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Docetaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy is used to treat lung cancer, but may also be useful for other types of cancer.
This information is best read with our general information about chemotherapy and the type of cancer you have.
The drugs used in this treatment are:
You will have docetaxel and cisplatin in the chemotherapy day unit or during a short stay in hospital. A chemotherapy nurse will give it to you. During treatment, you usually see a cancer doctor, a chemotherapy nurse or a specialist nurse. This is who we mean when we mention doctor or nurse in this information.
Before or on the day of treatment, a nurse or person trained to take blood (phlebotomist) will take a blood sample from you. This is to check that it is okay for you to have chemotherapy.
You will also see a doctor or nurse before you have chemotherapy. They will ask you about how you have been. If your blood results are alright on the day of your treatment, the pharmacist will prepare your chemotherapy. Your nurse will tell you when your treatment is likely to be ready.
Your nurse will give you anti-sickness (anti-emetic) drugs, and sometimes a steroid, as an injection into a vein or as tablets.
Your treatment will be given through one of the following:
Your nurse will give you docetaxel (a colourless fluid) as a drip (infusion) over an hour. After this, they will give you cisplatin as a drip over a longer period of time. They will usually run the drip through a pump, which will give you the treatment over a set time.
You'll have extra fluids through your drip before and after the cisplatin. This is to protect your kidneys.
Some people might have side effects while they are having the chemotherapy:
Rarely, this treatment may cause an allergic reaction while it's being given. Your nurse will check you for this. If you have a reaction, they will treat it quickly. Signs of a reaction can include:
Tell your nurse straight away if you have any of these symptoms.
Usually, you will be given steroid tablets to take at home the day before treatment to reduce the chance of an allergic reaction. It's important to take the steroids as you've been directed to. Instead of tablets, you may be given a steroid by injection into a vein (intravenously) 30–60 minutes before the docetaxel.
If you have this, tell your nurse straight away. They will check your drip site and slow the drip to ease the pain.
You will have chemotherapy as a course of several sessions (or cycles) of treatment over a few months. Each cycle of docetaxel and cisplatin takes 21 days (three weeks).
On the first day, you will have docetaxel and cisplatin. You will then have a rest period with no chemotherapy for the next 21 days.
You will then start your second cycle of treatment. This is exactly the same as the first cycle. You usually have up to four cycles over 12 weeks. Your doctor or nurse will tell you the number of cycles you are likely to have.
Before you go home, the nurse or pharmacist will give you anti-sickness drugs to take. They may also give you anti-diarrhoea tablets if you need them. Take all your tablets exactly as the nurse or pharmacist has explained to you.
We explain the most common side effects of this treatment here. But we don't include all the rare ones that are unlikely to affect you.
You may get some of the side effects we mention, but you are very unlikely to get all of them. Always tell your doctor or nurse about the side effects you have. Your doctor can prescribe drugs to help control some of these.
It is very important to take the drugs exactly as your nurse or pharmacist has explained. This means they will be more likely to work better for you. Your nurse will give you advice about managing your side effects. After your treatment is over, the side effects will start to improve.
Sometimes cancer drugs can result in very serious side effects, which rarely may be life-threatening. Your cancer doctor and nurse can explain the risk of these side effects to you.
Your nurse will give you telephone numbers for the hospital. You can call them if you feel unwell or need advice any time of day or night. Save these numbers in your phone or keep them somewhere safe.
We're not able to list every side effect for this treatment here, particularly the rarer ones. For more detailed information you can visit the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC).
Docetaxel and cisplatin can reduce the number of white blood cells in your blood. This will make you more likely to get an infection. When the number of white blood cells is low, it's called neutropenia.
Contact the hospital straight away on the contact number you've been given if:
The number of white blood cells usually increases steadily and returns to normal before your next treatment. You will have a blood test before having more chemotherapy. If your white blood cells are still low, your doctor may delay your treatment for a short time.
Docetaxel and cisplatin can reduce the number of platelets in your blood. Platelets are cells that help the blood to clot. Tell your doctor if you have any bruising or bleeding you can't explain. This includes nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood spots or rashes on the skin. Some people may need a drip to give them extra platelets.
Docetaxel and cisplatin can reduce the number of red blood cells in your blood. These cells carry oxygen around the body. If the number of red blood cells is low, you may be tired and breathless. Tell your doctor or nurse if you feel like this. If you are very anaemic, you may need a drip to give you extra red blood cells (blood transfusion).
This may happen in the first few days after chemotherapy. Your doctor will prescribe anti-sickness (anti-emetic) drugs to help prevent or control sickness. Take the drugs exactly as your nurse or pharmacist explains to you. It's easier to prevent sickness than to treat it after it has started.
If you still feel sick or are vomiting, contact the hospital as soon as possible. They can give you advice and change the anti-sickness drug to one that works better for you.
Some anti-sickness drugs can make you constipated. Tell your doctor or nurse if this is a problem.
You may get a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth or find that food tastes different. This should go away when your treatment finishes. Try using herbs and spices (unless you have a sore mouth or ulcers) or strong-flavoured sauces to give your food more flavour. Sucking boiled sweets can sometimes help get rid of a bitter or metallic taste. Your nurse can give you more advice.
Your mouth may become sore and you may get ulcers. This can make you more likely to get an infection in your mouth. Gently clean your teeth or dentures morning and night and after meals. Use a soft-bristled or children's toothbrush. Your nurse might ask you to rinse your mouth regularly or use mouthwashes. It's important to follow any advice you are given and to drink plenty of fluids.
Tell your nurse or doctor if you have any problems with your mouth. They can prescribe medicines to prevent or treat mouth infections and reduce any soreness.
Your doctor can prescribe drugs to control diarrhoea. Let them know if it is severe or if it doesn't get better. Make sure you drink at least two litres (three and a half pints) of fluids every day if you have diarrhoea.
You may lose your appetite during your treatment. Try to eat small meals regularly. Don't worry if you don't eat much for a day or two.
If your appetite doesn't improve after a few days, let your nurse or dietitian know. They can give you advice on getting more calories and protein in your diet. They may give you food supplements or meal replacement drinks to try. Your doctor can prescribe some of these and you can buy them from chemists.
You will usually lose all the hair on your head. Your eyelashes, eyebrows and other body hair may also thin or fall out. This usually starts after your first or second cycle of chemotherapy. It is almost always temporary and your hair will grow back after chemotherapy ends but, rarely, the hair loss is permanent. It is important to cover your head to protect your scalp when you are out in the sun until your hair grows back. Your nurse can give you advice about coping with hair loss.
Docetaxel and cisplatin may affect your skin. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what to expect. If your skin feels dry, try using an unperfumed moisturising cream every day. If you've had radiotherapy, either recently or in the past, the area that was treated may become red or sore.
Always tell your doctor or nurse about any skin changes. They can give you advice and may prescribe creams or medicines to help. Any changes to your skin are usually temporary and improve when treatment finishes.
These symptoms are caused by the effect of docetaxel or cisplatin on the nerves. This is called peripheral neuropathy. You may find it hard to fasten buttons or do other fiddly tasks.
Tell your doctor if you have these symptoms. They sometimes need to lower the dose of the drug. The symptoms usually improve slowly after treatment finishes, but in some people, they may never go away. Talk to your doctor if you are worried about this.
Your nails may become brittle and break easily. They may get darker or discoloured, and you may get lines or ridges on them. These changes usually grow out over several months after treatment finishes. Rarely, nails may come off, but they will grow back after treatment. Wearing gloves when washing dishes or using detergents will help protect your nails during treatment.
If you get pain, redness or swelling around your nails, let your nurse or doctor know.
You may put on weight or your ankles and legs may swell because of fluid building up. The steroid tablets your doctor prescribes will help to prevent this.
Tell your doctor or nurse if fluid builds up. If your ankles and legs swell, it can help to put your legs up on a foot stool or cushion. The swelling gets better after your treatment ends.
Feeling very tired is a common side effect. It's often worse towards the end of treatment and for some weeks after it's finished. Try to pace yourself and get as much rest as you need. It helps to balance this with some gentle exercise, such as short walks. If you feel sleepy, don't drive or operate machinery.
Cisplatin can affect your hearing. You may have a hearing test before you start treatment. You may get ringing in your ears (tinnitus) and lose the ability to hear some high-pitched sounds. Tinnitus usually gets better after treatment ends. Some hearing changes can be permanent. Tell your doctor if you notice any changes in your hearing.
You may get pain in your joints or muscles for a few days after chemotherapy. Tell your doctor if this happens so they can prescribe painkillers. Let them know if the pain does not get better. Try to get plenty of rest. Taking regular warm baths may help.
Your eyes may become watery and feel sore. Your doctor can prescribe eye drops to help with this. If your eyes get red and inflamed (conjunctivitis), tell your doctor. This is because you may need antibiotic eye drops.
Cisplatin can affect how your kidneys work. You will have blood tests before and during treatment to check this. You'll have extra fluids through a drip before and after chemotherapy. This is to protect your kidneys. Your nurse will ask you to drink plenty of fluid. Tell them if there are any changes in how much urine you are producing.
It's important to let your doctor know straight away if you feel unwell or have any severe side effects, even if they're not mentioned above.
Cancer increases the chance of a blood clot (thrombosis) and chemotherapy can add to this. A clot can cause symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling in a leg, breathlessness and chest pain. Contact your doctor straight away if you have any of these symptoms. A blood clot is serious, but your doctor can treat it with drugs that thin the blood. Your doctor or nurse can give you more information.
Some medicines can interact with chemotherapy or be harmful when you are having chemotherapy. This includes medicines you can buy in a shop or chemist. Tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs, complementary therapies and herbal drugs.
Docetaxel contains alcohol. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if this is a problem for you. This treatment may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Docetaxel and cisplatin may affect your fertility (being able to get pregnant or father a child). If you are worried about this, you can talk to your doctor or nurse before treatment starts.
Your doctor will advise you not to become pregnant or father a child during treatment. This is because the drugs may harm a developing baby. It's important to use effective contraception during and for six months after chemotherapy. You can talk to your doctor or nurse about this.
If you have sex within the first couple of days of having chemotherapy, you need to use a condom. This is to protect your partner in case there is any chemotherapy in your semen or vaginal fluid.
Docetaxel and cisplatin can sometimes stop the ovaries working. You may not get a period every month and they may eventually stop. In some women this is temporary, but for others it is permanent and they start the menopause.
Women are advised not to breastfeed during treatment and for a few months after. This is in case there is chemotherapy in their breast milk.
If you need to go into hospital for any reason other than cancer, always tell the doctors and nurses that you are having chemotherapy. Give them contact details for your cancer doctor.
Talk to your cancer doctor or nurse if you think you need dental treatment. Always tell your dentist you are having chemotherapy.
This page has been compiled using information from a number of reliable sources, including the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC; medicines.org.uk). If you'd like further information on the sources we use, please feel free to contact us.
This information was reviewed by a medical professional.
Thank you to all of the people affected by cancer who reviewed what you're reading and have helped our information to grow.
You could help us too when you join our Cancer Voices Network - find out more.
Content last reviewed: 1 February 2016
Next planned review: 2018
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free* (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm).
*See information about calling our support line from a mobile.
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
Watch our slideshow with tips for coping with a poor appetite
Watch our slideshow with tips for coping with a sore mouth
Watch our video about coping with fatigue
Watch our slideshow about avoiding infection when you have reduced immunity
If you have any questions about Macmillan we would love to hear from you .
You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or YouTube.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2018
what are these?


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PG&E Unveils New, High-Tech Laser Scanner Device Designed To Enhance Pipeline Safety
Handheld Laser Scanner Provides 3-D View to Determine Safety and Integrity of Gas Pipelines
Jan 17, 2013, 04:59 ET
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced that it has added a new, high-tech laser scanner device to its suite of technology used to enhance gas pipeline safety in the field. This new tool provides a highly efficient and accurate way to determine the safety and integrity of natural gas pipelines.
The hand-held device, called EXAscan, manufactured by Creaform of Levis, Quebec, is held a few inches above a section of pipeline and produces a three-dimensional, color-coded view of the pipeline on a monitor. Accurate within 40 microns, or 0.0016 of an inch, the device can detect potential safety concerns such as corrosion, dents or warping within a pipeline.
Conventional industry practice for measuring pipeline corrosion involves digging down to a section of the pipe, drawing an extensive grid of one-inch squares on the pipe, and then measuring the "wall loss"—or effects of corrosion—square by square with a manual tool. The EXAscan technology allows PG&E to capture the same information from the entire pipeline section within minutes and helps assess whether that section is fit for service. PG&E Senior Welding Engineer Bronson Shelly described using the new product as "night and day" compared to the manual process.
"When it comes to finding the nooks and crannies of pipeline dents or external corrosion, the EXAscan provides speed and detail far and above the mechanical way of doing things," said Alex Gutierrez, a supervisor with PG&E's Applied Technology Services division.
The device has already proven useful at PG&E. In spring 2012, a crew in the East Bay used it to check the status of a gas pipeline when the weight of a construction crane caused an underground water main to break. The crew did an ovality check—a process that ensures the pipeline is at least 97 percent of being perfectly round—on a nearby gas pipeline to confirm that it did not sustain damage. In that case, the scanner found no concerns with the pipeline's shape, thereby assuring its integrity.
The EXAscan's capabilities extend beyond gas operations into PG&E's electric operations and electric supply. The device helped PG&E's hydroelectric engineers perform a stress test to ensure the structural integrity of newly repaired rotors at Helms Pumped Storage Plant in the Sierra National Forest.
The EXAscan technology will work in conjunction with other pipeline safety tools to help PG&E test, repair and replace segments of pipeline as needed throughout PG&E's service area, as set forth in PG&E's Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan (PSEP).
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit: http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/ and www.pgecurrents.com.
SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

subset: commoncrawl


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"The time is at hand this year to bring comprehensive, high quality health care within the reach of every American. I shall propose a sweeping new program that will assure comprehensive health insurance protection to millions of Americans who cannot now obtain it or afford it, with vastly improved protection against catastrophic illnesses."
Barack Obama in 2009?
Hillary Clinton 1994?
Ted Kennedy 1969?
That was actually Richard Nixon in 1974 proposing a national health care plan that looks, in some key respects, like the American Affordable Care Act of 2009.
The more recent plan has been nicknamed "ObamaCare" and is adored by some, despised by many others, and sometimes labeled as either a socialist, Marxist or communist idea, with, of course, a few Nazi references for good measure.
That would no doubt surprise Nixon, who fought in World War II and was one of the most ardent Cold Warriors of his era.
It's really not news that the Republican Party has traveled some distance from the sort of plan Nixon once suggested.
But it is interesting to read Nixon's speech and see how we are dealing with the same problems in 2012 as we faced in 1974.
Only some have greatly worsened.
Nixon, in his address to Congress, said medical care had become prohibitively expensive in '74.
For instance, he said, the average one-day stay in a U.S. hospital had risen to more than $110 a day.
If medical costs had risen at the same rate as general inflation since then, a one-day stay in the hospital would now cost about $500.
If only. The average one-day hospital stay in the U.S. was $2,025 in 2010 and was even more in Maine: $2,117. That's a 1,825 percent increase since 1974.
On the other hand, our incomes have also increased over that time.
Well, let's take a look: The average household income in 1974 was $11,197. That would need to be $51,089 in 2011 to have the same purchasing power.
Unfortunately, average household income was only $49,445 in 2011, so we have lost a little ground while the cost of a hospital stay has increased nearly 20 fold.
Nixon pointed out two major problems with health care delivery in 1974.
First, he said 25 million Americans had no insurance at all and, often, the very people "who need it the most are most unlikely to obtain it."
Nixon pointed out that many of those people actually work, but earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid. Others were "high-risk cases" who could not obtain insurance at any price, according to Nixon.
Second, the 37th president said many people have insurance, but that it was not "comprehensive and fully protective."
He told Congress, "These gaps in health protection can have tragic consequences. They can cause people to delay seeking medical attention until it is too late. Then a medical crisis ensues, followed by huge medical bills or worse. Delays in treatment can end in death or lifelong disability."
Nixon, apparently, did not see emergency room care filling this gap.
He laid out a three-part national health program:
First, he recognized that most Americans would continue to be covered through their employers.
Second, he suggested an "Assisted Health Insurance" program to cover low-income people who were not covered by their employers. The federal and state governments would help these people buy insurance.
Finally, he suggested an "improved Medicare Plan" covering those 65 and over.
And get this, Nixon said every American "would receive a Health-card. . . . This card, similar to a credit card, would be honored by hospitals, nursing homes, emergency rooms, doctors and clinics across the U.S."
Bills incurred on the card would be forwarded to the insurer, which sounds remarkably like how some European systems operate today.
And what would this cost? Nixon predicted the average family would pay about $150 a year for health insurance, while the employer would pay approximately $450.
But here's the real kicker to this story. At the insistence of fellow Democrats and labor unions, Sen. Ted Kennedy decided to oppose anything short of a single-payer health care system.
Feeling Nixon to be doomed by Watergate, they wanted to wait until Democrats took office and could impose their own plan.
The ultimate irony is that it took Democrats 35 years to accept what their foe, Richard Nixon, first offered so long ago.
Now that's a long way for a party to travel.
Sun Journal, Lewiston (Nov. 21)


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Do you have any evidence or proof for that?
LifeafterDeath did not say that all skeptics were this way but that some skeptics were this way, i think you went slightly over the top in your reaction to it. And LifeafterDeath is correct some skeptics can be very narrow or one minded but not all of them
Sorry couldn't resist!
To Moonie
I will send you a skeptic in the post ok? lol, do your own scientific tests


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Dec 2, 2013 at 6:06 pm
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A late fall storm sweeping into Minnesota was making for messy roads.
The Minnesota State Patrol reports one person died in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 near St. Cloud Monday. The St. Cloud Times reports westbound I-94 was blocked.
In northeastern Minnesota, the storm had dumped 2 to 4 inches of snow by 4:30 p.m. The Duluth News Tribune reports about 3 inches had fallen in the Duluth-Superior, Cloquet and Carlton areas and 5 inches of more in parts of Itasca County.
A second, heavier round of snow is expected Tuesday into Tuesday night.
When it's done Wednesday, snowfall may reach 10 to 15 inches for the Twin Ports and across northeastern Minnesota. Northwestern Wisconsin may see 8 to 12 inches.
Lows should fall well below zero Thursday night.
Sports Director
Temp: 7°F (-14°C)
Dewpoint: 3
Wind: 6 SW
Weather: Clear


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Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea and Tick Citrus Dog Shampoo(1298030)
Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea and Tick Citrus Dog Shampoo- This shampoo is specially formulated to kill fleas and ticks on dogs that are 12 weeks or older.18 fl oz bottle.
Hartz UltraGuard Rid Flea and Tick Citrus Dog Shampoo- Keep your dog clean healthy by killing fleas and ticks with the UltraGuard Rid shampoo. Not only will it keep your dog healthy and clean, but this shampoo has a wonderful citrus smell. This shampoo should only be used on dogs that are older than 12 weeks.
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Sat, 13 November 2010 at 3:20 am
Why Are British Celebs Donning Red Flower Pins?
They're on the red carpets and worn by stars like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. So what exactly are those red pins?
Turns out they're red poppies and not necessarily the latest fashion accessory!
Instead, it's tradition to wear the pins to commemorate Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day as it's known in the United States) in Britain, Canada, Australia, and other countries with ties to Queen Elizabeth.
Check out other celebs like Cheryl Cole, Ben Barnes, and J.K. Rowling proudly wearing the pins!
Just Jared on Facebook
Credit: Dave Hogan, Stuart Wilson, Gareth Cattermole; Photos: Getty Posted to: Ben Barnes, Cheryl Cole, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, JK Rowling, Rupert Grint
Sponsored Links by ZergNet


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Spend just another £200 (ex VAT) to qualify for FREE delivery on this order!
Merry magic is a collection of contemporary Christmas papers and embellishments. Packed full of fun festive designs in a pretty colour palette to make any craft project stand out.
Paint your own Christmas candle holder; comes with paintbrush and 5 ceramic paints. Great stocking Fillers
Great for little hands with big imaginations the
Dovecraft Christmas Paint Your Own range has everything you will need to create
fun festive decorations.
Available w/c 2nd September 2013


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2012 Porsche Cayman Values
Select a 2012 Porsche Cayman trim level
2012 model year changes
For 2012, the Cayman gets a new very limited-edition high-performance Black Edition that is light-weight, slightly more powerful and top-to-bottom black-trimmed. A new Cayman R debuts for 2012 as well. Its 10 horses more powerful than the Cayman S as well as 121 lbs lighter.
Competitive comparison
Blistering, track-ready performance; excellent handling; lavish interior appointments; high-tech safety and convenience options
Special features for 2012
The Cayman may not be the top of the performance ladder. Porsche itself makes much more powerful cars, but with a base price of $52,000, the Cayman's mid-engine design and powerful 2.9L 6-cylinder means it may be the best performance bargain out there from one of the best performance automakers out there.
The 2012 Porsche Cayman is a mid-engine, RWD, sports coupe that is powered by a 2.9-liter flat-6 engine that produces 265 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. Upgrading to the S trim grants the driver 3.4-liter flat-6 engine that produces 320 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. For an even greater boost in performance Porsche offers a R trim level that loses unnecessary weight and tweaks the same engine on the S trim to raise performance to 330 hp, for a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds. New for 2012 is the Cayman S Black Edition which yields the same specs as the Cayman R trim but coats the vehicle's interior and exterior in a black finish. All Cayman models are RWD and come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission but can be upgraded to a 7-speed PDK transmission. Fuel mileage falls within an EPA estimated range of 19 mpg city to 29 mpg highway, depending on engine and transmission selection. Features include navigation, Bluetooth® connectivity, surround sound-system, park assist, and universal audio interface. Safety features are comprised of a two-stage airbag system, advanced braking system, stability management, and anti-theft protection. The Cayman is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty.


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Remember all that talk in early July about how things would be different when Carlos Beltran returned from the disabled list.
Getting Beltran back was like making a trade for another bat and it would only help the Mets and possibly spark them into making a run.
Some rust was to be expected, but nothing like this. Beltran isn't hitting, he's a step or two slow in the outfield, and his presence has forced Angel Pagan to play out of position.
Based on the numbers, both Beltran's and the team's W-L record, it appears the Mets pushed his return too soon. And, batting clean-up and playing center was a definite mistake.
But, he's going to keep playing. That won't change. Hopefully, he might play well enough for a team to make a waiver deal for him, although with $18.5 million remaining it's a longshot anybody would claim him.
The Mets, of course, have to test those water to see what interest is out there if any. Thinking practically, nobody would trade for Beltran with that contract and injury history, leaving one more year of this for the Mets next season. Beltran's value to the Mets lies in the potential of his recovery, of which there's been little positive signs.
Assuming this is the end of the line for Beltran as a full time productive player let along being a star, then it doesn't bode well for the Mets.
Along with Beltran, the Mets are saddled with contracts of $12 for Oliver Perez and $6 million for Luis Castillo. That's roughly $40 million, or maybe 25 percent of their payroll on non-productive players.
So, it's hard to imagine any substantial additions or spending in the offseason. It's hard to imagine 2011 being much different from 2010.


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This is the transcript of Dr. King's address at the 1962 Hall of Fame Dinner honoring Jackie Robinson in New York City. Dr. King praises Robinson for standing up for civil rights as the first Negro to break Major League Baseball's color barrier.
Digital Archive brought to you
by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Enjoying the Digital Archives? Help us maintain and expand the collection. Donate to The King Center


text:
20 Sep 2010 06:10:35 AM
Chael Sonnen PED Update #1: 'Natural Steroids', Dana White's Response + More
(Chael's growing bacne problem: the smoking gun? Or were the mats just not washed after Lindland used them? Image courtesy of CageWriter.)
A few notable points that have emerged since yesterday's bombshell that Chael Sonnen tested positive for performance enhancing drugs following UFC 117…
– According to the L.A. Times' Lance Pugmire, Sonnen tested positive for a "natural steroid" before his fight with Anderson Silva. Natural steroids, such as androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone, aren't chemically altered like synthetic steroids, and can be sold over-the-counter as supplements at health food stores.
– Sonnen is facing a year-long suspension and a $2,500 fine, which he has 30 days to appeal. According to California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer George Dodd, Sonnen's positive test emerged from a urine sample he gave before the fight that was processed through the UCLA Olympic drug-testing lab.


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Certain property keys in the J2EE agent AMAgent.properties configuration file can be configured for specific applications. Therefore, the agent can use different values of the same property for different applications as defined in the configuration file. Properties that are not configured for specific applications apply to all the applications on that deployment container. Such properties are called global properties. An application specific property has the following format:
The configuration key (name of the configuration property)
The application name to which this configuration belongs. The application name is the context path of the application without the leading forward slash character. In case when the application has been deployed at the root-context of the server, the application name should be specified as DefaultWebApp.
The value used by the agent to protect the application identified by the given application name
When an application specific configuration is not present, the agent uses different mechanisms to identify a default value. Configurations are possible where the default value is used as the value specified for the same key without any application specific suffix [<appname>]. The following settings for a single property serve as an example:
com.sun.identity.agents.config.example[Portal] = value1 com.sun.identity.agents.config.example[DefaultWebApp] = value2 com.sun.identity.agents.config.example = value3
The preceding example illustrates that for applications other than the ones deployed on the root context and the context /Portal, the value of the property defaults to value3.
Application Specific configuration properties must follow the rules and syntax of the map construct of configuration entries.
com.sun.identity.agents.config.example[Portal] = value1 com.sun.identity.agents.config.example[BankApp] = value2 com.sun.identity.agents.config.example[DefaultWebApp] = value3


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Police say an 18-year-old man was shot in the leg on Plymouth Avenue early Friday morning.
FALL RIVER — An 18-year-old man was shot in the left leg early Friday morning on Plymouth Avenue, police reported.
The victim was transported to Rhode Island Hospital. His wound was not life-threatening, Detective JD Costa said.
The victim and a friend were walking in a residential driveway on the 700 block of Plymouth Avenue when the shooting occurred. Costa declined to disclose the circumstances of the shooting, citing the "active investigation."
Officer Joseph Reed responded to a 911 call at 12:10 a.m. on Friday. When Reed arrived at the residence, the victim walked out of the house and told Reed he had been shot in the lower left leg, Costa said.
Additional police officers and the Fall River Police Department Crime Scene Unit responded to the area and collected evidence, including spent shell casings, Costa said.
Detectives are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call the Fall River Police Department Major Crimes Division at 508-324-2796, or the department's anonymous tip line at 508-672-TIPS.


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Due to a severe clash of personalities and wildly divergent goals and priorities for Brackenwood, the working relationship deteriorated beyond repair and I made the decision to end the Dashkin project on Oct 24, 2018. At its heart, Brackenwood is the story of the last of his kind; a lone dashkin exploring an empty world. ►►
As you may know, Brackenwood is a 2D animated series created in vector animation software. I started making early Brackenwood in Flash (Adobe Animate) and now in Toon Boom Harmony. Like most cartoon-style 2D, characters are generally outlines filled with colour. The result is often called 'cel-shaded' effect. I've been super excited about the prospect of dynamic ►►
If you're a member of the FX course or an otherwise regular castle visitor, you may have noticed some things have changed in the past few days. An ex-colleague has kindly taken some time aside from his work to help me move the site. As anyone knows, when you roll a huge old castle to a ►►
Most weekends I stream my current projects on Twitch. In December 2016 I conducted a couple of Q&A Toon Boom Harmony demonstrations, aimed at those Flash animators who wanted/tried to learn Toon Boom but never quite clicked. This stream covered almost all the basics, but there are still many features to see. One thing I ►►
"Fatsack" is the first in the Brackenwood Wildlife Documentary Series!
The Brackenwood Patreon continues to grow and real progress is being made on the Last of the Dashkin sequel. Here are two of the physical rewards I've been working on for the Brackenwood patrons. The video below is a short time lapse of the card ink process. I'm using metal Hunt nibs and black Parker Quink.
If you follow me on Newgrounds and social media, you might have seen that Brackenwood is making a return this year. After the cancellation of the Dashkin game and me being promoted at work, Bitey seemed to have no future. In years past, he was so real in my head that I could even have ►►
2009 In December 2009, I released The Last of the Dashkin and promised fans that it wouldn't be another 3 years before the next Brackenwood story. 2010 In November 2010, I messaged Sean McGee to ask if he was interested in working with me on a Brackenwood game. My plan was that the ►►
I recently received an email from a young fella who said he was feeling out of sorts for a direction in life and he asked me about how I got to where I am today. In fact over the years in emails, conversations and interviews, I've answered this many times in different ways so I thought ►►
My book "Animate to Harmony" will teach you three Toon Boom programs in one book: Animate, Animate Pro and Harmony.
My Super Saiyan gif goes viral for the second time, declared by Josh Levin of Slate mag as "The greatest gif in the history of gifs". Also, my book, coming in Sept 2014.
Whether you use Animate, Animate Pro or Harmony, my upcoming Toon Boom book will get you started. It's called "Animate to Harmony: The Independent Animator's Guide to Toon Boom".
The release of Toon Boom Harmony 10.3 brings amazing new blur and turbulent noise effects.
Dashkin, Bob's Burgers and Clear Vision 2
I did lots of things in 2012 and the 2013 schedule is crammed with new stuff. Here's the last gasp before the apocalypse!
Ever get that thing where your finances don't reflect how busy you are? Like somehow the money doesn't seem to justify working your eyes to the bone? Yeah me too. Story of the independent professional in the 21st Century huh? It's a good thing I love what I'm doing, for the most part. Here's ►►
Dashkin was in "development hell" for almost a year. My own excitement and confidence in the game were dissipating. Sean couldn't even look at it without feeling sick because it had grown larger and messier, far beyond what it was originally designed for, with many new features tacked on. The .fla was unstable, slow and ►►


text:
Watch Me - Wall Clock by Normann Copenhagen
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Watch Me is a simplistic and figurative wall clock designed by Rasmus Gottliebsen for Normann Copenhagen. Its simplistic design makes Watch Me stand out as it brings timeless swathes of colour into your room.
Watch Me is inspired by a color swatch, that forms a fan when the colors are folded out. Time passes, whatever we do, but Watch Me adds color to the various times.
Designer Rasmus Gottliebsen explains:
Watch Me isn't about telling you the exact time, but more about an idea of time - a time color. You experience different moods, depending on the minute, hour, day or year. This is a humorous and colorful wall clock that provides the space for you to live life to the full.
Material: Powder coated steel "fans", needs one AA battery (not included)
Dimensions: Ø 28,5 cm
|Rasmus Gottliebsen
|Normann Copenhagen
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The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)A. Elizabeth Jones, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs
Testimony Before the Congressional Helsinki Commission
Washington, DC
September 15, 2004
Senators, Congressmen: I am pleased to be here to discuss the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and its role in furthering U.S. foreign policy objectives. Since we met last September, the OSCE has made a major contribution toward promoting democracy, peace and stability across Europe and Eurasia. The OSCE's successes would not be possible without support from Members of Congress. I want to thank you for your work through the Helsinki Commission and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. They have been key to building a consensus for our shared agenda among the legislatures and publics of the OSCE's 55 participating states. Allow me to congratulate Congressman Hastings on his election as President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. We greatly value his continued activism on OSCE issues and the involvement of the parliamentary assembly in election monitoring and other important work.
I share your enthusiasm for the OSCE and its work. The OSCE's support for Georgia's democratic transition over the past year demonstrates how the OSCE and its field missions contribute to creating a democratic and stable Europe, a key U.S. foreign policy objective. Strong U.S. leadership within the organization has advanced fundamental objectives set forth in the President's National Security Strategy of 2002: to promote security through the development of democratic and market-oriented societies, respect for human rights, and tolerance of religious, national, ethnic and racial diversity.
The OSCE is crafting an ambitious agenda for the future, an agenda the United States supports. With U.S. leadership, the OSCE is doing more to promote human rights and democracy, to expand efforts to combat anti-Semitism and intolerance, and to combat trafficking in persons. This month, the OSCE will send its first election assistance team outside Europe and Eurasia to Afghanistan for that country's historic presidential elections.
Today, I would like to address in detail the OSCE's value to the United States, the OSCE's recent accomplishments and plans for the future, and calls to refocus and restructure the OSCE.
Value of the OSCE for the United States
U.S. participation in the OSCE advances U.S. interests in promoting democracy, strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and advancing arms control, economic prosperity and sustainable environmental policies. The OSCE also has a role to play in helping to win the global war against terrorism, and it is a vehicle for the kind of "effective multilateralism" of which President Bush spoke last November in London. Promoting these interests collectively through the OSCE allows the United States to share both costs and political responsibility with other states and, at the same time, to coordinate actions to avoid duplication and maximize success.
The United States continues to make effective use of the OSCE's flexible and comprehensive approach to security, which recognizes human rights, as well as economic and environmental issues as integral factors in fostering security and stability. Common principles agreed by consensus give the United States and other OSCE participating states shared values and commitments on which to act. The OSCE can bring the weight of 55 nations acting together to bear on problems that no one nation can solve alone. Over the past year, the U.S. has again led the way in proposing practical new issues for the OSCE agenda.
The OSCE has made a significant contribution in the post-Communist era toward achieving America's goal of a free, whole, and peaceful Europe, though much still needs to be done. The OSCE is adapting to new challenges and providing models for addressing tough issues such as intolerance, border management and destruction of Small Arms and Light Weapons, models from which the United Nations and other international organizations draw. At the same time, OSCE resources are modest. Any new initiatives must represent the top priorities of the United States and other participating states.
Assessment of Recent and Future OSCE Activities
The Chairman-in-Office plays a crucial role to the OSCE's success, providing political direction while maintaining the organization's flexibility. In 2003, The Netherlands set a commendable standard for the conduct of the OSCE Chairmanship. This year, the United States is working closely with the Bulgarian Chairman-in-Office. The Bulgarian Chair has worked to implement decisions taken at the Maastricht Ministerial and has been receptive to new ideas -- many proposed by the United States. We are looking forward to seeing these initiatives come to fruition during the Sofia Ministerial in December and to working with the Slovenian Chairmanship in 2005.
Among the OSCE's most important assets are its 17 field missions on the front lines of democracy and human rights from the Balkans to Central Asia. The U.S. strongly supports OSCE field work and believes that the day-to-day efforts of OSCE missions are critical to promoting OSCE commitments, especially democratic values and international human right standards. Field missions work with host governments, non-governmental organizations and the public to promote pluralism, prosperity and peace. Their work is varied and complements the efforts of U.S. and like-minded European embassies. In some countries, OSCE field missions work with authorities to help them build the capacity to govern more effectively (by training new generations of officials), efficiently (by helping plan and implement administrative reforms) and democratically (by helping to develop legislation, conduct elections and encouraging civic participation in the political process). In other countries, OSCE field missions are the linchpins for international efforts at conflict prevention and post-conflict rehabilitation.
Fight Against Intolerance
OSCE's pioneering work in fighting racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance has become the standard by which other organizations' efforts -- including those of the United Nations -- are measured. The OSCE's work on confronting the roots of intolerance, strengthening respect for freedom of religion and speech, and providing an environment free from fear of persecution or prejudice, are top priorities for the U.S.
The Anti-Semitism Conference in Berlin in April was a spectacular success. The political will harnessed by the Berlin Conference should energize trans-Atlantic cooperation in tackling anti-Semitism and lead to fruitful follow-up for years to come. We are indebted to the German Government for hosting the Conference and to the Bulgarian Chairmanship for its strong support. We are equally thankful to those Americans -- the NGO community and Chairman Chris Smith, Congressman Ben Cardin and other Members of Congress -- who, along with Secretary Powell and the U.S. delegation led by Ed Koch, took part in the proceedings. The Berlin Declaration, which stated that international developments or political issues, including those in Israel or elsewhere in the Middle East, never justify anti-Semitism, has become a blueprint for future OSCE efforts to combat anti-Semitism. We look forward to the Declaration and the action plan outlined in the April 22 Permanent Council Decision on Combating Anti-Semitism being endorsed by Foreign Ministers in Sofia.
The Conference on Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, which has just concluded in Brussels, was equally successful in galvanizing political will within the 55 OSCE participating states to step up efforts to strengthen religious freedom and to combat intolerance. A top notch U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson, demonstrated the importance that the United States attaches to this issue. The OSCE demonstrated its commitment to further action by adopting a series of measures that, we hope, will be endorsed at the Sofia Ministerial.
The Paris Meeting on the Relationship between Hate Speech on the Internet and Hate Crime in June offered experts a chance to share views on hate speech. The U.S. delegation, under the leadership of two Assistant Attorneys General, advocated the need to continue to protect freedom of expression and information and, simultaneously, to confront and denounce the ideas of bigots in the marketplace of free ideas. While some delegations differed on government regulation, there were also broad areas of consensus about strengthening education on combating bias-motivated speech and increasing training for investigators and police to address bias-motivated crimes on the Internet.
Next Steps in Combating Intolerance
The Berlin and Brussels conferences and the Paris meeting have laid the foundation for an ambitious, long-term OSCE effort for dealing with the roots of intolerance. At the two conferences, fifty-five nations committed to collect hate crime statistics, share that information with the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), strengthen education to combat intolerance and, consider increasing training for law enforcement and judicial officials on hate crimes legislation. ODIHR has been tasked to track incidents of intolerance and anti-Semitism, report on its findings, and to disseminate best practices for combating acts of intolerance. At the Paris meeting, the U.S. put forward a "Ten-Point Action Plan" that could serve as a basis for combating hate speech on the Internet while protecting freedom of expression and information. We strongly support each of these initiatives and will work to see that they are endorsed at the Sofia Ministerial.
The success of these tolerance initiatives, of course, will depend on their full implementation. There is much to be done: many OSCE participating states do not have hate crime legislation or systems for tracking hate crime, and ODIHR has had to start almost from scratch in developing its new tolerance program. The U.S. believes that ODIHR is the right institution within the OSCE for promoting tolerance. To ensure that anti-Semitism receives the attention that it merits, we are considering whether to support the establishment of a Special Representative for Anti-Semitism. This would be a senior person with a mandate to travel and make recommendations. Our view is that such a Special Representative should be modeled on the OSCE's Special Representative for Central Asia with neither dedicated staff nor salary.
Anti-Trafficking Efforts
As President Bush said before the United Nations General Assembly last September, "There is a special evil in the abuse and exploitation of the most innocent, the most vulnerable of our fellow human beings…. And governments that tolerate this trade are tolerating a form of slavery." I am pleased to report that, in response to the sustained efforts of the Administration and the Helsinki Commission, the OSCE has expanded its efforts in the fight against trafficking in human beings. At last December's Maastricht Ministerial, ministers approved an Action Plan on Trafficking and the creation of a Special Representative of the Chairman-in-Office on Trafficking.
The criminal practice of trafficking is transnational, requiring engagement with foreign governments and NGOs. The responsibility to combat human trafficking lies first and foremost with individual governments. But, no nation can fight this problem alone. The OSCE's pan-European membership and broad range of tools can help build practical transnational cooperation in the fight against trafficking.
The Maastricht Action Plan on combating trafficking in human beings envisions police training, legislative advice, and other assistance, which are already being provided by ODIHR and by the OSCE's 17 field missions. As the new Special Representative for Trafficking and her support unit advance their efforts, we expect they will provide the framework and coordination to expand our combined efforts.
The OSCE has taken the lead in the international community in establishing a strong code of conduct for its mission members to ensure that they do not contribute to trafficking. We are pleased that NATO and other international organizations are looking at OSCE policies as a model to address this as well.
The OSCE has also crafted an economic component to its anti-trafficking action plan. It is directed toward at-risk individuals in source countries and at businesses that might be abused by traffickers (hotels and tour operators exploiting the sex trade). The aim is to reduce demand in destination countries by raising awareness about trafficked laborers and sex industry workers.
Election Observations
This electoral year is a challenging one, even for an organization with as much experience and capability as ODIHR. We commend ODIHR for its excellent and impartial conduct of election observation missions in Georgia, the Russian Federation, Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro. I want to single out ODIHR's Herculean efforts in mobilizing resources and personnel on short notice for two seminal national elections in Georgia. ODIHR assisted with programs to organize presidential and parliamentary elections and to provide robust election observation missions that documented notable progress over previous elections.
ODIHR's election observation methodology, based on sound, standardized criteria applied in an objective fashion, enjoys world respect. Upcoming elections in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus will be key tests of those countries' commitment to democracy. The degree to which these elections are judged to be free and fair will be a critical element for the international community. The ODIHR monitoring missions will play an important role in determining their fairness and we call on all countries in the region to fully support all of ODIHR's election observation and other democracy promoting activities
Afghanistan is an OSCE Partner for Cooperation and has scheduled its historic first presidential elections for October. The U.S. and other OSCE participating states, three of which share a border with Afghanistan, have a direct interest in seeing democracy, peace and stability take root there. We have strongly supported an OSCE observation role in the upcoming Afghan elections to respond to requests from the Afghan authorities and the UN. The U.S. will contribute to the election support team efforts, and hope others will match our financial support for ODIHR election activities.
To set an example of transparency, we have again invited ODIHR to send an election observation mission to the U.S. for the November elections. U.S. invitations to ODIHR to observe our elections are part of a longstanding policy. In 1990, the CSCE, the OSCE's predecessor, held a landmark conference to promote human rights. The U.S. and the participating states agreed at that conference to the Copenhagen Document, which included a commitment to invite observers from other participating states to observe national elections. The U.S. was a major advocate of that commitment, since the Berlin Wall had just fallen and many nations were about to hold their first real elections in decades. OSCE participating states reaffirmed this commitment at the OSCE's 1999 Istanbul Summit.
In accordance with this commitment, the U.S. has set an example by inviting ODIHR to observe several past U.S. elections. We believe that election observers from emerging democracies, like the former Communist states of Eastern Europe, who participate in observation missions in the U.S. and other longstanding democracies become more powerful advocates of better election practices in their own countries. ODIHR has monitored two U.S. elections and other established democracies, including the United Kingdom and France, have also hosted ODIHR election missions. We expect each member country to adhere to these principles.
Conflict Prevention/Resolution and Turkmenistan and Belarus
The OSCE also plays a critical role in the so-called frozen conflicts, as well as in a few states of concern.
Moldova and Transnistria
The OSCE, and in particular the OSCE Mission in Moldova, are working to find long-term solutions to the situation in the breakaway region of Transnistria. The U.S. strongly supports the work of the OSCE in Moldova, which forms part of our own strategy – as well as that of the EU -- for finding a peaceful resolution which respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. The situation in Transnistria has deteriorated significantly. The Tiraspol authorities have prolonged their forcible closure and harassment of Latin-script-language schools. They denied the OSCE Mission freedom of movement and refused to allow the OSCE and UNICEF to deliver supplies to an orphanage.
Through the OSCE, we have strongly condemned these actions, and reiterated our demand that the Transnistrians reopen the schools immediately and restore the normal movement of people and goods. The U.S. and the EU have added more Transnistrian officials directly involved with the Latin-script-language school crisis to our visa bans. Russia's engagement is also critical. We have urged the Russian Government to make more of an effort to use its influence with the Transnistrian leadership.
The United States has urged all sides to work transparently with the OSCE to make concrete progress toward a political settlement. We support proposals for international monitoring of the Transnistrian segment of the Moldova-Ukraine border and for an international conference on the Transnistrian conflict. We have also urged the Russian Federation to resume, in cooperation with the OSCE, its withdrawal of arms and ammunition from the region. None of these steps, and certainly no bilateral efforts by individual nations, can substitute for a genuine commitment by all the mediators and the parties to work within the framework of the five-sided talks facilitated by the OSCE. Only through the close cooperation of the international community, including the OSCE, will we reach such a resolution. Transparency in this process is in everyone's interests.
Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia
The OSCE Mission to Georgia is another example of how the OSCE is contributing to the President's vision for a Europe whole, free and at peace. We welcome the constructive roles played by the OSCE and its field mission there. The United States supports a peaceful resolution of the South Ossetian conflict that respects the territorial integrity of Georgia. Tensions in South Ossetia escalated in August, but ended with a ceasefire and withdrawal of excess Georgian troops. We have called on all sides to respect all existing agreements and to refrain from carrying out any further military activities in or near the zone of conflict. Recent tensions underscore the need for the sides to move forward with OSCE participation toward demilitarization and a political settlement.
Progress toward a political settlement of the Abkhaz conflict is stalled, with the Abkhaz side withdrawing from the negotiating process in July. As we urge the parties to resume progress toward a settlement, we need to use the OSCE mission in Georgia to further assist the government and the people to concentrate on democratic institution building and economic reform. We believe that the OSCE Border Monitoring Operation should continue beyond the expiration of its mandate in December.
Adapted CFE and Fulfillment of Istanbul Commitments
Regarding the Adapted Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe, we welcomed the Russian Duma's ratification as an indication that Russia shares with the United States and NATO Allies a commitment to CFE. However, the most important step Russia could take to move the Adapted CFE Treaty closer to entry into force is fulfillment of its Istanbul commitments on withdrawal of forces from Georgia and Moldova. Almost five years after the OSCE's Istanbul Summit in 1999, Moscow still has not met those commitments. Russia should complete withdrawal of its military forces from Moldova as soon as possible. Russia needs to reach agreement with the Georgian Government on the withdrawal timetable for its remaining forces on Georgian territory. Only when Russia fulfills its Istanbul commitments will the U.S. and its NATO Allies will be prepared to move forward with ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty.
The March events in Kosovo remind us that the work of the OSCE's largest field mission remains critical to developing the foundation for the democratic, multi-cultural civil society in Kosovo that the United States wants to see. The OSCE is helping Kosovo implement the UN Security Council-endorsed Standards for Kosovo, which are strongly supported by the U.S., and prepare for the mid-2005 Review Date by helping to build democratic institutions and promote human rights. The U.S. has made the conduct of free and fair Kosovo elections this Fall a priority, sending some of our best people to staff OSCE election work there. Participation by all the people of Kosovo – ethnic Albanians, Serbs and all other minorities – will be vital to Kosovo's future. We also continue to support the excellent work of the Kosovo Police Service School. In light of the ongoing security concerns in Kosovo, we envision a further role for the OSCE in police training.
In Turkmenistan, the expulsion of OSCE Head of Mission Ambassador Badescu was a grave disappointment. Ambassador Badescu and her staff have labored under difficult circumstances to try to keep a line to the outside world open for the people of that country and to engage constructively with Turkmen authorities. The OSCE is the only organization in which Turkmenistan is a full member that is present on the ground in Ashgabat offering the government and people opportunities for concrete cooperation to build a democratic future.
In Belarus, we are gravely concerned by the government's intensified campaign that restricts citizens from exercising basic human rights freely, such as the right to assemble, speak and study independently of government control. We welcomed the invitation from Belarusian authorities to observe parliamentary elections this fall, but have made it clear that ODIHR must be given full access in order to render an objective evaluation of any election. Furthermore, given the government of Belarus' persistent violations of human rights and democracy, President Lukashenko's recent decree calling for a referendum to eliminate institutional term limits for the presidency and allow him to run again for president in 2006 raises grave doubts whether the results will freely and fairly reflect the views of the Belarusian people. We reiterate our call upon the Government of Belarus to ensure that the Belarusian people are able to debate, vote and have their votes counted according to international democratic standards on October 17 and thereafter by taking immediate steps to uphold Belarus' international democracy and human rights commitments. We will view any election and referendum that does not meet international democratic standards as another attempt to manipulate democratic procedures and the Belarusian Constitution in contravention of democratic principles.
The U.S. strongly supports the OSCE Office in Minsk in its attempts to help Belarusian authorities meet broader OSCE commitments and non-governmental groups to work for the benefit of the country. While the attitude of authorities toward the OSCE has been disappointing, the OSCE Mission is reaching out to the next generation, helping prepare it to play a responsible role in the future.
OSCE Adaptation to New Economic and Security Challenges
At last December's Maastricht Ministerial, the OSCE adopted a strategy to address threats to security and stability in the 21st century and an economic strategy to define concrete action in the "Post-Post Cold War era." These strategies are examples of the OSCE responding to new economic and political-military security challenges. At the same time, the OSCE has promoted practical cooperation to assist participating states in combating terrorism, improving police and border management, controlling the availability of small arms and light weapons, and coping with the task of securing or destroying excess stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, as well as MANPADs.
Energizing the Economic Dimension
The Economic Strategy Document adopted in Maastricht focuses on steps to improve good governance and transparency to maximize the benefits of economic integration and globalization. This should advance our overall strategy for integration of all European and Eurasian states into the global economy. With the Strategy Document as a tool, OSCE field missions and the Secretariat are developing activities and are working with participating states to continue with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing work.
On the environment, the OSCE has worked with partner organizations to map environmental hot spots and to work regionally to address environmental problems that could cause friction between states. One of the most successful programs took place in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan where, despite political tensions, scientists and others worked productively together. This is an excellent example of the OSCE's ability to bring states together to work on issues of mutual concern, where the exercise itself serves as a confidence building measure.
The United States has worked to have OSCE fill niches in the international community's response to terrorism. The OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit has worked to bring all 55 participating states towards compliance with UN counter-terrorism commitments. There has been major progress by all participating states to ratify and accede to the 12 UN terrorism-related Conventions, as well as on a U.S. initiative to bring "the 55" into compliance with recommendations of the OECD Financial Action Task Force to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing.
The Maastricht Decision on Travel Document Security launched a major OSCE effort that helps U.S. and international efforts to close doors to terrorists. The OSCE's seminar on Travel Document Security was a success in increasing awareness on assistance available to help participating states meet the deadlines for implementing stricter issuance procedures for travel documents and for converting to machine-readable passports.
We were pleased with the Second Annual Security Review Conference. This year's conference both reviewed the implementation of security commitments and considered new ideas. Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Admiral Loy's address to the session laid the groundwork for a series of measures that participating states will, we hope, endorse in the coming months. Admiral Loy urged the OSCE to join the U.S. in making a commitment to share information on lost and stolen passports through Interpol's database, a natural complement to the OSCE Travel Document Security decision adopted in Maastricht. He also proposed that OSCE members take steps to tighten security on container shipments.
Border Management and Security
The work that the OSCE has launched to follow-up to last year's Ohrid Balkan Border Conference, including training for border officials from Balkan countries, is an impressive start to facilitate secure and free flows of people and goods – a key objective of the U.S. Homeland Security Strategy. The United States has strongly encouraged the OSCE to increase its cooperation with other international organizations where it can best provide value-added training and expertise -- a central part of the development of an OSCE border management and security concept. In order to promote coordination, the U.S. took the lead in proposing and defining the parameters for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime-OSCE Border Conference, which took place in Vienna September 7-8. The OSCE does not coordinate assistance, but it can bring together donors to avoid duplication and help to build political support to address border issues among participating states.
Under U.S. leadership, the Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) has played a positive role as an instrument of the Political-Military Dimension of the OSCE. The FSC made a significant step forward in combating terrorism when it adopted stricter export controls on Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) in May. There is much more to be gained as participating states share their experience and best practices on effective implementation of stricter MANPADS controls. The FSC also established principles governing End-Use Certification of small arms and light weapons. Now that work is completed, the FSC is turning to another important initiative – to establishing principles to govern the brokering of small arms and light weapons, an idea that came out of an Economic Dimension seminar on trafficking in arms, demonstrating the value of OSCE's cross-dimensional work. The OSCE's work in this area includes on-the-ground assistance to Belarus under the provisions of the OSCE Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The Cold War left a legacy of excess conventional munitions and weapons, particularly in the countries of the former Soviet Union. The U.S. supports OSCE efforts to destroy these excess stockpiles. The OSCE has already received requests from three participating states for assistance in dealing with excess munitions: Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. The development and execution of these projects represent a major task ahead for the OSCE.
Police training is another area of increased OSCE activity, particularly in Central Asia. The OSCE's objective, which the U.S. supports, is to help individual states put in place training and oversight programs that protect citizens while safeguarding their rights and freedoms. Building on the success of training in the Balkans, the OSCE's Special Police Matters Unit has stepped up its efforts with assessment missions to Central Asia and a proposal on conducting OSCE police training in the Georgian conflict areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Special Police Matters Unit has been active in Kyrgyzstan, where the U.S. has supported the establishment of a police academy. The U.S. supports the work of the Special Police Matters Unit, and we look forward to greater transparency and tighter financial oversight of its fieldwork.
The U.S. supports demand-driven, practical OSCE outreach activities to deepen security cooperation with its partners, whom we encourage to commit voluntarily to implementing OSCE principles and commitments. A first step would be to add substance to the relationship with the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia), perhaps through ad hoc seminars on human rights and democracy. The OSCE's Action Against Terrorism Unit is also working to organize briefings for the Mediterranean Partners, to encourage them to come into compliance voluntarily with OSCE counter-terrorism commitments. The U.S. does not favor creation of an OSCE-like structure in the Middle East. We do support indigenous reform efforts in the broader Middle East through the G-8 and bilaterally, in concert with the EU.
Sofia Ministerial
The Sofia Ministerial will take place in December, and the U.S. is working for a practical agenda focused on our top policy priorities. We hope to reach agreement within the OSCE on further steps to combat anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination, agreement on the role the OSCE can play on gender issues, and additional measures in the fight against terrorism. At Sofia, the U.S. will again strongly urge Russia to fulfill its Istanbul commitments. We expect to adopt an OSCE border concept, and to endorse OSCE work on shipping container security, small arms and light weapons, MANPADS, and the destruction of excess stockpiles of ammunition and weapons.
There is one major problem that we hope to resolve by the time of the Sofia ministerial, namely how the OSCE funds itself. A debate has begun about revision of the OSCE's two scales of assessment. Russia, supported by some countries, is seeking a dramatic reduction in its contributions to the OSCE. In our view, proposals to reduce contributions radically cannot be the basis for the kind of serious discussions that are needed among OSCE participating states. The U.S. stands behind the criteria for adjustment of the scales adopted in 2001 and 2002 – ceilings and floors on contributions based on capacity to pay. All participating states benefit from the OSCE and all use the organization to advance their national interests. The OSCE achieves results at a comparatively modest cost. We hope that other participating states will adopt responsible approaches and negotiate constructively on this issue in order to avert a budget crisis. We note that the OSCE budget process has improved markedly over the past several years. Systems have been put in place to track budget allocations and expenditures more efficiently, providing more transparency and accountability.
The Sofia Ministerial will also consider the appointment of a new Secretary General to succeed Jan Kubis, who has served ably since 1999. The Secretary General plays a critical role in managing the OSCE, and the U.S. is committed to ensuring that his replacement is the best possible candidate. We welcome your suggestions for potential candidates.
Strengthening OSCE to Deal with Challenges Ahead
Bulgarian Chairman-in-Office Passy and others have suggested initiatives to strengthen the OSCE to meet the challenges ahead. Some of these initiatives, such as Foreign Minister Passy's idea to move the annual human rights and economic dimension meetings, are good ideas that the United States supports.
Proposals that the OSCE Secretary General should be changed to give the position more of a political role, however, need careful consideration. The Secretary General manages OSCE operations. Political leadership is vested in the rotating Chairman-in-Office, an arrangement that the U.S. supports. We are concerned that changing the balance between the Secretary General and the Chairman-in-Office could change the fundamental nature of the organization. It is essential to preserve the strengths that have set the OSCE apart from other international organizations. Specifically, the OSCE's flexibility, which the Chairman-in-Office system has done much to enhance by minimizing central control and streamlining bureaucracy, has allowed the organization to respond to problems creatively and effectively.
Russia and the other Commonwealth of Independent States also have called for changes at the OSCE, most notably in a July statement that was highly critical of the OSCE's field operations and ODIHR. We note that the U.S. has supported efforts by Russia and others to strengthen work in the OSCE's economic/environmental and political-security dimensions. For example, the U.S. has worked closely with Russia on crafting the OSCE Strategy to Address Security to Stability in the 21st Century, adopted by ministers at the Maastricht Ministerial. The Economic Strategy adopted at the Maastricht was also a Russian initiative supported by the U.S.
The U.S., however, remains steadfast that the OSCE's core mission is helping to foster democratic change, and that two of the OSCE's greatest strengths are its field missions and ODIHR. By helping strengthen democratic institutions and civil societies, OSCE field presences help to defeat the underlying causes of instability.
The July CIS statement's claim is factually inaccurate that political dialogue on democracy and human rights are internal affairs of the concerned states. The CSCE Moscow Document of 1991 states: "The participating states emphasize that issues relating to human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law are of international concern, as respect for these rights and freedoms constitutes one of the foundations of the international order. They categorically and irrevocably declare that the commitments undertaken in the field of the human dimension of the CSCE are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating states and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned."
The bottom line remains that the OSCE has been a successful vehicle for managing security challenges over the past three decades. Its record of achievements over the past year is impressive, from Georgia election monitoring to the Berlin anti-Semitism conference; from tougher travel document security commitments to a new Special Representative on Trafficking. The year ahead promises to be just as challenging and diverse, from Afghanistan election monitoring to tougher measures to combat intolerance.
The value of the OSCE to achieving U.S. foreign policy objectives is clear. In promoting democratic development and respect for human rights, the OSCE is second to none. On economic development, the OSCE promotes good governance and helps countries put systems in place to fight corruption. On political-military issues such as the fight against terrorism, border security, small arms and light weapons, and excess stockpiles, the OSCE fills crucial niche gaps. It has proven to be an effective diplomatic tool that complements our bilateral diplomatic and assistance efforts throughout Europe and Eurasia.
The OSCE does face new challenges ahead, both in its missions and in its ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The U.S. will continue to work with its partners within the OSCE to advance the shared objectives of the trans-Atlantic community. Thank you.
Released on September 16, 2004


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How to Build a Healthier Dessert
With fat, sugar and calories on the outs, wise manufacturers are building healthy indulgences through clever application of current ingredient and technology trends.
There was never a specific aversion to the idea of a healthful sweet. Consumers merely expect their desserts and confections to deliver on the indulgence factor completely and unequivocally.
Historically, that translated to two main ingredients: fat and sugar. This created nearly insurmountable challenges to manufacturers wanting to create and fulfill demand for healthier versions of cake, ice cream, chocolate bars and other treats meant to reward us after a stressful day or even following the hard labor of polishing off dinner.
Processors today are creating healthful sweets that truly satisfy, and consumers are digging in with gusto. Most approach the challenge from one (or all) of three main directions: reduce portion size, recreate the original masterpiece in lower-calorie form or acknowledge the high-calorie nature of a sweet and strive to give it added value in the form of nutraceutical ingredients that make the extravagance doubly worthwhile.
Danisco Bioactives (www.howaru.com), Madison, Wis., is promoting the last approach. In late August it announced applications for its Howaru probiotic in ice cream. To raise awareness of the product development potential, the ingredient supplier developed three frozen dessert concepts: a peach frozen yogurt, a strawberry cultured ice cream and probiotic-containing vanilla ice cream, all containing an effective dose of Howaru probiotics.
"Although there have been many technical advancements that can aid in delivering delicious desserts, it remains very challenging to swap key ingredients for others with healthier benefits while still delivering on all the taste and texture expectations," says Stephanie Lynch, business development director for the health and wellness, nutritional and pharmaceutical industries at Virginia Dare (www.virginiadare.com), Brooklyn, N.Y. "Some healthy ingredients can introduce off notes in the finished product's flavor that detract from the full enjoyment and taste. The use of masking flavors addresses off notes and ensures a tasty product."
When using what once were "suffer for the health of it" elements such as whole wheat flour, processors today draw on new technologies that bring those thorny ingredients in from the cold.
"One of our biggest challenges is using whole grains, which we like to incorporate into our cookies but which also can impact texture and flavor," says Nicole Dawes, president of Late July Organic Snacks (www.latejuly.com), Barnstable, Mass. "I believe strongly that if you're eating a cookie, you're doing so because you want something indulgent and satisfying. I want to add these kinds of [healthful] ingredients but without affecting that aspect."
Dawes says solving such issues involves "constant R&D -- we're constantly tweaking formulas," she explains. "Being organic, we can't really use any processing 'aids' such as dough conditioners. Our arsenal is much smaller than [manufacturers of] conventional products, so we opt for techniques over additives."
Gum-based ingredients can replace fat in many dessert applications.
Dawes has kept on the crest of healthful indulgence trends through other innovations. Combining her awareness of increased consumer attention to ingredient sources and the welcome science behind healthfulness of dark chocolate, she did something unique: She became her own chocolatier, calling this approach "reverse innovation."
"We make the chocolate first. We created our own blend of pure chocolate, not cocoa and shortening — we use real ingredients." Late July makes a genuine dark chocolate from scratch — cocoa butter, cocoa "liquor" (not the aperitif but the liquid mass from the cocoa nibs), cocoa solids and pure vanilla.
"Dark chocolate has been very popular for us," Dawes says. "It has a loyal and passionate following, and is indulgent and delicious. Yet it also has antioxidants and fiber. In fact, our chocolate cookies have as much dietary fiber as a granola bar, purely from the flour and the dark chocolate."
The skinny on replacers
"Over the past two or three years, we've found ourselves working more on reduced-fat desserts," says Joshua Brooks, vice president of sales and marketing for Gum Technology Corp. (www.gumtech.com), Tucson, Ariz. The company provides ingredients such as Coyote Brand CKX-Fat Replacer to impart desired mouthfeel and texture, which normally would have come from fat. "Besides providing mouthfeel, the system is a very effective moisture binder and therefore reduces staling," he adds.
For dairy applications, Gum Technology designed its Coyote Brand Dairy Fat Replacer, which although similar to its CKX-Fat Replacer as an aid to improve mouthfeel and body, incorporates sodium alginate to prevent weeping in desserts such as low-fat mousses.
Paul Levitan, president/CEO of Galaxy Desserts Inc. (www.galaxydesserts.com), Richmond, Calif., stresses the quality issue is critical when building a low-calorie version of a favorite treat. "Making a dessert healthier must involve using satisfying, high-quality ingredients and processes versus a lot of fillers like air or lower-calorie bulking agents," he says.
"Consumers want to feel satiated after eating a dessert, and when you eat a large bowl of whipped air posing as ice cream, that won't happen," he says. Galaxy provides both ready-made high-end desserts in petit-four size as well as ingredients for processors creating their own decadent fare.
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For our latest Q&A with the organisers of Glastonbury's various fields, areas and venues, we caught up with Nick Dewey and Emily Eavis, the husband and wife team who run The Park.
1. How would you describe your area of the Festival to someone who hasn't visited it before?
A hillside haven of fun!
2. Have you made any changes/additions for this year?
It seems to grow a little bit every year and we strive to make it better so there will be all sorts of interesting new things to look out for. Check out the Crow's Nest up the top of the hill which is kind of like the last outpost, right in the far south-westerly tip of the Festival site, where you'll find all sorts of spontaneous music and camp-fire action.
3. Which of your acts are you most excited about in 2011?
Mmm tricky to single out any individual acts as we're very excited about the whole lot of them, but special mention must go to the Master Musicians of Joujouka who are coming all the way over from Morocco to live and play their ancient trance music and perform rituals all weekend in their tipi up near the Rabbit Hole. Now there is a meeting of minds…
4. Do you have any good food recommendations in and around your area?
There's good food from all round the world in The Park so we'd recommend trying a bit of everything and seeing where you end up. Like a culinary Mr Benn.
5. How/when did you first get involved with the Festival?
I have been here for a while, but Nick and I started The Park together in 2007, which was in at the deep end with a solid five days of rain and a lot of hard work but also some great memories. Africa Express took over the park stage for 7 hours on the Saturday with one of the greatest sets we have seen. Unforgettable. We all get involved in music bookings all year, but Nick's the main booker for the Pyramid Stage and oversees the Other Stage, John Peel and West Holts too. He has been known to pursue things that me and my dad tell him are impossible aims.. like Neil Young for example, who we had been trying to get for a long time, as well as Bruce Springsteen.
6. What's the best thing about running an area at Glastonbury?
The year long creative imaginings, working on ideas and looking for special elements, stuff you've never seen before. And then building the whole thing with a brilliant crew of artists and craftsmen, it's wonderful to be a part of it
7. And what's the worst?
"I need extra passes…" There's never enough!
8. Is there anything outside your area at this year's Festival that you're particularly looking forward to?
As always just taking some time out to explore and wander through the far-flung corners of the Festival. This year we may be spending more time in the midwives tent in the Green Fields.
9. What's the best performance you've ever seen at Glastonbury?
Again, impossible to single one out but Stevie Wonder last year was about as good as it gets. Pure magic all the way
10. Finally, what's your top Glastonbury tip for people coming to the Festival for the first time?
Don't plan too much. There's so much going on across the whole Festival that if you're spending too much time looking in the programme you might miss it!