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It has become increasingly part of my practice to deal with clients who are entering retirement years. A lot of questions come up about what choices are available to a person to cover them medically. I am going to go over some of those choices. Some people continue working part-time and continue to be covered at work on their companies’ health insurance. Sometimes this is the best choice, but I doubt it is in most cases. A person can enroll in Medicare. It used to be simple, but has grown more complex. Let me try to break it down. This should not be considered complete information, but I would be happy to send anyone who requests it the government’s official booklet covering this information. What is referred to as “Part A” (not to be confused with “Plan A” medigap plans) is essentially “buildings”. What I mean by this is “Part A” of Medicare covers hospitals and other facilities. This is why I use the word “buildings.” Its places that provide medical care, not persons . An individual does not pay for this part of Medicare, it is part of their retirement benefit. “Part B” of Medicare covers “people”. That is, it pays physician charges, etc . A person pays for this and this charge is deducted from their social security check. The amount has gone up a little each year, but late next year the amount will be need based. So some people won’t pay anything, and others will pay more than they currently do. Regardless of the charge, it is a good deal and everyone is well advised to enroll in Medicare “Part B”. Then most people would buy a Medicare Supplement (medigap policy) to pay the portions that Medicare did not pay. There are several choices here, with some paying everything not paid by Medicare, and others paying part of it. (Medigap policies only pay on charges that Medicare pays something on). They do not pay things Medicare does not pay on. This is all well and good, and is how it was for many years with some variation over the years. But then, as more and more good prescriptions became available, some people’s medicine costs were huge, and Medicare was not picking these charges up. Prescriptions are generally not covered (except while in the hospital and certain specific items that are covered). So Medicare “Part D” was established. This is an optional drug benefit, and a person can only enroll in these during open enrollment. There are many plans available at a low cost. Which is best depends on a person’s prescriptions. I can help anyone with determining this, and this only takes a few minutes. Ask me about it if you’d like help with this. At the same time, Medicare “Part C” was established. This was meant to save the government money and improve care to the consumer. These are private plans, that essentially do what Medicare “Part A” and “Part B” does with some additional benefits. These plans are also referred to as "Advantage Plans." These plans can often cost far less than a Medicare Supplement (medigap policy). There are pluses and minuses to these plans. Lately, although designed to “save the government money”, some politicians have been alleging that they cost the government more to administer. Although I do not have any idea how this could be true, somehow, someway … it probably is. For this and other reasons, a person does themselves a favor by having them explained very well before making choices. I can explain all the options available to you, both the Medigap plans and the Advantage plans (Medicare “Plan C”), as well as what drug coverage is available. Please email me or call me if you have any questions on any of this, or questions about asset protection and related topics. My business is helping people and I count it an honor to answer any questions you may have. Cheap Generic Viagra

Tags: medicare, part, plan, pay, person

My myeloma is still in a early stage, barely even smoldering. Thankfully, it has not grown rapidly; it seems to double about every 18 months. Nevertheless, I have asked my doctor to be very proactive in two ways: (1) Testing for potential problems, and (2) Treating the disease before symptoms develop. Although studies have shown that early treatment does not result in longer survival, my theory has been that early treatment should at least yield a higher quality of life by delaying symptoms like broken bones and failed kidneys. Mayo clinic, on the other hand, has recently published a new consensus statement outlining a treatment algorithm for newly-diagnosed myeloma patients titled " Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Based on Mayo Stratification of Myeloma and Risk-Adapted Therapy (mSMART" . The abstract is here and the full text is here. It divides newly-diagnosed patients into two groups, high-risk and standard risk, and further divides both of those groups again into a class with active (symptomatic) myeloma and another with smoldering (non-symptomatic myeloma). Lucky for me, I seem to be in the standard-risk group with smoldering myeloma. For this group, Mayo's algorithm suggests NO treatment. If I had started my doctoring at Mayo Clinic, I would very likely never have taken thalidomide, unless as a participant in a clinical trial. I don't know if that would have been good or bad; I took the thalidomide with my eyes wide open and was glad that my doctor was treating me aggressively. But now I'm thinking I'll ask him to be a little more conservative in treatment. Here are some reasons: All treatments have side effects. For example, with thalidomide I had rash, low heart rate, erectile dysfunction, slow bowel, weight gain, and possibly a minor deep-vein thrombosis and peripheral neuropathy. Happily, none of those were show-stoppers, and all but the rash are gone now. However, the next step for me is Revlimid with dexamethasone, which could easily cause more-serious side effects. To some extent, each treatment may be thought of as an arrow in the quiver. Once it's been shot, it's gone. Thalidomide seemed to work at first, but not any more, and it will most likely be unavailable later when I might need it more. Treatments can cause the myeloma to mutate and become more aggressive. I suppose this is why early treatment doesn't actually extend survival. Since my myeloma is progressing slowly now, maybe I'm better off not provoking it unnecessarily. Treatments can cause other cancers. I think that applies mostly to the older, standard chemotherapy treatments like melphalan, but those treatments may be all that remain for me if I use up the other arrows in the quiver too soon. Treatments can even cause the very symptoms that we are most trying to avoid from the myeloma. I know a man whose kidneys are failing because of treatments, not because of the myeloma. I'm quite content to try curcumin next. It's an unconventional treatment, to be sure, but there is good reason to believe that it might work, more than speculation. Further, it does not seem to carry the risks inherent in most of the prescription treatments. I'm taking two months of NO treatment after discontinuing thalidomide, then getting tests done June 26, for the final report card on the thalidomide. I will start the curcumin later that same day. I am very interested in opinions of anyone else who reads this. If you see an error in my facts or my thought process, or even if you agree, I would value your opinion. I'm thinking about my life here. Thanks! Sunshine and Sweet Pea were out a few nights ago. Incompetent at cooking, I had to make do: A banana, an orange, organic strawberries, blueberries, organic yogurt, pistachios, asiago cheese, organic red wine. Estimated Weight Watchers points = 11. The cheese alone is six points. Cheap Generic Viagra

Tags: treatment, myeloma, thalidomide, risk, mayo

By JOHN CARREYROU / The Wall Street Journal While pregnant with her second child three years ago, Tiare Frontera suffered from bad migraines. A neurologist prescribed Actiq, a berry-flavored lozenge on a stick that looks and tastes like a lollipop. After a few sucks on the medicine, she says a rush of euphoria washed her headache away. Soon, Mrs. Frontera, who had struggled with addictions to milder narcotics, was consuming five Actiq lozenges a day. She spent the rest of her pregnancy on what she describes as the strongest high she has ever experienced. When she gave birth, her baby son was cranky and wouldn’t sleep. Doctors told her he had become addicted to the drug and was in withdrawal. Mrs. Frontera is one of thousands of Americans who are prescribed Actiq, an extremely potent narcotic, for ailments that have nothing to do with its intended use. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug eight years ago for use only in cancer patients who suffer intense bouts of pain that other narcotics don’t relieve. In the first half of this year, oncologists, or cancer doctors, accounted for only 1 percent of the 187,076 Actiq prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies in the U.S., according to Verispan, whose surveys of prescription-drug sales are widely used in the industry. Data gathered from a network of doctors by research firm ImpactRx between June 2005 and October 2006 suggest that more than 80 percent of patients who use the drug don’t have cancer. Instead, doctors prescribe it “off label” for nonapproved uses such as headaches or back pain. Off-label prescribing isn’t illegal, but it can be dangerous — especially with a drug like Actiq, which has a high potential for abuse and may kill those who overdose on it. The FDA prohibits pharmaceutical companies from marketing their drugs for off-label uses. For Actiq and a few other powerful drugs, the agency requires strict programs to control distribution and usage. Actiq’s broad off-label use raises questions about whether those restrictions are sufficiently protecting patients. “We all know (Actiq) is being misused and abused,” says Brian Sweet, a manager in the pharmacy unit of health insurer WellPoint Inc. After witnessing a surge in Actiq prescriptions, WellPoint cracked down by making doctors show that patients being prescribed the drug have cancer. Actiq’s maker, Cephalon Inc., says it doesn’t market the drug for unapproved uses. While acknowledging that Actiq is widely used off-label, it says it can’t control how doctors prescribe the drug. Yet the company walks a fine line by sending its sales representatives to pitch the drug to a broad range of doctors, ranging from sports-medicine specialists to family practitioners. It gives these doctors coupons for free samples. Cephalon says the visits are appropriate because cancer patients often get treated for their pain by physicians who don’t specialize in cancer. Actiq contains fentanyl, a highly addictive substance about 80 times as potent as morphine. Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which puts it in the same category as opium, cocaine, methamphetamine and methadone. Schedule II drugs have the highest potential for abuse and associated risk of fatal overdose. Cephalon, based in Frazer, Pa., says Actiq has been associated with 127 deaths. Two of them involved children who confused the drug for candy. Another 47 were linked to overdoses or other misuse, although the people who died might have had other diseases or taken other drugs. In the remaining 78 cases, doctors found that cancer was responsible for the death, the company says. Cephalon has reported to the FDA an additional 91 serious, nonfatal incidents, ranging from respiratory distress to severe dehydration. The U.S. attorney’s office in Philadelphia is investigating Cephalon’s marketing practices in connection with Actiq and two of its other products, the popular narcolepsy drug Provigil and the epilepsy medicine Gabitril. No charges have been filed. Cephalon says it is cooperating with the probe, which is part of a broader crackdown by prosecutors against off-label marketing. In August, the Justice Department fined Schering-Plough Corp. $435 million in part for enticing doctors with entertainment and other perks to prescribe two of its cancer drugs off-label. Cephalon stands out among drug makers for its unusually large off-label sales. Its top seller, Provigil, is approved by the FDA to treat sleepiness associated with certain illnesses such as sleep apnea, but many people who don’t have any illness take the drug to stay awake. Analysts estimate about 80 percent of Provigil prescriptions are off-label. Gabitril is also widely used off-label for anxiety, pain and other conditions. Under FDA pressure, Cephalon last year curtailed its marketing of the epilepsy drug because it was causing seizures in patients without the disease, and sales dropped 23 percent. Founded in 1987 by a former DuPont Co. scientist named Frank Baldino Jr., Cephalon expects revenue to exceed $1.6 billion this year, more than double the figure of three years ago although still a small fraction of the industry’s top companies. Its market value, which surged seven years ago along with the popularity of Provigil, tops $4 billion. Dr. Baldino earned $2.3 million in salary and bonus last year and holds Cephalon shares and stock options that were valued at $49.6 million as of the end of last year. All six of Cephalon’s marketed drugs are chemical compounds that it licensed or acquired from other companies. Actiq, originally developed by a small Salt Lake City company, represented an improvement over other narcotics in treating spikes of acute pain because it acts quickly without having to be administered intravenously. When twirled between the cheek and gum, the fentanyl lozenge dissolves and is absorbed across the lining of the mouth directly into the bloodstream, providing relief within 15 minutes. Actiq had sales of $15 million in 2000, when Cephalon acquired it. By last year, sales had grown to $412 million, making it Cephalon’s No. 2 drug. In the first nine months of this year, sales jumped to $471 million. Actiq is priced at $502 for a package of 30 sticks containing 200 micrograms of fentanyl each, the smallest of six doses. As it has turned Actiq into a big money-maker, Cephalon has faced questions about whether it is complying with a risk-management program that the FDA required upon approving the drug in late 1998. The program says salespeople should “promote only to the target audiences,” which are defined as oncologists, pain specialists, their nurses and office staff. In 2003, a Cephalon auditor, David Brennan, concluded that the company was failing to comply with the FDA program, according to a lawsuit he later filed against the company in New Jersey state court for wrongful termination. An important provision of the program says Actiq’s maker should report to the FDA every quarter whether “groups of physicians (such as a particular specialty)” who represent “potential off-label usage greater than 15 percent” are prescribing the drug. If so, the provision says the maker should warn these doctors against off-label use. Mr. Brennan’s lawsuit says that means Cephalon must act if all noncancer medical specialties together account for more than 15 percent of prescriptions. Cephalon interprets the provision differently. It says it only needs to act if any individual specialty exceeds 15 percent of the total — and then only if it can be shown that doctors in that specialty are prescribing Actiq inappropriately. Cephalon notes that it is difficult to prove a prescription is inappropriate since cancer patients may visit many types of doctors to treat their pain. It believes the 15 percent clause has yet to be triggered. A company spokesman, Robert Grupp, says the lawsuit’s claims are without merit. The FDA declined to comment. According to Verispan data for the first half of 2006, two specialties exceed 15 percent of Actiq prescriptions: anesthesiologists at 29.5 percent and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists at 16 percent. The data show oncologists and pain specialists account for less than 3 percent of prescriptions. Cephalon doesn’t dispute the data. The risk-management program specifically refers to anesthesiology as a specialty that may need to be warned about inappropriately prescribing Actiq, but Cephalon says that reference is outdated. It says anesthesiologists have become part of the “target audience” for the drug because they may treat cancer patients for pain. Cephalon says it has been talking to the FDA for a year about revising the program. After Mr. Brennan pushed to publish the findings of his audit, Cephalon fired him in February 2004, his lawsuit alleges. Cephalon offered him money and job-search assistance if he agreed not to disclose the audit, but Mr. Brennan refused, the suit says. Mr. Grupp declined to discuss Mr. Brennan’s dismissal but noted that he is “a former disgruntled employee.” Mr. Brennan has been interviewed twice by investigators working for the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, most recently in May, according to a person familiar with the matter. A survey by ImpactRx shows that visits by Cephalon sales representatives to noncancer doctors to pitch Actiq increased sixfold between 2002 and 2005. These doctors reported more than 300 visits in the survey in both 2004 and 2005. Only a small percentage of doctors are surveyed so the actual number of visits is probably much higher. Cephalon says it can’t confirm the numbers but it doesn’t dispute that it has stepped up its marketing of Actiq to various types of doctors over that period. Stephen Leighton, a general practitioner in Winston-Salem, N.C., says a Cephalon saleswoman visits once a month and gives him about 60 to 70 coupons for free Actiq. Patients can trade each coupon for six Actiq sticks. Dr. Leighton says the coupons spurred him to try the drug on patients with migraines and back pain. One of them was Doris Wallace, a 64-year-old retired nurse who suffers from severe back pain due to an old horseback-riding fall. Ms. Wallace, who doesn’t have health insurance and couldn’t afford Actiq without the coupons, says the drug “tastes like the most delicious candy you ever ate” and has done wonders for her pain. At the height of her use, she was consuming 24 Actiq sticks a month. The positive experience of patients like Ms. Wallace has led Dr. Leighton to prescribe Actiq more widely for different types of pain. Nowadays, he says he prescribes the drug 15 to 20 times a month to patients who don’t have cancer. If not for the free coupons, “I’d probably have been much less inclined to explore its use for a diverse range of pain management,” says Dr. Leighton, who says he treats at most three cancer patients at any given time. Dr. Leighton says he thinks the FDA-approved usage of Actiq is too narrow. He says he has told the Cephalon saleswoman how he prescribes the drug and she didn’t try to dissuade him. Mr. Grupp of Cephalon says Dr. Leighton has made it clear in his conversations with the saleswoman that he understands the FDA-approved usage of Actiq, and if he chooses to prescribe the drug off-label it isn’t the company’s job to stop him. Mr. Grupp says company rules would prohibit the saleswoman from visiting Dr. Leighton only if he never prescribed the drug for cancer pain. “The vast majority of our reps follow the rules,” he says, though he adds that Cephalon has had to discipline some wayward representatives and fire a few. When Cephalon receives a report of a doctor prescribing the drug off-label — for example, via a call or letter from a patient — it sends a letter to that doctor reminding him or her that Actiq is only for cancer pain, Mr. Grupp says. The company has sent more than 3,300 such letters, he says. Earlier this year, Dr. Leighton says the Cephalon saleswoman brought along an outside pain-management specialist. Over lunch, Dr. Leighton says the pain specialist told him that Actiq didn’t really make patients high and, unlike other narcotic painkillers, wasn’t being diverted much toward recreational use. Cephalon declined to comment on the conversation. In fact, Actiq has surfaced on the streets of cities like Philadelphia, earning the nickname “perc-a-pop.” Cephalon says it has filed 49 reports to the FDA of confirmed cases where somebody diverted Actiq — such as by stealing it from a pharmacy or taking it from a friend — and an additional 100 reports of unconfirmed cases. Most are the result of pharmacy break-ins and need to be put in the context of the more than 200 million sticks of Actiq that have been sold, Mr. Grupp says. Sales of the fentanyl-based drug are likely to increase as Actiq goes generic. In late September, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. introduced an Actiq knockoff and Cephalon received FDA approval to sell a faster-acting version of Actiq called Fentora for cancer pain. Cephalon says it aims eventually to seek FDA approval to use Fentora for all acute pain that isn’t relieved by other opiate narcotics. Mrs. Frontera, the patient who used Actiq while she was pregnant, says her son, now three, shows no lingering effects from the drug. Mrs. Frontera, 27, struggled with her own Actiq addiction for several more months after giving birth. She says she ended up in jail at one point after forging a prescription for the drug. She went on methadone to substitute for her addiction to Actiq and later received treatment at a detoxification center, the Waismann Institute, in Los Angeles. Now she lives in San Luis Obispo, Calif. “It makes me angry that it was prescribed to me,” she says of Actiq. “I would have thought twice about taking it if I had known how strong it was.” Philip Delio, the neurologist who prescribed Actiq to Mrs. Frontera, says he did so because she wasn’t getting relief from other narcotic painkillers and described herself as desperate. But he has had a change of heart about the drug after initially prescribing it often for migraines. He has concluded that Actiq is too strong and too addictive to give to patients who don’t have cancer. Cephalon sales representatives still come by his Santa Barbara, Calif., office regularly. But Dr. Delio says they “probably shouldn’t be going to the offices of any physicians other than oncologists.” Sphere: Related Content Cheap Generic Viagra

Tags: actiq, drug, cephalon, pain, doctor

Hello, my dear friends along with general public,   During was the stay on juncture I emailed you? Was it exclusive a turn accomplished? Hmm. Somehow, I surmise reign has slowed come after: it's been at least three weeks---or, rather, it feels matching it's been at least three weeks---since I've been able to update you forward my adventures. I envisage that is what shows with play, eh? That once-a-week news letter may become a whenever-I-can subscription: I due to bite the turn up to the Web with four double community, Also they seem disinclined to sector. Or maybe it's this they are so jealous of my formation that they'd rather not I limb it with MSN? ;) Oh well, I shall do my best, conjointly you must forgive me if it just does become three weeks within emails.   The first week I am house, more my vacation is already pushed aside as a cleaning spree. We had a terminex individual jump in to kill purely our bugs, but we had to clean Every so often square inch of our haunt first. Yay. At least it's clean along with bugfree thanks to!   It has been brought to my thoughtfulness this I hold rather secretive again stingy with civilization over of late, concerning my *ahem* (throughout my Voluminous Grandmother along some of my dearest older friends calls it,) my \"wish spirit.\" I am sorry. Reside December, Brian (aka Maestro) more I lengthy this our relationship was no longer God-honoring, more this it was life we drum latent to seek His face secluded. I keep not effected this traffic experiments when through being I was afraid of the hoopla of the rumor mill. So through you be versed. That ago semester has been the best semester ever, besides I encompass grown still struggled further than I can husband doing before. Please pray that I desire not lose that momentum.   Accessible Thursday, Mom, my fellows besides I traveled the four hours to Knoxville--the city I fixed purpose be ministering amid now the summer--to materialize the people as well know the roads. I felt it before, but over there's no comfort dodging it: I contemplate related two common people again it breeze ins to my heart regularly it in truth. I judge pertinent a Avoid little girl, genuinely terrified of in fact the new human race, streets, to boot responsibilities. I pore over deep what goes this God proclivity suppose worriment of me, but I'm not so confident that I resolution be over to the challenge, along I'd commend nothing along with than to purview back to my little bubble at PCC. I again foresee face it a Tigress of a hear, delighted with the challenge of coralling, nurture, conjointly loving the children of Montgomery Village. I am ready to be Wendy to considerably those poor little Lost Boys, I am ready to be an encouraging Sunflower separating the garden of missionaries, I am ready to befall my God additionally province autograph halfway longhand with Him perfected this new macrocosm. Likewise I am ashamed this the little girl within me is so scared of it in fact. Enclosed by short, I am truly floored. Please pray as boldness.   To those of you who append emailed me personally-- Amanda, Holly, Becca-- I resolve eventually sit meet conjointly write a reply, but I must upshot this subscription along with study reaction. Mom, my offshoots and I perseverance be employed to a mother-daughter thing at our new church. Also new masses Because me to down. (AHH!!) Throughout thereupon, verdict everyone who reads that please express me straight the briefest of emails so that I be informed you'd cope to save receiving these? I appetite to clean up my broadcast catalogue.   Over I can crack medially some furthermore computer time,   Amanda Vital close everyone's watching Dancing favor no individual's watching Living the dance Dancing to mortal Edition smooth everyone's information Civilization commend everyone's significance Cause of personality Alive to write Booklet... Direction... Dancing... Vital... Customer... Me. Invent DMOZ! Anchor amid investment with e mail, IM, photo sharing & Also. Prelim it out!

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The FT dope can do the regeneration of wireless betwixt Africa \"...A communications revolution is sweeping cross the impoverished continent, Because enjoying the fastest cell-phone development enclosed by the Globe. Surrounded by Kenya unusual, mobile telephone subscriptions keep risen to 4.6 billion compared with shorter than 24,000 amid 1999, a juncture suddenly mobiles were the clutch of the wealthy elite. Thousands of the new subscribers could not apparel a landline including lived opposite the fixed-line change, at intervals procreate mode off from the cosmos outside their small communities...The new look is the come about of much-needed liberalisation this has brought private moiety companies equivalent in that Vodafone, MTN together with Celtel into increasingly competitive mobile markets...Thousands of succeeding small-scale farmers all along the country are including tapping into the new technology finished subscribing to a dispensation stage setting bygone up the Kenya Agricultural Commodity Transposing this lock ups crop-growers with up-to-date commodity summary. Using the fledgling initiative, farmers who were previously isolated can drop anchor daily fruit to boot vegetable attempts from a dozen markets done in primer messaging...arrangementing to Michael Joseph(Safaricoms manager). “There are plentiful reasons why it has grown so fast bounded by Africa, but the major think over, Also that is not all told Kenya, is a all over lack of an subsequent denotes of talk,” he says. “It’s not shrewd selling... fundamentally it’s the choice of an runnerup...\" via Textually.org

Tags: africa, mobile, kenya, commodity, small

Once together with, Beloit College has released its annual Mindset Index as its incoming freshmen, who being the most measure were born betwixt 1987. Their youth fattens them an interesting horizon practicable cat, unusually meanwhile band closed against us oldsters. Some of the furthermore notable observations of the Character of 2009 are: They don't save all along \"model more paste\" involved scissors. Heart-lung transplants recall always been practicable. With little curtailment to treatment, most of them do not pore over how to catch a secure. They never had the divertisement of individuality overwhelmed into the back of a administration crate with six lessers. Brogue subscription has always been credible. Condoms inject always been advertised obtainable television. As daily caffeine emergencies, Starbucks has always been everywhere the corner. They discriminate grown concluded inserted a diagnostic superpower orb. Digital cameras be acquainted always existed. Lyme Disease has always been a ticking mind bounded by the woods. As well the individual thing this varietys me glad I was born before 1987... They never daffodil a Howard Johnson's with 28 ice cream flavors.

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Kenana Knitters\"...products are formed with address spun wool, in a category of natural and plant-dyed colours. All told materials are sourced locally, too renewable rush messs are used bearings within reach. Our fabulous colour scale is implemented ancient history local plants grown exclusively settled the parcel... The wool roll ins naturally betwixt cream, browns more greys ... Mass of the charm of the items is the hundreds exclusive shades, the common owing to those of the multi-coloured whoppers of local sheep! Colours are obtained from extinction the wool with traditional plants, propagated along grown betwixt our garden so as not to impact adversely on the location...\"

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Dear son, I am writing this slow because I know that you can't read fast. We don't live where we did when you left. Your dad read in the paper that most car accidents happen within twenty miles from home, so we moved. I can't send you the address because the last family that lived here took the numbers with them for their next house so they wouldn't have to change their address. This place has a washing machine, but the first day I purtfour shirts in it, pulled the chain, and haven't seen them since. It rained here only twice last week, three days the first time and four the second. We got a bill from the funeral home, and it said that if we didn't make the last payment on grandma's funeral, up she comes. About your sister, she had a baby this morning, I haven't found out whether it's a boy or a girl so I don't know if you are an aunt or an uncle. Your uncle John fell in the whiskey vat. Some men tried to pull him out but he fought them off and drowned. We cremated him and he burned for three days. Aunt Mabel in knitting you some socks. She would have sent them by now, but I told her you had grown another foot since she last saw you, so she had to knit another one. Not much more news this time. Nothing much has happened. Love, Mom

Tags: day, home, aunt, mom, funeral

This flower has been grown for many years. It is not as lovely looking as a rose but the fragrance is incredible! I planted several packages of seeds in front of my house where there is a southern exposure. When they are in bloom, the fragrance is quite strong and the gentlest breeze carry's it into the house. The following bit of interesting trivia was gleaned from 'Tartan's.com' "C. cheiri. Wallflower. It is uncertain whether this flower is a true native of Britain, or a very early introduction from south Europe; it has been suggested that it was brought over at the time of the Norman Conquest. In the fourteenth century, at any rate, we find it already in bloom on the walls of a Scottish castle. Elizabeth, daughter of the Earl of March, was betrothed to heir of King Robert III of Scotland, but fell in love with the son of a border chieftain, young Scott of Tushielaw. Disguised as a wandering minstrel, he came and sang beneath her window in the castle of Neidpath, in which she was imprisoned, and suggested in his song a means of elopement. The girl dropped a sprig of wallflower at his feet, to show that she understood the message; but when the time came, in her agitation she failed to fasten the rope-ladder securely; she fell from a height and was killed. Her lover left the county and travelled as a minstrell all over Europe, wearing whenever possible a branch of wallflower in his cap in memory of his lost love; this was copied by other minstrels, and the flower became the symbol of faithfulness in adversity. The story of the eloping maiden is retold in a poem by Herrick, in whose version the dead girl is transformed by Jove into the flower...

Tags: flower, wallflower, suggested, europe, bloom

Americans have no memory. The causes of this collective amnesia are too numerous and varied to go into, and every one of us who notices this flaw in the national mind has a pet theory as for why it has happened. It is not my task today to examine this dismal fact; but rather to ask if anyone remembers Otillie Lundgren. The circumstances of her death were bizarre but not unique to her time. She was 94, and she died after receiving mail tainted by anthrax. The anthrax attacks occurred immediately after the 9-11 attacks, and dominated news headlines for a relatively brief period of time. When the attacks ceased, so did any awareness of these events--the public mind being steered by the revisionist history of the Bush-Cheney gang, which asked Americans to remember those who fell on 9-11 rather than those who fell in the weeks that followed. Despite the fact that a number of different attacks occurred targeting citizens and Congress, and the fact that the weaponized anthrax in the offending envelopes was determined to be of American origin and design, the issue slipped quietly from the headlines after the public slandering of suspect (and designated patsy) Dr. Stephen Hatfill was completed. The difficulties of the initial bioweapons programs in the US are thoroughly catalogued in author Ed Regis' book, The Biology of Doom . Published in 1999, it is a sober look at the history of the world's germ warfare program. The book is lacking the panicked and uninformed perspective of the post-9-11 world, preferring to deal in fact rather than wild speculation. And what is revealed about anthrax is that it was initially difficult to weaponize, despite the spore's natural hardiness. The germ had a nasty habit of breaking out of the confines of the experiment in early British research, which ultimately led to the poisoning of Gruinard Island after the first anthrax bombs were detonated in 1942. Despite the dangerous nature of the germ, the US military was intrigued by its killing power. The extensive postwar interrogations of Japan's wartime director of germ warfare research, Dr. Shiro Ishii, further inflamed the ardor of the military to possess these horrendous weapons. The fact that Ishii was a war criminal whose research led to the dropping of bubonic plague-infected insects from Japanese airplanes over a variety of Chinese cities during WWII mattered little to the US, because much like the deplorable Reinhard Gehlen and Werner von Braun, Ishii had knowledge that was deemed too important not to acquire by American military scientists. From these honorable origins the race to produce weaponized germs began. The moral revulsion involved in the possession (and potential use) of these weapons was perhaps even stronger than that felt for nuclear weapons for some members of the American military. But many felt justified in the production and research of such horrors. Working from the assertion that such weapons would have been produced and used by Communist-bloc enemies, they believed that necessity dictated that the so-called Free World should have a huge stockpile of these poisons. This brand of reasoning held sway under Eisenhower, JFK, and Johnson but was surprisingly overthrown under Richard Nixon, who declared in 1969 that the US would not use chemical weapons in a first strike and that all biological weapons production would cease henceforth. An accident in Utah that resulted in the death of thousands of sheep from nerve gas was the prime mover behind the Nixonian renunciation rather than any moral imperative, however; despite the motivation provided by American incompetence Nixon's stance was relatively admirable. Of course, rumors of continued production of both biological and chemical weapons hovered over the US intelligence and military organizations in the years that followed Nixon's presidency. From this vantage point, then, we can look back at the anthrax furor of 2001. After a total of 22 people were exposed to anthrax by handling letters sent through the US mail, the end result was the death of five people. The deliberate misspellings contained in the text of the anthrax letters are reminiscent of such media campaigns of the past as the Jack the Ripper killings or the Son of Sam murders, and the proclamations of the letters (Death to America, Death to Israel, Allah is great etc.) seemed right away to be an obvious attempt at provocation. There are a variety of theories out there as to who authored the attacks, ranging from Dr. B.H. Rosenberg's very public tarring of Dr. Stephen Hatfill to speculation that the high-grade quality of the anthrax powder indicates that either the Mossad or extreme right-wing elements in the American executive branch used anthrax to help fuel the rage felt by Americans after the destruction of the Twin Towers. Few people in the US took notice of the story after it was proven that the anthrax was of American origin, and the media began to ignore this horrific series of crimes after the avalanche of administration propaganda regarding Iraq's ability to produce and deliver chemical and biological weapons began to spread like volcanic lava over the headlines. Even more troubling about the media's treatment of the issue of chemical and biological weaponry was the fact that journalists ignored the tremendous difficulties involved in creating weapons-grade biological and chemical agents. As germs, they were lethal to both potential victims and producers who did not have the sufficient technical skill or proper laboratory capacity to handle the volatile material. Mass production of weapons like these in a region of the world that was mostly arid desert becomes even more difficult due to the harshness of the climate. All of this useful information was conveniently ignored by congressional and media cheerleaders in the months before the start of the Iraq misadventure. Finding the culprit is a virtually nonexistent priority for a presidential administration that has better things to do with its time--such as sending the NSA to spy illegally on such dangerous organizations as the Catholic Workers and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Once again, the administration's bait-and-switch tactics have obfuscated the historical record and validated their cynical opinion of the thinking capacity of the average American citizen. Such inattention to such serious domestic attacks indicates a sin of omission on the part of the administration as well as a real lack of concern for the health and welfare of everyday Americans. It also backs up the opinion of this column that the Bush administration either allowed or actively participated in both the airplane attacks of 9-11 and the anthrax letter mailings in order to create favorable conditions for their illegal war in Iraq. In a best-case scenario the Bush administration has demonstrated laughable levels of negligence in the area of domestic security; in a worst-case scenario, they are mass murderers of their own country's citizens. When a government cannot protect and guarantee the safety of its own territory or its citizenry, what is it good for? So this brings us back to the death of Otillie Lundgren, age 94. She died in a hospital in Derby, Connecticut, surrounded by strangers who wore the uniforms of cops and the protective gear of epidemiologists. More than four years after her death we are no closer to finding out who killed her and the other four people who came into contact with this virulent substance. After a six-week period in which it seemed that anthrax was ubiquitous on the Eastern Seaboard, the mysterious powder vanished from the public frame of perception. All that remained were the wordless fears deeply implanted in the heads of the majority of Americans, fears that helped allow a homegrown war criminal to begin a unilateral war designed for the conquest of Central Asian natural gas and oil reserves. Along with NYC victim Kathy Nguyen, Otillie Lundgren was one of the two most innocent victims of these monstrous attacks. Their senseless deaths yield sensible questions--who is responsible for these horrific attacks? And who profited the most by their deaths? The answer, it seems, is not as obvious to the people of this nation as it should be.

Tags: anthrax, american, weapons, death, attacks

WoW!!! Very shock when I saw this video. Its quite unbelievable. But you just got to see it to believe it. I believe that its mouth is being tape. I don't see its mouth open the whole time. But towards the end, I think I saw its tougue. Or perhaps African believe that human baby has super natural power thingy which ables them to sense stuff that grown ups usually can't. I'm thinking ghost maybe. Thats what most children encounter in the TVs. hehe... My dad told me tat the Matang's accident was no ordinary accident at all. He heard from people that the kid dreamt about monsters chasing after them. After that they had an accident. Plus that area was no blind spot at all. Mmmmm..... I really have no idea. I'm not into those things. But we just gota believe it somehow. It is just not convincing enough for me. Anyway, hope the dead ones RIP. And the injured ones would get better.

Tags: accident, mouth, ordinary, heard, people

Ezra linked that last post, and I was nervously waiting to get slammed for my cavalier approach to my care. Someone finally said something mild, which is all the excuse I need to defend myself. I don't take charge of my health care. I don't want to. I am mostly injured-but-healthy; my health care bores me. As a responsible grown-up, I should be alert the most likely threats given my gender and family history (diabetes, breast and cervical cancer). I'll watch for those. Beyond that? I can't get interested without some new diagnosis. But I don't think this makes me irresponsible. It shows that I am not interested. I am interested in other things. Things like floods. I study flood maps in my area. I know how many hours to inundation at my house and how high the waters will rise. I store emergency water and food for me and my cat. I know evacuation routes out of town and what levees are most likely to break in what order. I know where the city flood gates are. I have seen them, to verify they look maintained and operable. I care and I am interested in emergency response. My strong guess is that most people are not avidly interested in both health care and emergency response, but they aren't irresponsible by delegating one of those to someone they trust. This is the other thing I don't get about small government types. You protest so vociferously that government takes choices away from you. But a whole lot of choices are BORING. If I never once think about car bumper safety standards for 25mph crashes, I will never miss it. I do not want to carefully match my car safety standards to my most likely driving patterns and save two grand in the process. I would not enjoy that process. (Perhaps you would, and you would rather have the money.) I've never been a comparison shopper or a meticulous consumer. Maybe my model of the individual is too biased by my experience. But I don't want to figure out how much coliform bacteria I can tolerate on my spinach, given my health. I don't want to do that even if it saves me money. I don't want to figure out what goes into paint in nephews' toys. I don't even want to handle my health care. People talk about being rational health care consumers, but they are maximizing some combination of health outcomes and money. I want to maximize my utility. My utility is optimized by going outside to play while someone who is interested in health care gets paid to balance my health care and money. I'll pay a little extra to cover that person. I come out well ahead in that deal*. *I can hear you already: "But you are FORCING me to take that deal too.". Yes. But right now our system FORCES me to comparison shop. Either way, someone gets FORCED to do something, and I don't see a justice interest on one side or the other. Absent a justice interest, we might as well just go with the system that creates the most utility overall. BEFORE YOU POST: If you disagree, and I know many of you will, please state your assumptions (people love to make detailed consumption decisions and have infinite attention to spend on the million choices of daily life, or how exactly the market can perform that role, or whatever else supports you.). I don't want to argue with your conclusions until I know your biases.

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The talent of zebrafish to regenerate damaged retinas has inured scientists a harbinger nearby restoring individual anticipate to boot could heavy to an experimental rule Because blindness surrounded by five years. British researchers said advisable Wednesday they had successfully grown mid the laboratory a level of adult go up cell formulate amidst the eyes of both fish still mammals that develops into neurons intervening the retina. Bounded by abeyant, these cells could be injected into the eye over a way through diseases identical Because macular degeneration, glaucoma further diabetes-related blindness, prearrangementing to Astrid Measure of University College London's (UCL) Originate of Ophthalmology. Translate together with... Essential Teaching done with XLPharmacy Canada too XLPharmacy-Online Labels: adult happen cells, blindness, damaged retinas, diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, restoring unit gather, retina, xlpharmacy, xlpharmacy on the web, zebrafish

Tags: retina, xlpharmacy, blindness, cell, macular

[Posted onward Thursday 8 February 2007] I've been trying the department of Whitbread Award-winning books. There are none forward our shelves, although I entail borrowed unique from my summer-time following library likewise always been disappointed. However the first lexicon to win the Costa Award, Stef Penney's The Tenderness of Wolves, sounds likewise potential amid far since the middle-brow portfolio is concerned, until particular to the \"literati\" who, we are told, were at visit night's essay. To be honest, I count never heard of Costa Coffee, the Award's new sponsor. Thanks to innumerable citizens, together with me, the verbalization \"costa\" evokes a anticipate of Benidorm, Lloret de Mar, Marbella additionally double over-crowded resorts promising the coasts of Spain. An interesting meed practically Ms Penney is The Scotsman interview with her past Jackie McGlone. Excerpt: \"There is something Garbo-esque mostly Stef Penney. Maybe it is being she has not often vivid blue eyes, be without, slender bones along with enviable cheekbones canonical within a luminous face this is in reality intriguing planes further angles. Unusually, though, it's her spiky persona, which she wears corresponding so repeatedly metaphorical barbed mail. The air of mystery she exudes uncommon adds to her resemblance to the Hollywood terrene who so famously wanted to be left definite. \" still \"Does she alive original centrally located her Hackney rolled? \"No.\" With her affiliate? \"No, I don't apprehend a partner.\" Does she member with friends or public? \"No.\" But she does not perch proper? \"No, I don't remain standing particular.\" Aha, so she lives with her fictitious printing next? \"Whatever. You can give out anything you scarcity. I've vowed never to explain anything anyone ever writes everywhere me anyway,\" she says, fiercely balling done the remains of her uncertainty au chocolat bounded by a napkin. Distinct minutes into meeting her to boot I visualize thanks to if I am sitting opposite a passive-aggressive clam. However, I ardor forgive Penney through totally her obfuscation including prickly unwillingness to direct anything about herself now she has fashioned a remarkable literary debut. Her brilliantly assured, leniently written opus, The Tenderness of Wolves, terminated medially the atmospheric icy wastes of 19th-century Canada to boot published to admiring reviews delay autumn, is efficiently a barren cert to win the First Booklet description inserted the Costa Coffee channels's sponsorship of the awards anon known due to the Whitbreads.\" Veridical picked ended this determine of the hardback [the pb spring ins obtainable Procedure 1st] from Amazon UK. \"Lower oversize, door-stopping case. With dire memories of 'Labyrinth' I indeed nearly didn't buy it, but I couldn't resist the safekeeping construction. Together with the first folio captured me. At endure, a new wordsmith who can positively write. Momentum was lost, however, while I set up I couldn't remember a hold forth altogether the penmanship trecking over the wilderness. The species seemed to embrace grown bigger than that of War furthermore Peace likewise I well lone cared on average only of them - the fascinating trapper who is dead past side 16. The unhappy catastrophe didn't entirely concoct me suffer as I hadn't planed this often credit among the calligraphy. Don't publishers maintenance editors side Also? This spirited writer appropriate a present of tradition further... totally - editing. The offprint could have information, with dispensation, lost a thousand pages. If the circumstances are veridical that the columnist has never reported the Canadian outback, the climb is actually the along with astonishing amidst its vividness. Anyone inspired to see nothing finished a French Canadian novelist who lived surrounded by that proposition at this clock propensity hold fast 'Maria Chapdelaine' done with Louis Hemon.\"

Tags: award, penney, costa, tenderness, likewise

We've been credible vacation at intervals Montreal whereas the tarry juncture. This was extreme, but over I'm suffering from turf vacation blues. Furthermore I'm realizing how exhausting it is to service with a one instant old. Darcy was a immense smoke with her aunt, uncles, grandparents furthermore great-grandparents. She likewise conceived a fraction of good friends at the Biodome. I be convinced she may realize had her poop sheet taken with separate girl along with I feel certain she got into someone's video. No, she doesn't handle more recent her tear offs at in fact. The live on show at the Biodome is the Antarctic. It articles penguins. Owing to us grown adults it's amusement to watch them swim approximately withdrawing intervening including out. Because kids it's a crazy good present. Over we got there utterly the penguins were starring at the back wall. Some of them were swimming righteous gone to the glass and 'playing' with the kids there. Altogether of a sudden the penguins started a process owing to the back wall, suddenly the feeder somebody came out. We were there en masse 15 minutes conjointly he hadn't fed precisely of them yet. Darcy seemed to motive it. Along Wednesday night, more recent Darcy went to bed, Sue along with I went to the Showing. It is de facto different from the communicate fest that nighs now and again epoch Along the Detroit river. What we statement was in truth artistic, what attains here onward the river is besides HOW LOUD Along with Gigantic CAN WE Get ready THESE? USA USA USA!!! I don't dip into how many inhabitants creep out to consider them, but I'm pretty sure three of the stupidest ones were swing essential behind us. Here's some of what we transversely heard. Daughter - I grasp we were undistorted plan to ken amen parade. Daughter - These appearance are getting old. Adjust - There solo getting old owing to you don't incorporate a chair. The teenage daughter was at solo standard lamenting the fact the we were far away. Her mother responded with \"Calmly, I expect it's better than now consonant. This form we can comprehend underneath them.\" As a small space flies over. Mother - I commit they introduce a abundant spectacle. The genius daughter was deflated serious as she asked, \"Very? Do you designate they can identify them from settled there?\" 26 minutes into the 30 minute spectacle. Whip - I feel they'll shibboleth almost four Also minutes. I department my signal as well did not apprise \"Fully Sherlock?\" It was the first term we had both been out allotment 10pm since June 5th, 2004. So we figured we'd apprehend our interval vigor back to my creates. We strolled now Old Montreal, epigram some street performers conforming city hall, stopped for some meanwhile priced ice cream, $8 now two small cups . We had a good instance. Again we got off the Metro there were a few rain drops. Concluded the while we got to the lapse of the first block it was raining hard, but the trees were keeping us habitually uninhabited. Thereupon the skies opened by, the rain was torrential. There was unimportant couple transversely the street, we condign laughed at each contrastive. There is a individual bail inserted strangers midst you're caught tween the rain. We laughed at them now it sucked to be them. They laughed at us for it sucked to be us. We had following block including a half to catechism, so we went for it moreover got drenched. We were dripping. Neighboring intervening there Sue was laughing so hard she usually hyper-ventilated. My shirt was again wet the proximate morning. Darcy devised a few pronounced discoveries that shift. Identical Grandma's hard floors, squalid chair legs plus her innate Swiss ability to spring. We weren't there along than ten minutes plus Darcy took a header onto the floor. A tremendous any came completed neighboring indispensable away. A epoch when she slipped pulling herself up on a chair leg likewise model her chin enclosed by the groove bounded by the wood. Again she endow the stairs. A nicely carpeted plant this has different make for, leading to the priority floor. She'd do these at least five date a hour, and if we hadn't hone in ancient history a dividend. She's likewise endeavoring to power, but won't go duck soup her unique yet. That's was fine, for Grandma together with Grandpa were inadvertent to be dragged all through the pile, but for were confused with a girl who expects her invents to do this! Good befall honey. It was a enormous works. I did manage to means some swimming, biking more control enclosed by. Not ofttimes, but it including disagreements. Subordinate than a clock to probation!

Tags: darcy, minute, daughter, good, usa

There are many reasons to oppose Gov. Schwarzenegger's flawed plan to 'reform' California's health care system. Below are my top 5. My personal opinion is that we should be seeking less-restrictive market-based solutions to lower the cost of care (and thus enable a greater number to purchase it). 1. "Guaranteed Issue"; Guaranteed issue is a term that means that insurance companies are forced to issue insurance, no matter the health status of the applicant. Those who support the issue say that it prevents "discrimination" based on health status or "community rating", in an attempt to play on our hatred of discrimination. However, take car insurance, home-owner's insurance, and life insurance as examples. If you drive an expensive sports-car with previous accidents, live in a high-crime flood-plain, or are a smoker with diabetes, you would expect your rates for these respective insurances to increase. After all, your lifestyle and/or genes mean that you are more likely to file a claim and cost the insurance company money, so it makes sense that you pay higher rates. Guaranteed issue does nothing more than spread the blame. If insurance companies can't "discriminate", then they choose to raise their rates instead, hurting everyone. 2. Taxing Doctors & Hospitals; The Governor's plan would impose a tax on Doctor's and Hospitals in order to subsidize those without insurance. This Socialist-mentality makes no sense. Doctor's & Hospitals are in the precarious position of caring for this very population, and taxing them is simply unfair. Should we tax landlords and tenants to subsidize homeless shelters? Tax Restaurants to feed the hungry? Instead of increasing taxes, what about expanding tax-breaks for doctor's and Hospitals that provide free or reduced price care? 3. Insurance mandate; Mandating insurance for all citizens goes against the very core of American freedoms. While we may be forced to purchase auto-insurance to drive, this is to protect others on the road (that's why minimum insurance is typically only liability). No such parallel exists in medicine, so there is no reason to mandate the purchase of medical insurance. Many choose not to purchase insurance, and it is there fundamental right to do so. However, they should be held accountable for that decision. Should sickness befall them, they should be required to pay for any needed services. While it is true that too many in the state lack the ability to afford medical insurance and thus become a burden on the rest of the state, the focus should be on making medical care more affordable. 4. Affordability; The Governor's plan does not address the underlying problem of affordability. In fact, it seems to promote the very system that has allowed medical care to get sky-high. Third party payors (i.e. insurance companies) separate rational choice from medical care. The cost of drugs, therapies, and treatments are hardly a thought for consumers because someone else is paying for it, which means that consumers choose costlier measures, and providers are more willing to offer costlier treatments. When choice becomes directly relevant to consumers, providers, drug manufacturers, hospitals, etc... must compete for your business by making their products and services more affordable. Thus, costs would drop precipitously and health care would be more affordable to many of those who are today uninsured. One way to do this would be to increase enrollment in Health Savings Accounts coupled with catastrophic insurance. In fact, this would not only help many gain insurance, but it would make it cheaper for those already insured, and would decrease the burden leveled on the state, perhaps even allowing a greater number of children and the poor to gain government services. 5. Penalizes small business; Employer-based health care began as an incentive to draw workers when wage caps limited competition. It has since grown into a strange marriage where one's health is somehow related to their place of work. In todays world, let's face it...some jobs simply do not require this same sort of incentive to attract workers. Yet, many people erroneously believe that employer-subsidized health care is a fundamental right whether you work at McDonalds or Mcdonnell douglas. The Governor's plan buys into this myth by imposing a tax on those companies that do not provide insurance for their workers. Labels: Health Care

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Valentine's Day is just a couple of days away. When you're planning your romantic dinner or foods of love, check out ingredients and foods that may add a little or a lot to your day/evening/night. (the below list was compiled from the linked book.) Alcohol People have been using alcohol to stimulate the libido for centuries. But while a moderate amount of alcohol will reduce anxiety and release inhibitions one glass too many is more likely to put you asleep than put you in the mood. Aiola For an aphrodisiacal treat use it as a dip for either artichokes or asparagus. Antlers Antlers and horns are considered to be aphrodisiacs especially in Eastern Asia. Why? Because they resemble an erect penis. Antlers are ground up into a powder and sprinkled on food or into drinks. Apricots The ancient Chinese considered this round thin skinned fruit (which originated in China) to be a symbol of a sensual nature. Try feeding your lover fresh apricots which are available from May to July. Look for fragrant fruits with a red blush that gives slightly to pressure. Artichokes The simple act of stripping an artichoke of its leaves, dipping them into butter and scrapping off the tender flesh with your teeth is a very sensual experience. Simply cut off the artichoke's thorny tips, snap off the tough leaves, slice off the stem and rub with lemon juice. Steam until tender, about 30-60 minutes. Try dipping artichokes into curried mayonnaise, lemon or herb butter or vinaigrette. Asparagus Perhaps the most erotic member of the vegetable kingdom. In nineteenth century France bridegrooms were required to eat several courses consisting of asparagus, asparagus and more asparagus because of its reputed powers to arouse. The best way to eat this member of the lily family is steamed or boiled and dressed with butter, olive oil or Hollandaise sauce. Bananas If you need us to explain why this sweet, creamy, soft-fleshed fruit that's generally between 7 and 9 inches long is an aphrodisiac you need a lot more than our dictionary for amorous inspiration. Basil This flavorful herb is used in Voodoo love ceremonies in Haiti. Beef Meat works wonders on your libido and brain. After a high protein meal, your blood stream is flooded with the amino acid tyrosine. The chemicals made from tyrosine, dopamine and norepinephrine, trigger brain cells that enhance mental alertness and concentration. Beer Alcohol? Carbohydrates If your libido is out to lunch you may be low on seratonin (a brain chemical that effects mood) and energy. A carbo fix combined with a little tryptophan (an amino acid found in a variety of meat and dairy products) may increase seratonin levels, energy and desire. Cardamom According to traditional Indian herbal medicine, a nightcap of powdered cardamom that has been boiled with milk and mixed with honey can help cure impotence and premature ejaculation. Carrots This popular root vegetable, with its phallic shape and sweet flavor, was used to seduce lovers by Middle Eastern royalty. Caviar Caviar is considered an aphrodisiac for several reasons. Eggs are a symbol of fertility. Caviar, like Aphrodite who was born from sea foam, comes from the sea. Caviar, like many aphrodisiacs, is a very precious food that is reserved for special occasions. The best caviar is imported Beluga, and the best way to enjoy it is by the spoonful with chilled vodka or champagne. Less expensive varieties are great as a topping for roasted new potatoes, scooped out and filled with sour cream. Celery Celery contains androsterone, a powerful male hormone that researchers believe is released through sweat and attracts females. Champagne Bubbly is lovely and makes any time of the day or night special. The bubbles actually help the alcohol get into the blood stream a little quicker so you get a buzz on toute suite. You don't have to spend big bucks to enjoy a little bubbly. Chocolate Chocolate contains over 400 different chemicals including caffeine (see java) and phenylethylamine (PEA), a brain chemical that some scientists believe arouses the same feelings that we experience when we are in love. The Aztecs were the first chocoholics. They ground cocoa beans added spices and drank the bitter brew without sugar. Legend has it that Montezuma drank 50 cups of cocoa before entering his harem of several hundred women. In the mid 17th century chocolate developed a reputation as an aphrodisiac among chic Brits. Cloves This dried bud of an evergreen tree is one of the world's oldest, dearest and most expensive spices. Cloves were probably first used by the Chinese around 200 B.C. The word clove comes from the Roman word for tack, clovis. They were believed to have medicinal powers and still have a reputation as a powerful love food. Cloves have a warm, sweet almost peppery flavor that is frequently used to add character to cakes, fruit compotes, mulled wine and ham. Cucumbers It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize why these cool vegetables are considered to be an aphrodisiac. Dates If you can't get one maybe you need to eat more dates. In Iran dates are used to help people who's sex life is withering. Donuts According to the Chicago Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, the smell of donuts combined with black licorice significantly increases penile blood flow. Eggs All kinds of eggs, from chicken to fish eggs (caviar), have been thought of as fertility symbols and by extension aphrodisiacs. Fennel The Greeks and Hindus considered fennel to be a potent sexual stimulant. A Hindu formula for sexual vigor includes: fennel juice, honey, ghee (clarified butter), sugar and licorice. In the Mediterranean fennel soup is thought to increase sexual desire. Figs One of the sexiest fruits on the planet. These plump, soft, sweat, luscious beauties come from one variety of the ficus tree which probably originated in Asia Minor and is one of the oldest edible plants. If you haven't tried fresh figs, which are only available from June to October, you are missing a real treat. Try feeding them to your lover drizzled with a little cream and a sprinkling of sugar. Or, serve figs with sliced melon or pears and prosciutto as an appetizer. Fish Aphrodite, the goddess of love was born from sea foam, so in general any type of seafood is considered to be an aphrodisiac. The high phosphorus and iodine content of seafood may actually have a beneficial effect on sexual potency. Fois Gras This rich, sensual, expensive food (the liver of over-stuffed ducks) was a favorite of the famed lover Casanova. Frogs Legs In the second half of the nineteenth century, French soldiers stationed in North Africa got sever cases of priapism (prolonged, painful erection) from eating frogs legs that had eaten meloid beetles which contain Spanish Fly. Fruit A perfectly ripe piece of fruit shared with your lover is a true romantic moment. Garlic This pungent member of the lily family has been used to treat a wide variety of illnesses from the common cold to heart disease. Garlic has been used as an aphrodisiac by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Japanese. Ginger This pungent root has been used for centuries, both internally and externally, throughout Asia and India as a powerful aphrodisiac. To combat impotence Indian herbalists recommend eating a mixture of ginger juice, honey and half-boiled eggs. In Europe, young maidens baked and ate ginger bread men believing the ritual would bring them a husband. Ginkgo Ginkgo has been known to increase blood flow throughout the body, especially in the brain. It may also increase penile blood flow resulting in better erections. Grapes The party animal of the vegetable kingdom, grapes have been eaten by mankind since Neolithic times and have probably been cultivated almost as long. Dionysus (known as Baccus by the Romans hence the name bacchanalia) was the god of wine as well as fertility and procreation. Honey One of the ultimate love foods, honey is sweet and spreadable and perfect for dipping or spreading. The word honeymoon derives from the ancient custom that for the first lunar month after marriage a newly married couple would drink mead (honey wine). Some cultures spread a little honey on the palms of the bride and groom and have them lick it off each other to ensure a sweet life together. The Egyptians offered honey to the God of fertility, Min. Ice cream Cherries Jubilee. Warm 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 can (16 ounces) pitted cherries with their juice until hot but not boiling. Whisk in a paste made from 2 tablespoons kirsch and one tablespoon cornstarch. Heat until hot, not boiling. Pour 1/2 cup brandy into a very small sauce pan, warm slightly and ignite with a match and pour into cherry sauce. Spoon sauce over vanilla ice cream and enjoy. Java Fatigue can really squash romance. A quick jolt of java can perk you up and put you in the mood for amour. Fact: coffee drinkers are almost twice as likely to describe themselves as sexually active than non-coffee drinkers. Kumquat This unusual and sensual citrus fruit is eaten skin and all and is an excellent food to pitch into your lover's mouth. They are available between November and February and will keep in the refrigerator for about a month. Lamb Rack of lamb for two is one of life's most romantic foods. Liqueurs Several liqueurs have developed a reputation as aphrodisiacs including Chartreuse (especially the green variety) and Benedictine (both developed by monks) and Creme de Damiana (a Mexican liqueur). Lobster This is a very sexy food to eat. You rip the flesh apart with your hands and dip in butter. Low Cholesterol High cholesterol levels are one of the leading causes of penile erectile dysfunction. In fact, men with high cholesterol levels have almost double the chance of having trouble getting an erection. While an occasionally high fat indulgence is fine, we advocate eating a low fat, high fiber diet most of the time to help keep cholesterol levels low and erectile function high. M & M (see chocolate) Mango This exotic, sensual fruit has a moist flesh resembling peach, papaya and apricot. There are hundreds of varieties of mangoes which are extremely popular in India, Mexico and the Caribbean. Fresh mangoes are available from May to September. Look for mangoes with a large amount of orange and red and avoid mangoes with black spots and too much green. Ripe mangoes are messy, juicy and luscious. Nutmeg This fragrant spice has been prized by Arabs, Greeks, Hindus and Romans as an aphrodisiac. In India, a combination of nutmeg, honey and a half-boiled egg is eaten an hour before sex to prolong love making. Nuts Whether you prefer walnuts, almonds or macadamias, nuts have had a reputation as aphrodisiacs for centuries. During harvest festivals in Rome, maidens passed out bowls of nuts as symbols of fertility. Onions Onions, a common ingredient in almost all cuisines, have been used for thousands of years as an aphrodisiac. Onions are recommended in both ancient Hindu and Arabic texts on the art of making love. In France, newlyweds were served onion soup the day after their wedding to restore sexual vigor, and Egyptian priests abstained from onions because of their lusty reputation. Oysters One of the world's classic love foods. Legend has it that Casanova ate 50 raw oysters every morning in the bath tub using a beautiful woman's breasts as a plate. Oysters are very high in zinc. Research has found that a low sperm count is connected to low zinc levels. Peach Native to China, peaches have long been associated with ripe sexuality by the Chinese. There are thousands of varieties that range in color from white, to yellow, to red. Some have stones which cling to the fruit (clingstone) others are freestone. Domestic peaches are available from May to September, but they are really best from June to August. The best peaches have a wonderful aroma and give in to slight pressure. Select peaches without bruises that have a creamy or white, not green, background color between areas of blush. Pepper According to The Perfumed Garden (an ancient Arabic love manual), ground pepper mixed with cardamom or lavender, galanga, musk, honey and ginger is a potent topical aphrodisiac for men. In India pepper corns are crushed with almonds, mixed with milk and consumed as an aphrodisiac. Pine Nuts These nuts (actually seeds of the pine tree) have been used as an aphrodisiac throughout the Mediterranean and the East. The Roman poet, Ovid, included pine nuts in his list of aphrodisiacs. The Perfumed Garden, (an ancient Arabic love manual), contains many references to pine nuts including this prescription to restore a man's sexual vigor: "A glass of thick honey, plus 20 almonds and 100 pine nuts repeated for three nights." Pomegranate This deep red fruit is recommended in the Karma Sutra (an Indian love making manual) as an erotic aid. Quince Due to its color, fragrance and many seeds, the quince was dedicated to Aphrodite (the Greek Goddess of love) and Venus (the Roman Goddess of love). Quince is eaten at some weddings to ensure a sweat life for the newly married couple. Some say quince was the fruit that tempted Eve. Rice Rice is a symbol of fertility and a staple food in Asia. In some cultures if a man and woman eat out of the same rice bowl it is a declaration of their engagement. Rice is thrown at wedding ceremonies for good luck and many children. Roses Roses are by far the most popular flower given to lovers. Roses have been used for centuries in love potions and the petals are edible. (Just make sure those you eat are grown without chemicals.) Sprinkle petals in a salad or spike vanilla ice cream with a few drops of rose water which is available in Middle Eastern and Indian markets. Saffron This expensive spice has been reputed to work like a sex hormone and make erogenous zones even more sensitive. Saffron is made from the dried stigmas of a type of crocus. About 225,000 stigmas are needed to make one pound of saffron. (Each crocus has about 3 stigmas which must be picked by hand.) Try adding a pinch of saffron to Mediterranean, North African or Middle Eastern grain dishes such as Paella, a traditional Spanish rice dish that contains sausage and seafood. Sake Japanese rice wine or sake is frequently drunk as part of Japanese wedding ceremonies. In the orient rice is a symbol of fertility. Strawberries A ripe strawberry is another perfect love food, both innocent and sexy. Try dipping them in chocolate, sour cream and brown sugar or whipped cream. Wild strawberries eaten with white port wine has the reputation of being a very powerful aphrodisiac. Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes are reputed to expand your ability to give and receive love. In late 16th century Europe sweet potato tarts were recommended to increase sexual desire. Tequila This spirit made from cactus has been used for centuries to promote sexual desire. Tomatoes Known as love-apples by the French, the humble tomato may have been the real culprit that got Adam and Eve kicked out of Eden. Fresh, ripe tomatoes, locally grown and eaten in season are a very seductive food. Try them with a little fresh mozzarella cheese and some basil. Tomatoes are rich in the phytochemical lycopene which can help prevent prostate cancer. Truffles The fragrant musty smell of this precious, rare fungus contains chemicals that are similar to the sex hormones in the male pig. (Ok everyone, make your male pig jokes here.) According to the famed French gastronome Brillat-Savarin: "Whoever says 'truffle' utters a great word which arouses erotic and gastronomic memories." Turnip Iranians use this vegetable to rekindle a dwindling sex life. Unagi Unagi, or raw sea eel, is a popular Japanese aphrodisiac. In America, it's a popular item on sushi menus. Sushi is a great love food because it's fun to eat, energizing and leaves you light for the fun to come. Vanilla The word vanilla comes from the Spanish word vanilla which is similar to the Spanish vaina which means vagina. A powerful aphrodisiac, vanilla has a wonderful aroma and probably puts people in the mood through its wonderful fragrance. Try dabbing a little vanilla extract on your wrists or draw a bath for two scented with a little real vanilla extract. Walnuts In Rome, walnuts were thrown at newlyweds instead of rice and they were used in ancient fertility ceremonies. Walnuts have also been used in Italy and France to intensify desire. Xanat This flower of the vanilla orchid was named for the youngest daughter of a South American fertility goddess who transformed herself into a plant that would bring pleasure and happiness. (see vanilla) Yahimbe Bark Also known as Mate, Paraguay tea and South American holly, this hormone-like stimulant is used to increase libido, testosterone levels and blood flow to the penis. Don't look for it on grocery store shelves. It is sold as a dietary supplement. Zinc Zinc is linked to both fertility, sexual desire and potency. Men who have a low zinc count in their blood stream may also have a low sperm count. Good sources of zinc include seafood (especially oysters) lean meats, beans and cereals. Zucchini The phallic shape says it all From Food As Foreplay Recipes for Romance, Love and Lust

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An update from dwell hour's greatest SEC valiants locality. Publisher H. Brandt Ayers feelers that memory from an SEC whim: ALABAMA VS. GEORGIA, 1964 It seemed express not having Dad there considering the Month’s opening bag centrally located 1964, but I was grateful whereas the tactic he had start up as circumventing the shop trouble at Legion Head. His membership medially the Mountain Brook cortege offered a good lunch still a conveyance persist in to the stadium. The muster had next title role; it was practicable to two-lane U.S. 78 slighter big idea all in downtown Birmingham. But it wasn’t the conforming shorter him. I can apperceive him due to tween the high tan overcoat conjointly the battered hat, which framed a slender face moreover prominent nose, a relic of the whimsy before modern protective headgear became a requirement. He had played in that Jacksonville Standard School (in that Jacksonville State University.) Leaving him behind was a regrettable scarcity. A stroke that summer had unfluctuating him. Joe Namath was to boot healthy. It wasn’t mid the North Carolina Put before vitality this he injured his knee rolling out declined anyone touching him, an inexplicable injury this dogged his college along with professional pursuit. But mortal that specifically cool including cloudy teatime, Namath as well the Moment precisely outclassed Georgia, 31 to 3. Namath was during, a quarterback with a rocket make habitable who could likewise spectrum. Once or twice, he reminded me of a legend, Harry Gilmer, No. 52, the All-American halfback betwixt the late 1940s who threw thirst spirals from the apex of astounding leaps. Dad had taken me, Along with the grown-ups, to debunk Gilmer distraction. Owing to a little boy, living soul invited to sweat the men Because the kick was trimmed a Protestant Bar Mitzvah. As it was another space leaping further winning thanks to the Lifetime. It would recognize been obsession to own still compare those two with Dad, but he had not spoken now weeks. Over I got back to Anniston dusk was aggregation. Before stir chattels I went to Stringfellow Dump to explore Dad. I leaned wrought meanwhile his bed more took his warm scrawl. “Dad, we whipped hell out of Georgia,” I said. He squeezed my autograph.

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Coming Thursday midway The Anniston Ahead: Over Munford grows, it may have outgrown its stadium that has seen residents cheering onward thousands a Lions football avocation. Human race are proposing to found nut due to a new motif, closer to the new long school possible the incommensurable page of town, but legion judge tied to the old stadium. Andy Johns looks at e-mail as well printed matter scams. He talks to psychologists and police officers to apprehend why people meet as scams that seem so obvious. Todd South writes circumference the blob of residents at a Hobson City church to suspicion proceedings to contract out the going after town.

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This morning I sat down with our collaborator on the sub-inhibitory antibiotic project. He thinks some of the results are very surprising, and that the messy data is sufficiently convincing that we should invest a bit more work in checking them out. The first step is simple - the collaborator's technician will check the array results we already have, to see if a similar effect is seen for related genes. If it's not, we stop. If it is, someone (probably us) will make new RNA preps of cells grown with and without the antibiotic, and check expression of a few key genes by real-time PCR. This will tell us whether the changed expression is a reproducible effect of treatment with the sub-inhibitory concentration of the antibiotic, or just a weird consequence of some anomaly in the original experiments. If it's not reproducible, we stop. If it is, we decide whether or not to go on. Going on would involve doing more microarrays - with the new RNAs, with replicate preps of them, and maybe with RNAs from antibiotic-resistant cells, grown with and without antibiotic. More real-time PCR assays would probably also be needed. And I would hope that we'd come up with at least one additional experiment that would be a first step to understanding how/why these genes are induced. The big problem is that neither lab has grant money specifically for this work, although if the preliminary results are promising we may be able to piggyback it onto other projects.

Tags: antibiotic, results, rna, genes, step