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Medical Negligence and Litigation
Medical negligence or as its often referred to now as clinical negligence as it covers all types of negligence that effects the well being of a person in its self is quite a broad term. In this article pacifically we are going to look at medical negligence, medical error that happens within a medical environment that causes ill effects up on a person health and how medical negligence is viewed within the UK legal system. It is no secret that medical negligence is on the rise or at least there are more litigation cases, probably due to the fact that recently it has come to light the amount of negligence that has taken place in several hospitals. According to statistics published in 2013 one fifth of the overall NHS budget has been set aside to deal with those that have been victim to medical negligence. A figure of around 22 billion has had to be taken out of the health-care budget during the year 2013 in order to cover legal litigation, this being a huge increase of 22 percent which is strong evidence to the fact that there has been a sharp increase in the amount of claims that are being pursued.
Medical Negligence Claims and the Law
If a patient has a bad or poor experience while receiving medical care or treatment it does not always mean that medical negligence has been committed and this is even more so true when it comes to legal litigation and pursing a claim in court. It is fair to say that a patient can receive poor treatment from a medical care provider but unless such treatment has caused them to suffer further health wise then no claim for medical negligence can be pursed. In order for a victim to make an eligible claim for medical negligence it must be proven that the treatment or care that has been provided by a person who had responsibility for a person's health has provided a service that was of poor care. Furthermore that care provided must have in some way had a direct effect up on the patient's health. Within the boundaries of the law a medical negligence case will only be heard if the victim has suffered, it is not enough just for the standard of service to be poor.
For a case to be able to stand up in a court there must be evidence to show that a person of the same capabilities in a similar situation would not have caused or provided the same type of care. In layman's terms it means that no other health care worker would have caused the negligence that the patient experienced given the same circumstances. In some situations it is not always transparent when negligence has been committed, some victims of Medical Negligence do not suffer the fall out till some time later, or may even ever be aware of the error committed. However, a recent change to the law now means that doctors must admit if a medical mistake has taken place. It is in the effort to prevent cover ups that have in the past meant that many patients have experienced negligence but it has never been brought to light and it has allowed medical staffs to continue to work at a poor standard. Shockingly in the past it was not compulsory for doctors to admit when they had made mistakes therefore many types of medical malpractice was swept under the carpet and as other medical staffs where afraid to tell the appropriate people as they feared being labelled as a whistle blower often medical negligence was not brought to light.
Many critics feel that this statutory Duty of Candour needs to go further as if examined correctly doctors are only admitting to harm that has already materialised, critics believe that any harm whether it has come to the surface or not must be admitted to in order to make a fundamental difference.
Time Limitation Boundaries and Medical Negligence
It is vital to say that in most cases there is a time limitation period and that if claims are not brought in the first three years of the incident happening then they can no longer be pursed. Of course like most things there are exceptions to the rule, as was mentioned previously not all medical mistakes are apparent straight away they may take some time to surface and for this reason a victim of the negligence has three years form discovering the negligence took place to make a claim. If a person is redeemed to have a mental issue then they have three years from the time that they make a full recovery to purse a claim within the courts, if the person is unlikely to make a recovery then there is no limitation and they can make a claim at any time. If a minor is subjected to negligent treatment they have three years from the time they turn eighteen to make a medical negligence claim if they choose to do so.
It is always advised if you believe that you have experienced negligent treatment to seek legal advice as soon as possible while the event is still fresh in a person's mind and the appropriate witnesses and evidence can be obtained. Leaving such a decision for a long period of time can mean that evidence may be lost or witnesses cannot be found as people move around. Most legal law firms that deal with medical negligence now offer free legal advice without entering in to any legal litigation to people who believe that they have a case for medical negligence. Appointing a solicitor who specialises in the area of medical negligence that a person has experienced is always crucial in order to receive maximum results. Many are always in doubt as to whether to pursue a claim for medical negligence as they fear it is can be a complex case however with the right legal team behind them much of the work is carried out by them and little input from the client is needed.
Women's Health Asthma & Heart Attach Signs
The field of medicine has advanced at a phenomenal rate in the recent years and that has led to some of the most amazing discoveries that mankind has ever seen in the field of medicine. We are learning more and more about our anatomy every passing day and with each new research, we are taking a step towards a future where we can ensure that all human beings live a long and healthy life, free from all the problems that we are currently facing. The role of both men and women in that development is equally important and at the same time, each of them has their own unique abilities and subsequent responsibilities. Talking about women, it is extremely important to make sure that every effort is being made to ensure their safety and good health since they play a very important role in several parts of the society. Given the fact that women are the ones responsible for bringing children into the world after a long and laborious several months, providing them with the best medical care will only ensure a bright and healthy future for the mankind itself. To find out what the latest developments are in the field of medicine regarding women's health, keep reading.
Teen girls from rural areas highly prone to undiagnosed asthma
In a recent study that was focused on finding out the spread of asthma in teenagers, researchers found that teenage girls who lived in rural areas were much more likely to have cases of undiagnosed asthma in them as compared to the male teenagers living in similar conditions. The research also found out that these teenage girls were also at a greater risk of developing depression. There has been a lot of speculation on why the number of undiagnosed cases was more in girls as compared to boys and Dr. Jana Bush believes it may be because of the fact that boys usually catch it in physical activity and get identified whereas girls happen to catch it due to emotional reasons like anxiety. However, this is still speculation and a lot of further research needs to be conducted before a probable cause can be identified. The most staggering part of the research however was the rate of depression that was associated with asthma and the numbers gathered during the study showed that the depression rate surpassed that of several other much more serious problems like diabetes and even that of cancer survivors.
Young women ignore heart attach signs
In a recent study, there has been a new discovery that could be the answer to why women of a particular age group are having much more heart attacks as compared to men. The age group in question is 30-55 and according to the research which was conducted researchers by Yale, the women are more likely to ignore early warning signs of heart attack by thinking they may be occurring due to some other reason. The study involved interviewing women between 30 and 55 years of age and the results showed that women frequently ignored signs like dizziness and pain. The research strongly suggested that there is an immediate need to educate women at an early stage in identifying what the trigger points are and then being able to spot them in case they occur to anyone during the coming years of their lives. The study also strongly suggested towards the need of change in the attitude towards the problem in order to avoid any unnecessary complications including heart attacks.
Autoimmunity and exposure to mercury
Autoimmunity is a disease that occurs mostly in women where the body starts to produce antibodies that are against the body's own tissues and that can cause serious health problems. According to a recent study, the key factor that may be inducing the risk of the onslaught of this problem is exposure to mercury. The exposure can happen in a number of different ways as suggested by the research e.g. through seafood. It was found that even at levels of exposure that are considered to be safe for the body, there were developments of autoimmunity cases in women. The thing that makes it difficult to address this issue is the fact that very little factual knowledge is available about the development of autoimmune disorder and therefore doing solid progress is extremely difficult. However, after this research, scientists have given a lot of stress that women, especially those in childbearing age should keep a proper track of their seafood consumption.
To find out more about issues and developments related to women's health, you can visit this www.womenshealth.gov/news.
Curing Cancer With Grapheme & Why Cola Can Increase Cancer Risk?
The world of medicine has been seeing some of the most amazing advancements in the recent years and one field that has always had the most attention when it comes to curing diseases is cancer. The research for cancer is an on going effort that is being carried out by multiple institutes around the world, each one trying to find newer and more advanced and effective ways of treatment. The end result is a whole stream of researchers that are thinking in every possible direction to combat the different types of cancer that we have discovered over the years. However, the thing that is really important for us is to know what these researchers have been up to and what are the latest findings regarding cancer so that we may be more aware about the possibilities. To help you with that, we will share some of the most important cancer related news here so that you can be well informed about the top stories in the fight against cancer.
Curing cancer with graphene
The technological advancements that cancer research has brought to us are simply amazing and in a recent study, scientists have taken a rather huge leap by researching the possibilities of effective cure techniques using nanotechnology. Graphene, which is a nanomaterial made out of ultrathin carbon flakes that have a thickness of just one atom, it seems as the latest weapon against removing cancer cells from the body. The traditional method of treatment for cancer which is chemotherapy was able to wipe out nearly all the cancer cells from the body but what it wasn't able to do was remove the cancer stem cells completely which are the root of the production of different cancer cells in the body. With graphene it seems that the scientists have finally found a way in as this thin layer can block the stem cells from reproduction by attaching itself to their cell membrane. The results were quite amazing but the scientists say there is a lot of work to be done before graphene can be used in actual clinical trials.
Gene key in pancreatic cancer identified
Pancreatic cancer is probably the ugliest of all types of cancer and it can have a drastically negative impact on the patient. While doctors have been treating it just like other types of cancer, removing it completely hasn't really been possible due to the lack of knowledge about its root and spreading mechanism. However, in a recent publication of a study in the Nature Communications, it has been reported that the gene that is directly related to the spreading of pancreatic cancer has finally been identified. The gene in question here is the protein kinase D1 (PKD1) and it has been found that this gene helps in both the development and the spreading of pancreatic cancer in the body. Equipped with this new knowledge, the scientists are quite positive about finally being able to work on a way to eradicate this problem completely. To provide further help with the study of this new development, a 3D computer model has also been created that shows the virtual development of the whole problem. Equipped with this knowledge, the scientists are quite positive that they can now derive a solution that can either block or treat the development of cancer.
Increased cancer risk from daily cola consumption
The consumption of cola is something that has been spreading an air of panic in the medical circles for a very long time now and the negative impacts that it has on health are no secret. We are quite familiar with the direct relationship that consuming cola has with the onslaught of obesity and several other serious problems as well. However, in a recent study conducted in the United States, solid evidence has been revealed that shows how the consumption of cola can also lead to an increase risk of cancer. The study showed that drinks that involved the use of caramel colouring in their manufacturing led to the production of a carcinogen termed 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) and consuming drinks that involve the use of caramel colouring like cola can lead to the production of 4-MEI to a level that can potentially cause cancer. More than 110 brands were tested and it was also mentioned that consuming these drinks can take the exposure to 4-MEI to an amount greater than 29 mcg, the point above which the onslaught of cancer is triggered for every 1 in 100,000 people.
To find out more about what's the latest in the field of cancer, you can visit this
Alternative Medicine
The world of medicine is extremely fascinating and taking a deep look into the achievements that we have made over the years makes us realise how far we have come. However, this fast growth is actually quite necessary to keep up with the way new diseases are spreading around us and only a non-stop effort can make sure we are not overtaken at any point. While all this and the countless technological advancements in medicine may be something that would keep us fascinated for a long time, we also need to be reminded that there is nothing more powerful than the nature itself. In the recent years, experts in the field of medicine have started to delve into something that has been around for a much longer time than modern medicine and it is the field of alternative medicine. Using formulae derived from nature and using them to cure problems that we thought were otherwise untreatable is a big marvel in itself. Finding out about the developments in this field and using it to our advantage is something that we should really be keen about and to help you with that we are sharing some of the latest developments in the field of alternative medicine so keep reading to find out more.
Green tea may protect from supplement toxicity
The use of supplements made from the extract of green tea have become extremely popular in recent days and while it may be a natural way of losing weight the researchers are quite concerned about its impact on the liver. In a recent study it was found that the people who used these supplements were taking the level of toxicity to in the liver to very high levels that could result in serious damage. However, another study has also been conducted that was focused on finding the impact of using green tea prior to taking the supplements and the impact it could have on the situation. Surprisingly enough, the people who took green tea showed highly reduced levels of toxicity as compared to those who did not. The test was initially conducted on mice and results showed an amazing 75% reduction in the toxicity level. However, the researchers also went on to say that the use of supplements was not exactly a good idea to begin with and those who consumed only green tea instead of supplements could also gain the same benefits without providing any toxicity to the liver at all. The supplements are said to contain the same effect that one would have if they drink up to 20 cups of green tea in a day which is impossible. This gives a clear indication as to how using the supplements would develop the toxicity.
Treating oral cancer with green tea
The benefits of using green tea are simply mind boggling and the more research that is being done on this topic the more potential is being unlocked. In a recent study, scientists have found that green tea has a particular compound in it that can actually lead to the removal of oral cancer completely. This compound named epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG is basically able to damage the mitochondria of the cells and that triggers a complete cycle that eventually leads to the death of cancer cells. The researchers said that the traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy generally targeted all fast growing cells and that led to several side effects. With this new breakthrough, it is possible to treat cancer without having any side effects whatsoever.
Hospital-based exercise programs for arthritis patients
In a recent study, scientists have found evidence that involving patients of arthritis in exercise programs that are based in the hospital can have a really good impact on their overall physical condition. The study was conducted by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and the results of the study were quite amazing. A huge number of patients that were a part of the program not only showed improvements in their physical condition, they also showed a noticeable amount of flexibility while performing routine tasks. The medical tests that were taken after the exercise also showed clear signs of improvement in their musculoskeletal health and it was concluded that these practices were having a very positive impact on the patients. The researchers highly recommended that hospitals develop such programs to facilitate the patients in improving their conditions and also said that HSS will continue to provide this service to all its patients in the future.
You can find out more about alternative medicine and the developments in the NOAH-Health.org Alternative News page.
Making Hospital Digital & Longest Operations For Conjoined Babies
The field of medicine carries more importance than any other field of life and the reason for that is pretty simple. It is the fact that everything that is done in it is related to the sustenance of the human life and nothing carries more important than that. In that perspective, the most important part of the field of medicine is the place where it is practised and that is the hospitals. What goes on in our hospitals and what role they are playing in combating the many deadly diseases that are all around us, is a question that holds a lot of importance. Therefore, it is our responsibility to keep ourselves well informed about the things related to hospitals and the purpose of that is to make sure that we benefit from them to the max. To help you out with keeping yourself well informed with regard to hospitals, we are sharing with you some of the most important news related to hospitals. Keep reading to find out more.
Making hospitals digital
The use of technology in the field of medicine has had a tremendous amount of positive impacts and in recent times, there has been a new development that seems to be taking it to a whole new level. The Humber River Regional Hospital in Toronto is breaking ground for a whole new institution that will be seeing much more technologically advanced environment than you would find in a traditional hospital. The focus of this new hospital is to provide patient-centred care to every individual that comes to this new hospital for treatment. The whole idea behind this is to use technology for creating an environment that is capable of performing integrated communication between the patient, the staff and the relatives of the patient. The introduction of digitised systems in areas that are related to quality assurance will mean a much more efficient and greener delivery of service. Patients will experience the maximum amount of comfort, privacy and security in this new institution and as a result, this hospital will be the first of its kind in all of northern America.
Texas hospital performs "marathon" operation to separate conjoined babies
One of the longest operations ever conducted of its kind, this operation has achieved the improbable in an impossible amount of time. The surgeons at the Texas Foetal Centre at the Children's hospital were already preparing for the long upcoming procedure when they found out after multiple ultrasounds that the two babies were sharing a chest wall. Preparations were also made to ensure a safe delivery and soon after the birth, the two girls, Knatalye and Adeline were taken for the surgery. The surgeons worked with Knatalye for 23 hours and with Adeline for 26 hours before they were both declared safe. The separation happened after 18 hours had already passed. The two teams of surgeons who worked on the babies said that the babies also shared organs and due to that, there will be a need for further surgeries too after they have recovered fully. This is the first successful surgery of its kind and the parents of the girls were extremely thankful to all the staff involved in the surgery.
Patient regains sight after 10 years
The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota achieved a whole new level in eye surgery when recently they operated a 68 year old man and gave him a bionic eye implant. The second implant that was placed into his right eye had an electronic chip with it too which together with the implant is capable of bypassing the damaged retina and send light wave signals to his optic nerve. The patient whose name is Mr. Allen Zderared started losing his sight about two decades ago due to retinitis, an incurable eye disease and by 2005 his sight was completely gone due to which he also had to stop working. After the implant, the scenes were quite emotional as the man started to see again after such a long time and hugged his wife who he recognized after all this time in blindness. The doctors also praised Mr. Allen as a very courageous and remarkable man who kept on going through all those years and dealt so bravely with his disability. The process of restoration is slow but steady and now Mr. Allen can make out shapes and recognise himself in the mirror. Seeing this amazing feat of medical science shows how far we have come and what we are capable of and it also opens doors for new possibilities in terms of medical research.
You can read more publications provided by the UK department of health by visiting this Link
Medical Negligence Statistics & Medicine Mistakes
The field of medicine is not like any other field of study. The work that is performed here has a direct impact on our lives and this is why there is a need to have very strict rules in the code of conduct for every medical institute. This includes hospitals, medical training institutes and other academic and practical entities. In most of the places, you will find that there actually are good and strict codes of conduct in place that ensure a responsible working environment in all aspects. However, not everyone acts the way they should and there are often incidents reported that involve malpractice and medical negligence. While most of the times it is not directly related to any person or patient, there are even cases where the lack of diligence results in the loss of lives. While addressing these issues is extremely important in every part of the world, it is also just as important that we are well aware of the problems that are occurring around us in this regard. Keeping yourself informed about these incidents is actually important if you want to make sure you don't find yourself in a bad situation. To help you with that, we will be sharing some of the latest news regarding medical negligence here so keep reading to find out more.
Medical Negligence statistics on a rise
In a recent study carried out researchers at Johns Hopkins, it has been discovered that the number of medical negligence cases in the UK & US have been rising quite rapidly in the recent years. In an issue of 2013 of BMJ Quality and Safety, they mentioned that errors caused by doctors in diagnosis resulted in deaths that numbered from 80,000 to 160,000. The research also found that over the past 25 years, there have been more than 350,000 claims for medical negligence and the result of this was severe health problems to patients and subsequently a massive payout. The study found that between the years 1986 and 2010, patients were compensated with a total amount of 38.8 billion, most of which was related to diagnostic errors. While the sum is itself quite huge, the real concern here is the fact that the issue is continuing to grow and there is no proper mechanism in place to ensure that such negligence is avoided at all cost.
Jury awards 1.5 million to family of man who committed suicide after using Paxil
Joseph was a 51 year old teacher, basketball coach and father who was prescribed 20mg doses of the antidepressant Paxil which he was taking for 10 years before his suicide in 2009. The doctor did not even once see the Joseph in person during all this time to assess the effects that the drug was having on him and every time Joseph needed pills he would call the doctor and would get a new subscription without any follow up check-ups. Doing so was completely unethical both morally and in terms of medical regulations and it kept on going regardless. Things suddenly got worse in the August of 2009 and when Joseph asked the doctor for a check-up, he simply doubled his dosage instead and also included Zyprexa in his medication which is an antipsychotic drug. As a result of this, Joseph, an otherwise cheerful and lover person, was found dead in his garage a month later by his wife. The jury fully agreed that the blame was completely on the doctor and the family was awarded 1.4 million in todays money that is the equivalent to £930,000 as compensation for the negligence shown by the doctor. It is a high amount compared to what some medical negligence solicitors can win a clinical negligence case for.
Drug companies easily manipulating doctors
Tests like this have been conducted several times in the past and have brought the same results every time. It is a very common sight to see that a drug that you see on the television suddenly ends up in your doctor's office as well. In a recent test, it was seen that whenever patients went to the doctors and named a certain drug, there was a huge chance that they will be prescribed that drug. A test that was done in the past with Paxil showed the same scenario as the patients, even those who didn't have any depression, when they took the name of Paxil; it became highly probable that they will be prescribed Paxil by the doctor. What it really has shown over and over and even in this recent test is that doctors are becoming less and less careful about their practice and could simply be termed as glorified drug dealers for pharmaceutical companies.
To find out what laws are in place regarding medical negligence, you can visit this Justice.gov.uk.
Pregnancy News Pain Relief & Risk Of Diabetes
Nature has created countless amazing phenomena that continue to dazzle us every day and when it comes to the field of medicine, there is nothing as phenomenal and amazing as pregnancy and childbirth. Understanding the process of human birth and observing its developments is something that everyone should do because as adults, all of us will at some point come into a situation related to this. Considering that, it is important to make sure that we know what's what and then be prepared for every possible scenario. One of the ways you can do that is by keeping yourself abreast with the latest developments in the field of pregnancy and to help you with that, we are sharing some of the latest and most important news regarding pregnancy. Read on to find out more about it.
Pain relief when you want it
The most difficult part of pregnancy is obviously the delivery and it is important that this process go as smoothly as possible in order to ensure a healthy child birth. One of the things that are used to help women in this situation is epidurals and so far there was a strict guideline as to when a woman should be allowed to use it. However, in a recent study, this restriction has been effectively trumped as scientists show that there are no negative impacts of using epidurals when the pregnant women ask for it, even if it is outside the prescribed time-frame. The study showed that the use of epidurals was in no way prolonging labour meaningfully and that there was no negative impact whatsoever of using it. The scientists involved said that the best way of approaching this situation is to provide epidural to the pregnant woman when she asks for it because she knows the best about her situation, making it the right approach. This means that if you are pregnant and in pain, you should not shy out and ask for the epidural whenever you feel that you want it.
Tobacco smoking parents and risk of diabetes to the foetus
In a recent study conducted at the University of California Davis, researchers have found a direct link between tobacco smoking parents and an increased chance of diabetes in the foetus. The study looked into about 1800 daughters whose mothers had participated in the study which is part of an on going project of Public Health Institute. According to the findings, the children who were born to parents, particularly mothers who smoked tobacco were three times more at a risk of contracting diabetes in the later years of their life. There were several other studies conducted too in the same parameters and the results showed a greater chance of obesity and underweight birth too. In addition to that, the parents were also made to realise that not only are they risking the lives of their own children, they themselves could also end up having diabetes, even if they were lean and fit.
Lower levels of arsenic in breastfed babies
Arsenic is one of the most dangerous elements to consume as it can lead to the development of very serious diseases like cancer and several gastrointestinal disorders. There are several other diseases too that can be caused from a high level of exposure to arsenic. According to a recent study, it has been found that the babies who are not fed breast milk by their mothers carry an amount of arsenic that is 7.5 times more than what is found in breastfed babies. Even in places where the mothers were drinking water with high arsenic content, the level of arsenic that the baby was being exposed to was much lower if it was being breastfed. The study was based on a research that included nine mothers whose ages were between 18 and 45 and thorough testing was done before the results were released. Not only were the arsenic levels so much lower in breastfed babies, the research also found that the babies who were not breastfed often showed immediate improvements in their arsenic levels when breastfed after a long time. It has been found that a major source of this arsenic is from the water that is derived from the wells. The researchers strongly urged that the households that used water from the well should get their water tested for arsenic to determine if it is safe to drink or not. But the one thing that is very clear is that using baby formula is really not the right thing to do at all.
You can find more information regarding pregnancy by visiting this Link.
Men's Health IQ & Medical Risks
The health concerns that are related to men are given a lot of attention and it does not in any way mean that women are being looked into less than men for finding potential problems and solving them. However, since we are talking about men, it is important to understand that men work in a specific manner that has always been there and since there are clear physical and mental differences in men and women, understanding them also requires a different approach. The scientists have been busy studying the evolution of human males for a long time now and in that process they have also been discovering all the present and potential health related issues in men. It doesn't matter if you are a man or a woman because in one way or another, it is important for you to understand the biological discoveries being made in the study of men. Knowing what the recent studies have been discovering in this area can be of great importance to you and to help you with that, we will be sharing some of the most recent and important medical developments in the field. Keep reading to find out more about these developments.
Lower IQ and its relationship with drinking problems
Over the years, countless studies have been conducted to find a link between the level of intelligence in a person and its direct impact on the way they take care of their health. They all came up with the same result and that is that the IQ level of a person didn't have any relationship with him or her making bad health decisions. However, one of the most harmful things to the body, drinking has been researched in relation with the IQ levels in men recently and the results have been quite alarming. The research showed that the lower IQ levels caused adult young men to be more and more attracted to drinking. Several factors were kept in consideration while conducting the study including their backgrounds and other mental and physical factors as well and in most cases, the subjects with low levels of IQ showed a much greater attraction to alcohol as compared to those with higher IQs. What's the most alarming thing though is that these bad choices are also often followed by more extreme choices in later years of life including suicide.
Smoking, loss of Y chromosome and cancer
We are all very familiar with how smoking can lead to an onslaught of cancer and the damage is not limited to just the lungs in a lot of cases. However, in a new study, the researchers have gone towards the root of the problem and have identified something that they already discovered from another angle. The study discovered that smoking also led to a loss of Y chromosomes in men and several earlier studies have already shown how Y chromosome loss is directly linked to the formation of cancer. Another study also showed that as compared to female smokers, it was a much more probable thing in men to develop cancer in places other than their respiratory tract. However, the good news is that the loss is only shown in people who are currently smoking. Even the men who used to smoke heavily but had quit showed the same number of Y chromosomes as those in men who never smoked at all. This means the process of damage is also reversible which very encouraging news for those who are planning to quit.
Pollution and increased suicide risk
In a recent study, there has been a new discovery that has directly linked the increase in the amount of pollution to the chances of suicide. With thousands of people committing suicide every year in the USA alone (40,000), this recent study conducted at the University of Utah has brought forward a major source of concern for everyone. The biggest thing that the study revealed however was that most of the people who committed suicide were actually men and that they had a much higher risk of committing suicide due to pollution as compared to women. However, the research did clearly identify that the increase in the level of risk was not entirely based on short term exposure to pollution but was actually long term and was usually complemented with several other physical and psychological factors too. The researchers have said that they will now be conducting the research much more thoroughly and will be including several other factors too in order to generate accurate statistics which may be helpful in reversing the problem.
If you want to find out more about cancer and how it may be affecting the health of men in general and the latest developments in the field, visit this link.
Medical News New Developments and Treatment
In the current times we have seen a massive increase in the amount of diseases that are sprouting up in every corner of the world. While several of these diseases are ordinary and treatable mutations in the ones we are already familiar with, there are also new problems arising which are causing serious concern. While the scientists and researchers spend millions in researching these problems and finding out solutions, it is important that we are well aware of what these problems are and what the latest developments have been in the field of medicine. To make sure that we play our part, we will be sharing latest developments in a diverse range of issues so that you can keep yourself well informed. Keep reading to find out more.
New development in treatment of Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease is one of the most widely spread diseases in the world with over 10 million people suffering from it. This disease causes a progressive deterioration in the brain cells which are responsible for releasing dopamine, a chemical which plays a key role in the movement mechanism of the body. Several studies have been carried out over the years that showed great promise in terms of treating Parkinson's but so far no proper cure has been developed. However, a new study that was conducted in the University of Bath UK and funded by Parkinson's UK showed it is possible to slow down the damage that is caused by Parkinson's disease. The agent responsible for this is a peptide which they have created and it can stick itself to malfunctioning α- synuclein and prevent them from killing dopamine cells. This development is certainly one of the biggest breakthroughs so far in the research for finding a cure for Parkinson's disease and if successful, could be good news for millions of people all over the world.
Excessive sleep possible cause of stroke
Over the years we have found countless researches that found the negative impacts that sleep deprivation could have over our bodies. The problems that were found included temporary memory impairment, loss of concentration and other serious problems too including heart disease and diabetes. However, in a recent research, it has been found that oversleeping is also not good for us and could lead to serious problems too. The standard set by the National Sleep Foundation for the amount of hours that an adult needs to sleep every day is 7-9. In the study, there were 9692 participants and the mean age was 62 and the result of the study was that anyone who slept for more than 8 hours was facing a drastic increase in the chances of having a stroke. The actual figure for the increase is 46% which is a staggering amount and is certainly a cause of alarm as well. According to follow up studies, the increase in the average amount of sleep a person got was itself usable as a warning sign that the chances for a stroke were increasing. Given the diversity of the test subjects in the research, it is clear that the issue is real and we must start taking care of it immediately.
New sign discovered for heart failure
The amount of people that suffer from heart failure at some point in their life is unbelievably huge and while the reasons may be extremely diverse, it is still something that we should be concerned about. While the list of things that could lead to heart failure is quite long, there has been a recent addition in the things that would suggest the possibility of heart failure in a person. According to a new research conducted by Mayo Clinic, this new addition to the list is a lack of ability to perform everyday tasks normally. The research was conducted in Rochester and has more than more than 1700 participants who had an average age of 75. The research asked the participants to fill up questionnaires that helped in finding out if they had problems with everyday tasks. 59% of the candidates showed positive signs of problem. Subsequently, the follow up showed that 614 of them actually died within three years and another 910 hospitalized. The statistics clearly showed that it was possible to use this problem as a sign for heart related problems and could even help in avoiding potential loss of lives.
The UK is quite vigilant when it comes to healthcare services and that is particularly true about the government authorities. To find out more about the latest developments in the activities of the department of health you can visit this Link.
Mental Health & Mental Illness
While taking care of our body is an extremely important job and most of us do realise that, one thing that many of us seem to overlook is the fact that the importance of mental health is no less than physical health. The different problems that were are currently facing with regard to mental health nowadays are quite staggering and the number of people who are falling victim to the wide range of mental illnesses is starting to cause serious problems in the society too. With problems that are as small and regular as stress and as serious as schizophrenia affecting people all around us, it is important that we aware ourselves of the things that cause it and more importantly, what is being done to prevent it. Keeping in touch with the way the mental health services are being developed is important to not only know what the field of medicine has achieved but also to see what potential problems we may be facing. This article will be covering some of the most important current news with regard to mental health so keep reading to find out more.
Reduction in mental health services for children in UK
The psychologists all over the UK are starting to show concern regarding the attitude that the health services industry has taken in the recent time regarding the mental health of adolescents and children. According to a recent survey, people are reporting serious downfalls in both the quality and the extent of the service that is made available to them by their health services. The biggest problem that has been reported is the acceptance criteria of the different health services as 71% of the people surveyed said that their service had tightened their criteria of selection. More than half of the people in the survey were also showing concerns about the quality of service they were getting, especially in the case of children who required intensive care. There were several other problems too including no after-hours services for nearly half of the participants of the survey and an absence of certain treatments for half the participants in the last three years. The concern is quite serious and there is a strong need to bring improvements in the quality of services being provided for maintaining mental health.
Suicide and its relation with unemployment
Unemployment is a problem that has been strongly related to a deteriorating mental health and in a recent study conducted by a team from the University of Zurich it has been found that unemployment is the cause of more than 45000 suicides worldwide every year. The data was derived from the mortality database of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and also from the Economic Outlook Database of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The research spanned over four different regions of the world and covered suicides reported from 63 countries. According to the research, the rates have increase significantly in the recent years with an overall increase of 20-30% between 2000 and 2011. What is more alarming is the fact that these statistics make unemployment far deadlier than any problems that one may have faced due to economic crisis. What is truly troubling though is that researchers say that this is just the tip of the iceberg and the overall impact of a lack of economic well-being on mental health is much greater.
Lack of mental health care for prisoners
In a recent research conducted in the University of Texas at Dallas by Dr. Nadine Connell, who is a professor of criminology, it has been found that the mental health care for the prisoners has been deteriorating quite seriously in the recent times. The number of inmates who were suffering from different mental illnesses is quite large and a staggering 25% of all inmates have been diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their life. With only a 10th of the mentally ill inmates receiving proper medication for their problems, the results were quite clear in showing how little was being done to ensure the mental well-being of the inmates. A major reason this lack of proper care is the tight budget that every prison has and the study focuses on the importance of providing proper facilities. Dr. Nadine has clearly stated that providing proper services can not only help in reducing the chances of recidivism but will also as a result ensure a safer and healthier society, both in and outside the prison.
You can do further reading too by visiting this government mental health website to a policy by the UK government regarding mental health.


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Thoughtful troubadour David Berkeley performs at BMAC
BRATTLEBORO -- It's certainly surprising, and maybe even a little disappointing, to find out that singer-songwriter David Berkeley's latest CD, "The Fire In My Head," was recorded in just two days ... like finding out your favorite novel was written in one mad night of typing.
Albums this richly textured, emotionally complex, sonically interesting and artfully produced should take longer to make, right?
But no, in just two days in Jono Manson's studio in Sante Fe, N.M., Berkeley and regular bandmates Bill Titus and Jordan Katz crafted a CD that manages to be soulful, cerebral, expressive and spare, all at the same time.
A Blurt album review called "The Fire In My Head" "So spellbinding. Quiet, contemplative, heartfelt and forlorn, this latest album is building around some of the barest designs imaginable, a sound that requires the listener to lean in and focus."
San Jose Metro wrote "As emotionally disarming as Nick Drake and intellectually fascinating as Andrew Bird, David Berkeley is a standout in the new wave of indie-folk singer-songwriters."
"'The Fire In My Head' is far less produced than any other record. ... It was basically the trio that I tour with. We basically did what we could with the three of us," said Berkeley in a telephone interview Thursday, explaining that the album came together with very few overdubs or extra takes. "I think it sounds pretty true to what we do."
Folks will have a chance to hear for themselves when David Berkeley comes to town on Thursday, Nov. 7, to perform at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center at 7 p.m.
Performing in venues that are not regular stops for singer-songwriters is nothing new for Berkeley, who has frequently performed in bookstores, playing and speaking in support of his book "140 Goats and a Guitar," which he wrote to accompany the songs on the CD "Some Kind of Cure." Both the book and CD were inspired by a year he spent in a tiny Corsican village (his wife is an anthropologist).
And there are even more personal reasons why Berkeley is coming to BMAC. Museum Director Danny Lichtenfeld's sister Rebecca sang on a couple of Berkeley's earlier records. And, Berkeley was a close college friend of Tyler Gibbons of the Marlboro-based husband-and-wife duo Red Heart the Ticker. "I kind of fell in love with everything he was doing," said Berkeley, who even managed Gibbons' band The Humming for a time.
Adding to Berkeley's Brattleboro area cred is the fact that he and his wife got married at Scott Farm in Dummerston.
"Brattleboro is close to my heart," said Berkeley, who is hoping that Gibbons will sit in a few songs at the Nov. 7 concert. Berkeley's regular bandmate Bill Titus is also expected to come along.
"We're going to sing from all our records but certainly songs from 'Fire In My Head'" said Berkeley.
Though he's drawn comparisons to Nick Drake, and words like "melancholy" or "forlorn" are used about him, Berkeley doesn't think he's all that depressing.
"I'm not melancholy in my day-to-day life. I do find the space I write songs in is a more reflective and somber one," he said.
Berkeley balances what might more accurately be described as thoughtful and emotionally rich songs with stories and engaging banter on stage. "I try to counter the introspective nature of my songs with stuff that's lighter and funnier."
It's a combination that should prove successful with hip, literate audiences like the one he'll find in Brattleboro.
More and more, Berkeley is spreading his wings in and deepening his connection to the literary world. His first book of short stories is being edited and pitched for publication, and he's working on songs to accompany the stories. He likes the balance.
"It opens up so many possibilities, when you're not constrained to a three-minute format," he said. "The flipside is how powerful it can be to express something in a song."
Little wonder that reviewers have founded inspiration in the literary world to describe his songs. One even called him "the Gabriel Garcia Marquez of beautiful-voiced troubadours."
Berkeley's literary links go deeper. Fans pointed out to him that New York Times best-selling author Harlan Coben had referenced Berkeley's songs and lyrics in a couple of novels. The two connected, and ultimately Coben requested Berkeley write a song based on his new novel. The result is "Shelter," which appears on "The Fire In My Head."
Tickets to the concert on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m., at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center are $15, $20 at the door, with a discount for BMAC members. For information, call 802-257-0124, ext. 101, or visit www.brattleboromuseum.org.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.

subset: commoncrawl


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Community Heroes Come Out for 'Man of Steel' Screening in Los Angeles
In the spirit of Man of Steel, the new Warner Bros. superhero remake of DC Comics' Superman, VIBE honored everyday "heroes" with an advance IMAX screening to the film. VIBE chose the folks at P.C.I.T.I. Worldwide.
The gang intervention/prevention organization provides "professional violence intervention instruction to men and women who have committed themselves to becoming "Warriors for Peace" in their respective communities." For more information head to here.


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The Run From Bull Run
They were going to whip the Yankees in a month. Then the war was going to be over before by Christmas. One hundred fifty years ago this week, the South and the North went head to head in the first battle of the War Between the States. The southern army named its battles for the nearest town or land mass - the northern army for the nearest creek or river. The armies clashed near the railroad junction at Manassas, Virginia, near the creek named Bull Run. The Yankees were equally confident. High ranking government officials, their wives, and curious spectators traveled by wagons and buggies the short distance from Washington, D.C. to see the Grand Army of the Republic destroy the upstart rebels. When it was over, both sides were suffering. The Confederates had stood their ground, losing many lives and valuable field leaders along the way. The Federals, stunned and unexpectedly overwhelmed, ran most of the way back to the safety of the fortified capital city.
The 8th Georgia Infantry was there that day. Company G of the 8th Georgia was known as the Pulaski Volunteers. The Volunteers officially organized on May 16, 1861, a little more than a month after the war began at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. The company, under the command of Capt. T.D. Lawrence Ryan, was composed primarily of men from Pulaski, Telfair, and Laurens Counties. One of the most intriguing members of the Volunteers was James Argo. Argo was born in 1796 and fought for his country in the War of 1812. He joined the Volunteers at the age of sixty five and served until the close of the war. Laurens County's sole company, the Blackshear Guards, had not yet been fully enaged
into Confederate service in Virginia.
A week before the company was officially organized on May 16th, sixty or seventy of the Volunteers traveled to Dublin to train with the Blackshear Guards. After an exhaustive drill, the Guards entertained the Volunteers with a feast. With their stomachs full, the men were in no mood for any intensive activity, and by mid-afternoon headed back for Hawkinsville, stopping on the way at the home of Samuel Yopp, four miles outside of Dublin.
Daniel H. Mason, of Laurens County, was elected as the company's Second Sergeant. Sgt. Mason, the thirty one year old son of William Mason and his wife, the former Margaret Pullen of northeastern Laurens County, was one of the first Laurens Countians to enlist in the Confederate Army.
Around the 10th to the 15th of July, the 8th Georgia was ordered to Martinsburg, Virginia, where Stonewall Jackson's forces were converging with the Federal army. The conflict never materialized, and on the 19th, the Confederate Army marched toward Manassas Junction. The report of cannon fire was heard during the mid morning hours of the 20th. The regiment marched double quick to the sound of the guns. They arrived just before noon and found themselves in an open field and in easy view of Union artillery and riflemen. The volunteers quickly moved to the cover of a pine thicket near the Stone Bridge over Bull Run, where the Federals had crossed earlier in the day.
The 8th Georgia opened fire. The Federals fired back. The slaughter began. The six hundred men of the 8th Georgia held on for forty five minutes, just long enough to delay the enemy until Beauregard and the remainder of Johnston's armies could come up to the lines. In despair and confusion, the Volunteers fell back into a ravine in the rear of the thicket. The Volunteers attempted to rally. The Federals rushed in, nearly surrounding the devastated Pulaski Countians after they managed to get off only one volley of musketry fire. Colonel Francis S. Bartow, a former Georgia Congressman, rode toward the 8th's position. Bartow, who had his horse shot out from underneath him, was escorted by the surviving Volunteers to a more secure position. Col. Bartow sat down to rest. In contemplation of the ongoing tumult, Bartow lamented, "My men are nearly all killed and I can not longer to live. I pray God that a bullet may pierce my heart."
Captain Ryan asked permission for his remaining men to join a South Carolina unit in one last gallant charge. The request was denied and the survivors of the 8th were sent to the rear of the lines out of range of enemy fire. The Confederate lines were collapsing. Col. Bartow, commanding the 7th and 8th Georgia regiments, and Gen. Barnard Bee of South Carolina rushed to the aid of Col. Nathan Evans's men.
Despite the reinforced line, the Confederates began to fall back toward Henry Hill. After a lull in the battle, Gen. Bee attempted to rally his men by yelling the immortal words, " There stands Jackson like a stone wall." Col. Bartow led the 7th Georgia in a charge. His prayer was answered. Bartow received a mortal wound. The dying colonel stated, "They have killed me, boys, but never give up the field." Gen. Bee, too, received a mortal wound. Lt. Col. William Gardner, commanding officer of the 8th Georgia, was severely wounded and removed from the field. The 8th suffered horrific losses.
New and fresh Confederate units smashed the Federal flank. After the firing had slowed to a smattering, the Pulaski Volunteers made their way to an elevated position overlooking the village of Centerville. David G. Fleming of the Volunteers recalled, " Men, carts, wagons, carriages, artillery, horses, and everything rushing frantically and 'topsy-turvy' over each other, and all running for dear life." Soldiers and spectators fled in mass confusion all the way home to Washington. Victory overcame the sting of death, if only briefly. The Volunteers greeted Gen. Beauregard as he came up to salute their efforts. The Confederates whipped the Yankees just like they said they would, but at a cost which was more dear than they ever imagined. Both sides learned that day that the war would not be a quick one. More than a half million more men would die before peace would come.
There was one more task to do before the end of the day. It was not a pleasant one, but it had to be done. The men knew that they had to return to the thicket. Their comrades were there, some wounded, some dying, and some already dead. Alvey Goodson, John Lowery, J.W. Carruthers, and Jesse Scarborough were dead. Thomas Boatright was dying. W.N. Bowen, A.R. Coley, J.E. Floyd, A. McClelland, and Isaac Rains were severely wounded. Sgt. Daniel Mason was there too, blood gushing from a wound in his arm. Bowen, McLelland, and Rains soon died. Fleming pondered, "On viewing the small pines, and remembering how thick the bullets came, our wonder was how any of us escaped, except by protection of an unseen hand."
Sgt. Mason was taken to a primitive field hospital and later transported to Charlottesville, Virginia, where a Confederate surgeon amputated his arm. David Fleming, Mason's dear friend and messmate, described the sergeant as "a most excellent soldier." Mason, like many amputees of the day, didn't make it. After a few weeks of lingering in constant agony, Mason died. He is buried in the Confederate Cemetery in Charlottesville. Sgt. Daniel Mason was Laurens County's first victim of that long and eternally tragic war, the War Between the States, which began in earnest with all of its death and horror, one hundred and fifty years ago this week.


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I usually like to watch the first few episodes in a row but after that I don't mind a week if it a good story...
Dragon Nest Europe BETA! XD [Watching: Phyco-pass, SAO]
It depends on the anime. If it's something like Naruto, then I like to watch it once a week. However, stuff like AnoHana and Steins;Gate, I'll watch it mostly all in one go.
blackdahlia90 wrote:
alishere2 wrote:
The typical shounen anime are hard enough to fully connect with all the fillers and long fights especially with only one episode a week.
Shounen anime is so far what I've connected with most. -_-
Personal preference I suppose. I enjoy shounen anime and I like watching it, but as someone who tends to watch every release in a season I find the other genres easier to connect to and get involved with (as opposed to giant arcs and such). If I'm watching a show that has a lot of episodes out already however, shounen anime are way to easy to get hooked on.
Oh great anime gods, what do I watch on this day?
I feel like I remember more if its drawn out once per week. I don't remember a whole lot of ano hana cause I had to watched it in 2 days lol. I think once a week forces you to pace yourself which is a good thing. Instead of watching 5 episodes of one thing why not 5 episodes of 5 different things. Keeps it fresh. People dwell on individual anime too much.
it really depends on the story
I like completed stories.
Can not think of anything.
Sailor Candy Moderator
Summer forum cleaning! To keep the forums neat and tidy we only keep 6 months worth of threads since its June 21, 2013 [6/21/13] we will keep only keep posts open from January 21, 2013 [1/21/13]. Please feel free to recreate any thread closed, as long as someone else didn't open another similar one before you.
Tuxedo Mask!!!


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Forty years ago, in 1972, Elton John's single "Rocket Man" was released around the world. In April, 2012, Elton was told that European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut André Kuipers had made a special point of playing "Rocket Man" over the airwaves of the International Space Station (ISS) on the song's fortieth anniversary. André said, "This song has been an inspiration to many people who are interested in space, and especially those who wanted to become astronauts, including myself. It is certainly one of the most played songs here on the ISS, and we know it will accompany more astronauts into space in the future."
So on April 17, the exact anniversary of its release around the world, Elton played the song during his Million Dollar Piano Show in Las Vegas, and Yamaha Entertainment Group was there to capture the moment on film so it could be sent to the astronauts at the European Space Agency.
The ESA has since created a video combining images from the space station with Elton's live version of "Rocket Man," and it can be viewed here:
Hearing about "Rocket Man" being played in space, Elton sent the following special message to ESA, André and the crew of the ISS:
"When I was a boy Dan Dare was a comic book hero, and space travel just a romantic idea, not a reality. I was 14 years old when Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space; my songwriting partner Bernie Taupin was just 11. Bernie and I did not meet until 1967, and two years after we met, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on to the moon."
"Our generation was smitten with the glory and excitement of space travel. 'Rocket Man' - and indeed 'Dan Dare' on the Rock of the Westies album - came from those boyhood dreams of travelling beyond the stars and looking back on Earth."
"Not long after the Rocket Man single was released, my band and I were invited to the NASA headquarters in Texas and shown around by Al Worden, Apollo 15 command module pilot. It was thrilling to find that real astronauts liked our song, Rocket Man, which was about an imaginary astronaut."
"Now, 40 years later, it's amazing to hear from the astronauts at the European Space Agency that they like the song and that it has been on the playlist on the International Space Station. I send my best wishes to ESA and all the crew, and my thanks for keeping those boyhood dreams alive."
Since Elton got in touch, several of the ESA astronauts have written down their thoughts about the song.
Jean-Francois Clervoy, who flew three times in space on the Space Shuttle (STS-66, STS-84, STS-103) describes life as a real-life Rocket Man: "I took CDs of Elton John, one of my favourite artists, three times into space (there were no MP3s at the time of my missions) and for sure "Rocket Man" was one of the songs I've listened to each time with great feeling."
"Space adventure is a paradoxical mix of loneliness and of globalness. The blackness of the sky (when eyes are not adjusted to darkness in the cockpit and you can't see any stars) contrasts with the joyful colours of Earth, which you can't stop to admire and feel part of. But if you shut off all lights in the cockpit, then the sky becomes bright with stars (not twinkling) and you feel part of the whole Universe. Yes, a trip to Mars would feel long if you just think of the things to do each day. But if you think of your role as a pioneer, as an explorer 'going boldly where no one has gone before' for the benefit of humankind, then time doesn't count. Only the hope for a better world counts, resulting from increased knowledge from your contribution to science."
"In May this year, I'll be listening to "Rocket Man" together with Charlie Duke (who flew Apollo 16 in 1972 when "Rocket Man" was released) and we'll give a joint conference in the middle of the Pacific!"
Frank De Winne is a Belgian ESA astronaut who flew twice in space, on Soyuz TMA-1 in 2002 and Soyuz TMA-15 in 2009. He was the first European astronaut to command an International Space Station Expedition. Frank says: "I'm a rocket man! Since the first lift-off of the Space Shuttle Columbia, I wanted to fly rockets. I have been one of the very fortunate who had the chance to actually do so twice... but even now being 30 years older than when I first dreamt about it, I still remain a Rocket Man and I still want to fly. There is nothing more beautiful than to explore our planet from space. There are no boundaries when you see Earth from space, no skin colours, no political sides, just one planet with only one common future. As rocket men and women it is our duty to testify about it and to strive for a better world for all. I AM a rocket man! Thank you, Elton John, for your great music."
ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano will be travelling to the International Space Station in 2013 as a flight engineer on the Expedition 36 long-duration mission. He was selected in 2009, and this will be his first spaceflight. Luca said, "Like all true works of art, this song speaks at a universal level, and it's not necessary to be an astronaut to understand its message. I haven't been to space yet, but I have been a 'rocket man' several times, as I think we all must have: Sir Elton John simply put words to a feeling that we've all experienced, and created a masterpiece for all of us to enjoy and revel in."
History of Elton John's Rocket Man
"Rocket Man" was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and released in April 1972.
In Britain the single was released as a 'maxi-disc,' an innovative format comprising three tracks - "Rocket Man" (from Honky Chateau, Elton's forthcoming album), "Holiday Inn" and "Goodbye" from Elton's then current album, Madman Across The Water - in a full-colour picture sleeve. Announcing the release, DJM Records said that 'the first 50,000 copies incorporate a mini-LP sleeve with the lyrics of the songs, plus photos of Elton and colleague Bernie Taupin.'
Elton's American record company connected the release of "Rocket Man" to the launch of Apollo 16, and took out press advertisements saying 'On the morning of April 16, 1972, Apollo 16 was launched into orbit on a journey to the moon. A few mornings earlier Uni Records launched a new Elton John single into a world-wide orbit. WHAT A TRIP! Both launchings bound to set new records.'
On April 28, 1972, Elton and the band played a concert at Hofheinz Pavilion, University of Houston, Texas, the second date of their 1972 American tour. Ahead of the show, the Rocket Man met the 'Rocket men' at the Manned Space Centre in Houston, Texas, where Al Worden, Apollo 15 command module pilot, took Elton, Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone on a conducted tour of the NASA headquarters.
Back in April 1972, "Rocket Man" received excellent reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. In the USA Record World wrote 'while the astronauts are on the moon, Elton John explores the outer limits of the possibilities of pop music. This should be a huge hit; it's one of his best.' The British music paper Melody Maker said 'Elton returns with a fine new composition, packaged on useful maxi-single, taken from his forthcoming album Honky Chateau.'
Meanwhile the journalist from Disc completely lost his cool and exclaimed 'this is by far the best thing Elton John has ever done - it's quite superb...this band is great, the song is great, Bernie Taupin's lyrics are great and if the Honky Chateau LP is going to be like this you're going to have to listen to it in little doses or you'll go mad. After two hearings I was so busy singing along that I couldn't get myself organised into taking notes about the structure of the record. Consumer, not critic, that's me, and I can consume music like this for evermore.'
The single entered the UK charts on April 22, reaching the number 2 position and staying on the chart for 13 weeks. In the USA the single entered the Billboard chart on May 6 and reached the number 6 position, staying in the US chart for 15 weeks. These were the highest positions achieved so far by an Elton John single in the UK and the USA.
Elton still plays "Rocket Man" at all of his concerts.


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Ranchos de Taos
Stacy Lankford 9/29/2009 7:25:01 AMAmazing black and white! #1186203
Erin Appelbaum 9/29/2009 7:37:02 AMThank you Stacy. Peter #7994285
Another conversion to B&W re-creating a new look.
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Uploaded on 1/13/2009 2:17:07 AM
Camera: Nikon D100 Digital SLR Camera
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Choosing Plants That Make Good Cut Flowers
Although it may be a true country vision of someone coming in from their outdoor garden with an armful of roses or fresh lavender destined for the kitchen table pitcher, those of us in the city can still bring a little bit in from outdoors if we choose the right plants.
In many plants the act of cutting off the flowers signals to the plant that its job is not over. Plants need to produce seeds to survive and will keep blooming and putting out side shoots in an effort to do what they were born to do. You keep cutting, the plant keeps blooming. It's called deadheading.
- When shopping for plants you want to select a variety that will produce sturdy, long stems for putting in vases.
- You should also look for varieties that will benefit from deadheading and continue to flower.
- Not every plant will keep pushing out flowers if you cut them back. Tulips, for example, will not. Peonies will not rebloom. Neither will Irises. And the same is true with many other spring-blooming bulbs and bushes. So check with the garden center and make sure the varieties you are choosing will blossom again after deadheading.
A (very) few plant examples that have varieties which can make great cut flowers, and will repeatedly blossom after deadheading:
- Rose
- Dahlia
- Butterfly Bush
- Marigold
- Salvia
- Lavender
- Echinacea
- Daisies
My little planter by the door (in the pics above) consists of:
- Ranunculus
- African Daisy
- Dusty Miller
- English Ivy
All of these can take a clipping and keep on ticking. I would often buy Ranunculus at the florist so am happy to have them. I am not looking to make enormous bouquets, but just have the occasional treat in a small vase. We've already enjoyed a few this past week, and it's nice to know we can just go out and cut a few more and the plants will keep on going.
For any of you out there with small flowerboxes or balcony containers, have you had any particular success with certain plants for cut flowers?


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Wake Forest guard Lakevia Boykin scored a career-high 34 points and the Demon Deacons used a 16-2 run in the second half to take control of the contest.
The Seminoles (12-3, 2-2 in the ACC) committed a season-high 23 turnovers, which Wake Forest (9-6, 2-1) turned into 33 points.
"Credit Wake Forest," Florida State head coach Sue Semrau said. "They made this an extremely scrappy game. They hit the boards hard. We didn't counter with any kind of box outs. I thought that's where it all started – their effort on the offensive glass. They did a great job I thought of changing up defenses and we did a terrible job of adjusting to that. We really just threw the ball into their hands way too many times."
The Seminoles cut an 11-point deficit to 2 on a trey by senior guard Leonor Rodriguez with 2:49 left in the game.
On Wake Forest's next possession forward Dearica Hamby made a layup while getting fouled. She missed the free throw, but teammate Sandra Garcia snagged the rebound and guard Chelsea Douglas buried a pair of free throws to put the Deacons in front 73-67 with 2:10 left.
Rodriguez nearly hit another three with the Seminoles down 6 just under the two-minute mark, but the shot rattled out.
For the Noles, senior forward Chelsea Davis matched her career-best with 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting, while Rodriguez scored 20 points and dished a season-best seven assists.
Junior forward Natasha Howard recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Hamby scored 23 points, while Douglas added 14 points for the Demon Deacons.
Back-to-back layups by Hamby put Wake Forest up 65-54 and forced Semrau to call a timeout with 6:57 remaining in the game.
The Seminoles closed the gap to 3 on consecutive layups by senior Alexa Deluzio and Howard with five minutes remaining. Hamby answered with a layup 30 seconds later, but Howard made another layup before Rodriguez's three that got the Seminoles as close as they'd get.
The Seminoles withstood a 19-point effort by Boykin before the break to take a 36-33 lead into halftime.
Boykin scored the Demon Deacons final 13 points of the first half. She hit back-to-back three-pointers to give Wake Forest a 26-21 lead with 6:18 left in the first frame. Her four straight points two minutes later put the Deacons ahead 30-24.
The Seminoles responded with 11 consecutive points.
Florida State led by as many as 8, 46-38, after Deluzio hit a three with 16:31 left in the game.
Wake Forest responded with a 9-0 run to take a 47-46 lead after Boykin hit her fourth three, and she and Douglas each connected on layups.
A pair of layups by Hamby and a Boykin score in a 52-second span came in the midst of a 16-2 run by the Deacons and gave Wake Forest a 63-54 lead with 7:34 left.
"Boykin played great," Semrau said. "Maybe we took the lead for granted, but certainly they evaporated that lead very quickly. I thought we were going on a run a couple different times where we could maybe get some confidence and lock down defensively on the boards. Credit to them, I thought they did a great job."
Sunday's Contest vs. No. 24 Miami
Fans can get into the game for just $3 with a church bulletin as part of "Faith and Family Day." Fans can also attend for $3 with a ticket from Saturday's men's basketball game. All fans are invited to an FCA rally following the game at the south end of the court.
As part of the ACC's Regional Sports Network deal, the game will be televised live on FS South, FS Florida, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, NESN, FS Arizona Plus, FS Detroit Plus, FS North Plus, FS San Diego and FSU Prime Ticket. Tom Herme and Christy Winters Scott will be on the call
For more information on Florida State women's basketball, follow the Seminoles on Twitter @FSU_WBasketball and like their official Facebook page.


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quote:Originally posted by BenzeeHello all , Back to the tour shall we .We discussed a lot at our mini meet at Coney Island last Thurs to prepare for our Fall Hot Dog Tour We have a tentative date for Sat . Sept 16th , 2006 for the 3rd annual Jersey Hot Dog Tour . We will be reserving the bus this coming week and once I get a price will pass on the per person cost .The starting point in Jersey will be Syds or Galloping Hill .Anyone from Upstate NY we are looking at a pickup location in Newburgh that was suggested by Brooklyn Bill . If it does not work than we can always use last years pickup point in Harriman NY.John Fox will be tweaking the intinerary this year . Any suggestions either email him or post here . I will be starting a list for signups soon , if you are interested let me know .Benzee
quote:Originally posted by long dogI'm up for trying more new places on the tour.If you don't, it's just the '04 or '05 tour revisited.


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I promise to get back to writing articles on a more regular basis soon, but in the meantime, here's a comment from Nathan A. on using DISTINCT and ORDER BY:
This is actually a problem I have been puzzling over for quite a while now. I actually need to do that sort. I wonder if I may have to create another column that has the list of ordering values in it in increasing order so for my example above assuming a letter table and a number table that contains the numbers for letters, the number table would not change but I...
posted @ Tuesday, December 23, 2008 9:25 AM | Feedback (5) |
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Course Details
EDU603 Curriculum Auditing & Mapping
School leaders must be knowledgeable of curriculum mapping and its potential use in schools. Accountability for student achievement based on state standards requires curriculum leaders to acquire information on the benefits and limitations of curriculum mapping and curriculum auditing. This course is designed to provide the learner with knowledge of the connection of curriculum mapping and auditing to improve student achievement. During the course the student will learn the steps necessary to follow in successfully implementing change in curriculum writing. Institutional curriculum for grades K-12 is studied form a global alignment, and scope and sequence alignment vs. state and national standards. The student will learn about curriculum frameworks and federal, state, and local assessment benchmarks. Students will map a subject/course using the studied method. 3 Credits


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I will be elated if Narendra Modi becomes PM: Advani
"There is an unusual quality in Modi. He always thinks of something new. I am proud that our government in Gujarat and Narendra Modi are drawing praise not just in India but abroad for its works," Advani said in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.india Updated: Oct 17, 2013 11:56 IST
BJP Patriarch LK Advani, who had strong reservations against Narendra Modi's elevation as party's presumptive prime minister, on Wednesday said "he would be elated if Modi becomes next Prime Minister after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls."
He also expressed confidence that NDA under Narendra Modi would form the next government after the parliamentary polls.
Advani's public endorsement of Modi came when they shared a stage in Ahmedabad during inauguration of an infrastructure institute. Earlier, they also attended a meeting of Somnath Temple trust in which both are trustees and former Chief Minister Keshubhai is chairman of the trust.
The BJP veteran was generous with lavishing praises on Modi for his development works in Gujarat and his incorruptible image.
"There is an unusual quality in Modi. He always thinks of something new. I am proud that our government in Gujarat and Narendra Modi are drawing praise not just in India but abroad for its works," Advani said while praising Modi.
This was Advani's first visit to Gujarat after Modi was declared as BJP's prime ministerial candidate in the BJP's national parliamentary board which Advani had skipped in September.
Unlike their tense appearance during BJP's public rally in Bhopal where Advani's displeasure of Modi's elevation was palpable, both leaders in Ahmedabad appeared very cordial in an attempt to bury the past and signal a new unity among them.
To please Advani, who is also MP representing Gandhinagar, Modi had asked the state BJP cadre and the administration to ensure that all functions were organised in a grand way and Advani was given highest importance.
During his speech, Modi said Advani had expressed confidence that there would be change after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. "I have complete trust in Advani ji's confidence," he said.
Modi also talked about creation of infrastructure to build a strong nation based on knowledge power. "Earlier, strength was economic or military power but now knowledge has emerged as a factor that can make us strong as a nation," he said.
According to him, need of the hour for the country was to create manpower that can help in nation building.
"We are blessed with youth power and proper human resource development is linked with future. Imagine how much the youth power can contribute in nation building," he said while stressing on skill development of youth to create manpower in the country.
First Published: Oct 16, 2013 18:31 IST


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Performance and Optimization Solutions for SAP
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HOUSTON – For the third year in a row, the Houston Dynamo have dipped into the Honduran pipeline.
This time, it's for one of the country's bright young stars, as the club announced Wednesday that it has finalized a move for midfielder Alexander Lopez from Honduran club Olimpia.
Lopez has been a target of the Dynamo for a year now. After a week of serious negotiations, the club landed a young playmaker that could make a difference in both the present and for years to come.
"I think it's a good move overall for the team," head coach Dominic Kinnear said. "We felt it was a good to have a young guy with experience. He's played in a handful of games for Honduras, especially in the last Gold Cup. You have an eye for the future, but you can never predict the future so you plan for the present, and I think he can help us now."
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per league and club policy, but the club confirmed Wednesday that Lopez will join the Dynamo as a young Designated Player. As a young DP in the 21 to 23 age bracket, league rules state that he will count $150,000 against the salary cap and not the usual $368,750 as a second DP. It jumps to $200,000 next season.
Houston have operated very close to the salary cap this season. Before they could make the move, the club had to free up some room under the cap, starting with releasing Luiz Camargo earlier this summer to free up an international roster spot and cap space.
"We were severely strapped against the salary cap most of the season," Dynamo president Chris Canetti said. "Behind the scenes the last few weeks we've been able to restructure some things within the league's guidelines to set up the necessary cap room to make the deal work."
With wiggle room under the cap, the move was to get the playmaker they wanted and on the field Lopez fits the bill. He'll bring class on the ball in a midfield stacked with established players, including the likes of Lopez's fellow Honduran international Boniek Garcia and Brad Davis. Kinnear believes that his experience at the club and international levels, along with his ability to play both centrally and wide, makes this a move that will make his team better right away.
"He's got a nice first touch, passes the ball well and he's not afraid to want the ball and receive the ball in tight spaces," Kinnear said. "He's played in big games before in Honduras and Olimpia, so we know he won't be overawed with anything that comes our way."
Lopez is expected to head to the US as his visa and international transfer certificate processes are completed. Until those documents are obtained, he cannot appear for the team.
According to Canetti, the Dynamo aim to have Lopez in uniform Aug. 17 against the Seattle Sounders.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.


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May 24, 2013
HRV softball players cheer on their teammates against Bend.
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Indiana voters gain vastly improved online tool for researching campaign contributions and spending in statewide races
April 13, 2010
Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita announces modernization of Indiana Campaign Finance website; upgrade includes expanded searching and exporting functions
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita announced today that his office's online campaign finance reporting and research tool has been upgraded and re-launched for the 2010 election season. Indiana Campaign Finance online now offers vastly expanded capabilities for voters, media and others interested in knowing how candidates for statewide offices raise and spend money for their campaigns.
"Voters and taxpayers want more transparency in the elections process, and this site delivers it," said Secretary Rokita. "It's a simple and intuitive tool voters can use to be better informed about the choices before them – by finding out who is backing candidates and how the money they raise is being spent."
Voters can use improved and added search options to obtain more comprehensive information about the individuals and organizations that contribute to campaigns as well as the campaign committees themselves. This expanded database includes the most recent reports, annual totals and complete lifetime contribution and spending histories for all campaign committees.
In addition, for the first time, voters will be able to generate reports on all contributions and expenditures for all candidates involved in a race for a specific statewide office.
The updated site is found at www.campaignfinance.in.gov and also on the Secretary of State's web site, www.in.gov/sos. It will provide information on candidates for statewide and state legislative offices, political party committees and other committees that support or oppose state candidates or public questions.
Campaign finance reports for federal races are available from the Federal Election Commission online at www.fec.gov, and for local races can be obtained from the office of each county's clerk.
Media Contact: Jim Gavin, 317.233.8655, email@example.com


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Sometimes I really don't understand Blizzard. Back in March, they said they were worried about Paladin burst damage. Fast forward to the WotLK Beta, and we see the following two talents:
Righteous Vengeance (5/5)
Requires 45 Points in Retribution
Increases critical damage bonus of all attacks by 15%.
The Art of War (3/3)
Requires 40 Points in Retribution
Your damaging Crusader Strikes have a 15% chance to cause your next Judgement spell to cause double damage.
Let's say you have a 30% critical strike chance. Your attack possibilities (ignoring misses, parries, etc.) are:
59.5% - Normal damage
10.5% - 2x damage
25.5% - 2.15x damage
4.5% - 4.3x damage
Yes, that's correct. In the current Beta, Retribution paladins have better than Quad Damage!
I think The Art of War is going to be nerfed, and nerfed hard.


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Celebrating illustration, design, cartoon and comic art of the mid-20th century.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Great Al Hirschfeld
Toby Neighbors has put together another fantastic tribute to a mid-century illustrator - this time its the great Al Hirschfeld. Visit Toby's site, illostribute.com for an extensive biography of Hirschfeld, a nice selection of his art and, of course, a whole series of wonderful 'tribute' pieces by contemporary illustrators!
All of today's images are © The Al Hirschfeld Foundation
More at illostribute.com
All of today's images are © The Al Hirschfeld Foundation
More at illostribute.com
6 comments:
It's always fun to look "Nina" in his drawings.ReplyDelete
Hirschfeld = Pure greatness. There is nobody to compare him to, then, now, or ever.ReplyDelete
Life-long Hirschfeld devotee here. Will never be another like him. The man had one of the greatest dream jobs known to humankind.ReplyDelete
I have to say that that Elvis piece is probably his biggest miss. I have to assume it's because there wasn't a ton of photo ref' on E around in 1956.
Almost all of those Collier pieces are brand new to my eyes. Huge thanks Leif.
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This single size Dimensions quilt cover set is made from beautiful fine Egyptian cotton in a luxurious sateen weave construction. With a 250 thread count. It offers superb sleeping comfort, great durability and a smooth finish. The set includes: quilt cover and 1 x pillowcase. The Egyptian cotton is a very breathable fabric and it also resists piling. The Egyptian Cotton Bedding Cover can last for decades if properly care for.
Estimated Delivery Time Frame: 7-14 business daysReference ID: 184312