A Break in the Weather
I’m relieved I didn’t post the newsletter when I should have, last Thursday, because it may have been nothing but expletives. Mid-August on a small, year-round, vegetable farm can be crazy-making. We had just experienced a string of cloudless 100F+ days, watching the storms pass within sight to both the north and the south without a drop of rain, and thoroughly tested the limits of our irrigation (which we’re scheduled to upgrade later in the week, whew). Decisions were made between which crops to save and which we could afford to lose. It can seem like every day in August is a series of fires, both figurative and literal, and some you just have to let burn.
Across the small-farm social media world, farmers begin to #realtalk about farming as a vocation this time of year. Curated pictures of the photogenic corners of the farm give way to posts like, “farming isn’t for the faint of heart, sometimes I don’t even know if it’s for me” and this one from a farm we particularly admire…
But, Saturday morning, it felt different. Something in the air had changed from Summer to Fall. Though there is still much to do to prepare for Winter—we’ll get to that in a second—we breathed a collective sign of relief. For one, we may not have to battle the oppressive heat for the rest of the year, but more importantly, we let go of the weight of our own expectations, if only temporarily. It’s more important to compare ourselves to last year instead of to others in our current season. When I look back through photos (you ever go into iPhoto and just scroll backwards forEVER?) of last year, I realize our little farm has come a long ways, and has an even longer way to go, if we ever get there in this lifetime, which we won’t. The more you learn about farming, the less you know, and in six short weeks we’ll begin the inward, reflective part of our year-round farming. Until then…
Volunteer Mob-Planting on Thursday
There is one more big push between us and the downhill ride to Winter growing… the Fall ransplant. Our first round of Fall plants are finally ready to go in the ground, better late than never. Now, if only we were so ready! There are still a handful of beds that need to be prepared, a small moveable tunnel to be REmoved, and a few dozen wheelbarrows of compost to be spread. If you’re free Thursday afternoon/evening, and looking for a #farmfit workout, we’re offering soup and a bon-fire for folks willing to come out and do some planting, move some compost, or ride the broadfork. Just send us a quick RSVP so we know how much food to make.
Our late Summer successions are a bit all over the place. The peppers, though prolific this year, are on the way out, and our late tomatoes are not quite on the way in, yet. The beans and squash, however, are on point. So, the shares for the next couple-few weeks will be on the lite side as we plant, seed, and wait for the first of the Fall greens and roots to grow.
Tuesday folks will get head lettuce, a handful of tomatoes, mixed sweet peppers, squash/zucchini, CUCUMBERS (third plantings a charm), green beans, and a honeydew melon from fellow Community Farmers Market grower Peaceful Valley. For next week’s share, y’all can expect a large head of lettuce, arugula, squash/zucchini, cucumber, beans, scallions, and concord table grapes from Need More Acres Farm.
And, boxes. If you have any 1/2 bushel CSA boxes, please bring them to your next pickup.
New CSA Members & Market Cards
Our next CSA season begins the first week of November. If you’re interested in joining our Winter CSA (Nov thru April), please send us a message. The cost is $540, or $500 if you’re able to pay before the end of August, or $90/month (first month installment to reserve your membership). For those who can’t commit to a 1/2 bushel box of produce, but still want to support our farm in a significant way, we do offer…
StoneHouse MarketCards. Simply invest $200 in our farm, and we’ll give you a $220 market card to use at our stand at Community Farmers Market. Market card members also get the same discounts we give to CSA members for bulk veg. These will be arriving within the week, hopefully available at Community Farmer Market next Saturday. We’re doing ten for the season, and several have already been spoken for, so send us a message ASAP.


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The CASA Model
Children who have experienced abuse and neglect are among the most vulnerable members of our community. They also present us with some of the greatest opportunities to make a lasting impact — for their futures and for our society. At Voices for Children, we have seen time after time, case after case, the difference one caring adult can make in the life of a child.
“The single most common factor for children and teens who develop the capacity to overcome serious hardship is having at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult.”
-Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs)
The role of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) was first conceived in 1977 by Judge David Soukup in Seattle, who wanted to find a way for the court to obtain better information about the needs of children in foster care. He believed dedicated and well-trained volunteers could accomplish that task, and the idea quickly spread across America, including in San Diego, where Voices for Children was founded in 1980. Today, there are nearly 1,000 nonprofit CASA programs operating in 49 states.
In San Diego and Riverside Counties, Voices for Children recruits and trains volunteers to serve as CASAs. Each CASA is appointed by a judge to get involved in the life of a child, spend time with them, and report to the court about the child’s progress and needs. Unlike the high case loads other professionals face, a CASA is able to focus on just one child or sibling group at a time. By building a trusting relationship with that child, a CASA is able to help the judge understand not only their situation but also what they like to do, what their favorite subject is in school, or why they are struggling in a certain placement. This individualized advocacy helps judges make the most informed decisions for children’s futures.
Why do children need CASA volunteers?
It is difficult to think about a child experiencing abuse or not receiving the basic needs they must have to live and be safe. Yet that is exactly why children have been removed from their homes and enter foster care. Every day, we hear stories of debilitating neglect and unimaginable abuse that no child should experience.
When a child enters foster care, their world suddenly includes a new home, often a new school and classmates, social workers, lawyers, and court hearings. It is during this time that they need the support of a caring adult more than ever. While the foster care system comprises many talented and passionate professionals, it is also overburdened. Many children feel very much alone—until they meet their CASAs.
What is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)?
Children in foster care have experienced abuse and neglect. Once they enter the dependency system, their world suddenly includes court hearings, social workers, attorneys, and often new homes and schools. Amidst it all, a CASA is the one consistent, caring presence for a child.
From helping a child get glasses to ensuring their records transfer to new schools, a CASA is an expert problem-solver who makes things happen. With resources provided by Voices for Children, CASAs work alongside social workers, caregivers, attorneys, and other professionals to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
At regular intervals, CASAs report on children’s progress and needs. A CASA is able to help the judge understand not only the child’s needs, but also what they like to do, what their favorite color is, or why they are struggling in school. This individualized advocacy helps judges make the most informed decisions for each child’s future.
Who can become a CASA?
We have hundreds of dedicated CASAs—people of all ages and backgrounds. They work full-time, part-time, are retired, and are students. No legal experience or prior knowledge of foster care are required; we provide all the training needed to be a successful advocate. The basic requirements include:
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Must be able to visit with case child at least once per month
- Minimum commitment of 18 months; average service is 10-15 hours per month
- Must have a good driving record and be able to clear criminal background checks
Who do CASAs support?
A CASA’s primary focus is advocating for the best interest of the child. In doing so, CASAs often provide meaningful support to caregivers, biological families, and professionals on the case.
What types of cases do CASAs support?
At the inception of the CASA model, volunteers helped to provide the court with better information about the needs of children in the juvenile dependency system, known as foster care. For several decades, CASAs served only children in dependency.
Later, in 2015, the California legislature recognized the needs of youth in the other arm of the Juvenile Court system: delinquency. New laws were enacted permitting CASAs to support this population and Voices for Children launched its Juvenile Justice program in 2017.
Become a CASA Volunteer
Children who have experienced abuse and neglect need a voice. They need you to speak up for them.
Support Our CASA Program
Your gift will help us recruit, train, and support volunteers who advocate for the best interest of children and ensure their needs are being met.

domain: law


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Although just over the William R, Bennett bridge from downtown Kelowna, West Kelowna has been a municipality since 2007. It has quickly become a popular area with Greater Kelowna residents. The city capitalizes on its outstanding natural scenery and convenience to amenities, on the western shores of Lake Okanagan.
An extensive business center runs along Highway 97, with shopping, restaurants, medical clinics, and hotels. Area amenities are plentiful, via a system of city parks and beaches, community centers, arenas, and a large indoor pool complex. Beautiful lakes, golf courses, and popular ski areas are within easy reach. Provincial parks with breathtaking hiking trails surround the urban center. An active and growing network of excellent schools attracts families to the city.
West Kelowna lies within the traditional lands of the Westbank First Nations, whose business initiatives and significant population are essential contributors to the municipality’s economy. Syilx culture is prominent throughout the city, with a stunning new winery, a museum, festivals and an impressive public art program.

domain: geography


Here we are offer best quality for Carbon Rifle Barrels For Ruger Rpr 6 5 Creedmoor and guarantee cheaper than other online shopping store. Look inside store for get more discount,If you want to see more details Can be ordered at the online store that we recommend
*** Please check more details at the merchant website.
Manufactured to exact specifications, including diameter and length dimensions, weight and balance of factory loaded ammo, these DUMMIES have the proper functioning characteristics to reliably check magazine feeding, action timing, extraction and ejection of all guns. The only professionally accepted and safe way to check gun functioning; live ammo should never be used except in actual test-firing on the range - after you have checked the gun with DUMMIES. The very reasonable cost per DUMMY is an added incentive to use them regularly. The blackened case makes them distinct, and instantly recognizable as DUMMIES, which makes them ideal - and safe - to use as a sales aid. Especially useful Mfg: Genco Inc. SPECS: Catch Up Pak contains 1 each of the following calibers: .17 MACH 2 .17 HMR .45 GAP .480 Ruger .220 Swift .223 WSSM Winchester Super Short Magnum .25 WSSM Winchester Super Short Magnum .270 WSM Winchester Short Magnum .300 RemCheck price and Read more Detail At Genco Inc.
We manufacture pilots for our flash hole tool and our Neck Thickness/Variance Gauge. Our pilots are precision machined from stainless steel on CNC turning centers to properly fit new, unfired case necks. Available for rifle and pistol cartridges from 22 thru 45 caliber. Not for use on .50 BMG. 50 BMG flash hole diameter is larger. Mfg: Sinclair InternationalCheck price and Read more Detail At Sinclair International
The Tritium front dots on Night Fision's Perfect Dot night sights for Smith & Wesson M&P pistols are 30% than standard dots. That translates to 30% BRIGHTER front sights! Contrasted against the plain black rear sight, that bright front dot encourages a fast, instinctive "Front Sight Focus" that helps you keep your eyes on the target. The Tritium insert isn't surrounded by the typical painted-on ring, but rather one made of a daylight fluorescing material that produces optimum visibility in daylight. The result is what the Night Fision folks have dubbed the "Perfect Dot". Provides maximum visibility in both nighttime AND daylight conditions, so Mfg: Night FisionCheck price and Read more Detail At Night Fision
Designed to fulfill the requirements of military and law enforcement precision shooters for outstanding long-range target identification and hit probability. Features ample 6x magnification, superb lens clarity, unbeatable low-light capability, and integral topside MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail for mounting a red dot reflex sight or other supplementary sight. Manual override lets you adjust reticle brightness by rotating the sleeve on the rear eyepiece. The bright, red or green (for .308.7.62 only), chevron (upside down "V") reticle aids in fast, instinctive target acquisition, with additional bullet drop compensated (BDC) estimated aiming points marked in 100 meter increments star Mfg: Trijicon SPECS: Forged 7075-T6 aluminum housing, matte black anodized; coated lenses. Approximately 9" (22.9cm) long. 36 oz. (1,021 g) weight. 6x magnification, 48mm objective lens. Adjustable for windage and elevation. Includes TA75 rail adapter, Pelican hardshell carrying case, Lenspen, and manual.Check price and Read more Detail At Trijicon
Copyright © 2020 Increase Sale Now RN53. All Rights Reserved


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With the countdown to the big day now less than three months to go, it's never too early to get a head start on your festive plans - including scoping out the best Christmas market to pay a visit to this year. If you are bored of the same old fare, Europe has a host of wonderful markets to escape to for a change of scenery - and you can jet off to all of these idyllic destinations direct from Newcastle Airport.
1. Vienna, Austria
Vienna boasts numerous Christmas markets around the city, including Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn, Belvedere and Resselpark, where baked goods, sweets, rides, seasonal gifts and warming drinks await. Market dates: 16-24 Dec.
2. Geneva, Switzerland
Several markets will be held in Geneva from late November, including the largest on Quai du Général Guisan, artisans' markets on Rue de Mont Black and Place de la Fusterie, and the Carouge market with rides and gospel choirs.
3. Munich, Germany
Open from 27 November, the main Christmas market at Marienplatz offers a wealth of stalls to peruse, selling traditional handmade ornaments, festive culinary delicacies and mulled wine.
4. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague's Old Town Square is transformed into an enchanting Christmas haven from 30 November 2019 to 6 January next year and is renowned for being the most vibrant market in the city, with plenty of live entertainment.

domain: travel


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Alice Cooper - Lace And Whiskey
THIS IS THE NODE PRODUCT PAGE FULL TEMPLATE
Lace And Whiskey
- Original Release Date: 10/16/2018
- 1LP, Whiskey Brown Vinyl
- Release Date: 10/16/2018
Released in 1977, Lace and Whiskey features the top 10 single “You and Me” and his version of the Rockabilly classic "Ubangi Stomp".

domain: entertainment


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Today Ann is creating a community for survivors who have experienced sexual violence as an adult – encouraging them to name their perpetrators and heal; Ann is naming her own rapist: Dr Calvin Hirsch and posting her story online as an example for others to do the same. Until we name our rapists, the problem will not end. The True will launch later in 2022.
The Rhodes Project
The Rhodes Project is a research institute devoted to developing a comprehensive study of high-achieving women worldwide. To advance the education of the public in general on the subject of female achievement and/or the obstacles thereto and to promote research in all aspects of these subjects and to publish useful result.

domain: psychology


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September 19, 2011 | Brad Czerniak
September 13, 2011 | madame librarian
September 1, 2011 | Blogbrarian
As part of the 2011 Shopper Reform and Modernization Act, the new Scanner Law goes into effect September 1st. The actual document for this act is very lengthy, but the most important fact is that consumers should know is the following: If the consumer is charged more than the displayed cost, they are entitled to request the difference between the displayed price and what they were charged, plus additional compensation ("bonus") of ten times the difference. The bonus must be at least $1.00, but may not be more than $5.00.
[Photo courtesy of eLibrary]
August 26, 2011 | barkerm
The Canton Response to Hate Crime Coalition is committed to working to secure the right of every person in Canton to be free from hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents. What is a hate crime? Who are its victims? How do we prevent hate crimes? Come hear the answers and get ideas about how to guide your children in a tolerant, non-violent, non-bullying life. Bring your questions and concerns on Thursday, September 8 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room to Officer Dale Waltz of the Canton Public Safety Department and library director Eva Davis, Coalition co-chair.
August 10, 2011 | madame librarian
August 8, 2011 | Michelle
Are you looking for something fun and exciting to read? Well, look no more, have we got the section for you. Check out the J Nonfiction 300 to 399 section for all sorts of great reads including folktales, fairytales, environmental topics, career books, government books, Boy Scout badge books, Girl Scout books, and so much more. See you there!
May 5, 2011 | Blogbrarian
Are you concerned about the potential ramifications of your employees and social media? Aaron Graves, a labor and employment attorney, will discuss the ins and outs of your rights and your employee's rights when it comes to social networking. This Strategies of Success (SOS) seminar takes place on Tuesday, May 17th from 7:30-9:30AM in the Summit on the Park Banquet Center. Space is limited so please reserve your spot by calling the Canton Chamber of Commerce at (734) 453-4040.


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Cavalcade is a collection of rocking animals built from a single piece of wood; the result is a carefully designed iconic toy that both kids and parents will love.
Cavalcade, a collection of rocking animals, is the first product of new toy brand BLUC, founded by Luca Boscardin and Valentina Raffaelli.
The lines are pure and simple, the colours bright, the design strong and made to last for generations.
Every animal is created from the same wooden beam, and cut and painted in different colours to distinguish one animal from another.
The first three animals of a growing collection are all unique and created for great adventures.
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT CAVALCADE?
Kids love it. And parents love it too. The rocking animals enhance the imagination of children, whether it’s riding like a cowboy, becoming a price or a princess, travelling the world or discovering the jungle!
They resemble a drawing but they have a strong and solid build. The colours were chosen to appeal to children while leaving enough to the imagination.
Cavalcade seems to belong to another time.
The rocking animals are classical toys but we have redesigned them in a simple, universal and graphic way. Cavalcade embraces all the values of playing: they are impossible to break and beautiful to touch. And to top it all off, we created the
Cavalcade in a way that it will age well; you will want to pass this strong and timeless toy down from generation to generation.
HOW ARE THEY MADE?
Designed in Amsterdam by two Italians, produced in Germany, and painted in Romania, Cavalcade is made in Europe.
The rocking animals are built using strong birch wood, painted using water-based colours, conforming to children safety standards EN71 and ASTMF963.
Cavalcade rocking animals are made in a very simple way:
- We take a long beam of birch wood of 2cm thick and 8cm wide. We draw the different parts of the rocking animal with a pencil .
- We then cut the wooden beam according to the pencil lines, and paint the legs, mouth and eyes. Then we round all the parts.
- At this point, the rocking animal is ready for assembling. We use wool felt for the mane.
The result is a flock of different animals that are characterised by minimal lines and bold identities. The movement is smooth and silent, totally safe for fast rides.
LET’S BRING THEM TO LIFE!
It has been a long and challenging adventure for us. We have had to find the right producer, test several prototypes for child safety, and keep the price as reasonable as possible.
We are beyond excited that the Cavalcade collection is finally ready to go into production!
We’re just missing one thing to bring the rocking animals to life: you!
We need to produce a minimum quantity to lower the product price, and with your help, we can do just that! By supporting our project and sharing it with your friends, we can finally help realise Cavalcade. You, your children, your nieces and nephews, your neighbour’s children, everyone will be rocking on your favourite Cavalcade animal in no time!
You can choose between the horse, the zebra or the giraffe; the rest of the gang will follow soon!
Cavalcade is the first product of BLUC, a brand new toy studio based in Amsterdam and founded by Luca Boscardin and Valentina Raffaelli.
After years of experience working for different toy companies, Luca decided to start his own toy brand, with the help by Valentina.
BLUC designs eclectic and meaningful products, where simplicity, sustainability and functionality come together in playful objects that enhance children’s imagination.
A fantastic city, a bubble, a modular toy, the noise of a wooden block, BLUC.
- Feb 2015: Ideation
- March 2016: conceptual development
- Sept 2016: manufacturer research
- Feb 2017: prototyping
- March 2017: user testing with kids
- April 2017: prototyping
- June 2017: CE kids safety tests
- Aug 2017: Re-design
- Sept 2017: prototyping
- Nov 2017: user testing with kids
- Jan 2018: CE kids safety tests
- Feb 2018 :manufacturer verification
- March 2018: Kickstarter campaign
- April 2018: production
- May 2018: product launch and shipping
Special THANKS to:
Andrea Raffaelli, Silvia Rossi and Daniel Al Paida Larsen for their video and editing skills; to Marco Bortoletti for his magical music composition.

domain: hobby


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Last night and this morning I had a very pleasant visit, albeit H.G. Wells time machine was flickering around in my medial temporal lobe. Thirty-five years have passed; it was only as yesterday. Miss LL…wow!
And I decided that I needed to calm down the overload and get on my Schwinn 170. This morning I pedaled 201. miles. My recorded totals: 26,288.8 miles; 42,307.8 kilometers.
And I am still following my virtual path on the surface of Mars... I still have 11,912.8 more miles to go.
Blood sugar down again this morning by 8 points to 107 mg/dL. Supper last night was a triple helping of my attempt at King Oyster Mushroom and Shrimp Stir-Fry.
I found the recipe at My Korean Kitchen, and yes I adapted the recipe based on what I could find in the pantry and refrigerator.
This is my 1,333rd post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 115,333 Pageviews.
I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - firstname.lastname@example.org.)
Have a healthy day and smile,
Post a Comment


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- Enough For Me 32AD 5:22
32AD is an American rock band from the Inland Empire of Southern California. Genres include Rock, Metal, and Contemporary Christian music with an authentic rock style delivery.
The band was officiated onto the scene by founding member A Apodaca (songwriter, guitars, vocals). The first releases include original member D Vasquez (songwriter, rhythm/bass guitars), and additional releases include J Bishop (bass guitar, backing vocals).
Formed as a new project in 2019, 32AD believes music should help people rise above their circumstances. The Metal Demo EP entered the scene at the start of Winter 2020, followed by a Rock EP, with new albums alternating across the listed genres.
In this dark world, good rock-n-roll should provide a positive, enlightening, or revealing message. 32AD believes music should help people rise above their circumstances, and help them from being overtaken by this world to overcoming all of it.
SOURCE: Official Bio


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The Largest Indoor Waterpark in the Poconos
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Pocono Manor is 220,000 square feet of fun. This Africa-themed indoor waterpark offers dozens of attractions for the whole family, from children’s play areas to extreme thrill rides. They even boast the world’s first and only VR Waterslide in the United States.
The waterpark is just the beginning of the fun. The resort offers plenty to do, including black light mini golf, escape rooms, and an arcade with nearly 250 games. Check out the fitness studio, or relax at the Spa Kalahari & Salon. In the warmer months, guests can enjoy Gorilla Grove Treetop Adventures, an outdoor ropes course and zipline adventure.
On-site dining includes options for everyone, including Double Cut Steak House, Sortino’s Italian Kitchen, Cinco Niños, and B-Lux Grill & Bar.
Kalahari’s rooms and suites can accommodate families and groups of up to 22 people. Their large convention center is perfect for meetings, parties, weddings, and other occasions.
Waterpark admission is included in your stay. Limited day passes are also available to book online.
Featured item on the DiscoverNEPA Bucket List.
Articles & Stories
DiscoverNEPA Bucket List
Cool Off at NEPA’s Waterparks
NEPA Party Planner: Places to Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday
Make a Splash at NEPA’s Indoor Waterparks
NEPA Winter Fun is on the Way for the 2022/2023 Season
Winter Itinerary – Indoor Waterpark Fun at Kalahari Resorts Poconos
NEPA Outdoor Adventure Guide
Cinco Niños Opens at Kalahari Resorts


Iraq is fighting for the return of Saddam Hussein's giant bronze buttock. The 2-foot cheek was brought back to Britain by former special-forces solder Nigel Ely, who, with the help of US Marines, pried it off a toppled statue soon after the fall of Baghdad in 2003. Iraq's government says the buttock counts as "illegally removed Iraqi cultural property."
Ely says he has turned Saddam's butt into a piece of art that he wants to sell to raise money for veterans' charities in the US and UK. The chief of a war art relic company has been questioned by police for attempting to help Ely sell the piece, the BBC reports. "This is like having a chunk of the Berlin Wall—it's part of history but it's not cultural property," Ely says. (Read more strange stuff stories.)


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Turn this $20 Ikea chair into a designer piece with a can of gold spray praint. I love Ikea Hacks!
IKEA Hack: Make the $20 SNILLE Chair Look Like an Expensive Office Chair! | Money Saving Sisters
This is the most incredible Ikea hack I've ever seen. Fabric, mod podge & spray paint can work a miracle on a $20 plastic chair!
Take an IKEA SKRUVSTA Swivel Chair from drab to fab with a little gold spray paint! Easy 30-minute DIY IKEA hack for the weekend.
IKEA - SKRUVSTA, Swivel chair, Vissle grey, , , You sit comfortably since the chair is adjustable in height.The castors are rubber coated to run smoothly on any type of floor.
Style Files: Studio LileSADi | Styling & Photography: Avenue Lifestyle
SKRUVSTA ikea hack, diy gold office chair, boconcept sheepskin throw
So much inspiration: http://www.stylemepretty.com/living/2015/03/19/30-of-the-prettiest-offices-ever/
СКРУВСТА Кресло - Идгульт белый - IKEA
jenny komenda spray painted ikea chair. Love it.


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Stylish, well designed hotel in a near perfect position. Staff were helpful and pleasant.
The access to the beach is not as easy as one might expect from the pic: the beach bar umbrellas sunbeds etc in front of the hotel are not owned by the hotel and you have to pay for access. However public beach is close.
I stayed in room 202 which was beautifully decorated with a bath in the bathroom, a balcony with a wonderful sea view and very quiet, apart from the gentle, relaxing sound of the waves. The staff were happy, friendly, professional and above all relaxed. They welcomed me and remembered me from last year! I would have loved to have stayed longer and will return next year!
It is right on the beach with very comfortable rooms. The hotel is very clean, relaxing, and the staff is very friendly. It has accommodations for 3 in one room, which is nice.
Beautiful, bright room with amazing view, great bathroom, great service and breakfast and beautiful location.
The village Varigotti was so nice and Finale Ligure magical. So lovely and tranquile. The Village FinaleBorgo with the old city wonderful...Lovation of the hotel perfect along the coast and a lovely walk everywhere. A must do and see.
How helpful and friendly they were. I have a Boxer dog and the accepted her without any problems!
Hotel Albatros Varigotti is situated along the seaside in the heart of Varigotti, a quiet town on the Palms Riviera. It offers free WiFi. Each air-conditioned room includes a private bathroom, minibar and satellite TV. Some rooms have a balcony with panoramic views of the Ligurian coastline. The Albatros Hotel is located between Genoa and the French border. Finale Ligure is 4 km away, and Savona is 20 minutes' drive away, with ferry links to Corsica.
based on 175 reviews
Policies vary by room type and provider.
Hotel Albatros Varigotti is located at Via Aurelia 58, 4.6 km from the center of Finale Ligure. Archaeological Museum of Finale Ligure is the closest landmark to Hotel Albatros Varigotti.
Check-in time is 15:00 and check-out time is 11:00 at Hotel Albatros Varigotti.
Yes, Hotel Albatros Varigotti offers free Wi-Fi.
No, Hotel Albatros Varigotti does not offer free parking.
No, Hotel Albatros Varigotti does not offer free airport shuttle service.
Hotel Albatros Varigotti is 44.3 km from Genoa Cristoforo Colombo. Hotel Albatros Varigotti is 73.8 km from Cuneo Levaldigi.
Yes, Hotel Albatros Varigotti is a pet-friendly hotel.
No, Hotel Albatros Varigotti does not have a pool onsite.


Follow our live feed for the latest score and analysis Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. as the Warriors play the Clippers in Los Angeles.
The Warriors (18-3) are coming off an outstanding 142-106 victory over Indiana on Monday in which Klay Thompson went off for 60 points in just 29 minutes. Thompson made 21 of 32 shots, including eight 3-pointers as he became just the second Golden State Warrior to score 60 points in a game. Rick Barry has the Golden State record of 64 set in 1974.
The Clippers (16-6) have lost four of their last six, including a 111-102 loss to the Pacers in Los Angeles on Sunday. Their big three of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should prove a signficant challenge for the Warriors.
This is the teams’ first meeting in the regular season, with the Warriors having throttled the Clippers 120-75 in the preseason. Golden State won last year’s season series 4-0.
Golden State is beginning a five-game, seven-day trip and coach Steve Kerr hinted that he’ll likely rest players on the trip. The Warriors will be in Utah on Thursday, which seems like a prime game to rest some guys.
You’ll find more Warriors coverage at MercuryNews.com/sports/golden-state-warriors


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Protocol For Life Balance Ortho Prostate
- Brand: Protocol For Life Balance
- Product Code: ortho-prostate-PFLB
- Servings per Container: 45
- Quantity per Container: 90 Softgels
Protocol for Life Balance Ortho Prostate provides a synergistic formulation of standardized extracts of herbs and nutrients proven to promote normal prostate function, urine flow and healthy cell replication.
Extracts of Saw Palmetto, Pygeum and Stinging Nettle Root have been shown to regulate dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in prostate cells, influence the activity of the androgen receptor (AR) and protect against excess estrogen production (from aromatase enzymes). Lycopene supports gene function and proper prostate cell replication.
- Standardized saw palmetto, stinging nettle and lycopene
- Supports healthy prostate function
- GMP Quality Assured
Professional-grade products adhere to the strictest standards for purity and potency, and use the highest-grade ingredients available.
2 softgels contain:
Total Fat 1 g
Vitamin B-6 (as Pyridoxine HCl) 10mg 588%
Zinc (from Zinc Gluconate) 15mg 136%
Saw Palmetto Berry Extract 160mg
---(Serenoa repens)(min. 85% fatty acids)
Stinging Nettle Root Extract (Urtica dioca) 300mg
Pumpkin Seed Oil 1g (1000mg)
Lycopene (from Natural Tomato Extract) 3mg
Other Ingredients: Softgel Capsule (bovine gelatin, glycerin, carob, water) and Beeswax.
Not manufactured with: yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish or shellfish ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
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Studies on saw palmetto, pygeum, stinging nettle extract and various combinations of these have reported good tolerance and side effects similar to placebo. The most likely side effects are gastrointestinal. May interact with anticoagulants, such as warfarin, to increase bleeding time, but reports are inconsistent on this point. Some internet sites claim an interaction, although a major review found no drug interactions. If pregnant or nursing, consult healthcare practitioner before using this product. Keep out of reach of children.

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Many smaller breed dogs present with varying symptoms of neurologic compromise after having herniated a disc. They may appear to walk somewhat wobbly or off-balance or be totally paralyzed and dragging their rear end on the ground. Varying degrees of pain and discomfort are present or they may be so severely paralyzed that they appear non-painful because the spinal cord is “numbed out” from being squished. These three dogs illustrate the differing degrees of a presentation I commonly see at our hospital. The first dog was painful and reluctant to move and would stumble on its front limbs because of a herniating disc in the neck area. It responded well to a combination of special intravenous steroids as well as some other medications and can be seen walking normally within one day of aggressive medical management. While some veterinarians debate the usefulness of this regime to treat herniating disc injuries, the reality is that used intelligently it works very well with no adverse side effects as seen in this case. In spite of the debate, if you or I were to present similarly, we would unequivocably receive the same medical treatment administered to this dog. The second and third dogs presented acutely and totally paralyzed. A myelogram revealed extensive spinal cord compression (as seen on the x-ray) and so a combination of medical and surgical intervention was warranted. As seen in the video, the brown dog was back up and walking normally within 10 days of surgery. “Booger”, the black dog took a little longer but as can be seen in the video, is back up and walking well by 8 weeks after surgery; he should continue to make progress over the next few months and even the first full year after surgery. Prompt and aggressive medical and surgical intervention is warranted to achieve the best results in cases of paralysis, and success rates of approximately 90% (even in cases like Booger) can be expected.
Fractures involving the distal femoral physis are relatively common in immature dogs and cats with the greatest incidence occurring between the ages of 5 and 8 months.
Physel fractures have been classified by Salter and Harris into 5 categories: Type 1 traverse the physeal plate through the zone of hypertrophying cartilage; Type 2 involves the physis and continues through the mtaphysis; Type 3 involves the physis and continues through the epiphysis to involve the articular surface; Type 4 involves the articular surface, crosses the physis and continues into the metaphysis; and Type 5 a compression injury to the zone of resting cartilage of the physis.
Distal femoral physeal fractures are commonly Types 1 and 2; most physeal fractures in the dog are Type 2 while those in the cat are Type 1. This is due in part to the fact that the distal femoral metaphysis has four projections that correspond to four similar deep depressions in the epiphysis in the dog while in the cat, the projections are flatter and do not interdigitate as deeply with the corresponding epiphyseal depressions. Physeal fractures usually occur through the zone of hypertrophying cartilage, because this zone is characterized by large, vacuolated cells with minimal intercellular matrix. Therefore, this zone is the weakest.
A variety of treatment methods have been described for repair of distal femoral physeal fractures including closed reduction and external fixation, normograde or retrograde placement of a single intramedullary pin with or without an anti-rotational Kirshner wire, multiple intramedullary pins, paired Rush pins, Steinman pins, or Kirshner wires employed in Rush pin technique, cross pins, bone plates, and lag screws. The ultimate goal of treatment should be accurate reduction and rigid stabilization of these fractures with as little iatrogenic damage to the germinal cells of the physis and their blood supply as possible.
While closed reduction and external fixation may be successful in selected cases, every attempt should be made to satisfactorily stabilize the fracture internally so that early return to function is achieved and restricted joint movement is avoided. When closed reduction and external fixation is used, a good result is the most that one can expect.
Surgical exposure for open reduction and internal fixation is achieved via a lateral parapatella approach with reflection of the patella medially. Interference with growth is a consideration in the selection of the method of repair; however, recent studies have suggested that premature closure of the physis occurs more commonly as a result of the initial trauma than the method of treatment employed. Distal femoral physeal closure normally occurs between six and eight months of age; as the majority of physeal fractures occur in dogs and cats greater than five months of age, over 90 percent of their skeletal growth has already been achieved by the time of injury. Therefore, in animals over five months of age, while some degree of femoral shortening may occur, the overwhelming majority of animals clinically accommodate shortening by a change in stifle or hock angulation. In dogs and cats under five months of age with substantial growth potential, the method of fixation chosen should provide adequate stabilization but should not mechanically bridge the physis. Early implant removal may minimize premature physeal closure. Any implant, which traverses the growth plate, will result in some degree of permanent damage to the growth plate. The least damage occurs when round, smooth, non-threaded implants are placed perpendicularly to the long axis of the growth plate.
Single intramedullary pin fixation, Rush pinning and modified Rush pin technique, and cross pinning are the most commonly employed techniques used to treat Salter Type 1 and 2 fractures. A single intramedullary pin should provide excellent alignment and stability if the opposing surfaces of the fracture interlock following anatomic reduction. However, in large dogs, single pin fixation may be inadequate to allow early use of the limb. In addition, femoral intramedullary pins existing the trochanteric fossa have been associated with sciatic nerve injury. Normograde pinning of distal femoral physeal fractures is less likely to induce sciatic nerve injury then retrograde pinning. Implant migration may also result in damage to the intra-articular surface of the stifle joint.
Although cross pin fixation works well, it is associated with more complications than other techniques including caudal malalignment and/or displacement of the distal fragment and quadriceps tie-down. In very immature animals, cross pin fixation may interfere with physeal growth because of the excessive pin angulation necessary for adequate stabilization.
Rush pins provide excellent fixation for distal femoral physeal fractures. Their disadvantage is the need for special instrumentation and the cost of the implants. Rush pins provide three point fixation, thereby increasing stabilization and making their application especially indicated in large dogs. If Rush pins are used in very immature animals, great care must be taken when driving the pins to prevent excessive compression of the germinal cell layer, which may result in growth arrest.
Steinman pins or Kirshner wires may be used in exactly the same way as Rush pins. Once the fracture is reduced, the pins are inserted laterally just cranial to the tendon of origin of the long digital extensor muscle, and medially on the distal medial bondyle symmetric to the later pin placement. The pins are alternately advanced in the medullary cavity. I prefer that the pins do not exit the trochanteric fossa so as to minimize the potential complication of sciatic nerve injury. Pre-bending the pins accentuates a three point fixation and results in rigid internal fixation and rotational stability. This technique can be used in very immature animals when fear of Rush pin compression of the germinal layer may be a factor. Such pins may be placed with relative minor trauma to the physis, and most animals continue to lengthen their femurs despite the pins through the growth plate. With proper alignment and internal fixation, an excellent result should be expected.
Injury to the sacroiliac joint in the dog and cat commonly occurs in association with fractures of the pelvis and pelvic limb.
Substantial soft tissue injury and neurologic dysfunction may also be present. A patient with a sacroiliac fracture/luxation has in all probability sustained a significant external blow to the pelvis, and because of the probability of multiple fractures and soft tissue injuries, a thorough physical and neurologic examination must be performed.
The sacroiliac joint is a combined synovial and cartilaginous joint which functions as a supportive bridge between the appendicular and axial skeletons. Because the pelvis and sacrum form a rigid rectangular or boxlike unit, unilateral displacement of the sacroiliac joint cannot occur without associated pelvic fractures or a pelvic symphyseal separation. Unilateral separation of the sacroiliac joint occurring in conjunction with other severe orthopedic injuries is much more common than bilateral sacroiliac joint injury. Few unilateral sacroiliac injuries are associated with ischial and/or pelvic fractures alone.
Clinical signs exhibited by the patient obviously depend on the severity of the trauma as well as the extent of the associated injuries. Caudal abdominal herniation, urethral laceration, intestinal perforation, urinary bladder rupture, diaphragmatic hernias, and pulmonary contusions have all been associated with fractures of the pelvis. It is imperative that associated soft tissue injuries be diagnosed, as they affect treatment and prognosis. The patient may be ambulatory or nonambulatory, depending on the nature of the associated orthopedic and/or neurologic injuries.
In fracture/luxation of the sacroiliac joint in dogs and cats, treatment is either conservative or surgical. Current recommendations indicate conservative treatment in subluxations or in complete luxations when the patient is ambulatory and exhibits minimal discomfort. Before a course on conservative therapy is chosen, a neurologic examination should indicate that there are no functional deficits of the lumbosacral trunk and/or sciatic nerve. Complications of conservative management include increased cranial or medial displacement of the hemipelvis and obstruction of the pelvic outlet. Conservative treatment may also prolong the period of instability and lameness and prolong the period of patient discomfort and client concern. In addition, if marked displacement is present, asymmetry of the acetabulae may result in an abnormal gait posttrauma.
Open reduction and internal fixation is indicated for fracture/luxations when one or more of the following clinical or radiographic signs are present: 1) marked instability and displacement of the hemipelvis, 2) neurologic deficits attributable to the luxation or 3) obstruction of the pelvic outlet is observed. Surgical intervention is of particular value when associated orthopedic injuries are present, as surgical stabilization allows the patient to become ambulatory earlier and provides a better prognosis for the return to a normal gait.
In light of the fact that the overwhelming majority of sacroiliac fracture/luxations are associated with additional orthopedic injuries, my personal preference is to opt for early surgical repair. Even in cases of unilateral fracture/luxations with minimal associated orthopedic injuries, in my experience surgical intervention returns these animals to a normal gait more quickly and with a shorter convalescent period than if conservative therapy was chosen.
Sacroiliac fracture/luxations may be surgically repaired by either a dorsolateral or ventrolateral approach. The approach chosen may be dictated by the presence of additional pelvic injuries requiring open reduction and internal fixation, or surgeon preference. Both approaches provide adequate exposure for visualization of the sacroiliac joint.
Stabilization of sacroiliac fracture/luxations is most commonly accomplished with lag screw fixation. The two most important variables in the technique of lag screw fixation affecting sacroiliac stability are screw location and depth of screw placement. Screws placed within the sacral body have the lowest rate of loosened fixation compared to other areas of the sacrum. Proper positioning within the sacral body is also essential to prevent injury to the nerve roots within the spinal canal, and the lumbosacral trunk or sciatic nerve ventral to the sacral body. With regard to depth of screw placement, a cumulative screw depth/sacral width of 60% or more significantly reduces the likelihood of loosening of the fixation. While some authors have suggested that 2 screws be used routinely for sacroiliac stabilization, in all feline and most canine sacrums there is room for only one properly placed screw within the sacral body. In the giant breeds of dogs, a second screw or an intramedullary pin may be placed, but the placement of this additional screw or pin within the sacral body is dependent upon the accuracy of placement of the first screw. In addition, a recent study did not demonstrate a difference in the number of loosened fixations when one or two screws were used.
When a sacroiliac fracture/luxation occurs, most if not all of the fibrocartilage remains attached to the lateral surface of the sacral wing. When placing lag screws for fixation, the location of the sacral body must be determined by palpation as well as by the anatomical landmarks of the sacral wing. Screw placement should always be just caudal to the sacral wing notch.
Postoperative care should include restriction of exercise for a period of 6-8 weeks. A mild laxative may be administered if bowel movements appear to be painful during the immediate postoperative healing period. A significant number of sacroiliac fracture/luxations repaired with lag screw fixation may loosen and result in loss of reduction and sacroiliac instability. The guidelines for the location of screw placement mentioned here should improve the results of fixation and allow for a better prognosis for return to a normal gait and conformation.
This condition is commonly called tendon contracture even though the tendons don’t actually contract. Rather, it is generally a soft tissue problem that involves the flexure tendons, the muscles, ligaments and joint capsules of the distal extremities.
If caught early, preferably at birth or within a day or two, there is a reason to excellent chance that the condition can be rectified with a combination of massage, physiotherapy (stretching/flexing the limb), warm compresses (to ease muscles which have locked into position) and by splinting (or very rarely pinning) the leg into the proper position. One thing that is certain is that the longer the elapsed time between birth and treatment of a twisted contracted limb, the less likely it is that the kitten will fully recover due to atrophy of nerves and muscles. This is particularly important in rescue work where a litter may not be found until the kittens are several weeks old or older. By that stage, the twisted limbs may be beyond correction, or at the very least, require more extensive treatment and time to recover.
Clinically, the kittens present as healthy animals with an inability to walk normally because their feet are twisted and contracted. In some longer standing cases, the kittens are walking on the front of their ankles or wrists as their toes are pointed straight back. In this case, Oliver (“Twist”) presented as an older kitten with a long-standing history of deformity. After a few months of physical therapy and corrective splinting (with a very patient, understanding and attentive mom) Oliver’s bilateral rear limb deformities were corrected and he has returned to normal function, as can be seen in the before and after photos as well as the video where he can be seen running and jumping and playing with his bro. With appropriate and consistent care and time, many of these kittens will do very well with physical therapy and splinting and can live out a normal happy and healthy life as fully active cats.
Canine heartworm infection is widely distributed throughout the United States. Heartworm infection has been found in dogs native to all 50 states. All dogs, regardless of their age, sex, or habitat, are susceptible to heartworm infection. Although there are differences in frequency of infection for various groups of dogs, all dogs in all regions should be considered at risk, placed on prevention programs and frequently examined by a veterinarian.
Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic worm that lives as an adult in the right side of the dog’s heart and large blood vessels leading to the lungs. Heartworms do most of the damage in the adult stage. Dogs are considered the definitive host for heartworms, however, heartworms may infect more than 30 species of animals (e.g., coyotes, foxes, wolves and other wild canids, domestic cats and wild felids, ferrets, sea lions, etc.) and humans as well. When a mosquito carrying infective heartworm larvae bites a dog and transmits the infection, the larvae grow, develop and migrate in the body over a period of several months to become sexually mature male and female worms. These reside in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels. As mature adults, the worms mate and the females release their offspring (microfilariae) into the bloodstream. Offspring can be detected in the blood (pre-patent period) about six to seven months after the infective larvae from the mosquito enter the dog. The male heartworms (four to six inches in length) and the females (10-12 inches) become fully grown about one year after infection, and their lifespan in dogs appears to average up to five to seven years.
The onset and severity of disease in the dog is mainly a reflection of the number of adult heartworms present, the age of the infection and the level of activity of the dog. Dogs with higher numbers of worms are generally found to have more severe heart and lung disease changes. Until the number of mature heartworms exceeds 50 in a 25-kg dog, nearly all of the heartworms reside in the lower caudal pulmonary arteries. Higher numbers of heartworms result in their presence in the right chambers of the heart. In such infections, the most common early pathological changes caused by heartworms are due to inflammatory processes that occur in and around the arteries of the lower portion of the lungs in response to the presence of heartworms. Later, the heart may enlarge and become weakened due to an increased workload and congestive heart failure may occur. A very active dog (e.g., working dog) is more likely to develop severe disease with a relatively small number of heartworms than an inactive one (e.g., a lap dog or couch potato). Occasionally, a dog with a large number of heartworms may not only have worms in the heart, but also in the caudal vena cava between the liver and the heart. If the heartworms are not removed surgically, this syndrome causes sudden collapse and death within two to three days.
Canine heartworm infection is widely distributed throughout the United States. Heartworm infection has been found in dogs native to all 50 states. All dogs, regardless of their age, sex, or habitat, are susceptible to heartworm infection. The highest infection rates (up to 45%) in dogs (not maintained on heartworm preventive) are observed within 150 miles of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries. Other areas of the United States may have lower incidence rates (5% or less) of canine heartworm disease, while some regions have environmental, mosquito population and dog population factors that allow a higher local incidence of heartworm infection. Regions, where heartworm disease is common, have diagnosed infections in dogs as young as one year of age, with most areas diagnosing infections primarily between the ages of three and eight years. Although there are differences in frequency of infection for various groups of dogs, all dogs in all regions should be considered at risk, placed on prevention programs and frequently examined by a veterinarian.
Heartworm disease may cause a combination of medical problems in the same dog including dysfunction of the lungs, heart, liver and kidneys. Signs of heartworm disease may occur within 6 months of infection or may not appear at all depending upon the number of adult worms that are present. In most cases, signs will begin within 1-2 years after infection. Typical signs include coughing, labored breathing, weakness, and tiring with exercise. Since the signs vary, the disease may be well advanced before the dog begins to show any problems, or signs may be mistaken for another problem. In advanced stages, the heart and lungs can be severely damaged. Eventually, heart failure can occur and the dog can die from damage cause by heartworms unless appropriate treatment is instituted. The disease may have an acute onset but usually begins with barely detectable signs resulting from a chronic infection and a combination of physiologic changes. Dogs with a low number of adult worms in the body that are not exercised strenuously may never have apparent signs of heartworm disease. However, in most dogs, the heart and lungs are the major organs affected by heartworms with varying degrees of clinical signs.
Clinical Signs Associated with Canine Heartworm Disease:
Early Infection- No abnormal clinical signs observed
Mild Disease -Cough
Moderate Disease -Cough, exercise intolerance, abnormal lung sounds
Severe Disease- Cough, exercise intolerance, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), abnormal lung sounds, hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver), syncope (temporary loss of consciousness due to poor blood flow to the brain), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), abnormal heart sounds, death
Heartworms are transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitoes. There are three stages in the development of heartworms in the dog.
1. The adult female, living in the right side of the heart and/or major vessels to the lungs, produces immature worms called “microfilariae” that circulate in the blood stream. The microscopic microfilariae can live for up to 3 years.
2. When a mosquito bites an infected dog, it takes in blood containing microfilariae. The microfilariae mature in the mosquito over a period of two weeks to become infective larvae.
3. The mosquito, carrying infective larvae, deposits them in other dogs during blood meals. Larvae develop over 3-6 months and migrate to the right heart. Within 6 months, the larvae develop into adult heartworms that are responsible for the disease process in the heart and lungs. The adult heartworms can live up to 7 years. The adults produce microfilariae, hence completing the life cycle.
To identify heartworm infection, a blood sample is taken from the dog. This test detects specific antigens primarily found in adult female heartworms and are used with much success to detect canine heartworm infection. Currently, tests are available as in-clinic tests as well as at many veterinary reference laboratories. Most commercial tests will accurately detect infections with one or more mature female heartworms that are at least seven or eight months old, but the tests generally do not detect infections of less than five months duration. The identification of the offspring (microfilaria) of heartworms from a blood sample indicates infection with adult heartworms. Identifying offspring can also be accomplished through either one of two concentration tests: the modified Knott’s test (a technique requiring spinning the blood sample in a mechanical device called a centrifuge) or a filter test. Practitioners will often do a quick examination of a blood smear to look for the presence of the offspring (microfilaria), but this procedure is not sensitive enough to rule out heartworms and only verifies the presence of an infection. Another parasitic infection of dogs that is capable of producing circulating microfilariae, detectable upon examination of the blood, is called Acanthocheilonema (Dipetalonema) reconditum. A reconditum is a non-disease-causing parasite that matures in the tissues beneath the skin of dogs. Its offspring can be differentiated from those produced by heartworms through microscopic examination evaluating size, shape and their movement.
Radiographic abnormalities develop early in the course of the disease. Radiographs of the heart and lungs are the best tool available to evaluate the severity of the disease. Typical changes observed are enlargement of the following structures: right-side of the heart, main pulmonary artery, and pulmonary arteries in the lobes of the lung. Blunting and thickening of pulmonary arteries, along with tortuosity is often noted. Evidence of inflammation in the lung tissue that surrounds the pulmonary arteries is often found.
The elimination of heartworms from your dog requires medication to kill the adult heartworms and microfilariae. Most dogs infected with heartworm can be successfully treated. The goal of treatment is to kill all adult worms with an adulticide and all microfilariae with a microfilaricide. It is important to try to accomplish this goal with a minimum of harmful effects from drugs and a tolerable degree of complications created by the dying heartworms. Heartworm infected dogs showing no signs or mild signs have a high success rate with treatment. Patients with evidence of more severe heartworm disease can be successfully treated, but the possibility of complications and mortality is greater. The presence of severe heartworm disease within a patient in addition to the presence of other life-threatening diseases may prevent treatment for heartworm infection.
There is currently one drug approved by the FDA for use in dogs for the elimination of adult heartworms. This drug is an organic arsenical compound. Dogs receiving this drug therapy will typically have had a thorough pretreatment evaluation of its condition and will then be hospitalized during the administration of the drug. Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide®, Merial) has demonstrated a higher level of effectiveness and safety than any other adult heartworm treatment previously available. It is administered by deep intramuscular injection into the lumbar muscles. One injection is administered intramuscularly and then the dog returns for an additional injection 30 days later. Following treatment with an arsenical compound, the dog must be rested for 4-6 weeks, during which time the dead adult heartworms will slowly be reabsorbed. The primary post-adulticide complication is the development of severe pulmonary thromboembolism. Pulmonary thromboembolism results from the obstruction of blood flow through pulmonary arteries due to the presence of dead heartworms and lesions in the arteries and capillaries of the lungs. If heartworm adulticide treatment is effective, some degree of pulmonary thromboembolism will occur. When dead worms are numerous and arterial injury is severe, widespread obstruction of arteries can occur. Clinical signs most commonly observed include fever, cough, hemoptysis (blood in the sputum) and potentially sudden death. It is extremely important to not allow exercise in any dog being treated for heartworms. Often dogs with severe infections will also require the administration of anti-inflammatory doses of corticosteroids.
The microfilariae must also be eliminated so the dog will not be a source of infection for other dogs. Elimination of the microfilariae is monitored by using blood tests that can easily identify microfilariae in the blood. The most effective drugs for this purpose are the macrocyclic lactone (ML) anthelmintics, i.e.,milbemycin oxime, selamectin, moxidectin and ivermectin. These drugs are the active ingredients in commonly used heartworm preventives. Although their usage as microfilaricides has not been approved by the FDA, they are widely used by veterinarians as there are no approved microfilaricidal drugs currently available. It is recommended that microfilariae positive dogs being treated with these macrocyclic lactones be hospitalized for at least eight hours following treatment for observation of possible adverse reactions, including those resulting from rapid death of the microfilariae. Circulating microfilariae usually can be eliminated within a few weeks by the administration of the ML-type drugs mentioned above. Today however, the most widely used microfilaricidal treatment is to simply administer ML preventives as usual, and the microfilariae will be cleared slowly over a period of about six to nine months. In some cases, not all microfilariae can be eliminated and the veterinarian may recommend retreatment of your dog for adult heartworms and microfilariae.
While treatment of canine heartworm disease is usually successful, prevention of the disease is much safer and more economical. There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection, including daily and monthly tablets and chewables and/or monthly topicals. These products are extremely effective and when administered properly on a timely schedule, heartworm infection can be prevented. The American Heartworm Society is now recommending year-round prevention, even in seasonal areas. One reason for this is compliance – to make sure the medicine has been given properly by the pet owner. In addition, most monthly heartworm preventives have activity against intestinal parasites. Many of these same intestinal parasites that infect dogs can also infect people, with estimated infections occurring in three to six million people every year. So this added benefit of monthly deworming makes great sense.
The products listed below are intended to be given on a monthly basis and are highly effective in preventing heartworm disease if given as directed.
Ivermectin (Heartgard® & Heartgard® Plus by Merial, Iverhart® Plus & Iverhart MAX™ by Virbac and Tri-Heart® Plus by Schering-Plough) was the first in this family of drugs to be approved for preventing heartworm infection. An infection with larvae as long as two months prior to the initiation of ivermectin treatment will be blocked from development.
Milbemycin oxime (Interceptor® & Sentinel® by Novartis) has benefits, which are similar to ivermectin.
Selamectin (Revolution® by Pfizer) is applied topically to prevent heartworm disease.
Moxidectin (Advantage Multi™ by Bayer) is available in a topical formulation, in combination with a flea control product, imidacloprid. Moxidectin is also available as a six-month injectable product for dogs (ProHeart®6 (moxidectin) Sustained Release Injectable for Dogs, by Fort Dodge Animal Health).
Animals and people have similar neural pathways for the development, conduction, and modulation of pain.
This biological similarity makes the expression of both acute and chronic pain comparable. Like humans, dogs and cats develop myopathies and neuropathies that lead to muscle and neurological pain and discomfort. Other painful conditions, which may be similarly expressed include ear infections, dental conditions, sinus pain, skin lesions, and the pain of acute and chronic, repetitive trauma. Untreated pain decreases the quality of life in all patients and prolongs recovery from surgery, injury, or illness. Today, with a better understanding of how pain develops and is perpetuated, pain management has become an essential part of high quality and compassionate patient care in the veterinary field. Providing adequate pain management helps pets recover faster, improving the human-animal bond and the pet’s overall well-being.
Different kinds of pain
When a negative, painful insult is encountered, the body’s endocrine system produces substances such as cortisol, catecholamine, and other inflammatory mediators that alter normal physiologic parameters. As a result of the release of these substances into the general circulation, substantial changes occur at the tissue level including decreased oxygen delivery to tissues, increased cellular metabolic demands, impaired immune function, increased risk of infections, delayed wound healing, prolonged convalescence, and cardiovascular stress.
In the past, the pain was most commonly classified either as acute or chronic. Recently, a newer approach has been to consider pain as adaptive or maladaptive.
Adaptive pain is a normal response to tissue damage. It includes all types of pain involving the release of inflammatory mediators that will cause heat, redness, swelling, pain, and loss of function of the injured area. Inflammation is a major component of pain and can be present both in postoperative/trauma patients and in chronic pain states such as osteoarthritis.
If the adaptive pain is not properly managed, it will eventually result in physical changes in the spinal cord and brain, which will lead to maladaptive pain. In maladaptive pain, the central nervous system becomes more sensitive and the thalamus, which serves as a relay station for nerve impulses from the periphery to the cortex, becomes a spontaneous pain generator. The adjustment from thinking of pain as either acute or chronic to adaptive or maladaptive makes it easier to understand why pain can be so difficult to control in certain patients.
How do I know my pet is in pain?
There are numerous signs that an animal can exhibit while experiencing pain:
- They can fail to exhibit normal behavior, as evidenced by being more lethargic, with perhaps a decreased appetite or decreased grooming tendencies, especially in cats.
- They may express an abnormal behavior, such as an increase in vocalization, aggression, altered posture and/or facial expression, hiding (cats especially), restlessness, and inappropriate elimination.
- An increase in body tension and reaction to touch, or hyperpathia, is also consistent with an animal experiencing pain in a specific injured body area or region. A distinct change in physiologic parameters such as an elevated heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and/or pupilary dilation is also indicative of pain.
What can I do to help my pet?
Understanding the circumstances that can lead to the development of pain may help anticipate and properly manage the emergence of pain as a clinical condition. Attention must be paid to the development or presence of unusual bumps, scrapes, bruises, or sensitivities. Any change in an animal’s desire or ability to run, jump, play, or otherwise ambulate normally must be evaluated.
Simple basic lifestyle changes such as controlled exercise regimes and weight management can help reduce joint pain and stress.
Providing favorable environmental conditions to help prevent or alleviate pain and discomfort such as ensuring easy access to litter boxes, soft bedding, non slippery surfaces, limited access to stairs, and “warming up” your pet appropriately prior to exercise will help reduce the need for pharmacologic intervention in many cases.
How do we manage pain?
At our hospital, we utilize both pharmacological and a non-pharmacological treatments for pain management. Your doctor will recommend the best way to individually manage your pet’s painful condition.
Prior to an elective surgical procedure, appropriate opioids will be administered. Based upon the type of procedure performed, the addition of local anesthetics, epidurals, and steroidal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory will provide pre and intra-operative comfort and a better postoperative recovery period. Throughout the anesthetic recovery period, hospitalization and the immediate post-operative recovery period at home, additional non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids or opioid patches will be provided to your pet.
For maladaptive types of pain not associated with an elective procedure, numerous different options may be chosen by your veterinarian.
NSAID’s and Corticosteroids are the drugs of choice for many of the inflammatory conditions resulting in pain, acting by inhibiting substances released at multiple levels along the biochemical pain pathway.
Topical anesthetics are useful to manage well-delineated painful areas such as small burns or urine scalding.
When aberrant pain is refractory to traditional analgesics, specific drugs like Gabapentin, which acts on the central nervous system, may be required to restore normal central nervous system transmission and control pain and discomfort.
However, many patients with long term chronic, intermittent pain often benefit from the combination of pharmacological as well as non pharmacological therapy.
The newly developed high power Class IV lasers generate visible and invisible light beams that are absorbed as light energy by cells (photobiostimulation). This results in the activation of biological reactions, which have been shown to result in an increase in circulation to the damaged area thus creating an optimal healing environment.
Acupuncture has long been recognized by renowned medical associations for its analgesic properties. One of the ways acupuncture works is by slowly releasing an animal’s own opioid-like substances (endorphins) from the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves to help alleviate pain at its source.
Rehabilitation therapy is crucial to help the patient return to normal function or to help improve overall body condition. Rehabilitative techniques include heat and cold therapy, passive range of motion exercises, stretching, balancing exercises, massage, joint mobility, and controlled walking exercises.
Nutrition or “food therapy” is a science that selects food or herbs customized to each individual based upon their inborn tendencies, age, species, personality, and disease process. A specifically formulated diet can help prevent or help in the management of many painful conditions including but not limited to certain skin diseases, osteoarthritis, cancer, and gastrointestinal problems.
Nutraceuticals (glucosamine, chondroitin, msm, creatine) may decrease joint inflammation and assist in cartilage repair. Additional products, which have demonstrated to be of help by decreasing inflammation and modifying the progression of osteoarthritis and therefore pain, include the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and chondroprotective agents such as polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (Adequan).
Total derangement or dislocation of the stifle joint is a serious injury usually caused by severe direct or indirect trauma to the knee.
The type of dislocation observed depends upon the direction and location of the inciting trauma. Luxation of the stifle joint is not a very common injury because of the many soft tissue structures that interact to provide stability for the joint. These structures include the cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments along with the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. In addition, some support may also be derived from the quadriceps muscle and patella tendon cranially and the oblique poplitcal muscle, hamstring muscles, and the gastroenemius muscle, caudally. In many cases, fractures may accompany dislocations. Other structures are also likely to be injured including the menisci, joint capsule, popliteal artery, and peroneal nerve. Vascular integrity and neurologic function must be carefully evaluated as these complications usually are the limiting factor in the outcome of the injury.
Successful treatment of a stifle joint luxation must allow the animal to regain functional use of the limb. Good results achieved by a variety of methods support the notion that various techniques, which maintain reduction and stability, can be successful clinically. Initial maintenance of reduction and stability encourages well-organized periarticular collagen formation to provide long term joint stability. Closed reduction maintained with external coaptation, open reduction with extraarticular or intraarticular ligament reconstruction with transarticular external skeletal fixation and open reduction with transarticular pinning have been successful methods of treatment for stifle joint luxations. Although successful return to function has been reported following use of these techniques, some authors recommend stifle joint arthrodesis as the primary surgical treatment because of the severe general disruption sustained by the periarticular soft tissues at the time of injury. Based upon my experience, the results of surgical reduction and stabilization are generally good to excellent, and primary arthrodesis should only be attempted after attempts at reconstruction fail.
Because of the relatively infrequent occurrence of stifle joint luxation, only a few articles have appeared over the last several years comparing the results of various techniques of surgical intervention. It is generally agreed that it is difficult to accurately achieve and maintain reduction by closed methods alone. To provide a stable environment for healing of the soft tissues leading to well organized collagen formation and long term joint stability, surgical intervention is recommended.
A standard lateral parapatella approach and lateral arthrotomy is used to gain access to the stifle joint and allow inspection of the intraarticular and periarticular soft tissue damage. Because ligaments can appear to be grossly intact while having lost any load carrying ability, all ligaments should be inspected while undergoing stress palpation. Numerous different combinations of ligament damage have been reported with rupture of both cruciate ligaments and one of the collateral ligaments occurring most frequently. Interestingly, despite severe ligamentous and soft tissue damage, there is usually minimal, if any, gross articular damage observed at surgery. Remnants of the damaged cruciate ligament or ligaments should be removed and partial meniscectomy performed in animals with meniscal tears or avulsions. It is at this point that the various options available to this surgeon to achieve and maintain reduction and stability come into play.
In one technique, although the collateral ligaments are assessed for damage, they are not repaired; and reduction is achieved and maintained by placement of a transarticular pin while the stifle joint is held in a functional angle of approximately 135-140 degrees. While the technique is generally effective in cats and small dogs, transarticular pinning is not an especially rigid fixation. Distal pin migration and bending of the pin where it crosses the joint occur frequently, and failure of the technique may be due to reliance upon the transarticular pin to provide most of the stability of the fixation. It is quick, inexpensive, and easy to perform compared to other techniques, however, and may be the technique of choice in debilitate or muli-trauma patient in which anesthesia time should be limited. The authors of the technique conclude, however, by mentioning that better success would be achieved when the pin is used to maintain reduction while additional fixation in the form of a transarticular external skeletal fixators is used to provide sufficient rigidity to allow adequate healing of periarticular soft tissues. Such additional fixation would absolutely be necessary when repairing stifle luxations with this technique in medium and large sized dogs.
In another technique, the stifle luxation is maintained in reduction with multiple extraarticular sutures while transarticular external skeletal fixation is used to provide rigid fixation. In this technique, damaged collateral ligaments are repaired and extraarticular suture stabilization is performed for the damaged cruciate ligaments. Extraarticular stabilization is considered technically easier and may avoid further soft tissue disruption and instability of the joint when compared to intraarticular ligament reconstruction techniques. Transarticular external skeletal fixation augments joint stability while the tissues progress through the stages of inflammation and repair. Consistently, good to excellent functional results have been achieved in cats and all sizes of dogs with this surgical protocol.
My own personal preference is to use extraarticular stabilizing sutures and transarticular external skeletal fixation for medium and large sized dogs. In small dogs and cats, extraarticular stabilization and external coaptation consisting of a modified Bobby Jones bandage have consistently resulted in good to excellent results. While the majority of animals experience a loss of stifle joint range of motion in extreme flexion, the loss of flexion does not seem to interfere with clinical limb function. The development of mild to moderate degenerative joint changes has been observed radiographically. However, there does not appear to be a correlation between radiographic changes and functional limb use. The periarticular bone formation observed may be induced by the inciting trauma and not by post-operative instability or abnormal joint mechanics.
In conclusion, stifle joint luxation is an uncommon injury resulting from severe trauma. With proper surgical treatment, good to excellent clinical results and a return to normal or near-normal function can be expected in the majority of patients.
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii that can threaten the health of an unborn child if a woman becomes infected with Toxoplasma for the first time while she is pregnant.
The infection is usually contracted by handling soil or cat litter that contains cat feces infected with the parasite. Cats generally pick up these organisms when they hunt and eat infected prey. Healthy cats rarely get sick themselves from the parasite, but when they are infected for the first time, they can shed it in their feces. It can also be contracted from eating undercooked meat from animals infected with the parasite or from uncooked foods that have come in contact with contaminated meat. Cats excrete the pathogen in their feces for a number of weeks after contracting the disease, generally by eating an infected rodent. Even then, cat feces are not generally contagious for the first 1-3 days after excretion, after which the cyst matures and becomes potentially pathogenic. Studies have shown that only about 2% of cats are shedding oocysts at any one time, and that oocyst shedding does not recur even after repeated exposure to the parasite.
With rare exception, women who have been infected at least 6 to 9 months before conception develop immunity to and do not pass it on to their baby. If you have been infected with Toxoplasma once, you usually will not become infected again.A positive antibody titer indicates previous exposure and immunity and largely ensures the unborn baby’s safety. A simple blood draw at the first pre-natal doctor visit can determine whether or not a woman has had previous exposure and therefore whether or not she is at risk. If a woman receives her first exposure to toxoplasmosis while pregnant, the baby is at particular risk. According to the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS), when the mother gets infected between weeks 10-24 of pregnancy, the risk for severe problems in the newborn is about 5-6%. Effects on the baby include premature birth, low birth weight, fever, jaundice, abnormalities of the retina, mental retardation, abnormal head size, convulsions, and brain calcification. During the 3rd trimester, a fetus has an increased risk of becoming infected, but the risk of damage to the fetus is decreased since most of the important development has already occurred.
Now that you have an understanding of the risks involved if a pregnant woman is exposed to and subsequently contracts toxoplasmosis during the initial stages of her pregnancy, you can understand why I have a problem with the recommendations made by OB/GYNE doctors to their pregnant patients. Many of my clients schedule an office visit after learning of their pregnancy because they are scared to death that the family cat will cause the death or disfigurement of their unborn child and that they need to get rid of their cats while they were pregnant, or at the very least have their cat tested for toxoplasmosis. These recommendations drive me absolutely crazy! To recommend that a pregnant woman get rid of her cat(s) is taking the easy way out. It might take a bit of effort and time for a doctor to explain the real risks of toxoplasmosis and how to reduce them, but that is exactly what needs to be done to protect babies as well as prevent unnecessary suffering for mothers, families, and family pets.
These are the facts:
1. People become infected with toxoplasmosis when they inadvertently eat the parasite. The risk of contracting toxoplasmosis from ingesting cat feces is much lower than it is from handling and eating undercooked pork. So if doctors are going to counsel that pregnant women “get rid” of anything, it should actually be pork, not their pet cats.
2. If anybody is going to be tested for toxoplasmosis, it should be the pregnant woman, not the cat. A cat will come up positive if it has been exposed to the parasite at any point in its life, but it only poses a risk if it is shedding the parasite in its feces, which generally occurs for a very short period. Therefore, a positive feline test is meaningless in this situation. Testing a pregnant woman, on the other hand, can be helpful. If her test is positive already, perfect. She has been infected in the past and even if she is exposed again during her pregnancy her unborn child will not be affected. If she is negative, then she should take precautions.Pregnant women can protect themselves and their babies from toxoplasmosis by following these simple rules:
- Cook foods at safe temperatures and use a food thermometer to ensure that meat is cooked thoroughly.
- Peel or thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before eating.
- Wash cutting boards, dishes, counters, utensils and hands with hot, soapy water after they have come in contact with raw foods.
- Wear gloves when gardening and during any contact with soil or sand because it might contain cat feces. Wash hands thoroughly after coming in contact with soil or sand.
- Avoid changing cat litter if possible. Better yet, get someone else in the household to change the litter box. If a pregnant woman does have to clean out the litter boxes, she should scoop them at least once daily. The parasite must spend 24 to 48 hours outside of the cat’s body before it is capable of causing an infection, so frequently cleaning the box will virtually eliminate the chances of disease transmission. If you must do it, wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterward. Keep your cat inside and do not handle stray or adopted cats. Do not feed your cat raw or undercooked meats.
In my experience, I have never had a client contract toxoplasmosis, let alone pass it on to their unborn child. In fact, I have never known a female veterinarian that tested positive for exposure to toxoplasmosis. These women have subsequently become pregnant and all have given birth to happy, healthy children, all the while continuing to work in a veterinary practice throughout the majority of their pregnancies. The risk of toxoplasmosis causing birth defects in an unborn child because there is a cat in the household is, therefore, tremendously overblown. While there is always a potential risk, following simple precautions and employing common sense should eliminate the fear that your pet cat is a danger to your unborn child.


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TB Global Fight Still Has a Way to Go
6 million lives saved from '95 to '08, but incidence rate falling too slowly to reach long-term goals
WEDNESDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) -- Even though 36 million people worldwide were cured of tuberculosis and 6 million lives were saved between 1995 and 2008, the disease still takes a substantial toll and long-term goals for its eradication may not be met, according to a paper published online May 19 in The Lancet, the first in a series of papers on tuberculosis.
Knut Lonnroth, Ph.D., of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, and colleagues write that the gains made in the fight against tuberculosis are the result of an expansion of a WHO-recommended standard approach to diagnosis and treatment. But, they add, the incidence rate is falling at less than 1 percent annually, there are still more than 9 million new cases and an estimated 1.8 million deaths annually, and the hope of reducing incidence to less than one case per million by 2050 will not be reached with existing technologies and approaches.
According to the authors, several key challenges remain, including the lack of access to affordable and good-quality health services in some of the 22 countries that contain the bulk of the cases and the use of old technologies for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. In addition, HIV/AIDS is fueling the epidemic, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis remains a serious threat, they write.
"Acceleration of the decline towards elimination of this disease will need invigorated actions in four broad areas: continued scale-up of early diagnosis and proper treatment for all forms of tuberculosis in line with the Stop TB Strategy; development and enforcement of bold health-system policies; establishment of links with the broader development agenda; and promotion and intensification of research towards innovations," the authors write.


Jeri Muoio was first elected Mayor of the City of West Palm Beach March, 2011.
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LUIS MANUEL & THE LATIN ENSEMBLE / Latin
The Latin Ensemble, lead by musician and songwriter Luis Manuel, offers the best live Latin performance in the area. Luis Manuel, who is known as 'El Salsero Urbano', holds three International Latin Music awards, more than 20 compilations, and one solo album with SONY Music. Guests will sing and dance to their versatile repertoire, including salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, paso doble, and folkloric rhythms from Venezuela, Colombia and Puerto Rico.
Looking for the Hot Spot to Chill? Clematis by Night is it! This highly popular, award-winning weekly concert series is the place to be for great music, mouth-watering foods, and amazing sidewalk shopping. Since 1995 the City of West Palm Beach has staged over 950+ Clematis by Night weekly celebrations on Thursday nights in Downtown West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561.822.1515 or visit us at wpb.org/events.


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WASHINGTON — Memos written by former FBI director James B. Comey that were released Thursday revealed several new details about his relationship with President Donald Trump and the president’s first chief of staff, Reince Priebus.
Though much of what the memos describe was already public, the documents themselves provided an intimate portrait of the early months of the Trump White House and how the president and Priebus confronted leaks, the prospect that the national security adviser was under investigation and allegations about Trump’s ties to Russia.
Comey depicts Trump as a man engrossed to the point of distraction with political rivalries and fears that bureaucrats and government officials, including in the FBI, were trying to undermine his legitimacy.
The president responded late Thursday by insisting that the memos showed no collusion with Moscow’s election interference and that Comey had erred by leaking classified information. The memos were reviewed by Justice Department officials before being released.
James Comey Memos just out and show clearly that there was NO COLLUSION and NO OBSTRUCTION. Also, he leaked classified information. WOW! Will the Witch Hunt continue?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2018
Here are six takeaways:
Trump’s preoccupation with the dossier
Shortly before Trump was inaugurated, Comey briefed him at Trump Tower about a dossier compiled for the FBI by a former British spy that said Trump and his associates had longstanding ties to Russia. In its most salacious allegation, the document said that the Russian government had a tape of Trump watching prostitutes urinate on one another during a trip to Moscow for the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant.
Trump denied the episode had taken place and appeared to Comey to be defending himself. Comey replied that the allegations could have been made up, but that the job of the FBI was to protect the president from efforts to coerce him.
Although Trump ended the meeting genially, the accusations clearly stuck with him, Comey’s memos showed. At least twice more in the ensuing weeks, Trump laid out a timeline for Comey and claimed that it showed that such a tape could not exist.
According to the memos, the president told Comey in a one-on-one dinner at the White House later in January 2017 that he had spoken with several people who had been on the trip with him. Trump said those people “reminded” him that he did not stay overnight in Moscow.
Trump said that he had arrived in the morning, attended a series of events, then went to a hotel to shower and dress for the pageant, leaving Russia afterward.
In a February 2017 meeting in the Oval Office, Trump told Comey that “’the hookers thing’ is nonsense” but that President Vladimir Putin of Russia had told him that the country had “some of the most beautiful hookers in the world.”
The dossier’s allegations were corroborated
Comey’s decision to brief Trump on the dossier was based, at least in part, on the fact that U.S. intelligence agencies had corroborated parts of the dossier, according to the memos.
“I explained that the analysts from all three agencies agreed it was relevant and that portions of the material were corroborated by other intelligence,” Comey wrote in a memo in February 2017, describing how he responded to a question from Priebus about why he told the president-elect about the dossier.
Parts of the memo are redacted but appear to say that information in the dossier “was consistent with and corroborated by other intelligence, and that the incoming president needed to know the rest of it was out there.”
Trump’s focus on McCabe, then a relative unknown
Trump also raised on several occasions Comey’s deputy at the FBI, Andrew G. McCabe, according to the memos. McCabe had been the subject of right-wing attacks over his involvement in the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified information while secretary of state. His wife, Jill, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations for her failed Virginia state Senate campaign from a political committee run by a longtime Clinton ally.
Some conservatives insisted that McCabe should have recused himself from the Clinton investigation to avoid bias, and Trump joined in those attacks on the campaign trail.
According to the memos, Trump asked Comey during their January dinner whether McCabe “had a problem” with the president.
“I was pretty rough on him and his wife during the campaign,” Trump ventured.
Comey tried to smooth over the issue by explaining that FBI agents and officials pride themselves on being apolitical.
“l explained that Andy was a true professional and had no problem at all,” Comey wrote. “I then explained what FBI people were like, that whatever their personal views, they strip them when they step into their bureau roles and actually hold ‘political people’ in slight contempt without regard to party.”
The president broached the subject again during dinner, and the FBI director repeated his response.
“I again affirmed Andy’s ability and professionalism and said the president would come to see and benefit from both,” Comey wrote.
In an Oval Office meeting weeks later, Trump brought up McCabe again.
“He asked (as he had at our dinner) whether my deputy had a problem with him, and recounting how hard he had been on the campaign trail, saying, ‘The No. 2 guy at the FBI took a million dollars from the Clintons.’”
Comey said he again explained that McCabe was “a pro” and had never mentioned Trump’s attacks.
What Priebus knew
At their dinner, Trump gave contradictory explanations about whether Priebus knew they were meeting.
Early on, as they discussed whom Comey’s point of contact should be at the White House, Trump said that “Reince doesn’t know we are having dinner” but that Comey should plan to go to him.
But as Comey was preparing to leave the White House that night, Trump told him: “Reince knows we are having dinner’ (the opposite of what he said earlier),” according to one memo.
Comey neither explained nor speculated why Trump contradicted himself.
The Flynn investigation
In their own meeting on Feb. 8, 2017, Priebus tried to ask Comey whether the FBI was wiretapping the national security adviser at the time, Michael T. Flynn.
Weeks earlier, reports had emerged that Flynn was overheard on a wiretap talking with the Russian ambassador to the United States about sanctions being imposed by the Obama administration as punishment for its election interference. The calls raised concerns among senior law enforcement and intelligence agencies that Flynn might have been working to help the Russians.
Comey’s answer was redacted in the released version of the memos. But it is widely believed that Flynn was overheard on the wiretap because American intelligence agencies routinely listen in on the calls of foreign ambassadors.
Comey said he then explained how such questions should be routed from the White House counsel’s office to the Justice Department.
“I explained that it was important that communications about any particular case go through that channel to protect us and to protect the WH from any accusations of improper influence,” Comey said, using shorthand for the White House.
So General Michael Flynn’s life can be totally destroyed while Shadey James Comey can Leak and Lie and make lots of money from a third rate book (that should never have been written). Is that really the way life in America is supposed to work? I don’t think so!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2018
In one February conversation, the two men discussed leaks in the news media at length. By then, Trump had endured several embarrassing disclosures of classified information, including transcripts of his calls with foreign leaders in which he was short with the leaders of U.S. allies, including Australia and Mexico.
In his memo, Comey explained how he hoped to catch one of the leakers to set an example.
“I said I was eager to find leakers and would like to nail one to the door as a message,” Comey said. “I said something about it being difficult and he replied that we need to go after the reporters and referred to the fact that 10 or 15 years ago, we put them in jail to find what they know and it worked.”
Trump then mentioned Judith Miller, a former reporter for The New York Times. In 2005, Miller was jailed for 85 days for refusing to testify and reveal her confidential source about the identity of a former CIA operative, Valerie Plame, before relenting.
“I explained that I was a fan of pursuing leaks aggressively but that going after reporters was tricky, for legal reasons and because DOJ tends to approach it conservatively,” Comey said. The president, he said, suggested he speak to Attorney General Jeff Sessions about being more aggressive in prosecuting leaks.

domain: politics