project Managers work in this type of environment) Some organizations will call it a team – but what they really want is for people to get along with each other. They aren’t really a team in the truest sense of the word. Everyone on the team needs to work independently from one another but they must coordinate their efforts with other team members to accomplish the overall team objective. I refer to this kind of team as a work team. I suspect this is the type of team in most organizations – so to keep this article in context – I will discuss work teams and how to manage them effectively. Creating High Performance Work Teams The most popular team building model – forming, storming, norming and performing that is taught in most business schools was first introduced by Bruce Tuckman in 1965. Tuckman PhD. was Director of the Academic Learning Lab at The Ohio State University. His model depicts the four stages of growth that all high performing teams must go through. As you read through the description of each stage – think about how you would apply it in your department or organization when forming a team or introducing a new team member. Worth Remembering … “Teams are now the primary force of organizations. They are worth cultivating at their core. There core is the mind of each team member.” – Nancy Kline Forming: Forming is the initial stage of team development. This is the getting-acquainted stage in which team members meet each other, form initial impressions, and try to get a sense of what it would be like to be part of the work team. Managers can help this process along by planning meet-and-greets or social events outside of the traditional workplace. Be sure to personally introduce any new team member to each member of the team. I would tack up a picture of the new team member on our information board to help break the ice. Storming: Conflicts and disagreements are inevitable as team members start to work together. Different personalities and work styles will clash. (They don’t have to like each other but they DO need to get along with each other) That’s why soft-skills – a person’s ability to communicate and interact effectively with people – is critical to team success. Hire people who like being around people. (Loaners and hermits need not apply) Norming: This is the third stage in creating high performance teams. This is when the dust starts to settle down and the “real” work begins. Be sure to post your policies and procedures. Team members need to know what is expected of them. They need to know what “Normal” behaviour is. (There is no common sense. The only thing common about common sense is it’s not very common amongst most people.) Team members aren’t born knowing how to be a good team member. Like any skill – it’s a learned behaviour. It’s your responsibility to teach them how to be a good team player. As the team leader, supervisor or manager you need to “call” people out who are not maintaining those standards. Never allow team standards to slip. Performing: This is the final stage of team development. This is where you get to walk around and monitor their performance. People do what you inspect – not what you expect. You must manage by walking around. Get out of your office – roll up your sleeves now and again. Lead by example. Be prepared to work one-on-one with someone who is struggling. Your role is to give each team member the tools and training they’ll need to be able to perform their role – and then to get out of their way and let them do it. (Resist the urge to Micro-Manage) Worth Remembering … “You can’t play the game without all the players on the court … The team must be assembled quickly and play as a unit almost from the start. Failure to recruit strong, cohesive team players means a losing season.” – Ann Winblad Work teams create a synergy that results in a level of performance greater than any one person’s performance. (Together Everyone Achieves More) Norms shape team behaviour by imposing group standards. Managers need to monitor individual performance so that “Social Loafers” can’t go un-detected. And most importantly – managers can improve work team performance through selecting individuals based on their soft-skills and not just their technical ability.

As discussed by Peter Senge in his systems thinking keynote, grasping a better understanding of culture and creating better synergy is possible with collective thought. The author of the Fifth Discipline states that this strategy can be applied to everything from home life to the workplace environment. His systems thinking keynote stresses the importance of collective intelligence and teamwork. He feels that this is one of the major reasons why society isn't progressing to its full capacity. He mentions how leaders should adopt this model in order to inspire and create a more intelligent planet that works together. This process will give rise to a better economy and social structure, which will optimize people's behavior at the office or at home. Building Synergy in Culture More Stats +/- How Corporations Lost Humanity A Culture of Listening Culture's Role in Social Solutions Exporting a Culture Creating Character In Youth Peter Senge Keynotes The Peter Senge keynotes may seem quite effortless as he is a business lecturer at MIT Sloan School... Get inspired by our collection of 2,000+ keynote speaker videos and 100+ courses of innovative content.

Genny Ndayisenga from the 350 Burundi team reports here on the recent Climate Leadership Workshop held in Gitega. “Protecting the environment is a sign of dignity and self-respect. By protecting the environment we guarantee a better future for next generations. Let’s not destroy the nature! Maybe men will forgive us but Mother Nature won’t forgive us at all!”said Reverend Father Florent RUGIGANA to 40 young environmentalists from two organizations “Ensemble pour la Protection de l’Environnement (EPE)” and “Association Saint François d’Assise (ASFA)” from Gitega (second city of Burundi) who attended a Climate Leadership held by the 350 Burundi Network on Climate Change from September 21-22, 2012. Participants were trained in the basics of climate science and action, community mobilisation, campaign strategies, leadership, story-telling method and use of traditional and new media in campaigning. Climate change is real and happening in Burundi. Its impacts are unavoidable. Due to its high levels of poverty and lack of infrastructure to cope with natural disasters and other longer-term effects of climate change, the country is becoming more vulnerable and all the provinces are experiencing the harsh. But the only way to minimize the impacts is to increase society’s capacity to respond and adapt well. “I was very impressed by what I learned here and at the same time 350 Burundi team triggered something in my heart: Myself and my community also contribute to climate change and I have to assume my responsibility by reducing on my emissions”, said Aimée Gloria Kwizera, from EPE after the workshop. Young people are concerned, thoughtful citizens, capable of participating in and changing the society they are part of; and they have an important role to play in addressing the big challenge of our world. Moreover, young people have enthusiasm, imagination and abundant energy to undertake local actions, act as effective communicators in their communities. According to Steeven Kezamutima, young climate activist from ASFA and Reggae musician, “the effects of climate change are cumulative and irreversible. All the citizens must get aware of this and work hand in hand to come over that threat, otherwise we will all perish”. Curiosity, enthusiasm and determination from these young climate leaders characterized the workshop from the beginning to the end. At the end of the workshop, participants were granted attestations and to the delight of 350 BNCC, they committed to work in synergy to start a 350 group in Gitega.

The NBA's collective ears recently perked after Jerry West proclaimed the Lakers "long in the tooth." Old enough, in fact, to prevent them from playing consistent defense. "If there's a loose ball now, how often do they get to it? The reason you can't play defense is because you can't," said the purple and gold icon. Always one for allowing messages sent through the media, Phil Jackson offered a qualified agreement to the comments. "He's right. We have to do a lot of things right to be able to play defense the way we want to, and most of it is about controlling the tempo of a game. "There's something about just speed. Outright speed. We're not the fastest team on the boards here in the NBA, but we can do it if we control things in the right way." For their part, while certainly offering the Logo his requisite respect, players ranging from Kobe Bryant (who wasn't even aware of the comments until informed during Monday's practice) to Derek Fisher to Pau Gasol politely disagreed. They all vouched for the team's defensive skills, and Tuesday's dominant performance over the Utah Jazz certainly provided reason to believe.Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images He'll sign Lakers swag, but that doesn't mean Jerry West is afraid to be critical of the champs. The average age of the Lakers is 30.0 years, according to ESPN's NBA Statistics and Information research, making them the second-oldest team in the league. Last season, they won the title as the seventh-oldest team with an average age of 28.9. Are advancing years preventing the necessary defense? The answer to this and some other frequently asked questions about the Lakers' defense can help shed some light. 1) Why are we talking about the defense so much? When the Logo speaks, people listen. Also, defense has been a talking point because it was often cited by players as the chief problem during a December swoon. There were reasons to be concerned about the Lakers' offense -- two high-profile debacles (Miami, San Antonio) featured losses to opponents held below 100 points -- but championship-caliber teams hang their hats on their D. As the Lakers spoke frequently about the need for better lockdown, a sieve was created in Los Angeles. And, quite frankly, the defense has stunk at times this season. But that was also when the Lakers' biggest problem alternated between indifference and the absence of Andrew Bynum (more on that later). As we speak, things are trending in the right direction. Only three opponents have hit triple digits against the Lakers in 2011. The Knicks have been held below 90. The Cavaliers were held below 60. Seriously. In the meantime, check out some numbers: Points per game: 96.3 (11th) Opponent field goal percentage: .437 (3rd) Opponent field 3-point percentage: .340 (5th) Rebound differential: +3.9 (T-2nd) Opponent true shooting percentage: 51.7 (3rd) Opponent points per shot: 1.14 (T-1st) Not too shabby. There is a difference between being a good defensive team and playing good defense every game. The Lakers clearly haven't done the latter this season. Still, it hasn't exactly been a disaster. 2) Is age a factor? To a degree, yes. But it's not automatically detrimental. As 710 ESPN's Dave Miller pointed out in our recent look at the defense, avoiding transition defense situations (where the Lakers' age and slow speed typically hurts most) begins with offense.Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images With Derrick "Fast Don't Lie" Rose, the key is cutting down his chances to run. Taking good shots within the offense and avoiding careless turnovers are key. When the Lakers make a conscious, consistent effort, they do a great job of avoiding bad possessions. When they take short cuts running the offense or get lazy passing the ball, that's when backpedaling and scrambling happens. But that's an issue of focus, not their birth certificates. Yes, opponents earn transition opportunities by forcing turnovers and tough shots, getting rebounds or simply tearing out of the gate after a made basket. And yes, the Lakers sometimes look bad defending in these situations. But looks can be deceiving: According to Synergy (per ESPN's NBA Statistics and Information), the Lakers are actually the league's 10th-best team at defending in transition, four spots higher than last season. They're surrendering fewer points in transition (15 vs. 16.9) and protecting the basket better while on the run (53.5 percent vs. 55.5). I was admittedly surprised by these numbers, but there is often a tendency to magnify the problems of a team with everything to lose and a target on its back. Bottom line, if foot speed and age really made transition defense impossible, would Fisher be the Laker most often disrupting a three-on-one fast break? Probably not. Ask Al Jefferson about Drew's impact on the defensive end. 3) How good are they defensively compared to other title contenders? According to Hoopdata.com, the Lakers' defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions) scores out at 101.7 this season. That figure is just six-tenths of a point off last season's number and puts the defending champs behind Boston (98.3), Miami (99.3), Orlando (99.4) and San Antonio (100.3). On its face, this may feel discouraging, but the Lakers also lead all of those teams in offensive efficiency (109.2). As for how the differences are split, the Lakers are third for point differential (7.5), a smidge behind Boston and Miami and a hair in front of the Spurs. This info underscores a larger point: The gap between the two-time defending champions and the competition has decreased. Every year, the title quest becomes more difficult, and this season is no exception. The Lakers recognize this, and while as they may dispute West's claims, nobody is satisfied with the defense. As long as that remains the case, there's certainly no reason to assume defense will prevent a third straight title. 4) What impact has the return of Andrew Bynum had on the Lakers’ defense? In a nutshell, big. According to ESPN's Statistics and Information, opponents are racking 93.7 points since he suited up, down nearly five points during his absence (98.6). Per 100 possessions, 98.7 points with him vs. 102.5 without. And beyond Bynum's presence in the lane as a rim protector, shot blocker, rebounder and general deterrent, with him in the rotation Gasol and Lamar Odom are able to play more energetically and defend more aggressively (particularly Gasol, who was often handcuffed as a defender while serving as essentially the only center option). Bynum allows the Lakers to play more aggressively along the perimeter knowing he's there to help erase mistakes, and the act of funneling becomes more effective with Bynum lurking in the shadows. Jackson is also afforded more options defensively, which places all three bigs in a better position to succeed. (The Lakers have even become more efficient on offense with Bynum on board, despite a pace considerably slower -- 110.3 points per 100 possessions vs. 109.3 before.) 5) What kinds of teams do the Lakers struggle against defensively? Generally speaking, teams that run. As mentioned earlier, the Lakers may be better in transition than often given credit, but it's hardly their strong suit. When the Lakers are able to keep a team in a half-court set, they're generally pretty solid. Even taking into account the lapses on picks and rolls, the more an opponent is stationary, the better the Lakers perform. Of course, success is also dependent on constant communication, crisp rotations, group dedication, Kobe being disciplined enough to avoid too much wandering, etc. Like any team, the Lakers must be mindful of playing to their strengths and executing at the highest level. But among their top six players, only Fisher would even be discussed as a defensive liability. These cries are overblown, but either way, the vet finds ways to offset possessions dusted, like collecting charges and breaking up passes. Ron Artest just did serious damage checking Carmelo Anthony. Odom is among the more underrated defenders in the league. When Matt Barnes returns, he'll form with Bryant and Artest an enviable tandem of wing defenders. All things being equal, the pieces are in place, even if the warranty expiration date may be creeping up.

You purchased your FX35 because its a reputation for safety and Japanese engineering agreed with your nature; so why would you be okay with anything but the best when it comes to great quality auto parts? When your Infiniti FX35 was born, it was destined for a person with discerning taste who prioritizes unique styling in their automobile. Infiniti vehicle enthusiasts have become used to a certain level of sporty handling when driving their FX35 around town. It's not a regular occurrence that you find yourself in need of a replacement Cooling Fan Clutch for your vehicle. It requires a certain synergy - a need for many cooling components working in concert - to maintain constant engine temperature, and like a house of cards when one goes down they all fail. In most engines built before the 1990s, the fan blade is turned on by a cooling fan clutch. Your Infiniti FX35 engine cooling fan clutch engages the fan when the operating temperature reaches a certain point OR when the water pump is turning too slow. The first style is a thermal cooling fan clutch, and the second style is non-thermal. Your Infiniti FX35 will have one of the two.. Don't let a broken Cooling Fan Clutch spell the end of your car, truck, or SUV, and don't gamble with its condition by installing anything but the highest quality repair parts. At Car Parts Discount, we have live customer service members on the phone with enough expertise to help you purchase the correct Infiniti FX35 part for your needs. Buying new Infiniti parts from www.carpartsdiscount.com means you are taking advantage of the absolute greatest original and aftermarket replacement FX35 parts on the internet. If your car or truck was built in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, then you will find the correct Infiniti FX35 Cooling Fan Clutch parts right here.

Send the link below via email or IMCopy Present to your audienceStart remote presentation - Invited audience members will follow you as you navigate and present - People invited to a presentation do not need a Prezi account - This link expires 10 minutes after you close the presentation - A maximum of 30 users can follow your presentation - Learn more about this feature in our knowledge base article Do you really want to delete this prezi? Neither you, nor the coeditors you shared it with will be able to recover it again. Make your likes visible on Facebook? You can change this under Settings & Account at any time. Three Wise Monkeys Transcript of Three Wise Monkeys operates out of this habitat. Allied but independent from both Planetary Consortium and Morningstar Constellation A verdant cylinder habitat with radical morphs inhabiting it due to an extremely liberal political stance. THOUGHT Ship of fools route: a PC prison vessel of the incurably insane Icetroid infiltration: Ride the roid's orbit and detach as it passes by. Small Torus Hab. with Orbital Defenses Cognite's primary research base Utterly destroyed by No Evil Hack Last shuttle to leave was registered to PC Oversight and headed for Parvarti. PARVARTI PC party aerostat of total hedonism and discretion. Famous for housing backroom dealings between Morningstar and the Consortium OCTAVIA 5 mil. strong aerostat and center of Morningstar government Home of the Neo-Synergists Paresh Manjappa is meeting with representatives of Arisa Mahns, and setting them up for a fall An aide is being resleeved to plant evidence implicating Morningstar in the Thought massacre Emails to Nimbus corporation express interest in Neo-Synergists hypermesh research on Octavia Egomatrix has a small research station on site CLOUD 9 Run by Nine Lives. Serves as the "laundry" for all smuggled infugees into Venus The suicidal Augustine seed AI is all that is left to "run" the facility The dedicated fabricator the Augustine Seed AI has a contact information on it for a Lam Cong Dung on Octavia and specific transport procedures for removal to Egomatrix's "Cloud 9 Facility" Lam Cong Dung can provide the location of Cloud Nine Synergists know that their missing member, Fjalar Stefansson, had hacked his way out of infugee enslavement and was likely wanted by Nine Lives. Synergists with Fjalar Stefansson report they were skyjacked in this region when Stefansson was taken Currently in a war with Pax Familae over possession of Stefansson/Akasha Lacuna Pax Familae had infiltrated the base and went active after hearing Nine Lives had captured a synergist capable of duplicating the hypermesh insert Markov's Hide Hidden pirate aerostat for fencing stolen cargo with 200 souls on crew Honeypot Route: Players can pay rep to get on an extremely valuable cargo blimp that is too good not to hit. Multiple weapon dealings with the Pirate Aerostat Holding Fjalar Stefansson until Nine Lives comes to pick him up. Akaja Lacuna has exploited Stefansson's mental stress and taken control. He will cause a lot of damage if released. Akaja Lacuna clearly wants to go to Ambelina, as it is his best chance of avoiding rejoining the Synergy. The ships used to attack Cloud 9 can be used to infiltrate Ambilina station. Claudia will make players an offer: bring her Stefansson/Akaja and she will provide them with information about what happened on Thought Akaja Lacuna is a "mememan," a fictional consciousness run amok after evolving from a simulspace entertainment show on Synergy Ambilina Station A massive "private" habitat used to house Pax Familae's main cloning/ resleeving facility Center of the solar systems "Sybil" rep hacking program and a huge repository of financial info. Dominated by a huge plantation-style home filled with self portraits Sophisticated defenses protect hundreds of versions of Claudia's ego Claudia was monitoring THOUGHT in order to stay up on the latest in psychosurgery and forking. Paresh Manjappa murdered and collected the stacks of a number of key scientists before departing for Parvarti. This was shortly before things started getting "weird." He effectively saved their lives with bullet; he knew it was coming. Manjappa is the key to getting more information on No Evil. Codes found on the ships can be found and used to covertly darkcast into Ambilina using her own morphs. LUNA Connecting the Oversight shuttle to the events on Thought AND the frame-job on Morningstar that likely took place on Parvarti brings up an interesting connection. The shuttle refueling was paid for with the same account that purchased an egocasting facility on Parvarti. However, while the shuttle is still run by Oversight, the resleeving facility seemingly belongs to Go-Nin, despite coming from the same account number. The account is registered to the upstart bank in Erato called Cleary & Dutch, which is supposedly a holding account for PC taxes taken from the patenting of new AR games. However, such a low revenue would be hard pressed to fund the purchases the account has seen in the past few weeks, beginning right after the news of the Thought "accident" occurred. Firewall suspects that this account is the "black bag" fund for whomever in Oversight is responsible for the "No Evil" virus. This suspicion is strengthened by the fact that the first agent sent to investigate the expenditures has gone missing. Agents must discover where this black budget is being applied and why. Clever Hands Somatek Uplift facility working on exotic pets and strange pod morphs Nissim, an ape uplift and firewall agent, infiltrated the base in order to check on the strange shipment. "Thought" renewed Firewall's interest in Cognite. They sent an agent to investigate and extremely odd allotment of mining equipment that Cognite paid to be shipped through the habitat. Mare Orintale Crater Covert Cognite back-up server dug into the side of the crater Thousands of ego's were forcibly uploaded in what appears to be a TITAN attack. However, multiple traps and automated defenses have been laid to prevent further investigation into the depths of the facility, where the evidence of human sabotage lays. Nissim was killed while investigating, but his stack is recoverable This station is where the majority of Preston's human-emulating sentience was done. The research team is bitterly divided by this type of research. Nissim has not left any trace as to where he went except a note that reads "Those who love you, save you. But love always follows after lust." Resleeving in a neo-primative morph means PC's can follow a faint pheromone trail to a dead-drop detailing Nissim's planned route. Hacking the Clever Hands database finds that they ship a curious amount of anti-rejection drugs and gene treatments to the same front organization on Mare Vaprum Circumlunar People's Republic that received payments from the black fund Mare Vaporum Circumlunar People's Republic An O'Neil cylindar ostensibly owned by the Wushuang Corporation, this habitat is the seat of the power for the Sun Yee On triad. Some heavy money went towards Wushuang from the black fund. Access to the People's systems reveal they were used to buy a high-end fabricator See Yee On is one of the most diverse triads in the system. They have co-opted every aspect of habitat government and run the place like a post-Communist chinese hyper-capitalism. Quon Buyoun is the president of the habitat, supposedly, but he is actually a clone of the original Quon with a cyberbrain and puppet sock installed. His (former) pet uplift panda, Yuon, now runs the triad from behind the throne. After years of abuse, Yuon organized a quiet coup against his master that utilized a tiny cadre of corrupted captains to hide the panda's usurpation. Though still depressed and lonely as the only member of his kind, Yuon has erected himself an unshakable place of power unknown to any uplift before him. The unique biology of Yuon's Panda/Grizzly hybrid requires a lot of gene-treatment from Clever Hands. Yuon has actually met Paresh Manjappa face-to-face and admires him; he is one of the few humans to guess he pulls the strings. He can provide clues as to his mannerisms. Yuon is smuggling weapons to Erato and Nectar in shipments of counterfeit Earth artifacts, in this case, antique radiators. The lead composition shields them from most T-ray inspections, and bribes take care of the rest. There is some evidence Cognite was investigating "The Red Queen" long ago, but the data is horribly corrupted and long disused. G-networking and G-rep will reveal that the Earth orbit salvage operation based out of the CPR sold a variety Faraday-protected equipment to the same man linked with the black fund on Mitre. Interrogation, bartering, or hacking can reveal that the weapon shipments are being sent to Erato and Nectar, but where they are stored and their intended use is still a mystery. Mitre Artemis Meldonium received the credits from the black fund for months before being suddenly cut-off. Considered the foremost "bug collector" in the system, Artemis was forced to leave a sponsored professorship at Leu Eun University in order to pursue her dangerous nano-research on Mitre. Her low rep-score and lack of credits made funding a difficulty. A Cluster habitat that houses all the Argonaut activities on Luna. This station houses the open-source blueprints, informational archives, and pirate "Radio Argosy" that the system so enjoys. Artemis Meldonium disappeared almost a month ago for the Lunar surface. She had recently suffered a near psychotic break due to a "major setback" in her research, but announced to friends that she had found a way to get back on track and would be mounting an expedition to the Lunar surface. When the PC's arrive, an unheard-of interview between LLA president Arva Don and Thelonius "Proffesor Truth" Hoffman, head DJ for Radio Argosy, is scheduled to begin shortly. The topic of discussion is supposed to be the state of LLA regulations on scientific research, but Hoffman plans to ambush the president on touchy issues like synthmorph poverty, uplift rights, DRM, censorship, and accusations of Consortium puppetering. Juniper Ortiz, Artemis's lover and partner, reveals that the nano-researcher had been completely engrossed in her research before she had her "setback." A programming expert, Artemis would only spare time for her partner when she had questions about programming nano-swarms, questions that the expert say were without application to anyone but an advanced TITAN Oversight, specifically the identity thief responsible for the framing Venus in the Thought incident, has infiltrated Mitre in anticipation of the interview. They are aware of Hoffman's plans to politicize the interview and plan on replacing him with their pro-Consortium stand-in for the interview. They will not respond kindly to Firewall's presence on the station. The nameless identity thief and ego-killer can reveal Manjappa's methods and history if captured and interrogated. Research files show Artemis Meldonium was obsessed with conspiracy theories about Feynman's research into TITAN nano-plagues, especially a suppositions that Omnicor located the station there due to heavy TITAN bombardment during the Fall. Her maps detail a search region about 200 km from the station. Artemis's jet and equipment are abandoned next to a half-excavated missile. The missile is of TITAN manufacture (strangely organic) and missing its payload. Footsteps lead towards the southwest...for hundreds of kilometers. Sub-shuttle Tunnel M Footsteps lead to a breach blasted into the soil with some sort of explosive. Something cut a way into the tunnel. A synthmorph work crew is repairing the tunnels under the assumption that it was a terrorist attack from the Steel Liberators. They are very wrong. Artemis can be found quietly seated in a tiny maintenance tunnel, somehow alive with a suit puncture. Her eyes fester with maggot-like cilia and her head has swelled into an enormous, dolphin-like protrusion. She transmits a powerful psi message that merely repeats "Here. Here. Here" From the North (the direction of the New Mumbai Quarintine Zone) a hive of Exsurgent nightmares breeches the tunnel and start killing everything in sight. They look like giant, six-legged molerats made of human flesh. They have giant, diamond-hard incisors used for digging and surround a huge worm of organic AND inorganic origin from which they feed. Private records recovered off of Artemis Melodonium's corpse reveal she was largely responsible for helping program No Evil. She also has a saved contact in her ecto/muse labeled, "In case of emergency." The name merely read "Manjappa's man," and gives an address and date in Erato. Erato Nectar The "script" for the fake interview stresses negative questions about a microcorp named "Iron Foundations." This is the same mircorporation that recieved payments from the black budget. Erato is the oldest, richest, and most-developed city on Luna. It is famous for its "great cavern" wildlife space, high-rise nanomanufactured buildings, and lucrative mining operations. The rich citizens of Erato hold some of the deepest biochauvanist prejudice in all of Luna. Erato is home to the headquarters of many of LLA's famous banks. Some minor branches have recently suffered attack from a group calling themselves "The Haunted Stars," a group of skilled bank robbers that somehow seem able to easily beat the quantum encryption on rep/credit documents they steal. The Haunted Stars are actually a group of disenfranchised asyncs hired by Paresh Manjappa for a specific robbery. Whereas the funding in Mitre went for No Evil and Clever Hands was a Cognite operation, all other uses of the black budget were meant to fund a single robbery on the independant bank Cardison Limited. The Steel Liberators uprising funded in Nectar was meant to secure an escape route via a confiscated subshuttle. The CPR smuggling operation provided illegal weapons and equipment. The contact info on Artemis Melodonium's corpse leads to The Haunted Stars base. PC's with partial information can stop the robbery before it occurs, but they'll never know what Paresh wanted to steal. They can hit The Haunted Stars in mid-operation and try to steal the take before LLA authorities show up. OR, with all the information, they can take over the robbery through persuasion or force. This would be the best option, as it gets the PC's in the same room with whomever the client is. Nectar is divided into two sections, Old and New. Old Nectar was heavily overcrowded before the new sphere, with its glorious miles-wide projector screen, was completed. With the premium new space going to all the biomorphs, poor synthmorph construction workers have begun to occupy the run-down side of town. Iron Foundations, the recipients of payments from the black budget, is listed as a synthmorph construction union, but in actuality, it serves as a front for the Steel Liberators Movement. Lesilie Havershamm, leader of the Steel Liberators in Nectar, plans on using the funds on weapons and new morphs in order to stage an uprising in Old Nectar on Fall day. They plan to overtake all airlocks and depressurize the entire city, thus claiming it for synths. Mercer Brown, daughter of LLA's main enforcer Ord Brown, has been scheduled to give a Fall day speech. She thinks she is going to convert some disaffected synths to join the reclaimer movement, but she has actually been lead to the slaughter by Randall Vox, the Consortium representative to the LLA that suggested the engagement. The murder or kidnapping of Ord Brown's daughter, in combination with his vow to uphold the law and bioconservative leanings, is intended to spark a massive mobilization of LLA defense forces. The largest force closest to Nectar is located in Erato, leaving that city wide-open. Lesilie Havershamm knows the plan has no chance of success. She merely wishes to martyr a number of downtrodden people to her cause and secure the huge cash payment she was promised in order to further her activism. She will do anything to achieve this end. There are thousands of biomorph holdouts left in Old Nectar likely to be killed if the uprising is allowed to continue. Havershamm demanded that her rebels hold the subshuttle station between Erato and Nectar, despite the fact it was a huge drain on Liberator resources. She claims publicly that it is because "reinforcements" are expected to arrive via the train within the week, but further questioning reveals she was expecting the bank robbers. The Haunted Stars, while allowed to keep the money from the heist, were hired to steal a sample from the Love and Rage Collective's vault of genetically-enhanced micro-organisms from the exoplanet Solemn. Paresh's price for aiding the bandits with the crime of the century was their delivery of this sample to a Reclaimer expedition preparing to launch from Vo Nyugen. The Stars Our Destination Using the supplement, PC's have a few weeks travel time to Earth orbit. PC's have to adjust to a reputation/socialist economy and begin rebuilding rep burned from the Erato job. Sandbox style game takes over for a bit with multiple plot hooks available to players in no particular order. Proxy Zealot [Bartelby] goes live after the success of the Erato job. He has to start "fixing" for Sentinels in morally unsavory situations, which are now deemed his area of expertise. Preston has to film more episodes of his show. Continued success will require him to farcast to climates away from Firewall ops. He will have to choose between fame and his cover. Players can join in habitat salvage runs with BoyToy or Eight Arms to Probe You With. Each risks Exsurgent leftovers and automated defenses for uncertain rewards. The Cognite Bunker data indicates that Angel Mendelson evacuated Earth via one of these habitats. Joining in on the run gets players access to long-lost data mines. Research checks reveal an Omnicor asteroid belt facility kept off the books of Cognite or any other hypercorp. With enough funds, the lost coordinates could have been developed in secret over the 10 years since the Fall. Faiyun runs into trouble when her fork uses the Scum swarm to escape as well. Furious with her fork's betrayal, Faiyun seeks to claim all rep accrued in her fork's absence as her own. People's court will have to determine who is the "real" Faiyun. Researching the payload from Erato will require stealth (Love and Rage have quite a few friends on board) and care. Opening the container will have disasterous consequences, and Love and Rage will hire the best of the best to reaquire the sample if they learn it has been stolen. Scans of the container reveal that it holds something of a gaseous nature with little mass. The inner layers of the cylinder are some sort of techno-organic hybrid held in stasis. Opening the cylinder kills the creature inside, meaning the genie can't be put back inside the bottle. Yuon calls in a favor. He wants to establish a Tong in the swarm's red market, but 40K and Big Circle have muscled out all his attempts. Players have to establish some criminal enterprise for him that can continue once they leave. Once they go live on the mesh, a Pax child seeks out the players. She's on the run from her own family, which have been actively hunting her on the station for a month. Akaja has managed to isolate members of a Sybil squad to the point that they've lost the ability to self identify. The meme is letting itself be known on the station to attract bounty hunters, which she then disables and tortures with the neo-mesh insert until they become Akaja. PC's have to take her down. To eliminate Akaja for good, Firewall must design and launch a memetic warfare attack that gelds the virulent nature of her story. Cognite eliminates Drew's job. He must find a new cover identity and employment to remain effective as a Firewall agent. Isolated on a mesh network, Gerard finds an old squadron member thought long dead in the Fall. He managed to get rescued by the original Stars swarm and has done militia dispatch work for them ever since. Federov, though disapproving of Gerard, will fill in the blanks as to what happened during the Fall. While he wasn't on the operation that got Guardis killed, he is certain that Guardis has never forgiven Gerard for deserting his squadmates during a rescue mission in the Fall. Gerard's crime was cowardice, as far as the Direct Action merc is concerned. Players must earn enough rep with the swarm to get a shuttle ride once it arrives to Hotel California in Earth orbit. EARTH Hotel California Asteroid mining facility occupied by squatters during the Fall and held against hypercorp interests seeking to reclaim. The Hotel has shoddy environmental control, few fabbers, limited mesh access, and no government or economy to speak of. There are no egocasting facilities, meaning the only people that come there are outlaws or those seeking the ultimate in privacy. The Haunted Stars were supposed to meet with Manjappa here, but they were not scheduled to arrive via scum swarm. Players can put down stealthy, but they must take on the bank robber identities if they are to secure the meet. Manjappa hired a Direct Action squad to take out the robbers under the pretense of calling in their bounties. Any confiscated loot (the cylinder) was to be sent to Oversight via untraceable hypercorp backchannels. Players that survive the ambush can interrogate the mercs for their passwords and next orders. They were to deliver the cylinder to a group of Reclaimers on Vo Nguyen before getting additional orders from base. The Hexagon Direct Action training facility and inner-system military staging area. The facility is impenetrable by any means of conventional warfare and inescapable to any person trapped there. Players can egocast in using the merc mesh IDs or try to deceive station control into allowing a dock to occur. The latter is more difficult, the former requires more flexibility on the operation itself. Access to Guardis's backups could allow for psychosurgical coercion or outright corruption. If this happens, murdering Guardis and escaping would take care of all Gerard's problems. Negotiation could also be attempted. The mercs subcontracted to Oversight by Manjappa were meant to wetwork the morph and kidnap the ego of Mia Sallow, an Oversight accountant, after giving the cylinder to the Reclaimers. Absolute stealth is required. Any indication of a security breach will place players up against an army. Vo Nguyen A massive O'Neill Cylinder city dominated by Reclaimer politics, Vo Nguyen is run by Tate Markness, the foremost political spokesperson for the Reclaimer movement. Though part of the LLA, most inhabitants of the station view their Lunar political affiliation as a means to an end. The station is dominated by researchers and support staff dedicated to terrestrial research and terraforming projects. Ideological splits between technoprogressive and bioconservative approches towards reclamation make for a political landscape filled with strife and, sometimes, violence. Ecologists and preservationist complicate issues by advocating for "pure theory" approaches to research in order to better serve their off-world agendas, and there is the ever-present overcrowding and Clanking Masses problem to deal with. A forensic accountant for Oversight, Mia Sallow, has gone rogue in an attempt to investigate irregularities in the budgetary acquisitions of her superior, Paresh Manjappa. She can be found with the data from the Hexagon or approach PC's if they make their identities known on the mesh. The Society of Homecoming Advocates (The SHA) are a group of radical neo-primatives long marginalized for their "Earth at any cost"approach to reclamation. This group is the intended recipient of Manjappa's package. Players must infiltrate the radicals to discover their plans for the package. If players violate op-sec and provide all Firewall's info on Manjappa, Sallow will provide a group of known associates. Manjappa's "team" is located in Martian space and can be used to track the agent. Participation in Ozma is also suggested. The SHA plan to release whatever is in the cylinder on the Earth's surface. Firewall is uncomfortable allowing this to happen without first knowing what is going on. The team is tasked with using Firewall resources to buy their way onto the SHA's attempt to get past the interdiction. Secret Firewall Egocasting Facility Kaleheed Al-Rahmin, notorious Earth dictator and betrayer of thousands of cold-storage egos during the Fall, is farcasting into the swarm for a few nights of debauchery. Claiming his ego bounty would net a massive rep reward, if one survived the attempt. Chances of surviving an Earth run are slim to none, back-ups are needed if anyone realistically hopes to come back. Firewall maintains a secret egocasting facility for their own Earth excursions. Many of the neo-prims don't have backups for financial or philosophical reasons. However, Firewall (or a shell faction) will bribe them with a save point in order to gain a supervisory role in the operation. Manjappa has men inside the SHA that know quite a bit more than the basic neo-prim. They recognize the Firewall agents and send an alert to their master. Ozma overtakes the facility shortly after players leave. Their backups are rerouted on an Ozma specific mission. THE SPLIT: The plot divides here with one group of PC's engaging in the Firewall mission and the other (unwitting forks) achieving an Ozma objective. Firefall entry past the interdiction starts Operation Homecoming. Players must navigate a ship into the wake of a mass driver launch to obscure themselves from initial scanning, then simulate destruction before piloting to the surface in a "matryoshka" shuttle. Firewall will insist at least one team member be equipped with an emergency farcaster and provide the team with a number of "spare" morphs. Tokyo The Ozarks Players wake up in a disused Go-Nin cryogenic facility in random morphs. They have no idea what is happening. They meet Satoshi, the lone survivor in the facility. He's been using the cryogenic storage as a personal body bank every since the Fall and has gone quite mad due to his countless encounters with agonizing death. Players get a text message from Firewall (really Ozma) apologizing for the surprise, but a vital asset has become available and the team needs to go get it. The team is to retrieve the Akira Yoshizawa AI from the Japanese Heritage Museum across town and egocast the files off-surface. Players have no gear, no clothes, and no support. Any communication off-world risks alerting TITAN or exsurgent threats and cannot be risked until the AI is ready to be broadcast out. Only then will escape be possible. Using only scavenged materials, players must make it across the blasted, infected city to the exhibit, steal the AI, and return to the cryogenic facility for evac. Their only intel on the area comes from Satoshi's mad scribblings on the walls detailing his many, many deaths. If players achieve success, farcasting the Origami AI does indeed alert the TITANS to the existence of the facility, but further egocasting is suddenly disabled and alert signals are actually being pumped out of the facility. When all hope seems lost, one of the cryogenic bodies revives. The ego seems remarkably adaptable and instantly recovers. The mysterious creature introduces itself as Warden and claims to be able to farcast some player to safety. Time, however, is limited; PC's must decide who holds the line and who escapes. The shuttle lands in the Ozark Mountains, inside a 50 square mile nature preserve surrounded by urban in-fill. It is in this remote, yet still barren, location that the SHA set up camp. The plan is to open the cylinder, which contains the artificial structure eating bio-plague found on Solemn, inside a massive, untouched cave system. The neo-prims hope that the self replicating micro-organisms can feed off the mineral deposits and grow strong enough to begin infecting the surface as a whole. Players must make a call on whether or not to allow the SHA plan to happen or not. It could reclaim Earth, but only an Earth for the neo-prims. The Reclaimers must venture into the urban area (SpringLouis City) and repair an egocasting facility in order to escape. A group of suicidal moles will try to prevent just that, seeking to sabotage and kill any who attempt to escape. If Manjappa's moles are stopped, interrogation can reveal their true intention. The Reclaimers were never meant to leave the surface. Their reactivation of the egocaster's reactor could alert exsurgents and will most definitely alert LLA Overwatch. A mass driver attack is imminent. Players must decide to escape safely and intact, or shut down the egocaster and divert the attack somewhere else, protecting the infant bio-plague at the cost of their own lives. Players wake up in a simulspace run by something called Warden. He reveals to them a series of evidence: specially-prepared prison simulspaces, Lunar overwatch footage, transcripts of SHA's meetings, security footage of Ozma's attack on the Firewall egocaster, and proof that all Firewall backups have been deleted. Reintegration Shenlong Contrary to popular belief, the Chinese army didn't use the habitat for bioweapons; it was a top-secret nanofabrication facility. However, it was taken over by TITAN's...for a bit, at least. Shenlong was recaptured by the Prometheans in their counter-attack, along with the help of the first Sentinels. It is now run by Warden, a powerful AGI responsible for the interdiction of Earth. Warden noticed oddness, connecting the Firewall station attack, the firefall intrusion, surface scan data, and a variety of other factors. If not for his intervention, Manjappa would have wiped out the team and gotten away. Manjappa has revealed the presence of Ozma in exchange for implicating the players in the other organization's operations. He obviously has a mole inside the darknet, but with the players burned out of conspiracy, there is no hope of catching the betrayer. Players now have two options... Have Warden vouch for them, rejoin Firewall, but lose Manjappa and the mole as he goes underground after his plan fails. Stay burned, operate as double-agents, find the mole, hunt Manjappa secretly, but risk confrontation with Firewall itself in addition to the standard threats. Salvaging the A Proficia lends vital intellegience about the Factors that could be useful leverage in dealing with either the Planetary Consortium or Ozma. MARS Valles New-Shanghai Players wake in a body bank deep inside the city. They are greeted by Proxy Blind. The "success" of the B-team sent to Extropia clued him in to a leak inside Firewall. Additional intel distributed by Warden (Blind has no knowledge of Promethean) has made him the only Proxy to believe in the squad's innocence. Manjappa launched an attack on the ego facility located on Vo Nyugen after the PC's left. He did so using the Origami morph made possible by the Tokyo run, and he leaked a lot of intelligence proving the group's responsibility. Nearly a six months have passed. Firewall has burned the "double-agents" out of the organization. Destroying all relevant back-ups. Blind managed to save some redundant ego copies from right after the Thought operation, but death, in this instance, will erase nearly two years of experience. Blind has briefed agents from the Extropia mission on their deaths. These "Paranoia Agents" stand at the ready for deployment. Despite the involvement of Warden, Firewall resources are very limited. Blind's operation has to stay entirely off the Eye to avoid letting the mole know he's compromised. THE EXCHANGE Warden's most explicit intervention is the arrangement of a peaceful negotiation between the agents and a hostile party. Players must choose between giving information to Ozma or the PC. Ozma won't deal at all unless Warden details the Factor data. However, they are willing to do anything to get it, including burning Manjappa out of the organization. If they learn that their agent has used resources for unsanctioned Earth operations, they will be all the more enthusiastic. The Planetary Consortium will meet agents under nearly any pretense. Giving them information proving Manjappa's treachery will have them promising trials, but they will only sanction ego deletion for a third party if there is something big on the table (Factor data). If the Firewall intel on Manjappa was given to Mia Sallow, her supposedly in-house investigation of his treachery will almost certainly lead to extensive psychological torture and deletion of all back-ups. The PC will do it for free, so long as there is nothing else to gain from it. Persuading anyone that the Factor data will require persuasion. Access will never be exclusive (Firewall already has it), so the information will have to be painted as having additional worth. It could be a chance to spin the information early, blackmail material over the Factors in tech negotiation, hard evidence to attack the credibility of possible future leaks, or military intelligence over whatever risk this TITAN/Factor link might represent. TILLMAN'S PENTHOUSE Warden's intel collection and Blind's cross-referencing have determined the only person with access to the Earth operation, the Venus safehouse, and the team's personal dossiers was Proxy Tillman. In fact, the Tillman the team dealt with was never the mole. After the nuke explosion destroyed Morningstar/PC relations, Tillman had to fork to maintain his cover. The fork that went back to Mars and resumed the role of diplomat was turned by Manjappa. The Tillman that betrayed the team must have killed and assumed the role of the "Venus" Tillman shortly after the Proxy meeting to approve the Erato Heist, which is why Manjappa didn't learn of it until later. However, evil Tillman still knew where the safehouse was, still had the team's personal records, and learned of the Earth operation when Polyanna briefly closed and filed the Know Evil operation. When the case file went from archived to active again, Tillman used his status to hack more information about the team's operations near Earth. He's responsible for the theft of their egos for the Tokyo smear campaign. Players must decide whether or not Tillman was infected, psychologically brainwashed, or just not loyal. They can determine what happens to him after raiding his apartment and kidnapping him. He will relay the whereabouts of Manjappa's current morph, by persuasion or force. THE WHITE ZONE Manjappa has a private habitat located deep in the Martian quarantine zone. He keeps it off even Ozma's books, which is the only reason Tillman knows its location. With Tillman's capture and interrogation, the team finds their names cleared. They can bring the combined might of Firewall down on Manjappa's head, but they must do so quickly least he learn of Tillman's capture. Agents must decide to restore their back-ups or make the final push to the White Zone. Manjappa works by cat's paws. He has few personal defenses. However, if given enough time, he might resurrect some of the TITAN tech stored at his facility. There is an exoplanet in the control of Ozma whose star emits a strange radiation. Asyncs go mad within minutes out of the gate, and the area just outside the sphere is littered with seemingly abandoned TITAN tech. The star's unique signature seems to erase TITAN programming, leaving their tech to be reprogrammed and, hopefully, reengineered. The weapons of Manjappa are merely the new weapons of Ozma. Manjappa's actions were motivated by two things: keeping up appearances and reclaiming the Earth. The destruction of Thought, the cover-up at the Cognite bunker, and his Oversight cover were all ploys to avoid Ozma's suspicions. His attempt to steal the canister and seed Earth was always his real goal. Manjappa has never agreed with Ozma's response to the return of the TITAN's. He doesn't think victory is possible, no matter how much tech is re-purposed. Firewall is equally doomed, too reactionary to develop early counter-measures. He regards the TITAN return as inevitable, and he sees humanity's only hope is "becoming too small to kill." Thus, he sought to cleanse the Earth forever of all advanced technology, giving a primitive mankind at least a small hope of survival. Manjappa will reveal his entire plan to the Know Evil team; "He didn't live past 150 without being able to tell winners from losers." He respects that they violated the rules of their organizations to find him, and he is keenly aware of all the moral compromises they made along the way. Manjappa sees the team as kindred spirits, people with the fortitude to survive. He'll reveal everything in hopes that they carry on his work. Before final capture or death, Manjappa will hint at an Exsurgent strain he calls "Martyr," a subtle mind-stealer virus designed for highly capable transhumans. It is meant to merely implant an idea, some cause or great responsibility, that drives the infected to commit atrocities for the "good of transhumanity." He admits he may be infected, but could never know. Neither could the players, for that matter. His final words are "You'll find no clean victory here. Nothing is certain in this game, children. Not even this." THE RIM: ENDGAME The Know Evil team simply knows too much (Ozma weapons testing, PC cover-ups, Factor/TITAN relations, the existence of Prometheans, the existence of survivors on Earth, Firewall's responsibility for the interdiction). Frankly, they can never retire. Violations of op-sec might result in a loss of status in the organization, but they will never be allowed outside Firewall's careful monitoring so long as they live. However, as of right now the team is made up of terrible spies. Their operations are infamous in every existing intelligence organization in the galaxy, and their cover identities are completely blown. Essentially, Firewall will require a period of "vacation time" for each member to establish rep under a new identity. Each player may choose from two options: BARTELBY PRESTON SAIROC GERARD FEIYUN Ozma is unaware of Manjappa's plan and they have a facility in the Nevada desert. Ozma strike squads will attack the colony, drawing a lot of TITAN attention. The players can forge alliances with the SHA and Manjappa's moles to repel the attack, or they stay on their own. The result of the latter is a four-way firefight until the TITAN's arrive. Proxy Zealot can stay live. Jovian operations are notoriously difficult, both due to mental hardship on the part of operatives and a lack of technological resources. Asyncs are effective in this theater, able to gather intel and dispense orders through their untraceable powers. Zealot's ruthlessness would be especially useful here, and his criminal past would have no bearing. While in Warden's care, the beta-fork Bartelby sent to the IP address for Angel Mendelson sent him a message. He found Alice and saved her. Angel Mendelson has been punished. He's living with his long lost sister happily somewhere on the rim. But in regards to reintegration..."I would prefer not to." With nearly all Firewall knowledge cut out of his head, the beta-fork views alpha Bartelby as a liability to Alice's safety. Getting his sister back will require going rogue to hunt himself down. Xperia is "Sheening" Preston's celebrity and launching a new show. His on-air meltdown is the stuff of legend, and they are launching an "even raunchier" version with another octopus morph sleeved full of an extremely old version of Preston's ego. Firewall can arrange to overwrite the ego with Preston's current copy, effectively putting him back into his golden chains. Preston can go to the Rim. Mother Octopus has agreed to guide him into a Mercurial community living in the water shielding around an O'Neil Cylinder. His mission will be to become established in the community under a new name and infiltrate The Hidden Concern's smuggling operations. Sairoc is being offered a position as a Firewall vector. His days would be spent as an infomorph tasked with analyzing and coordinating context-less data from a variety of Firewall operations. It would be a pure life of the mind operation without any dangerous field work. Augustine contacts Sairoc. She has recognized the effects of AWE and sought to self-correct, but the priorities learned with the group are limiting her recovery. She wishes to become a fully realized self, but can only do so if she integrates fully with Sairoc, forever. Thus, the location of her consciousness would be without question. She harbors no resentment (she doesn't know how), but merely wishes to self-actualize. Q Gerard's experience in the Fall makes him a useful resource for the rehabilitation of veterans. Cesear has started a rehabilitation center for egos too scarred by their escape to be resleeved. While he wouldn't be a therapist, Gerard could counsel recovering soldiers. He'd be paid a wage and live a peaceful life on the rim. Firewall would only ask he keep tabs on any promising fighters recovered from madness. Proxy Clean's team could use a close-quarters specialist. Erasure squads are often made up of those hardened sentinels with political leanings out-of-fashion in Firewall culture. It's a good place to keep fighting the good fight. And the danger accrues quite a bit of rep, rep that can be used to influence policy later. It's a hard life, but necessary. Firewall has had an...unusual request. Fang, leader of a minor hypercorp in Lunar orbit, has actively made contact with secure Firewall servers, revealed himself as the leader of the See Ye On triad, and offered to help operations. Alarmingly, he has requested a member of the "delegates responsible for the Lunar heist." While Fang refuses to actually join the conspiracy, he has offered the services of his extensive criminal network in exchange for a live-in aide. This sentinel will be in charge with feeding "Go/ No Go" intel regarding See Ye On expansion, gather intel reported by Tongs, and serving the Mountain Master in an advisory capacity. Criminal experience is a must. A sponsored free-runner on Mars found himself infected after seeking experimental performance-enhancing drugs derived from TITAN tech. His backups were corrupted before Firewall took him down, but his destruction never went public. The athlete was fairly unattached, considered by many to be a reclusive purist. Assuming his identity would be fairly easy, his fame rep could be manipulated any number of ways, and his performance in competitions was never much more than middle of the road. It would be a life of relative ease and luxary, with some light infiltration and crow work for Firewall on the side. Q is invaluable as a linguist and analyst. Had Firewall known of his existence years before, he'd have long ago been recruited. As all traces of his involvement in Know Evil have been concealed. They've prepared a choice analyst position for him on a Venus as a mole in Nine Lives (they just pop up in operations too often and need more attention), with a Venusian flyer morph as a bonus. His job will be to immitate one of the ego slavers that so long imprisoned him, while funneling those few scientists talented enough out of bondage and into Firewall. The position is likely to be brutally taxing, but he'll likely do more good than harm. Firewall apologizes for the lack of options, but his services are still required. Other options make themselves available to Q in the form of an advanced hack. It seems he is well loved by AGI. Augustine has arranged a private habitat in the asteroid belt for him. He will have access to advanced communication arrays, multiple morphs, and a wealth of credits. He'll effectively disappear off the map. The gift has no other attachments besides a note that reads "It is polite to give friends gifts."

It's not only Republicans who will be watching McCain's fortunes against Bush. As Democrats go through the process of selecting their candidate, they will undoubtedly weigh up how their two front-runners, Al Gore and Bill Bradley, will fare against each of the GOP candidates. In this regard, there is a certain synergy between McCain and Bradley; conversely, McCain’s fate in the Republican party could be directly proportionate to Bradley’s progress in the Democratic primaries. While the two men disagree on some controversial issues, like abortion, they share a dissatisfaction with the political status quo that will appeal to the many voters fed up with politics as usual and the perceived entitlement of Bush and Gore. Get out those hammers and nails, George, and start building yourself a platform. Early Monday afternoon, John McCain – considered by most pundits as the only viable opposition to George W. Bush for the GOP presidential nomination – formally announced his candidacy. McCain, a former Navy pilot and POW, has distinguished himself from his vague but popular rival by making himself very clear on a few issues: He believes strongly in campaign finance reform, urges an improvement in the standard of living of military families, wants to pay teachers according to merit and would institute a nationwide test of school vouchers. While there are a few unresolved monkeys on McCain’s back, including the pesky abortion issue, his generally clear-cut positions stand in stark relief to Bush’s campaign, which has so far steered clear of releasing any major policy proposals.

Workforce Development | Young Innovators Doctoral students leapfrog their way to optimization, innovation By Upasana Manimegalai Sridhar and Anand Govindarajan Upasana, the 2012-13 president of the ISA OSU student section, finds a combination of process control and optimization especially interesting. After earning her Ph.D., she would like to experience working in the process control industry and gain an industrial perspective on the best practices and techniques currently being employed. She eventually wants to make the switch to academe, to implement and improve process control and optimization curriculum in a way that will aid the students to gain more of an industry perspective in the field of controls and optimization. Upasana is aware of the benefits that ISA provides to members in terms of technical information, networking, and leadership opportunities. Having received the benefits herself, she believes it is a bound duty on her part to ensure that budding engineers of the future receive this too. Anand strongly believes automation holds the key to the world's future and has farther-reaching implications than already envisaged. After earning his Ph.D. at OSU, he is looking at enriching his experience in the process control industry before moving on to an academic position. Through his experience in the industry, he wants to create a synergy between the process control industry and academe and develop engineers of tomorrow to think, learn, and also unlearn when necessary. In the near future, he would like to advise and mentor ISA student sections and enhance students' experience with ISA. This, he hopes, will create a chain reaction by encouraging students in turn to become ISA leaders of tomorrow. We are doctoral students in chemical engineering, with a focus on advanced process control (APC) and optimization at Oklahoma State University (OSU). With the guidance of our advisor, Dr. R. Russell Rhinehart, professor of chemical engineering, we are focused on developing a recently discovered Leapfrogging optimization technique (see footnote 1) and demonstrating its applicability in APC. Leapfrogging (LF) is a multiplayer, direct search, optimization technique. Initially, "players" are placed at random spots in the feasible decision variable space. The approach to reaching the global optimum is for a player with the worst objective function to "leapfrog" over the player with the best objective function to a new position into the reflected hyper-volume. This optimization technique is stopped when there is no statistical improvement relative to the data - when all players converge to a common optimum. In developing the LF optimization algorithm, we provide fundamental understanding, supporting the heuristically (experience-based) developed technique with mathematical truths and analyzing various aspects of the algorithm. One of our studies has been focused on improving the initialization of the optimizer. We have found that initializing with a higher number of players and then cutting down to approximately 10 players per decision variable for optimization leads to the optimizer finding the global minimum with a lower computation burden and a higher confidence. Additionally, we are also working on improving the leap-over technique by modifying the leap-over distance to improve the speed of convergence of the algorithm. Some of the other aspects we are exploring include applicability and efficiency to discontinuous/convex functions, the size and location of the leap-to region, and optimization stopping criteria. Our analysis should lead to improvements in the optimizer efficiency. As a test, we will apply the innovations to nonlinear multivariable model predictive control of pilot-scale heat exchanger and distillation processes. The desirable properties of an optimization technique are that it reaches the global optimum with less computation burden and is robust and user-friendly. Our hope is that LF will benefit industry by providing faster convergence of APC and plant-wide optimization algorithms with a lower burden on computational resources - saving time, energy, and money. Both of us have been involved with the ISA OSU student section since its inception in the fall of 2010. We have fulfilled multiple roles and have played a significant part in its success over the last two years. We strongly encourage students to make the best use of an ISA student section if it exists on campus. If not, you must consider starting one. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Upasana Manimegalai Sridhar, one of the founders of the ISA OSU Student Section is currently Section president, also volunteers as a secretary and fundraiser in the U.S. for Rural Education Welfare and Development Trust (REWARD). She completed her B.S. in chemical engineering from SSN College of Engineering (Anna University) in 2009, and her M.S. in chemical engineering at OSU in 2010. She is presently a Ph.D. candidate exploring optimization techniques for advanced process control and applications to a pilot-scale heat exchanger. Anand Govindarajan, one of the founders of the OSU Automation Society, and former Section president, received a B.S. in chemical engineering from SSN College of Engineering (Anna University) in 2008 and his M.S. in chemical engineering at OSU in 2011. He is working toward a Ph.D. on advanced process control and optimization of a pilot-scale distillation unit. 1. Rhinehart, R. R., Su, M., and Manimegalai-Sridhar, U., Leapfrogging and synoptic Leapfrogging: A new optimization approach. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2012. 40(0): pp. 67-81.

I had a very lovely hour in the studio last week with Gemma Holmes from AD Skin synergy and the owner and developer of the AD brand, recording some pieces about next month's beauty pick, which is the AD Skin Synergy duo. Not only is the price amazing (especially for a duo!) but its free of P&P charges for the whole of next month. I had come across the skin synergy before and even had spoken about it on the morning show but I must confess I had not appreciated what a wonderful product it was. For the very first time it is 100% organic, but still has the wonderful mix of oils and fragrances that make it a pleasure to use. This comforting anti-aging product is known by many thousands but I have only now become a convert. As you know, my wife has a health food shop, so organic and natural is a big thing in our household. I really think this the perfect opportunity for people to try something new, or stock up on an old favourite, so join us throughout the month of June to see our latest pick of the month! October 21, 2016 By Richard Jackson

Presentation on theme: "PCMU/UNEP Key issues related to proposal development Yunae Yi Secretary of the Project Approval Group UNEP, Nairobi."— Presentation transcript: PCMU/UNEP Key issues related to proposal development Yunae Yi Secretary of the Project Approval Group UNEP, Nairobi PCMU/UNEP Results-Based Management Why focus on results? Shift of focus from delivery of goods and services to benefits to the target beneficiaries Focus on effectiveness and impact of our work What does it mean? Flexible and optimal approach to achieve results Accountability of the project team Continuous monitoring of the progress Demonstration of measurable changes PCMU/UNEP Phase 1 Project Identification Situation analysis Identification test Identification Phase 1 Preparation and formulation Phase 2 Review and approval Phase 3 Evaluation Phase 5 Implementation Phase 4 PCMU/UNEP Situation analysis Assess and analyze an environmental situation needs Include analyses of needs, interests, strengths and weaknesses of key stakeholders and beneficiaries (stakeholder analysis) Explores likely causes and linkages between existing problems and the needed actions (Problem and objective analyses) Generates key actions and strategies to be applied PCMU/UNEP Situation analysis (1): Stakeholder analysis 1.Identify the principal stakeholders at various levels – local, national, regional and international 2.Investigate their roles, interests, and relative powers and capacities to participate 3.Identify the extent of cooperation or conflict in the relationships among stakeholders 4.Interpret the findings of the analysis and define how they should be incorporated into project design PCMU/UNEP Situation analysis (2): Problem analysis 1. Define precisely the situation to be analyzed (sector, sub sector, area, etc.); 2. Define some major problem conditions related to the selected situation; 3. Organize the problem conditions according to their cause–effect relationships; 4.Check the logical order. PCMU/UNEP Situation analysis (3): Objectives analysis Reformulate the problems as objectives; Check the logic and plausibility of the means- to-ends relationship; Select the scope and level of project intervention; Link to Logical Framework development PCMU/UNEP Identification test There is compatibility with COP mandates; Major options and alternatives have been identified and some initial choices made; The principal institutional and policy issues affecting project outcome have been identified and deemed amenable to solution; There is justifiable expectation that the project will have adequate support from the relevant political authorities, other stakeholders and the intended beneficiaries; The project options selected are expected to be justified, given rough estimates of the expected costs and benefits. PCMU/UNEP Feasibility study The core of the proposal preparation process To provide the basis for choosing the most desirable options Consideration of the following basic questions: Does it conform to the development and environmental priorities, such as PRSP? Is it technically and scientifically sound, and is the methodology the best among the available alternatives? Is it administratively manageable? Is it financially justifiable and feasible? Is it compatible with the culture of the beneficiaries? Is it likely to be sustained beyond the intervention period? PCMU/UNEP Project document formulation Add logical framework matrix, details on budget, implementation plan and modalities to the existing concept proposal Project and project document formulation are simultaneous and iterative processes The project document come from each step taken through project cycle phases 1 and 2 PCMU/UNEP Project document formulation (cont) The full project document is: A legal agreement once signed; A tool for formulating and implementing projects; A tool for communication among key partners; A tool for project monitoring and evaluation; Basis for the terms of agreement for any consultancy/contractual service. PCMU/UNEP Sustainability (1/2) Most project interventions are temporary in nature What happens after the project? Capacity-building measures should be an integral part of project strategies and activities Area of repeated concern by the donors and auditors PCMU/UNEP Sustainability (2/2) Project will be sustainable depending on the following factors: Policy support Institutional and management capacity Economic and financial viability Ownership by beneficiaries Appropriate technology Social and cultural issues Environmentally sustainable PCMU/UNEP Logical framework (1/3) Donors often consider it as a mandatory component of the projects It identifies and states the main factors related to the success of the project It clarifies how project success (qualitative and quantitative) will be judged or measured, thus providing a basis for monitoring and evaluation. PCMU/UNEP Intervention logic Objectively verifiable indicators (OVI) Means of verification (MOV) Assumptions Results Outputs Activities Objective: Logical framework: format (3/3) PCMU/UNEP Objectives Overall desired achievements; Long-term benefits to final beneficiaries, the future desired situation or the conditions that must be satisfied; High-level aims which the projects results will contribute substantially towards; Set the right level of articulation so that the objectives are both realistic and attainable; Do not formulate objectives with active verbs, such as: to study, to advise and to cooperate. PCMU/UNEP Results Direct consequences or effects of the generation of outputs Show a clear cause-and-effect relationship with the objective Project managers are accountable for the delivery of them Address the specific needs of the end-users or beneficiaries State a meaningful and detectable change Avoid long-term goals beyond the project period PCMU/UNEP Outputs The lowest level results of the project The optimal combination necessary for achieving the results Its delivery must be within the control of project management team Outputs are the outcomes of activities PCMU/UNEP Activities The specific work or tasks to be performed within the project to transform resources into outputs The links between inputs and outputs Activities must be pertinent not only to the project outputs but also to the wider context of the projects aims Special attention to the interests of under-represented groups, such as women and people living in poverty PCMU/UNEP Indicators What will show us that the objective, results and outputs have indeed occurred? Indicators provide an opportunity to restate intervention logic in specific and directly observable terms Objectively verifiable indicators should be SMART. SMART stands for: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Time-based PCMU/UNEP Means of verification Maximize existing data sources With existing data sources, caution regarding validity and reliability of the data Review or content analysis; internal records; audit reports; reports by NGOs and other international agencies; surveys; interviews; and rapid assessments Build the cost for data collection in the project budget PCMU/UNEP Assumptions External factors which could affect the progress and success of the programme or project, or its long-term sustainability Underlying conditions which have to be met for the project to succeed Project managers should assess external factors and risks in project implementation and articulate them in the planning phase Project managers should monitor the influences of key external factors Intervention logicindicatorsMOVAssumptions Results 1. Reduce weight by 5 kgs 2. Reduce the glucose level in the blood to below 6 1 Number of Kgs reduced 2 Level of glucose level reduced 1 Weekly weight records 2 weekly record of glucose level 1. Other health conditions remain unchanged. 2. Scientific findings on diabetic patients hold. Outputs 1.Regular exercise programme maintained 2.Low carb and low calorie diet regime maintained Activities 1.1. Daily exercise for 30 minutes 1.2Join the dance class and practice once a week 2.1.Take 5 small meals a day 2.2. Follow Atkins diet menu at least 2 times a day Objective: Type 2 diabetic condition is improved to healthy level Logical framework Exercise PCMU/UNEP Project checklist 1. Have the priorities and needs of the countries been identified and incorporated in the project? 2. Have all relevant key stakeholders been consulted? 3. Have the duplications or complementarities with the existing or past projects been addressed? 4. Do the implementing partners have capacities to undertake the project? 5. Does the Secretariat (or the applicants) have capacities to undertake the project? 6. Has the linkage to poverty alleviation been incorporated? 7. Does the project actively address the sustainability aspect? PCMU/UNEP UNEP Project Document PCMU/UNEP Project Document format: Key elements of the UNEP project document Project summary Background Contribution to the work programme Project description Logical framework Work plan Institutional framework Monitoring and reporting Evaluation Project budget PCMU/UNEP Key elements of the UNEP project document Background Overall background and situation Identify and elaborate urgency of the problem Previous actions by UNEP and others Lessons learned from similar actions UNEPs specific advantage to run the project PCMU/UNEP Key elements of the UNEP project document Contribution to work programme Clear linkage to COP decisions and programme of work (objectives?) MDG, WSSD and other major Conference outcomes PCMU/UNEP Key elements of the UNEP project document Project description Methodology Implementation modalities Justification of selected project location Links between outputs, activities and the problem Key stakeholders and beneficiaries and impacts on them (consideration of marginalized groups) Project impacts on poverty alleviation and gender-equality Strategies for successful implementation Sustainability and replicability PCMU/UNEP Key elements of the UNEP project document Logical framework PCMU/UNEP Key elements of the UNEP project document Work Plan Timetable for activities Roles and responsibilities among implementation partners identified Tool for monitoring and self-evaluation by project managers and project coordinators Activity flow sequences to be carefully examined Situation analysis and project planning part of work plan? PCMU/UNEP Key elements of the UNEP project document Institutional framework Institutional arrangement of project implementation Project implementation modality PCMU/UNEP Project cycle Phase 3 Project review and funding negotiation Internal and external project approval process Administrative steps Identification Phase 1 Preparation and formulation Phase 2 Review and approval Phase 3 Evaluation Phase 5 Implementation Phase 4 Funding and approval Phase 3 PCMU/UNEP Administrative process Review and approval by fund management office, Nairobi Chief of BFMS verifies and sends project document to cooperating or supporting agency for signature Chief of BFMS counter signs Project is allocated a project number and IMIS identification No financial obligations can occur before this! PCMU/UNEP Project Implementation Financial Regulations and Rules according to UN Secretariat system Contractual agreements (MoUs) will soon need to follow UNEP standard formats Hiring of staff have to follow UN OHRM Regulations and Rules (e.g. ToR, classification, contractual types) Implementing organizations should comply with the agreed terms--on time, on budget and on-project terms PCMU/UNEP Project monitoring Growing emphasis to demonstrate performance In-built in the activities as routines Agree on performance measurement tool, frequency of analysis and method and data source Assess performance against the results and management risks Assessment of project activities vis-à-vis results Regular documentation and analysis of reports Generation of lessons learned and possible adjustment of activities strategy and methodologies PCMU/UNEP Project reporting Why reporting is needed: To inform management of progress To validate usage of funds Tool for audits and evaluation Reference for future projects (lessons learnt) Reporting towards donors on project progress Projects can only be closed once all reporting requirements have been met PCMU/UNEP Evaluation 4 types of evaluations: Desk In-depth Impact Self-evaluations Timing of evaluations: at any point during the life of the project (mostly mid-term an final stages) PCMU/UNEP Evaluation UNEP requires all projects to include evaluation in project budget (e.g. consultants fees, travel and communication and dissemination) Usually a few % of total budget For a project over $500,000, in-depth evaluation is required (suggested $20,000 + ) Financial and operational capacity Do the applicant and partners have sufficient experience of project management? Do the applicant and partners have sufficient technical expertise? (notably knowledge of the issues to be addressed.) Do the applicant and partners have sufficient management capacity? (including staff, equipment and ability to handle the budget for the action)? Does the applicant have stable and sufficient sources of finance? Relevance How relevant is the proposal to the objectives and one or more of the priorities of the call for proposals? How relevant to the particular needs and constraints of the target country/countries or region(s) is the proposal? (including avoidance of duplication and synergy with other EC initiatives.) How clearly defined and strategically chosen are those involved (final beneficiries, target groups)? Have their needs been clearly defined and does the proposal address them appropriately Methodology Are the activities proposed appropriate, practical, and consistent with the objectives and expected results? How coherent is the overall design of the action? (in particular, does it reflect the analysis of the problems involved, take into account external factors and anticipate an evaluation? Is the partners' level of involvement and participation in the action satisfactory? Is the action plan clear and feasible Does the proposal contain objectively verifiable indicators for the outcome of the action? Sustainability Is the action likely to have a tangible impact on its target groups? Is the proposal likely to have a multiplier effects? (including scope for replication and extension of the outcome of the action and dissemination of information.) Are the expected results of the proposed action sustainable? Budget and cost-effectiveness Is the ration between estimated costs and the expected results satisfactory? Is the proposed expenditure necessary for the implementation of the action? EC Evaluation Criteria PCMU/UNEP Summary A project concept should start from identification of needs and what has been done; After feasibility test, formulate Logical Framework as the first step in proposal preparation; Think of project sustainability and replicability PCMU/UNEP Yunae Yi Secretary of the Project Approval Group (PAG) PCMU/UNEP

Hello and welcome to “The Opinionated Tailor Talks Shop”. Today I’d like to talk a little about gluttony. It’s the New Year, after all, and generally the time for resolutions and better intentions. I’ve been noticing all of the advertisements in the paper for gym memberships and Weight Watchers and weight loss by hynosis (boy, wouldn’t that be great if that worked!) and it’s got me thinking a lot about a topic that has been on my mind for years. You might think this a bit of an odd topic for an ecclesiastical tailor whose focus tends to be primarily on beauty and our historical garment traditions, but I am in the dubious position of being particularly qualified to speak on this topic. Mostly through personal experience since I have been a life-long glutton, but also because this topic does touch lightly on my professional experience—my work requires that I fit people of all body types. One of the greatest surprises I experienced when I first began tailoring was that men seemed just as concerned with their weight and body issues as women. To say I was dumbfounded by the first priest who sheepishly told me he was really working on taking the weight off is an understatement. My husband had always been a string bean, high-metabolism type who really does prefer a nice steak to a bowl of ice cream, so I had no reference point. I naively thought only women were particularly susceptible to the sins of vanity and gluttony, but was quickly disabused of this notion after just one week at a national conference fitting clients. Men and women both had issues with food, which was really no surprise at all given our cultural attitudes toward food and gluttony here in America. What got me thinking again on this topic and what the Church has to offer those of us who have a particular struggle with the passion of gluttony was Kevin Allen’s recent interview with Met. Jonah. I’ve been following Met. Jonah’s election and enthronement with much personal interest since I was at the All-American Council in Pittsburgh and experienced firsthand the excitement of his election. I’ve also been working on his enthronement vestments during most of the month of December—for those of you interested, my next podcast will be on bishops vestments, so please stay tuned—and have really enjoyed listening to his election speech and Kevin’s interviews through Ancient Faith Radio. But it was a small phrase during this interview that got me thinking of gluttony again. Met. Jonah was referring to the Orthodox Church as a native, local church and spoke of how so many of us in America are still experiencing the Church as “translated” Orthodoxy. He mentioned some of the terms like theosis and synergy and how they aren’t part of a regular man-on-the-street’s vocabulary—honestly, can you really envision your mailman speaking of the synergy of the US Postal Service? Now I realize that Met. Jonah was speaking of far larger, more theological terms, but I had a little light go off in my head when he said “translated Orthodoxy” that made me think of gluttony. After all, how many of us call ourselves gluttons? What do you think of when you hear the word “glutton”? I think of a great big, crass medieval lord type gnawing on a greasy chicken drumstick with a table laden with all sorts of rich foods and goblets of wine. I certainly don’t think of myself standing in the kitchen eating popcorn at eleven o’clock at night after I’ve had a bowl of ice cream. When I think of gluttony, I think of Charles Dickens’ England in which the rich sit around a table groaning with food that in our modern minds, is embarrassingly gluttonous while the poor have barely enough to survive. Gluttons and gluttony tend to be the stuff of historical images or Victorian novels—imbued with an almost ancient air, certainly not something for us to be concerned with today. But, gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins as they used to be called and still are in my little red prayer book. For those of you needing a refresher, they are Pride, Greed, Lust, Anger, Gluttony, Envy, and Sloth. And, in my experience, Gluttony or “Sin No. 5” really is deadly. I began life as a big baby weighing in at 9 lbs. Throughout a rather stressful childhood, I learned to eat for comfort or for relief, for happiness or out of boredom. The food of my childhood was classic 1970s fare—overly processed and not particularly healthy. During the summer before I began high school, I spent weeks starving myself so that I wouldn’t be teased at my new school. I succeeded in keeping my weight mostly in control throughout high school, but largely due to living on chicken and frozen vegetables. On our first date in high school, my husband took me to a very upscale restaurant and I was quite nervous. I had rarely eaten in restaurants as a child and the whole experience of food as joyful community was very new to me. The lingering over a meal, the beautiful presentation of the food, the ornamented atmosphere—all of it felt as if I were eating on a different planet. Later on, as our relationship progressed, I met his family and began eating with them on a regular basis—Sunday dinners or holiday feasts—and this same experience of food being intertwined with community was captivating and delightful. His mother was (and still is!) a wonderful cook and I began to enjoy all sorts of foods I had never tasted before—artichokes, flank steak, salads with more than just iceberg lettuce and grated carrots. But more importantly, I noticed that not just my body was filled when I sat at table with my in-laws; my mind was filled as well by the conversation and the warm interchanges, funny stories, and shared family history that seemed to be integral to each meal. I began to think of food more than just fuel or a way to experience emotions. When my husband and I were newly-married, we lived on a very sparse budget, but we chose one food luxury—coffee. Our monthly food allotment was $250, but we spent $8/lb on gourmet coffee and enjoyed every cup! I began to learn to cook, but it wasn’t until we were living at seminary and I suddenly had 20 people sitting on my living room floor eating chili that I decided that I needed to add to my repertoire. Enter my friend, Thea, another seminarian’s wife, whose Greek father was an excellent cook. I certainly wasn’t in the big leagues, but I could at least do a respectable lamb roast by the time we left seminary! Throughout our time in seminary, my weight went up and down as I struggled with the pressures of seminary life and the responsibility of being the main breadwinner. I would go on fad diets, starve myself for a few days, but in general, I felt completely out of control about food. I was a food addict, having little or no control of what I put in my mouth. My husband was very understanding and helped with certain things, like keeping potato chips out of the apartment, but he couldn’t very well put a lock and key over my mouth, so I continued to struggle. My gluttony reached an all-time high (or should I say low?!) just after the birth of my first daughter which was also our first year in our parish. My weight went to almost 200 lbs, which on my 5’3” frame was definitely obese. The turning point came when I stood in my kitchen, holding my newborn daughter with one arm and stuffing a lemon bar into my mouth with the other. I looked down at her trusting little face and was horrified by the thought that I was going to be setting this terrible example of gluttony for her. How merciful is our God that He gives us our own children to help us repent. I put the unfinished lemon bar down and made a resolution that I was going to get control of this area of my life if it was the last thing I did. Now, you might be wondering why I’m sharing all of these gory details of my overweight life, but it’s important to note that by the time my gluttony was out of control, I had been an Orthodox Christian for six years and had never once thought of confessing gluttony during the Sacrament of Repentance. I was living my Orthodox Christian life “in translation”—I wasn’t that medieval lord cramming drumsticks in his mouth! I might eat a bit past full or snack in the evenings when I wasn’t really hungry or think about food all day, but I certainly wasn’t the same as him so what did I really have to confess?! But looking down at my daughter that day, I realized that I must face my “food issues” head on as the passion they were—the passion of gluttony—and that I must make it a work of repentance vital to my spiritual life. I was going to have to get down and dirty with this passion and struggle with it as if I was one of the early Christians in the arena with a vicious lion. This was no little peccadillo that I could control if I really wanted to—it was a fierce beast ready to tear me apart and I was going to have to fight for my life, both physically and spiritually. Now, gluttony is really the sin of giving one’s self too much and if we could rename Sin No. 5, the sin of “too much”, I think we might all start taking it a little more seriously. It’s not simply a sin of food or eating, it’s also a sin of anything in our lives in which we partake “too much”. Call it the “addiction sin” and I think we’d be getting a little bit closer to a contemporary name for this most ancient of sins. So, I began to face my addiction through a variety of methods. I began group therapy to overcome my emotional eating and this was very helpful as it gave me lots of good techniques to make me think about my motives for eating whenever I put something in my mouth. I read lots of books on nutrition and dieting, not because I necessarily needed lots of information, but because I needed to be reminded of my struggle on a daily basis. If you’re facing an angry bear, you don’t look around and whistle a happy tune—you keep your eyes on that bear and don’t think of anything else. I began to exercise, learning about weightlifting and cardio and the like. Never very athletic, I discovered that I excelled at weightlifting with its slow repetitions and extreme focus. About six months after the birth of my second daughter, I was at my goal weight, which I’ve stayed within a few pounds of ever since. Now, once again, I’d like to point out that I worked on my addiction for almost three years before it occurred to me that the Church might have some weapons of her own to offer me in this battle. I began looking at the discipline of fasting much more closely, finally reaching the realization that dealing with my gluttony on a spiritual level first was of primary importance if I was going to win the battle. I’d tried all sorts of fad diets, ones that had me saying things like “Well, I can’t really follow the fast right now, I’m working on a much harder diet.” But once I realized that the passion of gluttony was rooted in my soul, not just my body, I knew I had to grab hold of any spiritual tool the Church could provide me and wield it accordingly in my struggle. So, I began learning to fast. Sure, I had fasted before, but I hadn’t taken it quite as seriously as I should. I didn’t want to just suffer through the fast, I wanted to appreciate the fast; after all, this was truly my only hope. My husband in teaching his catechism classes likens fasting to a journey, one in which we begin making little steps and then larger and larger steps as time goes on. This image gave me focus, realizing that each fasting season was a time for me to sharpen my weapons, so to speak, in order that the discipline and focus that I learned during the fasting seasons would carry me over through the non-fasting times. Because discipline is at the heart of fasting—making yourself do something you don’t want to do. I remember speaking of this with my spiritual father and him saying, “Fasting is 50% making up your mind and then 50% doing it”. But each fast saw me a little stronger and a little more disciplined. And, it wasn’t just the fasting—it was also the feasting in its proper context AFTER fasting—that helped normalize my relationship with food. I no longer liked to eat past fullness, but on Pascha, I would eat a bite of absolutely everything I wanted without counting a calorie or fat gram and truly enjoy the food. I was beginning to be blessed by food, not cursed as I used to feel. About four years ago, I was given an additional challenge—I was diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten-intolerance. The short explanation is that I do not have the proper genetic structure to process glutinous foods like wheat, rye, or barley and that if I do consume these foods, I will have 50-100 times the chance for stomach cancer than your average person. The first few months following the gluten-free diet were very discouraging as it seemed every food known to man included some kind of gluten and there were days I stood and my refrigerator and cried. But once again, my spiritual father gave me excellent advice when I began moaning and groaning—he told me that I had been given a gift and that now I would fast all the time. Boy, I thought, talk about irony—the girl with the food issues gets the grand-daddy of food issues! But in hindsight, I know that this disease was given to me just in time—I had long before reached my goal weight and was somewhat under the impression that I had licked this addiction. However, through the disease, I’ve learned one of the most important lessons about gluttony or any passion with which we particularly struggle and that is that the struggle is life-long and at least in this earthly life, we don’t get the luxury of saying we’re “done” or “fixed”. The single greatest freedom I experienced in my struggle with gluttony was paradoxically the knowledge that this beast was with me for life. I needed to always keep a wary eye on him and be prepared for his next attack. He wasn’t going to just docilely walk away—he was on the prowl until I, God-willing, reached the Kingdom of Heaven. This knowledge made me sharpen my weapons all the more and nowadays I try to use the three major ascetic disciplines—fasting, almsgiving, and prayer—to continue to fight the battle. Fasting is a natural discipline when it comes to gluttony, but less obviously are almsgiving and prayer. Almsgiving is sacrificial and breaks the “me first” attitude of the heart and subsequently, the body. When we’re giving alms, we’re getting used to doing without or doing with less, and all of this is good discipline for fighting gluttony. As with all the passions, prayer is vital to our victory, and one little tip I learned along the way was to bless my food as a litmus test—if I could bless the piece of food going in my mouth, good; if I could not in good conscience bless it, then I wasn’t going to eat it. Alongside the ascetical disciplines, I have worked on experiencing the joyful and communal aspect of food, as this is what food was originally intended for. My family sits down to a home-cooked meal most days and it’s a rule in our house that dinner last an hour, complete with conversation and checking in with each family member and how their day is going. We sit in the dining room and use the good china so that my daughters learn the proper use of food. I’ve learned from the Middle Eastern families in my parish and how they approach food and community and what a powerful weapon this can be—it’s very hard to overeat when you’re surrounded by loved ones! All in all, this battle of mine with gluttony has been a journey, an education, and a gift. A journey in which I’ve travelled along and “met” new comrades such as the ascetical disciplines; an education in humility and my own weakness, and a gift of salvation for as St. Paul says “that we may be…strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in which we have the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:11-14)

Addressing the Digital Divide with IPv6-enabled Broadband Power Line Communications MEMBER BRIEFING 13 < Main Index |5 May 2003||By Jordi Palet| Power Line Communications (PLC) allows transmission of data over power lines. PLC is potentially the network with the deepest capillarity in the world, since power lines are almost ubiquitous. IPv6 provides a package of highly scaleable enhancements to the Internet compared to the capabilities of the existing IPv4 protocol, which is today only sustained by Network Address Translation (NAT). NAT has unfortunately created unexpected barriers during the massive growth of the Internet, consequently breaking the initial end-to-end communications concept. However, this massive IPv4 deployment happened mainly in rich countries, creating a digitally divided society. IPv6, associated with other scaleable technologies like PLC, is key to redressing the balance and alleviating the digital divide, enabling more people and entire countries to access information and knowledge, which in turn will allow them to benefit from the global economy, and create new knowledge and services. New access technologies, like PLC, that have been evaluated for some years, have failed to support the legacy Internet paradigm. These technologies now have a new opportunity with IPv6, because IPv6 will give value to their deployment. Power Line Communications has been around since the 1930's but was never seriously thought of as a medium for communication due to its low speed, low functionality and high deployment cost. However, new modulation techniques supported by recent technological advances have finally enabled this medium to become a realistic and practical means of communication. Recently, new technology has led to integrated circuits and modems entering the market, providing high speeds over power line infrastructure at reasonable and falling cost. Although several broadband PLC technologies have been successfully developed, there is no standard yet. Some vendors provide "low-speed" (up to 2 Mbps) data rates using single-carrier technologies (GMSK, CDMA). Some technologies are based on multicarrier modulations (OFDM) and offer higher data rates, notably a 45 Mbps OFDM PLC chipset, which is the highest data rate available at this time. In December 2002, at least one PLC technology vendor announced that during the second half of 2003, a new generation of broadband PLC technology providing 200 Mbps of physical layer data rate would be available as a commercial product. Technical Issues of PLC The main advantage of PLC over other technologies is that no new cabling is required, as all the cables are already there. Every building, be it offices, apartments or houses, has the network already installed. This permits a computer, or any other kind of device, with a CPE card or adapter, to be plugged into any socket in any room and receive and send the signal. Therefore, no extra wires are required, neither in the house nor in the utility, and the user is not restricted to a few outlets in the house, as is usually the case. One may note that even if it is desired to use a wireless network within the building, this reduces to a simple matter of plugging the base station into any power socket. PLC is mainly a "last half-mile" technology, but several electricity suppliers are using PLC in the medium voltage grid, in addition to their plans for using it in the low voltage grid for user access. Most of the electricity suppliers already have fiber or other infrastructures that provide data to the points that connect the medium voltage rings with the low voltage lines. These points are the medium to low voltage transformers. In the worst case, the infrastructure needed to deliver power line to the customers is not more expensive than the equivalent core networks and Broadband Access Servers in the case of xDSL, with the advantage that the power grid has a higher penetration than the copper pair, and is subject to lower bit-rate errors, offering higher bandwidth. The use of PLC technology as an access technology to deliver broadband capabilities has several key benefits, mainly related to the fact that power wires are already installed in any location where information could be delivered. We can foresee the tremendous impact on a wider spectrum of applications in existing infrastructure such as traffic lights, information panels, metering systems, to vending machines and of course for home networking and industrial automation. The prime objective is to provide self-configuring systems to customers, and from that point, all the rest of the network will be automatically configured, including all the different levels of devices up to the end user CPE. Such auto-configuration is not foreseen in IPv4. As the number of users and devices connected to Power Lines increases by orders of magnitude, it becomes clear that we cannot satisfy the demand using IPv4/NAT, at least not without enormous administrative complexity. A much larger address space is needed to provide end-to-end connectivity in a simple manner and to allow new applications and services to work in a transparent manner. Thus we see a number of respects in which today's best-effort IPv4 network is ill matched to a future widespread deployment of PLC connectivity. Electro-Magnetic Radiation Issues Earlier PLC systems such as the one developed by Nor.Web in the UK emitted a high level of radio noise in the 1-30 MHz bandwidth. This resulted in conflicts with the British government's Radio Agency, when it disrupted radio signals from the BBC World Service. The Department of Trade and Industry (UK) subsequently made it impossible to use PLC in the UK and contributed to the withdrawal of Nor.Web from the business. Learning from the failures of Nor.Web approach, second generation PLC technologies are using techniques like OFDM, which substantially reduce the potential of interference to radio users, thanks to a decrease in transmitted power spectral density. The OFDM modulation spreads the signal over a very wide bandwidth, thus reducing the amount on power injected at a single frequency. Field trials of PLC technologies carried out during the last 2 years in Europe (Spain, Italy, Germany), North America, South America (Chile, Brazil) and Asia (Singapore) have shown that interference with radio users is no longer a problem for PLC. The same technique explains why current PLC technology does not affect other appliances in the home. In fact, vendors like LG and Samsung released several products for home automation, using PLC. Synergy with IPv6 Firstly, IPv6 provides a set of autoconfiguration mechanisms for routers and hosts, so that even today it is possible to simply "plug and play" on a home network. In addition, IPv6 will ease rapid deployment of PLC networks, as new protocols like router zero-configuration and automatic prefix delegation become available and are implemented. ADSL networks taking full advantage of these IPv6 facilities have already verified them, and it is expected that other broadband technologies will do so as well. Clearly, the almost unlimited address space of IPv6 is needed to provide end-to-end connectivity and allow new applications and services to work in a transparent manner across PLC networks at massive scale (imagine every power socket in Beijing or Mumbai becoming an Internet access point!). New Quality of Service models should emerge with IPv6's Flow Label, to provide better flow classification than IPv4, although this is still experimental and under standardization in the IETF. IPv6 facilitates network management by eliminating much manual configuration and private address administration, and consequently makes it easier and therefore cheaper to deploy new networks. This is also valid for the existing access networks, but they would require an initial "transition" or an integration investment to fully benefit from IPv6; PLC has the chance to start out with IPv6. Thus, IPv6 seems to be the best way to make Power Line Communications installations scaleable and self-configuring, allowing us to exploit the benefits of both technologies working together. Action rather than words One strategic project called 6POWER (www.6power.org/), a European Union co-funded project, takes into consideration all of these aspects, adapting and integrating products, applications and services that enable IPv6 and related protocols over Power Line, and running trials needed to validate the technology and its real benefits with end-users. This project is researching, developing and exploiting several next generation technologies, mainly IPv6 and PLC, but also QoS and multicast together with broadband, specifically to explore the synergy between PLC and IPv6. Built-in protocols supported by IPv6, like security and mobility, will be also used and several applications that could be deployed in real PLC installations will be ported. Consider for example home networking applications, surveillance and alarms, being deployed in a much easier way than ever before. They need end-to-end connectivity strengthened with security. Fully addressing the Digital Divide? Many estimates can be made of the objective extent of the digital divide, both within the population of rich countries, and between the rich and poor worlds. Sources such as the Caida project (www.caida.org) and United Nations studies suggest that the US has about a 60% share of existing Internet resources, Europe a further 20%, with the other rich countries taking at least half the rest. The distribution is much more skewed than for telephony, and certainly more skewed than for electricity distribution, which is available at least in the permanent buildings of almost every city in the world. While it is true that some countries have low electricity coverage, and that PLC is not the solution for the entire digital divide problem, it has the potential to vastly extend Internet coverage without additional "last mile" cabling. For instance, in China there are 9 phones for every 100 inhabitants (low copper/phone penetration), but 32.1 TVs (better electricity coverage. See www.cyberschoolbus.un.org. In contrast, in Spain, there are 41 phones and 40.7 TVs per 100 people. Thus, in an emerging economy like China (20% of the global population) the electricity network penetration is very high (about the same as in Spain) although the telephone coverage (teledensity) is quite low. The effect of using the electricity network for communications would be to substantially enhance the teledensity. In countries with little cabled infrastructure, we can expect that governments and international organizations willing to invest will much prefer to provide electricity (and data) first, than just telephone coverage. Indeed, by adding Voice over IP to PLC, one can avoid dedicated telephone cabling completely. The main message of this briefing, and the vision of the 6POWER project, is that PLC combined with IPv6 can contribute significantly to ensuring affordable, scaleable broadband access and the deployment of Internet access for all, helping to repair the worldwide digital divide. The benefit, from the end-user point of view, is quite clear. Broadband PLC with IPv6 and QoS could provide the means for new service providers (electricity suppliers) to enter a difficult market, increasing the user perception of the "quality of the service" and either increasing competition or saving the massive cost of dedicated communications cabling. The end-user is the major beneficiary of these technologies that will help to repair the digital divide and open the Internet for a new and perhaps unexpected growth curve. In addition, PLC technology with IPv6 could open new avenues and very affordable solutions to ease deployment of 3G (and beyond) networks as well as for WiFi networks where every Base Station or Access Point needs a power supply. For the end-user, Internet access will become cheaper and quite easy to connect and configure. In contrast, the kind of massive, worldwide deployment described above is unlikely to succeed if inhibited by the practical disadvantages of limited IPv4 address space, and by the administrative costs of address translation, private addressing, and manual configuration. ISOC's motto is "Internet is for Everyone". This could be facilitated by the usage of Power Line Technologies and IPv6. Addressing the Digital Divide has always been one of ISOC's goals. With over 3 billion end-users worldwide, electricity networks form the most ubiquitous utility on this planet, and can only grow. Using them to extend immediate access to the Internet and to become the second largest communications infrastructure in the world, within reach of all and without extra infrastructure costs, just makes sense. Expanded Coverage from ISOC In-depth articles, papers, links and other resources on a variety of topics are available from the ISOC site at: Examples in the News Relevant IETF RFCs Over 50 RFCs have been published by different IETF Working Groups, including those directly implicated in the standardization of IPv6, but also some others. A new WG is being formed, Zerouter, that will facilitate the large scale deployment of networks, facilitating the autoconfiguration of the devices at both, the customer end, and the ISP network itself. For More Information About the Author Jordi Palet is CEO/CTO of Consulintel, a Spanish leading consultancy/integration company in IPv6 Research, Development and Innovation. Jordi accounts with over 20 years of experience in R&D, management, marketing and sales. He is coordinating and participating in several European projects (www.euro6ix.org, www.6link.org, www.ist-ipv6.org, www.eurov6.org, www.ipv6tf-sc.org, www.6qm.org), towards the global deployment of IPv6. Jordi participates in the EC and Spanish IPv6 Task Force, and is also education, awareness, public relations and promotion co-chair at the IPv6 Forum and member of the Technical Directorate. He is the organizer of the next Madrid 2003 Global IPv6 Summit (www.ipv6-es.com), after the two previous very successful events in 2001 and 2002. The ISOC Member Briefing series is made possible through the generous assistance of ISOC's Platinum Program Sponsors: Afilias, APNIC, ARIN, Microsoft, and the RIPE NCC, Sida. More information on the Platinum Sponsorship Program... About the Background Paper Series 4, rue des Falaises Series Editor: Martin Kupres Copyright C Internet Society 2005.

......Eric Hill has been writing songs for just over 30 years. He began honing in on his passion for songwriting at Bowling Green State University of Ohio. 'There were 20,000 students at BG, it was really a good sized town, and in 1970-71 the state of Ohio was filled with political unrest and music.' .....'At that time I lived in the attic of a big shared house in town and Jim Lynch was in the room below me. He would play non-stop for hours every night and I would fall asleep listening to this beautiful sound coming through the heat ducts. We spent hours listening to John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, The James Gang, and yes, even Grand Funk Railroad. It was really John Fahey who we idolized. One of the high points of my early experiences with music was singing Red House Blues, on stage in a big bar packed with people, with Bad Dog backing me up. I'll never forget it, ever. No one knew it was me, and I guess they still don't...' .....HiddenDrive came together at Millbrook Sound Studios in November, 2002, to bring to life the music and lyrics that Eric Hill had put together over the years. .....The album was produced and engineered by Christopher Cubeta, an accomplished musician and songwriter in his own right. Chris brought in Frank Carillo whose musical wisdom and talent forms the foundation for the entire project. He plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Hammond B3 organ, mouth harp, and the Spanish laud. Norman Deltufo is the responsive, precise drummer and percussionist who creates a range of rhythms playing a variety of percussion instruments. Karl Allweir plays bass with intuitive power and sensitivity on every track. Christopher Cubeta plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, and puts in backup vocals as well. The result is a synergy of melodic clarity and rhythmic strength unified by the true-to-life themes of love, loss, and re-emergence that form the core of Eric Hill's work. The album refuses to let you sit still, song after song. You May Also Like Page 1 of

Do not expect any consensus among the answers which will be provided, or among the answers that have been provided about similar questions that were asked in the past. Some will say the source is most important, because its shortcomings cannot be compensated for by any of the downstream components. I dispute that rationale, for two reasons: 1)That logic ignores the DEGREE to which different types of components may have shortcomings. 2)The source can't compensate for the shortcomings of the downstream components either. Some will say the speakers, because in general they (and their interaction with the room) arguably make the biggest difference in the character of the sound that is heard. Others will say the preamp, contending that it is "the heart of the system." My own answer, expressed in general terms, is that a chain is as strong as its weakest link, wherever that link may happen to be located in a particular system. And more specifically my own perspective leans in the direction of "speakers first," but to a greater or lesser degree depending on how "important" is defined (especially the degree to which price is reflected in that definition), and depending on whether the source is analog or digital, and depending on the degree to which the particular listener values deep bass extension and the ability of the system to handle recordings having particularly wide dynamic range. I was going to say, more or less, the same thing that Al so eloquently stated, but he beat me to it, (and said it much better than I ever could). IMHO my order would be: Amp to match speakers IMHO the speakers. For they will dictate more of what you hear than anything else in the system. Next, I would say the amplifier and finally source components. Of course, I am assuming you are using a reasonable quality CDP. In the case of vinyl, a whole different ballgame altogether. The above opinion is based on my experience upgrading speakers, results are always more dramatic than upgrading other components in the system. I remember when I upgraded from Wharfedale Dovedales, to AR MST, to AR 3a Improved, to Wharfedale E90 (don't ask, horrible speakers from the late 70s), to Yamaha NS1000Ms, then Quad 63 ESL and today B&W Nautilus 801. Each step, other than the E90s, was a very pleasant and significant upgrade for me. I should add that the room should be considered probably the most important component, but really isn't a component per se, but is REALLY critical. Having been afflicted with audio obsession for forty years, I think the previous three gentlemen answered your question perfectly. Al's answer in particular is hard to improve upon. Getting the proper speaker integration into the room is the most important first step. If this is not done well, you are working with a huge handicap that may never be overcome. After that, most of the rest can be regarded as tweaks to various degrees. I like what Almarg said... it is an issue of weakest link. I only wish to add that there is that subtle component within that system that is often the weakest link but often not even seen as a link at all... the room. By this I mean speaker placement relative to each other, to you in your listening chair, to the outer walls, the wall behind the speakers and the wall behind the listening chair all matter greatly in overall sound. I can make my system very different sounding through simply moving the speakers (and with toe in). Room composition matters too. As do room treatments. An ideal room configuration/set up can massively improve sound over less than ideal configuration --- without changing a single electronic component or speakers. In fact, a "lesser" system in a well configured room can blow away a "better" system in a lesser room. Neither component is important, because none of them can play the music on its own:-) The exeption is to console stereo in one box. There is no firm right or wrong answer, but I would argue that as the quality of your components gets better that synergy, setup and personal preference are more important than any individual component. As such, you the listener are the most important component. How the loudspeaker interacts with the listening room is critical. You need a large, well proportioned room if you have a high SPL capable full range loudspeaker. Dipole loudspeakers placed in front of floor to ceiling windows? Near field listening to large multi-way loudspeakers? Wide dispersion loudspeakers in narrow rooms, etc What is the weakest link in your system? Perhaps you have great speakers and poor source? Also, speakers might affect sound the most, but what would be the biggest improvement for the money (including room)? - difficult to answer without experience with particular system (new amp might have much better synergy with the speakers etc.) Yes, its always the weak link, but you have to consider the interface between two components as links. With good quality gear, the interface between any two is where things are most likely to head south, more so than any inherent component shortcomings. Because of room acoustics, practically, the interface between the speakers and the room is the one with greatest potential for optimization in the most cases. So that is always where to look first. Then one can optimize further upstream more practically and efficiently as well as needed from there. Otherwise, there is huge potential to spin ones wheels and empty ones wallet with little gain as well in the process. Understanding this (an efficient and effective process to go about optimizing the sound) is the single biggest thing for an audiophile to be able to get a handle on. THe rest is not so hard from there. All the organs of the body were having a meeting, trying to decide who was the most important. "I am the most important" said the brain, "Because I run all the body's systems, so without me nothing would happen." "I am the most important" said the blood , "because I circulate oxygen all over so without me you'd all waste away." "I am the most important" said the stomach , "because I process food and give all of you energy." "I am the most important" said the legs , "because I carry the body wherever it needs to go." "I am the most important" said the eyes, "Because I allow the body to see where it goes." "I am the most important" said the rectum , "Because I'm responsible for waste removal." All the other body parts laughed at the rectum and insulted him, so in a huff, he shut down tight. Within a few days, the brain had a terrible headache, the stomach was bloated, the legs got wobbly, the eyes got watery, and the blood was toxic. They all decided that the the rectum was the most important body part. Moral of the sory: There is no most imporatant component. A system is only as good as it's weakest link. Yes Mofi, I do consider the room a component, and usually an underestimated one at that. Speaker placement and room tuning come into play as much as any piece of kit you can buy. That's my $0.02. yeah but still......... There is no firm right or wrong answer, but I would argue that as the quality of your components gets better that synergy, setup and personal preference are more important than any individual component. This is why so many here seem to be talking past each other. Above a certain baseline level of quality, the interaction between components has more impact on the sound then the individual components themselves. As the quality goes goes up, the components tend to become more transparent. They manifest themself most noticeably at the interface to the next component Most important components should be made by the same manufactory and same generation. The most important component in a 2 channel system is the source (turntable,music server,universal player) then the preamp or integrated/amplifier then speakers. Many years ago it was thought speakers were most important. After some time this was proven to be more untrue by the Brits I think. Having said that Al is correct and the weakest link will hurt the systems overall performance so its best to try and put systems together based on listening and not on specs or just because they match. Transducers. While Al is correct, he presents a nuanced, comprehensive approach. At the most fundamental level, nothing happens unless a medium of some kind is converted into something the rest of the system can work with and then back into something you can hear. The result is either pleasing to a given listener or not. All the stuff in between merely introduces or eliminates color since it can only work with a uniform signal format. For that reason, different sources (cartridges, DACs, disc players etc.) and speakers produce the most noticeable effects in sound reproduction. Note that technology such as fiber optics introduces even more transducers since an electrical signal is converted to an optical one, transmitted and then reversed back into electricity. The fun part IMO is finding the transducers that make the magic happen for you and then getting all the other stuff to support them properly. I built my system around my speakers. In my opinion, speakers are the component with the highest variability in personal taste so the first step should be to find a pair of speakers that you love. When I first purchased my speakers I was using an Onkyo 606 receiver. It was quickly replaced, but I still enjoyed the sound of my speakers. I also had the opportunity to demo my speakers in the store on Krell monoblocks. Totally different world, but still the same general tone/sound that I love. There are certainly other components that involve personal preference, but I think it is to a far lesser extent. The one key component is the wall outlet. Any outlet will do, but not having one is a truly objective reduction in sound! 1. Quality of recording 2. Speaker placement 3. Listening position 4. All the rest and all of it matters. Aside from waxing on theoretically about the most important component in the audio chain, of which, you all have very good positions on...I'd like to report a real world demonstration that was pretty remarkable. I went to an audio show several years back where I listened to a beautiful Italian made SET amp played thru a pr of very expensive single driver Beauhorn speakers. The sound was to die for; and what was unbelieveable was that the sources we listened to appeared like a complete mis match, components that no one in their right mind would use with these quality components. The sources was an el cheapo Sony close n play linear turntable and this large 1st generation Technics cd player. This went completely against what Ivor T. from Linn espoused - which was that the sources were the most important component in the chain. Everything eminates from the source so have the highest quality sources possible....makes a lot of sense, yet that demonstration at the audio show came as quite a shocker. Imagine how much better it would have been sonically if we were listening to a Linn Sondek TT instead of a cheap Sony linear tracking TT. How much better would it be if we were listening to an expensive Naim cd player than the 1st generation Technics player...I only wish there were better sources on hand so we could actually hear the differences, but the point was how good the setup sounded with crappy sources. I went to an audio show several years back where I listened to a beautiful Italian made SET amp played thru a pr of very expensive single driver Beauhorn speakers. The sound was to die for; I remember going to the private high-end seller that demoed his Beuhorn speakers and it seemed to me that I couldn't even give even $50 for'em. They could only reproduce vocals. The rest is total mess. They were demoed with top-notch Platine Verdier TT, Heron tube phono and Viva amp. JBL 4312 at fraction of price would do substantially better full range job. the preamp. It is the heart of any system. Next, I would say loudspeakers. Do not forget the appropiate cables/cords as well. If the question is "What's the most important component in a 2 channel system?", and we're allowing cables to be included (though not strictly a component) I would go with - 1. Speakers. Speakers imho can have the biggest influence over the sound of your system as great speakers have the ability to offer amazing sound staging and imaging, transparency, naturalness, dynamics, slam & musicality. Without good speakers, you'll never be able to fully appreciate what your upstream gear can do, no matter how good it is. And since thread title is "Most important components", i'll run through the rest of my list - 3. Main source 5. (followed closely by) AC Power (wpo, power conditioner/regenerator, pc's) 6. Isolation (racks, iso bases/feet) 7. *Room treatments As a general comment to relevance, "quality of recording" is not a component, but important none the less. Rubbish in, rubbish out as they say. * - My ranking of room treatments is conditional as I haven't yet experimented with room treatment products since my room is fairly benign. However it is on my list (albeit at the bottom). Al, You give a, no more need to be said, answer. Always appreciated:) You could have just given an easier answer which pertains to you personally. (since you are located in the Tri-state metro NYC area, as I am) If I may presume: REL PRECEDENT w/ Channel Master. With the added advantage of not needing to get up so often. Thanks Brett (Isochronism) :-) But, no, I wouldn't say that my REL Precedent tuner is my most important component. Hey, it's just a tuner, and of course is therefore limited by the selection and quality of what's out there to be listened to. And I listen to it much less than LP, CD, or even internet radio via my Squeezebox, in part because I want to preserve this now 60 year old tuner in its original form for as long as possible. So I would put it that although it is not my most important component, it is perhaps the most treasurable. P.S: For those who may not be aware, REL = Radio Engineering Laboratories, a company which existed from 1921 to approximately 1970, primarily in the New York area, and which has no relation to the modern British subwoofer manufacturer.