dpcj2

UMass has one of the best college drum lines around led by Thom Hannum. It also says two of their staff are Colin McNutt (Cadets caption supervisor) and Ian Hale (Crown staff). On their percussion page, it says that 5 people are marching Crown and 3 marching Cadets this summer. Based on that, it doesn't suprise me that they went to those 2 corps.

Having played soprano in corps, drum major in college and bass drum briefly in high school... I'd say hornline was the most difficult. Although the contra is the heaviest, I think those people playing euphonium probably have it the toughest. DM can get very tiring but its not quite the same. (more of a plain old muscle pain) You can breath however is easiest for you. Bass drum was fairly heavy and visibility is an issue but I always thought the tenor players had it worse. Those things were much heavier. So I'd say hornline (b/c of the breathing issues), percussion, then DM. All can be very difficult.

Many researchers believe that really bad burns increases the risk of melanoma. Lower doses of chronic exposure over many years increases the risk of squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma. There are several other non-cancerous skin conditions associated with chronic sun exposure as well.

There will be an estimated 55,000 new cases and nearly 8000 people will die this year in the United States of malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. People in the US can expect to have a 1:71 lifetime risk of getting melanoma. When melanoma is caught early, the expected 10 year survival is well over 90%. However, the 10 year survival for stage IV melanoma is less than 10%. Although Melanoma has the highest mortality among skin cancers, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas can cause significant problems for patients. There are nearly 1.3 million new cases of these two types of skin cancer each year in the United States. Although fewer people die each year of squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas than do of melanoma, many recur several times requiring significant amounts of surgery that leave them scarred and with other health problems. In rare instances, these basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas can also be fatal. The most important risk factor for all types of skin cancer is the exposure to UV radiation. The major source of UV exposure is sunlight. By far, the best way to avoid skin damage/cancer is to limit exposure to the sun. It is a myth that tanning decreases the risk of long term skin damage. In fact, tanning greatly increases the cumulative effects of UV exposure. Avoiding sun damage can best be accomplished by wearing clothing that covers as much exposed skin as possible. This includes wearing hats with wide brims. People should also apply a high quality sun block several times a day that includes protection against both UVA and UVB. Some good ingredients to look for are parsol 1789 (avobenzone), oxybenzone, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Some general rules of thumb are that you should put it on 15-20 minutes before going out into the sun, use at least SPF15 and most sun blocks need to be reapplied at least every 3 hours. If you are sweating excessively, as most of us do when marching around a football field in the middle of the summer, it needs to be applied even more often. The incidence of melanoma is increasing in nearly every caucasian population in the world. Although historically low, it is also increasing in other populations such as Hispanics and the Japanese. While people with fair skin and hair are at the greatest risk for melanoma, people with dark skin also need to be wary of excessive sun exposure. In fact, Bob Marley died at only 36 years old of a melanoma that was initially on his toe and spread to his brain and lungs. Although prevention is the best way to avoid problems with skin cancer, early detection is the key to decreasing mortality. Examine your skin and remember your ABC’s. If you notice anything that is Asymmetric in shape, has irregular Borders, has unusual Coloring, or has a large Diameter (bigger than a pencil eraser) on your skin, you should show it to your doctor. Protect your skin and have a great summer. I can’t wait to see the shows in Madison. David Curley MD PhD Student, University of Vermont College of Medicine Thesis project: Conditional Mouse Models of Malignant Melanoma Former member, Boston Crusaders

As an MD PhD candidate with my PhD being on Melanoma, I can say that every person in a corps should absolutely be required to wear a hat and shirt at all times while outside. About 8000 people will die of melanoma this year in the US. Many many more will have horribly disfiguring surgeries to remove large basal cell and squamus cell carcinomas. Please make it so I have no patients in the future and do what you can to prevent these diseases.

My wife bought me 3 sets of tickets for all 3 nights of the 2004 Championships in Denver for Christmas. Unfortunately, now I do not believe we can go. We are willing to sell our tickets at a loss. The tickets are listed below. 3 tickets for Quarterfinals (Thursday) in section 340 Original price was $30 each 3 tickets for Semifinals (Friday) in section 533 Original price was $40 each 3 tickets for Finals (Saturday) in section 304 Original price was $75 each All these tickets originally cost $435. I would be willing to give up all these tickets for $300. That over a $100 savings. All seats are 3 in a row within the section. I may be willing to negotiate on prices...especially if you are willing to buy all the tickets. I will pay shipping and insurance. Email me for more info. (david.curley@uvm.edu)