text:
Current Alzheimer Research (v.10, #9)
Military Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline, Dementia and Alzheimerµs Disease by Dallas P. Veitch, Karl E. Friedl, Michael W. Weiner (907-930).
Delayed neurological health consequences of environmental exposures during military service have been generallyunderappreciated. The rapidly expanding understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis now makes itpossible to quantitate some of the likely long-term health risks associated with military service. Military risk factors forAD include both factors elevated in military personnel such as tobacco use, traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, andpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other nonspecific risk factors for AD including, vascular risk factors such asobesity and obesity-related diseases (e.g., metabolic syndrome), education and physical fitness. The degree of combat exposure,Vietnam era Agent Orange exposure and Gulf War Illness may also influence risk for AD. Using available data onthe association of AD and specific exposures and risk factors, the authors have conservatively estimated 423,000 newcases of AD in veterans by 2020, including 140,000 excess cases associated with specific military exposures. The cost associatedwith these excess cases is approximately $5.8 billion to $7.8 billion. Mitigation of the potential impact of militaryexposures on the cognitive function of veterans and management of modifiable risk factors through specifically designedprograms will be instrumental in minimizing the impact of AD in veterans in the future decades.
Pupil Response Biomarkers for Early Detection and Monitoring of Alzheimerµs Disease by Shaun Frost, Yogesan Kanagasingam, Hamid Sohrabi, Pierrick Bourgeat, Victor Villemagne, Christopher C. Rowe, S. Lance Macaulay, Cassandra Szoeke, Kathryn A. Ellis, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins, AIBL Research Group (931-939).
Introduction A screening process that could provide early and accurate diagnosis or prognosis for Alzheimer'sdisease (AD) would enable earlier intervention, and enable current and future treatments to be more effective. Ocular pathologyand changes to vision and ocular function are being investigated for early detection and monitoring of AD. Objective To explore the relationship between pupil flash response (PFR) parameters, AD and brain amyloid plaque burden. Methods NineteenADandseventyhealthy control (HC) participants were recruited from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkersand Lifestyle (AIBL) Flagship Study of Ageing. Thepotential correlations betweenPFRparameters and1) AD and 2)brain amyloid plaque burden in the HC group (as a pre-clinical feature of AD), were investigated in this study. Results Our results demonstratestatistically significant relationships between PFR parameters, neocortical plaque burden and AD.A logistical model combining PFR parameters provided AD-classification performance with sensitivity 84.1%, specificity78.3% and area under the curve 89.6%. Furthermore, some of the AD specific PFR parameters were also associated withneocorticalplaque burden in pre-clinical AD. Conclusions These PFR changes show potential as an adjunct for noninvasive,cost-effective screening for pre-clinical AD.
Sensitivity of Different MRI-Techniques to Assess Gray Matter Atrophy Patterns in Alzheimerµs Disease is Region-Specific by L. Clerx, H.I.L. Jacobs, S. Burgmans, E.H.B.M. Gronenschild, H.B.M. Uylings, C. Echávarri, P. J. Visser, F. R.J. Verhey, P. Aalten (940-951).
The present study compares four different structural magnetic resonance imaging techniques used to measuregray matter (GM) atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD): manual and automated volumetry, cortical thickness (CT) andvoxel-based morphometry (VBM). These techniques are used interchangeably in AD research and thus far it is unclearwhich technique is superior in detecting abnormalities early in the disease process. 18 healthy participants without anymemory impairment, 18 patients with MCI, and 17 patients with mild AD were included and between-group differenceswere investigated in AD signature regions (areas in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), medial temporal lobe (MTL) and posteriorparietal cortex (PPC)). Both manual volumetric measurements and VBM were able to detect GM atrophy in the earlystages (differentiation controls and MCI), mainly in the MTL. In the early phase, automated volumetric measurementsshowed GM differences in the PPC but not in the MTL. In our sample, CT measurements were not sensitive for group differencesin the early stages. PFC regions showed abnormalities in the later stages (controls vs AD) when manual volumetricmeasurements or VBM are employed. Manual volumetric measurements together with VBM are preferred techniquesfor assessing GM differences showing abnormalities in most of the investigated regions, with a predominance of the MTLin the early phase. Automated FreeSurfer volumetric measurements show similar performances in the early phase, displayinggroup differences in the PPC but not in MTL regions. Measurements of CT are less sensitive in the MCI stage andits sensitivity is restricted to the MTL and PPC regions in later stages of the disease (AD).
Reliability of the Alzheimerµs Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog) in longitudinal Studies by Anzalee Khan, Christian Yavorsky, Guillermo DiClemente, Mark Opler, Stacy Liechti, Brian Rothman, Sofija Jovic (952-963).
Background: Considering the scarcity of longitudinal assessments of reliability, there is need for a more preciseunderstanding of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The primary goal was to assess longitudinal changes ininter-rater reliability, test retest reliability and internal consistency of scores of the ADAS-Cog.Methods: 2,618 AD subjects were enrolled in seven randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter-trials from1986 to 2009. Reliability, internal-consistency and cross-sectional analysis of ADAS-Cog and MMSE across seven visitswere examined.Results: Intra-class correlation (ICC) for ADAS-Cog was moderate to high supporting their reliability. Absolute AgreementICCs 0.392 (Visit-7) to 0.806 (Visit-2) showed a progressive decrease in correlations across time. Item analysis revealeda decrease in item correlations, with the lowest correlations for Visit 7 for Commands (ICC=0.148), Comprehension(ICC=0.092), Spoken Language (ICC=0.044).Discussion: Suitable assessment of AD treatments is maintained through accurate measurement of clinically significantoutcomes. Targeted rater education ADAS-Cog items over-time can improve ability to administer and score the scale.
Correlations Between Cerebellar and Brain Volumes, Cognitive Impairments, ApoE Levels, and APOE Genotypes in Patients with AD and MCI by Wanda Lojkowska, Grzegorz Witkowski, Malgorzata Bednarska-Makaruk, Hanna Wehr, Halina Sienkiewicz-Jarosz, Alla Graban, Anna Bochynska, Anna Wisniewska, Magdalena Gugala, Ksenia Slawinska, Beata Sawicka, Renata Poniatowska, Danuta Ryglewicz (964-972).
Due to the increasing incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD), many studies have aimed to improve its diagnosis.Particular attention has been focused on measuring volumes of brain structures. Only few studies have investigatedwhetherthe cerebellar volume changes with the stage of dementia. It is controversial whether the serum apolipoprotein E(ApoE) level is an appropriate AD marker. This study was designed to clarify the significance of both cerebellar volumemeasurements and ApoE level measurements as markers of neurodegenerative changes.This study included 55 subjects with AD, 30 subjects with mild cognitive impairments (MCI), and a control group with 30subjects. We measured the brain, cerebellum, and brain stem volumes with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We determinedserum ApoE levels, APOE genotypes, and neuropsychological test scores.In the control group, we found that ApoE levels were significantly higher for subjects with the APOE 2/3 genotype thanthose with the 4/4 genotype. This finding may indicate that ApoE plays a protective role against AD development in subjectswith the APOE 2/3 genotype. ApoE levels were not significantly different in patients with AD and MCI. No correlationswere found between serum ApoE levels and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores or the volumes of brainstructures.This study could not confirm the appropriateness of the cerebellum volume as an early AD marker. Correlations werefound between cerebellar volume, brain volume, and the MMSE scores.
Plasma Clusterin Levels and the rs11136000 Genotype in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimerµs Disease by Gemma M. Mullan, Jane McEneny, Marc Fuchs, Cyril McMaster, Stephen Todd, Bernadette McGuinness, Mark Henry, A. Peter Passmore, Ian S Young, Janet A. Johnston (973-978).
Aim: Substantial evidence links atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Apolipoproteins, such asapolipoprotein E, have a causal relationship with both diseases. The rs11136000 SNP within the CLU gene, whichencodes clusterin (apolipoprotein J), is also associated with increased AD risk. The aim of this study was to investigate therelationship between plasma clusterin and the rs11136000 genotype in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD.Methods: Plasma and DNA samples were collected from control, MCI and AD subjects (n=142, 111, 154, respectively).Plasma clusterin was determined by ELISA and DNA samples were genotyped for rs11136000 by TaqMan assay.Results: Plasma clusterin levels were higher in MCI and AD subjects vs. controls (222.3±61.3 and 193.6±58.2 vs.178.6±52.3 g/ml, respectively; p<0.001 for both comparisons), and in MCI vs. AD (p<0.05). Plasma clusterin was notinfluenced by genotype in the MCI and AD subjects, although in control subjects plasma clusterin was lower in the TT vs.TC genotypes (157.6±53.4 vs. 188.6±30.5 g/ml; p<0.05).Conclusion: This study examined control, MCI and AD subjects, identifying for the first time that plasma clusterin levelswere influenced, not only by the presence of AD, but also the transitional stage of MCI, while rs11136000 genotype onlyinfluenced plasma clusterin levels in the control group. The increase in plasma clusterin in MCI and AD subjects may occurin response to the disease process and would be predicted to increase binding capacity for amyloid-beta peptides inplasma, enhancing their removal from the brain.
Serum β-Amyloid Peptide Levels Spike in the Early Stage of Alzheimer- Like Plaque Pathology in an APP/PS1 Double Transgenic Mouse Model by Jue He, Jin-Ping Qiao, Shenghua Zhu, Mengzhou Xue, Wenwu Chen, Xinchun Wang, Adrien Tempier, Qingjun Huang, Jiming Kong, Xin-Min Li (979-986).
Serum levels of β-amyloid (A ) peptides may represent an early biomarker in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease(AD). In the present study, we investigated the temporal kinetic changes in the levels of serum Aβ 1-42 and 40 in anamyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin (PS)1 double transgenic mouse model of AD. Serum Aβ peptide levels in 2-,3-, 6-, 9- and 18-month old, and liver Aβ 1-40 level in 6-month old mice were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) kits. Results revealed that serum Aβ levels peaked in 3-month old transgenic mice, and the Aβ level in non-transgenic and transgenic mice is comparable in liver. Compared to the 6-month old transgenic mice, Congored staining showed that the 3-month old transgenic mice had minimum brain Aβ plaques, corresponding to the earlystage of Alzheimer-like plaque pathology, and confocal microscope images showed that the deposition of Aβ in theircerebral vessels was minimal. Furthermore, results of the water maze test, showed that memory was normal for the 3-month old transgenic mice when compared to age-matched non-transgenic mice. These results suggest that serum Aβ peptidelevels may be peaked during the early stage of AD. Monitoring serum Aβ peptide levels in the potential AD populationmay provide an early diagnosis of AD prior to the appearance of clinical symptoms.
Tryptamine Induces Axonopathy and Mitochondriopathy Mimicking Neurodegenerative Diseases via Tryptophanyl-tRNA Deficiency by Elena L. Paley, George Perry, Olga Sokolova (987-1004).
Neurodegeneration is induced by tryptamine, a human diet constituent, which easily crosses the blood/brainbarrier. Tryptamine neurotoxicity, caused by tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TrpRS) inhibition and downregulation leadsto tryptophanyl-tRNA deficiency and synthesis of aberrant proteins. We identified axonal defects in hippocampus of tryptamine-treated mice similar to those observed in human brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis andepilepsy using anti-TrpRS site-directed antibodies. The axonal defects are characterized by swellings that accumulate abnormalamounts of helical filaments and amyloid. Tryptamine produced a decreased density of somatic mitochondria concomitantwith neuronal loss in mouse hippocampus. In addition, tryptamine evoked accumulation and clustering of smallmitochondria in mouse hippocampus causing axonal swellings. Similarly, mitochondrial fission, fusion and clusteringwere revealed in human neuronal cells after tryptamine administration. Moreover the tryptamine-induced mitochondrialneuropathology includes electron-dense deposits comprising helical fibrils, cristae disruption, cristolysis, mitochondrialswelling and mitochondria-derived vesicles. TrpRS+ helical filamentous tangles formed in both neuronal and kidney cellsfollowing tryptamine treatment suggest a tryptamine broad cytotoxic repertoire in damaging vital organs. Tryptamine elicitedvesicularization of inner and outer mitochondrial membranes, axonal and cell membranes. Ultrastructurally, fragmentationof swollen degenerated mitochondria, small mitochondria clustering and neurofibrillary tangles are associated withaxonal membrane protrusions attributed as neuritic swellings at a lower magnification. TrpRS+ axonal swellings associatedwith neuropathology of patients and tryptamine-treated human cells suggest that under toxic concentrations, tryptamineis implicated as a causative agent in neurodegeneration resembling that defining a number of human diseases.
Inhalational Anesthetic Sevoflurane Rescues Retina Function in Alzheimerµs Disease Transgenic Drosophila by Chia-Wen Chen, Wei-Yong Lin, Kuen-Bao Chen, Yih-Shyuan Wu, Yu-Cheng Kuo, Hsin-Ping Liu, Chi-Yuan Li (1005-1014).
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is a great public health problem worldwide. Thecause and mechanism of AD are not well understood. Inhalational anesthetics have been suggested to induce neurotoxicity,leading to memory deficits and the progression of AD. However, recent data have shown that inhalational anestheticsmay protect against neurotoxicity and are not associated with an increased risk of AD. We used a Drosophila model to directlyinvestigate the neurologic effects of the inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane on AD. Five- to six-day-old control andAD-transgenic flies were exposed to 2.1% or 3% sevoflurane 4 and 16 times for 1 hour each time. Electroretinograms(ERG), retinal immunohistochemistry, climbing ability, and survival were analyzed after sevoflurane treatment. The datawere evaluated using Student's t-test or a one-way ANOVA with a supplementary Fisher's LSD (Least Significant Difference)test. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. The ΔERG, climbing ability, and survival were lower in ADtransgenicflies. Exposure to 2.1% sevoflurane 4 and 16 times and to 3% sevoflurane 16 times rescued the ΔERG in ADtransgenicflies. Sevoflurane exposure did not attenuate the climbing ability or survival of control and AD-transgenic flies.The inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane might not have exerted neurotoxic effects on control and AD-transgenic flies; infact, sevoflurane might confer selective neuroprotection on the retinal function of AD-transgenic flies. These results suggestthe need for future studies to determine the potential effects of anesthetics on AD-associated neuroprotection or neurotoxicity.

domain: medical


Straight Built-In Flex Max Never-Fade Jeans For Men
30% Off Taken at Checkout
Fit & Sizing
- Sits at waist.
- Straight through hip and thigh.
- Straight leg.
- Model is approximately 6'1" and wears a 32W (size M).
Select a quantity
Fulfillment Method - Pickup or Ship
Select a store to check product availability
Welcome to the dark side. Black jeans have never looked better or been more comfortable, thanks to the dual forces of Built-In Flex Max and Never-Fade technologies. Amazing.
- Online exclusive!
- Button-closure and zip fly.
- Riveted scoop pockets and riveted coin pocket in front; patch pockets in back.
- Built-In Flex Max is engineered with double the innovative stretch technology for maximum comfort & movement.
- Never-Fade black denim keeps its original color, wash after wash (after wash).
- Tag-free fit label inside back waist for added comfort.
- Color may rub off onto lighter surfaces.
- 72% cotton, 26% polyester, 2% spandex
- Machine wash.


I’ve written a small text game as a trailer for Never Gives Up Her Dead, my large Inform space game which has now released: Released: Never Gives Up Her Dead, an epic sci-fi parser game
The trailer is available now:
Unlike my actual game, this uses multimedia and the Bisquixe Interpreter. It should take < 5 minutes to play. Enjoy!
This is so cool!
This is more difficult that the Game itself.
And that isn’t a rethorical question.
You can beat it by just clicking links!
That doesnt works for me.
Hmm, sounds like a bug. Can you show me a screenshot? Also, what browser are you using?
ah, try playing the itch game itself instead of downloading! The download only works on desktop
That’s a bummer! Sorry it doesn’t work on either of your options!
That’s probably because the Mobile Friendly option wasn’t ticked…
You might still be able to click on Run game, I think
For Brian, it’s this in the Edit Game page
Thanks, I tried clicking that, and I added a link on the first page to make it more mobile friendly!
Not sure if you’re looking for feedback, but that bland sans font for the cover art doesn’t seem right for an epic sci-fi story.
On screen keyboard keep popping up on my phone, obscuring the text, unfortunately. Maybe it’s better if I have BT Keyboard. I wonder, though, if there’s a way for on screen keyboard to not obscure the screen?
Pretty cool concept, overall.
I wasn’t expecting feedback on the cover art, but I appreciate it. I went for that font because it was easily readable when the cover art is scaled down. I’m not sure if I still have the files for the cover art, but if I do, I could take a look at something else. Do you have any other fonts in mind that are easily readable and look good shrunk?
I didn’t really optimize this for mobile in any way, and that’s an area I know little about. I’d like to learn more, though, and this kind of feedback is very hepful!
The keyboard popping up has happened for every parser game I’ve played on itch. It’s a thing.
The trailer was AWESOME! It looks really good. Will the real thing have hyperlinks? I like that but wouldn’t want it while playing the game as it loses lots of its puzzle aspect, personally.
Maybe a way to choose which one you use…? (HYPERLINK → Hyperlink mode off.)
I’m making the real game just plain old gblorb uploaded on ifarchive. That’s what works on the most platforms imo.


text:
DONALD Trump is being applauded by Israel and lambasted by Palestinians, as he prepares to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and progress plans to move the US embassy there.
Trump phoned Middle East leaders on Tuesday, to tell them that he plans to relocate the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem — recommitting himself to part of his campaign agenda which many believed he had shelved now that he is in office.
The Arab figures who he phoned — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, Saudi King Salman and Jordan’s King Abdullah — responded negatively and warned against relocating the embassy. Only Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was pleased.
Trump didn’t specify a timescale for the controversial move, and isn’t expected to make concrete plans for at least six months, but the Palestinians are already trying to build an alliance of international powers, including Russia and the Vatican, to dissuade Trump.
The US recommitment to the embassy move is thought to have been a warm-up for a broader announcement that he thought poised to make, recognising Jerusalem — or at least part of the city — as Israel’s capital.
As The AJN went to press, Israelis and Palestinians were frantically lobbying the White House and using every possible means to influence American officials to either stay committed to the recognition plan or scupper it.
The top Palestinian representative in Washington, Husam Zomlot, claimed that recognition could be the “kiss of death” for hopes of peace based on a two-state solution, and the senior Palestinian official Nibril Shaath said that Trump would kill his chances of making Israeli-Palestinian peace.
“There is no deal that begins with the destruction of the two-state solution,” he said. The Arab League has spoken of “a dangerous measure that would have repercussions.”
For Jerusalem’s mayor Nir Barkat, recognising his city as Israel’s capital will send a “very clear message to the world that the United States stands with the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”
Barkat urged Trump to go beyond recognising Jerusalem, and keep his pledge to move the embassy.
Trump is expected to recognise some, but not all, of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
He has been coming under heavy pressure from senior staff in the State Department.
“The impending Jerusalem announcement has me very worried about the possibility of violent responses that could affect embassies,” a State Department official told Politico. “I hope I’m wrong.” American embassies worldwide are believed to be on heightened alert.
Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that he was looking forward to celebrating the announcement and dismissed warnings of violence, saying that Israel knows how to “deal with all ramifications.”
The leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party said that he, too, is enthusiastic about US recognition for Jerusalem.
But some voices on the Israeli left were very critical. By recognising Jerusalem as capital the US administration would “relinquish any claims to serving as an honest broker between the parties, likely derailing a peace process before it could even get started,” the dovish Jerusalem-based organisation Ir Amim argued.
It’s unclear why Trump has put recognition of Jerusalem on the agenda right now, but there is speculation that it could be related to a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace that is reportedly being formulated by the White House and Saudi Arabia.
Trump’s focus on Jerusalem recognition could give him leverage to get both sides to comply, analysts are suggesting.
“Firstly, this recognition is a way for Trump to say he’s doing something that he promised,” Jonathan Rynhold, a Bar Ilan University expert on US-Israel relations, told The AJN.
“He feels that the Republican base and Jewish voters who support him want to see that he’s doing something for Israel. it’s important to him that he’s seen as pro-Israel.”
Beyond this, said Rynhold, “if he does this, it gives him leverage with Netanyahu. Benjamin Netanyahu is always concerned how the Israeli public view him as a leader and the Israeli public thinks relation with US is second only to Israel’s security.”
Netanyahu could disregard requests from Barack Obama because he was widely seen as giving Israel a hard time, but the more pro-Israel a President is perceived, the more the Israeli public expects their PM to agree to his requests, “if a President is seen as pro-Israel and thePM says no to him on request to freeze settlements or make other concessions that aren’t against security interest its going to look very bad not only in America but also to Israelis,” said Rynhold, suggesting that Trump will be able to use this leverage to get Netanyahu to take part in a peace process.
Palestinians are understood to be furious about the emerging US-Saudi peace plan, as it is thought to leave most settlements in place, consist of areas that aren’t all connected, not include a “right of return” for refugees and their descendants, and not make East Jerusalem into the Palestinian capital.
Some Palestinian sources say that their political leaders would not negotiate based on such a plan, but there are suggestions that Trump’s leverage on Jerusalem could get them to the negotiating table.
Trump could make it known to the Palestinians that if they cooperate with his peace plans, he’ll cancel plans to move the embassy, and if they don’t he will recognise all of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
At least for now, however, the Palestinian leadership’s reaction to Trump’s Jerusalem plans is pure anger.
Hanan Ashwari, a senior Palestinian Authority politician, claimed on Tuesday: “President Trump seems to be hell-bent on annihilating the chances of peace and destroying the stability and security of the entire region and beyond.”

domain: news


text:
AZ Choice Foot and Ankle
Christopher Suykerbuyk, DPM
Podiatrist & Foot & Ankle Surgeon located in Gilbert, AZ
You can choose to treat your own warts or wait for them to go away on their own. That process can take years, though, and in the meantime, warts can spread and cause pain that interferes with walking and staying active. At AZ Choice Foot and Ankle in Gilbert, Arizona, Christopher Suykerbuyk, DPM, has years of experience identifying warts, treating them, and helping you prevent a recurrent problem. To schedule an appointment, call the office or book online today.
What causes warts?
Warts are small growths that can appear anywhere on your body. When they occur on your feet, they’re called plantar warts.
Plantar warts grow on the soles of your feet. Like other warts, plantar warts develop when the human papillomavirus gets through a crack, cut, or sore in your skin.
You may have a single plantar wart that gets larger or clusters of several small warts that grow close together.
Am I at risk for warts?
The human papillomavirus thrives in dark, moist places. You may pick up the virus when you use a public shower or walk around a locker room, swimming pool, or on the grass in your bare feet.
Your shoes also create an environment for viral growth. They’re warm and dark, and moisture from sweating stays trapped in the shoe.
What symptoms develop if I have warts?
Plantar warts can be hard to recognize because they have a rough texture that resembles a callus or corn. If you look closely, you may notice black dots near the center of the wart.
Most people find that their plantar warts are painful when they walk or stand. Squeezing the side of the wart typically causes pain. Plantar warts can also grow up into your skin, making it feel like you have a small stone in your shoe.
You should also be aware that a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma can grow on your feet and might resemble a plantar wart. The difference between them is that skin cancer could be itchy, but it’s not painful.
How are warts treated?
Plantar warts eventually clear up on their own. However, that can take years, and since plantar warts are painful, most people decide to see Dr. Suykerbuyk for removal.
Dr. Suykerbuyk may suggest using medicated patches that eliminate warts in a few weeks. You also have the option of an in-office procedure to remove them, such as:
- Trimming or shaving away the wart
- Applying topical medications
- Freezing the wart (cryotherapy)
- Using medications to stimulate your immune response
Some treatments only remove the top part of the wart. While this prevents scarring, you will need regular treatments until the entire wart is gone.
If you struggle with pain on the bottom of your foot or you want to have a wart removed, call AZ Choice Foot and Ankle or schedule an appointment online today.


Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Come join our “Can I Buy A Home” seminar on April 29, 2023. We’ll discuss about the home-buying process, down payment loan programs, credit, and our upcoming communities.
A SENSE OF SUBURBIA
Welcome to Creekside Pointe, a development by Ito Girard & Associates.
It will provide for ownership of 24 Single Family homes in the Southeastern San Diego area. It will give families a chance to invest in our community.
Creekside Pointe will consist of 3 bedroom, 3 baths in approximately 1,417 to 1,427 square feet, townhome style, and includes a small study area. A two-car garage for each home, visitor parking spaces, and motorcycle parking spaces. The project will consist of six buildings with a central landscaped corridor through the middle of the project.
The design for the units have elements of porches, entry doors, balconies, and large windows in the main living space. There will be access walkways from the street directly to the front porches of those units. The topography of the site will have two driveway entries to the project.
Creekside Pointe is located near the Chollas Creek. The project is located within walking distance of the Euclid Avenue Trolley Station and transit hub providing public transportation. Freeway access to the community is nearby with Route 94, Route 15, and Interstate 805 all within minutes to access. Learn more about the neighborhood by clicking here.
We are taking reservations soon!


Encoding Physical Constraints in Differentiable Newton-Euler Algorithm
Proceedings of the 2nd Conference on Learning for Dynamics and Control, PMLR 120:804-813, 2020.
The recursive Newton-Euler Algorithm (RNEA) is a popular technique in robotics for computing the dynamics of robots. The computed dynamics can then be used for torque control with inverse dynamics, or for forward dynamics computations. RNEA can be framed as a differentiable computational graph, enabling the dynamics parameters of the robot to be learned from data. However, the dynamics parameters learned in this manner can be physically implausible. In this work, we incorporate physical constraints in the learning by adding structure to the learned parameters. This results in a framework that can learn physically plausible dynamics, improving the training speed as well as generalization of the learned dynamics models. We evaluate our method on real-time inverse dynamics predictions of a 7 degree of freedom robot arm, both in simulation and on the real robot. Our experiments study a spectrum of structure added to learned dynamics, and compare their performance and generalization.


The 2017 edition of Canadian Auto Recyclers Magazine features an article about vehicle depollution systems from REC. The simple, safe, and economical solutions from Iris-Mec allow you to quickly and efficiently meet the new Canadian ELV regulations.
To learn more about Iris-Mec depollution systems, please join us at the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association Trade Show and Convention on March 31, 2017. If you haven’t already registered and to learn more about the show, click here. Please join us at the show where we’ll be offering special trade show pricing on Iris-Mec depollution systems. Or contact us any time to learn more about Iris-Mec auto (ELV) depollution equipment.


text:
If you’re a big book nerd like me (or just grew up in the 90s and 00s), you witnessed and enjoyed the madness of the Harry Potter world. Author J.K. Rowling began her series by writing on napkins and imagining on a train, and now we have seven books (I don’t care what you say, I’m not counting Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), eight films, and more merchandise than you can possibly count. Fortunately for us Potterheads, we won’t have to wait long for another foray into the magical world – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is scheduled for theatrical release this November, with a confirmed four other films to follow!
On the subject of the movies, every now and then it’s fun to check in on what the former child actors are doing. Some have stayed in the spotlight, like Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, while others have faded from view or gone onto entirely different pursuits. All of them have gotten better with age. Fortunately, unlike a lot of American child stars, these Brits have mostly managed to stay out of jail and rehab, and there are no scary plastic surgeries to speak of. Instead, these Hogwarts students have done the wizarding world proud, and while they may have returned to their Muggle roots, they’ll always be magic to us.
15 Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
After playing the Chosen One, aka The Boy Who Lived, from 2001 to 2011, Daniel Radcliffe proved a lot of people who thought he would fall victim to the child star curse wrong. Now 27 years old, Daniel has shown off his acting chops when playing poet Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings, a flatulent corpse in Swiss Army Man, and an undercover reporter who infiltrates a neo-Nazi regime in Imperium, to name a few. He even made a cameo in a couple episodes of The Simpsons! Far from being typecast, Daniel has enjoyed roles in comedy, drama, thriller, and horror.
His life hasn’t been without its struggles, though. After admitting to being an alcoholic while filming the later Harry Potter movies, Daniel quit the stuff and has been sober since 2010! Currently living in Manhattan and in a long-term relationship since 2012 with girlfriend Erin Darke, we’re hoping to see more of what this boy wizard can do. Accio Oscar!
14 Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)
Our favorite little know-it-all is all grown up! Emma Watson is about as true to her character Hermione Granger as you can get (and as her co-stars admitted). After attending both Brown University and Oxford University to obtain her bachelor’s degree in English literature, Emma went on to become a UN Goodwill Ambassador in 2014. An outspoken and active feminist, Emma has used her education and position in the public eye to begin the HeForShe campaign, a solidarity movement built around encouraging men to take action against inequalities faced by women. She even recently made a trip to Ottawa where she met Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his TV host / philanthropist wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau to promote her work!
In terms of entertainment news, Emma is getting back to her literary roots by playing your favorite Disney princess (or at least mine), Belle, in 2017’s upcoming live-action revamp of Beauty and the Beast! It might be a tale as old as time, but with Emma in Belle’s shoes, we can look forward to some smarts and sass in the face of the Beast.
13 Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)
Now 28, Rupert Grint has been keeping a bit of a low profile since the Harry Potter movies ended. After playing Harry’s best friend, the hilarious and hapless Ron Weasley, Rupert dabbled in some short films and voiceover work. He’s also been on stage both in London and on Broadway to great critical acclaim, making his debut back in 2013.
Like a lot of the Harry Potter cast, Rupert has used his celebrity for good, donating his time and money to a number of charities, including Britain’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution with on-screen twin bros Oliver and James Phelps (better known as Fred and George Weasley). Similar to his character, Ron, Rupert has kept pretty quiet about his personal life, except to say he’s been in a relationship since October 2014. Another fun fact: one of his best friends is none other than Draco Malfoy himself – Tom Felton! Blimey, Ron would never!
12 Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)
Loony – er, Luna – Lovegood is another Harry Potter alum who sort of fell off the map – her last acting credit according to her IMDB page is in 2015, where she was Luna’s voice in a Harry Potter video game. (To be fair, though, she has done a bit of modelling.)
Born in Ireland in 1991, 25-year-old Evanna has spoken openly about her battles with anorexia at a young age (she was in and out of facilities as early as 11), and talked about how the character of Luna was someone with whom she could really identify during her struggles. She’s used her personal experiences for the benefit of others, however, by writing essays and articles about body image. She became a vegan in 2015, and if you check out her Instagram (@msevylynch), you can see her clear love of animals, especially her adorably fluffy cats! A character that didn’t feature prominently until the fifth book (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Evanna’s Luna is a witch who embraced the weird for all of us (but not the Nargles).
11 Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)
The guy you love to hate (or just love, depending on what side of the fandom you fall on), Draco Malfoy was Harry’s mortal enemy (as opposed to the almost-immortal Voldemort). However, the actor who played him – Tom Felton – couldn’t be further from his platinum-haired Slytherin counterpart. He’s silly, musically talented, and has the ability to poke fun at himself (just check out his cameo in 2010’s Get Him to the Greek). And he’s a romantic – he’s been dating his girlfriend, Jade Olivia Gordon, since 2008 when they met on the set of Harry Potter where Jade was working as an assistant. Fun fact: Jade appeared in the final film as Draco’s wife! Blink and you’ll miss her!
Still bitten by the acting bug, Tom’s turned to TV rather than feature films, including his most recent gig on superhero show The Flash. Thankfully, that white-blonde hair and Slytherin sneer have stayed in the Harry Potter universe where they belong.
10 Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)
Damn, Neville Longbottom grew up right! Instead of the snaggle-toothed, pudgy, awkward, and forgetful Neville, Matthew Lewis turned out smoking hot! This process is known among Harry Potter fans and people in general as Longbottoming – no joke.
Like Tom Felton, Matthew turned his talents towards TV, appearing in British productions like Bluestone 42, Happy Valley, and Ripper Street. If you caught this past summer’s sob-fest, Me Before You, you might have noticed him there as well (and really, how could you not?) He also spent some time on the stage, making his debut in 2011 in Agatha Christie’s Verdict and continuing his theater career to this past summer, where he co-starred in a production called Unfaithful.
His good looks haven't affected his easygoing attitude, it seems, as his Instagram account (@mattdavelewis) is full of funny faces and throwbacks to his less-sexy self (including some time spent with an unfortunate handlebar mustache). Good news for you ladies: he’s still single!
9 Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)
Oh, little Ginny Weasley, the youngest of the redheaded brood. Unfortunately for Bonnie Wright, diehard fans of the books were less than impressed with the movie Ginny, who they felt was a watered-down version of their feisty heroine (guilty).
Like Evanna Lynch, Bonnie put her beauty to good use after finishing up the Harry Potter series, dabbling in modelling for the runway and in print. But she’s way more than just a pretty face: in addition to acting, she’s come into her own as a screenwriter, director, and producer. In fact, she owns her own production company, Bon Bon Lumiere (see what she did there?).
Bonnie's personal life has been almost as dramatic as Ginny’s, too: In 2010, she confirmed her relationship with British actor Jamie Campbell Bower (who can be seen as the younger version of Gellert Grindelwald in the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). They were engaged in 2011 before ending the whole thing a year later.
8 Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas)
Who was Ginny with before falling hard for Harry? Dean Thomas, of course, played by the deeply dimpled Alfred Enoch! Alfred is one of the few Harry Potter alums who got more recognition after the series ended, thanks in part to his many shirtless scenes in his role as Wes Gibbins on the TV series How To Get Away With Murder.
Like most of his co-stars, Alfred has dabbled in work in the theater, appearing in a number of stage productions since 2011. But, like the smart, talented, and handsome guy that he is, he moved from one uber-popular production to another, as the ratings and critical acclaim of How To Get Away With Murder prove.
He’s kept pretty quiet about his relationship status (sorry, guys), but – as it happens when you’re famous with a major fanbase – it hasn’t stop people from guessing which lady will be the next one to tame this Gryffindor’s wild heart.
7 Harry Melling (Dudley Dursley)
The only Muggle on our list! As big bully Dudley Dursley, he made his cousin Harry’s life hell for much of the series, at least during the summers spent away from Hogwarts. (And then, compared to Voldemort, Dudley was basically a kitten!) Fun fact: In between filming, Harry ended up losing so much weight that to keep him looking like pudgy Dudley, he required special facial prosthetics and additional padding!
After his time as the spoiled child of Number 4 Privet Drive, the 27-year-old English actor moved onto TV series and short films (sensing a pattern here?). This past winter he also made his West London stage debut, where people commented on his new look, and it seems like it’ll definitely pay off! No longer looking like mean Dudley Dursley could give Harry a fresh start on the screen, which is something not many child stars are able to enjoy.
6 Katie Leung (Cho Chang)
Oh, Cho Chang, the girl who never stopped crying after Cedric Diggory died and who stood by her crappy friend Marietta Edgecombe after Marietta spilled the beans on Dumbledore’s Army (if that part doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because it was axed from the movie). But we can’t blame the actress who played her! Katie Leung, whose Scottish accent made Cho’s voice one of the most delicious things to hear, has done a bit more than just be Harry Potter’s first love interest.
In addition to a few bits of acting in TV series and TV mini-series after Harry Potter finished, Katie is a passionate artist and photographer, who attended the University of the Arts London before moving to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to get her BA in Acting! With all that education and that desire to constantly learn, it’s no surprise that Katie – I mean, Cho – ended up in Ravenclaw!
5 Clémence Poésy (Fleur Delacour)
Elegantly French, effortlessly chic, and stunningly beautiful, it’s no surprise that Clémence Poésy was chosen for the coveted role of part-Veela Fleur Delacour, the ethereal witch who drove the wizard boys wild. Since her time as the Beauxbatons student who made both Ron and Bill Weasley drool, Clémence has used her striking good looks to secure modelling spots in various French magazines and became the poster girl for the fragrance Love Story by Chloé in 2014.
She’s been keeping busy in the acting world as well, appearing on stage, the big screen, and your TV sets, including a stint as Chuck Bass’s French love interest Eva Coupeau in the fourth season of Gossip Girl. In happy personal news, she was all sorts of pregnant, glowy glam when she debuted her baby bump at the premiere of Daniel Radcliffe’s neo-Nazi dramatic thriller Imperium back in September – clear proof that she’ll always have Hogwarts in her heart!
4 Devon Murray (Seamus Finnegan)
Little Seamus Finnegan, the cutie who could never perform a spell properly and instead had his eyebrows singed off more than once. Played by Irishman Devon Murray, the almost 28-year-old has been in the movie biz since he was a child, mostly in British and Irish productions. Since his Harry Potter days, though, he’s stepped out of the limelight, although he’s still pretty active on social media. The reason for that? A long, difficult battle with depression.
On his Twitter account (@DevonMMurray), Devon spoke publicly for the first time about his mental health issues, citing hip-hop artist Kid Cudi’s recent similar revelations to be the inspiration behind his decision to speak up. It’s no surprise that the lovable Irish boy received an outpouring of support from fans of him and the Harry Potter series alike. We’re wishing him the best on his journey towards wellness, and hope he finds happiness in whatever he chooses to do!
3 Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown)
Lavender Brown might have been a fun character to play, with her obsessive relationship with her beloved “Won-Won”, but actress Jessie Cave is way cooler in real life. Not only is she an actress, but she’s a fabulous cartoonist and comedian, who has a book of her drawings out now, called Love Sick (fitting, no?). If you want to see more of her humor, follow her on Instagram and Twitter here and here.
The mama of son Donnie, Jessie’s love life has been way more interesting than Lavender’s: she conceived him on the first night she met his dad, Alfie Brown, and the two decided to give things a go and are currently enjoying some well-earned domestic bliss! Like most child actors, Jessie has dealt with some mental health issues, specifically anxiety, which she has used as inspiration for both her comedy and cartooning. She’s basically the hilarious friend who always overshares, and I’d take her over Lavender any day!
2 Sean Biggerstaff (Oliver Wood)
Poor Sean! Growing up as a kid must’ve been difficult with a last name like that! And then he played Oliver Wood. The jokes write themselves! Sean only appeared in the first two Harry Potter films (except for a cameo in the final installation of the series), playing Gryffindor Quidditch Keeper, Oliver Wood. For the record, my younger self always thought he was the hottest one.
After his brief stint at Hogwarts, Sean went on to act in some short films, full-length films, TV series, and mini-series, very few of which I’ve heard of, unfortunately. He’s also had a healthy career in the theater, which seems to be an acting prerequisite when you’re British, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Now 33 years old, the Scottish actor paid a touching homage to the late Alan Rickman, the brilliant man who played the almost-loathsome Potions professor, Severus Snape. Having been mentored by Rickman throughout his career, Sean wrote the tribute which you can read in full here.
1 Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory)
You’d think Robert Pattinson would be a bigger deal now, having jumped from the hugely successful Harry Potter franchise as wizard heartthrob Cedric Diggory to the crazy popular Twilight franchise as vampire hottie Edward Cullen. Alas, it was not to be. After enduring that much publicity around his professional and private life (remember when he and Kristen Stewart made little Twi-hards’ hearts beat faster?), Robert stepped out of the limelight, favoring quiet indie films instead of the big blockbusters that made him a prime contender for preteen girls’ wall space. Fortunately, this allowed him to cut off that greasy-looking hair and start a relationship with musician FKA Twigs. The two began dating in 2014 and have since had to regularly fend off rumors of a split, but it seems to be pretty smooth sailing lately, as they’re talking about bringing a child into the mix, according to recent reports! Start your bets on celebrity baby names!

domain: entertainment


text:
German-born American Hudson River School Painter, 1830-1902
Bierstadt was born in Solingen, Germany. His family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1833. He studied painting with the members of the D??sseldorf School in D??sseldorf, Germany from 1853 to 1857. He taught drawing and painting briefly before devoting himself to painting.
Bierstadt began making paintings in New England and upstate New York. In 1859, he traveled westward in the company of a Land Surveyor for the U.S. government, returning with sketches that would result in numerous finished paintings. In 1863 he returned west again, in the company of the author Fitz Hugh Ludlow, whose wife he would later marry. He continued to visit the American West throughout his career.
Though his paintings sold for princely sums, Bierstadt was not held in particularly high esteem by critics of his day. His use of uncommonly large canvases was thought to be an egotistical indulgence, as his paintings would invariably dwarf those of his contemporaries when they were displayed together. The romanticism evident in his choices of subject and in his use of light was felt to be excessive by contemporary critics. His paintings emphasized atmospheric elements like fog, clouds and mist to accentuate and complement the feel of his work. Bierstadt sometimes changed details of the landscape to inspire awe. The colors he used are also not always true. He painted what he believed is the way things should be: water is ultramarine, vegetation is lush and green, etc. The shift from foreground to background was very dramatic and there was almost no middle distance
Nonetheless, his paintings remain popular. He was a prolific artist, having completed over 500 (possibly as many as 4000) paintings during his lifetime, most of which have survived. Many are scattered through museums around the United States. Prints are available commercially for many. Original paintings themselves do occasionally come up for sale, at ever increasing prices. Related Paintings of Albert Bierstadt :. | Moonlit_Landscape | California Redwoods | Valley of the Yosemite | The Sunset at Monterey Bay | Hetch Hetchy Canyon |
Related Artists:Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich
German Painter, 1712-1774,German painter and etcher. He received his first training from his father, Johann Georg Dietrich (1684-1752), a court painter at Weimar, and was sent to Dresden at the age of 13 to study under the landscape painter Johann Alexander Thiele (1685-1752). In 1728 they travelled to Arnstadt to paint landscapes for stage sets. In 1730 Thiele presented his pupil to Frederick-Augustus I, Elector of Saxony, as a prodigy; Frederick-Augustus appointed him court painter and entrusted him to his minister Heinrich, Graf von Brehl, for whom he worked on some decorative paintings. From 1732 he used the name 'Dietricy' to sign his paintings. He travelled in Germany from 1734 and may have visited the Netherlands, the source of his artistic inspiration. He returned from his travels in 1741 and was appointed court painter to Frederick-Augustus II, Elector of Saxony, who sent him to Italy in 1743 to study. He visited Venice and Rome but returned to Dresden in 1744.Master of the Legend
active in Cologne ca 1490/1500
Austrian painter and woodcutter. He is named after two altarpiece wings with three scenes from the Legend of SS Cosmas and Damian: the Miraculous Healing of the Leg, A Husband Commending his Wife to the Saints and the Delivery of the False Message by the Devil (Vienna, Ksthist. Mus.). He is thought to have been the earliest disciple of Lucas Cranach the elder in Austria and to have been later influenced by both Albrecht Altdorfer and J?rg Breu the elder. His rather stately figures are in splayed-out, often affected poses, with the feet and knees twisted outwards, appearing almost dislocated. Fabbiao Fabbi
Italian, 1861 - 1946

domain: artistic


text:
The ‘Empire’ cast is featured in an opulent Vogue September 2015 spread, joined by model Jourdan Dunn and R&B crooner The Weeknd.
Tag Archives: Bryshere Y. Gray
Handsome fictional brothers from primetime TV’s tumultuous hip-hop family, Trai Byers, Bryshere “Yazz” Gray and Jussie Smollett, cover Essence Magazine’s June 2015 issue.
Courtney Lovett perfectly captures everyone’s favorite turbulent hip-hop family in a digital painting titled “Empire: The Lyon Family.”


text:
was reading this blog today and a fellow commenter (white lady) seemed aghast at the author saying that black americans were still the most hated group of folks by africans and some other diasporan, africa-descended groups.
my response follows (cleaned up a bit from the initial posting):
it's true. here's a blog entry i wrote w/ some more background on that...
it's just like bootzey said: africans come here, see that blacks are on the bottom of the ladder economically, socially, academically, etc., and choose to befriend the white folks. in their own countries, many of them were taught to uphold the ideals and morals of the british/french/etc. more so than their own.
many of them have rejected ages-old languages, traditions and spiritual systems to embrace evangelical xtianity and islam because those are the groups with the money and the schools and the missionaries who can give them scholarships to american colleges.
all in the name of "bettering" themselves.
many of the staunchly pan african folks (think: kwame nkrumah, fela and femi kuti, the groups that fought apartheid in south africa) and traditionalists stay in africa, so we don't see that alternate POV.
they see black americans starving spiritually and beginning to reject and question christianity for traditional african spiritual and metaphysical systems. to them, the "cleaned up, acceptable" africans, we're going "backwards".
they wonder why our children can't learn and are belligerent when they don't understand lead poisioning, criminalization, and the ancestral pain of having one's original language/culture/understanding ripped from them.
they understand the effects of hiv/aids, but not drug addiction (some africans make money from illicit drugs, but drug addiction in & of itself is not a huge social problem...at least not to my knowledge), the psychological effects of poverty in a consumer society, and so on.
so, yes. when ppl from other countries come here with a different understanding of what it means to be poor (when EVERYONE'S poor except the govt, police and other bribe-takers, it makes for different communities...), being able to take culture/language/clan-ethnic ties for granted and see the "boundless opportunity" all around them and us, and call us "lazy" and "stupid".
also remember that we're seeing largely middle class africans complete with the notions of bougeois privilege & propriety. i'm sure people probably think a bit differently in the "hoods" of nigeria and ghana.
it takes some education to figure out that, internationally speaking, any forced labor migration population has the same issues we do. most folks don't get that far. easier to just see what you want to see.
i get hype about this. i don't mean ANY of it, not one word, as an excuse or a shield to hide behind. imo, what black folk NEED to do is do better. stop complaining about the system and refuse to perpetuate the systems and mechanisms that keep feeding our babies to the lions. period.
understand your history and the nature and reasons behind your oppression and rise above it. use the pain, don't succumb to it. too many angry black folks fall into that snare of using pseudo-science and other tenuous ground to root themselves in. they stay stuck there, hating everyone when it's not necessary. history has bourne us out on its own; there is no need to make shit up. even national geographic finally had to admit we ruled kemet...
that said, i will stand down anyone who refuses to see the strength, beauty, and heart of my people. yes, we can be fucked up. but this whole culture is fucked up.
don't get it twisted: i'm here by accident. had our ancestors' places on goree island been switched, i may have stayed in yorubaland or wherever and you would have been raised in west baltimore or philly or...
i ain't gonna be flyin the stars & stripes anytime soon, but i'll be damned if i'll sit back and let folks look down their noses at me out of ignorance of what we've been through.

domain: sociology


text:
The Shaler North Hills Library is the public library serving Shaler Township, Pennsylvania, the Shaler Area School District and environs. The library can be found in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, the central municipality of Shaler Township, located 7.2 miles (11.6 km) north northeast of Pittsburgh. A community and cultural resource since 1942, the Shaler North Hills Library offers a variety of materials and services. Shaler North Hills Library holds over 120,000 titles at its single branch location, including fiction and non-fiction books, DVDs, music CDs, audio books, and magazines, along with online resources. The Library also has access to the materials of all other participating Allegheny County Library Association libraries.
|Shaler North Hills Library|
|Location||Shaler Township, Pennsylvania|
|Access and use|
|Staff||40; includes 34 Part- and 6 Full-Time; FTE 19.18|
- The library offers free parking and is located on a bus route serviced by the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
- A book drop is located in the back of the building and is accessible 24-hours a day.
- The library offers free use of all PC computers, which include word processing and other software for public use; free Wi-Fi and Internet access; and access to extensive online databases.
- Patrons gain access to most public library collections in Allegheny County.
- Children's, young adult, and adult educational and recreational programming is offered year-round.
- The library has numerous meeting and study rooms.
Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, and its neighboring communities have been served by a local library since the establishment of the Glenshaw Public Library in 1895. As the community grew, plans were made to build a new dedicated library facility owned by the Township. Groundbreaking for the new Shaler Library occurred on December 7, 1941—coincidentally, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Awards and recognitionEdit
- In 2010, the Pennsylvania Library Association awarded Shaler North Hills Library the David J. Roberts EXCEL Library Service Award in recognition of its Discovery Kids program.
- Shaler North Hills Library received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2012. Citing over 50,000 patrons attending library programming annually, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which presents the National Medal, recognized the library's commitment to community outreach and service. According to Susan Hildreth, IMLS Director, “Shaler North Hills Library has a proactive approach to providing community service. Members of the library staff are just as likely to be out in the community working as they are to be within the library building. When they see a need … they try to find a solution.” The award ceremony was attended by Library Director Sharon McRae and U.S. Representative Jason Altmire (D-PA).
- The Pennsylvania Forward Star Libraries Program currently recognizes Shaler North Hills Library as a Bronze Star Library (effective 2018 through 2021).
Partnerships and FundingEdit
Primary funding for the library is provided by Shaler Township. Partial funding and other forms of in-kind support and collaboration are provided by the following partner agencies.
- Allegheny Regional Asset District
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania/Commonwealth Libraries
- The Friends of the Shaler North Hills Library
- The Shaler Garden Club
- The Kiwanis Club of Glenshaw
- Shaler Area School District (SASD) and area schools
- Shaler Area Rotary
- Western Pennsylvania Humane Society
- Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA)
- The eiNetwork
- The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
- The Pittsburgh Foundation
- The Carnegie Museum of Natural History
- The Kearns Spirituality Center
- The Pennsylvania Library Association
- "Find Your Library 2018". Library Journal. Library Journal. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- Ganster, Kathleen (26 January 2005). "Shaler library's new director a familiar face". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. PG Publishing Co. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- "Staff and Board". Shaler North Hills Library. Shaler North Hills Library. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- "About". Shaler North Hills Library. Shaler North Hills Library. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- "Welcome to the Glenshaw Public Library!". Glenshaw Public Library. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- "2010 David J. Roberts EXCEL Library Service Award Winner: Discovery Kids Program – Shaler North Hills Library" (PDF). Pennsylvania Library Association. Pennsylvania Library Association. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- Neumann, Sara (5 November 2012). "Institute of Museum and Library Services Announces Recipients of 2012 National Medal for Museum and Library Service: Nation's Highest Honor Recognizes Exceptional Contributions of Museums and Libraries". Institute of Museum and Library Services. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- "2012 National Medal for Museum and Library Service Brochure" (PDF). Institute of Museum and Library Services. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- Hofstetter, Bethany (14 November 2012). "Shaler North Hills Library recognized for service". TribLive. Trib Total Media, LLC. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- Congress, United States (29 November 2012). Congressional Record (House Vol. 158, Pt. 11 ed.). p. 15778. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- "2012 Medal Winner: Shaler North Hills Library". YouTube. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- "PA Forward Star Program: Star Status". Pennsylvania Library Association. Pennsylvania Library Association. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- "Library Partners". Shaler North Hills Library. Shaler North Hills Library. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- http://shalerlibrary.org/ Shaler North Hills Library
- https://aclalibraries.org/who-we-are/ Allegheny County Library Association
- https://www.imls.gov/our-work/national-medal-museum-and-library-service/ Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Medal for Museum and Library Service

domain: library


text:
Zoom AC-3 Acoustic CreatorLike its little brother, the AC-3 Acoustic Creator is an enhanced direct box with essential DI features that help you achieve great tone no matter where you play. The AC-3 is equipped with an effects generator, stereo outputs, and a compressor. With these features plus the ..
ZOOM AC-2 Acoustic CreatorAmplify your acoustic sound with the Zoom AC-2 Acoustic Creator. The AC-2 is a DI (direct box) that encompasses all you need to deliver natural guitar tone on stage or in the studio. The AC-2 automatically restores tone lost through acoustic pickups, so your sound is always..
Proel EBN 1204 Audio stage box - 16 ChannelsThe EBN Audio stage boxes are constructed using an epoxy powder finish metal box, featuring small weight and dimension thanks to the professional printed circuit boards used, where high quality NEUTRIK gold-plated contacts XLR connectors are wired in autom..
Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 USB Audio InterfaceFocusrite's second-generation Scarlett 18i8 USB audio interface delivers mountains of flexibility in a rugged metal unibody chassis. Four vibrant Focusrite mic/instrument preamps are right on the front panel where you need them, while the back panel hosts a..


text:
John Martin is the director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. Just part of what the agency does is vet applicants for gambling licenses and writes the regulations for gaming operators and Maryland betting apps.
The agency also advises the Lottery and Gaming Control Commission on issues it must consider. Lottery & Gaming now has a new partner in the approval process for Maryland sports betting license applicants, the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission.
Here, Martin explains the unique sports gambling landscape in Maryland and notes that he hopes online sports gambling can be available in the state by September, in time to capture NFL betting.
The state took its first retail bet at the BetMGM Maryland Sportsbook in December at MGM National Harbor.
BetMaryland: The sports gambling law in Maryland is described as unique. In your own words, how is the Maryland law distinct from other sports wagering legislation around the country?
John Martin: A disclaimer, I have not looked at every other jurisdiction’s legislation but from what I see, there are at least three key areas here in Maryland that I believe are unique.
This is not necessarily in order of importance, but the first one is the establishment of the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, the SWARC. It is our tag team partner if you will, as our co-ruling body here to get the sports wagering business up and running. I'm not aware of any other entity that's created a separate body just for this purpose.
The second thing — and again I appreciate why it's there and it's in there for all the right reasons — is the idea that there will be a seat at the table for the small businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, to participate in equity positions to be part of the growing landscape. And again, I'm not aware of anybody who's actually put that in legislation as strongly as we have here in Maryland. That is set aside really to broaden the participation.
The third thing is just the potential scope of licenses in the marketplace. There were 18 named entities in the legislation, Pimlico and Laurel (race tracks) are actually sharing a license so it’s really 17. So, you've got those and you also have up to 30 additional brick-and-mortar Class B licenses as they're called, and up to 60 mobile licenses for a grand total of 107-plus licenses.
And again, I'm not aware of any other jurisdiction that put those types of numbers to those segments. That's far and away the leader in the clubhouse if you look at the potential. The reality is, and you and your readers are well aware of this, we're never going to see 60 mobile licenses. But the potential is there for 60 if the market changes and if it does, we’ve got the upside, which isn't a bad thing.
'Pretty Good' Start to Retail Sports Betting
BetMaryland: Please explain the distinction between what your agency does, meaning Lottery and Gaming Control, and the SWARC’s function.
JM: It's really almost a ping-pong type of a thing between the two agencies in terms of there are four steps in the process.
The first step is what we call the suitability — meaning, does granting that sports wagering license applicant a license serve the public interest? Is it a suitable entity in that do they have a business plan? Do they pass the initial review of understanding the marketplace? The legislation already did that when they identified the 17 licenses, so SWARC did not have to do that for the first pass. But they will be doing it now as we get into the additional competitive bid retail locations and the competitive bid mobile licenses. So SWARC does the suitability.
They hand those entities that are suitable to us and we do the qualification, and that's when we really start to get a little deeper dive on the investigative nature — criminal background checks of the principals; financial integrity and stability; do they have the underlying infrastructure to be able to be successful at it?
We then ping it back to SWARC for their awarding of the license. After SWARC says yay or nay … the fourth and final step is the issuance of the license and that involves what we call a controlled demonstration, essentially a dress rehearsal. Assuming they pass that two-day dress rehearsal, we issue a license and then the property opens the doors.
BetMaryland: What has been your observation of the retail sportsbooks so far in the five casinos that have had them since December?
JM: So far, I think it's delivered on the promise especially for the first five entities, which are all casinos. They made no bones about it, it was going to be an enhancement to their overall amenities, it was not their sole purpose.
They wanted to have people come in there, enjoy the facilities, hopefully food and beverage, maybe during, before or after the game, availing themselves of any other options on property. So, it got people inside their locations which is what they intended it to do. And by the way, they had a pretty good first month in December.
We'll see their January figures by the end of this week. On Thursday or Friday we should be rolling out those numbers so we'll get a better handle on it, no pun intended.
Labor Day at 'the Earliest'
BetMaryland: Now here’s the question everyone asks you. What is your over-under in terms of the calendar for online sports wagering? Maybe a better way to ask that question is what steps have to be taken before Maryland gets there on online sports betting?
JM: We still have a long runway here before we can take off. The first part of that is the much discussed second disparity analysis that will be kicked off here very, very soon. But there will be a period of time to do the analysis, do the study, report back and then determine how those findings impact the next step, which is the regulatory and application process.
So, regulations have to be written, then the regs have to go through the normal promulgation and signed-off by various entities within the state of Maryland. Application processes have to be identified and made available online. And then we open the window for the third step, which is receiving the applications. And they'll be subject to the same process I alluded to a few minutes ago on the four-step back-and-forth once those applications come in. We've got a little bit of work to do.
So, be careful what you say, right? I've already gone on the record of saying, "We really need to get this thing up and running by the start of the (2022) NFL season." Everybody in the industry knows football is the Holy Grail here and that's what drives the mobile betting platforms. So, we need to be up-and-running on mobile for the football season.
"September — which is what I've already gone on record as saying — (and) boy, that may be optimistic, but we can't be sitting here a year from now having this conversation and having not been able to deliver on mobile in the 2022 football season."
BetMaryland: So, you would be happy with Labor Day?
JM: I would say it would be the earliest that I would see it happen. And I would say that the implications of that may be a little optimistic, but there's so many variables between now and then. We don't even have pen-to-paper on regulations.
One positive out of this is that people that are already in the game now (with retail sportsbooks) that have already gone through the vetting process to the extent that they choose to get into mobile, well, you don't have to go back to square one. Those people are already vetted and proved for a brick-and-mortar location, so it should make their entry into mobile a little more efficient.
'We Have to be Ready'
BetMaryland: There are other prominent eligible parties, such as the Maryland Jockey Club, the Baltimore Orioles baseball park, M&T Bank Stadium, where the Baltimore Ravens play, FedEx Field, where the Washington Commanders play, the Timonium Fairgrounds. How many of those folks might be operating by Labor Day?
JM: I think it's easy for me to say that a few of them will be, but again, my role here, our role as an agency, is that we have to be ready when they are ready. I can't keep going to them and say, "Hey, are you ready? Are you ready?" They need to provide information to me.
BetMaryland: How about the three smaller business OTBs that have mostly been approved for licensing but haven’t taken the final steps?
JM: I'm hopeful that all three of them will be up and running in the next 90 days, but again, I don't know that because they haven't yet fulfilled their obligations to us. It'd be nice to see them get into the space, though.
I also want to say that just because 17 locations were named in the legislation, we're not waiting for all 17 of them. If none of them ever took another step, it's not going to slow us down on the additional retail or the mobile, so it's not like we have to get these 17 up-and-running before we can do mobile. Not at all.


text:
While they might be a niche concern on this side of the Atlantic, in their home country, Texan five-piece Spoon are as big as it's possible for an alt-rock band on an indie label to get. Their last album, 2010's Transference, reached No 4 in the US, while its predecessor also made the Top 10. Such success is all the more impressive when achieved by the increasingly unfashionable combination of solid songwriting and hard work (although a breakthrough in the mid-00s was partly due to their song The Way We Get By making it on to the soundtracks for the movie Stranger Than Fiction and TV series The OC).
Since the early setback of an acrimonious split with Elektra in 1998 (resulting in a one-off single lambasting the former record-label A&R executive they thought was responsible), they've delivered a string of meticulously conceived albums. Refracted through a prism of hip-hop and R&B dynamics, their streamlined songs are masterclasses in clipped precision, stripping away all but the essentials. Imagine, essentially, a less indie-dancefloor-filling Black Keys. A remarkable run of form is reflected in the fact that in 2010 website Metacritic calculated that Spoon's albums were the most consistently positively reviewed by professional critics of any artist between 2000 and 2009, outperforming the likes of Radiohead, OutKast and the White Stripes. Even Limp Bizkit.
As a result, their first album in four years comes buoyed with expectation. The highly regarded Dave Fridmann (Tame Impala, the Flaming Lips, MGMT) has been drafted in on production duties, the first time the band has used an outside producer, and claims were made that They Want My Soul would be their "loudest and gnarliest" album to date. That may well be true. But it seems to fall slightly short of the extremely high standards they've set themselves.
It isn't that there is anything desperately wrong: there are no radical departures in sound; its clever instrumentation still rewards careful listening; the interplay between frontman Britt Daniel's simple guitar lines and drummer Jim Eno's clever yet unshowy rhythms is as strong as ever. But although there are plenty of strong verses, the choruses, almost without exception, smoulder instead of igniting. Place these songs next to past glories such as You Got Yr Cherry Bomb or Sister Jack and there's a glaring lack of immediacy. While there is much to enjoy here, it certainly doesn't reveal itself readily.
It's not a fatal flaw: Outlier is sublime, from its unashamedly pop intro to its bruised, mournful verse and brooding fade-out, with its hints of the understated yet emotionally charged AOR of Blue Oyster Cult's beautiful Shooting Shark. Knock, Knock, Knock pits whistling against carefully deployed guitar-noise scree yet still sounds compelling, once you get past the fact that Daniel's voice, always a little rasping, suddenly sounds exactly like that of Lee Mavers of the La's.
Elsewhere, Rainy Taxi has an appealing tautness, a lyric borrowed from Bowie's Let's Dance and a propulsive urgency, and the radio-friendly title track could be a long-lost Elvis Costello number. Rent I Pay, however, lifts its stuttering riff from Strange by fellow masters of minimalism Wire, yet fails to take it anywhere interesting. And that's symptomatic of They Want My Soul as a whole: it promises much but never quite delivers.


We’ve lost our sense of wonder. Nothing seems all that surprising anymore. “Meh” is what people say about dazzling achievements. Climbing Mount Everest is now seen as a walk in the park.
So I found it amazing that so many of us tuned into Felix Baumgartner’s world-record setting fall from space. Baumgartner did a free fall at Mach 1.28 from 128,000 feet before slowing down and landing softly on earth. It was really dazzling…and for a couple of hours, lots of us were filled with a sense of wonder.


Football in Croydon could get a huge boost if council plans to build two new state-of-the-art soccer-hub facilities can be realised.
After Sport England and the Football Association last year invited local authorities to bid for their new ‘Parklife’ project, Croydon submitted a successful initial application for support.
As a result the council now has funding to work on a feasibility study that could see a multi-million-pound investment into modern football facilities at both Purley Way Playing Fields and Ashburton Playing Fields.
Parklife – a five-year commitment to build many multi-pitch hubs across towns and cities in England – creates sustainable community football facilities in order to raise playing standards and provide more opportunities for everyone to enjoy the game. The £200m programme receives investment from The FA alongside the government, the Premier League and local partners. It is delivered nationally by the Football Foundation.
If feasibility work proves positive and planning permission is granted Croydon could potentially secure around £5m from the Premier League, Sport England and the Greater London Authority. The remainder of the costs would be funded locally.
“This is a wonderful opportunity and sits really well alongside our new leisure operator Greenwich Leisure and the transformation of our leisure offer across the borough next year. If it goes ahead many more people would have access to high quality playing facilities at these sites, and we’d ensure there was a focus on getting more women, people with disabilities, and older players involved in regular training sessions and league matches. Boosting sport participation is great for bringing communities together, as well, of course, as having health benefits.”
Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport
Three local leagues and 26 Croydon football clubs have already been spoken to for their thoughts, and work is being carried out in early-2018 to develop full plans for the facilities.
For further information, email email@example.com.


STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., May 12 (UPI) -- Flat-bottomed U.S. Army Stryker combat vehicles are to be converted to a double-V hull design to better withstand improvised explosive devices and landmines.
The work on 93 of the infantry vehicles was commissioned by the Army's TACOM Life Cycle Management Command and will be performed with General Dynamics Land Systems under a contract that carries a value of $163 million.
"The Army partnered with General Dynamics in 2012, launching a Stryker DVH-exchange pilot program validating that Stryker flat-bottom variants can be quickly refurbished and reassembled as a new, more survivable DVH variant, at less cost than producing a new vehicle," the company said. "General Dynamics and the Anniston Army Depot successfully completed the DVH pilot program in April 2013 and delivered 52 Stryker vehicles on time and under budget."
Work on the 93 vehicles will also be performed at the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama, with a delivery date of March 2016.
The Stryker is an 8x8 vehicle for transporting troops and other missions.


text:
Genesis – 1990
Description of Fatal Labyrinth
Fatal Labyrinth (aka LABYRINTH OF DEATH 死の迷宮, Labyrinth of Death: Shi no Meikyū) is a video game published in 1990 on Genesis by SEGA Enterprises Ltd.. It’s a role-playing (rpg) game, set in a fantasy, turn-based, action rpg and roguelike themes.
Buy Fatal Labyrinth
Fatal Labyrinth is available for a small price on the following websites, and is no longer abandonware. You can read our online store guide.

domain: game