Mosaic's founders held a strong conviction for a better way of life for people with disabilities. Their passion and dedication to that mission drew others to help. Through the years, the mission evolved and grew and now provides the highest quality services for people with intellectual disabilities in communities across the country. The founders and those who followed—including us today—are all a part of Mosaic's historical fabric. Save the Dates: February 19, 2013 – Official kick-off of our 100th Anniversary June 28, 2013 – Centennial Festival at Mosaic at Bethphage Village in Axtell, Neb. October 24, 2013 – Centennial Gala in Omaha Additional ways to celebrate our 100th year will be announced soon.
The Girard Christmas Parade will be held Thursday, December 6th at 6:30 pm on the Girard square.
Community Christmas Caroling featuring the RVH Haderlein singers will begin at 6:00. Lighting of the tree will be at 6:25. Breakfast with Santa will be held at the GHS Cafeteria on Saturday, December 8th from 8am – 10:30am. Bring your own camera and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free admission – free pancake and sausage breakfast. Event sponsored by Class LTD and Appraisals Plus – Randy Pommier. Organized by Celebrate Girard! Events Committee.
How can I get my Christmas shopping done quickly?
Q- I always put off my holiday shopping until the last minute-- partly because I really hate shopping and partly because most of those on my list are sisters, aunts, and nieces and I have no idea what to get any of them. Do you have any ideas that can help me get this done quickly and painlessly, and still give them something they would actually like?
A- Yes, I have an idea that will keep you from wandering the malls and will let you come away with wonderfully original gifts that will make you a holiday hero. Try your local boutiques. Boutiques offer a large array of gifts that you cannot find anywhere else, are high quality, and are always meaningful. In a boutique, you can satisfy nearly everyone on your list. For example, for the guys, you could get custom screen-printed shirts (you could even design them yourself!), or find a great retro piece for their home or office. For the women, boutiques offer fabulous jewelry with many original hand made offerings. Look for the silver charms and other silver jewelry that is so popular right now. Also popular with women are the refurbished furniture pieces like the ones that you might see on Pinterest. When you get the pieces at the boutique, they can have the look they want without having to spend forever on a DIY project. For little girls, you could find fabulously frilly tutus that will have your nieces feeling like the most beautiful ballerinas in the world. Even after your trip to the boutique, you still may have others on your list who are harder to buy for. The trick is to think outside the box. Another great place to find gifts with less hassle is the home improvement store. During the holiday season they often have traditional gifts like small appliances, and other gifts that you might not find in the department stores, like fountains, sundials, wind chimes, stepping stones, and of course specialty tools. Good luck in your shopping and have a wonderful holiday season!
Want to get an early start on your holiday shopping? Well here's your chance! The 2nd Annual Holiday Shopping Expo will be held on Saturday, November 17th, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Lamplighter Inn & Suites in Pittsburg, KS. Our one-day shopping event will bring a variety of merchants and holiday shoppers together under one roof. More than 30 vendors including direct sales companies, individuals with handmade items, and a few local businesses will be available to offer you their products and services. You'll be sure to find something for everyone on your list and maybe even pick up a little something for yourself! Admission is FREE and there will be Door Prize Drawings so bring your friends. For more information on our event please visit our website at www.holidayshoppingexpo.webs.com or find us on Facebook: Pittsburg, KS Holiday Shopping Expo.
http://theqandatimes.com/files/media/UserImages/" /> Devin Gorman is Marketing and Communications Director for the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. The Pittsburg Area Chamber is the leading advocate for the business community and is supported by a membership of over 500 businesses, organizations and individuals committed to the growth and economic livelihood of the Pittsburg area. For additional information, call 620-231-1000 or visit www.pittsburgareachamber.com.
Girard Homecoming kicks off Thursday, Sept. 29th with a Community Wide Pep Rally and Meet the Trojans night starting at 8pm at the Bus Barn west of Girard. Free BBQ will be served courtesy of Celebrate Girard! Events Committee. The public is invited to attend and the senior atheletes will be signing autographs.
Q- Why do non-profits ask for financial gifts? Aren't people who have disabilities supported by the government?
A- People who have disabilities often do receive some type of government support, but it is limited. Alone, that income would have them living far below the poverty line. Many people with disabilities live in group homes of four or five people. Living with that many roommates helps make housing affordable. Some of the homes may be subsidized, such as HUD housing, which limits the amount someone can pay for rent. Even with subsidized housing, a person whose disability makes it difficult or impossible to find competitive employment, has little money remaining to pay for the expenses of daily life. After utilities, food, etc., it is not uncommon for people with disabilities to have between $30-$50 a month remaining to pay for personal needs such as clothing, personal care items, and maybe some entertainment now and then. That's where the gifts to organizations can make a difference. Gifts often make the difference for someone to have new clothing when needed, or sometimes even food and daily care items. Gifts also help pay the difference for people who aren't able to live in subsidized housing but still have limited income. Additionally, many people would not be aware that government funding and insurance often does not cover items such as wheelchairs, incontinence supplies, and adaptive equipment, the types of tools that make daily living easier for people with disabilities. Adaptive equipment might be something like a communications device for people with limited verbal abilities, or a transfer lift to help them move from a bed to a chair. There are also many helpful therapies that are not covered by government funding. Gifts help provide all of those items. Gifts also help provide services that are not paid by any outside source. Depending upon their disability, a person receives specified numbers of service hours to have people support them with the activities of daily life. But the funding for those service hours doesn't include funding for transportation. Organizations have to maintain fleets of vehicles to get people to and from doctor appointments, church, community activities, family visits, etc. They also must find a way to make the reimbursement funds they receive for services cover staff wages, overhead, transportation, staff benefits, and more.
Paint It, Black was a number one hit for The Rolling Stones in 1966, but in the Pittsburg area we like to Paint It, Red. In fact, every year we like to Paint the Town Red in celebration of Pittsburg State University's first home football game. The excitement of seeing the Pittsburg area covered with crimson and gold, split face logos and gorilla statues has made Paint the Town Red one of the most widely anticipated community events in southeast Kansas. Now in its seventh year, Paint the Town Red has garnered national attention from the NCAA and was identified as a model event for other communities looking to engage their Division II universities.
Throughout the days leading up to Paint the Town Red, area businesses transform into symbols of gorilla pride with painted windows and decorated lawns. The business decorating contest generates fierce competition amongst area businesses, and for the first time ever, a Community Favorite Award will be chosen by area residents. The chamber is also excited to announce that residents can join in the competition this year by decorating their homes in an attempt to win the first ever Residential Decorating Award. Residential contest decorating forms (available online) must be submitted in order to have a house judged. A full lineup of events will take place Wednesday, September 5 through game day on Saturday, September 8. Residential and campus decoration judging will take place on Thursday, along with a community pep rally at Gorilla Village at 6 p.m. Friday's events will include the business contest judging, PSU Athlete Autograph Session and Official Paint the Town Red Balloon Launch for all third grade students in Crawford County. Voting for the Community Favorite Award (business decorating contest) will be available at PittsburgAreaChamber.com beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and will close at noon on Friday. Friday evening, everyone is invited to downtown Pittsburg for a Meet & Greet the Gorillas event. Numerous PSU student athletes will be signing autographs at downtown stores, and the PSU National Championship DVD: Champions – The Road to Florence will be playing throughout the evening in the parking lot of M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group. Saturday is game day, and the PSU Students in Free Enterprise will start the day off with a 5K run. The highly anticipated home opener kicks off at 6 p.m. with PSU playing host to Central Oklahoma. Winners from each division of the business decorating contest will be announced at the game and presented with the Paint the Town Red travelling trophies. The Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to participate in the festivities. For a full schedule of events, and contest entry forms, visit www.pittsburgareachamber.com or call 231-1000. Devin Gorman is Marketing and Communications Director for the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. The Pittsburg Area Chamber is the leading advocate for the business community and is supported by a membership of over 500 businesses, organizations and individuals committed to the growth and economic livelihood of the Pittsburg area. For additional information, call 620-231-1000 or visit www.pittsburgareachamber.com.
The event kicks off at 7am with the Geramie Kirby Memorial 5K/1Mile Fun Run. (for more info, visit www.gwkmemorial.com). Pancake feed sponsored by the Lions Club at GHS Cafeteria.
The GRAND PARADE begins at 10am. PLEASE NOTE, the Parade route has changed due to the construction on Highway 47. This year, the parade will begin at Ozark and 47 and continue South down Ozark to Prairie. Please line up to watch the parade on Ozark from Prarie to hwy 47. Other scheduled events include the BOB BRADSHAW COLLISION Car Show featuring the Rollin' Nostalgia Car Club, an Antique Tractor Show, DOG SHOW sponsored by GIRARD ANIMAL HOSPITAL, Cupcake Wars sponsored by WESTHOFF IMPLEMENT, Kids games & all day bouncers, vendors, school fundraisers, a HOT SHOT Bball tourney at the Sports Complex, a PUNT, PASS & KICK contest and much, MUCH MORE! For the first time in several years, a HOMECOMING RAFFLE DRAWING will take place on the courthouse lawn at 6pm. Bring your lawn chairs and your tickets and get ready to win great prizes donated by Girard Area Businesses! The GHS Senior Class is selling raffle tickets for $1 each. Don't miss the Street Dance! Music begins at 8pm and features Girard's own COUSIN EDDIE band. Beer garden brought to you by the GHS Class of 1979.
Q: My 20-year old son is developmentally disabled and looking for work. Unfortunately, with the economy, getting a job, any job is harder than ever. Times are so very hard even people with higher education are spending nights working second jobs wherever they can find work. What can I do to help my son have a competitive chance at getting in the workplace?
A: Very good question and this is a question we are hearing often. First, might I say, jobs are hard to find now with the economy in the situation it is in currently, but resources for individuals with developmental disabilities are higher than ever before. The positive effect a job has on a person with developmental disabilities is remarkable. It changes their life considerably for the better. It is also a well known fact that individuals with developmental disabilities are hard working, reliable, ethical, and perfectionists. If your son is receiving any kind of services through agencies like Mosaic, Class LTD, or New Hope then your son has a huge support base to assist with a job search. First thing he needs to do is express his desire for employment. Your son's Direct Support Manager will assist in searching for the precise job match with skills and personality. The Direct Support Manager as well as your son's Case Manager will work together until this correct match is found. Sometimes it takes awhile because of setting your son up for success. Now if your son does not receive services through a local agency, my advice to you as parents is to take him to Vocational Rehab, or Kansas Work Center. They are both extremely helpful in assisting individuals with developmental disabilities find a job. Again, this does not happen overnight, because the right job match must be found for a successful outcome for both your son and his new employer. Your son will need to follow up with his application and the staff at both of the above organizations. Showing persistence shows desire. For all of us looking for a job we must follow up often. My last bit of advice for you as a parent, get to know your community. Visit your Chamber events and other local gatherings, such as church events, community social events, and local job fairs. You and your son should get to know your community and become involved. The participation alone will show your son's ability and desire to work. While volunteering in the community you will get to know many people with businesses. This is a way to reach out to people who will reach out to others to assist in your son's job search. Best of luck to you and your son in his job search. I hope these tips will be helpful.
Q: What is Foster Care Month?
Q: We are in the process of adopting a child from Russia. Although he is only 12, he spent 3 years in an adult facility because he has some "physical and intellectual limitations" and I believe the environment contributed to those limitations. Having no prior experience in caring for anyone with special needs, I have no idea of where to begin, what services should I seek out, support, or anything? Also, I would like information from a long-term sort of view. Please tell me where I can start.
A: First of all I would like to thank you in advance for considering to change the life of an individual with intellectual disabilities. Your first step in this process would be to contact your local CDDO- Community Developmental Disability Organization, which is located at Class LTD in Columbus, Kansas at 1-877-449-8999. After your initial phone contact they would meet with you and your child to determine if he/she qualifies for services. If he/she qualifies they would give you list of area service providers in which you can choose a case manager that will work very closely with you and your child to assist you in services you may need, such as; advocacy, IEP's, and if needed Positive Support Plans. Your case Manager is a very important choice for you and your child with Intellectual or physical disabilities. The case manager also assists with local resources in the community. Unfortunately, there is a waiting list for services in Kansas. This list of Kansas residents awaiting services number in the thousands, and it typically takes 4-6 years to move from the waiting list. After coming off the waiting list he/she will be provided with services such as In Home Supports, Residential Service, Day Services, and later Employment Services, as determined by need. For more information please refer to the CDDO web-site www.CDDOSEK.org.
Q: What should you consider before becoming a foster parent?
Q: I am recently retired and completely bored. Although I was glad to retire, I do miss feeling as if I accomplished something worthwhile at the end of the day. We've done the cruise and everything else one does when they retire, but I want something a bit more fulfilling to add to my day. Can you provide some suggestions?
A: Have you ever thought about working with children or possibly individuals with intellectual disabilities? There are so many ways to contribute to their lives. If you are a caring, loving, and passionate person, who needs the feeling of accomplishment in regards to a worth while feeling, consider how easy it is to make a difference in the life of an individual with a disability. You could do as little as you wish by volunteering at a group home on the weekend, or at the work center during the week. All agencies across Kansas have programs set up for volunteers to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities. This is a meaningful contribution to caring and wonderful people who may have no one aside from the staff that care for them. Or you can jump in with two feet by being a Host Home Provider. This entails caring for the individual in service in your home, like a foster care provider, with supports and training from the agency. Host Homes are found to be very rewarding for the individual as well as the person hosting.
Q: How has foster care evolved over time?
A: I will answer this question as unbiased as possible, but from the perspectives of what I know, through our own company (TFI Family Services) and how it has shaped over time... 1960's The Farm, Inc. began in 1965 as a summer camp ran by Maxine Johnson and her family on a farm near Admire, Kansas. After several years of successfully running the summer camp, the Lyon County juvenile judge and county welfare director approached the Johnsons, asking if they would consider taking children all year long. The Farm's story was only beginning. 1960 through 1970's During our first years, The Farm specialized in long term residential care with the capacity to care for 24 children at a time and often keeping brothers and sisters together. The girls lived in a big re-modeled farm house and the boys in a ranch style lodge. The children learned to fish, swim, camp, and to appreciate all the aspects of living on a farm while attending public school and a local church. The Johnsons encouraged the children to be active in their school and community. In school, they participated in sports, cheerleading, plays, band, and as class leaders. They were also involved in 4-H and state fairs. As a family they took canoe trips, vacations, and celebrated graduations. Support for The Farm came from the local Jaycee and Elks' organizations. 1980's This was the decade of change for The Farm. Child welfare began moving more toward permanency for children in smaller, family-like settings and adoption was being explored as a case plan goal for children. Residential stays were seen only as a short-term alternative care. In 1985, the founding mother of The Farm, Maxine Johnson, passed away. After 20 years of caring for the children, Maxine's husband and sister retired and Peggy S. Martin, LMSW became the second Executive Director in The Farm, Inc.'s history. In the late 1980's, the agency moved from its rural location to a facility called J- Max in Emporia, Kansas, which had formerly been a group home for United Methodist Youthville. The Farm used the Boy's Town Achievement Place program model. A year later, The Farm opened an emergency shelter in Emporia for boys and girls called the Oakes House. 1990's Another decade of significant change. The Farm saw children completing its program model at J-Max with nowhere to go and children having long stays in its emergency shelter. SRS was now allowing child welfare agencies the ability to sponsor foster families. In response, The Farm started up its own family foster care program, and in doing so, developed a model that broke all the old rules. The Farm assigned a social worker 24/7 to the foster family. There were foster care training retreats, monthly support meetings, and monthly newsletters. With the popularity of this model, The Farm's sponsorships exploded throughout Kansas, fostering office expansions in southeast, south central, northeast, and southwest Kansas. In 1996, Kansas became the first State in the Union to privatize its foster care/reintegration, adoption, and family preservation services. The Farm became one of the largest state wide subcontractors for a variety of family foster care homes and adoption services. It was also at this time, The Farm made the painful decision to end its residential services in order to put its time and resources in the development of its family foster care program. 2000's As we embark into the 21st century we entered into an era of privatization with a contractual relationship with the State of Kansas to provide an array of case management services to achieve permanency in a life of a child through family preservation, family reintegration, and adoption. We maintained our accredited programs through the National Council on Accreditation (COA) for Adoption, Foster Care Services, Kinship Services, Case Management, Family Preservation Services, Counseling, Support and Education, and Services for Substance Related Disorders. We continued to develop new programs to meet the needs of Kansas children and families through our Douglas County Visitation and Exchange program and achieving Hague Accreditation through COA for an International Adoption program. All the while, we have lead the state in the sponsorship of family foster care homes. As we evolved into a statewide organization in order to develop programs to better serve Kansas families and children, we realized we were no longer that small rural agency in Northern Lyon called The Farm, Inc., but that we had grown into TFI Family Services, Inc.
Q: Recently in the local area I have heard mention of Host Homes in regards to individuals with disabilities. Can you tell me more about Host Homes?
A: Currently individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities live either with a family member, in a residential group home or in state operated facilities. Host Homes are a foster care like environment for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Host Homes are a better choice for many of the individuals in service. By having the opportunity to enjoy life in a Host Home, individuals learn skills to transition to their own homes or provide a life long companionship to prevent living alone and being isolated from the world. A person who is providing a Host Home for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, provides a service to them of a family or roommate like setting. This has been proven to help achieve the highest degree of life satisfaction and personal growth for the individuals. Host Homes are a great option for everyone involved. Host Homes match a person who has a disability with someone who provides the assistance needed for daily living in a family setting. The provider works as an independent contractor, receiving full support to ensure a successful and satisfying experience. Host Home providers are well trained, offered a continuous support system and monitoring, as well as 24 hour access to emergency support and respite when needed. Being a provider is a life changing, skill-building, satisfying and rewarding experience. The benefits of becoming a Host Home provider are endless for the Individual in service as well as the provider. As stated by a current Host Home provider, "If you have the heart for it and can do it, do it. This is so rewarding." To become a Host Home provider you will be helping someone else achieve more in life while you earn a good income and enjoy the independence of working from home.
Q: What's new in or around Crawford County this month?
A: The chamber is excited to announce the 2012 Biz Expo will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 30-31, at Meadowbrook Mall in Pittsburg. The public is invited to attend this annual event that showcases a wide variety of products and services from area businesses. Many vendors will have free product samples, giveaways and prize drawings. We have an exciting theme for this year's expo, "The Place is Right: Shop the Pittsburg Area," which will have booths decorated in a game show theme. Every year vendors show off their creative skills in an attempt to win the coveted "Best of Show" award. The 2012 Biz Expo will kick off on Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. with a Chamber Coffee hosted by Custom Awards Plus, Inc. The 2012 Biz Expo is sponsored by KOAM TV 7, KKOW Radio and KFJX-FOX 14 TV. For additional information on the 2012 Biz Expo, or if your business is interested in reserving a booth space, contact the chamber at 620-231-1000 or visit www.PittsburgAreaChamber.com.
Q: Recently I heard information about the overwhelming need for foster homes in Southeast Kansas. Is there truly an emergent need?
A: Now more than ever, there is an overwhelming shortage of foster and adoptive parents. This raises concerns, when trying to place a child in their home county. When there is a child who is removed from their home for their safety, the need arises for foster homes within their own community. These children are placed out of home, when there has been a decision made by the court. The child at that time is found to be a child in need of care. This decision is based on the facts alleged by law enforcement and the local SRS. As of February 14, 2012, there are 84 children from Crawford County living in out of home placement. Out of these, only 31 are placed within Crawford County. The others are away from their family, school, and friends. In Crawford County, the greatest need for local foster families is for teenagers, sibling groups, and children with special needs. What are the qualifications for a resource foster care or adoptive parent? •Be 21 years or older and have a permanent residence •Have an outside source of income •Have housing space to provide a separate bed for each foster child •Complete PSP – MAPP (Partnering for Safety and Permanence Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting) training. This is a free, 10 week course designed to help you make an informed decision about becoming a resource parent •Provide three personal references •Pass the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Child Abuse Registry background checks. •Your home will need to pass inspection by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to ensure your home is safe and suitable for children Parenting experience is not required. Becoming a resource foster parent, you are giving an opportunity for children to stay closer to the community they know.
What can I do to lower my tax burden?
Q: What can I do to get some relief from income taxes?
A: One great way to lower your tax burden is to give to qualified charities. There are many different ways to give, most of which will have a beneficial effect on your taxes. Popular gifts that offer you a variety of tax and other benefits include: Direct Gifts Gifts made to a qualified charitable organization are tax-deductible if you itemize your return. Not every organization that seeks gifts is a qualified charity, so if you're seeking to use the gift as a tax deduction, make certain that the organization qualifies. (Interestingly, donations to certain government areas can be tax-deductible)! Charitable Gift Annuity An irrevocable agreement between you and the charity that provides you with a guaranteed annual payment for the rest of your life. There is often an immediate and long-term tax benefit to charitable gift annuities. Charitable Remainder Trust A trust arrangement between you and a trustee that pays you an income for life or a term of years. At the end of the trust term, the remaining assets are distributed to the charity. Life Insurance A creative, yet easy, way to make a significant impact through a new or existing policy. The cash value of the policy and premium payments are tax deductible. IRA/Retirement Plan Qualified retirement accounts are an ideal asset to leave to a charity since they bear income taxes if left to an individual. There are many other kinds of planned gifts, so it is wise to work with a professional to determine which options are the most effective for you.
Q: Anything new in or around Crawford County this month?
A: This month, we are encouraging everyone to stay informed, get involved, and CONNECT! The Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau are excited to bring you the Community Connection. A weekly radio show airing Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. on 860 AM KKOW. The show will feature upcoming events in the area, introduce new businesses and discuss topics affecting our community. Each show will feature new guests, so be sure and tune in each week. The goal of the show is to help listeners stay informed, involved and connected to our community. The Community Connection is a great way for businesses to promote ribbon cuttings, open houses, new services and new products. For additional information about being a guest on the show, contact the chamber at: 620-231-1000. If your business or organization has a large community event taking place in the area, contact B.J. Harris, Crawford County CVB Director, at 620-231-1212.
Q: Why do non-profits ask for financial gifts? Aren't people who have disabilities supported by the government?
A: People who have disabilities often do receive some type of government support, but it is limited. Alone, that income would have them living far below the poverty line. Many people with disabilities live in group homes of four or five people. Living with that many roommates helps make housing affordable. Some of the homes may be subsidized, such as HUD housing, which limits the amount someone can pay for rent. Even with subsidized housing, a person whose disability makes it difficult or impossible to find competitive employment, has little money remaining to pay for the expenses of daily life. After utilities, food, etc., it is not uncommon for people with disabilities to have between $30-$50 a month remaining to pay for personal needs such as clothing, personal care items and maybe some entertainment now and then. That's where the gifts to organizations can make a difference. Gifts often make the difference for someone to have new clothing when needed, or sometimes even food and daily care items. Gifts also help pay the difference for people who aren't able to live in subsidized housing but still have limited income. Additionally, many people would not be aware that government funding and insurance often does not cover items such as wheelchairs, incontinence supplies and adaptive equipment. (The types of tools that make daily living easier for people with disabilities). Adaptive equipment might be something like a communications device for people with limited verbal abilities, or a transfer lift to help them move from a bed to a chair. There are also many helpful therapies that are not covered by government funding. Gifts help provide all of those items. Gifts also help provide services that are not paid by any outside source. Depending upon their disability, a person receives specified numbers of service hours to have people support them with the activities of daily life. But the funding for those service hours doesn't include funding for transportation. Organizations have to maintain fleets of vehicles to get people to and from doctor appointments, church, community activities, family visits, etc. They also must find a way to make the reimbursement funds they receive for services cover staff wages, overhead, transportation, staff benefits and more.
Q: What are some things I, as a community member, could do to assist our individuals with intellectual disabilities?
A: As a member of the community there are a variety of ways you can make a difference in the lives of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. One of the easiest ways is to stop by and talk to the Community Relations Manager at any agency. They can invite you to the next informational event, or to the next seasonal party. If you would like to get to know some of the fantastic people which are being served by service agencies, you can adopt an individual, or even a house for the holidays. This requires a little time but makes for a lasting difference; bringing them treats and visiting, helping them decorate, or even bring a small birthday gift, building lasting friendships. As we all are, the individuals we serve are very excited about holiday events and other celebrations throughout the year. By adopting a person or a house you are showing your support and making a difference at the same time. Another way to assist is by donating much needed items. Many times these agencies are non-profit and numerous items are needed but can not be purchased. These items may consist of new bedding, curtains, toiletries, games, or other small items for their homes or the workshops. These little tokens of support go a long way. Another way to support individuals with intellectual disabilities is to be an advocate. Located on most agencies websites are directions to assist via email or hand written letters to our local legislators, stating the importance of funding our neighbors who may have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Most times, you can sign up and they will send you updates and information to assist. A visit or a call to your local agency, who serves individuals with intellectual disabilities, and visiting their Community Relations Manager will give you a better idea on how you as a community member can build lasting friendships and provide assistance at the same time.
Q: What's new at the Chamber?
A: As we touched base on last month, (and as I have revisited and updated as a reminder below for this month) the chamber is excited to announce the return of our Christmas Cash campaign! The campaign offers shoppers the chance to win $250 worth of gift certificates by visiting participating merchants in the Pittsburg area this holiday season. Shoppers who visit participating businesses can fill out an entry ticket to be entered in the drawings. A total of $1,000 in gift certificates will be awarded to four lucky winners. Drawings will be taking place each week leading up to Christmas. The goal of the Christmas Cash campaign is to encourage consumers to shoplocal. One of the best ways to support our community is to patronize local businesses. Money spent out of the area or online with non-local businesses provides no benefit to our community. Support our local merchants this holiday season and you may even receive an early present, a $250 gift certificate! Visit www.pittsburgareachamber.com for a full list of participating merchants and for exclusive Christmas Cash campaign coupons! Keep up to date with chamber events be becoming a fan of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.
Q: I have recently seen Mosaic's name in our community. What does Mosaic do?
A: Mosaic supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live as independently as they possibly can. Since every individual is different, the amount and types of support we offer vary for each individual. Mosaic's model of service focuses on the desires and needs of each person. Through annual "Personal Outcome Measure" interviews with the individual and their guardian, we determine what that person wants to accomplish. We then set up supports to help them work toward achieving their goals. Examples of our supports include: workshops where people learn vocational and life skills; job coaching that help people become successful in employment; and various therapies to help meet medical needs. We also provide housing for people. Some people need 24-hour/7-day living support so we provide group homes that are staffed at all times. Other people may only require staff to help with daily living activities like bathing or dressing. Everything depends upon the needs of the individual and we are as creative as possible in finding the best way to help. Mosaic has only been in Southeast Kansas since 2010, but the organization will celebrate its centennial in 2013. It has offered services in other areas of Kansas for more than 25 years.
A: The chamber is excited to announce the return of our Christmas Cash Campaign! The campaign offers shoppers the chance to win $250 worth of gift certificates by visiting participating merchants in the Pittsburg area this holiday season. Shoppers who visit participating businesses will need to fill out an entry ticket to be entered in the drawings. A total of $1,000 in gift certificates will be awarded to four lucky winners. Drawings will begin the last week of November, with one drawing taking place each week leading up to Christmas. The goal of the Christmas Cash Campaign is to encourage consumers to shop local. One of the best ways to support our community is to patronize local businesses. Money spent out of the area or online with non-local businesses provides no benefit to our community. Support our local merchants this holiday season and you may even receive an early present, a $250 gift certificate! If your business would like to join the Christmas Cash Campaign, please contact the chamber at 231-1000 for more details. We encourage participating merchants to offer coupons during the campaign, which will be available at www.pittsburgareachamber.com. Remember to "Like" Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.


Students may be admitted for undergraduate courses at Middlebury only if they do not already have a baccalaureate degree from Middlebury or any other institution.
Students are "in good academic standing" if they are meeting the requirements of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Seniors who need only one or two courses to graduate and who have been approved for special student status are also considered to be "in good academic standing."
"Successful completion of a year" for veterans' benefits certification is defined as "in good standing." Students taking fewer than four courses, however, should consult with the registrar regarding veterans' benefits.
Faculty members may send out course warnings to students thought to be in danger of receiving grades of "D" or "F." The Commons dean will normally monitor grades around the middle of the term and may contact parents or guardians of students who appear to be having academic difficulties, including receiving one or more course warning.
See Grades and Transcripts. A student who receives two D grades or one failing grade and a D grade in a single semester will be placed on probation until the end of the following fall or spring semester. A student completing a semester with three units of credit who receives one D or one F will be placed on probation. A student who receives a D or an F in the winter term will be placed on probation for the spring semester. A student who receives a D or an F in summer study will be placed on probation for the fall semester. Students placed on probation more than twice in their College careers will be required to withdraw. A student readmitted after an academic failure is readmitted on probation for the following fall or spring semester.
A student may be granted Off-Campus Study status to pursue a full-time program of studies at another recognized and accredited college or university in the United States or abroad.
a. Off-Campus Study status for overseas programs is approved by the Off-Campus Study (Programs Abroad) Committee at the request of the student and the recommendation of his or her major department. Course programs must be approved by the appropriate Middlebury departments in advance to remain in good standing.
b. Middlebury agrees to accept approved junior year abroad programs as equivalent to a full year's work. Students on other forms of leave have no such guarantee and must seek final approval of courses after their return to Middlebury. Students on Off-Campus Study status must inform the College if they withdraw from the institution they are attending or if they take a reduced course load.
i. Such students will be readmitted for fall or spring semester only. They will not be readmitted for summer study or for winter term, regardless of the plan for housing.
ii. The deadline for guaranteed readmission for the fall semester is June 15. After this date, students who wish to be readmitted will be placed on a waiting list. Students on the waiting list will be notified on September 1 if they have been readmitted for the fall.
iii. The deadline for guaranteed readmission for the spring semester is November 1. After this date, students who wish to be readmitted will be placed on a waiting list. Students on the waiting list will be notified on January 15 if they have been readmitted for the spring.
iv. There will be no readmissions after the September 1 and January 15 dates.
ii. Students who withdraw in the middle of a semester are ordinarily eligible for readmission after a full semester away. If they withdraw from a semester after December 1 (fall) or May 1 (spring), their courses will remain on the transcript. Students who withdraw during winter term or summer study will receive a grade of F for that that term. Any student wishing to take a leave of absence should consult with his or her Commons dean.
iii. Leaves of absence when there is a pending disciplinary matter are addressed in Section B.2.a.iv. Pending Discipline.
iv. Repeated or Extended Leaves: A student who has taken three leaves from Middlebury, including any withdrawal for academic failure or mandatory leave of absence, or who has taken a leave of absence in excess of three years, may no longer be eligible for the regular re-admission process. A student in these circumstances who wishes to return to Middlebury should petition for re-enrollment by the Administration Committee. The more extensive process of a petition for re-enrollment asks the student to document in some detail their readiness to return to Middlebury's rigorous academic environment, including, as appropriate, how the student's situation has changed or developed, to support a successful return.
i. Middlebury College provides a range of support services to address the medical needs of students, including mental health needs, within the context of the campus community. On occasion, students may experience health needs requiring a level of care that exceeds what the College can appropriately provide. In such circumstances, students may take a voluntary leave of absence. In situations where a student is unable or unwilling to carry out substantial self-care obligations, where their behavior is unduly disruptive to the community, where current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence indicates that a student poses a significant risk to the health or safety of others, or where a student poses an actual risk to their own safety not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations about individuals with disabilities, and the student does not want to take a leave voluntarily, the Vice President of Student Affairs has the authority to place the student on a mandatory leave of absence.
ii. Before placing any student on a mandatory leave of absence, Middlebury will do an individualized assessment to determine if there are reasonable accommodations that would permit the student to continue to participate in the campus community without taking a leave of absence. A medical evaluation by a competent specialist may be required. To enable careful, individualized consideration, the student may need to sign a release authorizing disclosure of relevant information by and between treatment providers working with the student and the appropriate College official(s).
iii. The student will be notified of the decision to place him or her on leave in writing. Student(s) will be given notice and an opportunity to speak with their Commons dean prior to or within five business days following the start of the mandatory leave. The decision may be appealed, following the procedures set forth in Section 5.b.iv., below.
iv. An appeal of a mandatory leave of absence may be made in writing (including email) to the vice president for Academic Affairs / dean of the faculty (VPAA/DOF) or designee within five business days of receipt of the decision. The appeal must state the grounds for the appeal and include any supporting evidence. The VPAA/DOF will ordinarily notify the student of the appeal decision within ten business days of receipt of the appeal.
v. Students placed on leave under this section may also be subject to the normal disciplinary processes if their conduct has violated College policy. If disciplinary action is appropriate, the matter must be resolved either before or immediately upon the student's return.
i. A student may request a temporary medical leave of absence for up to ten days. A temporary leave beyond ten days will only be granted in extraordinary circumstances.
ii. The College may place the student on a temporary mandatory leave of absence for up to ten days when the conditions for a mandatory leave of absence, above, are met. Whenever possible, the student will be given notice and an opportunity to speak with their Commons dean prior to or within three business days following the start of the temporary leave. The student's Commons dean, in consultation with others as appropriate, will make a determination as to the student's request after reviewing the information submitted. There is no right of appeal.
Students who are placed on temporary medical leave may also be subject to the normal disciplinary processes when their conduct has violated College policy. If disciplinary action is appropriate, the matter must be resolved either before or immediately upon the student's return.
Students may return from their temporary medical leave after providing documentation and information in accordance with Section 5.d., below.
i. Students on leave are eligible for readmission for a three-year period, and many students who take a leave will have no requirements attached to their readmission. In some cases, a Dean or the VPSA may impose specific requirements for readmission if the circumstances of the student's departure warrant it. The goal of such conditions is to prepare the student for a successful return to Middlebury; for example, a student may be asked to complete pre-approved coursework at another institution in order to demonstrate readiness to return to rigorous academic work or to provide clinical information to staff of the Parton Center for Health & Wellness to facilitate a successful return. For example, student may need to complete the Medical Return Form and respond to any follow-up requests for information from Parton staff. If the leave is health-related, any conditions or requirements for reinstatement will be based on an individualized assessment of each student including consideration of current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence. Careful consideration will be given to the opinions and recommendations of the student's treating physician or mental health professional, if available.
As appropriate to the individual circumstances of a student's departure, a Dean or VPSA may also require that the student provide information to their Commons Dean when they seek readmission. Typically, this includes a letter about the student's understanding of the problem that led to the leave, evidence of the student's work to resolve the issue and/or progress made in managing the issue and other information that may assist the College in evaluating whether the student can safely and effectively participate in the residential academic programs of the College.
ii. Students eligible for readmission can expect to receive instructions for completing the online readmission forms from their Commons dean. They must confirm their plan to return on this readmission date with their Commons dean no later than June 15 for the fall term and November 1 for the spring semester. Students who fail to confirm their plans to return by these deadlines will be placed on a waiting list for readmission. Normally, readmission is for fall or spring semester only. Students will be readmitted for winter term or summer study only with special permission from the Vice President for Student Affairs.
iii. Students on probation for disciplinary or academic reasons will resume their probationary status upon their return for the duration of the assigned probationary period.
iv. In the rare circumstance that a student's request for readmission is denied on grounds of health or safety, the decision may be appealed in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs, or in appropriate, to the VPAA/Dean of the Faculty.
Middlebury is committed to ensuring equal access to its educational programs for students with disabilities. The term "disability" may include learning, physical, sensory, psychological, medical, and certain temporary disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504), and anlaoguous state laws prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and entitle individuals with disabilities to reasonable accommodations. Students with disabilities may request academic accommodations; housing and dining accommodations; modifications to University policies, rules, and regulations; environmental adjustments such as the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers; and auxiliary aids and services. Additional policies and procedures regarding accommodations can be found on the website of Student Accessibility Services and in Middlebury's Americans with Disabilities Act Policy.
Students with disabilities who seek accommodations must register with Student Accessibility Services. Registration through self-identification is a voluntary process that is treated confidentially and may occur at any time during the student's course of study. Such students may seek modifications of the academic regulations set forth herein as accommodations from SAS, which may refer certain requests to the Administration Committee.
A student who receives two F grades, three D grades, or one F grade and two D grades during a fall or spring semester earns an academic failure and is required to withdraw. Seventh-semester seniors may petition to be reviewed by the Administration Committee prior to final action.
A student on probation who receives one F grade or two D grades in the subsequent fall or spring semester is required to withdraw.
A student who receives D or an F in the winter term or in summer study while on probation will be required to withdraw. Students placed on probation more than twice in their College career will be required to withdraw.
A student who is enrolled in three courses and receives one F and one D grade, or two D grades, will be required to withdraw. A student enrolled in three courses who is on probation and who receives one D grade will be required to withdraw.
The above rules also apply to Middlebury undergraduates who enroll in Language Schools, Schools Abroad, Bread Loaf School of English, School of the Environment, and externally sponsored programs approved by the office of International Programs and Off-Campus Study. Students withdrawn due to academic failure are not eligible to attend any Middlebury school or program until formally readmitted to the College.
At any time, a student failing a course, consistently receiving grades below C-, or in any way neglecting the obligations of a course, may be placed on course warning.
Students failing in their studies generally may be withdrawn from the College by the Administration Committee if, in its judgment, failure is due to lack of application or to a negligent attitude.
Application for readmission must be made to the Administration Committee, who will consult with the student's Commons dean. Application must be made by June 1 for fall semester, and by November 1 for spring semester. Students found to be in academic failure in the spring semester and who request immediate readmission for the following fall must apply by June 15. The Administration Committee may defer action on these applications until an official transcript showing work completed at another institution has been received at Middlebury. Normally, readmission is for fall or spring semester only. Students will be readmitted for winter term or for summer study only with special permission from the Administration Committee in consultation with the student's Commons dean. Any student readmitted will be on probation for the first semester following return and, if withdrawn a second time, will not be readmitted. A student readmitted on probation for winter term remains on probation for spring semester; a student readmitted on probation for summer study remains on probation for fall semester.
Special student status is designated for students with only one or two remaining courses (although Febs may apply for special student status for the fall semester when they have three remaining courses), and for students with a documented disability for which this arrangement is deemed by the Student Accessibility Services staff to be a reasonable accommodation. Special students are charged by the course, and may not live on campus.
Students applying for special student status based on course completion must submit a completed Special Student application to the Office of the Registrar for approval. Students applying for special student status based on a documented disability must submit their request, along with appropriate documentation, to the Student Accessibility Services office. Applications for special student status must ordinarily be filed with the Office of the Registrar by March 15 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester. Students whose circumstances change after March 15 or November 15 may file applications for special student status after those deadlines if they have compelling reasons.
Occasionally, special students wish to remain living and eating on campus. When this request is based on a documented disability, students should submit this request to the Student Accessibility Services office. When this request is based on exceptional personal circumstances, students may apply to the Administration Committee.
Students from other colleges may be admitted through the Administration Committee, if space is available, for one semester as non-matriculated students. Such students are required to be in good academic and social standing at their home institutions and have the approval of their home institutions. The Administration Committee will review potential visiting students' applications and transcripts and proposed courses of study at Middlebury to ensure that the students meet academic standards and that there is room in the courses they plan to take. Any visiting student wishing to transfer to Middlebury must apply in the regular manner through the Admissions Office.
Students who wish to leave Middlebury College and plan never to return may resign from the College. Students who resign must notify the dean of their Commons in writing. There is no readmission after a resignation.
In cases of dismissal from the College, no refund of the comprehensive fee is made. In other cases of absence or withdrawal from the College for medical reasons or serious emergencies, fees are refunded according to the College's refund schedule. In all cases, the enrollment deposit is forfeited.


text:
Q: Morphia Entity with embedded BasicDBList fails on IterableConverter.decode I m having an entity like this:
    public class Entity {

    @Id
    private ObjectId id;

    private BasicDBList data;

    public ObjectId getId() {
        return id;
    }

    public BasicDBList getData() {
        return data;
    }

    public void setData(List<Map<String, Object>> data) {
        Objects.requireNonNull(data, "data");
        this.data = new BasicDBList();
        this.data.addAll(data);
    }
}

I m setting the data using an ObjectMapper, from json, to List, like this:
 List<Map<String, Object>> data = this.jsonMapper.readValue(JSON, List.class);

Saving works fine. When I try to call BasicDAO
public T get(final K id) {
    return ds.get(entityClazz, id);
}

I get an IndexOutOfBoundsException in IterableConverter.decode when it tries to call
final MappedField mappedField = mf.getTypeParameters().get(0);

Do I need to treat BasicDBList within Entities in a special way?
Mongo Java Driver Version 3.0.2
Morphia Version 1.0.1
It used to work before with Mongo Java Driver Version 2.12.4 and Morphia 0.108

A: You might running up against this bug.  Can you try with a 1.1.0-SNAPSHOT build and see if that fixes it for you?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We think dying Easter eggs is always fun, but if you're looking for a few more creative ways to decorate Easter eggs, we've got you covered!
Dye the eggs as you normally would and let them dry. After the eggs are dry, apply a little adhesive and let that dry. After about 25 minutes, apply gold or copper leaf against the egg, shiny side down. This surprisingly affordable material (gold or copper leaf) is sold on a sheet and can be found at most craft stores. After the leaf is applied, distress as desired with a dry paintbrush.
Stickers are an easy way to make your Easter eggs look a little more elaborate and fun. Hard boil the eggs as you normally would, then apply stickers. They should stick after the eggs have dried. If you're feeling really adventurous, you can always dye the eggs before applying the stickers, or you can apply the stickers, dye the eggs with the stickers on, then remove the stickers after the dye dries to create a fun outline.
Give your eggs the red carpet treatment with some glitzy glitter. Again, you can dye the eggs prior to applying the glitter if you'd like, or you can simply use glitter. All you need to do is cover the egg (or whichever parts you want covered in glitter) with craft glue and pour on the glitter.
Who doesn't love the look of paper mache? After your eggs are cooked and cooled, use craft glue to cover the egg, then layer on as much tissue paper as you'd like. Tip: Using small pieces makes it easier to cover the eggs, and it sticks easier. Also, the more layers you apply will make the tissue paper color richer.
Using paint, crayons or markers also works on hard boiled eggs. You have a little more control over your decorating, and you can make more intricate designs. Heck, you can even write on the eggs. Let your creative side out this Easter.


Tuberculosis (TB) is still a common infection in developing countries. After lung and lymph nodes, bone and joint is the next common site of tubercu- losis in the body. It constitutes about 1-4 per cent of the total number of cases of tuberculosis.
The spine is the commonest site of bone and joint tuberculosis, constituting about 50 per cent of the total number of cases. Next in order of frequency are the hip, the knee and the elbow. Tubercular osteomyelitis more commonly affects the ends of the long bone, unlike pyogenic osteomyelitis which affects the metaphysis. This is also the reason for early involvement of the adjacent joint in tubercular osteomyelitis. Table–23.1 shows the common musculo-skeletal structures affected by tuberculosis.
Common causative organism is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Bone and joint tuberculosis is always secondary to some primary focus in the lungs, lymph nodes etc. Mode of spread from the primary focus may be either haematogenous or by direct extension from a neighbouring focus.
Proliferative response: This is the commoner of the two It is characterised by chronic granulomatous inflammation with a lot of fibrosis.
Exudative response: In some cases, particularly in immuno-deficient individuals, elderly people and people suffering from leukaemia , there is extensive caseation necrosis without much cellular reaction. This results in extensive pus formation. These are also termed non-reactive cases.
Natural history: Inflammation results in local trabecular necrosis and caseation. Deminera- lisation of the bone occurs because of intense local hyperaemia. In the absence of adequate body resistance or chemotherapy, the cortices of the bone get eroded, and the infected granulation tissue and pus find their way to the sub-periosteal and soft tissue planes. Here they present as cold abscesses, and may burst out to form sinuses. The affected bone may undergo a pathological fracture.
A tubercular osteomyelitis in the vicinity of a joint may result in the involvement of the joint.
Joint involvement is usually in the form of a low-grade synovitis, with thickening of the synovial membrane. Unlike pyogenic arthritis where proteolytic enzymes cause severe early destruction of the articular cartilage, tubercular infection causes slow destruction. Once the synovium is inflamed, it starts destroying the cartilage from the periphery. This inflammatory synovium at the periphery of the cartilage is called Pannus. Eventually, the articular cartilage is completely destroyed. The joint gets distended with the pus. Joint capsule and ligaments become lax, and the joint may get subluxated. Pus and tubercular debris burst out of the joint capsule to form a cold abscess, and subsequently a chronic discharging sinus.
Healing: It occurs by fibrosis, which results in significant limitation or near complete loss of joint movement (fibrous ankylosis). If considerable destruction of the articular cartilage has occurred, the joint space is completely lost, and is traversed by bony trabeculae between the bones forming the joint (bony ankylosis) as shown in Fig-23.1. Fibrous ankylosis is a common outcome of healed tuberculosis of the joints, except in the spine where bony ankylosis follows more often.
Clinical features depend upon the site affected. Patients of all ages and both sexes are affected frequently. The onset is gradual in most cases.
Fallacious history of trauma: Very often the patient assigns all his symptoms to an episode of One should not get carried away by such information, as the injury may be coincidental. A detailed inquiry in such cases will reveal a symptom-free period between the episode of trauma and the beginning of symptoms, thus establishing the non-traumatic nature of the disease.
Specific signs and symptoms in patients with tuberculosis at major sites will be discussed in respective sections.
TB osteomyelitis: A tubercular osteomyelitis presents as a well-defined area of bone destruction, typically with minimal reactive new bone formation. This is unlike a pyogenic infection, where reactive periosteal new bone formation is an important feature.
TB arthritis: In tubercular arthritis there is reduction of the joint space, erosion of the articular surfaces and marked peri-articular rarefaction. This is unlike many other causes of joint space reduction such as osteoarthritis, septic arthritis, etc., where there is subchondral sclerosis instead.
X-ray features specific to different sites will be discussed in their respective sections. A chest X-ray should be done routinely to detect any tubercular lesion in the lungs.
Serum ELISA test for detecting anti-myco bacte- rium antibodies.
Synovial fluid aspiration (see Table–22.3, page 177).
Histopathological examination of the granulation tissue obtained by biopsy or curettage of a lesion.
Principles of treatment: Treatment of tuberculosis of bones and joints consists of control of the infec- tion and care of the diseased part. In most cases, conservative treatment suffices; sometimes opera- tive intervention is required.
Control of infection: It is brought about by potent anti-tubercular drugs, rest to the affected part and the building up of patient's resistance.
4 drugs — Rifampicin, INH, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol for 3 months. In selected cases with multifocal tuberculosis, 5 drugs — RF, INH, PZ, ETH and Streptomycin, may be required for the initial period. The patient is monitored* to detect any failure to respond or for any side- effects of the drugs.
Rest: The affected part should be rested during the period of In the upper extremities this can be done with a plaster slab; in the lower extremities traction can be applied. In most cases of spinal tuberculosis bed rest for a short period is sufficient; in others, support with a brace may be necessary.
Building up the patient's resistance: The patient should be given a high protein diet and exposed to fresh air and sunlight to build up his general resistance.
Proper positioning of the joint: The joints should be kept in proper position so that contractures do not develop.
Mobilisation: As the disease comes under con- trol and the pain reduces, joint mobilisation is This prevents contractures and helps regain movement. In cases with extreme dam- age to the joint, it is best to expect ankylosis of the joint in the position of most useful func- tion.
Biopsy: For cases where the diagnosis is in doubt, a fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) may be performed from an enlarged lymph node or from a soft tissue swelling. An open biopsy may be necessary from a bony lesion, or in case FNAC fails to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment of cold abscess: A small stationary abscess may be left alone as it will regress with the healing of the A bigger cold abscess may need aspiration or evacuation (discussed in detail on page 191).
Joint debridement: In cases with moderate joint destruction, surgical removal of infected and necrotic material from the joint may be This helps in the early healing of the disease, and thus promotes recovery of the joint.
Salvage operations: These are procedures performed for markedly destroyed joints in order to salvage whatever useful functions are possible g., Girdlestone arthroplasty of the hip (page 198).
The spine is the commonest site of bone and joint tuberculosis; the dorso-lumbar region being the one affected most frequently.
paradiscal tuberculosis of the spine.
Surface anatomy of the vertebral column: The only part of the vertebra which is accessible to palpation is its spinous process, hence this is used for localising the level of the vertebral segment. Table–23.3 shows the relationship between the vertebral spinous processes to that of some of the easily palpable anatomical landmarks. Once the affected vertebra is known, the corresponding cord-segment can be found as discussed subsequently.
between the spinal segment and cord segment in different regions of the spinal column is as shown in Table–23.4, page 185.
Like tuberculosis of the bones and joints elsewhere in the body, TB of the spine is always secondary. The bacteria reach the spine via the haematogenous route, from the lungs or lymph nodes. It spreads via the para-vertebral plexus of veins i.e., Batson's plexus, which has free communication with the visceral plexus of the abdomen, a common site of tuberculosis.
Paradiscal: This is the commonest In this, the contiguous areas of two adjacent vertebrae along with the intervening disc are affected.
Central: In this type, the body of a single vertebra is affected. This leads to early collapse of the weakened vertebra. The nearby disc may be normal. The collapse may be a 'wedging' or 'concertina' collapse (Fig-23.4); wedging being commoner.
Anterior: In this type, infection is localised to the anterior part of the vertebral The infection spreads up and down under the anterior longitudinal ligament.
Posterior: In this type, the posterior complex of the vertebra i.e., the pedicle, lamina, spinous process and transverse process are affected.
Pathology: Basic pathology is the same as that in other bone and joint tuberculosis. In the commoner paradiscal type, bacteria lodge in the contiguous areas of two adjacent vertebrae. Granulomatous inflammation results in erosion of the margins of these vertebrae. Nutrition of the intervening disc, which comes from the end-plates of the adjacent vertebrae is compromised. This results in disc degeneration, and as the process continues, complete destruction.
Weakening of the trabeculae of the vertebral body results in collapse of the vertebra. Type of collapse is generally a wedging, occurs early, and is severe in lesions of the dorsal spine. This is because, in the dorsal spine the line of weight bearing passes anterior to the vertebra, so that the anterior part of the weakened vertebra is more compressed than the posterior, resulting in wedging. In the cervical and lumbar spines, because of their lordotic curvature (round forwards), wedging is less. Destruction occurs early, and is severe in children.
Cold abscess: This is a collection of pus and tubercular debris from a diseased vertebra. It is called a cold abscess because it is not associated with the usual signs of inflammation – heat, redness etc., found with a pyogenic abscess. The tubercular pus can track in any direction from the affected vertebra (Fig-23.5). If it travels backwards, it may press upon the important neural structures in the spinal canal. Pus may come out anteriorly (pre-vertebral abscess) or on the sides of the vertebral body (para-vertebral abscess). Once outside the vertebra the pus may travel along the musculo-fascial planes or neuro- vascular bundles to appear superficially at places far away from the site of lesion.
Healing: As healing occurs, the lytic areas in the bone are replaced by new bone. The adjacent vertebrae undergo fusion by bony-bridges. Whatever changes have occurred in the shape of the vertebral body are, however, permanent.
Pain: Back pain is the commonest presenting symptom. It may be diffuse; no more than a dull ache in the early stages, but later becomes localised to the affected diseased It may be a 'radicular' pain i.e., a pain radiating along a nerve root. Depending upon the nerve root affected, it may present as pain in the arm (cervical roots), girdle pain (dorsal roots), pain abdomen (dorso-lumbar roots), groin pain (lumbar roots) or 'sciatic' pain (lumbo-sacral roots).
Stiffness: It is a very early symptom in TB of the spine. It is a protective mechanism of the body, wherein the para-vertebral muscles go into spasm to prevent movement at the affected vertebra.
Cold abscess: The patient may present the first time with a swelling (cold abscess) or problems secondary to its compression effects on the nearby visceral structures, such as dysphagia in TB of the cervical A detailed examination in such cases reveals underlying TB of the spine.
Constitutional symptoms: Symptoms like fever, weight loss etc., are rarely the only presenting symptoms.
The aim of examination is: (i) to pick up findings suggestive of tuberculosis of the spine; (ii) to localise the site of lesion; (iii) find skip lesions; and (iv) to detect any associated complications like cold abscesses or paraplegia. Following is the systematic way in which one should proceed to examine a case of suspected TB of the spine.
Gait: A patient with TB of the spine walks with short steps in order to avoid jerking the spine. He may take time and may be very cautious while attempting to lie on the examination In TB of the cervical spine, the patient often supports his head with both hands under the chin and twists his whole body in order to look sideways.
Attitude and deformity: A patient with TB of the cervical spine has a stiff, straight neck. In dorsal spine TB, part of the spine becomes prominent (gibbus or kyphus*). Significant deformity is generally absent in lumbar spine tuberculosis; there may just be loss of lumbar lordosis.
Para-vertebral swelling: A superficial cold abscess may present as fullness or swelling on the back, along the chest wall or anteriorly. It is easy to diagnose because of its fluctuant nature. Sometimes, an abscess may be tense and it may not be possible to elicit fluctuation. A needle aspiration may be performed in such cases, to confirm the diagnosis. It is important to look for cold abscesses in not so obvious locations, depending upon the region of the spine affected.
Neurological examination: A thorough neuro- logical examination of the limbs, upper or lower, depending on the site of tuberculosis should be performed. In addition to motor, sensory and reflexes examination, an assessment should be made of urinary or bowel functions. Aim of neurological examination is to find: (i) whether or not there is any neurological compression;(ii) level of neurological compression; and (iii) severity of neurological compression.
General examination: A general physical examination should be performed to detect any active or healed primary The patient may have some other systemic illness like diabetes, hypertension, jaundice etc., which may have a bearing on further treatment.
X-ray examination: One must specify the level of the suspected damage, when requisitioning an X-ray of the spine. Minimum of two views, AP and lateral, are necessary. A chest X-ray for primary focus or an X-ray of the abdomen – KUB, if a psoas abscess is suspected, may also be taken. Following are some of the important radiological features.
Reduction of disc space: This is the earliest sign in the commoner, paradiscal type of tuberculosis (Fig-23.6a). In early stages, reduction in disc space may be minimal, and may be detectable only on comparing the height of the suspected disc with those In advanced stages, disc space may be completely lost (Fig-23.6b). A lateral X-ray is better for evaluation of disc space. Reduction of disc space is an important sign because in other diseases of the spine e.g. secondaries in the spine, the disc space is well preserved.
Destruction of the vertebral body: In early stages, the contiguous margins of the affected vertebrae may be The diseased, weakened vertebra may undergo wedging. In late stages, a significant part or whole of the vertebral body may be destroyed (Fig-23.6c), leading to angular kyphotic deformity. Severity of the deformity depends upon the extent of wedging and number of affected vertebrae (Table–23.6).
Para-vertebral abscess: A para-vertebral soft tissue shadow corresponding to the site of the affected vertebra in AP view indicates a para-vertebral abscess. It may be of the following types: (i) a fusiform para-vertebral abscess (bird nest abscess – an abscess whose length is greater than its width (Fig-23.7a); and (ii) globular or tense abscess – an abscess whose width is greater than the length (Fig-23.7b). The latter indicates pus under pressure and is commonly associated with paraplegia.
Widened mediastinum: An abscess from the dorsal spine may present as widened mediastinum on AP X-ray.
Retro-pharyngeal abscess: In cervical spine TB, a retro-pharyngeal abscess may be seen on a lateral X-ray. Normally, soft tissue shadow in front of the C3 vertebral body is 4 mm thick; an increase in its thickness indicates a retro- pharyngeal abscess (Fig-23.7c).
Psoas abscess: In dorso-lumbar and lumbar tuberculosis, psoas shadow on an X-ray of the abdomen may show a bulge.
Unusual signs: In tuberculosis involving the posterior complex, there may be erosion of the posterior elements of pedicle, lamina These are better visible on oblique X-rays of the spine. Anterior type of vertebral tuberculosis may show erosion of the anterior part of the body, much the same as that possibly seen sometimes in cases with aneurysm of aorta, thus termed aneurysmal sign. There may be lytic lesions in the ribs in the vicinity of the affected vertebra.
Signs of healing: Once the disease starts healing, the density of the affected bones gradually Areas surrounding the lytic lesion show sclerosis, and over a period of time these lesions are replaced by sclerotic bone. The adjacent vertebrae undergo bony fusion.
CT scan: It may detect a small para-vertebral abscess, not otherwise seen on plain X-ray; may indicate precisely the extent of destruction of the vertebral body and posterior elements; and may show a sequestrum or a bony ridge pressing on the cord (Fig-23.8). This is a very useful investigation in cases presenting as 'spinal tumour syndrome', where there may be no signs on plain X-rays.
MRI is the investigation of choice to evaluate the type and extent of compression of the cord (Fig- 23.9). It also shows condition of the underlying neural tissues, and thus helps in predicting the prognosis in a particular case.
Myelography: This may be indicated in cases presenting with 'spinal tumour syndrome', or when the clinical level of neurological deficit does not correspond to the radiological level of the lesion.
Biopsy: CT guided needle biopsy, or an open biopsy may be required in a case with doubtful diagnosis.
Other general investigations: Investigations like ESR, Mantoux test, ELISA test for detecting anti- tubercular antibodies, chest X-ray, etc., to support the diagnosis of tuberculosis, may be carried out whenever required.
Cases with TB of the spine report fairly late in developing countries, so they present mostly with classic signs, symptoms and radiological features. In the early stages, and sometimes in some atypical presentations, diagnosis may be difficult. Some of the common differential diagnosis and their differentiating features are given in Table–23.7.
to achieve healing of the disease; and (ii) to prevent, detect early, and treat promptly any complication like paraplegia Treatment consists of anti-tubercular chemotherapy (page 184), general care (page 184), care of the spine, and treatment of the cold abscess. Only the latter two will be discussed here.
Care of the spine: This consists of providing rest to the spine during the acute phase, followed by guarded mobilisation.
Rest: Ashort period of bed rest for pain relief may be sufficient during early stages of treatment. In cases with significant vertebral destruction, a longer period of bed rest is desirable to prevent further collapse and pathological dislocation of the diseased In children, a body cast is sometimes given, basically to force them to rest. Minerva jacket or a collar may be given for immobilising the cervical spine.
Mobilisation: As the patient improves, he is allowed to sit and walk while the spine is supported in a collar for the cervical spine, or an ASH brace for the dorso-lumbar spine. The patient is weaned off the brace once bony fusion occurs. He is advised to avoid sports for 2 Years.
Evacuation: In this procedure, the cold abscess is drained, its walls curetted, and the wound closed without a drain. This is unlike drainageof a pyogenic abscess, where a post-operative drain is always left. A psoas abscess can be drained extra-peritoneally using a kidney incision.
Medical Research Council of Great Britain conducted controlled trials to study various aspects of TB spine and published findings in four reports (1973-74). Their conclusions were that (i) bed rest is not necessary; (ii) Streptomycin is not necessary; (iii) PoP jacket offers no benefit; and (iv) debridement is not a good operation.
Cold abscess: This is the commonest complication of TB of the Treatment is as discussed above.
Neurological compression: At times the patient presents as a case of spinal tumour syndrome; the first clinical symptom being a neurological deficit (discussed subsequently).


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Victoria News | Local Breaking | CTV News Vancouver Island
Police say a man who was reported missing from Nanaimo, B.C., earlier this week has been found dead.
Pacific FC head couch Pa-Modou Kah is heading south to join FC Dallas after two years with the Vancouver Island team, and a recent championship win at the 2021 Canadian Premier League.
B.C. musician topping global charts with her new single
Vancouver Island musician, Lauren Spencer-Smith, has released a new single called 'Fingers Crossed,' and it's been soaring up the music charts ever since it dropped at the beginning of the new year.
Greater Victoria gyms and fitness centres reopen after month-long COVID-19 shutdown
After being closed for almost a month due a provincial health order aimed at preventing the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, gyms and fitness centres in Greater Victoria have reopened.
Sooke, B.C. seeks arts committee volunteers for new projects
The District of Sooke is looking for a pair of volunteers to offer guidance to council on artistic projects and events in the community.
New shelter coming to Salt Spring Island, freeing up space for health-care staff
BC Housing and the Capital Regional District are planning to build a new shelter space on Salt Spring Island, where housing is notoriously difficult to find.
Close contacts of COVID-19 cases don't need to self-isolate: BCCDC
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has changed its guidelines on self-isolation and managing COVID-19 at home as the Omicron variant of concern continues to surge in the province.
Do some masks make people more attractive?
Childcare sector upset with COVID guidelines
Dine Around returns to Victoria
Recycling delays caused by perfect storm
Islanders react to Ukraine and Russia tension
Isolation period reduced for unvaccinated kids in B.C.
Inside CTV News Vancouver Island
Cleanup from MV Zim Kingston spill an ongoing issue on Vancouver Island say environmentalists
It's been three months since 109 shipping containers were knocked from a cargo ship traveling through rough seas off the west coast of Vancouver Island, yet the location of all but four remain unknown.
'Clearly there is something wrong': Vancouver Island family doctor crisis deepens as thousands lose medical care
The new year brought bad news for the mayor of View Royal, B.C., and about 4,500 other newly abandoned medical patients.
Victoria man's disappearance 'completely out of character,' wife says
It's been nine days since Ian Indridson, 54, walked out the door of his home in Victoria and didn't return.
'Co-living' suites part of new rental building approved in Victoria
The City of Victoria has approved a 16-storey purpose-built rental building that will include first-of-a-kind co-living suites.
B.C. First Nations make deal with Western Forests to defer old-growth logging
Cedar, fir and hemlock trees as old as 800 years have temporary protection after an agreement was reached between four Vancouver Island First Nations and a forestry company.
Save-On-Foods imposes 50% capacity limits at B.C. grocery stores
A major grocery chain is limiting the number of customers allowed in its British Columbia stores "until further notice" in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
CRD suspends large-scale recycling due to equipment issues
The Capital Regional District (CRD) is warning of further recycling delays, this time due to issues with equipment.
B.C. son helps mom replace cherished memories after toonie collection stolen
After a fire destroyed most of the pictures showing her children's past, Mandy Lamarche discovered she could recall their priceless moments together through coin collecting. When her collection was stolen, her son
B.C. couple explain why they haven't removed hostage-taking cats from blender box
Like all epic stories, this one starts quite simply, beginning with the delivery of a blender in a box.
4x4 enthusiast turns 'hero' driving snowed-in health-care staff to work on Vancouver Island
Before he was known as Barto Built, sharing his backcountry 4x4 adventures on YouTube, Bart Sutherland was known as a 'rock-crawler,' driving his truck over seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
11-year-old B.C. advice book author marks birthday with fundraiser for late sister
Before we can appreciate what Felix is hoping to get for his upcoming 12th birthday, we need to go back to the home video showing the then-five-year-old opening a box-full of books.
100-year-old pianist performs soundtrack of the century to lift spirits
If you ask Muriel about her big birthday, she'll answer with appreciation. If you ask about what she accomplished during her life, she'll answer with humility. If you ask her about music, she might answer with a performance.
The love story behind a dinosaur holding a bouquet caught on camera at Victoria International Airport
While waiting at the arrivals lounge at the Victoria International Airport, Sophie was having second thoughts about dressing up in an inflatable dinosaur costume.
'It's for love': Decorated Christmas car helps driver spread joy after overcoming adversity
Decorated with bright bows, colourful lights, and Santa Claus, the 1965 Ford Fairlane Sport Coupe couldn't look more festive.
11-year-old Santa super-fan realizes dream by helping others on Vancouver Island
Stephanie wasn't thinking about the connection to Christmas when she named her son Nikolas.
Oak Bay tree 'grows' hundreds of candy canes during holiday season
Before we can appreciate why a pair of siblings are sprinting across the street with delight today, we need to know what Doug was spilling around the base of his tree about 15 years ago.
CTV News at Five 5 p.m. CTV News at Six 6 p.m. CTV News at Eleven 11 p.m.
When will the COVID-19 pandemic become endemic?
Highlights from Across Canada
Montreal teenager Eryn Margolese can't stand the cold -- she has a condition called cold urticaria that causes her to have an itchy rash, and can even produce life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Montreal dog adopted by loving couple after being violently beaten by previous owner
After a harrowing life of being beaten almost to death by her previous owner, Eva -- formerly known as Angie -- was adopted by a loving Montreal couple.
A Manitoba man is sharing the challenges he is facing with cataracts, and says he is desperate to have the surgery, noting he has only 10 per cent of his vision left.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The default file system in Windows is NTFS, and the default file system in Ubuntu Linux is EXT4. The purpose of today's 30 Days With Ubuntu Linux post is to try and understand what the difference is, and whether or not you should care.
Early on in the 30 Days With Ubuntu Linux series, there were some comments that took issue with the fact that I had installed Ubuntu over Windows using Wubi.exe. One of the primary reasons behind that complaint is that in doing so I was running Ubuntu from a drive formatted using NTFS rather than one using EXT4.
How your file system stores all of those ones and zeros can make a difference in performance.
What's the big deal? Well, theoretically, an EXT4 drive performs better than an NTFS drive, and the commenters were concerned that I would judge any sub-par performance as an issue with Ubuntu rather than recognizing it as a function of the drive format.
There is a very complex and detailed comparison of the various file formats-including NTFS and EXT4-on Wikipedia if you are so inclined. In a nutshell, EXT4 allows characters in file names that aren't allowed in NTFS, such as '?', ':', '*'. Of course, being able to name a file "EXT4: Why Does It Perform Better?" doesn't actually make EXT4 perform better.
EXT4 can support individual files up to 16 terabytes, and volumes up to one exabyte in size. But, one of the aspects of EXT4 which contributes to better performance, though, is that EXT4 can handle larger extents-a range of contiguous physical blocks of data. This allows it to work better with large files and reduce drive fragmentation.
Other factors include the allocate-on-flush technique used by EXT4. By delaying allocation of data blocks until the data is ready to be written to disk, EXT4 improves performance and reduces fragmentation compared to file systems that allocate blocks earlier.
Using checksums for drive journaling improves reliability and improves performance by avoiding waiting on the disk during the journaling process. When it comes to file checking, EXT4 is quicker because unallocated blocks of data are marked as such and are simply skipped during disk check operations.
All that being said, I can't say I really notice any significant difference. Ubuntu Linux performed about the same running on NTFS using Wubi.exe as it does booting natively in EXT4. Much of the performance difference is purely theoretical, and your real-world mileage will vary depending on your hardware, how you configure the block size for your drive, and your data.
Linux can read both NTFS and EXT4 partitions-which is why I am able to open music files straight from my folder on my Windows drive, or save files like this document to my normal Documents folder in Windows without having to reboot or use external thumb drives.
I will end with a semi-related side note. EXT4 may have some performance advantages over NTFS, but watch out for the default ODT file format used in LibreOffice. An ODT file is about 500 percent larger than its DOCX equivalent. I just saved this file in both formats. The ODT is 28.7KB, while the DOCX is only 5.9KB.
With drives in the hundreds of megabytes, or even terabytes, it may seem trivial to even care about a few KB here or there. But, for an organization with thousands upon thousands of files, those KBs will add up, and no organization wants to have to purchase or maintain five times more storage capacity for the exact same data.