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GIL .. BIOSCI/Bionet News .. Biosequences .. Software .. FTP |
The 2001 International Conference on Mathematics and Engineering Techniques in Medicine and Biological Sciences METMBS'2001 (Extended deadline: March 22) http://www.cns.bu.edu/metmbs/ June 25 - 28, 2001 Monte Carlo Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Call for Papers Recent advances in computer technology have provided the tools and the environment to study, analyze, and better understand complex systems. This technological development has enabled researchers to collect and analyze massive amounts of data to a scale previously not possible. The impact of this technology is now being felt in the medical field and in the biological sciences. In recent years, research in interdisciplinary areas such as Bioinformatics and computer assisted medical decision-making has dramatically intensified. METMBS'2001 aims to provide a platform for researchers to present and discuss recent breakthroughs in this area. The METMBS'2001 Conference will be held concurrently (i.e., same location and dates) with a number of international conferences: International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing Techniques and Applications (PDPTA'2001), the International Conference on Imaging Science, Systems, and Technology (CISST'2001), International Conference on Internet computing (IC'2001), ... The last concurrent meeting of this group of conferences in year 2000 had research contributions from 46 countries (the events held in Las Vegas had over 1100 participants from all over the world.) It is hoped that METMBS'2001 will maintain its strong international flavor in this year's meeting as well. You are invited to submit a draft paper of about 4 pages and/or a proposal to organize a technical session (see below for submission information). All accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings. THE NAMES OF TECHNICAL SESSION CHAIRS WILL APPEAR AS ASSOCIATE EDITORS ON THE COVER OF THE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. SCOPE: Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: o Bioinformatics: This includes informatics techniques in genomics gene sequencing, gene pattern discovery, gene pattern-function studies, and other genomics related studies). o Data mining in medicine and biological sciences. o Pattern recognition in medicine and biological sciences. o Signal processing in medicine and biological sciences (e.g. biomedical signal processing, etc.) o Image processing in medicine and biological sciences (e.g. biomedical image processing, biomedical imaging, etc.) o Medical decision-making. o Medical Physics. o Biomedical Engineering. o Biomedical Electronics. o Biosignal interpretation. o Any application of computers in Medicine and biological sciences (protein structure-function analysis, drug and protein design, molecular modeling and simulation, etc.) o Application of information technology in biomedicine (e.g. medical database management, information retrieval and use of computers in hospitals) o Application of Computational Intelligence (artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, and evolutionary computing) in medicine and biological sciences o Medical and bio-computing. o Computer-based medical systems (automation in medicine, etc.) o Recent history (1990-1999) of Mathematics and engineering techniques in medicine and biological sciences, and what to expect during the next decade (2000-2009); New horizons. Review articles) o Other aspects and applications relating to technological advancements in medicine and biological sciences. SUBMISSION OF PAPERS Prospective authors are invited to submit three copies of their draft paper (about 4 pages) to F. Valafar (address is given below) by March 22, 2001. E-mail and Fax submissions are also acceptable. The length of the Camera-Ready papers (if accepted) will be limited to 7 pages. Papers must not have been previously published or currently submitted for publication elsewhere. The first page of the draft paper should include: title of the paper, name, affiliation, postal address, E-mail address, telephone number, and Fax number for each author. The first page should also include the name of the author who will be presenting the paper (if accepted) and a maximum of 5 keywords. PROPOSAL FOR ORGANIZING TECHNICAL SESSIONS Each technical session will have at least 6 paper presentations. The session chairs will be responsible for all aspects of their sessions, including soliciting papers, reviewing, selecting, ... The names of session chairs will appear as Associate Editors in the conference proceedings. After the conference, some sessions will be considered for publication in appropriate journals as Special Issues with the session proposer as the Guest Editor of the journal. Proposals to organize technical sessions should include the following information: name and address (+ E-mail) of the proposer, title of session, a 100-word description of the topic of the session, and a short description on how the session will be advertised (in most cases, session proposers solicit papers from colleagues and researchers whose work is known to the session proposer). Mail your proposal to Professor F. Valafar (address is given below); E-mail submissions are preferred. EVALUATION PROCESS Papers will be evaluated for originality, significance, clarity, and soundness. Two researchers in the topical area will referee each paper. The Camera-Ready papers will be reviewed by one person. PUBLICATION The conference proceedings will be published by CSREA Press (ISBN). The proceedings will be available at the conference. Some accepted papers will also be considered for journal publication (soon after the conference). ORGANIZERS/SPONSORS A number of university faculty members and their staff, in cooperation with the Monte Carlo Resort (Conference Division, Las Vegas), will be organizing the conference. The conference will be sponsored by Computer Science Research, Education, & Applications Press (CSREA: USA Federal EIN # 58-2171953) in cooperation with research centers, international associations, international research groups, and developers of high-performance machines and systems. The complete list of sponsors and co-sponsors will be available at a later time. The last conference's sponsors included: CSREA, the National Supercomputing Center for Energy and the Environment - DOE, The International Association for Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, The International Technology Institute (ITI), The Java High Performance Computing research group, World Scientific and Engineering Society, Sundance Digital Signal Processing Inc., the Computer Vision Research and Applications Tech., and more. LOCATION OF CONFERENCE The conference will be held in the Monte Carlo Resort Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. This is a mega hotel with excellent conference facilities and over 3000 rooms. The hotel is minutes from the Las Vegas airport with free shuttles to and from the airport. This hotel has many vacation and recreational attractions, including: waterfalls, casino, spa, pools & kiddie pools, sunning decks, Easy River water ride, wave pool with cascades, lighted tennis courts, health spa (with workout equipment, whirlpool, sauna, ...), arcade virtual reality game rooms, nightly shows, snack bars, a number of restaurants, shopping area, bars, ... Many of these attractions are open 24 hours a day and most are suitable for families and children. The negotiated hotel's room rate for conference attendees is very reasonable ($79 + tax) per night (no extra charge for double occupancy) for the duration of the conference. The hotel is within walking distance from most other Las Vegas attractions (major shopping areas, recreational destinations, fine dining and night clubs, free street shows, and more). For the benefit of our international colleagues: the state of Nevada neighbors with the states of California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. Las Vegas is only a few driving hours away from other major cities and attractions, including: Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, and more. EXHIBITION An exhibit is planned for the duration of the conference. We have reserved 20+ exhibit spaces. Interested parties should contact F. Valafar (address is given below). All exhibitors will be considered to be the co-sponsors of the conference. IMPORTANT DATES March 22, 2001 (Thursday): Draft papers (about 4 pages) due April 2, 2001 (Monday): Notification of acceptance May 1, 2001 (Tuesday): Camera-Ready papers & Prereg. due June 25 - 28, 2001: METMBS'2001 Conference Proposals to organize technical sessions should be submitted as soon as possible. All accepted papers are expected to be presented at the conference. MEMBERS OF PROGRAM & ORGANIZING COMMITTEES The Program Committee is currently being formed. Those interested in joining the Program Committee should e-mail F. Valafar (faramarz at cns.bu.edu) the following information: Name, affiliation and position, complete mailing address, e-mail address, tel/fax numbers, a short biography together with research interests. OTHER INFORMATION It is planned to add other related conferences and workshops to be held simultaneously (same location and dates) creating an international multiconference. Each conference will have it's own proceedings and technical/research sessions. CONFERENCE CONTACT: Faramarz Valafar Cognitive and Neural Systems Boston University 677 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02215 Fax: (617) 353-7755 E-mail: Faramarz at cns.bu.edu


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Normally I like to plan the weeks meals ahead and have recipes written and a grocery list ready for shopping on the weekend. This week however I did not have the chance to prepare and I have been winging it. At times like these it is always good to fall back on pantry staples. I always seem to have cans of tuna and beans in my pantry/cupboard and I was thinking that a tuna and bean salad would be a nice place to start. My first thought was to go with a mayonnaise based creamy dressing but I wanted something a bit lighter having just got back from my vacation and I decided to go with a simple lemon and mustard vinaigrette. Of course some fresh vegetables and herbs brighten up any salad and I picked some up on the way home from work. The salad was quick and simple to make which was nice as I have been pretty busy and it tasted good as well. Overall it was a nice light meal.
Tuna and Cannellini Bean Salad
- 1 6 ounce can water packed tuna (drained and flaked)
- 1 19 ounce can cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 small red onion (chopped)
- 1 clove garlic (chopped)
- 1 handful chopped parsley
- 1 handful kalamata olives (pitted and chopped, optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 handful salad greens
- Mix the tuna, beans, onion, garlic and parsley in a bowl.
- Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Mix the dressing and the tuna and beans.

subset: commoncrawl


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Historically, the veteran and military vote has gone Republican. In 2008, for example, while losing the presidency, John McCain — a war hero — won 55 percent of this vote.
This year, the Obama campaign thinks it can close the gap.
For one thing, neither candidate is a veteran. And the campaign is hoping to capitalize on a generational change in the military. Four years ago, although he lost the veteran vote overall, President Obama won among vets under age 60.
Long before Obama's Wednesday commencement speech to Air Force cadets at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, his campaign was focusing attention on veterans, active military and their families.
On Wednesday, it rolled out a new ad aimed squarely at veterans and military families. In the ad, the president says, "The sacrifices that our troops have made have been incredible. It's because of what they've done that we've been able to go after al-Qaida and kill bin Laden. And when they come home, we have a sacred trust to make sure we are doing everything we can to heal all of their wounds."
During his presidency, Obama has supported increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, a revamped GI Bill and a job training program for returning vets.
First lady Michelle Obama began a program of her own to help military families.
Last month, she visited the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., where she spoke to a group of young women from military families. "When we talk about how our men and women in uniform sacrifice so much and serve this country so bravely, we're not just talking about your parents. We are not. We are talking about all of you," she said.
While polls suggest the Obamas' message is resonating with military families — including wives and children — it's still a tough sell with many veterans.
I'm certain that veterans are more so thinking about jobs, employment, security. ... If you have a veteran who's able to go to work every day and make a living to take care of his family, that, right there in itself, supersedes the medical, the Medicaid, the different insurances that are out there because the veteran feels that, 'OK. Now, I'm back, stable.'
In Florida, veterans are an important group. There are more than 1.6 million of them. Many live in the Jacksonville area, which is also home to two Navy installations and American Legion Post 137, just a few miles from the air station.
One veteran at the American Legion Post, Tony Romano, is skeptical of Obama's leadership and his attention to veterans. "I believe that all the things that the president [is] doing now is just to get re-elected. And I believe that with my whole heart," said Romano.
Many members of the post are older veterans.
In another part of Jacksonville, at Disabled American Veterans Chapter 1, James Wilson is a younger vet who likes the president's health care plan and his focus on improving veterans' benefits.
But especially for returning vets, Wilson says, the No. 1 issue is the economy.
"I'm certain that veterans are more so thinking about jobs, employment, security. ... If you have a veteran who's able to go to work every day and make a living to take care of his family, that, right there in itself, supersedes the medical, the Medicaid, the different insurances that are out there because the veteran feels that, 'OK. Now, I'm back, stable,' " he said.
Returning veterans face a higher unemployment rate than the general public, and, at the same time, a huge backlog holding up claims for those who file for disability.
Anthony Principi, former veterans affairs secretary and adviser to the Romney campaign, believes the Obama administration is falling short. An outreach program to military families, Principi says, isn't enough.
"Look at the unemployment rate; look at the backlog of claims. Look at the delays in getting mental health treatment. These are all of the important things that have to be delivered. Not promises, not outreach. It's actually getting in the trenches and taking care of people," said Principi.
Peter Feaver, a professor of political science at Duke University, is skeptical that the voting patterns of veterans are changing that much. Widening the lens to include military spouses and children may just mask the historic weakness Democrats have among veterans, he says.
And he has another worry — that actively campaigning for the military vote risks politicizing America's armed forces.
"That is a special institutional role that historically we've tried to preserve by keeping the military as a nonpolitical institution," says Feaver. "Yes, they may vote as private citizens. But ... it's not in their interest and it's not in the interest of the U.S. — national security more generally — for them to be viewed as an interest group."
Appealing to veterans and military families may pay off in states like Virginia, North Carolina and Florida if the vote is close. But the effort is also important for another reason.
Ads aimed at veterans and speeches like the one Obama gave Wednesday at the Air Force Academy help reinforce his trustworthiness as commander in chief.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Blog posts have been scarcer for the past couple of months because I've been so engaged with a major responsibility: putting together what amounts to 7-1/2 days of conference programming that will be presented on four days next month in New York City.
As most readers of this blog probably know, we're responsible for the programming of the two-day extravaganza that is Digital Book World. DBW 2013 — taking place on January 16 and 17 at the Hilton New York Hotel — will be the fourth iteration of the event, which aims to explore the commercial challenges facing trade publishing in the digital transition. DBW is not about technology per se; it is about the business problems publishers must cope with in an age of technological change.
DBW's main two days are divided between morning plenary programming — all 1500+ people in one big room — and afternoon breakouts. We'll have up to five simultaneous breakout sessions in each of three slots each day. So we have what amounts to 4-1/2 days of programming in the breakouts plus one on the main stage.
Because people really do come from all over the world to attend DBW, we were delighted to agree when they asked us at Publishers Launch Conferences (the conference business I own with Michael Cader) to add a show on each side of theirs to build out a week of programming. (The team at DBW itself are also putting together some pre-conference workshops that will run on Tuesday.)
So on Tuesday, January 15, we'll do our second annual "Children's Publishing Goes Digital" conference at the McGraw-Hill Auditorium (put together with the invaluable assistance of our Conference Chair and close friend, Lorraine Shanley of Market Partners). And on Friday, January 18, we're presenting (in conjunction with the DBW team) a new program called "Authors Launch", a full day of marketing advice for publisher-published authors. (Self-published authors are welcome and will learn a lot, but the program is framed for authors who are working with publishers, not looking for ways to avoid them.)
Programming the "Children's Publishing Goes Digital" show revealed what we think will be the most important theme in the children's book space for the next few years: the development of digital "platforms" that, like subscription offerings (which some, but not all of them, clearly are), will "capture" consumers and make them much less likely to get ebooks and other digital media from outside of it. The list of platform aspirants in this space is long and varied: Storia from Scholastic; RRKidz from Reading Rainbow (the TV show brand); Poptropica from Pearson (which launched Wimpy Kid before it was a book); Magic Town; Disney; Capstone; and Brain Hive. All of them are presenting, as well as NOOK, which, like Amazon Kindle, has announced parental controls on its platform that encourage parents to manage their kids' reading experience there.
There are other big issues in children's publishing, particularly the creation of original IP by publishers so they can better exploit the licensing opportunities that follow in the wake of successful kids' books. We'll have data presentations from Bowker and from Peter Hildick-Smith of Codex to help our audience understand how kids books are found and selected outside the bookstore in today's environment.
But we know that the digital discovery and purchase routines will be markedly affected by the platforms as they establish themselves. Publishers are faced with an interesting conundrum. They can't reach the audiences that are loyal to a platform without going through the platform. But it is the presence of many publishers' books that strengthens the attraction of the platform and, once it gains critical mass, the value of the content to it (and probably what it will be willing to pay for the content) is reduced. So publishers licensing content to these platforms may be strengthening beasts that will ultimately eat them. I think the roundtable conversation Lorraine and I will lead at the end of the day, which will include publishers Karen Lotz of Candlewick, Barbara Marcus of Random House, and Kate Wilson of Nosy Crow, will have interesting things to say about that paradox.
We've developed some "traditions" in the four years we've been doing Digital Book World. As we've done the past two years, the plenary sessions will open on Tuesday with the "CEOs' view of the future" panel organized and moderated by David Nussbaum, the CEO of DBW's owner F+W Media and the man who really dreamed up the idea of this conference. David will be joined this year by Marcus Leaver of Quarto, Karen Lotz of Candlewick, and Gary Gentel of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. And Michael Cader and I will — as we have every year at DBW — moderate a panel to close the plenaries, "looking back and looking forward" with agent Simon Lipskar of Writers House; Harper's new Chief Digital Officer, Chantal Restivo-Alessi, and Osprey CEO Rebecca Smart.
Among the presenters on the main stage who will be unlike what our audiences usually hear at a digital publishing conference will be Teddy Goff, the digital director for the Obama campaign, who will talk about targeting and marketing techniques that might serve us well in the publishing world; Ben Evans of Enders Analysis in London, who will tell us how publishing fits into the strategies of the big tech companies (Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft) that he tracks regularly*; ex-Macmillan president and now private equity investor Brian Napack, talking with Michael Cader about the investment climate in publishing; and Michael D. Smith, Professor of Information Technology and Marketing from Carnegie-Mellon, talking about a study he and his colleagues have done on the real commercial impact of piracy.
(We've also scheduled a breakout session for Teddy Goff so he can talk more about the Obama campaign for those in attendance who want to learn more of its lessons to apply.)
We're also delighted to have gotten Robert Oeste, Senior Programmer and Analyst from Johns Hopkins University Press, to deliver his wonderfully insightful, entertaining, and informative presentation on XML, the subject so many of us in publishing need to understand better than we do. And we will after he's done. (We're also giving Oeste a break-out slot to talk about metadata which I'll bet a lot of our audience will choose to attend after they've heard him on XML.)
Some authors have had remarkable success without help from publishers in the past year, but few or none more than Hugh Howey, the author of "Wool", who has just signed a groundbreaking print-only deal for the US with Simon & Schuster. His dystopian futurist novel has sold hundreds of thousands of self-published ebook copies and rights all over the world and to Hollywood. We'll have a chat with Howey about how he did it and we'll be joined by his agent, Kristin Nelson, for that dialogue. Kristin will stick around to join a panel of other agents (Jay Mandel of William Morris Endeavor, Steve Axelrod, and Jane Dystel from Dystel & Goderich) to talk about "Straddling the Models": authors who work with publishers but are also doing some things on their own.
We will have several panels addressing the challenges of discovery and discoverability from different angles. One called "Closing the New Book Discovery Gap" teams Patrick Brown of Goodreads with three publishing marketers — Matt Baldacci of Macmillan, Angela Tribelli of HarperCollins, and Rachel Chou of Open Road — and is chaired by Peter Hildick-Smith. That will focus on what publishers can do with metadata and digital marketing to make it more likely their titles will get "found". Barbara Genco of Library Journal will share data on library patron behaviors and then helm a panel discussion with Baker & Taylor, 3M, Darien Public Library, and Random House exploring the role of libraries in driving book discovery and sales. Another session called "Making Content Searchable, Findable, and Shareable" introduces three new propositions from Matt MacInnis of Inkling, Linda Holliday of Citia, and Patricia Payton of Bowker, along with SEO expert Gary Price of INFODocket. Publishing veteran Neal Goff (who is also the proud father of Obama's digital director) will moderate that one. MacInnis, Holliday, and Payton offer services that will help publishers improve the search for their books. Price will talk knowledgeably about how the search engines will react to these stimuli.
We're covering new business model experimentation (with Evan Ratliff of The Atavist, Brendan Cahill of Nature Share, Todd McGarity of Hachette, and Chris Bauerle of Sourcebooks) where publishers discuss ways to generate revenue that are not the old-fashioned ones. We'll underscore the point that we're about changes caused by technology rather than being about technology with our "Changing Retail Marketplace" panel, featuring publishers and wholesalers talking about the growth of special sales (through retailers that aren't bookstores and other non-retail channels).
The future for illustrated books will be discussed by a panel with a big stake in how it goes: John Donatich of Yale University Press, Michael Jacobs of Abrams, Marcus Leaver of Quarto, and JP Leventhal of Black Dog & Leventhal. Two publishers who have invested in Hollywood — Brendan Dineen of Macmillan and Pete Harris of Penguin — will talk about the synergies between publishing and the movies with consultant Swanna McNair of Creative Conduit.
We will have major US publishers and Ingram talking about exports: developments in the export market for books — print and digital. And we'll have some non-US publishers joining Tina Pohlman of Open Road and Patricia Arancibia of Barnes & Noble talking about imports: non-US publishers using the digital transition to get a foothold in the US market.
One session I think has been needed but never done before is called "Clearing the Path" and it is about eliminating the obstacles to global ebook sales. That one will start with a presentation by Nathan Maharaj and Ashleigh Gardner of Kobo where they will enumerate all the contractual and procedural reasons why ebooks are just not available for sale in markets they could reach. And then Kobo will join a panel conversation with Joe Mangan of Perseus and agent Brian Defiore to talk about why those barriers exist and what might be done in the future to remove them.
Oh, yes, there's much much more: audience-centric (what I call "vertical") publishing; the changing role of editors; the evolving author-publisher relationship; and a conversation about the "gamification" of children's books. David Houle, the futurist and Sourcebook author who wowed the DBW 2012 audience, will return with his Sourcebooks editor, Stephanie Bowen, to discuss their version of "agile" publishing: getting audience feedback to chunks before publishing a whole book.
We will also do some stuff that is more purely "tech". We have a panel on "Evolving Standards and Formats" discussing the costs and benefits of EPUB3 adoption, which will be moderated by Bill McCoy of IDPF. Our frequent collaborator Ted Hill will lead a discussion about "The New Publishing IT Department". Bill Kasdorf of Apex will moderate a discussion about "Cross-Platform Challenges and Opportunities" which is about delivering content to new channels.
But purely tech is the exception at Digital Book World, not the rule.
And purely tech won't show up at all at Authors Launch on Friday, January 18, the day after Digital Book World.
Authors Launch is what we think is the first all-day marketing seminar aimed squarely at authors with a publisher, not authors trying to work without one. It is pretty universally taken as a given that authors can do more than they ever have before to promote themselves and their books and that publishers should expect and encourage them to do that. But, beyond that, there is very little consensus. What should the publisher do and what should the author do? That question is going to be addressed, in many different ways, throughout the day.
The Authors Launch program covers developing an author brand, author involvement and support for their book's launch, basic information about keyword search and SEO, use of metrics and analysis, a primer on media training, when and how to hire a publicist or other help, and a special session on making the best use of Goodreads. We'll cover "audience-centric" marketing, teaching authors to think about their "vertical" — their market — and understand it.
The faculty for Authors Launch includes the most talented marketers and publicists helping authors today: Dan Blank, co-authors MJ Rose and Randy Susan Meyers, journalist Porter Anderson, David Wilk, Meryl Moss, Lucinda Blumenfeld, agent Jason Allen Ashlock, and former Random House digital marketer Pete McCarthy.
We have assembled a group of publishers and an agent to discuss how an author should select the best places to invest their time from the staggering array of choices. (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, etcetera.) That panel will include agent Jennifer Weltz of The Naggar Agency as well as Matt Baldacci of Macmillan, Rachel Chou of Open Road, Rick Joyce of Perseus, and Kate Stark of Penguin. Matt Schwartz, VP, Director of Digital Marketing and Strategy for the Random House Publishing Group, will conduct the session on metrics.
A feature of both our Kids show on Tuesday and the Author show on Friday are opportunities for the audience to interact with the presenters in smaller groups so each person can get his or her own questions answered. At Kids we'll do that at lunchtime, seating many of our presenters at tables with a sign carrying their name so our attendees can sit with them and engage. At Authors Launch, we'll be conducting rounds of workshops, crafted so that the authors can get help in their own vertical (genre fiction, literary fiction, topical non-fiction, juvies, and so forth), and on the topics of greatest need for them.
We are sure the week of January 15-18 will prove to be an energizing and stimulating one for all of us living in the book publishing world. We hope you'll join us.
Digital Book World Week | January 15-18, 2013
Children's Publishing Goes Digital | Tuesday, January 15, McGraw-Hill Auditorium
DBW Pre-Conference Workshops | Tuesday, January 15, Hilton New York Hotel
Digital Book World Conference + Expo | January 16-17, Hilton New York Hotel
Authors Launch | Friday, January 18, Hilton New York Hotel


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Nigeria, the Giant of Africa, can boast of her salient Political Nationalists. They are sometimes called "Freedomites". Most of our children in Schools are constantly reminded of their heroic deeds. But their evil deeds are often neglected. In fact, this article will argue that they all had an Ethnicity Syndrome, through the Tripartition policy of the British. Unfortunately, Nigeria now suffers the consequences and effects of this ethnicity syndrome on her political Nationalists. However, to further buttress and pitch clarity to the point we are driving at, it is paramount to give a concise analysis of the very concept of Ethnicity Syndrome. thenewsbreak
Ethnicity Syndrome, metaphorically refers to a disease diagnosed to those whose actions and judgements are influenced by the feeling of belonging to a particular group. These kind of people often take their group or tribe as an authority, and also claim that their group is the best amongst others. Their actions and judgements are often influenced by this feeling. Thus, in this sense, we can say they have an ethnicity syndrome. Given this backdrop, it is expedient to delve into the main course of this article. vyvymangaa
Ethnicity (or tribalism) first reared it head during the second World War. This war reduced the leadership efficiency of the Colonial Masters in Nigeria, which in turn led to a period of great famine, inequality, insecurity, and so on. As a result of this, several groups were formed to cater for the needs of their members. Such groups includes; The Egba Society (1918), The Union of Ijebu Young Men(1923), The Yoruba Union(1924), The Ibibio State Union, and so on. As a result of a poor economy, low security, unemployment, and so on, these ethnic groups began to compete against each other in a socio economic competition. Each ethnic group will fight other ethnic groups, to ensure it caters for the need of its own members. It was at this point ethnicity, became a full-scale insurgency. dkupnews
Furthermore, the split in the Nigerian Youth Movement(NYM), which was triggered by an ethnicity rift between Nigeria's political Nationalists(Ikoli, Awolowo, Akinsanya and NnamdiAzikwe), also aided the issue of ethnicity in the country. In anger, NnamdiAzikwe led his Igbo supporters out of the group, and Obafemi Awolowo did same. At this point, it is completely safe to say that the educated elite in the Nigerian Youth Movement had an ethnicity syndrome, thus leading to the collapse of the movement.
Consequently, the British introduction of the tripartite policy through the Richards constitution of 1943, further exacerbated the issue of ethnicity in the country. Through the Richards constitution, Nigeria was divided into three giant regions; the northern region, the western region and the eastern region, which represented the three major tribes of Nigeria; the Hausa, the Yoruba and the Igbo respectively. In like manner, the numerous ethnic groups that had been formed prior to that time, were also amalgamated to form the EgbeOmoOduduwa society in london(1945), the Ibo state Union(1944), and the JamiyaMutanenArewa. Each also representing the three giant tribes in Nigeria. "A bad situation in a country which was suppose to be united as one"(JideOlanrewaju). Nonetheless, having being infected with an ethnicity syndrome which was further reinforced by the British tripartition policy, the effect of this ethnicity syndrome on Nigeria's political Nationalists, was soon to surface. thenewstime
Since other African countries had commenced the fight for political independence, it was no surprise that Nigerian educated elites( Awolowo, Azikwe, and so on) began to fight for political independence. This was further aided when the Richards constitution of 1943 legalised the politicisation of communal associations. Hence, the EgbeOmoOduduwa society became the Action Group of Nigeria(AG) in 1951 headed by Awolowo, the Igbo state Union became the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon(NCNC) in 1944 headed by Azikwe, and the JamiyaMutanenArewa became the Northern People's Congress(NPC) in 1951 headed by Ahmadu Bello. thedigitalnews


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Chemical Peel
When Considering a Chemical Peel:
It is very important to find a physician who has adequate training and experience in skin resurfacing.
In some states, a medical degree is not required to perform a chemical peel -- even the strongest phenol peels -- and many states have laws that permit non-physicians to administer certain peel solutions, but regulate the strengths which they are permitted to apply.
Chemical peeling uses a chemical solution in order to improve the skin's appearance. It can reduce or eliminate fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth, correct uneven skin pigmentation, remove pre-cancerous skin growths, and soften acne or treat the scars caused by acne. The procedure can also treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and scarring, as well as skin blemishes common with age and heredity. Chemical peels can be performed on the face, neck, chest, hands, arms, and legs.
Possible Complications Associated with Chemical Peels:
- Change in skin tone color - For certain skin types, there is a risk of developing a temporary or permanent skin color change. Taking birth control pills, pregnancy, or a family history of brownish discoloration on the face may increase the possibility of developing the abnormal pigmentation.
- Scarring - Chemical peels can cause scarring. But, if scarring occurs, it can usually be treated with successful results.
- Cold sores and fever blisters - Those who are susceptible to cold sores or Herpes simplex infections may see a reactivation of cold sores or fever blisters following a chemical peel.
Chemical peel is most commonly performed for cosmetic reasons to enhance appearance and self confidence, and may be performed in conjunction with a facelift. Chemical peel is not a substitute for a facelift, and does not prevent or slow the aging process.
What substances are used for chemical peels?
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and phenol are used for chemical peels. The precise formula used may be adjusted for each specific patient.
Alpha hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
Alpha hydroxy Acids (AHAs), such as glycolic, lactic, or fruit acids are the mildest of the peel formulas and produce light peels that can often provide smoother, brighter-looking skin. AHA peels may be used to treat:
- Fine wrinkling
- Areas of dryness
- Uneven pigmentation
- Aid in control of acne
- Smooth rough, dry skin
- Improve texture of sun-damaged skin
AHA peels may cause:
- Stinging
- Redness
- Irritation
- Crusting, flaking or scaling
- Dryness
Generally, no anesthesia is needed for AHA peels since they cause only a slight stinging sensation during application.
Protecting skin from the sun is important following AHA peels.
Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA)
Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) can be used in many concentrations. It is most commonly used for:
- Medium-depth peeling for surface wrinkles
- Superficial blemishes
- Pigment problems
Results of TCA peel are usually less dramatic than, and not as long-lasting as, those of a phenol peel. More than one TCA peel may be needed to achieve the desired result.
TCA-peel patients are advised to avoid sun exposure for several months. It also may produce some unintended color changes in the skin.
It can be used on the neck or other body areas, and may require pre-treatment with Retin-A or AHA creams. It is preferable to a phenol peel for darker-skinned patients.
Anesthesia is not usually required for TCA peels because the chemical solution acts as an anesthetic. Sedation may be used before and during the procedure to help the patient relax. Two or more TCA peels may be needed over several months to obtain the desired result, although mild TCA peels may be repeated more frequently.
Protecting skin from the sun is important following a TCA peel.
Phenol is the strongest of the chemical solutions and produces a deep peel. It is mainly used to:
- Correct blotches caused by sun exposure, birth-control pills, or aging.
- Smooth out coarse wrinkles.
- Remove pre-cancerous growths.
- Should be used on the face only, as scarring may result if used on the neck or other body areas.
- Is not recommended for dark-skinned individuals.
- May pose risk for patients with heart problems.
- May permanently remove facial freckles.
- May cause permanent skin lightening.
- May leave lines of demarcation.
Recovery may be slow and complete healing may take several months. After a phenol peel, new skin may lose its ability to produce pigment. Skin be lighter in color, and will always have to be protected from the sun. Phenol may pose a special risk for patients with a history of heart disease. Protecting skin from the sun is also important following a phenol peel.
About the procedure:
The procedure involves a chemical solution that is applied to the skin. The solution causes a layer of skin to separate and peel off. The new, regenerated skin underneath is usually smoother, less wrinkled, and more even in color than the old skin.
Read a Q&A about chemical peels with the University of Maryland chief of plastic surgery.
Contact Us
For more information about UM Division of Plastic Surgery or to make an appointment, please call 1-800-492-5538 or 410-328-2360 (patients) or 1-800-373-4111 (physicians).


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Notre Dame blown out by LSU in Sugar Bowl: Here's what was confirmed last night:
(1) Notre Dame was the most overrated team in the country this season.
(And after last night, LSU might have made a case as the No. 3 team in the country, a hell of a debate between LSU, USC and
(2) Brady Quinn was the most overrated QB in the country this season.
(And after last night, LSU QB JaMarcus Russell might have leap-frogged Quinn on everyone's draft board. Hell, Russell might have played himself into the Raiders No. 1 draft spot. Or maybe the Lions at No. 2.)
(3) Charlie Weis has a better chance of winning an NFL title coaching the Giants than he does winning a BCS title coaching the Irish.
(And after last night, Weis might re-think his opposition to an NFL return. BTW, check out this pre-game post about Weis' overratedness.)
* - As I said on Tuesday: You simply can't rank USC ahead of
More on today's biggest storylines:
Saban to Bama: See yesterday's post. I repeat: It's harder to consistently be BCS-eligible in the SEC (Conf. champ or BCS at-large a la LSU) than it is to consistently make the playoffs in the NFL.
Simply put: The SEC offers, at most, two BCS chances out of 12. The AFC offers 6 playoff chances out of 16, including a possible 3 chances out of 4 from a single division. Given those factors, the SEC's top-heaviness is tougher to overcome than the NFL's parity crunch.
Meanwhile, I just can't get behind all the outrage -- sincere or knee-jerk columnist b.s. -- about Saban bolting or about him saying one thing and doing another. That's the nature of the coaching game, and – as fans – at one time or another we've all benefited and we've all been stung. It's hard to get too worked up. I try to see it from the point of view of, say, a Dolphins fan: If Saban was willing to go, did you really want him anyway?
Bill Cowher to the Dolphins? Sounds like wishful thinking out of
More NFL Coaching: I predict – without evidence, as usual – that the next Cards coach will be Ron Rivera.
Vince Young named Offensive Rookie of the Year: What an amazing story, particularly considering the pre-draft Wonderlic scandal. How wild that it turns out the Texans didn't screw up by passing on Reggie Bush, but by passing on hometown hero VY. Is he already the NFL's most popular player? Do you know anyone who DOESN'T like/respect/enjoy Young?
NBA: Gilbert Arenas is my hero. 32-footer at the buzzer to carry the Wiz over the Bucks, 108-105. More: Pat Riley takes leave of absence to deal with health issues. Yeah, but like Shaq, he'll be back just in time for the playoffs. The Heat aren't worth paying attention to until then.
College Hoops: Wait, is Clemson for real? They win their ACC opener at FSU to remain unbeaten on the season. (I might put more weight on that than others because I watched FSU beat
BCS title game ramp-up: I'll obviously have a
You can dislike
Best story of the day: McGwire 70th HR ball juiced! A research company gave a CT scan to McGwire's 70th home run ball and found out... THE BALL WAS JUICED. Link here. ROFLMAO.
Why is Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson still merely considering a jump to the NFL? He's a contender for No. 1 overall pick and a lock for the Top 3. (Can you imagine if the Lions took him at No. 2? Actually, yes. Yes, I can. Vividly. In fact, the upset would be if they DIDN'T draft him.)
Add this to the Mike Tice Follies File: He would love to be the next college football coach at
Sports announcer Jim Lampley doesn't just call boxing – he gets arrested for investigation of domestic violence. The "Boxing After Dark" jokes will be tasteless, but fair.
More Sugar: Great point made by newbie ESPN CFB analyst Robert Smith on why Notre Dame keeps getting hammered in bowl games. Let me re-state it in my own words: Their brand is writing checks their talent can't cash. BCS bowls pick Notre Dame because of the TV ratings and national interest, but – talent-wise – they are overmatched against other BCS teams. This Notre Dame team would have had trouble against second-tier bowl teams, let alone an unquestionable Top 5 team like LSU.
Last thing: Bloggie Awards, Cont'd. (Flex Your Power!) Did you see yesterday's post on the Bloggie Awards nominations? Did you catch my shameless self-promotion? More importantly, have you joined in for the grassroots campaign of the year... to get this blog nominated as "Best Sports Blog." As far as I'm concerned, you readers and commenters deserve it, too. Here's the link to the entry form and here's a link to yesterday's original post. Thanks for the support... and the tolerance for my asking about it!


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Good afternoon. I am Congressman Alcee Hastings from the United States. I am honored to be here today with a number of my colleagues from the US Congress, including the Chair of this Forum – Congresswoman Barbara Lee. I am pleased that this week's event offers the opportunity for us to work together in the international arena on an issue of great importance – minority political participation.
I am pleased that the Independent Expert on Minority Issues, Gay McDougall invited me to present on a minority political participation effort I recently initiated that I believe will be useful for today's discussion in developing recommendations for this forum's final document.
As the Chair and co-Chair the US Helsinki Commission over the past few years, I have been tasked with the responsibility of monitoring and supporting 56 European and North American countries' efforts to uphold the Helsinki Accords and related commitments, including fostering equal rights and combating intolerance and discrimination.
A series of hearings we held in the US Congress on these issues including existing inequalities and discrimination faced by Black Europeans and other visible minorities throughout the OSCE, led to a call for action. Instrumental to those hearings were the testimonies of UN representatives Gay McDougall and Joe Frans that assisted in identifying patterns of concern in the OSCE region.
Following those hearings, I introduced the first US bill calling for transatlantic government partnerships to combat racism and discrimination and partnered with UN Working Group of People of African descent head Joe Frans and current and former EU Parliamentarians Harlem Desir, Claude Moraes, and Glyn Ford to begin an initiative that would support the needed involvement of minorities in the policymaking arenas to effectively address these issues. I'm happy to see a number of my colleagues here today.
The resulting event was the "Black European Summit: Transatlantic Dialogue on Political Participation." The Summit took place over two days in April (15-16) at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. For the first time a small group of political and intellectual minority leaders from more than ten countries exchanged information on barriers to political participation and the roles of minority policymakers in representing minority interests, including promoting equal rights in the United States and Europe.
Following the event, participants adopted the Brussels Declaration which addressed the importance of and strategies for increasing racial and ethnic minority political participation. Materials on each of these initiatives have been made available today.
What did we learn? Whether a Parliamentarian, Mayor, or City Counselor, we had much in common.
First, the majority of our political and legal systems do not accurately reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of our societies.
Second, we have often not been sufficiently included in the development and/or implementation of government policies, even when the stated goal was to combat racism and discrimination.
Third, institutionalized processes are often at fault, yet, despite stated commitments to democracy, there continues to be a lack of political will from government, political parties and other actors to include us.
Fourth, the lack of political knowledge of our communities often made it difficult to garner the necessary support to effectively address these issues.
We noted that often times, political participation was defined as whether minorities had the right to vote or be elected. While this is one aspect of participation, there are many others.
Policymaking via obtaining positions in the government and/or with political parties, grassroots advocacy, and an understanding of the political process such as how laws are drafted are also of great importance.
We discussed simple solutions governments, political parties, and non-governmental organizations can employ such as advertising employment opportunities in minority communities, requiring that at least a percentage of persons interviewed for a position are minorities, and providing minority fellowships and internships for teenagers and college students in Parliament, government agencies, and other organizations are initial steps.
Financing degrees for minorities in relevant fields such as law, international relations, political science, or even economics is another. Tapping minorities in the private sector for public-private policy initiatives such as the development of energy and trade policies are also necessary.
We determined that government agencies, parliamentarians, and other government officials can also foster strong relationships with minority communities through educational information sessions on political rights and even regular face to face meetings that allow minorities to be in on the decision-making of policies that impact them. This could be small regular monthly meetings or even town hall sessions.
The need for increased support for minorities currently in political careers was deemed essential. Mentorship opportunities for current elected officials and those seeking elections, establishing support networks such as our Congressional Black Caucus, and having procedures in place to address workplace discrimination were noted.
In discussing the realm of possible solutions, we agreed to make the initial Summit an annual event and to continue the dialogue. Moving forward we plan to address the following issues, which are also detailed in the final Brussels Declaration:
1. Political education for minority communities, including advocacy,
2. The development of physical and electronic support networks for minority elected officials,
3. Youth and community outreach, including the development of targeted professional development and hiring strategies in the political arena, and
4. Opportunities for self-organization and other empowerment initiatives.
Importantly, we believe these efforts must be applied to all levels of national, regional, and local government to ensure that our societies are fully participatory.
In the interest of time, I will conclude here. I would urge that many of the concrete steps I detailed be included in the Final Document of this forum. I look forward to answering any questions regarding the Summit, US initiatives, and other thoughts on concrete strategies regarding minority political participation during the discussion.
Thank you.


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12 Desperate Straight Lines
Morr Music
Telekinesis is Michael Benjamin Lerner, coupled with Death Cab for Cutie's guitarist Chris Walla. 12 Desperate Straight Lines follows up their debut album, Telekinesis!
Although the heartfelt, emotion-driven lyricism of the tracks is akin to Death Cab For Cutie's style, the overall effect is somewhat different and more comparable to to the raw sounds of Dinosaur Jr. and Built To Spill. This comes from the fact that the album was recorded straight to tape, giving the record a rough-around-the-edges analogue feel.
Opener You Turn Clear In The Sun is instantly catchy and while signalling a break-up, there's no doubt it's upbeat in sound, but lyrically poignant. There's an audible journey to the last track – a classic rock 'n' roll sound, Gotta Have It Right Now – listen once and sing along.
12 Desperate Straight Lines gives you a break from the digitised beats that dominate and populate indie music today, offering instead emotional, analogue preferences. And they certainly do it well. If you're a Death Cab for Cutie or The Get Up Kids fan, Telekinesis is for you.
Sophie Gordon


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The Treasury Department's Most-Wanted Crime Organizations
This week, the Treasury Department announced it was taking actions against individuals known to associate with three transnational organized crime groups by freezing any assets said individuals may have within the jurisdiction of the United States. The criminal organizations are heavily involved in financial crimes such as money laundering and counterfeiting, in addition to more violent crimes like murder and kidnapping.
"Treasury will continue to target additional members and supporters of these groups, as well as other significant transcontinental criminal organizations, as we systematically expose their criminal operations and protect the U.S. financial system from their illicit activity," said David S. Cohen, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, in a statement.
It's a sobering reminder that the fight against financial crime never ends, --and is often an uphill battle -- with governments and financial institutions having to battle organized crime, individual hackers and rogue nations. Here's a closer look at the criminal organizations the Treasury is taking on.
Bryan Yurcan is associate editor for Bank Systems and Technology. He has worked in various editorial capacities for newspapers and magazines for the past 8 years. After beginning his career as a municipal and courts reporter for daily newspapers in upstate New York, Bryan has ... View Full Bio


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WASHINGTON –Following oral arguments today in the first case ever heard by the European Court on Human Rights alleging coerced sterilization, U.S. Helsinki Commissioners urged the Slovak Government to acknowledge and condemn the past practice of sterilizing Romani women without informed consent.
Representative Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, observed, "This case puts a spotlight on a dark and shameful chapter of 20th century history. I urge the Slovak Government to finally acknowledge clearly and unequivocally that Romani women in Slovakia were, at one time, targeted for sterilization. As a matter of justice for the victims and truth about the past – due to all the people of Slovakia – this practice should be condemned as a grave human rights violation."
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (MD), Commission Co-Chairman, said, "I have personally urged both Czech and Slovak officials to condemn the communist policy of targeting Romani women for sterilization and to admit to the failure of post-communist Czechoslovakia to immediately and completely halt this despicable practice. I was heartened that, in November 2009, the Czech Government formally acknowledged and regretted this past abuse, but more should be done. Slovakia should not wait for yet another judgment from Strasbourg before taking responsibility for past transgressions against Romani women."
Representative Alcee L. Hastings (FL-23), Ranking Member of the Commission, added that "improving respect for the rights of the Romani minority requires improving respect for Roma, and that should begin by owning up to past discrimination and abuse."
The case, V.C. v. Slovakia, is being argued before the European Court on Human Rights on Tuesday, March 22, 2011. The suit has been brought by a Romani woman from Slovakia who alleges that she was sterilized without informed consent in August 2000. A second sterilization case, I.G., M.K., and R.H. v. Slovakia, has also been declared admissible by the court but oral arguments have not yet been scheduled in that case.
A webcast of Tuesday's oral arguments will be available at www.echr.coe.int.
In the 20th century, eugenics theories formed the basis of coerced sterilization practices in numerous countries. Thirty-three states in the United States implemented such programs, which were all discontinued by the 1970s. These programs generally targeted persons perceived as having a "hereditary deficiency" and, over time, some programs exhibited a racial bias in their implementation. In Europe, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland are among the countries that have investigated, reported on, and condemned past sterilization programs.
Based on eugenics theories, the Czechoslovak communist state targeted Romani women for sterilization. Although the sterilization policy ended with the fall of communism, the practice continued sporadically and without official sanction in both the Czech and Slovak Republics even after the end of communism.
On December 13, 2006, Slovakia's highest court ruled in favor of three Romani women who alleged they had been sterilized without informed consent. The court held that a regional prosecutor had improperly closed his investigation into their claims and that the investigation had been so faulty that it violated both the Slovak Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
In Case of K.H. and Others v. Slovakia, decided in April 2009, the European Court on Human Rights found a violation of article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to a hearing regarding civil rights and obligations) and article 8 (right to family life) in a case in which Romani women had been denied access to their own medical records.


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Know All About Gluten-Free Diet for Healthy Living
Know All About Gluten-Free Diet for Healthy Living A gluten-free
The best recipes for hair growth and improvement
The best recipes for hair growth and improvement Taking care
Advantages of Quick and Convenient Meals
Advantages of Quick and Convenient Meals It's a fast-moving world
What Influences The Health of Your Hair?
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Love browsing the recipes and great information!
Mani writes very in-depth recipes, and I LOVE her photos. They make everything look so good! It is always enjoyable to browse her site and try the recipes, and I love that she has a focus on empowering women as well!
Awesome friend and cook
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Great Job!! A nice food blog to follow on web!
Thank you for Sharing Amazing Recipes
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Keep up the good work..
The best blogger ever!!
Excellent blog gingeritup !! Always giving 💯 to the receipes which are easy to follow because of her creative writing style and her series Rendezvous is always the best !! I wait to read about this series each month since she started writing about this.
An inspiration
I love to read your Blog..aspecially Rendezvous series..very inspiring and and the way you write makes it more intresting and inspiring.I also like to read your healthy recipies…. looking forward to read more recepies and stories. Good luck.
Love the Blog
Hello Mani!
I found your recipes interesting and most of all the Rendezvous series. They are informative and filled with a sense of positivity to see experience and struggle your guest go through. The conversation is always encouraging. You got a beautiful style of writing , attractive words and eloquence.
I look forward to read your Rendezvous series .
All the very best Mani!
Loads of love
Hi Mani,I love your each
Hi Mani,
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"Great Work"
I have known Mani for more than a year now. I have never seen a lovely, caring, multitasking, talented women like her.
I really like and an avid reader of her blogs. Her writing style is very impressive and easy to understand.
Her recipes are unique as well as healthy.
I am a big admirer of her Rendezvous series. Her series exemplify that the women are capable of so many things.
Thanks so much for doing a great job!
Great blogger
Gingeritup is the best blog and Mani the best blogger ever!! Her recipes are so easy to follow because of her creative writing style. Always looking forward to see and follow her recipes !! Keep up the good work!! Best wishes !!
I love the recipes and
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My favorite blogger!!
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Food and Mani are two sides of same coin
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My favorite recipe so far is "Gajar ka Halwa " can't beat this one!!!
THE RENDEZVOUS series brings real-life experiences which are never forgettable. It inspires our community and encourages ones to further their dreams.
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Ginger It up has been a superbly thought & well-executed blog. Seeing it among one of the most popular food blogs makes me feel proud. Mani Dee has come so far with this baby of hers. There are many blogs over the internet which provides recipes & numerous cuisines. What Ginger It up brings on the table is its niche which has been carved out by her. I loved the concept of bringing authentic Indian recipes & sharing an interesting experience along with. It was a very unique & good idea which gives the reader a sense of personalized touch & in a way the reader can form a connection with that.
Her passion for food & writing goes way back!! I wish this website a stupendous growth ahead in the upcoming year! Hope to see many new cuisines with that personalized experience! 🙂
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Heart disease and diabetes get all the attention, but what about the many other ways obesity can damage your health?
Carrying too many pounds may lead to or worsen some types of cancer, arthritis, sleep apnea, even infertility. But a new poll suggests few Americans realize the links.
Only about one-quarter of people think it's possible for someone to be very overweight and still healthy, according to the poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Ask about the most serious consequences, and more than 7 in 10 Americans can correctly tick off heart disease and diabetes. Heart disease is the nation's leading killer, and diabetes and obesity are twin epidemics, as rates of both have climbed in recent years.
The other consequences aren't so well known.
"People are often shocked to hear how far-reaching the effects of obesity are," said Jennifer Dimitriou, a bariatric dietitian at New York's Montefiore Medical Center.
Only 7 percent of people surveyed mentioned cancer, although doctors long have known that fat increases the risk of developing cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, uterus and certain other sites. Plus, being overweight can make it harder to spot tumors early and to treat them.
Then there's the toll on your joints, especially the knees. About 15 percent of people knew obesity can contribute to arthritis, a vicious cycle as the joint pain then makes it harder to exercise and shed pounds.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol and strokes were fairly low on the list. Infertility didn't get a mention.
Also, 5 percent put respiratory problems on the list. Studies show people who are overweight are at increased risk of sleep apnea and asthma, and that dropping pounds can help improve their symptoms.
Knowing more about the myriad ways obesity affects health could help motivate people to get more active and eat better before full-blown disease strikes, Dimitriou said.
"Most people want to become healthier. It's the know-how, and understanding what the consequences are," she said.
But only 52 percent of those surveyed said they've discussed the health risks of being overweight with a doctor.
In another complication, the AP-NORC Center survey found that about half of people think their weight is just about right, and only 12 percent of parents think their child is overweight. That's even though government figures show two-thirds of U.S. adults, and one-third of children and teens, are either overweight or obese.
If you're surrounded by overweight people, especially in your family, "then that's all you know, and that to you is normal," Dimitriou said.
The AP-NORC Center survey was conducted Nov. 21 through Dec. 14. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,011 adults nationwide and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
Associated Press News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.


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Posted February 19, 2007
In an effort to support the next generation of leading Alzheimer's researchers, the Cure Alzheimer's Fund has joined with the Alzheimer's Association and the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute to create and fund a new "genius grant" for young Alzheimer's researchers.
The new prize called Tomorrow's Leaders in Alzheimer's Disease Research honors the legacies of two pioneering Alzheimer researchers – George G. Glenner, M.D., and Leon J. Thal, M.D. The sponsoring organizations are the Alzheimer's Association, the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, and the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, who each have committed $100,000 annually to fund the prizes. he announcement came at the 2007 Alzheimer's Association International Conference on the Prevention of Dementia, in Washington, D.C.
Each $100,000 Tomorrow's Leaders in Alzheimer's Disease Research award recognizes the work of a promising M.D. or Ph.D. Alzheimer's disease investigator who has made pivotal recent contributions to the goal of eliminating Alzheimer's.
"The Alzheimer's Association is very excited to be part of the creation of another innovative vehicle for funding young scientists," said William Thies, PhD, vice president for Medical & Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer's Association.
"The award honors extraordinary current achievement and outstanding potential for future discoveries," said Tim Armour, President and CEO, Cure Alzheimer's Fund. "It is a unique award in this field that we hope will both reward and inspire the most innovative researchers to continue their focus on Alzheimer's research as a career path."
Modeled on other genius grants, the prize funds may be used for any purpose at the discretion of each winner. The co-sponsors expect to award prizes each year based on the quality of the applications. More information about the 2008 Tomorrow's Leaders in Alzheimer's Disease Research awards, nomination proc
edures and deadlines will be available November 2007.
"We welcome additional partners to join the initiative, broaden this effort to honor outstanding scientists and move the Alzheimer's field forward," said Zaven Khachaturian, Ph.D., President of the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute. "We anticipate that the number of awards will increase as additional organizations join, and that this will grow into a major vehicle for recognizing scientific achievement, creativity and vision in the Alzheimer's research field."
Glenner (1928–1995) headed the molecular pathology section and chaired the Department of Medicine and Physiology at the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences at the National Institutes of Health from 1958 to 1980. In 1982, he assumed a post as research pathologist in the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine. Two years later, Glenner and his assistant, Cai'ne Wong, announced the isolation and identification of beta-amyloid and its connection with Alzheimer's. Their watershed research set the cornerstone for the amyloid hypothesis, the leading theoretical framework for understanding Alzheimer's and the basis of the most promising emerging "disease-modifying" treatments.
Thal (1944–2007), a visionary in conceptualizing and designing Alzheimer clinical studies, led an unparalleled clinical research effort, including some of the trials that established the most important current symptomatic treatments. Since 1994, Thal headed the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), an 80-site clinical research consortium in the United States and Canada. He also directed the University of California at San Diego's Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Center, established in 1984 as one of the original five centers funded by the National Institute on Aging. In addition, he chaired UCSD's Department of Neurosciences.
"In all their various roles, Leon Thal and George Glenner were celebrated as collaborators, consensus-builders and mentors," said Harry Johns, President and CEO, Alzheimer's Association. "To honor this collegial spirit, an organizing principle of the Tomorrow's Leaders in Alzheimer's Disease Research Prize is collaboration among sponsoring institutions."
The Alzheimer's Association is the first and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer's. Since its founding in 1980, the Association has awarded more than $200 million in research grants. For more than 25 years, the Association has provided reliable information and care consultation; created services for families; increased funding for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes. Please visit www.alz.org.
Cure Alzheimer's Fund TM is a 501c3 public charity whose mission is to fund research with the highest probability of slowing, stopping or reversing Alzheimer's disease. Cure Alzheimer's Fund is characterized by a venture approach to philanthropy in which all expenses and overhead is paid for by its founders and all contributions go directly to research. The Foundation has no financial or intellectual property interest in the research funded, and will make known the results of all funded research as soon as possible. Cure Alzheimer's Fund is a national organization with offices in Boston and Pittsburgh. Please visit. www.curealzfund.org.
The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute (LRBI) seeks to accelerate the discovery of cures for memory disorders and dementia associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's, and ALS. The Institute fosters the creation of worldwide cooperative research networks to develop new detection technologies for early and accurate diagnosis of dementia and facilitate the development of treatments for various forms of memory impairments. The LRBI aims to build a unique national research resource to accelerate the process of testing new interventions. Please visit www.keepmemoryalive.org.
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After Brenda McClary's multiple sclerosis began flaring up every few months, she lost her job as a hospital billing clerk, and with it her health insurance.
Since then, the 57-year-old Darby resident has found basic coverage for $127 a month. But the insurance covers just four doctor visits a year, which she has already used up. "Everything from here on out I have to take out of my own pocket," says McClary, who also has diabetes and has cut back on buying test strips for her blood sugar.
McClary is one of millions of people who might be eligible for a controversial proposal allowing those between 55 and 64 to buy coverage in Medicare, the federal health program for the elderly, before turning 65. The plan, part of a blueprint for health reform written by Max Baucus (D., Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, would help people like McClary, who buy their own insurance or are uninsured.
About four million people between 55 and 64 have no health coverage, according to the Census Bureau. Opening up Medicare could be "a way to get some relief to this population immediately," said John Rother, policy director for AARP, the older-Americans lobbying group.
The proposal might be bolstered by the grinding recession, which is taking a toll on older workers. "These people are getting laid off in the crunch. They can't find jobs, and they can't find insurance," says Robert Laszewski, president of Health Policy & Strategy Associates, a consulting firm in Alexandria, Va. "And they vote."
Under the Baucus plan, the Medicare expansion would end once a comprehensive health-care overhaul – one that guaranteed insurance to all Americans – was in place.
But the buy-in idea is far from a sure thing. Many Republicans and others oppose the idea, noting that Medicare already faces severe financial problems.
Rep. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) "believes it would be reckless and irresponsible to add more people to a system that is broken and failing," says Coburn's spokesman John Hart.
Politically, the idea stands more of a chance as a temporary transition measure, as Baucus proposes, than as a permanent option if broader health reform fails, says Len Nichols, an economist with the centrist New America Foundation.
But even a temporary measure is likely to face some opposition because "it's unrealistic to put something like that out there and expect it to ever go away," says Leslie Norwalk, who was acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Bush administration.
Employers would like the option of having their 55- to 64-year-old workers go into Medicare to reduce their own costs, says Norwalk, now a strategic counsel at the law firm Epstein, Becker & Green, in Washington. But allowing a Medicare buy-in could increase costs to the program and its current enrollees, especially if only people in poor health signed up.
"Without a doubt, the political feasibility relates a whole lot to how much this would cost," says Norwalk.
Then there's the tricky question of subsidies. Medicare is heavily subsidized for people 65 and older. But to keep this from worsening Medicare's fiscal woes, the Baucus proposal wouldn't provide subsidies. The result would likely be far higher premiums than what those over 65 now pay. While the Baucus plan doesn't give premium estimates, a similar proposal analyzed by the Congressional Budget Office estimated that premiums would be $7,600 a year for those ages 62 to 64.
With such premiums, Medicare's expenses would not rise, the CBO said, but the government would see a $1.6 billion increase in Social Security payments from 2010-2019 as some people retired early.
If premiums are $7,600 a year, "I can't see any benefit," said Jim Cade, 61, who runs a small auto-body shop in Philadelphia. He dropped his insurance three years ago after his monthly premiums rose above $600. "I pray every day I don't get sick," he said.
Getting insurance after 50 has never been easy, which is one reason Medicare was created in the first place. "Age is a close proxy for health status," says Karen Pollitz, research professor at Georgetown's Health Policy Institute. "While there are a lot of marathon runners in their 60s, it's also true that the incidence of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer increases after age 50."
In most states, such as Pennsylvania, insurers can reject applicants for individual coverage if they have medical problems. A survey in 2006 and 2007 by America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry group, found that 17 percent to 29 percent of all applicants age 50 to 64 were rejected for coverage in the individual market, compared with 10 percent of those age 30 to 34.
Premiums also rise with age. The survey showed that average annual premiums were $3,628 for those age 50 to 54; $4,317 for those 55 to 59; and $5,090 for 60 to 64. The premiums were $1,877 for those 30 to 34.
Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, said that the industry opposed a Medicare buy-in and that there were better ways to help people: The industry has promised to stop rejecting applicants with medical problems and to stop basing rates on health conditions – if a comprehensive health overhaul required everyone to buy insurance.
Baucus also has proposed other ways to help people too young for Medicare. For example, he wants to get rid of a requirement that disabled people under 65 are eligible for Medicare only after a two-year waiting period.
Marlene Chait, 62, a paraplegic who lives in Philadelphia, went through the two-year waiting period and is now on Medicare, but chafing at its restrictions. Because she isn't housebound – she uses a wheelchair and special van – she isn't eligible for in-home care and must pay for an aide to help her dress, bathe, and do laundry.
Opening Medicare to younger people is a good idea, and its coverage is "better than nothing," says Chait. But she says Congress should also expand Medicare to cover more in-home care, so "people like me don't go bankrupt or lose their house."


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I really loved those Traveller 'zines, which I still have to this day. They weren't "professional," either in content or presentation, but they were filled with enthusiasm and imagination and they encouraged me to pick up a pen and start writing my own stuff. Some might argue that blogs are the new 'zines and there's some truth to that assertion. On the other hand, 'zines just feel different to me in some indescribable way, though perhaps Christian said it best when he wrote:
While blogs are a wonderful tool for connecting with people who share similar interests, there's an anonymity to the process. It's easy to insult someone from the safety of an avatar with a codename. It's harder to actually sit down, write a letter and drop your anger in the mailbox. Zines are a much more personal and direct way to communicate. You might read and forget a blog post. You're more likely to save a favorite zine for years.I think he's absolutely right here, which is why I'm glad that he's keeping the 'zine alive and well in 2012 (and I understand Tim is thinking of trying his hand at the form, too -- good show!).
So, for today's Open Friday, feel free to share your thoughts about and experiences with gaming fanzines. I'm curious to hear how many of you have ever read, subscribed to, or written them.


text: This curved roof spoiler design measures at 2 5/8" wide & 1 1/4" high with a center cut. Spoiler is made from high quality polyurethane material and will sit flush against the edge of the windshield of the vehicle. It includes self adhesive tape for easy installation. Spoiler is UNPAINTED with a flat black finish. Painting will require flex paint to be used. All Spoilers are aftermarket and manufactured in the USA.


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There are numerous theories regarding the origin of universe but the Big Bang model is the broadly accepted theory. But thousands of years before scientists came up with Big Bang model, did the sages of Upanishads knew about the cosmos wake up. In his long introductory essay in the book 'The Big Bang and the Bhagavad Gita,' R.A.S. Koacha suggests that the early saints of modern day Hinduism knew about this cosmic event through mystic insight.
Big Bang Theory postulates that 12 to 14 billion years ago, the portion of the universe we can see today was only a few millimeters across. It has since expanded from this hot dense state into the vast and much cooler cosmos we currently inhabit. (NASA)
Some of the conclusions from the book – 'The Big Bang and the Bhagavad Gita,' R.A.S. Koacha
Is Brahman an oblique reference of Big Bang?
The very name 'Brahman' representing the Ultimate Reality in Hindu religion appears to be nothing but an implicit reference to the 'Big Bang' itself. The word 'Brahman' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'brh' which means to 'grow big' without limit and can be an oblique reference to an explosion. Hence it is perhaps also called 'Shabda Brahman' in the scriptures as Brahman manifests itself as a 'Sphota' or explosion.
But Brahman is before and after Big Bang
However, Brahman being the one and only Reality, represents everything, including event the state of singularity before the Big Bang, as well as the whole manifested universe after it. As the point of singularity, Brahman is the impersonal absolute of pure timeless existence.
Big Bang is represented by Symbol OM
As all creation emerges from Brahman with the Big Bang, its symbol is the single syllable '
Hindu Samkhya System Negates Creation Out of Nothing
In the Hindu Samkhya System we have the earliest refutation of the creation out of nothing (ex nihilo), and the first full-fledged theory of creation. According to Samkhya the effect preexists in the cause. There is nothing like a new creation but only a manifestation of what was already present in the cause in a potential form. Thus Prakriti or material nature is the primordial matrix or plenum out of which all material as well as psychic phenomena evolve. Mind and matter are but manifestations of the same principle. Prakriti is the homogenous universal field (Quantum field?) at first in a state of equilibrium, its three constituents the illuminating (Sattvic), activating (Rajasic) and restricting (Tamasic) being in a balanced state. When this balance is disturbed by the preponderance of one or the other of the constituents (Gunas) creation becomes inevitable.
The evolution of the manifold is succeeded by its involution and reabsorption back into the unitary state, only to be re-emitted after a period of potentiality. These processes are governed entirely by the tension between the forces among themselves and no extraneous agency is necessary to account for them.
The concepts of Narayana, Lila, Sankalpa are attempts by Upanishad Seers to simplify the complex Bing Bang Theory
The Upanishads are more cryptical in their description of creation. According to them the ONE (Brahman) wished to be many and creation is only an expression of its WILL (Sankalpa). Sometimes creation is depicted as divine play (LILA) of the Supreme Being. But any game will lose its meaning when the omniscient player knows all, from beginning to end. The scripture state that the universe originated from Narayana; Narayana is too difficult to interpret even in Sanskrit. He is very the Big Bang personified. (Jagat Narayanodbhavam)
The Bindu (dot) in Shaivism is the Few Millimeter Long Primordial Seed
The Kashmiri cult of Shaivism is more explicit in its account of creation. The whole universe was at first concentrated at one point or dot (Bindu). It is the Primordial Seed of creation. After a period of germination it undergoes an explosion (Sphota) resulting in the sound (Nada) of creation (
(Source: Excerpts from The Big Bang and the Bhagavad Gita by R.A.S. Kocha Published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai)


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Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom's Marriage Crisis Triggered By Drug Abuse
Khloe and Lamar Marriage Crisis Triggered By Drug Abuse
The marriage of Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom is in crisis, and TMZ has learned ... the core reason is hardcore drug abuse.
Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Lamar has had a problem for 2 years. It got so bad, last August Khloe pressured Lamar to go to rehab. Lamar went to a facility in San Diego, but he was so resistant Khloe hired private investigators to secretly stand guard at the rehab place to make sure he didn't leave. The P.I.s stood guard 24/7.
Our sources say Lamar constantly threatened to leave and Khloe made several visits to prevail upon him to stay. We're told after 3 weeks, Lamar left for good.
We're told Lamar actually stayed clean once he left rehab and was able to play well for the Clippers this past season. But when the season was over, sources say Lamar slipped deep back into hardcore recreational drugs.
As for reports that Lamar was cheating recently, we're told Khloe is convinced it happened, and she feels she's been hit with a double whammy ... but drugs are the main problem.
As for divorce ... neither Khloe nor Lamar has contacted a lawyer. As one source put it, "Khloe is more concerned about saving Lamar than ending her marriage."
We're told the situation has become dire. Sources tell us ... within the last 2 days, the entire family staged an intervention, trying to convince Lamar to go back to rehab, but he wouldn't have any of it.
In fact, on Wednesday morning, right after the failed intervention, Khloe threw Lamar out of the house and as you see from the pic (above), one of Lamar's friends is loading Lamar's stuff in his car as Lamar watches.
We attempted to reach Lamar for comment ... so far, no word back.