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Review: Blue Mountains Dreaming
Blue Mountains Dreaming:
The Aboriginal Heritage (Second Edition)
Edited by Eugene Stockton and John Merriman
255 pp, Blue Mountain Educational and Research Trust, Lawson, 2009
I (RP) recall the first edition of Blue Mountains Dreaming published in 1993. It was a delight then to see the disparate knowledge of Aboriginal heritage for the mountains west of Sydney brought together in such a fine volume. It still sits on my bookshelf in Blackheath alongside ragged maps and bushwalking guides that I constantly thumb through before heading out to explore the country that has so many layers of meaning. So I have been keenly awaiting this second edition of the book edited by Eugene Stockton and John Merriman, hoping it would live up to the benchmark set by its predecessor. I was not disappointed.
The second edition of Blue Mountains Dreaming has been refreshed with new information as well as including a wider range of authors, all accomplished experts in their own fields. While the book disappointingly lacks direct contemporary Indigenous input, there is still scope for this to feature in future editions. The dynamic character of research in the mountains certainly calls on the editors to update the volume more regularly.
Edition two of the book is divided into ten chapters, one appendix and a detailed and well-considered index. Chapter 1 “New Discoveries”, by one of the editors Eugene Stockton, clearly and concisely sets out the general scene for the remainder of the book. One could easily be critical of the quality and consistency of the drawings and maps in this short introductory chapter and in other parts of the book. But in a sense this handcrafted character adds to the charm of the volume and speaks to the deep feelings Stockton has for the Blue Mountains. He has lived there for much of his life and it is his passion for the country that holds the volume together as much as the intellectual rigor of the contributors.
The remaining nine chapters generally cover the range of topics typically associated with edited books that have a regional focus, with the order of the chapters being structured to take the reader seamlessly through the material. First we have a well-written discussion about the past and present climates by Mooney and Martin (Chapter 2). These two climate scientists have managed this complex discussion without falling into the trap of environmental determinism, or bombarding the reader with too much climatic jargon. The following chapter by Stockton tackles the archaeology of the Blue Mountains. Stockton has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the archaeological work undertaken over many decades and he is to be commended for summarising all of this work in 31 pages. A trained archaeologist would probably find reason to critique Stockton’s use of concepts such as “tool” types and the various technological phases he describes. But one assumes most people who will read this book are not trained archaeologists and, to be fair, the bibliography at the end of the chapter gives readers suitable references to follow for alternative lines of enquiry and analysis. Matthew Kelleher’s chapter on Aboriginal art is beautifully illustrated and has a clear discussion of the various art forms and the theories about their meanings. The next three chapters deal with the Darug people (Val Attenbrow), Gundungurra country (Jim Smith) and traditional subsistence patterns (John Merriman). All three of these chapters are readable, finely researched pieces written by knowledgeable, experienced authors. Chapter 8, authored by Dianne Johnson, deals with The Gully Aboriginal Place at Katoomba, probably the best known contemporary Aboriginal site in the Upper Blue Mountains. Not surprisingly, considering Johnson’s previous publications on The Gully, this is an outstanding and thoroughly engaging chapter and is recommended as a standalone read for people who only browse the entire book. The final two chapters on the Dharug and Gundungurra languages by Kohen and Steele and Steele are relatively short linked pieces, with a clear structure allowing even a non-linguist to easily understand something of the character of these two languages.
The book has bibliographic references at the end of each chapter that are comprehensive and well laid out. But in edited volumes this can be a bit frustrating for researchers who have to troll back through the volume to chase up poorly remembered points. Fortunately for this book there is an index by Jeanne Rudd that directs the reader rather elegantly through the diverse literature. It is pleasing to see that Rudd is suitably acknowledged for her work in the list of contributors.
Appendix 1 by Stockton entitled “Baiame” seems oddly placed as an appendix rather than as a chapter. The piece is presented as a treatment about the notion of there being a High God, known by various names including Baiame, which was recognised by many Aboriginal groups. The appendix is in fact much more than this. It also includes an interesting discussion about the incorporation of Christian ideas into traditional Aboriginal spiritual beliefs. Stockton’s deep understanding of Christianity through his life in the ministry makes this a worthy discussion, particularly as it includes a geographically wide-ranging survey of relevant ethnographic literature and rock art analyses. It would have been good to expand on this theme and perhaps to have had a secular view included from a co-author (perhaps in Edition 3 of the book?).
For a researcher working in the Blue Mountains (JT), this volume provides a good solid secondary source account of present knowledge. What it lacks, however, is a summary discussion about what is missing and what future research questions might be profitable to pursue. In this regard the volume would have benefited from a more substantial foreword that reflected on the themes that have developed since the first edition was published. Inspiring other researchers, students and the public with unanswered questions is after all the hallmark of a good general history.
The real failure in this volume is the absence of local Indigenous authorship. There are many and diverse views among local Indigenous people about the deep history of the Blue Mountains. My (JT) own current research is addressing this topic through archival research as well as oral and visual recordings. Without an analysis of the contemporary attachment of Indigenous people to place, it is not possible to really appreciate much of the history of the area. Capturing the imagination of readers through these accounts would have lifted this volume well above its place as a traditional well written regional history. While the editors may argue that the diversity of Indigenous views means that a single account would not be inclusive, there are research methods and sources (such as oral transcripts) that can overcome such issues. Hopefully this crucial research can be part of any third edition.
Like many “regional” books that draw together specialist authors it is sometimes hard to tell who the book is aimed at, as we have alluded to above. The beautiful front cover and A4 format suggests a coffee table market. Many of the chapters are, on the other hand, well-constructed academic pieces that could easily be part of a tertiary reading list. At once this makes the book a little confused and at the same time all the more appealing. Perhaps it is the bespoke character of this book that gives it this dual personality, trading on both academic rigor and handcrafted charm. We both look forward to a third edition of Blue Mountains Dreaming that builds on the present edition and includes further new and innovative interpretations.
Rob Paton and Julia Torpey
Deepening Histories Project
School of History
Australian National University


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Kelis & Scissor Sisters For Isle Of MTV
In Malta this summer …
Friday, April 30, 2010 - 10:08
This year’s free, open-air, gig will take place in the spectacular Il-Fosos Square in Floriana on the island of Malta in front of 50,000 screaming fans on June 30.
MTV hosts the ‘Isle’ event every year and we’ve previously had massive acts like Lady GaGa, Snoop Dogg, Black Eyed Peas and The Chemical Brothers.
Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears said of the 2010 festival: “'The Scissors are thrilled to be performing on the Isle of MTV, Malta. It's going to make what is already going to be a fun summer, over the top. We're so ready to get on stage and pop our gaskets, I'm sure we'll blow off a few bikini tops!”
MTV cameras will of course be filming the gigs so you can watch them on our family of channels.
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Kylie Jenner's Baby Bump Was 'Spotted' At A CVS Drugstore And It's Enormous
Fifty Shades Darker: Jamie Dornan In Sexy UNSEEN Red Room Behind The Scenes Clip
Sophie Kasaei Reveals Shocking Image Of The Abscess That Caused Her Bum Scar
31 Of The Sexiest Movies On Netflix Right Now
Gaz Beadle Gives An Adorable Insight Into Fatherhood With 3AM Feeding Selfie
The Girl On The Train Cast Reveal The Secrets Behind THAT Steamy Sex Scene

domain: celebrity


text:
Estate planning is a very broad term in Weatherford, Oklahoma, referring to a person's choices on issues that affect them and their family toward the end of their life. These might contain instructions for end-of-life care, as well as drafting a will or other document with the intent of disposing of one's property after their death.
While the drafting of a will (the document that dictates what is to be done with the decedent's property after death) is normally the central component of any estate plan, there are various other elements which you may want to include, depending on your goals, and your financial situation.
Besides a will, a quality estate plan will contain a living will, which gives your doctors and relatives directions regarding your healthcare in the event that you become incapacitated, funeral arrangements, and instructions on organ donations.
For anyone who has children who are still minors, it is very critical to make arrangements for their custody and care, just in case the unthinkable occurs. You should think of a family member or extremely close friend who you know would be willing and able to take care of your children, and designate them as the person who would take custody. Of course, it's essential to discuss this matter with that person before you really do it.
What Type of Estate Plan Do I Need in Weatherford, Oklahoma?
The answer to this question varies largely on your goals and priorities, as well as your age, health, and the amount of assets you have.
If you are young and unmarried, estate planning likely doesn't need to be on your radar, unless you are very ill, independently wealthy, or perhaps if you work in a very hazardous job, such as the military.
Individuals who are, for different possible reasons, unwilling or unable to get married, but are in committed, lifelong relationships, are perhaps most in need of a good Weatherford, Oklahoma estate plan. Because couples who aren't married don't automatically get any of the legal rights (such as hospital visitation, inheritance rights, and power of attorney) that come with marriage, they have to secure these rights through other means, such as wills and power of attorney agreements.
Other groups for whom estate planning is very essential in Weatherford, Oklahoma are people who are elderly and/or have a lot of assets. This may be the time in one's life where estate planning is most essential. While it's true that the process of making an estate plan requires a person to deal directly with the reality of their own mortality, it is very important if you value the security that comes with the knowledge that your family will be provided for.
Do I Need a Weatherford, Oklahoma Estate Planning Attorney?
Because estate planning in Weatherford, Oklahoma is not always simple, the assistance of a seasoned attorney will almost certainly be useful, and worth the cost. This is doubly true because of how critical the issues involved can be, and the fact that a relatively minor mistake can sometimes derail an entire estate plan.

domain: law


text:
Most people these days embrace coffin nails, but they usually do not pay much attention to the name of the nails. This is because most people go with a picture to the nail artist and request to have an exactly similar design without bothering to know the name.
When people hear of nail designs, they obviously want to be associated with the trendiest of them. Most nail designs are named after the shape they take and feature on the final results. Below is further evaluation to help you understand coffin nails further.
1. What Are Coffin Nails
The coffin nails are described from the coffin nail shape. The shape is usually perfect, which makes it a common choice for the masses.
Just like any other design of nails, there is more to the design other than just the shape. Coffin designs can be expressed by different styles, how you take care of the nails, and other things about the nails too.
2. What Exactly Is the Coffin Shape
The coffin shape is edgy and mysterious. The coffin design is long like in the stiletto nails, with the difference being rather than the nails having a pointy tip at the top, they are flattened up to resemble a coffin.
Associating the shape with a coffin is not the best description, but it is actually the best definition of this specific nail shape. When the coffin shape is done perfectly on the nails, there is little to no rounding on the tips.
For most people, their natural nails do not reach the desired strength and length required to pull off the coffin nails. This is, however, not such a big deal, thanks to the popular acrylic nails. The acrylic nails give you a chance to reach the desired length and perfect coffin shape without having to strain your natural nails to achieve the desired growth.
The coffin shape is not hard to achieve, especially for people with a lot of experience in doing nails. You can also come up with the perfect coffin shape on your own as long as you follow the instructions given by the expert or in the manual carefully.
3. Common Coffin Nail Colors
The coffin shape determines coffin nails. Once you have had the shape, the rest of the design is your decision. However, some designs and colors are the best for the coffin shape.
Generally, neutral colors are better for the coffin shape than very bright crazy colors. Additionally, simple arts are better than a lot of too much vibrant art and patterns.
The coffin nail designs speak for themselves from their unique shape, and there is no need to put a lot of effort into dressing them to make a statement.
Matte and Metal Colors
Blending coffin shapes with outstanding original textures is a great way to have a full display of your cute nails. The neutral matte colors give your nails a subtle and smooth look. Using a metallic sheen is also a perfect way to wear your nails and rock to a party or a festival.
Black, White and Nude
These colors are not very bold, yet they can always be noticed. They are the best colors to wear on your nails for formal events, and they will definitely get the attention your nails deserve. They are considerably simple nail colors that create a good first impression everywhere you enter
Accents and Tips
Accents and tips are a great way of adding flavor to coffin design without having to go through the effort of adding too much creativity for perfect results. Even the tiniest stripe on the tip of your nails makes a significant difference in the style.
4. How to Care and Maintain Coffin Nail Designs
Every person wants their nails to last for the maximum amount of time possible. Coffin nail shapes can be super strong to withstand damage from any obstacle that comes their way.
To care for and maintain your coffin nails, you should keep them clean and nourish them with moisturizer every once in a while. You should also take care of the cuticles using products recommended by your nail artist because the cuticles are the base of your nails, and if they are damaged, the whole design looks old too.

domain: artistic


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While infection rates kept creeping up at a worrying level across North Yorkshire over the past few weeks, health officials have suggested the spread of Covid-19 is now slowing.
Between October 26 and 27, North Yorkshire recorded 179 new cases and York 60.
So far, 7,226 people have tested positive for the virus in North Yorkshire and 3,457 in York.
York, which was placed in Tier 2 on October 17, has also seen its infection rate drop in the seven days to October 23 - the latest data available on the government dashboard.
It now stands at 285.8 cases per 100,000 people, down from 297.2 the week before.
Ryedale was the only other area to record a drop in its infection rate.
Issuing a warning ahead of Bonfire Night, Director of Public Health for North Yorkshire, Dr Lincoln Sargeant, said: “The collective effort of people in North Yorkshire has meant that previously surging infection rates appear to be slowing recently and local outbreaks are being managed.
"This is excellent work and reflects the significant efforts being made individually and as communities; but we are not out of the woods."
He added: “We need people to remain vigilant and follow the rules on social distancing, hand washing, use of face coverings and limiting the number of people with whom they socialise that apply where they live."
North Yorkshire's infection rates
From left to right, it reads: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to October 23; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to October 23; rate of new cases in the seven days to October 16; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to October 16.
Data for the most recent four days (October 24-27) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.
- Middlesbrough 393.0 (554), 312.8 (441) ↑
Redcar and Cleveland 312.1 (428), 273.4 (375) ↑
York 285.8 (602), 297.2 (626) ↓
- Selby 229.5 (208), 176.6 (160) ↑
- Harrogate 194.6 (313), 168.5 (271) ↑
- Craven 180.3 (103), 138.3 (79) ↑
- Hambleton 174.7 (160), 131.0 (120) ↑
- Richmondshire 156.3 (84), 102.4 (55) ↑
- Scarborough 124.1 (135), 102.1 (111) ↑
- Ryedale 77.6 (43), 104.7 (58) ↓
The government has also recently launched a new tool which allows you to see the severity of Covid-19 infections in your postcode area.
The colour-coded tool uses the seven–day rolling rate of new cases recorded up until October 22 (the latest available data) which are expressed per 100,000 people.
Areas marked in different shades of green generally mean a low infection rate while areas in dark blue and purple have recorded a higher number.
The lowest infection rates were recorded in Scarborough and Harrogate - but take a look below to check out North Yorkshire's 14 postcodes least affected by Covid-19.
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North Yorkshire's safest postcodes:
- Scarborough Town & North Bay, infection rate 38.6, 3 new cases recorded
- Ripon South & East, infection rate 39.0, 4 new cases recorded
- Malton & Norton, infection rate 55.2, 8 new cases recorded
- Pickering & Thornton Dale, infection rate 56.0, 6 new cases recorded
- Ramshill & South Cliff, infection rate 61.9, 5 new cases recorded
- Dishthorpe, Baldersby & Markington, infection rate 62.3, 4 new cases recorded
Upper Dales, infection rate 67.0, 4 new cases recorded
- Linton, Tollerton & Raskelf, infection rate 74.0, 5 new cases recorded
- Kirkbymoorside & Moors, infection rate 76.2, 5 new cases recorded
- Falsgrave, infection rate 76.2, 7 new cases recorded
Catterick & Brompton-on-Swale, infection rate 80.8, 5 new cases recorded
- Sheriff Hutton, Slingsby & Swinton, infection rate 82.0, 8 new cases recorded
- Huntington, infection rate 87.3, 6 new cases recorded
Northallerton, infection rate 89.0, 12 new cases recorded

domain: medical


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Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
1 Kings 11:28
And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
1 Corinthians 4:12
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

domain: literature


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A bio-artificial poly([D,L]-lactide-co-glycolide) drug-eluting nanofibrous periosteum for segmental long bone open fractures with significant periosteal stripping injuries
Received 3 November 2015
Accepted for publication 27 January 2016
Published 8 March 2016 Volume 2016:11 Pages 941—953
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 3
Editor who approved publication: Dr Lei Yang
Ying-Chao Chou,1,2 Yi-Shiun Cheng,1 Yung-Heng Hsu,1,2 Yi-Hsun Yu,1,2 Shih-Jung Liu1,2
1Biomaterials Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University, 2Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Abstract: Biodegradable poly([D,L]-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanofibrous membrane embedded with two drug-to-polymer weight ratios, namely 1:3 and 1:6, which comprised PLGA 180 mg, lidocaine 20 mg, vancomycin 20 mg, and ceftazidime 20 mg, and PLGA 360 mg, lidocaine 20 mg, vancomycin 20 mg, and ceftazidime 20 mg, respectively, was produced as an artificial periosteum in the treatment of segmental femoral fractures. The nanofibrous membrane’s drug release behavior was assessed in vitro using high-performance liquid chromatography and the disk-diffusion method. A femoral segmental fracture model with intramedullary Kirschner-wire fixation was established for the in vivo rabbit activity study. Twenty-four rabbits were divided into two groups. Twelve rabbits in group A underwent femoral fracture fixation only, and 12 rabbits in group B underwent femoral fracture fixation and were administered the drug-loaded nanofibers. Radiographs obtained at 2, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively were used to assess the bone unions. The total activity counts in animal behavior cages were also examined to evaluate the clinical performance of the rabbits. After the animals were euthanized, both femoral shafts were harvested and assessed for their torque strengths and toughness. The daily in vitro release curve for lidocaine showed that the nanofibers eluted effective levels of lidocaine for longer than 3 weeks. The bioactivity studies of vancomycin and ceftazidime showed that both antibiotics had effective and sustained bactericidal capacities for over 30 days. The findings from the in vivo animal activity study suggested that the rabbits with the artificial drug-eluting periosteum exhibited statistically increased levels of activity and better clinical performance outcomes compared with the rabbits without the artificial periosteum. In conclusion, this artificial drug-eluting periosteum may eventually be used for the treatment of open fractures.
Keywords: artificial periosteum, biodegradable poly([D,L]-lactide-co-glycolide) drug-eluting nanofibers, polycaprolactone stents, segmental long bone open fractures
The periosteum is a membrane that covers the entire outer surfaces of all bones, except that of the joints of the long bones. The periosteum consists of dense irregular connective tissue, and it can be divided into an outer fibrous layer and an inner cambium layer. The fibrous layer contains fibroblasts, while the cambium layer contains progenitor cells that develop into osteoblasts.1 As a consequence of its high level of vascularization and the presence of osteogenic progenitor cells, osteoinductive growth factors, and an osteoconductive structure, the periosteum comprises a critical component of the bone-healing process.2 Often, the damaged periosteum cannot be repaired directly during treatment because of the significant stripping injuries and tissue losses that occur in association with open fractures.3
The management of severe open fractures poses several challenges for surgeons because open fractures are associated with numerous problems, including infections, tissue defects, and nonunions.4 The literature usually recommends suitable initial management of open fractures, which involves copious irrigation and thorough debridement.5 The open wound should be covered with an appropriate flap during the early stage to reduce the risk of infection and further tissue loss.6 Meanwhile, a suitable bony fixation also plays an important role in the final outcomes from the treatment of open fractures.7 The need for the further development of new surgical techniques cannot be overemphasized in relation to the treatment of this hazardous injury. Innovative flap designs and dressing materials have helped surgeons provide early soft tissue coverage.8 Modern fixation devices also enable surgeons to offer early functional limb restoration.9 Upon trauma, the periosteum might be damaged along with the bone fracture. Furthermore, infections typically occur in fractures because bacteria enter the body during the traumatic event. Few publications address the concerns associated with the management of the periosteum during the treatment of open fractures.10
An ideal biomimetic periosteum would provide delivery of osteoinductive growth factors, restore angiogenic potential, and inhibit microbial infection on the bone surface, to allow better bone union.11,12 For those open fractures with comminuted fracture fragments, we also expect that the biomimetic periosteum can provide some mechanical strength for seizing the isolated bone fragments to decrease the fragmental irritated fracture pain and decrease nonunion due to excessive micro-motions between fracture fragments.
In this study, we hypothesize that the periosteum can be restored using biomaterial engineering techniques. The aim of this work was to develop an artificial periosteum that incorporates biodegradable drug-embedded nanofibers to provide an adequate drug release capacity, and biodegradable stents to mimic the mechanical properties of the periosteum during the management of open fractures. The in vitro and in vivo effectiveness and safety of the artificial periosteum were examined.
Materials and methods
Fabrication of the biodegradable polycaprolactone stent elements
The biodegradable polymer used in this study was poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) that has a molecular weight of 80,000 Da (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA). The polymer’s density is 1.145 g/mL at 25°C, and it melts at ~60°C. To fabricate a biodegradable stent, the stent elements were initially produced, each of which consisted of an ellipse connected to two rings at each side. The stent elements were produced using a laboratory-made microinjection molding machine and a mold.13 Figure 1A displays the dimension of the stent element, while Figure 1B shows the mold used to produce the element. The machine was used to melt, transport, and pressurize the polymer into the molds. The melt temperature was set at 100°C, and the temperature of the molds was maintained at room temperature. To produce a stent element, the granular form of PCL was fed into the machine, and it was melted. The melted polymer was then squeezed into the core of the mold cavity. Once the stent element had cooled down, the mold was opened, and the stent element was obtained. Each molded stent element was then interconnected with another element. After interconnecting a total of six elements, the unit was rolled into a mesh membrane (Figure 2).
Figure 1 Stent element and the mold.
Figure 2 Stent assembly.
Preparation of the drug-eluting nanofibrous membrane
The biodegradable polymer that was employed for the production of the nanofibrous membrane was poly([D,L]-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) (Resomer RG 503; Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Ingelheim, Germany), which has a lactide-to-glycolide ratio of 50:50 and a molecular weight of 33,000 Da. The drugs used in this study were lidocaine hydrochloride, vancomycin hydrochloride, and ceftazidime hydrate, all of which were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich.
The electrospinning system used to fabricate the nanofibers included a syringe pump and needle, which had an internal diameter of 0.42 mm, an adjustable high-voltage direct current power supply, a ground electrode, and an aluminum collection plate. The needle was connected to the high-voltage power supply that produced a positive direct current voltage and a current of up to 35 kV and 4.16 mA/125 W, respectively. Before the electrospinning procedure began, mixtures containing two different drug-to-polymer weight ratios,14 namely 1:3 and 1:6, which comprised 180 mg PLGA, 20 mg lidocaine, 20 mg vancomycin, and 20 mg ceftazidime, and 360 mg PLGA, 20 mg lidocaine, 20 mg vancomycin, and 20 mg ceftazidime, respectively, were dissolved in 1 mL of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (Sigma-Aldrich). The solutions were then delivered through the syringe pump for electrospinning. The volumetric flow rate of the pump was 0.8 mL/h. The distance between the needle tip and the collection plate was 9 cm, and the positive voltage applied to the polymer solutions was set at 17 kV. The electrospun nanofibers were collected in a non-woven form on the collection plate. The thickness of the electrospun membrane was 0.11 mm. All of the membranes were prepared at room temperature.
After the electrospinning procedure, the morphology of the fibers was examined by coating them with gold and examining them with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) (Hitachi S-3000N; Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The diameter distributions of the fibers were obtained by analyzing the SEM images of 20 randomly selected fibers from each test sample (n=3) using commercial ImageJ image processing software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA).
In vitro drug release studies
The in vitro releases of lidocaine, vancomycin, and ceftazidime from the nanofibrous membranes were assessed using the elution method. Samples measuring 1×1 cm that had been cut from the electrospun membranes were placed individually in glass test tubes (n=3) that contained 1 mL of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (0.15 M, pH 7.4). The glass test tubes were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours before the membrane eluents were collected and analyzed. Fresh PBS (1 mL) was then added to the samples, and the tubes were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours before the membrane eluents were collected and analyzed, and this procedure was repeated for 35 days. The lidocaine and antibiotic concentrations in the buffer were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography.15 The vancomycin activity within the eluent was determined using the disk-diffusion method that was undertaken in nutrient broth that comprised beef extract and peptone (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). The membrane eluent (8 μL) was pipetted onto the 6 mm absorption disks that were placed onto nutrient agar plates that had been seeded with a layer of Staphylococcus aureus (American Type Culture Collection [ATCC] 65389 [Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan]). The inhibition zones were measured using a micrometer after incubation for 16–18 hours at 35°C. A 50 μg/mL drug solution was used as a reference sample.14 The relative activity of the released vancomycin was calculated as follows: relative activity (%) = (diameter of the sample inhibition zone)/(diameter of the reference inhibition zone) ×100. The bioactivity of the ceftazidime on Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) was determined using the same method.
Surgical procedure and animal care
Twenty-four adult New Zealand white rabbits (Animal Health Research Institute, Panchiao, Taiwan) with a mean weight of 2.9±0.4 kg were used in this study. The animal-related procedures in this study were granted institutional approval by the Chang Gung University, and all the animals involved were cared for in a manner that was consistent with the regulations of the National Institute of Health of Taiwan under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
General anesthesia was induced in all 24 rabbits through the inhalation of isoflurane (Aesica Queenborough Limited, Queenborough, UK) in an anesthesia chamber that comprised a 40×20×28 cm transparent acrylic box. Anesthesia was maintained through a mask during the whole surgical procedure. Under sterile conditions, all of the rabbits underwent a longitudinal incision of the left lateral thigh followed by a significant periosteal dissection to expose the left femoral shaft. The first transverse femoral osteotomy was performed 2 cm proximal to the distal femoral condyle, and the second transverse osteotomy was performed 1 cm proximal to the first osteotomy site, thereby creating the segmental femoral fracture model (Figure 3A). The surgical wound was extended into the left knee for the lateral parapatellar exposure of the distal femur that enabled a hole to be drilled (Figure 3B) in the intercondylar notch for the insertion of a 2 mm Kirschner (K)-wire that extended to the proximal end of the femur, thereby creating the intramedullary K-wire fixation (Figure 3C). Figure 3D and E show photographically the surgical procedure. The rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. In group A, 12 rabbits underwent segmental femoral fractures and intramedullary K-wire fixations only, and in group B, 12 rabbits underwent segmental femoral fractures and drug-loaded nanofibrous membranes with polymer-to-drug ratios of 1:6 were inserted into the fracture sites (Figure 4A and B), and they were then enveloped with the PCL stents (Figure 4C). The biodegradable PCL stents were closed and fixed with 3-0 Vicryl® sutures (Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, USA) of a sufficient tightness to ensure that all of the segmental fracture fragments were covered. Figure 4D and E exhibits photographically the implantation of the stent and nanofibrous membrane.
Postoperative animal care and radiographic assessments
After surgery, the general activities of all of the rabbits were recorded daily by housing the rabbits in laboratory-made animal behavior cages (ABCs) for 7 days. Then, the rabbits were returned to their original cages for further observations of their activities. As shown in Figure 5, the floor of an ABC measured 1.2×1.2 m, and the cage was 0.7 m high. On top of the cage, nine diffuse scan-type photoelectric switch sensors with self-contained amplifiers (HP100-A1; Azbil Corp., Chiyoda-ku, Japan) that were separated by a distance of 30 cm from each other monitored the movements of the rabbits. Before the measurements began, the sensors were adjusted to detect 250×250 mm objects that moved around the bases of the cages. The nine sensors could detect animal movements within the nine symmetrical areas of the cage. When a rabbit moved from one area into the neighboring area, the sensor in the neighboring area was triggered, and one unit of activity was recorded. The totals of the activity units were recorded using a personal computer equipped with an acquisition interface. All of the animals’ activities were monitored for 7 days.
Figure 5 The device for animal activity test.
After recording the animals’ activities for 1 week, all of the rabbits were allowed to live freely in individual cages, and they were given standard rabbit chow and sterilized drinking water ad libitum. The temperature and humidity were maintained at 24°C and 70%, respectively. All of the rabbits underwent radiographic assessments of their left thighs at 2, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively to evaluate the bone-healing process.
Animal euthanasia and mechanical strength tests
After completing the final imaging studies at 12 weeks postoperatively, all of the rabbits were euthanized by intravenous injections of lidocaine, and the mechanical strength of the bones was tested. Both the left study femurs and the right healthy femurs were harvested from the rabbits for the clinical comparisons. The femoral specimens were dissected to remove the residual muscles and to gently remove the intramedullary K-wire. Both ends of each femoral specimen were stabilized by embedding the femoral bones in epoxy blocks that were cylindrically shaped, had 1.5 cm radii, and were 1.3 cm thick. The specimens were then secured onto a mechanical strength machine (Gotech Testing Machines, Inc., Taichung, Taiwan) (Figure 6A) for the rotational torque and toughness assessments (Figure 6B).
Figure 6 Torsional test of bone specimens.
The data collected from the samples were analyzed using SPSS software, version 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A least significant difference test was used to compare the two groups. A chi-square test was used for the nonparametric data, namely the activity performance scores. The data are expressed as the means and the standard deviations, and a P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
The drug-eluting nanofibrous membrane was successfully fabricated using the electrospinning technique. Figure 7 shows the SEM images of the nanofibers at a magnification of ×20,000. All of the electrospun nanofibers showed high levels of porosity. The average diameter of the nanofibers from the mixture that contained the 1:3 and 1:6 drug-to-polymer ratios was 280±126 and 980±247 nm, respectively, while the average diameter of virgin nanofibers (without drug loading) was 1,405±168 nm.
In vitro release characteristics of lidocaine from the nanofibers
The daily and accumulated releases of lidocaine from the nanofibrous membranes are shown in Figure 8A and B, respectively. Lidocaine exhibited a triphasic release pattern, with an initial burst release on day 1 that was followed by a decline in the release until day 5. A second drug release peak was observed from days 13 to 15, after which the drug release from the nanofibers diminished progressively over >24 days for both of the drug-to-polymer ratios.
In vitro antibiotic releases
Figure 9A and B show the daily and accumulated release curves for vancomycin, while Figure 10A and B display the daily and accumulated release curves for ceftazidime. The influence of the drug-to-polymer ratio on the in vitro release characteristics of the antibiotics from the nanofibrous membranes was investigated. The nanofibrous membranes containing the different drug concentrations exhibited similar antibiotic release patterns, which were characterized by high releases during the first 2 days, and major release peaks at 10 days, followed by gradual and sustained drug releases. The membranes containing the different drug-to-polymer ratios released high concentrations of the antibiotics that were well above the minimum inhibitory concentrations for >30 days. The in vitro release of ceftazidime was more stable, with only minor initial burst releases observed. The bioactivities of the eluted vancomycin on S. aureus and of the eluted ceftazidime on E. coli were determined using an antibiotic disk-diffusion method. Figure 11A and B show the bioactivities of the released vancomycin and ceftazidime, respectively. The antibiotics’ bioactivities remained high after the electrospinning process.
Figure 11 Bioactivities of antibiotics.
In vivo animal activity results
All 24 rabbits completed the 12-week postoperative care course, and there were no deaths. None of the rabbits in either group developed deep wound infections, hematomas, or seromas around the fracture sites. Two rabbits in group B and one rabbit in group A demonstrated wound dehiscence because the rabbits had bitten their wounds. The ruptured wounds were treated with topically applied antibiotic ointment and no sutures were required, and they healed progressively and formed scars.
The mean activity counts at 1 week postoperatively, which were based on the recordings from the photoelectric switch sensors placed on the ABCs, were 4,484±366 and 6,856±716 counts for groups A and B, respectively (Figure 12). Group B showed a higher number of sensor triggers than group A, indicating that the animals that had received the biodegradable nanofiber and PCL stent treatment were more active.
Figure 12 The mean activity counts at 1 week postoperatively.
Radiographic bone healing in vivo
The radiographic assessments at 2 weeks postoperatively showed that the intramedullary K-wire had migrated in three rabbits (25%, 3/12) in group A and in two rabbits (16.6%, 2/12) in group B, and that the K-wires partially bulged out from the femoral intercondylar insertion site. The radiographs at 6 weeks postoperatively showed that the K-wire was partially bulging out from the insertion site in five rabbits in group A and in two rabbits in group B. The radiographic assessments at 12 weeks postoperatively showed delayed bone unions in five rabbits in group A and in one rabbit in group B, and the formation of the bridging calluses was inadequate within the gaps produced by the fractures. The clinical bone union rates at 12 weeks postoperatively were 58.3% (7/12) in group A and 91.6% (11/12) in group B. A statistically significant difference in the bone-healing rate was noted between the groups at the 12-week radiographic assessment (Figure 13A1–A3 and B1–B3).
In vivo mechanical strength
The mechanical strength tests excluded those rabbits from both groups that showed delayed bone unions; hence, seven rabbits from group A and eleven rabbits from group B were included in the strength tests. To diminish the bias associated with the different bone qualities among the individual rabbits, the maximum torque of the left study femur was divided by that of the right healthy femur to obtain the torque strength ratio. The same method was used to obtain the toughness ratios from all of the rabbits. Group A’s torque strength ratio (73.3%) was lower than that of group B (81.6%), a difference that was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The toughness ratio was significantly lower in group A (63.3%) compared with group B (91.6%) (P<0.05).
The treatment of AO type IIIB open fractures that have significant soft tissue damage always requires staged surgical procedures. An initial damage-control operation is recommended to remove all contaminating materials and to provide temporary bone stabilization.2,16 All devitalized skin, muscle, periosteum, and sequestrated bone tissue should be excised during debridement procedures to gain sufficient control of infections. However, during further steps of surgical procedures, few surgeons pay sufficient attention to the restoration of the periosteum, which contains osteogenic progenitor cells, provides a source of osteoinductive growth factors, and provides an osteoconductive structure,8,9,17 and is, therefore, a critical component of the bone-healing process. In this study, we developed a biodegradable drug-eluting PLGA nanofibrous membrane that was combined with PCL stents of sufficient elastic strength to mimic the periosteum.
The results from the in vitro drug release experiments indicated that the nanofibers can provide effective concentrations of vancomycin and ceftazidime for longer than 30 days, which would promote infection control; hence, the nanofibrous membrane may be an ideal drug-eluting system that enables the sustained release of antibiotics. The results from the animal study, which used a rabbit femoral segmental fracture model, showed that the artificial drug-eluting periosteum provided adequate biomechanical compatibility without inducing tissue overreactions. The sustained release of lidocaine from the nanofibers encouraged the rabbits to be more active during the first week postoperatively. The good elastic strength of the PCL stents that formed a circumferential envelope around the segmental fracture site also enhanced the mechanical toughness of the femoral shaft.
Tseng et al reported the development of lidocaine-embedded PLGA nanofibers for the sustained delivery of lidocaine into the epidural space in rats to provide pain relief after laminectomy.18 Vancomycin-eluting PLGA nanofibers have been applied to the treatment of brain abscesses, and vancomycin/ceftazidime-eluting nanofibers have been applied to plates and screws to treat osteomyelitis.19,20 It is widely accepted that carriers for local antibiotic delivery can provide sustained releases of high concentrations of antibiotics to sites of infection. Previous studies have reported that vancomycin is effective when it is used in polymethylmethacrylate cement beads to control infections.21 However, the nondegradable nature of the polymethylmethacrylate drug delivery system limits its clinical application. The development of a biodegradable carrier is considered theoretically advantageous because of the potential reduction in the risk of secondary infections and the elimination of the need for further surgery to remove the implant.22
Drugs formulated in biodegradable polymeric vehicles are released by diffusion through the polymer barrier, or by erosion of the polymer material, or by a combination of both diffusion and erosion mechanisms. With a degradation time of ~2 months, PLGAs have been widely employed for the delivery of various pharmaceuticals. With respect to the nanofibers that were embedded with lidocaine and antibiotics in this study, we found that the drug release behavior varied in association with the different drug-to-polymer ratios. Since all drug-eluting nanofibers possessed sustained drug release capacities that spanned >3 weeks, we recommend that the nanofibers that incorporated the lower drug-to-polymer ratio (1:6) are used in future applications. This is because the nanofibers with the higher drug-to-polymer ratio (1:3) showed greater peak burst releases of lidocaine and vancomycin during days 1 and 2 postoperatively, which could increase the risk of local or systemic tissue damage caused by drug overdoses during the burst release periods.
Many drugs degrade slowly and are highly permeable, and PCL was initially investigated as a long-term drug or vaccine delivery vehicle. The semi-crystalline nature and significant elasticity at room temperature have rendered PCL unsuitable for fracture fixation implants in the orthopedic field.23–25 However, many publications have described the experimental application of PCL as a scaffold to fill bone gaps and to provide osteoconduction in bone engineering.26 We expanded the experimental application of PCL in this study in which it was used as a circumferential scaffold around the fracture site that mimicked the periosteum and provided elastic strength for fracture fragment fixation. By enveloping them in the PCL stent, the nanofibers could adhere to the segmental fracture site more effectively without shedding migration or self-contracture within the body fluid. Roberts27 first proposed the concept of artificial periosteum for fixation of shaft fractures. Hattori et al28 developed a bio-artificial periosteum composed of osteogenic cells and collagen sponge. By using a rat model for severe bone injury where the defect sites were covered with the bio-artificial periosteum, their results demonstrated new bone formation in the central part of the bone defect as well as at the bone edge. Shi et al29 developed microgrooved PLGA nanosheets that adhered on the surfaces of bones before and after incubation in PBS for 14 days. Compared to the previous bio-artificial periosteum that contained live cells, the PLGA artificial periosteum/PCL stent developed in this study consisted only of biodegradable nanofibers and commonly used drugs. The porous structure of the nanofibrous mat can mimic the structure of extracellular matrix and promote tissue/bone regeneration, while the PCL stent provides mechanical support for the nanofibrous membrane to stick tightly to the bones. This provides advantages in terms of easy manufacture of the artificial periosteum, high mechanical support of the periosteum by the biodegradable stent, as well as good cell proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition with subsequent ingrowth until the tissues/bones are totally restored or regenerated.
Despite the proven effectiveness of the drug-eluting nanofibers and the elastic strength of the PCL stents that enabled the imitation of the periosteum, there were some limitations associated with this study. The first shortcoming was that we could not design an open-fracture animal model that had significant amounts of damage to the periosteum and soft tissue defects that required flap reconstruction because the prolonged surgery and the associated animal care following the microsurgery would have increased the risk of rabbit death. Hence, we were only able to create a segmental fracture with significant periosteal stripping that simulated the compromise of the periosteum in the segmental femoral fracture model. The second study shortcoming was associated with not performing a bacterial seeding procedure during the in vivo study to mimic the wound contamination that occurs during open fractures. We evaluated the bactericidal capacities of the antibiotics that were eluted from the nanofibers using in vitro high-performance liquid chromatography assessments and antibiotic-specific disk-diffusion assays.17,18 The third study limitation relates to this being a preliminary study of the development of an artificial periosteum, and consequently, we did not add any osteogenic progenitors or osteoinductive growth factors to the nanofibers.
To substantiate the feasibility of the use of this drug-eluting artificial periosteum in the treatment of open fractures, our future work will involve modifying our animal fracture model to create femoral shaft open fractures with soft tissue defects and inoculating the wound with bacteria to mimic complex open fractures with soft tissue compromise and wound contamination. Furthermore, to expand the capacity of this biodegradable artificial periosteum, particularly its capacity for promoting bone healing, we should also incorporate effective osteoinductive growth factors, including collagen and bone marrow proteins, into the drug-eluting nanofibers to promote bone healing during the treatment of open fractures.
In this study, we successfully developed an artificial drug-eluting periosteum for segmental femoral fractures using biodegradable drug-loaded nanofibers and stents. With its sustained drug-eluting capacity that occurs over a sufficient period of time, the artificial periosteum developed can provide satisfactory pain relief, reasonable biomechanical strength, and a tolerable bactericidal capacity for the management of complex open fractures.
The authors thank Dr Jau-Wen Huang and the staff of the Ci-Wen Clinic for their assistance with preparing the images and radiographs for this study. The authors would also like to thank the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (contract no MOST 104-2221-E-182-048-MY3) and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (contract no CMRPD3D0151) for supporting this research financially.
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
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As climate change brings higher temperatures and extreme weather to American cities, rental and affordable housing stock in the US remains largely under-equipped to deal with these new challenges.
The Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden in August provides funds and programs for homeowners to take climate action by, for example, installing solar panels and energy efficient heat pumps. But what about renters?
Renters typically use one third more energy per square foot than homeowners because landlords often don’t get a financial return on installing expensive upgrades to improve insulation and HVAC efficiency. And many renters are low-income people who can not afford higher energy costs.
But, according to Todd Nedwick, senior director of sustainability policy at the National Housing Trust, there are ways for people living in rental housing to go greener, save energy costs and guard against heat waves and other climate related risks.
“The Inflation Reduction Act included a $1 billion program specifically targeted to HUD housing stock that will allow building owners to invest both in the energy efficiency of the building as well as improve resilience,” Nedwick says.
Programs in the Inflation Reduction Act also provide rebates to both single-family and multi-family building owners to encourage them to invest in energy efficiency and convert existing fossil fuel-burning equipment to all electric, Nedwick adds.
“[I]n Washington, DC, where I'm from, buildings account for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions,” he points out. “So we're not going to address climate change if we're not addressing the existing housing stock. Climate policy is housing policy.”
Resilience upgrades include measures such as flood-proofing, elevating essential equipment above ground level to prevent disruption to power, and adding battery storage to buildings so residents still have a source of power if the electrical grid goes down.
Protecting residents from extreme heat is another important resilience strategy, Nedwisk adds. This includes adding cool roofs to buildings, for example, in order to reflect sunlight and prevent buildings from getting too hot.
“[I]n many cases, older buildings might not have air conditioning,” Nedwick points out. “And so, in addition to providing incentives for reducing energy consumption, we also need to be providing resources to help building owners upgrade their buildings and install air conditioning to protect residents from extreme heat. We're seeing extreme heat disproportionately impact people of color because they don't live in areas that have invested in and have the infrastructure to protect from rising temperatures.”
Building owners can also access energy efficiency programs offered by local utility companies, which help offset the cost of making building upgrades, Nedwick says. These are important resources for building owners, especially owners of affordable housing, who typically have limited cash flow to pay the upfront cost of major upgrades.
Some cities are also implementing policies such as energy performance standards for buildings, which require owners of poor performing buildings to make upgrades that reduce energy use.
“So, we are seeing both carrots and sticks,” Nedwick says. “I think what works most effectively is when you combine the two. [I]f you're going to have a building energy performance standard and require building owners to make upgrades, especially in affordable housing, providing resources to the owner to actually pay for some of those costs is pretty important.”
Energy efficiency and better weatherization aren’t the whole story, however. Climate change is increasing the danger to buildings from hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. According to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, 40% of rental housing stock in the US is at risk of damage from climate disasters.
Most of the country’s older rental housing stock is not built to withstand these impacts, Nedwick says.
“And we see that where there are the greatest risks in terms of potential climate events, those areas of the country are typically disproportionately Black, Hispanic, and low income individuals,” he points out. “So we have to fortify the existing rental housing stock to withstand climate events and protect existing residents.”
“In this country, we spend so much more funding on disaster recovery than we do disaster preparedness,” Nedwick continues. “And we've found that…the disaster recovery funding often doesn't reach renters and owners of rental housing. Typically, disaster recovery programs allocate funding based on the extent of the economic disruption from a climate event, and that often correlates with higher property values. As a result, a lot of the disaster recovery funding, especially through some of the FEMA programs, really [doesn’t] reach affordable housing residents and owners in an equitable way.”
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A true bastard love child of a song if ever there was one! A Romanian song collected by Bela Bartok, translated to English by British Folkies Andy Irvine & Jane Cassidy & grafted onto a Bulgarian dance tune, before being brilliantly recorded by Maddie Pryor & June Tabor (The Silly Sisters) Gurt Winter Concert 2012 The Gurt Lush Choir debut Concert at The Colston Hall, with Bristol Male Voice Choir. Musical Directors, Sam Burns & Steve Daykin 300 Singers, 1500+ Audience. Several thousand raised for St Peters Hospice. Where were you? ;-)
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We’re entering the home stretch of the list as we look at the bottom ten entries of the top 200.
Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
#1 | 2010
JK: I mean, it was a massive hit, but if I’m including one of Clarkson’s country duets on this list, it’s “Don’t Rush” with Vince Gill. So Wrong (This Song)
ZK: Sadly, if we need hits by Aldean to tell the full country music story, something this overwrought and sterile works for simply existing and not being as offensive as his other material. I just can’t with the placement, though. Too High
KJC: This bombastic duet was an enormous hit, and for the life of me, I still can’t understand why. Even Kelly Clarkson can’t do anything with the non-existent melody, let alone her far less capable partner. They both alternate between talking and screaming, with barely any plain ol’ singing anywhere on the track. It has to be on here for significance and impact, but it’s way Too High
Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle, “You and I”
#1 | 1982
KJC: I’ve never understood why Gayle’s harmony vocal here was billed as a full-fledged duet. They sound great together, at least, and it’s about as pleasurable as you can expect from the Urban Cowboy era, even if it plays out like a Kenny Rogers b-side. Too High
JK: This one definitely set the precedent for the aughts’ trend of tagging a harmony vocal as a duet. Definitely a reasonable inclusion, but there’s no way this is one of the genre’s top 200 records. Too High
ZK: I’m not mad that Crystal Gayle is billed as a feature artist here, but “duets that aren’t really duets” is one of my biggest musical pet peeves. I’d slot it in here as a wildcard pick and call it a day. Too High
Carrie Underwood, “All American Girl”
#1 | 2007
JK: Underwood’s early career is defined by aggressively middlebrow radio fodder. Here, she oversings a list of clichés that shouldn’t be included here at all, let alone ranked this high. Utterly inessential. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
ZK: It’s a single I really should dislike, but I blame childhood nostalgia on finding this one a little bit charming. Always enjoyed the fiddle work here. With that said, the only argument I’d make for a single of hers being this high is for “Blown Away.” Too High
KJC: Carrie Underwood has so many great hits under her belt. This one is charming, and I love the fiddle on it. But it has no business being her highest-ranking solo entry. Too High
Kenny Rogers, “Daytime Friends”
#1 | 1977
ZK: I’m left trying to follow what my colleagues said, so I’ll add to Kevin’s statement by saying he was a fantastic emotive interpreter who could sell those stories and characters. And then I’ll add to both by saying this shouldn’t be ranked ahead of his classics that we’ve already seen here. Too High
KJC: It worked fine at the time as the follow-up to his massive breakthrough hit, “Lucille,” and it further demonstrates how well he does compact story songs that make the listener empathize with characters that could easily be portrayed as villainous. But again, Too High
JK: I cannot fathom having this ranked ahead of “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town.” It’s fine, but nothing in the top 200 of this list should be merely fine. Too High
John Michael Montgomery, “I Love the Way You Love Me”
#1 | 1993
KJC: So now we deal with the trilogy of JMM wedding songs, all falling between #100 and #200. I’ll throw the marker down now. All three belong on the list. Only one warrants being this high. And this one isn’t it. Too High
JK: The only thing I ever liked about this record is the idea that it was inspired by the late Lari White, whose “Lead Me Not” should have been included on this list. Include this one on impact, but drop it back several hundred spots. At least All-4-One didn’t cover it, I guess? Too High
ZK: Of the many “hat acts,” I’ve always liked Montgomery just fine as a performer; I just wish his material measured up to that talent. This overwrought, cheesy ballad was huge – because of course it was – but only the true heavy-hitters are allowed this high. Too High
Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
#1 | 2012
JK: Unlike my colleagues and the Grammy voting base, I have never bought into the idea that Hayes was a notable talent. There are countless artists not here at all who I’d have in his place. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
ZK: Hunter Hayes made boyfriend country music before it was cool, y’all. At least he had legitimate talent; you just wouldn’t know it from his recorded material. A sad case of what never was. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
KJC: In my desire to remake this list from my own POV, I’ll reiterate again that there’s a place for mid-level artists on it. I’d rather see more artists represented with only one song than have a list with several artists who have 10+ entries. This is the correct selection for Hunter Hayes. Too High
Freddy Fender, “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights”
#1 | 1975
ZK: I’m happy to see more Freddy Fender here, and I like this about as much as “Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” but this song doesn’t belong ahead of that one. About Right
KJC: A good placement for his second biggest hit, but it should be below, not above “Before the Next Teardrop Falls.” About Right
JK: What Kevin said: Ranked correctly in the grand scheme of things, but not within the context of Fender’s entries. About Right
Luke Bryan, “Rain is a Good Thing”
#1 | 2010
KJC: I really don’t know how to process sixteen Luke Bryan entries overall, let alone there still being two more after this. I guess this is a fine representation of his earlier work, but his work simply isn’t important enough to be represented to such a dramatic extent. Too High
JK: This is often cited as the example of how Bryan’s work went off a cliff when he embraced bro-country. But… it’s really not all that good on its own merits. It’s a decent song, performed competently. That’s not good enough. Too High
ZK: And more Luke Bryan music isn’t one. I guess I’ll take the “aw-shucks,” Gomer Pyle appeal of this to his other 2010s material. Too High
Waylon Jennings, “I’m a Ramblin’ Man”
#1 | 1974
JK: A single that works perhaps as a better statement of artistic identity than as a standalone single, but even then, it’s still awfully great. About Right
ZK: Of the numerous times the theme has been milked to death, there’s an argument to be made that Jennings made the best version, if only because he’s playing coy and having a bit of fun with the idea. About Right
KJC: His entire ethos distilled into one song. About Right
Barbara Mandrell with George Jones, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”
#1 | 1981
ZK: This is one of those singles critics like to view with rose-colored glasses as something of a “protest song” for country music, especially given its release timing. Which, fine, whatever. But this coming from Barbara Mandrell? Nuh-uh. Too High
KJC: Barbara Mandrell has always been “Exhibit A” for my view that the argument over what’s “country” is driven more by xenophobia than musical purity. By this point in her career, Mandrell was part-R&B chanteuse, part-variety show host. But she was still considered “in the family” enough to release this ridiculous record, and even get George Jones on the track to give it some extra credibility. Too High
JK: Mandrell’s obviously a major talent and the consummate professional entertainer, but her catalogue has aged so poorly that it’s hard to hear this record as anything but pure kitsch. It’s not unreasonable to have it on the list, but there’s no way I’d have it ranked here. Too High
Previous: #210-#201 | Next: #190-#181
What happened ?
This group of songs is much weaker than the previous ten songs. IMHO none of these songs belong in this rarefied atmosphere although most are definite top 1000 material
Re. “Wasted Days And Wasted Nights”: I think Freddy originally recorded this back in 1959 and almost got it released nationally…until he was busted for having marijuana on him, which was a felony at the time. He came back to it in this recording, which was not only a (needless to say) big country hit, but also got up to #8 on the Hot 100 as well.
Re. “All American Girl”: It almost seems like Carrie was shooting for her own “She’s In Love With The Boy” here, for something that could appeal to a wide swath of middle America. But given that she was only two years removed from American Idol, she really couldn’t do anything to upset country music’s apple cart. Not that she really has, anyway.
Re. “I’m A Ramblin’ Man”: If they hadn’t done so beforehand, this is arguably the song that got people to notice A Man Called Hoss.
All-Amercan Girl is too high, but its her best single slightly ahead of Blown Away, which loses points fro the bad performance of the first part of th chorus. None of the other sonds deserve to be this high. msny not even close.
Agree with JK that the late Lari White’s “Lead Me Not” should have been included on this list. She had a great voice. Got to see her 5 times at the Bluebird Cafe.
Okay, gonna be real. I cannot believe any redblooded man likes I Love the Way You Love Me. Seriously, guys? You want a bowl of sugar to put on top of that syrup? This is the crap women like and forever call for on the all request hour, and why we’re stuck with the bro movement. JMM’s typical schlock move of holding a word for 2 bars and thinking it’s emotionally deep. Everything that’s wrong with country music, wrapped up in one song.
I like most of these songs but don’t think any of them belong in the top 200 of this list.
Daytime Friends – Kenny is my all time favorite male country singer and I love the song. But no way does it belong this high or ahead of so many of his classic songs.
I Was Country… – a great song and my favorite of Mandrell’s. However, the song is not live even though it appears on a Live album. Mandrell cut her singing in a studio. She and Jones were on a flight together and she asked him to record his part and he agreed. The ‘audience’ was from old recordings and added to the track later.
You And I – love the song and it was a monster hit (#1 country and #7 pop) but I can think of many other Gayle songs I’d rather see on the list. I’ll Get Over You, Ready For The Times To Get Better, Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For, and Cry just to name a few.
Wasted Days And Wasted Nights – my Dad loved Fender and we had several of his albums when I was growing up. This song was a definite favorite of mine. It’s infectious and so much fun.
And sorry Steve, but this guy does like I Love The Way You Love Me. It doesn’t belong this high for sure, but it’s a great song IMHO.
Both Freddy Fender and Narvel Felts can be acquired tastes. If I recall correctly none of Felts’ recordings are on this list (although there are several that should be here) and some of Freddy’s best work was as part of the Texas Tornados (Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez & Augie Meyers), a Tejano/Country supergroup.
I don’t post too often, but I just gotta give you folks kudos for making it this far on this schizophrenic list. I honestly like most of these songs, sans the Aldean/Clarkson and Underwood tracks. But, what made the people put these ten songs in these particular spots is just…there’s no logic. It’s like they just threw darts at numbers to match songs, and that really doesn’t get any better as you move into the top 100.
So, at any rate…kudos to your patience on getting through this list. It’s almost like a curiousity read every week or two for me, and you deserve a ton of credit for tackling it all. (And if you need a good psychiatrist after it’s all over…let me know.)
…the fact that “rain is a good thing” and “all american girl” made it onto this list – sporting “top” and “of all time” in its title – always makes me kinda believe that artificial intelligence might not be such a bad thing after all.
I never liked Carrie Underwood’s “All American Girl,” and I never could say specifically why, until now. It just struck me that it’s more or less a self-published romance novel put to music.
Hunter Hayes’ “Wanted” is the 195th greatest country song ever? What? My can’t evens can’t even.
At least one of Waylon’s best was ranked ahead of them…
I mostly agree with caj here in that while I personally like or love most of these songs, none of these really belong in the top 200, imo.
Yeah, I’m a female who really enjoys “I Love The Way You Love Me,” (and a lot of other 90’s country love ballads) but I don’t like EVERY love song in the genre. For example, I’m not a fan of the current boyfriend country trend, and there have also been many poorly written love songs in the past several years along with the bro-country sludge. Back to JMM, of course part of my liking for this song goes all the way back to when my step dad got that album for me, as I mentioned in another thread. Also, I actually prefer it to his two major monster hit ballads, simply because I like the early 90’s neo-traditional flavored production over the more pop leaning sound of those other two songs.
“You And I” is one of my all time favorite records from the Urban Cowboy period. This is the kind of pop country I don’t mind at all. Absolutely love the melody and their harmonies, though I did also eventually find myself wishing that Crystal had more singing parts to make it a full fledged duet. One of our stations was actually still playing a lot of this early 80’s pop country well into 1991, so of course the nostalgia factor is there for me, as well.
“I Was Country” will always have a special place with me, because it’s one of my mom’s favorites (along with “You And I”), and she is a Barbara Mandrell fan overall. Personally, I can also kind of relate to it since liking country music was definitely not considered cool when I was going to school in the 90’s and early 00’s. And now since Bro-Country has sort of made country music “cool”, I see a lot of younger people listening that stuff, proudly claiming to be “country” fans now.
“Daytime Friends” is one of those songs I didn’t really discover until for some reason, it became a popular recurrent during the late 90’s/early 00’s on one of our stations. Come to think of it, that was actually quite fitting as the genre was moving back in a more pop direction at the time similar to the Urban Cowboy period, and even Kenny Rogers himself was making a successful comeback, as well. It’s another solid song in his catalogue, but yeah I wouldn’t have it this high.
I actually kinda liked Hunter Hayes in the beginning, as I first found him to be similar to Bryan White, and his music was refreshing compared to the country checklist songs and early bro-country hits at the time (“If You Told Me To” from his first album sounds EXACTLY like something Bryan would’ve cut in his heyday). Unfortunately as time went on, his music (and his vocals) proved to have more in common with Rascal Flatts than anyone else. “Wanted” still holds up well enough today, but It’s certainly not a top 200 record.
I’ve always been pretty “meh” on Carrie’s “All American Girl,” but now I’d kinda like to see her get back to this kind of pop country, which is a lot more country sounding than a lot of her more recent stuff.
The Aldean and Bryan songs are actually not so bad this time out, but still no way do they belong in the top 200. I especially have to agree with the panel on “Don’t You Want To Stay.” I still think it’s a shame that “Don’t Rush” wasn’t a big hit.

domain: entertainment


COVID-19 Updates, July 16: Updates on People at Risk, Testing, Reopening, and a Vaccine
Even after months of navigating life in the COVID-19 era, keeping up with new information and news can be overwhelming. Below are some of the latest developments surrounding COVID-19 for the month of July.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published on July 16, 2020. Further developments in what we know about the coronavirus are continuously emerging.
The CDC updates who is at risk
Previously, we heard that those at risk for severe COVID-19 are typically older adults and people who are immunocompromised. However, as we have learned more about the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has refined this list.
Age is still a factor for severe illness. While 8 out of 10 COVID-19 deaths in the United States have been in adults over the age of 65, this number does not represent a true cut-off for risk. Instead, the CDC suggests that risk generally increases with age. This means that someone who is in their 60s has a higher risk than someone in their 50s, and someone in their 50s has a higher risk than someone who is 40 years old. Those who are over 85 years old have the highest risk.1
The CDC also suggested a list of pre-existing medical conditions that may increase a person’s risk of getting severe COVID-19. These include:2
The CDC also clarified medical conditions that might increase risk, but more research is needed to know for sure. These include conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, liver disease, and generally being immunocompromised due to HIV, blood or bone marrow transplant, or taking immune-system-weakening medications including steroids.2
Updates on testing
Two types of COVID-19 tests are currently available. These are viral tests and antibody tests. Viral tests detect if you currently have an active infection. Antibody tests determine if you may have been infected in the past.
As of early July, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, those who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, and those who had COVID-19 recently but no longer have symptoms, can receive the viral test. With the increased availability of testing, the CDC has since expanded this list. It now includes people who live in close quarters or areas vulnerable to infection (to prevent a future outbreak), and general population screening to track the spread of COVID-19.3
Viral testing for COVID-19
Viral testing for COVID-19 can either be recommended or prescribed by a doctor, or self-elected. Some pharmacies and other locations have opened drive-through testing sites for those who wish to get tested. In most cases, the cost of COVID-19 testing will be covered by insurance if it is deemed medically appropriate. Those without insurance may need to pay the full price for a test, or find a free or reduced cost testing location. Unlike testing, treatment for COVID-19 may not be fully covered by insurance and can be costly.4
Antibody testing for COVID-19
Some antibody tests may be covered or partially covered by insurance, depending on your provider. However, antibody tests have some limitations. They are not always accurate and may miss a past COVID-19 infection if taken too early before antibodies have developed. In addition, there is still some confusion on what a positive antibody test can mean. It could be a false positive and mean you have been infected with a virus similar to COVID-19 in the past, but not COVID-19.5
Even if you have been infected with COVID-19, it is not clear if or how long the COVID-19 antibodies will protect you.5 Further, not all antibody tests are created equally or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before taking an antibody test on your own, contact your doctor to make sure it is a legitimate test.
Facing growing financial and personal pressures, many areas of the United States are reopening businesses, restaurants, and entertainment sources. The results of these efforts have been mixed and vary based on location.
Some areas have slowly reopened and have been able to maintain their plans with minor adjustments. Others are quickly becoming new hotspot areas. Some of these areas with rapidly increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases have needed to scale back reopening efforts or shut back down. Every area of the country is quite different.6
Before changing your personal efforts or traveling, check the guidelines in your area.
The search for a vaccine
Although the process for making a vaccine is long, researchers are still on track to have an effective vaccine developed by the end of this year or early next year. As of early July, more than 140 vaccines were in the development process, but only about 20 of these are in the clinical trial stage. Researchers and manufacturers all over the world are trying different methods to create a successful vaccine. The good news is that the virus that causes COVID-19 does not seem to be changing much. This helps keep scientists’ efforts to target the virus with an effective vaccine on track.7,8
On June 15, 2020, the FDA revoked the emergency use authorization (EUA) for chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The FDA found chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine ineffective in treating COVID-19 and that their serious side effects outweigh any potential benefits. Both drugs are still being studied in clinical trials. This announcement is meant to discourage doctors from prescribing these drugs off-label.9
Are your spring allergies already impacting your asthma?


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Wildwood Glen is a forested area of Dizzywood that appeared in April, 2008 as part of an event to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day. The area had been deforested and destroyed by Emperor Withering in his attempts to steal all of the natural resources in Dizzywood. Players were able to plant Mirthwood trees from seedlings to re-plant trees in the area.
The Leaf Sprite had his home in Wildwood Glen and you can play a game of Word Race against him, to win seeds for Potted Plants (only one new seed a day) or to you can trade your Potted Plants (and their seeds) with him for coins.
On July 30, 2008 Wildwood Glen was re-launched with a new look to celebrate the progress citizens of Dizzywood had made in defeating Emperor Withering and re-planting the forest. Unfortunately, a party that was planned was threatened by torrential rains that began pouring down all over Dizzywood (see daily events for more info). Players were called to action to see if there was a way to stop the rain and save the celebration. There is a flag now at this location.
There is also a Tree House in the back of the right side. To access the Tree House, you must first get Grappling Hook and Rope, which you can get by bouncing on the Air Grate in Tanglevine Jungle. It is hanging in a tree.

domain: geography


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The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is panicking in response to billionaire and 2016 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump’s immigration reform plan, which is designed to get Americans back to work instead of putting foreigners and special interests ahead of Americans as so many politicians do.
The DNC was so freaked out at Trump’s plan, they rushed out a statement from Pablo Manriquez—their “Director of Hispanic Media”—filled with grammatical errors. The statement, which is nothing more than typical Democratic Party talking points in favor of illegal aliens, accidentally doesn’t capitalize “Trump” in one instance and does the same thing when talking about “Democrats.”
“Trump has reignited the GOP’s longstanding obsession with mass deportation,” Manriquez said. “Like his fellow GOP candidates Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and others, GOP front runner trump [sic] dismisses a full and equal pathway to citizenship for hardworking immigrants. The GOP should quit treating these families as second class citizens and join democrats [sic] who support immigrant families and want to keep them together.”
Trump’s immigration plan is something that used to be bipartisan. Even Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, back in the early 1990s, supported the major tenets of the plan—putting American workers first when it comes to immigration. Now the entire Democratic Party and most of the Republican Party has abandoned American workers in favor of special interests seeking cheap foreign labor and political interests seeking a different and more liberal voting base.
There are a handful of leaders left in Congress still fighting for Americans when it comes to immigration, though, and chief among them is Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)—the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest. Trump consulted Sessions while writing his immigration policy plan.

domain: sociology


Naatu Naatu a Telugu song from the movie RRR won Golden Globe Award for the Best Original Song. Indian movies and music are like Indian food. Globally, they aren't everyone's cup of tea. They are different and need high adaptability and acceptability of cultural differences to be able to truly understand and enjoy them. When it comes to any global platforms for winning any awards, Indian movie/music is least expected to win. Mainly because it's so far outside of western norms. That's why it's unexpected and historic, and yet very well deserved.
We know the best way to celebrate any win, dance to it. So much easier when the win is for a song. Let's celebrate this song and it's win by learning and dancing to its simplified workout choreography to "Naatu Naatu".
Keep reading if you wish to know more about this first Asian song to win the Golden Globe honor.
Naatu Naatu is a electrifying and emotional song from a hit Telugu movie RRR (super-hit according to a few of my friends). The song is composed M.M. Keeravani, sung by the famous singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, one of my favorite voices and lyrics by Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry.
The movie RRR is a period drama with special effects, at times hilarious looking. It's a fictional story based on the lives of two legendary freedom fighters - Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem who fought against/for the British and the Nizam of Hyderabad. The song captures the emotions of the characters, their struggles, and the spirit of freedom that is central to the movie's narrative, I love that about the song. Full disclosure - I like the song but didn't like the movie. But you are welcome to watch it, it's available on Netflix.
The song and its key move, as expected was a huge trend on Instagram and Tiktok, which is back after it's recent win. This trendy, electrifying and emotional song that perfectly captures the spirit and joy of freedom, is a must-dance song for global dancers like ourselves. PS - A bonus fun fact - I heard/read somewhere that song was shot outside Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's official residence.
When you look at the trends and the song video do you wonder - how am I going to dance like that? Thankfully BollyX has created a simplified and yet electrifyingly fun version of this choreography. Wish to learn/dance to it? Join me for any of my virtual classes, for many such simplified fun choreos - Book Here.


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||Country & Western Sunday
Joined: Nov 29, 2002
From: San Diego, CA
|Posted: 2005-04-03 2:24 pm  Permalink|
Every now and then I like to start my Sunday morning off with a musical selection of country & western music. Not that new country crap you hear on the radio, but the real deal. It's my version of goin' to church. This morning's sermon is: Seeds & Stems-Commander Cody, The Christian Life-the Byrds, So Doggone Lonesome-Johnny Cash, Boot Heel Drag-Bob Wills. I close my eyes and envision Gram Parsons in his Nudie finery and I feel at peace with the world again. Amen
Joined: Apr 22, 2003
From: Kansas City
|Posted: 2005-04-03 6:46 pm  Permalink|
Country songs have been my companion on many a white-knuckle, late night drive over trechorous, god forsaken icy roads.
Sometimes singing a medly of everything from "I Want Some Red Roses for a Blue Lady" to "Your Just a Coca-Cola Cowboy" is the best way to pray.
Joined: Aug 01, 2004
From: Shinola, California
|Posted: 2005-04-03 7:05 pm  Permalink|
what about Chuck Wagon and the Wheels?


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We, Amigos, feed and take care of dozens and dozens stray and community dogs and cats . Carol Romain , one of Amigos oldest friends, came up with the term community pet during the Spay and Nueter clinic last year. Community dogs and cats have owners, there is normally someone who will say : “it’s mine” , but unfortunately, they don’t feed, treat, care for their animals, due to the lack of funds and education .
Miguel is one of our oldest community dogs, we feed him and others like him. A month ago, Miguel developed a serious skin condition and we had to take him to the vet, yesterday was the last day of medication and Miguel is happy and back to the beach to enjoy his buddies, freedom and warm tropical weather!
Please, click donate to help us feed and take care of Miguel and a lot of other community and stray dogs and cats of Barra de Potosi and Playa Blanca ❤
Stasya Briggs & Amigos

domain: pet


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domain: food