text:
Bathroom Floor Tile: 14 Top Options
Modern bathrooms are so much more than they used to be. They've gone beyond the practical and utilitarian purpose they were originally designed for, and serve as both an escape and oasis in many homes. The floor is one of the most important design elements in the bathroom. Bathroom flooring options are wide and varied, but tile is overwhelmingly the most popular choice. There are a multitude of materials to select from these days— vinyl, laminate, ceramic, porcelain and more. The best tile is one that complements, but doesn't compete with, the rest of the room's design and decor. Get some inspiration from our favorite bathroom floor tile ideas, and find the best bathroom flooring for your home.
Are you in need of a Chicago bathtub refinishing expert?


text:
Turtle Creek Chorale plays it safe for the holidays — and it shows
RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer
Tradition is a funny thing, especially during the holidays. Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas without Charlie Brown and his sad little tree, or driving through neighborhoods to gawk at the twinkling lights. But while changing routines can shake things up, it's also a good way to start new traditions.
In the Turtle Creek Chorale's holiday show My Favorite Things, many of the chorus' traditions remain intact: The poinsettia dedication, Santa Claus ho-ho-hoing it up, a sign-language version of "Silent Night," But a spike in the egg nog would not be out of place.
To be fair, the chorale underwent some major changes in the last few months, appointing both a new executive director, David Fisher, and interim conductor, Trey Jacobs, who has had to hit the ground running with a season (and dates!) already announced. You can grant them some slack for that, but the chorale's opening concert, while at times inspiring, could also feel anemic.
Getting off to an energetic start, a crew of members tells the audience about their indulgences before launching into the show's title track performance. A humorous and high-spirited tone kicked off the show gloriously, followed by the gorgeously majestic "Gloria Fanfare." Jacobs wields a confident hold over the solid-sounding voices of the chorale. But that energy takes a major nosedive with a troika of serious and somber numbers.
The small Encore group turn up the silly factor with "An Elf's Life" but miss the mark. The voices are reliable, but the cast lacks the panache needed for the bit to soar. The number is saved by an Occupy North Pole elf that generates major laughs and applause. The first act ends almost as soon as it begins with spirits high in the always punchy "We Need a Little Christmas."
Although I don't quite get the monks-versus-nuns concept for "Hallelujah," the second half opener is hilarious as singers combine flag corps and Bob Dylan, lifting lyrics on cards in choreographed fashion. Whether on purpose or not, the small mistakes with upside-down cards or missed signals add a comic layer that hopefully they'll keep.
The same can be said for "Jingle Bells," as members demonstrate some fancy foot-stepping — part ballet, part drill team, but charming as heck. When confusion ensues as they link arms, it ends up being flat-out hysterical, adding volumes to the light-hearted tone.
These gaffes contribute wonderful charm to the show. But they might consider reverting from the live retelling of "The Christmas Story According to Linus" to the actual recording; a man dressed as Linus just doesn't convey the tender heart of the original. The accompanying live Nativity only reminds me of my one-line role as a shepherd in my elementary school play, and The Sound of Music's Maria is a running gag through the show that never quite works.
At times, My Favorite Things is weighed down by an abundance of downbeat songs in succession, and a lack of contemporary tunes does allow for younger audiences (not children necessarily, either) to be reeled in. The twenty-somethings in front of me didn't seem to connect with the show, giggling and whispering during some of the songs.
But My Favorite Things is still a solid show, even with some misguided nuances. Opening night jitters were apparent, but gave an unexpectedly welcome relief to the concert. Fisher's poinsettia dedication was anecdotal and beautifully poetic and Jacobs handled the chorale and the audience with experienced savvy. The dreary rain and biting cold didn't dampen the audience as that other annual chorale tradition occurred: The standing ovation.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition December 9, 2011.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Facebook Inc's photo-sharing social network Instagram is back up for some users on Wednesday, after suffering a worldwide outage days after it installed a new head of the app.
According to a check by Reuters, the mobile app and the website, which were temporarily down, are back up and users could post pictures and videos on to their feed.
Earlier, the app displayed an error message saying "couldn't refresh feed", while its website did not load for users.
Users bombarded Twitter to complain about the outage, tweeting jokes and comments along with the #instagramdown hashtag.
"How am I supposed to know who likes avocado on toast now #instagramdown", Connell@connell_mchugh tweeted.
DownDetector's live outage map earlier showed that parts of North America, Europe, Australia, India, Singapore and other countries were facing issues with the service.
Facebook and Instagram were not immediately available to comment.
The global outage comes after Instagram announced on Monday that long-term insider Adam Mosseri will take over as the new head of the photo-sharing app, a week after its co-founders resigned.
The app has more than one billion active monthly users and has grown by adding features such as messaging and short videos.


text:
Issue: MACRO-AS-FUNCTION
References: Chapter 1, Section 1.5, Working draft of standard
Category: Clarification
Edit history: 8-JAN-89, Version 1 by Masinter
6-FEB-89, Version 2 by Chapman
May operators defined in the standard as "macros" and
"special forms" be implemented as functions instead? PROG1 is the main
example, but there might be others.
Proposal: MACRO-AS-FUNCTION:YES
Operators that are defined in CL as "macros" may be defined as functions
instead if the semantics can be preserved.
This is rare, perhaps only
restricted to
(defun prog1 (value &rest ignore) value)
(defun prog2 (value1 value2 &rest ignore) value2)
Operators defined as "special forms" may also be defined as functions.
Alternate Proposal: MACRO-AS-FUNCTION:STATUS-QUO
The standard will remain silent on the issue of whether or not is
is legal for an implementation to implemention "macros" and
"special forms" as functions.
Alternate Proposal: MACRO-AS-FUNCTION:DISALLOW
A conforming implementation does not define "macros" and "special forms"
as functions.
There isn't a good reason to disallow "macro" and "special form" function
definitions. It doesn't interfere with portability.
Current Practice:
One implementation defines PROG1 as a function.
Adoption Cost:
None for :YES; some for :DISALLOW.
Increased implementation flexibility.
Conversion Cost:


text:
The senior thesis has been a requirement of all undergraduate students at Princeton University since 1926.
During a Faculty Meeting on February 19th, 1923, the Committee on the Course of Study submitted a report for a new study plan known as the "Four Course Plan." The four course plan called for an extensive reading program for the student in his department under the supervision of an adviser, with the goal that students gain a better command of a subject during independent work. "The plan was instituted in 1924 for the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science and put into operation for the Class of 1923 as juniors." (Luther Pfahler Eisenhart, Dean of the Faculty)
By 1926, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree requirements included a senior thesis and a comprehensive examination, an innovation that soon became a hallmark of a Princeton education.
Continue reading


text:
Friday, July 23, 2010
17 comments:
- Amanda said...
you never cease to amaze me. (really.) :)
- July 23, 2010 at 9:47 AM
- jeanette from everton terrace said...
The smell of our desert after it rains is one of my most favorite - few things compare. I used to live in Sedona and my parents still do - can't think of a better way to spend a day!
- July 23, 2010 at 10:21 AM
- Kara @ Mine for the Making said...
We live in Arizona and our favorite times are when it rains. We also LOVE taking day trips to Sedona. It's beautiful. Have you ever tried Slide Rock?
- July 23, 2010 at 3:26 PM
- Sandy said...
I've been to Arizona several times but not Sedona.. looks like a really nice place to visit! Love the Red Rocks...
So glad you enjoyed your time there!
- July 23, 2010 at 4:02 PM
- the brunette said...
if i can be half as glamorous as you when i am a mother then i will have succeeded in life...
- July 23, 2010 at 4:12 PM
- Mande said...
Christina- how do you do it? You always look so fabulous, and with 5 kids in tow. I am in awe of you. Love the pictures!!
- July 23, 2010 at 4:20 PM
- Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...
What beautiful pictures! Looks amazing.
Happy weekend!
- July 23, 2010 at 7:05 PM
- nest of posies said...
look at all that beautiful tile. i miss seeing all those beautiful colors in tile!
i totally agree with all the other comments...you always looks so glamorous & those kids are just so stickin cute!
- July 23, 2010 at 7:20 PM
- ChYmEc!nDy** said...
You have a nice blog.
- July 24, 2010 at 4:08 AM
- angela | the painted house said...
Polka dots and baubles...you make crazy so pretty. :)
- July 24, 2010 at 6:12 AM
- Unknown said...
five kids, and still amazingly chic! :) thanks for posting these awesome pics.
- July 25, 2010 at 3:37 PM
Nothing comes from nothing.............................................................
- July 25, 2010 at 7:41 PM
- Morgan said...
I love it! We are in Sedona this week enjoying the beautiful red rock country... and we just checked out Montezuma's Castle on Friday. It's beautiful up here!
Morgan @ PDB
- July 26, 2010 at 12:45 AM
- Laura said...
I love that you pack up the kiddos and go on adventures. You're one awesome mama.
- July 26, 2010 at 4:02 PM
- Henley on the Horn said...
I'm so impressed that you're in Sedona with all of yoru children!!!
- July 28, 2010 at 11:16 AM
- Unknown said...
how did I miss this post? We love Sedona, my parents have a home in AZ and we love to visit. My dad and I have a photo sitting on that exact same fountain in that lovely little shopping/restaurant area. We ate at the cutest restaurant there...sat outside. It was loveley!
- July 30, 2010 at 9:06 PM
- Rachel {polkadots and puppies} said...
Christina you look FAB! And I NEED your cardigan. Pretty please tell me where you got it. Thanks!
- August 5, 2010 at 5:38 AM


text:
New York has it all when it comes to food and drink. Here are 40 restaurants and bars, from the smart and sophisticated to late-night dives.
Alder: This casual restaurant and bar on Second Avenue is the baby of Wylie Dufresne, known for his innovative food at WD- 50. There are quirky cocktails such as the Hey Rube, with Pimm's, gin and rhubarb in an enamel beaker with cucumber. The cooking is creative. How about fried quail with banana curry, Chinese broccoli and pickled turmeric? It's accessible and fun. Information: +1-212-539-1900 or aldernyc.com/.
Balthazar: This buzzing brasserie is so popular with tourists and fans of "Sex and the City," it's easy to lose track of how good it is. Restaurateur Keith McNally has created a celebrity hangout with food you want to eat at prices you can afford. It's democratic glamour. These days you're more likely to sit next to an out-of-towner than a star. Information: +1-212-965-1414 or www.balthazarny.com/.
Le Bernardin Lounge: Chef Eric Ripert's midtown restaurant is one of the world's best. How about the lounge? It is excellent. The snacks – oysters, ceviche etc. – are tempting, the room is quiet and sophisticated and the service discreet and assured. This is a great place to start the evening. Information: +1-212-554-1515 or le-bernardin.com/lounge/.
BLT Steak: This group of American steak houses is popular and it can be difficult to snag a table. I got a seat at the bar at the East 57th Street branch and was pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the welcome. The gruyere popovers are a great way to start a meal and they came out free while I waited for my New York strip. Information: +1-212-752-7470 or www.e2hospitality.com/blt-steak.
Blue Hill at Stone Barns: You need to book well in advance to eat at this restaurant on a farm almost an hour by train from New York City. You may need to save up, as well. The menus are $148 or $208, with wine pairings at $110 and $150. If you can afford it, it's worth it. You can explore the farm and then taste Dan Barber's dishes, which draw on the farm's produce. Information: +1-914-366-9600 or www.bluehillfarm.com/.
Charlie Bird: This is the new Midtown brasserie of chef Ryan Hardy and wine director Robert Bohr, formerly of Babbo and Daniel. The menu is Italian, with a raw bar. It's a fashionable establishment with beautiful diners enjoying small plates such as fried zucchini flowers with anchovy and ricotta. Expect a crush: It's scene-and-be-seen. Information: +1-212-235-7133 or www.charliebirdnyc.com/.
Costata: This is a modern steak house where chef Michael White serves pasta dishes and raw seafood alongside the meaty cuts that you might expect. From the abstract art on the walls through to the cocktails, it's a refreshing change from more traditional restaurants. Costata is smart and can be expensive. If you like somewhere classic, this may not be for you. Information: +1-212-334-3320 or costatanyc.com/.
Creative Juice: This is the new idea of Danny Meyer, the restaurateur behind Gramercy Tavern and Shake Shack. My eyes start to glaze over and then to roll when people tell me about detoxing with juice. Fortunately, the juices and salads taste good. Information: www.creativejuiceflows.com/home.php.
DBGB: This bar and kitchen in the Bowery is a lively place where chef Daniel Boulud takes his inspiration from the French brasserie and gives it an American twist. A meal might consist of oysters, a burger and peach tart, with draft beer. The interior is dark and the place can get crowded and loud, so avoid if you want a quiet bite on a Friday night. Information: +1-212-933-5300 or www.dbgb.com/nyc/.
Eleven Madison Park: Daniel Humm won the James Beard award for outstanding chef after taking the top restaurant accolade. I'd go further and argue it is among the best in the world. The standout dish? Carrot tartare with spicy carrot vinaigrette, mustard oil, pickled quail yolk, English pea mustard, toasted sunflower seeds, smoked bluefish, grated horseradish, fresh snap peas, sliced chives, mustard seeds, Amagansett sea salt and toasted bread. Information: +1-212-889-0905 or elevenmadisonpark.com/.
Ellington: This venue on the Upper West Side terms itself a gastropub and even features a chef, Lester Almanzar, who worked at the Punch Bowl, in London. I just sat outside for a few drinks. This is a very pleasant local bar in which to hang out, far from the frenzy of Manhattan's hot spots. Information: +1-212-222-4050 or theellingtonny.com/.
Employees Only: The noise level and crush at this West Village bar mean the experience is akin to a rock gig. If that's your thing and you don't mind struggling to get served, it's a good crowd and the cocktails are worth waiting for. The inspiration comes from Prohibition-era speakeasies. Information: +1-212-242-3021 or www.employeesonlynyc.com/.
Fatty Crab: This tiny and cramped Malaysian restaurant in the West Village still draws the crowds. It's overcrowded and the music plays at a volume that rules out casual conversation. If you are prepared to shout and go with the flow, Fatty Crab can be fun. The service can be surprisingly prompt for somewhere so rock 'n' roll. Information: +1-212-352-3592 or www.fattycrab.com/home/.
Fette Sau: This Brooklyn joint isn't for the faint-hearted. You line up, order a chunk of meat – the brisket is a specialty – then settle at a shared table or at the bar and make your way through the large portions. It's some of the best barbecue you can eat anywhere. All the meats are smoked in house. There's no fancy decor to distract you, only whiskeys and craft beer. Information: +1-718-963-3404 or www.fettesaubbq.com/.
Forcella: Giulio Adriani's Neapolitan pizza restaurant on the Bowery is a good spot for authentic pies, such as the Margherita Extra ($17). Throw in a glass of wine and you are looking at about $30. Adriani grew up in Rome and is certified as a pizza master. His most famous creation is the Montanara, where the dough is flash fried before being finished in a wood- burning oven. Information: +1-212-466-3300 or forcellaeatery.com/.
Gastronomia Culinaria: This neighborhood Italian restaurant is better than you might expect. Chef Vincenzo Pezzilli, a native of Rome, graduated from Ecole des Arts Culinaires in Lyon, France, and has wide experience. The food he produces from the tiny kitchen is worth the trip to the Upper West Side. The hospitality is the icing on the cake. Information: +1-212-663-1040 or www.gastronomiaculinaria.com/.
Grand Sichuan: I visited the Seventh Avenue outlet of this mini-chain. While the room was dimly lit and unattractive, I'd go back like a shot for the food. The menu is eclectic and there are plenty of authentic, spicy Sichuan dishes alongside American-Chinese options such as orange chicken. The prices are low. I got out for under $40 after four small dishes and a beer. Information: +1-212-645-0222 or www.grandsichuannyc.com/.
Jean Georges: If it's a special occasion, this three- Michelin-star restaurant is a world beater in its combination of American, French and Asian influences. The ingredients, flavor combinations and presentation are all top-notch. The dining room, overlooking Central Park, is beautiful. Nougatine, next door in Trump International Hotel and Tower, serves great food at less elevated prices. Information: +1-212-299-3900 or www.jean-georges.com/.
Lafayette: It's such a commonplace to compare this grand cafe and bakery to Balthazar, I wish I could come up with something else. Chef Damon Wise (ex-Monkey Bar) is here along with Andrew Carmellini. The food is mainly French-Mediterranean. On my visit, I wondered if the kitchen wasn't overwhelmed by the crowds. This NoHo establishment is becoming very popular. Information: +1-212-533-3000 or lafayetteny.com/.
Lincoln: This establishment in the Lincoln Center is easy to miss. It looks expensive and unwelcoming. Yet Chef Jonathan Benno is a real talent, his uncluttered Italian dishes are exemplary and the prices are not sky-high, especially for lunch. It's a calming place where you look out onto a reflecting pool. Chef Daniel Boulud is among the customers. Information: +1-212-359-6500 or www.lincolnristorante.com/.
Macao Trading Co: The website says Macao Trading takes its inspiration from the 1930s brothels and opium dens of the then- Portuguese enclave. The dimly lit basement bar of this Tribeca establishment is a great hideaway for quiet cocktails such as Drunken Dragon's Milk (Charbay Green Tea Vodka shaken with young coconut puree, Thai basil and Macao five-spice bitters) at $15. Information: +1-212-431-8750 or www.macaonyc.com/.
Mandarin Oriental Lobby Lounge: OK, this isn't a hidden gem. It is, indeed, the lobby lounge of a fancy hotel, with expensive ($19) cocktails. Yet the view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, plus the understated Art Deco sophistication of the Mandarin mean it is worth the elevator ride. Information: +1-212-805-8800 or www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork/.
Maysville: This Flatiron American restaurant and whiskey bar was the best surprise of my trip to New York. Chef Kyle Knall, 27, is one to watch. His flavors are big and yet he cooks with finesse. His crispy grits with country ham and bourbon aioli ($9) alone justify a visit to Maysville. The 200 options on the whiskey list may be an incentive. Information: +1-646-490-8240 or www.maysvillenyc.com/.
Mercer Kitchen: This is a low-key Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant in the basement of the Mercer hotel in Soho. There's an industrial look, with exposed brick walls, and you might find yourself sitting at a communal table. The menu is eclectic, so you might start with soft-shell crab tempura ($18) followed by tuna pizza ($18) along with a cucumber martini. Information: +1-212-966-5454 or www.themercerkitchen.com/.
Maison Premiere: The menu at this casual Brooklyn restaurant is simple enough: It's basically oysters and raw fish, and there are more than 30 choices. The wine list is heavily weighted toward France. Maison Premiere is very popular, so expect a crowd. It's worth arriving early to try for a table in the garden. Information: +1-347-335-0446 or www.maisonpremiere.com/.
The Marrow: This is a charming corner restaurant and bar in the West Village. I liked the menu, I enjoyed the cocktails, I loved the British waitress. The only shortcoming when I visited for lunch was the food, which was curiously short on flavor. Information: +1-212-428-6000 or themarrownyc.com/.
Mission Chinese: You line up outside this Lower East Side joint and might wonder why if you're expecting regular Chinese fare. Yet the gutsy dishes are loved by the food crowd. The menu may include lamb tongue and cuttlefish terrine ($11) followed by catfish a la Sichuan ($14). It's a friendly place. Chef Danny Bowien won the James Beard award for rising star. Information: +1-212-529-8800 or missionchinesefood.com/ny/.
Il Mulino: This is an old-fashioned, expensive Italian restaurant. The room is dark and would be a good place for assignations if there weren't so many other diners packed in. (I had a torch, so was able to see the menu.) Il Mulino, which traces its history back three decades, specializes in the cuisine of the Abruzzo region. It's a throwback, and a good one. Information: +1-212-673-3783 or www.ilmulino.com/.
Nancy Whiskey Pub: Village Voice featured this Tribeca establishment as one of New York's best dive bars. There's a good range of beers and whiskeys and a friendly welcome, yet it may be the shuffleboard and the jukebox that bring you back. Nancy Whiskey feels like it might be a tourist attraction, while it's a genuine neighborhood bar. Information: +1-212 226-9943 or nancywhiskeypub.com/.
Nomad: This restaurant and bar in the Nomad Hotel on Broadway is so popular, you have to run the clipboard gauntlet to get in. It is worth it. The quirky rooms are remarkable and the food is first class and the whole-roasted chicken for two ($79) is a showstopper – one of the great dishes of New York. This establishment is the baby of Will Guidara and Daniel Humm. Information: +1-212-796-1500 or www.thenomadhotel.com.
North End Grill: There's a $39 weekday lunch menu at this Danny Meyer grill, where chef Floyd Cardoz has a garden on the roof. The menu may include chilled cucumber soup with radishes and cherry tomatoes ($13) and rice-flaked halibut with watermelon, watercress and lime ($23). The cooking is modern and refined, the ambience a bit corporate, the service first class, as it is with Meyer. Information: +1-646-747-1600 or northendgrillnyc.com/.
Peter Luger: If you like your meat red, you should try to get to Peter Luger at least once in our life. This Brooklyn restaurant traces its history to 1887 and is entirely focused on steak. It's an old-style restaurant without fancy decor or lighting. While the waiters will happily banter with you, don't expect any fuss or for service to be over-attentive. Information: +1-718-387-7400 or www.peterluger.com/.
Pod 39: This is the rooftop bar and lounge at Salvation Taco. The views are great and it's a lively crowd. The drinks are pretty good, too, if you can get them. You may find yourself in line even to get to Pod 39 and then face a long wait for service at the crowded and understaffed bar. It's worth it – just. This is a great bar to hang out in if you are not thirsty. Information: www.thepodhotel.com/.
Red Rooster: This restaurant and bar reflects Harlem's cultural diversity and the neighborhood's evolution toward fashionability. More than that, it's a fun place to hang out and enjoy cocktails such as the Brownstone – nutmeg-infused Bulleit Bourbon, Cherry Heering, St. Germain – and Chef Marcus Samuelsson's comfort food. Gospel Sunday brunch is also a hit. Information: +1-212-792-9001 or redroosterharlem.com/.
Rye: This Williamsburg neighborhood restaurant's happy hour features cheeseburgers and old fashioneds at $5 a pop between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. It's also worth going later for chef-owner Cal Elliott's menu, which features dishes such as Long Island duck breast with Moroccan-style couscous, lemon confit, spinach and tomato chutney ($28). Information: +1-718-218-8047 or www.ryerestaurant.com/.
Salvation Taco: This is a lively, noisy, colorful and sometimes crowded restaurant in a former Salvation Army hostel in Murray Hill. It's not one for purists. The tacos include Moroccan lamb on naan ($6) and Korean BBQ ($5). It's owned by Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield of the Spotted Pig. It's worth visiting for the vibe and the energy. Information: +1-212-865-5800 or www.salvationtaco.com/.
Schapiro's: This is a new cocktail bar and bistro on the Lower East Side. The name references a long-gone Jewish winery. The food is modern American with Jewish influences, featuring matzo ball soup and bagel on lox. It's the cocktails that may draw people. Ajax Kentish, the launch bar manager at Polpo in London, was serving the drinks when I dropped by. Information: +1-212-533-6089 or www.schapirosnyc.com/.
Shahi Biryani & Grill: In the unlikely event you find yourself out and about in Manhattan Valley in the early hours with a hankering for Pakistani dishes, this inexpensive Halal joint may be for you. The food is authentic and unfussy and the place is open until 2 a.m. Information: +1 212-222-8820 or 71 West 109th St. (between Columbus and Manhattan Avenue) NY 10025.
Tribeca Grill: Drew Nieporent, whose restaurant this is, is also one of the owners of Nobu, along with Robert De Niro. This is an unpretentious establishment, good for steak and salad, crab cake or seared sea scallops. It's easy to overlook a spot like this, with good service, regular food and a fine selection of American wines. Tribeca Grill doesn't need to be fashionable. Information: +1-212-941-3900 or bit.ly/KzdvOf.
Trix: I wandered into this corner bar in Brooklyn after interviewing chef Paul Liebrandt, whose new Williamsburg restaurant is the Elm. According to the website, the owners collaborated with artist James Johnson to pay homage to Belinda's go-go lounge, which occupied the site in the 1980s. I didn't eat, just sat outside for happy hour drinks. Information: +1-347-599-0702/or www.trixnyc.com/.


text:
The lack of women in the C-suite and corporate boardroom has been making headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. The issue is symptomatic of a much larger problem: Highly qualified women are not breaking through to leadership positions in numbers commensurate with their presence in the talent pool.
In both the U.S. and the UK, women enter the white-collar workforce in greater numbers than men — 53 women to 47 men in the U.S., and 57 females for every 43 males in the UK, according to data from the Center for Talent Innovation. Yet as employees in large corporations move up the career ladder, men advance disproportionately. In the U.S., women comprise barely a third (34%) of the "marzipan layer," that talent-rich level right below the icing on the corporate cake; in the UK , they make up just under a quarter (24%).
The difference between the U.S. and the UK is startling, especially given the stellar attributes of UK women professionals. New research from the Center for Talent Innovation finds that the dearth of women in the C-suite cannot be ascribed to a lack of credentials and certainly not lackluster ambition. Female ambition in the UK is off the charts: Fully 91% of senior-level women surveyed, compared to 76% of UK men, are champing at the bit to be promoted. Compared to American women, they're 22% keener to hold a top job.
Yet despite their formidable determination, they're held back by a variety of factors. Like their U.S. counterparts, UK women are prone to "the tiara syndrome," the belief that outstanding performance is automatically crowned with a promotion.
"I think too many British women still work under the illusion that their hard work will speak for itself," says Kate Grussing, managing director of Sapphire Partners, a UK-based executive search firm that focuses on senior women.
This is certainly true to a certain degree because hard work often does pay off for accomplished women — at least, up until the middle rungs of management. But it's precisely at that point where who you know is just as important as how well you perform. The CTI research demonstrates that to break through to the top, well-qualified women everywhere need sponsors — powerful leaders who are willing to advocate for their next key role, and propel and protect them through the perilous straits of upper management. Yet only 37% of UK women credit personal connections for their most recent promotion.
Unfortunately for women, sponsorship in the UK is largely a male phenomenon: Senior British men are a whopping 50% more likely than senior British women to have a sponsor. The Old Boys' Club is not just alive but entrenched in UK executive suites. Consequently, when choosing who to groom for leadership, C-suite executives — overwhelmingly white males — reach automatically for a "mini-me."
When women can break into the Old Boys' Club, the result is breathtaking. The research by the Center for Talent Innovation demonstrates that UK women with sponsors are 52% more likely to be satisfied with their rate of advancement than those without. With a sponsor advising and cheering them on, they're 25% more likely to ask for a pay raise and 58% less likely to plan on quitting within one year. Sponsors have an even more powerful impact on working mothers: Unsponsored working mothers are more than twice as likely as their sponsored peers (14% versus 6%) to plan on leaving their firms within a year.
Women can't passively wait for a chance to break through. Sponsorship is a two-way street, a strategic alliance that demands that the protégée give 110% in terms of loyalty and performance in order to sustain the commitment of the sponsor. To be sure, women often excel at delivering on both of these fronts, but to win the interest of a sponsor, they must also deliver a distinct personal brand, a set of skills or credentials that will burnish the sponsor's image and extend his reach.
Women need to target, acquire, and assiduously cultivate these crucial relationships early in their careers and continue to tend and grow them as they rise through the ranks. Companies that have made significant investments in mentoring their standout women need to capitalize on this investment by creating pathways and forums where female talent and senior leaders can connect and forge mutually beneficial alliances.
Neither talented, ambitious women nor their employers can afford to ignore the stunning impact of sponsorship on women's ability to get to the top. Only through the efforts of both can outstanding women realize their full potential and employers realize the significant competitive advantage that female leadership confers.


text:
For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
April 28, 2007
Mrs. Bush's Remarks at Pepperdine University Commencement Ceremony
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California
MRS. BUSH: Thank you all very, very much. Thank you for this honorary doctorate. I'm so happy to be here with all of you.
Thank you, Mr. Martin, for your kind introduction. President Benton and Chancellor Runnels, I'm honored to receive this degree from Pepperdine University, and I'm delighted to be part of the Pepperdine family.
I'd also like to recognize Pepperdine's Provost, Darryl Tippens, and the Dean of Seaver College, David Baird. Thank you to the distinguished faculty, the alumni, the parents, the families for your very warm welcome. You've made me feel right at home here, even though I never had to take Speech 180. (Laughter.) Most of all, thank you and congratulations to the Pepperdine Class of 2007. (Applause.)
Today, we celebrate 659 graduates from 50 majors, 40 states, and 29 countries. We celebrate your parents and families and teachers, whose love and support brought you to this day. They're proud of you, and they've worked hard to give you these many opportunities. So there's no better time than now to thank them. Please give your parents and your teachers a round of applause. (Applause.)
And of course, we celebrate your beautiful university. I've been to Pepperdine before, when then-Governor Bush delivered your commencement address. But it's been a while, and I wanted to refresh my memory before coming back, so I did the easiest thing: I went online. (Laughter.) All the updates I needed about Malibu I found on the home page for US Weekly. (Laughter.) Then I went to Pepperdine's website to learn more about Seaver College, and I found some enticing descriptions of your campus. This is what the website says: "Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Malibu campus commands a majestic view of the Pacific Ocean. Parking is provided on campus." (Laughter.)
I looked to see who else has addressed Pepperdine's graduates. It turns out you've had many distinguished commencement speakers. I was especially impressed by your speaker from 1992: my mother-in-law, Barbara Bush. (Laughter.)
One piece of advice that I can give you is that it's generally a good idea to follow the lead of your mother-in-law. (Laughter.) And I saw that my mother-in-law gave the 1992 graduates sound parting wisdom. So then I thought back to my own graduation, and tried to remember the advice that my graduation speaker gave to me. But I couldn't recall who gave the commencement address at the University of Texas in 1973. Maybe that's -- and I hate to admit it -- because I skipped the ceremony. (Laughter.) UT didn't offer "Convo Credit." (Laughter.) But I did look it up, and I found out who gave that commencement address. And you can imagine my surprise when I discovered it was some guy named George Bush. (Laughter and applause.) Four years after that speech, I married his son. (Laughter.)
We never know where life is going to take us. But wherever you go, you'll be helped by the lessons you learned here at Pepperdine.
Many of those lessons you learned in the classroom. Some seniors learned more than they wanted to, by enrolling in "Business Policy." (Laughter.) Other lessons you learned on the courts. For example, you learned how to be gracious winners this year, when your number-one-ranked men's volleyball team beat USC and UCLA. (Applause.) Every day, you've learned from your academic discoveries, from your disappointments and triumphs, and from the friends that you cherish.
But the most important lessons -- the ones that will guide you through life -- you learned in the practice of your faith. Pepperdine is an excellent academic institution, which also happens to be a vibrant community of faith. And Pepperdine students know that with your faith comes a calling. You know that those who are blessed with so much are called to give back -- to feed the hungry, to comfort the mourning, lift up the weary, and heal the sick. This calling is spelled out in Scripture in your university's motto, and on Pepperdine's Seal: "Freely you have received. Freely give."
Class of 2007, you're blessed with tremendous energy and idealism. You've received a superb education. Today starts a period of incredible liberty and adventure -- a time to demand the most of life, before life makes specific demands on you. And as you work to make the most of what you've received, I can tell you one thing for sure: You won't waste your talents and education if you "freely give" them in service to others.
This is especially important for the Class of 2007. More than any other generation of Americans, yours is tasked with resolving challenges that lie far beyond your doorstep -- even far beyond America's borders. Between cell phones and the Internet, you have a world of information literally at your fingertips. And because our world is so small, you can't ignore the genocide in Darfur, or the human-rights abuses in Burma. You can't turn away as pandemic diseases torment an entire continent. And you can't look aside as American communities lie in ruin.
Fortunately, sharing your gifts comes naturally to the students of Pepperdine. You care for the homeless at three missions on Skid Row. You cheer the elderly through "Senior Connections." Hundreds of Pepperdine students participate in Project Serve, your alternative spring break. Through your school's Volunteer Center, you gave almost 55,000 hours of service just this last year. Every September, 1,400 Pepperdine students participate in "Step Forward Day." You join alumni across the country, and come together as one Pepperdine community -- united through acts of service.
Class of 2007, keep this commitment to others once you graduate. There are so many people who need your help.
Give to children what you've received here at Pepperdine: the gift of outstanding teachers. You're here today because of the teachers who believed in you. And across our country, the next generation of students waits for teachers who will believe in them. In fact, the Department of Education estimates that our country will need another 2 million teachers over the next decade.
Many Pepperdine students already serve in our classrooms. This year, through the JumpStart program, 100 Pepperdine undergraduates spent thousands of hours teaching local preschool students how to read. One JumpStart teacher is your classmate Matt Graves -- (applause) -- who led this year's New York City Project Serve team to P.S. 30 in the Bronx. "The Pepperdine team and the fourth graders built really strong relationships," Matt remembers. "The kids cried when we left. They made good-bye cards for us. We kept in touch over email. That's after just one week of being a teaching assistant. Imagine if you did it over a lifetime."
Seventeen of your classmates are graduating with degrees in teaching. More will serve in classrooms across our nation through Teach for America. One of these future teachers is your classmate Noel Paasch. (Applause.) Noel was born in Germany, but grew up in Los Angeles. Noel said, "I wanted to give back to this community what it's given me. Teaching is the way to do that. You give people the most powerful tool for success. And that's education." Inspired by her professors at Pepperdine, Noel applied to Teach for America, and last week, Noel learned that she will give back to her adopted hometown as a Teach for America corps member, serving in inner-city Los Angeles.
One part of our country that's especially hungry for teachers -- and talented young people -- is the Gulf Coast. In the aftermath of the 2005 hurricanes, Pepperdine students immediately rose to the challenge. You welcomed as your own a dozen students from Xavier and Tulane. You raised nearly $47,000 -- which you used to distribute gift cards to evacuees at the L.A. Dream Center, and send food and water to New Orleans. Since Katrina, Pepperdine students have taken six service trips to the Gulf Coast. At first you "mucked out" ruined homes. Later, you put up drywall. On subsequent trips, you replanted gardens. With each journey, you've seen signs of hope and renewal. And you've given renewed hope to the families you served.
One Pepperdine senior who served on the Gulf Coast is Tashara Barnes. (Applause.) Tashara recalls, "When I went down there, I was shocked at the level of devastation. I mean, we're in Malibu -- we're used to disasters." (Laughter.) "But nothing prepared me for that." This December, Tashara and her fellow volunteers went to New Orleans to clear out homes, strip doorways, and start new construction. They stayed in an abandoned schoolhouse, and slept on cots arranged through the upper floors.
Tashara was touched by the signs of devastation: the rescue-Xs sprayed on homes, showing how many residents were found inside. She was also touched by the signs of promise: streets that were once eerily empty, now stirring to life. But most of all, she was touched by the people of New Orleans. "They're so open and warm and grateful," Tashara said. She especially remembers one young woman who had been college when Katrina struck. Instead of going to another school in another city, this woman stayed to cook for the volunteers helping New Orleans rebuild. When Tashara asked the young woman why, her response was simple. "I just can't leave my city," she said. "I need to be here. This is my home."
Class of 2007, help families devastated by Katrina come home to a revitalized Gulf Coast. The region has a special need for teachers and medical professionals, especially nurses. But it doesn't matter what career you're pursuing. This summer, before you start a new job or graduate school, travel to the Gulf Coast and help with the reconstruction. Later, dedicate a vacation to the recovery. It will be time well spent.
Think about the long-term opportunities to help. Even before Hurricane Katrina, many residents of Mississippi and Louisiana were denied the promise of America. Now the Gulf Coast has a chance for a fresh start. It will be brighter if young, adventurous Americans establish their careers, their families, and their lives there. The work you do during the week will revitalize the Gulf Coast economy. And in your quiet hours, you'll invest in the community by working for justice and equality, by building schools and sharing your time and love with neighbors who still grieve.
The Pepperdine Class of 2007 -- and all of us in the United States -- have freely received the blessings of our nation: good health and prosperity; opportunity and freedom. Our country is also blessed with compassionate citizens who freely give to other nations in need. Many of these compassionate citizens are right here at Pepperdine.
Pepperdine students have an intense interest in global affairs. Ask a Pepperdine student about his favorite college hangout, and the answer is likely to be "Buenos Aires," "Florence," or "Heidelberg." More than 60 percent of you have spent time overseas -- and I commend you for your passion for other places and cultures.
For many of you, that passion translates into service abroad through the Peace Corps. In fact, Pepperdine consistently ranks among the top 15 schools for Peace Corps recruits.
Others of you will serve abroad in uniform. From here, you can see Pepperdine's Heroes Garden, built in honor of Americans' actions on September 11th. One of those heroes on September 11th was a Pepperdine alumnus, Thomas Burnett. On a perfect Tuesday morning, Tom boarded a San Francisco-bound flight at Newark Airport. And we know that United Flight 93 never reached its destination. After the hijacking, in a phone call to his wife, Tom promised: "We're going to do something." He did. We'll never know what the target of Flight 93 was, but we do know that Tom and his fellow passengers saved the lives of many people.
Five years later, Pepperdine graduates are taking up Tom Burnett's call to "do something" for our country. After your graduation, America's armed forces will be stronger thanks to three members of the Class of 2007: Brendan Groves, Michael Stahlke, and John Deniston. (Applause.)
One of your fellow students who's in Iraq now, Richard Nye, explains why they serve. After his freshman year at Pepperdine, Army Sergeant Nye volunteered to go to Iraq. Today, he patrols Baghdad, providing security for Iraqis rebuilding their capital. The job is difficult, Richard explains, but it's made easier by the encouragement he receives from Pepperdine.
In November, Richard met an Iraqi veteran who had served under Saddam's regime. This old soldier presented Richard with medals his son had earned in the new Iraqi army, fighting alongside American soldiers. The man's son had died in the line of duty, and Richard was honored that this former Baathist "thought so much of us, and his son, who was trying to aid us and serve his nation." Richard, in turn, presented the medals to Dr. Benton and two of his Pepperdine professors. With their support, Sergeant Nye said, he's able to complete his coursework and serve in uniform -- a job that gives him great satisfaction. "Getting out there and seeing that you've made a difference," Richard explains, "is the most amazing feeling anyone could possibly have."
Class of 2007, serve abroad by fighting pandemic disease in Africa. Help to eradicate malaria -- a treatable and preventable illness that kills over a million people every year. Commit to defeating HIV/AIDS -- one of the greatest humanitarian crises of all times. Around the world, nearly 40 million people are infected with AIDS. Twenty-six million of them are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2003, President Bush announced the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief: a five-year, $15 billion program to combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa and other threatened regions. PEPFAR resources are helping to train community health workers -- Africans who can teach people in their villages how to protect themselves from HIV, and who provide AIDS patients with drugs and medical care.
Today, more community health workers need to be trained throughout Africa. Forty members of the Pepperdine Class of 2007 are going to medical school -- and I encourage you to contribute to this effort.
Pepperdine students are passionate about defeating HIV/AIDS. This year, your women's basketball team hosted the first-ever Time Out For HIV/AIDS Classic to raise money and awareness. Your Acting on AIDS ministry educates the healthy and serves the suffering. This summer, seven Pepperdine students will travel to Tanzania, to care for pediatric AIDS patients and orphans.
Pepperdine students also fight AIDS by working to overcome one of the greatest threats to global health: a lack of clean water. Around the world, more than a billion people do not have safe water to drink. Without clean water, people suffering from HIV and AIDS can't take their antiretroviral medicines easily and safely.
The United States government and generous philanthropists are bringing clean water to Africa through the PlayPumps Alliance. PlayPumps are children's merry-go-rounds attached to a water pump and a storage tank. When the wheel turns, clean drinking water is produced. PlayPumps are fueled by a limitless source of energy: children at play.
The alliance will provide clean drinking water to as many as 10 million
Africans by 2010. Each of you can help us reach our goal of building 4,000
PlayPumps through the "100 Pumps in 100 Days" campaign. You can learn more
about this nationwide effort by visiting www.playpumps.org
Here's Idea Number 101: support your classmates who are already confronting this challenge. Last year, eight members of the Class of 2007 established Wishing Well, a project to build water pumps in Africa.
One of the project's founders, Jimmy McCarty -- (applause) -- remembers when he saw the need for clean water firsthand. On a service trip to Uganda, Jimmy lived next door to an elderly couple in Kampala. Five of their grandchildren had lost their parents to AIDS. The grandmother was suffering from malaria. Jimmy went to the rural water source nearby, and was horrified. The water was dirty and stagnant. Mosquitoes -- which carry malaria -- were breeding. "That's when it really hit me," Jimmy said.
The Class of 2007 has joined Wishing Well's efforts to build new pumps. Many of you remember "Water Week" -- when Pepperdine students gave up every drink except water -- juice, soda, and -- heaven forbid in Malibu -- even latt s. (Laughter.) The money students saved by not buying drinks -- including those at the Malibu Inn -- (laughter) -- went toward clean water for Africa. (Applause.)
So far, Pepperdine students have raised about $14,000 for Wishing Well. Your efforts have already helped put a clean-water pump in a rural town near Nairobi. And this summer, two more will be installed -- another in Kenya, and one in The Gambia, near a World Bible School. Because of your generosity, hundreds of children will have access to clean water -- and the hope of good health.
One of your classmates, Mushambi Mutuma -- (applause) -- is excited about working for Wishing Well after graduation. "There's so many problems with Africa that are so hard to fix," Mushambi says. "They require either U.N. peacekeepers, or trained scientists. But with clean water, it's so simple. It's something all of us can do, even college students. We can go to a village and build a water well, and we know things are going to be better than they were."
Class of 2007, you've received the blessings of your time at Pepperdine. Now it's time to freely give. Use your talent and energy to make a better world for people throughout our country and across the globe. You'll find happiness along the way.
Congratulations to each and every one of you. Thank you for giving me this chance to share this special day with you. May God bless the Seaver Class of 2007. (Applause.)


text:
Thanks to this one from The Gospel Coalition
Alvin Plantinga reviews Thomas Nagel's new book, Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False (Oxford University Press, 2012) in The New Republic. Here's how it begins:
According to a semi-established consensus among the intellectual elite in the West, there is no such person as God or any other supernatural being. Life on our planet arose by way of ill-understood but completely naturalistic processes involving only the working of natural law. Given life, natural selection has taken over, and produced all the enormous variety that we find in the living world. Human beings, like the rest of the world, are material objects through and through; they have no soul or ego or self of any immaterial sort. At bottom, what there is in our world are the elementary particles described in physics, together with things composed of these particles.
I say that this is a semi-established consensus, but of course there are some people, scientists and others, who disagree. There are also agnostics, who hold no opinion one way or the other on one or another of the above theses. And there are variations on the above themes, and also halfway houses of one sort or another. Still, by and large those are the views of academics and intellectuals in America now. Call this constellation of views scientific naturalism—or don't call it that, since there is nothing particularly scientific about it, except that those who champion it tend to wrap themselves in science like a politician in the flag. By any name, however, we could call it the orthodoxy of the academy—or if not the orthodoxy, certainly the majority opinion.
The eminent philosopher Thomas Nagel would call it something else: an idol of the academic tribe, perhaps, or a sacred cow: "I find this view antecedently unbelievable—a heroic triumph of ideological theory over common sense. . . . I would be willing to bet that the present right-thinking consensus will come to seem laughable in a generation or two." Nagel is an atheist; even so, however, he does not accept the above consensus, which he calls materialist naturalism; far from it. His important new book is a brief but powerful assault on materialist naturalism.
Plantinga goes on to summarize and interact with Nagel's arguments and alternatives. Along the way he excerpts a quote from one of Nagel's books written in 1997 which offers some insights into Nagel's rejection of theism:
I am talking about something much deeper—namely, the fear of religion itself. I speak from experience, being strongly subject to this fear myself: I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers. . . . It isn't just that I don't believe in God and, naturally, hope that I'm right in my belief. It's that I hope there is no God! I don't want there to be a God; I don't want the universe to be like that.
You can read the whole thing here.
For those interested, Nagel reviewed Plantinga's Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism (Oxford University Press, 2011) in The New York Review of Books.


text: http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130122&content_id=41095878&vkey=pr_phi&c_id=phiOutfielder Delmon Young has agreed to a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Phillies, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today. The contract includes performance bonuses.Young, 27, batted .267 with 27 doubles, 18 home runs and 74 RBI in 151 games for the Detroit Tigers last year. Against left-handed pitchers, he hit .308 (56-182) with a .500 slugging percentage and, defensively, made 29 starts in left field. In 13 postseason games, Young batted .313 with three home runs and a team-best nine RBI and was named MVP of the American League Championship Series."Delmon is an experienced major league bat who will add some depth to our relatively inexperienced outfield and another layer of competition for playing time there as well," said Amaro.The first overall selection of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Young is a .284 career hitter with 89 home runs and 482 RBI in 880 games for the Rays (2006-07), Minnesota Twins (2008-11) and Tigers (2011-12). He has made 526 career starts in left field, 156 in right field and 29 in center field. Young has batted .310 (281-905) in his career with runners in scoring position and .336 (115-342) in 89 career interleague games against the National League.


text:
Colebrookdale Township and Boyertown will soon return to a familiar topic of conversation between the two neighbors: a possible merger of their police departments.
At a recent Colebrookdale commissioners meeting, Township Manager Cindy Conrad said Boyertown has approached the township about holding merger talks for the second time in two years and the third time in the past decade.
The board agreed to renew the discussion, with President Todd M. Gamler noting that it doesn't cost anything to talk.
The police forces have historically worked together. Because the township nearly surrounds Boyertown, Colebrookdale officers often have to drive through the borough on the way to calls.


text:
A UA Makeover Success Story!
Uniform Advantage recently partnered with Dr. Pyle's Dental Practice in Weston, FL to do a complete uniform makeover.
A uniform look is important to Dr. Pyle because he's found it makes busy mornings easier for his staff, improves patient perception, and optimizes team morale. Since they are also located in South Florida, Uniform Advantage was able to go on-site to alleviate the stress that their office manager, Beth, had experienced in the past from the group ordering process. Beth found that in the past, ordering for the entire office had proved to be a time consuming and exhausting task that was full of returns and exchanges.
When it came time for the staff to get new scrubs, it was Uniform Advantage to the rescue! Our Outbound Sales team was able to go to the office on their lunch break, in an effort to minimize interruptions to their workday and patient visits. The UA team came equipped with a variety of samples from several brands that Uniform Advantage carries, and we were thrilled when they picked our very own exclusive, Butter-Soft Scrubs by UA™ brand as their favorite! Our experienced team helped determine which styles worked best for each staff member based on their body type and personal preferences. It turned out that some of the styles the staff thought they wouldn't look good in were their "winning looks"! Even with a uniform color and matching logos, each staff member was able to look unique and fashionable with their own style in scrub top and pant. It was a successful (and fun!) day getting to know Dr. Pyle and his staff and helping them look their best, so they can keep the focus on their busy dental practice.
Does your office sound like Dr. Pyle's? Enlist the help of our Outbound Sales team by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com . Our skilled team can travel locally or work remotely with your staff to bring ease to the ordering process and provide your staff members with a uniform (yet customized) look.
To view the complete footage from our day at Dr. Pyle's, be sure to visit our very own Uniform Advantage You Tube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lo2P7oO6e0. Let us know what you think of the transformations, we think they look pretty spiffy!


text: At the moment I'm into two types of art. First, I like to take photographs when something inspires me. My main focus is on psychedelic art though. I'll even do commissioned work if you'd like. I have a backup of large posters that I need to have scanned so keep your eye's peeled.


text:
Indian revenue up, non-Indian down in Alabama gambling
MONTGOMERY — A new national report shows that revenue from Indian gambling in Alabama is growing by record numbers, while revenue from non-Indian gambling keeps falling.
The 740 pages of statistics in Casino City's North American Gaming Almanac back up what the general public can see firsthand: crowded parking lots at the Poarch Creek Indian casinos and nearly empty ones at once-popular dog tracks that now offer only simulcast races.
The report shows that total gambling revenue in Alabama, including dog tracks and casinos, grew by 25 percent in 2011. That was the biggest increase of any state. It was fueled by Indian gambling operated by the Poarch Creek Tribe. Indian gambling revenue grew by 26.4 percent in 2011, with Alabama leading the nation for the fourth year in growth.
The almanac's editor-in-chief, Vin Narayanan, said because since Indian casinos don't fall under state law, the Poarch Creeks have benefited from Alabama's shutdown of non-Indian casinos, such as VictoryLand in Shorter.
VictoryLand, a combination dog track and electronic gambling casino in Shorter, once had the largest operation in the state with 6,000 machines. The state's crackdown forced its casino to close in 2010. It reopened in December 2012 and got shut down again in February 2013.
Casino City does not publish dollar figures for some Indian gambling operations because of confidentiality agreements, but its latest Indian Gaming Industry Report notes that four states where tribes rely primarily on electronic bingo machines — Alabama, Alaska, Nebraska and Texas — had $531.8 million in revenue in 2011. Alabama accounted for 4,200 of the 6,631 electronic games and none of the 12 table games in those four states.
Non-Indian gambling was a different story. Non-Indian operations, primarily dog tracks, had wagering revenue of $17 million in 2011. That was a decline of 2.4 percent from the prior year and a continuation of a downward trend that has been going on since 2000, when they had $25 million in revenue, the report said.
"Indian casinos have no impact on that," Narayanan said. He said dog tracks are a dying business because their audience is graying and doesn't have the discretionary income it once did, and the tracks have not attracted younger adults.
"People aren't interested in dog racing anymore," he said.
Two dog tracks, Greenetrack in Eutaw and VictoryLand in Shorter, no longer have enough customers to support live races and now offer simulcast dog and horse races from other tracks. The Birmingham Race Course and Mobile Greyhound Park still offer live races. Alabama's Poarch Creeks bought the majority interest in the Mobile track in 2009.
The rapid growth of Indian gambling will be on display next month at the Poarch Creeks' new Wind Creek Wetumpka hotel and casino. The $250 million project, with a 20-story hotel and 2,520 electronic games, will be larger than the tribe's Wind Creek Atmore, which has 17 stories and 1,800 games.
Property manager Cody Williamson said the casino will open Dec. 17 and the hotel in late January or early February.
Despite the Indians' success in Alabama, the state is not a top-tier player in the gambling market when casinos, lotteries, card rooms, and horse and dog racing are combined. The almanac said Alabama ranked 34th among the states in total gambling revenue in 2011 and trailed all of its neighbors. Florida was fifth, Mississippi 13th, Georgia 24th and Tennessee 33rd.


text:
Following on from the announcement at the MySQL conference where Sun and Kickfire jointly announced data warehousing benchmark records, we have just announced new TPC-H benchmark records. Specifically, the Kickfire Database Appliance 2400 is the highest price/performance offering at 300GB, again breaking the $1 barrier for the first time coming in at 89 cents per QphH (Queries per hour on the TPC-H benchmark). The 2400 is also the highest performance (non-clustered) offering at 300GB.
I'm not going to further dwell on the numbers in this post other than to quickly point out another aspect of this achievement that Justin noted in his blog related to the energy savings the Kickfire …[Read more]


text:
A nifty new trailer for the first major Diablo III expansion, Reaper of Souls, has popped up in a number of places on YouTube.
The trailer, which Blizzard was likely planning to debut during this weekend's BlizzCon festival, shows off a number of new features for the expansion, including, for a few moments, some sweet ponies. Also on display: A new Adventure Mode that lets you pursue bounties for XP and gold, Nephalem Rifts that teleport you to a challenge room with a "Rift Guardian" boss, a new artisan called The Mystic, an updated Paragon system, and item modifications like enchanting and transmogrification. Worth giving it a watch, in case it gets taken down.
What do you guys think? Enough to get you back playing Diablo III?


text:
Updated November 18, 2022
Did you know that now you can easily add or embed Facebook page events on your Sharepoint website for free? There are many technical solutions, but actually there is an easier way of doing this.
I will show you how to add or embed Facebook page events on your Sharepoint website in a simple and easy way.
You will use your Facebook page events, Sharepoint website, and a free Facebook page events widget to complete this task. This will answer the question: How do I embed Facebook page events on my Sharepoint website?
To embed Facebook page events on Sharepoint website for free, follow the steps below.
That's easy! Embedding Facebook page events widget on your Sharepoint website will take only 2 minutes. If you need a more detailed guide, scroll down to follow our complete guide or watch our video guide.
Follow our complete guide below to embed Facebook page events on your Sharepoint website for free. The guide is divided into two parts to make it easier to follow.
The first part is creating your Facebook page events widget using the SociableKIT dashboard. Customize the look and feel to match your brand. Follow the steps below.
The second part is adding your Facebook page events widget to your Sharepoint website. After you customize your Facebook page events widget and copied the embed code, it is time to add it to your Sharepoint website. Follow the steps below.
Note: If you receive an error that states Embedding content from this website isn't allowed, you will have to add widgets.sociablekit.com to the list of sites that are allowed on your website and the HTML Field Security list of the site collection where the site is located.
Below, you can see a live demo of our Facebook page events widget. You can click on different layouts such as Masonry layout, Grid, and Carousel if available.
Thousands of creators and business owners have already embedded Facebook page events on their website using SociableKIT. They love our service! Here's what they tell us.
"An amazing set of plug-in solutions for a large number of social media web site integrations. I would lie if I said I've tried them all, but the ones I'm using are just stellar. The support is also superb. Not only are they helping you with all the little problems you might encounter, but they also listen to requests for new features. Requested features are then - more often than not - swiftly implemented. I wish all companies had support like theirs. I really can't recommend Sociablekit enough! 👍"
"A fantastic set of plugins that truly helps navigate the ever changing world of social media and keeping our various platforms connected. The support team is fantastic and they have really been responsive to our needs."
"Amazing customer service! I really love how quick the widget works. It looks beautiful! Glad I was able to find it."
"This was a great way to easily embed Google Reviews into my client's Wix site. I had trouble at first because the business has no physical address listed, but the support team helped me out and everything is running smoothly so far. I recommend!"
"Super easy to set up and integrated seamlessly with my website."
"Great features! Very responsive support, and amazing quick turn around on enhancement request."
"I have to hand it to a company that goes above and beyond with their customer service... your team is a notch above anything I've experienced. Great software, great support - what else can you ask for?"
"It actually works, is very easy to implement, super powerful, looks great, and the price is right."
Quickly upgrade your website by embedding Facebook page events on Sharepoint website in 2 minutes. Sign up to SociableKIT now!
Are you looking to embed Facebook page events on another website builder? Our Facebook page events widget can work with any website builder. You can find Facebook page events + any website builder tutorials here or ask our support team if SociableKIT can integrate with your website builder.
This Facebook Page Events feed is part of our Facebook feed, Events Calendar, Facebook events widget categories.
If you think this tutorial about how to customize and embed Facebook page events on your Sharepoint website for free is helpful, please share it with your friends! Thank you and we appreciate your kind support!
Discover how to increase engagement, showcase your brand's personality, and drive more traffic to your website.
By entering your name and email, you'll get instant access to our comprehensive guide that covers choosing the right social media platform, best practices for maximizing engagement, and integration tools.
Start growing your online presence and building a loyal following today!
If you need help, feel free to chat with us in the live chat box on the lower right corner of this page. You may also use the chatbox located here.
You may also email us at [email protected]
We're happy to talk about how to customize and embed Facebook page events on your Sharepoint website!


text:
This page is obsolete.
Current version is at https://systemd.io/BOOT_LOADER_INTERFACE.
Boot Loader Interface
systemd can interface with the boot loader to receive performance data and other information. This is only supported on EFI systems. Data is transferred from the boot loader to systemd in EFI variables. All EFI variables use the vendor UUID
- The EFI Variable LoaderTimeInitUSec contains the timestamp in microseconds when the loader was initialized. This value is the time spent in the firmware for initialization, it is formatted as numeric, decimal string, in UTF-16.
- The EFI Variable LoaderTimeExecUSec contains the timestamp in microseconds when the loader finished its work and is about to execute the kernel. The time spent in the loader is the difference between
LoaderTimeInitUSec. This value is formatted the same way as
- The EFI variable LoaderDevicePartUUID contains the partition GUID of the ESP the boot loader was run from formatted as UTF16 string, in normal GUID syntax.
LoaderTimeExecUSecare set,
systemd-analyzewill include them in its boot-time analysis. If
LoaderDevicePartUUIDis set, systemd will mount the ESP that was used for the boot to /boot, but only if that directory is empty otherwise, and only if no other file systems are mounted there via user mount units or
This interface is currently implemented by
Gummiboot sd-boot (see


text:
Events archive
European Studies Seminar
Professor Jacques Semelin (Sciences Po, Paris)
30 April 2019 - 5:00pm to 6:45pm
Seminar Room, European Studies Centre, 70 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HR
Between the French defeat in 1940 and liberation in 1944, the Nazis killed almost 80,000 of France's Jews, both French and foreign. Since that time, this tragedy has been well-documented. But there... Read more


text:
No diversion can divert me from the fact that treadmills are boring. Even if the weather is bad, I'm not much of a TV viewer -- on or off the treadmill. And I often find the most energizing music to also be the most annoying. Reading on a treadmill can be downright nauseating.
But thanks to an experimental system out of Purdue University, I soon may be able to catch up on my backlog of New Yorker digital issues while clocking time on the dreaded tread.
"Not many people can run and read at the same time," said Ji Soo Yi, an assistant professor of industrial engineering, in a school news release. "This is because the relative location of the eyes to the text is vigorously changing, and our eyes try to constantly adjust to such changes, which is burdensome."
So with doctoral candidate Bum chul Kwon and statistics associate professor Yu Zhu, the team developed a system they call ReadingMate, which uses an infrared camera to capture the LEDs in the runner's goggles and track the runner's head as it bobs. Leave your paperbacks and print magazines at home, as the system works only when reading text on a screen. An algorithm moves the text according to the runner's head motion. However, it doesn't mimick the motion exactly."You can't just move the text exactly in synch with the head because the eye is already doing what it can to compensate," said Kwon, who wrote the algorithm. "So you have to account for that compensation by moving the text slightly out of synch with the head motion."
In a study, the results of which appear this month in Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 15 students performed a letter-counting task while using ReadingMate on a treadmill. They had to count how many times the letter F occurred in two lines of text within another 10 lines of text displayed on a computer monitor. Those using ReadingMate performed better than those who did not. Some students without ReadingMate gave up altogether, especially when line spacing and font sizes were reduced.
The Purdue team said ReadingMate technology could be applied in industries where individuals need to read in shaky environments, such as aviation or construction.


text:
Ready to join the adventure with intelligent style, Native Eyewear's Kodiak Sunglasses feature N3 polarized lenses for outstanding infrared light protection, acuity enhancement, and impact resistance. Interchangeable SportFlex lenses are included for low-light conditions.
- Best fit for a medium profile
- N3 Polarized Gray lenses suitable for extremely bright sunlight; offer for all-around protection; maintain color saturation and natural contrast
- 13% VLT (Visible Light Transmittance); the lower the number, the darker the lens
- N3 Polarized Lens Technology:
~ Blocks up to 4x more infrared light than regular polarized lenses, decreasing eye fatigue and reducing the likelihood of dry eyes
~ Delivers high contrast, crisp definition, and peak visual acuity by significantly reducing blue light and selectively filtering UV for protection up to 400 nm
~ Provides superior impact resistance for durability and protection to the ANSI Z87.1 standard
- Optical-quality polarized carbonate lenses provide 100% UV protection and eliminate glare from water, sand, pavement, ice and snow for sharp, clear vision
- Includes interchangeable SportFlex lenses for low-light conditions with 60% VLT—ideal for cloudy or overcast skies, dusk and dawn
- Single Snap-Back interchangeable lens system: Designed to utilize all Native lens options so you can adjust to varying light conditions (SportFlex lenses included; additional lens kits sold separately)
- High-performance thermoplastic Rhyno-Tuff Air Frames provide lightweight durability to withstand high-velocity collisions and temperature extremes
- Co-injected molded temples seamlessly incorporate molding into the plastic for superior grip and lightweight comfort
- Venting incorporated into the frame design enhances airflow to eliminate fog and condensation
- Cushinol nose pads ensure soft feel and custom fit, regardless of shape or size of nose
- Cushinol temple pads create a nonslip grip that keeps sunglasses in place during athletic activity
- Cam-Action hinges allow temples to quickly lock into position
- Mastoid Temple Grip ensures temple ends hug the mastoid bone (behind your ears), allowing a secure and comfortable fit
- Zipper case and soft pouch included for storage
|Country of Origin
|Additional Features
|UV protective
|Style Number
|Product SKU


text:
As of January 29th, 2009, the parrot svn repository is now hosted on parrot.org instead of perl.org.
If you have an existing checkout of the original repository, you can easily switch to the new repository with the following command:
svn switch --relocate https://svn.perl.org https://svn.parrot.org
Thanks to the admins at perl.org for all their support.
Developers, when you do the switch, be prepared to authenticate to the repository with your trac id and password.


text:
So that happened. Buzz Bissinger popped up in the comments section this afternoon and he did not disappoint.
It took a little time to get him acclimated to the system, though. I now know how those poor Dell help desk people feel anytime my father calls them when he gets his Turbo Tax stuck in the disk drive.
First Buzz popped into the Detroit de-pantsing story and waited for his cue. That resulted in some comical, frantic phone calls from him sitting in the Philadelphia Inquirer office where he cursed their computers and the whole comment system. "IT KEEPS TELLING ME TO FUCKING LOG-IN. I DID LOG-IN. WHY IS IT TELLING ME TO LOG-IN...?"
Nibbles is merciless.
He got the hang of it very quickly, though, and here's a rundown of some of his more colorful interactions with some of our finest commenters. Thanks to the shamelessly self-promoting Canadian, Gourmet Spud.
dont-forget-where-you-came-from-cheese-mac: Mr. Buzz, my question is twofold:
a. When can we expect the book The Assassination of Will Leitch By the Coward Buzz Bissinger
2. What actor would you want to play the role of Buzz Bissinger in the film adaptation?
Buzz: As I recall, Mr. Leitch was the one who cowered and stammered like a sissy boy. I think I should be played by James Gandolfini.
MarkKelsosMigraine: Buzz, what was the Grateful Dead's best touring year — 1971, 1972, or 1977? And were they better or worse after Pigpen died?
Buzz: I have to say 1971. Definitely better after PigPen died whoever the fuck he is..
FEAST: Brazzers, Bang Bros or Reality Kings?
Buzz: Reality Kings. It sounds the least offensive of the three, although I have no fucking clue as to what you are talking about
The Fan's Attic: Buzz, you shit pissing son of a bitch, your Wikipedia page says you split time between your homes in Philly and the Pacific Northwest. You live in Ruby Ridge, don't you?
Buzz: I did live in Ruby Ridge but I was considered too disruptive. Actually, I now live with Will Leitch. He cooks dinner for me. It's the least he can do since I made his fucking career.
Theodore Donald Kerabatsos:Who would win in a two-on-two street fight: Lebron James & 1985 Sylvester Stallone or Kimbo Slice & 1985 Dolph Lundgren?
Buzz: Did you actually use your brain to come up with this?
SavetoFavorites: What do you think about Joe Posnanski's claim that he would "mess you up, Juice-style, two times" in a liveblog race?
Buzz: This is the same Posnanski who has crapped out to Sports Illustrated and acted several weeks ago like he had discovered Dave Duncan when I wrote about him in Three Nights four years ago in much better depth and prose. That Joe Posnanski? He probably still believes in Moneyball? By the way, how did Billy Beane do this year? Or the year before? Or the year before? Biggest fraud in baseball. As for LaRussa, who you all hate, two world series and one division championship in five years.
Dany Heatley Speedwagon: Wish I wasn't so busy at work because this is a red letter day in deadspin interwebs history. Just wanted to say +1 to you for having a pretty big set to throw yourself at the mercy of the commentariat.
Buzz: Thanks Speedwagon. I'm hanging in there. Plus I am pissed I Baby Mangino beat me out for Man of the Year. The thing was fixed. Daulerio is a fucking crook and weasel.
Gourmet Spud: What would you say to endorsing a line of children's sleep aids called "Friday NiteLites"? Because I've drawn up this business plan...
Buzz: I love it. Send me the plan...
TimCouchFanatic: Buzz, in your opinion, is Deadspin still perpetuating the future or do you think the future has been completely perpetuated?
Buzz: Deadspin is where it's at as newspapers struggle and may well drown. Then again, if you're really a TimCouchFanatic you are quite hopeless.
Civil Negligence: In your loud yet humble opinion: best and worst sports media personality in Philly?
Buzz: Angelo Cataldi is by far the best. Ike Reese tries hard but who cares and Mike Quick is more of a homer than Leitch for the Cardinals.
Econdave: What are the similarities and differences between covering politics (A Prayer for the City) and sports?
Buzz: There are similarities in that both professions feature individuals who are endlessly competitive. But politics, as screwed up as it often is, requires far more dedication and work ethic and optimism than anything in sports. When I began A Prayer for the City I thought all politicians were full of it but I was wrong. Ed Rendell is deeply flawed, but his a magnificent politican and person.
EminentSmithDomain: BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! Are you related to Buzz Aldrin? If so, did you walk on the moon too? Did LeBron walk on the moon with you guys?
Buzz: I thought the comment about Sunny in Philadelphia was stupid by Upstate but this is even more stupid.
Thanks again to Mr. Bissinger for playing along and thanks to you commenters for being your usual level of cantankerousness. Bless you.


text:
What every physician needs to know:
1. Anal cancer is a rare malignancy with approximately 5,300 new cases diagnosed annually in the United States.
2. As a result of carefully conducted epidemiologic and clinical studies, it is now established that anal cancer is closely associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
3. The cure of anal cancer is possible in the majority of patients with preservation of the anal sphincter.
Continue Reading
4. This malignancy has been historically treated by abdominoperineal resection, with associated high rates of morbidity and local recurrence. Pioneering work by Nigro (a surgeon) led to the discovery that radiation therapy combined with the drugs 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin resulted in high rates of local control, disease-free, colostomy-free and overall survival without surgical intervention.
5. Subsequent randomized trials (Table I) from Europe and the United States have shown the superiority of the combination of radiation therapy, 5-FU and mitomycin over a) radiation therapy alone, b) radiation therapy with 5-FU only and c) a neoadjuvant approach of cisplatin or 5-FU alone followed by concurrent radiation, cisplatin and 5-FU (discussed below).
6. Recent advances in anal cancer therapy include the integration of PET scanning into staging, radiation treatment planning and disease monitoring, as well as the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Ongoing studies are evaluating the use of capecitabine, oxaliplatin and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor agents with radiation therapy in this malignancy.
Are you sure your patient has anal cancer? What should you expect to find?
Rectal bleeding is the most common initial symptom of anal cancer, occurring in about 45% of patients. Anorectal pain or the sensation of a rectal mass is present in approximately 30%, while 20% have no tumor-related symptoms. Bleeding from a mass at, or just above, the anal sphincter may be falsely attributed to hemorrhoids and may delay the diagnosis.
A typical appearing anal cancer is illustrated in Figure 1. These masses are generally exophytic, indurated and situated near/overlapping the anal verge, often involving the anal canal superiorly and/ or perianal skin inferiorly. More advanced lesions may be ulcerated with raised edges. Some tumors are located exclusively within the anal canal and others on the perianal skin outside of the anal canal.
Beware of other conditions that can mimic anal cancer:
Among patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a history of anorectal condyloma is present in about 50% of homosexual men and less than 30% of women and heterosexual men; these values are much greater than in normal controls (1-2%). Tumors of the perianal skin, especially Bowen's disease or Paget's disease, may present with pruritus ani, a bleeding erythematous or eczematous plaque.
Which individuals are most at risk for developing anal cancer:
The female gender, individuals with cervical/vulvar/vaginal dysplasia or cancer, infection with HPV, lifetime number of sexual partners, genital warts, cigarette smoking, receptive anal intercourse, immunodeficiency associated with transplantation and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have all been associated with this malignancy.
What laboratory and imaging studies should you order to characterize this patient's tumor (i.e., stage, grade, Ct/MRI vs PET/CT, cellular and molecular markers, immunophenotyping, etc.) How should you interpret the results and use them to establish prognosis and plan initial therapy?
Clinical staging for anal canal cancers consists of:
physical examination
biopsy of the primary tumor
palpation of the groin with biopsy of suspicious lymph nodes
CT of the chest
CT or MRI of the abdomen and pelvis
PET scan
For women, a gynecologic examination should be performed to assess potential vaginal involvement, including screening for cervical cancer.
The sensitivity of physical examination and CT/MRI is suboptimal to detect nodal metastases, many of which are equal to or less than 5mm – below the limit of detection. Adding a PET-CT scan to the staging workup improves the selection of patients who need higher dose radiation therapy to the groin by identifying nodes that would be included in the radiation field. Additionally, HIV testing is recommended in the setting of risk factors for such, and CD4 levels evaluated in HIV-positive patients.
TNM and group staging of anal cancer are listed in Table II.
What should the initial definitive therapy for anal cancer be?
Radiation therapy
1. The standard therapy for anal cancer is radiation therapy combined with concurrent 5-FU and mitomycin. There is substantial variability in specific regimens. The original Nigro regimen included chemotherapy combined in week 1 and week 5 with radiation therapy:
5-FU 1000mg/m2;/day continuous IV infusion days 1-4 and 29-32.
Mitomycin 10mg/m2; IV days 1 and 29.
2. Typical toxicities during treatment include skin reactions in treated regions of the pelvis, diarrhea, urinary frequency, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. These are usually self limiting but can be severe. Unusual toxicities of mitoycin C include hemolytic uremic syndrome, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, and protracted bone marrow suppression. Potential adverse effects associated with this combined modality therapy include soft tissue necrosis requiring surgical intervention, pelvic bone fractures, sexual dysfunction, and altered bowel function.
3. Overall survival is approximately 60% and is dependent on T and N stage.
4. In sum, combined modality therapy with radiation therapy, 5-FU and mitomycin results in long-term disease-free survival and sphincter preservation in the majority of patients with anal cancer and superior outcomes relative to radiation therapy alone or radiation therapy combined with 5-FU only, albeit at the expense of higher treatment-related morbidity.
What other therapies are helpful for reducing complications?
1. Recent clinical series of IMRT-based therapy of anal cancer have reported a significant reduction in acute treatment-related toxicity (primarily bowel and skin related) and similar disease-related outcomes versus historical controls using 2-D and 3-D planning (Figure 2).
The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) recently completed a prospective phase II study (RTOG 0529) combining 5-FU, mitomycin and IMRT-based radiotherapy. The primary goal of this study was determination of the feasibility of this approach in a cooperative group setting, as well as determination of treatment related toxicity and preliminary disease-related outcomes in these patients.
In a preliminary report, patients were analyzed, comparing toxicity outcomes to patients treated in RTOG 9811 (described above) where conventional radiation planning was used. Rates equal to, and more than, grade 3 dermatologic toxicity were superior in the IMRT study (20% versus 47%, p<0.0001), as were rates of equal to, and more than, grade 3 GI and genitourinary toxicity (22% versus 36%, p=0.014). A recent update of this study showed this approach also yielded similar two-year disease-related outcomes compared to that of RTOG 9811.
2. One of the most challenging aspects of treating anal cancer patients with IMRT is the accurate definition of target volumes. With IMRT, there are very precise and conformal high-dose regions enveloping the tumor with a steep dose gradient. If a target/desired treatment volumes are not accurately defined, there is the real potential for radiation underdosing of disease and resultant clinical failure.
Knowledge of patterns of failure and routes of spread are paramount. Along these lines, real-time quality assurance was performed in RTOG 0529, and a secondary endpoint was whether or not IMRT could be performed in a broader and multi-institutional setting. After the initial QA was performed, initial radiation contours needed to be modified in 79% of cases, thus illustrating the challenge of implementing this new and complex planning technique in a cooperative group setting and importance of knowledge of target design using these advanced technologies.
What should you tell the patient and the family about prognosis?
The main prognostic factors are tumor diameter and nodal status. In a cohort study of 19,195 patients with squamous cell anal cancer who were reported to the National Cancer Database between 1985 and 2000, five-year overall survival rates, stratified according to AJCC stage were as follows:
Stage I (tumors 2cm or less in greatest diameter without nodal involvement) – 70%
Stage II (tumors greater than 2cm in diameter without invasion of adjacent structures or nodal involvement) – 59%
Stage III (tumors with invasion of adjoining structures and/or nodal involvement) – 41%
Stage IV (tumors with metastases) – 19%
Recent analysis of the RTOG 9811 trial demonstrated tumor size and nodal involvement to correlate highly with survival. Patients with a tumor diameter of 5cm, or less, and no nodal involvement achieved a 3-year survival of 81%, 5cm, and above, and no nodal involvement 73%, 5cm, or less, and involved nodes 65%, and 5cm, and above, and nodal involvement 48%.
Follow-up surveillance and therapy/management of recurrences.
1. Following primary treatment, assessment of response is typically performed at six to eight weeks following the completion of therapy. However, as noted above, there is controversy regarding the need for early biopsy if the physical examination is negative. Squamous cell regress slowly and generally continue to decrease in size for 3 to 12 weeks following therapy. We do not recommend biopsy unless there is suspicion of persistent or progressive disease. If there is no residual disease, patients are re-examined every 6 weeks.
2. There are no prospective trials to guide the post-treatment surveillance strategy for patients treated for anal cancer. For patients who have a complete remission from initial chemoradiotherapy, expert guidelines suggest the following every 3 to months for five years:
Digital rectal examination
Inguinal node palpation
If initially a T3-4 disease or inguinal node-positive, or for those with persistent disease at the initial post-treatment biopsy who regress on serial examinations, consider imaging of the chest/abdomen and pelvis annually for three years.
3. If there is progression or persisting disease at 12 weeks after completion of combined modality therapy, abdominoperinal resection (APR) is the treatment of choice. APR entails removal of the anus, rectum, a segment of the sigmoid colon and regional lymph nodes through incisions in the abdomen and perineum. The end of the remaining sigmoid colon is brought through a permanent colostomy in the abdominal wall.
In the UKCCCR (ACT I) trial, 29 patients with a less than a 50% clinical response to chemoradiotherapy received a salvage APR. Twenty-four (83%) were rendered disease-free, 10 of whom (42%) eventually developed locoregional recurrence.
4. Although local recurrences are successfully salvaged with surgery in many cases, locally recurrent anal SCC can be a difficult clinical problem that is associated with profound morbidity and long-term disease control in about 30-40% of cases. In one series of 185 consecutive patients with anal cancer treated with either RT alone or chemoradiotherapy, 42 developed local failure requiring salvage therapy. Twenty-six patients (62%) underwent potentially curative surgery, including 23 APRs and 3 local excisions. The five-year rates of overall survival, secondary local control, and locoregional control rates were 45, 53, and 43%, respectively.
5. For patients who undergo APR for biopsy-proven persistent or recurrent disease, recommendations include inguinal node palpation every 3 to 6 months for 5 years, and annual radiographic imaging of the chest/abdomen/pelvis for 3 years.
6. The relative efficacy of nonsurgical salvage in patients with persistent disease is not known. At least some of these patients may be successfully salvaged with further sphincter-sparing therapy. As an example, in the initial RTOG study, 22 patients had persistent disease following primary chemoradiotherapy with salvage 5-FU, cisplatin, and RT (9-Gy boost). 12 (55%) were rendered disease-free after salvage therapy; among these patients, 4 required subsequent APR and are free of disease, 4 died (3 with recurrent disease), and 4 remain disease free.
Of the 10 patients who had unsuccessful non-operative salvage therapy, 9 underwent APR. After four years, 3 were alive without disease and 7 had died, 6 with recurrent disease. However, the role of 'salvage' chemoradiotherapy in this situation remains unclear given that some patients may have been rendered disease-free simply by allowing further disease regression.
7. The liver is the most frequent site of distant metastases, followed by lung and extrapelvic lymph nodes. However, the development of distant metastases is infrequent, overall, in patients with SCC of the anal canal. In the UKCCCR and EORTC trials described above, for example, distant metastases developed following combined modality therapy in 10% and 17%, respectively.
8. The only widely published active regimen for treatment for metastatic disease is cisplatin plus 5-FU.
Cisplatin 100 mg/m2; day 1, plus 5-FU 1000 mg/m2;/day days 1-5 every 4 weeks.
The role of other combination regimens such as mitomycin/doxorubicin/cisplatin followed by bleomycin and CCNU is uncertain, particularly for salvage of patients who have received prior chemotherapy.
9. Single case reports and small series describe activity for single agent carboplatin, doxorubicin, irinotecan alone, and cetuximab with or without irinotecan (in patients whose tumors do not have mutated K-ras).
1. HPV infection is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted disease in the United States and provides at least part of the link between sexual activity and anal cancer. A close association exists between infection by oncogenic HPV and many premalignant and malignant lesions of the genital tract, anus, and rectum. While a number of HPV types can be found in the anogenital tract, only a few have been associated with cancer.
2. HPV DNA has been isolated from 46 to 100% of in situ and invasive SCCs of the anus, and epidemiologic studies have shown that up to 93% of anal SCCs are associated with HPV infection. Women are more likely to have HPV-associated anal cancer than men.
3. The spectrum of HPV types in the anal canal is similar to that described in the cervix and is associated with the same "risk" phenotypes. As in cervical cancer, HPV 16 is the most frequently isolated type in anal malignancies and its presence predicts for preinvasive as well as invasive cancer. In contrast, low grade in situ lesions frequently are associated with other HPV subtypes, including HPV 18, 31, 33 and 35.
4. The premalignant condition of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia associated with HPV infection (CIN or squamous intraepithelial lesions) also occurs with HPV infections involving the anus (termed anal intraepithelial neoplasia, AIN, also known as anal squamous intraepithelial lesions, ASIL). As i/n CIN, AIN can be morphologically low grade or high grade.
5. HPV infection in the anal canal and perianal region may be subclinical or clinically apparent as condylomata. AIN, particularly high grade AIN, is considered to be the precursor of anal cancer. Progression of AIN to invasive anal SCC is related to many factors, including HIV seropositivity, a lower CD4 count, the type of HPV infection, and higher levels of DNA of high-risk HPV types in the anal canal. It is presumed that HIV seropositivity places patients at higher risk of developing anal cancer, but not all studies have demonstrated this to date.
6. The incidence of HPV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM), a group at high risk for both AIN and invasive anal cancer, is independent of the presence of HIV infection. As an example, in one study of MSM, 29 individual HPV types and 10 HPV groups were identified within the anal canal, both in men with and without accompanying HIV infection.
7. A substantial minority of anal cancers are not associated with HPV infection. No difference has been noted between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors in regards to patient age, the presence of adjacent dysplasia, ductal differentiation, or prognosis.
Copyright © 2017, 2013 Decision Support in Medicine, LLC. All rights reserved.
No sponsor or advertiser has participated in, approved or paid for the content provided by Decision Support in Medicine LLC. The Licensed Content is the property of and copyrighted by DSM.
- Anal cancer
- What every physician needs to know:
- Are you sure your patient has anal cancer? What should you expect to find?
- Beware of other conditions that can mimic anal cancer:
- Which individuals are most at risk for developing anal cancer:
- What laboratory and imaging studies should you order to characterize this patient's tumor (i.e., stage, grade, Ct/MRI vs PET/CT, cellular and molecular markers, immunophenotyping, etc.) How should you interpret the results and use them to establish prognosis and plan initial therapy?
- What should the initial definitive therapy for anal cancer be?
- What other therapies are helpful for reducing complications?
- What should you tell the patient and the family about prognosis?
- Follow-up surveillance and therapy/management of recurrences.
- Pathophysiology


text:
Coming Up: Tuesday's Olympic Events To Watch
Okay, let's start by admitting one thing: all Olympic events are pretty much worth watching. But there are just too many of them — 17 today, alone. For instance, there's the women's synchronized 10m platform dive, happening now. Here's a list of big competitions we'll keep an eye on today. All times are EDT:
- 2:41 p.m. women's 200m freestyle final
- 2:49 p.m. men's 200m butterfly final
- 3:43 p.m. women's 200m individual medley final
- 3:51 p.m. men's 4x200m freestyle relay final
- 11:30 a.m. women's team final
Other Sports
- 9:30 a.m. equestrian: eventing jumping final
- 11 a.m. judo: women's 63kg final
- 11:10 a.m. judo: men's 81 kg final
- 4 p.m. tennis: Andy Roddick vs. Novak Djokovic
Preliminary Matches
- 5:15 p.m. - U.S. men's basketball vs. Tunisia
Here's our main schedule. And if you can follow the results, as well.


text:
Story highlights
Police identify a number of "people of interest" in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
The British girl vanished during a 2007 family vacation on the Algarve coast of Portugal
UK police set up a review in 2011 in an attempt to find out what happened to the toddler
British police have identified a number of "people of interest" in the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann during a 2007 family vacation in Portugal, London's Metropolitan Police said Friday.
A review was launched in 2011 in an attempt to find out what happened to the British toddler who vanished from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve coast, police told CNN.
Police have been working closely with Portuguese authorities on the case.
"The purpose of the review was to look at the case with fresh eyes and there is always real benefit in doing so. The review has further identified both investigative and forensic opportunities to support the Portuguese," Detective Chief Superintendent Hamish Campbell said.
The girl was a few days shy of her fourth birthday when she disappeared.


text:
|Shemale Star DB
Original, never seen before girls in exclusive photo sets.
Hardcore shoots taken for this site.
Hardcore video clips of the girls - all original.
Informative guides into where and how to meet travestis in Brazil.
Regular updates - without fail.
We take and act upon suggestions for photoshoots - have a fetish? Want to see it? Let us know
Links to amateur Brazilian travestis homepages. English versions of actual escorts/models advertisements including photos and phone numbers.