text:
Product is against what: Your name: Fill out all fields to create your own spam! (
Privacy policy of us passing on your email to various third parties...)
Google Calendar Spam - Google Blogoscoped
Mar 27, 2008 ... Several of you have received spam in Google Calendar. That's right – an event,
automatically added to the calendar, which contains a ...
Creative Spam - Google Blogoscoped
May 31, 2005 ... Most spam you get is rather boring, I assume, making it look like spammers are
evil and verbose, but not creative. Yet sometimes, you might ...
Gmail Shows "Never Send It To Spam" Filter - Google Blogoscoped
Jul 30, 2008 ... Google's webmailer Gmail has an apparently* new filter function named "Never
send it to Spam". Ticking this should ensure that a certain email ...
Gmail Email/time limit and email considered as spam - Google ...
Third, Please don't take offense, but even if I knew the inner working to how
Gmail filters spam, I'm not about to tell you in a public forum where ...
Google Calendar Spam
Email spam is out, and the latest trend (for spammers) is to spam/scam people
over Google Calender. :). Jared Cherup [PersonRank 10].
Gmail spam report
How can I report spam (or even worse) to Gmail? When I receivedseveral
bounced messages in my mail box with my email address but sent by ...
Gmail vs Yahoo mail spam filters
Gmail's spam filter is really good, IMO, though I don't have any direct comparison
to Yahoo unfortunately. It seems to be a dozen times better ...
Idea: Topical Chat (2010-12-16)
This website would take the top headlines from a tech or political site for that day -- at first just from Reddit (you gotta start somewhere), but later, from o ...
How to Access the Internet (A Guide from 2025) (2010-06-24)
Welcome to the Internet! By following the simple rules below, you make sure your internet experience is smooth and risk free.
Before signing ...
Experiences Sending 14,000 Emails (2010-04-19)
The Goal: Some of the websites I create or co-create have a lot of one-time visitors -- people who may like the project, but due to the type of the site don't ...
Site Speed Influencing Google Ranking (2010-04-10)
Google announced that a website's speed is now one of the many signal's used to determine that site's ranking in Google results. Google in their blog post sugge ...
Google+ UI Redesign (2012-04-11)
Ryan, I'm checking the forum regularly to read along and delete spam :) My projects are listed at http://outer-court.com , that's the stuff I'm working on...
[meta] Look at the page loads of some threads :( (2012-02-21)
http://blogoscoped.com/forum/181640.html. etc.
Posted last Friday and more than 1'000 views now. It's very sad that the reason is the number of spam l ...
"Stanislaw Lem and giant robots in most epic Google doodle yet" (2011-11-23)
(Sorry, I suppose ".pl" was contained in a lot of spam posts, even though it's a perfectly valid domain by itself...)
[OT] Yahoo Censors e-mail (2011-09-21)
I read that story. Are we getting more like the countries we complain about? The same technologies that filter spam are equally useful for other purposes.
Time to serve this thread: 0.788066
>> More posts
This site unofficially covers Google™ and more with some rights reserved. Join our forum!


text:
I've been off for a few days due to my injuries in the fall aggravating my one arthritic hip, but I'm back to it today. I'm crampy and bloated already, so I think I'll be calling vision for my people soon, if you get my drift. I was slightly headachey with mild cramps. The cramps dissipated after I tucked in to my workout. Today is chest, triceps and abs: Chest: 6 sets of incline bench press with 24.5 lb barbell 6 sets of incline flyes with 5-1/2 lb dumbbells Blood sugar is starting to deplete here and I feel weak and shaky, like when I do cardio. Continued on anyway. Triceps: 6 sets of kickbacks with 8.5 lb dumbbell By the end of Set 2, I was too weak and shaky to continue so on my 2 min rest period I mixed up some gluatamine in some tang and sipped between sets, which got me thru the rest of my workout. Triceps, con't: 6 sets of lying tricep presses with 8.5 lb dumbbell My triceps were really fatigued and my elbows were really hurting. Maybe I should try doing these first next time and see if my elbow pain is less. Tim brought food home for dinner, so I had to take a break and eat, which means the abs I was going to do next will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm pretty tore up, though, and have no doubt both my triceps and my chest will be sore. My tax mid term is tomorrow. Table of contents for 30 Days To Better Fitness |
Write a comment:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
┬ĀReality Check With Alan Watt
Martial Law 9-11: Rise of the Police State┬Ā
America in Peril┬Ā
The Money Masters┬Ā
By Paul Joseph Watson, on 10-04-2011 00:50
Published in : Agenda, Social Engineering
Views : 962
The leftist juggernaut MoveOn.org, a Democratic Party front which vehemently backed ObamaŌĆÖs 2008 election campaign, is set to hijack the ŌĆśOccupy Wall StreetŌĆÖ protests this week, which is pretty ironic given the fact that the Obama administration is a creature of Wall Street itself.
After largely staying out of the protests thus far, ŌĆ£MoveOn.org is expected to mobilize its extensive online regional networks to drum up support for the effort,ŌĆØ reports CrainŌĆÖs New York Business.
The Obama front organization has supported the demonstrators by way of its website coverage, but this marks the first time that MoveOn will actively engage to organize ŌĆśOccupy Wall StreetŌĆÖ events which its members will attend.
The hypocrisy of MoveOn.org seizing control of a protest movement dubbed ŌĆśOccupy Wall StreetŌĆÖ is staggering. MoveOn.org ŌĆ£endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic Party primaries, fundraised and organized for him, and has become perhaps the lead lobby organization for his policies,ŌĆØ reports SourceWatch.
The organization is also strongly supported by billionaire George Soros, with Soros having donated around $5 million dollars to the group in recent years.
So we have a Soros-backed organization which has aggressively lobbied for Obama, whose 2008 campaign was bankrolled by Wall Street (almost $2 million donated by Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase), whose 2012 run is being bankrolled by Wall Street, and whose cabinet is filled with Wall Street operatives, now announcing its involvement in protests against Wall Street.
Liberals really need to wake up and smell the coffee on this one.
People with diverse beliefs have thus far taken part in the demonstrations which have now spread across the country, from marxists to End the Fed populists. However, as we documented yesterday, the movement is quickly being consumed by the leftist machine that activated millions of Obamanoids to vote for the ultimate Wall Street puppet back in 2008.
A story which was linked prominently on the Drudge Report yesterday betrays the fact that many of the ŌĆśOccupy Wall StreetŌĆÖ protesters are actually Obama supporters and advocates of a totalitarian form of statist tyranny ŌĆō big government communists posing as anarchists and progressives.
This is the army that MoveOn.org will attempt to rouse to completely hijack the whole movement and silence the voices who are actively trying to steer the narrative of the protest towards concentrating on the genuine oligarchs of the US financial system.
Here at Infowars we are not simply disregarding the ŌĆśOccupy Wall StreetŌĆÖ protest as a creation of the leftist machine and cynically abandoning the energy that thousands of young people are bringing to the streets.
We are pointing out that the usual suspects are hard at work to subvert and divert the impact of the protest by steering it away from the real cause of our economic fallout ŌĆō the Federal Reserve ŌĆō an institution which ŌĆśOccupy Wall StreetŌĆÖ ideologues like Michael Moore have protected by their failure to acknowledge that it represents a far bigger threat than Wall Street.
In addition, Alex Jones has announced the campaign to ŌĆ£Occupy the Fed,ŌĆØ details to follow, in a bid to focus the ŌĆśOccupy Wall StreetŌĆÖ movement on the real enemies of the American people, the Federal Reserve, and not let the protest be manipulated by Democratic Party front groups who are an integral part of the Wall Street establishment.


text:
OMG Gorgeous! Thank you!
Hope you enjoy the jeans!
OMG Gorgeous! Thank you!
Thanks again!
Awesome HFer ~ Quick Shipping ~ Highly Recommend!
Thank you, again :D
Awesome HFer ~ Quick Shipping ~ Highly Recommend!
Hope you enjoy the jeans!
PERFECT Transaction; Fast shipping; Exc. Communication; Love the jeans! 5+ stars
Hope you enjoy the jeans!
PERFECT Transaction; Fast shipping; Exc. Communication; Love the jeans! 5+ stars
Thanks for mailing the jeans so quickly (mailed Tuesday, rec'd Thursday). I really like this style and prefer them to the Crystal Turquoise London Crowns (Foam wash) I purchased this past summer (I don't like the 6.5" rise, too low for me) and the price was much lower, too. I am completely pleased with this transaction and would buy from feifei again. I'm happy I took a chance with the Pink Stockholm Crowns. I really like the fit--the 7.5" rise is perfect--but wish the waist were smaller (which I will have professionally altered), and the wash is beautiful, too. With regard to the 'irregularities', the only slight flaw I can notice is the one pointed out in the photo (left front pocket), but isn't visible to anyone else without pointing it out.
Thanks, again, for an outstanding transaction!
super quick shipping, love my jeans
I'm glad you got the jeans so quickly...enjoy!
super quick shipping, love my jeans
i got both packages today, man was that fast. i love them all
great buyer! fast payment! thanks!
thanks again! ;]
Great seller, love the jeans, Thanks
Thanks, I really love the jeans!
Great communication and fast shipping! Jeans in perfect condition!
Thanks again, you are a great seller!
fast & smooth transaction!!!
hope you liked the shirts!!! =)
Fast payment. Good Communication.
no problemo.
Thanks so much for the wonderful shoes!
great transaction!
Thank you for the easy and smooth transaction! =)
Thanks so much... :)
Great seller, fast shipment, love the top!
thanks a bunch!
Great seller! Thanks a bunch
Got the crops today thanks much!
They smell pretty too!
bought shoes and coach purse, fast ship & very nice
the purse was in new condition but the shoes are too big. =( love them though. thanks
She's the best! Solved problem quickly. Highly recommend!
This is for the paige jeans!
Super fast shipping, great transaction
Thanks so much!


text:
Apple Adds $50 Billion to Share Buybacks as Earnings Meet Expectations
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Apple (AAPL - Get Report), eager to win back investor confidence, said it will buyback an additional $50 billion in stock, raising its total outlay for share repurchases to more than $60 billion.
Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple reported second-quarter results that met analyst expectations, earning $10.09 per share on $43.6 billion in revenue as iPad sales rose 65% year-over-year to 19.5 million units per year. The company sold 37.4 million iPhones in the quarter compared to 35.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold just under 4 million Macs, compared to 4 million in the year-ago quarter.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the tech giant to earn $10.01 per share on $42.31 billion in revenue. Analysts surveyed by Estimize are looking for earnings of $10.70 per share on $42.76 billion in sales.
"We are pleased to report record March quarter revenue thanks to continued strong performance of iPhone and iPad," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO in the press release. "Our teams are hard at work on some amazing new hardware, software and services, and we are very excited about the products in our pipeline."
Future innovations aside, investors were focused on the company's decision to swell the size of its share buyback program to $60 billion from a current $10 billion. Apple also raised its quarterly dividend to $3.05 per share, an increase of 15% over its previous level. For the fiscal third-quarter, Apple expects revenue will be between $33.5 billion and $35.5 billion, with gross margins between 36% and 37%. Apple is set to hold a conference call at 5 P.M. EST to discuss the results. Shares of Apple shares were rising in after-hours trading, gaining nearly 5% to $425. -- Written by Chris Ciaccia in New York >Contact by Email. Follow @Chris_CiacciaCheck Out Our Best Services for Investors
Action Alerts PLUS
Portfolio Manager Jim Cramer and Director of Research Jack Mohr reveal their investment tactics while giving advanced notice before every trade.
Product Features:
- $2.5+ million portfolio
- Large-cap and dividend focus
- Intraday trade alerts from Cramer
Quant Ratings
Access the tool that DOMINATES the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500.
Product Features:
- Buy, hold, or sell recommendations for over 4,300 stocks
- Unlimited research reports on your favorite stocks
- A custom stock screener
Stocks Under $10
David Peltier uncovers low dollar stocks with serious upside potential that are flying under Wall Street's radar.
Product Features:
- Model portfolio
- Stocks trading below $10
- Intraday trade alerts
Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
Dividend Stock Advisor
David Peltier identifies the best of breed dividend stocks that will pay a reliable AND significant income stream.
Product Features:
- Diversified model portfolio of dividend stocks
- Updates with exact steps to take - BUY, HOLD, SELL
Trifecta Stocks
Every recommendation goes through 3 layers of intense scrutinyquantitative, fundamental and technical analysisto maximize profit potential and minimize risk.
Product Features:
- Model Portfolio
- Intra Day Trade alerts
- Access to Quant Ratings
Options Profits
Our options trading pros provide over 100 monthly option trading ideas and strategies to help you become a well-seasoned trader.
Product Features:
- Actionable options commentary and news
- Real-time trading community


text:
No stories have been written yet.
Games You May Like
- Shooter
- Android
Lock and load for the next intense chapter of this blockbuster FPS franchise. Modern Combat 5: Blackout brings the action back with new…
From the makers of ShadowGun comes Dead Trigger, a next-generation shooter for mobile gamers.
Contract Killer: Zombies takes players on an epic journey through a post-apocalyptic world where they are required to defend and rescue the…
Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a puzzle adventure game that follows the story of 5 crossed destinies and a broken love in a world torn apart.
Tales from the Borderlands is a game by Telltale Games that takes place in the Borderlands universe.
Broken Age is a point-and-click adventure telling the stories of a young boy and girl leading parallel lives.


text:
Neel elected V.P.
by MBJ Staff
Published: September 16,2012
Tags: Hibbett Neel, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Neel-Schaffer Inc., Traffic Engineering Council
W. Hibbett Neel Jr., P.E., FITE, was recently elected vice president of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Neel will serve as a member of the Executive Committee, helping to shape ITE's priorities and strategic direction. He will also act as a representative for ITE to both members and the public.
Neel is the president of Neel-Schaffer Inc. in Jackson, which he co-founded in 1983. Neel is responsible for strategic planning and direction of the firm's activities.
Neel has been a member of ITE for over 40 years, participating in the board of direction from 1994-1996 and serving as the Transportation Consultants Council chair from 2006-2008. He also served on the Transportation Expert Witness Executive Committee from 1998-2008 and been a member of the Traffic Engineering Council since 1998. He has served on numerous ITE committees, including Southern District 5 representative, on the Budget, Group Membership, Headquarters Location and Executive Director's Incentive-based Compensation Committee; chairman of the Ethics Task Force 1997-2002; chairman of the Policy and Legislative Committee 2004-2006; and, chairman of the Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation (3R) Committee 2006-2007.
At the local level, Neel has been actively involved with the ITE Southern District. He co-founded the Deep South Division (Section) and served as its first president in 1975. He also held all the offices of the Southern Section (District) between 1982-1985.
In 2011 Neel received the Burton W. Marsh Distinguished Service Award. In 2010 he was the recipient of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Mississippi, Pat Yarborough Community Service Award.
To sign up for Mississippi Business Daily Updates, click here.
Top Posts & Pages
- Barbour to lead Butler Snow economic development firm
- Lists
- Kemper plant employee gag order continued
- (UPDATE) Prison won't interrupt ex-prison chief's retirement cash flow
- Delta State conference brings renowned speakers
- (UPDATE) Judge rules on Google request on attorney general inquiry
- The leadership styles of President Obama
- Ex-prison boss and businessman admit to bribery scheme
- MARTIN WILLOUGHBY — Doug Dale's self-awareness helps lift him to top of his game
- Analysis: Lawmakers squabble over election-year tax cuts


text:
Waterproof Makeup | Summer 2013
Shop These Meltproof Makeup Must Haves For Summer
Like us on Facebook
What's Your Reaction?
Thanks for your reaction
Don't forget to share this with your friends!
Shop These Meltproof Makeup Must Haves For Summer
Summertime means your likelihood of having a Wicked Witch of the West moment ("I'm melting!") increases exponentially with the rise in temperature. Beat the heat by stocking your makeup arsenal with products formulated to resist slipping and running. Click through for a step-by-step guide to getting a melt-proof, sweat-proof, waterproof complexion — and it's shoppable, too.
Link Love
- Stop tugging on your eyelid to put on liner, and read this — SheFinds
- Hair accessories are making a big comeback this Fall — Allure
- Beauty products from Shark Tank we actually want to buy — The Gloss
- Rocking fake lashes could be as easy as putting on eyeglasses — HuffPost Style
- Makeup methods for masking a nasty cold — Byrdie
- The brush you need for artfully applied eyeliner — Beauty High
- This new body wash alleviates flu symptoms — Teen Vogue
- Quick techniques that will totally revamp your look — Daily Makeover
Latest Beauty


text:
Tyrina Lee view
Disney Dreamers: What Race Means to Me view
Tech Gallery for the Digital Diva view
Thousands of us have been professionally displaced by the present economy and...
Thousands of us have been professionally displaced by the present economy and nearly as many are fearful that our present jobs are in jeopardy. Fret not; we've got the 411 on turning your passion into profit and reinventing yourself so that you'll be prepared and happy.
It's easy to get mired in the thought of being rejected, but don't let that overtake your thoughts of pushing forward. Remember, more than likely, friends and family will be there to support you during this transition. It's most important to keep a positive attitude and keep up your professional appearance because the first impression is a lasting one.
Read our exclusive interview with Reinvention Expert Melissa Johnson »


text:
I was misled, they are not naked
I was misled, they are not naked
I love this thread. Seriously.
I've got your restraining order right here. [grabs crotch] Restrain this!
Speaking as the official BF risk manager, let me point out that these 'sleeper' or 'carotid compression' holds have resulted in death of the person receiving the hold. Especially so in the law enforcement setting when dealing with agitated, mentally ill, drunk or high suspects. There can be a very narrow window between 'putting them to sleep' versus killing them.
Having said that, and in the spirit of this thread, nice boobs.
Regards, MillCreek
Snohomish County, Washington USA
All I read was 'nice boobs'.
I've got your restraining order right here. [grabs crotch] Restrain this!
I think the flow of blood has been, ah, 'redirected' somehow...
Now that's a family I'd like to be in....
Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink, No what I mean? Say no more.
Yeah, I volunteer to be either one's training partner.
Should not happen if it's A) done correctly (that is, as a blood choke and not an air choke) and B) done on a healthy person. Passing out to blood restriction generally isn't dangerous, I've done it a couple times. Passing out to air restriction is very dangerous.
Finally, it's called a rear naked choke because it doesn't rely on a Gi or other clothing.
"It is not the critic who counts."
Can they do that in a tub of Jello?


text:
American Craft Beer Fest returns to Boston on May 29 & 30, featuring 640+ beers from 140+ brewers. Tickets are on sale now.
Jämtlands Bryggeri AB
No picture uploaded. Have one? Upload it now. |
Date | Event Name | BAs | Going? |
No event listings.
Upcoming beer events for Jämtlands Bryggeri AB not listed here? Let us know by adding it.
Jämtlands Bryggeri AB in Östersund, Sweden
out of 100
based on 0 ratings.


text:
Change Is In The Air: See What May Affect You In 2014
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
The federal law known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is bringing change to the health care market. The changes and timelines are different depending on the size of the employer that you work for. Additionally, Capital Health Plan is making changes too. During your next open enrollment, please note the changes that will be taking place.
Small Employer Plans (2-50 full-time equivalent employees) – effective on Small Employer Group renewal dates in 2014:
All small group plans will be Essential Health Benefit (EHB) compliant. You will be receiving new plan documents prior to your employer's renewal date – watch your US Postal mail for the Capital Health Plan CD.
Essential health benefits (EHBs) include:
• Ambulatory patient services
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization
• Maternity and newborn care
• Mental health and substance abuse disorder services and devices
• Prescription drugs
• Rehabilitative, habilitative services, devices
• Laboratory services
• Preventive, wellness and chronic disease management
• Pediatric services including oral and vision care
• Plans will be modified to remove all pre-existing limitations.
Large Employer Plans (> 50 total full-time equivalent employees) - effective on Large Employer Group renewal dates in 2015 (due to delay in Employer mandate):
• The Affordable Care Act requires most people to have health care coverage that qualifies as "minimum essential coverage." Your Capital Health Plan employer health coverage does provide minimum essential coverage.
• The Affordable Care Act establishes a minimum value standard for benefits of a health plan. Your Capital Health Plan employer health coverage exceeds the minimum value standard for the benefits it provides.
All Plans that provide a Pharmacy benefit:
• Capital Health Plan is changing our Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). Prime Therapeutics (Prime) will replace CVS/Caremark as the new PBM. This change will generally not affect the local pharmacy network, so the pharmacies that you are currently using will not change. Prime has a nationwide pharmacy network with over 50,000 pharmacies. Please review the new formularies (drug lists) carefully and note any changes to your current prescription drug requirements and tier levels. The formulary is located on our website at capitalhealth.com.
• Due to these changes you will receive a new ID card for 1/1/2014 and may receive an updated card upon your employer group's renewal date. Please watch your mail for your new ID cards.
It is our goal to be compliant with the ACA while causing the least amount of disruption to our members. Capital Health Plan is the only non-profit local health plan in the Big Bend area. Our offices are local, our Member Services department is local, and we live where you live. For more than 30 years, we have been providing members with comprehensive and affordable health care. We look forward to providing you and our community a health partnership that has continuing value.
New Pharmacy Benefit Manager in 2014
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
Beginning January 1, 2014, Capital Health Plan will change its Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) from CVS/Caremark to Prime Therapeutics (Prime) for processing of pharmacy claims. The nationwide pharmacy network will remain at over 50,000 pharmacies and is available to Capital Health Plan members that have a prescription benefit. Prime is the largest privately held PBM in the United States, serving over 21 million members.
Capital Health Plan, in partnership with Prime, is committed to taking care of our members prescription needs, quickly and efficiently. Our goal is to provide appropriate medical care and improved health outcomes.
Prime will start managing the pharmacy benefit beginning January 1, 2014 for Capital Health Plan members that have a prescription benefit. Members that have a prescription benefit through Capital Health Plan will receive new member identification cards through the U.S. mail prior to the end of this year. The new identification cards may be presented to any pharmacy in our network beginning on January 1. Please note that CVS/Caremark PBM will not process pharmacy claims for Capital Health Plan members beginning January 1, 2014. However, the CVS retail stores will remain in the network.
Additionally, beginning January 1, 2014, Prime Mail will be your new home delivery (mail) service. Generally, prescriptions with refills remaining at CVS/Caremark Mail will be automatically transferred to the Prime Mail Pharmacy.* Members that are currently using the services of CVS/Caremark Mail Order Pharmacy will receive information by mail prior to January 1, 2014, to help with the switch to Prime Mail.
There will also be a change in the Specialty Pharmacy to Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy on January 1, 2014. Generally, prescriptions with refills remaining will be automatically transferred from CVS/Caremark Specialty to Prime Specialty Pharmacy.* Members who have been using CVS/Caremark Specialty Pharmacy will receive new enrollment packages from Prime Therapeutics Specialty Pharmacy.
Our Members Services department is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about this change.
*Prescriptions for controlled or compound drugs cannot be automatically transferred. A new prescription will be required.
2014 Plan Changes
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
Our Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) and our Formulary (list of covered prescription drugs) are changing January 1, 2014.
Prime Therapeutics will replace CVS/Caremark as the new PBM. The change will not affect the local Pharmacy Network. A nationwide pharmacy network will remain available with over 50,000 pharmacies. The changes will help us provide the quality, afforable care you've always counted on.
The 2014 Commercial Formulary is available online beginning on or after September 15, 2013. The 2014 Medicare Formulary is available online beginning October 1, 2013. Be sure to view the formulary to see if the 2014 changes affect your prescription drugs.
New health care regulations and decisions of your employer may have affected your group plan. When it's time for your 2014 open enrollment, be sure to read your policy information thoroughly and work with your group administrator to understand all the changes.
Ask Dr. Nancy: Choosing Wisely
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
Should routine Pap tests be done every year? According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists the answer is "no". Should my child have antibiotics for apparent viral respiratory illnesses (sinusitis, sore throats, bronchitis)? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics the answer is "no". Should I have a DEXA scan for osteoporosis screening if I am a woman under the age of 65 with no specific risk factors? You probably have guessed the answer is "no" according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
These topics are recommendations among many from 26 of the nation's leading medical specialty societies, representing 350,000 physicians, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Medicine, American
College of Cardiology, American College of Radiology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society and others. These are the societies which certify the credentials of physicians.
"Choosing Wisely" is an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation and Consumer Reports. The first nine medical specialty societies published their list of the "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question" in 2012 and now another 17 specialty societies have contributed their lists in February 2013. There are 130 tests and treatments identified which are done too often and in many cases can cause harm.
The goal is to make sure that patients are informed about what tests and procedures are most likely to be beneficial. More tests and treatments may not be the best thing for your health. The lists contain the recommendation and the reason for the recommendation. For example, "Computed tomography (CT) scans are not necessary in the routine evaluation of abdominal pain" in children. Additional information is that "Utilization of CT imaging in the emergency department evaluation of children with abdominal pain is increasing. The increased lifetime risk for cancer due to excess radiation exposure is of special concern given the acute sensitivity of children's organs." A possible question might be, "So doctor, does my child really need that CT scan?" What are the options? What is the risk? What is the benefit? These are the questions and conversations that should happen to determine the next best step for the specific clinical situation. One size does not fit all.
Why now? As our understanding of disease and technology evolves, we discover that some interventions we thought were a good thing are no longer recommended as a good thing for everybody. Not all children with abdominal pain have signs and symptoms which require further testing with a CT scan. A history and physical by a skilled clinician is the best way to determine what the next steps should be.
The physicians from Capital Health Plan's Quality Improvement Committee sent the recommendations from the first 9 medical societies to the physicians in our community who are certified by those societies. The additional recommendations will also be distributed and input solicited. The patient's individual circumstances must always be taken into consideration but generally there is widespread agreement within our medical community that the reasoning behind the listed treatments and testing have merit.
What can you do? It is always a good idea to discuss treatment options with your primary care physician who is in a position to review those options in the context of your overall medical situation.
In addition, when you have a non-urgent health care choice to make, gather information. Healthwise®, a healthcare encyclopedia, is available to you through your Capital Health Plan membership. Healthwise® is a non-profit company, founded in 1975 with a mission to promote better health decisions by consumers. Healthwise® can be accessed through CHPConnect on the left side of the screen under "My Resources" and clicking on Healthwise® Knowledgebase. Learn the information you need to know to make good decisions.
You can read all of the recommendations at www.choosingwisely.org. If you have any questions please call the Capital Health Plan Health Information Line. The nurses answering the Health Information line are available to assist you in planning for your physician's office visit by answering your questions and providing health information on a wide variety of topics.
Dr. Nancy Van Vessem is board certified in internal medicine. She has developed innovative disease management and quality improvement programs promoting the use of best evidence medicine, propelling Capital Health Plan to national recognition for quality of care.
CHPConnect Gets a Face Lift!
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
CHPConnect, a secure information portal available to all Capital Health Plan members received a face lift during the Fall 2012. Newly added features include:
• Healthy Conversations: Healthy Conversations offers fourteen different multi-media presentations on topics such as Diabetes, Improving Sleep, Smoking Cessation and Healthy Eating and Exercise. Each topic has embedded technology that adapts to your specific answers. The presentations are clear, concise and provide evidence- based information.
• Health Trackers: With Health Tracker, you can track your health information while away from your physician's office. You have the ability to track blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, cholesterol, Hemoglobin A1C, peak flow readings, pulse, temperature and weight. A graph or linear reading can be printed and taken to your next physician's office visit.
• Health Risk Appraisal: The Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) is a personal health questionnaire that evaluates your health risks and quality of life. Upon completion, you will receive a wellness score, and suggestions on how to improve your quality of life.
Additional features of CHPConnect that are valuable in helping you take control of your health include:
• Healthwise® Knowledgebase: The Healthwise® Knowledgebase uses a searchable medical encyclopedia providing descriptions of symptoms, pictures, and treatment options.
• Lab Results: Within 3-4 weeks, certain lab results are available.
• ID Cards: Lose your Capital Health Plan ID card? You can easily submit a request through CHPConnect to have a new card mailed to you.
• Benefits: Have questions about your benefits? You can view your benefits and copayments from the Benefits and Eligibility tab in the left-hand navigation menu.
Registering as a CHPConnect user offers many advantages. With 24 hour and 7 days a week access, you can quickly retrieve answers to some very common questions. The health modules are evidence- based and provide thorough explanations to many common illnesses and diseases. Searching the Healthwise® Knowledgebase provides you with information so that you will be better informed at your next doctor's visit.
How do I connect to CHPConnect?
Just follow these simple steps:
1. Go to our homepage.
2. In the top left box, click on the "New User?" link.
3. Fill in the registration form and choose a password (your password must be at least 6 characters; upper and lower case plus a number).
5. Within 3-4 business days, Capital Health Plan will send you an access code by mail.
6. Use your User ID, password, and access code to log in.
2013 Savvy Senior
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
Capital Health Plan is proud to present our monthly Savvy Senior programs. These lunch and learn programs are designed to be educational and promote Living Well for older adults. The Physician Group of Capital Health Plan physicians, guest speakers, and other Capital Health Plan health care professionals will be presenting the programs this year.
The Savvy Senior program has become so popular we now hold it twice each month - on the first and third Fridays. We are very fortunate to have Anna Johnson-Riedel host the programs. They start at Noon and usually last an hour.
We invite you to come out, join the group, meet new friends, and become a Savvy Senior. It is open to the public and anyone is welcome to attend.
Upcoming programs:
Date |
Presentation |
Speaker |
April 5 & April 19 | Disuse Atrophy: Use It or Lose It | Henry Gunter, M.D. |
May 3 & May 17 | Chronic Kidney Disease | Robert Chapman, M.D. |
June 7 & June 21 | Diabetes | Suma Dondapati, M.D. |
July 5 & July 19 | High Blood Pressure | James Thomas, M.D. |
August 2 & August 16 | Skin/Wound Clinic | TBA |
September 6 & September 20 | Volunteer Leon | LeKendra Cunningham |
October 4 & October 18 | TBA | Tara Loucks, ARNP |
November 1 & November 15 | Eye Care | Daniel Lazar, O.D. |
December 6 & December 20 | Falls & How to Prevent Them | Sheetal Deo, M.D. |
If you are unable to attend in person you can always view a Podcast of the program on our website by clicking here.
If you plan to attend please be sure to RSVP by calling 850-523-7441 or 1-877-247-6512 (TTY 850-383-3534 or 1-877-870-8943) 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., seven days a week, October 1 – February 14; 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, February 15 – September 30. State of Florida members call 1-877-392-1532, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Nominate a Senior in Our Community!
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
The Silver Stars Celebration is one of Tallahassee's premier senior recognition events, honoring a select group of people for their special contributions. The Tallahassee Senior Center, which spearheads the event, invites the community to nominate a senior for a Silver Star. Capital Health Plan is proud to be a major sponsor for the 2013 celebration which culminates in a festive awards dinner at the FSU University Center on May 19, 2013.
We bet you know some shining women and men who reach age 60 and just keep bringing more brightness into the world. Who can be a star? Your friends, neighbors, relatives who…
- Since age 60 have accomplished outstanding achievements
- Demonstrated exemplary service to others and our community
- Are inspiring models of active aging
From athletes to caregivers, Silver Stars illuminate many paths in life. Past honorees include athletes, executive directors, community advocates, caregivers, volunteers, and entrepreneurs. If you know someone 60 or older whose life of service you admire, whatever the arena, share your appreciation! Nominate a senior star and let the whole community know.
Nominations are sought from the community and must be received by February 8. Send a nomination form or a letter of nomination - not to exceed 100 words - to: Silver Stars Nomination, Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32303. Be sure to describe the individual's outstanding achievements or contributions since reaching age 60. Include the nominee's and nominator's contact names and information, and be sure to get permission from the nominee. Nomination forms can be downloaded here.
Ask Dr. Nancy: Are You Young Inside? Your Blood Pressure is One Way to Know!
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
Aging happens. You can see it in your face and in the wobble on your arms. But where aging matters most is inside your body because that is where disease quietly begins. Every cell in your body depends on blood flow to survive so your blood vessels are key to keeping all your cells healthy.
If the pressure in your blood vessels is higher than it should be, that causes damage. First to your heart which is working harder than it should, and down the line to the blood vessels which become stiff to counteract the increased pressure. This is what ages your blood vessels and causes "hardening of the arteries". Silently, you are set up for heart failure, heart attack, kidney failure and stroke. The best defense is to take action to know if you are at risk and to do something about it.
It's easy. Adults should have their blood pressure measured every two years because blood pressure increases with age. Just visit your primary care physician. If your blood pressure is high at the beginning of the visit, have it retaken at the end of the visit.
The top number, called the systolic pressure, is over the bottom number, called the diastolic pressure. The result will be something like this: 120/80. These numbers are a reflection of the condition of your heart and blood vessels. If that top number is 100 to 120 and the bottom number is 60 to 80, then jump around your kitchen and give yourself a big "Yoo Hoo" because you have just ticked off a significant health risk. But get it checked again in two years because time marches on and you need to keep track of how you are doing.
If the systolic pressure is greater than 140 and the diastolic pressure is greater than 90, then you are in the danger zone. It is time to change your lifestyle. You have heard this before: weight reduction, physical activity, cutting down on alcohol consumption to 2 drinks a day or less for men and 1 drink a day or less for women, healthy diet, and limiting sodium all work to reduce blood pressure. They work together to reduce the speed of aging.
Treatment with medication is also important if your blood pressure stays elevated. There are numerous choices and the right choice for any individual depends on the characteristics of that individual. For instance, a diabetic person would typically be treated with a drug in the ACE inhibitor class.
Dr. Nancy Van Vessem is board certified in internal medicine. She has developed innovative disease management and quality improvement programs promoting the use of best evidence medicine, propelling Capital Health Plan to national recognition for quality of care.
New Name, Same Quality of Care
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
Capital Health Plan is pleased to introduce the Physician Group of Capital Health Plan at our Governors Square and Centerville locations. This group of Capital Health Plan primary care physicians is exclusive to Capital Health Plan members. Their new name will better assist members in distinguishing Capital Health Plan's staff physicians from the Capital Health Plan affiliate physicians.
Why all the excitement?
The Physician Group of Capital Health Plan is currently designing a website where members can learn about the staff physicians and convenient services available at our Governors Square and Centerville locations. Members will also have access to the Patient Portal (NextMD) from this website. With the Patient Portal, members may send secure messages to their physician or nurse, make routine appointments online, and request prescription refills.
Primetime Advantage: Coverage Outside of Service Area
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
Members often ask about coverage if they should become ill or have an injury while temporarily away or traveling outside the Capital Health Plan service area. If you are a Capital Health Plan Medicare Advantage (HMO) plan member
and you are outside the service area on vacation, visiting family, at your mountain or beach house, on a cruise or outside the service area for any reason, you are covered for emergencies anywhere in the world and urgently needed care anywhere in the United States.
If you have an emergency get help as quickly as possible. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room or hospital. Call for an ambulance if you need it. You do not need to get approval or a referral first from your Primary Care Physician. We do ask that you or someone else call Member Services to let us know about your emergency within 48 hours, if possible. Urgently needed care is also covered and is for a non-emergency, unforeseen medical illness, injury, or condition, that requires immediate medical care. Our plan covers urgently needed care that you get from any provider when you are outside our service area.
Follow up care does need to be coordinated through your Capital Health Plan network of providers. If you are given a prescription or need a refill while out of the area but in the United States, you may use one of over 62,000 network pharmacies nationwide to fill the prescription using your Capital Health Plan identification card. You can register at www.caremark.com to locate a participating pharmacy in the area you are in or call Member Services to assist you in locating a pharmacy. Members may also use any LabCorp facility in the country. To locate a LabCorp facility in the area you are in go to www.labcorp.com or call Member Services.
If you are traveling outside of the country for an extended length of time, call Member Services and ask them about the Blue Card World Wide program.
Enjoy worry free travel wherever you are going!


text:
You know you hate them: stealth sections in non-stealth games. - Destructoid
Sign up
Cover Stories
Dtoid Originals
Industry News
Japanese Games
Indie Game News
Weird huh WTF?
More Topics
About Dtoid
Contact Us
What people are reading:
More hot stories
By Platform
Xbox 360
Wii U
PS Vita
Other Hardware
Editor's Choice
by Author
By Latest
The best and worst s : May Returns
Homeworld Remastered Collection
Ironfall: Invasion
The Deer God
Pneuma: Breath of Life
Aaru's Awakening
Resident Evil: Revelations 2:...
There Came an Echo
Hot Tin Roof: The Cat That Wore a...
htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary
More reviews
By Genre
More genres
All Videos
Subscribe on YouTube
All Original Videos
Max & Tara: The Destructoid Show
Dtoid.TV (Weekdays, 4PM PST)
Sup, Holmes?
Talking to Women about VideoGames
The JimQuisition
Storm's Adventures
Hey Ash Whatcha Playin
Newest Posts
Rising (10+)
Notable (20+)
Popular (30+)
Promoted (Front Paged!)
People you follow
General - Opinion/Editorial
Community Reviews
Community Podcasters
Bloggers Wanted Response
Letters to Dtoids Editors
Get Involved
General Badassness
Join a Live Stream Event
Listen to Radio Dtoid
Join a Playdate Event
Compete in a Contest
Today's Posts
Newest Posts
Subscribed Threads
Activity Feed
Popular Forums
General Discussion
Official Game Threads
The Social Bar
Meet and Greet
Pictures & Videos
Destructoid Shirts
Xbox 360 deals
PS3 deals
Wii U deals
Wii deals
PC deals
PS Vita deals
Nintendo 3DS deals
Retro deals
Console Deals
PC News
PC Reviews
Upcoming Games
PC Games (all)
Cover Stories
PC Videos
PC Screenshots
Steam News
Mac Games
Apple news
PS4 News
Cover Stories
PS4 Games (all)
PS4 Videos
PS4 Screens
PS4 Rumors
PlayStation Forum
PSN Network
All Sony news
PS3 News
PS3 Reviews
Upcoming Games
PS3 Games (all)
Cover Stories
PS3 Videos
PS3 Screens
PlayStation Forum
PSN Network
All Sony news
Xbox One News
Cover Stories
Upcoming Games
Games List (all)
Xbox One Screens
Xbox One Videos
Kinect Games
Xbox One Forums
All Microsoft news
Xbox 360 News
Xbox 360 Reviews
Upcoming Games
Xbox 360 Games (all)
Cover Stories
Xbox 360 Videos
Xbox 360 Screens
Xbox Forums
Kinect Games
All Microsoft news
Wii U News
Wii U Games (all)
Cover Stories
Wii U Videos
Wii U Screens
Wii U Forums
Wii News (last gen)
Wii Reviews (last gen)
Virtual Console
All Nintendo news
3DS News
3DS Reviews
3DS Previews
3DS Games (all)
Cover Stories
3DS Screens
3DS Videos
Nintendo news
Older DS Games
Older DS News
PS Vita news
PS Vita Reviews
Upcoming Games
PS Vita Games (all)
Cover Stories
PSN news
PS Vita Videos
PS Vita Screenshots
PSP Games (last gen)
PSP News (last gen)
Android news
Android Games (all)
Cover Stories
Android Screens
Android Video
Tablet Games
Google Play
iPhone News
iPhone Reviews
iPhone Games (all)
iPhone Biggest News
iPad Games
iPhone Videos
iPhone Screens
All Apple news
ModernMethod is:
Anime: Japanator
Toys: Tomopop
Movies: Flixist
About Destructoid
Meet the team
Site Guide
Mr. Destructoid (Mascot)
Site History (Wikipedia)
Niero's Manifesto (2006)
Follow Us
Twitter: Every 15 minutes
Twitter: On the Hour
Contact Us
Game database:
Xbox One
PS Vita
C-Blogs RSS
New blogs
Rising (10+)
Notable (20+)
Popular (30+)
Search c-blogs
tips & tricks
Koobert 's blog
send message
Koobert's blogs
promoted blogs
Johnny Barnstorm
Sometime in the late twenties.
British Columbia
Anything where a sassy she spy blows things up. Adventure games. Racing games. Fighting games, too, to some degree. Side-scrolling hit-those-guys games.
Turbografx-16, PlayStation, Sega Nomad, Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation2, XBox, Nintendo DS, XBox 360, PSP, Sega Saturn, PlayStation3.
Manhunter: New York, Star Control 2, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Police Quest 2, Quest for Glory II: Trial By Fire, Phantasy Star I & IV, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey, Shining Force, Driver, Metropolis Street Racer, Bushido Blade. Yeah... and that Smashing Brothers game. Fine.
Braid, Penny Arcade Adventures, The Strong Bad Game for Cool and Attractive People: Episode One, Final Fantasy XI, Ys Books I & II, StarFox 64, Chrono Trigger.
Player Profile
Follow me:
Koobert's sites
Following (35)
You know you hate them: stealth sections in non-stealth games.
on 04.01.2008
Ah, Stealth. You can thank Metal Gear Solid and Tenchu for bringing this ubiquitous gameplay mechanic into popular attention. Although games like Airborne Ranger and the original Metal Gear had toyed with this mechanic in the 2D world years ago, but it wasn't until Snake snuck around guards in 3D that everyone fell in love with the mechanic. And game designers, being the original chaps that they are, ran en masse to start throwing little stealth portions in their games, regardless of whether or not stealth had any right to be in there.
The designers might claim they stuck it in to change up the pace, give players something a little different to do. But, by that logic, "a little different" means "something that they've already done to death in a dozen other games". We're not going to look at bad stealth-based games like "Alias", where the shitty stealth is an integral portion of the gameplay. Instead we'll look at games where the stealth portions seem so arbitrary and tacked on that they detract for the actual game's relative goodness.
Lost Odyssey
What the hell is a stealth section doing here?
While on the way to Numara, Kaim and her (wait, no,
) companions are arrested, possibly for murdering dozens of Numarian soldiers, which you did do. Guilt aside, you decide to circumvent the Numarian justice system and, using Alan Tudyk's doppelganger Jansen, get past your cell's guard. Unfortunately, ever step from here on out is monitored by an eyeball shaped robot. You must dodge past their relatively slow, ponderous routines in order to get out of the jail.
What's so wrong with this?
At first, the only problem is that the game decides to slow everything down with a pointless cutscene each time you see an eyeballbot. The actual evasion is simple enough. In the second room, there is much less margin for error, and combined with the terrible, non-adjustable camera angles, the eyeballbots do become frustrating. Now, you don't die when you get caught by them, just sent back to the beginning of the maze, but the last three, which are closely grouped together, brought me to the point of yelling at the screen. The lack of camera control makes it just random on whether or not you trigger their alert. There are two in the south-west portion of the room that seem to be very specifically guarding something, and you have to dodge past two sightlines, one of which is always unseen due to the camera, to get there. The worst part?
The really worst fricking part?
There's nothing down there. Absolutely nothing. All in all, this section is so short that you can't bitch about it too much. It just had nothing to do with the rest of the game and was an annoying diversion.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
What the hell is a stealth section doing here?
Your pal, irritating rapper OG Loc, needs to get his rhyme book back from millionaire rapper Madd Dogg, so you, being the swell and helpful fellow that you are, decide to help him out. Although you are a one-man army capable of bringing down the FBI and the entire state police, you decide to eschew such firepower for the quiet killing ability of a knife. From here on in, it's sneaking and stabbing as you make your way into the studio and grab the book. The killing is a direct borrowing of such activities in Manhunt, so the basic mechanics have been used before, and are relatively familiar.
What's so wrong with this?
Manhunt was a game all about the stealth kills, so borrowing from that can't be so bad, right? Sadly, no. Just as the music game in San Andreas missed the point of what makes music games good, this stealth game has absolutely no entertainment factor. Although it functions basically like Manhunt does, it doesn't have the same great motion capture. And the environments in which stealth are used are the terrible Rockstar indoor set, so be prepared for bland, PS1-era hallways and a lot of shuddering cameras. The worst part of it, though, is that it all seems so pointless. CJ doesn't seem like a guy with a lot of subtlety, and he also already has the weapons and skill to take almost everyone down. Why does he only need to bring a knife? Why not a gun and a silencer? Yes, they want to teach you a new gameplay mechanic, but it's one that sees so little use in the game that you'll end up forgetting it an hour later. And yet, it's far from the worst offender on this list.
Final Fantasy XII
What the hell is a stealth section doing here?
Well, uh... you're trying to get into the castle, see? And with the help of the palace servants you get in, right? So once you are upstairs, you get a fun little diversion of having to wrangle around very, very dimwitted guards, whose cone of vision is tiny. Calling a guard basically drags them to a new corner, after which they give up and stop looking for you, just sitting there. So what you have to do is get the guards parked in an order which allows you to get to the magicite you need. And that's about it.
What's so wrong with this?
Though it's not a difficult stealth portion, it's just odd and out of place. The guards have no AI, and very little vision, to the point that you'd really have to want to get caught in order to fail that sequence. That does, however, make for some irritating and boring gameplay. It is very close in execution to the above scene in Lost Odyssey, but without the timing requirements. On the plus side, the camera is controllable, and the whole shebang lasts about five minutes, after which you can rejoice in never having to do it again.
Indigo Prophecy / Farenheit
What the hell is a stealth section doing here?
Lucas, your beleaguered, occasionally possessed hero, meets with his brother at their parents grave site to have a heart to heart. And what better thing to reminisce about from your childhood than that one stealth sequence you had? In this childhood flashback, Lucas has a vision of the hangar in which his brother Markus was playing blowing up, so it's up to him to get from his house on the army base to the hanger, without getting caught by any guards. (It's past your bedtime, you see.)
What's so wrong with this?
The worst offense committed by this stealth section is that it kills the forward momentum of the plot. Although it does give you some needed backstory about your protagonist and his powers, it ends up eating far too much playing time. Unlike the stealth portions above, this one is actually rather difficult, although since it's a memory, you just get confused and say "that's not how it happens" any time you get caught. A major problem of this stealth sequence is that the game's control just isn't really built for it. For stealth to really work, the game has to be thought of as a stealth game from the ground up, not have sightlines and hiding pushed into as an afterthought. It's also just a little illogical. You live on this base, and yet you are treated like terrorist number one when you are caught on the grounds. Lighten up, guys. Oh, btw, that hangar is totally about to blow up. kthxbye.
(The ending of this stealth scene, where you have to convince the kids to get out of the hangar, is something else entirely - one of the best examples of games as true interactive fiction. Though it is possible to rescue all of the hiding kids, the game runs with whatever ending you come up with, and incorporates it into the future narrative, whether it's the trauma of watching his childhood friends die, or his feelings of pride for having saved their lives.)
The Getaway: Black Monday
What the hell is a stealth section doing here?
I'm not entirely sure. I do know that every time you end up playing as the spunky teen girl Sam, it turns into a generally dull, slow stealth game instead of a thrill-a-minute shooting-and-driving game that the Getaway should be. The first stealth scene, in the gym, following a bloody shoot-out, isn't so bad. You can pretty much breeze through it, and it is a bit of a fun alternative to the hypermasculine shooty bits that normally come from this genre. And Sam is, shockingly, a non-sexualized, fun, interesting female character in an action game. Good heavens. Then, after an entertaining enough sequence of stealing a utility van to sneak into the corporate headquarters, it all goes to shittown, population: irritating.
What's so wrong with this?
Yep, you will come to dread these scenes, as you are playing as someone without the means to defend herself, and the only option when confronted by bad guys or guards is to, you know, just let them kill you. Slowly. These sections highlight what is the weakest portion of the Getaway series: the terrible, terrible level design. Samey office after samey office are in front of you, obfuscating the correct path, making you run around in circles, and get generally pissed off. While this game at least has the good forethought to use the correct control style for sneaking games, it also has erratic detection from the AI, and some irritating camera movements. But this one scene, in the Scobel building, is so game-breakingly boring, long, and bad that it actually prevented me from finishing the game. After an hour of trying to maneover around guards, getting lost in the shitty level design, and then not being able to do anything about getting caught, I said "Sucks to this!" and put the game back on my shelf, never to be played again.
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
What the hell is a stealth section doing here?
There are a few stealth bits thrown around this game, some of which come off better than others. One, later in the game, involving avoiding detection by evil robots, is actually pretty fun, but the scene in the catacombs is what moves Dreamfall to the forefront of bad stealth sections. You are in the catacombs in the fantasy side of the universe, having snuck in via a relatively harmless set of sneaking. Inside, things are different. Unlike before, where there is relatively little punishment for getting caught by these little troll guys, here, any detection cuts to a
jarring shot of a screaming, giant monster, a bit like that one at the beginning of Another World. (The game, not the soap opera.) You have to solve some odd icon-based puzzles here, all while not getting caught by the pointlessly shambling little troll guys.
What's so wrong with this?
This game wasn't built for stealth. It works in the other scenes because it's generally easy, but here, it suddenly switches from a pleasant diversion to game-stoppingly awful. The controls aren't good enough for this, especially camera-wise. The AI is too good at picking you up. It ceases being fun and becomes something worse than work. When I say that the cut to the screaming giant monster is jarring, let me put it to you this way: it's freaking nerve-shattering. And the punishment of getting caught by these guys, who are frequently off-screen, and whose line-of-vision you have absolutely no means of understanding, is not just this cut, but then the pursuit by this invincible monster. So, yes, getting caught by one of those guys is an instant "load your game" scenario, it even says so in GameFAQs. Now I don't like doing a lot of things in video games, but one thing that I really, really don't like doing is going on GameFAQs to solve puzzles. But these catacombs were so annoying, with their unfair instant death and all, that after an hour of getting SCREECHED at by Growly McKillsYou, I once again said "Sucks to this!". But as the plot of Dreamfall seemed to be going somewhere, I didn't put the game away, I just looked up the solution to the catacombs, beat it, and then went back to enjoying one of the best games I've played this decade.
Next time on You Know You Hate Them: what do you get when you cross a soundtrack in need of filling, a surprisingly small music budget, and corporate shills who don't give a fuck? That's right: from listening to Avril while car crashing, to banging your drums to "B-I-N-G-O", we're going to take a look at the worst licensed music in games history.
Is this blog awesome? Vote it up!
follow Koobert
Comments not appearing?
Anti-virus apps like
or some
browser extensions
can cause this.
Easy fix: Add
to your software's white list. Tada! Happy comments time again.
Did you know?
You can now get
email notifications
when humans reply to your comments.
Back to Top
BEST Games of 2013
Best PC Games
Best PS3 Games
Best Xbox 360 Games
Best Wii U Games
Best 3DS Games
All content is yours to recycle through our
Creative Commons License
permitting non-commercial sharing
attribution. Our communities are obsessed with
, and
Living the dream since March 16, 2006
Advertising on destructoid is available: Please
contact them
to learn more


text:
Appliquéd butterflies flutter over polka-dot leaves, a band of bright gingham and petite blooms on this fun summery crib skirt.
Please allow 5-7 business days for delivery. Delivery estimate includes monogrammed and gift-wrapped items.
To confirm delivery time frames in your area, please call 800.993.4923.
Item | Price | Delivery Surcharge |
Hayley Crib Skirt | $59 | $0 |


text:
Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
You are not logged in. [Log In] Wordsmith.org » Forums » General Topics » Miscellany » Such a simple word... Register User Forum List Calendar Active Topics Search FAQ
Topic Options
#205438 - 04/11/12 10:31 PM Such a simple word...
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 11610
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky ...yet I didn't know it. I was reading about this weekend being a good time to observe Saturn, and saw: It is from such occultations that we learned the particulate nature of Saturn's rings.
From Collins Dict.: occultation (ˌɒkʌlˈteɪʃən)
1.the temporary disappearance of one celestial body as it moves out of sight behind another body
2.the act of occulting or the state of being occulted
I will say in my defense that Onelook had only a handful of offerings for this word.
#205444 - 04/11/12 11:46 PM Re: Such a simple word... [Re: Jackie]
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 10526
Loc: this too shall pass OTOH, "We found 55 dictionaries with English definitions that include the word occult" - I suppose not all of these include the verb form, but the first few I looked at all did..
Moderator: Jackie
Forum Stats 8793 Members
16 Forums
13819 Topics
216997 Posts
Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM
Newest Members ayushji, SpeechlessInPDX, Freethinkinfool, gauti, edmundsingleton
8793 Registered Users
Who's Online 1 registered (wsieber), 36 Guests and 4 Spiders online. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters (30 Days)
LukeJavan8 109 wofahulicodoc 95 endymion6 83 A C Bowden 32 Tromboniator 10 May 5 kenpk 1 Raynbeaugirl 1
Top Posters
wwh 13858 Faldage 13803 Jackie 11610 tsuwm 10526 Buffalo Shrdlu 7210 LukeJavan8 7063 AnnaStrophic 6511 Wordwind 6296 wofahulicodoc 5436 of troy 5400
Board Rules · Mark all read Contact Us · Wordsmith.org · Top
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.
Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat© 2014 Wordsmith


text:
We're sorry, we need more information to run your search. Please enter a last name (adding more details will improve your results).
Do you want to get in touch with Grazia Zito and would like get more info on them? Regardless of the kind of information you're looking for - be it the age, recent addresses, or phone numbers - our comprehensive database at PeopleFinders.com will amaze you with the results. Sample: Grazia Zito was born in [YOB] and is years old. Grazia Zito is located in Dix Hills, NY.
One easy way to quickly track down the Grazia Zito you're looking for is by performing an advanced search using as much information as you know about Grazia. A successful search will present you with complete details on Grazia Zito, like phone numbers, known relatives, email addresses, and more. If you're uncertain about any of the persons listed with similar info as Grazia, don't worry, for our search results also include people with last name Zito in Dix Hills, NY below along with other details like the person's age, name, location, and relatives.
The Grazia Zito you're trying to locate can be found more quickly by making use of the search field above. Using this search feature, you can narrow down your results by adding in everything you know about the person like the person's middle name, middle initial, or age. After you've found the Grazia Zito you want, you can read through all the public info we have on Grazia Zito using our reliable DataTsunami™ logic results.


text:
Parental smoking behaviour and effects of tobacco smoke on children's health in Finland and Russia
Background: There is little information on potential differences in smoking behaviour of parents between Finland and Russia and on the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on allergic and respiratory diseases among Finnish and Russian children. The aim of the study was to compare the smoking behaviour of parents and school children and to assess the relations of tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy and childhood with occurrence of allergic diseases and respiratory infections among school children. Methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in the neighbour towns across the border of Imatra in Finland and Svetogorsk in Russia. The study population consisted of 512 Finnish and 581 Russian school children aged 7–16 years (response rate 79%). Results: Children's tobacco smoke exposure differed markedly between Finland and Russia. The risk of asthma was particularly related to high maternal smoking exposure during pregnancy (adjusted OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.00–12.3), infancy (3.34, 1.23–9.07) and currently (3.27, 1.26–8.48), and the risk of common cold was related to high combined parental smoking during infancy (1.83, 1.06–3.17) in Finnish children. Among Russian children allergic conjunctivitis was related to maternal smoking during infancy (4.53, 1.49–13.8) and currently (2.82, 1.07–7.44). Conclusions: Smoking behaviour of parents and ETS exposure during childhood differed markedly between Finland and Russia. Asthma was particularly increased in relation to high exposure to maternal smoking in Finland. The results suggest that more efforts should be directed to reducing tobacco smoke exposure of children in both Finland and Russia. (250 words)
- allergies
- asthma
- children
- respiratory infections
- smoking behaviour
- tobacco smoke exposure
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a common indoor exposure worldwide. Inspite of anti-tobacco campaigns and stricter tobacco control laws in some countries, ETS still remains a major health hazard in many private and public facilities in many European countries and elsewhere. Since the 1970s smoking has decreased in most western countries among men, whereas the prevalence of smoking has increased among women in both Eastern and Western Europe and men in Eastern Europe.1 In 1990s, as much as 25% of the Nordic children were exposed weekly to ETS at home.2
Both pre- and post-natal passive smoking have been linked to the occurrence of asthma and increased frequency of other respiratory illnesses and symptoms in childhood.3–6 However, evidence of the effects of ETS exposure on allergies is inconsistent.3,,6–9
There are a number of studies on asthma and respiratory symptoms in relation to environmental tobacco smoke in children,3,,10 but only a few have examined national differences in smoking behaviour of parents.2,,11 The aim of the study was to compare the smoking behaviour of parents and school children between Finland and Russia and to assess the effects of pre-natal, post-natal and current exposure to tobacco smoke on the risk of allergic diseases and respiratory infections among schoolchildren living on either side of the shared border in the towns of Imatra, Finland and Svetogorsk, Russia.
Study population
A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in the towns of Imatra, Finland and Svetogorsk, Russia, from October to November 2003. Imatra, with 30 000 inhabitants, is located in the south-eastern part of Finland, and Svetogorsk, with 17 000 inhabitants is located in the westernmost part of Saint Petersburg region. Both study areas are located at the border district of the two countries (figure 1). As part of a municipal cooperation project called 'Twin City', the study was approved by the local ethics authorities of school and health affairs in both towns.
The source population consisted of all school children in the two municipalities. Participating primary schools, altogether four in Imatra and two in Svetogorsk, were selected so that they were located in the middle of the districts, representing the area and populations of interest. School children 7–16 years of age were invited to participate and those who returned a completed questionnaire formed the study population.
A self-administered questionnaire modified from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC, Phase Two and Three) and two previous Finnish questionnaires were distributed by school teachers to 1400 school children between 7 and 16 years of age.12–15 These questionnaires have been tested and validated.12–15 Teachers, parents and school children were given oral and written instructions about distributing and filling in the questionnaires. The questionnaires were filled in anonymously at home by the school children together with their parents and returned by the child to his/her teacher.
Health outcomes
The health outcomes were based on questionnaire information. They included asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and the number of respiratory infections during the past twelve months. The questions concerning allergy were as follows: 'Does your child have any allergy?' (no/yes), 'If yes, does your child have asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and/or allergic conjunctivitis?' The question concerning respiratory infections was as follows: 'How many times did the child suffer from tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and/or common cold/flu during the past 12 months?'
Exposure assessment
The exposure assessment was based on questionnaire information on parental smoking habits. The following exposure indices were formed to characterise exposure during pregnancy (pre-natal exposure), during the child's first year of life (early-life exposure) and at the time of the survey (current exposure). Pre-natal exposure was estimated from maternal smoking during pregnancy (yes/no). The exposure was categorized into high (more than 10 cigarettes/day), low (up to 10 cigarettes/day) and no exposure (no smoking) on the basis of current smoking rate. Early-life exposure was estimated in two ways: (i) from maternal smoking during the child's first year of life (yes/no) and smoking rate (no smoking; low: up to 10 cigarettes/day; high: more than 10 cigarettes/day); and (ii) a combination of maternal smoking during the child's first year of life (yes/no) and paternal smoking taking into account paternal smoking rate (no, low, and high as above). We assessed current exposure at the time of the study from maternal and paternal smoking separately (no, low and high as above) as well as from combined smoking by mother and father (no smoking; low: up to 15 cigarettes/day; high: more than 15 cigarettes/day). In addition, the questionnaire included a question about personal smoking: 'Does your child smoke cigarettes?' (yes/no).
Statistical methods
First, we compared smoking habits and behaviour between Finnish and Russian parents and children. χ2- and t-tests were used to assess the statistical significance of differences between these groups. Second, we assessed the relations of pre-, post-natal and current tobacco smoke exposures to health outcomes using odds ratio as a measure of effect. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (OR and 95% confidence intervals, CI) adjusted for the following core covariates: study area, age, gender, early-life and current pets, any dampness or mould problems and parental allergy. All statistical analyses were performed using the statistical package SAS, version 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).
Study population
A total of 1106 (response rate 79.0%) subjects completed the questionnaire, 519 (74.1%) in Imatra and 587 (83.9%) in Svetogorsk. Information on age was missing in 11 subjects and gender in two subjects, who were excluded. Thus, the final study population included a total of 1093 children, 512 from Finland and 581 from Russia. In Finland, 265 (51.8%) respondents were boys and 247 (48.2%) girls. In Russia, the corresponding numbers were 252 (43.4%) and 329 (56.6%), respectively.
Smoking behaviour
The time pattern of exposure to tobacco smoke differed substantially between the Finnish and Russian children. Current regular indoor exposure to tobacco smoke and paternal smoking were significantly more common among school children in Svetogorsk than in Imatra (table 1). Proportion of current maternal smoking did not differ between the countries, but exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy and during child's first year of life were more frequent in Finland than in Russia. The proportions of heavy smokers (≥15 cigarettes per day) were clearly higher among both smoking parents in Finland than in Russia. Also the average number of cigarettes smoked daily was higher among both parents in Finland compared to Russia (female smokers 11.8 versus 7.9, t-test: P < 0.001; male smokers 15.6 versus 13.5, t-test: P = 0.001). The prevalence of smoking by the children themselves was low. It was more common among Russian than Finnish children.
Health effects
The preliminary analyses of ETS exposure and health outcomes showed differences in the effect estimates between Finnish and Russian children, which were at least partly explained by the different exposure patterns, and because of that, the results on the effects of exposure are presented separately for Finnish and Russian children. As a consequence of smaller numbers in these subcategories, the precision of the estimates was compromised for some outcomes.
Among Finnish children, the risk of asthma was particularly related to high maternal smoking during pregnancy (adjusted OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.00–12.3), during the first year of life (3.34, 1.23–9.07), and currently (3.27, 1.26–8.48) (table 2). Exposure-response relations were also observed for combined parental smoking in the first year of life (adjusted OR for low exposure: 1.36, 95% CI 0.57–3.24; high exposure: 2.66, 1.01–7.00), and for current parental exposure (low exposure: 1.60, 0.69–3.71; high exposure: 2.91, 1.05–8.09). The risk of any allergic disease was elevated in relation to high maternal smoking at the time of the study (1.94, 1.03–3.64).
Of respiratory infections, the risk of common cold/flu was elevated in relation to high combined parental exposure in the child's first year of life (1.83, 1.06–3.17).
In Russia, maternal smoking in pregnancy (6.7%) and during the child's first year of life was rare (8.8%) and consequently, the corresponding effect estimates were imprecise (tables 1 and 3). The effect estimates for asthma showed some similar trends, though not statistically significant, with those of the Finnish children and the risk of asthma was particularly related to current high exposure to maternal smoking (adjusted OR 4.58, 95% CI 0.84–25.0; table 3). The risk of conjunctivitis was particularly related to maternal smoking during the child's first year of life (low exposure: 4.53, 1.49–13.8), and currently (low exposure: 2.82, 1.07–7.44). The risks of respiratory infections did not show obvious significant relations with tobacco smoke, but the risk of most infections was increased in relation to maternal heavy smoking in the child's first year of life, while parental smoking showed an inverse relation with common cold.
Smoking behaviour of parents differed markedly between Finland and Russia. Current regular indoor exposure to tobacco smoke and paternal smoking were significantly higher in Russia, whereas heavy smoking (≥15 cigarettes/day) was more common among both parents in Finland. Inspite of well-developed national maternity and childcare clinic system in Finland, maternal smoking during pregnancy and child's first year of life was higher in Finland, although current maternal smoking was equally common in both countries. This result challenges the effectiveness of the recent anti-tobacco campaigns in Finland and other western countries where smoking among females is still relatively common, even during pregnancy. The results also suggest that smoking cessation during pregnancy seems to be temporary and smoking returns soon after pregnancy back to higher level, especially in Finnish women.
In Finnish children, the risk of asthma was increased in relation to maternal smoking during pregnancy, during infancy and at the time of the study, with an exposure-response pattern. Among Russian children, early-life and current exposure to maternal tobacco smoke were associated with an increased risk of allergic conjunctivitis. In Finland, the occurrence of common colds/flues was consistently elevated in the high exposure groups, but in Russia common cold/flu showed no increase in relation to tobacco smoke exposure. This difference could be explained at least partly by different diagnostic practices between Finland and Russia.
Validity of results
The ISAAC questionnaire was designed and standardized to allow comparisons of the occurrence of atopic diseases and some of their determinants, such as smoking habits, between and within populations in different countries. However, our results may be affected by some methodological limitations. The translation of the questionnaire into Russian was not standardized, so some disagreements between the two languages, cultural differences in understanding and filling in the questionnaire, and different definitions of diseases used in Finland and Russia are possible sources of bias, although both the professional certified translator and the Russian medical expert had experience from similar type of studies.
Although the response rate was relatively high in both study areas, the possibility of selection bias cannot be totally excluded. We used self-reported allergies instead of doctor- diagnosed allergies because of the likelihood of national differences in diagnostic procedures.16 When comparing results using either self-reported or doctor-diagnosed allergies no substantial differences were observed. The public awareness of allergies and other respiratory problems is relatively high in both Svetogorsk and Imatra due to several air pollution and health studies conducted in the area in the 1980s–90s.12,,13 Therefore appropriate identification and reporting of allergic diseases and respiratory infections could be expected. Potential underreporting of smoking status and smoking levels cannot be ruled out, especially in Russia, where women's smoking has been traditionally relatively uncommon and socially unacceptable.17,,18 Because of low numbers of respondents reporting maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood in Russia, results concerning smoking, especially heavy smoking, during these periods should be interpreted with caution. However, previous studies have reported high correlation between self-reported smoking or self-reported exposure to tobacco smoke and objective biochemical measures of exposure.19,,20 In addition, consistency between the results on health effects of this study and those from other studies support the validity of the current study.6,,21 Anonymity while answering the questionnaire was guaranteed to support honest and accurate reporting.
Synthesis with previous knowledge
Exposure to parental smoking
Despite variation in the definitions and criteria used for exposure, the overall occurrence of indoor exposure to tobacco smoke and the prevalence of smoking fathers in both study areas were in line with previous results reported from the countries.6,,11,22–26 The proportion of smoking mothers and maternal smoking during pregnancy was in Svetogorsk among the highest ever reported from Russia, whereas in Finland the smoking prevalences were in accordance with previous studies.6,,11,25,27–29
Although indoor and maternal smoking is traditionally not socially well acceptable in Russia,30 children were exposed regularly to high indoor and maternal smoking in Svetogorsk. The results are in line with a previous study that suggested that the highest smoking rates in Russia are found in areas, such as Svetogorsk, exposed to western influences and among young women 18–34 years of age, corresponding to the age range of mothers in the present study.31 The increase in the prevalence of smoking among women could be partly explained by a change in women's social position and especially in Russia the extensive marketing of tobacco products by the international tobacco companies.25,,32 Also increased prosperity in Svetogorsk due to foreign investments could explain these phenomena.
Inspite of printed and verbal information on health risks of the child related to tobacco smoke exposure distributed in maternity care in Finland,33,,34 a substantial proportion of women smoked during pregnancy and child's first year of life in Imatra. In addition, consistent with a previous study,35 smoking cessation seemed to be temporary and smoking returned to higher level soon after pregnancy. Because in Finland smoking among women during pregnancy has been strongly associated with low educational and socioeconomic status and young maternal age,27,,36 smoking cessation efforts are to some extent hampered by related problems, such as unemployment, physical or mental illnesses, and alcohol problems. This multi-problem group of smokers needs in the future a comprehensive supporting system, probably including a specifically tailored health promotion program and perhaps financial support.
The proportion of heavy smokers (≥15 cigarettes/day) was higher in Finland than in Russia among both parents. This finding is consistent with a previous study from Russia, but the prevalences were higher than in some previous studies from Finland.28,,37 The differences in the numbers of cigarettes smoked may be related to a greater amount of addictive and harmful substances in cigarettes and greater use of unfiltered cigarettes in Russia.38,,39 Although currently there are no marked differences in the tobacco legislation or restrictions between the two countries,40 differences in smoking behaviour of parents and children's exposure to ETS are considerable and can be probably explained by different cultural attitudes, and by poor enforcement of smoking legislations, extensive tobacco marketing and diminishing resources for health promotion in Russia.17,,25,39
Children's smoking
Smoking was more common among Russian children than Finnish children. Low smoking rates among school children in both countries compared to a previous study41 is probably explained by the age of subjects (>70% of participants were under 14 years of age). According to Pärna et al.,41 the mean age for starting smoking among Russian and Finnish adolescents was 13–14 years. Since questionnaires were filled in at home by the schoolchildren together with their parents, our study may have underestimated to some extent the true smoking rate.
Parental smoking and asthma
Our findings strengthen the evidence on the role of maternal smoking in pregnancy and early-life ETS exposure in the development of asthma.3,,6,21,29 The impact of maternal smoking was somewhat stronger than that of paternal smoking, probably because a larger proportion of cigarettes smoked by the mother are smoked in the vicinity of the child. In Finnish children, the effect estimates were somewhat higher for pre-natal and early-life exposures compared to school-age exposure. Consistently with a previous study from Finland,29 there was a clear exposure-response pattern, with no or relatively low risk in the low exposure categories, while the effects were usually substantial in the high exposure categories. There may be increased consciousness of the adverse effects related to passive smoking among parents and consequently, they may attempt to avoid exposing children, which would protect especially the children of light smokers.2 The children of heavy smokers are likely to be exposed to tobacco smoke in different types of situations as they are in the vicinity of smoking parents, even if the parents would try to avoid smoking at home.
There are only a few studies concerning the ETS exposure of children and its effects on allergic and respiratory diseases among Russian children.6,,9,11,26 In Russian children, the exposure to maternal smoking in pregnancy was rare and consequently, the effect estimates were imprecise. However, there was a trend of increased asthma in relation to tobacco smoke exposure in the child's first year of life and particularly related to current maternal smoking. Partly consistent with this study, Jaakkola et al.6 found that the risk of asthma was related to maternal smoking during pregnancy and early-life, although not to current ETS exposure among Russian school children.
Parental smoking and allergies
In Finnish children, the risk of any allergies was higher among children exposed to maternal smoking postnatally, with an exposure-response pattern. A similar trend was observed in Russian children for post-natal exposure and this was partly in line with a previous study from Russia.9
There are some studies looking at the relations between childhood ETS exposure and rhinitis,42 but only a few concerning childhood ETS exposure and rhinoconjunctivitis/conjunctivitis.11,,43 We found increased risk of allergic conjunctivitis in relation to child's exposure to maternal smoking during the first year of life and currently in Russia. A recent study from Italy found an elevated risk of conjunctivitis among ETS exposed women.43
Parental smoking and children's infections
There are some studies concerning the relations between childhood tobacco smoke exposure and upper respiratory infection,44 but we were not able to identify previous studies investigating childhood ETS exposure and common colds. Bensenor et al.45 showed that non-smoking women exposed to ETS were at increased risk of having more frequent and longer colds than those not exposed, which is consistent with our findings in Finnish children in relation to early life ETS. On the contrary, Biagini et al.42 observed that the prevalence of upper respiratory infections was highest in the non-ETS exposed group of infants, which would be consistent with our findings in the Russian children. At least part of these somewhat contradictory effect estimates for common cold/flu between countries could be explained by different exposure patterns and different diagnostic practices and labels.
Concluding remarks
This study showed that the time pattern of exposure to tobacco smoke differs substantially between the Finnish and Russian children, Finnish children having more exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy and in infancy and Russian children having more exposure from paternal smoking and regular smoking indoors. The results indicate that parental smoking during and after pregnancy increase the risk of asthma and ETS exposure after pregnancy is related to common colds among school children in Finland, both outcomes showing an exposure-response pattern. In Russia, maternal smoking during infancy and currently increase the risk of allergic conjunctivitis. The results of this study suggest that more efforts should be directed to reducing parental smoking, with emphasis in Finland on maternal smoking during pregnancy and infancy and in Russia on paternal smoking and exposing children to tobacco smoke in general. Such actions should be emphazised in future educational health promoting programs and maternity and child care systems.
We thank senior lecturer Auli Rantio-Lehtimäki and Dr Kimmo Saarinen for their comments on the earlier draft, Dr Juha Jantunen for technical assistance in the illustration, Ms Seija Pohjalainen and Ms Tiia Sironen for assistance in data input and Ms Antonia Ieromnimon and Mr Reginald Quansah for statistical analyses. Statistical analyses were financially supported by the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, planning of the study and acquisition of data were financially supported by Town of Imatra, European Union (South-East Finland Interreg III A –program) and Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Key points
The time pattern of exposure to tobacco smoke differs markedly between the Finnish and Russian children.
Maternal smoking during and after pregnancy increase the risk of asthma and common colds among school children in Finland, with an exposure-response pattern.
Maternal smoking increases the risk of allergic conjunctivitis among Russian children.
More efforts should be directed to reducing parental smoking, with emphasis in Finland on maternal smoking during pregnancy and infancy and in Russia on paternal smoking and exposing children to tobacco smoke in general.
- © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.


text:
Molecular Epidemiology Of Cytomegalovirus
Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:
Get the Facts
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)... What Is CMV? How Is CMV Treated? Can CMV Be Prevented? How Do I Choose a Treatment for CMV? The Bottom Line What Is CMV? Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an opportunistic infection. The virus is very common. Between 50% and 85% of the US population tests positive for CMV by the time they are 40 years old. A healthy immune system keeps this virus in check. When the immune defenses
Ask the Experts
Anti-cytomegalovirusWhat does it mean, if my plasmapheresis records show that I have anti-cytomeglovirus?Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.
University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine
...If you have an "anti-cytomegalovirus", that means that you have antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV), which is a protein made by your immune system that recognizes this virus. This could only happen if you have previously been
Read more »
cytomegalovirusI was wondering if I could get cytomegalovirus from oral sex and if I can than what are my chances of getting CMV disaese? I have all the symtoms for CMV and I've been tested for mono and hepatitis and they have both tested negative. I am getting...Response from Barbara McGovern, M.D.
Tufts University School of Medicine
...CMV is an infection that most people get when they are infants so the higher likelihood is that you already had it. Sometimes patients
Read more »
22 weeks pregnant and exposed to cytomegalovirusI am currently 22 weeks pregnant. I am an OB nurse who took care of a patient last week whose baby was found to be positive for CMV. Prognosis is not good for the baby. I took care of this patient through her whole labor and delivery. I cared for...Response from Katherine Luzuriaga, M.D.
University of Massachusetts, Medical School
...While CMV is one of the more common congenital infections, it is usually causes sequellae only in infants whose mothers acquire CMV infection
Read more »
What are the signs and symptoms of cytomegalovirus?"What are the signs and symptoms of cytomegalovirus?"Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.
Harvard Medical School
...Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus which most HIV-infected individuals have been exposed to, and which can reactivate and cause disease when you become
Read more »
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)...Medicines to Treat CMV? What About Resistance? What Research Is Being Done on CMV? The Bottom Line Introduction Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus. It can infect people of all ages, including unborn babies. Once a person... Read more »Opportunistic Infections...and "test positive" for it, even though you don't have the disease. For example, almost everyone with HIV tests positive for Cytomegalovirus (CMV). But it is very rare for CMV disease to develop unless the CD4 cell count drops below 50, a sign of... Read more »Immune Restoration Syndrome...or IRIS. It may occur in about 20% of people starting ART. How Was the Syndrome Identified? Several patients developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) after they started HIV treatment. See Fact Sheet 504 for more information on CMV. In some... Read more »Hepatitis: Overview...can also cause hepatitis. So can opportunistic infections such as Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC, see Fact Sheet 514 ) or Cytomegalovirus (CMV, see Fact Sheet 504 ). Hepatitis is a very common disease. It can affect people even if their... Read more »
Connect With Others
need Some Light Shed On My situation Please
Posted by Jaypoc0, 1 Reply
Hey all Its Me Ron again. So I Have Noticed That iM Not Worring As Much And Things Seem to Have Stoped. But Their Are StilL some Things That Persist. Like I Get Itchy In Random Places On My Bodie Every Once In A While. Little Tiney Red PiN Head Dots...
Read more »
CMV research
Posted by JamieLEE
...What is Cytomegalovirus, (CMV)? CMV is a common virus that infects most people at some time during their lives but rarely causes obvious illness. It
Read more »
Advertisement Advertisement
Resource Centers
Guides for People With HIV


text:
Heather Rivera
Friends with Benefits get the best of Austin FREE!
Sign up now!
Booker, Alex & Sara
Listen Live
Streaming Mix 94.7 on your Mobile Device
Audio Vault
Austin Live & Local
Photo Gallery
Mix Videos
Mix 94.7 Music Lounge
The Mix Fix
Booker, Alex & Sara Blog
Sara's Blog
Heather's Thingies
Jay's Blog
Unknown Blogger
Archie's Blog
Mix 94.7 Concerts
Mix Events
Community Events
Contest Rules
Alex's (aka Digitz) Blog
There were no posts for February 2014
Please click
to see the latest posts
Booker, Alex and Sara
Follow Us on Facebook & Twitter
advertise with us
Recent Blog Posts
Love Him or Not, This Guy's a Class Act
Mike Stanz
Mar 6
Hey, It's Cold, So Maybe This Will Get You Thinking Warm
Mike Stanz
Mar 6
This Will Melt the Coldest Heart
Mike Stanz
Mar 6
When in Paris...
Mike Stanz
Mar 6
Harrison Ford Crashes Flying Solo
Mike Stanz
Mar 6
The Walking Dead, Seinfeld Style
Mike Stanz
Mar 6
"Hey, Man, I'm Your Worst Nightmare"
Mike Stanz
Mar 6
Uptown Funkily Guy
Mike Stanz
Mar 6
Mar 2015
Feb 2015
Jan 2015
Dec 2014
Nov 2014
Oct 2014


text:
- Photo: © Byron Purvis/AdMedia/Retna Ltd./Retna Ltd.1 of 8
- Photo: Aspen Police Department/.2 of 8
- Photo: Byron Purvis/AdMedia/Retna Ltd.3 of 8
- Photo: MS2/MPT/WENN4 of 8
- Photo: Ryan Fu/RSA/ZOJ/WENN5 of 8
- Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP6 of 8
- Photo: JCalderon/Splash News7 of 8
- Prev
By Chris Gardner
Less than two weeks after her arrest in an Aspen, Co., Brooke Mueller has checked into rehab, her rep confirms.
RELATED: Brooke Mueller Busted for Drug Possession
Charlie Sheen's former wife was arrested in Aspen on Dec. 2 on suspicion of third-degree assault and felony cocaine possession following a scuffle at a local nightclub. She allegedly was carrying close to four grams of cocaine, according to reports.
"She has already arrived at the facility and, out of respect for her privacy, no further information will be released about her treatment," Mueller's rep, Steve Honig, told TMZ. "Brooke's goal is to maintain her sobriety and she believes this is the best option to reach that goal."
Just yesterday, Honig said that Mueller would be seeking a "different approach to deal with her addiction," by electing to receive outpatient care in her own home after many failed attempts to stay sober following stays at inpatient treatment centers. However, after additional reflection on the treatment plan, Mueller changed her mind.
"After further reflection and consideration, Brooke has decided to remove herself from the media spotlight and has entered a long-term in-patient treatment center where she can focus on her recovery without distraction," Honig added.
RELATED: Celeb Mug Shot Wall of Shame
The length of Mueller's commitment to her new program remains unclear. Most inpatient treatment centers offer resident programs that range from 30 days to 90 days while others offer extended care of up to one full year. Previous reports have cited sources close to Mueller who suggested that she needed a long-term care facility to deal with her addictions.
What is clear is that Mueller's sudden change in her sobriety plan will not affect the custody situation she has set up with Sheen for their twin sons, Bob and Max.
"Brooke will retain custody of the children, who will remain in their home and familiar surroundings and be under the care of their longtime nanny," Honig explained. "Charlie and Brooke's parents fully support her decision and everyone recognizes the importance of maintaining the children's normal routine."
RELATED: Year in Review: Trouble With the Law 2011
Mueller is due in court on Dec. 19 in Aspen, Co.
Most Watched on Wonderwall
Italian Adventure
Katy Perry, Pink and the Kardashians take spring break early this year on today's Celebs Gone Social.
Watch Video » -
Frock Flops
Diane Kruger, Margot Robbie, and Lindsay Lohan all get an F on this week's Fashion Offenders.
Watch Video » -
Going Strong
Selena Gomez and DJ Zedd keep their Instagram followers guessing about the nature of their relationship on today's Celebs Gone Social.
Watch Video » -
Diva Double Date
Beyonce and Alicia Keys double date with their famous hubbies on today's Celebs Gone Social.
Watch Video » -
Aussie Babe
Sofia Vergara poses in a revealing neon bikini while her "Modern Family" castmates hit the beach in Australia on Celebs Gone Social.
Watch Video » -
Ladies Night
Check out Taylor Swift's A-list ladies night out with BFFs Karlie Kloss, Ellie Goulding, Cara Delevingne and more on today's Celebs Gone Social.
Watch Video »