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Concert dates, times and locations: (More will be added as they are finalized) Please check back
Thank you to these wonderful businesses for sponsoring the shows and helping make them free for the community:
What is the furthest you have toured?: Furthest west is Alaska and Hawaii, furthest east is Berlin Germany, furthest north is Barrow Alaska, furthest south is Dallas Texas
How do you do what you do?: Balancing work, pleasure, play, fun, creativity, practice, networking
How many songs have you written?: I have written a few hundred. Not all have been recorded.
Do you have any pets?: I have two acquariums with snails, and one terrarium I am preparing for neon tetras
Did you have to go to school to be a musicians?: The kind of musician I am, included a college degree in Chemistry. For myself, I learned that it wasn't just about a higher more challenging use of my brain via education, but about learning to travel amidst many types of circles. A musicians meets all kinds of interesting and fascinating characters on the road.
Susan Galvez Fan
"If you have not heard Barb singing a lullaby in German or yodeling for a king, give your ears and mind a treat and see Barb in concert" ....... those are some of my favorites songs!"...Susan Galvez. Palatine, Illinois
Jeff Videographer
Barb's engaging songs draw people in. Her audience often joins her in joy filled sing-alongs. Barb is also an excellent story teller, she tells amazing facts about her songs in a highly entertaining ways. Barb Sorensen has a vast range and sings in German and English She sings early American and German Folk Songs along with modern Pop Rock and Kids Lullaby's. Barb's informal friendly approachable joyous style is perfect for family gatherings in a park, Historical Re-enactments, and all sizes [sic] concert settings. Heinz Thiel
Kim Parent of Barb's Music class student
She Looks Up To You. Thank you so much for keeping us informed of your career. Gretchen almost cried when she heard your "Snowflake" song! Honest!! She just looks up to you and always has. Kim, United States - 15 January 2006
Joyce & Tony Fans
"My husband and I have been to several of Barb's concerts. We are very impressed with her songwriting abilities and her enthusiasm for performing. Barb loves singing and playing her guitar, and it shows!" - Joyce and Tony T., Downers Grove, Illinois
Keith Fort / Director Screamfest B96 Chicago Entertainment Producer
"Barb is very creative, extremely hardworking, willing to go far above and beyond the norm. Her transformation as an actress was stunning and a wonder to behold. She was always one of the first to offer her time and talents to help promote the show, and I endorse her heartily. Thanks, Barb! and Keep rockin'!"
Neal Reynolds Fan//Author
It's well past midnight as I write this and I can't stop listening to acoustic pop/rock singer/songwriter Barb Kronau-Sorensen's CD "Walk That Mile"! It has that rare quality where the songs are both immediately pleasing to the ear and catchy, yet don't wear out their welcome upon repeated hearings. In fact, upon each listen the songs become even more aesthetically pleasing, while one develops a deeper appreciation of the melodies, instrumentation, and extra layers and levels of meaning to the lyrics. I can't decide if my favorite song is "The Sound of Your Soul" or "Because I Am" -- I like the overall sensuous, Caribbean feel and emotion of "Soul" the best, yet I can't resist the unexpected melodic variations and vocal stylings of the last two and a half lines of each verse of the rockin' "Because I am". "Because I Am" vividly conveys the singer's delight at her formerly stick-in-tne-mud lover's unexpected romantic revival -- which has happily turned her into his fool as well. "The Sound of Your Soul" combines the musical styles of lite jazz and Jamaican music to set a warm, loving mood... a wash of sound that magically conveys the depth of the love the singer feels for her love, as she basks in the glow and feels ever closer to, almost one with, his soul. The CD opens with the infectiously catchy instrumentation of the pop rock song "Walk That Mile", wherein the singer tells of the lesson she has learned, that she has to follow her own path, not those others would choose for her. A familiar lesson perhaps, but one seldom conveyed with as much feel, strength, and good 'ol fashioned rock 'n roll fun than it is here. In fact, from the moment the song begins it is clear that this entire CD is a fully professional quality work of art, from the highly skilled playing and singing to the crisp high fidelity recording with absolutely no background noise -- an impeccable job all the way around. The fourth song on the CD, the catchy dance club style "Possessive Obsession", breaks somewhat with Sorensen's acoustic tradition by using techno-pop studio tricks and electronics -- to good effect. And it's interesting to hear a story of a woman being possessed by love for a change, as we have a tendency to think of obsessive love as a purely male phenomenon. Also unexpected for an independent label is how fully professional the packaging and graphic design of the CD is, with the inclusion of lyrics and several lovely and festive photographs of the singer, whose beautiful voice is matched only by her visual beauty. Anyone who has had the good fortune to have seen one of this very intelligent singer/songwriter's beautiful, energetic (and downright fun!) concerts knows that she has an incredible wealth of original material -- so my only complaint is that only a few them have been recorded so far. Let us hope she gets another CD released soon. In the meantime, if you're looking for a wonderful musical pickup during the winter doldrums (or any time), something that is both romantic, fun, and insightful, I can't recommend a better CD than Barb Sorensen's "Walk That Mile".
440 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 126, Palatine, US 60078


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HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans have agreed to a one-year deal with linebacker Tim Dobbins.
David Canter, Dobbins' agent, confirmed the new deal Wednesday in a text message after announcing it on Twitter.
The 6-foot-1, 236-pound Dobbins played in 14 games last season and started five after Brian Cushing sustained a season-ending knee injury in October. He was also a special teams captain and made 43 tackles and intercepted a pass in 2012, his second season with the Texans. Dobbins missed the playoffs with an ankle injury.
Dobbins joins tackles Andrew Gardner and Ryan Harris and cornerback Brice McCain as unrestricted free agents who've re-signed with Houston. The Texans have also signed safety Ed Reed, punter Shane Lechler and fullback Greg Jones.

subset: commoncrawl


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Views: 924
Mozart was almost the first: he was a freelancer once he moved from Salzburg (and a position under that human turd, Archbishop Colloredo) to Vienna. However, it was a very uneven living and he was a spendthrift. Ironically, he died broke, but if he had lived just a couple weeks more a good amount of dough would have rolled in.
It's astounding to realize that if he had lived a mere 15 more years (he would have been 52, not unreasonable), he'd have been around for Beethoven's 5th and 6th symphonies. There's also some indication in his latest music that he was starting down a path of chafing at classical-era restrictions on form, certainly on the mood of the music. So perhaps he'd have been doing some outre stuff by then too, and you might be lavishing praise on him too. Alas we will never know and no one will every hear a work cataloged "Mozart K. 627." (If god wants to prove there is an afterlife, he can show us that work and the six hundred or so after it.)
Best indications are, BTW, that Mozart didn't take religion seriously. (Some like to claim him as a nonbeliever but I've noticed that a list like that tends to include people who just made the occasional edgy comment, so I'd want to see some solid proof.)
Ravel, Satie and Debussy are my current musical obsessions. Satie was so irreverent, he founded his own religion, and he was it's only follower. I agree, Ludwig paved the way.
I love Beethoven, he left his left his teacher telling him a genius teaches himself! He really is one of the greatest
Hah hah... so many arrogant mediocrities would say such a thing, and be laughed at--they think of themselves as the next Beethoven, but they are wrong. (You run into many crackpot pseudo-scientists too, who will insist they are being picked on just like Galileo...)
Beethoven was no mediocrity however, and could get away with it.
I agree Steve, there are many whackos who think they are some undiscovered genius and then go spewing garbage all over the place.
I listen to Beethoven's symphony No. 9 and all I can do is close my eyes to see the movements. That was one of his best and he was deaf when he did it.
My highly adulterated version of Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2 (aka moonlight). When I was learning to play it; I distinctly recall that it seemed to synchronize with my heartbeat; thus I recorded this...complete with my own di mezzo part.
Good thing I don't believe in spirits.
Regarding the analysis of history, we must always be careful to not let our modern prejudices overshaddow or dictate a clear understanding of the past. As Steve points out, Mozart was a freelance composer long before Beethoven, and it is probable that this would have come to be a normal thing at around the same time with or without Beethoven, due more to the changing social fabric than to any monolithic change centered in the person of LvB.
As with most great figures from history, it was not genius alone that brought Beethoven such great fame, but rather a combination of genius and fortuitous timing, being alive at a time when his aesthetics were in tune with the zeitgeist, that makes Beethoven the towering figure we know him as today. Just as we would think less of Bach had it not been for the Mendelssohn-led revival of his works, it is likely that Beethoven's legacy is not dependant entirely on his works alone. Certainly, the influence of the Czerny=>Liszt school of pedagogy had a huge influence on making the Beethoven 32 such a solid part of the standard piano repertoire.
This is certainly not to belittle any of Beethoven's achievements in music; despite historical distortion, there's certainly a reason we still study his symphonies, sonatas and quartets.
For all the talk about Beethoven being a revolutionary, I think this is flat wrong; it expresses a tainted, distorted version of the more nuanced truth. Someone who wrote music that was too far-out or incomprehensible would be laughed off the stage (and indeed there have been many instances of this in the history of western music). Beethoven's genius was emphatically NOT that he did everything new and different, but rather that he took old things, the system and language his audiences understood, and shaped them in novel ways that exploited their potential in a heretofore unrealized degree. In the same way that Mozart toyed with the sonata form in his late piano sonatas, Beethoven invested classical forms such as sonata and rondo with new meaning, practially creating a new language of formal expectation just in the way he deviated from traditional expectations. The point here, though, is not that he thought of or did things that no one ever had before. Anyone could do that. What took true inspiration was to create such fresh, exciting new products out of the tired old system and have them remain accessible to the audience.
Brian, It's more difficult to "create such fresh, exciting new products out of the tired old system" than to create the so innovative "Four minutes, thirty-three seconds", a three-movement composition by composer John Cage. Your post implies that without Beethoven, there would still be "a Beethoven". I disagree. Honestly, with all the compositional tools at a musician's disposal today, you would expect someone to step up to the plate. No one has. If someone did, would you say it was just fortuitous timing ?
Blaine, you went to the same introductory school of music I went to!...Tom and Jerry has some really good stuff too !


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click on image to enlarge
Maman Brigitte by Claude Saintilius
~~ Our Lady of the Cemetery: Maman Brigitte ~~
The Face of Death
Ruby-red drops of blood mix with the white flour. The strong
alcohol is still burning in her throat. Passion overcomes her,a
yearning, a desperate physical hunger, spreading her legs wide
open, shivering through her body. She wants to embrace...the
Fixing her gaze on the purple candle, raising it high
above her head, she whispers... Maman... Ma mere... An irresistable
urge has her pouring the purple wax over her body
while calling out to HER...
You are walking down the long and sparely lit hallway.
Following a noise, a whisper, the distant echo of MY voice.
It is cold, you are alone and yet you know we are all around -
waiting for you.
Treading on the path of the unknown, you feel fear, my child,
I know.
Be brave, go ahead, follow MY call, open that door.
I am over here, standing below the willow on that old cemetery
Yes, it is music coming out of this crypt. Have a look, go inside,
you will see strange rites but also merry dancing and laughter.
Dance with the Dead, my child! Dance with my children!
Do not take yourself too serious!
I am the Mother of the Dead and we are everywhere. In fact
everyone is a walking Dead.
So why not laugh in the face of Death?
by Jessica Grote ~October 2010 excerpt from Atua


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The White Sox signed veteran shortstop Omar Vizquel to a one-year, $1.375 million deal on Monday, according to a source close to the situation. Vizquel, who turns 43 in April, will be a backup middle infielder. …
With Vizquel on board, the youthful utility tandem of Jayson Nix and Brent Lillibridge has been put on further notice. Guillen spoke at the end of the 2008 campaign as to how Nix needed to make better contact and Lillibridge needed to take greater advantage of his speed to secure their respective roster spots. There figures to be one spot left between the two of them, although even before Vizquel and the White Sox agreed to terms, Nix understood the task facing him.
"My focus is on making the adjustments I need to make and to come in being the most complete player I can be," Nix said. "From there, whatever happens, happens. "If I'm on my game and doing what I'm capable of doing, opportunities will come. I'm just focused on doing what I need to do to help the team more."
Here's the press release.
UPDATE: Vizquel says he won't have a problem accepting his backup role.


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Gaza.. Resilience (life is splendid)
Published by nadiaharhash
Exploring my own Shoes ... somehow my walk , my way ... Being a woman is one thing . One important thing of originally two things. However, living in a global patriarchal dominance makes one thing dominant of another . A lifetime struggle of women resilience for being the one thing they are Women . All the resilience of being a woman is another ONE thing . For being a Moslem woman is another thing . Being a Moslem woman living in an Occupied land is definitely a totally other thing. What if you add divorce to this ? Being a Woman, a Moslem , a Palestinian and Divorced … makes the introduction to living in my shoes… Living in a Shoe of a Woman. PS. English is not my first language.. I know I often need to edit , however, there is something in the power of the 'click send' button.. ever since I did it the first time .. I enjoy clicking directly from my heart...unedited... View all posts by nadiaharhash


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Friday, January 15, 2010
...to the Science Matters blog. I'm happy to have you, whether you've stumbled across this page randomly or heard about it directly. The blog will officially launch on February 1, with regular doses of science activities and other good stuff. So, please set your bookmarks and come back to join in all the fun! In the meantime, check out the Science Matters homepage! See you soon!
Posted by Karen at 9:33 AM No comments: Links to this post
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Arrives in 3-7 Business Days
A veteran waitress dishes up a spicy and robust account of life as it really exists behind kitchen doors.
Part memoir, part social commentary, part guide to how to behave when dining out, Debra Ginsberg's book takes readers on her twentyyear journey as a waitress at a soap-operatic Italian restaurant, an exclusive five-star dining club, the dingiest of diners, and more. While chronicling her evolution as a writer, Ginsberg takes a behind-the-scenes look at restaurant life-revealing that yes, when pushed, a server will spit in food, and, no, that's not really decaf you're getting-and how most people in this business are in a constant state of waiting to do something else.


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Our afternoon starts off with self-guided activities, challenges, or puzzles that lead us to our topic for the day. As a group, we'll observe, investigate, and compare wildlife, their adaptations, and the changes that they undergo each season. Participants may play the role of a zoologist, a naturalist, or even an Arctic explorer throughout this series. Each experience will leave your young scientist eager for the next session.
- This week's program will focus on signs of Spring.
- This program is open to children in grades 1 through 4, aged 6-8.
- Parents are welcome to stay during this program.
- Please dress for the weather since we will go outside in all but extreme conditions.
If you will be dropping off your child, please complete and submit the health form that accompanies your registration confirmation.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013 3:30 - 5pm
Members: $11
Non-Members: $15


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Quest Elementary (BA/MAT) Global & Cultural Studies
|General Education Requirements
|(53 credits)
|Major Requirements
|(30 credits)
Interdisciplinary Humanities Seminar (3 credits)1
Thematic Concentration: Gloabal & Cultural Studies (24 credits)2
Humanities Capstone Seminar (3 credits)3
|Free Electives
|(7 credits)
|Elementary Education Courses
|(30 credits)
Year 1
EDUC1108 Seminar in Professional Practice I
Year 2
EDUC2209 Seminar in Professional Practice II
Year 3
EDUC3403 Field Experience III
Year 4
EDUC3404 Field Experience IV
* Graduate Education courses
Note: please refer to the Humanities major check sheet for the specific general education and major requirements.
Initial Certification
Students must satisfy all core requirements and specific departmental requirements for their liberal arts/science major in order to be eligible for a baccalaureate degree. Students in the QUEST Program must major in a liberal arts/science discipline and will complete 30-31 credits as a concentration in elementary or secondary education. Fifteen of the 30-31 education credits are "dual" credits that count toward the completion of both the BA/BS and the MAT degree. No more than 15 dual credits may be taken as an undergraduate and these are completed during a student's junior and senior years. A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete a BA/BS degree. Students who are unable to complete the required courses as undergraduates will complete them in year 5, or additional time, if needed. QUEST students who complete 15 graduate credits in their undergraduate program must complete a minimum of an additional 21 graduate credits (total of 36 graduate credits) to earn their Masters degree. All Students enrolled in QUEST must meet at least annually with their QUEST advisor to plan for and review FDU program requirements as well as state certification requirements. Students who have not taken a biology, hygiene, physiology or substance abuse course must take the State approved Health Examination to fulfill this certification requirement. Prior to Apprenticeship Teaching, a passing score on the Praxis is required.
QUEST Fifth Year Course Outline Elementary Certification Track
EDUC6743 Introduction to Students with Disabilities School/Community (3)
EDUC6575 Apprenticeship Teaching (6)
EDUC6825 Apprenticeship Teaching Seminar (2)
EDUC7812 Final Project (1-3)
Electives per advisors recommendation (6)
EDUC6584 Computer as Teacher's Aide
During year five, students completing the MAT Degree program may choose electives from one area of specialization, (i.e., ESL, special education, instructional technology); or they may chose from a variety of areas from an approved list subject to approval of the advisor. Students specializing in secondary education may choose up to 6 elective credits. Students seeking dual teacher certification should focus their electives in a specific certification area in addition to their area of specialization.
Students admitted to QUEST in their sophomore year will begin their education specialization courses at the graduate level in the second semester of their junior year. Eligibility for graduate courses in education in Years 3 & 4 will be based upon the following criteria: 3.0 cum GPA, competencies demonstrated by portfolio assessments, and recommendation of faculty advisor.
In order to complete the Master of Arts in Teaching program in 5 years or less, some students may need to take courses in summer and winter sessions in Years 2-5 depending upon their particular program requirements and approval of their QUEST and Liberal Arts/Science advisors.
QUEST students may attend the study abroad program at FDU Wroxton, England in their junior or senior years. Students admitted to QUEST in their sophomore year should plan to attend Wroxton in their senior year unless an appropriate sequence of courses may be planned with the advisor for attendance at Wroxton in their junior year.
Middle School Endorsement: (For those holding elementary certification)
Those individuals desiring to teach on the middle school level (5, 6, 7 and 8) must qualify for elementary school certification with subject matter specialization. In order to do so, the following requirements must be met according to N.J.A.C. 6A:9-92(b)
- Hold an elementary school Certificate of Eligibility (CE), Certificate of Eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS) or standard certificate with an elementary school endorsement;
- Complete study in the characteristics of young adolescents (e.g., PSYC3305 Adolescent Growth & Development);
- Pass the appropriate state test in content area specialization for middle school;
Complete a coherent sequence of courses in , but not limited to, one of the following specializations:
- 30 credits in a single New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS) subject field;
- 15 credits in the subject fields of mathematics, science, social studies and language arts/literacy;


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These are all the News & Announcements posted on Monday, 10 March, 2014.
Friends of the Library
Anyone who loves the library is invited to join the Friends of the Logan Library! The group meets monthly and supports and promotes the library in our community.
When: Second Wednesday of every month, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Logan Library, Jim Bridger Room
For more information, visit the group's Facebook page.
Posted By Logan Library at 8:56 AM in Category:Friends
Link directly to this article.
The Latest News!
Oct 16, 2018
» Community Book Discussion Oct 10, 2018
» The Dead Awaken Oct 5, 2018
» Library Closed Columbus Day


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Adolescent mental and physical health in the English-speaking Caribbean
Salud mental y física de los adolescentes en el Caribe de habla inglesa
Nanlesta A. Pilgrim; Robert W. Blum*
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
OBJECTIVE: Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, a multisystem framework, was used to identify risk and protective factors associated with adolescent mental and physical health (AMPH) in the English-speaking Caribbean.
METHODS: A structured literature review, using the online databases of Medline, PsychInfo, and Scopus, was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies published between January 1998 and July 2011 focused on adolescents ages 10-19 years.
RESULTS: Sixty-eight articles were examined: 40 on adolescent mental health (AMH), 27 on adolescent physical health (APH), and 1 on both topics. Key individual factors included gender and age. Religiosity and engagement in other risk behaviors were associated with AMH, while the presence of other chronic illnesses affected APH. Significant determinants of AMH in the microsystem included family and school connectedness, family structure, and socioeconomic status. Maternal obesity, parental education, and school environment influenced APH. Studies that investigated macrosystem factors reported few consistent findings related to AMPH. A history of family mental health problems and physical and sexual abuse was significantly associated with AMH in the chronosystem, while a family history of diabetes and low birth weight were associated with APH. Studies did not examine the exosystem or the mesosystem.
CONCLUSIONS: AMPH in the English-speaking Caribbean is affected by a variety factors in developing adolescents and their surroundings. Gender, family, and early exposure to negative environments are salient factors influencing AMPH and present potential avenues for prevention and intervention. A fuller understanding of AMPH in this region, however, requires scientifically rigorous studies that incorporate a multisystem approach.
Key words: Adolescent health; mental health; exercise; body weight; risk factors; Caribbean region.
OBJETIVO: Se empleó la teoría de sistemas ecológicos de Bronfenbrenner, un marco conceptual multisistémico, para identificar los factores de riesgo y de protección asociados con la salud mental y física de los adolescentes en el Caribe de habla inglesa.
MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo una revisión bibliográfica estructurada usando las bases de datos en línea MEDLINE, PsychInfo y Scopus, para identificar estudios con revisión externa publicados entre enero de 1998 y julio del 2011 centrados en adolescentes de 10 a 19 años.
RESULTADO: Se examinaron 68 artículos: 40 sobre salud mental en adolescentes, 27 sobre salud física en adolescentes y 1 sobre ambos temas. Los factores individuales clave incluyeron el sexo y la edad. La religiosidad y la participación en otros comportamientos de riesgo se asociaron con la salud mental, mientras que la presencia de otras enfermedades crónicas afectó a la salud física. Los determinantes significativos de la salud mental en el microsistema incluyeron la vinculación con la familia y la escuela, la estructura familiar y la situación socioeconómica. La obesidad materna, la educación parental y el ambiente escolar influyeron en la salud física. Los estudios que investigaron los factores del macrosistema informaron pocos resultados consistentes relacionados con la salud mental y física en los adolescentes. Los antecedentes familiares de problemas de salud mental, y el maltrato físico y el abuso sexual presentaron una asociación significativa con la salud mental en el cronosistema, mientras que los antecedentes familiares de diabetes y peso bajo al nacer se asociaron con la salud física. Los estudios no examinaron el exosistema o el mesosistema.
CONCLUSIONES: La salud mental y física de los adolescentes en el Caribe de habla inglesa está afectada por varios factores de su desarrollo y su entorno. El género, la familia y la exposición temprana a un entorno negativo son factores destacados que influyen en la salud mental y física de los adolescentes y representan posibles caminos para la prevención y la intervención. No obstante, para alcanzar una comprensión más integral de la salud mental y física de los adolescentes en esta región se requieren estudios científicamente rigurosos que incorporen un enfoque multisistémico.
Palabras clave: Salud del adolescente; salud mental; ejercicio; peso corporal; región del Caribe.
Mental and physical health conditions are projected to become the leading causes of disease burden and mortality, respectively, in the world by 2030 (1, 2). Adolescence is a unique developmental period marked by processes such as increased cognitive abilities and physical changes. During this period, adolescents may be vulnerable to mental and physical health conditions. Adolescents in the English-speaking Caribbean may be particularly vulnerable given reported prevalences of 50% being depressed, 15% to 18% experiencing suicidal ideation, 13% to 27% being overweight, and 6% to 13% being obese (3-9). Considering that the risk of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, type 2 diabetes, and disability increases as a result of the aforementioned conditions, curbing their growing prevalence in Caribbean adolescents is necessary (1).
To date, however, the sole comprehensive overview of adolescent health in the English-speaking Caribbean came from the 1997-1998 Caribbean Youth Health Survey, composed of 15 000 adolescents in 9 of the 19 Caribbean countries that make up the region's economic community (3). Since then, only one other published review addressed adolescent mental and physical health (AMPH) (10). Therefore, an understanding of the factors that place youth at high risk or protect them from poor mental and physical health is warranted.
This paper presents a structured review of the scientific AMPH literature in the English-speaking Caribbean from 1998, when the Caribbean Youth Health Survey was completed, to July 2011.
Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems framework was chosen to guide the search for studies and to systematically identify the risk and protective factors that influence AMPH. Understanding AMPH in the Caribbean requires moving beyond focusing solely on adolescents and their behaviors. It requires understanding that adolescents develop within various social environments, which may interact with each other to differentially affect AMPH (11). Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory, a multisystem perspective, helps to achieve such an understanding because at its core is that development is contextual and the individual is nested in five interlocking systems (11). The microsystem looks at the complex relationship between adolescents and their immediate environment (e.g., parental abuse), while the mesosystem considers the interrelations in major settings where the adolescent exists (e.g., family-church interactions). Exosystems do not contain the adolescent but include immediate settings that may affect an adolescent's growth-parental work pressure, for example. Macrosystems refer to the overarching culture or subculture where the young person develops (e.g., how cultural beliefs influence eating behavior), and chronosystems are made up of changes or consistencies over time as seen in the adolescent and in the adolescent's environment.
Search strategy
Online databases Medline, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched for articles published between January 1998 and July 2011. The key words "adolescent, adolescence, and youth" were used in conjunction with the key words "Caribbean" and country-specific names1 to conduct the search. We intentionally applied broad search terms to be farreaching when identifying articles. This method resulted in 2 893 articles whose titles and abstracts were scanned to determine whether they met the review's objective. On the basis of this preliminary review, a total of 243 publications received a comprehensive review (e.g., consistent with inclusion criteria and methodologic quality).
Criteria for inclusion
The review was restricted to studies that investigated AMPH outcomes or behaviors; contained an English-speaking Caribbean population; concentrated on adolescents 10-19 years of age (or mean age within this range); gave a clear description of methods and results (e.g., sample selection, study design); used a sample size of 100 or more, allowing smaller sizes if the population or outcome assessed was rare; and was published in a peer-reviewed, English language journal between 1998 and July 2011. For studies with wide age ranges (e.g., 6-18 years) resulting in a mean age outside the inclusion criteria, those in which the adolescent age range was analyzed separately were included. The sample size requirement was chosen to ensure that reviewed studies had sufficient statistical power.
Studies that did not provide original data (such as editorials, review articles, and letters to the editor, with the exception of study briefs), studies that evaluated an instrument or technology, and studies in which age could not be determined were excluded.
Study appraisal and data extraction
The merit of the studies was assessed with a modified quality criteria rating scale (12). The scale ranked studies as excellent, satisfactory, or unsatisfactory on the following criteria: aptness of the study design for analysis, how representative the study population was, appropriateness of the survey instruments used, adjustment for confounders, and comprehensiveness in exploring the research question. For the last measure, the distinction between an excellent and a satisfactory rating depended on whether the study thoroughly addressed all quality criteria. Both authors reviewed studies that came under question for inclusion. In the end, the review was restricted to studies that received a rating of satisfactory or better.
Data were extracted from articles using a standardized abstraction form. Data extracted included authorship, publication year, location, variables used, sample size and description, study design, measures used, analytic methods, and findings. When studies reported both unadjusted and adjusted analyses, only findings from statistically adjusted analyses were reported. Moreover, one study could contribute multiple findings to the review if it assessed several AMPH outcomes.
Next, findings were organized according to the ecological framework, and the following adolescent mental health (AMH) outcomes were assessed: suicide, depression, rage, psychosocial well-being, body image and satisfaction, eating disorders, weight-loss methods, violence, and substance abuse. For adolescent physical health (APH) outcomes, weight-related outcomes, physical activity, chronic and cardiovascular illnesses, asthma, and oral hygiene were assessed.
Sixty-eight studies, representing 16 English-speaking Caribbean countries, were included in the review (Figure 1). Forty studies assessed AMH, 27 assessed APH, and 1 assessed both. Tables 1 and 2, with detailed information on the reviewed AMH and APH studies, respectively, are available as a supplementary file.
Gender. Eleven studies reported that females were more likely than males to have depressive symptoms, to have attempted suicide, and to have experienced suicidal ideation (3, 4, 13-21). Four studies did not report a gender association with these outcomes (22-25). Females were less satisfied with their bodies and weight than males (8, 13, 26). Yet, females were more likely to use dieting or exercise as weight loss methods while males were more likely to use laxatives, diuretics, or vomiting (13, 26). Gender was not associated with anorexia nervosa (27).
With the exception of sexual assault, all studies found that males were more likely than females to witness, perpetrate, and experience violence; to experience rage; and to be involved in gangs (3, 13, 28-32). Males were also more likely than females to use or sell drugs and to use alcohol (33-37).
Age. The relationship between age and AMH was unclear. Five studies reported that older adolescents were more likely than younger adolescents to have depressive symptoms, to use drugs, to witness violence, and to experience rage (13, 18, 29, 37, 38). In contrast, four studies reported that younger adolescents were more likely to have experienced the former two outcomes, to have attempted suicide, and to be victims of violence (13, 24, 25, 35). Yet, one study reported a U-shaped age relationship for depression in adolescents while another did not find an association (16, 22). Younger adolescents were more satisfied with their bodies but were more likely to use vomiting or laxatives as weight loss methods (13).
Ethnicity. The majority of studies reported that ethnicity was not associated with AMPH (14, 18, 27, 39-41).
Correlation of behaviors. Being depressed and having other mental health problems were associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (4, 23). Experiencing rage was associated with alcohol use, suicidal behaviors, and perpetrating violence (3, 13, 42).
Youth who engaged in other risk behaviors, such as substance use, were more likely to be depressed, to anticipate using alcohol and drugs, to engage in dangerous dietary behaviors, and to perpetrate violence (19, 26, 27, 36, 38, 42). One study reported that youth who suffered from attention problems were more likely to be depressed (25).
Those with discrepancies between who they actually are and their perceived ideal selves were more likely to be depressed and to have low selfesteem (43). Factors such as having fewer social skills and lower commitment to school were associated with gang involvement (32).
Religiosity. Religiosity was protective against violence, suicidal outcomes, depression, and alcohol use (14, 18, 23, 42, 44, 45).
Civic engagement. A study from Jamaica assessed factors influencing adolescents' cooperation with the police in preventing crimes (46). Judging the police favorably in terms of procedural justice increased cooperation. Gender, believing the police to be proper and just, and distribution of police services were not associated.
Family. A positive family environment was protective against poor AMH. Family connectedness was associated with reduced likelihood of suicidal behaviors, rage, tobacco use, and violence (3, 42). A better parent-adolescent relationship, as evidenced by high parent-adolescent communication, parental monitoring, and parental attachment and having understanding parents, was associated with reduced likelihood of perpetrating violence, using substances, having depressive symptoms, and attempting suicide and with increased likelihood of having higher social functioning, selfconfidence, vocational attitudes, and ethnic identity (3, 4, 14, 18, 20, 34, 36, 42, 47, 48).
Conversely, a poor parent-adolescent relationship-perceived lack of maternal affection and support, being afraid of parents, presence of maternal depression, and being injured by parents-increased the likelihood of depression (15, 19, 24, 25). Adolescents who perceived their parents to have favorable attitudes toward antisocial behavior were more likely to be involved in gangs (32).
Youth living in nonintact families, such as reconstituted families, and those with family problems, such as alcohol abuse in the family, were at higher risk of suicidal behaviors, drug and alcohol use, depression, and eating disorders (4, 14, 18, 19, 26, 27, 35, 37, 42).
Socioeconomic status. Low socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with higher scores on internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors and experiencing violence (20, 29, 30). Specifically, low SES and high SES were associated with experiencing neighborhood and school violence, respectively (30). Studies did not find an association between social class and being a victim of violence or weapon usage (28, 30). Greater residential mobility, however, was associated with gang involvement (32).
Youth whose parents were professionals were more likely to use drugs and alcohol than those whose parents were not professionals (35). Low maternal education was associated with higher ethnic identity but high maternal education, in most studies, was protective against depression (16, 21, 48).
One study reported no association between social class and bulimia, while another reported that adolescents whose parents had manual jobs scored higher on the eating disorder scales than those whose parents had nonmanual jobs or were unemployed (27, 41).
School. School connectedness was protective against alcohol and tobacco use and violence, while skipping school was a risk factor for these outcomes (42). Being on a higher academic track in school and attending traditional high schools were associated with lower depressive symptoms than being on a lower academic track and attending nontraditional high schools (21, 22).
Peers. Being bullied was associated with increased suicidal ideation, while having close friends was protective against it (4, 14). Cannabis use and alcohol use were positively correlated with their use among the peer group (37). Having peers who were antisocial and used drugs and alcohol was associated with gang involvement (32).
Residence. Not cooperating with police to prevent crimes was associated with having an influential area don, a local leader who protects the community (46). Youth living in urban areas were more likely to use drugs and to use weapons in violent acts than those living in rural areas (35). Furthermore, the availability of handguns in the community was associated with adolescents' gang involvement (32).
One study looked at depression among adolescents in three Caribbean countries: Jamaica, Saint Vincent, and Saint Kitts and Nevis (21). Jamaican adolescents had greater depressive symptoms than adolescents from the other countries. Saint Vincent and Saint Kitts and Nevis did not differ in depressive symptoms.
Two studies reported on cultural differences in psychopathology comparing youth in Jamaica and the United States of America (20, 49). One study reported no significant differences in problem score between the two countries (20). However, Jamaican adolescents reported higher somatic complaints and internalizing behaviors while African American adolescents reported higher attention problems. In another study, Jamaican Americans had higher levels of distress than African Americans and Jamaicans (49). Exposure to community violence was not associated with manifesting psychological distress in any of the groups (49).
A history of physical and sexual abuse and of family mental health problems was associated with attempting suicide, having eating disorders, and experiencing rage (3, 13, 26, 27). A history of physical and sexual abuse was also associated with perpetrating violence (42). A longitudinal study reported that early malnutrition at 6 months of age was positively associated with depression and attention problems (24, 25). Early onset of cannabis use was associated with psychotic symptoms (50).
Gender. A majority of the studies assessing gender reported that females had higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and percent body fat and lower physical activity levels than males (5-7, 9, 51-63). In none of the studies, however, did the authors suggest that the higher BMI, weight circumference, and body fat of adolescent females was a consequence of lower physical activity levels. Two additional studies reported that females had increased risk of being overweight or obese, while another study found no differences by gender (5, 6, 56). Females were more likely than males to have type 2 than type 1 diabetes (52, 64). One study reported that males had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings, but two studies did not find gender differences for blood pressure or metabolic syndrome (59, 60, 65).
Few studies assessed the association between gender and other physical health outcomes. One study reported that females were more likely than males to have asthma (66). Four of five studies found that gender was not associated with dental caries (67-72).
Age. Blood pressure increased with age as did type 2 diabetes (52, 59, 64). One study reported that younger adolescents were more likely to be physically active than older adolescents, but another study reported the opposite (13, 53). Age was not associated with being overweight (5, 62). Three studies reported that healthy periodontal conditions decreased with age (68, 70, 71).
Chronic illnesses. Adolescents with type 2 diabetes had higher mean BMI, mean waist circumference, and mean systolic blood pressure and lower mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol; they were more likely to be overweight or obese than those with type 1 diabetes (58, 64). Adolescents who were insulin resistant had higher systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI, fasting glucose, and triglycerides and lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol than those who were not insulin resistant (73). In a sample of Jamaican adolescents with sickle cell disease, youth with greater knowledge about sickle cell disease had better health beliefs about their illness (74).
Other factors. Ethnicity was not associated with BMI (62). Other risk factors for being overweight and having high BMI and waist circumference included experiencing internalized racism and consuming sweetened beverages, respectively (6, 52).
Family and SES. Maternal obesity was positively associated with being overweight among adolescents while paternal obesity was not (5). Adolescent males who lived in crowded households were more likely to be underweight (7). Adolescents who were food insecure were less likely to be physically inactive, overweight, or obese (9, 75). Two studies did not find an association between SES and BMI or metabolic syndrome, while one study found that higher SES was associated with being overweight or obese (62, 65, 75). Adolescent obesity increased with decreasing skill level of parental occupation and with decreasing level of parental education (65).
Only two studies assessed the relationship between family environment and oral health (70, 72). Youth of university-educated parents were less likely to have caries than those with highschool-educated mothers or fathers with vocational training (70). However, those with university-educated parents required the most oral health treatment.
School. Youth who engaged in physical education in school and those who were in primary school were more likely to be physically active than those who did not engage in physical education and were in secondary school (53).
Residence. Three studies looked at geographic differences in oral health (68, 69, 71). One did not find an association (69). While urban youth were more likely to have caries than rural youth, rural youth required more oral health treatment than urban youth (69, 71). Urban or rural residence was not associated with BMI (62).
Studies in the macrosystem focused on geographic and cross-cultural comparisons. A cross-national study reported that Tobagonian adolescents had higher absolute weight than U.S. adolescents but there were no differences in absolute BMI between the two groups (57). Adolescents in Quebec, Canada, were more overweight than those in Jamaica (75).
Younger Tobagonian adolescents had lower mean systolic blood pressure but older adolescents had higher systolic blood pressure than their U.S. counterparts (60). Tobagonian adolescents had higher diastolic blood pressure and lower systolic blood pressure than Jamaican and British adolescents. Students from Tobago were more likely to experience asthma symptoms, wheezing attacks, sleep disturbance from wheezing, and speech limitation than those from Trinidad (66).
A family history of diabetes was not associated with physical activity (51). Two of three studies reported an association between adolescents' birth weight and physical health (7, 51, 61). Among low-birth-weight adolescents, girls with a family history of diabetes had higher fasting glucose and insulin resistance than those without a history (51). Low-birth-weight boys compared with normal-birth-weight boys had significantly smaller waist circumference among those without a family history of diabetes (51). Among girls, low birth weight was negatively associated with being overweight (7). A longitudinal study reported that maternal weight and BMI during pregnancy were positively associated with physical activity in adolescence; bigger mothers had more active adolescents (61).
One study in Jamaica assessed the effects of salt fluoridation. The data reflected a major improvement from 1984 to 1995 in the mean score for decayed, missing, and filled teeth. In 1984, the score was 6.72 at age 12 years and 9.60 at age 15 years. By 1995, the scores were 1.08 and 3.02, respectively (67).
This review's objective was to identify the risk and protective factors associated with AMPH in the English-speaking Caribbean. At the individual level, gender and age were key factors associated with AMPH. Religiosity and engagement in risk behaviors emerged as important factors associated with AMH and, not surprisingly, the presence of chronic illnesses influenced APH. Within the microsystem, family factors were important influences on AMPH. Within the macrosystem, studies focused on cross-cultural comparisons but did not show consistent findings. Within the chronosystem, a history of physical and sexual abuse and family mental health problems influenced AMH, while a family history of diabetes and low birth weight influenced APH. Studies did not assess the exosystem or the mesosystem.
Gender was a salient factor in determining AMPH. As reported elsewhere, male adolescents exhibited externalizing behaviors, while female adolescents exhibited internalizing behaviors (76, 77). Female adolescents were at greatest risk for poor mental health, worse weight outcomes, less physical activity, and poor cardiovascular conditions. Male adolescents, however, were at greatest risk for substance abuse and perpetrating, experiencing, and witnessing violence. As such, programs and policies that address these outcomes must be cognizant of the influence of gender and be prepared to develop different initiatives for male and female adolescents. Programs that offer things such as skills training for emotional regulation, coping skills for managing stress and depression, and healthy dietary behaviors might foster better AMPH, especially for females (77). Policies advocating for reduced youth access to alcohol, drugs, and weapons and programs focused on conflict resolution skills at the individual and community levels might promote better AMPH, especially for males.
This review highlights the importance of the family environment in AMPH. A positive family environment, such as feeling connected to parents, reduced the likelihood of negative AMPH. Other aspects, such as residing in a family with substance abuse problems, increased the likelihood of experiencing poor AMPH. These findings are consistent with research from other parts of the world that has shown that the family context is vital to adolescent health outcomes (76, 78). Research is needed that investigates family dynamics and how to address concurrent family and AMPH. When initiating preventive measures, programs must incorporate and address the needs of the entire family, not solely the adolescent, in order to succeed. Enhancing the protective aspects of the family environment can prevent AMPH and minimize the threat of other risk factors for these conditions (77).
This review also pinpoints the need to incorporate a multisystem and a healthacross-the-lifespan approach in AMPH research. Factors such as low birth weight were important to AMPH outcomes. However, the lack of longitudinal studies precluded the ability to draw any causal inferences from these findings. Moreover, the studies that looked at the larger macrosystem focused primarily on cross-national comparisons rather than on the macrosystem within countries that may affect AMPH, such as government policies on mental and physical health. Furthermore, the correlation among behaviors, such as youth who engage in risk behaviors being more likely to have depressive symptoms, suggests that there may be a highly vulnerable subset of adolescents in the region who require immediate mental and physical health services.
This review has three notable limitations. First, the search strategies may have overlooked some studies if they were not indexed in the databases examined. Second, the study focused only on the peer-reviewed literature, excluding dissertations, conference abstracts, and other gray literature, which often do not receive rigorous review or are inaccessible. Third, assessment of the studies' methodologic quality was based on a rating scale that has not been tested for validity.
Despite limitations, this review offers important insights into the mental and physical health of Caribbean adolescents and highlights new avenues for research. Although not an objective of this review, it is noticeable that methodologically rigorous research on AMPH in the Caribbean is lacking. All but two studies were cross-sectional. Research in the Caribbean would benefit from: theory-driven research; advanced study designs (e.g., longitudinal and qualitative designs) and statistical analyses; critical assessment of the validity and reliability of the data obtained, especially with regard to instruments used; a multisystem approach to research; and intervention research aimed at improving AMPH outcomes. While there is a significant volume of research on AMPH in the Caribbean, there is a long way to go until there is a knowledge base upon which to build evidence-based interventions.
Acknowledgment. The authors thank Jayne Blanchard for assisting in editing the final version of this paper.
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Manuscript received on 30 September 2011.
Revised version accepted for publication on 23 February 2012.
* Send correspondence to: Robert Blum, firstname.lastname@example.com
1 Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.


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Something happened to me yesterday that has happened to millions of women in cities all over the world. This is my story of sexual assault on public transportation, a bus in downtown San Francisco:
I was sitting in a seat by the window across from the rear doors with headphones on, listening to music, being careful to hide my loaner phone in my purse after I had my iPhone stolen out of my hand last week. A man sat down beside me in the empty seat.
I did what I usually do and quickly, discreetly sized up my seatmate. He was a disheveled middle-aged man with blonde hair that was either dusty or graying. He smelled strongly of alcohol on his breath, body and clothes. He didn't smell like piss and weeks upon weeks of not showering, like other unfortunate people who sometimes take the bus, but he looked like he was swiftly headed in that direction. This man was clearly intoxicated and behaving strangely. He swayed in his seat and repeatedly made the sign of the cross, which is highly disconcerting, let me assure you. When women would board and stand next to where he sat he would try to engage them. They would quickly move away. I should have followed them.
He tried to engage me as well. My defense was to aggressively ignore him on the very crowded bus by staring out the window and keeping my headphones on. I had just three stops to go. When he tried to talk to me (words I couldn't hear due to the music) I shook my head no and held my hand up, flattened, to signal that I wished to be left alone.
The bus continued to lurch down busy Market Street. I pulled the cord to signal that I wanted off when the bus was due to stop again at 5th and Market.
I stood a few seconds before the bus came to a halt, a clear indiction that I was getting out and off the bus. When the bus stopped the man to my right swiveled his legs around rather than stand, so I took a wide step to get around him and as I did he grabbed me between my legs.
Without thinking I turned and swung my heavy purse containing a server's book, a hardback journal and loose, sharp pens at his head, but barely connected. I think the purse grazed his face. I screamed FUCK YOU, also without thinking, and fled off the bus.
I stepped down onto the concrete platform, my head swimming in a raucous tide. A young man beside me asked what happened. "He grabbed me between the legs," I told him.
The young man shook his head. "And that man said, 'What?,' like he didn't do nothing."
My legs moved forward in spite of myself. I was floating down the sidewalk on Market Street trying to comprehend what had just happened. I was trying hard not to vomit. I felt ill; I was physically revolted. I shuddered and tears collected in the corners of my eyes.
My lip quivered as I crossed the busy mall to the elevator that would take me to the restaurant where I work. Everything was foggy. My feelings were foggy and my vision was foggy and my mind was foggy. I couldn't believe what had just happened, and I couldn't believe how awful it made me feel.
As I hit the button in the elevator for the 4th floor I realized for the first time I'd been sexually assaulted. I'd considered whether or not this was a big deal, checked the facts against my feelings and decided that yeah, it kind of was.
I walked into the restaurant in a daze. I walked over to put my bag away when my friend Leo put up his hand to give me a high five. I blurted out, "I was just sexually assaulted on the bus."
I told Leo and Marc more specifically what happened and the embarrassment rose in my face and the revulsion in my gut. I sat down at Table 100, put my forehead on my forearm, burying my face, and cried really hard.
Poor Leo and Marc stood there mostly silent. "This fucking city," was certainly uttered, as were several I'm sorries. They were both very comforting in their presence, but they seemed at a loss for words. And who can blame them?
"Do you want a glass of wine?," Leo offered. I looked down at my hands and they were shaking.
"YES," was my emphatic reply.
He went and poured a hefty glass of gruner veltliner, my favorite, and handed it to me. "Here. Slam this."
And I did. It helped immensely. My nerves were completely frayed and I was a mascara-y mess and I had a new two-top at Table 49. I freshened my make-up in the bathroom and by the time I took the couple's drink order the wine was kicking in and my nervous system began to unclench slightly.
I made iced tea for the lady at 49 and waited for the bartender to pour a Trumer when I felt the first bubbles of boiling anger begin to rise within me. I was moving through the stages of grief very quickly. Suddenly I was fucking pissed.
I wanted to punch someone--specifically the asshole who grabbed me between my legs. Just typing that sends puke rising into my throat. I can recall with precise accuracy the sensation of his hand between my legs and I'm not sure I'll ever forget it. It felt like wrongness and violation and horror and evil.
Marc, the sous chef, sensed my anger. He stood watching me fume.
"Is it too soon to make a joke?," he asked, knife in hand.
"It's been 15 minutes," I said. "I think it's probably overdue."
He grinned. "I'm going to say I was sexually assaulted, too, because I could really use a glass of wine right now."
I laughed and laughed and was grateful for the levity. And the wine.
As my shift continued I thought more about what had happened. "I was just wearing my work uniform," I thought. "It wasn't even anything..." I stopped myself before I could think it all the way. I was about to consider what I'd been wearing in trying to process what had happened to me.
After urging from others I decided to go to the police precinct and report the crime today. I was reminded that there are cameras on Muni buses and that there might be viable video of him touching me. Even if not, these crimes are grossly underreported and even one more record of this kind of assault might mean more police presence in the future.
So, after my short lunch shift this afternoon I took a cab to 6th and Bryant to the Southern station to file a report. I took a cab because the next bus was reportedly 47 minutes away and I felt unsafe walking. That happens when you've had your crotch grabbed on public transit and the police precinct is in a sketchy-ish part of town.
I entered and told the security guard I was there to report a crime. He told me to walk to a counter where officers were protected behind thick plastic or glass. I had to use a phone to talk to the policeman on the other side.
"I'm here to report a crime. I was groped on the bus."
"What happened?"
"I was groped on the bus. He grabbed me between my legs as I was exiting."
"Where did he grab you? Sorry, but you have to be more specific."
"He grabbed my vulva." I tried to tamp down my embarrassment.
"Okay. What do you want to do? File a report?" His tone made his words sound more like, "Are you serious? You came all the way down here for this?"
"Yes," I told him. Yes, I wanted to file a report.
He asked for more information. I gave it to him. He told me to wait. Then he came out and spoke with me face to face.
"We have two options here. We have a Muni task force. We can give them this info and they can be on the lookout for this guy. Or you can file a full report, but it won't do anything."
He made sure to tell me this guy wouldn't be caught even if I filed a report. For a moment I hedged. For a split second I considered not filing a report. He nearly convinced me. Then I remembered what I came there to do.
"I realize this guy probably won't be caught, but this crime is underreported and I want to do my due diligence and make sure this one is. And if it means more police presence later, then even better." He did not agree with me; he said nothing. The amount of sympathy he managed could fit into a thimble.
I waited more. While waiting with no where to sit for many minutes. I considered the infirm or pregnant or elderly women who would be very physically uncomfortable waiting to file a similar report. With nothing to be said of the emotional discomfort.
Finally I was given a slip of paper with my case number on it. I was told that usually sexual battery requires "skin on skin contact," but that that was how my case would be labeled. He told me I could follow the case online.
I initiated a hand shake. He finally, finally mustered that he was sorry this happened. He told me to be careful. It sounded a lot like, "don't let this happen to you again."
A less confident woman would not have filed this crime report for sexual assault. I know this, because I nearly didn't.
I have a lot more processing of emotions to do before I write more about what happened to me and how the situation was treated by SFPD. Plus, there is more to be revealed with how this case will be handled. But I wanted to write about this now for my own therapeutic reasons, but also to shine a light on a crime that happens regularly and that just might be downplayed by the people in charge of our safety.
If this happens to you I urge you to report it to the police. Do not let them convince you to walk away without filing a report. Being groped against your will on the subway or bus or anywhere is sexual battery, and you deserve to stand up and have your assault counted.
More soon.


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Welcome to Lowe's


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And with this, I think Bonnie's Big Blog of SNOW can revert to Frogma. There's still snow on the ground - in fact I took another snowman picture today, a whole family melting away in the springlike warmth - but taking the subway to spend an hour taking pictures of ducks? It doesn't get much more frogmic than that. Plus, I paddled yesterday (woohoo!), but those pictures will take a little longer to sort through. Although it was the first seal-less seal paddle in the history of Sebago seal paddles, it was still a gorgeous day and it felt great to be back on the water. And yes, there were Ipswich clams at Bigelow's afterwards. TQ said maybe we could just call it the Bigelow's Paddle, seals can be a bonus (trip leaders just wink at each other when a seal is spotted and shout "Wow, look, seals! We didn't know there were seals here!") and that way nobody ever goes home sad.
And now, on with the ducks. Duck dive, ducks, duck dive!
Click on the first picture for a slideshow view - this is it for the words today.


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Academic Integrity
Standards and Regulations Home
The basic commitment of a university is to search for and to communicate the truth as it is honestly perceived. The university could not accomplish its purpose in the absence of this demanding standard. To the extent that this standard is respected, a genuine learning community can exist. Students of this university are called upon to know, to respect, and to practice this standard of personal honesty.
Plagiarism is a serious form of violation of this standard. Plagiarism is the appropriation for gain of ideas, language, or work of another without sufficient public acknowledgement and appropriate citation that the material is not one's own. It is true that every thought probably has been influenced to some degree by the thoughts and actions of others. Such influences can be thought of as affecting the ways we see things and express all thoughts. Plagiarism, however, involves the deliberate taking and use of specific words and ideas of others without proper acknowledgement of the sources.
The faculty and administration of Loyola University Chicago wish to make it clear that the following acts are regarded as serious violations of personal honesty and the academic ideal that binds the university into a learning community:
Submitting as one's own:
- Material copied from a published source: print, internet, CD-ROM, audio, video, etc.
- Another person's unpublished work or examination material.
- Allowing another or paying another to write or research a paper for one's own benefit.
- Purchasing, acquiring, and using for course credit a pre-written paper.
The critical issue is to give proper recognition to other sources. To do so is both an act of personal, professional courtesy and of intellectual honesty.
Plagiarism on the part of a student in academic work or dishonest examination behavior will result minimally in the instructor assigning the grade of "F" for the assignment or examination. In addition, all instances of academic dishonesty must be reported to the chairperson of the department involved. The chairperson may constitute a hearing board to consider the imposition of sanctions in addition to those imposed by the instructor, including a recommendation of expulsion, depending upon the seriousness of the misconduct.
Academic cheating is another serious act that violates academic integrity. Obtaining, distributing, or communicating examination materials prior to the scheduled examination without the consent of the teacher; providing information to or obtaining information from another student during the examination; attempting to change answers after the examination has been submitted; and falsifying medical or other documents to petition for excused absences all are violations of the integrity and honesty standards of the examination process.
In the case of multiple instances of academic dishonesty across departments, the academic dean of the student's college may convene a hearing board. Students retain the right to appeal the decision of the hearing board to the academic dean of the college in which they are registered. The decision of the dean is final in all cases except expulsion. The sanction of expulsion for academic dishonesty may be imposed only by the Provost upon recommendation of the dean.


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Getaway in Ely and the North Woods
Active travelers come to Ely bearing canoe paddles and backpacks; others rest easy at plush lodges.
The remote, lake-filled, 1 million-plus acres of the Boundary Waters near Canada lure adventurers who mix days of hiking and canoeing with legendary characters, tiny towns and excellent pie.
Day 1
Several thousand lakes and streams lined by 1,500 miles of forested shoreline create endless canoeing, kayaking and hiking opportunities in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. You have to reserve overnight camping permits, but day passes ease getting on the water for short explorations. Choose from several entry points on lakes around Ely; we especially like Fall Lake.
Head to Ely Steak House for a bacon-cheese monster called a Bucky Burger paired with one of its 50-plus beers.
The classic Minnesota lakeside experience gets even better at Burntside Lodge, where log cabins, a white-tablecloth restaurant and superb hospitality are the hallmarks of this former hunting camp.
Day 2
Small-town Ely is big on cool places to visit. The International Wolf Center has a Wolves and Humans exhibit, observation windows, and classes and seminars about wolves. (Kids especially enjoy the Junior Wolf Biologist program.)
For more wildlife, take a glimpse into the lives of four bears in their forested 2.5-acre home at the North American Bear Center, where the staff works to conserve bear habitats.
Hungry? What the Chocolate Moose lacks in decor, it makes up for with superb walleye sandwiches and from-scratch pies.
The Brandenburg Gallery shows off Jim Brandenburg's National Geographic photography, and the Dorothy Molter Museum celebrates the last resident of the Boundary Waters; she was famous for the root beer she sold to people.
More information: Ely Chamber of Commerce, (800) 777-7281; ely.org
Add a day
Trek 3 hours southwest to Bemidji and snap a shot of folk hero and larger-than-life Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues.
perated by the Batchelder family since 1920, Bemidji Woolen Mills sells winter gear in every shade of plaid as well as throws and pillows.
At Lazy Jack's, spicy dishes include the jalapeño-garlic grilled chicken sandwich.
More than 40 sculptures (some for sale) and five murals dot the Bemidji Sculpture Walk.
Near the lake that gave this taproom its name, Bemidji Brewing Company pours high-quality beers, including ales from England and Belgium; order a Sample Paddle to try the entire lineup.
More information: (877) 250-5959; visitbemidji.com
Day Trip
The Iron Range (60 miles northwest of Duluth) owes its name to its rich iron ore deposits but owes its reputation as a destination to recreation. Montana Cafe in Cook serves buttermilk pancakes and Denver omelets. Mineview in the Sky in Virginia and Minnesota Museum of Mining in Chisholm pay tribute to the industries the region is so proud of. After fishing and swimming at Lake Vermilion State Park, dine on Bamboozler-size pizzas-24 inches!-at the casual Vermilion Club in Tower. (800) 777-8497; ironrange.org
Bring the Kids
Concordia Language Villages For a fraction of the cost of an international vacation, the programs at this Bemidji camp immerse families in the culture of their choice through lessons on heritage, tradition and language. Guests give up cell phones to spend time making Mexican tiles, shaping crusty French loaves that get baked in brick ovens, weaving Finnish textiles and playing Brazilian carnival games. (800) 222-4750; concordialanguagevillages.org


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July 25, 2011 -- Women who are prone to bladder infections may get more help from daily antibiotics than cranberry capsules, a new study shows.
But don't count out the cranberry as a natural medicine for bladder infections, also known as urinary tract infections (UTIs), just yet.
Experts who reviewed the research say that it has important limitations that may explain why women who took the capsules didn't see benefits.
The study recruited 221 premenopausal women with a history of frequent bladder infections and split them into two groups.
The first group got a daily dose of 480 milligrams of the antibiotic Bactrim. The second group took 1,000 milligrams of cranberry extract -- the brand used in the study was Cran-Max -- every day.
Study participants regularly took urine samples, which were tested for bacteria, and they noted any signs of UTIs, like back pain, or burning or urgency with urination.
After a year, the average number of UTIs reported by the antibiotic group was about two, compared to four in the cranberry group. Before the study started, the women said they'd averaged six to seven UTIs in the previous year.
Antibiotic Resistance
While the group taking the antibiotics had fewer infections, they also developed much higher levels of resistance not only to the drugs they were currently taking but also to other antibiotics.
That's a concern, says study researcher Suzanne E. Geerlings, MD, PhD, of the Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam at Academic Medical Center in the Netherlands, because it means that doctors have fewer weapons to turn to when an infection flares.
"In my opinion, it is not time to give up cranberries," Geerlings tells WebMD in an email. "The take-home message for women with recurrent UTI is that cranberries are less effective in prevention but do not result into resistant microorganisms."
Doctors who treat women with UTIs say they like the study because it weighs in on something patients often ask: Do cranberries work, and do they work as well as antibiotics?
"I think it's a good study," says Elizabeth Kavaler, MD, a urology specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "The outcome is what you would expect, that the patients on the antibiotics are going to do better."
She says that while cranberries may offer some benefits, they can be tough to use as a medicine.
"There's a bunch of problems with cranberries," Kavaler says. "The pills that you get, we don't even know what's in them. Then, how much do you need?"
Doses, Study Design Questioned
Other experts say that the research has some limits that prevent it from being able to settle any questions about the effectiveness of cranberries for UTIs.
The first is that the study didn't include a comparison group of women who weren't getting any prevention at all. Comparison groups are important to give an idea of the magnitude of effect that an intervention might be having.
The second is that while women who were taking the antibiotics reported having fewer UTIs than the cranberry group did, the number of infections confirmed by laboratory testing was not statistically different between the two groups.
The third was that the cranberry capsules used in the study had relatively small amounts of active ingredients in them. "The dose of the cranberry that they used in that particular study was way too low," says Bill J. Gurley, PhD, a professor in the department of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in Little Rock.
Gurley says a government-sponsored study is under way that may shed more light on how much cranberry is needed to prevent infections.
Other studies have found that when cranberry extract is used in higher doses, about eight times as high as were used in this study, they do appear to keep bacteria from sticking together in the bladder, which may help prevent an infection.
"The studies that have been well-designed, and there have been a handful that were well-designed," have shown that cranberries can be effective, says Amy B. Howell, PhD, an associate research scientist at the Marucci Center for Cranberry and Blueberry Research at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.
"If the bacteria can't bind to the bladder wall, they will not inject their toxins and grow and cause an infection, they just get washed out in the urine stream," says Howell.
"The key here, which has relevance to this latest study, is that you're not killing the bacteria. You're not building up these populations of resistant bacteria," which should keep them sensitive to antibiotics in case an infection does take hold, she says.


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Ginger chicken
Nutrition and extra info
- Freezable
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal310
- fat16g
- saturates8g
- carbs6g
- sugars3g
- fibre1g
- protein37g
- salt1.29g
- 1kg pack boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 thumb-size piece of fresh ginger, peeled and very finely chopped
Mainly grown in Jamaica, Africa, India, China and Australia, ginger is the root of the plant. It…
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tsp mild chilli powder
- 15g pack fresh coriander, chopped
- juice of 1 lime
The same shape, but smaller than…
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is made from pressing sunflower seeds and extracting the oil. It's usually…
- 2 medium onions
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 400ml can reduced-fat coconut milk
Coconut milkko-ko-nut mill-k
Coconut milk is not the slightly opaque liquid that flows from a freshly opened coconut –…
- 1 fresh red chilli, deseeded and sliced
- 1 chicken stock cube
Slice each chicken thigh into 2 or 3 large chunks, then put in a bowl with the ginger, garlic, chilli powder, half the coriander, lime juice and 1 tbsp of the oil. Stir well, then cover and leave in the fridge to marinate until ready to cook. For the best flavour, do this in the morning or, better still, the night before.
Peel and quarter the onions, then very finely chop them in a food processor; for a curry you want the onion really fine. Heat the remaining oil in a wok or large frying pan, then add the onion and stir-fry for about 8 mins until soft. Stir in the turmeric and cook for 1 min more, stirring well.
Tip in the chicken mixture with the marinade and cook over a high heat until the chicken changes colour. Pour in the coconut milk, add the chilli and stock, then cover and simmer for 20 mins until the chicken is tender. Stir in the remaining coriander, then serve with pilau rice, a bowl of mango chutney – we like Geeta's – and some poppadoms or naan bread.
Recipe Tip
Add more vegRather than serving a plain pilau with the chicken, boost your vegetable intake by adding some veg to the rice. It is also simpler than making an extra side dish.
Recipe Tip
Chicken thighsChicken thighs have so much more flavour than chicken breast and stay much more succulent, too.


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No Experience Required
For the Matt Drudges, Satanic She-Worms and Jabba the Huts of the world, President Obama's controversial decision to seat an inexperienced left-leanin' lawyer to the world's highest court is not going too well. Indeed, dear readers, the rip-roarin' has already commenced with character-bashing slander at the ready: "she has no experience!"… "she's part of the Chicago machine!"… "She's ugly! You sure that ain't Gary Dell'abate!?!"
I am not sure that she is not Gary Dell'abate.
But I will try to pretend that I didn't ever think about that.
She has no experience. So what? Does she have what it takes? Does she have the balls to — wait, never mind.
As is the case with baseball, experience doesn't always guarantee success.
Mike Leake never pitched a game in the minors and yet he has a record of 3-0 right now, one of those wins coming against the sCrUBS (which nets him extra points 'cuz I say so).
Don Denkinger never had any experience being completely retarded for one single World Series play yet he managed to get the job done in 1985.
And let me remind you of a fella who didn't have any managerial experience whatsoever: a man, who as a player achieved a lifetime batting average of .219 with 32 homers and 112 RBI. That man's name is A.J. Hinch and that man manages the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Diamonbacks are… um… the D'backs are…
Pay no attention.
We're all in this US American mess together.
I hope.
Hate me 'cuz it's trendy, just don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.