text:
Nairobi Now is a space where various activities and events taking place in and around Nairobi are posted to create awareness among active seekers about the local arts and culture scene.
This blog is regularly maintained by a core group of administrators and contributors. Reader participation is encouraged in order to make this the most comprehensive source of its kind. However, the administrators reserve the right to remove irrelevant, erroneous and offensive postings as they see fit. Nairobi Now is not a place to post personal journal entries or to advertise private parties and functions. It is also not a place for commercial advertisement of local businesses.
For your convenience, events have been categorized by type. To supplement the contents of the site, we have included links to other relevant websites.
We look forward to receiving your feedback and, of course, any additional event information you may have. Just email them to us at nairobinow [at] gmail.com
Ghandi said, albeit in a different context, that "no culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive." So keep on enjoying, expanding – and sharing with others – the Nairobi cultural scene.
155 Comments Add your own
Great I will do my best to give my contributions because culture is the only field where we can all meet an be and do something that's what make the difference.
I am an 18 year old budding socio-political poet. I have read my poetry numerous times at the Nakumatt Junction Poetry night and recieved excellent reviews from the audience.
Could you consider giving me an opportunity at some of your forums? You sure will not regret.
i'm Mandy.I also have a major thing for poetry and i'd love someone with experience like you to help me and even read a few of my poems.We could swap!!!!Anyway, i hope you agree….
Oh, and i'm 18 as well.You can get me on facebook as Mandy Egigwe Mwaniki.Thanks in advance.
Hi am 17yrs old i am a dancer, i can spin dance and do some acrobats i have never exposed my talent to my fellow youths ill be very happy if you can give me that chance by incorporating me in your forum, am sure i will make you proud thanks.
i m looking for a good choregrapher so why not to give you a chence to expose .it's a gospel
hi ugo…good to meet you at acapulco, was a fun evening. here's my email address…drop me a line, perhaps we meet for coffee to have a chat if you might need some extra help. i leave kenya in a fortnight to have babushka…so hopefully before then!
see you soon
I am coming to Nairobi for the first time on November 14-15. Are there any concerts (rock, jazz, African, classical) scheduled on either of those dates?
hi there barry!! its upon you .there is always a party going down anyday!! most welcome
Hello, we are educators from canada. Our representative is going to take a trip to Nairobi next week, can anyone kindly let me know where to post an event announcement? Thanks in advance! If you have any information, please email me at firstname.lastname@example.com Thank you!
hi there jenny!!! you can log in on facebook and search kenya modeling fraternity.we hold and organize events every end month.but we can always incorporate you anytime.
How can we list our productions on your site…and have a link too…
I would like to list our productions and castaway events on your site.
Please advise on how this can be done? We can reciprocate website links on our websites.
I was to meet one of your band members, when you were in Kenya recently, by the name Joseck or Joseph but circumstances could not allow. Can he kindly send me his email address.
ohhhhhh, Kenya, Nairobi the place I was born in…………. I am a model and I work in Milano…as soon as I earn lot o money, I am going back to my country…Kenya I LOVE YOU
This is a good source of entertainment spots for kenya….
Hi guys, am keen on performing acts and i believe i have a future in
the world of acting. I have performed on stage before and those were the best days of my life could you please inform me when you do your auditions thanks
I would like to get in touch somehow with Jimna Kimani. I met him a couple years ago through a friend who is no longer with us. Is there an e-mail address available or Telephone number.
Thank you.
Hi Galdys, (on 14th comment)
are you a pharmacist?
if so please send me an e-mail…
Hello all. I missed the Kenya Burning photo exhibition held this month and im wondering if there will be a repeat…hopefully in a more central part of the city or in another part of the country?
imagine art after is a multi-stage project for internet, gallery & television curated by Breda Beban that brings together artists and filmmakers who made a home in the UK with those who stayed in their country of origin
For its second edition, imagine art after is looking for artists and filmmakers from the following places, who either live there, or in the UK
Afghanistan | Albania | Algeria | Angola | Bangladesh | Cameroon | China | Colombia | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Eritrea | Ethiopia | Former USSR | Gambia | Ghana | India | Iran | Iraq | Ivory Coast | Jamaica | Kenya | Libya | Nigeria | Pakistan | Palestinian Authority | Romania | Serbia | Sierra Leone | Somalia | Sri Lanka | Sudan | Syria | Turkey | Uganda | Vietnam | Zimbabwe
For more information and an application pack, go to http://www.imagineartafter.net, or email email@example.com
I am in Daresalaam looking for an old friend photographer used to work for Spacesellers publishers of Executive Magazine his name is ANDREW>NJOROGE
Andrew Njoroge my my tel no is 0784379599
Kindly advise on any acting and singing auditions for us aspiring artists. Love ur site!
Dear Dissi Obanda… please get in touch with me in regards to your poetry.. call Klub house marketing and ask for Njambi
hi dissi Obanda, please get in touch with klub house marketing and ask for Njambi….
Enlightening community here at nairobinow! Keep up the good job!
Check me out at: http://coroflot.com/chriskirika
Copyright © 2008 Kamahuha Design Studio Ltd
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I am 32 and I would really like to join a women activist group coz I feel I should do something to stop the violence that continues to affect the girl child and the woman in Kenya. Would really appreciate. Thanks
Hey is there poetry night today at the junction?
Hey could you please give me dates for poetry night at the junction
Hi. We have just launched a new website called holistic community Kenya. We are trying to bring all the alternative health workers and holistic services under our website! Also to promote healthy living and thinking. Please visit http://www.holisticommunity.com for more information.
Can you please add our url to your links and give us a little write up! We have added yours to ours, as you will see. Many thanks.
this is for you Anita on comment 26 – October 13,2008. my e-mail adress is email@example.com. Am 19yrs old and wish to know more from you. Am Kenyan. BYE
I was at new years party -year end 2008 at Zen Garden. Many perfect strangers asked me to take their photographs. I am trying to find the email address/phone number of Zen Garden Resturant.
I would like to post the photos.
If anyone can help pls let me know.
hi Karam – you had emailed me – however i never got to see the pics…please let me know where u posted them?
Shivani – Zen Garden
Shivani – I will send you the link again.
Post no 26 is a scam – do not fall for it. If you reply then this person will ask you further money to pay for adminstrative costs
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Looking for african dance and percussions classes/workshops in Nairobi
Hello: is there a specific events newsletter for Karen, Nairobi. We just moved here so we are trying to find Karen specific events. Thanks for your reponse. Ana
This is a reply to all who are interested in dance classes. i am a dance teacher and since i have both private and public dance classes. private are more expensive. private is cheap coz the bigger the group, the cheaper……people looking for dance classes, reach me at email@example.com.
This is a reply to all who are interested in dance classes. i am a dance teacher and since i have both private and public dance classes. private are more expensive. public is cheap coz the bigger the group, the cheaper……people looking for dance classes, reach me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Walter Keyombe, an international Kenyan leading contemporary poet and a member of World Poets Society based in Greece is announcing the 1st World Peace Poetry Festival Kenya 2009 under the theme: "Reconcile, Transform, Forgive & Reconnect" to be held from 19th to 20th September, this year at Hope Centre auditorium in Nairobi Kenya.
Poets from all around the world will participate and show case their poetic creativity in a well planned open mic, attend educational lectures and seminars lead by an international spoken word poets Mrs. Dasha Kelly from USA,Poet Koketso Marishane from South Africa and Philo Ikonya from Kenya. All local and international poets will take part in a reading and performing session which will mark the International Peace Day on 21st of September.
"This event is designed to promote professional and amateur poets to educate the society,activists youth,students, leaders, churches and schools on how to achieve peace love and unity within our communities through art and to crash the obstacles facing the world towards stability"said Keyombe.
Truly, this festival for peace will be a place where poets and other artists will learn and discover their responsibilities and find inspirations for their poems or works, some not getting into limelight or getting published, not to mention some poets will get a chance to win the coveted International Peace Bearer Award for 2009 by the United Minds For Peace Society (UMFPS). The award will be presented by the Society Secretary General and international award winning poet, Mr.Sonnet Mondal form India.
Mr. Keyombe who is the host of this prestigious poetic event is welcoming any individual and organization who would like to sponsor the festival to come on board and do so. There will be a world class entertainment by the Voices of Hope Choir and schools around Nairobi to all the attending poets and their guests.
A selection of distinguished poets and speakers will also be at the event to speak and to address those in attendants, this includes Pastor Charles Macharia and Mr. Benard Litwachi and Susan Mbuthia(Kenya),P.Gopichand & P.Nagasuseela (INDIA), official members of World Poets Society, World Peace Organization, World Hope International and United Minds For Peace Society (UMFPS) all the participants will be required to pay the festival fee of Ksh500 for early registration, the fee includes snacks and refreshments,tickets to the open mic and seminar room.
The deadline for registration is 30th August. Any one after the date will have to pay Ksh600 and all payments should be sent via Western Onion Money Transfer or Mpesa line 0710442872 .
Register Now and get the chance to meet, shake hands and discuss poetry and peace with the world legendary renowned and award winning academic poets. Win the international recognition for peace. To access more information about the event, contact or email to:
Walter Keyombe
World Hope International Kenya
P.O Box 25062-00603
Nairobi Kenya
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Cell phone: +2547104428
Hi. thank yuo for planning this great event. where can I get more info on it?
Hi. you guyz men mko poa. kindly i would like to model i wona know how to go about it.
wil appreciate.
Hi. you guyz men mko poa. kindly i would like to model i wona know how to go about it.
wil appreciate.
Thank you.
Hi, I hear Blackstreet and Jagged Edge are performing at the KICC on July 4th, how/where can we get tickets please?
I would like to know about all the clothes fairs eg: Bizarre Bazaar,
Ngong that happen in Nairobi.
Where can i get all this info? Please
Hi Ugo,
Please write
we as new beautician from college what means can we use to exposse our selves instead of sitting in houses and giving up
am a gifted instrumentalist especially the drums.any band interested to contact me.
FESTIVAL OF CREATIVE ARTS (FCA) presents "Ding Dong"
@ Alliance Francaise on 6th, 8th and 9th (Thu 6th at 6 and 8pm, Sat and Sun at 3, 6, 8pm
Get ready to whet your comedy appetite when Marc Camoletti, writer of Broadway and international hits Boeing, Boeing and Don't Dress for Dinner, completes his trilogy of high comedy with Ding Dong! After discovering that his wife Jacqueline is having an affair, Bernard decides to take revenge on his wife's lover Robert, by inviting him to dinner. The catch is that Robert must bring his unwitting wife Juliette to the party to be seduced by Bernard. Fearing a grisly end, Robert complies by hiring high-class hooker Barbara to stand in for his wife. Just as they are about to sit down for dinner the real Juliette turns up and then the fun really begins.
Call 0726-524-124, 020-2025811, 0728-130-134, 0770-064-845, 0733-993-654, 0733-783-485, 0722-715-730 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com
You can purchase tickets via Mpesa tel 0726-524-124, 0728-130-134 are on sale at Alliance Francaise, Assanand's Music Shop on Moi Avenue and at Sarit Centre Information desk on ground floor at 500/= (students tickets at 400/=).
Great to have this informative site! I suggest that you also avail this info in print format. I can offer my help in printing and distribution
if you r interested in radio advertising contact me.thanks looking forward to working with you.
Hi all, I am shooting my first short film and need help in any way from funding to actors, transport and logistics. I am hoping to shoot in November so any help will be highly appreciated. My number is +254721749208.
I am john, i as an actor would like join you in your upcoming film. What will be the theme of the film?
need writers?
Hi Kanyiva,
Yes i am interested in Radio advertising………..
Hi Bernadette, i am an actor and i can offer my self for you film.
i live in nyeri and would like to start a dancing class for Nyeri residents. please advice
Thanks to all of you who have shown interest in helping out in my film. Kindly text me on 0721749208 so that I can meet you and do informal auditions, that is for actors. I am looking for ladies aged 18-22 or who look that age and men between 40-50 and also women between 40-50 or who could pass for that age. Call me to schedule auditions and thank you for the support.
Ignite Poets presents: Two Nations, One Flame will draw attention to
important issues facing Kenyans today.
Funds will be donated to The Hawkers Market Girls Centre(located in
the largest slum of Africa, Kibera), a school that offers vocational
training for girls who are looking for a better way of life.
To find out more about the Centre, visit:
Venue: Alliance Francaise, Nairobi
Charges: Kshs 300
Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm sharp.
The performance lineup includes:
Njeri Wangari,Maik Kwambo and Grandmaster Masese of Mstari Wa Nne..
Pepe Haze
Walter Keyombe
Muki Garang
The girls of the Hawkers Market Girls Centre
And much more!
All for a worthy cause…
I have a mini van (8 pax) every saturday going to Lake Nakuru National park at Kes. 2000 per person exluding park fee on a full capacity of 8 pax. To register please call us or write to us on firstname.lastname@example.com
Nice findn out bout all that u do,will tell somebody who will notify the next, who will help spread the word……………………………………………………
I do In House Catering Services for people who have visitors but dont wanna get involved in the production process.All you do is to give me the number of people and the food items u want made e.g two starches two proteins……For more information log onto http://www.bigrodeobbq.webs.com and click onto contacts to reach us…' BIG RODEO BBQ WHY FIX IT YOURSELF,LEAVE IT TO THE PROS………………..US' !
Well I picked the wrong picture, but my impressions partially match the location. ,
am 19 years old and fresh out of high school. i have an amaizing singing voice and i can boast of being a very talented actress.am writting to you for direction to join your production house.i watched one of your plays and ever since wanted to be part of you.could you please help me ",
hey. am 21, noe out of school doing a little writing. can i get a gig?
Celebrate Christmas & New Years @ Zen Garden – Lower Kabete Road – Nairobi!
We are having 2 great parties…all details below – let me know if you would like to book or require more information…
Shivani – Zen Garden
Enjoy a lavish festive feast @ 3500/- only
Eat as much as you want from the Christmas buffet spread
Juices & Sangria
Jazz band playing throughout lunch
Trampolening, Face painting & goodies for the kids!
New Years @ Zen Garden is @ 9000/- per person – all Inclusive:
Lavish spread of Chinese & Thai cuisine
Dim Sum live station
Sushi bar
OPEN BAR from 8pm – 5am (Smirnoff Vodka, Gordons Gin, Famous Grouse, Tequila, soft drinks, beers & wines)
Alcoholic fruit shots from 11pm – 3am
Countdown with DJ GUPZ SAUND
Rock the party after midnight with NAMELESS
Full English breakfast @ 5am
true,culture is vast and dynamic something that only coexists with everything else.
looking for serious sponsors for a show on classical music on tv already on GBS, anyone interested in the adverts done while the program is showing or a clothing line, even an five star hotel and such like, will have a great opportunity in seeing your product looked at from a classical point.
any classical music lovers out there?
A gift is worthy wen u unwrap it. Utilize the talent u have en don't despise it no matter how less it may seem to be.
Am Bethuel and an upcoming soft rock artist. I would like to meet with some serious people who we can join together to form a music band. If interested, get intouch on email@example.com.
Refer to item 75. My email is email@example.com. Sorry for that
Come and have a look at my fusion cooking recipes and photos. It would be appreciated – if you leave a feed back at the bottom of the articles and I know you have been..
All my other recipes are listed there – I am this weekend going to upload Kenyan Nyama Choma with Ugali ( my different recipe)
Input Karam in the search to see my other dishes and recipes
Thank for the good work you are doing- promoting culture!, I work with children in the slums and i have discovered that most of them have potential in dancing, art drawing and so on, i would like to link them to some one who can train them in the mention areas, please assit
Thank you for promoting culture among the youths.We are involved in different performances such as:Plays,Skits,Drama,Dances and Music.We are interested in being part of your next festival.
thanks for the grat job and please involve young people in different activtes i real like art and am an artist by birtht i do play, skit and dance.am doing this at my organization dream achievers youth organization. please include us in your festival.
Where is Ngecha please. Pliz reply
i am 20 years old at uon but i have a book ineeded to be published pliz can i find out how to approach this?
am 19 year old and talented in acting .i have participated in school drama and managed to go 2 nationals,i would like to explore my talent but i don know where 2 start please advice me on what to do.i would be very grateful if am able to do what i love most
Hello Ugo, I know a young untrained boy who has the talent in drawing arts. he has not been exposed at any function and would like his work to be presented in an open forum since I am the sole customer and a few other local stores. He has a real talent for artwork but my house is soon turning into a Museum of art, lol so how can I get him to bring some of his work for exposure?
Hi, I am a business consultant and would be more than willing to provide medical insurance to all the visiting italians in the country just for the duration of their stay accessing them to all the major private hospitals in the country. Costing is done on a prorata basis making it very affordable and covenient.
Feel free for more information.
Hi there! Just wanted to say: GREAT IDEA! I learnt about your newsletter early this year and have been actively going to many events since – at least twice weekly. I'm moving to Kampala in a few months and will be looking into set up a similar blog there. Maybe we could collaborate 😀 Unless of course you know of one there already… Cheers
Hi, i love the site,am so much interested in poetry and acting and especially in relation to topics like, girl child education,fight against rape and abortion any events i can use this talent is highly welcome.my cell no. 0720 408 598
This site is the best thing that's happened in a long time. You have managed to cover almost everything that's going on culturally in this city. Now all these different events are just a click away. Keep up the good work, its appreciated.
Hi Sir, it's really great to have such an organization, I am a Gospel artiste and do hereby request to be given a chance to attend some of your forums around Nairobi.
Hi creative,i would like to join your group and learn more about your activities, and i also like arts,matatu Graffixx and african music
Hi there! Would Nairobi Now be interested in also posting the events on http://www.kichapo.com -an upcoming contemporary media?
i`m daisy`s cousin and i have a passion of singing and dancing hip hop i`m 13 yrs old and i would like to live my dream but the thing is i wanted to request that you find me a dance and singing class around ongata rongai because I don`t think my parents can manage the fare so please help me and leave Daisy Nandeche a reply on her email please
guyz there is a graduation party in kile..byob.(bring your own bottle) this 3rd email@example.com is the quick way to find me .so please holla if your you want fun.
women are welcome more than men.
Autism Awareness Kenya will be showing the movie Horseboy on Saturday, Feb. 4th from 1:30-5:00 pm. The movie will start promptly at 2 pm and tea/discussion will follow the movie. There is NO childcare provided and this is NOT a child's film. The cost is 200 KES/person. It will be shown at The Austin Room, Braeburn Theatres, Braeburn Primary School. Take bus/mat 46 to Kawangware and alight at Braeburn Primary School.
This is a wonderful movie that is sure to have a lively discussion to follow!
"The Horse Boy does more than chronicle Rowan and his parents' journey across the vast, wild landscape of Mongolia. It delves into the strange world of autism itself, the relationship between humans and animals and between different cultures and different ways of being (autistic vs. normal, or "neuro-typical"), and the nature of healing. Audiences hear the varied theories on autism from the experts in the field, well-known researchers of autism such as Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University; Dr. Temple Grandin, recovered autist and professor of animal behavior at Colorado State University; and anthropologist and researcher Roy Richard Grinker of George Washington University. But above all, The Horse Boy tells the story of a couple that goes to the end of the earth to find a way into their son's life."
PLEASE DO NOT respond to this email. There are no advance tickets, it is first come first serve, so come early!
Hope to meet other art people to channel me and others.Wish you success a lot this year.
Sharing my article with you all. Please look it up at :
Please leave your feedback/comments at the comments section of the web site.
Many thanks
Thanks a lot.Hope to move on with you on most art details as I continue with my art works.
Hi, my name is Mishel Muriuki and i'm a gifted singer, guitarist and songwriter. I'm currently studying music at Sauti Academy and i'm looking to start singing in weddings and restaurants for some income to support my studying. If anyone out there would let me know of any opportunities, i would appreciate it immensely!
You can reach me on facebook, Mishel Muriuki.
Nice Theatre and i would like to join
Am intrested with doing belly dance, pls cornfirm if you offer, when and how much you charge, pls give us your contact details too so that we can be able to call u.
Hello Pam,
I am up and about looking for a belly dancing class in Nairobi and I bumped into your request. Did you manage to find something? Kindly share if yes, I will be most glad.
hi am lina and i would be glad to join you if you. please gave me achance I am a good actor, dancer and an average singer
am a model n ad luv 2 be part of u guys,hw wuld u hlp me,grow my career us a model
i am a jewelry designer based in nairobi and i would love to be a part of your forum.i have done a couple of fashion shows and the response was awsome…
Hello Knight,
I was out in search of dance classes then I landed on your post (2 years down the line) which got me interested. Anyway, I am most interested in Art, to be specific Fashion design, Jewelry design and to some larger extent product design in line with interior decor. Do you have a website or shop where I can view your work, I look forward to hearing from you.
i love acting,i hav a passion for it.pliz intorm me of your auditions.thanx in advance
i believe i have a talent for acting but no one has yet unleashed it.please inform me of any auditions.am also currently writing a script.
i am 19yrs old n i can dance…….bt i nid to b more proffesional thats thru help i am a fast learner when it comes to dancing
I am Mr Christopher Long , I am just a business man.I offer loan to those that need loan and willing to pay me back I offer both personal and business loans with capital base between the amounts of £5,000 to £50,000,000.00 GB Pounds to Individuals,..If you want a loan do email me but if you are not interested you can help me to pass this message to any of your friends who is willing to get a loan do tell him or her to contact me.
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I am a professional fim/video producer trained at kenya institute of mass communication I am good in Editing,camera sound and many more am looking for a good job in any production house my number is 0723282993
hi admin,am a professional thespian trained in TEARS group Kenya.Have been Nakuru theater i vacated to Nairobi,have a certificate in Dance into space[contemplary dance]…Am good in poetry,comedy and drama.It will be my great pressure working with you..0701355456….my Facebook is;firstname.lastname@example.com
It will be great if youll have an event calnder embeded, theres a way to use google calendar. If you can click a day and see even, future events etc.
I'm a talented artist who draws different things both from imagination and by observation. I would like to explore this talent to greater heights and besides reach out to someone in the same capacity as mine. Please help me fly my dream and expectations higher.
my name is azizi from da rres salaam tanzania . Iam reserch on African painters i choose joseph cartoon from kenya but i can enough materials about him in here.
l would appreciate if you guys help me get more information and his address if possible.
keep african art alive
thank you.
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Ae am Maggy.have passion in dancing.how can i get in touch with you?
The information seems great but where to i get the contacts to join for ballet lessons??
About | Nairobi Now :: arts, culture and events
hallo im kennedy and i need a space for exhibition but i dont know the channl .who should i contact
Hallo who should i contact to give me the information about 27-28 exhibition,i need to exhibit my products[handicraft products]
I'm gone to inform my little brother, that he should
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Hey,I'm a Kenyan lady who does script writing and can do continuation for another persons work…….I need a person,group that I can work with.My written & spoken English are good. Anyone who needs such a partner?
hi my name is daisy i write however am interested in spoken word poetry but i have never gotten a platform to perform could you please give me a chance to showcaes my talent
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How many people does your theater holds, and the price for rental, and does it carry television or prepaid service as well?
hii my name is erik…
i discovered i knew drawing when i was upper in primary school and have loved drawing as my talent.I would like a boost from you guyz to help me explore my talent
i am ajanga rodrick i do portraiture i am looking for someone to work for and boost my talent .
Hello am kelvin muthomi am 17 years old,am an high schooler and i have presented my school in creative and arts festivals.mainly based on cultural dances i am pleased to tell that during last years festivals i was awarded three certificates of merit as the best male soloist up to the county level and this year i was awarded 4 certificates of merit as the best male soloist from the sub-county level up to the regional leval held at kangaru national school at embu,i also have two certifacates in relevance to music festival Nationals in Mombasa that took place in 2014 and also in kisumu lust year.Am lokin foword to get a chance to nature my tallent of soloing by getting whilling surpoters…Thank you
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Hi …I am an artist dealing in a mixture of wood, metal, glass and other medium to make household items. what do I need to do to exhibit my work at the village market?
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Operators who decide they are subject to the adventure activity regulations are asked to notify WorkSafe of their business using the form below.
If you would like to notify us of a work-related injury or illness, you can do this at Notify WorkSafe.
Notification process for adventure activity operators
The notification process enables WorkSafe to maintain up-to-date information about adventure activity operators that are covered by the regulations and to offer support.
Once notified, operators can receive faster access to the support they need to complete their registration process.
The easiest way to give written notice to WorkSafe is to submit an online notification form.
Option 1 | Notify online
Complete the online notification form(external link)
Option 2 | Complete and return a paper form
- Download the Adventure Activity Notification form available below.
Please note | Notifying WorkSafe about your business is not the same as registering your business.
Registration of your business happens after you have successfully passed a safety audit, been certified by a recognised audit provider and paid the registration fee. The Registrar may use its discretion to not register you if any of the clauses in Regulation 7(external link) apply. The Registrar will engage with you before making this decision.
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Myth No. 1
Nuclear Power Isn't a Safe Solution
In a recent national poll, 72 percent of respondents expressed concern about potential accidents at nuclear power plants. Some opinion-makers have encouraged this trepidation: Steven Cohen, executive director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, has called nuclear power "dangerous, complicated and politically controversial."
During the first six decades of the nuclear age, however, fewer than 100 people have died as a result of nuclear power plant accidents. And comparing modern nuclear plants to Chernobyl—the Ukrainian reactor that directly caused 56 deaths after a 1986 meltdown—is like comparing World War I fighter planes to the F/A-18. Newer nuclear plants, including the fast reactor now being developed at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), contain multiple auto-shutoff mechanisms that reduce the odds of a meltdown exponentially—even in a worst-case scenario, like an industrial accident or a terrorist attack. And some also have the ability to burn spent fuel rods, a convenient way to reuse nuclear waste instead of burying it for thousands of years.
More From Popular Mechanics
Power sources such as coal and petroleum might seem safer than nuclear, but statistically they're a lot deadlier. Coal mining kills several hundred people annually—mainly from heart damage and black lung disease, but also through devastating accidents like the April mine explosion in West Virginia. The sublethal effects of coal-power generation are also greater. "The amount of radiation put out by a coal plant far exceeds that of a nuclear power plant, even if you use scrubbers," says Gerald E. Marsh, a retired nuclear physicist who worked at Argonne National Laboratory. Particulate pollution from coal plants causes nearly 24,000 people a year to die prematurely from diseases such as lung cancer. Petroleum production also has safety and environmental risks, as demonstrated by the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
INL nuclear lab's deputy associate director, Kathryn McCarthy, thinks the industry can overcome its stigma. "It's been a long time since Chernobyl and Three Mile Island," McCarthy says, "and people are willing to reconsider the benefits of nuclear energy." Nuclear plants emit only a tiny fraction of the carbon dioxide that coal plants do, and a few hundred nuclear facilities could potentially supply nearly all the energy the United States needs, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
Editor's Note: The number of premature, radiation-related deaths caused by the Chernobyl meltdown are also great, ranging from an estimated 4000 (United Nations) to 93,000 (Greenpeace) to 985,000 (the authors of Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, published this winter). However, Chernobyl's Soviet-designed RBMK reactor, which used a graphite moderator and had no containment structure, is not used in the United States, even in the older second-generation plants.
Myth No. 2
Sure, Corn Ethanol is Problematic—But Switchgrass Will Save the Day
The renewable energy movement's darling for years, corn-based ethanol has fallen out of favor for not making good on its promises of efficiency. Cellulosic ethanol—made from plant parts containing cellulose, such as grass and wood chips—seems poised to be the next star of the biofuel circuit. Its fuel crops require less fertilizer and use water more efficiently than corn. Plus, it can be created from waste products like lawn clippings and tree branches.
But the upstart fuel will have to surmount sizable environmental and financial challenges. For one, it takes a tremendous amount of cellulose to produce ethanol in industrial quantities, which means a lot of land would still have to be devoted to fuel production. "The low density of the supply is a problem," says Tad Patzek, a chemical engineer at the University of Texas at Austin. "To supply fuel to, say, the Bay Area, you would need an area of switchgrass that is larger than all the agricultural land in California."
And since cellulose is tough and fibrous, it requires heavy-duty enzymatic decomposition processes to convert the plant matter into simple sugars that can be fermented into ethanol. These processes consume large amounts of energy and are so pricey that a study in Bioresource Technology last year concluded that cellulosic ethanol won't be competitive with gasoline unless oil prices remain above $90 a barrel.
When that day comes, cellulosic could play a modest role in boosting supplies. And that's worth more research today. But hopes that grass clippings will end our oil habit are overblown.
Myth No. 3
Wind Power is Far Too Unreliable
First things first:Wind power is intermittent; it's just the nature of, well, nature. Due largely to the unpredictability of weather, turbines typically generate only about one-fifth of the energy they'd make if they actually ran 24/7. That said, energy planners have devised tactics to make wind power reliable.
One of the best ways to balance wind's now-it's-here-now-it's-not quality is to construct grid connections between different regions of the U.S. "We have monitoring systems that show us the winds as they proceed through different regions," says George Van Hoesen, a managing partner at Global Green Building, an environmental consulting firm in Missouri. "We understand the currents and the flows." Armed with this data and computer models, utilities can plan to shunt surplus power generated in one part of the country to areas that need it.
Science supports that strategy. A recent Stanford University study found that when many wind farms are interconnected through the grid, about one-third of the electricity they generate can be counted on as a reliable source of around-the-clock power. (Less reliable wind energy sources can still be put to profitable use—to charge batteries for electric vehicles or produce hydrogen transportation fuel, for example.) And a University of Delaware study published this spring concluded that an offshore grid, connecting wind generators along the East Coast, could provide relatively stable output. Over a simulated five-year period, power never petered out entirely.
"In the eastern United States, storms typically move along the coast," says Willett Kempton, a lead author. "Thus, if offshore wind farms are connected by a transmission line, the power from the whole set is more consistent."
Still, even the savviest grid connections have limits. The most optimistic projections calculate that wind can supply about 30 percent of the planet's electricity by 2030, so power sources like nuclear, hydropower and solar will be needed as supplements. It might not be a great idea to place all bets on wind, but with the latest turbines able to generate pollution-free electricity at less than 5 cents per kilowatt-hour, it wouldn't be smart to let wind go by the wayside while we invest in less sustainable fuels, either.
Myth No. 4
Algae Grows Anywhere, So Turning It Into Fuel Will Be Cheap
It grows in ponds. It grows in streambeds. It even grows in your sink if you forget to scrub it. Algae is so omnipresent that startups like Solix and Aurora Biofuels make it easy to envision the microscopic green organisms meeting all the transportation needs of the planet at pennies a gallon for eternity.
But in-depth experimentation suggests that algae-fuel supremacy isn't going to come easy. The strains of algae that work best for biodiesel are specialized lipid-producers that won't thrive in just any circumstances. Algae-fuel researchers have tried growing the organisms in open ponds for decades, but the water often becomes contaminated with native algae, which quickly outcompete lipid-rich strains.
Closed bioreactors come with their own set of issues. "Even relatively inexpensive ones are going to add dramatically to capital costs," says biochemical engineer John Sheehan, who worked on a stalled National Renewable Energy Laboratory algae-fuel project. Plus, as bioreactors scale up, decreased surface-area-to-volume ratios often make it difficult for all the algae to get the solar energy they need, making them subpar for fuel production. Algae fuel may eventually take off, but it's going to require a lot of testing, technical tweaking and expensive infrastructure to get there.
Myth No. 5
Tidal Power is a Lost Cause
As the sea level rises and falls, tides roll in and out twice a day, unfailingly. It's hard to imagine a more predictable source of power. Yet tidal power's showcase project in the United States, an array of underwater turbines anchored in the East River in New York City, hasn't exactly been an overnight success. Two initial turbine designs flopped over the course of several years; blades and hubs snapped off because they weren't strong enough to withstand the near-constant force of the water.
Still, it's too soon to give up on tidal power. The Rance tidal power plant in France has an installed capacity of 240 megawatts and has been in continuous operation for more than 40 years. Its axial-flow turbines are capable of operating as the water flows in both directions. And after several false starts, Verdant Power's array operated for more than 9000 hours in a 2008 trial, delivering 70 megawatt-hours of energy to two end-users. This summer, the startup Natural Currents Energy Services plans to install proprietary turbines in two projects that will power marinas in New Jersey. "We're talking about the entire ocean moving in one direction or another," says Global Green Building's Van Hoesen. "The sheer volume of energy makes it very attractive."
Myth No. 6
Clean Coal Can Clear the Skies of Emissions
The phrase "clean coal" has recently entered the argot of energy planners and political candidates, implying that coal—in addition to supplying cheap, reliable base-load power—can be an environmentally friendly energy source. Energy Secretary Steven Chu endorsed this viewpoint, announcing that the Department of Energy would spend more than $3 billion to fund facilities that capture carbon dioxide from coal and stash it underground, reducing air pollution.
Unfortunately, clean, cheap coal is still a pipe dream. According to the National Energy Technology Laboratory, the cost of capturing carbon dioxide from coal plants and storing it in underground locations will increase the price of electricity from 30 to 100 percent, depending on the method used. In addition, coal-fired power plants that perform sequestration burn one-quarter more coal than their unimproved counterparts to produce the same amount of electricity. That means more destructive mining operations, more CO2 emissions from transportation and more coal ash, the toxic byproduct of all coal-burning. "We have implemented some technologies that are cleaning the air," says Mary Fox, an environmental scientist at Johns Hopkins University, "but that has led to a displacement of some of those waste products into solid waste."
That displacement can lead to serious health consequences, as in the case of the coal-ash slurry that broke through a dike in Tennessee, sullying water supplies with mercury, lead and arsenic. Disposing of toxic ash responsibly could cost in excess of $5 billion annually, so efforts to pass more stringent federal controls on solid waste have stalled. For better or worse, coal produces roughly half of the nation's electricity, so technology for next-gen facilities is worth developing. But no breakthrough will cause the nearly 500 plants already operating in the U.S. to magically clean up their act.
Myth No. 7
The Risk of Earthquakes makes Deep Geothermal Unrealistic
Horror stories about deep geothermal drilling began circulating after a series of earthquakes shook the city of Basel, Switzerland, in 2006. And, in fact, a scientific analysis concluded that a geothermal system likely set off the quakes, causing a similar project in California to be scuttled.
But deep geothermal, also called enhanced geothermal, has distinct advantages too. Because it taps into the hot, dry bedrock miles below the surface, drilling could be widespread. A recent study led by MIT identified 200,000 exajoules of extractable deep geothermal energy, which could supply more than 2000 times the nation's annual energy use.
Odds are very low that enhanced geothermal power would ever cause a quake on the scale of, say, the recent shake-up in Chile, says Colin Williams, a geophysicist on the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake hazards team. Even the largest quake in Basel, a 3.4 on the Richter scale, caused only minimal damage. And experts say
that if enhanced geothermal plants are constructed farther away from cities—in rural areas of Europe or the western U.S., for example—any induced seismicity would have even less effect on the human population. "Should we say the technology is dead?" says scientist Domenico Giardini, who analyzed Basel. "Absolutely not."
Myth No. 8
U.S. Shale can Provide Energy Independence
Shale oil hasn't gotten too much attention since the oil crisis of the 1970s. But today, proponents are once again pointing out that there are more than a trillion barrels of oil locked in the shale deposits of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, more than all the proven crude-oil reserves on the planet. That would be enough to meet current U.S. oil demand for an entire century.
The problem, then and now, lies in the financial and ecological costs of extracting the oil. Shale oil naturally occurs in the form of kerogens, solid, waxy substances with a texture similar to that of ChapStick. Once the kerogens are heated to over 500 F, they exude hydrocarbons, which must be treated with hydrogen in order to be processed into usable fuel—a highly energy-intensive process that releases large amounts of CO2.
And just to get at these kerogens, energy companies would have to mine and process millions of tons of shale from the earth—leaving behind toxic heavy metals and sulfates that could seep into groundwater. "There's a water
contamination issue," says Olayinka Ogunsola, an engineer at the Department of Energy. "There's also a land reclamation issue—[mining] would create a lot of disturbance in the area." Mining and processing shale also require vast amounts of water—producing 2.5 million barrels of shale oil per day would require 105 million to 315 million gallons of water daily. That might be the biggest deal breaker of all for parched western states.
So while extracting the oil from U.S. shale may be technically possible, the scale of such an enterprise, as measured in acres and natural resources, may never make it worthwhile.
Myth No. 9
Solar Energy Will Never Pay for Itself
Solar panels are certainly expensive—about $100 per square foot for a typical installation—but eventually, you're destined to end up on the positive side of the equation.
According to the California Solar Electric Company, it may take from eight to 12 years to recoup in saved energy costs the investment put into a basic residential photovoltaic (PV) solar array. But this estimate varies greatly depending on factors like the size of the array and the amount of sunlight that hits it, and advances in PV technology continue to shorten the payback period.
"The shortest payback with new thin-film cells is less than a year," says Burr Zimmerman, a chemical engineer and co-founder of the Kairos Institute, which ushers new technologies into the marketplace. Thanks to ramped-up production and cheaper materials, up-front costs continue to plummet as well; the price of solar cells has fallen fifteenfold since 1980.
After a solar array's initial payback period, you start to reap some serious financial benefits. Assuming solar cells have an average life expectancy of 30 years, more than 50 percent of the power solar cells generate ends up being free. "There are maintenance issues," Zimmerman says, but over time, "solar cells are definitely making you money."
Myth No. 10
We Have to Drill Our Way Out of the Energy Dilemma
Discussions of America's energy future tend to focus on increasing production. There's no question that more mining and drilling can modestly increase overall supply—but, as recent accidents have shown, at a steep human and environmental cost. Renewable sources show promise but will take time and money to implement. "I'm a big advocate of renewables, but I'm also an advocate of common sense," says David Hughes, a fellow at the Post Carbon Institute. "Radical conservation has to be number one."
The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that, under existing policies, total energy consumption will grow by 14 percent by 2035. That doesn't have to be the case. A report published last year by McKinsey & Company calculates that widespread deployment of energy-efficiency measures can decrease consumption by 23 percent of projected demand by 2020. What's more, such measures would result in $1.2 trillion in savings, far more than the $520 billion investment required to implement them. The corresponding reduction of greenhouse gas emissions would be like taking an entire U.S. fleet of passenger vehicles off the road.
Personal actions certainly help: A 2008 trial by Baltimore Gas and Electric showed that customers who had smart meters reduced their energy use by up to 37 percent during peak periods. And semiconductor-powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have the potential to reduce lighting-related energy consumption to one-sixth of its current level. The DOE estimates we could be well on our way to that goal by 2025, cutting lighting energy use by 29 percent—and collectively saving $125 billion.
There's also ample room for industry to streamline its energy consumption. If plants like oil refineries and steel mills convert exhaust heat into electricity via cogeneration, they could reap an extra 100 gigawatts, reducing CO2 emissions by about 400 million metric tons. Energy saved, it turns out, is the cheapest new source.


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The entire section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in which this verse is found can be understood as one where Jesus actually serves to elevate the importance of following Israel's moral law beyond the letter to the spirit of the law. Much of the material therein complements the nature of His coming characterized by mercy, sacrificial love, and longsuffering toward sinners while at the same time affirming the "last is first" principle upon which the kingdom of God is based. For instance, we are told to go the extra mile for someone who abuses us and to pray for enemies instead of resisting them. All of this can be generally summarized by saying we need to be pure inside and out and should be as accommodating as possible for the sake of a lost world.
To "turn the other cheek," does not imply pacifism, nor does it mean we place ourselves or others in mortal danger. Like the principle of the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth in Matthew 5:38; turning the other cheek refers to personal retaliation, not criminal offenses or acts of military aggression. Clearly, Jesus did not mean to negate all God's laws and injunctions protecting us against violent crime or invading armies. Rather, Jesus is speaking here of the principle of non-retaliation to affronts against our own dignity, as well as lawsuits to gain one's personal assets (v. 40), infringements on one's liberty (v. 41), and violations of property rights (v. 42). He was calling for a full surrender of all personal rights.
Turning the other cheek means not to return insult for insult in retaliation, which is what most people expect and how worldly people act. Responding to hatred with love just might grab someone's attention and afford us a chance to share the gospel. When we respond in a manner that is unnatural, it displays the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus was the perfect example because He was silent before His accusers and did not call down revenge from heaven on those who crucified Him.


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Entry Form
- Complete and return the entry form (pdf) with payment for each project to be submitted. Entry forms and payment must be received by ASLA for:
Professional Awards by Friday, February 25, 2011
Student Awards by Friday, May 6, 2011
- Student official entrants must attach proof of registration as a student (such as a copy of a current student identification card).
- For team entries, a list of all team members must be submitted with the entry form.
- For Student Collaboration Category entries, please identify the landscape architecture students.
- Upon receipt of your entry form, you will be sent an official, numbered entry kit for each project to be submitted. Each entry kit includes a submission binder, forms, and instructions.
- Submission requirements and forms are available online for downloading and completing electronically.
- Please note that each project must be submitted in the official, numbered ASLA binder provided.
- Submission binders must be received by ASLA for:
Professional Awards by Friday, March 11, 2011
Student Awards by Friday, May20, 2011
- Refunds for award entry fees must be requested in writing before Friday, January 21, 2010, for professionals, and Friday, April 8, 2010, for students.
Questions? Contact Carolyn Mitchell, ASLA Honors and Awards Coordinator, at 202-216-2331 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Pope OKs protecting Iraq minorities
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Francis on Monday endorsed the use of force to stop Islamic militants from attacking religious minorities in Iraq but said the international community - and not just one country - should decide how to intervene.
Francis also said he and his advisers were considering whether he might go to northern Iraq himself to show solidarity with persecuted Christians. But he said he was holding off for now on a decision.
In other comments to journalists returning from South Korea, Francis confirmed he hoped to travel to the United States in September 2015 for a possible three-city tour: to attend a family rally in Philadelphia and to address Congress in Washington and the United Nations in New York. He said a Mexico stop on that trip was possible but not decided yet. He also said he might make one-day visit to Spain next year.
On Iraq, Francis was asked if he approved of the unilateral U.S. airstrikes on militants of the Islamic State who have captured swaths of northern and western Iraq and northeastern Syria and have forced minority Christians and others to either convert to Islam or flee their homes.
"In these cases, where there is an unjust aggression, I can only say that it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor," Francis said. "I underscore the verb `stop.' I'm not saying `bomb' or `make war,' just `stop.' And the means that can be used to stop them must be evaluated."
But, he said, in history, such "excuses" to stop an unjust aggression have been used by world powers to justify a "war of conquest" in which an entire people have been taken over.
"One nation alone cannot judge how you stop this, how you stop an unjust aggressor," he said, apparently referring to the United States. "After World War II, the idea of the United Nations came about: It's there that you must discuss `Is there an unjust aggression? It seems so. How should we stop it?' Just this. Nothing more."
His comments were significant because the Vatican has vehemently opposed any military intervention in recent years, with St. John Paul II actively trying to head off the Iraq war and Francis himself staging a global prayer and fast for peace when the U.S. was threatening airstrikes on Syria last year.
But the Vatican has been increasingly showing support for military intervention in Iraq, given that Christians are being directly targeted because of their faith and that Christian communities which have existed for 2,000 years have been emptied as a result of the extremists' onslaught.
The U.S. began launching airstrikes against Islamic State fighters on Aug. 8, allowing Kurdish forces to fend off an advance on their regional capital of Irbil and to help tens of thousands of religious minorities escape.
Church teaching allows for "just wars," when military force can be justified under certain circumstances. And in recent days, a few Vatican officials have edged increasingly toward acknowledging the Iraq situation fits the bill.
When the Vatican's ambassador to Iraq, Monsignor Giorgio Lingua, was asked about the U.S. airstrikes, he told Vatican Radio that it was unfortunate that the situation had gotten to this point "but it's good when you're able to at the very least remove weapons from these people who have no scruples."
The Vatican's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, went further, saying "Maybe military action is necessary at this moment."
Francis sent a personal envoy, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, to northern Iraq last week with an undisclosed amount of money to help people in flight and show the pope's solidarity with those forced to flee their homes.


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I was finally getting around to reading my 4E Essentials books, specifically the Heroes of the Fallen Lands Wizard, the Mage. After discovering the nice hybrid of Vancian and 4E Core magic, I noticed that a Mage, regardless of school, gains 3 Cantrips at 1st level.
What I'm getting at is this; Does a 4E Mage gain more Cantrips as they progess in level or do they only know the 3 Cantrips from levels 1 to 30?


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Editor's Note: Each week in "Apparently This Matters," CNN's Jarrett Bellini applies his warped sensibilities to trending topics in social media and random items of interest on the Web.
Story highlights
A man in Turkey built a copper-wire head cage to keep himself from smoking
Ibrahim Yucel had a 2-pack-a-day cigarette habit
His wife and daughter are the only ones with a key to unlock the cage
A video detailing his master plan recently surfaced on YouTube
We all have bad habits. Nobody's perfect. Especially the booger eaters.
Most everyone will agree that one of the very worst habits – if not THE worst habit – is cigarette smoking. Because, really, as far as poor life choices go, it's right up there with setting your DVR for "Two and a Half Men."
Nothing good can come from it.
But one horribly addicted man in Turkey is determined to quit, and he's taking his efforts to a hilarious new level. Because, after 26 years of cigarettes, Ibrahim Yucel has decided to encase his entire head in a metal cage.
And, hell, it might just work.
Though, generally speaking, that kind of self-imposed personal torture is usually best reserved for adventurous bedroom shenanigans with shady (yet willing) people you meet on Craigslist.
So I've heard.
But Yucel is serious about kicking his two-pack-a-day habit, and, as a last-ditch effort, it's all come down to the metal head cage. Which has now gone somewhat viral.
A video detailing his master plan recently surfaced on YouTube, and amazed viewers got to watch Yucel's wife literally lock him in for the day before he headed off to work. Which, despite his positive, health-conscious intentions, is a terribly misguided decision.
As someone who had to wear orthodontic headgear as a kid, I can assure you there's no glory being seen in public looking like Hannibal Lecter.
But our hero doesn't seem to care, and perhaps this low-tech solution IS the solution.
Amazingly, Yucel created the device all by himself using 130 feet of copper wire. Which, on the down side, means if he ever wears it into the wrong neighborhood, it'll be gone in less than 10 minutes.
"Come on!"
But, until then the cage, which has only two keys that are kept by his wife and daughter, should prevent him from getting cigarettes up to his mouth, while providing just enough room for sliding in crackers and a flattened drinking straw.
Yucel is motivated by the memory of his father, who died of lung cancer, and I applaud the man for trying to quit. I wish more of you would do the same.
Not so much because I care about your health, but because my biggest pet peeve in life is when people throw their butts on the ground. It drives me crazy.
Unfortunately, even the kindest, most law-abiding citizens do it.
Apparently, at some point in history a bunch of old dudes got together to make the rules of life and officially agreed that, for whatever reason, this would not be considered litter.
"Beer bottles?"
"Fast-food wrappers?"
"Hey, what about cigarette butts?"
"Shut up, Dan."
To me, tossing butts on the ground is a habit almost as bad as actually smoking. It's rude. It's unsightly. And it's definitely worse than booger eating.
Fortunately, though, the majority of personal bad habits are rather innocent and don't have any real negative impact on society as a whole. For instance, I drink waaay too much Diet Coke, and none of you are any worse off because of it.
Save for my distracted co-workers who sit near the men's room.
"Hi. Me again."
Sadly, there are some habits that are so bad to the point where they don't even technically qualify as habits. For example, setting things on fire really shouldn't be "your thing."
"Good grief, Wayne. You gotta stop doing that."
"I know, right?"
But smoking is still pretty bad.
So, if you're not interested in donning Yucel's giant metal cage, and if the patch and the gum aren't working, I know of only one other sure-fire way to quit: Move to Sydney, Australia.
Never in my life have I seen cigarettes so expensive, where bumming one on the streets is basically like asking a stranger to pay your next mortgage bill.
Mind you, I'm not a smoker. But when I visit a foreign city I find you can often get a pulse for the general cost of living by how much they charge for beer and cigarettes.
And, at least from my travels, that's about as bad as I've seen it.
So, go to Australia, and I promise you'll be well on your way to better health. Unless, of course, you simply get killed just by virtue of being in that country.
Fun fact: Nine out of ten things in Australia are venomous. Including most office supplies.
But if all your foreign travel money is being spent on cigarettes in the first place, maybe you should settle for Yucel's giant metal cage. Even if it doesn't work, at least you'll still have it for the next time you browse Craigslist. And that can be fun.
So I've heard.
Follow Jarrett Bellini on Twitter.


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Aging gas lines targeted for repairs throughout Massachusetts, Taunton
Editor's Note: This is the first installment of a Taunton Daily Gazette series, Our Aging Infrastructure, examining the region's crumbling gas, water, sewer and transportation systems.
TAUNTON — When it comes to natural gas lines, the city of Taunton qualifies as an old-timer of the first order.
"It probably has some of the oldest pipes in the state," said Donald DiNunno, spokesman for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.
DiNunno said many of the city's old, cast-iron gas pipes date back as far as the early 1900s.
Columbia Gas is spending $3 million to replace between 16,000 and 17,000 feet of pipes in the Silver City, he said.
The entire state, meanwhile, has enough underground gas lines to stretch from Boston to Tokyo three times, and nearly a quarter are made from outdated materials.
"We are trying to repair leak-prone pipes in the ground," said state Rep. John Keenan, D-Salem, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. "We have some of oldest infrastructure in the country, along with Philadelphia and New York."
The recent explosion in Harlem that leveled two buildings and killed eight people provides a chilling example of why aging infrastructure must be modernized, Keenan said. He and Sen. Ben Downing, D-Pittsfield, have sponsored a bill designed to accelerate gas line repairs and set uniform repair and classification standards throughout Massachusetts.
The Senate passed the bill on April 10, setting the stage for a conference committee to resolve differences with the House version of the bill, which passed in February.
The bill, Keenan said, would include a new funding mechanism to allow utility companies to frontload the cost of repairs. It would also streamline the process for utilities to go before the state regulatory board to get approval for expedited repairs and approval.
Of the 21,000 miles of underground mains in Massachusetts, more than 17 percent are made from outdated cast iron, and 7.9 percent are bare steel, according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Plastic and coated steel, which are less brittle and less prone to corrosion, are the industry's current materials of choice.
Many of the older underground mains date to the years following World War II.
"When the pipes were put in the ground, the basic inventory consisted of cast iron and bare steel," Columbia Gas spokeswoman Sheila Doiron said. "That vintage of material was expected to last 60, 70, 80 years. If you do the math, it's really time to replace that vintage of underground infrastructure because it's nearing the end of its useful life."
Among 11 utility companies, there were 17,292 reported gas leaks statewide in 2012, the most recent year for which the Department of Public Utilities was able to provide a complete data set. Of those, 15,477 were repaired by the end of the year. The majority of the leaks were minor.
"Our underground systems are safe and function as they should," National Grid spokesman Jake Navarro said. "They meet the range of regulatory requirements. The state of our system is strong. On the other hand, we are always working to improve it."
National Grid, which accounts for nearly half the gas mains in the state, had 7,258 reported leaks in 2012, of which 7,119 were repaired by year's end, according to the Department of Public Utilities.
With nearly 11,000 miles of gas mains in Massachusetts, National Grid spent $290 million on gas infrastructure in the state last year and plans to invest an additional $1.8 billion over the next five years, Navarro said. The utility replaced 160 miles of gas mains in Massachusetts in 2013, work that typically consisted of replacing cast iron or bare steel mains with plastic.
NSTAR, which has nearly 3,200 miles of gas mains statewide, replaced approximately 25 miles last year at a cost of $38 million, which is in addition to the $35 million it spent on maintenance and operations, utility spokesman Michael Durand said.
"Natural gas safety has always been and will always be our top priority," he said. "That's why we're committed to replacing pipes and why we support the legislation."
NSTAR had 2,531 leaks in 2012 and repaired 3,290 during the year, according to the Department of Public Utilities.
Columbia Gas had 5,922 leaks in 2012 and repaired 3,646 that year, according to the DPU.
Gas leaks, Doiron explained, are assigned categories depending on their severity. Grade 1 leaks, which pose the most serious threat, must be repaired immediately. The bill requires natural gas companies to take immediate action to seal dangerous leaks.
Grade 2 leaks, she said, do not pose an imminent danger and must be repaired within 12 months. The least serious category of leaks, Grade 3, do not pose any danger to life or property, she said.
At the end of last quarter, Columbia had no pending Grade 1 leaks, 668 Grade 2 leaks and approximately 4,400 pending Grade 3 leaks, down from 6,100 at the beginning of the quarter, Doiron said.
"That's pretty typical in the gas industry to have that many," she said.
Of Columbia Gas's nearly 5,000 miles of underground mains in Massachusetts, it classifies approximately 1,000 miles as "priority pipes" targeted for expedited replacement, Doiron said. The utility is currently in the midst of a multiyear effort to replace its priority mains.
DiNunno said downtown gas main upgrades in Taunton are expected to be completed before the end of this year.
The most conspicuous activity lately has been on Main and Summer streets, where he says 3,300 feet of piping stretching from the Raynham line to Taunton Green is being replaced with modern, plastic pipes.
DiNunno said 85 percent of the downtown job has been completed. The entire project, he said, should wrap up within the next five weeks.
The next part of the $3 million infrastructure project will be to replace 4,000 feet of piping on Court Street. He said there will also be some work conducted on Arlington and Tremont streets, both of which are on the outskirts of the central business district.
Court Street should be done before the end of August, DiNunno said.
The improvements in Taunton are being paid for with revenue collected from the company's rate-payers, or customers, he noted.
Columbia Gas will also eventually replace gas lines on Washington Street where a new bridge is now being constructed, DiNunno said.
Last year, between replacing mains and adding new ones, Columbia Gas invested $100 million in Massachusetts, Doiron said.
"Of that, about $40 million was to replace pipes," she said. "We replaced about 45 miles last year."
Columbia Gas is on pace to replace approximately 40 miles each year, she said.
— Gerry Tuoti is the Regional Newsbank Editor for GateHouse Media New England. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com or call him at 508-967-3137508-967-3137.


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NEW YORK – AT&T is making it easier for customers to upgrade their cellphones more frequently, as long as they're willing to pay more.
The country's second-largest cellphone carrier says it's introducing an option called AT&T Next on July 26. Instead of paying, for example, $200 up front to buy a smartphone, customers would pay monthly installments of $15 to $50 on top of their service plan, depending on the device.
The new plan is designed to satisfy customers who want the latest and greatest devices. The traditional two-year service contracts get in the way of annual upgrades. Last week, competitor T-Mobile US Inc. introduced Jump, which provides device insurance and more frequent upgrades for $10 a month.
Under the AT&T Next option, customers can trade in their phone after a year and get a new one, paying no upgrade or activation fees. As an alternative, they can stop paying the installments after 20 months and keep the device.
AT&T says a Samsung Galaxy S4 phone, for instance, would require monthly installments of $32, or $640 over 20 months. At that price, the installment plan makes for a far more expensive phone than one bought for the usual $200 upfront fee.
A customer who trades the S4 in after a year also loses money compared with someone who buys the phone for $200, then breaks the contract after 12 months, pays the early termination fee and sells the phone to finance a new one. With the installment plan, the customer pays $384 in a year. Without it, the customer pays $478 for the phone and for activation, termination and upgrade fees, but can make about $300 of that back by selling the old phone. AT&T Next does eliminate the hassle of ending a contract and finding a buyer.
T-Mobile introduced a more comprehensive change to its plans in March. In effect, it lowered the monthly service fees but introduced installment plans for its phones. The Jump plan announced last week is an extra $10 a month and allows people to upgrade up to twice a year. The customer must pay the $100 upfront fee for each new phone. There's a deductible of up to $175 if the phone is lost, doesn't work, has water damage or has a cracked screen. (AT&T Next does not have an insurance component.)
With Jump, customers break even when they replace at least every 16 months. At that point, a customer would have $160 left in installment payments, and Jump would have cost $160 in monthly fees. A person who upgrades the maximum of twice a year benefits with Jump over the regular installment plan, but would still pay $540 extra over the course of two years, compared with keeping the same device for two years. That's $300 in upfront fees for three additional phones and $240 for the cost of Jump.=


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After Zimbabwe, people have started to blaze the horns and expecting other dictators to fall. Well, I am humbly saying, I hope so, but don't expect so. Unless, there are vital changes, unless they lose their support and their weapons behind them. If the support and armies are not behind them, than the Robert Mugabe story can be repeated elsewhere. But it will be different from state to state, from president to president. As each President has built around a stronger or weaker system of orders, strength of institutions and also personal cult around themselves. We also know they are using their myths and their state media to serve their interests.
President's that I will honor with a mention are Joseph Kabila, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Pierre Nkurunziza, Faure Gnassingbe, Hailemariam Desalegn, Isias Afwerki, Omar Al-Bashir, Idriss Deby, Paul Biya, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasango, Mahamadou Issoufou, Paul Kagame and Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. These are a list of honorable mentions, there several more that could be put on a list, but these was the first to mention, if feel someone is left behind. Please leave that in the comments down below(I know that sounds like a Youtuber, but I had to take inspiration from somewhere).
All of these men in their republics knows that they use power and security organizations to quell, silence and oppress their opposition. They are keeping control of the state reserves and has their party as filled of loyalists and cronies. All of this states are militarized, there is state controlled media and has various of different rules. They are strict and controlling from the state houses and the freedom in these states are limited. The state and business are usually connected with the President and his family. If not there are cronies who also have business and fortunes. So the dictators are for the moment having control and making sure the people is not uprising.
What we can know is that if these dictators take it to far and the fear for the repercussion from the state. So as long as the public and opposition are detained for arbitrary arrests and citizens hurt after demonstrations. While the state reserves and donor funds are eaten by the elite, while the countries are kept poor. As long as the republic's are poor, than they still need more foreign donors and supply. So it is good for the dictators to keep their nations poor, as the Western and Multi-National Organization can continue to supply them with non-binding funds. That they are free to use on military and one themselves, instead of building institutions and good governance, it is all controlled by the one man on top and his loyal subjects around.
This is well known and for different reasons, these men should always worry about their decisions and their capacity to rule. Nothing last for ever. There will be some who might want to take their place and replace them. Someone will always be opposition and fight for democratic values, but sooner or later they will succeed. It is just a matter of how and how long it takes.
They are all based on strong military control, even minor specialized groups who are like Presidential Guards/Republican Guards or Special Forces. These are controlled usually by either relations or trusted generals, who are loyal not to turn against the President. The Presidents promotes and demotes leaders inside their armies often, the same in the police force/service to compensate and also to make sure the old guard of warrior and soldiers who fought for the President. Will not be seen as a threat or have power to ever topple him. That is why they are trying to distance themselves from the ones who brought them to power, because they will know their inner-tactics; that is why the stalwarts and historicals are more public personas, but not people of power. Even if they did have so in past.
That is done to secure the role and secure the commander-in-chief, even the President always need the historical battles and origin story to keep himself relevant and prove his place. He don't needs ones who fought with him and his cause. They will just ask for checks- and balances on the promises made in liberation and in the battles against previous oppressors. That is why they are not entangled with these, unless they give them phony medals and grant money, to hopefully silence them.
Still, with all the protocol and strength of the army, they are still vulnerable as they know this too. That why they are calculating and trying to find out the next person who wants their role and their positions. Which is why there are changes in their cabinets, Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers. Until they find persons and people they trust to not ambitions to overpower them. Also, they want to stop other MPs and other voices to install hope in the population and to create popularity that is bigger then their personal cult and their teachings.
However, there are ways to bring them down by actually not fearing the state security organizations, waiting for the President to act swiftly without feeling the tensions within his own party. Like President Robert Mugabe did recently. If not actually know you have lost all legitimacy in recent elections, but not willing to step down like Yayha Jammeh. That was ECOWAS and Senegal who intervened on behalf of the newly elected President. Which was the reason for the dictator ending in Exile recently.
Therefore, we have to hope for leaders who have capacity to capture the pulse of the people who are oppressed, of the ones who are marginalized and the ones who are captured by the state. Since the dictatorships doesn't give up easy, unless there is no escape. History has learned us that and therefore, the lesson needs to be learned. We in our time cannot give in and accept that the liberty, freedom and government are taken by one elite and one ruler.
Certainly, it will not be easy, the fight against oppressors will cost and take time. That is proven time in and time out. The same will happen here, but with their aging and their lack of control. Their trust in family members and trying to create family dynasties. They might fall like Mugabe. Even if some are sons of former presidents. Doesn't mean they can continue owning the title and running the state. It is proven that is not accepted and that is all within reason. This is what happen in Zimbabwe and we understand if similar events transpire elsewhere.
In the end it is all up to the public for change, the public reactions and their demonstrations, boycotts and their inner works to dismantle the oppressive dictatorship. Often the international community and international counterparts will not intervene as they wants mineral resources and other commodities for cheap; and as long one partner can be bribed, the workers and resources don't need to paid-in-full or proper. This prospers foreign investments and multi-national companies. This is not well-spoken of, but should be revealed, as it is so often shady dealings with resources sold or land to investors from these dictators. They are funding the state and military, that together with aid are keeping these regimes afloat.
With all this in mind, we have to continue the struggle against these men that are keeping people hostage and taking away freedom and liberty, freedom to assembly and to be activists. They are licensing and authorizing businesses and if people are allowed to have parties and civil society organizations. This are all in different ways, the same with the media and other public ways of sharing information. These are often controlled like all else are in society and in the republic.
We can just wonder if we let this repeat itself, let them continue to oppress and letting these multi-national corporations earn on this forms of government. If we can accept that aid and multi-national organizations keeping budgets and keeping them as leaders, because if these leaders would struggle more economically, more loyalists and more cronies would actually deflect quicker. Also, that if the economy struggle and the security organizations are not paid-off. They could instead of turning their weapons against the public, they could turn against the government/regime. So there are many ways together with public uprising that is needed to topple these dictatorships. Peace.


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Japanese LEGO builder Talapz specializes in two things: recreating famous Japanese structures in LEGO, and turning those brick recreations into pop-up books.
It's as if Talapz didn't think building was hard enough. He had to make things trickier.
Above, Talapz does a Todai-ji in LEGO—he even provides a how-to at the end, so get out a pen and paper if you want to build this yourself.
Back in 2009, Talapz got loads of internet fame after making a Kinkaku-ji LEGO pop-up. In the above gallery, you can see that video, which has been viewed over a million times.
Talapz's Channel [YouTube]
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.


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Life with a Mandolin
by, Nov-02-2018 at 5:37pm (3378 Views)
I have so many wonderful contacts and friends that I associate with here on the Mandolin Cafe! Thank you Scott and to all for making this platform what it is. The fact is, it is the means by which I have become a serous student of the mandolin and thus my life has been greatly enhanced.
I am a retired fellow, though at 63, I am a bit young to be so. I am disabled due to a neurodegenerative brain disease and the mandolin is a great friend, comfort and therapy. I have been able to keep using my hands, though my abilities are threatened by a movement disorder which takes movements away gradually and insidiously. For a good many years, I kept playing out, as a member of the church band-- vocally and instrumentally. Also, I was doing my folk/country singer guitarist thing for 5-1/2 years at the nursing homes in our area 1 time each week. We have now had to discontinue. All the more reason to play the mandolin more and more!
My taste for fiddle tunes, Irish songs, traditional songs and blue grass has been growing more and more. Baron at Free Mandolin Lessons Online has been a great help to me. Memorizing as many of those classic songs as possible has expanded my repertoire as well as giving me a means to practice picking and finger patterns essential to growing in technique and improving strength.
As a life-long performer and guitarist, I have had to relearn the use of a pick and the posture and positioning of the instrument as so much is different. I realize this more and more.
I just love the form and sound of a mandolin. I fell in love first with my old Gibson A, whose sister instrument, a second Gibson A "Teens", that had been in the family has now come to me. The second was better than the first-- louder, more resonant, a wider nut and great action. Weirdly, this 1912 has a 1940's Gibson decal on the headstock. The serial is clearly teens and legit, so I assume some factory work was done at some point more than 75 years ago! In addition, I loved the F5 instruments and found my 2001 Nashville Flatiron Festival after a long search and trying a variety of instruments. It is the consummate blue grass mandolin in the under $3,000 price range-- not to compare because I am sure others have great love for their own F5!
Finally, the A5 style has become my favorite shape and feel for an all purpose mandolin. I have owned a few, and my friends have teased me for going through a lot of mandolins. My other hobby is buying, intonating, polishing guitars and mandolins and selling them. My road has come to an end for a variety of reasons on that hobby-- I am now very content with my old 1976 Guild D55 I have owned since she was new, and my National M-2 Resonator that my first cousin Don Young, National-Resophonic President and Co-Founder, built and set up for me several years before he passed. He was a good and humble man, full of humanity! I miss you old pal!
My A5 is a Collings MT with a wide nut, a gloss top and white top binding. The headstock on those is also glossed, which is a feature I really like and it is a subtle but noticeable difference. The wide nut really serves me with my big hands or "large paws" as my friend Pat Heffernan refers to them. The action and feel of the wide radiused fretboard with the soft V shaped neck is a great combination for improved speed and accuracy. The frets respond so well to my D'Addario Monel 11-40 strings. The Blue Chip CT pick is not a necessity, but this combination has become my rig that has replaced most of my guitar playing (not all, not ever) with daily mandolin practice which runs 2-3 hours.
Thanks Scott for the MC! Thanks friends and mandolin heroes! Thank you for the many contributors to the mandolin tab section which I have gleaned much from and thank you Baron at Free Mando Lessons for the instruction.


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Water bottle with the Skipstone logos. These are 20oz double wall insulated bottles.
You have a choice of yellow or black. Please leave your color choice in the order box with which logo.
Welcome to Cash and Boone. We are a family business located in central Georgia offering many personalized products. Our company can personalize stainless steel tumblers, wooden signs and cake toppers. We also specialize in wedding party gifts. Such as, flask, stainless steel wine glasses and personalized key chains. A public safety family that has served as a Firefighter and Paramedic for over 25 years. If you have an idea for a custom product you'd like us to make, please send us a message and we will answer you promptly. Our normal business hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Thanks for trusting us with your home decor and gift needs.
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Message me if you have any issues with any products. We do not accept exchanges or refunds on personalized products. Please be sure spelling and/or initials are correct when placing your order.
Our Home page is located at www.cashandboone.com
We also have an Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/cashandboone.
Thank you for visiting Cash & Boone.


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European voters are rejecting further fiscal restraint, showing the door over the weekend to former austerity-imposing politicians in Greece and France. In a similar spirit, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is now calling for a "growth pact" to replace the "fiscal pact" demanded by Angela Merkel's government in Germany.
What Europe's voters and its central bank are coming to recognize is that unremitting fiscal austerity measures are the wrong prescription for what ails the European economy. Instead of curbing budget deficits, they're actually exacerbating the continent's economic problems.
Economics textbooks will tell you that hiking taxes and implementing draconian spending cuts will lead to government's running smaller deficits. But in practice, as we're seeing across the eurozone right now, those measures can be self-defeating. Rather than helping to wrestle down budget deficits, brutal fiscal austerity measures are actually choking the life out of much of Europe's economy. Since tax revenues are a function of economic activity, lifeless economies are making it that much harder for countries to stave off recession. In Greece, for instance, the budget deficit isn't getting any smaller. The only thing austerity measures are shrinking is the country's GDP.
Europe is mired in a quagmire of financial bailouts, budget deficits and austerity measures, bleak circumstances that have already fostered social upheaval and are now ushering in political change. As I argued in this space last week, sovereign debt defaults won't be far behind. To avoid this fate, Europe has its hopes pinned on a single magic bullet—growth.
If a strong-enough economic recovery were to take hold, Europe could grow its way out of its huge fiscal deficits and save the monetary union from collapse. That's a good plan in theory, but the complication facing Europe, and indeed the rest of the world, is that it takes a lot of energy to fuel robust economic growth. What's more, the most important source of energy for the global economy is oil.
Consider the European economies in the worst shape: Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain. The cumulative national debt of these countries may as well be denominated in barrels of oil instead of euros, because millions of barrels of oil is what will be needed to get those economies growing again. Can those countries afford the cost of economic growth when oil is trading in the triple-digit range?
How much more fiscal punishment can the eurozone endure before countries start throwing in the towel? Without economic growth, there can be only one ending to Europe's debt crisis. Default. Judging by the newly elected socialist politicians in Greece and France that eventuality is a lot closer than financial markets might think.


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BOBST and flat bed die-cutting go hand in hand, after all we did invent the technology with our first Autoplaten® press, the AP 900, introduced back in 1940. From that pioneering die-cutter, right up to today's highly sophisticated production lines, BOBST has continuously developed and improved the technology of the flat bed die-cutting process.
We have achieved this by listening to the feedback of our customers, by investing heavily in research and development, and by accumulating unmatched skills and experience among our people.
The BOBST range of flat bed die-cutters (also called cutter-creasers or punching machines in some countries) is the most extensive available in the market and offers a wide choice of productivity and automation levels, in press widths ranging from a compact 76cm to an impressive 2.1m. Each of the machines in the range offers a level of reliability, versatility, and performance that closely matches the needs of a particular industrial sector or type of business.


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CHICAGO -- Patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA) responded clinically and radiographically as well to tocilizumab (Actemra) monotherapy as they did to to therapy with tocilizumab plus methotrexate, a researcher said here.
Among patients taking tocilizumab, which is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor, the annualized progression rate of radiographic progression was 0.22 by week 24, while the rate among patients treated with combination therapy was 0.08, for a between-group difference of −0.13 (P=0.3304), according to Maxime Dougados, MD, of Paris-Descartes University in Paris, and colleagues.
Changes in joint space narrowing in the monotherapy and combination groups were 0.11 and 0.08, respectively, for a between-group difference of −0.02 (P=0.8325), while the changes in erosion scores were 0.11 and −0.01, giving a between-group difference of −0.11 (P=0.0871), Dougados reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
Another study presented at the meeting found no difference between patients treated with monotherapy or the combination when evaluated at 12 weeks using MR imaging.
Current clinical trials for RA usually follow an "add-on" strategy, comparing patients randomized to methotrexate alone with those given methotrexate plus another agent, which is the best way to evaluate the effect of a new treatment, Dougados explained.
But an important question today is how to manage the 30% of patients who are unable to tolerate methotrexate, or in whom the drug is contraindicated.
"Is it possible to use a biologic as monotherapy in these patients?" he asked.
He and his colleagues are conducting a two-year, double-blinded study that enrolled 556 patients. They looked at outcomes among methotrexate nonresponders who had tocilizumab added on compared with those who switched to the biologic alone.
Their hypothesis was that there would be a 42.5% rate of remission in the combination group and a 30% rate in the monotherapy group by week 24.
At baseline, 80% of the patients were women, the mean age was 53, and mean disease duration was eight years.
By week 24, the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) remission rate was 40.4% in the combination group and 34.8% in the monotherapy group, for a nonsignificant between-group difference of 5.65% (P=0.19).
The percentages of patients who experienced no progression in radiographic Sharp scores by week 24 were 65.3% and 58.7% in the combination and monotherapy groups, respectively (P=0.0871).
Similarly, there were no differences between the groups in disability as measured on the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI).
Changes on this index were −0.56 and −0.55 in the combination and monotherapy groups, respectively (P=0.9323), Dougados reported.
With regard to safety, he noted that the only difference between the groups was in hepatic enzyme levels, which can be elevated with methotrexate exposure.
In the monotherapy group, who were no longer taking methotrexate, alanine aminotransferase levels remained in the normal range in 86% of patients, but the levels were normal only in 36% of those in the combination group.
However, there has not been any clinical toxicity, such as symptomatic hepatitis, at this point, he said.
"This has been conducted as a superiority trial, so the single conclusion we can make is that we failed to find a statistically significant difference with the add-on strategy," Dougados said.
The study is ongoing, he noted, to further assess longer term structural damage and whether it would be possible to have a drug-free treatment regimen.
Dougados disclosed receiving grants and research support from Hoffmann-La Roche, as did a number of his co-investigators.
The study investigators also reported receiving support from a number of other companies, including Pfizer, UCB, Schering-Plough, Merck, Centocor, and Novartis.
Primary Source
American College of Rheumatology
Source Reference: Dougados M, et al "Double-blind study of tocilizumab plus methotrexate vs tocilizumab plus placebo in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis despite prior methotrexate: progression of structural damage, quality of life, and physical function at 24 weeks" ACR 2011; Abstract 2628.


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SSR GTV03 Silver Center Cap
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SR Wheels GT Silver Center Cap
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