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WASHINGTON -- Last month's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School may have shaken public opinion, but there's no evidence it has changed the politics of gun control among California's representatives in Congress.
In the seven weeks since the shooting, no gun control opponent from the state has expressed a change of heart regarding the sort of restrictions proposed by President Barack Obama or California Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Inquiries sent to all 53 members of the California House delegation by the California News Service confirmed a longstanding pattern: California Democrats overwhelmingly support tighter restrictions on guns and Republicans oppose them.
The lack of movement is a sobering sign for the prospects of gun control legislation.
Feinstein introduced legislation Thursday that would ban the sale, manufacture, transfer and import of roughly 150 assault style weapons. Obama has called for a similar ban, along with a limit on high capacity magazines and universal background checks.
The proposals need the support of at least a couple dozen Republicans, who outnumber Democrats in the House 233-200, to pass. It does not appear either will get any help from California Republicans.
Among the state's 15 Republican House members, 14 received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. The other -- Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, received an "A+." Each of them has received campaign contributions from the NRA.
By contrast, the NRA gave "F" ratings to 32 of state's 38 Democrats. None received contributions.
Postings on member's congressional websites illustrate the partisan divide.
Only two Republican lawmakers acknowledged last month's school shooting on their Congressional web pages. More than half of the state's 38 Democrats issued news releases calling for some form of stronger gun control.
The unwavering stand by Republicans leads many to believe that gun control has little chance of passage.
"My guess would be no. You'd need a different House," said William Vizzard, a gun scholar at Sacramento State.
Vizzard, a former Fresno deputy sheriff and Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms agent, said the outcry for gun control that follows shootings typically fades quickly.
"The problem with issues with guns is that they're only hot for a short period of time," Vizzard said.
In 1994, 46 House Republicans joined 188 Democrats in support of Feinstein's original assault weapons ban. The ban expired after 10 years as Republican opposition hardened.
Three California Republicans voted for the 1994 bill including Rep. Michael Huffington from Santa Barbara, who challenged Feinstein for her Senate seat that year. None are still serving.
Since last month's shooting, there has been a marked increase in public support for gun control.
A New York Times/CBS poll conducted earlier this month found 54 percent favor stricter guns laws, up from 39 percent in April.
However some caution that public support does necessarily translate into legislative action.
Joseph McNamara, a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution said his support for gun control measures when he was serving as San Jose police chief prompted threatening mail and shots fired at his home.
"There is overwhelming public support," McNamara said." People who do speak out in favor of gun control are subject to intimidation by the gun lobbyists that the public is not aware of."
"Because of the history of intimidation of police chiefs and politicians, there's a lot of silence from people who would otherwise speak in favor of reasonable gun control if they didn't fear reprisal," he said.
Feinstein acknowledged the difficult politics when she introduced her gun legislation on Thursday.
"It will be an uphill battle, there's no question," Feinstein said.
Feinstein said it will take public pressure to persuade opponents that without action there will be more tragedies.
"See what your silence does," she said at a Capitol Hill news conference. "There will be more of these. These aren't going to end."
Nearly all of California's 38 Democratic House members are vocal advocates of gun control. Those who represent more rural areas, such as Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno and Gloria Negrete-McLeod of Chino are less enthusiastic about strict controls, but have indicated a willingness to work with the president and Feinstein.
No Republican has expressed a similar flexibility.
Kevin Eastman, legislative director to Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Redding, noted that Feinstein's proposed ban is similar to laws already on the books in California. Asked if that meant the congressman might support them, he said: "We would oppose (imposing) our mistakes on other states."
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, criticized Obama's proposals as unnecessary, focusing the "government's authority and power on controlling honest citizens rather than making it more likely to disarm criminals."
Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Palmdale, said he was willing to look at the president's proposals in preventing school violence, though he affirmed his firm support for the Second Amendment.
"I am committed to addressing the root causes of gun violence," he said in a written statement.
Democrats were far more eager to discuss new means to reduce gun violence. Several expressed muted optimism that minds might still be changed.
"The impact of Newtown will help spur others who have been on the sidelines to action," said Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, in an email.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, a skilled skeet shooter and avid hunter, was named to head the Democratic gun control efforts in the House by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, with an eye toward persuading gun owners that some restrictions are reasonable.
In an interview, Thompson said that legislation might be more successful if gun owners do not feel threatened that their guns will be taken away.
"If you're going to call it gun control, you're going to divide the country. If you're interested in calling it gun violence prevention, then people will work together," he said.
Thompson said that a recent Supreme Court ruling, which overturned a Washington handgun ban, might be more important in changing the politics than the Connecticut shooting.
In the 2008 Heller case, the Court affirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees individuals the right to bear arms.
He said the ruling should allow gun owners to support restrictions without fearing that their guns will be confiscated and "relieve a little bit of the anxiety of those wanting to own firearms."
As Feinstein introduced her measure on Thursday, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., whose husband was killed in 1993 by a gunman who opened fire on a Long Island commuter train, introduced a companion bill in the House.
The California News Service is a journalism project of the University of California Washington Center and the UC Berkeley School of Journalism. Email the California News Service at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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How Does Early Age Life Style Affect Bone Strength and General Health Parameters at Middle Age?
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Bone Diseases
|Procedure: Quantitative Computed Tomography of the tibia and spine Procedure: MRI of the spine and the right knee Procedure: Blood test
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|How Does Early Age Life Style Affect Bone Strength and General Health at Middle Age? Twenty-Five Year Follow-up Health Status Comparison of a Sedentary Versus Extremely Physically Active Population From an Early Age
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|March 2007
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|November 2008
Procedure: Quantitative Computed Tomography of the tibia and spine
Bone strength and peak bone mass are preliminary determined by genetic factors. Life style, especially exercise, is also considered to have an important effect on bone strength. Bone has the ability to strengthen itself according to Wolff's Law. When bone is subjected to strains and/or strain rates higher than the usual, it responds by remodeling, strengthening its architecture. The ability is greatest in young individuals and decreases with age. In the elderly this ability is largely non-existent and bone mass is lost. Whether this loss leads to osteoporosis is largely a function of the peak bone mass achieved before the decline. 11% of males and 44 % of females over 50 suffer from osteoporosis in later life. To what extent vigorous exercising beginning at a young age can increase bone strength is not known.
The purpose of the proposed research is to quantify the effect of life style on bone strength and general health parameters by comparing two male populations, one sedentary and the other that has done demanding physical training: (1) Elite infantry recruits who were inducted into the I.D.F. in Feb 1983, did their basic training at Sanur and were part of the 1983 stress fracture project who completed three years of elite infantry service and continued to serve as combat soldiers in the reserves; (2) Yeshiva students who had profiles of 82 or 97 and received deferment from their military service in 1983 and since then have continued their studies and never served in the army.
50 subjects will be reviewed in each group. Measurements of weight, height, waist and abdominal girth, resting pulse and blood pressure will be made. The brachial/ankle blood pressure index will be recorded. MRI of the right knee to study potential degenerate changes will be done using a 1.5 Tesla General Electric Signa MR scanner. Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT), one of the most popular and effective methods utilized for osteoporosis screening, will be performed to determine volumetric BMD, BMC, bone geometric properties and strength indexes of the tibia and lumbar spine.
Group I: 50 males (age 41-45), former elite Israeli infantry soldiers, selected randomly from those recruits who did their infantry basic training at Sanur in Feb. 1983 (all profiled 82 or 97) and completed their military service as combat soldiers will be compared to:
Group II: 50 age-, profile- and ethnically-matched Israeli citizens whose military service was deferred in 1983 because of Torah studies and who did not do army service and were not involved in any kind of physical training.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|40 Years to 45 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Non-Probability Sample
Inclusion Criteria:
- Israeli military profile 82 or 97 at age 17-22
Exclusion Criteria:
- Israeli military profile less than 82 at age 17-22
- Former soldiers with shrapnel injuries will be excluded from MRI studies
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00270608
|Contact: Prof. Charles Milgrom, MD
|972 50 787 4401
|Hadassah Medical Organization
|Jerusalem, Israel
|Contact: Arik Tzukert, DMD 00 972 2 6776095 firstname.lastname@example.com
|Contact: Hadas Lemberg, PhD 00 972 2 6777572 email@example.com
|Principal Investigator: Prof. Charles Milgrom, MD
|Principal Investigator:
|Prof. Charles Milgrom, MD
|Hadassah Medical Organization
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00270608 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|December 26, 2005
|Last Updated:
|November 25, 2007
Keywords provided by Hadassah Medical Organization:
Peripheral vascular disease
Total body fat percentage
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Bone Diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017

subset: commoncrawl


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A year ago, Matt Rutherford prepared his sailboat for an epic voyage: From Annapolis, Maryland, down the Chesapeake, up the East Coast to the fabled Northwest passage, down the Pacific, around Cape Horn, back up the coast of South America, all the way back home. He would do it alone, nonstop on an elderly 27-foot long boat. And it would be more than 10 months before he stepped on land again, last month after he tied up on City Dock in downtown Annapolis. Matt Rutherford joins us here in Studio 3A. Nice to have you with us and congratulations.
MATT RUTHERFORD: Yeah. Well, thank you. It's good to be back.
CONAN: Nice to be back on dry land?
RUTHERFORD: Yeah.
CONAN: What was the first thing you did?
RUTHERFORD: Well, I got off the boat and literally stepped on a stage, and there were about a thousand people there, so my head was spinning. And it's kind of been nonstop ever since I got back. But I had some beer and some ribs over there.
CONAN: That's a good way to start.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah.
CONAN: What did you - speaking of that - we'll get to that. Was there a day, or maybe more than one day, during this voyage when you said this is absolutely insane?
RUTHERFORD: Mm, I kind of knew it was a bit crazy before I left, I guess, but I thought that it was doable. I thought it was something that could be done and that I could do it. I never actually thought about quitting because I was far too determined. You can't let that kind of thought even enter your mind if you're going to complete a trip that long on such a small boat with all those obstacles in your path.
CONAN: And what was the hardest part?
RUTHERFORD: Well, the Arctic is difficult because you have a lot of ice and a lot of fog and a lot of wind. And you can imagine being in the thickest fog you've ever been in, surrounded by all different types of ice - some the size of this giant building we're in, some size of your car - and then the wind picks up to gale force, and it becomes a witch's brew.
CONAN: Do you have radar?
RUTHERFORD: We couldn't afford radar because it was such a low-budget trip. I couldn't afford it.
CONAN: And you're going up through the Davis Passage?
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. You go through Davis Strait, and then you start seeing ice. Right around the Davis Strait is where you start seeing ice. And Baffin Bay is full of it. Northwest Passage has pack ice more than it has the glaciers. But, yeah, there's ice all along the way, and there's some incredible fog up there. So it's - the combination is dangerous.
CONAN: Davis Strait on the west coast of Greenland, between Greenland and Canada. As you're going through this passage, I assume you timed the whole trip to be able to get through the Northwest Passage, all the way from Greenland, by the way, around to the north coast of Alaska.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. And timing is crucial for Northwest Passage and Cape Horn. And it's a big trip and a lot of distance to cover. But you have about six weeks to get through the Northwest Passage, and then it freezes up again. So if you get stuck there, you get frozen in the ice. It's -40 in the winter, so you don't want that to happen. So - and I didn't have a heater on the boat. It's such a small about, you know? I just rub my hands together when my hands got cold.
CONAN: You didn't have a heater on the boat?
RUTHERFORD: No, it's - couldn't afford one.
CONAN: Couldn't afford one.
CONAN: And then - so you come around and go to the Bering Strait?
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. I go through - I had two typhoons hit me right before the Bering Strait.
CONAN: Really?
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. I didn't even know they could get up that far. But it came off of Japan and just kept going.
CONAN: This was the typhoons that we read about?
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. The one - they left quite a bit of debris evidently.
CONAN: And there was tremendous damage on shore, islands that - had usually being protected by ice. The ice has been reduced over the past few years.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah, I guess, they're going further north now. Yeah, yeah.
CONAN: That's interesting. So what do you do? I assume you have to reduce sail.
RUTHERFORD: Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Well, I put out a parachute sea anchor under those conditions. It's like a giant - it looks a like parachute you jump out of an airplane with, made out of a much thicker material. You throw it off the bow with about 400 feet a line, and it holds your bow into the wind and waves.
CONAN: So it keeps the wind from pushing you onto shore?
RUTHERFORD: You got it. But I still almost got shipwrecked twice, and I had to pull it. And with giant waves crashing over the boat - and it was cold, cold water.
CONAN: Cold again? Yes.
RUTHERFORD: Yes, yes.
CONAN: And you didn't have a heater. Could you heat food?
RUTHERFORD: Oh, yeah. I did have a denatured alcohol stove. So I could cook food, and I could boil water and stick my hands in it. I guess it was before it really came down to it.
CONAN: Ten and a half months, obviously, can't carry enough water to - just even for drinking.
RUTHERFORD: I had a manual water maker. So I had to pump it about a half hour to make a glass of water.
CONAN: Presumably, you have to do that about four or five, six, seven, eight times a day.
RUTHERFORD: Ah, yes. I pumped it about 1,500 times every 24 hours. In 270 days, that would be 405,000 times.
CONAN: Oh, my gosh. So, as you're coming down, and then you're - there's a long run down the West Coast of - well, first Canada then United States.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. I was about 700 miles of the West Coast of United States, but then I got in the southeast trades. The trades are kind of about down by the equator, and it pushed me all the way across the Pacific. And at one point, I was closer to New Zealand than I was to Cape Horn.
CONAN: Because you're at the mercy of the winds. You have a little motor but just a little motor.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. Well, the motor - I was mostly out of diesel by that point, and the motor was starting to break anyway, so it was chaotic.
CONAN: Well, it's a little boat. I think probably a lot of things were beginning to break.
RUTHERFORD: Almost everything - all the electronics broke, the engine broke, laptops broke. I couldn't power anything at the end. I couldn't even turn on the light at night, so freighters would see me, not that freighters pay attention anyways. But, yeah, everything was breaking.
CONAN: You had solar panels to - for electrical?
RUTHERFORD: I did, but they broke.
CONAN: They broke?
RUTHERFORD: Yeah.
CONAN: One by one?
RUTHERFORD: Yes, one by one.
CONAN: And I think you had a Kindle to read books?
RUTHERFORD: I did, and it broke in a storm. A Nalgene bottle went flying across the cabin, and, you know, knocked it right out of my hand and broke it.
CONAN: And so one thing is breaking after another. There were two points during the - this voyage when a crucial piece of equipment broke down, and you had to be resupplied.
RUTHERFORD: Well, it was - yeah, it originally started - we're just trying to get an inverter. And when our little boat...
CONAN: An inverter?
RUTHERFORD: All right. So the power in your home is 110 volt if you want to plug your laptop, and the power in your car is 12 volt. The boat power is 12 volt. But if I want to run something, a normal appliance, like a laptop, I need to change that power. So that's crucial so you can charge your laptop or your digital camera or whatever you have. So that - I was down to one and it - more or less a little boat came out, threw me a couple of boxes and then took off. And it happened again in Recife, Brazil about 150 days later.
CONAN: And they just threw the stuff to you because if they actually came aboard, well, then it's no longer a solo voyage?
RUTHERFORD: Yes. There is - there's many rules here. It has to be nonstop. So I cannot drop an anchor. I cannot tie to a dock. I cannot run aground. Nobody can come on my boat. I can't leave my boat, and I can't be towed by a boat.
CONAN: But one of those boxes, I gather, was a pizza.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. One of those boxes, yeah, and a little bit of rum, you know, crucial stuff.
CONAN: Crucial supplies.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah.
CONAN: Then the very words Cape Horn will send shivers down the spine of any sailor.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah, Cape Horn, it's - well, it's - as a blue water sailor that we all dream of going around the Horn at one point in our life. And I had a lot of storms before the Horn and after the Horn, but luckily I had a nice day. I kind of planned it out that way with the low pressure systems, and I was able to get around the Horn at about 15 foots seas, which is nice for down there.
CONAN: And you knew about these low pressure systems because of your laptop?
RUTHERFORD: Because of a last-minute sponsor that picked me up. PredictWind is a company out in New Zealand. So they gave me this device that gave me weather reports. But it was a last minute thing. It came 48 hours before I left.
CONAN: And so it turned out to be pretty interesting.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. Very crucial.
CONAN: And I am told - I've read that if you're going to go around Cape Horn, better to go west to east than the other way.
RUTHERFORD: Yes, yes. You should go with the wind.
CONAN: And so at the moment, did you see the cape - the Horn itself? Did you pass it?
RUTHERFORD: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I was within a few miles of it. I, you know, I knew the weather. If it was worse weather, I would've been a little further south, you know? But since the weather is only blowing 25, 30, I decided to get close and, you know, get a nice view of the Horn.
CONAN: We're talking with Matt Rutherford, a sailor and writer, the first person to complete a solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas. You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. So at that point, you've rounded the Horn and the last real challenge you think is done?
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. Well, the big obstacles are done. The Northwest Passage is done and Cape Horn is done, but there are still about 7,000 miles to go and things just kept breaking and kept deteriorating. And so the problems was actually the degradation of the boat at that point.
CONAN: It's only a 27-foot boat and not a new boat either.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah, it's a 40-year-old, 27-foot boat.
CONAN: And you must have been lonely.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah, but loneliness on land is different than loneliness at sea. When you're on land, you're surrounded by people. So you wonder, why am I alone, why do I have friends, blah, blah. It's an emotional loneliness. But loneliness at sea, there's nobody around to talk to anyways. So it's just mental, and I have a strong mind, and I can deal with it, so...
CONAN: And there must be payoffs too.
RUTHERFORD: Well, sure. Well, it's awfully - you - you're, you know, little things in life are so great right now, a cup of coffee, a hot shower, you know, the laundry machine, a conversation. So, yeah, the things that normally I used to take for granted, I'm certainly not taking for granted right now.
CONAN: But I was also thinking about the things that you got to see that so few of us get to see.
RUTHERFORD: Oh, you know, the Milky Way looks like a thick cloud in the sky at night. The stars are incredible. There's nowhere else in the world that you can see stars like when you're 2,000 miles away from land. You know, whales, narwhals, dolphins, you know, albatrosses and just a variety of wildlife.
CONAN: And they must seem pretty friendly if you haven't talked to anybody for 10 months.
RUTHERFORD: Well, I have barnacles on the back of my boat that I was letting grow there because they were my only friends, the only people hanging out. Well, the only creatures hanging with me were my barnacles.
CONAN: And I wonder there is the question of why?
RUTHERFORD: Well, this was a fundraiser for a nonprofit in Annapolis called CRAB, which is Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating. They give sailing opportunities to people with mental and physical disabilities. So I was trying to raise money for them, and I wanted to do an around-the-world trip, and I wanted to do Northwest Passage, so I combined the two trips. So I had a long distance, single-handed offshore trip that included both Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage.
CONAN: This is not your first rodeo. You've done other voyages, and you've done bicycling trips, as I understand it, too, that are, you know, extraordinary challenges. There must be something about this that intrigues you.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. It's - I guess, it's a little more interesting than working in a cubicle. But, yeah, I did ride a mountain bike alone through Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand back in 2002, and I sailed from Annapolis to Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and back singlehanded before this. But, you know, I guess, is how I keep myself busy.
CONAN: We have Jim on the line. Jim is calling us from Anchorage.
JIM: Yes. I've always admired sailing around Cape Horn. And I understand that in the nautical tradition, you are entitled to pierce the ear that was closest to the horn and wear an earring after you've rounded Cape Horn in a sail vessel - sailing vessel. So...
CONAN: He's got headphones. I can't see his left ear.
JIM: Oh, did you pierce your left ear?
RUTHERFORD: No. You know, I think that rule, unfortunately, has been abused there with - by so many guys on boats with a pierced left ear that, yeah, it has kind of been destroyed over the time.
JIM: Worse than military medals that, gee, at least, the entitled ones and, gee, the whole double continent too.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah. I don't know what - I have to pierce my nose, my ears.
JIM: Well, there isn't a tradition for that. Yeah, I guess.
CONAN: Jim, thanks very much for the call...
JIM: Yeah, yeah.
CONAN: ...appreciate it. The voyage up to Chesapeake, the finish line - the official finish line, I guess, was the bridge tunnel of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, but you then have, what, I guess, a couple of more days left to get up to Annapolis?
RUTHERFORD: Well, I actually - I got to the mouth of the bay and the wind died, and if there are strong Northerlies in the bay, so it flushed the bay out, so the tide didn't change. So I've been up for about three days at this point, kind of excited to get back, a lot of freighter traffic, you know? And it pushed me backwards for 16 miles. I end up south of Virginia Beach. So I got to the point where I can see the finish line, and then for the next, like 20 hours, I was getting slowly pushed south, and eventually, I was able to get in the bay. But, yeah, for 24 hours, I just sat there and stared at the finish line.
CONAN: There must have been times with the ice and the fog where you had to stay awake too.
RUTHERFORD: Yeah, I was doing 50-hour watches with about three hours of sleep, and another 50 hours, but, you know, you get - it's adrenalin. It's like you do this. You know, you got icebergs popping out the fog. So it keeps you up.
CONAN: It does keep you up, and, as you say, the freighters don't pay a lot of attention either. What are you going to do next?
RUTHERFORD: I'm going to head back up to the Arctic. I just want to film a documentary. I have a friend who's a polar scientist come with me with a bunch of equipment. So it's a scientific expedition, filming a documentary, dealing with climate change, trying to raise money for nonprofits and try to do a route that's never been done before.
CONAN: Route, which one would that be?
RUTHERFORD: That would be through - over the top of Banks Island, through M'Clure Strait. It's the northern route of the Northwest Passage.
CONAN: Well, thanks very much and again, congratulations. Welcome home.
RUTHERFORD: Thank you very much.
CONAN: Matt Rutherford joined us here in Studio 3A. He just completed a solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas in a 27-foot sailboat. Tomorrow, former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley on his new book, "We Can All Do Better." Join us for that conversation. I'm Neal Conan. It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News.
Copyright © 2012 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
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Singer clashes with his composer and faces the Iraqi music
Majed al Mohandes's CD cover
Lawsuits and Iraqi titan clashes do not prevent Majed al Mohandes from playing his funky music, as he battles on to release his next album. Iraqi superstar Majed Al Mohandes is facing a lawsuit filed against him by Iraqi composer Jafar Al Khafaf.
Al Khafaf has struck out at Majed for allegedly swiping three compositions off his latest album "Ana Wayak" (Me and You) – which was more 'Me' than 'You' as far as the bitter composer is concerned- without obtaining the legal rights to them.
Jafar complains that the pinched songs are "Baidha Al Rouh min Hubak Jariha" (The Soul is Still Wounded by Your Love), "Khasartak Ya Habeebi" (I Lost You My Love) and "Bain Al Asir Wal Maghrib" (Between Mid-Day and Sunset). Jafar was adamant that Majed omitted any credit to him, instead simply attributing the songs to Iraqi folklore.
In spite of teething pains and legal wrangling, 'Rotana' is pressing ahead to get the album out "Ana Wayak" in the next few days.


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Should we be screening patients on DPP-4 inhibitors for bullous pemphigoid?
As a registered nurse, I always try to be aware of potential side effects of medications, so I can include screening for early signs of trouble from medications as part of a thorough assessment of my patients at each visit. I found it interesting to note the following article published in the February 2012 Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. It is entitled:"Drug-induced bullous pemphigoid in diabetes mellitus patients receiving dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors plus metformin"
Here are some excerpts from the abstract of this article: " Preclinical data and reports of adverse skin reactions in patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors (gliptins) have increased awareness towards skin-targeting side-effects of these anti-hyperglycaemic drugs. "
This report is based on 5 patients with diabetes who were taking a DPP-4 inhibitor plus metformin. The authors were struck by the fact that within six months,"six out of nine newly diagnosed bullous pemphigoid patients in our Department were type 2 diabetics. Five of them were on gliptin plus metformin (three different trade preparations) for 2-13 months prior to BP [bullous pemphigoid] onset. In all cases BP[bullous pemphigoid] was controlled after withdrawal of the suspected medication and relatively mild therapeutic interventions."This is apparently "the first report of drug-induced BP[bullous pemphigoid] as a group adverse event of the gliptins plus metformin combination therapy for glycaemia control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients."
Authors: Skandalis, K.; Spirova, M.; Gaitanis, G.; Tsartsarakis, A.; Bassukas, I.D. All fromDepartment of Skin & Venereal Diseases, University of Ioannina Medical School and University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
Source:Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology, Volume 26, Number 2, 1 February 2012 , pp. 249-253(5)
I realize that many drugs are allowed in Europe well before they receive FDA approval in the United States, so it surely is a topic worth following.
Here is some information about Bullous Pemphigoid:
"Bullous Pemphigoid is a rare, autoimmune, chronic skin disorder characterized by blistering. This disorder occurs most frequently in elderly people. Generalized blistering occurs in and under the upper layers of the skin and usually subsides spontaneously within several months or years."http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-center/bullous-pemphigoid.aspx
"In people with Bullous pemphigoid, antibodies are made against the membrane between the top layer of skin (the epidermis) and the next layer (the dermis). This antibody attack causes fluid to build up as blisters between these two layers of skin." "It is not known why bullous pemphigoid or other autoimmune diseases occur. It is thought that something triggers the immune system to attack the body's own tissues. "
"The first symptoms may be small patches of itchy skin. There may also be a pink rash which can look like eczema. Blisters then develop a week or more later. In some cases, the blisters do not start until months later." "The blisters are quite firm and dome-shaped. The blister fluid is usually clear, but may be cloudy or blood-stained. Any area of skin can be affected, but blisters mostly occur on the arms, legs, armpits and groin. The amount of blistering can vary: sometimes it is just one area, such as the lower leg. In severe cases, the whole body may be affected. "The skin over the blisters is quite strong….. A raw patch of skin is left when a blister bursts, which then heals. Some blisters do not burst, instead the fluid is absorbed into the body and the roof of the blister settles back down on the skin. The blisters usually heal without forming scars."
A Biopsy or a blood test for the Bullous pemphigoid auto-antibody can be done to determine the diagnosis..
A reminder regarding what DPP-4 does:
"The protein encoded by the DPP4 gene is an antigenic enzyme expressed on the surface of most cell types and is associated with immune regulation, signal transduction and apoptosis. Furthermore, it appears to work as a suppressor in the development of cancer and tumors" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipeptidyl_peptidase-4
You can find a picture of bullous pemphigoid at this website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bullous-pemphigoid/DS00722
I just love the fact that I am constantly learning from you. I'm a Pediatric NP and we see more than our fair share of skin lesions, and I've never before heard of bulbous pemphigoid. Not only do I know about it now, and a potential trigger for it in the patients I see daily, but I've seen a picture of it, as well. Thank you.
Now, this coming week, here at work, there's sure to be an elderly patient on a DPP4 who will present with bulbous pemphigoid and everyone will think I'm brilliant, and all because I have Pat Linekin in my hip pocket. Thanks honey. I'm always learning from you.
As soon as I saw "bullous pemphigoid" I had these wild pictures in my mind of what this could be. None of them were pretty! I then read the description, and thought "boy, I'd love to see a picture of this" and then of coruse you posted a picture! Thanks for the information and for making it so easy for us to learn new information.
Thanks for all your comments, my wonderful colleagues. We really have to be proactive in protecting our patients by knowing of possible adverse outcomes of medicastions...especially the new ones


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In the Community
An Alumnus' Labor of Love
On April 26, SIS hosted a daylong symposium, "One Hundred Years of U.S Labor and Employment Relations: A Look Back, A Look Forward, and A View From A Comparative Perspective," celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Department of Labor. The event was largely supported by Dean's Council member Stephen Embry, SIS/BA '71, a lawyer specializing in workers' compensation cases for over thirty years.
"We may have forgotten as a society that there was in fact a small group of people who organized and said, 'We can change things,'" Embry said. "[First female Cabinet member] Frances Perkins and that group deserve to be memorialized, and the department that they created deserves to be recognized, and we need to take this opportunity to say, 'What can we do for the next 100 years?' because they had the vision to do so 100 years ago."
The issue of commitment is a personal one for Embry, who understands the importance of service as not a temporary obligation, but an enduring connection.
"Like most lawyers, I have a relationship with the families. I don't close a file and put it away and forget about them. It's a lifetime relationship with my clients in all sorts of different ways. It's representing them in worker's compensation, representing them in Social Security disability and all sorts of other matters on the legal side, but also then going to their funerals and their children's bar mitzvahs."
Embry's dedication to serving his clients parallels the mission of SIS.
"In my introductory remarks at the conference, I said that one of the things that makes me the proudest is that I went to a school with service in its name," he said. "There aren't many schools that do that. It's not a school of management – it's a school of service, and it's reflected in the way our students and alumni serve after they graduate."
The event featured academics, lawyers, and members of the private sector. Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris provided the keynote address, followed by a discussion with SIS Dean James Goldgeier.


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Link Ink: Stephen Colbert's Comic-Con Cosplay, Scotland's New Superhero And Ryan Reynolds Talks 'Deadpool' Test Footage
Each weekday, ComicsAlliance brings you a carefully selected variety of links from around the web about comics and comics-related media, including movies, video games, toys, and whatever else might be worth noting. Quite frankly, these are items you may just need to know about to have a productive day. Take a look at today's hand-picked links after the jump.


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Where to start...I live in George :?
Find someone to climb with... anywhere
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Where to start...I live in George :?
Hi, I have no experience in rock climbing and on the 2 occasions I have gone I enjoyed it a great deal. However in George in the Western Cape there is not much of a following and therfore it is difficult to get into... Anyone know of a local climbing group or at least one in this region? J
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Lowrie continues to sit with injured foot
HOUSTON -- A's infielder Jed Lowrie was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight game on Friday while still experiencing discomfort in his contused right foot.
"It's a lot better," said Lowrie, hit by a Yu Darvish pitch on Tuesday. "It's not better to play, but the swelling has gone down. There's a lot more bruising, but I feel like I'm getting around on it a lot better and waiting for all the swelling to go away."
Lowrie said he did not want to speculate on when he'll return, noting "it's a day-by-day thing," but neither he nor manager Bob Melvin ruled out Saturday, when the A's are scheduled to play the second of a three-game set in Houston, as a possibility.
"If I wake up tomorrow and feel ready to go, I'm playing," he said. "My mentality is that once that inflammation is out of there, I'm ready to go, I'm playing.
"It's never quick enough, but I'm happy with how over the last two days really progress. I can finally put a shoe on."
"Maybe a potential start tomorrow, but I don't know," said Melvin. "It's kind of tough to forecast it. Certainly not a [disabled list] situation, though."
Jane Lee is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Major Lee-ague, and follow her on Twitter @JaneMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Andrew Wiggins will formally choose his college destination on Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. ET, Rob Fulford said via Twitter on Sunday night. Fulford was Wiggins' high school coach at Huntington Prep in West Virginia.
Wiggins, the nation's top recruit, "will not hold a press conference type ceremony," according to Fulford. It will just be classmates, family and friends present for his decision.
Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina are the final schools in the hunt for Wiggins.
Both of Wiggins' parents attended Florida State and are coming from Toronto (where his family lives) to be present for their son's college choice.
Wiggins, a 6-7, 205-pound wing player, is considered by many recruiting experts to be one of the best, if not, the best high school prospect since LeBron James.


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An Intervention to Improve Communication Between Physicians and Minority Patients With Hypertension
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The objective of the project is a test-of-concept of an intervention to reduce the effects of the perception of discrimination on the care of patients with chronic illness. Perception of discrimination manifests itself as stereotype threat. We hypothesize that stereotype threat impairs communication between minority patients and their physicians because of increased stress and diminished trust, resulting in interactions that are less successful at enhancing patient self-efficacy, in turn resulting in lower rates of adherence with anti-hypertensive medication.
The intervention is a self-affirmation exercise performed prior to a patient-physician visit. A similar intervention has been shown to reduce the racial gap in academic performance in middle school classrooms.
We will explore the mechanistic effects of the intervention by analysis of audiotapes of patient-provider visits following the intervention. We will measure the effect of the intervention on minority hypertensive patients' adherence with antihypertensive medication and blood pressure.
We will enroll 200 African American and Latino patients with hypertension and randomize 100 patients to perform the exercise and 100 patients to perform a null control exercise before the visit. We will assess change in patient's adherence with antihypertensive medications and in blood pressure over the six months following the index visit. In order to better understand the effects of the intervention we will measure subject's mood following the exercise, and self-reported stress levels, trust in the physician, and medication self-efficacy following the visit. We will also assess the quality of the patient-provider interaction from detailed analysis of audiotapes and from patient questionnaires. Following a subsequent patient-physician visit, we will conduct telephone interviews with patients to assess for persistence of any effects of the intervention.
|Behavioral: Self-affirmation exercise Behavioral: Control
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
|Official Title:
|An Intervention to Improve Communication Between Physicians and Minority Patients With Hypertension
- medication adherence [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
- Blood pressure [ Time Frame: 3-6 months ]
|Study Start Date:
|January 2010
|Study Completion Date:
|December 2011
|Primary Completion Date:
|December 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Intervention
subjects in the intervention arm will complete a self-affirmation exercise prior to a physician visit
Behavioral: Self-affirmation exercise
The intervention exercise asks subjects to reflect on a list of 11 personal values and to circle 2 or 3 items that are most important to them. Subjects are asked then to write a few sentences to describe why they are important.
Active Comparator: Control
subjects in the intervention arm will complete a sham exercise prior to a physician visit
Behavioral: Control
The control exercise is the same as the intervention exercise except that subjects reflect and write about values important to someone else.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|21 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- diagnosis of hypertension
- age > 21 years
- use of Denver Health as their usual source of care and pharmacy services
- self-described race/ethnicity of African American or Latino
- ability to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- pregnancy-related hypertension
- end-stage renal disease
- unable to speak or write English at at least a 6th grade level.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01037920
|United States, Colorado
|Denver Health Medical Center
|Denver, Colorado, United States, 80204
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Denver Health and Hospital Authority
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01037920 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
R21HL089623 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
|Study First Received:
|December 18, 2009
|Last Updated:
|July 11, 2012
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Vascular Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 18, 2017


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Social Media Weekend 2013: Feb. 15-17
NYU School of Professional Studies and Project Management Institute, New York City Chapter
Friday, February 15, 2013 at 5:00 PM - Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:00 PM (EST)
Who's Going
San Francisco, California
London, United Kingdom
Florence, Italy
Event Details
The Continuing Education department of Columbia Journalism School [@columbiajourn] will host its third annual Social Media Weekend with Professor Sree Sreenivasan [@sree] leading a series of workshops, panels and keynotes to help journalists, media professionals and others understand social media better.
In 2011, more than 250 people from around the country attended various parts of the first weekend; in 2012, more than 500 people joined us from 12 countries. THIS YEAR, it will once again be a sold-out, fun, interative, multi-day learning experience filled with latest industry tools and services. Get ready, #smwknd will also be sprinkled with lots of old-fashioned networking too.
Among our 50+ Speakers
We have confirmed @EmilyBell, Director of Columbia's Tow Center for Digital Journalism and @MarkLittleNews, founder of Storyful, @MarkSLuckie, Twitter's creative content manager, Journalism & News AND Vadim Lavrusik from Facebook's journalism team– among our keynotes (so far!).
In addition to panels and workshops, there will be a continuous group of social media doctors offering digital makeovers for beginners to pros, with tips and feedback in one-on-one and small-group sessions. Professional photographers will also be present to capture head-shots for your social media profiles. Worth the price of admission alone!
Speakers, Schedule & More
http://socmediaweekend.wordpress.com/ and follow @columbiajourn for updates.
We welcome "students" of all levels and from ANY industry. Companies sending participants should contact Tatiana Rivera, program manager of continuing education at firstname.lastname@example.com to discuss group discounts.
Promotional discount codes (subject to authentication)
Columbia Journalism School alumni [cjalumni], Past Journalism School continuing education students [cjcealumni], Columbia University staff & current active adjuncts [columbiastaff], Group pricing for 5 or more participants [smwgroup].
Valid current ACCREDITED university program (undergraduate, graduate or professional education) student ID for this academic year must be presented at check-in.
Event Hashtag
Please tweet: #smwknd
PLEASE SHARE: Don't miss @ColumbiaJourn & @Sree Social Media Weekend, Feb. 15-17. Grab spots now: http://bit.ly/smwknd #smwknd
Can't join, but want more info? Email firstname.lastname@example.com to receive updates.
When & Where
Columbia Journalism School
2950 Broadway
New York,
Friday, February 15, 2013 at 5:00 PM - Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:00 PM (EST)
Add to my calendar


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The holiday season can be a busy time, but there's a way you can remain calm, cool and collected. What's the secret? Having a holiday organizer at your fingertips! The holiday organizer is a planner, tracker and filing system all in one. Manage all your holiday tasks, keep track of your mailing lists and always have your supplies on hand.
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I found this over at that Lakers Forum
It seems pretty cool. I've only managed to download half of it so far, but I like it so far. Except the music.
Some of JO's moves in this are insane, I had forgotten how nice they were.
I can't wait for the season to start.
Also, sorry if this video has been posted before, I don't know if it's an old one or what.


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Federer rested, ready for Aussie Open
We're just 10 days away from the start of the Australian Open, and while the bulk of the ATP are fine-tuning across three continents this week, one name has been missing from every tournament entry list: Roger Federer.
As part of his decision to scale down his schedule, Federer skipped warm-up events, staying home with his family and practicing. This marks only the second time in Federer's career that he'll go into the Australian Open with zero match play, having played varying combinations of Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kooyong, Sydney or Adelaide every year except in 2008, the year in which he was subsequently diagnosed with mono. As Reuters reports, Federer isn't too concerned about the change.
"It's a bit of a different preparation for the Australian Open this year but I'm confident I am mentally refreshed, which I am, and physically I am fine and that I will play a good Australian Open," Federer told reporters in Singapore on Friday.
"I have been practising really hard the last few weeks and didn't play a leading up tournament this year just because I thought practice is very important for me coming up in the next year, year-and-a-half."
Federer says the change in philosophy is about taking a needed mental break from a grueling 2012, as well as looking to the future. Federer, 31, is looking to protect his health and longevity. He's already said he wants to play in the Rio Olympics in 2016.
"For me, in the long run, I want to stay healthy and enjoy what I am doing, I want to have fun, I want to be excited and motivated coming back to the Tour," he explained. "For that I really need to get away from it all, which I have done for the last two or three weeks now after an incredible busy South American trip and an incredible busy year so it is important for me to have the family time."


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Soviet Nonconformism
(movement, 1956-1986)
Soviet dissident art from the historical Cold War period (1956-1986)—from Khruschev's cultural "thaw" to Gorbachev's glasnost and perestroika. Soviet artists working in opposition to the government-prescribed style of Social Realism risked personal safety, imprisonment, and exile in their quest for individual expression. Other terms used to refer to this phenomenon are "unofficial art" or "underground art."
Artists Soviet Nonconformism:
- bas - zve
The term non-conformism generally embraces virtually all the art in the former Soviet Union which did not conform to the state dogma of Socialist Realism decreed by Stalin and ruthlessly enforced by the authorities. Although Stalin died in 1953, even after that time artists were still supposed to adhere to its portrayal of the Soviet Union as a socialist paradise and reject any other styles, particularly from the West…


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Kingston AC & Polytechnic athlete Phoebe Law turned bronze in to gold at the Surrey Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
The 16-year-old clocked 22 minutes 48 seconds to win the U17 girls race in Dorking – 12 months after finishing third in the same event in Croydon.
Clubmate Joshua Hall claimed silver in the U15 boys event in 15:32, while Darcy Bourne finished fourth in the U13 girls race.
Kingston AC & Polytechnic's Molly Renfer (33:18) was fourth in the senior women's race, while James Robertson (48:18) was the club's leading man as he finished 49th in the men's event.
Stragglers' Matthew Kossatz clocked 10:56 to win the U13 boys race.
Walton Athletics Club runner Andrew Crooks was his club's first finisher in the senior men's race, coming home 30th out of 247 competitors in 46:48.
Nikki Nicholson clocked 38:12 to finished 37th in the senior women's race for Elmbridge Road Runners, while clubmate Jay Hadfield finished 44th in 38:46.


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'…the league contacted CCM's plant just outside Montreal on the morning of April 4 and asked it had enough backstock of Sabres' home uniforms and matching socks. The company had the jerseys, although they had to be lettered and numbered. As for the 50 or so pairs of socks, those had to be made that day…By the end of the day, the jerseys and socks were en route to Toronto and were snuck into HSBC Arena about 11:30 p.m. that night. With the Sabres on the road in Boston, few knew what was in store.'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / Sabres' look ahead includes the past


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A DRINKER banned from a Co-op showed a terrified staff member a three foot machete he had had stuffed down the front of his trousers, a court heard.
Shane Taylor, 25, who had struck late at night in Blackburn, did it as a threat, as if to intimidate, Burnley Crown Court was told.
Taylor, who was living at the Salvation Army hostel, has been spared jail for the 'dangerous' incident, last September 18.
He had admitted possessing an offensive weapon and had been committed for sentence by Blackburn magistrates.
The defendant was given 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with six months' supervision, by Judge Beverley Lunt.
Robert Elias, prosecuting, said at 11pm, an employee had finished work at the Co-op on Pickup Street and was chatting with a supervisor, when two men came towards them.
One started to approach and lifted up his top to expose the large black handle of what the worker thought was a knife.
The prosecutor said: "This scared him. He recognised the defendant as he had frequently been barred from the shop and they had had to call the police on several occasions."
Mr Elias said officers attended the scene 10 minutes later after reports of a man with a knife on the street. Taylor was seen nearby and had a three foot machete down his pants.
The prosecutor said: "That really is an extremely large object to have pushed down the front of his trousers."
Mr Elias said the defendant was questioned and told police he had been drinking since lunchtime.
He said he had gone past the Co-op and had seen staff members he had 'fallen out with' because he had been barred from the shop. He said he did not intend to remove the machete or use it.
The prosecutor added: "He does have previous convictions — a lot of drunk and disorderly. He clearly has a drink issue."


text:
- AcademicsA+
- ValueA
- DiversityA-
- CampusA
- AthleticsA+
- Party SceneA+
- ProfessorsA+
- LocationA
- DormsB+
- Campus FoodB+
- Student LifeA
- SafetyB-
Southern Methodist University is ...
Private not-for-profit, Methodist
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FBS
Athletic Conference
American Athletic Conference
Southern Methodist University Rankings
Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
Acceptance Rate
SAT Range
ACT Range
Application Fee
High School GPA
Application Website
Will You Get In?
Test Scores and GPA for Southern Methodist University
Net Price
$36,602/ year
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
Evening Degree Programs
- 89%
- of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.72 responses
- 60%
- of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.80 responses
- 65%
- of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.80 responses
Full-Time Enrollment
Undergrads Over 25
Pell Grant
Varsity Athletes
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 51 responsesReport
Campus Life
Freshmen Live On-Campus
- 62%
- of students say that Greek life is pretty big.108 responses
- 52%
- of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.116 responses
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 55 responsesReport
After College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$52,200/ year
Graduation Rate
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
- 88%
- of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.50 responses
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- A-Texas Christian University
- 4 Year
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- 1,402 reviews
- ATrinity University - Texas
- 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
- 659 reviews
- A-Southwestern University
- 4 Year
- Georgetown, TX
- 534 reviews
- B+Dallas Baptist University
- 4 Year
- Dallas, TX
- 853 reviews
Southern Methodist University Reviews
1,363 reviews
Review Southern Methodist University
SMU is not perfect, nor is any school, but I am so thrilled to be a part of the amazing community here. The campus is beautiful, the professors are world-class, and everyone actually wants to see each student succeed. I am a science student (which SMU is not known for) but I still find myself learning and being challenged as much as my friends at big STEM schools. The Cox business school is unparalleled, the Meadows art school is highly regarded, and a degree from SMU sets you up for a bright future. There is nothing like being so connected to campus through boulevarding (tailgating before football games, a very SMU-experience), being in the MOB (basketball student section), and having access to everything the school has to offer its students. I love SMU and am looking forward to another three amazing years here!
During freshman orientation, we got to explore the beautiful campus, talk to upperclassmen and ask them any questions, and got one-on-one advising when making our fall schedules. The days approaching orientation, I thought I would be alone since I was the only one from my high school attending SMU. However, when I arrived, I made instant connections; the group I was with quickly became the first friends I would make before even starting college. SMU priority during freshman orientation was not making sure we got registered for college or making sure our schedules were perfect, it was making sure that the incoming freshman class was comfortable to start making connections with people we never meet before and that the upperclassmen made sure the freshman knew that they would be there for us if we needed anything. Although I haven't started my freshman year of college yet, I am looking forward to starting it my SMU.
Looking back, I wouldn't have chosen to go anywhere else! There are things I would change about SMU, but it is already changing so much every year and improving. Campus life is severely lacking, but the new freshman dorms are helping to change that. SMU's professors are some of the best! They are easy-going, smart, dedicated and very accessible. Small class sizes were very important to me and SMU has that. Also, don't believe anyone when they tell you SMU isn't accepting. Yes, the students are somewhat conservative, politically, but they aren't hateful people. SMU's location is Dallas is very valuable for internships and post-grad employment as well, not to mention how fun it is just to live there.


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During the long weather delays, the Gators were not only hungry to play, they were, well, just hungry, quarterback Jeff Driskel said Tuesday.
During the long weather delays in The Swamp on Saturday night, the Gators were not only hungry to play, they were, well, just hungry, quarterback Jeff Driskel said Tuesday.
"There was a lot of sitting around, guys got hungry, so we were eating," Driskel said. "We were trying to stay warm because it got pretty cold in there. Just a lot of sitting around."
Driskel was asked what the players were eating in the locker room.
"All kinds of stuff. Whatever we can get our hands on," he said. "The nutrition staff did a good job of resupplying us. About a hundred guys in the locker room. Food goes quick. Anything. We were just tearing it up."
Like everyone else, Driskel said he was disappointed that play was suspended, pushing the Gators' opening game back one week. But he said the decision to stop the game was the correct one.
"Every 15 minutes or so we would get pushed back another 30. It was tough in there," he said. "We were all wet, we were cold. We could only handle what we could handle. Obviously, we wanted to play, but it was the right decision not to go out there. Somebody would have gotten hurt.
"It's not worth risking the season for one game when the conditions are like that. We'll just have to wait one more week and be ready for Eastern Michigan. We're fortunate that we have people that are willing to make that decision for us and worry about the well-being of us."
One very unhappy Roper
Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper said perhaps the only one more upset than the players over the game getting called Saturday night was his 6-year-old daughter, who was excited about seeing her first Gator game.
"I think it affected my daughter more than anybody else," Roper said. "She was so upset. Obviously, it got pretty late, so my wife said, 'Hey, at some point she's got to go home.' So, my mother-in-law started to take her and my son home, and my daughter said, 'I got all dressed up for this.'
"She had her fingernails painted, toenails painted orange and blue. She said, 'I got all dressed up for this. I'm just so disappointed.' You know what I mean. I think it affected everybody that way."
Driskel stays steady
Roper said he did learn a little bit more about his starting quarterback's demeanor Saturday night during the weather delays.
"You know, he's a real even-keeled guy," Roper said of Driskel. "He handles things really well. And that's what I like about him, he doesn't ride the wave of emotions like I like to talk about quarterbacks doing. He's pretty steady.
"So, he's a guy that was able to adjust when we come in and say, 'Hey, we've got 20 more minutes.' And then when it would change to 30 more minutes, he would stay who he was. I think he handled it well. The whole team is anxious to play football, and the whole team handled it well. But Jeff's personality is pretty solid."
Hard-working Robinson
Sophomore wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has had a troubling start to his college career, getting suspended for three games last season and for Saturday's opener against Idaho. But his teammates and coaches say Robinson has turned things around and is ready to contribute.
"Demarcus has been great since I've been here and he's a guy that's really working hard to improve himself, if that makes sense," Roper said. "And it's not always easy to go through some challenges that he's been through. I think he's working to try and be a better person all the time. On the practice field, he gives a lot of effort. He's worked really hard. He leaves it out on the field.
"I like to say those guys when we go to the field we empty the bucket. And he empties the bucket when we go to the practice field, so I appreciate the way he works. Obviously, as a coaching staff, we're here to help him grow."
Driskel said Robinson has done a lot of growing up since he first arrived on campus in the summer of 2013.
"I do honestly think that Demarcus is a good guy," Driskel said. "Sometimes he's made poor decisions in the past, but I think he's matured a lot. He did everything he could to help the team out this past week, knowing that he wasn't going to play. And that takes a mature guy to do that and not hang your head.
"I think he's going to help us out a lot this year. He's a guy we're going to have to count on."
Not tape on Gators
Roper pointed out that the Gators have one obvious advantage over Eastern Michigan this week. They have game tape on EMU from the Eagles' opener last Saturday, while the Eagles have none from UF's suspended opener.
"Oh, absolutely. Absolutely," he said. "That's a big help. To be able to see who's playing where and who their starters are, who their backups are, where it all starts.
"One of the advantages we have over them is they haven't had a chance to see us this year. Everybody's got tape. I mean it doesn't matter who it is. Everybody's got everybody's tape. But it helps to see who's playing in those positions and how you're structuring it."


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Community Papers
Delta shelter looking to adopt out cats
The Delta Community Animal Shelter is offering 50 per cent off cat adoption fees this weekend.
Start the new year with a new friend.
The Delta Community Animal Shelter (7450 80 St.) is offering 50 per cent off of adoption fees on all cats and kittens on Jan. 19 and 20.
All cats adopted are spayed/neutered, have permanent identification (tattoo or microchip), had initial vaccinations, worm and flea treatments, come with six weeks of complimentary insurance from PetSecure and a certificate for a complimentary health examination.
Check the listing of available cats and kittens on the shelter's Facebook page. For more information, visit www.deltacommunityanimalshelter.ca or call 604-940-7111.
We encourage an open exchange of ideas on this story's topic, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. Personal attacks, inappropriate language, and off-topic comments may be removed, and comment privileges revoked, per our Terms of Use. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.


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Editor's Note: All 30 spaces in the Etsy craft entrepreneur program in Santa Cruz County were taken as of June 24, according to the Teresa Thomae, who heads the Central Coast Small Business Development Center.
SANTA CRUZ >> About 400 people in Santa Cruz County sell handmade crafts on Etsy, the online marketplace for art, jewelry, clothing and products for the home.
Web designer James Karch at One Up Designs, specializes in pencils embossed with surprising slogans such as lines from "The Big Lebowski" or "Goonies." Leyna Allred turned the herbal salve she made for Christmas gifts into a business, Urb Apothecary, selling lip gloss, cheek blush and hair pomade she formulates herself without using harsh chemicals.
If a county initiative is successful, there will be many more local Etsy sellers, generating income to support themselves and stimulate the local economy. A report on the initiative going to the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, notes 8,000 residents in unincorporated areas work at home, with a significant number running home-based businesses.
Etsy chose Santa Cruz County to be in the next round of its Craft Entrepreneurship Program, which will bring free classes on how to start and operate a business online to Watsonville, where unemployment is 19 percent, the highest in the county, as well as regional training such as meet-ups for existing and prospective Etsy sellers.
Atlantic magazine's report that Santa Cruz County ranked fifth in the nation for artists per capita impressed Etsy chief Chad Dickerson. His company started the craft entrepreneurship program in Rockford, Illinois, and then expanded to New York City.
Newark, Dallas and Oldham in the United Kingdom are in this round with Santa Cruz.
The Central Coast Small Business Development Center, at Cabrillo College in Aptos, is a key partner in the initiative, with micro-enterprise classes starting in mid-August at the Cabrillo Extension computer lab in Watsonville.
Enrollment will be limited to 30 with the first series taught in English with Spanish translation. The second set of classes, to be taught in Spanish, will start in February.
The series will consist of six classes covering pricing to make a profit, marketing, accounting, sales tax requirements, and product photography, which is essential because buyers make a purchase decision based on a photo.
Etsy's popular art category contains 2 million items so sellers must know how to use keywords to be found on Etsy, which allows 140 characters, and on Google, which shows the first 70 characters.
SCORE, retired executives who advise startups, and advisers from the Small Business Development Center will provide counseling.
Financing will be available from El Pajaro Community Development Corp., California Association of Micro-Enterprise Organizations and the Opportunity Fund.
Support also is coming from Digital Nest, Second Harvest Food Bank, Santa Cruz County Workforce Investment Board, Regional Arts Association and Santa Cruz Arts Council.
Etsy is piloting training in photography in other communities. In Santa Cruz County, such a class potentially could be part of Cabrillo's adult education offering or the county parks and recreation classes or through the library.
Karch of Santa Cruz has tallied 7,500 sales, selling on Etsy since 2007.
Allred, 29, also of Santa Cruz, works at a local grocery while building her business in her free time, garnering 300 sales via Etsy in her first year. Her products are available locally at Stripe downtown, but Etsy offers a window to a worldwide market.
The top seller in her category, Dennis Anderson of Anderson Soap Co. in Portland, Oregon, has in seven years made 53,000 sales.
Comments are due July 7 on Santa Cruz County's economic vitality strategy released May 20 and posted at scco.planning.com. Highights from the two-year work plan:
Adopt the strategy in August
Analyze eligibility for federal grants by April
Explore 'modest' business license tax to recover public service costs
Create over-the-counter home occupation business permit
Work with Sutter/PAMF to support future campus development
Work with Dominican/Dignity/Sutter/PAMF to improve transportation access
Work with medical corridor property owners to attract hotel
Implement development impact fee study to support infrastructure
Source: http://bit.ly/1juUyMM


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I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. —Psalm 89:1-2
I've been in the ministry for thirty years. Through those years I have grieved with many who have told me stories of their terrible hardships—stories of molestation, abuse, and perversion at the hands of cruel and hateful people. But I know that even if they had never experienced real love, God's Word offers each one bondage-breaking truth and joyful hope through the revelation of God's heart for them. The knowledge of God's pure, faithful, passionate affection for us is far more powerful and life transforming than anything we can receive from our earthly father.
The knowledge of Your love has transformed my life, O God. I long to pass that knowledge of love on to those I know who need the transformation of Your love to revolutionize their hearts and lives.
It is the Holy Spirit, not human witnesses,
who reveals God's love for us and makes Him real to our hearts,
and that revelation is available to everyone.
Readers are Leaders! Subscribe now and get 3 magazines for the price of 1. Get Charisma, Ministry Today and SpiritLed Woman all for $24. YES - Sign me up!
3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Click here to draw closer to God!


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Through the Years with Taal Vista Hotel
The English Tudor Mansion-style hotel features a brilliant blend of timeless architecture and first-class modern amenities, while the surrounding lake is evocative of an even more magical atmosphere that will leave you breathless. Unsurpassed in terms of style and service, peerless location, and favored by a crisp, cool climate—Taal Vista Hotel is your perfect haven in Tagaytay.
the hotel
From its founding in 1939, this Tagaytay hotel has been the preeminent vantage point of choice to enjoy the stunning view of the majestic Taal Volcano—world-famous for its unique placement, being a volcano within a lake, which is within a volcano within a larger lake.


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Regions Sponsored by
Historically, fashion and beauty trends had to be seen in person to be imitated. They were often first observed in city centers and spread by word-of-mouth, and following the dawn of industrialization, they accelerated through travel, print media and television. There once were only a few localized centers of influence—such as Paris, London and New York—but technology has dispersed that influence globally and virtually.
In today's 24/7 culture, trends can come from anywhere, and the instantaneous spread of ideas is redefining the role of cities as hotbeds for innovation and trend activity. As trends become more dynamic and fast-paced, they become more difficult to pinpoint and forecast long-term. While certain cities and regions are showing signs of becoming the next leading trend centers, beauty innovators need to be forward thinking and open to other areas of inspiration and influence in global trend creation.
On the global trek for what's next, there is an increasingly shorter time span between what are considered new ideas versus old ideas. Technological advancements have opened up more networks of influence, as they enable greater access to and exchange of information at the click of a button. And with the pervasiveness of information, the authenticity and origin of a trend are instantly obscured.
As decentralization causes major shifts in the trends landscape, the lines of what define a "trendy city" are increasingly blurred. Influence is flowing as much from "spaces" as places, as virtual networks of influence emerge. Certain cities and regions have been viewed as influential because of the iconic associations they carry, but that gravitas is eroding. Milan, for example, has long been lionized as a go-to fashion mecca, but the once-exclusive runway shows are now globally streamed, and virtual runway shows are becoming commonplace.
Some iconic centers for beauty innovation still remain influential at shaping global product trends, however. South Korea has become recognized as a leader in technological beauty innovation in skin care, continually pushing new developments in treatments such as lasers, photo facials and stem cell therapy.
Beaucell, a stem cell-based anti-aging skin care line hailing from South Korea, has been referred to as the "holy grail of skin care." This regimen of creams and serums consists of stem cells from adult bone marrow and excess body fat tissue to make skin appear thicker and firmer in just a few weeks. Also, Masqueology, a new, mask-based skin care line developed in South Korea, is just one of many advanced skin care solutions that are starting to hit the shelves of Sephora and other beauty boutiques worldwide. And Seoul, South Korea's capital and largest city, has become a hub for cosmetic surgery, where hundreds of clinics known for their cutting-edge technology are nestled in the city's "beauty belt."
But technology also has opened a window to many exciting and influential newcomers, inspiring a new generation of beauty innovation with their culture and tradition. India's influence accelerated when the nation upgraded to a 3G wireless network in 2011, and their ancient practices and beauty rituals have begun influencing many facets of the beauty realm. Ayurveda, the ancient medicinal system rooted in natural and herbal remedies, was at least partially introduced to the mainstream market by Aveda, a botanical beauty brand that offers plant-based products based in ayurvedic principles. The ancient healing system has since experienced a second wave of influence, inspiring a variety of holistic beauty products, services and practices.
India's culture and traditions have also inspired many new product trends that are emerging in the cosmetics and hair care segments. Paris-based Clarins recently introduced Enchanted, a line of cosmetics that was inspired by Holi, the Hindu festival of colors. The Enchanted Color Quartet & Liner Palette features bright and bold eye shadows, and the intensely pigmented and creamy eyeliner (kajal) that has been a part of Indian women's beauty routines for centuries.
Another age-old beauty ritual that is driving new product development is oiling the hair and scalp. India Hair-Yurvedics, a new hair care brand from I.C.O.N., incorporates ancient practices with the restorative oils of moringa and argan to provide healing, strength, luster, well-being and tranquility to beauty consumers.
As cool hunters continue their quest for the fountain of youth, exploring areas of isolation could lead to new influential spaces. Though isolated regions are increasingly rare in our digitally connected world, they were once known to develop their own styles and became recognized as influencers, such as Austrian Biedermeier style (Europe found peace in simplicity after Napoleon's final defeat) or American casual wear (the U.S. fashion industry was born after being cut off from European influence during World War II).


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Safety and Neuroprotective Effects of Polyphenon E in MS; Phase II (POEMS)
This study has been terminated.
(Unusual high frequency of elevated liver function tests.)
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Jesus Lovera MD, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: October 11, 2011
Last updated: January 30, 2014
Last verified: January 2014
- Full Text View
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- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
The hypothesis is that Polyphenon E can protect brain cells in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. To test this hypothesis we are going to compare the changes in n-Acetyl-Aspartate (a chemical that reflects the number of neurons and their metabolism) over one year between people with MS treated with Polyphenon E at a dose of 400mg twice a day and people with MS treated with a matching sugar pill.
|Multiple Sclerosis
|Drug: Polyphenon E Other: Placebo
|Phase 2
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Phase 2 Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial of Polyphenon E in MS
Resource links provided by NLM:
Genetics Home Reference related topics: multiple sclerosis
MedlinePlus related topics: Multiple SclerosisU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Jesus Lovera MD, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Rate of Change in NAA Levels Adjusted for Water Content. [ Time Frame: 1 year ]The rate of change will be calculated using all the time points available )baseline, 6 and 12 months) using a mixed model analysis with the Log NAA as the dependent variable and water content, %grey matter, %white matter, %CSF and % lesion volume as covariates. All the voxels available for each subject where estimates have a SD <30 will be used. A spatial anysotropic exponential covariance structure will be used.
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Brain Atrophy [ Time Frame: 1 year ]Difference between the two groups in brain atrophy as measured by SIENA
|Study Start Date:
|July 2011
|Study Completion Date:
|February 2013
|Primary Completion Date:
|February 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Polyphenon E 400mg twice a day
Two capsules of Polyphenon E containing 200mg of EGCG each taken twice a day with food.
Drug: Polyphenon E
Polyphenon E is a standardized green tea extract. For this study we will use capsules of Polyphenon E containing 200 mg of EGCG per capsule. Subjects will take two capsules twice a day with food.
Other Names:
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Matching placebo capsules.
Other: Placebo
Matching placebo capsules
Detailed Description:
This will be a double blind placebo controlled trial of Polyphenon E as a treatment for MS.
The primary outcome will be the changes in NAA levels over one year. Secondary outcomes will be changes in brain atrophy over one year. As an exploratory outcome we will correlate changes in NAA levels with free Plasma levels of EGCG 8 hours after the morning dose.
Exploratory outcomes include disability progression by EDSS, MS functional composite components and a cognitive test battery.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 60 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of MS by McDonald criteria
- Relapsing-remitting MS or secondary progressive MS
- Stable therapy with Copaxone, Rebif, Betaseron or Avonex 30 mcg for at least six months
- EDSS Score less than or equal to 7.0
- Ages 18-60.
Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:
- Leukocytes ≥3,000/µL
- Absolute neutrophil count ≥1,500/µL
- Platelets ≥100,000/µL
- Total bilirubin ≤local upper limit of normal
- AST (SGOT) ≤local upper limit of normal
- ALT (SGPT) ≤local upper limit of normal
- Creatinine ≤local upper limit of normal
Exclusion Criteria:
- MS relapse within the 30 days prior to enrollment
- A primary progressive form of MS.
- Previous treatment prior to study entry as follows: complete radiation ablation of the bone marrow or anti-CD4 antibody treatment (Campath) at any time; mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, Natalizumab or other immunomodulatory or immunosuppressant therapies except the DMT's included in the inclusion criteria and methylprednisone for relapses within prior nine months.
- History of renal or liver disease.
- Consumption of green tea or supplements containing green tea or tea extract within 30 days prior to enrollment.
- Participants may not participate in any other clinical trial involving investigational agents during the study, or within six months prior to enrolling in the study.
- History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to Polyphenon E, tea, or any of the inactive ingredients present in the active or placebo capsules, including gelatin.
- History of allergic reactions to gadolinium or any other condition contraindicated for MRI.
- Uncontrolled, clinically-relevant active illness (aside from MS) including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
- Any condition which would make the subject, in the opinion of the investigator, unsuitable for the study
- Inability to complete the baseline MRI scan
- Pregnant women
- Any underlying predisposition to gastrointestinal bleeding (peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, diverticulitis, colitis, hemorrhoids)
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01451723
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01451723
|United States, Louisiana
|LSu Health Sciences Center
|New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112
Sponsors and Collaborators
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
|Principal Investigator:
|Jesus F Lovera, MD
|LSUHSC-New Orleans
More Information
Additional Information:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Keywords provided by Jesus Lovera MD, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
Additional Information:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Lovera J, Ramos A, Devier D, Garrison V, Kovner B, Reza T, Koop D, Rooney W, Foundas A, Bourdette D. Polyphenon E, non-futile at neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis but unpredictably hepatotoxic: Phase I single group and phase II randomized placebo-controlled studies. J Neurol Sci. 2015 Nov 15;358(1-2):46-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.08.006. Epub 2015 Aug 7.
|Responsible Party:
|Jesus Lovera MD, MD, MsPH, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01451723 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
K23AT004433-02 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
K23AT004433 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
|Study First Received:
|October 11, 2011
|Results First Received:
|December 10, 2013
|Last Updated:
|January 30, 2014
Keywords provided by Jesus Lovera MD, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans:
Multiple Sclerosis
Polyphenon E
Green tea
Randomized controlled trial
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Multiple Sclerosis
Pathologic Processes
Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS
Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System
Nervous System Diseases
Demyelinating Diseases
Autoimmune Diseases
Immune System Diseases
Epigallocatechin gallate
Neuroprotective Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Protective Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Antimutagenic Agents
Anticarcinogenic Agents
Antineoplastic Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017