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(December 23, 2013) – Haley Eckerman of the University of Texas, Kelsey Robinson from University of Nebraska, Krista Vansant of the University of Washington and Carly Wopat from Stanford University are the four nominees for the Honda Sports Award for Volleyball as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today.
The Honda Sports Award is presented annually by the CWSA to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies "the best of the best in collegiate athletics". The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2014 Honda Cup. The nominees were chosen by a panel of coaches representing the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
The Honda Sports award winner for volleyball will be announced in the new year after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Eckerman is a two-time first-team All-American after earning second-team honors and AVCA Freshman of the Year as a rookie. The junior outside hitter from Coppell, Texas, earned Big 12 Conference Player of the Year honors for the second straight year and is a three-time All-Big 12 first-team honoree. She led the Longhorns with 4.14 kills per set, adding 2.54 digs per set and 511 points.
A native of Bartlett, Ill., Robinson earned first-team AVCA All-American honors this season after having been recognized by the AVCA for the past two years. She was named the 2013 Big Ten Player of the Year and earned All-Big Ten first-team honors. She averaged 4.45 kills and 3.33 digs per set while posting 19 double-doubles. The outside hitter transferred to Nebraska from Tennessee where she was the 2011 SEC Player of the Year and a two-time first-team All-SEC member.
Vansant was recently named the 2013 AVCA National Player of the Year after earning a nod on the AVCA All-America first-team. The junior outside hitter from Redlands, Calif., also earned 2013 Pac-12 Player of the Year while leading the Huskies to their first Final Four since 2006. She ranks fifth in career kills at UW after averaging 4.41 kills per set and hitting .320 on the season.
Wopat, a senior middle blocker from Santa Barbara, Calif., earned first-team AVCA All-American honors for the second straight season. She is a three-time All-Pac-12 Conference selection and led the conference in blocks this season with 1.43 blocks per set. She led her team in hitting percentage (.429) and points (3.92 pps) and became just the third Cardinal ever to register 600 career blocks (614).
The CWSA presents the Honda Sports Award annually to top women student-athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Honda Sports award winners will be presented with the honor during on-campus presentations throughout the year and all Honda Sports award winners become a finalist for the prestigious 2014 Honda Cup award presented in June.
Five Honda Sports Awards winners for volleyball have gone on to win the prestigious Honda Cup- Megan Hodge (Penn State, 2010), Sarah Pavan (Nebraska, 2007), Ogonna Nnamani (Stanford, 2005), Misty May (Long Beach State, 1999) and Deitre Collins (Hawaii, 1983).
The Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation's top NCAA women athletes for 37 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $2.7 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs at the institutions.


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[From now until mid-January, IndieGames.com: The Weblog will be counting down the best independent and freeware games of 2009, with descriptions, screenshots, and links of the best games in each major category. Previously: Top 10 Shoot 'em Ups, Top 10 Puzzle Games, Top 10 Browser Platformers, Top 20 Freeware Platformers, Top 10 Browser Arcade Games]
The sixth of our in-depth 2009 Best Of Features here on the IndieGames.com blog (after the overall Top 10 we did for Gamasutra and the 10 Indie Games for '10 article), we're proud to present twenty of the best freeware arcade games released in 2009.
A bear behind a wheel, a tiki totem on speed, and a planet-devouring worm. These are just some of the stranger protagonists that you'll find in our selection of the best downloadable arcade games from last year.
(You can also access the full 2009 Top Freeware Arcade Games chart — with extra screenshots and information — as part of the IndieGames.com Features section, which includes indie game charts from 2006 to 2008.)
Here are the top freeware downloadable arcade games of the year:
20. Ping Pong (cactus) [Windows, freeware]
Ping Pong is cactus' take on the popular table tennis game, although some rules were changed for a more arcade feel rather than an accurate simulation of the sporting pastime. A training module is included to assist new players with learning the controls, while the hotseat multiplayer feature allows two people to take on each other in a friendly match.
19. Jetpack Basketball (Mark Essen) [Windows, freeware]
Jetpack Basketball is a hotseat game for one or two players, where the challenge is to place the ball into the basket eleven times to win the match. There is also a button that you can press to make more balls appear in the court. Terrific fun for a Sunday afternoon when you have some relatives over.
18. okkuplektor (0rel) [Windows, freeware]
okkuplektor is a stylish 3D shooter where the objective is to search for a yellow box hidden somewhere in each stage, usually placed inside castles which are to be destroyed before revealing their prizes.
17. Classic Night (Akarolls) [Windows, freeware]
Classic Night is a strategy game with arcade elements, where players are asked to help a talking moon grow brighter by constructing utilities or buildings which give off light. Light from flowers and structures can then be collected as the main resource for upgrades or new constructions.
16. Kung Fu 2 (Gary Gasko) [Windows, freeware]
Kung Fu 2 is a remake of Kung-Fu Master, where you assume the role of a martial arts master on a quest to save his girlfriend from the evil clutches of Mr. X. The game comes with nine playable stages, unlockable secret characters, and an online high score submission feature.
15. NeonPlat (Jayenkai) [Windows, freeware]
NeonPlat is an arcade platformer where points are scored by using balls to bowl enemies off the screen. Platdude can double or triple jump in the air (with the right power-ups), climb ladders, paint over floors for points and slip below platforms, but he can never carry more than one ball at a time.
An online high score table is accessible from the main menu inside the game.
14. Uberleben (Beau Blyth) [Windows, freeware]
Uberleben is a hotseat party game with support of up seven players on keyboard, mouse and joypad. In it, participating skydivers must attempt to reach the ground safely by navigating around obstacles while collecting rings to increase their mobility and attack strength.
13. GunFu Deadlands (Christiaan Janssen) [Windows, freeware]
GunFu Deadlands is a 2D arcade shooter in which you play a cowboy out to prove that he is the quickest sharpshooter in the West. Our hero has the uncanny ability to react faster than everyone else, although he can only use bullet time in short bursts. The outlaws are no slouches as well, and if you're not behind cover the moment everything returns to normal, you will be shot down like a deck of stacked playing cards blown away by the wind.
The game also features a hard mode, where players are only allowed the use of one life to beat all ten stages included in the game.
12. QQUAK (Jan Willem Nijman) [Windows, freeware]
QQUAK is a low-resolution remake of id's Quake 2 by Jan Willem Nijman, featuring three playable maps to choose from, four different weapons to use, and a limitless number of enemies for you to shoot at. Health and ammunition can be replenished by collecting power-up items, and your score is submitted automatically after the end of each game.
11. Magic Planet Snack (Elephant Kiss) [Windows, freeware]
In Magic Planet Snack you are a wizard who turned himself into a worm by accident, and has to travel through the cosmos to devour wizards on other worlds for points. Gathering orbs will power up your hyper gauge, and once that is full all edible objects on screen are transformed into confectionery for your worm to chew on. This effect only lasts for a couple of seconds, but it should be enough time to score some bonuses that will edge you closer to a bonus life.
10. De Toren (Kevin Oke) [Windows, freeware]
De Toren is a delightful puzzle platformer from the developer of Lightmare and Consumer Culture, where the player's objective is to reach the top of a tower safely with at least the minimum amount of points required to clear a level. Floor sections which you have stepped on will light up, but backtracking will deduct a small percentage from the combo indicator that you are building up on. Keeping the combo count high is important, because time is of the essense and there are only so many floor sections to walk on in every stage.
9. Atomic Blast (qrleon) [Windows, freeware]
Atomic Blast is an action platformer that features twelve short levels, created by qrleon using an unregistered version of Game Maker. Similar to Chris Roper's Destructivator, you play a hero who can jump, climb, and shoot his way past just about every obstacle thrown at him. Our protagonist isn't exactly invincible though, as getting hit by a single bullet from any enemy's gun will kill him instantly.
8. Knight of the Living Dead (Pistachio Productions) [Windows, freeware]
Knight of the Living Dead tells the tale of brave Sir Galahad, who has been called upon to defend Camelot from the vilest of evil – zombie knights. Armed with only his trusty sword and a handful of regenerating spells, Galahad must survive ten waves of zombies and defeat the final boss in order to restore peace to the land.
7. Merry Gear Solid 2 (Arthur Lee) [Windows, freeware]
Merry Gear Solid 2: Ghost of Christmas Past is a fan-made tribute to a popular series of stealth espionage games, created by a developer who has a clear understanding and respect for canon material. Many of the tools used on the field have been renamed and redesigned with the Christmas theme in mind, but the way these equipment are handled will feel very similar to their original counterparts.
Arthur has written the storyline to be as convoluted as possible, and cutscenes do go on quite a bit, although the only real issue with the game is that about a quarter of it involves backtracking through rooms you've visited earlier in the mission.
6. Igneous (Going Down in Flames) [Windows, freeware]
Created by a team from DigiPen and entered into both the main IGF competition and the student contest, Igneous is the story of one tiki totem's frantic rush through an erupting volcano and it's quite literally a face-melter. Each of the three levels consists of rolling at high speeds away from the deadly lava flow, which is constantly throwing balls of molten death and destruction in your direction, destroying platforms and pathways. Think fast or you'll end up in the drink.
It's a pretty short experience with around 15 minutes of play, but there is also Impossible mode which does what it says on the tin. Honestly, you won't have felt a rush like this is a good long while and that final level is incredibly epic.
5. The Black Heart (Andrés Borghi) [Windows, freeware]
The Black Heart is a versus fighting game which took Argentine developer Andrés Borghi seven years to create using Elecbyte's M.U.G.E.N. engine. There are six playable characters to choose from, each with their own set of special moves that can be executed using simple key press combinations. In addition to the basic attacks, players can also charge up their energy gauge and perform a powerful fatal move to finish a duel in style.
The game also features a couple of gameplay modes separate from the main story campaign, with support for hotseat multiplayer also included.
4. Vanguard Princess (Sugeno Tomoaki) [Windows, freeware]
Vanguard Princess is a freeware versus fighting game created with Enterbrain's 2D Fighter Maker engine, featuring the sort of quality normally reserved for full-price commercial releases. There are ten playable characters to choose from, an assortment of special moves distinct to each combatant, excellent sprite work, creative costume designs, and even a multiplayer mode that is unfortunately limited to just two people playing on the same computer with no online capabilities.
3. Enviro-Bear 2000: Operation Hibernation (Justin Smith) [Windows, freeware]
Suffering from a case of too many punctuations, Enviro-Bear 2000: Operation: Hibernation is a physics-based driving simulator where the objective is to assist a bear eat just enough food before going into a long hibernation sleep. Being drowsy and all, the bear's mobility is limited to just one paw, hence the wheel, gear shift and pedals can only be operated one at a time. Once you've eaten enough, then it's off to one of the caves to sleep for an entire year.
2. RunMan: Race Around the World (Tom Sennett and Matt Thorson) [Windows, freeware]
Simply put, RunMan is utterly fantastic. The whole experience comprises of pelting it through zone after zone of levels which look like they were draw in MS Paint with the biggest size brush, bouncing off walls, smashing through bricks and baddies and then picking up a medal at the end depending on how fast you were and how much stuff you crashed into. All the while a glorious mixture of folk, blues and jazz accompanies the action, somehow perfectly complimenting the hilarity.
And that's just the basics down. Each zone map is set out like a SNES-era Mario title, while the gameplay itself manages to feel like some mad cross between said plumber and that blue hedgehog of yore. Then each level itself has 3 different medals to achieve – a bronze, silver and gold – the latter of which requires complete control and concentration to master. Oh, and the game saves ghost runs of your performances which you can then race against. And there are boss levels too.
1. Star Guard (Sparky) [Windows/Mac, freeware]
Star Guard is a 2D platformer in which you play as a spaceman on a mission to defeat an evil wizard, armed with only a gun that fires in the direction that you are facing. A quick trigger finger helps, because enemies have a tendency to spring out of nowhere and take you by surprise. Slow to react, and you'd end up back at the last checkpoint location or the beginning of the level you are on.
The game isn't particularly difficult to beat, considering that players have infinite lives to waste on getting shot at or springing traps. There are nine levels to play in total, and instructions on how to unlock an extra mode are given after completing the entire quest.
[Got feedback? Reasons to disagree? Post a response and we'll do a special 'best of reader comments' round-up at the end of our chart countdowns.]

subset: commoncrawl


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WINCHESTER, Va. - No. 12/18 Shenandoah University banged out 19 hits in a 19-11 non-league baseball victory over Eastern Mennonite University Monday evening.
Shenandoah (23-8) scored in every inning but the fifth in finishing off the season sweep of the Royals (10-20).
Leading 6-0 after scoring three runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third, SU found itself trailing 8-6 heading into its half of the fourth after EMU scored eight runs (all with two outs) against three different Shenandoah pitchers in the top of the frame.
Senior Kyle Gladu got the first two outs of the inning on just two pitches before pitcher/designated hitter Beau Banglesdorf doubled to right.
Banglesdorf's two-bagger would be the first of four consecutive hits for the Royals and started a rally that saw EMU score eight runs on six hits and four walks.
Junior Brent Bertschinger, making his first-ever appearance for the Hornets, finally stopped the bleeding by getting Dylan Smith, the 13th hitter of the frame, to line out to right.
Eastern Mennonite would extend its advantage to 11-7 by the middle of the sixth.
Shenandoah clawed back with three runs in the sixth, outlasted a 30-minute rain delay, and finally took the lead for good with a six-run seventh.
The Hornets completed their scoring with three more in the eighth. Senior Jake Pendergraft had a two-run HR before Joe Bittner drove in pinch runner Eric Rhodes with a double to center.
Freshman Matt Riegler (4-0), the seventh of nine SU pitchers, earned the win with 3 1/3 innings of relief work. Riegler allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two.
Kyle Scallion recorded the final four outs with three strikeouts and a groundout.
Senior Joey Donofrio led the 19-hit attack with four hits in six at-bats. He and Pendergraft both drove in three.


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Biological Microscopes
Showing all 8 results
Labomed CxL Monocular Cordless LED Microscope Series
Compound Microscope – Labomed CxL Microscope
Labomed CxL Binocular Cordless LED Microscope Series
Labomed Lx300 LED Microscope Series
Labomed Lx400 Microscope Series
Biological Microscope – Labomed Lx500 Series Microscope
Labomed Lx500 LED Cordless Microscope Series
Showing all 8 results
In this section upright brightfield compound light microscopes are referred to as biological microscopes. They are available in binocular or trinocular configuration, tungsten, halogen or the latest technology LED illumination, three to five objectives, abbe condenser and mechanical stages, coaxle coarse/find focusing mechanisms. These microscopes can be connected to a digital camera. Please refer to the biological digital microscope package section or digital microscope camera section.
Biological Microscopes are used for general biology for the middle or high school student, university/college studies, hobbyist, professional laboratory technician, veterinarian, doctor or pathologist. Biological Microscopes are brightfield upright compound microscopes.
Your search for just the right Biological Microscope required for your individual application and budget has brought you to Microscope International. We are a highly experienced company with over 30 years in the industry offering the knowledge, expertise and professionalism that will provide you with the most enjoyable and rewarding shopping experience.
Please contact New York Microscope Company for any Biological Microscope inquiries, custom configurations, quantity discounts or support required at 877-877-7274 or email@example.com.
New York Microscope Company is the only microscope company to offer Free Service Protection Guarantee with the purchase of every microscope. Visit our Free Service Protection page for more details.


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July 31, 2011
Live from New York, it's Cheeseburger Saturday Night! Starring Amity Hall with special guests Gene and Terry from the BBC and featuring the Ready For Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome tonight's host, Amity Hall!
Out on the town with 2/3 of the BBC, Terry and Gene. We started out at my apartment. They generously brought some beer including...
One lone Sol to replace the former orphan. Okay, Britta, this beer's for you!
After a few pre-bar beers we head off into the night.
And here we are at Amity Hall. One of the last stops on the bar crawl last year. (See: "Further Reading," below.)
Here's two familiar faces, Shannon and Nav! Great to see both of them again and they remembered Gene and I from the bar crawl last year.
The BBC and me!
Teagan was also on duty and here she is gooning with Shannon!
Wooden candle-lit tables line the wall opposite the bar.
A shot of some of the bottles behind the bar.
MAD presents an exclusive "Behind the Bar" photo.
Shannon pours a beer...
While Teagan presents a cashew!
The condiments are placed on the bar which means dinner is not far away!
Gene and Terry got the Angry Burger which has spicy cheese inside. I got that last time and it was great, but I decided to go with...
The Sliders. I had a late lunch and wasn't that hungry, so I thought I'd try something not quite as filling. They were delcious, but I have to admit the Angry Burger is a little better.
But I'm not complaining, the sliders hit the spot.
As always Gene cleaned his plate and worked up a sweat while doing so!
After diner Shannon gave us shots of Jameson on the house.
As we were leaving we said goodbye to Nav who was in his DJ booth. He DJ's at Amity Hall Friday and Saturday from 10pm to 4am and is available for private parties and other venues. You can call him at 646-418-1180 or email him at: DJ Nav. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Further reading: 365 Bars, New York Magazine, facecrack and Beer Advocate.
You Might Also Like: Silly String, Laffy Taffy and Funny Face.
Five Other Halls
Carnegie Hall
Monty Hall
Rich Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Hall and Oates
If you're not an easy mark,
It's a shot in the dark that hits the heart.
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
Bonus Photos By Gene and Terry At The Blarney Cove!
I had a drink with the BBC (minus Smoopy) at the Peculiar Pub after dinner and then pussied out and called it a night. They soldiered on to the Blarney Cove and here's some photos of their time there, plus their bar crawling schedule from yesterday.
- 1. 1:36 pm—McGuinness's Saloon (Queens)
- 2. 2:23 pm—Gaslight (Queens)
- 3. 3:45 pm—Valhalla
- 4. 4:35 pm—Brickyard Gastropub
- 5. 6:22 pm—Ipanema
- 6. 6:41 pm—Johnny's Bar
- 7. 7:27 pm—Marty's Apartment
- 8. 9:17 pm—Amity Hall
- 9. 10:32 pm—Peculiar Pub
- 10. 11:29 pm—Blarney Cove (til 2:30am+)
The Blarney Cove, the magnet that always pulls the BBC back at the end of the evening.
Inside, this woman doesn't want her photo taken...
But this birthday girl isn't so shy and poses with Gene.
Here comes Terry with drink refills!
And last but certainly not least, Gene just sent in this photo from Pete's Diner where he and Terry were having lunch and who walks in but Shannon from last night! I told you Gene was stalking you Shannon! Two words: "Restraining order!"


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New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez came back early from his ankle sprain a month ago. Too early.
NFL.com and NFL Network's Albert Breer reports that Hernandez is out against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday once again as he tries to get fully healthy.
Here are the rest of the injury nuggets leading into Week 10. We'll update this page all morning, so refresh often:
1. Percy Harvin (ankle) is out for the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Vikings' top wideouts for Christian Ponder in this game against the Detroit Lions: Michael Jenkins and Jerome Simpson. Yikes.
2. Kimberly Jones of NFL.com and NFL Network reports that New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) is fully expected to face the Cincinnati Bengals despite being listed as questionable. Both Bradshaw and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (knee) continue to play in pain. UPDATE: Both are active. So is guard Chris Snee, who has an ankle injury.
3. Quarterback Jake Locker (shoulder) is back for the Tennessee Titans. Coach Mike Munchak confirmed Locker will start against the Miami Dolphins.
4. Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (back) is inactive against the Chicago Bears.
Relive every game this season online and on-demand with enhanced viewing features, including the "All-22" coaches film. Get NFL Game Rewind.
5. Lions wide receivers Calvin Johnson (knee) and Titus Young (knee) are active against the Vikings despite questionable tags. Defensive end Cliff Avril also is up for Detroit.
6. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (hip) and wide receivers Brandon Lloyd (knee) and Wes Welker (ankle) are active against the Bills. They were listed as questionable but always expected to start.
7. Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (shoulder) is active against the Oakland Raiders. He was on the ground a lot last week against the Cleveland Browns and didn't look close to 100 percent.
8. The Raiders declared running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson out against the Ravens because of ankle injuries, as expected.
9. San Diego Chargers left tackle Jared Gaither (groin) and linebacker Antwan Barnes (hamstring) are out against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
10. Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson (thigh) started against the Patriots.
11. St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola (shoulder) returned despite being listed as questionable to face the San Francisco 49ers.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown will miss Monday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs and could be out for a while more after that.


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Harrison Smith
College: Notre Dame Position: Safety Skinny: The safety position hasn't been mentioned as a priority this offseason, so it would be a surprise if the Ravens went in this direction. Smith is considered the second-best safety in the draft behind Alabama's Mark Barron, who is expected to go in the middle of the first round despite missing the combines after having hernia surgery. The Ravens expect Ed Reed to return for at least one more season, but the reality is that they need to prepare for life without him. They also could lose their top two reserve safeties (Haruki Nakamura and Tom Zbikowski) to free agency. At some point, they'll probably grab a safety in the draft, though Round One might be a little early for that.
Getty photo
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Thank you, Senator Feinstein and members of the Subcommittee, for inviting me here today to discuss issues related to the regulation of dangerous biological agents and toxins and to present the perspective of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). My name is Ronald M. Atlas. I am Professor of Biology, Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Louisville in Kentucky and co-director of the Center for Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism at the University of Louisville, a major research institution with over 4,000 graduate students.
I am appearing today as President-Elect of the American Society for Microbiology, and co-chair of the ASM's Task Force on Biological Weapons Control. The ASM is the largest single life science society in the world. The ASM publishes 10 scientific journals, each of which focuses on a distinct specialty within the microbiological sciences. The ASM also annually publishes numerous scientific books and sponsors many scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops on a broad range of microbiological subjects. The ASM's membership consists of over 42,000 microbiologists, ranging in profession from laboratory clinicians to research scientists and Nobel Prize laureates. A common appreciation of science and a commitment to scientific integrity unites this large and diverse scientific community.
The recent misuse of microorganisms has shocked the academic and scientific communities. The deliberate and criminal spread of anthrax is beyond comprehension for civilized people. It is completely contrary to the ends of science. I hope our testimony today will be helpful to the fashioning of legislation that will substantially diminish the threat of bioterrorism, advance our nation's ability to respond to bioterrorism, and encourage aggressive research against the global problem of infectious diseases.
The ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences to gain a better understanding of basic life processes and to promote the application of this knowledge for improved health, economic and environmental well being. Our members recognize a duty to propagate a true understanding of science. Scientists have an obligation to work for proper and beneficent application of scientific discoveries. The ASM and its members are committed to preventing misuse of microbiology contrary to the welfare of humankind.
The ASM has a long and distinguished history of bringing scientific, educational, and technical expertise to bear on issues surrounding biological weapons. Over the past 15 years, the ASM has worked with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense U.S. Army Medical Research in Infectious Disease Command (USAMRID), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Congress. The ASM supports legislation and regulations that are based upon the essential principle of ensuring protection of public safety without encumbering legitimate scientific and medical research or clinical and diagnostic medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.
The ASM premises its review of legislative and regulatory approaches on the need to pursue two goals with equal vigor and commitment. We must do everything possible to prevent bioterrorism or endangerment of the public welfare and, at the same time, we must continue to work with endless energy to eradicate the scourge of infectious diseases throughout the United States and the world.
As unfathomable as it is to the civilized mind, criminal attacks are occurring in the form of bioterrorism. Most certainly, therefore, the government, academic, and scientific communities are duty bound to take every reasonable precaution to minimize any risk of misuse of microorganisms for terrorism. The ASM unequivocally supports the urgent development of responsible safeguards against the dissemination of biological agents for misuse rather than for peaceful scientific purposes.
Even as we strive to prevent bioterrorism, however, we must recognize that legislation and regulation cannot provide absolute assurance that additional acts of bioterrorism will not occur. As important as our duty to attempt to prevent bioterrorism is, it is equally important to pursue aggressive research and public health improvements aimed at developing the most effective possible responses to acts of biological terror.
Those of us in the legislative, regulatory, academic, and scientific communities who must confront the prevention of bioterrorism face a dilemma. Implementation of restrictive controls to impede access to biological agents is inherently difficult and potentially could also deter the critical research and diagnostic activities to combat terrorism. Much of the material and equipment is in widespread use and commercially and internationally available; dangerous pathogens are naturally occurring; and, the research and technology knowledge base relevant to biological weapons is publicly available. This means that policy measures intended to limit access and use of dangerous biological agents may adversely affect legitimate research and clinical diagnostic testing. At the same time, we know that research and public health responses to terrorism are critical components of the public policy response to the threat that exists. All of us, therefore, must strive for the proper balance between safeguards that prevent bioterrorists from gaining access to select agents while not burdening important research or clinical diagnostic testing.
While we must deal with bioterrorism, we cannot lose sight of the fact that infectious diseases daily end the lives of thousands of Americans and tens of thousands around the world. Infectious diseases continue to be the third leading cause of death in the United States. Extreme control measures to prevent bioterrorism, instead of enhancing global security, could prove detrimental to that goal if scientists can no longer obtain authenticated cultures. We must remember that natural infectious diseases are a greater threat than bioterrorism. Infectious diseases remain the major cause of death in the world, responsible for 17 million deaths each year. Microbiologists and other researchers depend upon obtaining authenticated reference cultures as they work to reduce the incidence of and deaths due to infectious diseases.
Because the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases is critical to our population, we must minimize any adverse impact upon vital clinical and diagnostic research related to infectious diseases. The ASM believes that an essential part of obtaining the proper balance is cooperation and communication between and among government, academia, and scientific communities. The ASM is committed to a frank, open, and ongoing dialogue, and we welcome the opportunity presented by this Subcommittee and other members of Congress to work together to achieve the right balance between research, public health and law enforcement responses to the threat of bioterrorism. The ASM is committed to recommending approaches for additional policies that appropriately balance the crucial war on terrorism with vital research that is needed to counter terrorism and eradicate disease.
We continue to emphasize, that the Congress and the Administration must recognize that such an expansion of existing regulations requires additional financial and other resources for the CDC. The CDC must be funded properly if it is to carry out its important functions. Further, Congress must fund adequate prevention, control, and countermeasure programs on a national, regional, state, and local basis. We know, Senator Feinstein, that you and members of this Subcommittee and other members of Congress are committed to research and to development of countermeasure programs, and we welcome your understanding that such measures are very, very important.
While we recognize that much remains to be done, particularly in light of the recent shocking bioweapon attack on U.S. citizens, we should not overlook that progress has been made in developing safeguards against bioterrorism without unduly inhibiting research or clinical diagnostic testing. The 1989 Biological Weapons Act authorized the government to obtain a warrant to seize any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system the possession of which, under the circumstances, has no apparent justification for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes. The ASM worked with Congress to ensure that this legislation did not restrict legitimate research and the Senate report accompanying the bill stated that the bill would not interfere with such activities. The 1989 statute also authorized federal officials to intervene rapidly through an injunction or through a seizure made without a warrant based on probable cause. The right to intervene rapidly when there is probable cause to believe that possession of biological agents or toxins is not justified for peaceful purposes adds to the legal weapons against terrorism while protecting legitimate scientific endeavors.
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 broadened penalties for development of biological weapons and illegitimate uses of microorganisms to spread disease. The ASM testified before the 104th Congress regarding the transportation of select agents and supported passage of Section 511(d) of the Act. Like the 1989 Biological Weapons Act, the Antiterrorism Act of 1996 protects dual public interests of safety and free and open scientific research through promulgation of rules implementing a program of registration of facilities engaging in the transfer of select agents.
The 1996 Antiterrorism Act expanded CDC's responsibilities and the regulatory structure for transporting dangerous biological agents. The Act added the responsibility to "prevent access to dangerous biological agents for use in domestic and international terrorism or for any other criminal purpose." It directs the Secretary of HHS to maintain a list of biological agents that have "the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety." The Secretary also must establish and enforce procedures for shipping such agents safely to ensure that laboratory facilities can appropriately handle, contain and dispose of them and must provide safeguards against access to them for illegitimate uses. Registration may be denied if there is "evidence that the facility has or intends to use covered agents in a manner harmful to the health of humans." The regulations authorize inspections of facilities, for cause or at random, to ensure compliance. Shipping institutions or individuals that wish to ship a select agent must check that the receiving facility is registered and must file a notification of the shipment with the registering facility.
The recipient must acknowledge receipt of the shipment. Importantly, the Antiterrorism Act of 1996 provides for "appropriate availability of biological agents for research, education and other legitimate uses." The ASM worked with the CDC to develop regulations that balance the needs for legitimate research and diagnostic testing with protection against the inappropriate acquisition of biothreat agents. The ASM also assisted in the development of a list of select agents that focused on the most dangerous with the highest potential for use as a biological weapon.
The final regulation exempts CLIA certified clinical laboratories if the agent is part of diagnostic, reference, verification, or proficiency testing. Isolates of covered agents from clinical specimens are to be disposed of after diagnostic, reference or verification procedures have been completed. This exemption ensures that clinical diagnostic procedures are not impeded and also averts the problem of having the system deal with several hundred thousand clinical laboratories and shipments of routine diagnostic specimens.
Regulations promulgated under the Antiterrorism Act of 1996 require that laboratories shipping and receiving select agents follow the biosafety guidelines in the CDC/NIH publication, "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories,'' Fourth Edition. These regulations effectively codify biosafety guidelines for laboratories receiving select agents. ASM members must abide by these regulations and the ASM provides information on the regulations and the necessity of compliance through its site on the Internet.
Indeed, the ASM favors extending the current CDC regulations to cover possession of select agents that may be used for bioterrorism. In 1999 ASM testified that additional measures should be taken to "prohibit possession of listed biological agents or listed toxins unless they are held for legitimate purposes and maintained under appropriate biosafety conditions." ASM supported "registration with the CDC of every institution that possesses and retains viable cultures (preserved and actively growing) of select agents along with the concomitant duty to follow all regulatory requirements related to such possession and usage. The ASM specifically recommended that:
"The CDC's responsibilities should include the duties to: (1) Continue to establish and periodically revise the list of select agents. (2) In accord with proper administrative procedures, promulgate any additional regulatory measures related to registration of facilities, establishment of biosafety requirements, institution of requirements for safe transportation, handling, storage, usage, and disposal of select agents, and the auditing, monitoring, and inspection of registered facilities. (3)The CDC should notify the Department of Justice about any concerns that it may have about institutions that possess select agents."
The ASM believed then, and continues to believe today, that the law should prohibit institutions and individuals from possessing cultures of select agents unless such institutions or individuals maintain the agents under appropriate biosafety and biosecurity conditions.
We believe H.R. 3162, Section 817, benefited greatly from discussions with the scientific community to avoid unintended consequences. The language originally proposed in early drafts of this provision illustrated the difficulties of criminalizing use of biological agents and did not take into account the fact that biological agents exist naturally in the environment. The final language in HR 3162, which we support, takes into account this qualification and excludes bona fide research from the reach of the revised Section 175 of Title 18.
The ASM agrees that the possession of biological agents, toxins, and delivery systems should be for prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purposes. The ASM also completely agrees that some individuals should not have access to select agents. Therefore, we agree with the basic tenet of the provision that prevents restricted persons from knowing possession of a select agent. Candidly, the ASM believes the Act should have permitted the Attorney General, upon recommendation of the Secretary of HHS, to waive the prohibition against possession of select agents by aliens from countries designated as supporting terrorism if, and we emphasize this point, if there was a specific finding that a waiver for the particular individual served our national interest. However, our disagreement with the failure to provide the opportunity for a waiver for specific aliens does not diminish our support for the concept of setting reasonable limits upon persons who may possess select agents.
The ASM further supports the development of standards for possession of select agents to prevent access to such agents for use in terrorism. By placing this requirement within the structure of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Congress recognizes the benefits of using the existing regulatory system. The ASM concurs. The CDC is the only federal agency with the expertise and experience to act quickly and competently in this area. Further, and very importantly, the CDC currently possesses the confidence of the scientific community that it will act responsibly to balance the interests of preventing bioterrorism and advancing research in the area of infectious diseases and clinical diagnostic measures.
In summary, Congress has taken several significant steps in dealing with the threat of bioterrorism. Today, possession or use of a biological agent or toxin as a weapon is a serious criminal offense; knowing possession of a biological agent, toxin, or delivery system, of a type or quantity, not reasonably justified by peaceful purposes is a serious criminal offense; it is a serious criminal offense for persons who have engaged in specific types of misconduct to possess, ship, or receive select agents; a facility must register with the Secretary of HHS before transferring or receiving a select agent. These are significant steps in the right direction, but the ASM agrees that Congress must do more. We submit that, in taking additional action, Congress and federal agencies should continue to consult carefully with the scientific community to achieve the critical balance that is the underlying theme of our testimony.
Given that a number of legislative proposals are being considered, it is to that legislation that we now direct our attention. In the remainder of our testimony, we will address legislative proposals for: listing of select agents; registration of facilities possessing select agents; the definition of restricted individuals; imposition of civil penalties; unsafe handling provision; proposals for licensure of equipment; and the need for federal support of aggressive countermeasures programs.
ASM supports the need for periodic reviews of the list of select agents. These reviews must include consideration of agents that may be used in domestic or international bioterrorism. We believe that the CDC is the proper agency to lead such reviews. Such reviews must, and undoubtedly will, include close coordination and communication with other government agencies. Further, the CDC should view the scientific community as a partner in these endeavors. Only through active consultation with scientists may the CDC and other federal agencies hope to achieve a comprehensive, integrated regulatory system that serves the public interest by preventing terrorism without undue disruption of vital research and clinical diagnostic testing.
The ASM supports registration of laboratories that possess select agents and recommends that CDC conduct registration as an extension of the current select agent rule.
1. The Need for Registration. The CDC, acting in cooperation with the scientific and biomedical communities, and with public notice and input, should establish rules and provide regulations for governmental monitoring of possession of select agents posing a risk of bioterrorism. The registered institution must be responsible for assuring compliance with mandatory procedures and for assuring fully appropriate biosafety mechanisms, including appointment of a responsible official to oversee institutional compliance with biosafety requirements. It is the institution that ultimately is responsible for ensuring compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations.
These institutional responsibilities include assuring safety through proper procedures and equipment and through training of personnel. Thus, the institution must bear the final responsibility for training employees regarding the biosafety requirements, including the necessity for following those requirements, including such duties as reporting isolation of select agents or any breach in a biosafety protocol.
As institutions comply with appropriate safeguards, scientists may undertake their research with knowledge of clear procedures and with assurance that compliance with such procedures fulfills governmental requirements related to select agents. The institutions also should be required to maintain records of authorized users and to ensure that users are properly trained, as is currently the case for work with radioisotopes. Intentional removal of select agents from a registered facility should subject the individual to criminal sanctions.
However, in light of the expedited deadlines that are likely to be imposed for initial reporting, facilities should be allowed to report select agents found after the initial reporting deadline without incurring severe penalties. If strong sanctions are imposed at an early point, some institutions may be forced to destroy collections if they have not been able to determine whether they are free of select agents by the reporting deadline. Time is of the essence, and compliance with appropriate procedures is important. However, we need not act with such haste in the reporting area that entire collections are lost solely due to the inability to complete an inventory process by an arbitrary deadline.
2. Procedures: Registration, Inspections, and Regulations. CDC has an existing inspection mechanism. Additionally, the existing select agent rule incorporates biosafety and biosecurity procedures from the CDC Biosafety Manual. That manual is an appropriate starting point for standards and procedures in laboratories possessing select agents. The ASM understands that this Subcommittee is considering a "certification" program. We are not certain whether "certification" would mean something more than mandatory registration, safety and security procedures, standards, training, proper laboratory facilities to contain and dispose of select agents, and inspections, all of which the ASM supports.
We believe reasonable allowance should be made for the reporting of select agents later if they are discovered in inventories of archived samples. Otherwise, laboratories may need to destroy potentially valuable research tools. Institutions should report possession when they become aware of an agent they did not know they possessed without penalty.
3. Congress Must Recognize that Pathogens Occur in Nature and Craft Legislation Accordingly. Current legislative proposals appear to deal exclusively with research laboratories and to ignore the clinical side of the microbiological sciences. Consequently, the proposals ignore many of the exclusions that need to be made and which have been recognized in other legislation.
For example, regulations should provide exemptions for laboratories on the same basis as they are granted under the current regulations for shipment and receipt of select agents at 42 CFR § 72.6(h). Further, the proposals should exempt state public health and veterinary laboratories as they deal with naturally occurring pathogens without any effort to cultivate, collect, or extract such pathogens in a manner that lends itself to bioterrorism or public health risk.
In this vein, we know that Congress understands that pathogens exist in nature and people develop diseases from some of these pathogens each year. We recognize that the proposed definitions of a biological agent and toxin exclude a biological agent or toxin that is in its naturally-occurring environment, if it has not been cultivated, collected, or otherwise extracted from its natural source. ASM is uncertain that such language will prevent the unwarranted application of penalties to areas of scientific inquiry of naturally occurring phenomena. Legislation should focus on cultures rather than organisms.
4. Laboratory Practices. Registration with the CDC is tantamount to certification under current law. Language in some proposals we have seen raises difficult issues related to laboratory practices and the scope of application of procedures to individuals. Are individual couriers (or their employing enterprises) that transport select agents going to be certified? The scientific community must be able to get samples through the Laboratory Response Network to the public health labs and the CDC. In addition, cultures of some of these agents are transported to reference laboratories for identification. Certainly, proper procedures must be established and followed for the shipment of select agents but the CDC will need to consider carefully each of these special circumstances in developing regulations. Congress should not mandate procedures that prevent such consideration and the crafting of regulations that protect the public but permit maximum, appropriate freedom for the scientific research community and as expeditious as possible action by clinical diagnostic laboratories. Again, the ASM believes the CDC's Biosafety Manual, which covers both biosafety and biosecurity, should be the starting point for such regulations.
5. Disposal of Select Agents. Although the specific mandate may be left for regulation, ASM suggests that an appropriate authority should require destruction of pathogens within laboratories rather than through disposal as medical waste. Although the ASM does not discount entirely the possibility for exceptions, as a rule, pathogenic organisms should be destroyed (even by clinical laboratories) inside the laboratory. These materials should be autoclaved or killed by other means before disposal as waste in landfills. We recognize that this could require significant costly changes in protection currently employed by some diagnostic laboratories.
6. Protection of Intellectual Property. The ASM recognizes that existing legislative proposals contain provisions protecting information on registration statements from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Certainly, such a provision must be included in any legislation. Congress, CDC, and other federal agencies must respect and protect the intellectual property rights of individuals and enterprises. Any authorized disclosure of such information must result in the imposition of a penalty upon the person, including government employees, responsible for a violation. We must be certain that confidential information is secure and protected.
7. Physical Security of Facilities. CDC and research laboratories recognized previously that the regulatory regime governing access to, and use of potentially dangerous biological agents, needed to anticipate theft or intentional misuse. Existing biosafety guidelines categorize biological agents into four groups according to the highest level of physical containment that is necessary to protect those who work with these agents or those in the surrounding environment. They specify access controls and physical barriers to agent release. In our new environment, CDC and laboratories will need to review carefully requirements for the physical security of facilities that house select agents. We must prevent unauthorized individuals from obtaining these agents.
Government must recognize that increased security and limiting access to select agents will impose costs and other burdens on facilities and researchers who use these agents for legitimate research.
The ASM urges, as with all aspects of eventual regulations, that the government impose security measures that are proportionate to the expected improvement in public safety. ASM will support such rational measures and is confident that the research community will accept costs that are proportionate to their benefits. As institutions develop and institute new standards for physical protection resulting in increased financial and operational implications, government assistance in offsetting costs of such security improvements is appropriate.
At the same time the ASM recognizes and supports the need for heightened awareness of the need for physical security, it recognizes that there are various sources of supply of dangerous agents. There should be no illusion that tightening security and access controls at research institutions in the United States will solve the bioterrorism problem. To the maximum extent possible, the United States should strive to extend reasonable physical security standards to laboratories on an international basis.
Congress must recognize that research regarding the causes and remedies for infectious disease proceeds on a global scale. For example, hundreds of foreign scientists attend scientific conferences, not just to learn but to contribute importantly to the exchange of scientific information. There are many hundreds or thousands of foreign nationals at work in laboratories in the United States where they are contributing to biomedical research.
A broad, mandatory prohibition that could significantly exclude qualified aliens from work in research and diagnostic laboratories is not in the best interest of the United States. The broad exclusion of aliens could have a serious impact on academic medicine. Almost certainly, it would restrict collaborative studies and critical training of individuals who will deal with the many diseases that occur throughout the world requiring advanced diagnostic methods and treatments.
1. Treatment of Aliens. Under the USA PATRIOT Act (H.R. 3162), the term "restricted person" includes aliens from countries designated by the U.S. as supporting terrorism. H.R. 3160 goes further and would expand that exclusion to all aliens admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa. We recognize that H.R. 3160 permits the Secretary to designate categories of individuals who have expertise valuable to the United States. However, without knowing the intended scope of this provision, we are very concerned that the initial classification of all aliens as restricted persons may adversely affect legitimate and essential biomedical research, including diagnostic laboratories. These laboratories are critical for diagnosing anthrax and diseases that may be caused by other biothreat agents.
ASM favors the narrower restriction on individuals from countries that are designated as supporting terrorism as enacted in the USA PATRIOT Act (H.R. 3162). Even then, as we testified before, we believe that Congress should authorize the Attorney General to grant a waiver for specific foreign nationals from those nations when it is in the interest of our nation.
If Congress finds that it must impose broadened restrictions on alien scientists, the Committee could include a special provision regarding registration by aliens and/or by the facility at which they work. Such a specific statement would alert authorities to the identity and presence of an alien at a facility and permit a greater degree of scrutiny. Finally, if Congress decides to retain a general prohibition, it should modify the current waiver language ("expertise valuable to the United States regarding select agents") to permit the Secretary to include other categories that the Secretary finds to be "in the interest of the United States."
2. Testing of Drug Abusers. The definition of "restricted persons" in H.R. 3160 refers to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) that, in turn, includes any person "who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance." The ASM assumes that inclusion of this category of individuals within the meaning of restricted persons will not require mandatory pre-employment or on-going drug testing of employees. If Congress intends to require mandatory drug testing, it should do so explicitly rather than through reference to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).
Current legislative proposals establish very substantial civil penalties for individuals or entities that violate regulations on the shipment, receipt, or possession of select agents. These penalties may reach $250,000 on individuals and $500,000 on any other person. The present regulations governing shipment and receipt of select agents provide for a criminal fine or penalty for violations of the regulations. To the best of the ASM's information, no prosecution has occurred under this provision. Of course, there is a substantial difference between a criminal prosecution under a "reasonable doubt" standard of proof and the imposition of a civil penalty.
As we testified earlier, the ASM envisions an integrated, comprehensive set of guidelines for the possession of select agents. The ASM has suggested that the CDC's guidelines in its manual "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories" should be the starting point for any regulations.
Imposition of civil penalties on individuals or facilities is an area in which it is especially important to strike the proper balance between deterrence of bioterrorism and protection of the public welfare versus discouragement of scientific research and clinical laboratory diagnostic testing. The ASM understands and supports the need for a substantial inducement for compliance with regulations regarding possession of select agents. At the same time, the Committee should recognize the significance of imposing civil penalties and the impact of potential penalties up to $250,000 on individual employees. A civil penalty provision must be a thoughtful and well-designed provision.
The provision should take into account and specify: (a) in the first instance the facility, rather than an individual, is liable; (b) standards for determination of the amount of a penalty based upon a host of factors including the size of the facility, the significance of the violation, the degree of culpability, and other factors; (c) mitigating circumstances; (d) the means for adjudicating liability for, and the amount of, the penalty, (e) other factors related to a system for adjudicating civil liability. The Committee should not adopt a measure that simply provides for a penalty without any of the details necessary to assure the fair and appropriate administration of the penalty. To do so would engender unnecessary and unwarranted fears and burdens upon the very persons who are at the forefront of dealing with the threat of bioterrorism as well as the ongoing hardship of infectious diseases.
The ASM supports the principle that scientists must follow safe practices. Perhaps more than anyone else, ASM members recognize that unsafe handling of such agents places workers and the public at severe danger.
Of course, requirements related to handling procedures are largely not relevant to the prevention of bioterrorism. The prospect of a criminal penalty for unsafe handling of select agents will not deter a bioterrorist. Only in the area of assuring the security of select agents are handling procedures related to bioterrorism.
Handling procedures are relevant to the more general issue of protecting the public welfare related to laboratories that possess select agents. However, the specter of severe criminal penalties on the basis of laboratory procedures raises perhaps one of the most difficult areas for balancing between protection of the public and chilling the willingness of laboratories and scientists to engage in important research. Criminal penalties based on imprecise legal standards may unduly impede research. The ASM believes that the urgency with which the Congress is now dealing with the threat of terrorism does not make this a good time to strike the appropriate balance in this area. In this regard, the ASM does support the registration of laboratories and individuals. It further supports a duty to comply with "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories,'' Fourth Edition.
For the present, the ASM believes regulations based on these standards and practices by laboratories in the context of the registration process is the best approach in this area as they provide standards that are clear and coherent, streamlined and integrated, based on real risks, and effectively communicated to research facilities and individual researchers. It allows the scientific community a better understanding of what they are prohibited from doing, rather than attempting to follow an amorphous negligence or recklessness standard that is understood by attorneys but with which most scientists are unfamiliar. The goal of legislation must be sound scientific practices rather than a chilling of scientific inquiry through the threat of criminal penalties under imprecise standards.
The ASM understands and appreciates the concept that it may be easier to control the possession of pieces of equipment used for manufacture of weapons of bioterrorism than the actions of individuals or the quantities of select agents. The ASM further appreciates that, rather than specifying equipment or controls, the proposed legislative language we have seen would require promulgation of regulations after consideration of a broad range of factors. Indeed, in many respects, it is accurate to say that the weaponization of a biological agent raises engineering issues rather than microbiological issues.
At the same time, to be realistic, we must recognize that efforts to control equipment almost invariably encounter the problems that would limit the effectiveness of such measures. For example, equipment that could produce biological weapons is in wide use and as equipment is regulated, terrorists will turn to other types of equipment.
It is our understanding, for example, that UNSCOM revealed that Iraq was able to produce large quantities of biological weapons without using sophisticated fermentors. As worrisome as it may be, small flasks, canisters, home brewing bottles, and other similarly mundane equipment provide all that is needed to grow the bacteria that cause anthrax, plague, and other select agents. Thus, we must at least question the benefits of establishing any significant regulatory burden on a list of equipment and particularly the types of equipment found in many research and clinical laboratories as well as the biotechnology industry. For example, virtually every industrial biotechnology operation uses controlled fermentors. Every pharmaceutical company uses them and many universities have this equipment as well.
To cover the size relevant for bioterrorism one would have to capture everything of 5 liters and above and that would still not eliminate the possibility of growing the organisms in simpler vessels. Similarly, large temperature controlled centrifuges are present in virtually all microbiology and biochemistry laboratories, often many per lab. Certainly, biosafety hoods are present in most if not all clinical labs as well as many research labs. These hoods prevent environmental exposure to the pathogens being worked on. Freeze drying equipment is very widely distributed in research labs as well as in various industrial settings such as coffee making.
In essence, this is a cost-benefit issue for the Congress. There may be relatively little to gain by imposing an extensive regulatory regimen on widely used legitimate equipment, such as centrifuges, laminar flow hoods and fermentors. Indeed, we again point out that at this point, we do not know if the anthrax used in the bioterrorist attacks was produced overseas or in domestic facilities.
The ASM endorses significant government funding for development of countermeasures. Although we can never provide absolute protection, we can take aggressive steps to be prepared to control and counteract an attack. We need to be better prepared for a bioterrorist attack by spending the time, effort, and funds necessary to develop new vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Of course, we hope that we never need to use such new products to deal with a substantial bioterrorist attack. If one occurs, however, we need to have such protection. If we are fortunate and avoid such attacks, then the research inevitably will serve the important purpose of combating infectious diseases and, therefore, will serve the interest of every person on the globe.
In conclusion, legislative actions to enhance national security by adding protection against the criminal acts of bioterrorism can and must be done in a way that does not have a detrimental impact on the legitimate biomedical research. We need to improve the health of Americans and those beyond our shores. We need to ensure that we will have the vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostic capabilities to protect the public health of all Americans in the future from both natural infectious diseases and those from criminal bioterrorist attacks.
In doing so we must recognize that biomedical research is a global effort. If we fail to eradicate infectious diseases that occur primarily in other countries we run the risk that those diseases will threaten our country. We must work across international borders to improve public health and to combat the natural occurrences of infectious diseases that threaten global security. We cannot isolate our biomedical research community by excluding those legitimate scientists from other countries who like American scientists are fighting against the dreaded impacts of infectious diseases. The war against infectious diseases and the scientific and university communities around the world must join in the battle against bioterrorism.
We support a strengthened biological weapons convention that would criminalize the misuse of biological agents and the establishment of acceptable normative practices for the shipment, possession and safe use of select agents. We support the ongoing initiative of the Administration to strengthen the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention and to achieve this aim through mechanisms that would harmonize the legal and regulatory frameworks for the possession, use and exchange of select agents, adopted in the United States with those of other nations. We support the efforts of Congress and the Administration to deter bioterrorism and provide strict criminal penalties for those who carry out egregious acts using biological weapons.
Even as we strive to prevent bioterrorism, we must recognize that no set of regulations can provide absolute protection against bioterrorism. Even as we strive to prevent acts of bioterrorism, we also have a duty to pursue research and public health improvements aimed at developing the most effective possible responses to acts of biological terror. Research and public health responses related to effectively combating an act of terror are a critical component of the public policy response to the threat that exists.
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It's going to be a while before the events of Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn., leave the media spotlight, and it's not just because of the debates over gun control, mental health issues and violent entertainment that have ensued.
It's going to be a while before the events of Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn., leave the media spotlight, and it's not just because of the debates over gun control, mental health issues and violent entertainment that have ensued.
One shouldn't prioritize such events and their victims. Senseless murder is senseless murder, period. But the ages of the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the stories of teachers and school officials who died while vainly trying to protect them — that's going to keep this story in the public's consciousness where others, in time, faded into the history books for those not directly affected.
So will the urgency to find ways to lessen the chances — anyone who says a metaphysical guarantee is possible is lying — of this happening again.
Government officials from Washington to the state houses to cities and counties already are mobilizing along those lines.
Locally, representatives of Etowah County's political, judicial and education communities have announced plans for a task force, made up of "stakeholders involved in the safety and security of Etowah County children and citizens" to look at school and courthouse security.
House Minority Leader Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, then announced plans for his own committee, that won't be limited to elected officials, to consider school safety issues. Ford would like to see a resource officer at every local school and will consider ways to pay for that and other security measures.
In January, there will be a joint hearing of the House and Senate education policy committees, with law enforcement and security officials from across the state invited, to look at "school security and student and teacher safety."
It's good to see so many people engaged on this front and we're sure their motivation is sincere, but the stated objectives here seem awfully similar. We wonder if having multiple groups (and there likely will be more) talking about ideas will be productive unless, at some point, everyone sits down at one table to formulate a plan from those ideas that actually can be implemented — and can be delivered with one voice.


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The Holy Father's visit to the United Kingdom Sept. 16-19 will culminate in the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, whose conversion from Anglicanism to Catholicism cost him his job, his friends and his family. The move also resulted in suspicion from members of both religions until, to his great joy, Pope Leo XIII named him a Cardinal in his older years. Pope Benedict XVI's U.K. visit will center on the theme, "Cor ad Cor loquitur" ("Heart Speaks to Heart"), the theme Newman chose for his coat of arms in 1879 when he became a Cardinal.
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....AS I LEAVE THE UNITED KINGDOM AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY APOSTOLIC VISIT I RENEW MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOUR MAJESTY FOR THE GRACIOUS WELCOME AND THE MANY KINDNESSES WHICH YOU YOUR GOVERNMENT AND THE BRITISH PEOPLE EXTENDED TO ME DURING MY STAY (.) I ASK ALMIGHTY GOD TO GUIDE THE NATION IN ACCORDANCE .... more
Great Britain - has a surface area of 230,762 square kilometres [29,098 sq. miles] and a population of 59,381,000 of whom 5,264,000 (8.87 percent) are Catholic. There are 32 ecclesiastical circumscriptions [dioceses and equivalent] and 2,977 parishes. Currently there are 59 bishops, 5,225 priests, 6,497 religious, 160 lay members of secular institutes and 34,669 catechists. Minor seminarians number 2, and major seminarians 245. A total of 806,334 children and young people attend 2,828 centres of Catholic education, from kindergartens to universities. ....more
Cardinal John Henry Newman was born in London on 21 February 1801. He was brought up in the Anglican tradition, and as a young man had a strong religious inclination that was mainly expressed in reading the Bible. From his earliest years, Sacred Scripture endowed him with high moral standards..... After being ordained a Catholic priest, Newman founded the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Birmingham.
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De Luca looks set to miss the entire RBS Six Nations campaign after undergoing surgery on a fractured eye socket last week, but he has already put himself to good use in searching for the answers to Edinburgh's disappointing season.
With the club without a point ahead of their final Heineken Cup clash, against Saracens at Vicarage Road, and in the bottom half of the RaboDirect Pro12, the 28 year-old has plenty to occupy his time.
De Luca, who was at Murrayfield on Wednesday to promote the launch of Ginger Grouse as the official spirit of Scottish Rugby, said: "The recovery is going well, it's taking a while but I'm on the mend. I'm still positive and upbeat. It's part of the job and we are all aware of that.
"You can't get too down on it. I'm keeping myself busy on the analysis side and trying to add something to Edinburgh and get them back on track.
"I've been in the game a long time now and this is probably my second longest injury. I was out a couple of seasons ago with my groins for a long period of time. Not that I wasted it but I could have used my time more valuably.
"I'm doing that now and obviously, from a team perspective, Edinburgh aren't going so well, so I'm just trying to help with the information flow to the players and some of my peers, and help get the message from the coaches across to make us a better team.
"For example the players are leading a couple of initiatives we want to become world class at.
"I can't go into it just now but we are leading those meetings and feeding back the analysis and information to the players."
De Luca has not completely ruled himself out of the full Six Nations campaign, which ends for Scotland in Paris on March 16, but a comeback looks unlikely.
He said: "It's not too definite with this injury, you just have to see how it goes. The minimum is eight weeks from surgery so six and a half weeks to go, depending on how it heals.
"I just want to get as fit as I can and get training and maybe playing well for Edinburgh, and if there's an opportunity I'll take it."


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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Earlier this week, Israel Today published remarks made to one of our contributing correspondents by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in regards to the Christ at the Checkpoint conference currently taking place in Bethlehem.
Yesterday, Christ at the Checkpoint (henceforth CatC) organizers announced both from the stage in Bethlehem and on their official Twitter account that our report was false, and that the MFA told them that it had never issued such a statement.
In an effort to clarify their assertion, Israel Today reached out to CatC organizer and Bethlehem Bible College President Jack Sara, who vaguely informed us that "high Jewish rabbis called the MFA on behalf of one of our delegates."
Sara and CatC did not provide any further details. It should be noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently on strike, so it is unclear how anyone representing CatC was able to obtain any kind of official comment.
Our correspondent spoke to Mr. Yigal Palmor (pictured), the chief spokesman of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, prior to the resumption of the MFA strike on Sunday.
Mr. Palmor offered the following as an "official response" to CatC:
"The attempt to use religious motifs in order to mobilize political propaganda and agitate the feelings of the faithful through the manipulation of religion and politics is an unacceptable and shameful act. Using religion for the purpose of incitement in the service of political interests stains the person who does it with a stain of indelible infamy."
Israel Today fully stands behind its earlier report, and challenges the CatC organizers to speak to Mr. Palmor themselves before falsely accusing our publication.
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|What are those little bumps in between the lanes on the freeway?
Those are known as raised pavement markers, or "Botts' Dots." In 1953, Dr. Elbert D. Botts, working in the Caltrans materials testing lab in Sacramento, came upon the idea of using a raised pavement marker to help make the painted lines separating lanes last longer. After a many refinements, the use of Botts' Dots were mandated for all California freeways, except in areas where they would be damaged in snow-removal operations. The ubiquitous little buttons have since been adopted around the world. In addition to making lanes easier to distinguish, the markers also had an additional -- and originally unintended -- safety benefit: to alert motorists when they drift out of their lane. There are an estimated 20 million Botts" Dots in place today on California freeways and highways -- a lasting legacy to Mr. Botts, who passed away in 1962.


text:
I feel your hands in my hair.
I feel your breath on my neck.
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I feel your lips on my throat.
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I feel you and I love it.
I hear you say you love me.
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I hear you tell me I'm the only one for you.
I hear your breath in my ear.
I hear your soft snores as I fall asleep.
I hear you and I love it.
I see you as I run into your arms.
I see your face break through my world of darkness.
I see you fight away my fears.
I see you wipe away my tears.
I see you're in love with me.
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I taste your lips.
I taste your tongue.
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I taste your love.
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I smell your colone as I hold you.
I smell your shampoo as I hug you.
I smell your toothpaste as I kiss you.
I smell your excitement as you cuddle me.
I smell the smell I've been waiting so long to smell.
I smell you and


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Florence & Frances Ball
Were fraternal twins born to William Edward and Nora Ellen (nickname Nell) Ball on June 25, 1919 in Salem, Oregon. These daughters were the last surviving youngest. My maternal grandmother being the eldest with a brother in between.
As twins, they couldn't have looked more different nor alike in their personalities.
Florence tended to be reserved, very lady like. She was married 3 times, and her last husband was her keeper. She had a total of two children. She was musically inclined and I remember when I was quite young her playing the accordian. She used to play at dances during the 40's and 50's. My mother was fairly close to her and spent vacation time with her and her family. She passed away in March 2007.
Frances on the other hand, couldn't be more tomboyish. She used to tell my mother that she wished she was born a boy. She was very out going and I remember her at family get togethers her being silly and pretending she couldn't remember who all of us youngsters were and when we would tell her, she would say, "No your not, you are waaayyy too old to be them." That would make us kids laugh and there would be more bantering back and forth. She was great fun and put everyone in stitches. She married a very, quiet almost shy man who just passed away this last year. She lived to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary and died in 1997. She has one son.
I remember my Great Aunts and very glad that our family made an effort to have regular family get togethers since as long as I can remember. My mother received Aunt Florence's photo album which I in turn have now. These pictures came from scanning the photos. I learned alot about the Ball family just by analyzing their early lives and the history through these pictures. What a treasure!


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If political change is in the air following Gov. James Douglas' decision not to seek re-election, it would seem that the race for governor is the Democrats' to lose.
But lose they will if their agenda is seen by Vermonters as so liberal that the state simply cannot afford a party that seeks to expand government programs and will not be shy about raising taxes to pay for them.
Because liberals will largely dictate the party's primary process, they and their moderate supporters must anticipate that the Republican Party will nominate a candidate who is much like Douglas on fiscal policies and who champions job growth and economic development as the party's primary objective. That will be an effective campaign in these times, and will likely trump a liberal candidate who pushes a single-payer health care system, short-sighted environmental goals, and increased taxes as a way to resolve the deteriorating condition of the state's fiscal affairs. It will simply be too easy for the GOP to paint liberals as offering nothing but a tax-and-spend program in tough economic times.
To that end, what is desperately needed within both the Democratic and Progressive parties is a statewide conversation to revamp their parties' platforms to fit today's fiscal reality. They need to set new priorities and explain why those priorities will stimulate prosperity within a progressive framework.
While Democrats and Progressives include economic development and fiscal discipline as positions within their platforms, neither position is championed by party leaders nor are they couched in progressive terms.
Just last week, leaders of the state Progressive party outlined three points they said must be embraced by a Democrat to win their party's support — otherwise they would consider nominating a candidate of their own and splitting the liberal vote in another three-way race. Those three points included: adopting a single-payer health care system; opposing Vermont Yankee's continued operation of its nuclear power plant; and finding a solution to the financial problems with the state pension plan and the unemployment compensation system.
All three positions will most likely raise statewide taxes and power rates — regardless of the positive aspects that might also be realized — and will push many moderate Vermonters into the Republican fold.
The question moderates and liberals must ask is not whether these issues have merit (they do), but whether they are the most pressing issues of the day and will the debate of those issues provide the most benefit to the state.
Let's consider the three issues:
• Single-payer health care reform: With President Barack Obama pressing ahead with a federal health care plan, and Vermont already at risk of losing its investment in health care programs by being so far ahead of the national curve, is pressing forward with a single-payer system really the smartest move for a state the size of a medium-size city? Hardly. We don't disagree the issue is important, but the answer lies in a federal plan, not a state one. Vermonters are better off to focus their limited resources on issues where the return is demonstrable and to our benefit.
• Opposing Vermont Yankee: The focus is far too narrow and naive. Vermont's economy requires a reliable source of affordable energy. If we support policies that drive energy prices skyward, we chase away industry and jobs and drive more people out of the state. A more enlightened platform would focus first on developing alternative energy as a means to augment the baseload power (power that is uninterruptible) that is required by our utilities, and to drive more energy conservation programs. We need to deal with the transmission issues, which are unavoidable if we are to make progress on any front. Once those objectives are met, we can talk about decommissioning Vermont Yankee.
• Fiscal responsibility: Finding a solution to the state's faltering pension plan and unemployment compensation system is essential and will be a necessary part of the upcoming debate, but it won't be the campaign's focal point. Rather, it's a trap for liberals if the answer is simply to increase the tax burden on the state's business community.
What issues are more pressing to Vermonters and offer progressive solutions?
Try these three:
• Education: Boldly revise the state's educational system with one goal in mind: Make certain Vermont students get an education that gives them a leg-up in a knowledge-based economy. One third of Vermont's students aren't getting an education that allows them to earn a livable wage; yet we have a lack of qualified candidates for available jobs. Let's advocate a longer school day and/or a longer school year to maximize the value of our existing school infrastructure and prepare our students for the high-tech jobs of the future. Let's develop affordable higher education opportunities (perhaps implement the two-year junior college system other states offer), and drastically reduce the numbers of high school students who either drop out or do not go on to higher education. (This also solves a host of other social ills.) Yes, this will cost more money, but let's discuss ways to shift costs within the system and make it happen.
• Let's put more state resources into developing "green energy" jobs and enhanced conservation efforts. Providing affordable and reliable energy for the next 20 to 30 years is one of the most important issues of the day and one that offers real possibilities of change; and there are good jobs in this emerging market. Progressives should be leading the way and doing it now.
• In the mold of President Bill Clinton, let's focus on fiscally responsible spending that also grows the economy. That may include increased taxation, but any increases (gas taxes come to mind) would be used to build needed state infrastructure that, in turn, builds the state's economy.
The over-arching theme of the campaign would be providing jobs that provide a livable wage to Vermonters. It is ironic that Vermont leads the nation in programs that provide for our citizens (children's wellness, comprehensive health care and many other social programs that care for those in need), yet we fall far behind in cultivating good-paying jobs. If liberals looked at the issue as pro-jobs (workers) rather than pro-business (owners), it's a progressive cause that should be high on the liberal agenda. Sadly, it's smothered by the sexier issues of advocating for single-payer health care and opposing Vermont Yankee — two naïve and impractical goals that, quite frankly, put the state's liberal movement in jeopardy.