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A cytometer system is described in which a stream containing sample particles flows past a light beam. The particles either naturally fluoresce or are tagged to fluoresce when they pass through the beam. The particles also scatter the light. Detectors receive the emitted fluorescent light and the scattered light and generate output signals. The output signals are processed by a configured processor to provide a signal value for later analysis of sample. In later analysis, only output signals generated by emitted or scattered light having an amplitude greater than the signal value provide an output signal.
1. In a cytometer system of the type in which a stream containing sample particles flows past a light beam and particles, which fluoresce or are tagged to fluoresce responsive to said light, emit light and a detector receives said emitted light and generates an output signal which includes a base value representative of background and electronic noise and peaks representative of said particles as they pass through said light beam, and
a signal processing means including a processor for receiving said output signal and configured to generate a base value representative of said background and electronic noise and for setting a threshold value above said base value for thereafter generating signals responsive only to said emitted light.
2. A cytometer system as in
said processing means receiving said output signal and generating a base value representative of said background and electronic noise and for setting a threshold value above said base value for thereafter generating signals responsive only to scattered light.
3. A cytometer as in
4. A cytometer as in
5. A cytometer system for analyzing particles in a sample stream comprising:
a light source for projecting a light beam,
means for causing the sample stream containing particles which fluoresce or are tagged to fluoresce and emit light when they traverse said light beam,
one or more detectors for detecting light emitted by said particles as they traverse the light beam and generate an output signal and a detector for detecting light scattered by particles as they traverse said light beam and generate an output signal, said output signals including background and electronic noise components,
digitizing means for receiving said output signals and providing representative digital signals for the output signals of each of said detectors,
a processor for receiving said digitized signals for each of said detectors and for generating a base value representative of said background and electronic noise components and adding a threshold value to said base value, and
wherein said system is thereafter configured to generate signal peaks when the emitted light detector output exceeds its threshold value and when the scattered light detector output exceeds its threshold value.
6. A cytometer system as in
7. A cytometer system as in
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/295,349 filed Jun. 1, 2001.
[0002] This invention relates generally to a cytometer signal processing system and method, and more particularly to such a system in which the signal threshold is set for peak detection.
[0003] The detection and analysis of individual particles or cells in a suspension is important in medical and biological research. It is particularly important to be able to measure characteristics of particles such as concentration, number, viability, identification and size. Individual particles or cells include, for example, bacteria, viruses, DNA fragments, cells, molecules and constituents of whole blood.
[0004] Typically, such characteristics of particles are measured using flow cytometers. In flow cytometers, particles which are either intrinsically fluorescent or are tagged or labeled with a fluorescent marker, are caused to flow past a beam of radiant energy which excites the particles or labeled particles to cause emission of fluorescent light. The particles may flow in a so-called sheath flow, or they can flow through a capillary. One or more photodetectors detect the fluorescent light emitted by the particles or labeled particles at selected wavelengths as they move past the beam of radiant energy. The photodetectors generate signals representative of the particles. In most cytometers, a photodetector is also employed to measure light scattered by the particles to generate signals indicative of the passage and size of particles.
[0005] A typical output signal from each detector has a base value (a little noisy) with positive peaks corresponding to particles. The base value is stable, but depends on the detector and the electronic offset. The output signals from the photodetectors are in the form of peaks or pulses. The base value may include signals due to light scattered by the sheath or the capillary and other optical components. The base value may also include electronic noise. The base or threshold value is unknown and must be calculated for each detector. If the signal pulses from the particles are too small due to the size of the particles or due to a low level of fluorescence, the passage of particles may be missed if the threshold is set too high. Certain analyses require that the threshold value be set just above the base value in order to detect particles which emit low level levels of light. In other analyses, it may be desirable to set the threshold value such that only large peaks are detected. Thus, it is important to be able to determine the base value whereby the threshold value can be set to detect particles.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a signal-processing system in which the base value is determined for each detector which permits the setting of a threshold value for detecting signals generated by the passage of particles.
[0007] The threshold or base value at which particles are recognized by the signal processing system is set by first causing the sample solution with particles to flow past the radiant energy and detecting scattered and emitted fluorescent light with suitable photo-detectors such as photo-multiplier tubes. The scatter detector provides an analog output signal with a base amplitude and peaks representing all particles. The other detectors provide output signals with base amplitude and peaks representing particles which fluoresce at the wavelength for which the detector and optics are designed. The output signals for each detector are sampled at a predetermined rate, digitized and stored in buffers. An arbitrary threshold is set, and stored signals are processed to detect peaks. The peak values are then subtracted from the stored signals to provide a base value for each of the detectors. An offset is added to the base value to establish the threshold value that is used to conduct an analysis or assay of the sample. The output of each detector is then processed to detect peaks above the threshold value, indicative of a particle which scatters or fluoresces as the case may be. The peak data may include, for each peak, height, width, area, time, etc. The peak data can then be processed according to the particular application, for example, the total number of particles for a particular volume of sample to give concentration, or, with proper labeling, the viability of cells or their apoptosis.
[0008] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a flow cytometer.
[0010]FIG. 2 shows a typical output signal from one of the detectors of FIG. 1.
[0011]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the circuitry employed to digitize the output of a detector.
[0012] FIGS. 4A-4C graphically illustrate the steps in setting the threshold value above which an output pulse will be recognized.
[0013]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing setting of the threshold value.
[0014]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing threshold calculation.
[0015]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the processing of the digital signals for peak determination.
[0016]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing data acquisition during an assay.
[0017]FIG. 9 shows the typical relationship of the peak values obtained for signals from the plurality of detectors.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated a cytometer or particle analyzer 10. As used herein, �particle� means particles or cells, for example bacteria, viruses, DNA fragments, blood cells, molecules and constituents of whole blood. A fluid stream 11 with particles 12 flows in the direction indicated by the arrow 13. The sample or fluid stream may be within a sheath, not shown, or it may be in a capillary, not shown. A light source, such as laser 14, emits a light beam 16 of selected wavelength. The beam strikes particles which flow through the beam. In order to count all particles which pass through the beam, light scattered by the particles is detected by an optical system including a detector 17. The detector provides an output signal such as that shown by the peak 18. The size and shape of the peak is dependent upon the size of the particle. The occurrence of the peak indicates that a particle has traversed the light beam.
[0019] If the particles are intrinsically fluorescent, or if the particles have been tagged or labeled with a fluorescent dye, they will emit light 21 at characteristic wavelengths as they pass through the beam 16. The light is detected at an angle with respect to the beam 16 so that no direct light is detected. The fluorescent light is directed to a beam splitter 22 which passes light above a given wavelength and reflects light below the wavelength. Transmitted light is detected by detector 23 while reflected light is detected by the detector 24. The detectors 23 and 24 may, for example, be photomultiplier tubes. For example, the beam splitter reflects light having wavelengths less than 620 nm and transmits light having a greater wavelength. Filters, not shown, may be placed in front of the detectors 23 and 24 to pass light at specific wavelengths, such as 580 nm and 675 nm, which will permit detection of particles tagged with readily available materials. The output of the detectors is shown as pulses or peaks 26 and 27 above base values 28 and 29, respectively. It should be appreciated that the foregoing description of a cytometer is not detailed, and that an actual system will include optical elements to collect and direct the light. However, the foregoing explanation suffices in that it shows how the signals which are to be processed by the inventive signal processing system are obtained. Reference is made to co-pending application Serial No. 09/844,080 filed Apr. 26, 2001 for a more complete description of a suitable cytometer.
[0020] The actual output peaks or pulses from the detectors 17, 23 and 24 include a base value which includes optical, electronic and other noise components. The base value is stable, but depends on the detector, the optical path and electronic offset. The noise is a low as possible, but depends on the gain setting of the detector. FIG. 2, which is an enlarged view of one of the peaks, shows that the signal includes a base value 31 and a particle pulse or peak 32. The peak amplitude increases as the particle enters the beam 16 to a maximum, then decreases as the particle leaves the beam. Referring to FIG. 2, the base may include spikes, such as 33, which may arise from contaminating material, etc. and low amplitude particle signals 34. The processing system, to be described, permits the setting of a threshold value which will reject such signals. However, the peak value may be very low and the threshold value may be set to detect peaks that are only slightly above the base value 31.
[0021] Digital signal processing of the detector output signals is preferred. To the end the output signals from each of the detectors is digitized. The signal amplitude is sampled at periodic intervals 36 by the sampler 37, FIG. 3. The sampling frequency is selected to provide a good digital representation of the detector output signal. More particularly, the sampling rate is related to the flow rate of the fluid and the size of the particles. The amplitude of the signal for each sample is digitized by analog-to-digital converter 38 and stored in buffer 39. The digital output will be representative of the pulse height, pulse width, and pulse shape. With the output of the detectors time stamped, it is possible to construct a matrix of coincidence of peaks relative to a selected detector. The digital signals are then processed by processor or computer 41 to obtain a signal representative of the base value 31.
[0022]FIG. 4A shows a typical signal from one of the detectors. The signal includes a background or baseline signal 31, particle peaks 32, noise spikes 33 and low amplitude particle peaks 34. In order to reject noise spikes and low amplitude particle signals, a threshold value must be set for each detector prior to conducting a particle analysis or assay. For this purpose, the sample is run for a predetermined time and the digitized data is collected in the buffer. The buffered data is processed by the processor or computer 41 configured to obtain a base value 31 for each detector. To do this, the particle signals are subtracted and the RMS value of the remaining signal provides the base value 42, FIG. 4B. Then, a gap 43 is added to establish the threshold 44, FIG. 4C, above which output signals represent peaks. During an analysis, noise spikes or low level particle signals, etc. are eliminated. The gap 43 can be set by the operator since the peak value is highly variable and can be very low. For very low peaks, the gap value 43 is set so that the threshold 44 is close to the background or base value 42.
[0023] As explained above, the sample is processed for a predetermined short time and the digitized data stored in a buffer. The buffered data is then processed to obtain the base value. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps involved in setting the threshold. The duration of data acquisition is set in step 51. All peak or object values in the buffer are reset, step 52. The acquisition frequency and threshold flag is set, step 53, and data acquisition is commenced, step 54. The buffer is filled, step 56, and acquisition is ended, step 57. Data processing to calculate the threshold value for each detector can commence, step 58, detailed in FIG. 6.
[0024] The first processing step in determining the threshold is to set a threshold, step 61, FIG. 6. This can, for example, be a calculation of the mean of the values stored in the buffer, plus a constant. The next step is to perform a peak determination 62, FIG. 7, using the preset threshold. The next step, 63, FIG. 7, in peak determination is to detect whether or not peaks are present. When the digital value is above the threshold value, a peak is in progress. The value is added to the buffer value, step 64. This continues until the buffer value is greater or equal to the threshold value, step 66, which signals the end of a peak. The peak characteristics are then computed, step 67, and the data is added to the list of peaks in a storage buffer. As long as the buffer value is greater than the threshold value, step 68, the processor is set to create a new peak, step 71. The process is repeated for each peak until the lapse of a predetermined time at which the processor indicates end of buffer, step 72, and peak determination is ended, step 73.
[0025] Returning now to FIG. 6, The peaks are removed from the buffered data, step 74, and the background value is calculated, step 76. The RMS value of the background is then calculated, step 77, and a gap value is added, step 78. The threshold calculation for each detector is then completed, step 79. The threshold value is then set, step 81, FIG. 5.
[0026] Now that the threshold is set for each detector a sample assay can be commenced. FIG. 8 shows the steps in data acquisition. The first step is to set all peaks in the buffers to zero, reset all objects, step 82. The acquisition or sampling frequency is then set 83. As explained above this is determined by the size of the particles and the flow rate of the sample. In step 84 the criteria for stopping an acquisition is set. This can be the number of peaks to be detected or a period of time depending upon the particular analysis being carried out. The sample is then caused to flow in the cytometer by driving the hardware 86. As the buffer is filled peak detection and calculations 87 are carried out in the manner described with respect to FIG. 7. Depending on the application and on the biological requirements 88 specific peak calculations can be performed 89, and the results displayed 91.
[0027] A matrix of typical calculated peak data from a cytometer using a scatter detector 17 and two fluorescence detectors 23 and 24 is shown in FIG. 9. The peak acquisition was controlled by the scatter detector so that only fluorescent peaks which occur at the same time as a scatter signal peaks 92 will be recognized. It is seen that the peaks 93 are time stamped and their height and width are shown. An extraneous peak is shown at 93.
[0028] Thus there has been described a process for determining the threshold value for each detector in a cytometer. Briefly, the outputs for a brief period of time from each detector is digitized and stored in a buffer. The peaks are removed from the signal and the buffer rebuilt. The mean and the RMS value is then calculated and a threshold value is calculated using a gap parameter. Peak detection both for threshold determination and sample analysis uses a simple algorithm based on sequential analysis of the acquisition buffer. Each sample is compared to the threshold value and the process depends on the current state of the analysis. The states are: no peak detected, new peak detected and end of peak. During these three states peak parameters are calculated and stored. When the count of peaks reaches the requested number of events or the acquisition time has elapsed acquisition is stopped and specific calculations, display and storage of the results for each application can be performed.
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Originally published May 26, 2013 at 9:21 AM | Page modified May 26, 2013 at 12:28 PM
US investigating Ford pickups for engine issue
The federal government is investigating Ford F-150 pickups with EcoBoost engines after drivers reported that the engines lost power during acceleration.
The Associated Press
The federal government is investigating Ford F-150 pickups with EcoBoost engines after drivers reported that the engines lost power during acceleration.
The government estimates around 400,000 F-150 pickups from the 2011 through 2013 model years are involved.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 95 reports of engines losing power during hard acceleration, such as when passing. The incidents often occurred in rainy or humid weather. NHTSA has no reports of crashes or injuries.
NHTSA says Ford told dealers how to fix the issue but hasn't alerted owners. NHTSA investigations often lead to recalls.
Ford owners in Ohio and Louisiana recently sued Ford in federal court, claiming the EcoBoost engine is defective because it loses power during acceleration.
The Dearborn, Mich., automaker says it's cooperating with the investigation.
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subset: commoncrawl


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The icing on the cake
In between the holiday and the house move, three things happened.
1. We had a lovely long weekend in London to go to Wimbledon, his first time and my sixth!
2. I got my hair cut, bringing back the bob. I missed it!
3. I made lots of cakes for my friends' wedding, and we had a wonderful time celebrating with them.
The bride and groom wanted a selection of good, tasty cakes and weren't too bothered about fancy decoration. In the end they had rich fruit cake with fondant and royal icing, carrot cake with cream cheese icing, and chocolate cake with fresh raspberry icing. I piped the designs on top and added fresh raspberries to bring them all together. The carrot cake didn't find its stand until it was at the venue, hence the cardboard box in the photos above! Those boxes are well worth a mention though: an ebay bargain and perfect for transporting and maneuvering cakes around, and storing the spare cakes in the kitchen.
Of the three flavours the chocolate raspberry cake was the most popular, and there has been a recipe request from the bride. This chocolate cake recipe is my favourite for celebration cakes, as it's moist and rich and both keeps and slices really well. After a few tests I settled on this fresh raspberry icing with more raspberries on top. It was just such a brilliant pink colour!
Chocolate celebration cake (recipe from Lindy's cakes)
1. Line an 8 inch round tin with baking paper. The cake will be about 3 inches deep so make sure your tin is not too shallow.
2. Melt 225g unsalted butter, 225g good quality chocolate, 1 tbsp instant coffee, 450g soft brown sugar and 150ml water in a pan. Once melted allow to cool then add 4 large eggs, 35ml vegetable oil and 100ml sour cream and stir well.
3. Sift 125g self raising flour, 125g plain flour, 50g cocoa powder and 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour the chocolate mixture into the well and mix until thoroughly combined.
4. Pour the batter into the lined tin and bake at 160 C for 1 hour 45 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. To stop it burning outside before baking inside, wrap the tin with several layers of newspaper before filling with batter. Once cooked through, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin.
5. When the cake is completely cool, cut it in half and fill with a layer of raspberry jam before icing.
Fresh raspberry icing (recipe from Two Peas and their Pod)
6. Puree 250g raspberries (I used a hand blender) then push through a sieve to remove the seeds.
7. Put the puree into a large mixing bowl with 250g icing sugar and 340g soft unsalted butter. Using an electric hand whisk, beat until well combined. Add another 250g icing sugar and continue to mix until light and fluffy.
8. Start off by scraping thin layer of icing all over the cake to catch the crumbs. You don't want any dark chocolate crumbs in the nice pink icing! Once the crumb coat has set a little, dollop more icing on the top of the cake and gradually spread it all over. The cake is so rich you want a thick layer of icing to balance it. Finish off with some fresh raspberries to make it look pretty.
Hello sunshine
The day we moved into our new house was super sunny. The poor movers kept having to stop to rest in the shade while I dashed about with glasses of cold water! I think the first few weeks after we moved saw a lot of sun too, but we were too busy unpacking and assembling and rearranging to witness it ourselves. By the time we were ready to hang the bunting and make the most of our new garden with some housewarming BBQs, Scotland was over summer and the wind and rain had arrived! I did manage to grab some photographs of what was flowering a few weeks ago though. The previous owner left us a veggie patch complete with strawberries, potatoes, rhubarb, lettuce and mint so that's been an unexpected delight, as have the new flowers that have popped up every week or so since we moved in. And long time readers will know just how much I love hanging laundry on the line!
We Scots are made of hardy stuff so we persevered with our parties in spite of the weather. We just grabbed jumpers and brollies, and have now hosted two BBQ parties, complete with last minute rainbow decorations and the above desserts (Nigella's London cheesecake and my favourite chocolate berry pavlova, and a Very Big Mac cake inspired by Coco Cake Land). So our house is now feeling thoroughly warmed; it's just a shame the garden is so chilly!
Could it be magic
I don't quite know where to start when talking about Orlando. It was brilliant and bonkers and absolutely amazing, even more so because we were celebrating our brand shiny new engagement while we were there! Yes, the boyfriend-now-fiance proposed at the end of May so we are now happily planning our wedding as well as still recovering from Florida and the big house move. It's all been a bit overwhelming, in a wonderful way. I feel ridiculously lucky to be where I am (as I did in June, when we were in this magical place, with Mickey and Minnie and numerous princesses, and Harry and Hermione, and dolphins and lions and tigers and many many minions).
Home sweet home
Just popping in to say sorry for the absence, and to give notice of more absence to come. No need to worry; all is well, and also exciting, overwhelming, and very busy as we are having not one but two holidays in June, and in between the two we are collecting the keys to our new home!
Yes, we have bought a house (a little by accident as we weren't really looking, we were just doing some vague research and of course we found somewhere we love when we least expected to) and will be moving in July. So we'll be leaving this fabulous city flat with its big windows and spotty floors, brilliant wallpaper and yellow doors, and moving to a lovely little house in a nearby seaside town. We'll have a driveway, a conservatory and a garden, as well as some rooms and windows and things. All very grown-up-feeling, and super exciting, but it is going to be a bit hectic as we move to our new home sweet home! I'll be back once things have quietened down a bit (and we've got an internet connection).
In the meantime I'll still be around on twitter and instagram (and I'm pinning like crazy) so feel free to follow me elsewhere!
Because I'm happy
My 100 happy days finished over Easter weekend (so I'm only two weeks late posting this!). The final 25 days saw spring arrive in full force, plenty of time with family and friends, some stunning skies, some terrible weather, some brilliant breakfasts, and the start of what will hopefully be a summer of many ice creams!
I've already written about the joy of doing 100 happy days, and how it has helped me in my efforts to look on the bright side. I honestly can't recommend it enough, and it's been so lovely to see other friends picking it up during my 100 days. It's also lovely to look back over the past 100 days, from the dark depths of January to a sparkly, sunny Easter weekend.
Speaking of Easter (and in a seamless segue), I promised you a hot cross cupcake recipe, so here it is!
Hot Cross Cupcakes (recipe from Twigg studios)
1. Melt 175g unsalted butter and allow to cool a little. Add the melted butter to a bowl with 3 large eggs, beaten, and 100 ml buttermilk (I just added some white wine vinegar to some normal milk and let it sit for a few minutes). Add zest of 1 orange and mix it all together.
2. In another bowl sift 175g self raising flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 175g light brown sugar, 2 tsp mixed spice and 70g ground almonds and mix. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.
3. Fold in 100g dried mixed fruit (I used sultanas, raisins and mixed peel but you could do something much more exciting) and divide the mixture between 12 muffin cases. Bake at 180 c for 18-20 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
4. Once the cupcakes have cooled, make the topping. Mix 60g cream cheese, 20g butter, softened, and 60g icing sugar until smooth. Pipe crosses on top of the cupcakes (ideally using something like this, which makes it so much easier and less messy!).
My cupcakes bring all the ducks to the yard
The results are in and it's a tie! Just as many of you wanted the hot cross cupcake recipe as wanted the duck ragu! There were some special requests for the duck though so I'm posting it first (unfortunately with the exact same photo as before as by the time I sat down to eat this I was hungry so prioritised my fork over my camera). I'll be back with the cupcakes later in the week.
My sister introduced me to this recipe as something a bit special that requires little effort. A perfect prepare-ahead recipe, you have to simmer the duck legs for two hours so it's handy to make it the night before you need it, and doesn't take long to finish off on the day.
Duck ragu (serves 6)
1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan, then brown 4 duck legs on all sides for about 10 mins. Transfer the duck legs to a plate and set aside. Finely chop 2 onions and soften in the pan for 5 mins. Add 2 crushed garlic cloves and cook for another minute, then stir in 2 tsp ground cinnamon and 2 tsp plain flour for another minute.
2. Return the duck legs to the pan along with 250ml red wine, 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes, 250ml chicken stock, 3 rosemary sprigs, leaves picked and chopped, 2 bay leaves and 1 tsp sugar. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Bring the pan to a simmer then lower the heat, cover and leave to cook for 2 hours. You'll need to check on it every so often and move the duck legs around a bit so they don't stick to the pan.
4. After 2 hours, take the pan off the heat and lift out the duck legs, which will be very tender. Pull off any skin and fat, then shred the meat with 2 forks. Add the shredded duck to the sauce. If you're preparing ahead, this is where to stop, allow the ragu to cool, and pop it in the fridge until you need it.
5. 15 minutes before serving, add 2 tbsp milk to the ragu and simmer, uncovered, while you cook the pasta. It's lovely with something big and ribbony, like tagliatelle, a little bit of parmesan and a green salad on the side, and feels special enough to serve to guests (as we did this weekend, with this to start and this for afters).
Easter in pictures
What a brilliant Easter weekend. It's hard to beat four whole days of food, family and sunshine. This week has been a bit of a slog after all that fun, and the grey, drizzly days aren't helping; the BBC weather headline for today was "mist and murk" which sums it up perfectly! The lovely long weekend already feels like a lifetime away.
We had a bit of a family-fest over Easter, so of course it was also a bit of a cook-a-thon for me. In between walks in the Botanics and along the John Muir Way (of which more later), a visit to a Lego Exhibition (sadly now finished), playing with Jenga, cellos, Monopoly and dolls houses, and multiple treasure hunts, ice creams and conversations about bodily functions (that's what happens when two of your company are aged 3 years and 10 months!) we fitted in a lot of food. Above are hot cross cupcakes, chocolate pecan pie, Easter Sunday roast chicken and a prepare ahead dinner of duck ragu for two. There was so much food that I can't quite decide which recipe to share with you, so I'm putting it to a vote! Let me know which recipe you want to see and I'll post it ASAP.


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By Philip Klein | 09/06/14 01:38 PM
A growing number of Republican governors are caving in to Medicaid expansion through President Obama's healthcare law.
By Philip Klein | 09/06/14 02:03 PM
President Obama's healthcare law has provided an economic case study on the tradeoffs between cost and access.
By Washington Examiner | 09/05/14 08:56 PM
In July, hackers breached the computer system of the federal healthcare.gov insurance exchange. Officials only discovered the breach in late August.
By Kelly Cohen | 09/05/14 10:19 AM
The hackers, who also upload malicious software, did not see or take any personal data, the Department of Health and Human Services told the Wall Street Journal Thursday.
By Kelly Cohen | 09/05/14 08:45 AM
Premiums for benchmark health insurance plans under Obamacare will go down in 15 major cities, a new study showed.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Borrowing a Republican idea, a group including former senior Obama and Clinton advisers is unveiling a novel proposal to let states take the lead in controlling health costs. Individual states would set their own targets to curb the growth of health care spending. If they...
By Betsy Woodruff | 09/04/14 02:03 PM
The Texas Republican will head to New Hampshire this weekend to hold a rally for Marilinda Garcia, who has said repealing the Affordable Care Act is currently unrealistic.
By Sean Lengell | 09/04/14 01:59 PM
The Obama administration scored a major legal victory Thursday before judges wrote a single word.
By David M. Drucker | 09/04/14 10:36 AM
Two months before Election Day, senior Republican strategists working on key Senate campaigns say they intend to continue using the Affordable Care Act to weigh down their Democratic opponents.
By Kelly Cohen | 09/04/14 10:15 AM
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted the Obama administration's request Thursday for an en banc rehearing of Halbig v. Burwell.
By Philip Klein | 09/03/14 05:24 PM
William Cobb said that the company was already taking steps to train its tax preparers based on the draft forms that the Internal Revenue Service has released to comply with Obamacare.
By Philip Klein | 09/03/14 03:02 PM
Health spending grew at a relatively slow rate in 2013, according to a government analysis released on Wednesday, but it is expected to accelerate over the next decade as the economy improves, baby boomers retire, and more Americans gain coverage through President Obama's healthcare law.
By Philip Klein | 09/03/14 02:58 PM
The government's share of U.S. health spending is expected to surge over the next decade as President Obama's healthcare law expands insurance coverage and more Americans become eligible for Medicare, according to a report from actuaries at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published...
CHICAGO (AP) — Some 10,000 immigrants in Illinois are among more than 200,000 nationwide whose insurance bought through President Barack Obama's health care initiative could end this month if they don't prove this week they're legally in the country. The federal government mailed letters in...
By Justin Green | 09/03/14 03:01 PM
In an interview with the New York Times Magazine, the Republican Minority Leader argued that Kentucky's acceptance of federal funding to expand Medicaid was a "mistake" but he also suggested it may not be undone.
By Paul Bedard | 09/15/14
By Byron York | 09/14/14
By Becket Adams | 09/15/14
By Brian Hughes | 09/15/14
By Paul Bedard | 09/15/14
By: Daniel Halper
Peter Thiel, the author of Zero to One, Notes on StartUps, or How to Build the Future , is on the latest episode of Conversations with Bill Kristol :Read More...
By: John McCormack
Manchester, N.H. Rand Paul's views on war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria continue to evolve. Speaking to reporters on the campaign trail Friday afternoon, the Kentucky senator...Read More...
By: William Kristol
In his September 10 speech to the nation, President Obama said, "This is American leadership at its best: We stand with people who fight for their own freedom; and we rally other nations on behalf...Read More...


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Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
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1/1 Photo of Pina Colada Cherry Lite Ice Cream
Prep Time:
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A refreshing dessert using light ingredients. It isn't as "creamy" as ice cream using heavy cream, but the flavor is good and it is only 3 WW points as written and only 2 WW points if using 1 cup half and half and 1 cup low-fat milk.
Serves: 12
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I made shopping bag for my mom. She needed not too small, not too big bag for daily shopping. Size: 30×20×35cm
Bag can be folded (15×19cm)
Iside is pocket with zipp for purse and keys…
Thank you :)
Yes, one night, I neaded for next day ;)
Merci Antony!
Thanks Martin!
Thanks! I have to tell you, last time I have only bags in my head ;) It's much easier sewing bags…
I neded 3 days travel bag. And one night before trip I made this bag. It's 100% my idea, I didn't have inspiration. It was Saturday night and I didn't have zip and I have had to make buttons.
Well done!
Very nice coat! Great job!
Soooo cool! It's my style! I want it too! ;)
Soo cool! You look amazing in this coat!
I like slimfit shirts! Wunderschoen!!
Sure, I'll tray it! Next week I'll buy some fabrick and I make t-shir from your pattern!
Sure, you can try! :)
Thanks Martin!
Exactly, my mom is the biggest critic too! But it's good for accurate work ;-)
Than you! Nice to read! I've seen your tunic (pink) ale your neckline looks much better than mine…
Thanks :) It's difficult to sew for other people, especially for family ;)
It's my first own project for woman. I've seen tunic like this by my cousin and she loves it. I had some difficulties, but I worked it out.
It's not perfect, but she loves this tunic :)
Cool! I like so much! Looks amazing :-)
Well done!
I love T-shirt with long sleeves and yours looks very good. Neckline is perfect!! Good job!
Świetna sukienka!
I'm so glad that you like it!
Thanks mate!
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Management Supervisor
- Saturday, August 30, 2003
Some scientists decided to conduct a test to see if dogs really become like their owners over time.
They placed a female mathematician's dog in a room with a pile of bones and closed the door. When they returned, the dog had arranged the bones in a way that spelled out the square root of pi.
Then they did the same thing with a dog that belonged to a female rocket scientist. When they came back half an hour later, they found the bones arranged to spell out E=MC(2).
Then they brought in the dog of a male Management Supervisor. Half an hour later, they opened the door. The bones were all over the room, and the dog was trying to talk the other two dogs into gathering them up and bringing them to him.
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(301): View more from Maryland
do girls know yet that the best boners are in the morning?
Tap Here to view the Mobile Optimized TFLN
do girls know yet that the best boners are in the morning?
the best days in LIFE are when you realize you arent pregnant
She's like Mona Lisa when she's intoxicated. No one understands her but they all think she's marvelous
so i just realized i am an alcoholic. I was making some tomato soup because im still sick, and put vodka in it. sad huh? lets go out!
Dude you can't like a status about me getting hit by a car
Well he's not exactly single.. It's like an open relationship his wife doesn't know about
Someone just asked if you were the one who rode around the bar on some girls back
My leg won't stop wagging. It's like it's congratulating my vagina.
I walked out of the bedroom naked holding a used condom only to be greeted by half of my family. Happy birthday mom
I guess, just don't make it awkward
You're like the Mr. T of my A-team, only less gold jewelry and more pitying of fools.
Is there a polite way to say "Sorry for your head injury but I still want to hook up"?
We also had a full on debate about how realistic and useful teleportation and time travel would be...and only used Twilight Zone episodes as "scientific evidence"
I thanked him for the booty call offer but told him I'd rather just do it myself
Nothing says "class act" like eating acid in the middle of a Buffalo Wild Wings


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See what you could be saving
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Leni Zumas, English faculty, had her new novel, The Listeners, named a finalist for the Oregon Book Award.
Ken Ruoff, History, authored an article, "Japanese Tourism to Mukden, Nanjing, and Qufu, 1938-1943," published in Japan Review, Vol. 27, 2014. »
Alumni in the News: Speaker examines Oregon black history »
Catherine McNeur interviewed on the Urban History Association's blog »
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Professor Katy Barber's students participate in collaborative projects that result in both academic and community outcomes.
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Latest Headlines
Hospitals in the Garden State spent approximately $998 million on charity care in 2012, a $2.5 million increase from the previous year, according to NJ.com
A lawsuit filed this week accuses two Washington state hospitals of violating state law by neglecting charity care, the Yakima Herald-Republic reports.
Representatives from the Department of Health & Human Services argued last week before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals that lawmakers did not intend for charity care to count in calculating disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments, according to Becker's Hospital Review.
As Congress continues to scrutinize how to change the tax code regarding the regulation of non-profit organizations, the American Hospital Association submitted its proposals to the Senate Finance Committee on what the government should retain and change.
During the depths of the Great Recession, Oregon's hospitals as a whole were able to improve their bottom line, in part by trimming charity care for patients, The Oregonian reported.
The Via Christi hospital system in Kansas is resorting to a proactive way to collect patient debt: Financial counseling at the bedside.
With critics around the country increasingly questioning whether nonprofit hospitals are providing enough charity care to justify their tax-exempt status, the pressure is on for nonprofits to...
An average of 11.6 percent of nonprofit hospital expenses go to community benefits, a look at Schedule H tax forms by Ernst & Young shows, up from 11.3 percent in the previous year's tax returns.
Officials in Charleston, W.V., have no intention of ever asking the local hospitals to give up their tax exemptions, saying what they provide in charity care far outweighs the potential revenue that could be gained, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
Maine lawmakers are considering a measure that would align state law regarding eligibility for charity care with the Affordable Care Act by allowing hospitals to conduct an income means test.
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Santa is on vacation. His Dad is not amused with the mice, the elves, the reindeer.
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Introduction to Silverwing. Harry and Neal are two teenagers with super powers.
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Bridget crashes a seance to ask an angry entity, Drax, about rumours of a Final Covenant.
The new tiger in the zoo has all the comforts of home except one - freedom.
A shopping spree with a difference
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When "gettin' lucky" zigs from a home-run to a... fowl ball?
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a short story of a boy terrorizing a town with lies.
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Search results for food
8 Votes
Climate Change and Food Security
http://www.enn.com — If coping with climate change is central to achieving a sustainable future for the global population, then food security lies at the heart of this effort, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said last week in a speech at the United Nations Climate Summit last week. "We cannot call development sustainable while hunger still robs over 800 million people of the opportunity to lead a decent l Read More
5 Votes
Seattle Assesses Fine for Wasting Food
http://www.enn.com — The push for increased sustainable methods can be seen everywhere these days — certainly when it comes to local efforts to pare down on what we toss in the landfill. The city of Seattle has also embraced the composting idea with a bit more of a creative edge: In an effort to encourage residents to stop wasting food, the city council passed an ordinance this last Monday that allows household Read More
13 Votes
Food affected by Fukushima disaster harms animals, even at low-levels of radiation, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com — Butterflies eating food collected from cities around the Fukushima nuclear meltdown site showed higher rates of death and disease, according to a study. "Our study demonstrated that eating contaminated foods could cause serious negative effects on organisms. Such negative effects may be passed down the generations. On the bright side, eating non-contaminated food improves the negative effects, ev Read More
5 Votes
Flamingo Facts: Food Turns Feathers Pink
11 Votes
Trauma and Food Addiction Linked for Women
8 Votes
Global food trade may not meet all future demand, study indicates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com — Global food security and the patterns of food trade that – until this analysis – have been minimally studied, are the focus of new research. As the world population continues to grow, by about 1 billion people every 12 to 14 years since the 1960s, the global food supply may not meet escalating demand -- particularly for agriculturally poor countries in arid to semi-arid regions, such as Africa's Read More
8 Votes
Plant diversity in China vital for global food security
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com — With climate change threatening global food supplies, new research claims the rich flora of China could be crucial to underpin food security in the future. A team has identified 871 wild plant species native to China that have the potential to adapt and maintain 28 globally important crops, including rice, wheat, soybean, sorghum, banana, apple, citrus fruits, grape, stone fruits and millet. 42% Read More
12 Votes
How Farm Pests Can Threaten Food Security
http://www.enn.com — Agricultural pests - viruses, bacteria, fungi, blights, mildews, rusts, beetles, nematodes, flies, mites, spiders and caterpillars - are spreading thanks to trade, travel and global warming, writes Tim Radford. The world faces a dire future of increased crop losses and growing insecurity. Coming soon to a farm near you: just about every possible type of pest that could take advantage of the ripen Read More


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Houzz is the new way to design your home.
96 tropical bedding Gym Design Photos
A. Leese Image
Villa AN3 Pecard Architecte
Contemporary Tropical Villa in St. Barthelemy, French West Indies. Built by Francois Pecard, PecardArchitecte SRL Photo: Abigail Leese Architect: Francois Pecard, PecardArchitecte SRL
La alberca y materiales de exteriores Contemporary Tropical Villa in St. Barthelemy, French West Indies. Built by Francois Pecard, PecardArchitecte SRL Photo: Abigail Leese Architect: Francois Pecard, Peca
Ceiling fan — sheppup1
Feldman Architecture, Inc.
MIll Valley Cabins
nice sliding doorin tropical country like where i sta
nice sliding door,is this viable in tropical country whre i stay
Windows and flower bed
Raised flower beds
I like all the windows and natural light in the room and the over sized doors that open into yard — Mike Desabrais
Moon Design + Build
Double bed and rock wall to get to it with ladder aswell would be good
The climbing wall and the steps/ladder leading up the the bed area or whatever it is. :)
"Climb" up to bed anyone?
Climb into bed.!!!! Literally..
Rock climbing to bed
Climbing wall to bed
hidden bed
Ne asi toto, ale mohl bych nekde mit ze stropu gymnasticke kruhy? Asi v satne u loznice? :) — radimko
Loudoun County Kitchen & Bath Designer
Best of Houzz 2014
Best of Houzz 2014
We are an award winning kitchens/baths designed to suit your lifestyle! The heart of the home is always the kitchen-Let our 20 yrs of experience help you create a kitchen that is as easy as beautiful.
Jodi Feinhor-Dennis
by Jodi Feinhor-Dennis
Rock like wall . No Murphy bed!
possible guest bedding with storage below or reading couch with bookshelves below
Platform bed and wall mount tv
Bed idea...diwan cum bed
Wall — arainier
BARRETT STUDIO architects
meditation pavilion
A small footprint finds many functions through transformable space: fold down a murphy bed for guests, or bring it up for a group meditation space. Sleeping alcoves saddlebag off the long kitchen / dining / living space in this guest and recreation pavilion. Outside, vined trellises overlook a natural
murphy bed can be pulled down...transformable space
colors — Leslie Owen Persohn, Architect
Bercy Chen Studio
Children Game Room
It goes over the bed!
climbing wall in boys bed?
Climbing wall over bed
The bed is... EPIC!
rock wall — Robbie Dillabough
GM Construction, Inc.
Kuikawa Lot 2
Gym — mynewlaredohome
Siena Custom Builders, Inc.
Naperville Favorite
can vary - this one in actually on the second floor of the house. It really depends on the house structure and where it is located as they can also bed designed in the basement, first floor or as an addition.
Black pads velcroed to the wall, so that the room can be shared as a yoga room, martial arts train — Mike Desabrais


text:
Don't give me a key to one of these things and then tell me how to use it. You know what's going to happen. My biggest regret is having a sudden bout of conscience and giving the damn key back. WHY!? Why did I do that!?
This one was dry-erase, so we couldn't rearrange letters, we could only remove them:
Outdoor Minigolf = Outdoor Milf!
Our sign at work is routinely vandalized to hilarious effect with things like "Come check out our new hummer whores!" and the salon next door was advertising "Rape Facials 20% off" last month. Here's one I snapped with the cellphone camera before changing it back one fine afternoon.
There's no other way to say it than to simply come out and state that this article is OVER. Thanks to all the forum goons who took part in this little project, and you'll all be delighted to know that I've passed your names and details over to your local police force. If you're not in prison on Christmas day, I'll be back next Tuesday with a special festive edition of the Comedy Goldmine to enjoy after your turkey. Gather your family around the PC (yes, even grandma!), pour everyone a glass of eggnog and enjoy my gift to you, an article entitled Draw Rudolph's Penis. Don't miss it!
Are we not allowed to be real parents anymore? We may have feared the CyborFreaks, but we damn well respected them and learned about boundaries.
A thousand years ago, dudes were dying from splinters, but now the wizard potion that cleans our light wounds costs less than a Dr. Pepper in 1994. I love this medicinal 7up.
Fall is the most magical time of the year, for people who sell office equipment, on the Internet!
Ron Paul spins in his chair, trying to grab his decorative antique musket but Freddy gets it first.
No good film goes unspoiled. Or something like that.
The Comedy Goldmine examines the funniest and most creative threads from the Something Awful Forums. Although the Comedy Goldmine has changed authors many times over the years, its focus on the Something Awful Forums is still the same. Includes hilarious Photoshops, amusing work stories, parodies, and other types of oddball humor.
Copyright ©2014 Rich "Lowtax" Kyanka & Something Awful LLC.


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What do women want? Flexibility
Send this to a friend
- Preeti Upadhyaya
- Technology Reporter- Silicon Valley Business Journal
- Email | Twitter
What do women want in the workplace? Flexibility.
According to a new Accenture report, released on International Women's Day, 80 percent of women surveyed said that the single most important factor in work-life balance is flexibility.
"You can't chain people to their desk," Janet George, managing director of Accenture's technology labs in San Jose, told me. "The reason is that when companies are global and you have clients worldwide, it's very important that you give people flexibility to work with people in India, in Europe. You have to have the ability to have a discussion with your peers, managers, everybody involved to be able to find a style that works for your company."
Work-life balance was one of three major factors that women look for in a career. The other two? Positive workplace relationships and job stability.
And keeping top talent means talking with them about what works and what doesn't.
"One of the things we say is critical is for employers to have a discussion about flexibility with employees. Every company defines it their own way. If we really want to attract the top talent, we really need to know what that work force looks like. And getting feedback directly from the work force is critical," said George.
George pointed out that over half of the 2,000+ women surveyed by Accenture for this report said that they would choose or turn down a job based on work-life balance. The next biggest priority for women was having a collaborative work environment and really enjoying the work they do, rather than focusing on climbing the career ladder. Tenure also came up as a concern, but it wasn't necessarily a make-or-break issue, said George.
Take a look at the full report here, and check out the infographic with more details on making women happy in the workplace.
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For even more recipes, View Our Recipe Archives
Oyster Rockefeller Stew
Made by: Mike Taylor from 16 Plates in Jacksonville
4 Tbl. butter
3 Tbl. Onion
3 Tbl. Flour
Quart 1/2 & 1/2
3 Tbl cooked bacon, crumbled
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce, to taste
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
3 cups oysters, with liquid
Parmesean cheese, as needed
Sauté onion on butter one minute
Add flour, stir for a minute & a half.
Add 1/2&1/2, and spinach, bring to boil until spinach is wilted.
Add spices, Worcestershire, bacon & oysters
when edges of oysters begin to curl, add Parmesan & serve immediately
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BizReport : Mobile Marketing : November 15, 2010
Microsoft: Half of mobile searches have a local intent
Microsoft's internal analysis of their mobile search query data has thrown up an interesting, yet not entirely surprising, fact about the search behavior of mobile users.
You're ambling around town when suddenly you crave Chinese dumplings. You whip out your phone and after a couple of local searches you're well on your way to getting your fix.
A similar scenario plays out day after day as mobile users refer to their devices for local information - information that will help them navigate their immediate environment and solve their real-time needs and wants.
It's not surprising, then, to read of recent data from Microsoft that shows over half (53%) of mobile searches on Bing have a local intent.
Hence the development of ads that, quite literally, guide consumers from "search to store". Such ads, including Google's Expandable Map ads, appear both on the mobile web and in apps and, when clicked, provide the user with directions to a store.
"Mobile user demand for information that can be acted on in the real world, in real-time is, well, very real," writes Search Engine Land's Greg Sterling, who uncovered the data in a recent chat with Bing's Director of Search, Stefan Weitz.
"That's what this Microsoft stat reflects. If that's not an argument for mobile advertising in general and mobile search in particular, I don't know what is."
Tags: mobile marketing, mobile search, search marketing
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Published: Tuesday, September 9, 2014 in Eastern Community YMCA News
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Reuben Feffer (Ben Stiller) is a guy who's spent his entire life playing it safe. Polly Prince (Jennifer Aniston) is irresistible as a free-spirit who lives for the thrill of the moment. When these two comically mismatched souls collide, Reuben's world is turned upside down, as he makes an uproarious attempt to change his life from middle-of-the-road to totally-out-there!Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Ben Stiller, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Debra Messing, Hank Azaria, Bryan BrownSee all
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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Smoking is losing to toking
RICHMOND -- Justin Trudeau, the latest new leader of the Liberal party, was out here in Vancouver in July to announce a policy plank in his party's platform. He has decided he is not in favour of decriminalizing pot. No. He is in favour of legalizing it so it can be taxed and regulated to keep our children safe. He was greeted with cheers and applause. At least that's what it sounded like on the radio clip I heard.
In other news, our city fathers in their infinite wisdom have banned cigarette smoking everywhere. It has been illegal to smoke inside for some time, and now it is illegal to smoke outside, in any public place including parks and beaches. There was even a rumour that a condo voted to ban owners from toking, oops, I mean smoking, inside their own apartments.
I think we're in the silly season, as John le Carr© so aptly put it -- the season when bureaucracy and government leaders and those in charge of us, go bonkers and completely flip their lids.
To crystallize this moment in time for casual observers, here's what we've got:
Downtown on the lawn of the old Courthouse (now the Vancouver Art Gallery, an elegant and stately edifice) the air is pungent with pot smoke. Pot smokers can light up with impunity, anywhere and any time under the very noses of the Vancouver police, who studiously examine their fingernails or stare up at the sky. Meanwhile, we have zealous city bylaw officers patrolling our public parks and beaches, pouncing out of bushes to ferret out tobacco smokers. Anyone caught with a cigarette will be given a $200 ticket on the spot. And don't even think of trying the "but sir I didn't inhale" defence. These guys don't have a sense of humour. Besides, that only works with pot and if your surname is Clinton.
As I see it, tobacco smokers have two options: Either mingle with potheads and pretend you are smoking marijuana, or start a petition to get tobacco declared illegal so you can smoke in peace.
But back to legalizing pot. Being a moderate libertarian, I am in favour of legalizing cannabis. It seems silly to outlaw a plant.
Trudeau fils has adeptly carved out a position on what he hopes will be a wedge issue in the election two years hence.
But, if he's serious about this, and serious about curbing kids' pot habits, then he needs to go much further. It's one thing to tax and regulate. It's quite another to achieve a lowering of drug usage among the population. (I assume this would be one of Trudeau's key objectives.)
Canada is very good at how it deals with legal drugs. We have more or less hit the sweet spot as far as tobacco is concerned. Smoking is at an all-time low and keeps going down. This is a good thing.
So, before we legalize pot, we need to address a few things. The first one is vital: Pot is a psychoactive, mind-altering drug that impairs thinking and motor function. For pot, we need an easily administered roadside test for impairment, similar to the breathalyzer test we have for alcohol. Colorado and Washington states have set pot blood-impairment levels at five nanograms per millilitre. Fine. Now they need to figure out how to test that legally and efficiently. Let's watch what they do.
Second, we need to put sufficient funding in place to treat those addicted to pot, as we do for gambling and alcohol. We also need funding to defray the extra cost to the health-care system due to pot's deleterious effect on the respiratory system, which is similar to tobacco.
Third, we need to implement propaganda in the school system, to counter the siren call of pot, just as we have done with tobacco and other addictive substances. The results for tobacco have been wildly successful. Shaming and blaming, disparagement, ostracizing, social isolation, ridicule, derision, widespread disapproval and other techniques have worked miracles.
We need teachers to send their little charges home, armed with anti-pot facts, stats and pamphlets designed to scare their parents into quitting their pot habit. Since more kids smoke pot now than cigarettes, this will have a good effect on the next generation, just as it's had with tobacco.
Of course, it goes without saying large, evil multinational pot manufacturers wouldn't be allowed to advertise.
Those of us not suffering from memory loss due to pot-smoking might recall former Liberal minister Allan Rock railing against Big Tobacco even while continuing to reap a tidy profit from taxes on pot sales.
If Trudeau the Younger's pot initiative is successful, and the Liberals form the government in 2015, I look forward to hearing his health minister accuse Big Cannabis of putting private profit ahead of public health.
I also look forward to hearing, like, where he stands on other government stuff, yunno? Stuff like health care? Yah, and, like, the economy? Yah. Stuff like that.
Marilyn Baker is a freelance writer in Richmond, B.C.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 14, 2013 A9
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April 05, 2006
Orson Scott Card On Reforming Islam
What I find most amusing is the widespread belief among Muslims that this Sharia law is essential in order to preserve Islam. Don't they see that it is exactly this law that destroys Islam wherever it is enforced?
It makes sense, but he's guilty of the grave sin (as Islamists would have it) of "orientalism," that is, viewing Islam through the prism of Western traditions. Christianity is an evangelical tradition, relying on persuasion for converts; Judaism is less evangelical, but converts still do so willingly. (And yes, Christians coercively "converted" pagans to Christianity, some 500 or more years ago. But they have reformed in that respect.)
The trouble is that Islam, according to the literal words of the Koran, is not a tradition that places great emphasis on voluntary, free conversion to the religion. It is a religion, according to the text of the Koran, to be imposed by the sword, and there is no distinction made between those who accept willingly and freely and those who are coerced into accepting Islam. Christianity and Judaism rely on actual belief; Islam seems to not distinguish between true belief and mere coerced compliance.
If someone outwardly pays homage to Allah and his teachings, it seems to matter little if he believes it in his heart or not. Allah must be respected and acknowleged as supreme in the public square; whether or not that respect and acknowlegement is genuine seems not to matter too much at all.
Christianity and Judaism grow by gaining converts, by gaining souls; fundamentalist Islam grows by gaining territory. So long as Allah's law is imposed on a region, it is in the House of Peace. It matters not very much at all what people in that region might think about it.
This is a fundamental difference between Islam and other religions, and, as this difference is pretty central to the religion, I'm not sure it can easily be reformed out of the religion. Card's entire thesis would be branded by a literalist Muslim as unislamic and blasphemous.
Card is not suggesting some minor tenet of Islam be discarded; he's critiquing the heart of the religion. It would be as if someone argued that Christianity should not necessarily call Christ a redeemer through his sacrifice.
Which, by the way, a lot of people do; there are a lot of secular Christians and non-Christians who argue just that. We heard a lot of that when The Passion came out, the odd suggestion that Christianity was a nice enough philosophy, as long as one didn't believe in that silliness about the divinity of Christ, or that "I am the Way" nonsense.
I expect that Card's critique will be as well received as that suggestion was among true Christians.
Islam doesn't mean peace. It means submission. It does not necessarily mean "volunatry submission;" coercive submission, through violence or the threat thereof, does Allah just fine.
In addition, there are other things in play here. Islam is not just a religion--it is cultural identity and source of ethnic/racial/tribal pride. Asking angry, ego-bruised fundamentalist Islamists to change the one thing they feel makes them superior to Westerners is probably asking too much of them. It would be like asking the KKK to abandon that whole "White Supremacy" bugaboo.
I think a lot of radical Islamism is driven by a cultural chip on the shoulder, and the belief that they are chosen by God Himself to spread his word by the sword is the only thing they have to amelioriate their feelings of insecurity and inferiority.
Thanks to Adolfo.
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Southeast Europe Publications
Debalkanizing the Balkans with the Kantian Theory of Democratic PeaceJul 07, 2011
This study focuses on the post-communist Balkans and juxtaposes the positions of what its authors call the "recidivist" and "transitionist" schools of thought. The thesis of the recidivists is that war is a deep characteristic of the Balkans and is destined to recur in the future. The transitionists, on the contrary, posit that war is a product of economic, political and social underdevelopment rather than being specific to particular geographic regions or cultures. Siding with the cautiously optimistic approach of the transitionists, the authors of this study employ a variation of Bruce Russett's Kantian peace theory and attempt to apply it to the post-communist Balkans. more
The Growing Influence of Brussels on Turkish PolicyJul 07, 2011
Jan./Feb. 2002 - The vision of a united Europe that began with the European Coal and Steel Community in 1957 inched closer to reality at the European Union Laeken summit when the EU declared on December 15, 2001, that "the unification of Europe is near." more
Kosovo: Continuity And Double StandardsJul 07, 2011
August 1998 - Since February 1998, about 700 people have been killed in clashes between separatist ethnic Albanian guerrillas and internal security forces in the Serbian province of Kosovo. Western reaction to the crisis, however, has been confused. more
Black Sea Security: The NATO ImperativeJul 07, 2011
August 2004 - On March 29, 2004, Bulgaria and Romania joined NATO. The Black Sea is now ringed, on one side, by alliance countries and, on the other, by former Soviet states with varying degrees of instability and security problems. As the trans-Atlantic alliance spreads to the east toward the greater Black Sea region, it encounters new neighbors, where both asymmetrical and conventional threats that were previously not of primary concern now loom large. However, at the June 2004 NATO summit in Istanbul, held at the very entrance to the region, no coherent strategy was outlined for the alliance's new neighborhood and only scant mention was made of its immense strategic importance. more
Balkan Dilemma: Grappling With "Greater Albania"Jul 07, 2011
April 2001- The recent flare-up of fighting in Macedonia, with hundreds of ethnic Albanian rebels challenging Macedonian security forces in the region near the Kosovo border, appeared to threaten the stability, if not the territorial integrity, of Macedonia. more
Gas, Guns, and Oil: Russia's "Ruble Diplomacy" in the BalkansJul 07, 2011
May 2002 - A major reorientation in Russian policy toward the Balkans is underway. For much of the 1990s, Moscow tried to keep the West out of southeastern Europe. A senior Russian official starkly outlined the choice that faced Russia in the region: "[Russia] cannot help being interested in whether [it] will have economic relations with a [Balkan] country which guarantees stability in the Balkans or a country which aspires to join NATO and is contributing to the creation of dividing lines between Russia and Western Europe." more
U.S. Interests and Priorities in the Eastern MediterraneanJul 07, 2011
April 2001- The following is excerpted from a presentation delivered at a conference, "Greece in Southeastern Europe: Security, Commerce, and Geopolitics," organized by the Western Policy Center. more
U.S. Options for Black Sea Regional TransitionJul 07, 2011
July/August 2000 - As we experience the infancy of a new century, we are witnesses to the unfolding of a new perspective regarding the direction of U.S. foreign policy. The foreign policy platforms of the two main presidential candidates verify that Washington will be focusing on an approach that adjusts to the needs of an increasingly globalized world. more
Off Autopilot: The Future Of Turkish - U.S. RelationsJul 07, 2011
Winter 2005- (Published in TURKISH POLICY QUARTERLY, VOLUME 4, NO. 4) To the extent that the U.S. pursues a more active policy aimed at transforming societies and compelling changes in behavior in regions adjacent to Turkey, Ankara will be presented with continuing and difficult choices. Changes in the foreign policy debate on both sides, against the backdrop of turmoil in Iraq, make clear that the bilateral relationship can no longer be left on autopilot. Failure to explore a new approach could spell further deterioration in the outlook for cooperation. more


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