Blog

  • So much for that MLB 09 The Show prediction!

    yankees

    Well that didn’t exactly pan out, now did it? Sony’s MLB 09 The Show predicted last week that the Philadelphia Phillies would win the World Series in seven games. As y’all know by now, the New York Yankees (booooo!) beat the Phillies in Game Six last night to win their 27th championship. Congratulations, Yankees, you’re the Real Madrid of baseball with a terrible stadium.

    So hooray, [bandwagon] Yankees fans! Your group of men was better at hitting a ball with a stick than the other group of men.


  • McKinley visits New York on fourth day of Vigilant Guard

    Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited the
    Erie and Niagara counties on Nov. 4 as the Vigilant Guard exercise entered its
    fourth day…

  • Arizona Guardsman garners Jewish Institute award

    The Air Force chief of staff and two Airmen were among the honorees at the Jewish
    Institute for National Security Affairs awards dinner here Nov.
    2…

  • Oregon to host F-15C training at Kingsley Field

    F-15C training for active duty and Air National Guard pilots will be merged during
    this fiscal year and hosted by the Oregon Air National Guard based here, Guard
    officials recently announced…

  • As Iraq tour nears end, truckers’ mission continues

    When a deployed unit approaches its end-of-tour date, the focus begins to shift
    from the deployment at hand to redeployment stateside…

  • Guardsmen honor ‘Band of Brothers’ paratroopers in march to Atlanta

    The Georgia Army National Guard’s long range surveillance unit will again honor
    their World War II predecessors by completing a 118-mile march from Toccoa, Ga.,
    to Atlanta this week…

  • Army Guard premieres new recruiting campaign

    Guardmembers assigned to the National Capital Region got a chance this week to
    preview the Army National Guard’s new recruiting advertising campaign, which is
    scheduled to launch Nov. 13…

  • MENC Acknowledges Members Celebrating Silver, Gold Music Education Anniversaries

    MENC Members Celebrate 50 Years of Membership

    MENC recognizes that its members have shaped the growth and development of music education through the years. The organization pauses to pay tribute to its 50-year and 25-year members  for their dedication.

    One member celebrating a golden MENC anniversary is Bennett Reimer, the John W. Beattie professor of music education emeritus at Northwestern University. He has written a new book, Seeking the Significance of Music Education: Essays and Reflections, that examines music education’s course over the past fifty years.

    The members who celebrate their fiftieth year of MENC membership between August 1, 2009, and July 31, 2010, are

    Gary Ahrens, Rockport, Indiana
    Hazel D. Arpke, Beatrice, Nebraska
    Barbara S. Arquit, Bedford, Texas
    Richard C. Barker, Coupeville, Washington
    Dennis L. Behrens, Bothell, Washington
    Edward D. Benson, Matthews, North Carolina
    David D. Black, Montgomery, Alabama
    Peter Brasch, Babylon, New York
    Stephen E. Busch, Fort Collins, Colorado
    Dean A. Bushnell, Englewood, Colorado
    Joseph C. Cassinat, Riverton, Wyoming
    William A. Clark, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
    Leon Cole, Alpharetta, Georgia
    Morris Collier, Lincoln, Nebraska
    A. Scott Collins, Glen Cove, New York
    William A. Cridge, Granville, New York
    Bernard Curry, Glendale, Arizona
    Arthur S. Danner, Portland, Oregon
    Wesley E. Diemer, Wilmington, Delaware
    John L. Duling, Turlock, California
    Kenneth G. Evans, Greeley, Colorado
    Richard V. Evans, Hewitt, Tennessee
    Solie Fott, Clarksville, Tennessee
    Bruce B. Fowler, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
    Jefferson E. Fraser, Rochester New York
    Wayne S. Gammon, Marietta, Georgia
    R. Phyllis Gelineau, Milton, New Hampshire
    Glen M. Goering, Derby, Kansas
    Thomas L. Gray, Morgan Hill, California
    Robert A. Guenzler, Aurora, Illinois
    Anthony Guerere, Hammonton, New Jersey
    Harriet I. Hair, Hilton Head, South Carolina
    Mavis S. Hamre, Tempe, Arizona
    Harriet C. Heath, Portsmouth, Virginia
    Alyn J. Heim, Ocean Grove, New Jersey
    C. Richard Henckel, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
    Marianne Holland, Pickens, South Carolina
    Wyman E. Holland, Fargo, North Dakota
    Larry L. Huck, Fresno, California
    James F. Johnson, Leeds, Utah
    William C. Jones, Downey, California
    Joan Kelham, Avilla, Indiana
    Richard H. Knickerbocker, Lexington, Missouri
    Franklin D. Lewis, Marshfield, Missouri
    Frederick C. Loyer, St. Marys, Ohio
    James E. Mack, San Pedro, California
    Jametta W. Martin, Washington, DC
    Charles P. Mason, Ashland, Oregon
    Raff McDonald, Auburn, California
    James C. Myers, Worthington, Ohio
    Joseph Oneschuk, Milford, Massachusetts
    Larry D. Overton, Fort Morgan, Colorado
    Beverly B. Panten, Bowmansville, New York
    William D. Pardus, Marlborough, New Hampshire
    John G. Patterson, Columbia, Missouri
    James E. Perkins, Boise, Idaho
    Harry Pfingsten, Avon Lake, Ohio
    Herbert J. Philpott, Boston, Massachusetts
    James S. Ralston, Lawrence, Kansas
    John R. Redfern, Coffeyville, Kansas
    Bennett Reimer, Wilmette, Illinois
    William H. Robison, Rome, Georgia
    Ervin A. Royer, Myrtle Point, Oregon
    Bruce E. Schmottlach, Durham, Connecticut
    James W. Sherbon, Lenexa, Kansas
    Silvia K. Shiner, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Derral L. Siggard, Logan, Utah
    James W. Simmons, Charlottesville, Virginia
    Aime M. Simoneau, Bradenton, Florida
    James E. Singer, Columbus, Ohio
    James A. Smith, Spartanburg, South Carolina
    Julia S. Spencer, Gastonia, North Carolina
    William G. Teaford, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
    Donald L. Thatcher, Westboro, Massachusetts
    Ernest C. Thompson, Sacramento, California
    Paul E. Thoms, Hamilton, Ohio
    Carolyn B. Tower, Northville, Michigan
    Irving B. Weinstein, Oxnard, California
    Barrie E. Wells, Eugene, Oregon
    Frank B. Wickes, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Bob C. Wig, Milaca, Minnesota
    Gerald H. Winter, Northridge California
    Ara Zerounian, Troy, Michigan
    Muril Zimmerman, Mentor, Ohio

    MENC also congratulates music educators who have been MENC members for twenty-five years. They are listed below:

    June E. Ackroyd, Marquette Michigan
    Helen E. Adams, Nicholson, Georgia
    Miles Adams, Nicholson, Georgia
    Steve Adams, Overland Park, Kansas
    Sally K. Albrecht, Raleigh North Carolina
    Anthony Alduino, Conklin, New York
    Carol J. Allen, Melbourne, Florida
    Michael N. Allman, Timonium, Maryland
    Susan Alves, Lincoln, Rhode Island
    Ronald Amos, King, North Carolina
    Paul A. Amundsen, Exeter, New Hampshire
    Brian L. Anderson, Fremont Nebraska
    Nicholas A. Angiulo, Sacramento California
    Hilary Apfelstadt, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
    Jay Asher, Powder Springs, Georgia
    Tony R. Auby, Newport News, Virginia
    Tammy Jo Austin, Rock Springs, Wyoming
    Vera S. Baker, Springfield, Massachusetts
    Marcia L. Ball, Joplin, MIssouri
    Rex J. Barker, Omaha, Nebraska
    Janine Baughman, Bowling Green, Ohio
    Susan Beck, Tifton, Georgia
    Jeff Beckman, Old Hickory, Tennessee
    Laurie Bell, Seattle, Washington
    Dave Bellis, Worland, Wyoming
    Janet Bemiss, Tracys Landing, Maryland
    Tina Bennett, Clarion, Pennsylvania
    Jayme Berry, Alamogordo, New Mexico
    Keith Berry, Amston, Connecticut
    Michael L. Berry, East Brunswick, New Jersey
    Beth Best, Naperville, Illinois
    Thomas W. Billing, Springfield, Ohio
    Mark P. Blackmore, Wright City MIssouri
    Guy Blair, Pella, Iowa
    Wayne B. Blumrick, Middleport, New York
    Matthew Boice, Washington, Pennsylvania
    Wandalyn G. Boley, Manassas, Virginia
    Craig R. Bond, Saint Helena, California
    Michele J Boulanger, Dover, New Hampshire
    Kathleen H Boyer, West Chester, Pennsylania
    Donna M. Boylan, Dunkirk, Maryland
    Becky S. Bradley, Littleton, Colorado
    Stanley D. Bragg, Shawsville, Virginia
    Robert E. Brase, Dix Hills, New York
    Joel I, Brickman, Paramus, New Jersey
    Carol "Kickie" H. Britt, Potsdam, New York
    Gary L. Brookhart, Aurora, Ohio
    Fabiene H. Brown, Cinnaminson, New Jersey
    Nancy Brown, Corvallis, Montana
    Patricia A. Brown, Newark, Delaware
    Clayton Browne, Oakdale, Minnesota
    Charles J. Brumbaugh, Lyman, Wyoming
    David B. Buetzow, Canonsburg, Pennsylania
    Chris Bumgarner, Polson, Montana
    Joanne Bunce, Hillsborough, New Jersey
    Richard J. Burkart, Columbus, Ohio
    William H. Campbell, Plant City, Florida
    Ted L. Carrico, Nampa, Idaho
    Claretta C. Carroll, Temple Hills, Maryland
    Sandra Carroll, Avoca, Iowa
    Gail R. Cavallo, Farmingdale, New York
    Joseph Ceo, Wood River Junction, Rhode Island
    Ann M. Cheek, Charleston, South Carolina
    Joseph J, Ciufo, Pylesville, Maryland
    Lori J. Ciulla, Medina, Ohio
    Joyce J. Click, Carmel, Indiana
    Robert Clowes, Mystic, Connecticut
    Sally Conklin, New Martinsville, West Virginia
    Shirley K. Conley, Chester, Virginia
    Timothy D. Connery, Hamilton Square, New Jersey
    Judith Ann Conrad, Fishertown, Pennsylania
    Jack J. Conway, Cincinnati, Ohio
    Anita M. Cook, Bluffton, Ohio
    Bruce Cook, Clemson, South Carolina
    Kevin J. Cooper, Mohnton, Pennsylania
    Marlin D. Cooper, Shawnee, Kansas
    Miriam T. Cotter, Englishtown, New Jersey
    Ben Counce, Caruthersville, Missouri
    Dennis Cox, Brewer, Maine
    Kim Cozart, Marble, North Carolina
    Ruth A. Craig, Charleston Illinois
    Marlene A. Creech Dudley, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
    Thomas G. Cremer, Stockbridge, Georgia
    Don R. Crowe, Brookings, South Dakota
    Nancy C. Cuartas, Powell, Ohio
    Richard Curlee, Belvidere, Illinois
    Adele Cutrali-Valovich, Westport Connecticut
    Carol J. Dallinger, Evansville, Indiana
    Marcia K. Dalton, Holyoke, Colorado
    David J. Danckwart, Lake City, Minnesota
    Dennis Danders, Wichita, Kansas
    Dennis L. Darling, Decorah, Iowa
    Rodney L. Dasinger, Panama City Florida
    Dean Davison, Louisburg, Kansas
    Gloria Day, Tucson, Arizona
    Helen Deitz, Portland, Oregon
    Lawrence DelMasto, Manahawkin, New Jersey
    Kathleen M. DeLozier, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylania
    Robert Delwarte, Chatsworth, California
    James DePalo, Keene New Hampshire
    Rodney K. Derstine, Lansdale Pennsylania
    Paul F. DeRubeis, Rochester Hills MI
    Bea Devereaux, Litchfield, Minnesota
    Rick Dickinson, Kellogg, Idaho
    Teresa M. Disbrow, Swanton, Ohio
    Barbara R. Dobrinen, San Francisco California
    Amy M. Dodge, Livonia, New York
    Susan K. Dolacky, Edmonds, Washington
    Arthur Drummond, Greenville, Rhode Island
    Robert W. Duda, Canton, New York
    Maryellen Dulisse-Caldwell, Norristown, Pennsylvania
    Michael Dunsmoor, Oswego New York
    Phillip E. Dunzweiler, Sacramento, California
    Curt Ebersole, White Plains, New York
    Elizabeth Eccles, Chesapeake, Virginia
    Dean Ekberg, Rochester, New York
    Leila Elkins, Oxford, Georgia
    David G. Elliott, Lexington, Kentucky
    M’Lynn Emanuel, Norman, Oklahokma
    Don P. Ester, Yorktown, Indiana
    James R. Farmer, Hanson, Massachusetts
    Joan Farquhar, Maryville, Missouri
    Russell J. Faunce, Black River, New York
    Gaetano T. Ferlazzo, North Fort Myers, Florida
    Kathy Finck, Alamo, Texas
    Randall E. Fink, Spokane, Washington
    Pamela W. Fiocca, Stow, Ohio
    Gilbert B. Fisher, St. Louis, Missouri
    Leilani E. Fisher, Spartanburg, South Carolina
    Mark Fonder, Ithaca, New York
    Jack E. Foote, Sacramento California
    John R. Ford, Round Hill, Virginia
    Kathryn J. Ford, Blue Springs, Missouri
    Elaine W. Foster, Jefferson City, Missouri
    Wayne C. Fox, Lebanon, Pennsylania
    Lynne A. Francis, Parkersburg WV
    Mitchell Frank, Yardley, Pennsylania
    Donald E. Franklin, Wappingers Falls, New York
    Elizabeth Marie Froman, Patterson, Missouri
    Rozanne R. Fuller, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
    Peter Gage, Orleans, Vermont
    James Gai, Warrensburg, Missouri
    Ward Gailey, Conyers, Georgia
    Antonio E. Gallardo, Oakland, California
    Lisa A. Galvin, Columbus Ohio
    Richard D. Galyean, Wise, Virginia
    Anthony T. Gambino, Lakewood, New Jersey
    Joseph A. Ganci, West Hartford, Connecticut
    Nathan Garfinkel, Massapequa, New York
    John W. Garren, Newark, Ohio
    Linda Gartner, Loveland Ohio
    Stephen A. Geis, Cincinnati Ohio
    Mary Gibson, Roselle, Illinois
    Jackie Gilley, Midwest City, Oklahoma
    Kathleen Gjerdingen, Cathedral City, California
    Stephen W. Glosser, Beachwood, Ohio
    Barry Golden, Swainsboro, Georgia
    Linda Goodwin, West Columbia, South Carolina
    Patricia A. Gordan, Raymond, Maine
    Diane Gourley, Peoria, Arizona
    John Granatella, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Daniel Green, Hartford, Connecticut
    Judy A. Green, Lovington, New Mexico
    Rebecca P. Green, Clemmons, North Carolina
    Dalos W. Grobe, Detroit, Michigan
    Janet T. Gross, Huntingtown, Maryland
    Virginia D. Grossman, S. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Alan J. Gumm, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
    Brian M. Gustafson, Owatonna, Minnesota
    Gary J. Guth, Rochester, New York
    John H. Guthans, III, Pearl River, Louisiana
    Anne W. Hadden, Fairfield, Connecticut
    Thomas R. Hageman, Huntley, Illinois
    Gregory K. Hall, Salisbury, North Carolina
    Paul A. Hallsted, Las Cruces, New Mexico
    Louis Hamilton, Westwood, California
    Diane Flood Hanzlicek, Sabetha, Kansas
    Laura M. Harris, Tyrone, Pennsylania
    Lynn Harris, Greenwich, New Jersey
    William N. Harris, Germantown, Maryland
    Bill Harshbarger, Newton, Kansas
    Tim M. Hausman, St. Louis, Missouri
    Jean Hays, Fresno, California
    Harlan E. Henderson, Cheney, Washington
    Diann Henson, Poteau, Oklahoma
    Sharon B. Hermann, Manassas, Virginia
    Paul E. Hess, Newark, Delaware
    Kevin R. Hibbard, Carrollton, Georgia
    L. Rick Hilborn, Nazareth, Pennsylania
    James Hoffmann, Camp Hill, Pennsylania
    Timothy Hogan, Patchogue New York
    Brenda S. Holcombe, Carrollton Georgia
    Laurie A. Holdsworth, Elma Washington
    J. Thomas Holland, Weaver, Alabama
    William M. Holman, Rexburg, Idaho
    Susan E. Hottovy, Adams, Nebraska
    John E. Huber, Hays, Kansas
    Cathie Hudnall, Snellville, Georgia
    Lorna Huerta, Porterville California
    Craig W. Hughes, High Bridge, New Jersey
    Thomas R. Huhn, Goodview Virginia
    Donna J. Hurd, East Baldwin Maine
    John S. Husser, Blacksburg, Virginia
    David K. James, Waxhaw North Carolina
    Dwight I. James, Bishopville, South Carolina
    Arthur Jay, Ossining, New York
    Donald F. Jeanes, Fairfax, Virginia
    Deborah N. Jenkins, Lawrenceville Georgia
    Wayne A. Jenson, Garland, Utrah
    Cecile L. Johnson, Denton Texas
    Dan Johnson, Nampa, Idaho
    Dee D. Johnson, Metairie, Louisiana
    Robert L. Johnson Jr., Leicester, North Carolina
    Zavaan B. Johnson, Xenia, Ohio
    Curtis Jones, Maryland Heights, Missouri
    Mickey Y. Jones, Hutchinson, Kansas
    Karen E. Jurkowski, Springville, New York
    Lynn Just, Hillsboro, Kansas
    Pat B. Kaiser, West Allis. Wisconsin
    Robert J. Kalweit, Aurora, New York
    Kirk Kassner, Federal Way, Washington
    Kerisha Kegley, Abingdon, Virginia
    Bonnie A. Kelly, Bedford, Massachusetts
    Wanda C. Kensinger, Richmond, Virginia
    Paul H. Kimpton, Downers Grove, Illinois
    Joyce L. King, Jefferson, Georgia
    Kathleen L. King, Sutherlin Oregon
    Patricia A. King, Enon, Ohio
    Carol King-Chipman, Arlington, Tennessee
    Rhonda Kiser Ledbetter, Piedmont, Alabama
    Denise Klaas, Beaverton, Oregon
    Kathryn L. Knueven, Liberty Township, Ohio
    Raymond A. Koch, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    Leonard Konda, Beloit, Kansas
    Anita M. Kowalski, Fort Wayne, Indiana
    Bryan Kreps, Hanceville, Alabama
    Diane Krick, Andes, New York
    Martha R. Kroese, Cedar Falls, Iowa
    Kathryn M. Kuddes, Plano, Texas
    Wayne Kuehl East Grand Forks, Minnesota
    Leon Kuehner, Hampton Iowa
    Lois E. Kuhn, Myersville, Maryland
    Judith E. Landes, Paris Illinois
    Brenda B. Landry, Pierre Part, Louisiana
    James W. Lanning, Branson, Missouri
    Nancy L. Laporte, Goffstown, New Hampshire
    Elaine M. Larson, Kenai, Alaska
    Richard A. Larson, Englewood, Colorado
    Jeff Lawless, Owasso, Oklahoma
    Karen R. Leamon, Auburn, Georgia
    Paula Lee, Clarkson, Kentucky
    Randy Lee, Duluth, Minnesota
    Theta Lee, Wellington, Illinois
    Harry M. Leff, Thousand Oaks, California
    Philip C. Lehenbauer, Canton, Ohio
    Ira C. Lehn, Modesto California
    Marjorie R. Lehr, Carmichael, California
    Grace M. Lentini, Auburn, New York
    Lisa Leonardi, Huntington, New York
    Gregory Leonardo, Jackson Heights, New York
    Alan R. Lewis, Las Vegas, Nevada
    Judith L. Lewis, Stow, Ohio
    Karen A. Lewis, Fort Meade, Florida
    Michael Lipton, Yardley, Pennsylania
    James K. Little, Jackson, Georgia
    Bonnie J. Lockrem, Malibu, California
    Donny Longest, Shawnee, Oklahoma
    Phillip B. Louden, Westerville, Ohio
    Collins G. Loupe, Spokane, Washington
    Robert Loveridge, Helena, Montana
    Robin H. Loy, Greenville, North Carolina
    Denise L. Lueke, Blair, Nebraska
    Denis Lumbrezer, Swanton, Ohio
    Glen R. Lunde, Waukesha, Wisconsin
    Donna R. Lundy, Petersburg, Virginia
    Kevin J. Madigan, Cheyenne, Wyoming
    John J. Mahlmann, Reston, Virginia
    Leonard Martello, Holbrook, New York
    Charles Martin, Oak Lawn, Illinois
    David L. Martin, Sussex, New Jersey
    Fred Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colorado
    David Martins, Westford, Massachusetts
    Mark Marusich, Scottsdale, Arizona
    Christina L. Massey, Hillsboro, Oregon
    Virginia P. Mateer, Wellington, Ohio
    Nonon Mathews, Millersport, Ohio
    Harold F. McAulliffe, Pittsford, New York
    Cheryl McClaren, Norwich, Kansas
    Lynn M. McCoy, Bellevue, Ohio
    Norman F. McGill III, Kings Mountain, North Carolina
    David McGillicuddy, Houlton, Maine
    Naomi Y. McGrady, Rockbridge, Ohio
    Scott McKenzie, Missoula, Montana
    Robert J. McKenzie Sullivan, Rochester, Washington
    Robert A. Meadows, Albuquerque, New Mexico
    Peg Mehuron, Barre, Vermont
    Jane Mendlik, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Natalie Mentrup, Army Post Office, Armed Forces Europe
    Joseph M. Metzer, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
    Marilyn Gregg Meyers, Beaver, Oklahoma
    Darlene L. Miller, Warren, New Jersey
    Gary S. Miller, Pittsfield, Massachusetts
    Martha S. Miller, Duncansville, Pennsylania
    Nedra R. Miller, Bucyrus, Kansas
    Laura Minker, Newark, Delaware
    Dominick A. Minni, Philadelphia, Pennsylania
    Sonya Missal-Brittin, Chandler, Arizona
    Thomas Monteleone, Harrison City, Pennsylania
    Richard E. Moore, North Canton, Ohio
    Michael S. Morey, Fargo, North Dakota
    Lynne Elaine Morgan Smoot, Mechanicsville, Maryland
    Michael A. Mucci, Longmeadow, Massachusetts
    Marilyn Myers, Hillsboro, Ohio
    Marilyn J. Myers, Danville, Illinois
    Neal Naquin, Mandeville, Louisiana
    Rachel Lee Nardo, Salt Lake City, Utah
    Ronald Netchi, Gibsonia, Pennsylania
    Daniel M. Newberry, Moultrie, Georgia
    Russell Newbury, Pasco, Washington
    Dane B. Newlove, Saint Marys, Ohio
    Robert R. Nichols, Mesa, Arizona
    Brian Nickoloff, Sandusky, Ohio
    Debra L. Nimetz, North Hatfield, Massachusetts
    Pamela Nordquist, Talent, Oregon
    Paul J. O’Donoghue, Hardinsburg, Kentucky
    W. Steve Ogilvie, Jacksonville, Florida
    Gregory A. Olsen, Nebraska City, Nebraska
    Debra L. Olson, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
    Dale A. Orris, Winfield Pennsylania
    Richard S. Osterling, Fairport, New York
    Anthony J. Palmer, Hudson, Massachusetts
    Gerald Pannone, San Francisco California
    Dean J. Paquette, Ellsworth Maine
    Kenneth Paris, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
    Mark Parish, Norwalk, Ohio
    Scarlet J. Parker, High Point North Carolina
    Jerry L. Parsons, Powell, Ohio
    Barbara Patterson, Westminster, Maryland
    J. Harley Patterson, Ripley Tennessee
    Deirdre Gyr Patterson Turshen, Falls Church Virginia
    Ronald D. Payne, Matthews, North Carolina
    Ina Pegram, Taylors, South Carolina
    Patricia J. Petersen, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
    Don Peterson, Manteca, California
    Sharon G. Phillips, Decatur Georgia
    Kathryn Pienkowski, Philadelphia, Pennsylania
    Joan Plasner, Watchung, New Jersey
    James C. Plondke, Smyrna, Georgia
    Matthew F. Polacek, Salem Oregon
    Sherri L. Porterfield, Liberty Missouri
    Carol R. Poston, Brentwood, Tennessee
    Pamela A. Potter, Quincy, Illinois
    Melinde Poupore, Malone, New York
    David Price, Greeneville, Tennessee
    Michael S. Price, Lexington, North Carolina
    David R. Pruitt, Springfield, Illinois
    Charles A. Puricelli, Massapequa, New York
    Elizabeth A. Putnam, Kings Mountain, North Carolina
    Lisa Qualls, Asheboro, North Carolina
    Karl W. Raschkes, Salem, Oregon
    Paul Rataczak, Danville, California
    Agnew W. Reddig, Millersville, Pennsylania
    Alfred K. Reed, Morgantown, West Virginia
    John C. Reed, Hazlehurst, Georgia
    Audrey M. Reese, Atlanta, Georgia
    Dennis A. Reese, Afton, Wyoming
    Glen Reinke, Marinette Wisconsin
    Barbara Retzko, Bernardsville, New Jersey
    Karen L. Reynolds, Plymouth, Nebraska
    Joyce S. Richardson-Melech, Somerset, New Jersey
    John M. Riddle, St. Louis, Missouri
    Gordon E. Roach, Alexandria, Louisiana
    Mary Ann Roberson, Gilbert, Arizona
    Jon C. Robichaud, Blue Springs, Missouri
    Julie H. Robinson, Fayetteville, North Carolina
    Mary L. Rogers, Brewster, New York
    Penny M. Rogers, Chesterfield, South Carolina
    Clem Rolin, Oakdale, Pennsylania
    Richard J. Rollo, Warren, Ohio
    Joan H. Rosen, Bayonne, New Jersey
    Jane A. Ross Wadsworth, Ohio
    Clark Roush, York, Nebraska
    Heyward Lee Ruff, Lexington, South Carolina
    David Rush, Janesville, Wisconsin
    Joanne Rutkowski, University Park, Pennsylania
    Thomas W. Sabatino, Newark, Delaware
    James Sadewhite, Irvington, NY
    Mark S. Sanders, Melbourne, Florida
    David L Saunders, Romeoville, Illinois
    Kirt Saville, Mapleton, Utah
    John Scandrett, Pittsburgh, Pennsylania
    Phillip W. Schaefer, Liberty, Missouri
    Judy Schnebly, Saint Joseph, Michigan
    Thomas E. Schneider, St. Joseph, Missouri
    Kathy L. Schock,Mesa, Arizona
    Chuck Schroeder, Grass Valley, California
    Fred Schwinger, Cold Spring, New York
    Jonathan D Searfoss, Lake Ariel, Pennsylania
    Noel Sell, Somerset, New Jersey
    Sarah K Sergesketter Jasper, Indiana
    Terri L. Setzer Waxhaw, North Carolina
    Scott Severance Queensbury, New York
    Sarah A. Shaffer, Columbus, Ohio
    Thomas A. Shaw Jr., Glen Allen, Virginia
    William R. Shoppell, Brielle New Jersey
    Elsie W. Shuler, Raleigh, North Carolina
    Douglas D. Siegel, Goldendale, Washington
    Paul Silverman, Contoocook, New Hampshire
    Victor Sisk, Lawrence, Kansas
    Jeff Skogley, Cascade, Montana
    Karen Ajamian Smaldone, Lynbrook, New York
    Jeffrey A. Smith, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
    Lisa D. Smith, Social Circle, Georgia
    Pam M. Smith, Jacksonville, Alabama
    Edith Snider, Greenville North Carolina
    David F. Sorgen, Lock Haven, Pennsylania
    Don M, Sowers, Clermont, Florida
    Cynthia L. Sparks, Anthem, Arizona
    Katherine J. Starrett,Trussville, Alabama
    Donna N. Steckler, Spotsylvania, Virginia
    Arvida M. Steen, Richfield, Minnesota
    Kathy Stefani, Grangeville, Idaho
    Julie G. Sterman, Broadview Heights, Ohio
    Janet H. Steves, Brockport New York
    Timothy Stiles, Waynesville, North Carolina
    Caroline Stilwell, Rittman, Ohio
    Benna D. Stokes, De Soto Missouri
    Cathleen L. Stranc, Maryville, Illinois
    Beth E. Stribling, Murray, Kentucky
    Stephen Strouse, Manahawkin, New Jersey
    Darlene Summerour, Shawnee, Kansas
    Susanna C. Susoeff, San Carlos, California
    William A. Sutter, Lillington, North Carolina
    Ruth I. Swallen, Wooster, Ohio
    John H. Swecker, Longview, Washington
    Kathryn Tabor, Garfield, Kentucky
    Paul D. Taranto, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Cynthia A. Taylor, Columbia, South Carolina
    Salvatore Terrasi, Shorewood Wisconsin
    Shirley Terrinoni, Oswego, New York
    Edith Thomas, Marlboro, Vermont
    Laura M. Thomas, Charlottesville, Virginia
    Michael Thomas, Morristown, Tennessee
    Steven L. Thomas, Amherst New York
    Joyce B. Thompson, Starr, South Carolina
    Steve Tirmenstein, St. Louis, Missouri
    Charlene Toler, Springfield, Missouri
    Karen Townsend Gordy, Anacoco, Louisiana
    Mark Tripp, Caldwell, Idaho
    Barry M. Turner Sr., Lexington, Kentucky
    Deborah A. Turner, College Park, Maryland
    Ronald S. Turnmyre, West Jefferson North Carolina
    Brian D. Uerling, Clovis New Mexico
    William C. Ulrickson, Lambert Montana
    Neil S. Underwood, Lincolnton North Carolina
    David J. Urness, Mankato Minnesota
    Bill D. Van Pelt, Medford Oregon
    Paul Vander Gheynst, Columbus Georgia
    Jane P. Vanderhoff, Garden City, Kansas
    Jean A. Vanek, Babylon, New York
    Mary N. VanPelt, Graham North Carolina
    Lee A. Varpness, Montevideo Minnesota
    Marylyn Varriale, West Hempstead NY
    Mary L. Villani, Altoona Pennsylania
    Kimberly K. Vineyard, Belpre Ohio
    Steven N. Vogel, Inver Grove Heights Minnesota
    Lori L. Walker, McDonough Georgia
    G. Darryl Waller, Newport News Virginia
    Keith L. Wander, Moorhead Minnesota
    Muriel Weaver, Chillicothe Ohio
    Mary Ann Weeks, Wakefield Massachusetts
    F. Joe Weigand, Florissant Missouri
    R. David Weimer Jr., Urbana, Ohio
    Lauree A. Wenger, Great Falls Montana
    Kayla B. Werlin, Longmeadow Massachusetts
    Joel Westgaard, University Place Washington
    Cindy J. White, Poplar Bluff, Missouri
    Karen Whitman,Titusville, Florida
    Elizabeth L. Whitney, Alna, Maine
    William L. Wicker, Bellevue, Washington
    Cathy A. Wilkinson, Maysville, Missouri
    Deborah S. Willis, Rome Georgia
    Sharon W. Wills, Charlotte Court House, Virginia
    Deborah G. Wilson, Grand Junction, Colorado
    Rebecca R. Winnie, Mequon Wisconsin
    Jeffrey A. Wirtz, Oak Park, Illinois
    Nancy P. Witcher, Lenoir, North Carolina
    Gary D. Witley, Olympia, Washington
    Norman W. Wolfe, White River Junction, Vermont
    Dale Wolford, Castro Valley, California
    Bambi L. Wright, La Grange, Kentucky
    Kathy D. Wright, Moultrie Georgia
    Linda G. Wright, Columbus Ohio
    Tim Wurgler, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
    Brian Yealy, McSherrystown, Pennsylvania
    Henry B. Yorgey, Spring City, Pennsylvania
    Guy S. Younce, Louisville, Kentucky
    Sandra K. Zielepuza,Tarpon Springs, Florida
    Sheldon Zucker, Great Neck, New York

     —Roz Fehr, November 5 2009. © MENC: The National Association for Music Education

  • Why the Droid Eris is not running Android 2.0

    scaled.ERISAnother day, another Android phone. I believe we will soon come to a day when Android phones will be looked at with the same jaundiced eye as, say, the latest LG Chocolate, but since that day hasn’t come, I’ll share a few observations with Verizon’s new $99 Hero-alike, the Eris.

    The Eris is basically a mini Hero. It’s slightly thinner and clad in all black and but the Sense UI is in place and all of the things that made the Hero great – responsive OS, apps, and social networking connectivity – are here. One thing lacking, however, is the “latest” version of Android with its superior navigation application and multi-touch.

    I asked some HTC folks about what was going on and they informed me that HTC is sticking with Sense UI and that some of the tweaks they did to pre-2.0 Android didn’t mesh well with the latest version. The result is, as I’ve mentioned before, a new “branch” of the OS.

    To be sure HTC can’t sit on the sidelines with this for long, but it’s abundantly clear that the issue of non-centralized OS development is rearing its head here. This is Anrdoids blessing and its curse and I think the real problems will occur when handset manufacturers try to hide Android behind their own proprietary masks, much in the way TiVo and Kindle use Linux on the inside but make not mention of it.

    It’s a question of when, not if, HTC will go 2.0. But for now they’re sitting things out and perfecting their UI going forward.

    Update: We just heard back from HTC, and it appears that the Eris does in fact have multitouch in certain areas. They (being HTC) added multitouch capabilities through their own coding using android 1.x, so as a result the code isn’t available to 3rd party developers. But for the record, the Eris does have multitouch in the photo album and a few other places.


  • Steve Jobs Gets Crowned “CEO of the Decade”

    411px-Steve_JobsFortune magazine just published an article in which it names Steve Jobs, Apple CEO and co-founder, CEO of the decade. How does one merit such a grandiose title? Well, by doing the seemingly impossible, that’s how. Fortune recounts the Coles Notes version of Jobs’ life and times, and it sounds too fantastic to be true. Yet it is true, and it is at least partly responsible for the rabid devotion Apple commands.

    The magazine describes the ousting of Steve in the 1980’s, his return in the 90’s, and the decade-long story that follows, which includes harrowing health problems, a securities-law scandal, and a product line badly in need of innovation and originality.

    Despite having taken over the company when it was worth only $5 billion, and seemingly on the verge of failure and bankruptcy, Steve Jobs ushered in devices like the iPod which helped change the company’s fortunes dramatically (they now control 73 percent of the U.S. MP3 player market), eventually leading to the $170 billion net company worth that exists today. In August of this year, Apple reported that it had $31.1 billion in cash on hand, an amount that would allow it to buy its pre-Jobs self six times over.

    Of course, Steve Jobs was also behind the introduction of the iPhone, a device which has arguably changed the landscape of cellular communication and mobile computing more than any other (subscription required). Originally introduced in 2007, in the two years since, the iPhone has become the force to reckon with in the smartphone industry. It led to fundamental changes in the way cellular service providers do business, and wrested much of the control of media and bundled software away from them.

    Still, it hasn’t all been roses. Not one, but two major health issues arose for Jobs during the past decade. First, in 2004, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He underwent surgery to treat the disease, and the outcome was apparently a good one, since no follow-up chemo or radiology treatment was required. Then, last year, Jobs took a six-month leave of absence during which he underwent a liver transplant. He returned to work in June 2009.

    There was also the securities scandal, in which Jobs was apparently granted stock options at a backdated price, resulting in $20 million of undeclared taxable income. An internal Apple investigation later cleared Steve Jobs of any knowledge of the backdating, but the issue remains subject to active criminal and civil legal investigation.

    But the highlights far outweigh the few dark spots on this Apple. Mac market share continues to grow, and the brand remains incredibly popular among students and young people, a promising sign for the future. Jobs is also the largest shareholder at Disney, thanks to his influence and guidance in Pixar’s celebrated history. And, just as no one has yet to replicate the iPod’s success in the MP3 player market, no true iPhone-killer has yet to surface, despite countless efforts by other phone manufacturers.

    Perhaps what makes Steve Jobs such a successful CEO is that people know his name. Not just avid Fortune readers and business-types, but most people. So much so that The Simpsons can parody him without fear of the joke being lost on the masses. Make no mistake, Jobs himself is a willing and active part of Apple’s promotional arsenal, as evidenced by his legendary theatricality when introducing new products and software at various special events.

    It’s hard to predict what the future holds for such a personality, but recent evidence suggests that Jobs will next try to do for TV what he’s already done for music and cell phones. That is, to quickly and without much warning become the dominant force in an industry.

  • "If You Ask a Kid To Dream, He'll Dream."

    Coming Up Taller Event

    (First Lady Michelle Obama congratulates an award recipient during the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities Coming Up Taller event in the State Dining Room of the White House, Nov. 4, 2009. Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

    Yesterday afternoon in the historic State Dining Room, First Lady Michelle Obama, honorary chair of the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities, presented 15 programs from around the world with the Coming Up Taller Award. Given to arts and humanities organizations that reach underserved youth, the award is a reminder of the meaningful role cultural activities play in the lives of our children. This year’s recipients include the Shakespeare Remix program in New York, where inner-city teens adapt and perform Shakespearean texts to reflect their own lives, and the Harmony Project in Los Angeles, which provides free music instruction to at-risk children.

    Speaking to a crowd of teachers, program workers, and students, the First Lady highlighted the positive impact these programs have in the lives of children around the world:

    Because of you, teens in Arizona are publishing their own magazine, and children in central and south Los Angeles are learning to play instruments and performing in orchestras.  Because of the work that you do, students in New York City are mastering Shakespeare.  And in my hometown of Chicago, there are students learning traditional Mexican art forms.  There are young people in Egypt who are learning basket weaving and storytelling, calligraphy and photography. 

    And you’re not just connecting young people with music, dance, poetry and drama.  But because of your work, you’re connecting people, these young people to mentoring, to tutoring, to social services, and college counseling. You don’t just show them the power of their imagination, but you show them the power of discipline and hard work and of teamwork, as well. 

    And these young people don’t just become accomplished singers and painters and authors.  They also become better students, they become better leaders, and they become better citizens, enriching not just themselves but their communities, teaching younger children the skills that they’ve learned, beautifying neighborhoods with murals and lifting their communities with their performances.

    Ultimately, each of your programs is using achievement in the arts as a bridge to achievement in life.  And you see all this every day, each and every one of you working so hard.  You see this in your students as they become more confident and more engaged and more willing to take risks and to take responsibility for their futures.  You see it when their academic performance improves, when you see improving attitudes and higher GPAs.  And you see young people who never saw themselves as college material, you see them getting those acceptance letters and you see them going on to pursue their degrees.  So we all know in this room the power of the arts to change young people’s lives.  

  • Data Usage Be Damned, T-Mobile Losing Its Grip on Customers

    T-MoT-Mobile USA lost 77,000 customers and saw revenue continue to slide in the third quarter even as its operating profit margin increased two percentage points. But the nation’s fourth-largest carrier continued to enjoy a surge in mobile data uptake and said it will continue to aggressively — if belatedly — roll out its 3G network next year.

    T-Mobile USA is fighting heated battles on both ends of the mobile spectrum: It has introduced competitive prepaid plans in an effort to compete with cut-rate service providers such as Leap Wireless and MetroPCS, and it is vying for revenue-boosting, smartphone-using consumers with devices such as the Android-based Motorola Cliq and myTouch 3G. But while the carrier’s strategy may be paying dividends for shareholders of parent company Deutsche Telekom, it will have to address the serious network hiccups that have infuriated customers in recent weeks.
    t-mo arpu
    DT blamed increasing competition and competitors’ “handset innovation” for its 2.4 percent churn rate, which was unchanged from the previous quarter. T-Mobile USA’s $5.57 billion in revenue was up 2.8 percent from the year-ago period, and its all-important data traffic grew by 45 percent quarter over quarter.

    The carrier spent $800 million to build out its 3G network in the U.S. during the quarter, though, and said the network will cover 200 million Americans by the end of the year. T-Mobile brought 5,200 cell sites online during the period and said it plans to add nearly 4,000 more sites by the end of the year, reaching 25,000 total sites. That build-out will be necessary to meet the demands of T-Mo’s rapidly expanding base of data-hungry customers.

  • T-Mobile loses “Even More” customers in Q3

    TMobileLogo_1

    Here at BGR we love the underdog, so we are a little disappointed to have to tell you about the latest figures coming out of the T-Mobile camp. T-Mobile released their Q3 numbers today and suffered a net loss of 77,000 subscribers, with 140,000 customers packing up their number and shacking up with another carrier. Compare the loss with the 325,000 subscribers it gained in Q2 of this year or the 670,000 it gained in Q3 of last year, and, well ouch; it would appear as though T-Mo’s momentum might be slowing. The profits also shrunk a bit, in Q2 T-Mo posted a $425 million profit while in Q3 that number shrank to $417 million. So, will the new “Even More” plans, Android handsets, and new BlackBerry smartphones be enough to get T-Mobile back on track for Q4? Or will the comparatively meek holiday lineup make for a flat Q4? We’ll find out.Read

  • Verizon jumps on prepaid data bandwagon

    dataOh pretty netbook lady, you go about your daily life with your face buried in the goings-on of your hectic corporate lifestyle, unwilling to avert your gaze from the tiny 10.1-inch screen that dictates your graceful movements for even a mere moment in time.

    Look away, pretty netbook lady. Observe the world around you. I have a feeling that once you do, you may wonder how you ever let your life become about smart tweed jackets, tightly-pulled hairstyles, and monthly mobile data plans for the netbook that seems permanently attached to your delicate hand.

    Take a step back from it all, pretty netbook lady. You don’t need to completely give up your corporate lifestyle, but it’s time for you to LIVE! damn it. LIVE! And in order for you to be able to immerse yourself back into the corporate world from time to time, Verizon now offers pre-paid wireless data plans for casual use.

    Available in daily, weekly, and monthly increments, the plans aren’t cheap by any means. You’ll get 75MB for $15 (daily), $30 for 250MB (weekly), or 500MB for $50 (monthly) and Verizon will begin rolling out the service on November 15th, packaged with a USB modem for $130. You can afford it, pretty netbook lady. You can afford it.

    Full press release:

    Reliability Meets Flexibility With Prepaid Plans for Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband Service

    Customers Can Choose From Daily, Weekly or Monthly High-Speed Internet

    BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ – Verizon Wireless today announced three new Mobile Broadband plans that will be added to the company’s Prepaid portfolio. Customers will be able to get speed when they need it on the Verizon Wireless 3G network with pay-as-you-go plans for daily, weekly or monthly access. The new Prepaid options are ideal for those who need access for occasional or seasonal use whether on vacation, enjoying a weekend getaway or for students away at school. Verizon Wireless gives customers the following service options:

    • Daily – $15 for 75 MB
    • Weekly – $30 for 250 MB
    • Monthly – $50 for 500 MB

    Prepaid Mobile Broadband will be sold in a convenient grab-and-go package with the Verizon Wireless USB760 modem for $129.99. The USB760 comes with a high-performance internal antenna, removable memory of up to 8 GB and support for Windows® 2000, XP, Vista and Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or 10.5 (Leopard) or Linux. Prepaid Mobile Broadband will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning Nov. 15 and at select national retailers beginning Nov. 20.


  • Galleon Insider Trading Scandal Widens with New Arrests

    NEW YORK (Reuters) – Eight more people have been arrested in the Galleon insider-trading scandal, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

    Federal and state authorities plan to announce charges against 14 new defendants, including the eight arrested, the sources said. Authorities scheduled a news conference at midday.

    The new arrests include an attorney with the law firm Ropes & Gray and former employees of Incremental Capital hedge fund, according to a source familiar with the matter.

    Former employees of trading firm Schottenfeld Group are among those that will be charged, a Schottenfeld official said.

    The new arrests come nearly three weeks after Raj Rajaratnam, the billionaire founder of hedge fund firm Galleon Group, and five others were charged in the case.

    Galleon, a prominent New York-based firm that once managed $7 billion and specialized in technology and healthcare companies, has since shut down.

    The scandal sent shockwaves through the financial world and unnerved the $1.4 trillion hedge fund industry at a time when performance was improving and investors were committing new money.

    One criminal complaint accused Rajaratnam, 52, considered the richest Sri Lankan in the world, of conspiring with Intel Capital treasury department managing director Rajiv Goel and Anil Kumar, a director of McKinsey & Co. The alleged offenses took place over three years starting in January 2006.

    A second complaint accused three other people — New Castle portfolio manager Danielle Chiesi, New Castle general partner Mark Kurland and Robert Moffat, a senior vice president in the IBM technology group — of insider trading and earning millions of dollars in illegal profits.

    (Writing by Steve Eder; Reporting by Matthew Goldstein and Anupreeta Das in New York and Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; editing by John Wallace)

    ShareThis


  • Japanese company announces Dragon Ball headphones

    dragon_ball_headphone

    Even though Dragon Ball is 25 years old, it’s still one of the most popular anime and manga series out there. There are tons of Dragon Ball-themed video games and other merchandising stuff all around the world, but Tokyo-based gourmandise [JP] today announced what seems to be relatively rare: Dragon Ball-inspired gadgets. Their so-called DRAGONBALL HEADPHONE will be available in two versions.

    The “Kame Type” [JP] model features the Chinese character for turtle (kame in Japanese), while the “Dragon Ball type” [JP] headphone features four stars, just like on the dragon ball Son-Goku received from his grandfather before his death.

    dragon_ball_headphone_2

    The headphones can only be pre-ordered online and cost $40 each. As they’re Japan-only, contact the usual suspects Japan Trend Shop, Geek Stuff 4 U or Rinkya in case you want one shipped outside Japan.

    Via AV Watch [JP]


  • Verizon Offers Prepaid Data Plans With a Pretty Big Catch

    verizonlogoAmid the slew of exciting, new phone announcements (the HTC Hero turned Droid Eris!!!) Verizon Wireless said it would offer prepaid data plans, something we’ve been saying the industry should do for a while. The company is offering folks the chance to pick up data on an as-needed basis, instead of having to buy it as part of a monthly contract. That’s mighty fine of them, and should net the carrier some extra dollars, especially since the convenience charge for the prepaid data is pretty darn high.

    But if there’s no expiration date on how long people can use the data, even at a huge markup, these plans might help get people hooked on mobile broadband by allowing them to start using data without an expensive monthly commitment. However, folks will need to purchase a $130 USB modem in order to access the cell network. I’m waiting to hear from Verizon to see if the data expires or if the daily, weekly and monthly titles are mere suggestions of how much someone should use in that time period. The plans are as follows:

    • Daily – $15 for 75 MB (20 cents a MB)
    • Weekly – $30 for 250 MB (12 cents a MB)
    • Monthly – $50 for 500 MB (10 cents a MB)

    For comparison’s sake, I pay $60 a month for 5GB or 1.2 cents per MB, although the 250MB plan Verizon offered for $40 on contract seems like a loser when compared with getting the same amount for $30 on prepaid. My guess is these things expire.

  • More Stories Get a Shot at the Digg Home Page

    Digg has launched a new homepage voting experiment called Digg Trends. The feature will promote "certain highly active stories" as they are trending, not unlike Twitter’s trending topics.

    The feature could give stories a better chance of getting more exposure when they otherwise wouldn’t necessarily made it to the front page. Digg’s Kurt Wilms explains:

    Digg Trends identifies and highlights upcoming stories that have a high volume of activity (think Diggs, comments, favorites, shares, etc.). When we detect a new trending story, it will appear on the homepage for ten minutes. Based on the Digg and bury activity in those ten minutes the story will either become popular or not. To make it easy to follow the action, we’ve setup a Twitter account to tweet out when a new Digg Trend is up for voting on the homepage.

    Digg Trends

    Digg says the goal of Digg Trends is to put high activity stories in front of the community quickly and present a fun way for people to express whether they like a story or not. "We only show the most basic information for each story so as to ensure that voting is as unbiased as possible," says Wilms.

    Digg has often been criticized for being too clique-ish, meaning it has been hard to get on the home page without having the right friends, although Digg has taken steps to make the site better for more people in the past. This should help that as well.

    Related Articles:

    > Digg Elaborates on New Search

    > Digg to Get All Twitter This Year?

    > Digg Does it Again with Advertising

  • Kissing Spines

    My 7 year old Thoroughbred eventer was recently diagnosed with “kissing spines” in the area under the saddle. What causes kissing spines? How common is it? Does it affect certain breeds or horses that are doing certain disciplines more than others? What can I do to prevent it from getting worse? Are there any supplements I can feed my horse to make him feel better? What is the prognosis for his long-term performance and comfort? ES, Pennsylvania

    Dear ES,

    You’ve asked a lot of questions! Let me tackle them one at a time so you have a clear understanding of this condition and your options.

    What causes “kissing spines?”

    Known as “kissing spines” by horsemen and “overriding dorsal spinous processes” by veterinarians, in clearest terms the condition is spinal processes that touch or “kiss” one another at rest or in motion. The withers are an excellent example of these spinal processes, long thin bones that protrude upward from each vertebrae.

    Although some cases are due to a fall or other injury, many times the conformation of the vertebrae themselves (narrow interspinal spaces) are to blame for the impingement. Spinal processes that rub together are not only painful to the horse, they create additional lesions such as bony remodeling and ligament inflammation.

    How common is it? Does it affect certain breeds or horses that are doing certain disciplines more than other?

    According to Jean-Marie Denoix, DVM, PhD, an expert in equine biomechanics, “kissing spines” occurs most often in young thoroughbreds or thoroughbred-crosses with short backs used primarily for jumping. Show jumpers appear to be the most commonly affected, although eventers and hunters suffer from this condition as well. Your horse falls into this category.

    While some horses with “kissing spines” show clear signs of back pain, many don’t, and diagnosis can be a challenge. Other signs pointing to this condition include back stiffness, reduced jumping ability, resistance to work, change of temperament, resentment of grooming or picking up the hind feet. Horses with “kissing spines” may also be reluctant to lie down or roll.

    What can I do to prevent it from getting worse?

    Once an impingement is diagnosed, rest is prescribed along with medical treatment and physical therapy. Medical treatment may include local injection of steroids into the interspinal spaces, NSAIDs such as phenylbutazone, and mesotherapy, a pain-dampening technique that stimulates the mesoderm, the middle layer of the skin. Options for physical therapy range from magnets and massage to acupuncture and chiropractic to swimming and shockwave therapy.

    Exercise is gradually reintroduced through handwalking, lunging, then riding, being careful to avoid any activity that seems to be painful to the horse while building and strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the back.

    Are there any supplements I can feed my horse to make him feel better?

    Because “kissing spines” is a condition with pain and inflammation that involves bones, ligaments and muscles, the supplement categories that may be helpful include anti-inflammatory, joint, tendon & ligament, and muscle mass. Specifically look for ingredients that help fight inflammation in tissue such as MSM, omega 3 fatty acids, and herbs like Devil’s Claw, Boswellia, Bromelain and Yucca. Actives like Glucosamine, Chondroitin sulfate and Hyaluronic Acid; Silica and Collagen; and the amino acids Lysine and Methionine may be beneficial to healing tissues.

    What is the prognosis for his long-term performance and comfort?

    Although many horses do well with a combination of rest, medical management and physical therapy, the clinical signs often return. This may mean decreasing the horse’s level of performance to avoid jarring the spinal processes together or, in severe cases, performing surgery to remove one or more of the processes.