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Systemic air embolism after percutaneous computed tomography-guided lung biopsy due to a kink in the coaxial biopsy system: a case report
Hsu-Chao Chang1 &
Mei-Chen Yang2,3
BMC Medical Imaging volume 18, Article number: 1 (2018) Cite this article
Systemic air embolism is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy. The incidence might be underestimated because of failure to diagnose this adverse event in asymptomatic patients; early recognition is difficult.
We report the case of a 73-year-old man with systemic air embolism, a complication of percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy, due to a kink in the coaxial biopsy system. Serial post-procedure CT scans demonstrated the causal relationship.
Sequential post-biopsy CT scans demonstrated a causal relationship between this systemic air embolism and percutaneous biopsy, and allowed the radiologist to track the course of the emboli and their resolution. Awareness of air entry via the introducer needle and an early post-biopsy CT scan are crucial for early detection of systemic air embolism. If air embolism occurs in an asymptomatic patient, we recommend performing a delayed chest CT scan to follow the air's course.
Systemic air embolism after percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy is very rare. The estimated incidence is 0.061–0.21% [1, 2], but could be underestimated because of failure to diagnose this adverse event in asymptomatic patients [3]. For example, in a study published in 2012, Freund et al. found that the incidence of radiologically proven systemic air embolism was 3.8%, whereas the incidence of clinically apparent systemic air embolism was 0.49% [4]. Thus, the incidence of post-biopsy systemic air embolism might be higher than is estimated, and sequential CT scans of the entire thorax instead of only the biopsy area might be worth performing to provide a definitive diagnosis of systemic air embolism [5]. Generally, systemic air embolism is thought to occur via two mechanisms. First, if the tip of the biopsy needle is lodged in a pulmonary vein and the inner stylet is removed, air embolism occurs during rapid inspiration when atmospheric pressure exceeds pulmonary venous pressure. Second, when the needle simultaneously traverses an air-containing space and adjacent pulmonary vein, a fistula can occur, resulting in air entering the pulmonary vein when the alveolar pressure is greater than the pulmonary venous pressure [6]. Air can enter via a fistula tract, connecting an air-containing space to a pulmonary vein when alveolar pressure is high, for example, during coughing. To prevent air embolism, the introducer needle should always be occluded by the inner stylet, saline drops, or the operator's finger. Moreover, the patient should be instructed to avoid breathing deeply or coughing forcefully during the procedure [7, 8]. It is believed that, following lung biopsy and needle withdrawal, a large number of alveolar-venous or bronchial-venous fistulas can develop along the needle's trajectory. During vascular injury, the walls of small vessels are usually retracted; spontaneous adhesion occurs, forming a seal. When a patient exhibits any symptoms suggestive of air embolism during the lung biopsy procedure, the needle should immediately be removed [8, 9]. The clinical manifestations of air embolism vary, depending on the exact location of the arterial embolus and the volume of air disseminated into the vessels. Once air enters the systemic circulation, it will enter the respective arterial end beds [1, 8]. Functional end arteries can be occluded by even a small volume of air. Only 2 mL of air injected directly into the cerebral circulation is enough to be fatal, and 0.5–1.0 mL of air injected into a coronary artery can lead to cardiac arrest [10]. Initial management includes immediate administration of 100% oxygen and placing the patient in a slight Trendelenburg position [7]. Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recommended for patients with cerebral air embolism [5].
Previously reported cases have only demonstrated imaging findings as existing air emboli in post-procedure CT scans. Imaging findings at different times, and the use of those findings to track the course and resolution of air emboli, have not been described. We report a case of systemic air embolism after CT-guided biopsy due to a kink in the coaxial biopsy system, and show the course followed by the emboli, demonstrated on sequential CT scans.
A 73-year-old man with pneumoconiosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension who had previously had a cerebrovascular accident and had undergone surgery for gastric cancer ten years earlier, was brought to our emergency department with a one-day history of acute-onset tremor and leg weakness. The chest radiograph and chest CT scan showed a large mass in the right middle lobe (RML) that was out of keeping with his pneumoconiosis. Lung malignancy was of concern; hence, a CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy was suggested and was performed after obtaining informed consent.
A coaxial biopsy system with a 19-gauge introducer needle and a 20-gauge core biopsy needle (length, 17 cm; Temno, CareFusion, France) was selected for this procedure. Once the introducer needle had reached the lesion, the internal stylet was removed and the core biopsy needle was inserted to procure a specimen. However, after obtaining the first specimen, we were unable to withdraw the core biopsy needle because of a kink. Several attempts to withdraw it resulted in it being pushed forward and kinked again; finally, it was forcibly removed. The core biopsy needle was found to be angulated proximally. Thereupon, free air sprang up from the introducer needle. Hence, the stylet was reinserted and the introducer needle was immediately removed. After withdrawal of the instrument, the patient coughed forcefully. An immediate post-biopsy CT scan was performed; it demonstrated free air with flow-related motion artifact within the RML mass, the left atrium, and the right pulmonary vein (Fig. 1a and b). A follow-up CT scan of the entire thorax demonstrated air collections in the ascending aorta and the right coronary artery (Fig. 1c and d). Because the patient had no symptoms or signs of acute stroke or myocardial infarction, he was kept in the CT room and oxygen was administered. Ten minutes later, a delayed chest CT scan demonstrated no air collections in the aorta or left heart, and total resolution of the air embolus in the right coronary artery (Fig. 2). The patient's condition was stable and an electrocardiogram showed no ST-segment elevation. He was thus transferred to the intensive care unit for close monitoring.
Series of computed tomography scans demonstrating the movement of the air emboli. Immediate post-procedure computed tomography scans demonstrated free air with flow-related motion artifact in a the right middle lobe mass (white arrow), and the left atrium (open arrow), and b the right pulmonary vein (black arrow). After 50 s, a follow-up computed tomography scan demonstrated air collections in c the ascending aorta (black arrow) and d right coronary artery (white arrow)
Delayed chest computed tomography scan, performed after 10 min, demonstrating total resolution of the air embolus in the right coronary artery
During his stay in the intensive care unit, neither air embolism nor new neurologic deficits developed, and his troponin I and CK-MB levels were normal. Five days later, brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed; it showed no evidence of acute infarction. The patient was transferred to the ward and was discharged days later in a stable condition. Table 1 shows the timeline of course of events.
Table 1 Timeline of events
As demonstrated in this report, post-biopsy sequential CT scans can show the causal relationship between systemic air embolism and percutaneous biopsy, and can track the course and resolution of such emboli. The serial CT scans performed on our patient showed air with flow-related motion artifact in the lung mass, pulmonary vein, left heart, and then in the aorta and coronary artery. Later, the CT scans showed resolution of the air collections in the aorta and left heart, and almost total resolution of the air embolus in the coronary artery. Such evolution occurred quickly. Had the radiologists been unaware of this complication, CT scans would have been delayed and the systemic air emboli would either not have been detected or the diagnosis would have been delayed.
How can one avoid causing an angulation deformity in the core biopsy needle, thereby causing it to kink and get stuck in the introducer needle? Although blood clots can cause the biopsy needle to adhere to the introducer needle, especially when a long instrument is used, such adherence can be managed by flushing the introducer needle. After several experiments, we determined that the core biopsy needle deformity had occurred because the needle had been inappropriately removed from its packaging, resulting in angulation at the fulcrum where pressure was applied (Fig. 3). If the needle is inadvertently kinked, the biopsy set should be instantly discarded to prevent such severe complications as occurred in this case.
Inappropriate removal of the core biopsy needle from its packaging. The upper image demonstrates an inappropriate method of removing the core biopsy needle from its packaging, resulting in angulation at the fulcrum where pressure was applied (lower image, black arrow)
In the case presented, the air definitely came from the atmosphere because we witnessed air being drawn into the introducer needle. Moreover, the to-and-fro motion of the kinked core biopsy needle in the introducer needle may have evacuated the mass. Delayed reinsertion of the introducer needle's stylet after forcibly removing the kinked biopsy needle also played an important role. Early awareness of air being drawn into the introducer needle is very important. An immediate series of CT scans to trace the air's course is crucial for early detection of systemic air embolism.
Initial management includes immediate administration of 100% oxygen, and placing the patient in a slight Trendelenburg position [7]. Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recommended for patients with cerebral air embolism [5]. However, there is no standard protocol for managing asymptomatic patients; we recommend performing delayed post-procedure CT scans to evaluate the air's course.
Two major events need to be considered: Embolic stroke and myocardial infarction. Clinical features that support the diagnosis of cardioembolic stroke include the sudden onset of neurological deficits, an interval from onset to maximal deficit of < 5 min, and rapid regression of symptoms [11]. The symptoms of cerebral arterial air embolism develop suddenly. The clinical presentation is determined by the absolute amount of air and the intracranial vessel territories affected by the embolic event [12]. If delayed post-procedure CT scans show no more air in the left heart or in the thoracic aorta, there is no further concern of cerebral air embolism occurring. However, the symptoms of myocardial infarction may be atypical and silent [13, 14]. The electrocardiogram demonstrates ST-segment elevation rapidly (within 30 s) after manual transient occlusion of a coronary artery [15]. The incidence of acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction may be higher than acute ST elevation myocardial infarction [16]. In our daily practice, a post-biopsy CT scan is performed routinely in every patient to evaluate complications. If air embolism is detected in a routine post-biopsy CT scan, another delayed CT scan is recommended to follow the air's course in an asymptomatic patient. If this delayed CT scan does not demonstrate air emboli in the coronary artery, left heart, or thoracic aorta, either no air entry occurred or the coronary artery has recanalized. In this patient, we evaluated the coronary arteries in the delayed post-procedure CT scan images to ensure that the air embolism had completely resolved. However, if the air embolism persists or progresses, the patient should be intensively monitored (e.g. symptom and electrocardiogram monitoring, and serial measurement of cardiac enzymes).
Sequential post-biopsy CT scans of this patient demonstrated the causal relationship between systemic air embolism and percutaneous biopsy, and allowed the radiologist to track the course and resolution of the emboli. Awareness of air entry via the introducer needle and an early post-biopsy CT scan are crucial for early detection of systemic air embolism. We recommend that a delayed chest CT scans be performed to follow the air's course when air embolism is detected in an asymptomatic patient.
RML:
Right middle lobe
Tomiyama N, Yasuhara Y, Nakajima Y, Adachi S, Arai Y, Kusumoto M, et al. CT-guided needle biopsy of lung lesions: a survey of severe complication based on 9783 biopsies in Japan. Eur J Radiol. 2006;2006(59):60–4.
Ibukuro K, Tanaka R, Takeguchi T, Fukuda H, Abe S, Tobe K. Air embolism and needle track implantation complicating CT-guided percutaneous thoracic biopsy: single-institution experience. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2009;2009(193):W430–6.
Ghafoori M, Varedi P. Systemic air embolism after percutaneous transthorasic needle biopsy of the lung. Emerg Radiol. 2008;15:353–6.
Freund MC, Petersen J, Goder KC, Bunse T, Wiedermann F, Glodny B. Systemic air embolism during percutaneous core needle biopsy of the lung: frequency and risk factors. BMC Pulm Med. 2012;12:2.
Blanc P, Boussuges A, Henriette K, Sainty JM, Deleflie M. Iatrogenic cerebral air embolism: importance of an early hyperbaric oxygenation. Intensive Care Med. 2002;28:559–63.
Wu CC, Maher MM, Shepard JA. Complications of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the chest: prevention and management. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011;196:W678–82.
Bou-Assaly W, Pernicano P, Hoeffner E. Systemic air embolism after transthoracic lung biopsy: a case report and review of literature. World J Radiol. 2010;2:193–6.
Hiraki T, Fujiwara H, Sakurai J, Iguchi T, Gobara H, Tajiri N, et al. Nonfatal systemic air embolism complicating percutaneous CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy: four cases from a single institution. Chest. 2007;132:684–90.
Kau T, Rabitsch E, Celedin S, Habernig SM, Weber JR, Hausegger KA. When coughing can cause stroke--a case-based update on cerebral air embolism complicating biopsy of the lung. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2008;31:848–53.
Ho AM, Ling E. Systemic air embolism after lung trauma. Anesthesiology. 1999;90:564–75.
Arboix A, Alio J. Cardioembolic stroke: clinical features, specific cardiac disorders and prognosis. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2010;6:150–61.
Muth CM, Shank ES. Gas embolism. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:476–82.
Valensi P, Lorgis L, Cottin Y. Prevalence, incidence, predictive factors and prognosis of silent myocardial infarction: a review of the literature. Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 2011;104:178–88.
Fujino M, Ishihara M, Ogawa H, Nakao K, Yasuda S, Noguchi T, et al. Impact of symptom presentation on in-hospital outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction. J Cardiol. 2017;70:29–34.
Zalewski A, Goldberg S, Dervan JP, Slysh S, Maroko PR. Myocardial protection during transient coronary artery occlusion in man: beneficial effects of regional beta-adrenergic blockade. Circulation. 1986;73:734–9.
McManus DD, Gore J, Yarzebski J, Spencer F, Lessard D, Goldberg RJ. Recent trends in the incidence, treatment, and outcomes of patients with STEMI and NSTEMI. Am J Med. 2011;124:40–7.
We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.
This case report was supported by a grant from Taipei Tzu-Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation (TCRD-TPE-106-RT-1). The funders played no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.
Department of Radiology, Taipei Tzu-Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, No. 289, Jianguo Rd, Xindian Dist, New Taipei City, 23143, Taiwan
Hsu-Chao Chang
School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
Mei-Chen Yang
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu-Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, No. 289, Jianguo Rd, Xindian Dist, New Taipei City, 23143, Taiwan
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HCC collected the data and references, followed up the patient, performed the literature review, and drafted the manuscript. MCY critically revised the manuscript and assisted in the literature review. Both authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to Mei-Chen Yang.
This report was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation (protocol No.: 06-CR03-040) and adheres to the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki Declaration. Written informed consent for publication was provided by the daughter-in-law of the patient since patient had died due to pneumonia 2 years after this admission, prior to writing this report.
Written informed consent for publication of the case report was obtained from the patient's daughter-in-law.
Chang, H., Yang, M. Systemic air embolism after percutaneous computed tomography-guided lung biopsy due to a kink in the coaxial biopsy system: a case report. BMC Med Imaging 18, 1 (2018) doi:10.1186/s12880-018-0245-9
Lung mass
Chest imaging


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Which system level could be responsible for this problem?
How should I proceed to debug?

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Baudelaire's Revenge by Bob Van Laerhoven
Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours/Edelweiss
It is 1870, and Paris is in turmoil. As the social and political turbulence of the Franco-Prussian War roils the city, workers starve to death while aristocrats seek refuge in orgies and seances. The Parisians are trapped like rats in their beautiful city but a series of gruesome murders captures their fascination and distracts them from the realities of war. The killer leaves lines from the recently deceased Charles Baudelaire's controversial anthology Les Fleurs du Mal on each corpse, written in the poet's exact handwriting. Commissioner Lefevre, a lover of poetry and a veteran of the Algerian war, is on the case, and his investigation is a thrilling, intoxicating journey into the sinister side of human nature, bringing to mind the brooding and tense atmosphere of Patrick Susskind's Perfume. Did Baudelaire rise from the grave? Did he truly die in the first place? The plot dramatically appears to extend as far as the court of the Emperor Napoleon III. A vivid, intelligent, and intense historical crime novel that offers up some shocking revelations about sexual mores in 19th century France, this superb mystery illuminates the shadow life of one of the greatest names in poetry.
I didn't know what to expect from Bob Van Laerhoven's Baudelaire's Revenge, but I'm very pleased to have taken the chance and picked it up. The seediness of the narrative, cleverly constructed mystery, and convoluted character of the novel's protagonists held true appeal, pulling me out of my world and into the dark underbelly of nineteenth century Paris.
As if that weren't enough, Laerhoven gets major points for creating a mystery I didn't see coming. Smart and well-crafted, I was on edge of my seat from the first, as desperate to identify the killer as Lefevre and Bouveroux. It isn't often I'm caught unaware and the fact that Learhoven was able to do this only enhanced my appreciation for the piece.
A gritty and elaborate thriller, Baudelaire's Revenge represents a perfect blend of fact and fiction. Explicit, but engaging, I greatly enjoyed the time I spent with this piece.
"I brought a genius into this world, a genius and a monster. And you cannot imagine the price I have had to pay. The artistic soul does not confine itself to to the conventions of bourgeois society that would have us believe in the existence of order and law. In reality, death, chaos, and eternal lust govern our lives. You consider yourself a servant of Justice, but pain and revenge count more nowadays than a blindfolded trollop with counterfeit scales, who lets herself be raped by the powerful of this world."
Check Out All the Stops on Bob Van Laerhoven's Baudelaire's Revenge Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Review at Book Nerd
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Review & Giveaway at Words & Peace
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection
Review at A Bookish Girl
Review at Turning the Pages
Review & Giveaway at 100 Pages a Day
Review at A Book Geek
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at A Bibliotaph's Reviews
Review at Reading the Past
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Review at Layers of Thought
Spotlight & Giveaway at Books and Movies
Review at Impressions in Ink
Review, Interview, and Giveaway at Mina's Bookshelf
Feature & Giveaway at bookworm2bookworm's Blog
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Labels: 4 Stars, Book Source: HFVBT, Genre: Historic Fiction, Genre: Mystery, Time Traveler: 1800s, World Reader: France
Interview with Cara Langston, author of Battle Hymns
Author interviews are one of my favorite things to post which is why I am super excited to welcome author Cara Langston to Flashlight Commentary to discuss her latest release, Battle Hymns.
Welcome to Flashlight Commentary Cara. Great to have you with us. To start things off, please tell us a bit about Battle Hymns.
Thanks for having me, Erin! Battle Hymns is the story of a young woman, Charlotte Donahue, whose life is forever changed by the attack on Pearl Harbor and the entrance of the United States into World War II. Her fiancé, Nick, enlists in the Army, and while Charlotte waits for him to return so they can marry, she volunteers as a nurses' aide with the American Red Cross. It's here she develops a passion for nursing and meets a wounded fighter pilot, Will, who helps her cope with many of the emotions that arise from Nick's deployment.
What inspired this story? Where did it begin?
When I start brainstorming a new story, I generally begin with the time period or setting. In the case of Battle Hymns, I chose the 1940s after listening to a lot of classic Christmas music during the holiday season. It's the only time of the year you can hear Bing Crosby, Irving Berlin, Judy Garland, and Lena Horne on the radio! The story blossomed from there as I developed characters that fit the time period.
WWII is a popular historical period. What did you like most about writing a story set in this era?
World War II was such a pivotal moment in history. Because so many lives were disrupted across the globe, the era offers a plethora of potential characters arcs, which you can easily see in the wide variety of WWII fiction, from the Holocaust survivor to the French resistance fighter or the German SS officer. It was also recent enough that there's a ton of written history and eyewitness accounts, sources of information that might be more difficult to find in earlier historical periods. Finding research material was easy.
Historically speaking, what sort of research went into Battle Hymns?
I'd love to say I visited certain locations or spent hours upon hours at the library. But as a debut author with a full-time job and limited budget, most of my research was done on the Internet. You have to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, but it's an invaluable resource. I was able to read love letters from soldiers, view photos of the Army Medical Center in 1942, and study digitized non-fiction books that delved into certain WWII battles. I was also lucky enough that my pre-reader's boyfriend does some work for The History Channel with a background in World War II, so he answered a lot of the questions I couldn't resolve online.
You probably have many, but is there a scene that particularly stands out to you?
One of my favorite scenes is the first chapter of Part Two, where Charlotte decides to become a Red Cross volunteer. It was a last minute addition to the third draft (along with the beach scene later in the novel), and I really love how it turned out. I can't imagine it not being part of the story, and yet in the first two drafts, the entire scene was condensed into a paragraph. That's why editing and re-writes are important!
What scene posed the greatest challenge for you as an author? Why was it troublesome and how did you work through it?
I actually find scenes depicting physical intimacy to be the greatest challenge. For the most part, it's because I remember that my grandmother will eventually read the scene once published and I become rather self-conscious. I remind myself that my grandmother is no prude, but she is the primary reason I avoid too much detail in those scenes. Eventually I'll get over it!
Sometimes fiction takes on a life of its own and forces the author to make sacrifices for the sake of the story. Is there a character or concept you wish you could have spent more time with or expanded on?
When I started writing Battle Hymns, I originally crafted a more complex subplot for Natalie Armstrong that delved into her relationships with John and her parents. For example, her mother was a pacifist, which I thought would be an interesting perspective since everyone else in the novel supports the war. But halfway through the first draft, I cut most of Natalie's backstory in an effort to streamline Charlotte's.
William Kendrick suffers PTSD from his time overseas. How did you approach depicting his affliction within your narrative?
The most difficult part was not being too obvious or clinical about it, given that PTSD wasn't diagnosable until after the Vietnam War. I also didn't want it to be Will's defining characteristic. When we first meet him in the Army Medical Center, he goes through a brief period where he doesn't speak to anyone, but he gets over that pretty quickly and seems well adjusted during his extended stay in the hospital. He's worried about his ability to walk or fly again, but those are normal concerns. It isn't until he's discharged from the hospital that he starts having the nightmares, his working with aircraft again being the trigger. Delayed onset is common.
Historical novelists frequently have to adjust facts to make their stories work. Did you have to invent or change anything while writing Battle Hymns and if so, what did you alter and why?
There is one detail I slightly altered to fit my storyline. In my novel, the 60th Infantry Regiment lands in Sicily during the initial invasion. In reality, they arrived a couple weeks later. I tried so hard to make the real date work with my timeline, but in the end, I gave up and took the liberty. It's a small alteration, and I doubt many readers would've noticed without me confessing to it right now!
If you could sit down and talk with one of your characters, maybe meet and discuss things over drinks, who would you choose and why?
I'd want to sit down and ask Will Kendrick about his time in the RAF. For one, I'm an Anglophile. I studied abroad at Oxford and married an Englishman (those experiences are unrelated, by the way), so I'd want to know all about his time in Sussex and Kent. I also find aviation fascinating, and he's nearly an expert.
Authors are famous, or infamous depending on your point of view, for writing their own experiences, friends and acquaintances into their narratives. Is there anything in Battle Hymns that sprung directly from your personal history?
A portion of John Cartwright's character is based on a man from my hometown. He and his wife attended my parents' church. When I was just a kid, my parents told me that Mr. Robert participated in the D-Day invasions during World War II and he never shared the experience with anyone, not even his wife. For some reason, that idea has always stuck with me, the fact that someone can experience first-hand an event that was so significant in our history and yet take their stories to the grave.
Battle Hymns is your first novel. How are you enjoying the experience and what advice, if any, would you give to aspiring authors?
Although I really enjoy the writing aspect, I'm still warming up to the publishing aspect. It's very nerve-wracking to put your book—into which you've poured your time, money, and soul—out there for the world to critique. But as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. My advice to any aspiring author is to remember your love of the craft when you inevitably get frustrated with everything else that comes along with publishing a book – building author platforms, blogging, formatting, writing taglines, etc. Besides, the pride that comes with holding a bound copy of your book is worth the frustration.
If you could start the whole process again, is there anything you'd do differently?
I would have outlined Battle Hymns more in the beginning. I started writing with a vague direction, outlining only a few chapters ahead. During the first draft, I got to the halfway point and thought, "Now what?" So on my second, third, and fourth drafts, I had to draw some of the themes from the end into the beginning and vice versa. On my new novel, I outlined the entire story before I began writing. Although the outline has changed as I further develop the characters, I feel better knowing exactly where the story is heading.
What do you hope readers take from Charlotte Donahue's story?
The people who lived through World War II sacrificed so much for the cause, whether they supported it from home or fought on the front lines. The U.S. has been a wartime nation for most of my adulthood, and yet as a civilian, it doesn't affect my everyday life the way it affected Charlotte's in 1943. We no longer have conscription and rationing. The "total war" sacrifice is unique in that way. It's what has always drawn me to this time period and one of the main reasons I wanted to tell this story.
Okay, we've talked a lot about your book. Let's switch gears and talk a little bit about you. How would describe your writing process?
I'm still figuring it out! My process today is wildly different from what it was when I began writing Battle Hymns in college five years ago, and it will continue to evolve. These days I find I'm able to write more easily in the morning when I have a cup of coffee next to my laptop at the dining room table. Unfortunately, I have a day job so this only happens on the weekends. Sometimes I'm able to write during breaks at work or in the evening before my husband comes home, but it's much more difficult to focus later in the day. Generally speaking, I write from 8 AM to noon on Saturday and Sunday, and I save my workday breaks for outlining, fleshing out character profiles, researching, etc. I really do wish I had more time to write.
Two words: writer's block. How do you deal with it?
When I have writer's block, it's usually because I haven't read anything lately. I have a hard time balancing my reading with writing, working, and living. There's so little time! But after I pick up a new book and spend time in someone else's story, I usually get inspired in some way or another, whether it's a poetic phrase, a new character trait, or overall style.
Who are your favorite authors?
I read a wide variety of authors, and I don't necessarily have favorites. But there are a few authors I always come back to. When I was 13, my mom hooked me on Mary Higgins Clark mysteries and I've been reading her books ever since. I will also read almost anything from Sophie Kinsella because I have a background in Finance and so do most of her characters. I've also recently discovered the works of Jojo Moyes. The Girl You Left Behind is one of my new favorites. My favorite book of all time, though, continues to be Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.
I recently got pulled into the Outlander series. They're not my favorite books and I maintain they could be cut in half without losing much. But after I read the first one, I couldn't get the characters out of my head. I continued reading the series and now I'm addicted. As I'm writing this interview, I'm nearly finished with the fourth book. By the time you post it, though, I'm sure I'll be on the fifth!
What do you like to do when you're not writing? Any hobbies?
My husband and I recently moved into our first house together, and I enjoy decorating it. It's a slow process given that I want a more collected look, but eventually, it will all come together. I also like doing genealogical research; I can talk your ear off about my famous ancestors. Finally, because we live in Texas, I consider consuming guacamole and margaritas a delicious and worthwhile hobby.
Where do you stand on the coffee or tea debate?
I'm more addicted to coffee, but I have recently begun augmenting my caffeine addiction with cups of Earl Grey tea at work in the late morning and mid-afternoon. The coffee at work is awful, and you can't go wrong with hot water and your own tea bags.
And finally, what's next for you? Do you have a new project in the works? Planning a vacation? Anything exciting and/or noteworthy?
I'm writing the first draft of my next novel, The Glassmaker's Wife, a historical romance set in 1925 Chicago. It's not your typical gangster/flapper tale, and I'm really excited about it. My husband and I are also planning a trip to Australia and/or New Zealand next February. We've never been down there before, and we figure it's a good destination for a pre-kids vacation. Who knows when we'll be able to take a two-week vacation and manage an 18-hour flight later in life!
Cara is a novelist of historical fiction. She has two novels in the works. Battle Hymns is a historical romance set in Washington, D.C. from 1941 to 1943. It will be published on June 3, 2014. The Glassmaker's Wife is a historical romance set in 1925 Chicago and is still very much in progress.
Cara has been an avid reader – especially of historical fiction, classics, and mystery novels – since she was young. She read all of the American Girl books when she was in 5th grade, even though her parents could not afford to buy her a doll. In middle school, she was obsessed with the only two Ann Rinaldi books in the school library. They taught her about the 1770 Boston Massacre and the Salem Witch Trials before her history classes ever did. And that was when Cara's love of historical fiction was born. She didn't begin writing, though, until her senior year at the University of Georgia, where she studied Finance and had already committed to a career in the corporate world. One day she will be able to quit working for The Man and focus on her writing. Until then, it pays the bills.
When she's not writing or working, Cara enjoys drinking red wine, watching bad television, doing genealogical research, obsessing over the Duchess of Cambridge's every outfit, and finding the best guacamole in Texas. Cara currently lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and their dog.
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PRAISE FOR BATTLE HYMNS
"Peppered with authentic detail, Battle Hymns is an eloquent historical that offers rare insight to the intimacies of lives touched by conflict. A poignant debut that holds much promise for Langston's future efforts." - Flashlight Commentary Book Reviews
"The romance in Battle Hymns is tastefully constructed, and the author represents the time period very well, which isn't an easy feat. Furthermore, Ms. Langston is knowledgable on medical terminology, protocol, and clinical skills, without it coming across like you're reading a medical journal. I highly recommend Battle Hymns to anyone who loves a well written romance with multi-layered characters." - Author Alexandra Richland
"More than anything, this novel is about love and survival; Charlotte's wave of emotions carried me through love, heartbreak, grief, recovery and love again in a natural way."
- Stephanie, Goodreads Reviewer
"So many novels written during World War II are set in Europe and I enjoyed this perspective from the American home front. It was a wonderful debut novel and Langston proves she has a talent for historical fiction." - Ashley LaMar, Closed the Cover Reviews
Amazon US (Paperback)
Amazon US (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Format: Paperback & eBook
Released by: CreateSpace
Check Out All the Stops on Cara Langston's Battle Hymns Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Review at Booktalk & More
Review at Closed the Cover
Interview at Closed the Cover
Review at Lit Nerd
Interview at Lit Nerd
Review at History Undressed
Review at History from a Woman's Perspective
Spotlight at Too Fond Beth
at 5:34:00 AM 3 comments:
Labels: Blog Event: Author Interview
The Bone Church: A Novel by Victoria Dougherty
Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours/Netgalley
Read: June 6, 2014
In the surreal and paranoid underworld of wartime Prague, fugitive lovers Felix Andel and Magdalena Ruza make some dubious alliances – with a mysterious Roman Catholic cardinal, a reckless sculptor intent on making a big political statement, and a gypsy with a risky sex life. As one by one their chances for fleeing the country collapse, the two join a plot to assassinate Hitler's nefarious Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, Josef Goebbels. But the assassination attempt goes wildly wrong, propelling the lovers in separate directions. Felix's destiny is sealed at the Bone Church, a mystical pilgrimage site on the outskirts of Prague, while Magdalena is thrust even deeper into the bowels of a city that betrayed her and a homeland soon to be swallowed by the Soviets. As they emerge from the shadowy fog of World War II, and stagger into the foul haze of the Cold War, Felix and Magdalena must confront the past, and a dangerous, uncertain future.
Sedlec Ossuary, Kutná Hora
Image by Pudelek (Marcin Szala)
Victoria Dougherty's The Bone Church is not an easy read. It hits the ground running and never lets up. Paired with decidedly heavy material and themes, the narrative is more than a little challenging, but that said, it is easily one of the best historical thrillers I've had fortune to come across.
Those who follow me know the WWII references in the description are what drew me to this piece, but it was Dougherty's application of history, how she utilized and built her fiction around it that captivated my attention. Both storylines are sculpted from verified truths making it difficult to determine where fact meets fiction. The resulting seamlessness enhances the tension within the narrative and generates such excitement that the novel is practically impossible to put down.
Dougherty's treatment of Magdalena and Felix also stood out to me. It would have been easy to paint these characters in bleakly sympathetic tones, but Dougherty didn't go that route. There is an authenticity to this couple. They are trapped and hunted, but there is a tenacious intensity in their make-up that draws admiration rather than pity. An edginess in their story that plays on the reader's emotions in a way that is both inspired and unexpected.
A deliciously dark and addicting foray into a world of mistrust, betrayal, paranoia and deceit, The Bone Church was a wholly unexpected pleasure. Yes, I had to work for it and familiarize myself with previously unknown chapters of historic detail, but when push comes to shove, I can't say I regret a moment spent with this piece.
On the black cotton was printed a white skull and crossbones - the skull head grinning as if he were mocking her. The nun struggled for her breath and wanted to drop the evil little banner, but her fingers wouldn't let go of it - making her stare into its horrid death face as if she were looking at her own end.
Check Out All the Stops on Victoria Dougherty's The Bone Church Blog Tour Schedule
Interview at Mina's Bookshelf
Excerpt at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Guest Post at I'd So Rather Be Reading
Review at Based on a True Story
Review at Bibliotica
Review at Back Porchervations
Review at Dianne Ascroft Blog
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Review at leeanna.me
Review at Library Educated
Excerpt & Spotlight at Books and Benches
Review at Kinx's Book Nook
Guest Post at Savvy Verse & Wit
Review at Curling Up By the Fire
Review at Mari Reads
Review at bookramblings
Review at Queen of All She Reads
Review at Good Friends, Good Books, and a Sleepy Conscience
Review at Historical Tapestry
Review at Luxury Reading
Review at From the TBR Pile
Labels: Book Source: HFVBT, Book Source: Netgalley, Genre: Historic Fiction, Genre: Thriller, Historic Event: Cold War, Historic Event: WWII, Time Traveler: 1900s, World Reader: Czech Republic
Battle Hymns: A Novel by Cara Langston
Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Read: April 23, 2014
In December 1941, Charlotte Donahue is engaged to Nick Adler, a handsome, pre-law student at Georgetown University. Despite her studies at a liberal arts college, she expects nothing more than to marry her fiancé and settle into a conventional life as a young American homemaker. But her future is unexpectedly disrupted after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. While Nick trains for the battlefront with the U.S. Army, Charlotte does her part by volunteering as a nurses' aide with the American Red Cross. Assigned to a convalescent ward at Walter Reed's Army Medical Center, Charlotte discovers her passion lies, not in the home, but in tending to the wounds of injured soldiers, all of whom remind her of Nick. Here she is drawn to a mysterious soldier, Lieutenant William Kendrick, whose jet was shot down in the skies over Germany. As Will's physical and psychological wounds begin to heal, he and Charlotte develop a friendship that will bind them together in ways they never imagined. Battle Hymns is a poignant story of love, survival, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Second World War.
In terms of a wartime romance, Cara Langston's Battle Hymns is exactly what I expected. I'll be the first to admit there is a certain predictability to the plot, but I found Langston's treatment of the material and the themes she incorporates into the story balanced the more typical elements of the narrative, ultimately transforming it into something both memorable and moving.
Charlotte in particular stands out to me. A volunteer nurse, she joins the war effort in order to keep busy, but discovers a tangible passion for the profession. This personal journey, her growing self-awareness, wasn't something I'd anticipated, but I really liked the contrast it brought to the larger story. Like a phoenix, Charlotte finds strength and rises from the ashes of the conflict in a beautiful display of fortitude and perseverance.
Parallel to John and Will, Charlotte carries wounds that will never truly heal, but here again Langston managed to surprise me. Set in an age before PTSD was understood or really even acknowledged, the author took great pains to illustrate how varied the disorder can be. I've seen authors struggle with this, too often defining the condition by the extremes, which is why I sincerely appreciated Langston's more intuitive handling of the material.
Peppered with authentic detail, Battle Hymns is an eloquent historical that offers rare insight to the intimacies of lives touched by conflict. A poignant debut that holds much promise for Langston's future efforts.
But try as they may, it was impossible for anyone to forget the war. Life couldn't return to what it had been five years earlier. The conflict affected them all, not one soul left untouched. They were, after all, years of sacrifice. John gave up four years of his life and the comforts of home. Charlotte offered her naivety, and Will his psychological stability. They were years she would never forget, ones that would affect her for the rest of her life.
Labels: 4 Stars, Book Source: HFVBT, Genre: Historic Fiction, Historic Event: WWII, Time Traveler: 1900s, World Reader: America
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The coaching process creates a container and a set of activities that allow you to sink into that spacious stillness that is already inside you, however hidden it may be, so you can choose who to be and what to do from a place where you see yourself more clearly. It is about allowing, inviting things—values, perceptions, assumptions, desires, ideas, visions, knowledge—to emerge into the light where we can see and use them. It is also about learning ways to take effective action to create what you want to create, and finding the courage to do just that.
Coaching nurtures both self-discovery and risk-taking—learning and action are always integrated in this process. It's a spiral: reflect on your experience (learn), try something different (act), reflect on/learn from that experience, step into that change more deeply, or try something different, reflect/learn, and so on. And all the while you are learning new tools, so you can support yourself in continuing the work.
You will have much better access to your own core strengths, gifts, and wisdom.
You will let go of old patterns that are keeping you stuck.
You will be able to use a variety of new tools to interrupt old patterns and choose to behave differently, in ways that are consistent with your goals and values.
You will feel clear, grounded, and alive, a lot more of the time.
You will be clearer about what you want, and about how to create that.
I do this work in many ways, and in many formats. I draw on tools from many different disciplines, including co-active coaching, voice dialogue, nonviolent communication, yoga, meditation, and some I've created for my own use, or when working with colleagues or clients. For details on the formats and cost information, please explore the pages devoted to Coaching Processes, Groups, Workshops/Classes, and Tools and Resources.
You can also get a taste of what I bring by subscribing to the Perspectives eNewsletter, or by listening to several hour-long workshops. You'll find reflections on the experience of people who've worked with me under Testimonials.


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Q: How to decode the URL with encoded Query String say, I have below Encoded URL:
let urlString = "https://www.sky.com/api/v1/rest/level2/in-in/?q=a%23+nunit+mac&q=c%23+nunit+mac&ap=裕坊%20邻坊

Problem:
let decodedString = urlString.removingPercentEncoding!

But this method removing % but not decode it.
For above example: a%23+nunit, after decode , it should be: a# nunit but it show : a#+nunit
Please help.
Thanks

A: The result is correct. %23 percent decodes to # and that's what you got. There is nothing about percent decoding that promises to treat + in a special way, so it remains. If you want to do something special with +, go ahead.


"Eat right and live right."
Carosites were a mammalian sentient species originally native to the planet Carosi IV. However, when the star Carosi began to rapidly expand, they were forced to evacuate their entire population to the outer planet Carosi XII and rebuild their civilization.
Carosites were renowned throughout the galaxy for their medical skills. Their medical academies attracted some of the galaxy's greatest doctors to study and teach, drawn by their significant advancements in the treatment of mental illnesses and in medical droid technology. Carosites were generally pacifists, although on occasion flew into berserker rages to protect their patients. Their reverence for life and medical acumen culminated in their famous hospital ship, the Sudden Restoration. Throughout the Galactic Civil War it provided free health care to all, without regard to political affiliation.
Carosites were humanoid mammals, standing between 1.3 and 1.7 meters tall. Their heads, on unusually long necks, sported long snouts and small beady eyes. Carosites were slim in build and had extremely nimble hands due to the peculiar arrangement of their digits; two opposable thumbs flanked three central fingers. Their bodies were covered in short, fine fur that kept them warm, and they often grew long goatees on their chins. Carosites had particularly acute senses.
Carosites could only reproduce twice in their lifetimes, on each occasion producing a litter of up to six young. Families were the only social unit in their communities, and often included older relatives unable to live independently. The Carosite lifespan was 120 standard years.
"The business is ailing, but may be healed with proper treatment."
Some Carosites upgrade medical droids.
Due to their infrequent reproduction, the Carosites developed a great reverence for life; each being's life was regarded as sacred. This influenced their society in numerous ways, most particularly in their strong medical tradition. They made advances in the recognition and treatment of mental illnesses, with their sanitariums known for their emphasis on healing the individual rather than confinement. They also made many innovations in the field of medical droid programming. As such, upgrading medical droids on Carosi XII cost only a fraction of what it did elsewhere. To maintain their medical facilities, the Carosites traded heavily with the Ebranites for lu-ramin, an oil vital for several of their medicines. Carosites charged for their healing services commensurate to the patients' ability to pay. One distinctive feature of their care was their refusal to install cybernetic enhancements, but they were willing to install prosthetics which didn´t enhance patients´ abilities.
Carosites also enjoyed passing on their medical heritage and so a number of medical academies were established on their planet, such as the Carosi XII Academy of Medicine. These institutions attracted many famous doctors, scientists, and surgeons to study or teach. The Carosite language was also influenced by this heritage, with medical metaphors commonly used to describe business deals, galactic politics, and other non-medical areas of life.
Their reverence for life also produced a strongly pacifist culture, although an exception was made for the protection of the feeble, the helpless, or of their patients. Under such circumstances, Carosites were known to fly into a berserker state, sometimes called a "life-saving fanaticism." Furthermore, the Carosites abhorred any form of interrogation or brainwashing, regarding private thoughts as inviolate. However, a vocal minority argued for more aggressive action against oppressors such as the Galactic Empire. This group called themselves "The Preventers," arguing that assertive action would save lives in the long run.
The Carosites developed a form of democracy whereby every ten years they elected a leader who held absolute authority. This leader relied on eleven counselors for advice, selected from the eleven major families. Carosite society valued truth, and so considered verbal and written agreements completely binding. As a manifestation of their eternal optimism, they extended this expectation to offworlders, who frequently abused this trust and failed to uphold their bargains.
Carosites disliked alcohol due to its harmful effects on sentients, both in the short and the long term. This led their government to tax liquor sales heavily and minimize the number of liquor outlets on their planet. This paternalistic attitude also led Carosites to frequently offer unsolicited dietary advice. Visitors often regarded this doting as worse than that typical of protocol droids.
A Carosite holding a medical tool.
The Carosite species originally evolved on the planet Carosi IV in the Carosus system, part of the Nembus sector of the Outer Rim Territories. However, in 200 BBY, their sun began an unusually rapid expansion that threatened their homeworld. This led to a major upheaval in Carosite society, and over the course of twenty years, they evacuated their entire civilization to Carosi XII, an ice planet further out in the system. The expanding sun consumed the first five planets of the system, and soon increased the temperature of Carosi XII to merely "cool," rendering the world more hospitable. The Carosites slowly terraformed Carosi XII over the next two centuries, making use of a number of scientists and other specialists to rebuild their world.
The sole city on Carosi XII was Newlife Point, which was home to most of the two million Carosites living on the planet. The city was established on the shores of the Avuae sea, where the original refugee ships had landed. The sea was rich in marine life, which provided a good source of protein, and the Carosites were fond of swimming in the icy waters. Just south of this city were a number of hot pools, heated by underground volcanic activity. The hot springs were known to aid in the healing process and so the Carosites linked it to Newlife Point with an underground transrail system.
The Carosites were deeply affected by their turbulent dislocation, and struggled to find their bearing in the galaxy for many generations. It caused many to value old traditions and rituals, producing a veneration of the past. However, a small fragment of their society pushed for the forging of new traditions to meet their new circumstances. This caused heated debate among the population.
During the Galactic Civil War, the Carosites were loyal to the Rebel Alliance, but their respect for life led them to be undiscerning in who they treated, often providing medical care for Imperial survivors as much as Rebels. The Carosites had little military strength and maintained only a small navy and merchant fleet. In 0 ABY, the Alliance made a significant strike against the Empire in the Carosus system. When the New Republic was established, the Carosites continued their support, and allowed a Republic base to be established on the planet.
Later during the New Republic era, the Carosites established many pleasure domes on Carosi XII, some making use of expensive synthdroids, which increased travel to the planet such that the starport was in constant use. The Loronar Corporation also established a synthdroid factory on the moon of Carosi XII, which was visited by Chief of State Leia Organa.
Tamo Lan, Rebel Alliance physician.
Carosites were most frequently encountered in the galaxy as physicians and doctors, such as the pair that worked as medics at the Galactic Outdoor Survival School. A notable Carosite physician was Tamo Lan. Trained in medicine on Carosi XII, Lan decided to join the Rebel Alliance after killing a Twi'lek who threatened one of his patients. He served the Alliance on Baes Logia and the Massassi Temple on Yavin 4 before joining Shroud Team as a medic. When his best friend, the Aqualish Karlon, was killed on Bresnia, he took in his sister Gondara.
Not all Carosites were so selfless; the cyberneticist Dr. Parnath was a notorious exception. Exiled from Carosi for his unethical practices and relentless pursuit of credits, he moved to the Vergesso Asteroids where he would perform any cybernetic enhancements requested of him, provided the payment was good.
Even more prominent than these individuals were the Carosite physicians aboard the hospital ship, the Sudden Restoration. A modified Kuat Drive Yards HS-1 hospital ship, it traveled the galaxy providing free medical care to all, and acquired a legendary patient recovery rate. It was given its name because it often visited the sites of recent battles, appearing out of nowhere to care for the wounded and civilian populations. The ship's reputation was tarnished somewhat when one of its physicians was blackmailed by the Empire into serving as their agent. He was putting Republic officers into comatose states and then jettisoning their "dead" bodies into space where the Imperials later picked them up for interrogation.
The Sudden Restoration offered medical care to the sick and wounded, regardless of their political affiliations. Because of this liberal approach, it was largely free from attack, with pirates known to hunt down any who dared attack the ship. However, on one occasion the ship was attacked by a bounty hunter. He had been hired by a crime lord to assassinate an Imperial officer that was receiving treatment on the ship. After events such as this, the New Republic insisted on stationing some X-wings aboard to provide some small fighter cover to the ship. The ship was so successful that the Carosites considered producing more like it. Many of its patients were later transferred to Carosi Alpha Hospital on Carosi XII itself.
Carosite physicians work aboard the Sudden Restoration.
The Sudden Restoration was open to different methods of healing, and for a time the Ewok shaman Keoulkeech served aboard it. A Carosite transport on its way to Yir Tangee had encountered the Ewok while on a stopover at Salfur's Trading Post on Endor. Recognizing his ability, they had transferred him to the Sudden Restoration.
The Carosites were aware of the Force, and desired to learn more about it. However, no Carosite was ever trained as a Jedi, as their curiosity revolved around using it to promote healing and recovery, rather than for other purposes. This attitude was typical of the innovative Carosites, some of whom even tried to find ways to harness blaster technology to promote healing.
The Carosite relationship with the New Republic was further strengthened by Omo Taj, the Carosite leader during the early years of the New Republic. It was he who authorized the construction of a secret base on Carosi XII, and he subsequently maintained good relations with the base commander, Balderik Rajana. However, this base did draw Imperial attention to Carosi XII. On one such occasion, an agent trained rinacats, native predators, to hunt the base operatives.
During the Galactic Civil War, the Empire captured a particularly unfortunate Carosite smuggler. Darth Vader then used the dark side of the Force to burn his mind, transforming him into a feral beast, driven by fear, and used him as a fanatical guard. In 12 ABY, Han Solo and Chewbacca encountered him on Belsavis in the underground catacombs.
The Carosites first appeared in Planets of the Galaxy, Volume Two. The majority of their appearances since then have been in other roleplaying game sourcebooks by West End Games; however, two Bantam Spectra novels have also made brief reference to the Carosites and Carosi.
Wookieepedia has a collection of images related to Carosite.
↑ The Essential Atlas, 179-180.
↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia, under the Carosi entry.
↑ Planet of Twilight states that the facility was on "Carosi's larger moon". However, Carosi XII was said to have only one moon in Planets of the Galaxy, Volume Two, so perhaps this was on another of the remaining planets in the system.
This article uses material from the "Carosite" article on the Starwars wiki at Wikia and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.


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Town of Owasso announces two major neighborhood projects | New
By Richard C. Riddle	 Last updated Oct 7, 2021
"To be able to go to dinner on foot, to have different choices of restaurants, [being] able to walk to the grocery store, walk to the gym, walk to other personal services – that's a really unique type of development, "he said.
The houses in Project 140 will be built in two separate stages – around 60 houses in Zone A and around 400 houses in Zone B. The neighborhood will include amenities such as a swimming pool or wading pool, a lake or two with several walking paths. , fishing docks, a club house, playgrounds, and more.
"We're seeing a lot of new types of residential development that are really exciting for us – seeing things that have a little different footprint, closed streets, private neighborhoods," Stephenson said. "We are delighted to see our lot inventory fill up again. "
The director said the town of Owasso builds around 200 to 250 lots per year, which in turn brings about 1,000 new residents to the Owasso area each year.
He added that other developments are underway, including Abbott Farms next to the Owasso Sports Park complex, in 170 homes; Morrow Place, 116th to 126th, just east of 129th, at 300 homes; and Summerset on 96th St., in 50 new homes; as well as other types of residential housing in or near downtown over the next few years.
"We won't be slowing down anytime soon, that's for sure," Stephenson said. "Fortunately, our city leaders have had the foresight to expand infrastructure to enable growth… which allows us to be one of the fastest growing communities in the region. As these buildings develop, we are just delighted to meet our new neighbors.
Some Louisville residents can now vote on neighborhood projects
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Eden Alternative South Africa® is proud to announce that Silwerkruin ACVV Huis vir Bejaardes is the first to become a member of our Registry, not just in South Africa but in Africa. Silwerkruin joins more than 350 international long-term care communities committed to improving the quality of life and care for the people they serve.
Silwerkruin in Wellington plant 'eden' sade.


A digital "receptionist", a system that monitors how often toilets are used, and a mobile app that retrieves information based on images.
These are some of the home- grown technologies developed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) that will be adopted at Our Tampines Hub, Singapore's first community and lifestyle hub.
These ready-to-go technologies aim to improve how local businesses engage with the public, as part of an agreement signed yesterday between A*Star's Institute for Infocomm Research and the People's Association.
For instance, a system will monitor how often toilets are used and alert janitors when they should be cleaned, so that cleaning workers can be deployed more effectively.
Typically, toilets are cleaned at regular intervals, regardless of how clean they are.
The technology may include ammonia sensors and an alert system if a toilet requires extra attention.
A mobile application, SnapARise, which combines image recognition technology and augmented reality, will allow users to scan images with their smartphones and get relevant product and service information.
And instead of approaching the reception to ask for directions or operating hours of shops, residents can go to a digital kiosk to get the same information by speaking to it or typing in questions.
The system uses an intelligent dialogue agent technology developed to interact with people.


Industrial production contracted 2.7% year-on-year in May, contrasting a revised 4.3% expansion in April (previously reported: +3.8% year-on-year). Looking at a breakdown of the data, all the reported sectors lost traction. While the mining and quarrying sector grew again at a double-digit pace, it lost considerable steam from the previous month. Both the manufacturing and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning sectors swung into negative territory.
In seasonally-adjusted, month-on-month terms, industrial production contracted 1.9% in May, following a 3.1% drop in April. Annual average growth in industrial production fell to 3.3% in May, down from 4.1% in April.
FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists expect industrial production to increase 1.9% in 2018, which is down 0.2 percentage points from last month's estimate, and also 2.0% in 2019.