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NIH Research Matters
February 4, 2008
Blood Pressure Medication for People with Metabolic Syndrome
For people with metabolic syndrome—who are at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, heart failure and stroke—treatment of high blood pressure with less expensive diuretic drugs may be a better choice than newer, more costly medications, according to a new report.
People with metabolic syndrome have 3 or more risk factors for heart disease, including elevated blood pressure, low HDL (good cholesterol) levels and diabetes or pre-diabetes. Healthy lifestyle changes—weight loss, increased physical activity, an improved diet and quitting smoking—are the first line of treatment. Medicines may be needed to control individual risk factors such as high blood pressure.
Many doctors currently prescribe alpha-blockers, calcium channel blockers and ACE-inhibitors for controlling blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome. These medications are sometimes favored because of their short-term effects on blood sugar and cholesterol levels. But improvements in these measurements don't necessarily translate into better prevention of cardiovascular disease than an older class of medication called diuretics.
The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial, or ALLHAT, was sponsored by NIH's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to compare a diuretic (chlorthalidone) with the 3 newer classes of medications used to treat high blood pressure. The study involved 42,418 participants, ages 55 and older, with high blood pressure and at least 1 other risk factor for heart disease. Of those, 23,077 had metabolic syndrome with diabetes or pre-diabetes at the time of enrollment. Roughly 35% of the study's participants were black.
The ALLHAT researchers reported in 2002 that, overall, diuretics were the most beneficial of the drug classes for treating high blood pressure and protecting against cardiovascular disease. The latest analysis, published in the January 28, 2008, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, focused on people with metabolic syndrome. It showed that, for both men and women, the diuretic-based treatment was more protective against heart failure and overall cardiovascular disease than the ACE-inhibitor (lisinopril) and alpha-blocker (doxazosin)-based treatments. The diuretic-based treatment was also more protective against heart failure than the calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) one. The results applied to both black and non-black participants.
The results provided particularly important evidence for black patients with metabolic syndrome. When compared with those taking diuretics, those receiving ACE-inhibitors had poorer blood pressure control and a 24% greater risk of overall cardiovascular disease. They also had a 70% greater risk of kidney failure.
"The ALLHAT study has been remarkably consistent in showing that the lower-cost diuretic is superior to newer blood pressure medications for the prevention of cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Paula Einhorn of NHLBI's Division of Prevention and Population Sciences.
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Stats: Projecting what Chris Kreider may do this season
In The Hockey News Pool Guide, Chris Kreider is projected to play in 75 games for the Rangers and score 27 goals and add in 25 assists.
In their write up for Kreider they say that he is best known for taking out Carey Price but "he will soon be best known for scoring goals."
Two-years ago, after Kreider's debut in the playoffs, The Hockey News projected 50 points.
Last year they had Kreider projected for 15 points.
This year, Kreider had:
- 17 goals and 20 assists in 66 regular season games. He averaged 15:43 per game and had 12 of his 37 points on the PP.
- 5 goals and 8 assists in 15 playoff games. He averaged 16:48 per game and had 5 of his 13 points on the PP.
He signed a two-year deal last week with a cap hit of $2.475 million.

subset: commoncrawl


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The GPS Test app for Android is a utility that shows GPS information read from your phones internal GPS. Will support GLONASS phones. The app has several colour schemes, which (...)
All the features of GPS Test plus:- ★ WAYPOINT NAVIGATION ★ HEAD UP DISPLAY ★ DIGITAL FONTS (Great in the car) Now shows symbols for GLONASS satellites The GPS (...)


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In a meeting room of the Chicago Marriott Hotel, a group of 46 participants
of the annual conference of the Association of American Medical Colleges
(AAMC) first came together to consider the impact of curricular change on
basic science education. The year was 1988, and the focus was on the
medical education system of North America. This meeting had been called
and organized by Roger W. Koment, Ph.D. The audience, some in
attendance only out of curiosity, listened as Dr. Koment began the meeting
with a presentation of his views concerning three fundamental issues.
To realize that we do not stand alone. At every medical school
there is at least one basic scientist who has interest in advancing the
cause of medical education.
To reaffirm our commitment to innovative quality teaching.
That those of us committed to excellence in teaching need not be
apologetic for believing this is equal in importance to excellence in
bench-level research.
To evolve a recognizable group within the AAMC structure. As
the recognized authority for medical education in the United States, the
AAMC was the logical venue through which to promote excellence in
basic science education. This was a call to action.
The underlying purpose of this meeting was to explore how, by working
together and sharing our knowledge, the barriers might be overcome in
preparing ourselves for proactive leadership in the evolution of both content
and process for teaching the fundamental sciences of medicine.
The outcome of this and subsequent annual meetings, was the creation of a
new method for information exchange within the AAMC Group on
Educational Affairs (GEA), the "Special Interest Group" (SIG). From 1988
to the dissolution of all GEA SIGs in 2000, meeting time and space was
graciously provided by the GEA at the AAMC National Meeting each fall,
and at all four of their Regional Meetings each spring. Each 2-hour session
focused on some aspect of basic science instruction or the professional
advancement of basic science faculty members. These meetings were
structured to provide different viewpoints by multiple speakers, followed by
audience interaction. The following titles provide some indication of the
programs presented at the AAMC National Meetings.
1988 Basic Science Faculty: Our Responsibility in
Medical Curricular Change
1989 Facilitating the Need for Curricular Change
1990 Strategies for Developing a Positive Influence on
Medical Education
1991 Basic Sciences in the Clinical Years
1992 Information Overload: Defining Essential
Curricular Objectives
1993 The Role of Basic Scientists in Optimizing Basic
Science Learning
1988 Basic Science Faculty: Our Responsibility in
Medical Curricular Change
1989 Facilitating the Need for Curricular Change
1990 Strategies for Developing a Positive Influence on
Medical Education
1991 Basic Sciences in the Clinical Years
1992 Information Overload: Defining Essential
Curricular Objectives
1993 The Role of Basic Scientists in Optimizing Basic
Science Learning
Thus it was that between 1988 and 1993, this Special Interest Group on
Basic Science Education, through its programs of relevance in teaching,
attracted basic science faculty members, deans for medical education,
curriculum planners, and clinical faculty members from every medical school
under AAMC jurisdiction. As Convener of this National SIG, Dr. Koment
facilitated the nominations and elections (by respective regional members) of
four Regional SIG Conveners. With both National and Regional Chapters,
this group remained the most organized of the fourteen National and
twenty-three Regional Special Interest Groups on various topics in medical
education that subsequently arose. In 1997 after ten years, Dr. Koment
appointed Dr. Gary Rosenfeld, University of Texas Houston Medical School,
as his successor to assume the leadership of basic science education within
the AAMC Group on Educational Affairs.
Today, as an independent nonprofit organization, IAMSE owes a great debt
to the Association of American Medical Colleges, and in particular to the
leadership of the Group on Educational Affairs, for providing an environment
in which the ideals of our membership first flourished.
Between 1988 and 1993, word of this Special Interest Group spread not
only to every allopathic and osteopathic medical school in the United States
and Canada, but soon found its way to South America and Europe. Here,
for the first time, were individuals responsible for teaching the fundamental
sciences of medicine who were fostering open communication across
disciplines, and freely exchanging ideas, techniques, and educational
resources. Individuals from medical institutions in Venezuela and Spain were
the first to request to participate. In addition, faculty members in the United
States from schools of dentistry, chiropractic colleges, and even colleges of
veterinary medicine facing similar needs were attracted to this concept and
sought to join. But since this SIG was part of the AAMC, membership could
only be offered to those individuals from AAMC-affiliated medical schools.
Therefore, in 1993, the decision was made to create an organization that
would be independent, yet parallel, to this Special Interest Group. Its name
would be the Basic Science Education Forum (BSEF) and it would stand
totally separate from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Creation of this independent entity would remove all restrictions on
participation, and membership at no cost was extended to all.
Admittedly, there was an initial period of confusion in some people's minds
between the new BSEF and the continuing AAMC-GEA Special Interest
Group on Basic Science Education. Mostly, this was because the purpose
and goals of the BSEF were identical to those of the SIG; plus, Dr. Koment
and the four elected SIG Conveners constituted the leadership not only of the
National and Regional AAMC-GEA SIG Chapters, but also of the BSEF.
However, this was soon overcome as word of the BSEF and its mission of
mutual support and professional development continued to spread around the
Many individuals contributed to the progress and achievements of the Basic
Science Education Forum, but much of the momentum during those early
years was the direct result of a synergistic relationship between Dr. Koment
and one very unique individual. Many will remember the significant
contributions of Gabriel Virella, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Microbiology and
Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina. A dynamic
individual, Master Teacher, and consummate professional, Dr. Virella served
for many years as the Editor-in-Chief of the Basic Science Educator, our
organization's first peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advances in basic
science education. His provocative Editorials always hit the mark of
relevance. Dr. Virella was a driving force behind the creation of our current
Annual Meetings. He and Dr. Koment, both being Microbiologists, drew
heavily upon their combined experiences participating in the still ongoing
series of Myrtle Beach Educational Strategies Workshops for Teaching
Microbiology and Immunology. It was Dr. Virella who arranged for the
Medical University of South Carolina to host both our First (1993) and our
Third (1997) Biennial Conferences.
Between 1993 and 1997, the Basic Science Education Forum attracted
individual members from over 400 medical institutions throughout 87
countries. Every person who requested to join received our semi-annual
publication, the Basic Science Educator (previously known as The Forum
Newsletter). This was the forerunner of today's peer-reviewed journal.
Financial support from software and textbook publishers was invaluable in
those early years, but sporadic. We depended most heavily upon the
proceeds of our international conferences on educational strategies in the
basic sciences (see 1993, 1995, and 1997) to fund the printing and
distribution of our publication.
At the beginning of 1993, there were members of the Basic Science
Education Forum from the United States and Canada. However, by the end
of that year, individuals from other countries had begun to join in logarithmic
Twice each year, well over 2,000 copies of our publication were being
created, printed, and mailed - free of charge - to basic science colleagues
and medical libraries in such diverse places as Australia, Siberia, Bangladesh,
Switzerland, Japan, Israel, and Southern Chile. Each issue was between 25
and 30 pages in length and represented the work, on average, of 24
There was no doubt that this logarithmic increase would continue, but we
were rapidly approaching the limits of resources and endurance. By
mid-1996 it became overwhelmingly evident that managing a global
organization of such proportions through the volunteer efforts of individuals
holding full-time faculty appointments was no longer feasible. Financial
resources especially could not keep up with the demand, despite personal
donations by our leaders. The choice we faced was either to discontinue this
great project, or to formalize our efforts by incorporating and becoming a
nonprofit organization. This latter course would be the only means by which
we could obtain the federal, private, and corporate funding necessary to
carry on our work.
After months of consulting with trusted colleagues, the decision was made to
incorporate and levy a modest membership fee. This was accomplished
effective June, 1997, when Dr. Koment assumed the title of President and
Chairman of the Board of Directors. He officially changed the name of this
organization to the International Association of Medical Science Educators
(IAMSE) and appointed eight individuals to constitute the first Board of
Directors. With the initial membership fees he procured the services of an
association management company. The first Board members appointed
Wolfram Antepohl, M.D.
University of Cologne Faculty of Medicine
Cologne, Germany
Pamela C. Champe, Ph.D.
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Piscataway, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Robert G. Carroll, Ph.D.
East Carolina University School of Medicine
Greenville, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Denise Ferrier, Ph.D.
MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Frances Maitland
Alliance for Continuing Education
Todd R. Olson, Ph.D.
Yeshiva University
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, New York, U.S.A.
Gary C. Rosenfeld, Ph.D.
University of Texas Houston Medical School
Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Thomas R. Viggiano, M.D.
Mayo Clinic and Medical School
Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Wolfram Antepohl, M.D.
University of Cologne Faculty of Medicine
Cologne, Germany
Pamela C. Champe, Ph.D.
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Piscataway, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Robert G. Carroll, Ph.D.
East Carolina University School of Medicine
Greenville, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Denise Ferrier, Ph.D.
MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Frances Maitland
Alliance for Continuing Education
Todd R. Olson, Ph.D.
Yeshiva University
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, New York, U.S.A.
Gary C. Rosenfeld, Ph.D.
University of Texas Houston Medical School
Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Thomas R. Viggiano, M.D.
Mayo Clinic and Medical School
Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Within one additional month, two more appointments had been made.
Margarita Baron, M.D., Ph.D.
Universidad de Alcala de Henares
Facultad de Medicina
Madrid, Spain
Gönül Ö Peker, Ph.D.
Ege University School of Medicine
Izmir, Turkey
Margarita Baron, M.D., Ph.D.
Universidad de Alcala de Henares
Facultad de Medicina
Madrid, Spain
Gönül Ö Peker, Ph.D.
Ege University School of Medicine
Izmir, Turkey
The first task of the new eleven-member IAMSE Board of Directors was to
draft a bylaws document that would be used to guide this organization. On
June 22, 1997, during the Third Biennial International Conference, Dr.
Koment announced the dissolution of the Basic Science Education Forum
and the rebirth of our organization as the International Association of Medical
Science Educators, a bona fide nonprofit organization. This action became
effective as of July 1, 1997.
The new Association adopted the Mission Statement previously developed
for the BSEF with only minor modifications. Membership fees also provided
for upgrading the Basic Science Educator and promoting its progress to
become a recognized peer-reviewed journal unique in medical education
because of its sole focus on cross-disciplinary basic science education. The
website, developed in 1994 for the BSEF in collaboration with Dr. James
Swierkosz (St. Louis University School of Medicine), was revised and
adapted to now serve IAMSE.
*** *** ***
The birth of a new organization was a time of tremendous excitement yet
fraught with difficulties, since we were still volunteers with full-time
responsibilities to our individual medical schools. Because of this, progress at
times was slow, yet the need that inspired creation of this association
continues to be great. Through IAMSE, medical science educators finally
have a trustworthy source of information and mutual support, and can belong
to an organization dedicated to their professional development. The ultimate
beneficiaries of our combined efforts will be the subsequent generations of
health care providers around the globe - our students - who are trained in
both the art and science of modern medicine.
*** *** ***
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The Country Wife
by: William Wycherley
Directed by: Brenda Wentworth
Scenic Design: Walter Napiorkowski
Lighting Design: Steven Peterson
November 18 – 23
Performing Arts Center – Center Stage
This rollicking social satire is filled with innuendos, double entendres, and sexual references. A naive "country wife" is taught wild city ways by a group of immoral city "wits." Impious tricks, secret rendezvous, and sparkling dialogue keep this sexy romp galloping to its riotous conclusion.
Mr. Horner - Chris Lindahl
Mr. Harcourt - Matthew "Earl" Earley
Mr. Dorilant - Jermaine Wiley
Mr. Pinchwife - Eli Ebb
Mr. Sparkish - Adam Lesar
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Mrs. Margery Pinchwife - Ashley Morris
Miss Alithea - Erin Fitzke
My Lady Fidget - Anna Giesen
Miss Dainty Fidget - Stacy Schultz
Miss Squeamish - Kelly Kremer
Old Lady Squeamish - Andrea Olthoff
A Quack - Grant E. Merges
Lucy - Lacy Habdas
Boy - Jeff Johnston


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Home > Journals & Media > Journals > Auroville Today > February 2006
Plant a few trees for every air-trip
Auroville's Green Group proposes a deal. Air-travellers are invited to offset their contribution to air pollution by paying for planting tree saplings. Your air miles don't buy you flight coupons or gadgets; just the joy of greening the environment. The more you fly, the more you pay, and the more trees get planted.
A crazy idea? "Not at all, it makes a lot of sense!" says Jos who, together with Natasha and Kali, initiated the project. "Each plane burns kerosene and emits greenhouse gases, which affect the environment. Trees absorb green house gases, so planting saplings that will become trees in the future, helps to make a difference."
Natasha reels off the figures. "A return flight from Chennai to New York puts out over 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This roughly means that five trees per passenger are needed to offset the emissions." A return trip to Europe , it appears, demands three trees per passenger. Jos admits that the calculations may vary according to the technique used, but downplays the importance of exact calculations. "What matters is that we become aware of our contribution to the earth's warming, so that we can make a conscious choice to do something about it." The team is yet to publish figures on how many trees have to be planted to balance the effects of driving a motor bike or car, but, says Kali "the programme also welcomes contributions from those who use two or four wheelers."
A really conscious eco-traveller would ask what kind of saplings are going to be planted and where. The Green Group has anticipated these questions. The saplings are not ordinary: they belong to the 42 Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) varieties of the 266 species of the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF). They will replace the non-native 'work' trees (Acacia auriculoformis) which, because of their drought resistance and fast growth, were once the trees of choice to reforest Auroville. But their short life-span of less than 20 years means that they have to be replaced by new trees.
The contributions will be used to cut the old trees, to search for RET specimens in the few remnant TDEF patches––usually snake-infested sacred groves around old temples, to collect the seeds, germinate them in nurseries in Auroville, and plant and nurture the saplings in the forests. "At fifty rupees a sapling we believe we are providing an excellent deal," says Jos.
The aim of the Green Group is to propagate 25,000 seedlings in the various nurseries so as to have a 'genetically viable population of offspring that can self-propagate'. At five trees per return-trip from India to the U.S. , Aurovilians would have to make 5,000 air trips. Admitting that this is not realistic, the Green Group encourages visitors to Auroville to join the programme. It goes without saying that the programme is not restricted to trips to or from Auroville. It can also include any other air-travel. For example, those who attend the Auroville Inter-national meeting in South Africa this March, can contribute three trees per return trip from Europe or India .
The Green Group's list of enthusiastic supporters is topped by Aurovilian Klara of Auromodèle who contributed retroactively for all the flights she has ever taken since coming to Auroville. A commendable example! Who's next?
issue | Archive
copies | Auroville


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Cuba: Communist regime summons Dr. Oscar Elias BiscetFriday, March 23rd, 2012
In preparation for the Pope's visit, Cuban police showed up at the home of dissident Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet ordering to turn himself in by 9AM this morning.
James Glassman reports,
A Brave Man Takes on Cuba's Brutal Regime. Will the Pope Help?
"Police are in my house; bring summons for Oscar," Tweeted Elsa Morejon at 11:50 Thursday morning from Havana. "Oscar" is her husband, Oscar Elias Biscet, the courageous physician who has spent 12 of his 50 years on earth in Fidel Castro's prisons for expressing the opinion that Cubans should be free to speak their minds, to associate with whom they please, and to vote in fair elections.
On Wednesday, he voiced those opinions again in an op-ed in theWall Street Journal. "My country continues to be run by a brutal regime that oppresses the people, systematically violating our basic freedoms," he wrote. "Cuba is a police state…. They beat and harass anyone seeking peaceful political change."
Thus, a knock on the door, and the summons to appear at the police station Friday at 9 a.m.
Biscet responded as any brave person responds in the Internet age. He is not cowed. Within minutes, Biscet and his wife ensure that aphoto of the police who came to his door and a copy of the hand-written summons are circulating around the world.Handwritten summons issued to Oscar Biscet, March 22, 2012
Soon after, I learn from one of Biscet's supporters that Oscar has no intention of showing up at the police station. Biscet says, I am told, that "if he lived in a democracy, he would have to attend, but since he lives in a dictatorship and has not committed any crimes, he will not present himself."
Babalu has photos of the police showing up at Biscet's home yesterday.
As of the writing of this post, Morejon's twitter feed has no news on Dr. Biscet.
To be continued…
Pope and politicsThursday, March 22nd, 2012
Not only in Cuba, but also in Mexico,
Pope may have political agenda in Mexico visit
In Mexico, where he arrives Friday, the pope is expected to bolster a close ally, Mexico's president, the devout Catholic Felipe Calderon, and his beleaguered ruling party, running behind in the polls for upcoming elections.
There is the issue of the pedophile scandals,
Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Mexico Friday to a very public reminder of one of the Catholic Church's most egregious sex abuse scandals: A new book says internal Vatican documents show the Holy See knew decades ago of allegations that the Mexican founder of the disgraced Legion of Christ religious order was a drug addict and pedophile.
The documentation has been compiled in a book "La voluntad de no saber'' ("The will to not know''), which is coauthored by Jose Barba, a former Legion priest who along with other priests in 1998 brought a church trial against the Legion's founder, the Rev. Marciel Maciel, for having sexually abused them while they were seminarians.
While details of the abuse were made public years ago, the new documents seem to solidify proof that the Vatican knew of the allegations long before taking action.
Excerpts of the book were published by the Mexican magazine Proceso on Sunday.
"The importance of this book is that it documents the irrefutable evidence and proof that the Vatican has been lying about Maciel,'' said Bernardo Barranco, an expert from the Religious Studies Center of Mexico and author of the prologue of the new text.
Additionally, the Pope's visit to Mexico refocuses attention on narco-church relations
Priests have to report suspicious donations to their dioceses, but the power of the drug cartels means it is not that simple
Pope Benedict comes to show Rome's backing for a politically savvy cardinal who is pushing – ever so gently – for change on the communist-run island.
"Politically savvy" cardinals get to make speeches on government propaganda TV stations but are not agents for change in Communist countries: Cardinal Wyszynski (h/t Babalu) in Poland was not a "politically savvy" appeaser and instead was an agent for change
Throughout the Communist era, the Catholic Church in Poland was a bastion of freedom and a source of protection from and opposition to the Communist authorities. Activists received protection from the Church and refuge in churches across the nation. Throughout those years the Church grew in strength and influence. It emerged from the communist era not only as the highest moral authority but also as the most powerful institution in the country.
Czech Bishop Vaclav Maly, along with dozens of world dignitaries have also demanded the release of Cuba's political prisoners ahead of the Pope's visit. Instead, the Cuban government is preparing for the Papal visit as they only know how: The papal visit has unleashed more repression, and Cardinal Ortega is saying nothing.
The Vatican claims that the Pope's trip to Cuba will help democracy. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, naively believes that the Cuban regime will not exploit the papal photo-ops for propaganda purposes.
The only way that won't be the case is if the Pope names the dissidents in his sermon and then assertively goes and meets the dissidents in the middle of an official press conference.
The Pope can meet with Cuban dissidents if he so desires.
But, will he?
Post re-redacted with more links.
I'll restore this week's posts shortly. Thank you for your patience.
The Pope's trip to Cuba: a gambleMonday, March 19th, 2012
Mary O'Grady:
The Pope's Cuba Gamble
Ignoring those who have suffered for their faith may win some favor for the Church, but it risks alienating the island's faithful.
As readers of this blog know, the Ladies in White have requested to meet with the Pope during his visit to Cuba,
Numerous other Christians on the island have made similar requests. From the U.S., Yale Prof. Carlos Eire wrote a powerful plea on behalf of the Ladies for National Review Online on March 5: "Like the Canaanite woman who cried out to Jesus, 'Lord, help me!' or the woman who touched the hem of Jesus's robe in hope of a cure, they are reaching out, full of faith, begging against all odds. In an island where everyone has been turned into a beggar, they beg for the rarest and most precious gift of all: your presence." Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega's office told the Ladies in White that the pope's schedule is too tight.
Some dissidents wonder whose side the cardinal is on. In recent years he was instrumental in helping the regime deport scores of political prisoners who had become a liability for the regime's image. Though he recently offered a Mass for ailing Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chávez, Ms. Soler's request for a Mass for deceased dissidents has gone unanswered.
The cardinal has said that the purpose of the trip is "a new evangelization" and of course spreading the gospel is the Lord's work. But it is hard to see how converts will be won if the pope snubs the marginalized and schmoozes with the powerful.
On Thursday, 13 Christians holed up inside Our Lady of Charity of Cobre church in Havana to demand that the pope hear their grievances against the regime were forcibly removed by police, reportedly at the request of Cardinal Ortega. Then on Friday the Vatican announced that if Fidel Castro wants to meet, "the pope will be available."
Mary concludes,
Unless he has something up his sleeve, the visit may turn out to be a gross miscalculation. Cubans know that they are hostages in their own country. If the pope is perceived as going along with this big lie, it will only heighten the sense of betrayal toward Cardinal Ortega and it will do nothing to strengthen the Church in Cuba.
Here is the text of Carlos Eire's letter, which I posted a couple of weeks ago before the blog crashed,
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI 27 February 2012
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City
Most Holy Father:
I'm writing to thank you for your upcoming visit to Cuba. It is very heartening to know that you will be visiting eleven million prisoners. After all, that whole island is a prison, and all of its inhabitants prisoners.
I write not only as a Cuban but as one of your flock and as a scholar. The professorship I hold here at Yale University – named after Yale's first Catholic chaplain – is the chair in Catholic studies. Oddly enough, many at this very secular university think that I am your nuncio and in constant contact with you, simply because I hold the Catholic chair.
So, I am now finally doing what they think I often do, writing to you.
All of the imprisoned in Cuba need your visit, desperately. Your physical presence will do much to uplift their spirits, and give them a glimpse of the world beyond their salt-water prison walls, perhaps even a glimmer of The Kingdom of Heaven itself, especially when you celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass and Christ is made present among them.
You will have to meet with the tyrants, jailers, and executioners, of course. That is inevitable. Not much has changed since Our Lord said "See, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves," The tyrants and their henchmen will probably attend Mass, as they did when your predecessor the Venerable John Paul II visited the island some years ago.
These men need you too, in their own twisted way. They hope your visit will lend them an aura of legitimacy, fatten their coffers, and fool the world into thinking that they are not tyrants after all.
Many of your predecessors have dealt with such men, under worse circumstances. We Cubans know that those will not be easy moments for you. But our prayers will accompany every step you take, and every handshake too. And we are confident that the Holy Spirit will help you deal with these wolves as Our Lord Jesus Christ advised nearly two thousand years ago, when he told his disciples to be "as cunning as serpents yet as innocent as doves."
I have but one request: please meet with the Ladies in White while you are in Cuba. They have asked for this themselves, through your nuncio Monsignor Bruno Musaro, with whom they met a few weeks ago. Bless them with your presence, please, Most Holy Father. They are brave beyond belief; but, subjected as they are to constant physical and mental abuse, and to the constant threat of imprisonment or death, they are in dire need of your blessing.
As you well know, they are often attacked and beaten and prevented from attending church; sometimes they've even been attacked inside churches. They are living out the gospel, at a high cost, laying their lives down for their brethren. Like the Canaanite woman who cried out to Jesus, 'Lord, help me!' or the woman who touched the hem of Jesus's robe in hope of a cure, they are reaching out, full of faith, begging against all odds. In an island where everyone has been turned into a beggar, they beg for the rarest and most precious gift of all: your presence.
And, oh, what a sight that would be for all the world to see! You and the Ladies in White together. What a jolt to the senses: an image so unexpected, it might restore sight to those blinded by hate, perhaps, or stem the flow of blood that has stained that beautiful prison island for far too long. It might even make demons flee, too.
Your power as Vicar of Christ is unique. You command the world's attention. You serve as the world's conscience. Your public acknowledgment of the Ladies in White could change the course of history. They pray for that; we all pray for it too, along with them. I, a beggar, driven from my homeland fifty years ago, join the bold Ladies in begging. We beg like the blind man who would not stop crying out to Jesus and yelled all the louder when told to shut up.
And we beg in the name of Jesus, hoping you will hear our voices above the din made by those who want us not to be seen or heard.
Humbly yours, in Christ,
Carlos M. N. Eire
T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies
My translation, which was sent to the Ladies in White for them to read in Spanish,
Damning evidence: The Pope and the sex scandalSaturday, March 13th, 2010
Abuse Scandal in Germany Edges Closer to Pope
— A widening child sexual abuse inquiry in Europe has landed at the doorstep of Pope Benedict XVI, as a senior church official acknowledged Friday that a German archdiocese made "serious mistakes" in handling an abuse case while the pope served as its archbishop.
The archdiocese said that a priest accused of molesting boys was given therapy in 1980 and later allowed to resume pastoral duties, before committing further abuses and being prosecuted. Pope Benedict, who at the time headed the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, approved the priest's transfer for therapy. A subordinate took full responsibility for allowing the priest to later resume pastoral work, the archdiocese said in a statement.
The archdiocese said that a priest accused of molesting boys was given therapy in 1980 and later allowed to resume pastoral duties, before committing further abuses and being prosecuted. Pope Benedict, who at the time headed the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, approved the priest's transfer for therapy. A subordinate took full responsibility for allowing the priest to later resume pastoral work, the archdiocese said in a statement.
Here's a graphic on the history of the abuse case.
And, as the article shows,
In Munich case, a priest from Essen, "despite allegations of sexual abuse, and in spite of a conviction — was repeatedly assigned work in the sphere of pastoral care by the then-Vicar General Gerhard Gruber," who worked under Benedict when he was the archbishop.
The priest, identified only with the initial "H," was moved to Munich in January 1980, where he was supposed to undergo therapy, a decision that was taken "with the approval of the archbishop," according to the archdiocese's statement. Benedict was archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982.
In June 1986, the priest was convicted of sexually abusing minors and given an 18-month suspended sentence with five years of probation, fined 4,000 marks and ordered to undergo therapy.
the sex abuser is now free, and his identity is still concealed.
There is no justice. None at all.
Newsweek: "Is Obama more Catholic than the Pope?"Sunday, July 12th, 2009
Boldly going where no mag has gone before, Newsweek asserts, Without a Doubt: Why Barack Obama represents American Catholics better than the pope does.
And you know it must be true because Kathleen Kennedy Townsend says so:
"The pope has a lot to learn about Catholic politics in America. Barack Obama can teach him."
There you go.
h/t Meredith Jessup, who said,
As for me, I'll be sticking with God and continuing to thank Him for term limits.
Do I hear an "Amen!"
Sayonara, SheikhMonday, May 11th, 2009
Pope Walks Out on Hostile Islamic Judge in Jerusalem An insult, a handshake and a walk-out:
Pope Benedict XVI walked out on a toxic anti-Israeli Islamic judge at a meeting in Jerusalem on Monday night.
Taking the podium after the pope without being on the original list of speakers scheduled for the evening, Tamimi, speaking at length in Arabic, accused Israel of murdering women and children in Gaza and making Palestinians refugees, and declared Jerusalem the eternal Palestinian capital.
Following the diatribe and before the meeting was officially over, the pope exited the premises. Army Radio reported that the pope shook Tamimi's hand before walking out.
Sheikh Taiseer al-Tamimi is head of the Palestinian Authority's Sharia Courts.
Instapundit says it best,
Hey, you can't have meaningful dialogue with some people. So why pretend?
Tea, right-wing extremists, pirates, and Vatican rejectsTuesday, April 14th, 2009
In today's podcast at 11AM Eastern, Moe Lane of Red State joins in for political commentary.
Chat's open at 10:45AM. Join us!
Pope lectures Pelosi on abortion stanceWednesday, February 18th, 2009
Pope lectures Pelosi on abortion stance. Heck, yeah:
After their meeting the Vatican issued a statement that read:
"His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."
The statement emphasizes that the church considers life to begin at conception and that legislators such as Pelosi are "enjoined" to work to create laws that "protect life at all stages of development."
Here's the Vatican statement:
"Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage.
His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."
Based on what I wrote earlier, I'm thinking that while the Church is hopeful to avoid a confrontation in the American Church over abortion, it is not expectant that they can avoid it. Ed Morrissey is right when he notes the use of the word "consistent" in the above: it's in direct contradiction to the excuse Pelosi uses to justify her heresy on abortion. I keep using the term "heresy" here because that's what it is, by the way: pro-choice Catholics are not having a debate with the Church on this doctrine, much as they'd like to pretend otherwise. That would imply that the Roman Catholic Church recognizes their right to have a variant opinion on this topic and still be a good Catholic, which it pointedly does not – which is why Benedict XVI made sure to have this statement sent out.
If there's any doubt whatsoever as to the Catholic Church's position on abortion, hopefully this clarifies it.
Roundup and more commentary at The Anchoress.
Pelosis on the moveTuesday, February 17th, 2009
Having turned off the lights, handed out "the Chavez rule", brought in the gourmet menu, and engaged in Hermes scarf diplomacy, Nancy Pelosi got on her private jet and headed to Rome.
Now we hear Pope Benedict to meet Pelosi
In a move likely to stoke more controversy about whether Catholic politicians who support abortion rights are in line with the church, Pope Benedict XVI has granted an audience to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The Catholic News Agency confirmed Monday that Pelosi (D-Calif.) is to meet Wednesday with Pope Benedict XVI, who has said supporters of abortion rights should not receive Communion.
Here is what Pelosi has said about abortion:
Ed posted a transcript:
REP. PELOSI: I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition. And Senator–St. Augustine said at three months. We don't know. The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose. Roe v. Wade talks about very clear definitions of when the child–first trimester, certain considerations; second trimester; not so third trimester. There's very clear distinctions. This isn't about abortion on demand, it's about a careful, careful consideration of all factors and–to–that a woman has to make with her doctor and her god. And so I don't think anybody can tell you when life begins, human life begins. As I say, the Catholic Church for centuries has been discussing this, and there are those who've decided…
She lied. Pure and simple, lied.
Any practicing Catholic (ardent or not) knows that the Catholic Church is unequivocal about abortion, and it has been for the length of the Church's existence.
In addition to her eccentric lies about abortion and the Catholic Church, Pelosi also claims that
"Communion is the body of the people of the church coming together," Pelosi said at her weekly news conference after returning from the mass. "I feel very much a part of that."
Maybe in some Protestant churches but in the Catholic Church the Eucharist is a sacrament,
"the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."
What that means, in plain English, is that you either accept all the doctrines of the Catholic Church (abortion included), or you don't have Communion.
Catholic dogma is not a salad bar. You don't get to pick and choose.
Let's hope Nancy had time to brush up on her Catechism while the private jet was flying her there. Oh, to be a fly on that wall
It's always exciting when a notorious heretic meets the Pope.
The Anchoress was praying for Nancy a while ago.
While her mother's in the Vatican, Nancy Pelosi's daughter has a documentary coming up on HBO. How such a piece gets on a major cable network remains for speculation, considering that Michael Leahy calls it "This is less a documentary than a reason for a snarky laugh track."
I don't think Nancy will be doing much laughing while visiting Pope Benedict.
The Pope doesn't wear Prada…Sunday, June 29th, 2008
… says The Manolo, who found it at Times on Line:
According to Vatican sources the Pope's shoes are made by a cobbler from Novara called Adriano Stefanelli, who makes them from calf or kid for the winter and nappa leather for the summer. Papal shoe repairs are carried out by Antonio Arellano, a Peruvian shoemaker in the Borgo, the medieval quarter next to St Peter's. The article, on "Ratzinger's Liturgical Vestments", was written by Juan Manuel de Prada, the noted Spanish writer and author of The Tempest, who is not related to the fashion company. De Prada said that the image of the German-born Pope as concerned with "frivolity" was at odds with the truth, which was that he was a "simple and sober" man. Suggestions to the contrary were "stupid and banal".
And here I thought Shakespeare wrote The Tempest.
In one of life's coincidences, Novara is the town I was referring to when I wrote this post four years ago.
I'm still on vacation so instead of the WSj's 5 best books links, please buy Steve's cookbook:
Not Prada, and definitely not Papal, today's shoes, perfect for the beach:


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Wenger Evolution Nail Clipper
The Wenger Evolution Nail Clipper is a portable, multi-tool and multi-use implement which can be used anywhere. The Wenger nail clipper is an essential tool to take care of your nails, and includes a nail file and cleaner for daily hygiene. Its other functional features includes A Pen Straight Edged Drop Point Blade, spring-less scissors, toothpick, and tweezers. The ergonomic handle ensures its handler with safety and efficiency. This product will reward with professional results anywhere. The nail clipper by Wenger is portably functional, making it easy to carry anywhere. A tempered stainless steel built, increases durability. It is a retractable precision instrument small enough to fit in the pocket. The nail clipper has an ingenious deployment lever to get the instrument into position before using. Its 1.8 in. spring-less scissors with serrated self-sharpening design allows you to cut anything you want. The Wenger Evolution Nail Clipper comes complete with a key ring for holding convenience.


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I'm not in the habit of making multiple postings in one day, but I couldn't resist sharing this one...
Today I went to a local favorite restaurant to pick up lunch since we had a customer in making cabinet selections. I eat at this place pretty often and know some of the people in there well enough to sit and chat while I wait on the order.
Today I managed to walk out of there with fried okra. I know what you're thinking... that doesn't sound like anything special.
Oh, but it is... fried okra is not on their menu. Ever. Once a week they have stewed okra, but they didn't even have that today. The manager himself cooked some up for me and even made a special dipping sauce. (I know... I've never dipped okra in anything either, but it was worth trying.) Both were exceptionally good. In fact, it was even better than Cracker Barrel's fried okra. Wow. That's saying something.
So yeah. It pays to have some skillz. (Does anyone else remember that song? Granted, the lyrics are a little on the vulgar side but most of you know me well enough just from reading this on occassion to know my skillz are on the classy side.) I mean, it's not every day you can sweet talk a manager into cooking you something they don't even offer.
Monday, January 21, 2008
She's Got Skillz...
Posted by Melanie at 2:19 PM
Labels: Randomness
1 comment:
- Kevin said...
I love fried okra. I'll go one more step and say I love stewed okra, boiled okra, pickled okra...any of it really.
Tell me more about this dipping sauce.
P.S. Thanks for reading my blog and for not forwarding emails about Obama's secret Muslim identity.
- January 29, 2008 at 3:52 PM
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Submission Firefox OS Will Win Big With Developers - Mozilla->
judgecorp writes: "Mozilla's mobile operating system Firefox OS will win overwhelming support from developers because it dropped XUL in favour of HTML5, says the head of Mozilla Europe in an interview. Firefox OS is more open than iOS and Android, and 75 percent of apps are already written in HTML5."
Link to Original Source
Link to Original Source


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Former medical examiner takes the stand in Deedy retrialUPDATED 5:33 PM HST Jul 17, 2014
On the fifth day of the retrial of Christopher Deedy, attorneys grilled the former medical examiner on her finding the morning after the deadly shooting in Waikiki back in 2011.Video Transcript
Gunshots, alcohol, and cocaine. On DAY 5 -- of the MURDER RETRIAL of a federal agent -- attorneys GRILLED the Medical Examiner -- on her findings -- the morning after that deadly shooting. KITV4's Lara Yamada joins us with more -- on what happened in circuit court. Lara. You may have heard the term "COCA-ETHILINE" recently. The cocaine BY PRODUCT was found in Kollin Elderts' eye fluid -- after he died on November 5th, 2011. That was the night Special Agent Christopher Deedy shot and killed 23 year-old Elderts at a Waikiki McDonald's. It's an IMPORTANT POINT for Deedy's defense -- which is trying to show ELDERTS was the AGRESSOR that night -- not Deedy. On the stand today, Medical Examiner Kanthi De Alwis first desribed the gunshot remnants found on Elderts' face and clothes -- showing one shot was fired a couple feet away -- the other -- at close range. She went on to say -- tests found alcohol, marijuana, and that cocaine BY PRODUCT in Elderts' system. Each side -- trying to spin -- what it means for THEIR case. VOICE OF JANICE FUTA/PROSECUTOR 3948-00 CAN YOU SAY TO A RESONABLE DEGREE OF MEDICAL PROBABILITY WHETHER OR NOT KOLLIN ELDERTS WAS UNDER THE INLFUENCE OF COACATHELIN E AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING. NO I CANNOT. VOICE OF TOM OTAKE/DEEDY' S ATTORNEY 4056-06 YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT DRUGS BREAK DOWN IN THE BODY RIGHT. YES. COCAINE IS ONE OF THOSE DRUGS THAT BREAKS DOWN VERY RAPIDLY. YES. SOMETIMES WITHIN HOURS RIGHT? YES. The medical examiner's testimony brought up many other GREY AREAS in those tests -- for one -- the fluid pumped into Elderts as he was dying -- that the defense believes -- diluted what showed up in those tests after his death. De Alwis also says that mark on Elderts' leg -- was the result of a kick to the shin -- the prosecution saying -- that shows Deedy was THE FIRST -- to physically strike out. More challenges as to whether Deedy was drunk that night. Coming up tonight at Six -- the sergeant supervising the chaotic aftermath -- returns to the stand. What he had to say about Deedy's actions AFTER the
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from thekathrynwheel via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dZf7fV
from Neija Zeugme via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dXahRT
from Cali-rhoz via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/edVNAv
from jellina-creations via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/eaHgQN
from thekathrynwheel via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/e5dS25
via flickr.com I agree…
via typographyserved.com another great art discovery…this time it's from typographyserved.com. An art poster with different genres of music in typeface placed inside of the silhouette of an African tree.
I found this on FFFFound.com: Stamps created by Bulgarian artist Stefan Kanchev. I love the color scheme on this stamp and some of his other work. Check it out at…
This is so awesome! the marriage of art and recycling…so creative to think of this idea!
via milliande.smugmug.com Oh, this is very inspiring…makes me want to run over to my sketchpad right now and get to working on my pages!
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California launches the second largest carbon market in the world when it will hold the first-ever cap and trade auction for climate change tomorrow at 10 am PST.
California carbon market kick-started with auction
California will … sell more than 60 million CO2 emission permits in a move that will get the world's second-biggest carbon market off the ground. More than 350 of the state's biggest emitters, including utilities Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, will be bound by the scheme, which aims to help California bring greenhouse gas emissions back down to 1990 levels by 2020.
"We're ready to go, we're ready to launch," Mary Nichols, the chair of California Air Resources Board (ARB), the agency that administers the program, said at Stanford University this week…. ARB will sell 21.8 million allowances that can be used to cover 2013 emissions and 39.5 million allowances that cover 2015 emissions in an auction that could raise over $600 million in cash.
But critics, including trade groups representing manufacturers and oil refiners, continue an 11th-hour push to stop the auction, claiming it is an unnecessary and will raise energy prices.
Lawsuits are expected from other groups soon after the auction, when companies can claim they've been damaged by the program. Out-of-state power producers with coal interests who sell electricity to California are among the most likely plaintiffs, legal experts say. They will likely argue that the cap-and-trade program disadvantages their electricity in favour of California sources in violation of a U.S. Constitution dormant commerce clause, and will ask a federal court to put the brakes on the program.
The ARB is already fighting a legal challenge brought by some employees of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who think offset credits should be banned from the program.
The Environmental Defense Fund calls the auction a landmark event and "the best designed cap-and-trade program in the world." It said: "California has the good fortune of learning from predecessor cap-and-trade programs like the European Union Emissions Trading Platform, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the Acid Rain Program, just to name a few."
The California program includes auctions four times a year through 2020. Proceeds from the auction will be used for California's clean energy future to advance the goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Likely project categories include renewable energy, energy efficiency, advanced vehicles and natural resource regulations. One-quarter of the money must be used to benefit disadvantaged communities.


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This is hardly cutting edge craftsmanship, but wanted to share my modification to my MLD Revelation pack.I like bringing a small pad with me to use as support in my pack, as a pad for sitting on in camp, and to use under my feet when sleeping in combination with my short NeoAir.I used some 30D silnylon and sewed this pad sleeve into my Revelation. I folded the top twice to get a nice edge and then I sewed the sides into the seam allowance. I didn't sew it at the bottom. Lastly I used some spare velcro to hold the top closed. Total fabric weight is about 0.4oz.The result is that the pack has some structure which makes it easier to load. It's also much easier than if you just toss the pad into the pack loose because this way the pad doesn't slip down and get in the way.This is all pretty basic stuff, but the main reason I wanted to share was to show my fold-able pad idea. I cut two custom shaped pads and hinged them together with some zip ties. My plan is to replace these zip ties with keychain rings in the near future for a more finished product. This total pad weighs 45g (1.6oz)Sitting on this pad in camp is great because each layer is 1/2" thick so it forms a comfortable 1" thick sit pad. When used as a sleep pad it folds open to create a pad roughly 18" by 20". My short NeoAir is 20" x 47", so with this under my feet is essentially have a full length sleeping pad.So for 0.4oz of materials and 1.6oz of sleeping pad (2 oz total), I have a comfortable sit pad, pack structure and a warmer nights sleep for my legs. Cost was $10 for the blue pad (WalMart) and a few dollars worth of silnylon.
Edited by dandydan on 03/12/2010 16:55:56 MST.
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