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Cirugía Española (English Edition)
Inicio Cirugía Española (English Edition) Nonfunctioning, Small, Incidental Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Results of a...
Cirugía Española, an official body of the Asociación Española de Cirujanos (Spanish Association of Surgeons), will consider original articles, reviews, editorials, special articles, scientific letters, letters to the editor, and medical images for publication; all of these will be submitted to an anonymous external peer review process. There is also the possibility of accepting book reviews of recent publications related to General and Digestive Surgery. The articles published in Cirugía Española can be found summarised and indexed in Science Citation Index Expanded, Journal Citation Reports, Index Medicus/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMCare, Scirus, IBECS and IME.
Index Medicus/Medline, IBECS, IME
Pages 83-88 (February 2017)
Lee este artículo en Español
DOI: 10.1016/j.cireng.2016.12.003
Nonfunctioning, Small, Incidental Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Results of a Nonoperative Approach Cohort
Tumores neuroendocrinos no funcionantes de páncreas incidentales de pequeño tamaño: Resultados de una serie con manejo no quirúrgico
Catalina Uribe Galeanoa, Joan Fabregat Prousa,
jfabregat@bellvitgehospital.cat
Corresponding author.
, Juli Busquets Barenysa, Nuria Pelaez Serraa, Lluís Secanella Medayoa, Emilio Ramos Rubioa, Sandra Ruiz Osunab, Carlos Villabona Arteroc
a Unidad de Cirugía Hepatobiliopancreática y Trasplante Hepático, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), Spain
b Servicio de Radiología, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), Spain
c Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), Spain
Table 1. Patient Characteristics.
The availability of new imaging techniques has conditioned an increase in the incidental diagnosis of small nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET-NF). The best treatment is controversial, some authors advise a conservative approach in selected cases. Our aim is to analyze the evolution of incidental, small size PNET-NF, treated with clinical follow-up without surgery.
We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective database of patients diagnosed incidentally with PNET-NF since November 2007 to September 2015. We include those with PNET-NF ≤2cm and asymptomatic. The diagnosis was performed using imaging tests indicating endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration in case of doubts in the diagnosis. The follow-up was performed at our center, registering clinical and/or radiological changes.
We included 24 patients with a median age of 70 years, and a similar distribution in terms of sex. The diagnosis was made through computed tomography multidetector or magnetic resonance imaging and octreotide scan. The tumors were located mainly in the head and neck (46%), with a mean size of 11.5±3.55mm at diagnosis (5–19mm). In 2 cases endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration was used (8%), confirming the diagnosis of low-grade PNET with Ki67 <5%. The median follow-up was 39 months (7–100). In 19 patients (79%) they remained the same size, 21% (5) increased its size with a mean of 2.6±2mm (1–6). No cases had progression of disease.
In selected patients, non-surgical management of PNET-NF is an option to consider, when they are asymptomatic and ≤2cm. Larger studies with more patients and more time of follow-up are needed to validate this non-operative approach.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Non-functional
Incidental
Tumor size
La disponibilidad de nuevas técnicas de imagen ha condicionado un incremento en el diagnóstico incidental de pequeños tumores neuroendocrinos pancreáticos no funcionantes (TNP-NF). El mejor tratamiento de estos tumores es controvertido: algunos autores aconsejan una actitud conservadora en casos seleccionados. Nuestro objetivo es analizar la evolución de TNP-NF incidentales de pequeño tamaño, tratados con seguimiento clínico sin cirugía.
Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo de una base de datos prospectiva de pacientes diagnosticados incidentalmente de TNP-NF desde noviembre de 2007 hasta septiembre de 2015. Incluimos aquellos con TNP-NF ≤2cm y asintomáticos. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante pruebas de imagen, indicando ecoendoscopia-punción en caso de dudas diagnósticas. El seguimiento se hizo en nuestro centro, con registro de cambios clínicos y radiológicos.
Incluimos a 24 pacientes con una mediana de edad de 70 años y distribución similar en cuanto al sexo. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante tomografía computarizada multidetector, resonancia nuclear magnética y gammagrafía con octreótide. Los tumores se localizaban principalmente en cabeza y cuello (46%), con un tamaño medio de 11,5±3,55mm al diagnóstico (5–19mm). En 2 casos se asoció ecoendoscopia-punción (8%), confirmando el diagnóstico de TNP de bajo grado con Ki67 <5%. La mediana de seguimiento fue de 39 meses (7–100). El 79% (19) mantuvieron el mismo tamaño. El 21% (5) aumentó su tamaño con una media de 2,6±2mm (1–6). En ningún caso hubo progresión de enfermedad.
En pacientes seleccionados, el manejo no quirúrgico de TNP-NF, asintomáticos y ≤2cm es una opción a tener en cuenta. Son necesarios estudios con mayor número de pacientes y un seguimiento mayor para validar esta opción conservadora.
Tumor neuroendocrino de páncreas
No funcionante
Tamaño tumoral
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNT) are rare tumors with an incidence of 2.62 cases per million inhabitants,1 which represents 2% of all pancreatic neoplasms.2 PNT are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that can cause different clinical syndromes according to the type of hormone secretion (functioning), or they may not cause clinical syndromes and manifest clinically by local compression and invasion to adjacent or distant organs (non-functioning). With the widespread use of new and improved diagnostic imaging techniques, the prevalence of non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNT-NF) ≤2cm has increased by more than 700% in the past 20 years according to the database of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER).3–5 Nearly 90% of PNT are non-functioning.2 They can manifest at any age, with an increased incidence in patients over 45 years and a peak presentation between ages 70–80, with a mild predominance of males.5 Most are sporadic or associated with hereditary syndromes.6
PNT are classified histologically according to the 2010 guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) into 3 grades: G1, G2 and G3. G1 and G2 are well differentiated neoplasms, while G3 are poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas.7
Most incidentally diagnosed PNT-NF are well differentiated and, specifically, only 6% of those ≤2cm are malignant.8 This group of patients has better long-term survival than symptomatic patients.9
The treatment of choice for PNT-NF is surgical resection; it is the only curative treatment in most cases, with a significant impact in terms of survival.10,11 A study at Massachusetts General Hospital reports that even small PNT-NF can sometimes show aggressive behavior and should be resected12; however, the natural history of incidental PNT-NF is unclear. In contrast, another study finds that there is a strict correlation between tumor size and risk of malignancy,8 and the known substantial morbidity and mortality of pancreatectomies could favor a less aggressive treatment, including clinical/radiological follow-up.13
Due to the increased frequency of incidentally found PNT <2cm, the optimal treatment in these patients is controversial. Few studies have focused on management in these cases, and there is no high level of evidence to demonstrate the positive effect of surgery on survival. Some studies propose clinical and radiological observation as an alternative in selected cases with asymptomatic small tumors, due to their low potential for malignancy and progression.8,13–16
The objective of this study is to analyze the evolution of small-sized incidentally diagnosed PNT-NF managed with clinical follow-up without surgery in terms of survival, progression or appearance of metastasis.
We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective database of patients diagnosed incidentally with PNT-NF from November 2007 to September 2015, in the Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery Unit at Bellvitge University Hospital. The diagnosis was made by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Characteristically, these lesions are well circumscribed and show contrast hyperuptake in the arterial or venous phase on MDCT; on MRI, they are hypointense in T1 and hyperintense in T2 sequences with contrast uptake in the arterial or portal phases.17,18 Octreotide scan was conducted for confirmation, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was reserved for cases with uncertain diagnoses.
All patients diagnosed with PNT were evaluated jointly by members of the Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Radiology Units. Finally, all the patients were evaluated by an endocrinologist at our hospital, ruling out functionalism after anamnesis and determination of hormone levels.
The inclusion criteria were: (1) incidental finding of PNT; (2) non-functioning tumors, meaning absence of symptoms due to hormone hypersecretion; (3) tumors <2cm at diagnosis; (4) sporadic; (5) patients who agreed to a conservative approach.
Patients with tumors that had any of the following were excluded: (1) signs of local invasion such as ductal obstruction or invasion of vascular/adjacent structures; (2) presence of distant metastasis; (3) poorly differentiated tumors in cases where endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration was performed; (4) uncertain diagnosis.
All patients were followed up with the same imaging test every 6 months for 2 years, and yearly thereafter.19,20 We recorded changes in symptoms and tumor size as well as signs of local/distant invasion in a database with Microsoft Office Access® and Microsoft Office Excel®. Follow-up data were calculated according to the date of the last imaging test or clinical assessment in the outpatient consultation. Follow-up was closed in April 2016, and a descriptive statistical analysis of the results was conducted.
Included in the study were a total of 24 patients who met the inclusion criteria and accepted conservative clinical/radiological follow-up after receiving information on the risks of surgical resection and malignancy.
The mean age at diagnosis was 70 years (range 43–89), and 54% (13 patients) were women. Most tumors were located in the head and neck (n=11, 46%). Mean tumor size at diagnosis was 11.5±3.55mm (range: 5–19), and in the majority (87.5%) the tumor size was less than 15mm. In 3 patients (12.5%), the tumor sizes were 17, 18 and 19mm (Table 1).
Patient Characteristics.
Number of patients 24
Mean age in years 69 (43–89)
Sex n (%)
Men 11 (46)
Women 13 (54)
Initial size in mm, mean (range) 11.5±3.55 (5–19)
Follow-up time in months, median (range) 39 (7–100)
Final size in mm, mean (range) 10.8±4.7 (5–25)
Increase in size, n (%) 5 (20)
Mean increase in mm (range) 2.6±2 (0–6)
Equal or smaller size, n (%) 19 (80)
All tumors had been incidental findings, and the diagnosis had been confirmed by CT scan (Fig. 1), MRI or octreotide scan. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy was done in 2 patients (8%) due to the uncertain diagnosis; in both cases, the diagnosis of PNT was confirmed with a low histological grade and a Ki67 <5%.
Solid lesion measuring 16×19mm in the isthmus of the pancreas (arrow), notably hypervascular in the arterial phase, compatible with neuroendocrine tumor.
(0.1MB).
Median follow-up was 39 months (7–100). In 5 patients (20%), the tumors increased in size, with an average increase of 2.6±2mm. Mean growth per year was estimated at 0.58mm. In the remaining 80% (19 patients), the tumors did not increase in size.
At the end of follow-up, the mean tumor size was 10.8±4.77mm (range: 5–25); the 25-mm tumor showed the largest increase (Table 1). During follow-up, no patient presented disease progression or local/distant invasion, and all remained asymptomatic. Therefore, surgical resection was not deemed necessary in any of the cases. In the case of the patient with the greatest tumor growth (from 19 to 25mm), the option of surgical treatment was dismissed due to multiple comorbidities.
In one of the first series on this type of tumors, Bettini et al.8 demonstrated a strict correlation between tumor size and malignancy in patients with resected PNT-NF. In a series of 177 resected patients, they found that among the 51 patients with incidentally diagnosed tumors <2cm in diameter, only 6% were malignant and none of the patients died from the disease. The authors estimated that the tumor-related risk of death is comparable to the risk of mortality from pancreatic resection. The surgical indication should be weighed against the postoperative and long-term complications of pancreatic resections. Even at Centers of Excellence, pancreatic resections are associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality, ranging from 0% to 5%.14,16,21,22 Endocrine and exocrine insufficiency secondary to resection and other long-term complications (hepaticojejunostomy stenosis, incisional hernias, diarrhea, etc.) have an impact on the quality of life of these patients.21,22
Different studies have demonstrated that PNT are usually slow growing, which entails a better prognosis.10,23,24 Treatment with surgical resection has been the standard treatment10; however, treatment is controversial in incidentally diagnosed small-sized PNT-NF.4,8,25 Watch-and-wait management in PNT-NF has been the recommended treatment in patients with hereditary syndromes such as MEN-1, von Hippel-Lindau and neurofibromatosis. Experience has shown low rates of progression or metastasis in several series of patients with MEN-1 and pancreatic tumors <2cm in diameter and with von Hippel–Lindau syndrome and pancreatic tumors <3cm in diameter.7,26,27
Recent studies in sporadic PNT-NF also support a conservative approach in selected cases, although the size threshold to indicate resection is the subject of debate.8,16,19,28–31 Some studies have shown that, in patients with resected PNT-NF, tumor size <2cm is associated with a very low probability of lymph node metastases and G3 neuroendocrine carcinomas.8,14,24,25 In a recent series, Lee et al.14 of the Mayo Clinic retrospectively analyzed 77 patients diagnosed with PNT-NF smaller than 4cm in diameter that were sporadic, asymptomatic, and had no radiological signs of local invasion or metastasis, in whom a watch-and-wait, non-surgical management was followed. With a median tumor diameter of 1.0cm (0.3–3.2) and a mean follow-up of 45 months (3–153), the authors observed no significant change in tumor size, progression of the disease or related mortality. In another observational study on the natural history of sporadic and asymptomatic PNT-NF <2cm with a median follow-up of 34 months (24–52), Gaujoux et al.16did not observe lymphatic metastasis or distant disease in any of the 46 patients monitored. Only 6 patients (13%) showed a growth of 20% from their initial size. In the end, 8 patients (17%) were treated surgically after a median follow-up of 41 months. The resected tumors were ENETS7 grade 1, stages T1 (7 patients) and T2 (one patient), with no evidence of lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion or peripancreatic involvement in any case. The present study likewise shows that, out of the 24 patients with asymptomatic PNT-NF <2cm, none presented significant progression of the disease or tumor-related mortality during a median follow-up of 39 months.
In contrast, different studies have shown aggressive behavior and nodular metastases associated with PNT-NF <2cm in 5% of cases.3,28 Although the presence or absence of symptoms is not reported in these studies, this continues to be an important prognostic factor.4 In addition to size, tumor grade and differentiation are other variables that are associated with the biological behavior of PNT and survival. Therefore, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy provides a cytological evaluation of the cellular differentiation and the Ki67 index of the tumor that assists in the selection of candidates.32
Our study has several limitations. The sample of 24 patients is small, and the prospective follow-up is short and conducted without a comparison group. Another of the limitations is the lack of histological confirmation, which, although not mandatory in all patients, could help select patients who would benefit from clinical follow-up without surgery. Multicenter studies with more patients and longer follow-up periods are necessary to validate this conservative option.
In conclusion, our study shows that, in select cases, the non-surgical management of asymptomatic PNT-NF <2cm is a safe option to evaluate as a therapeutic strategy. The natural history of these lesions has not been extensively studied and, if non-aggressive behavior can be demonstrated in the long term, the risk-benefit balance of non-surgical management should be considered.29 Several recently updated consensus clinical guidelines (NCCN, ENETS, Canadian National Expert Group)27,33,34 incorporate in their therapeutic algorithm the possibility of a watch-and-wait approach in asymptomatic PNT-NF <2cm. Other important factors to assess include patient age, opinion and comorbidities, as well as tumor location. Some groups recommend indicating surgical intervention during follow-up when the increase in tumor size is relevant (>20% or >5mm).16,20 Initial follow-up using imaging techniques is recommended every 6 months to assess the stability of the lesion and, once confirmed, annual follow-up scans should be conducted.35
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
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Tumores neuroendocrinos no funcionantes de páncreas incidentales de pequeño tamaño: Resultados de una serie con manejo no quirúrgico, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge.
X Congrés Català de Cirurgia, (2015),
Referencia: VPV184905838128
Please cite this article as: Uribe Galeano C, Fabregat Prous J, Busquets Barenys J, Pelaez Serra N, Secanella Medayo L, Ramos Rubio E, et al. Tumores neuroendocrinos no funcionantes de páncreas incidentales de pequeño tamaño: Resultados de una serie con manejo no quirúrgico. Cir Esp. 2017;95:83–88.
This study was presented as an oral presentation at the 10th Surgery Conference of Catalonia, held October 15 and 16, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain (reference VPV184905838128) and in poster form at the 25th Conference of the Catalonian Society of Gastroenterology, held January 28–30, 2016 in Reus, Spain.
Copyright © 2016. AEC
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Rachel McCarthy: the climate change scientist and poet unlocking elemental forces
Amy Fleming
Inspired by 'hardcore' chemistry, the poetry of Met Office scientist Rachel McCarthy has been called mesmerising by British laureate Carol Ann Duffy
Mon 11 Jan 2016 11.26 EST Last modified on Thu 22 Feb 2018 09.33 EST
Love, bees and aircraft fitters … poet and climate scientist Rachel McCarthy at her home in Exeter. Photograph: Jim Wileman/The Guardian
It's not every poet who manages to work a demanding day job as a Met Office climate scientist. But when Rachel McCarthy isn't walking the corridors of Whitehall, on secondment to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, she is to be found polishing her poems.
Despite achieving a double first in physics and chemistry, McCarthy always wanted to write. As the founder of Excite Poetry, the Devon wing of the Poetry Society, and the director of the sell-out Exeter poetry festival, her verse-writing skills are matched only by her ability to draw crowds to big events.
Strolling through Exeter's arty West Quarter, blinded by a low winter sun, McCarthy ducks into her favourite junk shop, Otto Retro. "I used to run this open-mic night here," she says, eyeing up the curiosities that include an Austrian zoological chart and some Czech apothecary jars. "It was such a warm environment. We'd have poetry readings – and people could shop during the break."
In 2015, the British poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy named McCarthy one of the country's most exciting new voices, describing her work as bold and mesmerising. Last year also saw the publication of Element, under the Laureate's Choice imprint, curated by Duffy.
Each of the 19 poems in the volume was inspired by elements from the periodic table, which McCarthy is adamant shouldn't be dismissed as "a thing stuck on the wall in your GCSE class that you had to memorise". Everything is made of elements, she says. "You and I. This table. It's an alphabet of our existence."
'Our melting, shifting, liquid world': celebrities read poems on climate change
The collection spans history and tackles subjects from bees (chromium) and butterflies (iridium) to love (yttrium), disaster (osmium) and art history (zinc), via unsung aircraft fitters such as her own father (titanium). Short notes at the end of the booklet explain the significance of each poem's element. Copper in octopus blood, for example, carries oxygen more efficiently than iron in haemoglobin, helping the octopus survive deep under water. The poet Alice Oswald says of McCarthy's writing: "strong interesting poems, full of tension and symmetry. They are alive."
As you might expect of a scientist, McCarthy did a great deal of research, not only reading "hardcore" chemistry books, but also biographies of Dmitri Mendeleev, who first published the periodic table in 1869, and histories of Russia from the same period. "I became fascinated,not with melting points and boiling points, but with the lives behind the elements. Why they were named as they were – after brothers, wives, stuff in the night sky – and what did they do?" There have even been fraudulent discoveries of fabricated elements.
This week, McCarthy will share this knowledge in Alphabet of Our Universe, part social history lecture, part poetry reading, at Oxford University's Museum of the History of Science. She says her dual career is often met with surprise, but the two jobs have much in common. "They're both searching for insight into laws and ideas through particulars. They're focused on the minutiae."
In poetry, those particulars are "words, emotions, ideas and metaphors", but the best poetry is universal, McCarthy says. "Artistic expression is a search for a truth that looks different on the outside. It's more concerned with human emotions or experience, but they're still searching." Unlike poetry, however, science should be morally neutral, since "that sort of protects science from us as human beings".
In deep … a footnote to one of McCarthy's poems explains that octopus blood utilises copper instead of iron for transporting oxygen. Photograph: Papilio/Alamy
At school in Leyland, near Preston in Lancashire, McCarthy took six A-levels, including all the sciences, maths and English literature. "I had a fantastic English teacher and there was a point when I wondered, 'Which road do I go down?' Because that's the choice you're presented with now. We've lost the renaissance person." In the end, she decided she could write in her own time, whereas moonlighting as a scientist was less realistic.
McCarthy feels strongly that art, when tackling scientific subjects, should respect the facts. "If you are influencing the public about a scientific issue, there has to be some responsibility taken by the artist." Equally, science has a responsibility to artists to properly communicate its findings. Scientific knowledge, McCarthy insists, needn't dampen one's wonder at the universe. If anything, it enhances it.
As an example, she riffs on a quote by the American scientist Richard P Feynman printed in the opening pages of Element: "Jupiter, as a mythological figure, to my mind is equally as important as Jupiter the planet. We must engage with both of them."
• Alphabet of Our Universe is at the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, on 12 January. Element is published by Smith Doorstop, £7.50.
Climate change (Science)
Climate change (Environment)
Carol Ann Duffy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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contemporaneities.com
Contemporary Art Exhibitions
Yuki Okumura at Misako & Rosen, Tokyo
By : contemporaneities February 26, 2015 April 4, 2018
Roman Ondák plays a vital role in the creation of Measuring Roman Ondák(2015), by Japanese artist Yuki Okumura (b. 1978). During the exhibition, should he choose to accept an invitation to present himself, an attendant will mark Roman Ondák's height, first name, and date of the measurement on the gallery wall. Beginning as an empty white space, from and for a certain time, the gallery may be marked with the trace of one specific person.
The inclusion of Roman Ondák in the process of Yuki Okumura's art making, a surrogate sort of practice, has a long tradition in the history of performance-based art. By inviting another to actively participate in the creation of his/her art, the artist attempts to overcome traditional divisions between artist and other, production and reception.
Measuring Roman Ondák turns Roman Ondák's original piece,Measuring the Universe, a work in which the domestic custom of recording children's heights on door frames is turned into a public event, referring through its title to humankind's age-old desire to gauge the scale of the world, into a consideration on the nature of author / viewership. The process creates a work of art with a single potential participant, merging art with everyday life in a confluence that is at the very center of Okumura's artistic practice.
Artist: Yuki Okumura
Venue: Misako & Rosen, Tokyo
Exhibition title: Measuring Roman Ondák
Date: February 8 – March 8, 2015
© The artist and Misako & Rosen. Tokyo, Japan.
Posted in Tokyo and tagged Japan, Misako & Rosen, Tokio, Yuki Okumura
"Speaking of People: Ebony, Jet and Contemporary Art" at Studio Museum Harlem, New York
Paul Sharits at Fridericianum, Kassel


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» Photos Taken on 08 Sep 1944
B-24 Liberators of the 425th Bomb Squadron destroying the Dai Giang Railroad Bridge in French Indo-China (now Vietnam), Sep 8 1944. C-47 Skytrains of the 439th Troop Carrier Group preparing to transport the 82nd Airborne to Nijmegen for Operation Market Garden, Juvincourt, France, Sep 8-17 1944
General Brian Horrocks of British XXX Corps, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands discuss the upcoming Operation Market Garden at Montgomery's headquarters in France, 8 Sep 1944. Koch Karadzhev (foreground) and others welcoming the arrival of Soviet troops into Bulgaria, Sep 1944
Pass issued to Claire Ayako Harada allowing her to leave the Manzanar Relocation Center for deported Japanese-Americans indefinitely to look for work, 8 Sep 1944. US Navy airship K-87 of Airship Patrol Squadron ZP-33 at Outlying Landing Field at Quillayute, Washington, United States, Sep 8, 1944. Photo 1 of 2.
US Navy airship K-87 of Airship Patrol Squadron ZP-33 at Outlying Landing Field at Quillayute, Washington, United States, Sep 8, 1944. Photo 2 of 2. USS ABSD-1 with USS California in the dock, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, circa 8 Sep 1944
Map showing Allied advance from Rome toward the Arno River, Italy, 5 Jun-5 Aug 1944
"All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us... they can't get away this time."
Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, at Guadalcanal


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Bison Celebration Days
Caprock Canyon State Park - Quitaque, Texas
Every year in September the "Caprock Partners Foundation" holds the three day "Bison Celebration Days" to benefit Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway and the Texas State Bison Herd Restoration project.
Bison Bull, part of the Texas Bison Herd
We arrived on Friday about noon. After checking in and getting our
campground assignment we looked around and saw some of the exhibits. There was a little bit of everything. Some spinning bison hair into yarn, buffalo hunter and buffalo solder reenactors, several area museums were represented. There were also craftsmen showing off Native American bow making and other weapon making skills and artifact collections.
All of the Friday activities were primarily there for school groups that toured the park that day.
Knowing that all of this would also be in place on Saturday we headed for our campsite to set up camp.
Saturday about 10:00 am we went back to the park headquarters and took a closer look at the exhibits we had rushed through the day before. We also took some photographs of some of the Bison. They roam free in this park so you may see them anywhere anytime. If you have never seen an American Bison up close the first thing you notice is that they are huge. Also be sure that up close is never closer than 50 yards away. They are huge but they can run fast. Don't get too close.
About 11:30 we head to the arts and crafts show that was being held about 4 miles away in Quitaque (KIT uh kwa). Downtown Quitaque is not much more than a block long but there were arts and crafts booths set up on both sides of the street. We viewed all of their wares and worked both sides of the street.
Crafts Fair in Downtown Quitaque
At the end of the crafts booths we walked another block where a stage was set up in front of a building and a band was playing. There were also some moonwalk inflatables for children to play in. We passed on the moonwalk and went inside the building for lunch.
This was where the Celebration Barbeque lunch was served. This was advertised as a Barbeque sandwich with red beans, potato salad and all the trimmings. (onions, pickles, etc) and a glass of ice tea all for $5.00. I don't know about you but I have not bought any amount of barbeque for $5.00 in this century… until this day. The barbeque was excellent and ample. Everything was very good and all for $5.00.
We sat at a table with strangers and we were not strangers by the end of the meal.
Sunday was the pinnacle of the "Bison Celebration Days". At 2.00 PM in a pasture near the entrance of Caprock Canyons State Park there was a concert. We arrived at 1.00 and heeded the advice to "bring a chair" because there won't be any. There was a big stage with a generator attached. It was far enough away that it could not be heard. The stage hands did the sound checks and set up the instruments as the crowd set up their spots. We the fans decide where the rows were and how close to the stage. It was a bright and sunny day. Many brought umbrellas to have a little shade
Buffalo Solder
About 1:30 a big tour bus drove across the pasture and 20 minute later Ray Benson and "Asleep at the Wheel" took to the stage. If you are not familiar with "Asleep at the Wheel" I'm sorry, you don't know what you're missing. They primarily sing Western Swing. The music selection ran the gambit from Route 66, Hot Rod Lincoln to San Antonio Rose and a lot of Bob Wills music. Since Bob Wills was born in Turkey, Texas about 15 miles from where we were sitting, they were crowd favorites. The organizers even provided a dance floor for those who could help but dance in the 85 degree sun and many did. (see pictures)
The end of the concert was the last event of "Bison Celebration Days". We had a great time and I hope to be here next year.
Update: 10 April 2020
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There'd been rumblings for a few weeks that things weren't quite right with the ESPN2 outdoor blocks, but today's news that the ESPN network would dump all its outdoor programming at the end of this year was nonetheless a shock to the entire outdoors industry.
And with the news comes logical speculation over the future of BASS, which the network owns.
It'll be weeks or months until the full ramifications of the news materialize, but clearly, the unstable world of outdoor media was dealt another serious blow today.
of outdoor programming. It grew from the first broadcast of The Fishin' Hole in 1980 to encompass a wide array of fresh- and saltwater fishing, as well as hunting varietals.
The Fishin' Hole, although now off the air, is still the second-longest running show ever aired on ESPN networks, bested only by SportsCenter. ESPN offered outdoor programming for 30 years as it grew from genre pioneer to powerhouse. It brought an integrity and worldwide reach to the genre that had never been there before.
The network giant even formed a separate ESPN Outdoors division to focus on the market and in 2005, aggressively branched into competitive bass programming with shows like Loudmouth Bass, BassCenter, Bass Tech and same-day coverage of Bassmaster Majors. Although those shows went by the wayside after a short run, ESPN did continue with BASS-centric programming like Day on the Lake.
But as the network proceeds with a core mission to focus on live and event-based broadcasting, such programming is out the window. The weekend block will now be filled by other properties, such as English Premier League soccer, NASCAR and SportsCenter, which are all either live or event-based programs.
Thus the only show in the current outdoor block that will continue to air on ESPN2 is The Bassmasters, which focuses on Elite Series events, as well as Bassmaster Classic programming.
The ESPN-owned Saltwater Series will not air on ESPN2.
The news does revive rumors that ESPN is actively engaged in an effort to sell BASS. Earlier this spring, there was significant talk about a potential sale of BASS to the Outdoor Channel. No confirmed news surfaced, but highly placed industry officials firmly believed that talks between the two companies did take place.
If ESPN is divesting itself of outdoor programming, that would seem to indicate that its interest in BASS lies only within a potential to broadcast BASS events. BASS's membership program, print media, or youth, conservation and grassroots programs would not seem to fit into that equation.
And sale chatter did noticeably intensify today, with many industry sources noting that BASS and the Outdoor Channel are deep in talks, but that BASS's print business is something the Outdoor Channel might not be willing to invest in.
A BASS official addressed the rumors of a potential BASS sale by saying: "There's nothing there to announce right now. As with any business, the potential for a sale exists. It's a coveted property. People are looking into it. But again, there's nothing to announce there."
ESPN's decision to dump its outdoor programming parallels decisions being made across media as a whole.
A half-decade ago, ESPN aggressively expanded its bass-fishing programming with shows like Loudmouth Bass and BassCenter.
The trend today is toward niche production and delivery � channels, magazines and digital properties narrowly tailored to fit a specific fan or enthusiast base.
Just as cornerstone outdoor periodicals find it more and more difficult to profit through appeal to a wide reader base of different types of hunters and anglers, it appears ESPN struggles to capture and hold a profitable chunk of outdoor-viewer households � even after the network's programming shifted to a heavy focus on saltwater fishing at the expense of freshwater.
Cable television now is rife with niche channels dedicated to the outdoors, including Sportsman Channel, Outdoor Channel, World Fishing Network (WFN) and Pursuit. As well, the Versus Network carries a heavy load of outdoor programming, including carriage of FLW Outdoors programming.
Sportsman channel president Willy Burkhardt, formerly of ESPN, today told BassFan: "This announcement isn't much of a surprise as it's been evident for quite some time that outdoor-related programming really doesn't fit comfortably with the strategy and brand position of ESPN. Serving the information and entertainment needs of the American sportsmen is about celebrating a lifestyle and a way of life rather than covering an event or competition."
Burkhardt added: "At Sportsman Channel, we believe passionately in the sportsman lifestyle and our programming strategy and brand position reflect this. It makes sense to us that sportsmen have been gravitating to channels and brands that reflect a commitment to the lifestyle rather than a broader sports-entertainment orientation. It's our authenticity and commitment to the genre that has helped us to grow rapidly over the last several years and we hope that this trajectory will continue as we seek better and deeper ways to serve the community."
The strength of ESPN's outdoor programming, however, will heavily impact those who produce shows for the other networks, and will further escalate the already desperate struggle for underwriting.
Supporting manufacturers regularly buy into shows on various networks to ensure their message reaches the widest audience possible. But as the former ESPN shows find new homes on existing networks, supporting sponsors will surely eliminate duplication.
How many shows on a single network will a Mercury, Evinrude or Yamaha sponsor? RealTree, Pure Fishing, Rapala, Skeeter, Triton, Ranger and other corporate giants will no doubt re-examine their show portfolios this fall and many shows already on the edge will be left without category sponsors and hence lose their profitability.
It all signals an intensification of the shakeout as cable networks, fishing leagues, pros, magazines and digital properties all battle for their chunk of a shrinking revenue stream. And as that stream shrinks, the do-all-for-everybody media properties struggle the most.
The news is still too fresh for concrete information about which shows will land where, although it's certain that show producers such as Career Sports & Entertainment, where the former JM Associates now resides, are actively speaking with networks about a future home for their shows.
And networks are equally certain to be in internal talks about which shows to approach.
Corey Russell, VP of programming and production at WFN, wasn't surprised by the news either, and again noted the trend toward niche programming.
Mark Zona will remain a co-host and analyst for BASS programming, but his personal show will air on a new network in 2011.
WFN does rebroadcast some existing ESPN programming, notably Poveromo's World of Saltwater Fishing. The network currently broadcasts an 80/20 mix of original/rebroadcast content.
"We already have George Poveromo appearing on WFN, and we'd hope that we could further strengthen that relationship," Russell said. "We had a relationship with Charlie Moore in the past, and we'd definitely be open to working with him in the future. As for the other shows, we'd love to talk to them and it would be great to add some of that quality programming to the network."
When Mark Zona received the news, he was disappointed, but he's also optimistic about the future of his show, which on ESPN2 is titled World's Greatest Fishing Show. And because ESPN2 will still broadcast The Bassmasters and the Classic, Zona will continue to serve in his co-host and analyst role, but he'll no longer be exclusive to the network.
Zona's not ready to announce where his show will air in 2011, but he did say it'll have a new title, as ESPN owns the World's Greatest Fishing Show name.
"It's been awesome shooting my fishing show for that network and this news is bittersweet," Zona said. "I'm bummed to be leaving, but I'm terribly excited to start something new. In no way, shape or form do I have any ill feelings. Yes I'm bummed, but I'm still excited to be 50% with the ESPN family and BASS, and I'm jacked up to be finding a new home for my show."
> Outdoor Channel and Versus Network did not respond with comment before publication of this story.
> According to the same BASS official, ESPNOutdoors.com will still function, and BASS weigh-ins will still be shown on ESPN3.


The Huggle Hoodie is the most comfortable, oversized hooded blanket you can wear. The plush, super-comfy luxurious fleece keeps you totally snug and warm from head to toe. Made from the softest, blanket fleece and lined with the ultimate in warming, comfort Sherpa fabric, Huggle Hoodie is made oversized so you can snuggle your whole body up inside it and keep warm from head to toe. Huggle Hoodie has an extra-large plush hood to keep your head warm, a big, roomy pocket to keep what you need right at hand and bury your hands in on winter nights, and full-length sleeves that keep your arms warm but your hands free to use!
When the choices for materials were being made for Huggle Hoodie, there was only one rule: make it as warm and cosy as possible! The outer surface of Huggle Hoodie is luxurious, plush fleece and the inside, that sits against your body, is Sherpa fabric. Dense and insulating yet soft and incredibly comfortable, this amazing wearable hoodie blanket will keep you toasty on the coldest nights. PLUS, Huggle Hoodie is reversible, so not only can you have two different looking hoodies for the price of one, you can also control how warm you are by having either of the comfy fabrics against your skin.
Making Huggle Hoodie oversized means that when you wear it as a big, baggy sweatshirt or hoodie it's long enough to cover your upper body easily. The full-length sleeves leave your hands free to hold a TV remote or a steering wheel and the hood allows for total freedom of movement without any loss of heat. Worn as a snuggly comfy blanket, you can easily tuck your whole body up inside the luxurious, heat-retaining fabric and enjoy full-body warmth and cosy comfort on the sofa. It's even great for kids who want a snuggly space to relax in but don't want to get out of that warmth to move around.
The easy wear-ability of Huggle Hoodie means you can wear it as a normal piece of clothing, allowing you to travel outside to the shops, drive your car or sit outside in the garden with friends when the evening has drawn in and the temperature has dropped. Why not take one each on camping or beach holidays so you know you'll always be warm and cosy whatever the weather?
Outer Layer: Fleece, 100% Polyester. Inner Layer: Plush, 100% Polyester.


Hooded Rags is Head Armor in Fallout 76. Forest scout mask weights 1 and can be found after level ??. All armor pieces provide protection against physical and energy damage, as well as radiation. In Fallout 76, The amount of mitigation provided depends on the level of the piece.


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FaithOpinion
Is Islam Compatible with Democracy?
Does democracy have a place in Islam?
Steven Pearce
The negative stereotypes of Islam and Muslims permeate our lives. If we turn on the news there will be a story of a terrorist attack; when we are driving our car we see billboards demonizing Islam as the religion of terror; if we take the train we see signs posted labeling Muslims as followers of the religion of Satan.
This is something that has happened for over 40 years in Western Culture. The demonization of Muslims began in American cinema in the 1970s and became even more prominent during the 1980s. All you have to do is watch a Chuck Norris movie from this era to see that Hollywood has been perpetuating an Arab terrorist stereotype for over 40 years.
As a result, the West and Westerners view Muslims and the Muslim world with disdain, believing that we are all radicals. Radicals are people who are fanatics. Fanaticism was once identified as the redoubling of efforts once the goal has been forgotten. Fanaticism, in essence, becomes a replacement for effective practice. Fanaticism will often become an end unto itself because it is a very stimulating experience to be a fanatic.
A fanatic is one who has set aside reason because he is right and no other is right. This problem of fanaticism is one that has struck humans all over the world, not just in the Muslim world but in the West as well. The root of this is in the concept of American Exceptionalism: this idea that Western civilization is the protagonist in a world comedy because it cannot be a tragedy because in a tragedy the hero has a flaw. The flaw is almost always identified as hubris or excessive pride.
This comedy of the West is that the West is the protagonist in having a happy ending to this story by making the entire world Westernized. This is ultimately the belief of many fanatics within both the secular and religious Western traditions, that we must all become Western. There is this idea that Democracy is the end all, that there is nothing beyond the Western liberal creature; that we have somehow arrived at some stage in our evolutionary development that we cannot surpass.
It is not only in ideology also but in how news is reported. If an international plane crashes they will say how many Americans, Brits, French, or Germans are on the plane, but will say about the other groups nothing except their accumulative numbers. If the people are from a non-Western country then their ethnicity is not mentioned in the news. None of them really count and this is in essence how people in other parts of the world feel.
When Western media discusses the Muslim world they portray the view of "what is wrong with those people?" Well like MLK said, "If they stole your bootstraps from you how are you going to lift yourself up by your bootstraps?"
I am always asked can Islam embrace Democracy, and I believe there is such a thing as a Democracy based upon Islamic values. However, the question that I believe needs to be asked is, can the West truly embrace Islam as a full-fledged member of the International Community?" This is important in a world with 1.7 Billion Muslims out of 7 Billion people worldwide.
In the Islamic tradition, we have what is called a Mushtahid or someone who does research for legal analysis. The Mushtahid recognizes that he was not speaking on the behalf of God; that the overwhelming majority of laws in the Islamic tradition are not seen as theocratic, but rather they are laws that have been derived from the efforts of human beings attempting to understand the divine will.
This is also true with many Western legal theorists who believe in the idea of natural law because they are also attempting to understand what the divine will is. What is the natural law here? What is the most rational and truest course that we can take in any given legal scenario? This is always ended in the Muslim books with the emphatic statement after the give their legal ruling Wallaahu allum, "And Allah knows better". In other words, this is the best one can do.
So it is important for Muslims to recognize that rather than looking at Islamic law as a monolithic theocratic system that was sent from up high, it must be recognized as divine principles that were given to us. Most of them are completely congruent with the very same principles that are at work in Western society, which is an attempt to derive the justest ruling in any given circumstance. We will differ upon the particulars, but in the general principles, I think that both Westerners and Muslims would be shocked to find out that the legal principles working in Western Constitutional law are the same legal principles that are working in Islamic law.
A problem is that most Islamic Scholars are entirely ignorant of the Western legal system, whereas many Western legal scholars are ignorant of the Islamic legal system as well. Many Islamic legal scholars would be surprised to know that the Islamic legal system can absorb much of what we hold dear in the West in terms of our Democratic ideals.
True Democracy is not Demos, or rule by the mob. Nobody wants to be ruled by the mob. Rather Democracy is about citizenry, where human beings participate in the quality of life that they desire for themselves, for their children, and their extended communities. Here I would say that Democracy is absolutely compatible with the Islamic tradition.
For far too long in the Muslim world, as a result of efforts by the Khawarij, the Muslims have lived under tyrannical rule. The rulers have not been benign. This has led to social conditions in the Muslim world that are both degrading and debilitating. This has resulted in an atmosphere where the Muslims, who at one time were some of the most innovative people in Earth, lost this innovativeness. This was lost when the breadth of freedom that encouraged innovation was taken by tyrants.
These tyrants have worked to keep Muslims uneducated, or from practicing their religion. They might encourage education, but there are no jobs. There is no need to invent a new product because tyrants always claim it for themselves.
Westerners, just like Muslims believe in justice. A symbol of the American justice system is that of a blindfolded judge signifying that justice is blind. This is to represent that all people are equal under the law. In theory, this is true, but in practice not so much, especially if you are a minority in America.
I challenge Muslims to act like Muslims and for Americans to act like Americans. If Muslims followed their precepts of justice as well as if Americans would follow their precepts of justice, then there wouldn't be any more conflicts. We would find that we are much more alike than we realize.
democracyfiqhPoliticssharia lawThe West
Steven W. Pearce is globally known for his work in Sustainability and international development. Steven has worked on projects in Tunisia and is helping people around the globe with strategies for building their businesses. Steven has given lectures on sustainability and development to universities around the world as well as to government officials. Steven has a Bachelor of Integrated Studies in Sociology/Anthropology/Political Science with both university and departmental honors from Weber State University in Ogden, UT. His capstone project was on the radicalization process of Muslims. Steven also has a Master of Business Administration in Sustainability Management and a Master of Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. Steven also has ijazats or diplomas given to him by Muslim scholars which gives him the right to speak about Islamic topics. Steven is a member of the American Institute of Maghrib Studies which is sponsored by the US State Department in cooperation with the Fulbright Program, UNESCO, and the Ford Foundation. The Tunisian office of AIMS is called CEMAT where Steven's research focused on improving the Tunisian economy and further research into the radicalization process of Muslims. Steven is an expert on business development, sustainability, Islam and Radical Islam, Project Management, and social change and movements. He is a member of PMI; Sigma Beta Delta; International Honor Society for Business, Management, and Administrative Services; and the National Society of Success and Leadership. Steven is the Middle Eastern/Business Correspondent for the Inscriber Digital Magazine as well as the President of 5th Sun EMS Consulting group, Inc. 5th Sun works with business & economic development, import-export, sustainability, renewable energy, and project management.
Comparing Utilitarianism and Maslaha: Two Approaches to Consequentialism
Johaer Jilani
Fiqh Siyasa: Can Politics Be Free From Religious Thought?
Ihsan Fitriadi
Opinion: When it Comes to Climate Change, Pakistan is on its Own
Mirrors for the Prince


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Bag levy a hit among NI consumers
An independent survey carried out on behalf of the Northern Ireland Department of Environment has revealed high levels of public support for a plastic bag levy.
According to the poll, 66% of consumers said they would welcome a bag tax.
The idea was first put forward last year, with a proposal for a 10p charge for single-use carrier bags in the hope of raising £3.8m a year for the government.
Environment minister Alex Attwood welcomed the findings. "The results suggest significant support for a carrier bag levy," he said. "I am especially encouraged by the fact that so many respondents recognised the very positive impact it would have on the environment."
However, the survey did highlight potential drawbacks for a plastic bag charge. It revealed that 42% of businesses surveyed were concerned about additional charges for their customers during a period of recession.
The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association opposes the plan and has urged the education of customers to cut down on plastic bag use rather than a levy.
London could face plastic bag charge
Retailers in the capital may be forced to charge customers for plastic bags following a call by London Mayor Boris Johnson to reduce the number handed out.
Plastic bag consultation to be launched in Scotland
Scottish retailers may be forced to charge for plastic bags as the government attempts to reduce the number handed out.
Countdown to Welsh carrier bag charge
Welsh retailers have been reminded that from next month they will have to charge for every plastic bag handed out.


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The urban mix is the appeal of East End Danforth—a neighbourhood that has proximity to the boardwalk; manicured houses flying Beach flags; family-friendly Norwood Park; a southern fringe of stately detached Edwardians; co-op housing; semis in the $400,000 to $500,000 range closer to Woodbine; and new luxury townhouses. The sold-out townhouse complex Upper Beach Manors (above), near Main and Gerrard, invigorated real-estate activity in the area and inspired a doppelgänger, the new Upper Beach Townes, a collection of 32 houses split into two-level condos.
Woodbine Ave. to Victoria Park Ave., Doncaster Ave. to Kingston Rd.
I have lived in this area for over 15 years and seen nothing but improvement. As other areas in the city become unaffordable young couples are buying these homes and fixing them up and raising families. You get great value for your dollar in this neighbourhood and there are some great shops moving in as well.
I live in east york with my husband and three kids. We love the diversity in our neighbourhood, the close proximity to great schools, parks and public transportation. We also enjoy the fact that it's not as congested and crowded as some of the more trendier neighbourhoods in Toronto. There is great value for homes in east Danforth and it's great to see that more and more people are realizing that.
This article encompasses a few distinct neighbourhoods whose affordability, level of gentrification, subway access and housing characteristics are highly variable. In some areas, the neighbouring residential areas are more expensive than the level of retail development on Danforth (or lack thereof) would suggest; and in others, particularly the areas that hug Victoria Park, housing is very well-priced. The east end of the Danforth is a bit of an enigma – it has some of the most affordable housing in the city; it also has some of the most overpriced.
This is a wonderful neighbourhood that has been overlooked, though this is changing. I would extend the border north to Mortimer, at least around Woodbine — there are lots of safe, lovely tree-lined streets that are just perfect for families, without the congestion you can get closer to the Danforth (but still within a short walk).
Looking forward to even more positive change to come!
I am not surprised by this area making the list. I have been telling people for years that Danforth east of Donlands has been one of Toronto's best kept secrets. It's close to downtown, has great public transit, easy access to the DVP and plenty or routes heading east. And the best part is that it isn't nearly as congested as the rest of the city. Oh, and has some great schools. I could go on.


A clean, mitered front bottom with a teeny cut. It's also reversible - win/win.
This soft, feminine blush fabric has a shiny stripe and subtle touchable texture. Slip into it.
Zoa classic bikini bottom in sunglow stripe. Full coverage.


Was there any solo modules made either commercially or by fans?
Is there a website that centers around this system? If so, is the website still active?
I'm hoping there is still some place to go to talk specifically about this version of ICE's Tolkien games. I'd love to see more doen with it.
I used to play this game when I was a kid and it's great! Is there a way to buy it somewhere by this time? Thanks.


text:
Q: group the json object by month, product and total product sale in a month my ouput:
"dataSource1": [
{
"date": "Oct-20",
"product": "A",
"sale": 10
},
{
"date": "Nov-20",
"product": "A",
"sale": 12
},
{
"date": "Oct-20",
"product": "B",
"sale": 12
},
{
"date": "Nov-20",
"product": "B",
"sale": 13
},
{
"date": "Oct-20",
"product": "C",
"sale": 13
},
{
"date": "Nov-20",
"product": "C",
"sale": 14
},
expected output:
{
"date": "Oct-20",
"A": 10,
"B": 12,
"C": 13,
},
{
"date": "NOV-20",
"A": 12,
"B": 13,
"C": 14,
},

A: import pandas as pd
data =  [ { "date": "Oct-20", "product": "A", "sale": 10 }, { "date": "Nov-20", "product": "A", "sale": 12 }, { "date": "Oct-20", "product": "B", "sale": 12 }, { "date": "Nov-20", "product": "B", "sale": 13 }, { "date": "Oct-20", "product": "C", "sale": 13 }, { "date": "Nov-20", "product": "C", "sale": 14 }]
df = pd.DataFrame(data)
df = pd.pivot(df, values='sale', index=['date'], columns=['product']).reset_index().rename_axis(None, axis=1)

Output:

date
A
B
C

0
Nov-20
12
13
14

1
Oct-20
10
12
13

df.to_dict(orient='records'):
[{'A': 12, 'B': 13, 'C': 14, 'date': 'Nov-20'}, {'A': 10, 'B': 12, 'C': 13, 'date': 'Oct-20'}]
If you wish to sort the dataframe by date:
import pandas as pd
data =  [ { "date": "Oct-20", "product": "A", "sale": 10 }, { "date": "Nov-20", "product": "A", "sale": 12 }, { "date": "Oct-20", "product": "B", "sale": 12 }, { "date": "Nov-20", "product": "B", "sale": 13 }, { "date": "Oct-20", "product": "C", "sale": 13 }, { "date": "Nov-20", "product": "C", "sale": 14 }]
df = pd.DataFrame(data)
df['date'] = pd.to_datetime(df['date'], format='%b-%y') # convert column to datetime objects
df = pd.pivot(df, values='sale', index=['date'], columns=['product']).reset_index().rename_axis(None, axis=1)
df = df.sort_values('date') # sort by datetime objects
df['date'] = df['date'].dt.strftime('%b-%y') # reset datetime to original format

Output df.to_dict(orient='records'):
[{'date': 'Oct-20', 'A': 10, 'B': 12, 'C': 13}, {'date': 'Nov-20', 'A': 12, 'B': 13, 'C': 14}]

Another option is to use the dates as keys in the output dict:
df.set_index('date',inplace=True)

Output df.to_dict('index'):
{'Oct-20': {'A': 10, 'B': 12, 'C': 13}, 'Nov-20': {'A': 12, 'B': 13, 'C': 14}}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


There are 5 holidays to Grindelwald for 2 adults, 0 child and 0 infant on 15 February 2020.
February is peak skiing time in Grindelwald and if the snow history is anything to go by, it is usual to experience some of the best conditions of the season during this month. There are slopes to suit all abilities, from the nursery slopes in Bodmi and Kleine Scheidegg to the long reds on Männlichen, and for experts there's the challenging Lauberhorn World Cup run. Children are well catered for with the Snowli Kinderclub at the lovely children's park in Bodmi, complete with a mini igloo village. The area is famous for its stunning scenery, and visitors will be greeted with breath-taking views of the historic Eiger north face at every turn.
As well as brilliant skiing, the resort has lots of other great facilities, including a big sports centre with an indoor rope park, ice rink, curling hall, internet café, spa facilities, and a swimming pool with a children's pool and the thrillingly named 'Black Hole' slide. There are plenty of good restaurants and bars - make sure you try the tasty pizza at Onkel Tom's Cabin, or if you fancy a boogie head to the Mescalero Club in Hotel Spinne.
We have a selection of some of the best hotels in town, for more information have a look through the options below, or have a chat with one of our friendly team who will be more than happy to find you the best deals around. Our accommodation varies greatly in style and our prices range from budget to top-end, so you'll find something to suit both your taste and wallet. For the best value, choose one of our package deals which include flights, transfers and accommodation. We also offer self-drive holidays and accommodation only options.


Heavy fighting involving artillery, surface-to-surface rockets and jet aircraft has continued in Kabul for the past three months between the forces of President Rabbani and those resulting from the alliance between Prime Minister Hekmatyar and the militia leader Dostam.
The ICRC estimates that 30,000 war-wound cases have been treated in the city since the beginning of the year when the present round of fighting began.
Hospital records alone indicate at least 4,500 have been killed.
In mid-August the main medical stores were destroyed resulting in acute shortages of medical supplies. Attempts by the UN to bring a land convoy through to Kabul in early August failed when it was looted by a local commander on the eastern approaches to the city.
The ICRC is currently planning to airlift supplies into the city.
Cholera has spread throughout the city with 37,000 recorded cases by August. An estimated 440,000 people have been displaced within the city. Fighting has also taken place for control of the Salang pass to the Central Asian republics and around the city of Kunduz. Large numbers of people have fled the fighting in Kabul and settled around Jalalabad. 160,000 are living in two large camps where water supplies and the food basket are inadequate resulting in high levels of malnutrition (wasting).
The number of Afghan refugees in neighbouring Pakistan stands at approximately 60,000 which compares with a peak figure of around 3 million during the 1980s. Approximately 1.5 million remain in Iran where all but 23,000 are living amongst the local population. Repatriation efforts from Iran are being hampered by the present fighting – only 83,000 crossed over during the first nine months of 1994 compared with a target for the year of 0.3 million.
Meanwhile in other areas of the country unaffected by the fighting the UN's rehabilitation activities continue – the mine clearance programme for instance is substantially exceeding its targets.
Though foreign involvement is an important factor in fuelling the current fighting, the role of opium-derived finance is likely to be significant. The UN Drug Control Programme estimates Afghanistan's production to be around 3,200 tonnes making it the world's largest producer. Much of it is now processed in laboratories in Afghanistan and moves north to Russia via the Central Asian Republics.


text:
Orientalia contains articles, commentaries, and links discussing issues related to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, written by Ines Murzaku.
Unleashing the Feminine Genius: Mother Vincenzina Cusmano
First appeared in The National Catholic Register on June 16, 2017.
Our society owes much to the genius of women as St. John Paul II said in his Letter to Women in 1985. In fact, the Church cannot do without the genius of women, without the feminine, who have repeatedly saved Catholicism. What would have become of St. Benedict without St. Scholastica? St. Francis without St. Clare? Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa without St. Macrina? Blessed Giacomo Cusmano without his elder sister Venerable Mother Vincenzina Cusmano?
...continue reading in The National Catholic Register
CNN Special about Mother Teresa
Ines Murzaku's page at Seton Hall University
Monasticism in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Republics, 2016
Monastic Tradition in Eastern Christianity and the Outside World: A Call for Dialogue, 2013
Returning Home to Rome: The Basilian Monks of Grottaferrata in Albania, 2009
Quo Vadis Eastern Europe? Religion, State and Society after Communism, 2009
Catholicism, Culture, Conversion: The History of the Jesuits in Albania (1841-1946), 2006
Orientalia Archive
Fear of God, Faith, and Encounter
Unleashing the Feminine Genius: Mother Vincenzina ...
Ines A. Murzaku, PhD. Simple theme. Powered by Blogger.


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During my time in Tokyo, I was fortunate enough to visit a Karakami exhibit and store. For those who don't know, Karakami is a traditional method of pattern printing. Located Ueno, Tokyo Matsuya is a 4 floor location that is filled with all sorts of Karakami to not only view, but purchase. At the entrance I was given an English pamphlet to read, and watched a 40 minute video on the creation of Karakami and its multiple techniques. While the video was in Japanese, I was able to understand what was being done by the actions being done. Prior to watching the video, I had no idea how much work went in to the creation of Karakami from start to finish. Afterwards I explored the many floors and viewed some truly beautiful works of art. There were lots of pieces both older and modern. Many of the pieces were for sale, prices depending on the complexity. Along with these pieces of art, there is also old tools that are used for creating them on display. If you have the free time and are in the area, I strongly recommend you check this place out! You can purchase some small pieces of Karakami such as envelopes and post cards to send back home for a nice price, or larger pieces to showcase at your residence. The information of the exhibit is at the end of this article. Along with the information of the Tokyo Matsuya, here is brief history lesson on the origins and creation of Karakami.
As stated above, Karakami is a method of pattern printing on special mulberry tree pulp paper called washi. By using a carved woodblock, or hangi, and generally applying a single color to the block, artists are able to make beautiful and intricate patterns. These patterns are then applied to sliding doors known as fusuma, wallpaper, and other washi objects. While Karakami is Japanese in name, the kanji characters translate to "Chinese paper". During the Nara Period (710-794), this traditional paper art was introduced to Japan by the Chinese. Since then, it has remained the staple of Japanese beauty in shrines, temples, and vast amounts of objects throughout the country. Unlike a normal stamp where you press the paper with the image or pattern, Karakami involves applying paint to the hangi, laying the washi over the block, and rubbing the paper by hand to transfer the paint to the paper. This process may be done multiple times per section of paper which in turn brings out the talent of the artist for their precision and care in this traditional craft.
When dating the origins of Karakami, the art became extremely famous during the Heian period in Kyoto. It is there where it became more popular among the imperial court officers and aristocrats for writing letters and poetries. This style of Karakami is better known as Kyo Karakami. The materials used to make the washi was that of highest quality, along with the patterns designed and colors used. This doesn't mean that commoners didn't get to have their share of Karakami. During the Edo Era (17th century), population in Japan skyrocketed, along with the demand for Karakami. The increase in demand lead to an increase in manufacturers, and thus Edo Karakami was created. This type of Karakami was more for the common people and consisted of many more creators, thus the technique of making this style was more well preserved throughout time. During the Edo era, other artisan techniques were specialized. Along with the usual Karakami-shi artisans, there was also sarasa-shi artisans and sunago-shi artisans. For the sarasa-shi technique, artists would use special stencils known as Katagami. Instead of relying on the heavy and cumbersome hangi wood blocks, stencils made out of multiple layers of washi paper bonded with glue extracted persimmon fruit were used to create similar pieces of art on not only paper, but kimonos as well. For the sunago-shi technique, artisans use rich materials such as powder and pieces of gold and silver leaf along with the traditional paint. While many pieces have been lost throughout history, Karakami has become recognized as one of Japan's traditional arts and will continue to impress for years to come.


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The UCU East Africa Program is an interdisciplinary program that offers students interested in development issues an intensive on-site cross-cultural experience in academic learning. During the summer field course in East Africa, students are exposed to the major dilemmas of communities participating in development processes. Through participation in internships, students have an opportunity to contribute personally to the aims of international and local organizations and to the local communities which they serve.


Preheat the oven to the temp you would for your cake recipe.
Mix up your favorite cake batter, we love chocolate.
Take the icream cones and use them like cup cake papers, only these are edible.
Fill them about 2/3 full.
Set each one into the cupcake hole in the cupcake pan.
Bake until done, they are checked just like any cupcake.
Now it is time to frost, you will understand why my Mom used 7 minute frosting.
Take one of the cone cakes and dip it top down into the frosting, twirling it as you remove it to make it look like ice cream.
Sprinkle with sprinkles if you like.
These are great for Birthdays and school functions.
NO messy papers to clean up, just the kids, and they were going to get messy anyway!
love love LOVE this idea!! cute and yummy!!!
These look great! Will have to try some for the bakery.
Oh wow does this look creative and wonderful. I am always on the hunt for unique stuff and this looks amazing, thanks so much.
This recipe is a Huge Hit with kids & adults ~ I have made these a few times and they are so easy & lot's of Fun!!!!
My daughter's 3rd birthday is six days away, I was thinking of doing something new and fun for her "circus" birthday. This I think will be perfect! Great recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Forgot about this recipe, but I love it. It's a great idea for bake sales, bazaars, etc.
I love these, I remember the kids having them at school all the time.
I've had these when I was younger thanks for reminding me. My kids all have birthdays coming up this could be a great treat for them!!
Ten out of ten for creativity! Thanks!
I never would have thought about using cones as cake cases. Very clever!
These are so cute, I will make them for my grandkids, thanks.


When you retire, you leave behind many things—the daily grind, commuting, maybe your old home—but one thing you keep is a tax bill. In fact, income taxes can be your single largest expense in retirement.
Many older Americans are surprised to learn they might have to pay tax on part of the Social Security income they receive. Whether you have to pay such taxes will depend on how much overall retirement income you and your spouse receive, and whether you file joint or separate tax returns.
Check the base income amounts in IRS Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits. Generally, the higher that total income amount, the greater the taxable part of your benefits. This can range from 50 to 85 percent depending on your income. There is no tax break at all if you're married and file separate returns.
The IRS also provides worksheets you can use to figure out what's taxable and how much you might owe in taxes on your retirement income. You can find these worksheets in IRS Publication 554, Tax Guide for Seniors.
You have to pay income tax on your pension and on withdrawals from any tax-deferred investments—such as traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and similar retirement plans, and tax-deferred annuities—in the year you take the money. The taxes that are due reduce the amount you have left to spend.
You will owe federal income tax at your regular rate as you receive the money from pension annuities and periodic pension payments. But if you take a direct lump-sum payout from your pension instead, you must pay the total tax due when you file your return for the year you receive the money. In either case, your employer will withhold taxes as the payments are made, so at least some of what's due will have been prepaid. If you transfer a lump sum directly to an IRA, taxes will be deferred until you start withdrawing funds.
It's a good idea to check the different state tax rules on pension income. Some states do not tax pension payments while others do—and that can influence people to consider moving when they retire. States can't tax pension money you earned within their borders if you've moved your legal residence to another state. For instance, if you worked in Minnesota, but now live in Florida, which has no state income tax, you don't owe any Minnesota income tax on the pension you receive from your former employer.
Once you start taking out income from a traditional IRA, you owe tax on the earnings portion of those withdrawals at your regular income tax rate. If you deducted any portion of your contributions, you'll owe tax at the same rate on the full amount of each withdrawal. You can find instructions for calculating what you owe in IRS Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements.
If you have a Roth IRA, you'll pay no tax at all on your earnings as they accumulate or when you withdraw following the rules. But you must have the account for at least five years before you qualify for tax-free provisions on earnings and interest.
When you receive income from your traditional 401(k), 403(b) or 457 salary reduction plans, you'll owe income tax on those amounts. This income, which is produced by the combination of your contributions, any employer contributions and earnings on the contributions, is taxed at your regular ordinary rate. Keep in mind that withdrawals of contributions and earnings from Roth 401(k) accounts are not taxed provided the withdrawal meets IRS requirements.
Interest paid on investments in taxable accounts is taxed at your regular rate. But other income—from both your capital gains and qualifying dividends—is taxed at the long-term capital gains rate of between 20 percent and 0 percent, depending on your tax bracket. This is true when you have owned the investment for more than one year. This lower tax rate on most of your earnings is one of the major advantages of taxable accounts, though it's not the only one. There are no required withdrawals from taxable accounts and no tax penalty for taking income from these accounts before you turn 59½. This means you have greater flexibility in deciding which investments to tap for income and which to preserve for later needs.
There are also ways to minimize the taxes that may be due. You can use capital losses on some investments to offset capital gains on others. Your tax professional can explain how you can bunch or defer income to a single tax year or take advantage of tax deductions and credits. Or he or she may recommend investments that pay little current income but have strong growth potential. These could include index funds, exchange-traded funds, managed accounts and real estate as well as individual securities and mutual funds. Another approach a tax professional may suggest is to make charitable gifts of assets that have increased in value. This technique allows you to avoid capital gains taxes while taking a tax deduction for the current value of the asset.
You can't avoid income taxes during retirement. But once you stop working, you stop paying taxes for Social Security and Medicare, which can add several thousand dollars to your bottom line.
As you look ahead, you may be thinking about giving some of your assets to family members or friends, which is often beneficial to both you and them as long as you can afford to live comfortably on your remaining retirement income.
Transferring wealth is often a good way to avoid incurring estate taxes—and that's in turn good because these taxes can take a larger bite of your assets than even the highest income tax rate. In addition, some states impose inheritance taxes at various rates on what your heirs receive from your estate.
But the good news is that prior to your death, you can make gifts to whomever you wish—and you can do so up to a certain amount without paying taxes. The ceiling changes from time to time. In 2018, you can make a gift of up to $15,000 per year, or $30,000 per year if you're married, to as many individuals as you like without ever owing federal gift taxes on the amount. If you do intend to split your gift with a spouse and give up to $30,000 a year to any one individual, you'll need to file Form 709 with your taxes to be sure the IRS is notified.
In addition, you can make gifts larger than $15,000 tax-free to your beneficiaries over the course of your lifetime. You have to follow IRS rules carefully to comply with the lifetime exclusion provisions. For more details, read the instructions for IRS Form 709.
There are pros and cons to making tax-free gifts. On the upside, giving the money away reduces your taxable estate—that is, what will be subject to estate taxes when you die—while also helping your beneficiaries. But on the downside, once the gift is given, if you need access to that money later in your retirement, it's gone.


Hilltop NJ Muffler Gal – The Home of My "Big Things"
This gal is one of my favorites, and close to home too! She's the only "Big Gal" that I've seen so far, but I'm sure there are more around. See what the "Experts" have to say.