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th: At the time of my writing this (but not at the time of your reading it), I do not yet know the outcome of the Edgars awards. As you might surmise, I am keenly interested for entirely selfish reasons--my story, "Tomorrow's Dead" is a nominee. Strangely, it appears that other writers have had stories nominated as well. In my fantasy world this would not be necessary, as the flawless crafting of my gem of a tale would simply preclude the necessity. In the real world, however, there's a very good chance that one of them, and not my humble self, will be waltzing out the door with the coveted bust. It appears that these 'others' have written some pretty good stories themselves...at least according to some.
I've been writing for twenty-three years and, like most writers, I have largely done so without much notice. That's not to say I haven't been published, but my walls aren't exactly groaning under the weight of plaques and awards for it. My biggest thrill to date, and it was thrilling, was winning the Ellery Queen Readers Award for "Ibrahim's Eyes". Even then, I shared the award with the late, great Ed Hoch with whom I tied in the balloting, though he was certainly good company in which to find myself.
Other stories have received nominations for various awards, but none have come up a winner, and though I don't like to admit it, each loss was something of a blow. Considering the undeniable prestige of the Edgar Allan Poe Award, I can't help but prepare for a correspondingly heavy one in this case. Of course, it's a great honor to have a story nominated at all (and trust me, after twenty-three years I had put the very thought of it completely from my mind) but it also places something of a burden on one's shoulders. I know that many of you have already experienced this (or will in the future) and understand what I'm talking about. As the season of euphoria dwindles and the day of reckoning draws nigh, how I handle not getting the award becomes just as important as what to do should I win it. Not only will many of my fellow writers be in attendance, but so will Janet Hutchings, the editor of EQMM and a wonderfully kind person who has shown great faith in me over the years. My wife, Robin (She Who Walks In Beauty), will be by my side, as will my brother, Danny, and his wife, Wanda. They are traveling all the way from Georgia for the occasion and, I'm sure, expecting a big finale! Even my editing staff, which is to say my children, will be standing by their various phones for news of the outcome! Thank God, I handle pressure really, really well, damnit!
Though it is often referred to as the 'Lawyer's Prayer', I think it is good advice for writers too, don't you? I will complete this posting upon my return from NYC, but will not alter what I have written up to this point regardless of the outcome. Here you have my true thoughts and feelings prior to the conclusion of the whole affair. When I return, you will have the rest...for better or for worse.
April 30: As promised, I have returned to complete my posting and I didn't alter one word of what I had previously written. Most of you probably already know the outcome of the Edgars, but for those of you who don't--I didn't come home with the coveted bust. Peter Turnbull is the very happy writer who carried away the prize; though I use the phrase loosely, as he was not actually present, but at home in England. His story was very deserving, and I'm not just saying this to appear a gracious loser. When I read it some months ago to acquaint myself with the competition, I actually did remark to Robin, "I may be in trouble here." It turns out I was prophetic.
We had a wonderful time at the banquet and got to meet many a writing celebrity; several of whom we stalked like paparazzi. Mary Higgins Clark and Sandra Brown were kind enough to act as if my wife and sister-in-law were old acquaintances and not two strange women who may have gotten past security. It was also a distinct pleasure to visit with many of our colleagues, including my Tuesday counterpart, Dale Andrews (at the EQMM cocktail party) and Criminal Briefers, James Lincoln Warren (as dapper and clever, as ever), Melodie Johnson Howe, and Steven Steinbock. It felt a little like a reunion on fast forward. Doug Allyn sat next to me at the EQMM table and gave me his napkin after the announcement for best short story was made. I believe he was muttering something like, "Show some spine, Dean...my god man, people are looking!"
Alright, it wasn't as bad as all that. In fact, when the dust settled, I felt I might be able to go on after all. As I remarked, quite bravely, I thought, "Tomorrow I will be writing again." And I am.


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Hansen paints clearer picture of Sodo arena plan
Recommended Video:
It's easy to envision Chris Hansen's plan to build a new sports arena in Sodo as a money-sucking monstrosity that will cause huge traffic jams, plug up the economically important port, put public resources at huge risk and leave KeyArena a deserted, dilapidated shell of a building.
But when he went before a Seattle City Council committee Wednesday morning, Hansen was able to bring the project -- which recently has been blasted for all the above reasons -- back down to earth.
It all started about two years ago, when Hansen decided it was time to try to make his dream come true. The San Francisco hedge fund manager, who grew up in Seattle and was heartbroken when the SuperSonics left in 2008, wanted to bring the NBA back to his hometown.
It's a little-known fact that Hansen was actually a small piece of the investment group, led by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, that wanted to buy the Sonics to keep them from leaving. Obviously, that effort wasn't fruitful, as the team left to become the Oklahoma City Thunder. But it was Hansen's first foray into the business of the Seattle sports scene, and he wanted to give something back to his city.
So in 2010, he began looking around at all the best potential sites to build a basketball and hockey arena near Seattle. He looked at KeyArena and that site at the Seattle Center, he said. He didn't go into specifics, but on Wednesday implied he also looked at sites on the Eastside that had already been reportedly eyed for an arena. He looked at about four other sites, he told the City Council, before deciding Sodo was the best place.
Hansen approached Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn with his idea a little more than a year ago. Hansen hadn't bought up any property yet, though he he had settled on Sodo. The city, of course, was interested, but also took the opportunity to push KeyArena -- or at least the site -- as somewhere Hansen could build. But Hansen had already considered KeyArena and the other alternatives.
"It's not like we bought a bunch of land in Sodo and declared this is where it was going to be," Hansen said Wednesday.
He had discussions with McGinn's office and the NBA for the better part of the year. Meanwhile, Hansen started buying up property south of the Safeco Field parking garage, on the southernmost edge of the city's "stadium district." By the time The Seattle Times broke news of Hansen's plan on Feb. 4 this year, he and the city had already fleshed out a skeleton of a plan.
So it didn't take long for McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine to call a news conference Feb. 16 and announce the arena proposal. They appointed an Arena Review Panel, made up of local experts and community leaders, to examine Hansen's plan and scrutinize the scope of public contribution to the project.
After several hearings, the panel gave the project the green light, and on May 16 McGinn, Constantine and Hansen announced a "memorandum of understanding" for the public contribution to the project and the built-in financial safeguards to protect taxpayers. The formal agreement is now before the city and county councils for approval or rejection.
But this sort of stuff gets muddy; it can be tough to understand. Misconceptions swirled about the public contribution to the project, perpetuated by the Seattle Times editorial board.
Wednesday was, a day after meeting with the King County Council, Hansen's chance to set the record straight for the Seattle City Council.
Public contribution
One of the biggest criticisms of the arena plan is the use of any public money at all. Many Seattleites are understandably jaded after the Kingdome, Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field constructions and the KeyArena renovation -- particularly with the departure of the Sonics. Many just want any new arena project to be funded entirely privately.
City councilmembers grilled Hansen on why he's asking the city and county for financial help. Hansen said that not only is it needed to make the project financially viable, it would only be fair because the city and county would get a lot out of a new arena.
"I think that the transaction is fair. And I think that's what a lot of people are forgetting," Hansen said. "This will be a beneficial investment for the city of Seattle.
"You should have some skin in the game. It's fair."
Under the agreement, the city and county would contribute $200 million to the arena by way of loan. The project is dependent on Hansen and his investment group acquiring an NBA franchise.
If the investors nail down an NBA team and an NHL team, the city of Seattle would contribute $120 million and King County would contribute $80 million. If only an NBA team is in the works, the city would still put up $120 million but the county would only add up to $5 million; Hansen's group would make up the remaining $75 million to build the arena.
Asked why the public should pay that $75 million if he's willing to put it up, Hansen said an NHL franchise would add more tax revenue for the city and county than only an NBA team. Hansen said he believes his ownership group would be able to make the arena viable without an NHL team, filling up many of the extra free days with concerts and other events.
Another misconception of the arena proposal has been the property value. When everything is purchased, Hansen will have spent around $50 million to acquire the arena site. But, under the agreement, the city and county would set aside $100 million to buy that land from Hansen.
Some, including the Seattle Times editorial board, have wondered whether Hansen's group is looking to turn a profit by flipping that property. But, as Hansen said both Tuesday and Wednesday, that's not true at all -- the city and county would buy the land at its appraised value, whatever that is.
That amount -- say, $70 million, after environmental reviews and permitting -- would be the public's up-front contribution. The city and county would then buy the arena, after it's finished, for whatever the difference is between the land purchase and the $200 million funding cap -- in this example, $130 million. (If the land costs $50 million, the arena would be $150 million; if the land costs $90 million, the arena would be $110 million.)
Hansen estimated the completed site -- arena and all -- would be worth around $375 million. Under the proposal, the city and county would end up owning $375 million worth of stuff for $200 million.
And that $200 million would be paid back (with interest) over 30 years by taxes on arena operations, the venue itself, event tickets and other sources of revenue that would not exist without the arena. That's why McGinn keeps calling the arena "self-funded."
"We're actually selling you an arena that you will own," Hansen said.
There are several safeguards in the proposal to protect the public investment. The biggest is Hansen's pledge to pay extra rent if taxes don't generate enough revenue for his monthly payment to the city and county.
Surplus tax revenue could go into the city and county's general funds, and Hansen's group would put their extra money into a reserve account for major upgrades to the arena. His group would also be required to set aside $2 million per year for maintainance and incremental upgrades.
Sodo location
The other big hurdle for the arena project is objections from the other businesses that already call Sodo home. The Port of Seattle, labor unions and even the Seattle Mariners have concerns about added congestion to the area, saying increased traffic would block and delay freight operations to and from port terminals and a key train depot.
On Tuesday, maritime industry representatives urged the King County Council to give the proposal a thorough review, saying an arena should not go into Sodo without major traffic mitigations. Some of them suggested the KeyArena location as a better construction site.
But Hansen disagrees. Renovating KeyArena again is not an option, he said, as the venue is not big enough for NHL hockey games. Because the site is public property, it would be more expensive and more time-consuming to tear down KeyArena and build a new venue there. The site's footprint is too small, he said, and construction would mess up Lower Queen Anne traffic for years.
Besides, if KeyArena were torn down, Seattle's new NBA team would not have anywhere to play in the interim while a new arena is built, Hansen said. UW's Hec Edmundson Pavilion and the Tacoma Dome are not up to the NBA's standards for even an interim venue.
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw asked if Hansen would be open to any other alternative sites, such as the reported option in Bellevue.
"The proposal we've put before you is for a specific site. We've done that work -- we've studied all the other sites. We feel like we've chosen the best site for the region," Hansen said.
"So it's not that I'm not open to looking at them -- I feel like we already did that."
The vision for Sodo
Another big objection from the port and organized labor has been Hansen's grand plan for the stadium district. A month ago, Hansen said his vision for the area is to develop an entertainment center similar to L.A. Live, a collection of restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels and other venues surrounding Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
The manufacturers union, for one, balked at what it called the "gentrification" of Sodo. Critics are worried commercial interests will encroach on the industrial area and become yet another problem for port operations.
On Tuesday, architect and former Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck told the King County Council that the arena project could be in violation of the 12-year-old law that designated the area in question -- as some have called it -- a "stadium district." Steinbrueck said the June 2000 law merely established a "stadium transition overlap district" that allows Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field to be in Sodo.
The law's intent, he said, was to protect the industrial district from commercial encroachment by establishing a buffer zone of stadiums. But no third venue was considered in creating that transition district, he said.
"Within the boundary (of the buffer zone) the arena does work, but it absorbs all remaining land for a third stadium," Steinbrueck told SportsPress Northwest on Tuesday. "It loses the original intent as a transition area. A transition area is used to (separate) sports-recreational use and heavy industrial use. There's a very heavy industrial use here."
Nevertheless, he said a third venue could be shoehorned into the district, though it could make for a lot of red tape. Hansen's proposed arena site is on the south edge of the "stadium transition overlap district," straddling Occidental Avenue South between South Massachusetts Street and South Holgate Street along First Avenue South.
Hansen has also purchased the property north of Massachusetts Street next to the Safeco Field parking garage. There, he'd like to see some restaurants and bars along an open plaza. He's hoping the city will transform Occidental Avenue into a covered pedestrial mall, situated between Safeco Field to the north and the main entrance of the new arena to the south.
"We are not planning on some major redevelopment of Sodo," Hansen said. "We are just trying to make our front door a nice place to be."
He did mention, however, that the Mariners have considered a hotel on some of the organization's property in the area. And with a big residential development going in just north of CenturyLink Field, it's not hard to understand why Sodo industries are worried about "gentrification."
Hansen said he doesn't want to control the entire Sodo neighborhood, just the doorstep to his arena.
'Basketball is a performance art'
The city stands to benefit from a new arena in several ways, Hansen said. The first is obvious: Seattleites would get the Sonics back, and perhaps a new NHL team. And, the venue would also be used for concerts and community events.
A new arena would also generate tax income for the city and county, not just from local fans but those who travel from outside King County to catch a game. Hansen reminded the City Council that if a new arena were in a different tax district, such as in Bellevue, the city would not receive as many benefits.
But an arena would also have less tangible perks, Hansen said.
"Sports are very impactful on youth. There is definitely a correlation between having professional basketball -- and adding professional hockey -- and having kids participate in those sports," said Hansen, who grew up in Rainier Valley. "Sports had an impact on me; I participated in a lot. And it's probably why I'm successful at this point."
Asked why the city, which already helps fund such community mainstays as the Seattle Symphony, should give an arena similar (or better) treatment, Hansen said the City Council should not look at the arena entirely in terms of dollars and cents.
"Basketball is a performance art," he said.
He meant that basketball brings with it a lot of the same intangible benefits as the symphony or the opera. So Councilmember Richard Conlin asked Hansen if he would be willing to run his operation as a nonprofit, like the symphony and opera.
Hansen, of course, said all but the word "no," explaining that the city's investment in the arena is dependent on Hansen's group turning a profit.
So Conlin asked why the city should make an investment in an arena, instead of just working with Hansen like it does with other for-profit groups that bring their business to Seattle. Conlin used the example of movie theaters, which bring in a lot of tax revenue for the city.
"It's different," Hansen said, "than a for-profit business engaged in, I don't know, marketing or something, opening up a new headquarters here.
"They don't have people opening up the sports page every day."
Nick Eaton can be reached at 206-448-8125 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/njeaton. Visit seattlepi.com's home page for more Seattle news.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today is the Last Day for Seize the Deal Auction
Today is the last day for the Seize the Deal Auction which features great opportunities to purchase items and services like sports collectables, personal training, household items and restaurant gift certificates. There's even a chance to pick up a 7 night stay and four hour pontoon boat rental from Angler's Bay and bidding starts at 35% of the item value.
A great example of big savings is the $2000 Roof Repair which currently has a bid of only $700. It's a great chance to save big on things you might need.
The auction closes tonight at 7pm.


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Historic Sather Gate To Get Million Dollar Facelift
It has weathered the Great Depression, World War II, the McCarthy Era and the Free Speech Movement.
But a century of rain, hail, wind and storm has played havoc with UC Berkeley's Sather Gate and starting Friday, the famous Beaux Arts south portal will undergo a $1.5 million renovation which will help it battle the elements for the next century at least.
Christine Shaff with the university's Capital Projects said scaffolding would be erected at the gate's central archway tomorrow (Friday) to remove the ornate bronze and steel metal work.
Shaff said that by Thanksgiving, only the gate's four granite pillars, topped by glass orbs, will be left. The metal arch and portal will be restored to the columns by April.
"The gate is a hundred years old and has been out in the weather for a long time," she said. "The steel frame behind the decorative bronze frame has deteriorated over time and needs to be replaced. People that I have talked to are intrigued and pleased that we are taking care of this icon. It's one of the most recognized structures on campus and it needs attention, and we are giving it that."
In the 1950s, when unauthorized political and religious activities were banned from the campus, students gathered at Sather Gate to hear activists and politicians —including Richard Nixon during his bid for the U.S. Senate—campaign on Telegraph Avenue, which at that time extended north all the way up to the gate.
In 1964 hundreds of supporters of the Free Speech Movement marched through Sather Gate carrying a Free Speech banner, and the structure continues to be a spot for political rallies to this day.
University officials were alerted to the gate's deterioration by members of the UC Rally Committee in 2007 when they were putting up lights on it for homecoming, Shaff said.
An engineering study and consultation with metal workers paved the way for UC to advance funds for its restoration, and around the same time members of the Class of 1950 decided to initiate a "Save Sather Gate" fundraising campaign to pay for the renovation.
Donated to UC Berkeley by Jane K. Sather in memory of her late husband, banker Peder Sather, Sather Gate was designed by John Galen Howard and reflects the French baroque style. Completed in 1910, the gate has a star at the very top with the campus motto Fiat Lux (let there be light).
The male and female nudes sculpted on its columns on eight marble bas-relief panels by Bay Area artist Melvin Earl Cumming stand for the eight fields of learning: letters, mining, medicine, law, electricity, agriculture, architecture and art.
In 1910 public outrage and embarrassment over the nudes became a concern and the panels were promptly dismantled. Sixty-seven years later the panels were rediscovered under the bleachers at Edwards Stadium and at the Amador Marble Company in Oakland and were reattached to the granite columns.
Shaff said the century-old gateway would not be closed during construction although some rerouting of traffic could occur at certain phases.
"The Sather Gate has never been closed," she said. "It's more of an archway or a gateway than a gate. It has never kept people from coming in."


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There are so many ways Anthony Davis can humiliate a man. Usually, he does it by extending those stupid-long arms across every inch of airspace over the basketball court, sending away any shot his opponents are foolish enough to send in his direction. But Anthony Davis can also make people look stupid on the offensive end. Just ask Big Baby Davis.
This isn't the most aesthetically pleasing posterization you will ever see, but man is it violent. Big Baby didn't just get bumped into the basket stanchion after accidentally getting in the way of Davis's dunk, he got launched there after throwing his considerable weight into Davis's body and bouncing off of him like a very large pinball.
But Davis did more than just posterize Big Baby. He finished the game with 22 points, 19 rebounds, and seven blocks—that's the eighth time this year he's blocked five or more shots in a game. His most impressive of the night can be seen right at the beginning of this highlight reel:
Guys who are as big as Anthony Davis aren't really supposed to be blocking shots on the perimeter like that, and yet there's Davis, just swatting the ball right out of poor Tobias Harris's hand. Like I said, there are so many ways Anthony Davis can humiliate a man.


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AF Holdings, LLC v. Doe, 2012 WL 3835102 (N.D. Cal., September 4, 2012)
troll plaintiff AF Holdings sued defendant for, among other things, negligence for failing to secure his home wi-fi network. Plaintiff argued that defendant's inaction allowed a third-party to commit large-scale infringement of AF Holdings' copyrighted works.
Defendant moved to dismiss for failure to state a claim. The court granted the motion and dismissed the negligence claim.
It held that a defendant like the one in this case had no duty to protect another from harm in this situation of "non-feasance" (i.e, failing to do something) unless a special relationship existed which would give rise to such duty. In law school this principal is articulated through the hypothetical of standing on a lakeshore watching someone drowning — you don't have to jump in to save the person unless you are a lifeguard (or the victim's parent, or a member of some other very limited class).
The court found that no special relationship existed here, thus plaintiff had not articulated any basis for imposing on defendant a legal duty to prevent the infringement of plaintiff's copyrighted works.
We talked about this issue, along with other issues like copyright preemption, as it arose in a different case back on Episode 170 of This Week in Law beginning at about the 19 minute 40 second mark:


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Checkmate!! If you want a ceramic black and white checker board effect use the white and black tiles from this range. Or for a plain true black or white.
Tiles in this range matching ceramic and floor
COLOUR 30x30 BlackCeramic floor tile in a satin black. PEI Grade IIdetails
Price per sq m: £29.85
COLOUR 30x30 WhiteCeramic floor tile in a satin whitedetails
Price per sq m: £22.95


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Anushka Contractor-Conticross Work Table
At Design Interviews
Interview with Anushka Contractor : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Anushka Contractor : I was asked to create a good looking tough table for a showroom. Against the idea of going typical with a solid looking base forced me to think in the opposite direction. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Anushka Contractor : Being a table which could hold more than 200kgs of weight, I wanted to create something which would make everyone underestimate the strength it could hold. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Anushka Contractor : I would present my design in furniture showrooms. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Anushka Contractor : It took me 2 weeks to design. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Anushka Contractor : As mentioned in point no. 01, I was asked to create a good looking tough table for a showroom. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. Anushka Contractor : My design is already created and displayed in the furniture showroom which was asked. .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. Anushka Contractor : A requirement from my client to create a good looking tough table. .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?. Anushka Contractor : Only my worker helped me build it explaining the pros and cons of this design. .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Anushka Contractor : Anyone. As this design can be used for many types of tables. .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. Anushka Contractor : A thin, sleek look with the soft outline for a huge size mentioned. .Frank Scott: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?. Anushka Contractor : Contractor is my last name - Close friends call me 'Conti'. If you see the design of the table base from the bottom, it is cross-legged. So thats how the name of this design combines to make - Conticross. .Frank Scott: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?. Anushka Contractor : I used 3D Rhinoceros for modelling and autocad for detailing it. .Frank Scott: What is the most unique aspect of your design?. Anushka Contractor : The cross-legged thin, sleek base. .Frank Scott: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?. Anushka Contractor : None. .Frank Scott: What is the role of technology in this particular design?. Anushka Contractor : 3D for modelling. .Frank Scott: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?. Anushka Contractor : Not really. There was an existing table base with the client. I had to get rid of that style and create something totally different but using the same material they had. .Frank Scott: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?. Anushka Contractor : I wanted to avoid any kind of bridge support between the Metal sections but it required one at the center to hold all the weight. .Frank Scott: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?. Anushka Contractor : I was searching for a competition online which matched the category with my design. .Frank Scott: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?. Anushka Contractor : I learnt the balance technique. .Frank Scott: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?. Anushka Contractor : Yes. This particular designed table can be used as work table, dining table, size table, stool, stand, pedestal, etc. .
Anushka Contractor-Conticross Work Table Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Design Amaze homepage.


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Sixty-plus years after rock n' roll music took shape there, Cleveland is once again a birthplace for something with revolutionary potentialthis time in drug discovery.
The for-profit biotech accelerator BioMotiv makes the same promise about bridging the funding dearth or "Valley of Death" between the seed stage and product launch made for decades by a slew of accelerators, incubators, venture capitalists and other investors.
But where they all invest in forming companies around promising technologies, BioMotiv instead takes stakes in new drugs and technology platforms deemed to have market potential. So far, BioMotiv has signed an exclusive option to commercialize a cancer treatment being developed by an undisclosed New York state institution. The company is also in talks for options on an anti-inflammatory technology from a university in the South, and an oncology technology from a West Coast university.
BioMotiv is among a few groups nationwide looking at offbeat approaches for bridging the Valley of Death. Last year, venture capital (VC) firm CMEA Capital launched Velocity Pharmaceutical Development, with investment in repurposed drugs in mind. Also in recent years, several disease foundations have worked to advance new treatments through their own grants, like the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, or by carrying out research and development (R&D) directly with academic partners, as the nonprofit Myelin Repair Foundation has done [see GEN, Aug. 29, 2012].
"They have, essentially, the same metric that a pharmaceutical company would have, which is, 'We need to see a drug on the market.' But they don't have the constraints of quarterly stock reports and the market realities that would affect a pharmaceutical company," Douglas Crawford, Ph.D., director of industry alliances and associate executive director of the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), whose five incubators house more than 60 startups. "With that liberation and the freedom a pharma company wouldn't have for thinking very long-term and not thinking about the return of investment, can they solve a problem that others have not been able to solve?"
Breadth of Interest
One advantage for BioMotiv: Unlike many foundations and VC firms, it is interested in all disease areas and therapeutic types. "We're looking at what pharmaceutical companies are looking to license into their portfolios. And the breadth of interest is still very wide there," Baiju Shah, BioMotiv's CEO, told GEN.
Shah is familiar in Cleveland-area life sciences circles as the longtime CEO of BioEnterprise, a nonprofit biomedical business accelerator that provides management advice, business development and access to capital for the region's biopharma, medical device, and healthcare services ventures. Earlier this year, Shah left BioEnterprise for BioMotiv, where he leads the management team that will select the early-stage drug development projects the company plans to nurture until maturity.
"We define it as human proof-of-concept, or human proof-of-efficacy data, at which point we then would license it out to strategic partners," Shah said. "When projects are no longer showing promise, both on an absolute as well as a relative basis, then those projects will be returned to their source of invention."
Family Ties
BioMotiv is part of the Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, which is raising $250 million ($250M) toward developing drugs for commercialization by investors. The project raised its first $50M from the Harrington family that once owned Edgepark Medical Suppliesthe same family that joined UH to raise $21M for BioMotiv earlier this year.
BioMotiv's goal is $100M. Additional funds have been raised, though Shah won't say how much until the company releases an update in Q1/13.
The six-employee BioMotiv is looking to hire a chief business officer now, and two to three project managers with pharma experience.
"We should be operating roughly 20 projects in parallel" when fully staffed, Shah said. "Since we have started, we have looked at about 120 opportunities. We expect it will continue to grow as people become aware of our interest and capability."
For that to happen, BioMotiv will need to show it can nurture new drugs and platform technologies as well as, if not better than, other would-be-drug developers now looking beyond the usual capital-to-companies startup model. The number of such entities will likely grow as big biopharma grows more desperate to cut R&D costs. And over time, BioMotiv should be able to quantify how much in money and time its drug-development model saves over traditional discovery avenuesnumbers that the sources of new drugs and technologies will be very interested in learning as they decide how to commercialize their discoveries.
Alex Philippidis
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News


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National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announces Nearly $68 Million for Louisiana Restoration Projects
Erin Greeson, National Audubon Society, 503.913.8978, firstname.lastname@example.com
Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, firstname.lastname@example.com
Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.553.2543, email@example.com
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announces Nearly $68 Million for Louisiana Restoration Projects
$40.4 million dedicated to Mid-Barataria Diversion, a critical project to comprehensive coastal restoration
(New Orleans, LA – November 14, 2013) Today, leading national and local conservation and restoration organizations – Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation – released the following joint statement:
"We applaud the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, for dedicating $67.9 million to seven key barrier island and river diversion projects, including $40.4 million for the Mid-Barataria Diversion project. The Barataria Basin has one of the highest rates of land loss in the world, and this large-scale wetland restoration project is crucial to reversing that trend.
"The mid-sized Mid-Barataria sediment diversion is a key component of Louisiana's 2012 Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast. The master plan is a blueprint for restoring the Mississippi River Delta and Louisiana's coast and contains a suite of coastal restoration and protection projects. Our organizations support the full suite of restoration projects in that plan, of which the Mid-Barataria Diversion is a critical piece.
"Restoration of Louisiana's disappearing wetlands is important not only to Louisiana but to the entire nation. Louisiana's wetlands and waters provide one-third of the nation's seafood, are a stopover point for migratory birds traveling the Mississippi Flyway and provide critical wildlife habitat. Projects like the Mid-Barataria Diversion can help revive Louisiana's coastal wetlands – part of America's largest delta – to a productive, functioning state, which provides important ecological and economic opportunities for people and wildlife. We look forward to continued work with both the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the State of Louisiana to implement the Mid-Barataria sediment diversion on its current timeline of being ready for construction in 2015."


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Vital Leeds United is a fast growing Leeds United fan site, with the sole aim of becoming the #1 unofficial website for Leeds United fans everywhere.
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Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman left a will that bequeathed all of his personal property to the mother of his three children.
His will was made public Wednesday.
It names Marianne "Mimi" O'Donnell as the sole beneficiary and identifies her as his "friend and companion."
U.S. & World
The 46-year-old Oscar-winning actor died Feb. 2 at his West Village home of an apparent heroin overdose.
More tests are needed to determine what exactly killed Hoffman, who was found with a syringe in his arm and what authorities said were dozens of packets of heroin in his apartment.
Hoffman spoke candidly over the years about past struggles with drug addiction. After 23 years sober, the versatile actor reportedly checked himself into rehab for 10 days last year after relapsing in 2012.


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Hudhur gave a discourse on spending for the cause of God in his Friday sermon today. He began by reciting the following Quranic verses:
'They who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah, then follow not up what they have spent with taunt or injury, for them is their reward with their Lord, and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.' (2:263)
'Those who spend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, have their reward with their Lord; on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve.' (2:275)
The Holy Qur'an recurrently draws the attention of believers towards spending in the way of God with the condition that it is solely to attain the pleasure of God, as stated: '…while you spend not but to seek the favour of Allah…' (2:273). When spending in the name of God, a true believer is always primarily mindful of seeking God's pleasure. If this point is understood, it leads to communal as well as spiritual development; in addition it removes domestic problems, daily complaints from husbands and wives. Husbands complain that the undue demands of their wives put them in debt whereas wives complain that husbands do not fulfil their wishes. Daily quarrelling wrecks peace in family homes and has an adverse effect on children. Women complain that whatever husbands earn, they spend out with their friends or spend on themselves. This causes anxiety. If money is spent to seek the pleasure of God, domestic peace is maintained, upbringing of children is on the right lines, the family income is blessed and one is drawn towards the spirit of sacrifice. Doubtlessly, one's family is entitled to one's wealth, however, if moderation is maintained, all the dues are paid and one is also drawn to spend in the way of God.
A large section of the middle-income families adhere to this but some among those who are very well-off do not match up to this standard of sacrifice although they look after themselves. Indeed, not all well-off Ahmadis are like this. Hudhur knows many affluent Ahmadis, and he has said this before, who keep less for themselves and give thousands of dollars or pounds sterling to the Tehriks of the Community. Once they have fulfilled their dues of various Tehriks, they are still eager to give and upon their insistence Hudhur has to think and tell them where exactly their further donations should go to. These people seek God's pleasure and yet are concerned whether they have paid their dues or not. Hudhur explained that in spite of giving large sums of money, they write to Hudhur thanking him for accepting their insignificant sacrifice. This is their constant practice. Such donations are spent wherever the need arises; for building mosques and mission houses etc. Hudhur said this practice is not just prevalent among Ahmadis from the subcontinent, whose elders had set examples and who have been brought up in these traditions. Rather, many African Ahmadis give most generously in the way of God and build mosques. The delight and the humility with which they make their donations makes their eagerness to please God most evident.
Hudhur said the sacrifices of these people are exactly in line with the description of the aforementioned Quranic verses. They do not speak of their giving instead they are grateful to God for enabling them so. Hudhur said it is important to mention that the majority of our Community is of low-income to middle-income people. They too have an extraordinary sense of sacrifice. They never mention that the Community has issued so many Tehriks but their income is limited, how can they manage? They give with heart-felt enthusiasm and never mention that they give by foregoing their own and their family's needs. Indeed, when in need themselves, they never ask the Community. If at all, it is in the form of a loan. Some people with limited income cannot manage to give a lump sum, so they organise a collecting box at home in which they regularly put something for Tehrike Jadid or Waqfe Jadid donations.
Someone wrote to Hudhur that they collected money in a box to give towards Tehrike Jadid and wished to equal their last year's payment. When the box was opened, the money was not sufficient. The Tehrike Jadid secretary approached them and said that there was a shortage of specific amount which had been allocated to them to fulfil. He wondered that he had a limited income how he could meet the demand. Yet he gave whatever he had saved for the next year. Soon after, he received a cheque from an acquaintance who had borrowed money from him a long time ago which they had both forgotten. Later, he received some money from another source. Thus God provides those who make sacrifice and thus fulfil the significance of '…and they shall have no fear…' , as here he had wondered how he would pay for the next year. The condition is to give with complete sincerity and once given, there should be no sense of having done a favour.
Hudhur said when Tehrike Jadid was first started Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) advised that people practiced austerity. The circumstances in those days were not as today, now, with God's blessings the financial situation of the people is very good, yet men, women and children happily gave sacrifices. Hudhur said let alone show off about it, a believer gives privately, the goal only being the pleasure of God and this is often seen in our Community. Outsiders think the Community has billions because it implements all its projects. Hudhur said for one, what we have is hugely blessed by God, so much so that it is beyond the comprehension of a worldly person. The Community does not have billions, rather, it has a never-ending treasure of seeking God's pleasure, which gushes forth from sincere hearts. There are thousands of examples of this in all nations.
Hudhur explained that although people of the Community give privately, the Community announces some of the giving and in some cases lists are made to be presented to the Khalifa of the time for prayers. The objective here is good and there is no ostentation involved. The Khalifa of the time is informed about the giving so that he may pray to God to bless those who make the sacrifices and their wealth. In addition, God also commands: '…vie, then, with one another in good works…' (2:149).
Hudhur said today he will announce the commencement of the new Tehrike Jadid year and will present all the details of how our Community endeavours to enhance and vie with one another in sacrifice and good works. Hudhur said today it is only the Ahmadiyya Community in the world that fulfils: '…who spend their wealth by night and day…'. He said this sacrifice is being made practically day and night as the Community is spread all over the world and while it is daytime in one part of the world it is night at another. Just as Hudhur's Friday Sermon goes out live on MTA, the time difference around the world is varied. As soon as the new Tehrike Jadid year is announced, promises and payments start arriving. Hudhur said the 'giving by night and day' also signifies the globalisation aspect which the Muhammadan Messiah was to establish through one body of people. The propagation of guidance that was entrusted to the Muhammadan Messiah is not a trivial task. Indeed the perfect teaching of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was to spread and this task was destined to be accomplished in the era of the Muhammadan Messiah. Our resources are almost negligible compared to worldly resources, yet God has given the responsibility of accomplishing this task to us and if we will work at it night and day, it is up to God to bless it and indeed He will bless it. The world has great resources and immense power. The outsiders are also greater in number while ours is a very small Community, yet God states that endeavours of night and day, which are free from any pretence and boasting gain acceptance with God, thus: '…they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve…' .
Hudhur said those who give as servants as the Gracious God, God says to them that whatever sacrifice they make, God will continue to increase their wealth, haste is not of the essence, the outcome should be left to God and one should continue to partake in the propagation of guidance. It is likely that one may experience its results in one's lifetime. The sacrifice of life and wealth of our Community will one day transform our small Community into a large one.
Hudhur said with the grace of God the 76th year of Tehrike Jadid was immensely blessed and we bid it farewell among these blessings. Today Hudhur announced the start of the 77th Tehrike Jadid year and prayed that may God bless it even more. The contribution of the Ahmadiyya Community worldwide for the year stand at £ 5, 468,500.00, the reports of contributions from many smaller Jama'ats have not been received yet, but the current figure has an increase of £ 522,000 from last year's total. Hudhur said it is delightful that Pakistan has maintained its first position. He added that the most pleasant aspect is for the congregation present. He said it should not be called unexpected, rather it is a special demonstration of God's blessings that the UK's contributions stand at second place and they have left USA and Germany far behind. Hudhur said this was an extraordinary increase, so much so that the administration does not realise how it came to pass. Two years ago the difference between German contribution and that of the UK was quite small, some had remarked that had they realised the difference was so small they would have personally made it up. Yet, this year hard work meant that USA is left behind. Hudhur said MashaAllah, this was great progress. As a reminder, Hudhur said that he was looking through the records and noted that in 1988 the Tehrike Jadid promises and payments of the UK had second position in the world. Gradually, they lagged behind. Hudhur said now this honour should be upheld and not lost again. Here in the UK too, animosity toward the Community is increasing. Our women have suffered physical abuse, maybe men also did. Perhaps God has placed blessings in this physical sacrifice and enhanced financial sacrifice. Many Ahmadis in the UK have had their businesses affected due to animosity, some who were employed by non-Ahmadi Muslims were removed from employment. Animosity always works as an aid for us to flourish. Hudhur said the UK Tehrike Jadid contribution has had a very good input from Lajna, with the grace of God their contribution has had an increase of £35,000 and their share in the UK total is one third.
Hudhur said USA is in third position, then Germany. Hudhur said Germany have been left so far behind that perhaps if UK maintains its position they will not be able to catch up. Yet, if their sense of honour is stimulated, they could overtake. The following positions are Canada, India, Indonesia, Australia, an Arab country that Hudhur chose not to name, Switzerland and Belgium.
Hudhur said the adverse situation of Pakistan is common knowledge; this includes the financial situation as well as the persecution faced by Ahmadis. This year the floods made the financial situation much worse in particular certain areas and many landowners were badly affected. Yet, amazingly Jama'ats from the effected areas have reached their contribution targets. In places entire villages were destroyed, but in spite of the worldly losses, belief has not diminished.
In terms of larger contributions from last year in local currency, the first position is of the Arab country that Hudhur chose not to name, then India, here too, Hudhur said, Ahmadis have been facing much difficulties as animosity mounts, followed by Australia, UK, Pakistan, Switzerland, USA and Belgium. In per capita contributions, USA came first, followed by Switzerland, Dubai and Kababir. Hudhur said for the past many years it has been stressed that the number of participants of Tehrike Jadid should increase and new comers as well as children should be included in the scheme, regardless of the amount they contributed. The current number of participants in the Tehrike Jadid scheme is in excess of 622,000, and there is an increase of 30,000 from last year. Hudhur said this number should improve further. Ahmadis from African countries should join in this scheme even if they paid a few pennies each. Hudhur said it is one of the responsibilities of missionaries to draw their attention to this aspect.
Hudhur reminded that newborn babies and those who started contributing after 2005 should be included in Dafter V. Hudhur said this categorisation is maintained in Pakistan and it should be maintained elsewhere as well. Among African countries Nigeria stands first in most contributions. The Gambia and Ghana have also improved their contributions. Hudhur said Ghana could do better and has the capacity to take the first position in Africa. Hudhur explained that the original number of Dafter I, people who joined the scheme 76 years ago was 5,937. Among this number, by the grace of God over three hundred are living and paying their own contributions. The rest of the Dafter I records have either been reinstated by their families or members of the Community and all the records are receiving contributions.
Hudhur said in Pakistan the first three Jama'ats are Lahore, Rabwah and Karachi. The Jama'at of Lahore has given sacrifice of life of the highest order and has maintained its distinction of financial sacrifice. The grief of the martyrs of Lahore has intensified their sense of sacrifice. They are fulfilling their pledge of sacrificing life, property and time in a most excellent manner. It is the same with other Jama'ats in Pakistan but as a great tragedy took place in Lahore, it is specifically mentioned. Since May, young men and Ansar of good health are giving duties in places which are deemed very dangerous. The life of each Pakistani is in danger at all times anyway, but for an Ahmadi Pakistani, this danger is twice as perilous. May God soon avert these dangers and recompense the enemy for the evil it perpetrated.
Hudhur said it is the view of Vakalat e Maal that some countries do not make their best efforts towards Tehrike Jadid contributions, in particular those who are perhaps working on mosque building projects etc. lest their own projects are affected. Hudhur said such administrations not only think ill of their members but worse than this, they appear to be thinking ill of God. Hudhur said it should be remembered that a large portion of these schemes goes towards the projects in Africa, India and other underdeveloped countries. Thus if you open your hearts for others, God too will bless your projects and plans. When contributions will help the underprivileged countries and they will have mosques built, which are essential, you too will be the recipients of the prayers of people there. With the grace of God, an Ahmadi gives sacrifice only for the sake of God, if there is any insufficiency, it is because of the office-holders. If they do not think ill of their members, they definitely under estimate them.
The first ten big contributors among the large majalis of UK were: London Mosque, New Malden, Worcester Park, Surbiton, West Hill, Mosque West Hill, Cheam, Manchester South, Raynes Park and Gillingham. Among the smaller majalis the positions were as follows: Scunthorpe, Cambridge, Bournemouth, Wolverhampton, Lewisham, Leamington Spa, Hartlepool, Bristol and North Wales. In USA, the following majalis were the biggest contributors: Silicon Valley, Inland Empire, Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. In Canada the following majalis were at the forefront of contributions: Peace Village East, Edmonton, Peace Village Centre, Peace Village West, Calgary North West and Peace Village South.
Hudhur prayed that may God immensely bless all those who contributed to Tehrike Jadid and thus participated in the accomplishment of propagation of guidance. Hudhur read a few extracts from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) about financial giving.


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The Other Side of the Prescription
Gerik L. The Other Side of the Prescription. Methodist DeBakey Cardiovasc J website. January 23, 2019. hm-journal.local
adherence , compliance , diabetes , cardiovascular disease
Managing a chronic illness is a daily challenge for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Current guidelines recommend a multipronged approach to treating diabetes and CVD that includes both medications and lifestyle changes1—but patient self-management is the key to success.2 However, all too often, people with diabetes do not take their medication or follow through with lifestyle modifications as prescribed—and even the best treatments won't help if the patient cannot maintain the plan. Although self-management ultimately lies with the patients, their providers can be allies to empower patients and help them achieve their management goals.
The incidence of poor medication adherence among patients with diabetes varies between 38% to 93%,3 and lifestyle interventions such as weight loss and exercise are also difficult to sustain.
The costs of poor adherence are staggering. The Medication Adherence Alliance reports that Medicaid beneficiaries with poor adherence have 1.8 times higher risk of CVD events than their high-adherence peers.4 Moreover, a single ER or inpatient visit resulting from low adherence will wipe out the short-term savings from avoiding expensive medication prescriptions.3,4 Nationwide, the costs of medication nonadherence exceeds $100 billion per year, and improving patient adherence could save each patient thousands of dollars annually.3-5
"We often see patients who are unable to follow through on their treatment plan. Even if it's by choice, there's always a barrier. Whether it's logical or physical, there's always something there," says Maryanne Strobel, R.N., M.S.N., certified diabetes educator and diabetes program lead at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.
For many patients, the medications may be prohibitively expensive, the regimen too complex, or the side effects too severe.2 For others, the barriers are more subtle: perceived lack of benefit, beliefs and misconceptions, cultural practices, forgetfulness, health illiteracy, and lack of physician trust.3,5
The challenge for providers is to look past the "noncompliant" or "nonadherent" labels and identify the barriers preventing the patient from maintaining their treatment—and then help the patient overcome them. Although providers are limited in how much they can effect patients' daily behavior, research suggests that the most effective interventions combine a variety of approaches.
Build Trust
Higher levels of patient trust in their physicians is linked to higher medication adherence.3 In fact, in a small study of patients at Veterans' Administration hospitals, Piette et al. found that patients with higher trust in their physicians were more likely to adhere to medication plans even with high out-of-pocket costs.6
The first step in building that trust and finding the root causes of nonadherence is to reframe the situation in nonjudgmental terms. Or, as Archana Sadhu, M.D., endocrinologist and director of the Houston Methodist System Diabetes Management Program, puts it: "Don't make the patient feel bad if they haven't been able or willing to take the medication."
"Language is everything," Sadhu says. "If you start off the conversation asking, 'Are you taking your medication?' patients respond with guilt or defensiveness, and you won't learn the actual reasons for their actions. If you don't know those reasons, you're going to draw the wrong conclusions, make the wrong decisions, and lose the patient's trust."
Instead, Sadhu starts conversations that are nonjudgmental and friendly, asking open-ended questions that focus on why a patient may be missing medications and focusing on the barriers. This approach normalizes nonadherence to make patients feel more comfortable discussing the reasons they aren't following the treatment plan.
Help the Patient Set Goals
"The best way to set goals is to let the patient set the goal," says Jaime Louis (J.J.) Rodriguez, senior exercise physiologist for Houston Methodist Weight Management.
For both lifestyle and medication interventions, change is most likely when the patient takes ownership of the goal, so providers should work with patients to tailor objectives to the patient's preferences and lifestyle. Breaking down long-term goals into small, measurable steps builds confidence and helps the patient see progress as they achieve targets.7
"Patients often don't know what they're supposed to achieve with a medication. If you tell them, 'take your medicine and your sugars will get better," that's too nonspecific," says Jawairia Shakil, M.D., endocrinologist at Houston Methodist Hospital. "Instead, I give them tangible goals like, 'I want to see your blood sugar drop by this many points, and it will happen when you do this intervention.' Using numbers helps patients see results."
Goal-setting for weight management can be a touchy subject, but it is an essential element of diabetes and CVD care—and closely intertwined with medication adherence. In the SHIELD study, investigators reported that adults with type 2 diabetes who lost weight had significantly better medication adherence than those who gained weight.8
"The weight loss conversation can be fraught with stereotypes or judgments," says Sadhu. "I rarely go to ideal body weight with my obese patients because that's setting the target so high that it sets them up for failure. Instead, we start reasonable, 10 to 15 pounds over the next 3 to 4 months, not tomorrow."
Ultimately, goal-setting is a coaching process, says Rodriguez, and providers can help guide patients to set achievable goals: "We're not going to be able to change everything that patients do. But what's one thing they can change that makes an influence in their lifestyle? That's something we can work with."
Cut Costs
Adherence Resources for Healthcare Professionals
The Use of Language in Diabetes Care and Education >>
Medication Adherence Alliance Toolkits >>
Cost is one of the most common reasons why patients stop taking their medication. In a nationwide survey of adults with chronic illnesses, a third of respondents who didn't take a medication due to cost didn't discuss the barrier with their provider.9 Minority and low-income patients are especially unlikely to raise the issue.5 The onus is on physicians to ask patients if they are cutting back on medications because of finances and make sure they are prescribing medications that the patient can afford.
Simple ways to lower cost include prescribing cheaper alternatives or generics and offering discount cards or information about prescription assistance programs.
"We want to give our patients the latest and greatest, but if they don't take it, they're worse off than giving them a less expensive but less efficacious drug," says Sadhu. "It's better to give patients a cheaper alternative than try to force them to do something that they really can't afford."
Minimize Complexity
The more complex or inconvenient a regimen, the less likely patients are to adhere.4 The New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's supplement on adherence advises providers to minimize complexity by reconciling patient medications (and eliminate unnecessary medications, if appropriate), simplifying dosing schedules, and streamlining refills by prescribing 90-day supplies.5 Shakil notes that technologies such as automated glucose testing can simplify routines and make it easier for patients to manage their blood sugars.
Discuss Medication Effects and Side-Effects
Patients often cite side effects as the reason they stop taking a medication, so clear and candid communication about what patients can expect is key.5
"Patients are often afraid of adverse effects from medication, especially with what they see in the news or on social media," says Shakil. "We have to discuss the risks and benefits and go over the literature in terms patients can understand."
Those early discussions can help patients recognize which symptoms are side effects tied to a new drug. Shakil and Sadhu stress the importance of asking about medication tolerance at follow-up visits. Often, patients are unsure whether they are experiencing a side effect or if the medication is working and are hesitant to bring it up on their own.
It can be equally difficult to encourage asymptomatic patients to stick with a medication when they don't feel an effect—good or bad. Therefore, physicians may need to get creative to explain the urgency of continuing medications; for instance, some patients may need to see visual proof that the medication is working, perhaps by comparing test results or imaging from before and after they started the treatment.10
Address Misconceptions and Beliefs
Beliefs and misconceptions about an intervention can also be barriers to adherence. However, Rodriguez points out, most of these beliefs are predictable—believing that type 2 diabetes is inherited, that people with joint problems can't exercise, that insulin causes kidney failure—so providers can come to appointments prepared.
"I see the same trends in misconceptions over and over, so I try to have resources available when I meet patients. It could be as simple as a handout or a video," he says. "I present information to contextualize the belief where they can see that it isn't accurate rather than saying something belittling like, "No, that isn't true.' It's about putting the patient in control so that they see and accept the facts."
Reconcile Psychosocial Barriers
Psychosocial barriers to adherence can be more difficult to recognize. For instance, patients with depression are three times as likely to not follow treatment plans,5 and 25% of patients with diabetes experience depression,11 so Sadhu recommends screening patients for depression if they are not taking their medications or seem unmotivated to make lifestyle changes.
Social barriers such as taking care of sick relatives or relying on someone else for cooking can make it difficult for patients to keep up with their diabetes treatments. Asking open-ended questions can help identify these barriers; then, providers can help the patient devise coping strategies.
"Patients sometimes tell me, 'We have a lot of family events, and food is part of our bonding experience.' I go to portion size. If it's rude to refuse, make sure the portion is very small because you know how it will affect your health. Don't go to every party, but choose one or two of the most important ones," Sadhu says.
She encourages patients to talk to the family cook about how to modify ingredients and sends home literature with diabetes-friendly recipes. It's also important to take the patient's culture into account, perhaps discussing how to adjust practices instead of replacing them altogether.
"Cultural awareness has become a big topic," Sadhu says. "If the patient does not feel like you understand their background and lifestyle, your recommendations will fall on deaf ears."
Connect Patient with a Support Network
Although limited to what they can do within their office walls, providers can help patients build a support network outside the physician's office. Shakil and Sadhu refer patients to certified diabetes educators (CDEs) like Strobel, exercise physiologists like Rodriguez, and nutritionists and mental health professionals as needed.
"Physicians can help get their patients into a 'cradle of care,'" says Strobel. "If a CDE is too expensive, they can refer the patient to an outpatient support group, preferably outpatient diabetes education. That way patients can go to classes and benefit from the logical knowledge and life experiences of their classmates."
Ultimately, adhering to treatment is up to the patient, but providers can be effective allies to make sustained behavioral changes a little easier.
As Sadhu says, "We can't intrude into patient's daily lives. They have to take some ownership of what they're willing to do. But we have to show that we understand the issues and that we want to work with them."References
- Qureshi M, Gammoh E, Shakil J, Robbins R. Update on Management of Type 2 Diabetes for Cardiologists. Methodist DeBakey Cardiovasc J. 2018;14(4):273-80.
- Schechter CB, Walker EA. Improving Adherence to Diabetes Self-Management Recommendations. Diabetes Spectrum. Jul 2002;15(3):170-5.
- Polonsky WH, Henry RR. Poor medication adherence in type 2 diabetes: recognizing the scope of the problem and its key contributors. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016;10:1299-307.
- Adherence Facts. Medication Adherence Alliance. http://managingyourmeds.org/adherence-facts/
- Improving Medication Adherence. City Health Information. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. July 2009;23(suppl 4):1-8.
- Piette JD, Heisler M, Krein S, Kerr EA. The role of patient-physician trust in moderating medication nonadherence due to cost pressures. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Aug 8-22;165(15):1749-55.
- Koenigsberg MR, Corliss J. Diabetes Self-Management: Facilitating Lifestyle Change. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Sep 15;96(6):362-70.
- Grandy S, Fox KM, Hardy E; SHIELD Study Group. Association of Weight Loss and Medication Adherence Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: SHIELD (Study to Help Improve Early evaluation and management of risk factors Leading to Diabetes). Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2013;75:77–82.
- Piette JD, Heisler M, Wagner TH. Cost-related medication underuse: do patients with chronic illnesses tell their doctors? Arch Intern Med. 2004;164(16):1749-55
- Schwartz SK. Patient Compliance Techniques That Work. Physicians Practice. March 2011. http://www.physicianspractice.com/patient-compliance-techniques-work
- Curry A. The Diabetes and Depression Connection. Diabetes Forecast. May 2018. http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2018/03-may-jun/the-diabetes-and-depression.html


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Press releases - East Africa - Tanzania - Development - Investment - Technology
IBM and Tanzanian Government Sign Collaboration Agreement
Agreement Supports Tanzania's Development and Increases its Competitiveness in a Global Marketplace
IBM (NYSE:IBM) has signed a collaboration agreement with the Tanzanian government aimed at supporting the adoption of information technologies and Tanzania's development in key areas such as education and R&D.
The agreement between IBM and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MOEVT) will help realize the Tanzanian Government's vision of building a "Silicon Valley" type environment around the University of Dodoma. As part of the agreement, IBM will facilitate collaboration with U.S. universities on research projects in the area of smarter cities, cloud computing and business analytics. IBM will also support the ministry in developing and implementing better access to technology and educational resources for Tanzanian universities and secondary schools, especially in remote areas of the country. It is hoped that the agreement will help to enhance the local educational and information technology environment and promote a culture of entrepreneurship.
"This agreement underscores IBM's commitment to Tanzania and the importance of information technology in the development of the country," said Anthony Mwai, Country General Manager, IBM East Africa. "By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, the Tanzanian government has a real opportunity to develop in key areas such as education and R&D, which can play a key role in increasing Tanzania's competitiveness in a global economy."
The agreement was signed in March by IBM and Prof. Hamisi O. Dihenga, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.
IBM has been actively engaged in Tanzania through the following key initiatives:
Corporate Service Corps - over the past 18 months, through its Corporate Service Corps program, IBM has assigned 58 of its most talented emerging leaders from more than 20 different countries on one month assignments in Tanzania. In this program, IBM has dedicated over 10,000 hours of pro bono information technology and business consulting to the University of Dodoma, Africa Wildlife Foundation, Tanzanian Association of Tour Operators and Institute of Accountancy. All of their work has been connected with economic growth and job creation.
SMS for Life - in December last year, IBM announced it was working with the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, Vodafone, Novartis and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership to use information and communication technologies to improve the availability of anti-malarial drugs in remote areas of Tanzania. Called "SMS for Life," the pilot initiative used a combination of mobile phones, SMS (Short Messaging Service) technologies and intuitive web sites to track and manage the supply of anti-malarial drugs.


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Add this this sweet sterling silver sea turtle charm to your ocean-themed bracelet for a calm, dreamy element. Sparkling with 32 hand-set sparkling cubic zirconias, this turtle represents stability, patience and protection.


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Jeno Paulucci, Pizza Roll Inventor, Dies at 93
Jeno Paulucci, the man responsible for what are known today as Totino's Pizza Rolls, died on Thursday at home in Duluth, Minnesota, of renal and coronary failure, according to the New York Times obituary.
[Update: This Wall Street Journal obit has much more info and color.]
If his given name isn't a tip-off, you should know that Mr. Paulucci invented Jeno's Pizza Rolls in 1968, which later took on the Totino's name when Paulucci sold the company to Pillsbury in 1985.
Mr. Paulucci got his start in the ready-made food business as the creator of Chun King, a canned chop suey product at first, which he eventually expanded into a whole line of prepared Chinese foods.
At the time of his death, Mr. Paulucci was running Michelina's, which sold a line of ready-made pastas and Mexican food that he founded in the 1990s.
At Slice, our condolences go out to Mr. Paulucci's family, friends, and fans. And I count myself among his fans. I mean, how can you not love pizza rolls?
See also...
Totino's Pizza Rolls: How Can You NOT Love Them?!? »
How to Make Homemade Pizza Rolls »
Watch the "Pizza Roll Challenge" in Reverse »
When Would You Ever Need 120 Pizza Rolls?!? »
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Lee Niswander, Ph.D. Research One South(RC1-South), Room 12106 email@example.com Phone: 303-724-3790
Our research focuses on the genetic and cellular mechanisms that control embryonic development. In particular we are interested in the processes required for closure of the neural tube and for development of the vertebrate limb and lung. Our approaches include a forward genetic screen in mice to identify mutations that affect specific processes of embryonic development and embryological and molecular manipulation of the chick embryo.
ENU-mutagenesis screen for genes required for mouse development. A forward genetic approach is ideal for identifying key genes that regulate specific developmental processes of interest. In an on-going screen in mice for ENU (ethylnitrosourea)- generated mutations, we are identifying recessive mutations that disrupt specific aspects of embryonic development. We have focused on mutations that affect neural tube closure, limb and lung development. To learn more about the screen, to view pictures of the various mutants, and to follow our progress in identifying the genes responsible and their mechanism of action, please go to our Website - http://mouse.ski.mskcc.org/
Neural Development
Neural tube defects (NTD) are the second most common human birth defect, affecting 1:1,000 births. However, the underlying genetic basis of NTD in humans is very poorly understood. Failure to close the neural tube in the brain leads to exencephaly (anencephaly in humans), failure to close the spinal neural tube causes spina bifida. Neural tube closure involves a variety of coordinated developmental processes including pattern formation, proliferation, cell differentiation, and changes in cell shape and cell movement. The mouse provides an excellent model to systematically identify the genes that are required for closure of the neural tube. The chick embryo provides an excellent experimental system to test the function of the identified genes.
Our studies seek to identify the genes required and their mechanism of action.
Genetics of neural tube closure. To advance an understanding of the causes of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord in humans, we are using the mouse as a model to systematically identify the genes involved in closure of the neural tube, followed by a comprehensive cellular and molecular characterization of their mechanism of action. From the ENU mutagenesis screen we have identified a large number of mouse lines with NTDs. Our approach is to identify the gene by genetic mapping and to characterize the phenotype to elucidate the developmental process that is affected. Priority will be given to mutations that are linked to potential human disease loci. Moreover, we will test whether the NTD can be suppressed by dietary supplementation to understand the genetics underlying the effects of, for instance, folic acid which can suppress the incidence of NTDs by an unknown mechanism.
Experimental studies of neural development - BMPs and WNTs control patterning and growth of the neural tube The chick provides an experimentally amenable and rapid system to determine the function of a gene. We are using the chick to functionally characterize the genes arising from the mutagenesis screen, as well as other developmentally important genes. In the latter category, we have explored the role of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) and WNT signaling in coordinating patterning and growth in the embryonic spinal neural tube using gain and loss of function approaches including in vivo knockdown of gene expression by siRNAs. We found that BMPs are necessary to regulate pattern formation, including the establishment of discrete expression domains of Wnt signaling components along the dorsal-ventral axis of the neural tube and that WNTs function as mitogenic signals regulating neural tube growth. Thus, BMPs, acting through WNTs, couple patterning and growth to generate dorsal neuronal progenitor populations in the appropriate proportions within the neural tube.
Limb Development
Key signals that control limb growth and patterning have been identified in the past 10 years, yet surprisingly little is known about how these regulators function, what are their upstream activators and downstream targets, or how patterning information is translated into skeletal elements of appropriate size and shape.
Our interests in limb development continue to revolve around the formation of the skeletal primordia and the function of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER). The AER is the critical signaling center that controls limb outgrowth via the production of Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). We are exploring the mechanisms that regulate AER formation and function through molecular manipulations of the chick embryonic limb, imaging techniques and mouse genetics. Our studies of the chick limb have determined that BMPs are upstream of two important developmental processes, that of AER formation and dorsal-ventral patterning. The BMP signal bifurcates at the level of two different transcription factors to mediate AER formation and dorsal-ventral patterning differentially.
A disruption in AER formation and function appears to be the primary defect in a mouse mutant we found in the mutagenesis screen that leads to missing digits, dorsal-ventral digit duplications, and aberrant ossification. We have identified other limb mutants that cause polydactyly (extra digits), soft tissue syndactyly (the webbing between the digits does not undergo regression), and other skeletal defects including shortening of some limb elements. Moreover, we are further exploring genetic interactions between various mutant lines to determine whether they regulate similar functions or act within a genetic pathway. These studies provide an unbiased means to identify key developmental regulators and will contribute significantly to a greater understanding of the genetic and cellular control of vertebrate limb development. (Grants from the National Institutes of Health provided support for the limb work.)
Lung Development and Disease
The lung and other highly branched organs such as the kidney and lacrimal gland develop from a simple epithelial bud into a complex three dimensionally patterned functional organ. This happens through a process called branching morphogenesis. We wish to elucidate the fundamental processes underlying the development of the lung, as well as the pathogenesis of lung disease. To do so we use a combination of forward and reverse genetics in mice and molecular manipulations in organ cultures to identify key regulators of branching morphogenesis. We have identified novel regulators of lung development through the mouse ENU mutagenesis screen. Moreover we have manipulated key signaling pathways such as BMP and WNT to elucidate the mechanisms by which the position and shape of the bud are determined. The future goal is to study if and how developmentally important genes are involved in tissue injury and repair, in particular in diseased lungs. (This work is supported by the National Institutes of Health and by the Sandler Program for Asthma Research)
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Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. All trademarks are registered property of the University. Used by permission only.


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A Blue View is a weekly perspective on the life aquatic, hosted by National Aquarium CEO John Racanelli.
From the smallest plants and animals invisible to the human eye to entire ecosystems, every living thing depends on and is intricately linked by water.
Tune in to 88.1 WYPR every Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. as John brings to the surface important issues and fascinating discoveries making waves in the world today.
April 30, 2014: Getting to Know Bob Talbot
Click here to listen to John and Bob Talbot discuss
Talbot's incredible film/photography work!
Whether you realize it or not, you've probably seen Bob Talbot's work. The photographer, filmmaker and environmental advocate has filmed wildlife sequences for everything from "Free Willy" to "Flipper," and his stunning photographs of whales and dolphins have been reproduced into millions of lithographs and distributed worldwide. (In fact, they're still considered the most popular series of marine mammal posters on the planet.)
His compelling storytelling technique, combined with the stunning way he captures underwater life through a lens, gives Talbot the opportunity to do what our ocean-dwelling friends cannot: provide a voice that moves people to action. Presented with the Environmental Hero Award, the Ark Trust Genesis Award and the prestigious SeaKeeper Award, he's dedicated his life to promoting awareness of ocean issues and encouraging conservation of Earth's resources.
We had the honor of hosting Talbot this past Earth Day (April 22) at the Aquarium, as part of our Marjorie Lynn Bank lecture series, where he shared his experiences photographing and filming some of the world's most incredible marine animals. Miss Talbot's lecture? Don't panic…we recorded it for you!
Don't forget to mark your calendars for our upcoming lecture with humpback whale rescuer Ed Lyman on May 7th!


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Recolour of the Aluminum Privacy Blind by P. King Tom Trading Co. in green. Will also work to recolour the Poured Panel blinds.
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Animal Care and Protective Services staff is in the final planning stages for its new monthly, first Saturday adoption events, which are held at the shelter located at 2020 Forest Street.
ACPS said previous all-day adoption events were successful in helping hundreds of dogs and cats find forever homes, inspiring ACPS to continue hosting the events regularly on the first Saturday of the month.
"Not only do the first Saturday events help us place many more animals than before, they also help bring attention to our community's animal needs, programs and facilities," said Scott Trebatoski, ACPS division chief. "It is a great opportunity for people to visit our facility, which was built in 2009, and see what we have to offer."
Each month, ACPS will celebrate a theme, whether it is football season or the holiday season. The public can easily save-the-date for each upcoming adoption event by marking it down for the first Saturday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For the month of February, ACPS is celebrating National Responsible Pet Owners Month and will have a special adoption rate of $20, which includes spaying or neutering, rabies vaccinations and a microchip. The On the Fly Sandwich & Stuff food truck be will onsite, selling various creations. Other vendors for February include Pawfection Bakery, Bubba's Bistro and Sam's Club.
The next event will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2020 Forest Street.
To stay up to date on adoptions this weekend, connect with ACPS on Facebook.
Regular adoption hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Regular intake hours are 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Friday.


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I can't believe it is Sunday already, this has been one of the busiest London Fashion Weeks for me and I am so happy as I do love the buzz of a catwalk show and all the drama and socialising that goes with it. Whereas Saturday is official being re-named 'the day that rains', today the sun is shining, which means I could finally get my sunglasses out.
Quiet day for me today, I have a number of shows in but I have only done one, the Prophetic show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, so I can catch up on editing my images and bringing you all the news from the first two days, seriously I have a lot of stuff to share, and generally taking a breather before the madness that is my Monday schedule.
Today's look is kind of casual, mainly because I was only around for a few hours, but also one of my favourite looks so far. I do love a good maxi skirt and this is one of my most comfortable and surprisingly long enough ones from New Look; I paired it with my Simeon Farrar t-shirt, Long Tall Sally leather jacket, and finishing off the look is my Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag.
My Style Details:
You know I love t-shirts, well my Simeon Farrar printed Kate Mouse tee is fast becoming one of my favourites and most versatile pieces, I really just love it and couldn't resist working it to fashion week.
Fashion week wouldn't be complete without getting out my trust blue Rebecca Minkoff, this bag is one of my all time favs not only is it a great colour to add a pop to my mainly black wardrobe, but it is also an ideal size for all my belongings. Today I have paired my RM with my new zebra printed New Look scarf, I was wearing to keep the chill off but I love attaching scarves to bags and I thought this worked well.
Finishing off my look today are my Calvin Klein sunglasses, when it comes to dark frames I am more of a dark brown than black type of gal and these are my wear anywhere and everywhere glasses. LFW really does look better in the sun!!!**Thanks to good pal Bumpkin Betty for taking my snaps – if you haven't already seen her website you really are missing out**


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Sunday, April 22, 2012
New World Order: from Capitalism to Socialism in Western Civilization
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Genocide of the Boer in South Africa
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Black people can't be racist
It isn't worthwhile commenting on the absolute drivel (except for the last sentence) found in this Mynews24 opinion. Please note, as stated by News24, that anything posted in Mynews24 is the opinion of the user and not that of News24.
Having recently moved back to South Africa from Niger I am perplexed by all the Racism in this country. We left during apartheid. I came back because there is not much economic wise positive in Niger.
What bugs me most is the number of white people who say black man is racist. This is simply not possible.
For instance: In Africa there is 800 million blacks and around 5 million whites. Yet historically we have been enslaved, tortured, discriminated and sometimes hated- just because we have not the same level of education as the colonials who benefitted heavy from Greek and Roman empires.
For a few hundred years africans have had to fight for our land back, dignity , wealth and fairness. In South Africa the president in 1994 reached one hundred percent compromise with the occupiers, stating that all are equal. It is not so in other place in Africa like Congo and Zimbabwe where the indigenous people took violent revenge.
As a result of this compromise South Africa has flourished into what must be the Super Power of Africa. There are many wealth people black and white.
I have to ask that given the fact that white people have continued life as is one hundred perecent as it was during apartheid, how then can they say that Blacks hate them? marginilise them? and is racest towards them?
No, a South African black is not racist, he is the most forgiving, accomodating , respectful and kind and gentle.
BEE is not racially motivated. It is entirely economic. It is unfortunate that the poorest people in the country are the same ones hindered by Suprematist laws. The fact that we need to be given an "unfair advantage" is possibly the only sensible way to achieve equilibrium. I cant forsee BEE lasting forever and I doubt the ANC will rule forever, it is simply a neccessary, painful phase that is required for now.
It would be very nice for some white people to see all the clear advantage of South Africa, instead of sit on website complaining how bad it is.
Life's great, white people are great, black people are great!


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Very nice sculpted and an interesting material mix with this rivets. What do you use to create this rivets, I am always to lazy to sculpt extra rivets on armor or such buttons.
Lirui, I am also very interested in the Song Dynasty that fought against the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th Century - do you know of any good Chinese sources and pictures of Song infantry - archers, crossbow-men, swords-men, halberd-men etc??
DickerThomas wrote:I like this topic
I'm also interested in the Xin Fu Jun who were former Song troops used in the second attempted invasion of Japan by the Yuan Dynasty in 1281 - so Chinese fighting samurai again!
Also wondering which 1/72 figures might be suitable for conversion - perhaps Caesar's Ming Dynasty infantry might be more suitable for Song Dynasty instead?


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This year, no major Ruby organization got accepted to Google's Summer of Code (even though a half dozen Python projects got accepted, but I won't rant here). What do we as Rubyists do? Take it sitting down? NO! We make our own Summer of Code!
Thanks to Engine Yard, Ruby Central, and the Rails team, Ruby Summer of Code has raised $100k in just three days, allowing us to run 20 student projects! Hooray!
Ruby Summer of Code
Now of course we really would love to have some JRuby projects involved. There's so much exciting stuff going on with JRuby, and I believe it's the most promising platform for really growing the Ruby community. So we've set up a page for JRuby Ruby Summer of Code 2010 ideas. Here's a few to get you started:
- JRuby on Android work, including command-line tooling, performance work, and all the little bits and pieces needed to make Ruby a first-class Android language.
- Porting key C extensions to JRuby, so there's an alternative for people migrating.
- A super-fast lightweight server similar to the GlassFish gem.
- A full Hibernate and/or JPA backend for DataMapper or DataObjects, so that all databases Hibernate supports "just work" with JRuby.
- Work on JRuby's nascent suport for Ruby C extensions by building the API out
- Help get JRuby's early optimizing compiler wired up, to take JRuby's perf to the next level
- Duby-related projects, like IDE support, better tooling, codebase cleanup, features, documentation.


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ACParadise Network: American Cosplay Paradise American Cosplay Experience American Cosplay Snapshots
Half of 2D Costuming, responsible for most administrativia and social communications (gee, that sounds professional :P). Sewing mischiefs a specialty. Loves making stuff and looking at other people's made stuff, be it human size or doll size. Hoarder of fabric and office supplies, occasionally runs with scissors. Random choices in costuming projects, but takes every one to heart.
Oh...I work slow. On average, only about 1-2 costumes a year. Trying to do a -little- more than that, but you know..there's that "real life balancing" thing. :)
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- Dany says, "Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoy her :)"
- For Oscar Francoise de Jarjayes from Rose of Versailles
- drboliver says, "Wow, gorgeous shot! The skirt detail is amazing. It makes me happy to see FotNS cosplay ^^"
- For Yuria from Fist of the North Star
- Sylphy says, "Your Lady Oscar is stunning. Fantastic work!"
- For Oscar Francoise de Jarjayes from Rose of Versailles
- Dany says, "Coming from a Lin, that makes me happy! :D Thank you!!"
- For Yuria from Fist of the North Star
- UsagiHime says, "This costume is so amazing "
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