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The following chart shows the growth in the broad money supply (M2) and BASE money supply as a percentage of M2 over the past 15 years. BASE money supply is physical currency plus Federal Reserve accounts. This is the portion of the overall money supply that the Fed directly controls.
As you can see, M2 has been growing at a reasonably steady rate for the past 15 years. BASE made up a reasonably constant proportion of M2 up until the end of 2008. At that point the Fed had to dramatically increase the BASE money supply in order to keep M2 expanding at roughly the accustomed rate.
There are a number of different ways of looking at this. It could be that this is simply the new normal and the the Fed's balance sheet will henceforth make up a higher percentage of the overall money supply than has generally been the case.
Alternatively, you could view the situation as essentially benign. The Fed's balance sheet is relatively large because it had to respond to the crisis. It will shrink over time as the economy recovers. My guess is that this is Chairman Bernanke's preferred assessment.
The pessimists among us tend to believe that quantitative easings are a bit like wars in the Middle East. Much easier to get into than out of.
I'm inclined towards pessimism, or at least skepticism about the existence of free lunches. The Fed's extraordinary actions over the past few years may well have taken some of the bite out of the crisis, but my guess is that we pay for them through either inflation or uncomfortably tight monetary policy down the road.
(Data source: St Louis Federal Reserve)

subset: commoncrawl


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For Pinellas woman, knock meant the worstBy MARCUS FRANKLIN
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 25, 2003
KENNETH CITY -- Patricia Iverson was checking e-mails about 10 p.m. Sunday when she heard the ominous knock at her front door. Peering through the miniblinds, she realized her worst fears.
"I saw men in Air Force dress blues," said the 63-year-old Iverson.
As she opened the door, Iverson thought: "Oh, God, it can't be."
The men had arrived to inform Iverson that her son, Master Sgt. Michael Maltz, 42, of Valdosta, Ga., was aboard the U.S. Air Force helicopter that crashed Sunday in southeastern Afghanistan, killing all six people on board. The helicopter was on a mercy mission to help two injured Afghan children, the U.S. military said Monday.
The HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia was on its way late Sunday to pick up the children, who had suffered head injuries, said Army Col. Roger King. There were thunderstorms in the area, he said.
The Pentagon identified the other dead as 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta, 23, of Los Lunas, N.M.; Staff Sgt. Jason Hicks, 25, of Jeffer son, S.C.; Senior Airman Jason Plite, 21, of Lansing, Mich.; Lt. Col. John Stein, 39, of Bardolph, Ill.; and Staff Sgt. John Teal, 29, of Dallas.
The helicopter crashed Sunday about 8:50 p.m., about 20 miles north of Ghazni, Afghanistan. Ghazni is 50 miles southwest of Kabul, the capital.
"We express the Afghan government's sorrow for this incident, which occurred during a humanitarian operation to reach some Afghan children in need of medical care," Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Omar Samad said.
The Air Force officials who told Iverson about her son's death stayed with her until her brother arrived to console her.
Maltz grew up in Long Island, N.Y., where he graduated from Hals Hollow High School, his mother said Monday night. On Aug. 8, 1978, he joined the U.S. Air Force, she said.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Maltz loved to sky dive, ski and climb mountains, Iverson said.
"Anything dangerous, I would say," she said. "He had no fear of anything. The only fear he had was of getting out of the Air Force. He never had a civilian job. He didn't know what he was going to do. He was fearful of not being able to get a job at 42."
Maltz talked of leaving the Air Force and being near his sons, Kyle, 16, and Cody, 12, who live with his former wife in Seattle, Iverson said. In fact, his mother said, his discharge was under way when Maltz called her to say he was coming down to Florida for a visit because he was being deployed.
He had visited her often in Florida, usually showing up with bouquets for his mother and late maternal grandmother.
"He said, 'I'm going to be over there for about six months and then I'll be out unless they send me home in a body bag.' I told think him to think positive."
Maltz will be buried at Long Island National Cemetery, his mother said.
In addition to his mother and sons, Maltz is survived by two brothers and a sister.
24-hour air patrols resume over New York
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government has resumed 24-hour air patrols over New York City after law enforcement and intelligence agencies warned that the city was in special danger from terrorists during the war with Iraq, senior government officials told the New York Times.
The patrols, by Black Hawk helicopters and small, specially outfitted surveillance planes from the fleet of the Department of Homeland Security, began Monday without announcement, the officials said. The helicopters and surveillance jets are not armed but have radar and can call on fighter jets stationed nearby in an emergency.
The 24-hour patrols will be the first over New York City since early last year, when the Defense Department suspended the continuous air patrols over New York and Washington that had begun in the hours after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Two months ago, round-the-clock air patrols were resumed in Washington, and officials said at the time that more air patrols could be expected in New York if the United States invaded Iraq.
Officials said the decision to resume the New York air patrols did not reflect specific intelligence warning of a threat to New York from al-Qaida or other terrorist groups.
The move comes a week after the Federal Aviation Administration tightened the restrictions on airspace over the city.
© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-893-8111
From the Times wire desk
From the AP


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2 incumbents top a diverse council slate
At-large field winnowed to 8; Voters rely on known names
- |
On Monday night, City Councilor John R. Connolly welcomed his first son into the world. Yesterday the proud dad slipped out of the hospital briefly to vote for himself and celebrate a first-place finish in a deep, diverse, and experienced field of 15 candidates vying for at-large seats.
"This is a two-day whirlwind for me,'' Connolly said late last night in a phone interview from a campaign party in Roslindale, after leading the field with 35,115 votes. "The early returns were my son Teddy, which was all I needed to make my day. . . . Then to have this happen is the cherry on top.''
Connolly and fellow incumbent Stephen J. Murphy claimed the top two spots as voters in yesterday's preliminary election narrowed the field to eight for the general election Nov. 3, when they will choose the four at-large councilors who represent all of Boston.
The others who made the top eight are Ayanna S. Pressley, a key aide to Senator John F. Kerry; Tito Jackson, a job-creation official in Governor Deval Patrick's administration; Andrew P. Kenneally, a former City Hall and congressional staffer; former Nantucket selectman Doug Bennett; and community organizers Tomas Gonzalez and Felix G. Arroyo.
In one of three contested preliminary races for district councilor, incumbent Chuck Turner easily led a four-candidate field in his bid to retain the seat covering Roxbury and parts of the South End, Fenway, and Dorchester - less than a year after his arrest on federal charges that he accepted a $1,000 bribe from an undercover FBI agent. His case is pending.
In the at-large race, two of the eight finalists are Latino and two are African-American, including one woman, making it the most diverse pool ever in Boston.
The finalists edged a group of contenders that included a former MBTA executive, a classically trained conductor, and a couple of experienced community organizers - an unusually large and experienced pool that contributed to a turnout of more than 81,000 voters yesterday, the highest level the city has seen in years. In 2007, only nine candidates ran for the at-large seats, prompting the city to cancel the preliminary altogether.
Pressley, finishing fourth as a first-time candidate, praised the field for its ethnic and cultural diversity and called it noteworthy "not only in numbers but in skill set.''
The lone woman in the race, she built on contacts she amassed through Kerry's links to city, state, and federal officeholders.
"I'm absolutely overwhelmed,'' she said last night by phone from a celebration in Dorchester. "Overwhelmed and grateful.''
Arroyo, a community and labor organizer and the son of former at-large councilor Felix D. Arroyo, finished a strong third yesterday, nearly 9,000 votes ahead of Pressley.
Kenneally, who spent 10 years as an aide in Congress and to multiple city councilors before entering the private sector last year as a consultant, placed fifth. Jackson, a Grove Hall native who now serves as director for the information-technology sector in the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, finished sixth.
Bennett, a former Nantucket selectman and onetime Republican candidate for state Senate, placed seventh, just two years after moving to Boston. Bennett's candidacy was a testament to persistence in a contest that competed for attention with the four-way mayoral race and a high-profile race to fill the Senate seat of Edward M. Kennedy.
Bennett, who launched his campaign nearly a year-and-a-half ago, said he knocked on more than 80,000 doors and distributed more than 3,000 signs. But even he sounded stunned by the results.
"The fact that I was able to grow a base that fast . . . that's like the biggest story of the night,'' Bennett said in an interview while en route to the Hong Kong bar downtown to celebrate.
Gonzalez, a former Latino liaison for Mayor Thomas M. Menino and former chief of staff for the city's Elderly Commission, edged Ego Ezedi for the eighth and final spot. Gonzalez received 10,108 votes. Ezedi, who took a leave from his role as executive director of the Roxbury YMCA to run, collected 9,245 votes.
Hiep Q. Nguyen, a 27-year-old Vietnamese immigrant and certified public accountant, finished 10th.
In other district races, City Councilor Mark S. Ciommo and challenger Alex Selvig emerged from a four-way field in the race to represent Allston-Brighton. In District 1, covering East Boston, the North End, and Charlestown, incumbent Salvatore LaMattina cruised to first in a three-way field, and will face Chris Kulikoski in the final.
Yesterday's vote capped weeks of campaigning by the large field - walking the neighborhoods, knocking on doors, and working phones and the Internet. The candidates packed into multiple forums around the city, put fliers under windshield wipers on cars parked in key neighborhoods, and touted their endorsements from organized labor and other influential figures.
Connolly, a Harvard-educated former teacher and lawyer, campaigned for a second term under the banner "One Boston'' - working for safer streets, stronger schools, and greener neighborhoods.
He spent much of the final weeks of the campaign with his BlackBerry at the ready, waiting for the fateful buzz that would signal to him that his wife, Boston College doctoral student Meg Kassakian Connolly, had gone into labor.
On the eve of the election, she gave birth to their second child: Edward Ronan Connolly, weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces. "Both Mom and Teddy are doing great!'' he tweeted on his campaign's Twitter feed, just before midnight.


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Varying legislation on how land can be concessioned and for what purpose makes monitoring ELC's extremely difficult. Concessions mapped here include those which are presented on the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries8 but predominantly sources come from the Technical Working Group on Forestry and Environment which is not as open to the public as it could be. Under the land Law (2001) ELC's can't exceed 10,000ha however there has not been any systematic review of concessions as required by the Sub-Decree on ELC's9. Again some of the variations in hectares listed on the database reflect true boundary values derived from mapping software when creating the shape files from GPS points thus not necessarily reflecting the actually size agreed upon in contracts between companies and the RGC.
|Download the detailed database about Economic Land Concessions
|Download Map
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Foot Note


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HTC One E8 (M8 Ace) gets officially confirmed in China
The images that leaked yesterday showing the upcoming plastic-clad HTC M8 Ace were actually from HTC's official website for China. Or rather, from a special page on that website – a page which has 'gone live' today. That's right – despite it having a June 3 unveiling date, the new plastic flagship from HTC is actually already listed on the company's Chinese website. What an odd launch.
Because of this development, we can now see the device in better looking pictures, though they're essentially the same we've seen yesterday. There's still some controversy over what the handset's actual name will be, since Google Translate isn't of much use in these cases. The M8 Ace codename could either turn into HTC One E8 or HTC One Vogue Edition or something combining those monikers in some manner. The model number does appear to be E8, so maybe that will stick. Perhaps we'll get 100% sure on June 3.
Until then, let's recap the smartphone's specs. It should have a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, a 13 MP rear camera with a single LED flash, a 5 MP front camera, BoomSound front-facing stereo speakers, and it will obviously run Android. Past rumors also talked about a 5-inch 1080p Full HD touchscreen.


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|Aldrich Press
Mid-career poets who write free verse
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Kelsay Books is an independent literary press run by Karen Kelsay, an award winning poet, whose primary focus is to publish beautiful books in a timely manner.
Four imprint companies have been established to accommodate a variety of published poets. We accept unsolicited chapbooks and full-length manuscripts year-round.


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"Happiness" – The Phony Bill of Goods
Share This:
Oh goody! Another opportunity to evaluate the merits of the concept of happiness, this time in book form!
I cringe when I hear the word happiness, as I've said here, especially when it's described as an achievable quest.
It simply does not work like that.
"Happy" is not static state of mind, nor a realistic pursuit. It's a fleeting, volatile emotion.
Walter Doyle Staples, PhD, author of "Happy 95% of the Time" seems to agree.
"Happiness comes and goes," he says, "and we eagerly look forward to its return. Between these periodic occurrences, however, we often suffer…"
So why is this book titled as it is?
Good question.
(When I was asked to review this book by Career Press, I was dubious, at best.)
Walter Staples does have first hand, personal experience with anxiety and depression. He suffered with mental health issues as a young adult. His mother, wife and daughter endured mental health struggles too.
His health improved, he says, when he embraced a new way of thinking and relating to the world; when he began focusing on 'inner' work, and less on outer superficiality. As a result, he says, he became a calmer, more content, more spiritual individual.
His practices and ideas, towards the goal of greater life satisfaction, are the focus of this book.
Topics In The Book
This book offers sections that include:
- 'Authentic' happiness.
- Extrinsic versus Intrinsic happiness.
- Spiritual problem solving.
- 8 Ways to "Stop" thinking.
- Depression and stress reduction information.
- "Inner fitness."
- The role of The Ego.
The Book's Strong Points
There are some particularly useful sections in this book.
The one on 'ego,' for example, "when you let go of ego you let go of pain" is rarely discussed in the mental health realm, and it's important.
The section on "mind traps" helps readers analyze their self-defeating thinking patterns. As thoughts pass through our minds we can ask: Are these thoughts rational, proven, accurate?
Ideas about "Inner Fitness" and the "Great Wheel of Life" focus on 'inner self ' practices which contrast sharply with society's prevalent, shallow obsession with appearances and materialism.
"Everyday happiness,"as Dr. Staples coins it, based on what he terms 'extrinsic' and 'intrinsic' factors, results when one cultivates gratitude, kindness and compassion (towards ourselves and others.) This is a good reminder.
The Book's Weak Points
Messages, ideas and concepts in this book are worthwhile.
Overall, unfortunately, the book is confusing, wordy, lengthy and ideas are repeated excessively.
Long lists of quotes laced throughout many sections (albeit excellent ones) were distracting, and cliche platitudes, scattered throughout, diminished the work's strength.
Many sections also required a more direct use of language.
Dr. Staples suggests, for example, that people 'stop thinking.' But – not thinking is not possible. We learn in meditation practice not to avoid thoughts, but to gently observe them, then let them pass. The author's intent, I believe, is to suggest that 'over thinking' is detrimental. And that's what he should have said.
Or – as Dr. Staples urges: "Know you have NO limits!" Knowing our limits is essential in determining our strengths. He means (I suspect) don't imprison yourself with irrational thinking.
Win, Lose or Draw?
Despite its potential, despite its good intent, this book gets bogged down in its own excess.
I could not escape the book's "happy 95% of the time" slogan. It's a misleading promise, one already exploited and overused in a culture obsessed with the endless (fruitless?) pursuit of joy.
'Happy,' as a bill of goods, as an unattainable goal, a media mantra, and an exercise in futility, exists only in our minds, in our dreams, in our hopes.
It is not real. When it is, it's fleeting, like a whisper in the wind.
I suspect that a treatise on 'contentment' was the genuine goal behind this book. 'Content' is different than 'happy.'
Contentment is possible.
By titling the book "Happy 95% of the Time," however, this opportunity was lost.
About This Book: "Happy 95% Of The Time" by Walter Doyle Staples, PhD, is published by Career Press, and is available at amazon.com


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USA vs. Argentina: What to Watch For in Exhibition TuneupJuly 22, 2012
You can't take anything away from an exhibition game.
Or can you?
Depending on the sport, you can judge whether or not a particular team is as good as advertised.
When the United States plays Argentina on Sunday, there will be plenty to take away from the game. Here are three things to watch in particular.
Winning margin
A win is a win, right? Yes, but a double-digit victory would be more compelling to the average fan compared to a four- of five-point victory.
Fans want to know that this team is as powerful as the Redeem Team or the Dream Team. They want to know if this team can run the table.
Playing well against Argentina, a quality team, would prove that this year's team is ready to make a statement in London.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant has scored 13 points in the past two games—five against Great Britain and eight against Brazil.
In this exhibition tuneup, Bryant will need to prove that he's ready to make another run at gold.
It's time for Bryant to stop messing with the media, stop playing to the cameras and simply focus on basketball. If any player needs to do well in this exhibition game it's Bryant.
Going up against a quality Argentina team, Bryant will have to be on top of his game.
Low-post game
Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love are going to receive their toughest challenge as a tandem thus far.
Luis Scola and the frontcourt players of Argentina are crafty, skillful and know how to score the basketball with a plethora of low-post moves.
Chandler will be able to hold his own, but Love should receive more minutes than he did against Great Britain given the size of the Argentinians.
The frontcourt is one of the United States' biggest weaknesses, so Love and Chandler's play will be crucial.
United States wins 87-70 in a statement victory. The score will look closer than what it should have been.


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September 18 2008
The lecture, "Discrete Collaboration: The Assemblages of Joseph Cornell," will be given by Brian Whisenhunt, executive director of the Swope Art Museum. It complements the Department of Theater's production of "Hotel Cassiopeia," a play by Charles Mee, which opens that night.
Prior to coming to Terre Haute, Whisenhunt, was manager of public programs at The Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas at Austin. He earned a Master of Arts degree in art history from the University of Oklahoma.
"Hotel Cassiopeia" is based off Deborah Solomon's book, "Utopia Parkway," a biography of the life and work of Cornell. Primarily known for his assemblages, Cornell was profoundly influenced by the Surrealists in the creation of his "boxes." A self-taught artist, he spent a lifetime collecting artifacts from the everyday, which became the poetic subjects collaged in these sculptural vignettes, for which he is renowned.
Directed by Christopher Berchild, "Hotel Cassiopeia" runs Sept. 24-27, in the New Theater, located at 540 North Seventh Street. All shows begin at 7:30 pm and tickets are still available at the door or by calling 812-237-3333.
Following the opening night performance, the director, designers, and cast will be joined by Whisenhunt for a "Talk Back" session about the performance with audience members who wish to stay.
Special thanks to Indiana State's College of Arts & Sciences for making this event possible. For more information about the lecture, call 812-237-3720.
Contact: Melissa Vandenberg, Director of University Art Gallery, 812-237-3787 or email@example.com
Writer: Paula Meyer, ISU Communications & Marketing, 812-237-3783 or email@example.com
The Indiana State University departments of art and theater are sponsoring a lecture on American artist Joseph Cornell Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 pm in the Music Recital Hall in the Center for Performing and Fine Arts, located at the corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets. This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided prior to the talk.


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Here's a look a each of the Titans' 2008 draft picks:
Chris Johnson * RB * East Carolina
Round: 1st (24th overall)
Ht: 5-10. Wt: 198
The lowdown: The Titans said all offseason that getting faster on offense was a priority. So they drafted the fastest player timed at the NFL Combine (4.24) in the first round. Johnson put up nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards his senior season at East Carolina and had a 300-yard rushing game against Memphis.
Where he fits: Probably not an every-down back, he will be used in a variety of ways as a third-down back, slot receiver and return man. Johnson compares himself to Brian Westbrook of Philadelphia and will likely be used similarly.
Jason Jones * DE * Eastern Michigan
Round: 2nd (54th overall)
Ht: 6-5. Wt: 272.
The lowdown: Jones began his college career as a tight end, but quickly found a home on the defensive side of the football. He can play both end and tackle, but likely will get a first look at end, splitting time with Jevon Kearse on the left side.
Where he fits: Jones gives the Titans versatility, as he can play both end and tackle. He likely will play end on run downs and can slide inside in passing situations.
Craig Stevens * TE * California
Round: 3rd (85th overall)
Ht. 6-4. Wt: 258.
The lowdown: Stevens brings additional depth to the tight end position, even after the additions of Alge Crumpler and Dwayne Blakley this offseason. Stevens comes with a "nasty streak," according to one evaluation, something that can be effective in the running game.
Where he fits: Stevens will have a chance to take over the role Ben Hartsock vacated as the team's primary blocking tight end. The Titans believe he can eventually develop into a pass-receiving threat as well.
William Hayes * DE * Winston-Salem
Round: 4th (103rd overall)
Ht: 6-3. Wt: 260
The lowdown: The Titans moved up 21 spots in the fourth round by packaging a fourth-rounder and their fifth-round choice to land a Division II player, who they believe can become a solid pass rusher. Hayes, a reach in the eyes of many of the so-called draft experts, might be a bit of a project, but is a hard worker and is among the fastest defensive linemen in the draft, running a 4.61 in the 40.
Where he fits: The Titans say Hayes can contribute right away, but might not have to count on that if Jones can earn early time. Hayes is eager to prove his worth at the NFL level after playing off the radar at Winston-Salem in college.
Lavelle Hawkins * WR * California
Round: 4th (126th overall)
Ht: 5-11. Wt: 186
The lowdown: After waiting through four picks, the Titans finally address the wide receiver pick, adding Hawkins to a crowded but intriguing battle for roster spots at the position. He has the ability to separate from defenders despite not having super speed and put up solid numbers with 72 receptions last season for Cal.
Where he fits: If he can adapt to Mike Heimerdinger's system, can be a factor sooner rather than later. Few of the eight other players on the Titans' roster can claim they have a role already locked up for 2008, so there is opportunity to be had.
Stanford Keglar * LB * Purdue
Round: 4th (134th overall)
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 247
The lowdown: Keglar is a hard worker and had some talent and speed to eventually contribute at the NFL level. He could find the playing time hard to come by early on, as he is entrenched behind two of the team's most dependable defenders in David Thornton and Keith Bulluck.
Where he fits: With Thornton and Bulluck locked in, Keglar will be asked to be a core member of the Titans' special teams units until an opportunity to play arises.
Cary Williams * CB * Washburn
Round: 7th (229th overall)
Ht: 6-1. Wt: 185.
The lowdown: Williams comes as the Titans' latest project in the secondary. The Titans have had good luck in the late rounds finding gems like Cortland Finnegan and Reynaldo Hill in the final round. Williams isn't very strong, but has some cover skills. He began his career at Fordham before heading to Washburn, located in Topeka, Kan.
Where he fits: If Williams can impress, he'll have to do so on special teams early, as he is a gunner.
Well there you have it, TITAN1
And I am excited about this draft, especially Chris Johnson. He brings speed to the offense and looks very good in the return game.
Other than Chris Johnson, it will probably be YEARS before anyone can see if this was a good draft or not. The drafting of William Hayes from Winston-Salem even caught the NFL by surprise because when his name was announced, the NFL office didn't even know who he was. I don't see how anyone can be excited by this draft by the Titans.
We'll in 2-3 years, you can't grade a draft the day after. It is curious they drafted another back, I don't care if he is fast, that's what they said about Chris Henry when they drafted him. They stuck to their usual plan, draft DLine and a WR who might work out.


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Medical Emergency of Eye
Eyeball consists of 3 coats. From the outside to inward:
A) cornea-sclera
B) Uvea and
C) Retina
Cornea-sclera: Anterior part of the eyeball appears as black known as cornea, which helps to transmit light in to the eyeball. Sclera appears as white next to cornea protect the eyeball also preserve the shape of the eyeball.
Uvea: Uvea- is the middle coat, which is also called vascular coat of the eye. Main bulk of the vasculature of the eyeball resides in this coat. It serves as the main nutrient supplier to the eye. It has 3 parts. Most anterior part is iris; next is ciliary body and posterior most is choroids.
Retina: Retina- is the innermost layer of the eye. It is the neural layer which is designed to receive the light rays; convert it in to electrical signal and transmit it to the brain where it transformed in to image for visual perception by the brain.
Uveitis: Uveitis inflammation of the uvea or uveal reaction due to insult by the infective agents (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasites etc.) or immunological / hypersensitivity reaction, trauma or chemical substances.
Etiology of Uveitis: In our country Tuberculosis, Rubelle virus, Candida & Aspergillus, Toxoplasma are the common infective causes of uveitis. There are some systemic diseases like Ankylosing Spondylitis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Chrones disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Reiter's Syndrome etc are autoimmune nature means tissue reaction caused by the insult of the body's own tissue bearing structural error. These systemic conditions are sometime associated with uveitis means uveal tissue reaction of autoimmune nature. Ocular trauma may cause uveitis. Chemicals are also potent agents for uveitis.
What happens to uveal tissue in case of uveitis: Caliber of vessels are increased in diameter resulting more blood to rash in the tissue at the same time blood cells are engaged in the battle resulting release of many chemical mediators which derange the internal microenvironment of the uvea. It causes red eye and pain. Excessive protein leakage in the clear internal fluid is causing internal fluid (aqueous & vitreous) turbid which impair light transmission resulting visual impairment.
Presentation of Uveitis: Acute presentation- redness of eye; pain in affected eye; watering from the eye; photophobia or intolerance to light; blurring of vision. These presentations are mainly found in involvement of the anterior part of the uvea (iris & ciliary body) called anterior uveitis. There are presentations, which are less acute mainly found in posterior uveitis. These features are floater (black spot before eye), photopia (flashes of light), metamorphopsia (object seen larger or smaller or different shape). These features sometimes pass unnoticed to the patient.
How to approach a case of Uveitis:
1st step (history):
Uveitis may be the presenting feature of some systemic diseases like ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriasis, Chrohn's disease, Cealiac disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tibulo-interstitial Nephritis etc. These are diseases of autoimmune nature. Tissue reaction occurs spontaneously due to some derangement of the immune system of the body. So it is very important to take history of the patient about the mentioned systemic diseases. Medical records may help. Ophthalmologist should keep it in mind so that systemic diseases might be explored. These patients have the history of low back pain or joint pain like knee, ankle etc associated with redness of different degree with or without pain in eye as well as blurring vision of different degree. In case of rheumatoid arthritis in children there may not be any pain or redness in eye at all. At some stage blurring of vision in the effected eye is the only presentation. If affection occurs in one eye it may go unnoticed to the child. So it is wise to have a routine eye examination by the eye specialist for those who has the systemic diseases mentioned above.
2nd step (Clinical examination):
With slitlamp microscope an ophthalmologist can easily be able to diagnose a case of uveitis revealing the features of uveitis- conjunctival congestion, keratic precipitate (clumping of inflammatory cells on the posterior surface of the cornea), cell flare in the anterior chamber, hypopyon (protein rich fluid in anterior chamber that is within eyeball), synechiae as well as other signs in the eye.
3rd step (diagnostic tool):
Help of diagnostic tools
- B-scan ultrasonography of affected eye
- Flouroscein angiogram of eye.
1. Steroid preparations for short term use only for weeks.
Topical (eye drop) – routinely use, the frequency & duration of which should be exactly judged by an ophthalmologist.
Periocular (injectable form to be given around eye – subtenon, subconjunctival or intravitreal)
Oral – is to augment the topical steroid when steroid drop is not enough to control the episode of uveitis. Oral steroid should be given in a dose schedule properly judged by the ophthalmologist. Usually severe uveitis reaction or autoimmune diseases association needs oral steroid preparation.
Intravenous- steroid injection is used for a loading dose to accelerate the initial concentration of steroid in the affected eye.
2. In case of uveitis with associated systemic autoimmune diseases sometime requires a long term use of systemic/ oral steroid for months together.
When to use steroid for long term?
– Uveitis is chronic in nature.
– Uveitis has chances of recur as in case of autoimmune diseases association.
Precautions in long term use of steroid:
It may cause rise of intraocular pressure (IOP) – so it require regular measurement of IOP and in rise of it should be addressed properly.
Aggravate the hypertension & diabetes. So before starting the steroid it is mandatory to exclude hypertension and diabetes.
Growth retardation & congenital anomalies of fetus would be in pregnant women so it is better to avoid systemic steroid in pregnant women.
Steroid may concentrate in mother's milk resulting growth retardation of the breast feeder baby. It is better to avoid in lactating mother.
Osteoporosis aggravation-Older age group usually suffers from osteoporosis without disease. Osteoporosis means withdrawn of calcium from the bone. So in case of older people or persons are suffering from osteoporosis should be prescribed calcium & vita- D supplement along long terms steroid use.
Weight gain & generalized weakness.
What to do when steroid is not sufficient or contra-indicated?
Immunosuppressive agent: Alternate option is immunosuppressive agent like- methotraxate, immuran, salfasalagin etc. Immunosuppressive agents are also not hazards free. It may cause bone marrow suppression and also cause toxicity to liver. In case of immunosuppressive use it is mandatory to do regular blood count as well as liver function test from starting of immunosuppressive medication till discontinuation.
Fate of Uveitis:
- Complete cure without any residual effect.
- Cataract formation
- CME- It means Chronic Cystoids Macular Edema (collection of fluid in the macula, the most sensitive part of the retinal nerve fiber layer.
- Retinal detachment- It is a separation or splitting of retinal nerve fiber layer.
- Gross visual impairment
- Blindness
- Phthysical eye- shrinkage of eyeball.
- Person suffering from red eye with/without pain & blurring as well as scotoma should attend an eye specialist.
- Pregnant women & lactating mother with red eye deserves special attention in case of long term steroid medication.
- Person having diseases like Ankylosing Spondylitis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, etc. facing red eye should think of uveitis.
- On attending an eye specialist with red eye patient should inform about pregnancy, lactation, low back pain or medication for related diseases mentioned above.
- Be sincere about the long term medication when it required along other laboratory investigations.
- Don't forget- Uveitis is a blinding disease and an ocular emergency.
Dr. Md. Sayedul HoqueMBBS, FCPS, MS (ophth) National Eye Care Centre Ring Road, Shyamoli, Dhaka. Ex-Associate Professor National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital


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Cincinnati Defeats Rutgers 69-38 - Recap
Cincinnati's aerial attack produced 366 yards and the Bearcats produced a 69-38 victory over Rutgers on Saturday at Nippert Stadium.
Cincinnati was a favorite by 10.5 points and came through with an ATS victory for bettors. The game went OVER the consensus closing total of 49.5.
Isaiah Pead rushed for 213 yards, while D.J. Woods added 50 yards in the win. Armon Binns and D.J. Woods added 139 and 97 receiving yards respectively.
Jeremy Deering rushed for 13 yards for Rutgers, while Jordan Thomas added 11 yards. Chas Dodd threw for 335 yards for the Scarlet Knights, while receivers Mark Harrison and Keith Stroud had 240 and 63 yards respectively.
Rutgers was outgained by Cincinnati 661-391 yards in Saturday's match, while the important battle of first downs was won 31-16 by the Bearcats.
Rutgers lost the time of possession battle 33:51/26:09, leaving their defense on the field more than they wanted.
Cincinnati looks to continue their winning ways next game with a battle against Connecticut. Rutgers will aim to get back on the winning track vs Louisville.


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We join the cables to bring you two fabulous hours of blues and roots. Enough rope to hitch yer wagon to! Yeah. Tracks from Raphael Wressnig, Alex Schultz, Lumberjacks, Peter Case, Joshua Jacobson, Ry Cooder, Heavy Medicine, The Record Company, Mike Elrington, Malcolom Holcombe, Matt Taylor, John Moreland, Busby Marou, Jed Rowe, Rod Stewart, 40 Thieves, R.L.Burnside, Jen Cholar, Dan Sultan, Charlie Musselwhite, Tony Joe White, Desert Blues Cartel, Big Daddy Wilson, John Kennedy.
** Australia