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If you had unlimited resources, what nephrology clinical trial would you conduct? That's the big idea behind DreamRCT, a project of UKidney created by Joel Topf, MD, and Jordan Weinstein, MD, in partnership with MedPage Today. Vote for your favorite trial at UKidney.com.
Question: Is weight loss beneficial for obese patients undergoing kidney transplantation?
Obesity (defined as a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2) is a worldwide epidemic that results in increased morbidity and mortality. It costs the U.S. approximately $147 billion annually in healthcare expenditures.
Many transplant centers in the U.S. require kidney transplant candidates to have a BMI <35 kg/m2, although some consider higher BMIs depending on muscle mass (up to 40 kg/m2). While it is well-established that obesity contributes to poor cardiovascular health in the general population, obesity has been found to increase survival in dialysis patients. Therefore, nephrologists generally do not recommend weight loss for these patients since it could adversely affect them.
Patients face many barriers in losing weight to achieve this goal. Fitness programs, diets, and bariatric surgery all pose unique problems. For instance, many patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have underlying coronary artery disease (CAD), essentially excluding them from elective bariatric surgery.
Despite these rules governing transplantation in obese individuals, the available evidence is conflicting and almost entirely retrospective. The aim of this proposal is to conduct a prospective, randomized trial to assess the effect of weight loss on kidney transplant outcomes. We will test whether weight loss with a fitness program plus diet or bariatric surgery is superior to usual treatment in the Weight Reduction Prior to Kidney Transplantation (WREP-KT) Trial.
Inclusion Criteria
- >Age 18
- Pre-emptive kidney transplant candidates, related living and deceased donors
- Patients that have been on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for more than 6 months
- Patients with AVF/AVG
- Patients with BMI >40 kg/m2
Exclusion Criteria
- Patients with evidence of active CAD
- Patients with malignancy or life expectancy less than 1 year
- Patients with tunneled hemodialysis catheters
- Patients with contraindications to bariatric surgery
- Patients who cannot exercise (e.g., amputation, severe osteoarthritis)
- Patients with prior bariatric surgery
- Uncontrolled diabetes (A1c>8)
Primary endpoints
- Delayed wound healing
- Delayed graft function
- 1-year graft survival
Secondary endpoints
- Perioperative complications
- Allograft rejection (cellular or antibody-mediated)
- Hospital length of stay
Expected number of patients to be recruited: 500
Patients will be randomized into three arms:
- Fitness Program: Patients will be provided with an individually tailored exercise program, monitored by a fitness trainer, and attend a weekly weight loss group lead by a behavioral health psychologist and a nutritionist. The goals of this program will include changing eating patterns, eating healthy/making good choices, and identifying triggers to overeating, as well as support from group members.
- Bariatric surgery: Patients that qualify and are good candidates for bariatric surgery (restrictive, malabsorptive, or combination procedures) will also be enrolled. After 10 months, post-bariatric surgery patients will be selected for kidney transplant surgery.
- Control Group: Treatment as usual (patient will be provided with information about weight loss programs and plans without direct supervision).
Kidney transplant recipients will have their appropriate evaluation in transplant clinic and will be evaluated by transplant surgeons, transplant nephrologists, psychologists, dietitians, and social workers. Patients will be encouraged to lose weight for a target BMI of <40kg/m2. This could be achieved either by enrolling in a fitness program, bariatric surgery (which will be analyzed in a subgroup analysis), or a typical approach for weight loss.
Living related and deceased donor recipients will be included. Induction protocols will be at the discretion of the transplant center, as will as maintenance immunosuppression. Perioperative complications will be monitored such as wound dehiscence, delayed graft function, acute rejection, infection rates, etc.
Patients will be followed up with in the first year at months 1, 3, 5, 8, and 12 and then every 4 months. Surveillance protocol biopsies will be at the discretion of the transplant center, but will be recommend at month 1 and 6 after surgery.
Vote for me!
Hector Madariaga, MD, (@HekMagsMD) is currently a transplant nephrology fellow at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He is also part of the first generation of the #NSMC internship and regularly blogs at the Renal Fellow Network.


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[cnn-photo-caption image= [cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/01/art.obamadodd.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Chris Dodd is facing a tough re-election bid in Connecticut."]
(CNN) – Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman lost the Democratic primary in 2006 but won the November election anyway by forming a third party and siphoning votes from Republicans who didn't want progressive Democratic candidate Ned Lamont to take his seat in Washington.
But once Lieberman had secured his re-election, he abandoned the Connecticut for Lieberman party – and now that party may be used to target the state's other senator, Democrat Chris Dodd, who is already facing stiff competition from the Republicans for his 2010 re-election bid.
At issue is a battle over the leadership of the party and its 105 members between an anti-Lieberman (and Dodd) engineering professor and the pro-Lieberman founders of the party who say they have not abandoned it.
"There has been an unbroken chain in the control of the party by the people who are in support of Senator Lieberman," said Stuart R. Korchin, chairman of Connecticut for Lieberman and the first person to register the party in 2006.
But Lieberman and his supporters failed to file what's called "party rules" with the Connecticut secretary of state's office, department spokesman Av Harris said, leaving the door open for someone else to do so. Fairfield University professor John Orman, who opposed Lieberman, was the first to file party rules, and soon after Lieberman's suppporters followed suit.
But Orman died not long after filing the rules, and, said Trinity College engineering professor John Mertens, signed over leadership of the party to him before he passed away.
Critics accuse Mertens of hijacking the party for selfish reasons, and some – even those who had envisioned transforming the party into an anti-Lieberman vehicle – are angry that Mertins is trying to use the party against Dodd. Former state legislator Jonathan Pelto is in the "Mertens is selfish" camp.
"Mertens has corrupted the spirit of the law and is conducting himself in a way in which he and he alone is the beneficiary," he said.
But Mertens, whose platform includes the expanding debt and social issues, said his idea was "about solving problems" and not about himself or Dodd.
"We have had insane government policy when it comes to social issues," he said. "Our drug law policies are largely responsible for the violence in our inner cities."
Mertens told he's frustrated over the two-party system that dominates American politics.
"Career politicians care more about getting re-elected," he said. "They are very short-sighted."
Dodd's campaign, backed by the Connecticut Democratic Party, is not concerned with Mertens' potential candidacy.
Dodd is "focused on the work he has to do in the Senate, advocating on behalf of consumers and increasing affordability and access to healthcare," state party spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said.
Lieberman's offfice, with the senator safely in office for another three years, had no comment.
Mertens said he doesn't think Connecticut voters will have a hard time deciding what kind of candidate he is should he run under the Connecticut for Leiberman banner.
"Anyone who has been paying attention at all should know the Connecticut for Lieberman Party is no longer a pro Lieberman party," he said.
But Korchin, who said he had spoken with Mertens and "it did not go well," said that the professor has "no legal basis to claim any leadership" and that it's "unlikely the party will nominate Mertens for Senate."
In fact, Korchin said, he is considering putting Dodd's name in nomination.
Meanwhile, neither side has taken the issue of who controls the party to court.
Hey, Connecticut-ians:
Y' all vote Republican! Do it!
Get rid of the Dems and Independents and get
George W. Bush back in office! Or one of his shadows.
However it happens and whoever wins hope that whiney nosed leiberman get beat, He supports himself only and is a disgrace in the Dem party.
Lieberman is as much of an independent as Specter is.
Both need to go.
Lieberman has said he'd like to pass only parts of reform.......yeah the parts that only benefit the insurance companies.
Vote him out.
Break up the insurance monopolies......and break up the drug monopolies.....<<<<<by drug...I mean prescriptions.
Senator Dodd needs to go, he and Rep. Barney Frank are big players in the Housing Bubble burst by preventing the Bush administration and republicans regulating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I wish Countrywide had given me a VIP Loan!
It's time for Joe Lieberman to go, as an Independent voter I will not support him again, it's time to replace him with a true democrat.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you get excited about making pasta like we do then you will eventually want to flavour your pasta dough.
One of the most popular flavours to add to pasta is lemon. We use only fresh lemon and the lemon zest. This means that if you are extruding your linguine, be aware that if the zest is too tough or too large, it can get stuck in the die. This can be quite frustrating. The best way to overcome this is to cut your pasta by hand or pass it through a tabletop, handcrank pasta machine.
Italians use a pasta dough that combines two flours. Tipo 00 and durum wheat semolina flour are the go-to choices. The reason for this is that durum wheat semolina flour is used to create an eggless pasta. Therefore when combined, these flours give you the opportunity to add lemon juice.
Pasta dough adding lemon
- 125 grams Tipo 00 flour
- 125 grams Durum wheat flour
- 125 grams of wet ingredients. This should include 2 eggs with the balance being made up with fresh lemon juice
- Finely grated zest of 1 medium lemon
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flours and lemon zest.
- Add the wet ingredients and using a fork, begin to combine.
- Empty the dough onto a clean and lightly floured work surface.
- Knead gently until you have a smooth, soft dough.
- Cover with seran wrap and leave at room temperature for up to 10 minutes before forming your pasta.


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A while ago, H&M ran a set of ads. Some savvy bloggers in the Middle East (Dubai specifically) realized that the ads they got were different from the ads that were running in other Western countries. Check out the side by side comparisons. The ones that are less clothed are the Western ones.
Personally, I see nothing wrong with these companies doing such. It makes sense – they want to try and secure the market over there and the market is more conservative, so it makes sense to do this. Some of the photoshopping looks a little weird (like the sleeve one) but it probably saved them a lot of money instead of taking two separate photoshoots. In fact, I wish the covered up versions of the ads were the ones we got, because the amount of skin people can show in advertising these days just seems to be excessive.
Should companies change their advertising for different countries? Answer your thoughts below in the comments!
One response to "Fashion Companies Cover Up Models to Run Ads in the Middle East"
I liked your article is an interesting technology
thanks to google I found you


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Need to Request Service Or a Quote?
Use the form below and we will address your needs ASAP! Or, simply call the office at 866.850.4257 and we'll be happy to accommodate your request.
Let's Get Started
- Request quote via phone or email
- AHDS will respond and will obtain your site specs, either via phone or in person.
- We will provide you with a comprehensive list of recommendations for your particular need with a WRITTEN quote.
- After quote acceptance. Travis will call to schedule your service.
- Crews will come out at assigned date and time to perform your kitchen exhaust cleaning or fire suppression service. Crews will take Before and After Pics during service (kitchen exhaust cleaning only..
- Leigh will perform a satisfaction call the following morning after service to address any needs. Feel free to request your before/after pics to be emailed to you!!
- Any Service Issues will be addressed promptly by Leigh, Operations Mgr., or our Service Mgr.
- Our customer service tracking system will automatically schedule out your next service. We will call you to schedule an appointment when your next service is due!
- Any billing issues should be addressed to Autumn. AHDS can also process your Visa/Mastercard payment over the phone!
AHDS is THE leader in KEC services for the state of NC. We have run into multiple situations where companies/individuals have misrepresented themselves as AHDS. To prevent this, please understand:
- AHDS ALWAYS makes appointments to service your account. We never 'just show up' unexpected.
- AHDS Techs arrive in uniform.
- AHDS vehicles are clearly marked with company logo/lettering.
- AHDS Techs are not allowed to accept cash as a form of payment


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Thanksgiving Day dawned a nasty gray in our area. It was windy, cold, and rainy. Growing up in New England this was nothing new, but here in the southern states it is usually sunny and to me unseasonably warm.
After sitting around the breakfast table with H's family for a good portion of the morning, I had been up with T.D. since the birds peeped their eyes open, I couldn't sit and let my breakfast burrito turn to a rock in my stomach. I had a whole day of eating ahead of me. I felt like a doughnut. I needed movement. When the collective group still in their pj's declared, it was naptime I almost screamed. NAP TIME? NAPTIME? It's 10:30 people! I can't nap if I'm going to be eating all day in this overheated, full of people house! I need to move! I looked at H and said, "I'm going for a run." My MIL said with wonder, "But it's rainy and cold out there." H unsurprised just asked, "Did you bring cold weather stuff?" Oh yes I did. I had checked the weather and knew that at some point a run/solitude would be necessary. I didn't think it would be a mere 12 hours after our arrival but I needed that run. I didn't care if there was ice on the ground I was getting out there.


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Hello Friends,
We will be serving the following dinner specials tonight:
- Smoked Brisket: Smoked slowly in our smoker, this brisket is delicious! Served with greens beans and sweet potato mash. $16.99
- Baked Striped Bass: Grilled Striped Bass, complemented with a lemon caper butter sauce. Served with Irish salt potatoes and spring vegetables. $16.99
Dinners will be ready beginning at 5:30pm and are available until close at 8:00. Please reserve all orders by phone 202-506-3125 Phone-in orders will receive first priority. Walk-in orders at the shop will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
We are located on the corner of 28th St. and P St. approximately six blocks west of Dupont Circle and 4 blocks north of M St. in Georgetown.
Thank You,
Stachowski Market


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IRS Issues Final Regulations to Facilitate Partial Lump-Sum Payments under Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Many defined benefit pension plans either do not offer lump-sum payments (other than small cash out amounts) or offer either a full lump-sum payment or an annuity form of payment. For those plans that offer an all-or-nothing lump-sum payment, the government believes participants who elect the lump sum may face a greater risk of outliving their retirement savings. The IRS has issued final regulations permitting a plan to explicitly split the accrued benefit into a portion payable as a lump sum and the balance payable in the form of an annuity without requiring the annuity portion to be subject to the Code Section 417(e) actuarial conversion requirements. The final regulations contain specific rules on the calculation of the two portions and include a number of examples that illustrate application of these rules. The final regulations are available?áhere.


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Streaming media makes the Web come alive with audio, video, and animation. Unlike download-oriented technologies such as MP3, streaming gives near-immediate gratification: click on a link, and you're listening or watching within seconds. RealNetworks' RealSystem, which incorporates the company's RealAudio and RealVideo technologies, has long been the most popular streaming platform; RealSystem G2, introduced last year, improves playback quality and authoring options.
To create RealSystem G2 content, you need RealNetworks' new RealProducer Plus G2; to tune in to RealSystem G2 or 5.0 content, there's RealPlayer Plus G2. (Both are available in free versions as well.) Unfortunately, RealProducer falls short of its Windows counterpart in key areas, while RealPlayer is buggy and has stiff hardware requirements (see the accompanying review ).
To encode QuickTime movies and audio files in RealSystem G2 format, you simply drag a source file into RealProducer Plus G2's window and specify your encoding settings. RealProducer Plus G2 supports RealSystem G2's SureStream technology, which dynamically adjusts a clip's playback quality based on network conditions and enables a single RealSystem G2 file to accommodate multiple connection speeds.
RealProducer's cropping feature removes extraneous portions of a video clip. The program can also create a bare-bones HTML page containing the tags necessary to call up a clip and, if you have an FTP program, can transfer an encoded clip to your ISP. These basics aside, RealProducer Plus G2 can't match the broad array of quality-optimizing options in Media 100's $499 Media Cleaner Pro 4.
A key feature missing from RealProducer Plus G2 is support for live encodingthe ability to encode a RealAudio or RealVideo clip in real time from audio and video devices connected to a Mac. RealNetworks says it may add live encoding to a future version; for now, producers needing to produce or archive live Webcasts must use the company's Windows- or Unix-based tools.
RealSystem G2 supports Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), which combines audio, video, images, and text into time-synchronized presentations with Web links, scrolling text, and visual effects. Like its Windows counterpart, RealProducer Plus G2 lacks features for creating SMIL presentations. The $500, Windows-only RealProducer Pro G2 offers basic SMIL authoring, but for now the best way to write sophisticated SMIL is to hand-peck its tags into a text editor. RealProducer Pro G2 also lets you encode an entire collection of files in one fell swoop; RealProducer Plus G2 lacks batch-encoding features.Macworld's Buying Advice
RealProducer Plus G2 is an ideal encoding tool for anyone who occasionally produces RealSystem G2 content. But the program's lack of live- and batch-encoding features make it a second-best choice for streaming professionals. For batch encoding, Media Cleaner Pro 4 and the Windows-based RealProducer Pro G2 are better options; for live encoding, turn to RealNetworks' Windows- or Unix-based tools.
RATING: PROS: Easy to use; very good results. CONS: No live encoding or batch processing. COMPANY: RealNetworks (800/632-8920, https://www.real.com ). LIST PRICE: $150.
August 1999 page: 40


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"I'll pick you up tomorrow at 9 in the morning."
As soon as he could see Amalia entering her building, the sun reflecting in the glass window, Robert looked up the number of one of his favourite hotels in a nice mountain resort; he lingered for a while before dialling, staring blankly at the screen. Should I actually book one room or two? If you fail the woman's test at that particular point, there is no turning back and no making up for it… especially with certain women. In some cases, it's exactly the ones that put up the most impenetrable, holier than thou front, that turn out to be the loosest, and it's usually an easy and safe guess as to how they might react, given the chance to bathe in the depravity they condemn so loudly, yet crave so desperately. The ones that are open about such things, however, tend to be those that constantly surprise you. For some reason, they live with the belief they are above all others, having a very strong sense of entitlement, which spawns exactly from their open-mindedness and sometimes paralyzing bluntness.
The young woman motioned very slowly after she closed the entrance door behind her, leaning her head to one side in such a manner, so that she could catch one more glimpse of the car parked in front. The man to whom she had just bid goodbye was looking up something on his phone, then he dialled someone. She understood. She smiled contented and hurried up to her apartment. Good.
For more sample fragments from Parallel Lives, see: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/396169


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Port Bazinul Nou S.A.
Built between 1909-1923, the "Port Bazinul Nou" is the largest port on the Danube river, provide forwarding and freight services for a wide variety of products.
It is located in the maritime sector of the Danube river, on the left of 79th's marina mile, near to the state border with the Moldova Republic and Ukraine, near to the Customs'Free Zone of Galati city.
By its geographical position, the company is an important strategic point, which provides the connection between the former CIS and Europe.


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Ko te kaikoiora me te tangata mātauranga a Ahorangi Michael Walker tētahi o ngā kaitono ki te wāhanga o te tohu a Te Tuku-a-rangi mō te hauora me te pūtaiao. He tohu tēnei ki ngā tohu o Matariki.
He kairangahau a Michael Walker e hurahura ana i ngā pūtaio tawhito a ngā tīpuna. Hei tāna, kāre he ara i tua atu.
"I was always going to be a scientist I always knew it and it was a case then of which science."
Ko tāna mahi he wetewete i te hononga kei weanga i te whānau a Tangaroa, te aukume me te maramataka.
"I heard it being ridiculed but in fact 50 years later it's being recognised now that Polynesians had known about it probably for several thousand years."
Nāna i poke i tētahi o ngā kaupapa tuakana teina tuatahi ki te whare wānanga hei poipoi i ngā tauira Māori me ngā tauira iwi moutere.
"When I left to do my PhD there were 10,000 students at the university, when I came back there were 30,000 but there weren't any more Māori and Pacific Island kids. I never saw them and I knew then that something was wrong with the university so we said well what can we do?"
He momo ia nā tōna matua a Ranginui Walker, ā, hei tā Michael Walker, he mahi Māori te rangahau.
"Well research is how you find knew things to understand and what happens is that if you're not thinking about what you want in the future you're actually just sitting still. What you need to be doing is thinking about the world around you."
Hei te 21 o Hūrae tū ai te pō tuku taonga ki Tāmaki Paenga Hira.


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A Glimpse To The Future of Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is still in its baby stages but it's already got many into certain debates regarding its future. The lack of effort in the past VR styles is viewed as a reason for this and it's only now that different tech companies are expanding their efforts in finding a breakthrough in this popular technology. Sony's PlayStation VR, HTC's Vibe and Facebook's Oculus Rift are among the popular brands out there and with the VR games that are already available in the market, you'll surely get a taste of what…Read More


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The announcement today of the Verizon only Motorola Droid Turbo, had many Ausdroid readers dropping us a line in a variety of ways asking about an international release. Unfortunately with Droid branding, that phone is only ever going to be headed to Verizon, but it looks like Motorola may be about to announce an international version – at least in Brazil.
According to tecnoblog.net, they've received an invite to an event scheduled for November 5th. The invite which doesn't name any phones specifically, but does feature the rear of a phone which has the same ballistic nylon rear as the newly announced Droid Turbo.
Motorola Maxx has been thrown in the ring as a possible name for the phone, which in theory follows on from the Razr Maxx and Razr Maxx HD phones from a couple of years back which both featured massive batteries. The Droid Turbo too contains some pretty great specs, which include :
- 5.2″ QHD (2560×1440) resolution SuperAMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3
- 2.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor
- 32/64GB storage options
- 21MP Rear Camera with Dual-LED Flash and 2MP Front Facing Camera
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC
- Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat), planned upgrade to v5.0 (Lollipop)
- 143.5×73.3×7.8mm @ 169grams
- 3900 mAh Li-Po battery
The international version should have more compatible 3G/LTE bands than the Droid Turbo, which is currently only really suitable for the Verizon network in the US. Hopefully too the international version will do away with the capacitive buttons that Verizon seems to have included on the Droid Turbo.
Whether we see it here in Australia is also another issue, with the Motorola Razr Maxx and Maxx HD never making their way to our shores. Still, there's always the import route for those out there who are disillusioned with the size of the Nexus 6.
Are you interested in an international variant of the Droid Turbo?


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- Circuit, Criminal, Chancery, Business Courts & Three-Judge Panels
- Supreme Court
- Court of Appeals
- Court of Criminal Appeals
- Appellate Court Clerk's Office
- General Sessions Courts
- Juvenile & Family Courts
- Municipal Courts
- Court Clerks
- Court Rules
Business Court Docket
The Business Court Docket Pilot Project was originally established by Supreme Court order in 2015 and was extended in April and December 2017, with slight modifications. Since its founding, 145 cases have requested transfer to the specialized docket with litigants ranging from large, national companies to small businesses that meet the criteria set forth by Supreme Court Order.
The specialized court docket has developed a body of corporate and commercial jurisprudence covering business topics ranging from contract interpretation to corporate e-discovery to business organization to trade secrets and more. Detailed decisions can be found here.
See the Supreme Court's December 2017 Order for details on procedure for requesting designation to the Business Court Docket.
Chancellor Anne Martin serves as the Business Court Docket judge. See the latest Court Order.


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Netflix last week released a series about Israeli spy, Eli Cohen, who had infiltrated Syria in the 1960s. The six-episode series sought to glamorize the image of the spy, taking into account only the Israeli version of accounts. The show was after all written and directed by Israeli director Gideon Raff and sought to present Israeli intelligence "heroics" in contrast with corruption and betrayal among the Syrian political class.
The series, starring comedic actor Sacha Baron Cohen, was rife with factual and political errors and omits the Syrian version of the story. Few Syrian accounts exist. One was recounted by Judge Salah al-Dalali, who presided over the court that sentenced Cohen to death. The Mossad spy operated in Syria between 1962 and 1965 when he was arrested and executed.
Syrian writers and historians pointed to ten historical errors committed in "The Spy":
1- President Amin al-Hafez: The series showed that he met and struck a friendship with Cohen when he served as Syria's military attache in Argentina. Hafez himself denied the relationship during a television interview in 2001. He explained that he was in Argentina in 1962 long after Cohen had arrived in Damascus. He revealed that he only met Cohen after his arrest in 1965. Claims of the friendship was promoted by Egyptian dailies at the time as part of a campaign against Hafez over a backdrop of political tensions. No document or picture exist to prove the relationship between Hafez and Cohen.
2 - Hafez al-Assad and Amin al-Hafez: Assad was not a lieutenant general as claimed by the series. He was an officer deployed in Egypt. Amin al-Hafez did not come to power after the March 8, 1963 coup in Syria as shown in the series. He was appointed interior minister and then assumed the presidency of the revolutionary command council. He became president on July 27 later that year.
3 - Michel Aflaq: He did not meet with Cohen and did not give him a list of people to invite, including Prime Minister Khaled al-Azm, for a March 8 soiree. Azm had never visited Cohen in his life. Contrary to what the series claimed, Aflaq did not have information about the army's activity during the March 8 coup.
4 - Abdul Karim Zahreddine: An army chief of staff, he never set foot in Cohen's house, but his nephew, reservist Maazi, did. Maazi was Cohen's friend and released from the army on the day of the coup. He later assumed minor positions in public office. He used to meet with Cohen at his house or at the al-Kamal cafe in central Damascus. He was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison in 1965.
5 - Maazi Zahreddine and the front: Maazi escorted Cohen to the Syrian front with Israel in 1962. It was claimed that the spy obtained military intelligence that was vital to the June 5, 1967 defeat during Six-Day War. However, there is a five-year period between the visit and the defeat, raising questions over just how vital the information actually was. Moreover, officers deployed at the front and military positions were repeatedly changed after March 8, 1963 and later in 1966. A western expert revealed earlier this week that Cohen's mission was not aimed at gathering information about the front, but cracking down on Nazi officers who were staying in Damascus. He was also tasked with following up on the situation of Jews in the Syrian capital.
6 - Deputy defense minister: The series claimed that Cohen was considered for the position of "deputy defense minister". No such position had existed at the time. It was introduced in 1970. Moreover, such a position is restricted to military figures and no civilian can occupy it.
7 - Ahmed Suweidani: He later became chief of staff. He was not head of Hafez's security in Argentina. The scene from the series where Cohen secretly enters Hafez's office and takes photographs of classified documents is pure fiction. The series did get Suweidani's suspicions against Cohen right. An expert revealed: "He was suspicious of Cohen from day one. He played a central role in exposing and arresting him in 1965."
8 - Execution: The series showed Damascene Majed Sheikh al-Ard doffing his hat to Cohen out of sorrow and respect the moment he was hanged in al-Marjeh square. A historian said that it is well-known that Sheikh al-Ard was deceived by Cohen. He was one of his victims.
He met Cohen in 1962 on board a ship that was sailing from Europe to Beirut. Cohen ingratiated himself to Sheikh al-Ard and entered Syria with him through Lebanon under the alias Kamel Amin Thabet. Sheikh al-Ard helped Cohen rent a furnished apartment on Abu Rummaneh street in Damascus. The expert added: "The relationship between the two men did not go any further because Sheikh al-Ard had no information of use to the spy." Moreover, he once spoke about his admiration of Adolf Hitler, which immediately caused friction between him and Cohen.
Sheikh al-Ard did not witness Cohen's execution and did not doff his hat to him. He was in jail, serving a life sentence. He was held in Qalaa prison in Damascus and later transferred to Palmyra prison where he died in his cell reportedly of suicide.
Neither Hafez, not his wife, were present at the execution. Another fabrication is the disgusting storyline about the sexual relationship between Hafez's wife and Cohen and allegedly with the approval of her husband.
9 - Infiltration of society: The series claimed that Cohen had wormed his way into Syrian society and befriended influential figures. In fact, he only made friends with B and C class figures. He avoided top rank officials out of fear of being exposed. In 2004, Dalali told the writer that Cohen was "just an ordinary spy." He was buried in a cave by the al-Dimas road. Later his remains were dug up and buried in an undisclosed location.
10 - Abu Rummaneh neighborhood: The series' depiction of the neighborhood looks more like Talaat square in Cairo. It also claimed that a Russian officer helped detect radio waves, as part of communication with Israel, coming from Cohen's apartment and which led to his discovery. There are four accounts of how he was exposed: by the Russian officer, nearby Indian embassy that detected radio interference, Egyptian intelligence and Suweidani.


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There should be more of this! I've always said multi-storey buildings should have internal spiral slides, a la The Magic Faraway Tree!
This is also a very clever piece of social media - viewed 2.2 million times, its an ad for Volkswagen, but people will share it because it makes them smile and is unexpected.
Sourced from YouTube, 11 June 2010


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Tag Archives: Tiana
12 things I learned from Disney Princesses
Many people often criticize Disney for planting unrealistic images in the heads of children about appearance, love, friendship and everything else. Personally, I think that it is more important what parents teach their kids so they know that a movie … Continue reading
Posted in Disney Obsession Tagged adventure, Aladdin, animals, Ariel, Asia, Aurora, Belle, Brave, childhood, children, Cinderella, Disney Obsession, Disney Princess, diversity, ethnicity, exciting, experience, family, Feminism, friendship, Frozen, fun, growing up, Jasmine, Kiss the Frog, Merida, movies, Mulan, my opinion, Orient, Pocahontas, popculture, relationships, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, thesis, Tiana Leave a comment
You are never too old for a Disney movie!
Ever since I was a little girl, I've been a huuuge Disney fan. I can't think of anything that I loved more, except maybe for Barbie, but Disney really is the best. The first movie I watched was Aladdin, followed by … Continue reading
Posted in Disney Obsession, Movie Mania Tagged 101 Dalmatians, Aladdin, animation, Bambi, Belle, childhood, Cinderella, Disney Obsession, Disney Princess, DVD, Elsa, Elton John, emotions, Frozen, Kiss the Frog, Lion King, Marry Poppins, memories, movie, Mulan, music, Nemo, Pocahontas, Snow White, songs, The Beauty and the Beast, Tiana Leave a comment


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Closure Date Announced for Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack
US - The commercial and recreational harvest of greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico will be closed at 12:01 a.m. on August 25, 2014, and remain closed until January 1, 2015.
The 2014 landings data indicate the 409,000-pound commercial annual catch target and the 888,839-pound recreational annual catch target will be harvested by August 24, 2014.
During the closure:
- Commercial harvest or possession of greater amberjack is prohibited.
- Recreational harvest or possession of greater amberjack is prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a valid Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish vessel permit or a reef fish charter/headboat permit.
This closure is necessary to protect the greater amberjack resource. This population is considered overfished (the population is too low).


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The augmentation plan aims to replace water use that damages senior surface water rights. The plan can augment depletions from household wells, commercial wells, pond evaporation and surface water diversions. Augmentation water can be used to replace depletions in Custer County and beyond. It also can be traded up and down the Arkansas River through complex water exchanges.
When a well owner purchases augmentation shares, water does not come to their property. The actual water goes to senior surface water rights holders. There is no guarantee an individual well will produce water or that it will not dry up over time. In fact, augmented wells in fractured rock areas can significantly increase the probability of drying up neighboring wells.
Our opposition comes down to a few issues. The district once again failed to communicate with Custer County officials and residents, as well as many in southern Fremont County, as it did in its two previous attempts. Those attempts were withdrawn due to opposition from landowners in this region. This third attempt has drawn more than 50 protests from water rights holders and other interested parties in the affected areas.
Colorado water law protects surface water rights but is lacking when it comes to subsurface water and aquifers. According to U.S. Geological Survey staff, there is no information on the nature and behavior of the fractured rock aquifers inside the augmentation zone. To our knowledge, the district is not publicly pursuing such studies. Thus, the basic science needed to evaluate the nature and magnitude of potential injury caused by this augmentation plan is not being developed. Prior to a water court decree, it is the district's burden to demonstrate that no injury will occur. Once an augmentation plan is decreed by water court, the burden of proof shifts to the injured party, necessitating expenditures for legal and engineering fees far beyond what most landowners could afford.
Many of our conservation property owners have experienced injury to subsurface water supplies over the years due to excessive well drilling, coupled with a pervasive drought. Three of the driest years ever recorded for Colorado have occurred since 2002. The hard-working people and landowners of this region deserve an open, honest and science-based process that can stand the light of day. We are committed to collaborative work for the common good. This augmentation plan – weak on science, launched in secrecy and adversarial in nature – is not the way to wisely steward water, which is the lifeblood of our communities, economies, landscape and future.
Larry Vickerman, president
San Isabel Land Protection Trust Board of Directors


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Our latest project made it's debut last week at a #TexasMutual Insurance Company Safety Summit held in Austin. In 512Tech.com, Omar Gallaga of the Austin American Statesman did a nice write-up of the construction safety virtual reality app that offers safety information in English and Spanish, and we are hoping will make construction workers--especially the younger crop, take notice of safe practices that could save their lives.
The free app, for viewing with Google Cardboard, is available for SDK and IOS platforms from the App store under Safety in a Box, or you can download it at http://txsafetybox.com


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Help us reach our goal of $1,000 for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
This year, we will be Spinning at Philly Spin 4 Crohn's & Colitis to help raise Reseach Funds to Acclerate Cures in IBD .
We spin4 the 3.2 million American adults and children affected by these digestive diseases. While many suffer in silence, Spin4 Crohn's & Colitis cures will bring the community together in a fun, energetic and supportive atmosphere.
Your donation will help support local patient programs, as well as important research projects. This cause is very important to us and we appreciate your help as we fight for cures!
The more money we raise, the closer we will be to making life more manageable for patients who live with these diseases every day.
We Spin4 Cures!
About Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are both major categories of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). IBD affects an estimated 1.6 million Americans. These chronic diseases tend to run in families and they affect males and females equally. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract and may affect any part from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition limited to the colon, otherwise known as the large intestine.
The Mission of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is: To cure and prevent Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis through research, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these digestive diseases through education and support.


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by Carl V Phillips
The CDC issued a press release about children and e-cigarettes again today (which is basically just another way of repeating the title of this post). Their headline claim itself is actually true (assuming they know how to count — not a foregone conclusion): More than 16 million children live in states where they can buy e-cigarettes legally. Of course, they don't happen to mention why this is the case, and they go on to offer other lies. Continue reading


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The Successful CEO's Eight Days of Christmas
Christmas is, without question, the best time of year in our household. Family and friends gather, and I usually get some downtime. Over the years I've developed a regime of assessment, renewal, and recharging that I thought I'd share with other business leaders like you.
During this slower season, it might be nice to just shut down and recharge completely. But if you're like me and you can never completely relax, having a set of activities you can do over eight days gives you a way to prepare for the coming year while helping you feel both recharged and reinvigorated.
Why eight? Most of us high-performing CEOs won't take the proverbial twelve days for ourselves. Eight is a little more doable. So here are my eight suggestions to help CEOs feel ready for 2019!
Day 1: Take stock
Start the season off by stepping back and taking stock of your business. This could be a morning of looking at the forecast or scanning your competitors' websites. Whether you choose to do an internal or external assessment, use this slower time to look at your business through a different lens. Resist the urge to take action. Instead, use this day as an opportunity to take in as much as you can about your business without operating at the usual frenetic pace.
Day 2: Read and read some more
As leaders, we have an insatiable appetite to learn. Christmas is my favorite time to read everything I haven't had the time to get to. Be very specific in your approach. I start with the macro and work back to my business—I find this offers me the best context on my corporate strategy. For example, I start by reading the New York Times business section, articles from global business forums, and websites that have truly great content on trends and insights. Then I work back geographically into the broader local market and then to my specific industry.
Day 3: Take care of your body
My wife is Italian. Need I say more? The food and the traditions of Christmas on the plate and in the glass are spectacular, as I'm sure they are for you. The usual routine is out the window during this season, so go with the flow but remember to take care of your body. Over Christmas I typically ramp up my exercise to balance what I know is coming. Take this day to plan new physical activities you can incorporate into your lifestyle, either temporarily or into the new year.
Day 4: Set your personal goals for the year ahead
Every Christmas I revisit my goals for the past year and write new goals for the year ahead. I've lost track of how long I've been doing this, but it is truly a fantastic exercise. I look forward to it as it usually involves my immediate family setting goals together for a family trip, an experience, or an activity we will all do together. When you're setting your personal goals, include specific, tangible actions that will help you achieve them.
Day 5: Seek out other CEOs and connect
Because many workplaces slow down, Christmas is one of the best times to get together with other CEOs. I gather with a group of fellow leaders and plan specific one-on-ones with others to discuss areas of my business. This gives me different perspectives and valuable insights. I specifically target leaders that have very different leadership styles from my own. This provides me with the broadest view of the business and ensures my blind spots are covered.
Day 6: Celebrate your team's success
You likely have a company Christmas party, a great opportunity to have everyone on the team come together. Why not go a step further to show your team how much you value them? For example, I handwrite a personal note to all senior leaders in the company, thanking them for all they've done over the past year and customizing it by mentioning a personal contribution that impacted the company.
Day 7: Optimize your Christmas networking
If you've had your head down in the business, this is a great time to network and see what's going on around you. I've learned a great deal from the Christmas party circuit, getting insights on emerging trends, exciting startups, and the outlook for the year ahead. I try to be very strategic in balancing these work-related events with family priorities. If you plan carefully and attend the Christmas parties that will give you the most information, you'll find there's room for both.
Day 8: Rest and recharge
Lastly, take the time to rest and recharge. As leaders, we need this time to make sure we're ready for the new year. Take this day to do things that you enjoy and find relaxing. For me, that's long walks with the family and our dogs, some extended time sitting by the fireplace with a book I've been meaning to get to and reading the New York Times Sunday edition from cover to cover with good coffee and classical Christmas carols playing for ambience.
I hope you all have a memorable holiday season. On behalf of all of us at CEO Insights, my sincere best wishes for a safe and rejuvenating Christmas and a great 2019!
Larry Kaumeyer
CEO Insights
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Abode of Peace
John Shuck
First Presbyterian Church
Elizabethton, Tennessee
April 26, 2009
Surah 10:24-25
The likeness of this present life is like water We made descend from the sky. The plants of the earth, such as men and beasts are wont to eat, grow diverse because of it—until, when earth has assumed its ornament and is decked out in all its finery, and its people think they hold it in their power, Our command descends upon it by night or day, and We turn it into stubble, as though yesterday it had never bloomed. Even so do We make clear the signs for a people who reflect.
God calls to the Abode of Peace and guides whomsoever He wills to a path that is straight.
John Shuck
First Presbyterian Church
Elizabethton, Tennessee
April 26, 2009
Surah 10:24-25
The likeness of this present life is like water We made descend from the sky. The plants of the earth, such as men and beasts are wont to eat, grow diverse because of it—until, when earth has assumed its ornament and is decked out in all its finery, and its people think they hold it in their power, Our command descends upon it by night or day, and We turn it into stubble, as though yesterday it had never bloomed. Even so do We make clear the signs for a people who reflect.
God calls to the Abode of Peace and guides whomsoever He wills to a path that is straight.
On Friday the confirmation class visited the Muslim Community Center of the Northeast. We attended Friday prayer. On Friday afternoon at 1:30 the call to prayer is sounded and people gather at the musalah (place of prayer). In addition to prayer a sermon is given.
I don't think all of them are the same, but at this particular musalah, there is a separate place for women and men. The guys and I were in the front part and the women were behind a window. It is a one way mirror. The women could see and hear, but the men couldn't see them.
We were given a brief tour beforehand by Taneem Aziz. Friday is not like Sunday for Christians. After the prayer, they return to work. They have education classes on Sundays. On the wall of one of the children's classes I could see where they were learning about the principles of Islam and the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). To say "peace be upon him" is a sign of respect.
Next to Muhammad's name were his qualities, "trustworthy, kind, loyal." Muhammad is a model for how to live in the world.
Taneem invited us to either watch or participate. He said that before prayer, we should wash feet, hands and face. In the restroom is a place to wash your feet. The guys thought that was pretty cool, so they and I washed our feet and hands and face.
The speaker was from Texas. The Muslim Community Center doesn't have an imam, so the person who is most familiar with the Qur'an is the one who gives the sermon. On occasion they will have a guest speaker like they did Friday.
We were introduced to him beforehand and he was impressed and pleased that we wanted to learn about Islam.
We went into the Musalah, the call to prayer was recited by Taneem, and people began to gather. We sat on the carpet. The sermon was interesting. He was encouraging Muslims to make relationships with non-Muslims. It is important to do that so that non-Muslims can overcome stereotypes about Islam. These stereotypes include equating Muslims with terrorism.
"Terrorism does not have a religion," he said.
He mentioned us with gratitude. It is important for Muslims and non-Muslims to find common ground and to work together for peace he told us.
After the sermon, we gathered in two parallel lines, shoulder to shoulder. The guys asked me what to do, and I said, "I don't know, just follow along." Following the lead of the others, facing Mecca, we bowed, kneeled and prostrated when they did.
I found it to be moving. There is something that binds people when they pray together, especially close together. We were connected beyond the differences of culture, class, and religion to surrender to the Source of all that is.
When the prayer had finished Taneem and his college-age daughter, spoke to us in one of the classrooms. They answered questions and invited us to a potluck. On the second Saturday of every month, they have a common meal. I said I would bring this invitation back to us, and on a Saturday that works, we can schedule that time.
His daughter wears the hijab, the head covering. Most of the time when she goes out with her mother to shop, they are treated with respect. But now and then they will receive comments such as "Go back to Iraq" or "Go back to where you came from." She is born in the United States, so she already is where she came from.
They never confront. They never return hostilities. That is part of their reality. Most of the time they are treated well, but hostilities against them can surface. He said to the youth that they can be helpful in speaking out against misinformation against Muslims. Now, we have prayed together. Now, we know each other, face to face.
I asked what it meant to be a Muslim. And his daughter put it quite eloquently and simply:
"It's a way of life. I begin each day saying, 'Bismallah (in the name of God).'"
The youth will have their own interpretations of the day. For me, I felt another point of connection with our Muslim neighbors.
What is Islam? What is this way of life? Islam means among many things to surrender or to submit. It is not to surrender or to submit to another human being or to a doctrine or to culture or to creation or any to created thing. Islam is to surrender to God. God (Allah in Arabic) is that which is beyond all names. God is the reality beyond all realities. A Muslim is one who surrenders to God alone.
A Muslim is more than a practitioner of a religion. It is a way of life. Taneem said something very interesting. "All children are born Muslim." Traditional Christianity says that children are born in sin. Islam says the opposite. As we grow we forget who we are. Islam is the way of remembering who we are and whose we are.
When non-Muslims see Islam from the outside we tend to see practices, rituals, and rules.
Muslims believe this. Muslims believe that.
We compare what we see with what we believe or do. That is all we can see. That is OK as far as it goes. But that only gets us to the outside, to the external religious practices. I think it is possible if we allow ourselves to be vulnerable to see more than that.
These external practices are a path or a way to the heart.
This is one of the reasons I am engaging us in reading a translation of the Qur'an this year as well as finding ways to connect with our Muslim neighbors. The goal is to search for and respect the heart, which is a metaphor for the sacred experience of surrendering to God.
The other reason is to become aware of stereotypes and to dismantle them. On Friday morning there was a message on the church answering machine. It was from a church in Johnson City inviting us to a conference on "Radical Islam." I knew where that was going--a bunch of Radical Christians engaging in some fear-mongering.
Would you like to learn about Islam? Here is a novel idea. Talk to Muslims. This is why we took the confirmation class to the Muslim Community Center. When they hear negative things about Islam or Muslims, they can know and perhaps even say that isn't true.
Surahs 9-13 is the reading for May. I chose today 10:24-25. One of the principles of Islamic spirituality is that the created order is a sign or a parable for the mystery of God.
Because we live inside the created order we take it for granted. When things go well we tend to think we are responsible. We think we hold it in our power. We are entitled. We think it is our right. This is human arrogance. The wise person, the one who reflects, recognizes that life is transitory. At times there is nourishing rain. At other times drought. This is not simply about weather patterns. This is about our own lives.
Sometimes life goes well. Sometimes it doesn't. Life is change. The wise person does not put his or her life or value in that which changes, but in the Source beyond change. In the Bible story about Jonah, the prophet is on the hill, bummed that God does not destroy Nineveh but allows the people to live.
In the story, God commands a plant to grow and provide Jonah shade. Jonah likes that. Then God tells a worm to destroy the plant. Jonah is angry, "angry enough to die," says the text. Then God tells Jonah:
'You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?'Islamic spirituality is the invitation to consider the Source of life not just the circumstances. In so doing we will discover blessing, the "Abode of Peace."
A church member gave me this book. It is called The Heart of the Qur'an: An Introduction to Islamic Spirituality by Lex Hixon. Neil Douglas-Klotz provides a forward and commentary.
Hixon take a number of passages from the Qur'an, meditates on them, and provides his own commentary from his own personal meditation. After I chose this passage, I discovered that Hixon commented on it. Here is his meditation:
Contemplate life as fresh rain showered abundantly on receptive ground from the Ever-Present Source, Who is like the vast sky. This pure rainwater, mingling with the earth, causes the boundless variety of seeds to sprout and flourish, providing ample nourishment for all creatures. Imagine the spiritual blindness of those who deny the existence of the Original Source, the very sky from which life-giving water descends, and who insist that they alone have power over the fertile expanse of this earth, turned fruitful and beautiful by the rain of life. With terrible suddenness, during night or day, a ray of light like fire can radiate from the Source of Power and reduce rich orchards and pastures to fields of straw, without leaving a trace of the abundance experienced only moments before. For those who meditate deeply, this parable from the Source of Wisdom presents a clear teaching to rely upon the Ultimate Source alone. Thus the Voice of Allah invites human beings home into Divine Peace and guides them along the Direct Path of surrender. These souls return to the Single Source, along the noble way that is called Islam. P. 49The heart of Christianity is similar. "Seek first," said Jesus, "The realm of God."
There is, I think, a common word, a way of life that binds humanity beyond all of our differences. Our various religions and practices show us this way. It is a way to the heart of life, to the heart of God, and to the Abode of Peace.


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Jan. 7, 2008 -- Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months may help prevent asthma, eczema, and food allergies in high-risk babies, but there is little evidence that delaying the introduction of specific foods makes a difference, the nation's leading group of pediatricians now says.
In a newly published policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) abandons a previous call for the gradual introduction of foods typically associated with allergies in high-risk children.
The earlier guidelines recommended delaying the introduction of cow's milk until after a child's first birthday, eggs until age 2, and tree nuts, peanuts, and fish until age 3.
"We just do not have the studies to back this up," study researcher author Frank R. Greer, MD, tells WebMD. "If a child is going to be allergic to peanuts or eggs, it doesn't seem to matter [after 4 to 6 months] when you introduce these foods."
There is also no convincing evidence to justify telling moms to avoid these foods during pregnancy and while they are nursing, the new report shows.
What About Formulas?
Published in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics, the report revisits and revises recommendations made seven years ago by the AAP.
Among the major findings:
- Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months, compared with feeding regular formula made from cow's milk, appears to help protect high-risk children against milk allergy and eczema in the first two years of life, the report states.
- There is "modest evidence" that special formulas that are extensively or partially hydrolyzed may prevent eczema in infants. Formulas such as Nestle's Good Start and Mead Johnson's Enfamil Gentlease have milk proteins that are broken down, making them easier to digest.
- More study is needed to determine whether the benefits of these extensively or partially hydrolyzed formulas for allergic disease prevention extend into later childhood and adolescence.
- There is "no convincing evidence" that soy-based formulas help prevent allergic disease in high-risk children.
"If there is a family history of allergy problems, it is clear that moms should breastfeed exclusively for at least four months," study co-author Scott H. Sicherer, MD, tells WebMD. "If that isn't possible and a formula is needed, don't pick a typical soy formula."
Long-Term Impact Unknown
The new guidelines apply only to babies with a high risk of developing allergic disease, not those who already have asthma, food allergies, or eczema, Sicherer points out.
The authors conclude that more research is needed to document the long-term effect of dietary interventions in infancy for preventing allergic disease after early childhood.
Sicherer says doing away with the recommendation to delay the introduction of certain foods will probably have little practical impact because few parents were following them.
An associate professor of pediatrics at New York City's Mount Sinai Medical Center, Sicherer says the food restriction guideline may have even made the parents of children with allergic diseases feel responsible.
"Moms who think they caused their child's milk allergy or egg allergy by introducing these foods too soon can relax," he says. "We don't have the evidence to put moms on a guilt trip."


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Get our Planes, Trains & Autombiles Scavenger Hunt courtesy of Ray Hintz & StuMinStuff.com! It's an awesome list of items that you would use to travel and perfect if you are taking a trip.
Scavenger hunts are a fantastic way to help teach the importance of teamwork and communication. It's also an easy way to host a fun afternoon with your group! While this is great for a cross country adventure, you can play this one anytime. If you decide to host it as an event, remember that you will be traveling around and will likely need a few bucks for gas, food and some prizes, but other than that, you are good to go.
Over the next 40 days, we will be sharing one scavenger hunt each day, but if you absolutely can't wait to see them all or want them all in one place, you can download the Kindle version on Amazon!
Today, we continue our scavenger hunt list with a Planes, Trains & Automobiles Scavenger Hunt.
PREP TIME – 10-15 minutes
ITEMS NEEDED – Drivers, PDF Printouts for Each Team, Prizes (optional)
GAME TIME – 3-4 Hours
PARTICIPANTS – Everyone (Teams of 4-5)
Print the Planes, Trains & Automobiles Scavenger Hunt before you start. Once your group arrives, take a moment to determine how many teams you will need, separate your group into teams, and assign them drivers.
Give each team a list of items to look for and send them out. Make sure to give them a time in which they need to be back.
Once they arrive back from the hunt, have them bring in their items to be scored one by one. Keep a record of their points and announce the top scores to the entire group, concluding with the winning team!
Stay tuned for more great Scavenger Hunts. Happy Hunting!
1. If you are playing as an event, make sure you have your drivers lined up beforehand. They also need to understand that driving safely is a top priority!
2. Create an excel sheet for the items on the list and a breakout for the score. If you are unable to do so, have someone set it up! This will greatly expedite the tallying process. If you have a large group, have multiple people tallying scores.
3. Award the winning team some fun travel snacks or cool travel themed items!
Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!


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17 one bedrooms
24 two bedrooms
Bedford, New Hampshire
Dakota's Kensington Woods project in Bedford, New Hampshire, includes the construction of a single three-story wood frame building containing 17 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom units. Apartments feature open concept floor plans, spacious bedrooms, and modern kitchens with Energy Star appliances. Units also have a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) unit that provides continuous fresh air while also enhancing energy efficiency.
Located in the northeast corner of Bedford, Kensington offers an attractive suburban setting with convenient access to routes 3 and 101, I-293 and I-93, and to the cities of Manchester and Nashua. Many amenities can also be found within a short drive of the apartments.
Construction began in May 2016. Kensington began welcoming its first residents in the summer of 2017. Total development costs are estimated at $9.6 million.


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By Peter Ricci
Mitt Romney doubled down on his earlier promises and commitments for the U.S. housing market late last week, releasing a white paper that contained more information about some of the policy initiatives floated on his campaign website.
Romney, as well as President Obama, has fielded considerable criticism in recent weeks for lacking any specific housing policy in his campaign for the presidency, and it would appear the Republican nominee is attempting to quell some of those criticisms.
Romney Housing Policy – The Anti-Obama
As Romney made clear in his initial proposals, his housing policies can be aptly described as the antithesis of President Obama, and he further developed those ideas in the white paper, which spends its first half critiquing the President's own housing policies. Once that concludes, though, here are the main points the white paper covers:
- GSE Reform – Romney reaffirms his commitment to reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, equating the two firms with the infamous "Too Big to Fail" policy and promising "a long-term, sustainable solution for the future of housing finance reform in our country."
- Vacant Homes – Romney also returns to the topic of the government's REO holdings, stating that he'll sell the government's 200,000 or so vacant properties to private investors, who will then rent the properties.
- Foreclosure Alternatives – Also on the distressed property front, Romney states he'll offer more alternatives to foreclosure for struggling homeowners, such as short sales, deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure and shared appreciation.
- Financial Regulations – And finally, Romney says he'll make "sensible" financial regulations a part of his housing policy, and will usher in a new era of normal lending standards that "will allow banks to approve loans to families with good credit rather than rejecting their mortgage applications."
Romney Housing Policy – The Anti-Obama?
Interestingly, Romney's housing policy does not seem very different from Obama's. As Business Week has argued, Romney's plan for vacant homes sounds quite similar to what the FHFA is currently working towards, and the Obama Treasury Department is currently pursuing plans to revamp the GSE system. But what are your thoughts on Romney's housing policy?


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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference JUN TAKAHASHI'S GRACES:
gorgeous.. absolutely gorgeous
whoa! they're half creepy, half cool. i love the gigantic Grace(?) looking down on the girl. soooooo cool.
also, congrats on your new shoe line!!! as soon as it comes out i'm going to make a beeline to UO and buy at least half your shoes. they are so amazing.
So imaginative and beautiful.
Absolutely A M A Z I N G ! ! !
i love all the photo's, that would have been amazing to go to :)
xx. A
you're right, those creatures are absolutely fascinating.
Amazing...but creeepy! I can't really decide if I like them or not!
Lily xxxx
Wow, purely awesome
aren't they just adorable? i love their names...like some alien, benevolent force. i like the little ones in trees. i wish someone would fill trees near me with them...they could shine little lights on people walking home in the dark.
i think they'd be quite at home in the labyrinth too...
I'd like to have them in my garden
I love the mixed emotions they give off. They make you feel slightly melancholy yet they're still cheerful and slightly funny with an undertone of creepyness, much like Jun Takashi's collections.
These are fabulous. Although they look strange, they aren't creepy at all. They're kind of cute now that I think about it.
hey, this is really cool!
wow this is really amazing!!
These are eerily beautiful..the photos are incredible.
Thanks for sharing these, the Graces are truly an entrancing creature...
Too cool
Absolutely stunning artwork.
tottemo sugoi desu nee....Takahashi-san wa honto ni jouzu na hito desu!!
Thank u for this post, Ive been wondering about his work since weeks ago, cuz I just met sum Japanese asking whether Takahashi-san is famous here (in indonesia) or not...hehe and I couldnt seem to find nice pics like urs also....
keep it up Jane, ur blog is very inspiring :)
ganbatte ne!
see ya!
hey, what happened with your hair? I'm really curious!
Wow I love it. I love how some adults can grow up in the same world as others but keep the imagination of their childhood intact. xx
wow! that's very interesting.
I wish I knew bout this when I was there -__-
I am sure you will visit more interesting places than me ^^ can't wait - thanks for sharing
Jane is adorable, but please the girl is 17 and owns every new iconic shoe each season? She has a way with clothes, but is obviously a very privileged young lady. What I find more inspiring are the girls and women who use their creativity to make themselves stand out without spending a grand on a pair of shoes! To me, those are the real muses. - taken from nymag.com
God... absolutely haunting and gorgeous.
This reminds me of Doctor Who something..
Wow, what a fascinating story. I had to spend a few minutes 'visiting' this place, and the Graces (who I can't tell are good or evil, either), as a way of resting my head from all the noise after reading thru the over 200 comments yesterday (including two of my own: I hadn't realised the first went thru - I lost it in the shuffle, sorry).
To think that while all these bad (& very genuinely good) vibes were being bandied about your blog yesterday, you and your mom were out having this magic experience. You've clearly been well brought up, to have the Grace to rise above all that nonsense yesterday. I felt dirty, just reading it, and looking at these photos feels like diving into a fascinating pool in a cave in the Virgin Islands, filled with mysterious creatures. As Sunset put it so well (and succinctly) 'absolutely haunting, and gorgeous.'
Thank you for taking the time to source the shots you couldn't get yourself, and generously sharing that lovely experience with us. With your good manners and restraint not to even dignify them with a response, not to rise to the bait, you're leading by example.
I love all your photos in Tokyo! Also Congrats on your collaboration w/ UO shoes-- they look amazing and so exciting!
<3 Chelsea'sGirl
I'm a lover of japanese pop culture and its peculiarities...
This is all so weird, cool and cute!
Great post! :-)
This is deliciously creepy.
Those are freaky as hell.
I'm so impressed by you're blog! It's AMAZING!!!! Great pictures!!!
I found this site because I was reading an artical about you on a dutch newssite :) I'm glad they posted the link! Bookmarked you're site imediately :)
Keep up the great work!
Much love from Holland,
What can I say that has not already been said about the Graces? Haunting, eery and "deliciously creepy", as one comment says. Bottom line- love it. What an imagination Takahashi must possess to create such fascinating and weirdly wonderful things.
After reading your post, I wandered through the internet last night, stumbling upon excerpts about Takahashi and his innovative designs. Love the white clothing he did for S2009RTW...so raw yet ethereal.
cool & interesting pics - BAH :)
the japanese style is so much fun...
have a nice trip!
greetings from Hamburg.
really nice photos.
I love the strange combination, it´s so beautiful.
I will be at Tokyo next week, I love Graces.
Where's the exhibition, I'd like to visit or live with them :)
I've thought these were so cool, it's one of those ideas I wish I came up with haha. Takahashi is so talented!
I wonder if the Graces have any reference to the greek mythology as painted by Sandro Botticelli's 'Primavera' and Rafael's 'The Three Graces'....they were a popular group of figures during the Renaissance. They are three women either depicted in nude or lavish clothing as painted on the Primavera.
Nice and fine post
I want one ! Their so AMAZING I LOVE THEM !!!!! HOW DO YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES?????
They are so cool and yet kind of creepy. They are still AMAZING!!!!!!(:
Haunting,erie but absolutly without a doubt ENCHANTING. WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES?!?!? I LOVE THEM!!!! I really want one esspesialy the last one I love that one the most!!!
What are some general facts about sea animals? It is for a 1st grade report and she needs some ideas. Thanks.
these figures are a bit strange but original! I like!
I like this technology I would like to watch this
movie. I wish to make such a nice movie.
keep posting more about such movies.
everytime you hear the rolling thunder
You turn around before the lightening strikes
does it ever make you stop and wonder
Seeing your post come accorss in the online,form it remind me a large number of languge knowledge.Thank you.
There are so crazy costumes and the lights are interesting too . great effect and now i know how you can make it as well i will try to make me one very easy to make.
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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — While Oracle Team USA clinched the 34th America's Cup with a dramatic come-from-behind victory, Oracle, the corporate software giant, faces more treacherous headwinds ahead in a fast-shifting market, analysts say.
This is perhaps why the stock slipped a fraction Friday, closing at $33.78, to end the week essentially flat — after what's been a fairly important week for Oracle
Oracle's shares are up barely 1% for the year-to-date -- making it the worst performer among large-cap tech stocks on the S&P 500 roster.
Chief Executive Larry Ellison, who drew flak for skipping Oracle's earnings call last week as well as his Wednesday keynote at OpenWorld to watch the yacht races on San Francisco Bay, says Oracle can bounce back — like his triumphant Team USA — mainly by outsailing and outsmarting rivals.
"We go to school on them and try to figure out how to do what they're doing better than they're doing it," he told analysts late Thursday. The America's Cup, he argued, is "a combination of engineering and athleticism and you got to get both right." As a company, he says Oracle is about "engineering and salesmanship."
More questions have come up about Oracle's ability to sell products in the wake of three successive quarters in which the company missed revenue targets. But the engineering part of the Oracle story was highlighted at OpenWorld, where the company touted what's billed as a faster and more powerful database system.
"We like the upcoming in-memory database, which we believe has the opportunity to expand the market, pull through high-performance engineered systems, analytic apps and provide a richer user experience for cloud-based solutions," Nomura Equity Research analyst Rick Sherlund told clients in a note on Friday morning.
But Sherlund also added that, when it comes to the software behemoth, "any turnaround will take time, longer in the cloud than on the water."
That more sober outlook was shared by other analysts who pointed to the challenges ahead.
Oracle is considered late to the cloud game, which has enabled businesses to do away with the hefty expense of setting up their own data center by tapping computing power through a network.
Some of Oracle's smaller rivals, such as Salesforce.com
That has led some analysts to argue that Oracle faces a serious business-model dilemma, one that won't be easily addressed by more powerful hardware and software, or a flamboyant and highly-competitive billionaire CEO.
"While acknowledging that betting against Larry Ellison has proved foolhardy over the years (the America's Cup was a case in point), we still prefer to take a wait-and-see approach with the stock, especially as major business transitions for large companies like Oracle can take longer than expected," William Blair analyst Jason Ader told clients in a report Friday.
Canaccord Genuity analyst Richard Davis was more upbeat, writing, "Oracle is far from perfect, but in our opinion this company has enough talented people, sufficiently good software, and extraordinary account control to survive what we believe will be an extinction-level event for a lot of legacy software vendors."
He added: "Of course, a firm needs to do more than survive, and on that front we came away from Oracle's analyst day incrementally more optimistic."
Besides, he added, "Stock is cheap enough to work, and very well if you expect a risk-off market. Until Microsoft selects a new CEO (and investors assess the move favorably or not), we believe Oracle is one of the best 'safe-port-in-a storm' large-cap stocks."
But Cowen & Co.'s Peter Goldmacher reaffirmed his downbeat view of the company's prospects, citing Oracle's recent results.
"We believe the company's results over the last two years don't support management's enthusiasm for its offerings and while we believe there will always be a market for Oracle's products, we don't think it's a growth market anymore," he wrote to clients.


text:
911 calls released as search continues for soldier's killer
Police released two 911 calls Friday as they continued to seek information about an April 12 armed robbery outside a nightclub that left a 22-year-old Army sergeant dead.Posted — Updated
A female caller says that a group of panicked people flagged her down outside Sharky's Cabaret, where Sgt. Sergio Sanchez had been shot.
"He's dead. He's laying on the ground," the woman told the 911 dispatcher. "He's shot. Someone help him."
Sanchez had been acting as the designated driver for a group of friends that night, police said.
"He was simply going to his vehicle to go back to Sharky's to pick up his friends," when he came upon four or five men robbing three other soldiers in a parking lot off Blue Street, Det. Terrance Phillips said.
A victim described the robbery to a 911 dispatcher.
"They have all my ID, my friends' ID and others' ID," the caller said. "They just shot somebody back in the street."
Investigators do not believe that Sanchez did anything to provoke the robbers. He was talking on his cell phone to his girlfriend and put up both his hands when he saw the robbery. A gunman approached Sanchez and shot him in the neck at close range, police said.
"They probably thought he was on the phone with the police, and he was calling in the robbery," Phillips said.
Police said they have only vague descriptions of the robbers, but the victims remembered that the shooter used a chrome shotgun – an unusual weapon.
"It would stand out because of the color it is," Phillips said.
Spc. Jeremy Dollar said his former roommate in Iraq would have acted prudently in such a situation.
"He would've given them anything they asked for," Dollar said. "They didn't have to do that to him."
Sanchez, a member of the 82nd Airborne, had returned home 15-month deployment to Baghdad only 29 days earlier. The Yuma, Ariz., native and Anniston, Ala., resident served as a computer-repair technician.
Sanchez died of his wounds a week after the robbery and shooting.
"He's my best buddy," Dollar said.
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