Five years ago today I embarked on an adventure that would change the course of my life. Dramatic any? Oh yea. But it is also true. Five years ago today-on April 18, 2006-I bid a tearful goodbye to my mom, dad, sister, nephew and a culmination of 30 years of life as I’d known it.

As many of you know, I recently found myself jolted into motherhood … sour milk stains, dingy diapers, dodging a sprinkler system with every changing and more exhaustion than I ever thought possible. My bags have bags … my circles have circles … and yes, I’m loving it.

Varsity Calendar

The Washington Post January 6, 2002 BOYS’ BASKETBALL Highland at Bethlehem Baptist, 5 Stone Bridge at Liberty, 7:30 Park View at Handley, 7:30 BOYS’ BASKETBALL Fredericksburg Academy at Wakefield, 6:30 Fauquier at Handley, 7:30 Loudoun County at Jefferson (W.Va.), 7:30 Sherando at Liberty, 7:30 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Fredericksburg Academy at Wakefield, 5 Foxcroft at St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes, 5:45 Notre Dame at Trinity Episcopal, 6:45 VOLLEYBALL Handley at Fauquier, 7:30 Loudoun Valley at Stone Bridge, 7:30 Park View at Loudoun County, 7:30 BOYS’ BASKETBALL Quantico at Highland, 6 Wakefield at Randolph-Macon, 6:30 Mercersburg (Pa.) at Notre Dame, 6:45 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Wakefield at Randolph-Macon, 5 GYMNASTICS Annandale, Loudoun Valley, Potomac Falls at West Springfield, 7 Chantilly, South Lakes, Stone Bridge at Madison, 7 ICE HOCKEY Centreville vs. Potomac Falls at Ashburn Ice House, 5:30 WRESTLING Broadway at Fauquier, 8 Loudoun County at Park View, 8 Loudoun Valley at Broad Run, 8 Stone Bridge at Potomac Falls, 8 BOYS’ BASKETBALL Highland at Shenandoah Academy, 7 GYMNASTICS Broad Run, Lake Braddock, W.T. Woodson at Hayfield, 7 Park View, Robinson at West Potomac, 7 SWIMMING Liberty at Handley, 7 VOLLEYBALL Liberty at Fauquier, 7:30 BOYS’ BASKETBALL Fredericksburg Christian at Wakefield, 6:30 Fauquier at Liberty, 7:30 Loudoun County at Loudoun Valley, 7:30 Notre Dame at Montrose Christian, 7:30 Potomac Falls at Park View, 7:30 Stone Bridge at Broad Run, 7:30 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Fredericksburg Christian at Wakefield, 5 Foxcroft at Notre Dame, 5:30 ICE HOCKEY Park View vs. Stone Bridge at Ashburn Ice House, 6:15 SWIMMING Liberty vs. Potomac Falls at Vint Hill, 7 Loudoun Valley vs. Park View at Ida Lee, 7 VOLLEYBALL Broad Run at Stone Bridge, 7:30 Loudoun Valley at Loudoun County, 7:30 Park View at Potomac Falls, 7:30 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Notre Dame at Wakefield, 1:30 GYMNASTICS Loudoun Valley at Harrisonburg Invitational, 11 a.m. website ashburn ice house web site ashburn ice house

SWIMMING Fauquier at Handley, 9 a.m.

Loudoun Valley vs. Jefferson (W.Va.) at Shepherd College, 5 Broad Run vs. Potomac Falls at Ida Lee, 6 Loudoun County vs. Stone Bridge at Ida Lee, 8 WRESTLING Loudoun Valley, Stone Bridge, Warren County at Liberty, 10 a.m.

Broad Run, Lee-Staunton, Park View at Sherando, 10 a.m.

Fauquier, Harrisonburg, Potomac Falls at Handley, 10 a.m.

ICE HOCKEY Potomac Falls vs. Stone Bridge at Ashburn Ice House, 6:15

More and more people are choosing to travel to Calabria, which is a good thing for those of us in the tourism industry. They read our sites, maybe book a room at our B&B … they might even buy the eguide full of Calabria travel tips … then, they ignore us.

Aurora Downtown Taste set for May 10

The Beacon News – Aurora (IL) April 20, 2011 AURORA ??? Nine restaurants will be featured next month in the Ninth Annual Downtown Aurora Taste event. in our site free restaurant coupons

The restaurant tour is set for 5 to 9 p.m. May 10. Participating restaurants include: America???s Historic Roundhouse, Ballydoyle Pub, Cazadores, Comfort Zone BBQ, Julio???s, La France, River???s Edge Caf?©, Tecalitlan and Chef Amaury at 33 West.

Sponsored by the Exchange Club of Aurora, the event encourages residents and visitors to ???taste??? a variety of experiences and eateries in the heart of the city.

Proceeds from Downtown Aurora Taste are allocated by the Exchange Club to benefit area youth, through scholarships and contributions to local agencies that serve children.

Ticket booklets are $25, which includes four restaurant coupons, one free parking pass and a map showing all the participating restaurants. this web site free restaurant coupons

Ticket books are available at the Aurora Special Events office, Suite A, 5 E. Downer Place, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from any Exchange Club member. Booklets may also be obtained by calling the Exchange Club at (630) 415-1263.

The need for appropriate BMI cut-off values to define obesity among Asians. (Editorial).

Nutrition & Dietetics: The Journal of the Dieticians Association of Australia December 1, 2002 The issue of definition of obesity among Asians has received considerable attention in recent years. The debate has centred around the question of whether the classifications of overweight and obesity using the WHO’s definitions based on body mass index (BMI, kg/[m.sup.2]) are appropriate for Asians.

The use of the Quetelet’s index or body mass index (BMI, kg/[m.sup.2]) to compare the physique of man was first advocated as far back as in the nineteenth century (1). This index has been found to be the most suitable compared to other weight-height indices as it is minimally correlated with height while being highly correlated with body fat percentage (2,3). In a 1997 consultation, WHO recommended that the BMI cut-off values for overweight and obesity to be 25 kg/[m.sup.2] and 30 kg/[m.sup.2] respectively (4). These recommendations were based on the presence of excessive body fat and adverse effects on health (mortality and morbidity). However studies supporting these cutoff points were those conducted among Caucasian populations.

Indications that the relationship between BMI and body fat percentage differs across population groups surfaced in 1994 with the publication of Norgan (5). This was followed by the work of Wang et al. (6), showing that Asians living in New York have lower BMI but higher body fat percentage compared to age-matched Caucasians. Recently, studies in Indonesia, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong demonstrated that for the same BMI, Asians living in these countries have higher body fat percentage compared to age- and sex-matched Caucasians with the same BMI (7-10). Reasonable comparisons among these studies are hampered by the varying methods used to assess or estimate body fat percentage and use of non-standardised techniques and non-validated methodologies. Ideally a chemical model using a maximum of body compartments should be employed for cross population comparisons but it is not feasible for many countries. Deuterium oxide dilution might be the most feasible alternative, as it is found to be valid (11,12), the met hod is easy to standardise, application is relatively easy even in field situations and samples can be sent for analyses to a specialised laboratory. web site body fat percentage calculator

More importantly, the populations in many Asian countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, India and Malaysia (13-20) are also experiencing elevated cardiovascular risk factors (both absolute and relative risks) at levels of BMI considered to be normal by WHO. Various levels of BMI cut-off points for obesity were proposed in these populations, ranging from BMI of 25 kg/[m.sup.2] to 28 kg/[m.sup.2] for the different populations. Some countries, such as Indonesia and Japan, have proceeded to revise their BMI cut-off points for obesity based on their own findings.

Recognising the need to address this pressing issue to define obesity among Asians, WHO convened an expert consultation in July 2002, where Asian and international experts deliberated whether population-specific BMI cut-off points for overweight and obesity are necessary. Data from various Asian countries (China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan) were analysed and discussed during the consultation. It was acknowledged that Asians generally have higher body fat percentage compared to Caucasians and experience elevated risks at lower levels of BMI. The expert consultation emphasised that risk is a continuum along the BMI scale, and cut-offs merely act as triggers for action at various risk levels. It recommended BMI cut-off points of 23 kg/[m.sup.2] (moderate to high risk) and 27.5 kg/[m.sup.2] (high to very high risk) for Asians instead of 25 kg/[m.sup.2] and 30 kg/[m.sup.2] for Caucasians respectively.

The implications of this recommendation are apparent. The prevalences of overweight and obesity would be much higher than official figures. For example, in Singapore alone, the proportion of adults in the overweight category would increase from 24% to 35% while obesity prevalence would be 14% instead of 6%. If this were also true for other Asian countries, it would mean that almost half of the adult population in Asia would be at risk for obesity-related illnesses. This would form an escalating public health problem that cannot be ignored, as predicted by the WHO expert consultation group back in 1997 (4). Commitment, resources and concerted actions would be required at all levels, from national to individual levels to address the risk factors for obesity, chiefly the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Strategies and measures need to be instituted for different settings such as schools and workplaces, besides the general community, to reduce the prevalences of obesity and its comorbidities, part icularly among high-risk groups in each country. go to website body fat percentage calculator

Policy makers and program planners would need to be extra vigilant in designing health promotion programs to accompany the changes in BMI cut-off points. It is pertinent to craft public education messages that the priority and focus should not be in losing weight, but rather losing excessive body fat and maintaining optimal BMI level through an active lifestyle and sensible diet that is appropriate for the level of physical activity. Doctors and health professionals need to be alerted that weight loss measures through medication and/or surgery are suitable only for the morbidly obese and not for the majority.

The review and revision of BMI cut-off points for Asians paves the way for future research and collaboration to develop indices of obesity that are appropriate for various population groups in Asia. More studies are needed to validate common anthropometric indices, e.g. waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, bioelectrical impedance analysis, skinfold thicknesses against reference methods to assess their suitability for use as surrogate measures of body composition in the field. These studies need to be accompanied by longitudinal studies for definitive quantification of the risks (morbidity and mortality) associated with these indices.

Mabel Deurenberg-Yap Health Promotion Board, Singapore National University of Singapore References (1.) Quetelet LA. Physique Social. vol 2, P.92. Brussels: C Muquardt; 1869.

(2.) Norgan NG, Ferro-Luzzi A. Weight-height indices as estimators of fatness in men. Clinical Nutrition, 1982;36C:363-72.

(3.) Keys A, Fidanza F, Karvonen MJ, Kimura N, Taylor HL. Indices of relative weight and obesity. J Chron Dis 1972;25:329-43 (4.) World Health Organization. Obesity: Preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report on a WHO Consultation on Obesity, Geneva, 3-5 June, 1997. Geneva: WHO/NUT/NCD/98.1;1998.

(5.) Norgan NQ Population differences in body composition in relation to BMI. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994;48:10S-27S (6.) Wang J, Thornton JC, Russell M, Burastero S, Heymsfield S, Pierson RN Jr. Asians have lower body mass index (BMI) but higher percent body fat than do whites: comparisons of anthropometric measurements. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;60:23-8.

(7.) Guricci S, Hartriyanti Y, Deurenberg P, Hautvast JGAJ. Relationship between body fat and body mass index: differences between Indonesians and Caucasians. Eur J Clin Nutr 1998,52:779-83.

(8.) Deurenberg-Yap M, Schmidt G, van Staveren WA, Deurenberg P. Paradox of low BMI and high body fat percent among Singaporeans. Int J Obes 2000;24:1011-17.

(9.) Gallagher D, Heymsfield SB, Heo M, Jebb S, Murgatroyd PR, Sakamato Y. Healthy percentage fat ranges: an approach for developing guidelines based on body mass index. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72,694-701.

(10.) Ko GTC, Tang J, Chan JCN, Sung R, Wu MMF, Wai HPS, et al. Lower BMI cut-off value to define obesity in Hong Kong Chinese: an analysis based on body fat assessment by bioelectrical impedance. Brit J Nutr 2001;85:239-42.

(11.) Deurenberg-Yap M, Schmidt G, van Staveren WA, Hautvast JGAJ, Deurenberg P. Body fat measurement among Singaporean Chinese, Malays and Indians:a comparative study using a four-compartment model and different two-compartment models. Brit J Nutr 2001;85:491-98.

(12.) Deurenberg-Yap M, Deurenberg P. Validity of deuterium oxide dilution for the measurement of body fat among Singaporeans. Food and Nutrition Bulletin (Suppl) 2002;23:34-7.

(13.) Deurenberg-Yap M, Chew SK, Lin FP, van Staveren WA, Deurenberg P. Relationships between indices of obesity and its comorbidities among Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore. Int J Obes 2001,25:1554-62.

(14.) Ko GTC, Chan JC, Cockram CS, Woo J. Prediction of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia or albuminuria using simple anthropometric indexes in Hong Kong Chinese. Int J Obes 1999;23:1136-42.

(15.) Lee ZSK, Critchley JAJH, Ko GTC, Anderson PJ, Thomas GN, Young RP, et al. Obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in Hong Kong Chinese. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:173-82.

(16.) Li G, Chen X, Jang Y, Wang J, Xing X, Yang W, et al. Obesity, coronary heart disease risk factors and diabetes in Chinese: an approach to the criteria of obesity in the Chinese population. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:167-72.

(17.) Zhou B, Wu Y, Yang J, Li Y, Zhang H, Zhao L. Overweight is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in Chinese populations. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:147-56.

(18.) Moon OR, Kim NS, Jang SM, Yoon TH, Kim SO. The relationship between body mass and the prevalence of obesity-related diseases based on the 1995 National Health Interview Survey in Korea. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:192-96.

(19.) Ishikawa-Takata K, Ohta T, Moritake K, Gotou T, Inoue S. Obesity, weight change and risks for hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia in Japanese men. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56:601-7.

(20.) Reddy KS, Prabhakaran D, Shah P, Shah B. Differences in body mass index and waist:hip ratios in North Indian rural and urban populations. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:197-202.

U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY LAHOOD NAMES MARITIME INDUSTRY ADVISORY PANEL.

States News Service August 26, 2011 WASHINGTON, DC — The following information was released by The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration:

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced the appointment of 29 members to the new Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC), established to advise the Department on matters relating to marine transportation.

“Shifting some of our freight from the highways to open inland waterways is a fuel-efficient, cost-effective way to move goods and reduce roadway congestion,” said Secretary LaHood. “The recommendations developed by the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council will help us increase transportation efficiency, improve the environment and grow the economy.” The Department will task the MTSNAC with developing recommendations on establishing new marine highway services and port infrastructure development, among other issues. here traverse city mi

“The experience brought to bear by this diverse panel is impressive,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These maritime experts have a lot to contribute. I look forward to their advice as we tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges.” In creating the MTSNAC, the Department sought members with exemplary experience in serving on other government and industry maritime advisory panels. Members were nominated through a full and open process published in the Federal Register.

The new members are:

* Sarah Dunham, Director, Transportation and Climate Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC * John Parrott, President, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., Federal Way, WA * Craig Philip, President and CEO, Ingram Barge Lines, Nashville, TN * Thomas B. Crowley, Jr., President and CEO, Crowley Maritime Corp., Oakland, CA * John Kaltenstein, Marine Program Manager, Friends of the Earth, San Francisco, CA * David Moseley, Assistant Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division, Seattle, WA * Genevieve Boehm Clifton, Manager, Office of Maritime Resources, New Jersey Department of Transportation, Trenton, NJ * Alice Cheng, President, Cheng Solutions, LLC, Brooklyn, NY * Jeffrey Platt, Chief Operating Officer, Tidewater Marine, New Orleans, Louisiana * Fred Harris, President, NASSCO, General Dynamics, San Diego, CA * Jerry A. Bridges, Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority, Norfolk, VA * Timothy L. Byrd, Director, Global Logistics, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc., Wilmington, DE * Michelle Noble, International Trade Operations Leader for North America, Proctor and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH * Faye Stewart, President, Faye Stewart Transportation Services LLC, Glendale, AZ * Judith A. Druskovich, Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Traverse City, MI * Omar Benjamin, Executive Director, Port of Oakland, Oakland, CA * James Lyons, Director and CEO, Alabama State Port Authority, Mobile, AL * Adolph Ojard, Executive Director, Port of Duluth, Duluth Seaway Port Authority, Duluth, MN * James R. (Randy) Richardson, Executive Director, Port of Memphis, Memphis, TN * John Baker, President of the Great lakes District Council, International Longshoremen’s Association, Cleveland, OH * Mark Locker, Administrator, Office of Maritime and Freight Mobility, Ohio Department of Transportation, Columbus, OH * Ron Mitchum, Executive Director, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, Charleston, SC * Gary Gallegos, Executive Director, San Diego Association of Governments, San Diego, CA * Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President, Seafarers International Union of North America, Camp Springs, MD * Thomas J. Simmers, President and CEO, Ceres Terminals, Inc., East Brunswick, NJ * Rick Larrabee, Director, Port Commerce Department, Port of New York/New Jersey, New York, NY * Joseph M. Mabry, Executive Vice President of Logistics and Distribution, Lowe’s Companies, Inc., Mooresville, NC * Mark Barker, President, Interlake Steamship Company, Richfield, OH * Margaret Vaughan, Representative, U.S. Exporters Competitive Maritime Council, Houston, TX go to site traverse city mi

Met Life graces market with first investment-grade rated CBO.

Asset Securitization Report March 5, 2001 | Graubard, David Metropolitan Life (Met Life) has launched and priced its first investment-grade a $507 million cash flow CBO called Madison Avenue II, via Salomon Smith Barney. The $415 million triple-A rated tranche priced at 48 basis points over six months libor. Although the A-class priced at par, several investors believed the collateral was far too leveraged. Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s rated the transaction. this web site met life dental

Madison II has a 5% equity first-loss piece compared to a typical high-yield CBO with a 10% cushion.

“It doesn’t take too many fallen angels to get an investment-grade CBO into serious trouble,” said one portfolio manager. Although the bottom equity tranche in a CDO typically absorbs the first losses in a deal, investors above the equity can suffer losses as a result of portfolio restrictions forcing them the to sell the defaulted bonds at whatever price is available at that time.

“After the recent downgrades that we saw with Finova Group, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison we’d rather have the bigger cushion and less leverage than high-yield CBOs typically have,” added the portfolio manager.

For example, Berkshire Hathaway and Leucadia National recently put a deal on the table to take over the once investment-grade Finova Group as the company prepares to file for one of the largest Chapter 11 proceedings ever, with some $11 billion of outstanding debt.

When asked why Met Life decided to go with an investment grade issue, Charles Scully, a director in the insurance company’s securitization department said, “Met Life is a major investor in investment-grade corporate bonds and working with investment-grade collateral is something we do everyday and do well.” “In November the market started to cheapen-up and we were able to (completely) ramp-up a portfolio at a cheap enough price by February to do this deal. We had a 100% of overlap of bonds that Met Life already had in its other portfolios under management.” The top three industries in Madison II’s dynamic pool of bonds are financial intermediaries, telecoms, and utilities. Additional sectors adding significantly to the pool are chemicals, plastics and rubber. Hard asset collateral like the ones in this pool provides higher recoveries than what Street analysts refer to as “concept companies” with little plant and equipment value. see here met life dental

“We purchase companies in the telecom sector that we are comfortable with and are established,” Scully said, when asked about the deterioration in the telecom sector.

Madison II’s estimated default rate for its USD $26 million equity piece is between 25bp and 50bp with an internal rate of return between 15% and 18%. There are 120 bonds in the portfolio and estimated recoveries are between 40% and 50%, sources at Salomon Smith Barney said.

Michael Kroger, an MD in Met Life’s investment department, is the primary portfolio manger responsible for Madison II. Met Life’s strategy is to issue two or more CDOs per year and has one new issue in the pipeline for in the first half of this year, sources said.

Graubard, David

Uralsib – Rosneft, TNK-BP: Stock/Cash Buyout for AAR? – Mar 29, 2011.

Russian Banks and Brokers Reports March 29, 2011 Possible outcome of BP-AAR case may favor TNK-BP Holding minorities A speculative buy opportunity in TNK-BP Holding. We argue that a potential takeover of TNK-BP by BP and Rosneft, clearing the way to a BP-Rosneft alliance, would also create a speculative buying opportunity in common and preferred shares of TNK-BP Holding. here bp stock price

(To view the full report please click here:

BP/Rosneft deal blocked. On 24 March, an arbitration tribunal in Stockholm ruled against the strategic alliance between BP and Rosneft, which includes a $17-bln share swap and plans to jointly develop offshore blocks in the Arctic. According to BP, the court simply extended the injunction ordered by a London court in February 2011. BP plans to ask the Stockholm panel to determine whether it could proceed with the share swap alone. The other 50% shareholder in TNK-BP, the Alfa-Access-Renova (AAR) group, believes the court banned BP from forming strategic alliances in Russia without TNK-BP’s approval. TNK-BP’s main asset is 95% in the traded company, TNK-BP Holding (TBH). go to website bp stock price

How could the block be bypassed? We see three possible outcomes of the BP-AAR dispute:

acents TNK-BP replaces BP in the deal. The likelihood of this is close to zero: Rosneft has indicated that TNK-BP is not an acceptable partner for offshore exploration.

acents AAR kills the deal. It may be able to, but we cannot see the benefits of doing so. The deal could also fall apart if Rosneft teamed up with other offshore partners.

acents AAR consents to a BP-Rosneft alliance for compensation – the most likely scenario in our view. BP itself expects to negotiate the terms of a BP-Rosneft Arctic alliance, which would be acceptable to AAR. We think the BP-AAR talks will be focused on the price and terms of AAR’s consent.

www.uralsibcap.com URALSIB Capital, 8, Efremova St, Moscow, Russia,119048, phone:+7(095)788-0888 fax: +7(095)785-1206

LONDON LOVE; CHEAP DATE. site cheap date ideas

The Evening Standard (London, England) October 3, 2006 Byline: SAMINA CRICLKLEWOOD I HAD been to Soho Thai (27 St Anne’s Court, W1 020 7287 2000) many years ago with a friend and thought it was lovely.

It did what it says on the tin: cheap, delicious Thai food. The atmosphere of the tiny place also won me over.

So just hours before a date with a friend of a friend, we were venueless.

When my friend suggested I return, I thought it would be perfect.

With a nice bottle of chardonnay costing little over a tenner, it was going to be a great evening whatever happened.

And the food was as nice as I remembered.

I opted for the non-carby beef in black bean sauce and vegetables in oyster sauce, my meal cost just [pounds sterling]8. cheapdateideasnow.com cheap date ideas

My date went for manly green curry – a bargain at [pounds sterling]6.20.

The service was pretty fast, but not too quick, therefore giving me plenty of time to enjoy my dinner partner’s exciting day at school – he was a teacher, while I bored him senseless with my day in the office.

Philadelphia Convention Center Hires Former FBI Agent as Labor Director. website philadelphia convention center

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News September 14, 2003 By Marcia Gelbart, The Philadelphia Inquirer Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Sep. 14–Dave Gentile has spent the last 24 years working as an agent in the FBI’s Philadelphia office.

Now he is going in a different direction: He has been hired for the newly created job of director of labor services at the Convention Center.

As of Oct. 7, Gentile will be the person charged with making sure the center’s six trade unions comply with dozens of work rules contained in a much-publicized labor pact reached two months ago.

“What I do or do not know about the hospitality industry is not relevant,” said Gentile, 56, who is retiring from the FBI’s Philadelphia office, where he spent his entire career. In an interview Friday, he said: “What I know is about people and how people act and how people should act… and that’s a large part of the job.” Gentile was hired by the Elliott-Lewis Corp., a longtime mechanical-servicing contractor that will soon be the sole employer of all the center’s union workers.

“I thought he had very good conversation skills, and he knew or knew of most of the people involved — the union people and the politicians,” said Elliott-Lewis chief executive officer Bill Sautter.

“If there is a disagreement, he understands how to take care of it without letting [trade-show] exhibitors know,” he added. Six Elliott-Lewis floor managers will work under Gentile, with someone on the exhibit floor whenever work is being carried out.

Elliott-Lewis is sensitive about Gentile’s law enforcement background, which includes work in labor racketeering, public corruption and organized crime cases.

He came in contact with numerous crime figures. One of them was Nicholas Caramandi, who provided evidence against imprisoned Philadelphia crime boss Nicodemo Scarfo. In a 1991 Time magazine article, Caramandi credited Gentile as having “helped me a lot mentally when I was falling apart… . He’s my best friend in the world.” While embracing his FBI credentials as an asset simply because of the credibility they give him, Elliott-Lewis said law enforcement training was not a prerequisite for the labor director job.

“It was not the number one item as to why we hired him,” said Jim Gentile — no relation to Dave Gentile — who is corporate development director at Elliott-Lewis. Rather, he highlighted Dave Gentile’s status as an outsider to the labor-management fracas that has surrounded the center for nearly two years, and led to lost convention bookings.

Jim Gentile also called Dave Gentile “polished,” noting he has led several national police-training programs. He said Dave Gentile would aid the center’s sales team in turning around the Convention Center in the eyes of meeting planners who are wary of Philadelphia’s reputation as a difficult convention town, with archaic work rules, unruly unions, and high labor costs.

Four of the center’s six unions could not be reached or did not return calls Friday. The other two appeared satisfied with Dave Gentile’s hiring.

In the final days of labor negotiations, said Bill Hamilton, president of Teamsters Local 107, “it was indicated to us that [Elliott-Lewis] wanted somebody who was going to go down there with a little bit of backbone, and who was not going to be intimidated, and we like that.” Hamilton also praised the choice of Dave Gentile because “he comes in as an independent with no past loyalties, and he’ll deal with the facts and the issues.” John Dougherty, business manager of electricians’ Local 98, said: “I’ve always supported [Elliott-Lewis CEO] Bill Sautter, and I have a lot of respect for his judgment, and if he thinks this is what’s going to make the Convention Center work, then I’ll support it.” But Dougherty also said he would like to see the center rehire in some capacity William Corazo, a Local 98 member who was hired by the center for two years to help resolve labor disputes. Corazo’s job was eliminated in the new labor agreement. go to web site philadelphia convention center

Dave Gentile’s first days on the job will coincide with a convention he is intimately familiar with, the Oct. 21 gathering of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

In his current FBI position, he has served as the pointman for coordinating that annual convention, expected to draw more than 14,000 law enforcement officials, including police chiefs, federal agency representatives, and U.S. prosecutors.

Before joining the FBI, Dave Gentile was an elementary and junior high school principal in Virginia. A 1967 psychology major from Lynchburg College in Virginia, he also has two graduate degrees in education.

New enzyme research research reported from V.K. Singh and co-authors.(Report)

Biotech Week November 12, 2008 “Staphylococcus aureus is a major community and nosocomial pathogen. Its ability to withstand multiple stress conditions and quickly develop resistance to antibiotics complicates the control of staphylococcal infections,” investigators in the United States report (see also Enzyme Research).

“Adaptation to lower temperatures is a key for the survival of bacterial species outside the host. Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (BKD) is an enzyme complex that catalyzes the early stages of branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) production. In this study, BKD was inactivated, resulting in reduced levels of BCFAs in the membrane of S. aureus. Growth of the BKD-inactivated mutant was progressively more impaired than that of wild-type S. aureus with decreasing temperature, to the point that the mutant could not grow at 12 degrees C. The growth of the mutant was markedly stimulated by the inclusion of 2-methylbutyrate in the growth medium at all temperatures tested. 2-Methylbutyrate is a precursor of odd-numbered anteiso fatty acids and bypasses BKD. Interestingly, growth of wild-type S. aureus was also stimulated by including 2-methylbutyrate in the medium, especially at lower temperatures. The anteiso fatty acid content of the BKD-inactivated mutant was restored by the inclusion of 2-methylbutyrate in the medium. Fluorescence polarization measurements indicated that the membrane of the BKD-inactivated mutant was significantly less fluid than that of wild-type S. aureus. Consistent with this result, the mutant showed decreased toluene tolerance that could be increased by the inclusion of 2-methylbutyrate in the medium. The BKD-inactivated mutant was more susceptible to alkaline pH and oxidative stress conditions. Inactivation of the BKD enzyme complex in S. aureus also led to a reduction in adherence of the mutant to eukaryotic cells and its survival in a mouse host,” wrote V.K. Singh and colleagues. go to website at still university

The researchers concluded: “In addition, the mutant offers a tool to study the role of membrane fluidity in the interaction of S. aureus with antimicrobial substances.” Singh and colleagues published their study in Applied and Environmental Microbiology (Insertional inactivation of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase in Staphylococcus aureus leads to decreased branched-chain membrane fatty acid content and increased susceptibility to certain stresses. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2008;74(19):5882-5890). this web site at still university

For additional information, contact V.K. Singh, AT Still University Health Science, Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA.

The publisher of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology can be contacted at: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA.

Volcano show time on the Big Island. (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)

Sunset February 1, 1988 Volcano show time on the Big Island Rivers of fire are flowing once again on the Big Island of Hawaii.

At our press deadline, molten streams of glowing lava were intermittently flowing over Chain of Craters Road, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and steaming into the sea near the Wahaula Visitor Center (see map on page 73). It was the latest phase in Kilauea’s eruption at Puu Oo–an eruption that was five years old in January.

Last Thanksgiving, we took an easy 1/2-mile walk to watch Pele, Hawaiian goddess of the volcano, at work. It was dusk, and orange fingers of lava oozed like toothpaste over the older flows and into the waves. Clouds of steam smelling faintly of sulfur poured out of the sea, glowing by the light of the lava. As we approached the flow, the heat pushed out like a wall. Even the older lava was still warm enough underfoot to evaporate raindrops from a passing shower.

Depending on the course of the continually changing flow, visitors could accompany a ranger to within a few yards of the molten streams. Helicopter charter outfits were also offering spectacular flights over a remote lava lake that had formed near the Puu Oo cinder cone. here big island hawaii

While volcanologists stress that they can’t predict what will happen from one day to the next, the current eruptive phase has shown no sign of diminishing.

We don’t recommend that you jump a jet to the the Big Island solely on the chance of catching Pele’s latest hot act. But if you’re already planning a trip, now may be as good a time as ever to see her island-building process in action.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is well worth a visit for its own sake. You shouldn’t miss hikes around steaming Kilauea Caldera, two spectacular park drives, and a fine new museum.

We’ve been here before In September 1971, Sunset reported on similar activity at nearby Mauna Ulu–a five-year eruption that obliterated a section of the old Chain of Craters Road before the fireworks stopped in 1974.

A follow-up report in October 1979 announced the reopening of the newly routed Chain of Craters Road. At that time, a park geologist admitted, “Even the best design would be meaningless in the face of another full-scale eruption, and that could happen tomorrow.’ Puu Oo is certainly full-scale. This March it will become Hawaii’s second longest continuous eruption in recorded history. A steady magma outflow of some 650,000 cubic meters (about 850,000 cubic yards) per day is the largest eruption of this century. Chain of Craters Road was closed once again, in November ’86, at Wahaula.

But unlike the other recent eruptions, Puu Oo has taken a tragic toll: flowing lava has consumed 57 houses near the park’s eastern boundary. Several popular natural attractions have also been buried, including a seafront blowhole and a fresh-water pool near Kalapana.

Tracking the “hot spot’ While this eruption has been costly, it has also become a spectacular and easily– and safely–accessible example of rarely viewed volcanic activity.

But to understand what is happening here, you have to understand how Hawaiian volcanoes work.

The island of Hawaii is the latest of a long chain of islands being built over a geological phenomenon called the Hawaiian hot spot. Essentially an immense reservoir of molten rock just 40 miles beneath the surface of the Pacific Plate, the hot spot forces magma up through cracks in the plate, which is creeping by at some 2 inches per year, about the same rate as fingernails grow.

This adds up. In 6 million years, the hot spot built the Hawaiian Islands; over some 70 million years, it has strung a chain of submarine mountains from Hawaii to the tip of the Aleutian Islands.

Unlike most other volcanoes, including Cascade Range peaks like Mount St. Helens, Hawaii’s volcanoes are seldom explosive. Their magma tends to be fluid and low in gas, resulting in relatively gentle, spreading flows that build a shield-shaped mountain. The results can be impressive. Mauna Kea–one of the island’s other volcanic mountains–is the tallest mountain on earth, rising nearly 33,000 feet above the ocean floor.

Around the caldera: a steaming crater, lava tube, devastated trail, new museum Whether or not the lava is flowing, this island-building process is highly visible in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You can sample the major attractions in a day from Hilo, but the park is big enough– with several good hikes–that you may want to plan a longer stay.

First stop should be the visitor center at the entrance ($5 per car) near the village of Volcano, about an hour’s drive southwest of Hilo; it’s open daily from 7:30 to 5. Rangers can give you a map and information on current volcanic activity and special interpretive programs. Ask where you can rent cassette tape guides to the park by historian Russ Apple.

When lava is flowing, go to see it immediately; eruptions may last only an hour or two. If nothing is happening, your best introduction to the park is the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive around the edge of the Kilauea Caldera.

Newest attraction along the loop drive is a small museum named for pioneer volcanologist Thomas A. Jaggar. Located next to the USGS’s volcano observatory, it introduces the mechanics of Kilauea’s eruptions and traces the long history of scientific observation at the volcano. One exhibit shows seismic activity caused by magma movement deep in the earth.

Allow half a day to drive the loop, enough time to stroll to the edge of the still-steaming Halemaumau Crater, hike the mile-long Devastation Trail, and walk the short loop through Thurston Lava Tube. Other good hikes include the 6-mile trip on Halemaumau Trail through Kilauea Caldera and the 3-mile Kilauea Iki Trail.

Chain of Craters Road branches to the south off Crater Rim Drive. In 28 miles, it steeply descends some 4,000 feet, first edging the East Rift Zone (you can turn off for a 1-mile trail to Mauna Ulu, site of the last major eruption), then crossing three active fault escarpments. The road finally edges the coast, ending at the Wahaula Visitor Center.

If you’re lucky you’ll see lava flowing As with fishing, seeing a volcanic eruption in progress is largely a matter of luck. Still, Wahaula is where you’re most likely to see current activity.

Park at the visitor center (open daily 8 to 5). Generally, rangers will direct you down the road or along a coastal trail– either about a 1/2-mile walk. A ranger should also be at the actual eruption site to answer questions and to help you approach the flows safely. go to website big island hawaii

Walk out on lava only when escorted by a ranger. The crust that forms almost immediately over fresh lava can be easily broken. Even flows that have cooled have thin, brittle crusts over hollow tubes and holes; serious injuries can result if you step through.

Ideal time for photography is just before sunset (carry a flashlight), when there’s still enough light for detail but it is dusky enough to intensify the reds of the lava.

The other side of the eruption To get an idea of just how massive and destructive this current eruption has been, drive to the end of State 130, on the east side of this 2 1/2-mile-wide flood of lava. From park headquarters it takes 2 hours, from Hilo about 1 1/2.

From the park or Hilo, take State 11 to Keaau, then head south on State 130 through the old town of Pahoa to the coast. In the nearby village of Kalapana, you’ll find two small stores and fast food stands, the black sand beach, and (a few miles farther, at the end of the highway) what’s left of Kapaahu Homesteads.

There isn’t much: tin roof panels, a bathtub, twisted steel supports, and the burned-out frame of a car are embedded in hardened lava. While Kapaahu (and Royal Gardens, on the west side of the flow) has been declared a disaster area, it does little to help the few remaining residents who wonder daily if–or when– Pele will claim their homes.

Planning ahead: a base in Hilo, a view from the air, an eruption hot-line Hilo may be your best overall base for a visit to current eruption sites. Lodging in the park is limited–as is food service.

One of the most dramatic ways to see the eruption and to get an overview of the park is by helicopter. Companies at the volcano and in Hilo are the least expensive. While there are volcano flightseeing tours from fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters hover much closer to the action.

For details on lodging and helicopter tours of the park, see page 62.

For recorded up-to-date information on the eruption, call (808) 967-7977. For general park information, write to Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Box 52, Hawaii 96718.

At 4,000 feet (the elevation around Kilauea Caldera), weather can be chilly. Rain–usually misting but sometimes heavy–can occur any time. Sturdy shoes will help protect feet from jagged lava. Carry a sweater, windbreaker, sun screen, brimmed hat, and camera.

Photo: Lava lake’s metallic surface is like the crust on a pudding:

thin cracks reveal red magma churning beneath. Helicopter tours visit lake and steaming cinder cone of Puu Oo Photo: Orange “toes’ of pahoehoe lava ooze past ranger (yellow shirt) and visitor where flows cross Chain of Craters Road Photo: Glowing chunks of molten rock hiss into the sea in great steaming splashes as visitor photographs recent lava flows in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Photo: Metal mailbox embedded in lava is all that’s left of one home at end of road on Kalapana side of flow Photo: Steaming Halemaumau Crater is seen from rim of Kilauea Caldera at Jaggar museum, where visitors (below) learn volcano dynamics Photo: Lava curiosities–including glassy black lava, bubble fragments, foamy pumice, Pele’s tear, and glass threads of Pele’s hair–can be found along Chain of Craters Road Photo: Kilauea eruptions. Except for infrequent eruptions of nearby Mauna Loa, volcanic activity in Hawaii this century has been on Kilauea. Map shows recent activity in Kilauea Caldera (above), 1969-74 at Mauna Ulu (right), and 1983-to-present activity of the Puu Oo eruption (far right) Photo: Phase 1: Current eruption began in January 1983 with a 200-foot-high “curtain of fire’ spraying from cracks along 2 1/2 miles of the East Rift Zone. Eruptions gradually consolidated to one vent in a remote area of park, where a cinder cone named Puu Oo grew from regular eruptions (about one a month) Photo: Phase 2: July 1986 earthquake swarms dramatically changed underground flows, and magma formed a lake of churning lava. Flows became constant, alternating between the surface and underground tubes. Lava first reached the ocean in November 1986 Photo: At our deadline: Chain of Craters Road is closed at Wahaula Visitor Center. Lava is flowing intermittently on surface over road and into ocean, with an estimated 50 acres of land added to island. When it’s flowing, rangers supervise public access and viewing. Outside the park, lava has destroyed 57 houses in Kalapana area

A HELPING HAND FOR THE HOLIDAYS… WISH LISTS.(Lifestyles/Spotlight)

Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) November 23, 2000 Whole Life Christian Fellowship – A God Engineered kNowing, Developing, Adults (AGENDA) Mentorship program for young adults is in need of toy contributions to supply 500 needy children with toys for Christmas. Also needed for new toddler room are toys, carpet, window blinds, baby cribs and sheets, diapers, rocking chairs, potty chairs, and high chairs. (303) 707-8656.

Heart Studio Arts and Wellness Center – Contractor to build office for counselor, handicapped-accessible gallery bathroom, electrical repairs, file cabinet, swamp cooler, scanner, security system. (303) 480-1053.

The Lowry Family Center – Adult and children’s clothing, gift certificates, a truck for picking up and distributing donations, furniture, housewares or appliances for families, Pentium I or better computers. (303) 340-7031.

Family Tree Foundation – Ladders, riding lawn mower, gas-powered grass edger, used Pentium computers, portable cash register, copy machine, TV / VCR combo, self-defrosting refrigerator, erasable 6-by-4-foot marker boards, laminator, 20-cup coffee pot, laser and inkjet printers. (303) 467-3938.

Colorado Greyhound Adoption – Soft, fleecy toys, extra-large or giant plastic molded crates. (720) 938-3915.

Family YMCA-Arvada – Preschool computer tables, soft blocks for infants to climb on, computer software for children ages 5 and under, creative-writing flip-chart stand, storage shed for outside bikes and toys (8 by 3 feet), non-shatter mirrors, children’s cassette tape for 10-month old, girls clothes size 18-24 months, a child’s table-and-chair set for 2 year old, boys clothes sizes 5 and 6, kids size-10 ice skates, kids size-8 ice skates, books for 2-year-olds, two train sets for 2-year-olds, two baby dolls with bottles for 2-year-olds, Johnny Jump-up for 5-month-old. (303) 422-4977.

Curtis Park Shelter Care Program – Disposable diapers and wipes are needed and are being accepted at Children’s Hospital, all Kaiser Permanente locations, local pediatric offices and at the Colorado Avalanche game Dec. 1. (303) 295-2399.

American Lung Association of Colorado – Electric mail opener, copier / fax machine. (303) 388-4327.

Home Care Center for Living Independently – Seeking donated funds to provide needed items for low-income frail elderly, disabled and medically fragile children. (303) 832-0560.

Hope United Methodist Church – Christmas Sharing program is accepting Christmas baskets for transitional families, glove tree for homeless people, diapers for Warren Village, teddy bears for Child Crisis Center, toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotions and soaps. (303) 779-1040. this web site kaiser permanente locations

Haven’s Hope – Needs diapers, wipes, formula, paper items and soap. (720) 962-8338.

Museum of Contemporary Art / Denver – Copier, coffee maker, office desk chairs, microwave, electric stove, tools for general maintenance, slide and / or video projector and projection screen, shelving, chairs and tables. (303) 298-7554 Ext. 150.

Window to the World – Computer and printer or laptop. (720) 938-1983.

The Center for Women’s Empowerment and Education – Large women’s professional clothes, hair-care products for black women, new underwear, bras, pantyhose, trouser socks and knee-highs, new shoes, gift cerficates, maternity clothing, computers. (303) 892-8444, Ext. 367.

Boulder Good Samaritan Center – Gift certificates for barber / beauty services, miniature live decorated Christmas trees, small boxes of candy and cookies, treadmill for the fitness center, 25-inch TV, 20 wood TV trays, small radio / cassette / CD players, stuffed lifelike animals, door wreaths for resident rooms, shawls, mobiles to hang in resident rooms. (303) 449-6150.

Gateway Battered Women’s Shelter – Nonperishable and canned food items, grocery gift certificates for holiday food baskets, new toys for children, gifts and gift certificates for women and teens. (303) 343-1856.

Jesus to the World aka David Clifton Ministries Inc. – Christmas paper, tape, boxes, clothing, food items, toys. (303) 893-8363.

Denver Rescue Mission – Toys, canned and nonperishable food items, turkeys, stuffing mix, cranberries, canned yams. (303) 297-1815.

Colorado AIDS Project – Gift certificates, educational toys for boys and girls of all ages, dolls and accessories, toy cars and action figures, electronics, board games, coats (all sizes), hats, scarves and gloves, small bags of flour and sugar, baking powder, cookie decorations, vegetable oil. (303) 837-0166, Ext. 404.

Lifetime Vision Source – Dr. Thomas Lesjak will collect used eyeglasses until the end of the year as part of the annual “Share the Sight” program. All eyewear collected will be given to the local Lions Club for distribution to those who can’t afford eyewear of their own. (303) 841-8243. go to web site kaiser permanente locations

Human Services Inc. – Furniture for apartments housing people getting back on their feet after being homeless, six up-to-date computers with CD-ROM drive for a school for troubled teen girls, diapers and baby clothes, $25 gift certificates to local supermarket. (303) 321-6363.

The Salavation Army of Denver and Starbucks Coffee Co. – Holiday Angels program needs toys that can be dropped off at all Front Range Starbucks locations through Dec. 12. (303) 626-7241.

Cat Care Society – Canned cat food, dry cat food, paper towels, bleach, thrift-shop donations. (303) 239-9680.

Aurora Federal Credit Union – Donations of new toys and board games, canned food and gloves for adults and children. (303) 755-2572.

National Sports Center for the Disabled – Goggles, neck gaiters, snow boots, ski poles, fanny packs, 7 / 16-inch wrenches. (303) 316-1540.

Night Walker Enterprises – Toys and candy needed for Christmas Native American Children’s Toy and Candy program that provides gifts and candy to reservations in seven states. (970) 482-7797.

International Hearing Dog Inc. – Plain milk bones, toys, small rawhides, reliable vacuum, cash donations for grooming supplies, stainless steel buckets, crates, fix-up projects. (303) 287-3277.

Project Heritage and Heritage Christian Center – Canned foods, baby food and clothes, winter hats, coats and shoes. (303) 369-8514, Ext. 1014.

Morning Star Senior Day Program – Needs donations in order to provide each of their 43 clients with a Christmas present to be given at a Christmas party. (303) 361-0898.

Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center – Funding for food (3,000 pounds of raw meat is used per week), funding to heat the main animal house, building materials including concrete, fencing, steel, cinder blocks, mortar. (303) 536-0118.

Mental Health Corporation of Denver – Easels, 20 smocks, fingerpaints, tempera paint, watercolors, clay and Playdough, Playdough utensils, chalk pastels, glue sticks, yarn, ribbon, felt, liquid glue, paintbrushes, glitter, construction paper, drawing paper, crayons, markers of any kind, coloring books, child scissors, kids musical instruments, CD player, children’s songs, tape or CD. (303) 504-6670.

PS Diary.

The Evening Standard (London, England) December 9, 2003 12 December FOR those who want to give their Christmas canapes a special twist or are yearning to be more adventurous with their wines, the new Christmas Party Ideas one-day course at Leiths School of Food and Wine could be the answer.

Students will spend the morning watching a canapes demonstration, and in the afternoon Leiths Master of Wine will help you choose wines for the festive haul. The day will cost [pounds sterling]132 and you can book a place by calling 020 7229 0177.

15 and 16 December For anyone who could do with more confidence when dealing with people and situations in the workplace, Reed is running a two-day course entitled Assertiveness at Work. Course objectives include: how to recognise and deal with fear; being specific and staying relevant; persuasion skills and coping with criticism; planning for realistic changes. The seminar takes place in central London and costs [pounds sterling]795 plus VAT. To book a place call 0800 132 448. here christmas party ideas

Top Trick Win a hotel conference package for 10 people SOUTH Lodge Hotel in West Sussex – a short drive from Gatwick airport – is a beautiful Victorian country house set in 90 acres of gardens and overlooking the stunning South Downs. go to site christmas party ideas

Last year the hotel opened its new state-of-the art business wing, offering versatile conferencing for between eight and 160 delegates.

The [pounds sterling]6 million development has an exceptional range of facilities, including 12 air-conditioned meeting rooms, all with the latest AV technology, presentation equipment such as plasma screens and internet access.

South Lodge would like to offer a one-day conference package free of charge – this would include tea and coffee upon arrival, one meeting room for the day, lunch and afternoon tea for 10 delegates.

Closing date is 18 December. For further information call 01403 891711 or visit www.exclusivehotels.co.uk.