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OVERVIEW: What every practitioner needs to know
Are you sure your patient has transverse myelitis? What are the typical findings for this disease?
Rapidly progressive paraparesis that usually affects the legs but may include the arms as well. Often the initial complaint is loss of ability to walk.
Accompanying distinct level of sensory loss. Commonly, it occurs from the mid or lower back down to the legs.
Pain is often present. It can be described as burning or tingling.
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Numbness is also a common finding.
Incontinence involving bladder and/or bowel.
Secondary signs and symptoms
Replacement of flaccidity by upper motor neuron lesion signs, such as spasticity; generally occurs by the second week of illness.
Urinary symptoms may include urgency, inability to void, incontinence.
Thoracic sensory and motor levels are most commonly reported.
Cervical level involvement in children is not infrequent.
Natural history
More than 80% of patients progress to maximal involvement by 10 days after onset, with a range from 4 to 21 days.
Recovery phase from onset of motor recovery to ultimate neurologic level of function may occur over months to years.
What other disease/condition shares some of these symptoms?
Compressive myelopathies
other masses
Non-inflammatory myelopathies
ischemic vascular
Trauma-related myelopathy
Multiple sclerosis – first presentation
Neuromyelitis optica
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (Guillain-Barré syndrome)
Associated diseases
Connective tissue disorders
Behçet's disease
Sjögren's syndrome
systemic lupus erythematosus
Central nervous system infections
Lyme disease
herpes virus
leukemia/lymphoma virus -1
What are the priorities in the diagnostic evaluation?
The FIRST priority is to rule out a compressive spinal cord lesion. In the presence of a suggestive history and physical exam, order a gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the entire spine before doing a lumbar puncture to obtain CSF. (Spinal cord immobilization should be considered when a spinal cord injury is suspected or cannot be ruled out.)
The SECOND priority is to determine whether spinal cord inflammation is present by obtaining and examining CSF and reviewing the spinal cord MRI with a neuroradiologist.
The THIRD priority is to define the extent of CNS involvement. Multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelopathy (ADEM) may be present in this setting. A gadolinium-enhanced brain MRI and visual evoked potentials should be obtained to look for these entities.
Diagnostic concerns
Disc herniations, epidural hematomas, vertebral body compression fractures, and spondylosis are common causes of compressive myelopathy, and may present without an obvious history of trauma.
Timely and accurate identification of these conditions is critical because immobilization of neck and spine to prevent further injury, neurosurgical consultation, and treatment with high-dose methylprednisolone may be required for some patients.
If transverse myelitis is suspected despite a normal spine MRI, re-examine the history, perform another physical examination, and evaluate the MRI with an experienced neuroradiologist and consult with a child neurologist.
How to do I distinguish between transverse myelitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome (acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropthy)?
These two conditions are often confused because both may present with rapidly progressing sensory and motor loss involving the lower extremities. Table I lists findings that favor one condition over the other.
Table I.
|Transverse myelitis
|Guillain-Barré Syndrome
|"pure" paraparesis with corresponding sensory level
|progressive motor loss and weakness involving the lower extremities more than the upper; typically an "ascending" pattern
|Deep tendon reflexes (DTRs)
|usually increased, but may be absent in "fulminant" cases
|usually are areflexic, but may have retained reflexes early in the course
|Urinary urgency or retention
|common early finding
|not typical
|Dysesthetic pain
|may be present
|may be present
|MRI spinal cord
|typically shows an area of inflammation
|no spinal cord inflammation
|CSF findings
|elevation in both protein and cell count (but this is inconsistent)
|albuminocytologic dissociation (elevation in protein beyond first week and cell count < 10)
What caused this disease to develop at this time?
A preceding illness, including nonspecific symptoms such as fever, nausea, and muscle pain, has been reported in about 40% of children within 3 weeks of the onset of transverse myelitis.
The relationship between preceding immunization or infection and transverse myelitis is unclear.
Transverse myelitis may be the first manifestation of multiple sclerosis, but the reported association has a very broad range (6%-43% of cases).
Table II lists the estimated incidence of predisposing conditions for transverse myelitis.
Table II.
|Associated mixed systemic connective tissue disorder
|8% to 16.5%
|Direct infection of spinal cord
|up to 5%
|Vascular cause
|up to 14%
|10% to 45%
What laboratory studies should you request to help confirm the diagnosis? How should you interpret the results?
Obtain cerebrospinal fluid after ruling out a compressive myelopathy.
The absence of pleocytosis would suggest a non-inflammatory cause for the symptoms, such as arteriovenous malformations, epidural lipomatosis, fibrocartilaginous embolism, or possible early inflammatory myelopathy (i.e., a false negative CSF).
The presence of increased protein and increased cells in CSF would support a diagnosis of transverse myelitis.
Although cerebrospinal fluid findings in transverse myelitis are not consistent, and an elevated cell count may be absent, there is usually a moderate lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein level.
Blood tests looking for evidence of a connective tissue or infectious disorder would aid in determining a cause and potential treatment options.
Would imaging studies be helpful? If so, which ones?
Rule out compressive spinal cord myelopathy by ordering a gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the entire spine.
Assess for the possibility of multifocal CNS lesions by ordering a gadolinium-enhanced brain MRI and visual evoked potentials.
This sagittal T2-weighted MRI image shows a hyperintense white area of inflammation in the cervical spinal cord (Figure 1).
Image courtesy of Thierry Huisman, MD
X-rays of the entire spine may be required to assess for vertebral fractures and potential spinal cord injury.
If you are able to confirm that the patient has transverse myelitis, what treatment should be initiated?
FIRST-line treatment after diagnosis is made: Begin high-dose intravenous steroids for 3 to 5 days, followed by oral taper over 1 to 3 weeks.
SECOND-line treatment if no or poor response to IV steroids after 3 to 5 days: Consider initiation of rescue therapy with plasma exchange transfusion.
THIRD-line treatment if continued poor response or if there is a recurrence: Consider other immunomodulatory approaches; however, very little evidence is available demonstrating effectiveness in children, and there is risk for severe associated adverse effects.
Other aspects affecting treatment decisions
The goal of therapy is to halt progression of spinal cord inflammation and minimize its destructive effects on the spinal cord.
The consensus is that high-dose anti-inflammatory treatment provides the best chance to achieve these goals.
The available evidence, which is based on only a few studies, suggests that high-dose intravenous steroids may be effective in improving outcome in children. These studies are limited by small numbers of study subjects and non-rigorous definitions of transverse myelitis.
Low dose oral or intravenous glucocorticosteroid treatment may not be as effective in improving the outcome.
The decision to continue steroids or to add a new treatment is often based on the clinical course and MRI appearance at the end of 5 days of IV high-dose steroid treatment.
What are the adverse effects associated with each treatment option?
High-dose steroids: gastrointestinal symptoms, insomnia, headaches, anxiety, mania, hypertension, hyperglycemia, electrolyte disturbances
Plasma exchange: hypotension, electrolyte imbalance, coagulopathy, thromobocytopenia, catheter-related thrombosis, infection
What about long-term management?
Ongoing management at a center specializing in rehabilitation of children with spinal cord injury is recommended.
If behavioral problems (e.g., anger, apathy, sadness) occur, consider depression, and refer for mental health services.
Table III summarizes approaches to long-term needs.
Table III.
Clean intermittent catheterization
Timed voids
Renal function studies:
-renal ultrasound
-anticholinergic for hyperactive detrusor muscle
-adrenergic blocker for sphincter dysfunction
Monitor for urinary tract infection
Cranberry juice for urine acidification
Urology consultation
High fiber diet
High fluids
Bowel program
– oral
stool softener
– rectal
Digital stimulation
Timed evacuation post meals
– oral
botulinum toxin
– intrathecal
Electrical stimulation
Analgesics drugs; avoid overuse
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit
Complementary medicine
Family and/or individual mental health therapy
Therapist-guided strengthening
Endurance training
– excercise bikes
– electrical stimulation
Energy conservation strategies
Is there a role for nerve transfers?
Microsurgical nerve transfer techniques have been used to restore upper extremity function in TM. Intact distal nerve fascicles from a "donor" nerve are connected to distal branches of injured "targeted" nerves. Best outcomes are noted if this surgery occurs within a year after the onset of TM.
What can you tell the family about potential outcomes about prognosis?
Clinical outcome for children with acute TM is not well understood due to the rarity of the condition, variability in presentation, and the paucity of reliable information.
Most patients experience some spontaneous recovery within 6 months, with additional improvement for up to 2 years.
Approximately 1/3 of patients have little or no neurologic sequelae.
Age at onset under 3 years is associated with a worse outcome.
Factors predicting a better outcome: shorter interval to diagnosis, absence of complete paraplegia, and lower sensory levels by neurologic examination.
A small subset of children with transverse myelitis eventually develop multiple sclerosis.
What causes this disease and how frequent is it?
No preceding factor is identified in 10%-45% of cases.
1400 new cases are diagnosed in the United States per year.
20% of cases occur in persons under the age of 18 years.
The condition affects all ages from infancy through adolescence, with bimodal peaks of 0 to 3 years and 10 to 18 years.
There is no known genetic predisposition.
A preceding infectious process is reported in 47% of cases.
A preceding immunization or allergy shot within 30 days of onset is reported in 28% of cases.
Can TM occur more than once?
Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) may be best described as a demyelinating process of sudden onset limited to the spinal cord that occurs one time and is limited to one site.
About 75%-90% of TM cases fit this profile.
In a minority of cases, a repeat attack on the central nervous system occurs.
The possibility of a recurrent demyelinating myelopathy, such as relapsing transverse myelitis, multiple sclerosis, or neuromyelitis optica, should be considered.
What complications might you expect from the disease or treatment of the disease?
Ambulation or mobility deficit
Incontinence from neurogenic bladder and/or bowel
Sensory deficits consisting of pain and/or numbness
Are additional laboratory studies available; even some that are not widely available?
The differential diagnoses for a child with transverse myelitis are listed above. The number of tests that could be ordered to identify a specific infectious or rheumatologic etiology can be quite large. The clinical context should guide the selection of additional laboratory studies.
How can transverse myelitis be prevented?
Idiopathic acute transverse myelitis cannot be prevented.
Are there variant forms of transverse myelitis?
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) may be a variant form of transverse myelitis. Inflammation of the spinal cord, mostly affecting the grey matter, is present. Clinically, AFM has features suggesting a lower motor neuron injury. This accounts for the weakness and lack of muscle tone seen in these cases. This is in contrast to typical transverse myelitis that results in spasticity and signs consistent with an upper motor neuron lesion. There is disagreement as to whether AFM should be considered a separate entity or be considered a subtype of TM.
AFM is diagnosed in the same manner as classic TM. Clinical exam, spine MRI, and lumbar puncture are required. In some cases, the diagnostic picture can be further clarified by a nerve conduction/EMG study to document a lower motor neuron type of injury.
AFM has been associated with enterovirus infections, specifically the D68 strain. This virus was first identified in 1962 and usually causes respiratory illness. In 2014, a widespread outbreak occurred that included 25 patients with AFM. Although enterovirus has been isolated from respiratory tract secretions, it has not been isolated from spinal fluid. Not all cases of AFM are associated with enterovirus infections.
The treatment for AFM is the same as for TM. Data on prognosis is limited. Recovery is most likely related to the severity of the paralysis at onset of the disease with those who are affected more completely at onset having a worse outcome.
Every child is unique and management decisions should be made in collaboration with a child neurologist with experience in these cases.
What is the evidence?
Key References:
Defresne, P, Meyer, L, Tardieu, M. "Efficacy of high dose steroid therapy in children with severe acute transverse myelitis". J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. vol. 71. 2001. pp. 272-4. (Multicenter controlled study of 12 children receiving intravenous methylprednisolone compared to historic control group of 17 patients. Significant beneficial effects of treatment were reported.)
Dorsi, MJ, Belzberg, A. "Nerve transfers for restoration of upper extremity motor function in a child with upper extremity motor deficits due to transverse myelitis: Case report". Microsurgery. vol. 32. 2012. pp. 64-67. (First case report describing this technique).
Greninger, AL, Naccache, SN, Messacar, K. "A novel outbreak enterovirus D68 strain associated with acute flaccid myelitis cases in the USA (2012-2014): a retrospective study". Lancet. vol. 15. 2015. pp. 671-682. (Describes the rare but severe complication of enterovirus D68 strain resulting in acute flaccid myelitis.)
Kerr, DA, Krishnan, C, Pidcock, FS, Singer, HS, Kossoff, EH, Hartman, AL, Crawford, TO. "Acute transverse myelitis". 2005. pp. 445-51. (This chapter reviews treatment options and provides information regarding second and third tier treatments. It includes an instructive flow diagram.)
Pidcock, FS, Krishnan, C, Crawford, TO. "Acute transverse myelitis in childhood: center-based analysis of 47 cases". Neurology. vol. 68. 2007. pp. 1474-80.
Ongoing controversies regarding etiology, diagnosis, treatment
The primary controversy associated with acute transverse myelitis in childhood is whether it occurs as the result of a neuroimmune response triggered by a preceding immunization. Immunization of a child who has had transverse myelitis is also controversial. In general, the need to prevent serious childhood infectious diseases outweighs the unlikely recurrence of myelitis. This is a situation where individualized clinical judgment should be applied.
Copyright © 2017, 2013 Decision Support in Medicine, LLC. All rights reserved.
No sponsor or advertiser has participated in, approved or paid for the content provided by Decision Support in Medicine LLC. The Licensed Content is the property of and copyrighted by DSM.
- OVERVIEW: What every practitioner needs to know
- Are you sure your patient has transverse myelitis? What are the typical findings for this disease?
- What other disease/condition shares some of these symptoms?
- What caused this disease to develop at this time?
- What laboratory studies should you request to help confirm the diagnosis? How should you interpret the results?
- Would imaging studies be helpful? If so, which ones?
- If you are able to confirm that the patient has transverse myelitis, what treatment should be initiated?
- What are the adverse effects associated with each treatment option?
- What causes this disease and how frequent is it?
- What complications might you expect from the disease or treatment of the disease?
- Are additional laboratory studies available; even some that are not widely available?
- How can transverse myelitis be prevented?
- Are there variant forms of transverse myelitis?
- What is the evidence?
- Ongoing controversies regarding etiology, diagnosis, treatment


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subset: commoncrawl


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Don´t Fix, Don´t Float is a book about credibility, or lack thereof. It deals with questions pertaining to international financial architecture from the perspective of developing countries, emerging markets and transition economies.
Answering these questions is of significance to the national economy involved and, with regard to global finance, often beyond. In the same way that there may never be a pure float, even among key currencies, an instant fix does not provide a fast lane to credibility. Credibility is earned abroad as the development process reinforces institution building in monetary, financial and budgetary matters. Indeed, rules for budgetary adjustment (such as the zero deficit in Argentina or the EU Stability and Growth Pact) are necessary for any exchange-rate regime to deliver economic growth and development. In Don´t Fix, Don´t Float, the case for intermediate regimes is made for five country groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Developing countries, emerging markets and transition economies, together with the OECD area, are facing the consequences of a worsening global economic outlook. In this environment, the development perspective underlying Don't Fix, Don't Float is clearly essential.
Table of Contents
This publication can be purshased from OECD Online Bookshop
Related Documents


text:
The Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE — Forecasters with the National Weather Service say patterns are suggesting New Mexico is in for another warm, windy and dry spring.
The prediction came Thursday as water managers, agricultural experts and forecasters met to discuss the state's drought situation.
Last year marked one of the driest years on record for New Mexico, and nearly a quarter of the state is still experiencing extreme to exceptional drought.
The difference is New Mexico is in a better position heading into the spring thanks to significant snowfall in December and more dustings in the mountains this month.
February has seen near normal amounts of snow and rain, but officials expect the moisture to taper off and begin evaporating.
Meteorologist Ed Polasko says forecasters are now watching for spring storms, potential hot spots for fire danger and top wind gusts.


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Eleuke Concert Full Review37
March 23, 2010 by Tim
Imagine if back in the day when Led Zeppelin was forming and Jimmy Page decided that his main instrument would be a ukulele!!! If that did happen, and Eleuke was making these ukuleles, he would have played it. I think Led Zeppelin would have been even bigger than they were!…….. Maybe not, But it would have been cool to see.
When someone says ukulele most think of the standard design of a 3 inch deep hollow box with a wood neck, with the wood grain showing, and friction tuners. They don't think of a 1/2″ thick solid sparkle blue ukulele with a cut away body, geared tuners, no sound hole, and 3 jacks in the end. But why NOT! Uke players can rock out with the best of them gosh darn it!!! (Gotta keep it family friendly) And with the personal MP3 player input you can rock out along with the best of them without disturbing the whole house when you use the built in amp with your headphones plugged in
Eleuke was nice enough to send me a concert sized eleuke a few weeks ago and below is the full review, enjoy.
Model: CCK100BL-MP3
Concert : 19 Fret
Bridge & Saddle : Rosewood
Nut : Rosewood
Pickup : Eleuke original
Output : 1/4″ Phone Jack, H/P output
Input: MP3 Input with connection cable for your MP3 player to play along with backing track.
String : Aquila
Peg : Closed Gear chrome
Bag : Softbag Included
First look: (4) Its Bright blue, you can't miss it. My 2009 Honda Civic is the same color (Atomic Blue) I like it because it makes a statement. For some it may not be to their liking, but you can get these in a pineapple, natural wood (Really cool looking since they do strips of different wood), and they also come in purple and red. One of the details that is really hard to photograph is the sparkle in the paint. It looks like car paint, which is not uncommon and means that it is a really sturdy finish. With the mother of pearl binding around the edge of the body and fret board it makes it look like a well made instrument that people took care in making.
My only real turn-off is with the headstock. It has mother of pearl inlay around the body and the position markers, but the headstock logo and design is screen printed on in a flat gold. Just takes away from the overall look.
Fit and Finish: (5) When making and instrument there are telltale signs that it is quality. One of them is smoothness of the edges. Every edge has been rounded (Except the bridge where you want it to be crisp). The paint is perfect with no weird blotches. I will say at first I was worried about the paint because it will look kind of dark at the edges when you look at it at an angle. I think this is a two part thing with the sparkle and major thick gloss finish they use.
Other things like the fret board are also just great. The frets are filed back with no edges to catch on. Every joint and part that is not suppose to have paint on it was handled very well. You can tell that it was taped because you can see a small micro space around the fret board at the body from the tape. Not noticeable unless you A) have your face an inch away looking for it , or B) just too picky and expecting a sub $200 ukulele to not have any tiny finish flaws. Either way top notch.
Sound Type : Depends on where you have the tone knob. All the way down it is mellow and muted, all the way up sharp and tinny.
Intonation: (4) The intonation is not perfect, but I have yet to find a ukulele that is perfect from the factory. With a professionals help it would take a little time to shape the saddle to make it perfect. The only people that would notice are those who are crazy sensitive to pitch. No matter where you play on the fret board it will sound really awesome and right.
Volume: (NA) How big is your amp? Unplugged you can hear it, kind of, it is a solid body electric. If you plug this baby into a Marshall double stack and crank it, you could level a house, if that is how you roll. Don't forget that this has one really unique feature, A built in personal amp. Just plug in some headphones and turn the volume up to make it as loud as you want without disturbing anyone else.
Sustain: (5) Beside the fact that it is an electric, and you can hear the sound as it degrades for longer, it has really good sustain. The Aquila strings have a lot to do with the sound and sustain.
String Height: (Medium-High) Both the nut and saddle are higher than I would like. Not slide guitar high. The nut could come down a mm or two, and the saddle has room also to come down a bit.
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″) Average radius depth for a C shaped neck.
Frets: (5) I measured the fret spacing and found that they are perfect. Along with the frets they are very well dressed with no issues. For the price I was surprised to not to be able to feel the frets from the side of the neck. This is something that shows that great care was taken on the fret board.
Tuning: (4) I know I will get flack for this, but I think ukuleles should come with friction tuners. The ukulele stays in-tune after the strings have settled. Tuning it is very easy with the geared tuners. Perfect ratio for tuning a ukulele. small turns make small changes.
Comfort: (5) The rounded edges, no frets sticking out the side, and the fact that it is very small makes it very comfortable to play. It can sit on your knee while you are sitting. Also has a strap button/amp jack lets you put a strap on it, you just need to tie it to the head on the other side. Very comfortable to play and nothing gets in the way with the cut-out in the body so you can hit the highest notes.
Final Thoughts
I own a Risa solid soprano, so this is not the first electric uke I have played. I love the volume and tone knobs. Very useful when you are playing and need to adjust the sound. The Eleuke is bigger and less compact, but it comes with a great padded clothe case (No kidding at least 2 inches of padding on both top and bottom) and also easier to hold if you don't want to strap it on. Just a really well made instrument for anyone who wants to play on stage, practice without having others hear it, or just being loud for loads sake.
IF this was my instrument I would take it in to have the action lowered. The way I got it was totally playable, I just am really picky. I would also buy some more fun knobs like these that got to 11. The last thing I would do is put a strap button behind the neck where it meets the body.
If anyone asks me what solid body ukulele to buy, I would say that this is my top choice.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
|First Look
|Fit and Finish
|Sound Type
|String Height
|Neck Radius Depth
Ebay $197 w/ free shipping
37 thoughts on "Eleuke Concert Full Review"
Good one Tim. We have to get a cheap one strung for me. Check out Jonah's blog. He's singing now. Maybe it's time to get a family group together. Jonah singing lead with you and Chris as backup. Now THAT's a utube moment!
Good article.
Very informative review- I like the fact that you can just plug headphones in! Sure my neighbours would appreciate it!
Hello, this looks like fun. Thanks for the review and the giveaway opportunity. Can you tell us what the scale length is? I know it is a concert scale but sometimes the length isn't a standard 15 inches. My concert, for example, is 15 1/4″ and a Flea is 15.5″, if I recall correctly. Thanks. I hope this puts me in for the give away.
Oh, by the way, regarding the giveaway: my husband also plays but we share the same email address. Is it cheating for him to respond using our shared address? No worries, if yes. I haven't told him about this yet! Ha!
This looks like SO much fun! Sign me up for the contest please and I would love to show it off to my rock-band friends and impress them.
Sweet ukulele. i had a tenor eleuke, sold it last year because i didn't like the tenor size. the ukulele was great.
that is one beautiful ukulele. i would to own
Thanks for this wonderful gesture, Tim.
Your review was excellent, more detailed than most, and quite balanced.
I love you.
I'm new to the ukulele, and the best one I can afford at the moment is a 26-dollar My First Ukulele…
which is way better than No Ukulele At All…
But I still really hope you'll draw my name when the end of the month comes…. 🙂
Well, if the only problem is a less than inspired headstock and the action's a little high….well that ain't bad!
Not a bad price either. I love the blue. I've been looking for an electric. I've only played acoustic. This could be the one! Thanks for the review.
Eleuke, sounds kinda cute.
Thanks for the review. I found it very helpful. Interesting looking instrument.
I'd love to rock that uke!
I'd rock that!
I need one, to match my Atomic Blue, Ukettes-mobile…for sure!!!
Great Review. I would kill for an electric uke. Which is why it would just be better if I got it through a giveaway.
Nice review shame about the colour, same colour as my PT Cruiser, but not the best for a ukulele. still a nice shape and I am sure an even better sound. Dave
Hi – please add me onto your possible list to win the electric uke. I already own a little soprano (not a person with a very high voice … actually, that's me!) and I take it into schools when I'm singing with the children and they absolutely love it. I reckon they'd be pretty wowed with an electric one. Thank you!
Kaz x
This thing looks pretty sweet, especially the headphone jack, I haven't seen that before. Getting one of these would definitely inspire me to practice as much as I tell myself I should…hint hint.
This is a cool little number, and I like the review. However, I am curious to know your thoughts on the overall action of the strings. I know you stated they are a bit high for you tastes, but how was the action? Granted, this can vary depending on the strings used. From the photos, these are nylon strings. Makes me wonder how it would sound with steel wound. Just a thought.
Thanks for this review. I'm thinking of getting one of these, and I appreciate your opinions.
Great Ukulele thinking about getting one of these but stuck with a regular mahalo.
Cool! I've been tossing around the idea of getting one of these so having a first hand review has been very helpful.
thats awesome that there can be headphones. means you could plug it into anything that takes headphone jack. i could use my tv out cables and play uke on the tv. so many possibilities
It is a beautiful Ukulele. Have heard nothing but great things about them. The only concern is what happens when friends drool gets on them as they are admiring it. Shock?????? *grin*
Have a Great Day,
I've always wanted one of these.
Awesome idea!
I think these are great ukes, and would love to win one for my kids!
This is a cool Ukulele. I'm picking up the Ukulele for my band.
Just a newbie here but I need this uke to practice in my rabbit warren of an office! I do not want to disturb my office neighbors. I just began a faculty uke group called "Ukebox" and I need to stay a week ahead of them. They are rabid fans of ukuleles now! Thanks for the review! I am impressed!
this is amazing
imagine if bob dylan walked out with this puppy !!!!


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Are you a stable person? A little crazy perhaps? Fun-loving? A risk? Dangerously volatile? How do your friends see you? It's all in your Facebook profile photos. This visual guide dissects everything that there is to know about Facebook portraiture.
The flowchart seems quite complete, although I'm missing the Drunk > Half-naked > Biting > Random Swedish blondes branch. Talking about drinking and Facebook: Does anyone have Mr. Aaron Sorkin's Facebook profile? You know where to send it. [Fast Company]


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It's hard to believe that Samsung is a Korean company since one of the key pieces of its strategic playbook seems to come straight from classic American product marketing: Make it bigger.
First Samsung took its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S series, and gradually ramped up the screen size from 4 inches to 5 inches. Then it introduced a new, even bigger smartphone, the Galaxy Note, which has gone, over three generations, from a 5.3-inch display to a 5.7-inch one. And now comes the Samsung Galaxy Mega, whose comically large 6-inch screen gives it a display that's almost as large as those on mini-tablets such as Google's Galaxy Nexus 7.
Samsung's move into larger screen sizes represents an intentional effort to blur the lines between smartphones and tablets, creating a whole new category of devices sometimes called "phablets." I'm not a fan of them; I found both of the first two models of the Galaxy Note, one of the first phablets, to be unwieldy and unsatisfying.
But Samsung has found a market for such devices, and the Mega is, in some ways, the next step in their evolution. With the Mega, Samsung has created a gadget for folks who want both a smartphone and a tablet, but can't afford two different devices.
Unfortunately, the Mega fails at this dual mission. As you might expect, given its jumbo size, the Mega is even more unwieldy and uncomfortable to use and carry around as a phone than the Note. While it works much better as a small tablet, you can find much better tablets on the market that cost little more up front and don't come with a pricey two-year service contract.
The Mega looks like a super-sized Galaxy S4. It has a similar shape, with similarly rounded corners and edges. And it's actually as thin as the svelte S4. Regrettably, it also comes with the cheap-feeling thin plastic back that Samsung put on the S4.
But that's not the only design shortfall of the Mega. If you intend to use it as a phone, its sheer size is a problem. It's too big to fit securely in a shirt pocket or comfortably in a front pants pocket. Unless you have mammoth hands, you'll also likely find that it's simply uncomfortable to hold up to the ear to talk on. And you can forget trying to text with one hand.
Samsung is marketing the Mega as an affordable large-screen smartphone, which is a way of saying the company scrimped on many of the device's components.
For example, the Mega's large screen is a relatively low-resolution one, with lower pixel density than not only the S4, but Google's Nexus 7. In comparison with those devices, text, graphics and video will be less sharp on the Mega.
Overall, I like the Mega as an ultra-mini-tablet. But I'd like it a lot more if it didn't come with a two-year contract — and wasn't pretending to be a phone.
Contact Troy Wolverton at 408-840-4285 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Honda releases (just in Japan for now) a car made for women. Unlike all those other cars which I guess they make for men.
From "Wheels": "Honda has revealed a new pink Honda Fit with a special "She's" model trim designed to target the female demographic." It lets in fewer skin damaging UV rays and has a air conditioning designed to keep skin soft.
Read more here. Excuse me while I go barf.


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Early in Thomas Harris' book The Silence of the Lambs, investigator Clarice Starling explains to jailed psychopath Hannibal Lecter how the serial killer "Buffalo Bill" got his name: *"It started as a bad joke in Kansas City homicide. … They call him Buffalo Bill because he skins his humps."
If only serial killer nicknames were always that clever. As another body discovered on a Long Island beach was identified this week, Suffolk County police continued their search for the killer or killers. At the same time, another, equally frantic search was under way: the search for a good nickname.
New York tabloids and websites have flirted with nicknames such as the "Long Island Ripper," the "Seashore Serial Killer," and the "Burlap Sacker" (several victims were found in burlap sacks). But none have caught on. "Somebody floated 'Sack the Ripper,' but … the parallels between this person and Jack the Ripper, I mean, they're not there," a writer from the New York Daily News told the Atlantic.
How do serial killers usually get their nicknames? They almost always originate with the tabloid media and are usually a relatively uncreative combination of location and crime. The "Boston Strangler" strangled people in Boston. The "Axeman of New Orleans" killed New Orleanians with an ax. The "Skid Row Slasher" … you get the idea.
Occasionally, nicknames will originate with the police or federal investigators, as in The Silence of the Lambs. The "Unabomber," who sent bombs to university professors and planted one on a plane, got his name after the FBI dubbed the still-unidentified suspect the "University and Airline Bomber," with the FBI code UNABOM. But for the most part, law enforcement leaves the naming up to the tabs.
Sometimes the media get creative. The more supernatural-sounding, the better. The American serial killer Albert Fish was called the "Werewolf of Wysteria" because of rumors that his lust for blood became particularly acute during a full moon. Poland's "Red Spider," who left the mutilated bodies of 11 women in the woods near Warsaw, was named for his "spidery" handwriting. Serial murderer Charles Schmid was known as the "Pied Piper of Tucson" because of his charisma and popularity among local teenagers. A nickname doesn't even have to make sense: Fritz Haarmann, a German man who killed 27 boys and young men between 1918 and 1924, was called the "Vampire of Hanover" mainly because it sounded scary. Headline writers may riff on the nicknames of past killers, resulting in monikers like "Jack the Stripper."
Sometimes it takes a few tries to find a name. Jack the Ripper was at first called the "Whitechapel Murderer," then "Leather Apron" after a local shoemaker became a suspect. When Richard Ramirez started invading homes and killing women around Los Angeles, he was first dubbed the "Valley Intruder" by a police officer, and then the "Midnight Stalker" by local papers, before "Night Stalker" stuck.
The most original—and lasting—nicknames tend to come from killers themselves. "Jack the Ripper" came from a letter sent by someone claiming to be the killer to the Central News Agency of London. (Some consider that letter a hoax.) In his letter to Jimmy Breslin of the New York Daily News, David Berkowitz suggested he killed his victims to please someone named "Sam" and signed his name "Son of Sam." The "Zodiac" killer announced himself as such when he phoned newspapers and signed his letters with a signature crosshairs symbol. Wichita killer Dennis Rader, frustrated that his murders weren't getting national media attention, started writing to news outlets and signing his letters with the words "bind, torture, kill," or "BTK." It worked.
Not all killers get nicknames. It usually depends on whether they're ever "at large," says Harold Schechter, a professor at Queens College of the City University of New York who studies serial murder. If the suspect is already known, there's not much point in giving him a mysterious moniker. The numerous victims of John Wayne Gacy, for example, were only revealed after he was caught—at which point, law enforcement knew his name. (Some papers called him the "killer clown," but he's best known by his real name.) Same with Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, who despite numerous perverse crimes—Dahmer ate his victims, while Bundy engaged in necrophilia—are usually referred to by their given names.
For aspiring serial killers looking for a snappy nickname, the lesson is twofold: If you want a good name, come up with one yourself. And don't get caught.
Correction, May 11, 2011: This article incorrectly stated that Lecter explained the nickname to Starling. (Return to the corrected sentence.)


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Accent Shades
An inspiring new edition of Silhouette Accent Shades
SunglassesAccent Shades
An inspiring new edition of Silhouette Accent Shades
The popular Accent Shades range is expanding to include two new sunglasses models. Inspired by the shape of the Peruvian giant blue morpho butterfly, this collection will now feature one all-new model for women and one for men. The new frames for women will still feature the iconic butterfly shape, but will be adorned this season with stylish cutouts in the intricate full-rim design. The new model for men features a hip round aviator shape with a double bridge that spans the entire upper edge of the lenses. The cutouts are a recurring theme in this model as well, adding to the distinctly cool look. The gold and silver accents on the temples are signature Silhouette, made with the utmost attention to detail which defines this Austrian premium eyewear manufacturer's designs. Both models are made without using screws and offer unparalleled quality and comfort, as well as a classic, timeless look.
e women's sunglasses are available in subdued POL Grey and Classic Brown Gradient, as well as the stylish tones of Glossy Rosé Mirror and Glossy Gold Mirror. The men's model comes in POL Grey, POL Green, Classic Grey Gradient or Blue Mirror Gradient. Each of these models can be custom-fitted at Silhouette's in-house lens lab with optical sun protection lenses from Silhouette Vision Sensation®. Alongside high quality and innovative design, functionality and protection are the focus for all Silhouette sunglasses. The patented Silhouette Light Management® technology is a perfect example of this. It offers unprecedented protection against harmful UV rays and blue light. The specially developed transmittance ranges of Silhouette's lenses provide a pleasant brightening effect and brilliant, high-contrast color vision, along with perfect anti-glare protection.


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The MLB draft in taking place today through Wednesday. It's a big draft for the Mets, who have the 13th pick in the first round, for a variety of reasons. It's the first draft for Paul DePodesta with the Mets. He's Sandy Alderson's protoge and amateur and minor league expert.
The Mets also appear headed toward a rebuilding process so building through the draft is going to be critical. There are several big contracts like K-Rod, Carlos Beltran, and Jose Reyes that the Mets are poised to trade away this season. Combined with the Mets financial problems, building through the draft and farm system would be the likely emphasis for the organization.
I'm certainly not an amateur player expert so I wanted to put together some links this morning that would allow you to keep up with the best draft coverage over the next three days.
Here are the links:
Jonathan Mayo – MLB amateur player expert


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Though the plot of Natalia Kills'new single, "Kill My Boyfriend," is a bit morbid, a taste for murder hasn't weakened the British pop singer's love of fashion. In the music video for the track (after the jump), Kills runs around Paris looking drop dead gorgeous in Stella McCartney, Yves Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, Alexander Wang, Karen Walker and Jeremy Scott—among others. It's by far the most fashion-savvy music video of 2012—and is made all the more impressive considering that Kills styled the entire video herself. ELLE.com spoke with the singer to find out which pieces she kept for herself and why she picked up a few new curse words in French.
ELLE: By my count you wear 10 different outfits in the four-minute video. Why so many outfit changes?
Natalia Kills: Really? Why, I never noticed! It's not a soap opera storyline where you'd wear the same outfit for the whole episode for continuity. If the scene changes, the outfit should change according to the intensity and intentions.
More From ELLE
ELLE: How would you describe the look you're going for in the video?
NK: Someone recently described me as the "rock'n'roll Audrey Hepburn," which I thought was funny, so I suppose that would be one way to refer to my style. I've always flirted with vintage, but for me the mid-century modern era was the best; everyone took a great deal of pride in their appearance, and I relate to that so much, being a perfectionist and all.
ELLE: Which of the outfits in the video would you say is the most "you"?
NK: It's all me. I couldn't even leave the house if something didn't feel "me"—I'd just be uncomfortable or self-conscious. My favorite look is the leopard print Peter Pan collar shirt and Miu Miu glasses, where I slice the guy's eyeball open with a razor blade. And I loved wearing those Walter Steiger shoes and YSL jackets.
ELLE: Did you keep anything from the shoot?
NK: That's always a dream come true! Yves Saint Laurent are very good to me and I also enjoy going to their shows [during] Fashion Week, so it was nice to have some pieces to live with for a while. Some of the things I wore were from my own collection, mostly the Karen Walker sunglasses and all the Alexander Wang pieces. Oh, and the vintage, too.
ELLE: What was the vibe like on-set?
NK: I had a great team. We shot the video in Paris, so we had a full French team—besides myself and Kesh (the visionary artist/creative director), nobody spoke a word of English. But we got to practice our French; it's always fun to learn new curse words!
ELLE: How hard is it to juggle both singing and styling responsibilities?
NK: I'm not a stylist, I'm just a girl who writes songs about the injustice that love really is, and I wear clothes that match my mood. Maybe most of my clothes are vintage because deep down I want to go back to the days where a woman's choice [of] lipstick and perfume on a pillow meant something special to men, and to ladies, too. I refuse to accept that those days are gone. So of course, when we shoot I'll bring along my latest finds, but it's all about making the vision come alive.


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SINGAPORE – 14 November 2016 Panasonic today announced the launch of the Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1, the world's lightest1 fully rugged handheld tablet. Its smallest Toughpad™ device to date, the 4.7-inch Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 handheld tablet can be easily held and operated in one hand. It weighs well below 280g1, and comes packed with productivity features in an ergonomically-designed case. With its integrated angled rear barcode reader which enhances user protection and productivity, this device is well-suited for workers in the logistics and transportation sectors.
"The Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 significantly raises the bar for the handheld market. It combines the best of handheld, smartphone, and barcode reader functionality into an all-round rugged tablet which offers ultimate flexibility, portability, and productivity to meet the varied needs of the mobile workforce," said Yasuhide Fukunaga, General Manager of Toughbook™ Solution Team, ASEAN. "The Toughpad™ FZ-N1 builds on the legacy of Panasonic's industry-leading rugged devices which provide all-inclusive innovative solutions for professionals working in the toughest business environments."
Angled rear BCR for protection and productivity
The angled rear barcode reader on the Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 reduces the risk of repetitive strain injuries by removing the need for users to bend at the elbow or wrist when scanning. It also enables users to read the device screen while scanning, so workers can complete the process faster than when using a traditional straight line barcode reader. In addition, this Toughpad™ comes with barcode reader activation buttons on either side of the device, making it easy to use by left- and right-handed workers.
Equipped with a 4.7" HD capacitive multi-touch daylight-readable display, the Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 handheld tablet is designed for use by workers in bright sunlight or in the rain, and those who need to operate touchscreens with gloves. In addition, the optional passive and active pens allow for more accurate signature recording and recognition capabilities.
Voice and data on the move
The Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 handheld tablets are equipped with both 4G LTE / 3G data and voice communications. These slim 16.3mm devices are well-equipped for phone calls in noisy environments: they each come with triple microphones for superior noise suppression and dual front speakers delivering up to 100 dBA for enhanced sound clarity.
To ensure mobile workers are always connected, the handheld tablet has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity. It also comes with an 8MP rear and 5MP front camera for document capture and webcam use, as well as a micro USB port, micro SD card slot, and dual micro SIM slots1.
The Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 runs on Android™ 5.1.1 with the Android™ for Work functionality, providing IT departments peace of mind by enabling them to separate business apps from personal apps on the device, thereby easing data security and management. The device is powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Quad-core CPU with 2GB RAM and 16GB of Flash storage for greater worker productivity.
Coupled with a standard battery and an optional extended battery targeting to deliver up to 8 and 16 hours continuous operating time1 respectively, the Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 handheld tablet is built to last.
Rich set of accessories
The Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 handheld tablet is launched with a range of support accessories, including a hand strap, cradle, holster, charging cradle stand, and an extended battery.
The device also comes with its own vehicle docking solution, designed in-house by the Panasonic Global Docking Solutions team. The dock has been ergonomically designed using composite materials for the perfect combination of lightweight and durability, and allows for single-handed docking and release.
Rugged yet user-friendly
This lightweight and ergonomic device draws upon Panasonic's market-leading heritage for ruggedness with a MIL-STD-810G certification, an IP67 rating for dust and water submersion, 1.8-metre drop resistance and the ability to withstand as many as 1,000 tumbles from a height of 1 metre.
Pricing and availability
The Panasonic Toughpad™ FZ-N1 Android™ 5.1.1 handheld tablet comes with a standard 3-year warranty, and will be available from November 2016, priced at USD $1,665.
About Panasonic ToughbookTM
Built to enable productivity, efficiency and innovation, Panasonic's ToughbookTM series of rugged, reliable handheld and tablet computers have been changing the way Asian companies do business since 1996. Engineered to perform, the ToughbookTM series is the tool of choice for highly mobile workers who execute mission-critical tasks which require enhanced security, advanced device management and superior connectivity. Whether it's a government looking to stop illegal logging in a rainforest, or a hospital that needs to improve the accuracy of information being captured at the point of care or even an enterprise where service advisors need access to information in the field, more and more organizations are turning to Panasonic to create a truly mobile enterprise. For more information, please go to www.panasonictoughbook.asia.
About Panasonic System Solutions Asia Pacific
Based in Singapore, Panasonic System Solutions Asia Pacific is the B2B solutions division of Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, the South East Asia and Pacific (APAC) subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. Panasonic System Solutions Asia Pacific delivers B2B solutions for government and commercial enterprises of all sizes that cover unified business communications, mobile computing, data storage, security and surveillance, retail point-of-sale, visual communications (projectors, professional displays, digital signage) and imaging network solutions (broadcast and professional video).
1.As of 22nd February 2016, among handheld tablets which have 1.8m drop resistance, 4.7" and over display and dedicated barcode reader.
2.The Japanese model weighs 275g and the European model weighs 277g.
3. At any given instance, only one SIM is active and it can be switched to the other SIM by GUI which means, Dual SIM - Single Standby.
4.Battery life measurement conditions: Wireless LAN connection enabled; continuous access to the server while browsing; swipe every 1 second; page change every 30 seconds, communication every 30 seconds.


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Big Stick, an all-new standalone Sports Romance by R.C. Stephens is AVAILABLE NOW!
"A sexy NHL player, a sassy heroine, and a heartfelt romance that kept me engaged from beginning to end!" — NYT bestseller Mia Sheridan
Hockey is my life. And it's a great one. There's an endless line of women, and I get to hang with my best friend Oli. Everything is perfect until she shows up. Oli's twin sister, Flynn…hates my guts. I don't blame her. I'm part of one of the worst nights of her life.
Now she's next door and seeing her every day is killing me slowly. I wonder if we can ever get back to being friends. The way she looks at me sometimes, well, let's just say my hockey stick isn't the only thing that's feeling hard these days.
But if she finds out the secrets I'm keeping, forgiveness will be the last thing on her mind.
Pre-Order Your Copy Today!
Amazon – mybook.to/BigStickRC
iBooks- https://apple.co/2NZBMTN
Nook – https://bit.ly/2p9TidO
Kobo – https://bit.ly/2LOifZi
Google Play – https://bit.ly/2pcHJTk
Add to your TBR – https://bit.ly/2v1ljaC
Review by Victoria:
When you carefully plan out your future, the loss of that can be devastating. But what do you do after?
About R.C. Stephens
As far back as R.C. Stephens can remember she was a sucker for a good romance. Of course there had to be a prince charming even if he ultimately was a dark knight and there had to be a happy ending.
She watched the movie Dirty Dancing way too many times growing up and Jean Claude Van Damme movies too. Go figure!
After years of saying she would write a book one day, she finally put pen to paper and carved out the plot line for what would eventually become the best selling Twisted Series. Now R.C. is just finishing up her tenth book and can't seem to stop the stories running through her mind. Visit R.C. on her Facebook page to find out what's new in her life and what releases she has coming up.
Follow R.C. Stephens
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/rc.stephens.8/
Website – http://rcstephens.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/rcstephensbooks
Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-c-stephens
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rc_stephens_author/
Amazon – https://amzn.to/2M3otkJ
Newsletter – http://rcstephens.com/newsletter/


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With a wildly off-base prediction record, Morris said Hillary Clinton "might have some trouble ... getting re-elected senator from New York"
On The O'Reilly Factor, Dick Morris claimed that Hillary Clinton "might have some trouble, though, getting re-elected senator from New York, particularly if the blacks give her a primary fight." Morris has made previous predictions about Clinton that have proved wildly off the mark.
Dick Morris -- who has made predictions about Sen. Hillary Clinton and Senate opponents of hers that proved wildly off the mark -- said on the April 2 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor that Clinton "might have some trouble, though, getting re-elected senator from New York, particularly if the blacks give her a primary fight. And that's one of the things Obama's going to hold over her head, that he'll support her for re-election. And she could use that support because she's really alienated a lot of her base."
As Media Matters noted, in columns in The Hill and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and in appearances on Fox News in 2005, Morris repeatedly touted New York Republican Jeanine Pirro's 2006 Senate campaign against Clinton -- asserting, regarding Clinton running for a second Senate term, that, "the first thing I would tell Hillary, if I were advising Hillary, is you're crazy to run for the Senate"; that "[s]he might just take a pass"; and that if Pirro ran, Clinton might drop out of the race. Morris predicted that if Pirro proved to be the strong candidate that he expected her to be, Clinton would drop out. Pirro, however, trailing badly in polls, dropped out of the race on December 21, 2005. Additionally, on the November 6, 2000, edition of The O'Reilly Factor, Morris asserted, about Clinton's first Senate campaign in 2000 against former New York Rep. Rick Lazio: "I think Lazio is, at this point, more likely to win it than Hillary, because, if Hillary is at 48 percent -- or even at 49 percent, or even at 50 percent -- a lot of her vote of minorities, a lot of her -- who have no real reason to vote in the presidential race." Lazio lost to Clinton by more than 12 percentage points, even though he outspent her by nearly $11 million.
As Media Matters documented, on the April 14, 2005, edition of The O'Reilly Factor, Morris predicted Clinton might "take a pass" rather than face Pirro in the election:
MORRIS: Could I just mention one other thought about Hillary, on your previous subject? There is a very interesting fight shaping up in '06 in New York state. Because Hillary, you know has to run for re-election to the Senate before she runs for president.
BILL O'REILLY (host): Right
MORRIS: I personally would advise her to skip it and just run for president. What does she need a re-election fight for? But I've heard that there's some possibility that a pro-choice, pro-assault rifle ban, pro-affirmative action woman might run against her, Jeanine Pirro, the attorney general -- district attorney of Westchester who's on Fox News a lot.
O'REILLY: Yes.
MORRIS: That would be something.
O'REILLY: That's in the air. That's in the air. And you know, but Hillary is so much money. But that would be a competitive race. And if that happens --
MORRIS: Because she -- Hillary needs to run against someone like a [Newt] Gingrich.
O'REILLY: Yes.
MORRIS: Hillary needs to run against somebody like a Gingrich, who's anti-choice, and you know, pro-, anti-gun control. But again, someone who in essence is so much like her on the policy issues, Hillary would find herself fighting herself.
O'REILLY: It would be interesting. But I think Hillary might take your advice, if Ms. Pirro does declare, she might say, "I'm going to run for president."
MORRIS: Yes. She might just take a pass. What does she need to spend $10 million getting re-elected to the Senate for?
Additionally, in a June 6, 2005, article in The Hill, Morris called Pirro "Hillary's worst nightmare," asserted that "Clinton is especially vulnerable to Pirro," and predicted Clinton would "drop[] out of race if Pirro comes on strong":
In New York state, Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro seems to be getting closer to running against her [Clinton] in the 2006 race for the Senate. Pirro has to be Hillary's worst nightmare. She is a pro-choice woman who even backs Medicaid funding for abortion and a supporter of gun control, affirmative action and gay civil unions.
Hillary has always thrived off right-wing challengers who flunk the litmus tests imposed by New York's liberal electorate. But, in Pirro, she has met someone whom she can't browbeat over abortion or the usual Democratic issues.
Clinton is especially vulnerable to Pirro because Hillary can't pledge to serve out her term if she is reelected. Polls show that her refusal to do so strikes New Yorkers very badly. Having extended the welcome mat to this carpetbagger and taken her at her word that she wanted to be part of the Big Apple, they feel they are being treated like doormats in reelecting someone who will obviously begin to miss votes and focus all her energy on running for president as soon as she is reelected.
If Pirro attracts the massive national funding she is likely to get, she can wage a very strong race against Hillary. My bet is that Clinton thinks the better of it and drops out of the race if Pirro comes on strong. Why should she risk the presidency -- and have to spend $20 million -- just to get reelected to her old job?
And ... if Hillary drops out after Pirro has built up a head of steam, it could give the GOP a Senate seat in the most unlikely of places -- Clinton's back yard.
On the August 8, 2005, edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Morris said Clinton would be "crazy" to run against Pirro and asserted that "Pirro's no cakewalk":
O'REILLY: OK, how would you go after Pirro?
MORRIS: Well, the first thing I would tell Hillary, if I were advising Hillary, is you're crazy to run for the Senate. What do you need to spend $30 million or $40 million for, in a race that will probably become a nip-and-tuck race. It'll be within five or eight points. And you win by five points.
And then you go around the country explaining how come I was elected by 12 [percentage points] but re-elected by only five. It's a no-win game.
And what does she get? A Senate seat that she wants to vacate. Whereas - and I would go back to her and I would say, Hillary, do you remember when we were talking in 1990 about whether Bill should run for re-election as governor of Arkansas before he runs '92? And you said he shouldn't because you said he needs the full time to campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire? And do you remember how right you were then? What are you getting involved in this for?
O'REILLY: Yes, but pride? Isn't it pride? Because she's obviously said --
MORRIS: She can be real proud in the White House. And --
O'REILLY: So you would advise her to just not run for the Senate, and say to the people in New York, "Look, I don't want to run because I'm not going to be here for the full commitment. I'm going to run for president." She's not going to do that. What are the odds of her doing that?
MORRIS: Well, that depends on whether she has a cakewalk or not. When it only looked like [attorney and Richard Nixon son-in-law Edward] Cox would run, that was a cakewalk for Hillary.
O'REILLY: Yes. Pirro's no cakewalk.
MORRIS: Pirro's no cakewalk.
O'REILLY: No.
MORRIS: And if Pirro demonstrates over the fall that she can really put the points on the board and really close the gap --
O'REILLY: Raises --
MORRIS: .-- and raises a lot of dough from around the country.
O'REILLY: Right, which she will.
MORRIS: Which she will, then I think Hillary has to look at that again. And she has to say, "One of my big advantages is I will enter this race with an ability to spend $100 million."
O'REILLY: But it looks like --
MORRIS: "But if I've already blown $40 million of that --"
O'REILLY: -- it looks like she's chicken, though, if she doesn't.
MORRIS: No.
O'REILLY: No?
MORRIS: Not if she pulls out when she still has a 10 or 15-point lead, but she realizes it's down from 32. She'll say, "I had a 12-point lead. What do you mean? I was certain to win re-election."
O'REILLY: If she doesn't pull out, do you think it's going to be nasty? You think -- I would -- with all due respect, I know Ms. Pirro. Not well, but you know, I know her. I don't know Mrs. Clinton. I've never spoken to her. But I wouldn't want to get in between those two ladies. Is this going to get nasty?
MORRIS: I don't think so.
O'REILLY: No?
MORRIS: I think that Hillary is going to plant all kinds of stories about Jeanine's husband.
O'REILLY: Do you really think that?
MORRIS: But then Jeanine can basically come back and say, "Why don't we leave both of our husbands out of it?"
O'REILLY: Yes.
MORRIS: "My husband, who served time for tax evasion, and your husband who lost his law license for perjury." And I think that's a pretty effective argument.
Further, in an August 14, 2005, article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Morris called the Pirro-Clinton race a "battle royale" and said "If Pirro posts some early gains," Clinton "may read the handwriting on the wall and she may pull out of the race":
Jeanine Pirro has formally announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate from New York, which will pit her against Hillary Clinton in a battle royale. This is just the kind of fight that Sen. Clinton hoped to avoid.
While Hillary would have no problem dispatching an opponent like Nixon son-in-law Edward Cox or Yonkers Mayor John Spencer (the two other possible GOP contenders), Pirro presents a real problem.
Jeanine Pirro is pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-affirmative action, pro-gay-civil unions and pro-immigration. And, of course, she's a woman.
And, at some point, Mrs. Clinton may feel Pirro gaining on her and wonder if it is worth the battle.
It's worth remembering that Hillary did not want Bill to run for re-election for governor of Arkansas in 1990 as he contemplated a race for president in 1992. (Back then she had a better idea: She would run in his place.)
If Pirro posts some early gains, particularly upstate, where it is cheap to do early advertising, Hillary and Bill may read the handwriting on the wall and she may pull out of the race.
As late as September 21, 2005, Morris wrote in an article published in The Hill that "Hillary has a real fight on her hands," and said Pirro "might just beat" Clinton:
Ed Cox, Nixon's son-in-law, and John Spencer, former Yonkers mayor, were not the sort to confront Hillary with a potent challenge. But now that Jeanine Pirro has declared her candidacy, Hillary has a real fight on her hands.
Already, since Pirro announced -- and despite her embarrassing 32 seconds of silence while she groped for her speech text -- the Westchester Republican, a district attorney, has closed the gap with Hillary. The Democratic senator led Pirro by a gigantic 30-point margin, 61-31 percent, before Jeanine announced. But afterward Pirro trailed by only 55-34.
Armed with the doubts of New Yorkers about Hillary's fealty and protected by her social liberalism, Pirro will make a very effective challenger. She will almost certainly make the race closer than the 12 points that separated Hillary from her 2000 Republican challenger, Rep. Rick Lazio. And Pirro will make her work hard and spend tens of millions of dollars.
And she might just beat Hillary. Which raises the question: Why is Hillary running for reelection to a job she wants to leave? New Yorkers will all be asking, so Hillary might want to ask herself.
Pirro, who was trailing badly in polls, dropped out of the race on December 21, 2005, and announced instead her intention to run for New York attorney general, a race she ultimately lost by nearly 20 percentage points to Democrat Andrew Cuomo.
Similarly, on the November 6, 2000, edition of The O'Reilly Factor, Morris asserted: "I think Lazio is, at this point, more likely to win it than Hillary, because, if Hillary is at 48 percent -- or even at 49 percent, or even at 50 percent -- a lot of her vote of minorities, a lot of her -- who have no real reason to vote in the presidential race":
O'REILLY: Hillary-Lazio.
MORRIS: I think in the New York state's -- in the New York Senate race, it's going to be very close. I'm not sure the presidential race will be that close. I think Bush may win it by a little bit. But in the New York race, it's going to be very close. But I think Lazio is, at this point, more likely to win it than Hillary, because, if Hillary is at 48 percent -- or even at 49 percent, or even at 50 percent -- a lot of her vote of minorities, a lot of her -- who have no real reason to vote in the presidential race.
Gore is going to carry New York heavily. And it isn't up for grabs. And Bush isn't the kind of figure that makes minority voters hang up around -- hang around the polls for hours making sure that they can vote. He's not a scare figure like Giuliani or like Ronald Reagan was. And the anti- Hillary people are very focused on voting. And I think, in a certain sense, when -- in your previous segment, when you talked about the idea that Hillary is running against herself, that is the right strategy for Lazio, because nobody can run against themselves in America today and win.
You have to do a coalition of people that are going to vote for you and against your opponent. And Hillary has not succeeded in painting Lazio as a pro-life, right-wing, anti-gun-control nut. And she needed to do that, so that she could make up for her own lack of popularity with two or three points of anti-Lazio voters. And I don't think she's done that.
O'REILLY: Right. All right, Dick Morris in London, thank you very much.
The following day, Clinton defeated Lazio by 12 percentage points.
From the April 2 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
O'REILLY: If your scenario, your seeing the future comes true, if it comes true, if it goes down the way you say it's going down, basically Hillary Clinton returns to the Senate here in New York. And is she a power player? Or is she just basically a regular senator?
MORRIS: I think viewed from the vantage point of 10 or 20 years from now, she'll be kind of like Ted Kennedy, a sort of liberal lodestar, the one who constantly fights in the, quote, "good causes," kind of the North Star that tells you where liberal is.
She might have some trouble, though, getting re-elected senator from New York, particularly if the blacks give her a primary fight. And that's one of the things Obama's going to hold over her head, that he'll support her for re-election. And she could use that support because she's really alienated a lot of her base.
O'REILLY: All right, Dick Morris, everybody. Have fun in Paris. Say hello to everybody out there. You know how popular I am in France.


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Michael Vick will start Eagles' preseason opener, split time Nick Foles
PHILADELPHIA – Michael Vick will start for the Philadelphia Eagles in their preseason opener against New England on Friday night because coach Chip Kelly says it's his turn to go first in the quarterback rotation.
Nick Foles also will take snaps with the starters, and Kelly says the second-year pro will start the second preseason game. Both Vick and Foles are expected to get between 12 and 20 snaps vs. the Patriots.
The two QBs have been competing for the No. 1 job since Kelly's arrival in Philadelphia. Rookie Matt Barkley will come in after Vick and Foles.
Kelly made the announcement Thursday, saying it had nothing to do with evaluations or performance in training camp so far.


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Gregory Sullivan Isaacs never takes his job lightly, even when reviewing a production specifically designed for the pre-teen set. Here is his take for "Theater Jones" on the Dallas Opera's new production of Georges Bizet's youthful operetta, "Doctor Miracle," and its talented ensemble cast selected from area university programs. Read the review here.
Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR


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Brown, Jim
Brown, Jim (James Nathaniel Brown), 1936–, American football player, b. St. Simon Island, Ga. A football and lacrosse All-American at Syracuse Univ., Brown became one of the greatest fullbacks in professional football history during his career (1957–65) with the Cleveland Browns. A durable player of exceptional power and quickness, Brown led the league in rushing eight times. Elected to both the Professional Football Hall of Fame and the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, he later pursued a career as a film and television actor. He also has been active in promoting black economic causes and working with members of youth gangs.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Sports: Biographies


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Glass is hard to justify when there's a mobile phone at hand. But it becomes more interesting when hands are the issue, as can be seen in Dr. Christopher Kaeding's recent use of Glass during surgery.
Doctors need their hands to operate and drivers need their hands to operate their vehicles. When driving, you shouldn't be handling a mobile phone, if you value your life or the lives of those around you. You shouldn't even be looking at one.
[ We're getting closer to seeing Windows 8.1 on our favorite devices. Read Windows 8.1 Released To Manufacturers. ]
Glass seems like it fits in the category of distracting devices. Google says as much in its FAQs about Glass, noting that whether one can drive with Glass "depends on where you are and how you use it." The company advises Glass users to read up on state laws, since most states have passed laws that ban the use of mobile devices while driving. At the same time, Google has responded to calls for such laws by noting that Glass has "tremendous potential to improve safety on our roads and reduce accidents."
Mike Arcuri, VP of mobile at traffic data company Inrix, has come to more or less the same conclusion. In a phone interview, he explained that people at his company have been intrigued by the heads-up display in the current BMW 535 and joined Google's Glass Explorer program to see if Glass could be used the same way.
Arcuri said he's been using Glass with custom Glassware in his car for over a week and that he has been favorably impressed. "It seems very safe to me," he said, particularly compared to the "constant temptation most drivers have" to use their phones while driving or waiting at traffic lights.
"When I wear Glass, the screen isn't in my eyes and the voice interface is very good," he said. "The cards our app sends are not really distracting. If you do move your eyes up to read, it's less dangerous than fumbling around with an unlock code or struggling to get Siri to understand what you're saying."
Though Inrix on Thursday is releasing version 5 of its free Traffic app for iOS and Android -- as well as dropping the price of premium feature access from $25 to $10 -- it isn't yet providing any Glass integration. But you can get a sense of what Glass-assisted navigation might look like in Inrix's proof-of-concept video.
The company suggests that Glass will allow it to provide services such as re-routing notifications for traffic avoidance, easy image capture and sharable incident reporting, estimated-time-of-arrival messages to friends and family, and even reports of estimated driving time savings.
Arcuri said Inrix isn't ready to release a version of its experimental Glass software. "But as we continue to work with our partners, we're very interested in wearable computing, on-dash displays and other surfaces that can provide drivers with contextual information," he said.


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Pick up the EOS 5D and you'll be surprised by its large size and heavy metal body. Although the shell is made from lightweight magnesium alloy, the casting is more in-line with the maker's pro 1D series.
Despite the lack of a pop-up flash, this new model has a much larger pentaprism and mirror-box. There's a good reason for this, as anyone who has been waiting for this camera will know: the 5D has a 35mm 12.8-megapixel CMOS sensor. It may be £2,000, but the 5D is now the cheapest full-frame device on the market; it's half the price of the only other fullframe digital SLR, the 16.7- megapixel 1DsMk II.
It's still pricey though, and double the cost of the superb 20D. If you already own several of Canon's top-flight L-series wide-angle lenses, which cost over £1,000 a piece, then the 5D starts to look more attractive.
In use, the large 2.5-inch screen is a vast improvement over the smaller types used in Canon's lower-priced models. But, although it's nicely detailed with good colour, it's not a hybrid type so you can't switch off the backlight and use reflected sunlight instead. This a shame, as the monitor washes out in bright lighting. Still, it has wide viewing angles and the size makes scrolling through the menu so more comfortable.
Thankfully, Canon has done away with the old confusing parameter settings in favour of six Picture-Style presets that are easy to relate to, and not unlike the film-type settings seen in the Fuji S3 Pro.
Single slot
Unlike the Canon pro models that have both CF and SD card slots, the 5D has a single Type II slot for CompactFlash or Microdrives. The larger sensor produces stunning images with superb colour gradation. Noise is impressively low and sensitivity is entirely usable up to 800 ISO. Beyond that, colour and contrast suffer and noise becomes pronounced.
At the maximum sensitivity, the equivalent of 3200 ISO is possible when set to the extended range, but some might find the noise levels too grainy for comfort. What's more, fringing was noticeable - even with Canon's highly regarded 16-35mm f/2.8 L-series zoom.
Speed-wise, focusing in low light is a little tardy - there's a pregnant pause before the lens snaps into focus, even using an L-series lens. Some of the controls are awkward to reach, too - it's a shame Canon didn't stick with the successful layout of the 1D series.
But despite these grumbles, the 5D is a truly superb camera that's worth every penny. Users looking for a full-frame device - no longer having to spend in excess of £4,000 - should be happy. Kevin Carter
Via PhotoRadar