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Sipping the Gossips with Goher Iqbal Punn
Today's Hindi music is fast paced and technologically much advanced than yesteryears. To adjust the music and even the vocals as per the requirements is much easy in today's scenario. The benefits of the advancements of technology have even make the job of singing easier to the ones who do not know the ABC of singing and if we glance at the music scene of current time, we will come across a number of prominent faces of the music industry who even do not know the basics of the music but have been earning fame and money. Thanks to the advanced technology which has even made the Besuras (incompetent singers – the singers who lack in singing) 'the singers'. Above all, the most astonishing and eyeball raising thing is that the world follow them and applaud them. Well for this, thanks to the media's advancement that gives coverage to even the minor things.
I would not like to name the singers, who are simply bombastically Besuras and am one hundred percent sure (as far as I understand a little bit about music being a passionate Hindi music lover and even the layman or an ordinary Hindi music listener too can easily judge their lacking in the trade of singing) that they are devoid of the basic of the music and have not been trained at all. But they are doing marvelously in the present music scenario grabbing huge stardom domestically and internationally and collecting the handsome bucks in return. The music companies have been inking deals with them offering them much beyond their expectations. As said above 'thanks to media's coverage and technology advancement'!
Earlier we used to hear that people would inject the fingers into their ears or simply leave the place where the Besuray Singers would sing. But what happened to the masses today? They not only listen to their songs but also become their fans. And it is the masses, who give them stardom which they do not deserve at all.
In past, becoming a singer was the toughest of the job even for those who were trained in this trade. They had to make the rounds of the music companies to get a chance to show their histrionics and they had to sit in the feet of their mentors (gurus) to learn the techniques. Do you think, today's singer has to do all this? Obviously not! Today, if you plan that you have to be a singer and continue this profession for the rest of life and interestingly you are not passionate about it and do not know the art and are trained, but seeing the fame of the singer you have planned so – you can do so and it is damn easy. No need to go into the pupilage of any mentor, no need to make rounds of the music companies to get an opportunity at all – what you need is simply make a music album of yours and airs it on the channels. There is also another simple way, which is quite popular these days, of getting into the notice is YouTube. Upload your song or video on it and lets it spread.
I do not blame the stars who have turned singers rather I blame those who claim to be singers and have penetrated in the industry without any basics and training of the music. Stars who turn singers are free of this blaming since they are forced to croon out of their mammoth popularity among the masses, who want to hear them. And you have witnessed that the stars who sing, they do not continue with singing job since they know they are the master of other trade i.e. acting.
There are certain personalities of Bollywood trade, who I acknowledge a lot due to their splendid contributions into the world of cinema but they continue with the singing even though they know internally that they lack in this field being untrained having no gifted skill of singing. Masses love their singing even it is quite hard to understand what they are singing! Weird! Guess, it is their star power that the people love their singing else understanding the words which they croon is super hard.
Apart from the Bollywood scene, the pop and rock culture is full of the singers who do not know music at all but they are stars. Admit, there are certain singers in pop and rock, who are trained and know the music utterly but unfortunately the biggest brigade lacks in understanding the music sense.
The basic reason of not getting trained is the fast stardom and money, today's singers want. And when both of these things come easily, then why to consume mind on learning music!

subset: commoncrawl


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>Racing>2014 New York City Marathon Thread
Dad, Runner, Programmer
Hello everyone! I was waiting for someone to start the 2014 NYC Marathon thread and then I went to see when Julia started the 2013 one last year and realized it was the end of May. I couldn't hold out any longer. I apologize if someone else was planning to do it and I jumped the gun.
I was signed up and ready to go last year but I had to pull out for a few reasons. Now I am super pumped and ready to get my training started next month.
I pretty much just copied the format of last year's thread along with the helpful links that Julia compiled, since she did such a great job. I'll be sure to update them as we get closer to the big date.
In addition to the list of people that are in and a goal time, I thought it might be helpful to also include the training plan, and where everyone is from. Obviously, that is optional. I'm open to any suggestions anyone has for other info that might be helpful.
Although I haven't really been a regular contributor to these forums, I am an avid lurker and have been using the site religiously for the last 5 years. With this thread I hope to step out of from lurking and make regular updates.
So who else is in?
Who's In:
Toronto, Canada
Course Map: http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/sites/default/files/TCSNYCM14_Course_Map_ForWeb%5B1%5D.pdf
Start Area Map: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/2013-Start-Map-wCharity-Village2.pdf
Course Video
Official: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua0TOyzmN9k
2011 NYCM Sights and Sounds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFgdXOJzndk&feature=youtu.be
Getting to the Start: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_HQIKsgIlg&feature=youtu.be
Pace Team Information: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/pace_teams.htm
Advice on Course Strategy
Runners Connect: http://runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/new-york-city-marathon-race-strategy/
Running and the City: http://runningandthecity.com/2013/10/22/nycm/
Official Travel Information: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/travel.htm
New Security Measures: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/security.htm
Forecast: http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/New+York+NY+USNY0996:1:US
Race Week Schedule: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/schedule.htm
Meet Up: TBD
2015 Goal:For now, keep running!
Yay!!! I was just reminding my BFF on FB about NYCM being just around the corner.
Add me to the list. I'm not going to commit to a time goal, though, because I'm doing Marine Corps the week before. I know. Not smart. But, I really wanted to run MCM and after running NYCM last year, I think it's my favorite marathon and see myself running it every year I can. My thinking is MCM for time and NYCM for fun but we'll see how things go. My training plan will be Pfitz 18/85. I figure if I'm running back-to-back marathons, I need to get some mileage in.
Thanks for starting the thread, Dbilenkin!
"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it's the fight in the dog. – Dwight D. Eisenhower
My blog is JT Running DC. It's awesome.
After waiting 5 years to run it for the first time last year, I would love to (and will no doubt) run it again.
But for me, this year's fall marathon is set for Baystate and a BQ attempt.
Good luck !
After waiting 5 years to run it for the first time last year, I would love to (and will no doubt) run it again.
But for me, this year's fall marathon is set for Baystate and a BQ attempt.
Good luck !
I remember you from last year. Good luck to you at Baystate!
NYC will be my debut marathon, I ran a 1:15 low for the Baystate half last fall, I figure if my training goes as well as that I could be <2:40? I'm not married to a particular training plan, I understand some of the basic physiological and psychological basis for different training stimuli, and run whatever crazy workouts make the most sense to me 2-3 days a week, and fill in the rest with recovery.
I live/train in Worcester MA, but I grew up in Huntington, NY on long island,
Know thyself.
Yay!!! I was just reminding my BFF on FB about NYCM being just around the corner.
Add me to the list. I'm not going to commit to a time goal, though, because I'm doing Marine Corps the week before. I know. Not smart. But, I really wanted to run MCM and after running NYCM last year, I think it's my favorite marathon and see myself running it every year I can. My thinking is MCM for time and NYCM for fun but we'll see how things go. My training plan will be Pfitz 18/85. I figure if I'm running back-to-back marathons, I need to get some mileage in.
Thanks for starting the thread, Dbilenkin!
Awesome! Are you planning to race MCM all out and then take it easy for NYCM? I did MCM 2 years ago (right before Sandy) and I enjoyed it, although it was really windy because Sandy was coming. The early hills surprised me as well.
DaBurger, <2:40 would put you in the top 100 finishers! Hope your training goes well!
Dbilenkin, My other thought is that if the weather looks dodgy for MCM, running NYCM for time instead. I think NYCM is a tougher course, though, so... I'd like to run sub-3:20 at one of them. I'm not picky about which.
DaBurger, Sub-2:40 is super fast! It'll be interesting to read your perspective of the race.
Thanks for getting the thread started, dbilenkin. Count me in.
If I run this race for time, then my goal will be somewhere around 3:45......ish. That would be about a 7 minute PR. But I may just enjoy the sights and sounds and smells, eat hot dogs and donuts, collect high fives, drink a few beers, have a good time, and maybe finish before it gets dark.
My training plan is still fluid at the moment. I'm motivated to improve my training just a tad this year - but I need to do that without getting overwhelmed, or pushing too hard, too fast. I have lots of room for improvement in my training and racing, but I'm in it for the long haul, and I'm just looking for a solid year of running consistently. My goals this year are simply to run 1000 miles (I've done ~432 to date), and 4 marathons (1 down, 3 to go).
I'm from Washington, DC.
Thanks for getting the thread started, dbilenkin.
I will be running NYC again as the coach for a team of charity runners. Goal time is TBD as I might end up pacing a group of my runners instead of running the race for time. I am an NYC local ( I can walk to the ferry terminal to get to Staten Island on race day) so I welcome any questions about the race and NYC in general for those people coming from out of town.
201x goals: run a bunch....race some.....repeat...
The Glyde, welcome! Running NY at a leisurely pace to enjoy the sights sounds pretty good. I've never done that at any race. A 7 minute PR sounds pretty good too though. Good luck with your training.
JML, welcome! Good to hear there is a local runner on this thread. I may have some questions for you, especially with the crazy logistics surrounding this event. At this point I'm staying with a friend in Brooklyn and taking the ferry as well. Good luck with training, and let us know if you decide to race it or pace it.
I may have some questions for you, especially with the crazy logistics surrounding this event.
Bring it on!
Happy to help.
Count me in as well!
Before getting in via the NYC lottery, I scheduled my first ultra (50k) the final weekend in September. I'll be training for that using the Ultraladies 50k training plan, then it it will be recover and taper for NYC. Time goal is TBD, we'll see how the summer goes.
Originally from Philadelphia, but I live in Denver now.
JML - I took your advice from another thread and booked a place in lower downtown, so I'll take the Staten Island Ferry to the start. Thank you!
Welcome, cjervin! Which ultra are you doing? Is it a trail ultra? Good luck with both!
If anybody knows of people who are looking for slots for the sold out NYC Marathon, we can help! Team Fight is an awareness and fundraising program that supports young adults and their loved ones affected by cancer. Racing with Team fight is an amazing experience! You not only make a difference in the lives of many young adults, but also get cool gear, training plans, and support for your race.
If you are interested in our available slots for the marathon, or are just interested in Team Fight and want to learn more about our program and the many races we participates in, please check out our website! https://ulmanfund.org/teamfight/about
Register now and join the fight! https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/ulman/eventRegistration.jsp?event=92&
Thank you, dbilenkin!
I'm planning on running a 50k in a local State Park Sept 27th -- the Bear Chase (Lakewood, CO) ultras. It is a trail race, but it is not technical and seems doable for a first ultra. It has a few stream crossings, so my biggest worry prior to NYC will be do avoid blisters from the water.
Thanks for starting the NYC thread!


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Haunted House Visitors Scared to Death in Hilarious Hidden Camera Photos
To get you in the "spirit" of Halloween, 'Good Morning America' offered a slideshow of thrill-seekers making a scream-filled trip through the Nightmares Fear Factory in Niagara Falls.
'J. Edgar' Trailer Released – Leonardo DiCaprio Gets His Hoover On [VIDEO]
The trailer for 'J. Edgar,' Clint Eastwood's upcoming biopic of FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover, has just been released.
Mike Tyson Breaks Steve-O's Nose at Charlie Sheen Roast [VIDEO]
Leave it to 'Jackass' star Steve-O to close a show with a bang. At the end of Charlie Sheen's Comedy Central roast, Steve-O dove headlong into Mike Tyson's outstretched fist for reasons that probably only made sense to him.
Charlie Sheen's Ashes Spilled on 'Two and a Half Men' [VIDEO]
After relentlessly badmouthing 'Two and a Half Men' creator Chuck Lorre earlier in the year, ousted star Charlie Sheen got exactly what you'd expect in the season nine premiere: a supremely undignified end.
Jimmy Fallon Digs Up 10-Year-Old Sketch Co-Starring Zooey Deschanel [VIDEO]
While interviewing 'New Girl' star Zooey Deschanel on 'Late Night,' Jimmy Fallon played a clip from a video he and Deschanel made for his "disco, rollerskating, smash hit" called 'Idiot Boyfriend.'
Heroic Crowd Lifts Burning Car Off Motorcyclist in Incredible Footage [VIDEO]
Details of Charlie Sheen Comedy Central Roast Leaked
Can't wait until September 19th to see whether Charlie Sheen's winning streak continues at his Comedy Central roast? Then you're in luck! The Hollywood Reporter recently wrote up highlights from the event, which took place on Saturday night.
Jimmy Fallon Mocks Tennis Pro Roger Federer in Hysterical 'Late Night' Skit [VIDEO]
In honor of the U.S. Open, Jimmy Fallon mimicked pro Roger Federer in a skit called "At the Bar With Roger Federer" on 'Late Night.'
The First 'Daily Show' After 9/11 – Watch the Entire Episode [VIDEO]
As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 nears, several outstanding examples of how TV dealt with the tragedy come to mind, including David Letterman's first broadcast after the attacks and Mayor Rudy Giuliani's appearance on 'Saturday Night Live.' But perhaps none was more powerful than the first post-9/11 'Daily Show With Jon Stewart' and Comedy Central is streaming the entire episode free on their site.
Jimmy Fallon and Eddie Vedder Duet on 'Balls in Your Mouth' [VIDEO]
Tar balls, which are thought to be the remnants of last year's BP oil spill, have begun appearing on Gulf Coast beaches due to recent hurricane and tropical storm activity in the Atlantic.
'Two and a Half Men' Cast Presents Halfhearted Top 10 Reasons to Watch New Season on Letterman [VIDEO]
With the very public meltdown of Charlie Sheen and his expulsion from 'Two and a Half Men,' viewers probably don't need another reason to watch the reboot of the sitcom with Ashton Kutcher, which is set to premiere on September 19.
Bear Takes Stolen Car for a Joyride [VIDEO]
It's bad enough that bears have been known to attack random hikers. Now the animals seem to have graduated to grand theft auto.
According to MSNBC, a bear gained entrance to a parked Toyota Prius in Lake Tahoe, California. Once inside the car, the animal destroyed the interior, then rolled down a steep 25-foot driveway after accidentally putting the car into neutral.


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10 Things NOT To Do On Valentine's Day
Written by Elessa, Posted in Featured, Lifestyle
Life is tough enough but on this "Special Day" it is better to avoid these little things to prevent heartache and headache in the long run. There are some who take this day very serious so let's over analyze and make sure we avoid these
5 10 things.
1. Don't go on a first date on Valentines Day.
Sure, it may seem like a good idea but if things go sour.. not only will you remember this person and what happened. But your special love day will be ruined. So to avoid all of that drama.. just make the date another day. Also it puts a lot of pressure on. Imagine being in a room of couples and here you guys are trying to be cool. It is just easier to take that pressure off.
2. If you are sensitive about this day then consider it just another day.
Work out, eat right (ice cream counts today!) and go do something you love. By focusing on the things you like to do you won't think about this day that Hallmark banks on. It is just a day that sucks money out of you and your loved ones. My friends and I use to have a Spitefest day and just have a fun girls day out. Bitch about the men in our lives, talk about movies we love and just have fun.
3. Don't break up with someone on this day
Not only are you going to have to do the dumping but you are going to hurt this person and it will linger for the next 20 years.. they will hate Valentines day. My suggestion- Do it before the big day so that no one has to scrounge for presents and go through that awkward dinner break up.
4. Eat out at a restaurant
This may seem like a nice idea but imagine the 3 hour waits and the overly priced foods. If you want to eat out pick an alternative day where you two can really enjoy a romantic dinner together.
5. Red Roses
If you are 100% sure your significant other likes roses then go for it. But if not, be a little creative and pick something that they will love. I'd much rather have one flower that you picked up than a doz red roses you bought at a vending machine.
6. Try on new makeup or skin care prior to the date.
Shoot.. don't get waxed, threaded or any other "semi-permanent" treatments because if things go wrong.. allergic reactions and ugly redness won't go away in time. Better off doing it a week prior in case you need recovery time.
7. Don't Burn Dinner
If you are making a romantic dinner with a new recipe, better try it out first. On nights like these places get way too busy and you can't just run out and have dinner at a nice restaurant.
8. Don't expect anything
To avoid disappointment don't expect anything from the night or your date. This isn't your wedding day (well for most of us it isn't) so don't put too much thought into this day. Just have fun and go with it
9. Don't be negative on this day. Happy Positive thoughts = Happy Positive Day
No joke if you are happy that day.. something about your energy will make it a good day
10. Don't be sad if you don't have Valentine
Its just another day. For the last 4 years I have been in NY working so I've been alone on Valentines day too. We survive 😀


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|The 360º Panographic Photography of Edward Huff.
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
|The first stone of The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in was laid in 1878 and the catedral was completed in 1889. It is a Cathedral of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, RI. This image is composed of 66 individual exposures. Shot on New Years Eve 2004.
To the Providence Page
Full Screen This is a large file, 1.8mb.


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The other Robin Williams
Page Tools
"When standup works, it's wonderful. And when it doesn't? it?s like high-wire flying: you?re always on the edge of it not working."
Picture: Bryce Duffy/Corbis Outline/APL
There's the motormouth comic, a manic madman with a heart of gold. And there's the psychopath - simply a madman. Which of his characters, Stephanie Bunbury wonders, says more about the man himself?
Watching Robin Williams, you can't help but imagine that somewhere under his jacket is a switch that throws between his two performing selves. One of those selves is Robin the funny man, who was once a motormouthed maniac (Good Morning Vietnam) and is now a gloopily sentimental missionary for the healing power of laughter.
We have seen a lot of that funny-self-gone-soft in recent years, mostly in films so horribly syrupy they practically constitute a genre of their own: Toys, Jack, Fathers' Day, What Dreams May Come, Patch Adams, Jakob the Liar and Bicentennial Man. "In most of these films," wrote critic Joe Queenan, "Williams played some variation on Mr Chucklehead, the little boy who didn't want to grow up, the humble ingenue who believed that if we only responded to the cute little munchkin inside all of us, it would help cure cancer, fix broken marriages, re-establish contact with the dead and take the sting out of the Holocaust".
So it is not surprising that the Robin inside has cultivated a second screen self. This other Robin Williams - an odious creep who speaks rather too softly, smiles without showing any teeth and probably leaves behind a trail of slime if he shakes your hand - is usually a villain. As Lon Chaney used to say, there is nothing funny about a clown in the moonlight, which only goes to prove there is really nothing new to be said about movies.
Seeing Mrs Doubtfire turn bad, however, shocked quite a few critics at the time of Insomnia, to the point that many of them hailed Death to Smoochy (Williams' first villain, a crazed TV host) and the classy Insomnia as amounting to a career change. Here was Robin Williams cunningly extending his range: this was the mark of his maturity. Now, any fool could see he had been a real actor all along.
My wife saw under all this comedy and everything else something else down there that gives the other side of the equation."
With four of these films on the slate, however, it is clear that it is more a character than a career: the creepy Williams is just his alternative schtick. Its chief feature is a thin, tight mouth, which suggests the funny Williams is being physically repressed, like some Chucky-like Russian doll, within the unnervingly demure exterior of Robin #2.
The films in which this second Williams appears are surprisingly diverse, even if he is the same in all of them. He has been repressed and psychotic as a murderous detective story writer in Chris Nolan's tormented Insomnia, repressed and perverted as a lab technician fixated on one family's happy snaps in Mark Romanek's arty horror One Hour Photo, and now he is repressed and a social misfit in The Final Cut, which is a shot at genre sci-fi by first-time feature director Omar Naim.
Robin Williams (right) and Jim Caviezel in a scene from The Final Cut.
Actually, The Final Cut is a little different in that Alan Hakman, Williams' character, is not a villain. The story is set in a dystopian future in which most people have chips in their brains that record their memories as films that are edited as memorials once they are dead; Hakman is the best of all the cutters, one of the technical experts who edit down and censor each client's memories to become a film that can safely be played at their funerals.
He takes more pride in his work than we are led to feel it deserves (as does Sy in One Hour Photo). Although he has a girlfriend (Mira Sorvino), he is clearly most comfortable alone with his editing suite, meticulously piecing lives together and, as he sees it, posthumously absolving the dead of their sins. He cannot absolve himself, however; he is haunted by the memory of a boy he dared to walk a dangerous plank over a well, with fatal results.
Williams says that, as an only child, he has thrived on solitary activities all his life. As an adult he has taken up long-distance cycling, which he says, "is very comfortable for me. The isolation is part of being a comic. You are kind of an observer and then you perform". But, as soon becomes clear in our interview, Williams performs all the time.
It is not just that he can't help putting on funny voices or riffing on the most unlikely subjects; when he talks about his director Omar Naim, for example, he adopts the voice of a Barnum ringmaster to boom - "Young Lebanese Christian boy! What more can you ask? Don't get any better 'n that!" No, it is that these are the only moments when he speaks fluently, his personal comic relief.
On set, he says in passing, "I perform between takes and that kind of keeps everyone going". Would an all-day Robin Williams performance keep you going, or drive you to the brink of madness? It is hard to know, but harder to conceive of anyone needing so very badly to make people laugh at every available moment.
In truth, he can barely finish a sentence in his normal voice; unless he's being funny as hell, the hyper-articulate torrent of words dries up and he starts bumbling and mumbling, to the point that parts of my transcript barely make any sense. Small wonder, then, that his string of dark roles has run in tandem with his return to stand-up.
Stand-up has always been his refuge. Williams found fame as a visiting alien in the television sitcom Mork and Mindy in the '70s. It ran for four series and made Williams a star, but he says nobody told him when it was axed; he found out while reading the entertainment trade magazines. Stand-up was his "survival mechanism" through the subsequent dark time, "the only thing that really kept me going, because you could talk about it, make fun of it and still make money from it".
It is clear that, for him, stand-up is the real thing. "It gives you a kind of fearlessness, because you know that to go out and do it you have to be ready to put your arse on the line. Directors say they like working with comics, usually because they're not afraid to try stuff. They do anything to get the laugh; they are shameless on that level, but also fearless.
"And they have a certain concentration because of what they do. Chris Rock says it's a bit like boxing, because you've got to keep going back and training again. It feeds me in that way, the mind working like this. When it works, it's wonderful. And when it doesn't it's like high-wire flying: you're always on the edge of it not working."
Recently Williams has been talking on stage about family life and George W. Bush: plenty to talk about there, too. "Oh, he has been the gift," he says. "Thank you, God!" Not an especially nice gift, however. Williams was one of a battery of Hollywood stars who campaigned for John Kerry.
He would like, he says, to be zany Robin Williams on film again, but those roles do not seem to come along any more. "It's hard to find a script where you can kick out that hard and if you do, people say (he puts on a very proper, affected voice), That's not the role, you know'."
This may have as much to do with the times as it does with his career trajectory. Joe Queenan's theory is that, as a phenomenally gifted (and, at one time, highly chemically revved) comic, Williams embodied the wild and crazy guy his fellow baby boomers imagined themselves to be. "His own generation found his mixture of manic, disrespectful comedy and heart-on-sleeve mawkishness a perfect reflection of their own self-image as iconoclasts secretly blessed with hearts of gold."
For a younger generation that outgrew their own version of Williams - the man-boy of Jack or Jumanji - about a decade ago, this whole package is toe-curlingly embarrassing. Williams, says Queenan, "is viewed as the Antichrist by many people under 30".
Anyway, there simply isn't the call for babbling maniacs any more. For a more laconic skating-gen version, the type reached its natural apotheosis in the much younger Jay in Kevin Smith's films, discoursing unstoppably about videos. Action and effects are the go now. Anyway, no kid wants to hear the babble of a middle-aged man. It's like seeing Dad try to dance at the school disco.
Whatever, Williams says that these days it is only in animated movies that he is given leeway to let rip. This year he voiced five characters in George Miller's Happy Feet, an animated film about penguins. He loved Miller because he let him go crazy with it, just like the old days. "He put me in a room with all these Latino comics and it was so much fun; I played an Argentinian penguin, an Emperor penguin and a sea lion, among others."
He told Miller he'd come straight over to Australia if Bush won. "I just told him to save me a house, to find me something by the water."
All hyperbole, of course; Williams grew up in San Francisco and, he says, will continue to hold on to his footing there. Other cities, such as Vancouver or Sydney, are attractive largely inasmuch as they resemble San Francisco.
Actually, it is not quite true to say he is no longer offered comedies, but they are sometimes so inappropriate he wonders what the people who asked for him could have been thinking. After One Hour Photo, he said he had been sent a script for a new Pink Panther film about the detective's youth. "I went, Uh, I'm 50. This character's supposed to be in the police academy'. You get that and you just go, Thank you, but please increase your dosage'."
The death of his close friend Christopher Reeve has only increased his awareness of his mortality. He often mentions his age - it's actually 53 now - seemingly keen to emphasise that despite all those boy-man roles he has played in the last decade he has no intention of becoming an old fool who thinks he can romance teenagers on screen through sagging jowls. Short and vaguely simian, he was never quite leading man material anyway, other than as a joker. Dead Poets' Society was the shining, if typically mawkish, exception. So while he has not been offered any big movies recently, he says, he knows that Hollywood would only see him in a support role. Which is OK.
"I just want to do characters now. You hit 50 and you're in Walter Brennan land," he said a couple of years ago. "You start finding characters and it's not the idea of, like, I'm going to be in a movie where I look fabulous' because you don't look fabulous any more. Your hair starts growing out of your nose and leaving your head. Even my children say, Dad, you're old - set some limits'."
There is a kind of liberty, he says, swimming in these murky waters after so many years generating sticky sunshine. "The pressure is off," he muses, considering the odd fish that is The Final Cut.
"There is not the (feeling) you have to be likeable or sellable on that level, because the character himself is distant and withdrawn. And this is a smaller movie, so you don't have to go out saying, 'Is this sellable?' Of course I want it to get distribution, but it stands more as a picture, as an idea and as a character, rather than being a star vehicle. It's not designed to be that."
Unfortunately, it is not necessarily very successful. "Naim seems out of his depth when it comes to handling such unpredictable talents as Williams and Sorvino," wrote Variety. "The two have no onscreen sexual chemistry and pitch their performances in completely different keys. Packed with potentially good ideas that don't quite pay off, the script never quite fuses separate narrative threads - love story, political intrigue or tale of redemption."
Even potentially good ideas, however, are better than the dearth of ideas in most of the films we see at the multiplex. I felt quite kindly towards The Final Cut, muddled and mannered as it is; essentially it is about the sovereignty of our identities, which is surely a subject worthy of discussion. And I liked Robin Williams for choosing to make it, although I suspect we will see him in quite a few more glutinous family comedies before he finally hangs up his red nose.
Because somewhere in the middle of the interview he mentions his character's relationship with his girlfriend and how he thought she saw him as an artist. "She can see something else going on," he says. "As I've been lucky enough to have with my wife, who saw under all this comedy and everything else something else down there that gives the other side of the equation."
There it is again; that mixture of sentiment and smug complacency that colours all those jokeless comedies Williams has made in what we can only hope was his middle period. That mix of sugar and self-regard.
That's why people find him so irritating, for all that he is quite extraordinarily witty. Which is the worry, really. All he has to do is throw that switch and there it will be: the other Robin Williams, raring to go. Let's hope for a long reprieve.
The Final Cut is now screening


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Target: Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and the Parliamentary Republic
Goal: Stop the shocking execution of stray dogs by punishing the people involved and devise an alternative way to save the dogs
Serbia is a country located at the crossroads of central and southeast Europe. The country has been taking part in an event called "Spring Cleaning." During this event, stray dogs are being caught and hung from trees and are left there to die. Children playing in the village were the ones who encountered the gruesome site. One little girl told her mother that she was playing with one of the puppies in the village just a couple of days before the "cleaning" took place. The children reported seeing the dogs hanging upside down from the tree branches with ropes tied around their legs. Although there is an animal cruelty law in Serbia, this horrific act has not stopped.
The main issue is that stray dogs are everywhere in Serbia, a place where people are dealing with hunger and poverty; therefore, they have little compassion for these dogs. There are approximately 15,000 stray dogs in the city of Belgrade, which is an extreme number for a town with a population of 1.3 million people. Officers who have been busy dealing with other issues in Serbia have now been forced to devise crucial measures to fix this problem.
The lack of any government strategy to neuter or control strays is just exacerbating the problem. Killing the dogs by hanging them upside down by ropes in a tree is crazy and unusual. Please sign this petition so that people who commit these types of animal abuse can be condemned, and these unjust acts can be stopped.
Dear President Tomislav Nikolić and the Parliamentary Republic,
A heinous crime has taken place in your country. Serbian children saw stray dogs hanging from the trees while playing outside in their neighborhoods. Some children even remember playing with the dogs just days before seeing their animal friend hung on a tree to die. I understand that Serbia has its hardships but that does not mean you can commit cruel animal crimes such as this one. Instead of having a "spring cleaning," there are better ways to solve the problem.
A more ethical route the country could have taken is to neuter and spayed the dogs and find animal welfare groups from other parts of the world to find homes and shelters for them. Serbia needs to reach out to animal rescue groups and shelters and find programs to spay and neuter the animals.
The offenders need to be condemned and there needs to be proper protection of animals implemented by the government. Please don't condone this animal cruelty and save the innocent dogs.
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Andrey via Wikimedia Commons


text:
The second generation X3 added style and new features to the BMW's mid-sized SUV. Talk about the BMW F25 X3 with other X3 owners now!
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2014 Used x28i - Pricing Help
Hi everyone - wanted to get some help/insight into pricing as I am about to purchase my first car ever, and hopefully it will be a BMW!
I'm looking into used 2014 x3 x28i with low mileage (<10,000). Right now, a lot of dealers are offering some 'loaner specials'. What kind of offer should I be looking for, under invoice?
The car I'm looking at:
Options: $8,250
Destination charge: $925
If I apply the .92/.91 rule, I get to somewhere around $45k for invoice. Dealer is offering $42,900 (not including taxes/fees), which seems high for a used vehicle. Just trying to get a sense where I should be pushing the dealer towards. Is this eligible for the $2500 corporate rebate, and should I ask them to include/share?
I am also doing this negotiation somewhat remotely. Thanks!
You're in LA area? If yes, that's a very competitive area.
$2100 under invoice is outrageously high any where for a used X3 with less than (but close to?) 10K miles.
If you were buying a brand new 2014 X3 with less than 10 miles on it you'd be at least $3000 under invoice any where due to the $2500 BMW corporate rebate. In a competitive market you'd be at least $3500 or more under invoice for a brand new vehicle.
A used vehicle with 10K miles and they are offering only $2100 under invoice- they're thieves! Preying on unsuspecting car buyers. I'd go somewhere else if it was me- it's an insulting offer. $5000 under invoice in Southern California is more where it should be.
2014 528ix M Sport. Space Gray/Mocha Brown Nappa Leather, Anthracite Wood Trim, ContiProContact SSR RFT's. Packages: ACC Stop & Go + Active Driving Assistant, Driver Assistance, Driver Assistance +, Lighting, Lux & Prem. Options: Paddle Shifters, H-K. S S System, Heated FS's & Power Rear Shade with Man SS's.
2013 X3 28i M Sport. Deep Sea Blue/Sand Beige Nevada Leather, FS Wood Trim, BMW Apps, HG Rails and GY LS All Seasons. Packages: Cold, Conv, DHP, Perform, Prem, Prem Sound and Tech.
Thanks! I'm actually in the tri-state area, but mostly looking at dealerships in NY and NJ. I totally agree re: thievery! After doing a bunch more research on loaner vehicles (that's what this is being advertised as), I became more and more offended by their price. I threw in an offer of a little over $40k and asked them to include doc fees. This'll put me around $5k under invoice, I think. I also spelled out the rationale and mentioned the $2500 rebate + fact that this is being advertised as a new car but they aren't giving any incentives/rebates + warranty has already started. I think I can get a little closer to asking if they're willing to throw in an extended warranty or certify or something...
would love to hear more from the gurus of this forum though!
I'm looking for a car for only 2-3 years and was pretty firm on buying CPO for awhile since I didn't want to be the one to take that massive 1st depreciation, but these price differentials are starting to look like the new models are good deals! I can probably do a 2015 x3 for another 4-5k more...
OP, you may also want to read the post in the Ask a Dealer section for loaner vs. executive vehicles http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=788465. This could also apply to your situation.
M4 (on the Vessel)
SO w/ GB | Comp Pkg | Lighting | Exec | MT
2015 435i GC
2013 M3 coupe (miss it. regret)
2008 335i vert
2003 530i sport
2002 530i
Cool, thanks!
Unsurprisingly, got a very lukewarm response from the salesperson at BMW. I'm sure someone in NJ will buy this car though without doing the research. Ha. We'll see.
I am also looking at a 2013 CPO with about 24k miles on it. It's had 3 owners, which is a little strange but no accidents or anything major. The internet price is $38k, but I was thinking about going back with $35k. Might still be a little high for a 2013 CPO, but wanted to get people's thoughts..
Thanks again for such invaluable feedback.
I am so glad that, after 4 years of dithering, my purchase is over with. Now I just have to hope that my specific vehicle is not below average in reliability.
Decisions. Decisions. If fuel economy and cost wasn't an issue, I would have gone with the 35i. But, you have to decide. This option, or that. Knowing that you could probably have got a better deal by waiting another couple months. Going to another dealer.
Update on this - ended up leasing a new, 2015 x28i.
Per board suggestions, I reached out to Greg Poland just to get a sense of where I should be aiming. He mentioned $800-$1000 over invoice for a 2015 X3 x28i so I went with that.
Invoice: $46,445 (per Edmunds/true car. couldn't get anyone to show me the DCS inventory form..)
Negotiated price: $47,465 (about $1k over invoice)
Less: $2,000 credits (college grad + un4gettable test drive event)
Total Sale price: $45,465
2015 X3 x28i alpine white, black nevada interior.
- Cold Weather
- Premium
- Technology
- Lighting
- Driver Assistance
Total due at signing: $3,547.86 (includes first month payment, $1800 taxes, bank fee of $725, registration of $280, and some other smaller fees)
Monthly payment: $580.47
MF: 0.0013, Residual of 56%
Probably could've gotten a few more hundred off if I negotiated a bit more, but honestly, I was tired of driving around and calling dealers left and right. Moreover, I found it somewhat difficult to find what I wanted without having to wait another 4-6 weeks. This car is at port currently and will be at dealership in about a week's time.
As mentioned earlier,t his was my first time with any sort of car purchase - hopefully I'll get better on the next go around! Thank you to everyone who helped/offered advice!! :-)
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Mrs. Chauncey McCorick Dies; [Chicago Patron of Art Was 78; Leader in Cultural Affairs Was Said to Be One of' Nation's Richest Women
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text: You just cant hit two birds with a single stone. Actress Kangana Ranaut was forced to opt out of Ram Gopal Varmas film Department, starring her good friend Sanjay Dutt, due to date problem. She turned down the offer on learning that the sequel of Ishqiya by Vishal Bhardwaj is also going to the floors the same time.It is said that Kangana was in dilemma on learning that both Ishqiya sequel and Department would start at the same time. She is close to Sanjay Dutt but she decided to go for the meatier role. She took up Ishqiya not only because she is a big fan of Vishal but also because she has a performance-oriented role with no glamour quotient.Sources said that she opted out of Department on a good note, as she has only spoken to Ram Gopal Varma verbally. It added that the actress has huge respect for both RGV and Sanjay Dutt.


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Even with the newer Core 2 Duo processors and the beefy 320M GPU, Apple says the smallest MacBook Pro now gets up to 10 hours of battery life for ordinary tasks such as Web browsing over Wi-Fi. The company estimates that the larger 15-in. and 17-in. models get between eight and nine hours, depending on which of the two graphics systems you're using.
Unlike the smallest MacBook Pro, the 15-in. model has both the Intel HD integrated graphics for light use and a GeForce GT 330M for more intensive graphics work. If you're surfing or writing a Word document, you're using the Intel HD graphics; if you're doing video work with Aperture or detailed jobs in Photoshop, you're using the 330M.
Here's the catch, and it's a good one: The laptop switches back and forth between the two without you having to do anything. That's a change from the last generation of MacBook Pros, where you'd have to stop whatever you were doing when you needed more graphics power, log out and then log back in. Talk about stopping workflow in its tracks.
(One thing this is not is Nvidia's Optimus architecture, which does much the same thing but with Nvidia chips only. Remember, in this case you're switching in the background between Intel's integrated graphics and Nvidia's discrete chip.)
The 330M, according to Apple, is about twice as fast as the Nvidia GPU in the 13-in. model, and about 20% faster than the Nvidia 9600M GT used in the last MacBook Pro line. That's something gamers should notice, because it allows for more details in graphically intense games. I'm not a gamer, though. When it comes to graphics, I judge how well a laptop plays back high-definition digital video: Are the colors rich and saturated? Is there any image "smearing" or obvious pixilation?
On those counts, the MacBook Pro's sharp, LED-backlit screen looks great. In fact, I watched three back-to-back episodes of Mad Men at full-screen resolution with the brightness turned all the way up and they looked almost as good as they do on my hi-def TV at home. As for battery life, at first I didn't see a major improvement over previous MacBook Pros. Apple says to expect 4.5 hours of use when watching DVDs full-screen at full brightness; I had to plug in the MacBook Pro after 3.5 hours of use. So I created a new account and tried again. Voila! I managed just over five hours of movie watching on battery power. (I haven't yet figured out what may be running in the background in my account that cuts down on battery time.)
When it comes to more mundane tasks such as surfing the Web over Wi-Fi, editing Word documents, checking e-mail and sending out tweets, the battery life is also better than before. (As with DVD viewing, I saw the biggest improvement logged into the "clean" test account.)
First, I set up the 15-in. MacBook Pro as I would normally, with the screen at about 80% brightness. I also turned off some of Apple's aggressive energy-saving settings in the Energy Saver preference pane, because I like to keep the screen from dimming on me if I turn away for a minute or two. While doing a combination of word processing, surfing the Web over Wi-Fi and listening to music through iTunes, the battery needed a recharge after 4.5 hours.
That's about 50% longer more than I get on my own last-gen 17-in. MacBook Pro, but a far cry from nine hours. (Doing the same tasks on that laptop drained the battery in three hours, though the older model's larger screen means it's not a direct one-to-one comparison.)
To extend the battery life, I went back to the default settings in the Energy Saver preference pane. This dims the display a bit, darkens it completely after a couple of minutes of idle time and puts the hard drive to sleep when possible. That bumped the battery life to just over five hours. Finally, using the test account, I set the screen brightness at the halfway mark, surfed the Web, did some text editing and listened to streaming radio over iTunes. This time, I was able to use the MacBook Pro for just over 6.5 hours. That's impressive, given that the new lineup has faster processors and better graphics chips.
The lesson's pretty clear: When you're on the go, stick with the default Energy Saver settings and turn the screen brightness down. If you're working in a dim locale or perhaps on the red-eye heading cross-country, turning the brightness way down and the Wi-Fi off will extend battery life even more. And if you find that your battery time is substantially less than you'd counted on, you might want to set up a new account and see if that helps. It did for me.
Core i5 Performance
As solid as the graphics system is -- I saw nary a hitch when watching videos or doing some light digital video exports -- it's the Core i5 and i7 processors in the 15-in. and 17-in. models that buyers will likely key in on. That's because they're relatively efficient for the punch they pack, and even though they're dual-core chips, they bring at least a pseudo-quad-core flair to the upper end of Apple's laptop line. Let me stress the word pseudo here: These are not the same as the real quadcore chips that the iMac desktop line uses.
Both the i5 and i7 have integrated memory controllers, either 3MB or 4MB of Level 3 cache and "turbo boost," which means the chips can max out at clock speeds higher than the baseline numbers advertised. And they offer hyperthreading, which means the operating system "thinks" it can access four cores instead of two -- it's just that two of the cores are virtual. Having more cores, whether physical or virtual, means software and operating systems can process commands faster because the work is being done in parallel, not sequentially.


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Seems like just yesterday we were watching Sean "Diddy" Combs throw his son, Justin Dior Combs, a lavish 16th birthday party, complete with a $360,000 Maybach car as a gift.
But you don't wind up on the football team at UCLA by having it handed to you.
Justin, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound cornerback, committed to play ball for the Bruins today, reports our Campus Rivalry blog. He had offers from Wyoming, Virginia and Illinois.
"Today I am truly blessed and thankful to accept my scholarship and give my full commitment to UCLA. Playing Division I football was a lifelong dream of mine, and through hard work I was able to achieve it. I am a living testament that with a strong relationship with God, family, and hard work dreams do come true."
Diddy was happy, too, saying, "As a parent, today is one of the proudest moments of my life. ... Justin is a shining example of what hard work, determination and a strong mentality can achieve. I am honored to call him my son and am happy that he is fulfilling his dream."
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|You are in: Rugby Union: International
Monday, 23 September, 2002, 04:31 GMT 05:31 UK
Farr-Jones opposes North-South clash
Former Wallaby captain Nick Farr-Jones has called on world rugby officials to scrap the proposed inter-hemisphere clash.
A north-south clash has been set up by the International Rugby Board for 30 November.
But Farr-Jones, who led Australia 36 times before retiring in 1994, wants the IRB to pull the plug.
"I don't really see the value of a northern/southern-hemisphere clash," he told BBC Sport Online.
The IRB set the date for the one-off clash this week, which is aimed to raise money for developing rugby countries.
And Farr-Jones added: "I've always tried to promote things for charities and good causes if I think they're a good idea.
"But the players don't even seem to want it so what's the point.
"I don't think it'll be the mouth-watering clash everyone is after."
The 40-year-old believes the rugby calendar is already too congested and that players should concentrate on internationals rather than "this meaningless clash".
Premiership opposition
"Playing for your country should be enough and that's where the focus should be," he said.
"I'd prefer to see a gold jersey clashing with a black jersey or watch the blue of France take on the white of England."
The IRB has already faced serious opposition from all quarters since tabling the match.
Premier Rugby, which represent England's 12 top-flight clubs, has already refused to release any Premiership players for the match.
The International Rugby Players Association, a body representing players in England, France and the three major southern hemisphere nations, is also against the fixture because of the congested rugby calendar.
And New Zealand coach John Mitchell has called on his players to boycott the match.
See also:
20 Sep 02 | International
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|Home > Technology > IT News > Article
The index showed that despite the improvement from August the index for September came in below the same measure a year earlier.
EL said the rise in IT executive demand was the second such increase in three months and that while there is still some way to go, it has begun to resume a growth path.
The survey said the result was more encouraging overall, given that figures had declined in both NSW and Queensland because of drought effects.
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Call to palms
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WorldCom customers hit by outage
Bugbear hits hard Down Under
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Bugbear virus spreading
In the digital picture
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Australia must keep total government debt below 30 per cent to maintain its coveted AAA credit rating, said Standard & Poor's as it for the first time declared a hard target on debt.
The agency, which on Tuesday reaffirmed Australia's top-notch rating and "stable outlook," warned it could be forced to lower the rating if governments in future failed to deliver the kind of budget consolidation currently forecast.
"We could also lower the ratings if significantly weaker than expected budget performance leads to net general government debt rising above 30 per cent of GDP," the agency said in a statement.
Total net government debt to GDP – which covers both federal and state debt - is expected to rise from 19.8 per cent this year to 21.4 per cent in 2015, before edging lower to 20.6 per cent in 2017.
Other triggers for a potential rating downgrade include a sudden trade shock or a sharp rise in funding costs for Australian banks.
"Such an external shock could lead to a protracted deterioration in the fiscal balance and the public debt burden," the agency said.
"It could also lead us to reassess Australia's contingent fiscal risks from its financial sector."
More immediately, S&P confirmed that there was no threat to the rating, saying the Abbott government had continued the previous Labor government's efforts of cutting spending to offset revenue short-falls.
"This gradual budget adjustment is supported, in our view, by the government's high degree of flexibility for adjusting revenue and spending, as well as strong bipartisan and community support for prudent management of public finances," S&P said.
It added that while many of the government's 2015 budget measures are yet to pass the Senate, it expects that "compromises will eventually be reached so that budget performance gradually improves.
"Taking state and local government budget performance into account, we expect the general government sector's budget balance to post relatively small and declining deficits as a share of GDP over the years to 2017, but for deficits to narrow more slowly than we expected a year ago.
"Under this base-case scenario, general government net debt is expected to peak at about 21 per cent of GDP (slightly higher than we previously anticipated) in 2015 before gradually declining."
The single biggest risks to Australia's growth prospects, prosperity and credit quality stem mainly from its growing dependence on China, the agency said.
"If demand for Australia's resources were to weaken sharply, there could be a range of disorderly dislocations in the economy, including in its labour and property markets. "However, while robust demand for its commodities continues, we believe Australia's economic prospects over the forecast period will remain favourable."
It said public finances remained "strong – with low debt, deficits and debt-servicing costs – although they have weakened as a result of the global recession."
The Australian Financial Review


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Hello guys ...
Im still fighting with this issue.
I used ettercap from the shell, I used ettercap from the gui ... but I can't sniff
router : 192.168.2.1
victim : 192.168.2.100
me : 192.168.2.102
no WEP encryption ( to make it easy )
I'm actually trying to sniff wireless with msgsnarf and urlsnarf and some others.
but when I sniff there is nothing appearing in the shells where the tools are running.
when I browse and use msn on the local laptop, all is appearing in the sniffing shells.
Do I need to change something ? is arp poisening not working ?
do I need to change etter.dns ??
please help me


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ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- If you suffered damage from Tropical Storm Nicole, register for disaster assistance and keep in touch.
Homeowners and renters in 10 North Carolina counties who have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal and state disaster assistance need to keep information current. Accurate and complete information will assist in timely delivery of assistance.
All registered applicants receive a letter from FEMA explaining their eligibility for disaster assistance along with the booklet "Help After a Disaster: Applicant's Guide to the Individuals & Households Program." They may also receive a disaster loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
If applicants have questions after registering for assistance or need to provide additional documentation, they can visit a Disaster Recovery Center for in-person help from the state, FEMA and SBA.
Applicants can always call the toll-free FEMA Helpline. When calling the Helpline, applicants should have their registration number available. To register or reach the Helpline call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585.
By phone or at a center applicants can:
- Update their file with a change of address or new phone number
- Ask questions about disaster-related assistance
- Track the progress of their FEMA application
- Get information about the inspection process
- Learn about the steps to appeal a FEMA decision
Residents living in Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Craven, Hertford, Jones, Onslow, Pender, Pitt and Tyrrell counties who sustained damage as a result of severe storms and flooding associated with remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole may be eligible for assistance.
Recovery specialists staff the Helpline from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week to answer disaster related questions. In addition to registering for assistance, residents can also check the status of their application by going online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.


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Years of great leadership are acknowledged by the Department.
District Director Doug Failing is the winner of the 2007 Charles Purcell Award for Outstanding Management and Engineering in Transportation.
The Purcell Award recognizes valued contributions by Caltrans engineering managers to the field of transportation engineering and program management. Charles H. Purcell served as California's State Highway Engineer from 1928 to 1943 and as Director of Public Works until 1951, overseeing construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the State Highway System.
"What I appreciate most about this award is that it really is a recognition of all District 7 employees," Failing said. "After all, a manager is only as good as the people he manages and all of the District's achievements are the products of our excellent workforce."
Failing was recognized for 26 years of superior service to Caltrans, all spent in District 7. Under his management, the District has taken first place in project delivery three years in a row. Last year, that amounted to 91 projects totaling $279 million. Under Failing's direction, the District developed and implemented overhead management strategies that resulted in the lowest overhead costs in the Department. These strategies are now being adopted by other districts to reduce their overhead costs.
In addition to working tirelessly on behalf of congestion relief, Failing also is a dedicated champion of small businesses. Under his auspices, District 7 recently developed the Calmentor program, in which large businesses partner with small businesses to mentor and coach them, which benefits both entities and the Department by increasing the number of small business consultants in the State. The program has become a model for other Caltrans districts and also has caught the attention of Governor Schwarzenegger as a new strategy for reinvigorating business in California. Failing also launched the Department's first Procurement Fair, bringing small business vendors together with purchasers.
Another innovation occurring under Failing's leadership was the establishment of overhead electronic freeway signs (CMS) to display real-time travel information, forging the way for other districts to follow.
For these and countless other contributions to improving transportation in the District, Failing was chosen last year by the Los Angeles Times' West Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful people in southern California. In addition, Los Angeles Magazine highlighted him in their December, 2006 issue as one of the most influential people in Los Angeles.
District 7 seems to have an abundance of outstanding managers, to judge by the Purcell Award committee. Chief Deputy District Director Raja Mitwasi received a Purcell Award in 2005.


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News & Events
Ruminant-to-ruminant Feed Ban and the Potential Transmission of Spongiform Encephalopathies to Humans
Statement of
Michael A. Friedman, M.D.
Deputy Commissioner for Operations
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Service
Department of Health and Human Services
Subcommittee on Human Resources
Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight
January 29, 1997
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to participate in today's hearing on the proposed rule on the ruminant to ruminant feed ban and the potential transmission of spongiform encephalopathies to humans. My name is Dr. Michael Friedman and I am the Deputy Commissioner for Operations at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FDA is the nation's oldest consumer protection agency, responsible for the safety and effectiveness of over $1 trillion worth of products and commodities. We have been protecting consumers against an ever-growing number of public health risks for over nine decades, and we have not done it by standing still. FDA constantly is being presented with new questions, for which we are committed to seeking and finding answers, while applying current statutes, state of the art science, and knowledge gained from our experiences in responding to previous public health risks.
FDA's responsibilities encompass drugs for use in people and animals, human biological products, medical devices, food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and animal feeds. Each of these product groups has been considered with respect to the potential for the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in humans or animals. As you may know, TSEs are a group of transmissible, slowly progressive, degenerative diseases of the central nervous systems of humans and several species of animals. This family of diseases is characterized by a long incubation period, a relatively short clinical course of neurological signs, and 100 percent mortality. Examples of TSEs are scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, transmissible mink encephalopathy, chronic wasting disease of deer and elk, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and kuru in humans.
FDA has been involved actively in national and international efforts focused on better understanding TSEs. FDA has collaborated extensively with its sister Public Health Service Agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as with affected industries and consumer groups. FDA has formed an intra-agency working group composed of myself and experts from each FDA Center to consider transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and their impact on FDA-regulated products. A CJD Advisory Committee, composed of outside experts, including academic and government representatives; consumer groups, including the National Hemophiliac Foundation; and industry groups, also was formed in 1995, and was rechartered in June 1996 for two additional years as the TSE Advisory Committee.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also referred to as ?mad cow disease,? is thought to be a transmissible, slowly progressive, degenerative disease of the central nervous system of cattle, and is similar to scrapie in sheep. BSE has a prolonged incubation period in cattle (three to eight years) following oral exposure and, as with all TSEs, once symptoms appear, BSE invariably is fatal. There is no known treatment or cure. That said, we emphasize that BSE has not been detected in cattle in the U.S., and since 1989, no cattle have been imported from BSE countries as designated by the USDA.
Since BSE was first diagnosed in the United Kingdom (UK) in November 1986, more than 165,000 cattle from almost 33,000 herds have been diagnosed with the disease. BSE now has been reported in native cattle in France, Switzerland, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland. The epidemic in the UK peaked in January 1993 at nearly 1,000 new cases per week; currently fewer than 200 suspected cases are diagnosed every week. The disease has had a devastating impact on the cattle and beef industry in the UK where hundreds of thousands of suspect cattle have been killed and incinerated to prevent further spread of the disease.
Epidemiological studies, including computer simulation of the epidemic in the UK, suggest that feeding cattle rendered meat and bone meal from animals infected with some TSE agent was the vehicle for the spread of the disease. The practice of adding meat and bone meal to animal feed has become a common way for producers to supplement their animals? protein and other dietary needs. Possible hypotheses as to the original UK source of the TSE agent are: 1) that it was a modified form of scrapie transmitted via rendered by-products of sheep, or 2) that it was a cattle-adapted strain of a scrapie-like agent, also spread via feed. Both theories are consistent with the epidemiological findings. Of particular importance, recent research in the UK suggests that the BSE agent is resistant to the rendering processes used in that country. This research further supports the epidemiological evidence that the disease has been spread through rendered meat and bone meal added to cattle feed. Scientists also have theorized, however, that BSE could occur spontaneously in cattle, though presumably at a very low rate.
Possible Link Between BSE and CJD
Scientists also have theorized about the impact of BSE on human health and its possible link to CJD. CJD is a slow degenerative human disease of the central nervous system characterized by motor dysfunction, progressive dementia, and vacuolar degeneration of the brain. The incidence of CJD in the U.S. is similar to the incidence in the rest of the world. Sporadic cases of CJD occur world-wide at a rate of one case per million population per year.
On March 20, 1996, the British Government announced a possible link between BSE and ten cases of a new type of CJD in humans. These recent cases appear to represent a new variant of CJD (nv-CJD) that seems to be unique. At a World Health Organization (WHO) consultation in April 1996, a group of international experts concluded that there is no definite link between BSE and this small group of people with nv-CJD, but epidemiological evidence suggests exposure to BSE before the UK specified tissue ban in 1989 may be the most likely explanation. To date, scientists have identified the distinctive nv-CJD brain pathology in 15 people with CJD in BSE countries (14 in the UK, 1 in France). In October 1996, Dr. John Collinge, one of the foremost British authorities on CJD, and his colleagues published the results of their research on various strains of the agents believed to transmit BSE. The results suggest that the agent found in nv-CJD resembles the BSE agent rather than the sporadic CJD agent.
As stated, BSE has not been detected in cattle in the U.S., and since 1989, no cattle have been imported from BSE countries as designated by USDA. Nevertheless, the possible link between nv-CJD and BSE, and new information about the origin and etiology of the BSE agent have prompted the public, the U.S. Government and affected industries to view this disease very seriously. As a result, several important measures have been undertaken to further reduce the remote risk of BSE occurring in the U.S. It should be stressed, however, that there is no established scientific link between BSE and CJD in humans.
Proposed Rule: Ruminant and Mink to Ruminant Feed Ban
One critical measure is the issuance by FDA of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) to prohibit the use of nearly all tissues from ruminants -- animals such as cows, sheep, and goats -- in feed intended for ruminants. Mink tissue also would be prohibited from such feeds, because of known cases of TSE in mink raised in the U.S. The prohibition on feed ingredients proposed in the NPRM is intended to prevent the spread of BSE in cattle in the unlikely event that the disease should ever occur in this country, and to further minimize any risk that might be posed to humans. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on January 3, 1997, after FDA completed an in-depth review of the 660 comments it received last year in response to its advance notice of proposed rulemaking related to the feed ban. These comments covered many of the scientific and economic issues addressed in the NPRM. FDA's proposal to ban the use ruminant and mink proteins in ruminant feed follows a voluntary industry moratorium on similar feeding practices instituted in March 1996 by national livestock organizations and professional animal health groups and endorsed by FDA, CDC, NIH, and the USDA. The finalization of the proposal will add another level of safeguards to protect the U.S. against the remote potential risk from TSEs.
Moreover, FDA's proposed regulation is supported by last year's WHO recommendations for countries in which no BSE has been diagnosed.
The NPRM provides that animal protein derived from ruminant and mink tissues are not generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in ruminant feed and is a food additive subject to section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FDC) Act. The determination of food additive status for this substance (protein derived from ruminant and mink tissues) will help to ensure that it will not be marketed in the U.S. until such time as FDA determines it to be safe. The NPRM proposes to exempt from the ruminant protein feed ban three tissue types that have shown no signs of potential infectivity. These exceptions include bovine blood, ruminant-derived milk, and gelatin. A second component of the rule provides for a system of processes and controls, including record keeping and labeling, that is necessary to ensure the proposed rule will achieve its intended purpose. Based on the overwhelming evidence we have on transmissibility, if for some reason a case of BSE were to occur in the U.S., and it is important to reemphasize that not even one case of BSE has ever been found here, the steps being proposed in the NPRM would confine it to the individual animal and greatly decrease the potential risk to other animals and humans.
The preamble to FDA's proposed rule points out that FDA is considering alternatives to the proposed ruminant and mink protein to ruminant prohibition and that it also is seeking comments on those alternatives, which include a(n): (1) Adult sheep and goat specified offal to ruminant prohibition; (2) Prohibition to ruminants of all materials from U.S. species which have been diagnosed with TSEs (sheep, goats, mink, deer, and elk); (3) Partial ruminant to ruminant prohibition; (4) Mammal to ruminant prohibition; (5) No regulatory action; and, (6) Other alternative approaches that meet FDA's regulatory objective.
Although BSE does not exist in the U.S., we believe that the preventive approach FDA is taking in the NPRM is justified by what we now know about this disease and how it is caused and spread. As noted above, epidemiological evidence corroborates the theories that the origin of BSE was caused by the feeding to cattle of meat and bone meal either containing the scrapie agent from rendered by-products of sheep, or a cattle-adapted strain of a scrapie-like agent from rendered by-products of cattle. Current U.S. rendering techniques would decrease, but probably not totally eliminate the BSE agent. Since sheep scrapie and other animal-borne TSEs already are known to exist in the U.S., the epidemiological evidence indicates that BSE could possibly develop and be spread here under unrestricted feeding practices. Moreover, the risk that BSE-infected cattle or feed could be imported inadvertently from BSE infected countries, or that BSE could occur spontaneously further supports the preventive strategy proposed in the NPRM. The strategy provided in the NPRM also is supported by the steady decline in the number of cases of BSE in the UK after they established similar restrictions on ruminant feeding practices.
Comments are being solicited by FDA on all aspects of the NPRM, including the scope of the ban and the list of exempted tissue types. A 45 day public comment period expires on February 18, 1997. To facilitate notice and comment on the NPRM, in addition to providing the proposed rule to the CDC, NIH and the USDA, FDA provided a copy of the proposed rule to the group of international experts interested in BSE. The document was delivered to heads of foreign public and animal health organizations and to appropriate officials of our major animal products trading countries. During February, FDA will hold two open public forums to discuss the notice of proposed rule making to prohibit the use of rendered ruminant and mink protein products in ruminant feeds. Comments may be submitted to the Dockets Management Branch, Food and Drug Administration, 12320 Parklawn Drive, Room 1-23, Rockville MD 20857. These comments will be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration and will be used in preparing final regulations.
FDA recognizes that American consumers look to us to assure the safety of the U.S. food supply. We believe that the strong preventive strategy provided in the NPRM is supported by the best available science on BSE and that this approach significantly reduces risk to animal health and any perceived risk to human health. As the scientific knowledge about BSE, and all TSEs, increases -- and the science in this area is growing rapidly -- FDA will continue to review this new evidence and steer a course that maintains high standards for food safety in this country.
The history of TSE raises questions regarding the transmissibility of CJD through human tissue. While there are no recorded cases of CJD transmission in humans through blood, there is a theoretical possibility for transmission and FDA has taken aggressive actions to significantly mitigate that potential risk.
The blood supply plays a critical role in the American health care system. While the U.S. has one of the safest blood supplies in the world, it is a formidable task to keep it so. Each year, approximately 12 million units of blood are drawn from volunteer donors for use by more than 3.5 million Americans. Much of this blood, and an additional 12 million units of plasma, is processed into further products, referred to as derivatives, such as immune globulin, used to prevent infections, and clotting factors, such as antihemophilic factor, used to treat bleeding disorders.
Because blood donors may harbor undetectable or undetected communicable disease, blood can transmit disease. Because of this risk, and the fact that millions of Americans depend on blood and blood products, efforts to ensure the safety of the blood supply are a high priority for FDA. One of the challenges such efforts entails is application of current, but incomplete and emerging scientific knowledge, in the decisions about how best to protect public health. CJD presents such challenges.
Background/History of CJD
CJD is a rare but invariably fatal, degenerative neurological disease believed to be associated with a transmissible agent. Cases arise spontaneously at low frequency for unknown reasons; perhaps acquired by external exposure to infectious material; or may arise spontaneously at higher frequency in persons with certain genetic mutations. CJD affects approximately one person to two person per million per year worldwide. From 1979 through 1994, CJD was recorded as a cause of death in 3,642 deaths in the U.S.; representing a stable incidence. (CDC Dispatches, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 2, No. 4, October-December 1996). The clinical latency of CJD can exceed thirty years, although the incubation period is shorter for the known iatrogenic cases.
The nature of the transmissible agent for CJD is not established, but seems to be highly resistant to the current methods of viral inactivation employed with plasma derivatives. The disposition of the agent during fractionation of various plasma derivatives is not presently known.
Between 1983 and 1997, approximately 300 million units of blood and plasma were donated. From 34 reports received (with some reports containing information on more than one donor), 37 donors were either subsequently diagnosed with CJD or deferred based on concerns with CJD. Of the 37 blood/plasma donors, 25 were reported as subsequently diagnosed with CJD; four had a family member who was diagnosed with CJD; four had received Human Pituitary-Derived Growth Hormone (HGH); and, four had received a dura matter transplant.
The available basic scientific and applied epidemiological data provide no evidence of transmission of CJD via blood transfusion in humans. Moreover, transmission by intravenous infusion of whole blood from CJD patients has not been demonstrated in subhuman primates. The disease, however, has been verified to be transmitted between humans by transplantation of corneas and cadaver dura mater grafts from affected individuals, by use of contaminated EEG electrodes, by certain neurological procedures and by injections of HGH. (CDC Dispatches, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 2, No. 4, October-December 1996). (It should be noted that HGH is no longer used having been replaced by a recombinant-DNA derived alternative product.) In addition, the disease has been transmitted to rodents in laboratory experiments by injecting the buffy coat component of blood from an affected patient into the rodent brain. Although CJD has occurred in transfused patients, we stress that there has not been a documented case of CJD being transmitted through a blood transfusion. Moreover, there has not been an identified case of hemophiliac death from CJD.
We know that despite our best efforts blood and blood products will never be totally risk free, but we continue to work to achieve optimal safety and availability. While our current knowledge of blood-borne diseases has improved significantly over the past 10-15 years, current scientific knowledge is still incomplete. For example, there is currently no serum test capable of detecting CJD infection.
The fact that there are no documented cases of blood or blood product transmission of CJD in humans does not end the inquiries into the disease nor does it mean that FDA and other agencies and research entities can be complacent. Basic and applied research into the infectious processes of CJD continue to serve as the catalyst for the evolution of FDA policy. We cannot let the absence of scientific information paralyze us.
FDA Regulatory Response
The development of FDA regulatory policy with respect to blood products that could possibly carry a risk of the disease CJD has been vigorous and is ongoing. As clinical and epidemiological knowledge of CJD has increased, FDA has responded aggressively by reviewing and modifying its policy. Throughout this process, FDA has worked closely with both CDC and NIH, among others, in determining the most appropriate regulatory course of action. Extensive public discussion with all segments of those affected - recipients of products, medical professionals, academicians and industry -- has been conducted throughout FDA deliberations.
FDA Actions Related to Blood and Blood Products
FDA involvement in addressing the possible impact of CJD on the nations's blood supply began with the early awareness of possible transmission. On November 25, 1987, FDA issued a ?Memorandum to All Blood Establishments? entitled ?Deferral of Donors Who Have Received Human Pituitary-Derived Growth Hormone.? This document recommended that all persons who received HGH be barred permanently from donating blood or plasma.
For the period 1983-1992, there were only four reported blood donors who had a confirmed diagnosis of CJD reported post-donation. In response, the blood and plasma product manufacturers initiated a voluntary withdrawal of in-date products that had been prepared from donations from these individuals. In December 1993 FDA expanded its position and issued recommendations for more complete reporting of ?post donation information? related to safety.
Partly as a result of these FDA policy recommendations, in late 1994 and early 1995 FDA began receiving additional reports of CJD affected individuals who had donated blood and plasma. At FDA's request, the manufacturers placed in-date, licensed, injectable derivatives (of blood and plasma), as well as intermediates (those products used in further processing), into quarantine awaiting development of FDA recommendations on the use of implicated material.
At the Blood Products Advisory Committee (BPAC) FDA presented data regarding the biology of CJD and case histories of CJD-related donor deferrals and product withdrawals on December 15, 1994. In March 1995, BPAC was again updated on CJD. BPAC was presented with the available scientific information and options for action. BPAC was unable to reach consensus decisions on all of the issues related to product disposition and recipient notification.
FDA, in an effort to further develop its policy on CJD, and because of the outstanding issues that required additional public discussion and consideration, formed a Special Advisory Committee on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and presented information to it on June 22, 1995. The Special Advisory Committee agreed that:
- there was no scientific evidence that CJD is transmitted by transfusion of blood products or by administration of plasma derivatives;
- implicated blood components should be withdrawn;
- implicated plasma derivatives should be withdrawn; and
- if implicated blood components and/or plasma derivatives are to be released for transfusion, these products should bear special warning labels.
Within two months, after considering these deliberations and extensive internal discussion, FDA issued an interim policy in a memorandum dated August 8, 1995, regarding blood products and plasma derivatives. This further broadened its guidance on donor exclusions for CJD risk and called for withdrawal of implicated blood products. A provision was made for release of affected products in case of a documented shortage provided that the products carried a special label.
In an effort to further expand the knowledge of CJD, FDA and NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute held a CJD Workshop on Design of Experimental Studies of Transmission of CJD. The FDA also held many discussions at BPAC on product warning labels.
To avoid the disposal of safe and effective products while protecting public health and safety, FDA consulted extensively with experts in the field of TSEs on the familial nature of some CJD cases and appropriate use of genetic testing to clarify risk. The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee (TSEAC) (formally known as the Special Advisory Committee on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) met a second time on July 2, 1996, and discussed refinements to the August 1995 policy. These included the option of reentering deferred donors based on genetic testing results and the disposition of plasma derivatives prepared from product collected from donors with only a single family member diagnosed with CJD. Also, in November 1996, FDA, in cooperation with others, held two public meetings/workshops. Notification procedures to be utilized for implicated products were considered.
FDA revised its recommendations for CJD in a memorandum to manufacturers on December 11, 1996, based on opinions of the advisory committees, public discussion, FDA internal deliberations and discussions with other agencies. The December 11 memorandum updated and superseded the FDA memoranda of August 8, 1995 and November 25, 1987.
FDA, in its December 11 Memorandum, reiterated that the assessment of CJD risk in the donor is a critical responsibility of the blood establishments. In particular, FDA emphasized that family history of CJD requires careful investigation. FDA has recommended that a family history of CJD should be confirmed by a physician and documented on the basis of currently accepted diagnostic procedures. Also, familial risk, in the context of a donor, applies only to blood relatives of non-iatrogenic cases.
The cautious approach the FDA has taken on CJD related to blood products also affects other products. There are estimated to be over 500 products which use plasma products/derivatives either in manufacturing or formulation. Plasma for manufacturing comes from approximately 25 million donations of blood and plasma derived from about 10 million blood and plasma donors per year. Over a ten year period, 1984-1993, plasma fractionation capacity worldwide increased 61 percent. (Robert, Journal of the American Blood Resources Association, at 75, Vol. 4, No. 3 1995).
There is ongoing discussion being conducted by FDA and others concerning the level of risk of CJD transmission in plasma derivatives and blood components. Experiments to quantify this risk are being undertaken by the government and the blood industry. However, it is likely to take several years before conclusive results are obtained. Most scientists believe that any risk from plasma derivatives must be significantly less than from whole blood components.
Despite this inability to more precisely quantify the nature of the risk, as a precaution, FDA has recommended that Source Plasma and plasma derivatives, prepared from donors who are at increased risk for developing CJD, should be quarantined and destroyed. FDA has made an exception from this quarantine for the plasma derivatives, i.e., albumin, immune globulin, etc. (licensed, injectable products), prepared from pools which contain products collected from a donor with only one known family member with CJD. This exception is made because the probability that the case represents familial CJD is low.
FDA has not recommended the quarantine of blood products intended for further research or manufacturing into non-injectable products. FDA has recommended, however, that such products should be labeled with the following statements: 1) ?Biohazard?; 2) ?Collected from a donor determined to be at risk for CJD?; and, 3) ?For laboratory research use only?, or "Intended only for further manufacture into non-injectable products".
In the circumstances of a donor with CJD or at increased risk for CJD, consignee notification is recommended to permit recipient tracing and notification as deemed medically appropriate. Given the limited current knowledge about CJD as it relates to blood safety, FDA has made only a few general recommendations about ?lookback? notification. In the event that a donor gives a history of only one known family member with CJD, FDA does not recommend notification of consignees of plasma derivatives or expired blood components.
FDA policy on protection of the blood supply from the remote possibility of CJD transmission has been developed as knowledge and data has evolved. The recommendations for donor deferral, product disposition, and recipient notification have been developed based on a consideration of risk in the donor, risk from the product, and the potential impact on blood product availability. Given the significant size of the population using these products, it is appropriate for FDA to consider the impact of withdrawal from distribution of plasma products in its risk benefit analysis from the perspective of both the effect on the supply of products and the benefit to potential recipients of the products. In its decisions, FDA attempts to balance the need for the products and the risk of using the products.
FDA Decision Making: Case Study
The application of FDA policy in situations involving CJD is evidenced by a recent case. FDA was notified that the certain lots of anti-hemophilic products were manufactured using an ingredient, which had been prepared from pooled plasma, containing a unit from a blood donor who later died of CJD. These particular anti-hemophilic products had not been released (for distribution) nor approved for release by FDA at the time of the notification to FDA.
In this case, FDA was faced with evaluating the potential risk of CJD in the final products; determining whether FDA should approve release of the lots; and, if released was approved, should any type of notification be provided.
FDA requested a risk assessment from the company which concluded that the risk of CJD in the product was negligible. This risk assessment was reviewed internally and independent risk assessments were obtained from CDC, NIH and Johns Hopkins University. All agreed that the risk, if any, was likely to be remote and considered ?vanishingly small? in one analysis. An assessment also was made of the impact on the supply of purified factor VIII available for recipients if the product was not released. The conclusion, based on the scientific analysis and all available, relevant data, was that there was a remote risk of CJD and the products were suitable for release. FDA requested, however, that the situation be conveyed to the affected community -- the hemophilia organizations. The company informed the hemophilia groups. The groups released information on the situation in a community newsletter and other sources.
FDA continues to develop its policy and evaluate the safety of products that have had exposure to an implicated plasma derivative (usually transferrin or albumin) during manufacturing or formulation as new data and information are available.
Adequacy of FDA Response
Although FDA's regulatory response to CJD was initiated long before 1995, the recommendations and comments of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in its 1995 report could be considered as a framework for evaluating FDA's actions concerning the possible CJD transmission in the blood supply. In its 1995 report HIV and the Blood Supply: An Analysis of Crisis Decisionmaking, the IOM concluded that FDA had ?missed opportunities? for action in addressing the potential for HIV infection in the blood supply and had chosen ?the least aggressive option that was justifiable.? The report acknowledged that previous decisions were made ?in the context of great uncertainty? given the science. When ?knowledge is imprecise and incomplete,? however, IOM recommended that there should be ?a more systematic approach to blood safety regulation when their [sic] is uncertainty and danger to the public.?
The IOM made several recommendations directed specifically at FDA which mirror FDA's actions in developing responses to possible CJD transmission through the blood supply.
Recommendation 6 of the IOM report stated:
Where uncertainties or countervailing public health concerns preclude completely eliminating potential risks, the FDA should encourage, and where necessary require, the blood industry to implement partial solutions that have little risk of causing harm.
Recommendation 7 of the IOM report stated:
The FDA should periodically review important decisions that it made when it was uncertain about the value of key decision variables.
FDA has undertaken to incorporate these recommendations into its decision making and oversight of the nation's blood supply. The discussion of FDA's actions taken in response to the concerns raised by possible CJD transmission illustrate that FDA has benefited from past lessons and has responded to the challenge of dealing with uncertain risks that could impact the safety and availability of blood and plasma products.
This Committee also made recommendations in its report Protecting the Nation's Blood Supply From Infectious Agents: The Need For New Standards To Meet New Threats (House Report 104-746, August 2, 1996). In response to the Committee's concerns, FDA has provided enhanced public access concerning recalls and withdrawals of blood and blood products; increasing public input in the discussion regarding policy development on withdrawals and notification of plasma products; and, continuing research into the risk factors associated with pool size of donors.
FDA has made information concerning recalls and withdrawals widely available to interested and affected parties. A voice information system with toll free lines has been set up with information on fractionated product recall and market withdrawal information. A fax information system has been put into place allowing ?fax-on-demand.? The FDA Home Page contains the recall and withdrawal information and an automated e-mail system has been established to distribute information to those persons desiring information not only on recalls and withdrawals but all blood related public documents.
FDA continually strives to make the food and blood supply safer. We will continue to evaluate new studies, scientific and epidemiological data on TSEs and apply that knowledge to FDA policy. We look forward to working with the Committee on these issues.