text:
JANE AND PAMELA ANDERSON AGAINST THE NEW ZEALAND HERALDAn Auckland mother and daughter who complained to the New Zealand Press Council about a column published in the New Zealand Herald and written by the paper's property writer, Anne Gibson, have had their complaint upheld.
The complaint by Jane and Pamela Anderson relates to the regular column Between The Lines, which was published on Saturday, May 28. The column attempted to draw a parallel between a neighbourhood dispute over the siting of a townhouse and the proposal by AMP to build a 34-level tower on the Auckland waterfront without letting all their neighbours have a say. What the Herald didn't explicitly tell its readers, to the chagrin of the Andersons, was that the neighbours involved in this disagreement included Gibson herself.
In her column, the paper's property writer hints at the relationship - it starts, "A couple of years back, some neighbours flogged off a back section…" -- and goes on to describe the townhouse as "unspeakably ugly - a three-level squeezed-up box on a tiny half-section…" She says it knocks out views, casts a shadow, removes sunlight and is painted in the "brightest and worst colour imaginable". Gibson also says the local council asked no one for input to the plans, allowing more building than its rulebook said, and refers to the neighbours as "smug in their delight at having blotted the landscape". She goes on to liken this to the AMP proposal and the situation in which an objector finds himself.
Sheila McCabe, of McCabe McMahon, barristers and solicitors, wrote to the Herald on behalf of the Andersons in early June, to formally complain. She told the paper the Andersons live close to Anne Gibson, whom they describe as a "most difficult neighbour". Ms McCabe says that, in isolation, the column would have been no more than offensive, inaccurate and petty. However, taken in the context of the "campaign of harassment and abuse" (from Anne Gibson) it was "vindictive, nasty and an abuse by Anne Gibson of her position at the New Zealand Herald".
The editor of the Herald acknowledged receipt of the solicitor's letter once he was reminded that no reply had been forthcoming. Ms McCabe sought a substantive response, but heard nothing. She then complained on behalf of her clients to the Press Council. When Herald editor Stephen Davis replied to the Press Council, he said this was a dispute between neighbours, not an issue of journalistic standards. Neither the paper nor the Council should be involved, he said. The Gibson column had identified no one, he continued.
The Press Council told Mr Davis it considered the complaint a legitimate one. The editor, responding three weeks later, repeated his belief that the paper and the Council had no role in a dispute between neighbours, particularly on the basis that it had been an opinion piece in which no one was named and where the facts were unchallenged. He said it was perfectly in order for columnists to use experiences from their private life in commentary, "providing they stick to the facts and do not do so maliciously".
In the Press Council complaint process, complainants and the newspaper involved each have two opportunities to comment on the matters in dispute. Thus, responding to Mr Davis's second letter to the Press Council, Sheila McCabe agreed that the Herald shouldn't be involved in a private dispute between neighbours but said that by publishing the column, the paper had clearly involved itself in just such a dispute.
She said the "facts" as Gibson had laid them out were clearly challenged by the Andersons. She also used Mr Davis's own words about columnists not acting maliciously to argue that that was precisely what Gibson had done. The Press Council found first, that the complaint from the Andersons clearly had substance and properly fell within its jurisdiction.
It also agreed with most of the Andersons' concerns as outlined by Ms McCabe - it was disingenuous of the Herald editor to say the complaint was a private one between neighbours when one of those neighbours - a Herald columnist - had herself put it in the public domain, albeit without naming names. Such disclosure by Gibson of her own role in the dispute was, in the Council's view, not only desirable but obligatory.
The Council accepts that columnists regularly draw on their life experience for their material. However, it's our view that this column overstepped the mark by misusing the newspaper columnist's traditionally wide brief and latitude. The column also represented opinion as fact when, as is clear from the McCabe letter to Mr Davis, many 'facts' as presented by the columnist were in dispute. This complaint would have been upheld on the grounds of accuracy alone. It is the Council's view that Gibson ought to have revealed the context of the neighbourhood dispute so readers could judge it for themselves or she ought not to have used her privileged position as a columnist in that way at all. In isolation the column would have read as a typically one-sided view of a neighbourhood squabble. But given the background to the dispute between Gibson and the Andersons, the AMP's proposed building on the Auckland waterfront seems to have provided Gibson with a convenient vehicle to express publicly her displeasure with her neighbours, and in such a way that they could not easily hit back.
It would be understandable if the editor wasn't aware of the background to this row at the outset. However, once this had been drawn to his attention, it was very unfortunate that he didn't respond personally to the Andersons' concern and then, when they complained to the Press Council, that he sought to suggest it wasn't a proper matter for adjudication. The Council believes that had Mr Davis investigated the complaint from the Andersons once it reached him via their lawyers, and responded promptly to it in the first instance, this matter might have never reached the Press Council.
This was properly a matter for the Press Council to adjudicate upon. The complaint is upheld.


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Barlow Girls encourage girls in commitment to purity
Published 7:00 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009
-Ball emphasizes importance of father-daughter relationship
By Kathleen Thurber
With the lights dimmed and the jazz band in mid-song, Carl Englestad grabbed his 12-year-old daughter Hope's petite hands and attempted to mimic the back and forth steps of other pairs on the dance floor.
Hope looked up and smiled as she used the smooth surface of her black flats to power a full spin under her dad's arm. Stopping again at the side of the floor the two reoriented before their next move, neither seeming to notice the slight swishing sound passing close by them as older girls in full pink, yellow or navy tulle skirts led their dads around the floor of the Commemorative Air Force hangar.
"Anytime you can grab a moment," Englestad said, looking down at his daughter.
The pair were among the about 325 in attendance at Midland's inaugural Purity Ball that was meant to emphasize the importance of these father-daughter relationships in living a life of purity as defined by God's standards.
"Pleasing God is not easy because he called us to do things a long time ago that are tough," said Lauren Barlow, the middle sister of the pop band Barlow Girls, who performed an acoustic set at the Feb. 28 ball and answered questions from the girls and their dads. "God said, 'Girls, I want you to live a life dedicated to purity.' It's a lifestyle, not just a line we're not going to cross."
Lauren and her sisters Alyssa and Becca reiterated these sentiments, telling the girls in attendance purity doesn't mean simply saving sex for marriage, but also remaining pure in what they read, watch and how they dress each day.
Though they're in their 20s, the band members told the crowd they've never held a guy's hand and never been kissed because they don't want to waste their time dating lots of people God intended to become someone else's husband.
"Keep a high standard for us girls to be very picky about the man we're going to marry one day," Alyssa Barlow instructed the dads.
Date with Dad
As the trio began a song about waiting for God even when you can't always feel him present, one dad at the back pulled out his iPhone to wave the light along with the beat.
His daughter, sitting up tall with her curled hair pinned intricately into place, looked over and immediately swiped his arm down, laughing and shaking her head no before checking to see how many others saw the embarrassing episode.
Though there were a few pairs who finished their dinner in a slightly awkward silence, most had to be quieted in order to get the program under way. The tables decked in white linens with pink daisies in the center were mostly filled with dads and daughters joking between one another and their friends, men leaning over to discretely cut the beef on the younger girls' plates and other groups of teens taking the chance to fill their dads in on the latest news at their various schools.
"I was excited about spending time with my dad," said 15-year-old Stephanie Cedillo, who said they don't often have a chance for that.
Her dad, Sergio Cedillo, agreed their one-on-one time isn't always frequent, but said he hopes she understands the door is always open and that the evening was intended to emphasize open communication lines mean any subject can be breached.
Some at the ball said they spent the months before the evening reading through books like "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" or answering a list of conversation-starters that were e-mailed out to get families discussing what God's call to purity looks like for girls today. Others said the conversation is one they've had with their children since an early age, while still others admitted until the prompting of this event they'd left most of the instruction about morality and sex to their kids' Sunday school teachers.
Pledging to wait
However, said Crestview Baptist Church youth pastor Rob Watson, for the message to stick it has to come from parents — especially fathers. He said their youth group just finished a series about dating, which is a topic he said incites more interest among the teens than any other. While he said they discuss the most conservative approach of not dating, he also makes sure to define dating and talks about ways to have relationships that are pleasing to God, since he said in reality most teens won't prescribe to the no-dating school of thought.
"If God is in your relationship that's kind of one of the keys," Watson said.
Those who organized the event said it wasn't meant to be a one-time thing that would cause a dramatic shift in the way these families think. Instead, it was meant to act as a catalyst in encouraging the values and in emphasizing the importance of father-daughter relationships and open communication.
"For us this is nothing different," said David Arrington, who helped organize the event. "This is the same values we've always had."
That detail, they said, is what they believe will help make these commitments to pure lifestyles last, when statistically girls who've committed to just abstinence before marriage don't fare much different than their peers who aren't pledging.
Studies conducted by Yale University, Columbia University and the University of Northern Kentucky show while girls who make abstinence pledges do abstain from sex longer than their peers, more than half do not wait until marriage, and those who have sex outside of marriage are less likely to use protection and more likely to engage in oral sex than non-pledgers.
With 63 births per 1,000 females between the ages of 15 and 19 in 2007, Texas has the worst teen birth rate of any state, according to the Center for Public Policy Priorities. Combating this, experts say, can and should be done through conversations about purity. But, they say, these conversations should also include biological information and facts about STDs and the need for protection if deciding not to wait.
Some at the Purity Ball said they agree both sides should be represented in educating their daughters, while others stepped back and fidgeted at just the mention of sex and their daughters in the same sentence, saying those topics are things more comfortably confronted by their wives.
The topic, many agreed, is also one important for their sons. However, the ball's organizers said, an elegant evening with pink balloons, dancing and wedding-gown like dresses is likely not the best way to reach boys. What method is, they're still trying to figure out.
How things will fare with each of the young women in attendance last weekend obviously remains to be seen. But many of the girls, who ranged between 12 and 18, said this night with dad won't be quickly overshadowed.
They waited in lines to meet the Barlow Girls and have a photo taken at a prom-like backdrop while squealing over each others' beaded dresses and sparkly corsages. Others sat at tables, leaning on their satin-glove cloaked hands while talking to dad as they watched other dads and daughters, some of whom slowed down mid-step as they realized they weren't quite used to the high heels they'd chosen for the evening.
"I want my dad to mentor me," said Michelle Graves, who came to the event from Stanton. "I'm his baby girl."
Kathleen Thurber can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.
To watch a video of the event: http://www.mywtxchatter.com/video

domain: news


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OAKLAND (KPIX 5) -- There are new allegations from the woman at the center of a sex scandal that has rocked the Oakland Police Department.
At first it was believed the scandal mostly involved sex, and possibly statutory rape involving officers. Now there is evidence pointing to police allegedly giving the teenage prostitute undercover operation intel.
The 18-year-old girl goes by the name "Celeste Guap," and admits she's slept with two dozen officers from various police departments.
Guap told KPIX she had sex with 14 officers from Oakland Police Department, 5 from the Richmond Police Department, 3 Alameda County Sheriff's deputies and one Livermore cop.
She says in exchange some officers gave her protection and tipped her off about undercover operations while she was working as a prostitute.
Guap has a cell phone screen shot showing her text conversation with an Oakland cop who goes by the nickname "Superman."
Superman wrote, "Be safe today. Want some advice?"
Celeste replied, "Tell me handsome."
The cop said, "Stay off east 14, from Fruitvale to 42 tonight. There's a UC operation." meaning undercover prostitution sting.
Celeste wrote back, "Damn, lol."
The officer said, "No you're not. Just giving you a heads up."
She flirted by saying, "Thank you daddy. I appreciate it. I don't wanna go to jail. Lol."
In another text conversation with a different Oakland officer, Celeste asked the officer:
"Is it gonna be hot in Oakland tonight?" (In other words, will there be any undercover operations targeting prostitutes.)
The officer wrote, "Yup, who told u?"
Celeste replied, "Nobody, that's why I'm mad."
The officer said, "I told you last night, or I tried to. But you were drunk."
"At the time, I was happy, you know, like wow, you know, these men in uniform, you know, giving me protection, you know. Like it was mutual," says Guap.
Out of the two dozen officers she had sex with, she says she slept with three of them when she was a minor. All three were with the Oakland Police Department.
The sex started when she was just 16. She says some of the officers would introduce her to other fellow officers, basically passing her around, mostly via Facebook and Instagram.
She revealed another text conversation with another Oakland officer after she sent him a picture showing her having sex with someone else.
The officer asked, "You enjoy that? Or was that a old pic."
Guap said, "Lol. That was like a month ago. It was coo. I'm sure you would be better."
The officer wrote back, "I know I could. I'm not gonna lie. Kinda hot seeing you having sex. How often do you be having sex with officers?"
Guap says the sex all happened while the officers were off-duty, sometimes in their personal cars, sometimes in hotel rooms. Some of the officers were married.
She's now co-operating with investigators. So far, the Oakland and Richmond police departments have launched internal investigations.
"thinking back about it, I thought wow, they cared about me," says Guap. "Thinking back at it, yeah, I do see myself as a victim. Because I do feel like I was taken advantage of."
Asked if she plans to sue the Oakland police department, Guap says she thought about it, but hasn't made up her mind. She says she doesn't want to because her mother and her stepdad are OPD dispatchers and work with these officers.
UPDATE: Several agencies implicated in the sex scandal have issued responses to allegations of police misconduct.
On Saturday, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf issued the following statement:
"We continue to be disgusted and outraged by the idea that anyone could abuse an underage victim of sexual exploitation – particularly those who have sworn to uphold the law and protect our communities; we are sickened to think anyone could even know of such abuse and not bring that information forward.
Our highest priority is to hold those responsible for wrongdoing fully accountable and remove them from positions where they are offending the public trust; anything that impedes these outcomes is counterproductive and compromises justice.
We acknowledge that recent news accounts have revealed a number of details pertaining to the ongoing investigation of disturbing criminal acts and misconduct by current and former Oakland Police Officers and other law enforcement personnel. These news reports also contain information we believe is inaccurate.
We will disclose all allowable details of this investigation, including the accuracy of recent news reports, once such disclosure will no longer impede our ability to reach the truth and secure the strongest judgments against those responsible.
The City Administrator, Interim Chief Fairow and I want to assure the public that we have dedicated extraordinary resources to this complex investigation, that it is proceeding well, and that we are doing everything we can to ensure it will result in the most serious punishment and consequences allowable by law.
Additionally, we have involved other law enforcement agencies wherever appropriate, and have established several layers of independent review to assure the public of our thoroughness and impartiality.
I wish to express my appreciation to Interim Chief Fairow, who has hit the ground running and recognizes the importance of this investigation."
Richmond Police Department says they are investigating several officers after learning their connection with Guap.
Alameda County Sheriff's office said it looked into one deputy who exchanged Facebook messages with Guap but because she was 18, they found no evidence of anything illegal. Officials went further to say, "If Ms. Guap or anyone else comes forward with allegations of illegal activity on the part of our deputies, we will investigate those allegations completely and thoroughly."
Stockton Police said they know of no investigations into any of their officers.
for more features.

domain: law


Call for Papers
The conference is planned to serve the Middle East and is designed in three paper tracks as well as an exhibition.
Conference proceedings shall be internationally indexed by the Vibration Institute.
The First track
is Applied Papers Track : In this track applied papers from all conference topics are invited for submission.
The Second track
is Case Studies Track: In this track case studies that are documented with successful implementations, or documented cases yet to be resolved are invited for submission.
The Third track
is Technology Track: In this track papers on emerging technologies and/or applications of current technologies are invited for submission.
The conference topics include, but are not limited to:
- Vibration Analysis
- Vibration Measurement
- Vibration Techniques and Methodology
- Condition Monitoring
- Machine Diagnostics
- Reliability Analysis and Reliability Management
- Standards and Standardization for Vibration and Condition Monitoring
- Balancing of Machines
- Gas Turbine Analysis
- Steam Turbine Analysis
- Generator Analysis
- Pump Analysis
- Compressor Analysis
- Piping Vibration Analysis
- Fan and Blower Analysis
- Gearbox Analysis
- Electric Motor Analysis
- Wind Turbine Analysis
- Operational Deflection Shape Analysis
- Modal Testing
- Bearings: Rolling Elements
- Bearings: Fluid Films
- Bearings: Magnetic
To submit your Paper, please visit: https://www.conference-service.com/VI-MEconf2018/
and create an account.
For inquiries and support, please contact:email@example.com


text:
St. Margaret's Primary Academy in Lowestoft has received a "highly commended" in recognition for its submission to the Greenest County Awards 2023. The awards showcase the efforts of individuals, communities, businesses, schools, and third sector organizations in Suffolk who are at the forefront of addressing the climate crisis and preserving our ecosystem.
These are just some of the activities that St. Margaret's 'Eco Council' and its students have undertaken in the past year.
Growing their own food
The school allotment has been used by students to cultivate and harvest strawberries, potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes. The tomatoes were then donated to the school kitchen to be transformed into nutritious snacks for break time.
Biodiversity In the school grounds
St. Margaret's Primary Academy participated in The Queen's Green Canopy initiative by planting more than 60 trees on the school grounds. Additionally, the students have designated a wild area named 'The Secret Garden' where a pond with newts, a small meadow of wildflowers, and a bug hotel have been set up to promote the growth of wildlife, encouraging nature to thrive.
Educating each other about plastic
The school 'eco council' lead an assembly to highlight the massive Issues surrounding the amount of plastic that ends up in our seas.
The school pledges to stop single use plastics in the school kitchen, ordered re-fillable glue sticks and all children use re-usable water bottles. The school eco council also regularly litter pick in the playground to stop plastic waste ending up in the local river and then into the ocean.
St Margarets' Forest School Leader Ben Heffernan is very impressed:
“I feel the greatest success has been how much engagement it has created from students who want to help with all things eco at break and lunch. We have actually had to order more green jackets due to so many children wanting to be part of this movement.”
The school's commitment to being eco-friendly remains strong as they gear up for the next academic year with new initiatives. The addition of a composting bin and a polytunnel is a significant step towards creating a sustainable environment, and the school is excited to continue their eco-school journey at full speed ahead motivating its students to become responsible global citizens and contribute to a better tomorrow.
Read about the REAch2 response to the environment in our Five Year Strategy.

domain: sociology


text:
The Signature Dress is loaded with options. There is something in it for everyone, no lie. This makes me so excited because if you have a girl in your house you know how often they change clothes, want you to buy them more clothes, try to take your clothes, and love playing dress up. It's all about the options!
This pattern is sized for ages 12 months to 12 years and oh boy, let me take a big breath here before I tell you all the ways you can make this little beauty....ok, ready? You can make it a tunic, a dress or a maxi dress. You can sew cap sleeves, ruffle sleeves, flutter sleeves, short sleeves, long sleeves, all with ribbing, hemming or elastic options. You can choose no pockets, a kangaroo pocket, inset pockets, gathered pockets or ribbed pockets. Plus there is the option of adding a hood, appliqué, elastic waist, shirred waist, and tulle at the hem. Whew! Told you there were options baby!
Case in point...twirling:
This dress was so easy to make and the details and pictures were excellent. I love the boatload of options Andrea gives which definitely makes this an all-season pattern. Perfect for summer, fall, spring and winter! Plus the fact that it is a pattern for knit fabrics makes every dress, tunic, or maxi comfy for playtime!
Interested in seeing more fun creations using The Signature Dress? Follow along on the blog tour, you won't be sorry!

domain: design


Join Coastal News Today for news and analysis from across the coastal space. Subscription is free and confidential!
It’s not too early to begin preparing for summer sargassum. Dr Anjani Ganase reviews the latest Sargassum White Paper generated by the United Nations Environmental Programme. The big picture requires trans-Atlantic co-operation – West Africa and Brazil to fully understand the annual sargassum influx.
Southeast Alaska’s natural capital produces economic outputs from the seafood and visitor products industries worth several billion dollars a year
Six years ago on March 17, 2016, a spring breaker from Texas launched a football over large crowd of revelers and into the direction of police officers.
More than 5 million visitors travel to Okaloosa County every year. In 2021, the number hit 7.5 million visitors, increasing tourist spending by 30 percent from 2020 for a total of $736 million, 28 percent more than 2019.
The pressure on accommodation on the Mid Coast these holidays has led to an increase in illegal camping, particularly in popular coastal communities.
As tourism returns to Hawaii, visitors can expect a more authentic experience.
Escambia County’s tourism has rebounded strongly from a 2020 full of COVID-related closures, Hurricane Sally damage and staffing shortages, reporting a 23% increase in bed tax collections over 2019 with a head start on what could be an even more record-breaking 2022.
Sri Lanka’s potential for ‘eco and science-based marine tourism’, though immense, has still not been properly tapped. To promote this unconventional tourism product, sustainable environmental practices are fundamental. We spoke to several stakeholders who moot collaborative efforts and community participation in making these best practices a reality.
A popular Alabama beach city is increasing its lodging tax by 3 percentage points over the next two years.
As the city of San Diego explores a permit to close Point La Jolla during the next sea lion pupping season, animal-rights advocates went to the California Coastal Commission to plead their case.
Tulum, jewel of the Mayan Riviera, risks emulating Acapulco, another once glamorous resort now overwhelmed by violence
The City of Gold Coast is investing in accessible beach infrastructure including beach wheelchairs and matting along with custom-built wheelchair accessible showers and changing rooms installed at some of their most popular beaches aimed at making the Gold Coast a more inclusive and accessible city.
The operator of ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is eyeing a move to an historic Battery Park pier from its existing home that’s falling apart.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fl. (WTXL) — Red tide made its presence known along coastal areas of the Big Bend in October. Now, it's gone.
Strong October visitation helped Cape Hatteras National Seashore break a long-standing annual visitation record. With a month left in the year, 2021 has already become CHNS’s busiest year ever, surpassing the previous record set in 2002.
Arguing that all people should have access to public beaches regardless of physical ability, advocates and public officials on Tuesday called for improvements and upgrades so people with disabilities can easily enjoy seaside offerings in Massachusetts.
Government has introduced new laws to regulate vending activities on the beaches and coastal areas of Turks and Caicos Islands, in response to major challenges and concerns resulting from an upsurge of vending activity in those areas.
Post-Covid cruising industry wants picturesque towns on its itineraries, while locals fear the pollution and damage the ships can bring


text:
Anybody who is sexually active is capable of transmitting or catching a sexually transmissible infection (STI) or a blood borne virus (BBV). Safer sex practices can greatly reduce your risk of catching or passing on a STI or BBV.
Archives for Sexually Transmissible Infections & Blood Borne Viruses
The first step in avoiding exposure to STIs is to check your clients for visible signs of STIs. It’s best

domain: medical


text:
Comment, Like, & Favorite
Photograph - Photograph
A chocolate chip cookie dough cupcake from Pinkitzel, in OKC.
July 2nd, 2012
Viewed 12 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 07/15/2014 at 4:40 PM
copy and paste to your website / blog - preview
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domain: food


The Campus Anti-Semitism ‘Epidemic’ Is Fake News
Over the past week, two stories broke about anti-Semitism on university campuses that seemed to reinforce the prevailing narrative about such things — that there is an explosion of anti-Semitic action at North American institutions of higher learning. But these stories have a lot less in common than it seems, and their misrepresentation goes a long way towards dispelling what is an inaccurate narrative.
The first took place at McGill University in Montreal. Student executive Jordyn Wright wrote in a Facebook post about an experience she had, where she was reprimanded for accepting a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories this winter funded by Hillel Montreal. Leaders of the Students’ Society of McGill called for Wright to resign if she does not quit the trip, or risk impeachment and removal.
Although three student leaders agreed to go on the winter trip, Wright was the only one threatened with formal censure. Not coincidentally, she is also the only Jewish student of the three.
Also last week, Professor Ron Hassner of the University of California-Berkeley released a survey of 230 UC-Berkeley students which found most students know shockingly little about Israel or Palestine; in fact, 75% could not even locate the Palestinian territories on a map.
The confluence of these two stories reinforced a prevailing narrative: Anti-Semitic students at American universities, ignorant of the actual history of Israel and Palestine, are responding by indiscriminately targeting all Jewish students. It’s a simple story. The only problem is, it isn’t true.
To be clear, what happened to Jordyn Wright at McGill was anti-Semitism. Wright was targeted unfairly by her fellow student leaders, and her travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories should have no bearing on her status as an elected leader.
But it’s too easy to tie the genuine anti-Semitism Wright faced at McGill to a larger story that students hate Israel without bothering to learn anything about it, meaning their hatred must be motivated by anti-Semitism and not by any genuine grievances about Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people. Here’s why that piece of the puzzle doesn’t hold water:
The Jewish News Syndicate claimed that the UC-Berkeley study provides proof of “how little Israel’s detractors on campus actually know about the Israeli-Arab conflict.” Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom sneered at students who claim to “support Palestine” but “can’t find it on a map.”
Study: you’d be surprised how little Israel’s detractors on campus actually know about the Israeli-Arab conflict.https://t.co/TFenZP1mm9
Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) December 2, 2019
But the UC-Berkeley study did not actually find any of that. Let’s start with the claim that the survey revealed that “Israel’s detractors on campus” know so little about Israel and Palestine, which is easily dispelled because the survey did not specifically poll “Israel’s detractors.” It polled 230 UC-Berkeley students, chosen at random. Indeed, as Professor Hassner himself admits, only 43% of the students polled “expressed an intense interest in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.”
Rather than proving that there is a huge amount of Jew or even Israel hatred at Berkeley, what Hassner showed was that a majority of UC-Berkeley students are simply not that involved in this particular issue, and probably do not identify strongly as either “detractors” nor defenders of Israel. Indeed, the conclusion is almost tautological. If you define every student who does not care deeply about Israel or Palestine as an “Israel detractor,” then of course American universities will seem like hotbeds of anti-Semitism.
Moreover, the survey did not find that critics of Israel were especially likely to be ignorant of the history of Israel-Palestine, compared to supporters. It actually found that “a more moderate stance on the conflict seemed to reflect greater knowledge of the issues,” that political moderates seem to display slightly more accurate knowledge about Israel-Palestine than students — on the right or left.
Instead of a headline saying that the survey revealed “how little Israel’s detractors on campus actually know about the Israeli-Arab conflict,” we could just as easily write headlines saying the survey reveals “how little Likud supporters on campus actually know.” That would be just as accurate.
One recent Stanford University survey of Jewish students at five California universities found that respondents “reported feeling comfortable on their campuses, and, more specifically, comfortable as Jews.” And a Brandeis University survey of Jewish students at four American universities found that “Jewish students do not think their campus is hostile to Jews.”
The Brandeis survey did find that most Jewish students hear “hostile remarks toward Israel” on campus, but, contrary to the efforts of some well-funded pro-Israel groups to define all anti-Israel sentiment as anti-Semitism, American Jewish students are fully capable of distinguishing between the two.
Among Jewish students who hear criticism of Israel, fully 80% report that they do not perceive the majority of this criticism as anti-Semitic and do not feel that they as Jews are held personally accountable for Israel’s actions.
Moreover, among those students who do report feeling “discomfort” on campus about Israel and Palestine, the majority attribute this discomfort equally to supporters of Israel, and to well-funded pro-Zionist Jewish groups, as they do to pro-Palestine activists and Israel critics. Indeed, many Jewish students report not wanting to be involved in campus Jewish life at all, because they feel forced into taking political positions in support of Israel just because of their Jewishness.
One student at Stanford said she stopped attending Hillel because she resented the way the organization promoted the impression that “all Jewish students were pro-Israel and all people who were pro-Israel were Jewish.” Another said she stopped going because, “even if I want to go to a Shabbat dinner and stuff, I feel like it still has that political climate, which I’m not a fan of.”
It’s a two-step process, as another Jewish student pointed out: groups like Hillel define themselves as speaking on behalf of all Jewish students, saying things like “the Jewish opinion was this.” Then, after defining Jewish identity on campus in terms of support for Israel and Zionism, they complain that criticism of Israel ends up targeting Jewish students — an association between Jewishness and the state of Israel that Israel’s defenders on campus are themselves promoting, according to many Jewish students. And now, with the UC-Berkeley study, even students who are not active on Israel-Palestine at all are characterized as “Israel’s detractors on campus.”
It’s a simple piece of rhetorical sleight of hand. Almost everyone on campus is an Israel detractor, and every Israel detractor is an anti-Semite, so American campuses are chock full of anti-Semites.
But the truth is, American Jewish students are actually more likely than non-Jewish students to feel they “belong” at their universities.
All this is happening while American Jews report that the actual threat from rising anti-Semitism in the US comes overwhelmingly from right-wing white supremacists and neo-Nazis.
The Anti-Defamation League found that every extremist murder in the US in 2018 was linked to right-wing extremism. And a recent AJC poll of American Jews found that 78% perceive far-right anti-Semitism as either a “very serious” or a “moderately serious threat,” compared to only 36% who think this about the left.
So yes, we should call out left-wing anti-Semitism on campus when it occurs. But at a time when far-right white supremacists are literally shooting up American synagogues, it’s worth thinking about where the real threats to American Jewish safety lie.
Joel Swanson is a Ph.D. student at the University of Chicago, studying modern Jewish intellectual history and the philosophy of religions. He thinks American academia is a pretty good place to be Jewish. Find him on Twitter at @jh_swanson.


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You can always count on Tiffany Haddish to be outspoken about her celebrity encounters.
The 38-year-old actress-comedian covers The Hollywood Reporter’s latest issue, and in the accompanying interview, shares her run-in with Leonardo DiCaprio. Haddish hasn’t been shy about her crush on the Oscar-winning actor.
“Yeah, I met him at a party two, three months ago, and I asked him if he’d let me hit that,” she says. “He’s like, ‘Tiffany, you’re so funny.’ I’m like, ‘I’m serious.’ And then he goes, ‘I mean, I’d do it, but …’ I was like, ‘Come on, wasn’t you in a squad? The coochie squad or something?'”
Haddish is of course referring to DiCaprio and his famous pals’ group — including Tobey Maguire and Kevin Connolly — being dubbed the “pu**y posse” in the ’90s. Haddish also said she made the actor laugh with a joke referencing his character in the 1993 film, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
“I told him, ‘My only stipulation: I wanna do it with you as your character in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,'” she continues. “He starts bustin’ up laughin’. ‘Why?’ he asks, and I say, ‘Cause I feel like that performance deserves a real reward and that reward is this (gestures at her own body).’ He starts goin’ into how he got into the role, how he worked with these kids and all this stuff, and I’m just listenin’ and listenin’, like, ‘Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm.’ I finally go, ‘All that’s good, I just need to know, When’s this gonna happen?'”
Aside from dishing on DiCaprio, Haddish later finally reveals the identity of the actress who she claims bit Beyonce. In March, Haddish told GQ that an actress bit Beyonce in the face at a party, and that the “Formation” singer stopped her from getting into a …read more

domain: entertainment


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Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Finifter has issued a scheduling order in the retiree heal care subsidy case.
The order is as follows:
Discovery Completion deadline is January 6, 2014
Evidentiary hearing is February 6, 2014 @ 9:30am
On Wednesday December 5, 2013 Judge Finifter denied the County’s motion to stay pending it’s appeal to the Court of Special Appeals. The FOP and the County are now involved in a discovery phase in preparation for a hearing on damages. That hearing is scheduled for February 6, 2013.


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Sunday, May 20, 2007
The family insisted me to take a family picture in their almost finished bedroom. As you saw in the previous post, the room has a new carpet! Do you like the color combination?
The parents are almost finished with the wallpapers in their room. They ran out of paper, so one of the wall is missing the wallpaper. The parents have been working on the other rooms of the house, too. So, it has been hard on Tom and Eliza to play, and for Kirsty to wander around, because the parents have been painting the trims for the children's bedroom and the dining room. Everything is a mess!
... and she made for both me and my sister beautiful blue rugs. Then she made lace bedcovers for our dollhouse beds and for me she made cute pot holders. Aren't they fabulous! She is a wonderful grandma!
This is how the blue rug looks under the dining room table. I think it will go together with the blue wallpaper very well - when I get it! Notice, I have put the blue teaset to match the color. Thank you, Grandma Raili!
Friday, May 4, 2007
This is the surprise I was telling you about! What do you think? So, we were painting and wallpapering this room. I think we succeeded pretty well! That white paint was left over from Riikka's dollhouse. I painted the living room's trims and the staircase too. I will show the whole picture someday (with the furniture and things).
Well, Hello for the start! We have been doing so much for Riikka's dollhouse. We have been painting ,wallpapering and building it. It is very beautiful and cute. There is already a doll for it. Riikka is thinking to buy a mom and sister for her. OH,NO I should have not said that! Well, any way I have been doing something for my dollhouse too! You will see it in the next post.

domain: artistic


Nature protection and biodiversity - Outlook 2020 (Belgium)
- Nature and biodiversity
The human population in Belgium is expected to grow by just under 14 % between 2005 and 20301.
This population growth is expected to be more pronounced in the Brussels-Capital Region (23 %) and Walloon Region (16 %) than in the Flemish Region (12 %). Population growth is likely to lead to an increased land conversion to cater for the need of space for housing, industry, infrastructure, etc. (see section commonality, land-use for more details)
1 Based on accompanying data to FPB-ADSEI 2008. Available at http://www.plan.be/databases/database_det.php?lang=nl&TM=46&IS=79&ID=26&DB=DEMOG (Dutch) or http://www.plan.be/databases/database_det.php?lang=fr&TM=46&IS=79&ID=26&DB=DEMOG (French).
For references, please go to www.eea.europa.eu/soer or scan the QR code.
This briefing is part of the EEA's report The European Environment - State and Outlook 2015. The EEA is an official agency of the EU, tasked with providing information on Europe's environment.
PDF generated on 26 Oct 2016, 12:18 PM


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My name is Gulshan, I founded “Spectre Time”, a Singapore homegrown microbrand and i would like to share my story with you.
I was working as a flight attendant for the world-renowned Singapore Airlines. I cannot say that I did not enjoy the job and the lifestyle in fact I enjoyed every bit of it. Flying all over the world visiting different cities, meeting people from all walks of life and learning about new cultures opened my eyes and broadened my thinking and knowledge. It was always truly a learning experience on every flight.
It started when I finally saved up enough money to purchase my very own “SWISS MADE” luxury automatic wristwatch. I have always been an admirer of wristwatches and that purchase ignited the passion even further. I did enjoy wearing it but it got me thinking and I asked myself, “why spend thousands of dollars on a wristwatch that has a sole function to tell and keep time?”. After much thought, I decided to design and produce my very own wristwatch which will be the one and only piece ever made. I started the task of sourcing for suppliers from all over the world. I took inspiration from a few luxury swiss brands and pieced together a design from scratch that I was satisfied with. I also managed to get in contact with a wristwatch manufacturer and the process of creating began. I never knew so much work was involved in creating wristwatches from choice of material to the type of finishing to the way the bracelet attaches to the case as well as the dimensions and choice of movement. I did learn so much more in such a short period of time.
It was a 3-month long wait for my prototype to be completed and delivered and when I finally received it I was astounded at how good the quality and finishing was. I started wearing my creation on-board flights and people started noticing it, both my colleagues and passengers. People started approaching me asking me where I bought the wristwatch I was wearing from and told me how nice it looks. My answer to them was, “This is my own creation and you cannot find it anywhere as it does not retail at stores.”. I could see the disappointment in them as they would have liked wearing it on their wrist. I was told by many to produce more, to monetize it and perhaps start my very own wristwatch business. It got me thinking after a few months and that is when I decided to produce in bulk and share my creation with others.
It was not an easy journey but I pulled through and I am glad I listened and kept my door open to opportunities. I have since left the airline. There is very stiff competition in the wristwatch industry and I am more than happy to be part of it.
That is my story and I greatly appreciate the support.


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A couple goes to spend the weekend with a rich billionaire and things happen that upsets their relationship.
Well made but narratively unremarkable film full of overly quirky characters that we get in numerous other similar films lensed in California. While not bad there was nothing here that stood out for me (I see too many similar films each year) which makes it hard to write on.
WOMEN DO CRY
This look at the life in Bulgaria through the eyes of the women in a family who have to deal with misogyny and homophobia.
This film disappointed me. While extremely heartfelt, the film doesn't really work. Part of the problem is that the film never feels like life. It feels like a series of disconnected scenes that were just set up moments before action was called. And part of it is that some of this feels like it's only there just to move the film along. While the the pieces work, it never feels as a fully formed.
IT IS IN US ALL
Hammish returns to his mother's home in Ireland, ends up in car accident and becomes involved with a young man from the accident.
There is a chance I missed something,I don't think so, but I honestly don't know what I was supposed to get out of the film. The film is so low key and so smoldering that it's hard to connect to it. Much seems to not to have been said. I always felt like I was on the outside of a glass box looking in. I kept wanting to know why things were the way they were beyond the reasons the film gave. Frankly I'm not certain the reasons the film gives work.
(Addendum- I know a couple of writers who liked the film, however everyone of them read the press notes before seeing the film. The notes apparently fill in details that are not in the film. I am on record as feeling that all films must stand on their own feet, ie. you shouldn't need notes, and as far as I am concerned this one doesn't)


WASHINGTON (NewsNation Now) — A trio of House Republicans introduced a resolution Monday to censure and condemn Representative Ilhan Omar, along with four other lawmakers for what they call “defending terrorist organizations and inciting anti-Semitic attacks across the United States.”
The resolution, introduced by Reps. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) cite several incidents involving Minnesota Democrat Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) introduced the resolution citing several incidents involving the four lawmakers, sometimes referred to as “the squad.”
The most recent controversy surrounds remarks Omar made; they were criticized by top House Democrats and Jewish lawmakers for seeming to compare the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban.
Calls to condemn Omar began last week when she asked Secretary of State Anthony Blinken about international investigations of war crimes that named the U.S., Israel, Hamas and the Taliban.
Omar then tweeted that the U.S. and Israel along with Hamas and the Taliban all committed atrocities —lumping them together drew strong rebukes from both parties.
“I’ve seen girl schools get machine-gunned with the girls in them, and women with acid thrown on their faces, those are atrocities,” Waltz said. “And to say that the United States or Israel has done anything even approaching that is offensive.”
Omar said she didn’t mean to draw that parallel.
“On Monday, I asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken about … ongoing International Criminal Court investigations. To be clear: the conversation was about accountability for specific incidents regarding those ICC cases, not a moral comparison between Hamas and the Taliban and the U.S. and Israel,” she said in a statement.
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez defended Omar saying, “Their comments were absolutely mischaracterized, she was very clearly speaking about the ICC investigations.”
Some Republicans compare Omar to Republican Marjorie Taylor Green. Green’s posts elevating violence toward some Democratic leaders got her removed from her committees. It’s a comparison Democrats dismiss.
“They’re simply, they’re straining, and struggling to find an equivalency that just doesn’t exist,” said Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
The resolution also cites the four lawmakers referring to Israel as an “apartheid state” and points to Tlaib accusing the Israeli government of “ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the resolution may very well likely not come up for a vote, and even if it did, it’s just a public condemnation. However, Kevin McCarthy may introduce another resolution, that if passed, would actually strip Congresswoman Omar of her committee assignments.


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Situated in Texas City, 3.4 km from Gulf Greyhound Park, Home2 Suites By Hilton Texas City Houston features air-conditioned accommodation…
Located less than 1 km from Interstate 45, this hotel is opposite Mall of the Mainland.
Located in Texas City, Texas region, Candlewood Suites - Texas City, an IHG Hotel is situated 11 km from Gulf Greyhound Park.
This Texas City hotel is across the street from the Mall of the Mainland.
Holiday Inn Express Texas City, located 2 miles from College of the Mainland, features an outdoor pool and gym.

domain: travel


MetronOhm got firsties.
The Los Angeles R&B/folk/hip-hop fusionists built around the partnership of Annabelle Maginnis and Kofi Asare-Aboagye welcome 2018 with the New Year’s Day release of “Wabi Sabi (Can’t Complain),” a track that sees the duo adding some feel-good dance music to their arsenal. MetronOhm’s “Matter” EP, released last May, was an enchanting bricolage of styles built from guitar, mandolin, violin, saxophone, cello, piano and vocals. “Wabi Sabi” simply invites the listener to escape into its delirious groove for five minutes.
The song is a collaboration with producer Teddy Roxpin (Teddy Rosenthal), and the writers owe it all to bad weather. The way MetronOhm tells it, the studio session followed a period of rare clarity after a morning rain in L.A., and they resolved to capture the moment and keep grooving in it.
The band has been been working on another EP with producer Rachel White, who collaborated on the final mix of “Wabi Sabi.” That EP is due this year — for now, though, this is the song of the year.
||| Stream: “Wabi Sabi (Can’t Complain):”


Brand: Big Machine Records, LLC.
Price: $13.88 USD
Available at: Walmart
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After becoming the highest-selling artist of 2008 and 2009, Taylor Swift returns in 2010 with her third album, having written all the material without outside help. Speak Now finds her sticking close to the country-pop hybrids that made her famous, although a full orchestra is also used on several songs.


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Price: TICKET PRICES
$45 - $175 plus applicable fees.
David Byrne announced an extensive world tour in support of his solo record, American Utopia. Byrne will perform songs from the new album as well as classics from his solo career and his days with Talking Heads. A twelve-piece band will also join Byrne on stage for a choreographed concert that he has called "the most ambitious show I've done since the shows that were filmed for Stop Making Sense."


- China was approved yesterday as a buyer of legally stockpiled African elephant ivory, but under strict conditions. The decision was made at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
The ruling which received a 9-3 votes, with two abstentions, comes into effect immediately it is put into formal written record, which means once put on auction, China would now be able to buy, especially stockpiled Elephant ivory from four southern African states.
A request by Botswana, Namibia and South Africa to trade ivory was originally approved at CITES conference of the Parties in 2002 and then modified with new conditions at a later meeting in 2007, including approval of Zimbabwe to trade its ivory. CITES meeting this week was charged with deciding whether China could be approved as a trading partner and commit to put in place adequate measures to tackle any illegal domestic ivory trade and to regulate legal trade effectively.
China will now also be expected to help its African partners in law enforcement as well as conservation and protection measures on African elephants. As an approved purchasing country, China like others, will also have to demonstrate adequate control measures to ensure that ivory can be tracked and remains within domestic markets.
China joins Japan in now having CITES approval to bid for registered, government-owned ivory stockpiles from four southern African countries. Stocks approved for sale include approximately 44 tons from Botswana, 9 tons from Namibia, 51 tons from South Africa and 4 tons from Zimbabwe.
For the African partners, conditions for sale directs that revenues made from ivory sales be put into special funds to support elephant conservation and community development programs. The four African countries permitted to sell ivory are yet to hold an auction and agree on a price, and transfer of ivory will be closely supervised by the United Nations CITES Secretariat. In 1999, Japan paid US$ million for a similar sale of almost 50 tons of elephant ivory.
Ivory trade was banned globally in 1989, but revival of elephant populations allowed African countries to make a one-time sale a decade later to Japan, the only country that had previously won the right to import.
There was opposition to China's inclusion in the latest auction from two African countries, Ghana and Kenya, that joined Australia in trying to block the decision, while Britain, some European Union members as well as Japan backed China’s inclusion.
Environmental groups were also opposed to China’s inclusion arguing, the country had failed to track over a hundred tons of illegal ivory sold in markets in over a decade ago.
Chinese citizens have also been topping the list of those arrested for illegal purchases from the continent, with a recent arrest in Nairobi of two Chinese nationals.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.


Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
|Title:||Construction of physics-based atlas and its application in brain deformation analysis||Authors:||Roy, A.
|Issue Date:||1-Apr-2006||Citation:||Roy, A., Nowinski, W.L., Tay, F.E.H. (2006-04-01). Construction of physics-based atlas and its application in brain deformation analysis. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 34 (1) : 752-756. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/34/1/124||Abstract:||Physics-based modeling provides a powerful tool for investigating the biomechanics of soft tissue deformation incorporated with knowledge of mechanical properties using appropriate boundary conditions. We have developed a physics-based atlas model with detailed anatomical information based on Cerefy Brain Atlas. A nonlinear hyper-viscoelastic mechanical property typically suited for neurosurgery simulation has been incorporated. This model accounts well for brain tissue deformation during neurosurgical procedures (strain rate between 0.001s-1 - 1.0s-1). It is able to simulate the deformation for the entire brain and individual sub-cortical structures as well. The limiting stress relaxation for an infinitesimally small loading has also been obtained (shear modulus reaching 194.62 Pa) exhibiting similarity with a hydrocephalic condition. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.||Source Title:||Journal of Physics: Conference Series||URI:||http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/59788||ISSN:||17426588||DOI:||10.1088/1742-6596/34/1/124|
|Appears in Collections:||Staff Publications|
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This recipe was submitted by one of our readers, just like you.
"Chicken Fajitas made with homemade fajita seasoning, chicken thighs, bell peppers and onions in a cast iron skillet. Restaurant quality fajitas in just 30 minutes! We love easy everyday Mexican Food recipes like Best Homemade Enchilada Sauce, Beef Barbacoa, Carne Asada and Shrimp Tacos because they’re so much better than the takeout options and they’re so quick to make. Chicken fajitas are one of our go to weeknight meals because they’re easy to make in just thirty minutes and they’re a good way of getting kids to eat a lot of vegetables."
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Don’t fear the dealer: What to expect when your car needs servicing
Before getting your car serviced, know what a trip to the dealer can deliver.
Everyone has been there: driving around town, numbers blinking and dashboard lights pestering you as if they were a telemarketer at dinnertime. You turn up your radio and keep your eyes off the dash — and for good reason, as nobody looks forward to getting their car serviced.
No judgment, but let’s be honest: Regular service on your car is a necessity if you want to keep it in optimal condition.
Rather than trying to avoid the feared impact on your time and wallet, teach yourself to greet each illuminated dashboard light as you would a birthday party for a good friend. Sure, you might have to buy them a present, but it’s an opportunity to celebrate a continued relationship with your vehicle and show that you care. With that in mind, here are some things to expect when you’re getting your car serviced — and why they’re so important.
The usual suspects
Every 3,000 to 7,000 miles, you should replace the oil and filter, and check fluids, wipers, tires and exterior lights. Every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, you have to replace or monitor the battery; coolant; brake pads; heating, ventilating and air conditioning; and more. Every 35,000 to 50,000 miles, be sure to check the spark plugs, suspension and ignition systems, and on and on.
Feeling overwhelmed yet? It can be a lot to remember. But a good dealer will schedule visits at the appropriate times, stay on top of these things, and explain in simple, straightforward language why and when these needs should be addressed. Do yourself a favor and don’t delay such recommendations; future you will be glad that you did.
If you do need something repaired, your vehicle will be receiving genuine original equipment manufacturer parts. These are unconditionally backed by the automobile manufacturer and will almost always carry a warranty. Since the part is identical to the one it’s replacing, you can be expect comparable performance.
Independent shops often use aftermarket parts, which can be made of flimsier material like molded plastic, might not communicate properly with the car’s safety system, and could be less durable. Choosing an OEM part means you’ve chosen the best you can get — and your service appointment is an opportunity to make sure the next time you’re flying down the highway, your greatest concern will be what kind of snack to get at the upcoming rest stop.
What if there’s a recall on your air bag? What if your muffler — or some other part of your car that isn’t currently giving you any problems — is similarly in need of attention? Although automobile companies attempt to alert customers, they might not always have the correct contact information. The one place you can count on always having the latest recall notices, however, is your dealership.
When you bring your car in for service, the dealer will know of any open recalls and can fix the defect, typically free of charge. But even if there are no recalls, your dealer can give you something every bit as valuable as you drive off the lot: peace of mind.
Reconnecting with your dealer
On the surface, you need to get your oil changed or spark plugs replaced. But what may be of greater importance is the opportunity to exchange information with the technician who will most likely greet you with one simple question: “How’s it going?” Just like your own yearly physical, it doesn’t benefit anyone to simply smile and reply, “Good!”
Now is the time to bring up all those little nagging things you may have noticed. Is the vehicle pulling to the right? Not always starting on the first turn of the ignition? Leaking oil? These and other issues could be easily — and inexpensively — fixable now or catastrophically unpleasant down the road. Nobody knows your make and model better than a dealership that has repaired countless vehicles just like it, so speak up.
Real talk: In order to get your car serviced, it needs to be brought into the service bay, most likely put on a lift, examined by an expert and diagnosed, and then the required work starts. These things take time.
In this age of immediate gratification, when many people get their groceries delivered and their movies on demand, the notion of waiting seems increasingly quaint. Ultimately, scheduling an appointment for servicing is what you choose to make of it. So, will you be inconvenienced? Or will you remember that, like so much in life, your experience depends on how you perceive it?
With clean waiting rooms, comfy chairs, free Wi-Fi and snacks, most dealerships do all they can to make you feel at home. Some offer play areas for kids, basketball hoops for grown-ups who still want to be kids, or espresso machines for grown-ups who need to keep up with kids. Bring that book you’ve been trying to read, or binge that hot new show everyone’s talking about. Even better, take a walk around the showroom and check out the latest technology in the newest cars.
Sometimes, simply having time to yourself can be a blessing. By the end of the visit, you’ll hopefully find yourself rested and confident that wherever life takes you next, both you and your vehicle are better prepared for the journey.


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Ex-Mamtek treasurer agrees to settlement, will aid in recovering money
Two developments this week increased the chances that creditors owed $47.3 million by Mamtek U.S. Inc. would recover at least a part of their investments.
Alissa Roston of Los Angeles, the former treasurer of Mamtek, has agreed to pay $450,000 to keep from being sued and to help in new lawsuits designed to recover millions more, according to court documents filed Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
And on Monday, the Moberly City Council voted in closed session to relinquish all claims it has to the Mamtek factory site, City Manager Andy Morris said. That vote helps clear the way for a sale of the property by bankruptcy trustee Bruce Strauss.
Roston agreed to the settlement to avoid a lawsuit alleging she had improperly received almost $2 million from Mamtek between July 2010 and June 2011. The lawsuit would have claimed the money represented illegal debt payments by an insolvent company or were the result of fraud, Strauss told the court.
The settlement is acceptable because it avoids lengthy litigation and secures Roston's cooperation in future lawsuits, Strauss said in an interview. "We do anticipate filing additional actions in the near future," Strauss said yesterday. "There are people we believe owe money to the bankruptcy."
Mamtek was a company with U.S. and Chinese partners that in 2010 sought tax incentives to build an artificial sweetener plant. Moberly agreed to borrow $39 million through an industrial development bond issue to finance construction and equipment for the company.
Construction on the plant halted in August 2011 after Mamtek missed a $3.2 million bond payment. UMB Bank, the bondholders' trustee, sued Mamtek to force it into bankruptcy and took over the unfinished plant and machinery.
The Mamtek bankruptcy case was filed in December 2011 and was one of the first lawsuits filed as a result of the Mamtek collapse. There are currently 15 active court cases in 10 legal venues related to the company's demise, including felony stealing and securities fraud charges pending against former Mamtek CEO Bruce Cole. He is scheduled to go on trial in February in St. Charles County.
Cole and his wife, Nanette Cole, have been ordered to pay a bankruptcy court judgment of $1.3 million. They missed a Nov. 15 deadline to file paperwork appealing that award.
Machinery purchased with bond funds was auctioned for $1.8 million in October 2012. The unfinished building and property was available for purchase at the auction, but no bids were received.
When the council voted Monday it was not told how much is being offered for the Mamtek property or the name of the potential buyer, Morris said. Moberly was one of 13 creditors with a possible interest in the site that had to agree to a sale, he said.
The $47.3 million Mamtek debt includes all creditor claims made to the bankruptcy court. Along with the $450,000 payment, due over the next six months, the Roston settlement requires her to take several steps to aid in the recovery of additional money.
She's agreed to try to obtain a waiver of the attorney-client privilege for Mamtek's attorneys, turn over affiliate Mamtek International's claims against Mamtek US to Strauss and obtain a confession that money was improperly transferred to Mamtek International. Roston is an officer of Mamtek International, which is registered to do business in Hong Kong.
If those actions result in the recovery of $3 million or more, Roston will receive reimbursement for any expenses she incurs, up to $100,000. If the recovery is more than $4 million, Roston will be able to claim up to $150,000.
Roston deserves lenient treatment because her family suffered substantial losses because of Mamtek and there is no evidence she actively participated in the alleged frauds, Strauss told the court in the papers filed Thursday.
"The Trustee has uncovered no evidence that any Roston Party ever acted maliciously ... and believes that Roston was often misled," Strauss wrote.
Roston did not return a call and an email seeking comment.
This article was published in the Saturday, November 23, 2013 edition of the Columbia Daily Tribune with the headline "Ex-Mamtek treasurer settles: Roston to help in recovering money."


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How music to our ears can become a Care Aid will be our December Edge Talk with Ignar Rip and Grace Watts.
To join the Edge Talk please follow this link once the session has begun.
To see the live captioning of our Edge Talk please follow this link.
Follow us on Twitter @HorizonsNHS #EdgeTalks
This Edge Talk aims to raise awareness of the Power of music in the NHS.
- Learn how to use music to support patient care.
- Learn how to inspire and motivate family, patients and staff.
- Learn to use music as a method of patient and staff engagement.
Ignar Rip @MuziekGeluk
Ignar Rip is from The Netherlands. His passion is to integrate people’s favourite music into their daily care so that it supports their care aid, health and wellbeing and becomes a ‘help engine’ for the brain.
Those with a range of conditions such as dementia, Parkinsons can all benefit from hearing music.
Ignar’s journey started when he and his father cared for his mother, who had Alzheimer’s for more than 10 years. During these years he integrated his mother’s favourite music into her daily care. Ignar did not think that playing music when waking up and going to sleep was particularly special, and assumed it was common practice by caregivers.
When Ignar found out this was not the case, it had a huge impact on him. He wanted to ensure every care worker could benefit from the power of music, which would make their work become easier and benefit everybody with dementia as it enables them to find shelter, happiness and peace through their music.
Ignar created a three-step plan, in both English and Dutch and was then then approached by people asking for him to give training and lectures. Now Ignar trains nurses, gives lectures and advises healthcare organisations.
Find our more about Ignar here http://www.alzheimerhappiness.com/information-about-me
Grace Watts @Grace_Watts_
Grace Watts has worked as a music therapist at the Cheyne Child Development Service at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust Hospital for almost four years. In that time, she has been involved in the international randomised control trial exploring music therapy for children with autism (TIME-A), and delivered music therapy in community settings. Currently, she is exploring how music therapy can play a supportive role within maternity service for women, their families and staff. Alongside this, Grace is the Development Director for the British Association for Music Therapy. As a music therapist, Grace has worked in a variety of educational, and adult mental health settings.


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Sewer service is coming to the south side of Gainesville — one day.
A sewer contract approved Tuesday will make way for sewer service along Athens Highway, but construction of sewer lines could be years away.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to let Mid-South Builders Inc. build a sewage pump station and force main off Athens Highway for $2.43 million.
The pump station will have the ability to pump as much as 2 million gallons of sewage to the Flat Creek Wastewater Reclamation Facility each day, said Kelly Randall, director of the city’s Public Utilities Department.
The first of a three-phase sewer expansion, the Athens Highway project approved Tuesday will eventually make sewer service available in an area of Athens Highway stretching from Monroe Drive to Gillsville Highway.
The second and third phases of the project — to actually extend gravity sewer lines from the pump station to Monroe Drive and Gillsville Highway — will have to wait on the economy.
Those final phases of the sewer extension were pushed off the department’s five-year capital improvements plan early last year, when it was apparent that sewer and water revenues had been hit hard by state-imposed restrictions on water use and the slump in the housing market.
However, Randall said the timing of the second and third phases of the projects could change depending on the demand from the development community.
"If projects came to us and are ready to go, we’ll do it quicker rather than later," Randall said.
Yet, moving forward with the construction of the pump station now, Randall said, will have the department ready to serve when the economy turns around and commercial development resumes.
"Now, we’ll be poised to those development pressures in that corridor," Randall said.
Although the economy significantly has impacted the department’s revenues, it did help the department snag a price for the pump station construction that was lower than expected. The department’s 2008 funding plan shows utility officials expected to pay at least $4 million for the project.
Randall says the department will not have to borrow any money to pay for the construction of the pump station, force main and the access road to the pump station. The project, at least this phase, will be funded with cash the department has on hand, he said.
On Tuesday, the council also approved funding for construction at a new 171-acre industrial park on New Harvest Road and the $19.2 million construction of the city’s future Public Safety and Fire Station No. 1 buildings.

domain: economics


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There are no studies specifically assessing the effectiveness of intraurethral suppositories of prostaglandin E1 (PGE-1) in diabetic men. A single randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of this agent in the general population of men with ED documented that 60% of those who tried this agent were able to achieve successful sexual intercourse.53 Unfortunately, in clinical practice, this agent appears to be considerably less effective.54
This may seem like a lot to manage at a glance, however, just focus on one step at a time. If it is more exercise you want to start with, park your car further away from the front door at work so you have to walk a little more every day. Or go out on a walk to make your phone calls. If you need to eat better, try low-fat meat and chicken for lunch. Just keep it simple and don’t try to do it all at once.
The great majority of ED cases in diabetic men have a physical cause, such as neuropathy or circulatory problems. In some cases, however, the cause of ED is psychological, including depression, guilt, or anxiety. With a thorough exam, the doctor should be able to determine whether the ED is psychological or physical in nature. If the cause is psychological, your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist, sex therapist, or marital counselor. Do not view such a diagnosis as an insult. Most psychologically-based ED is easily and successfully treated.
Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (539) | Google ScholarSee all References The MMAS 9-year follow-up study has shown that a body mass index of 28 kg/m2 or higher was an independent predictor for ED, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.96.5x5Feldman, HA, Johannes, CB, Derby, CA et al. Erectile dysfunction and coronary risk factors: prospective results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Prev Med. 2000; 30: 328–338
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to attain or maintain a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. Cases of ED may be classified as predominantly organic in nature, predominantly psychogenic, or mixed. Usual organic aetiologies are vasculogenic, hormonal, and neurogenic. Owing to the relationship of vasculogenic ED with CVD, it is important to distinguish men with predominantly vasculogenic ED from those with predominantly psychogenic ED or non-vasculogenic organic ED.
Research is mixed on the effectiveness of acupuncture as an erectile dysfunction cure, but one study published in November 2013 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that acupuncture can be beneficial for men experiencing erectile dysfunction as a side effect of antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
The diagnosis of ED in a patient may affect its management in two ways.30 The first relates to the fact that the ED patient, irrespective of whether he has or has not established CVD, is ‘reclassified’ into a higher risk category for future CV events. Management in this case is altered in the sense that more aggressive treatment of risk factors, as well as a close follow-up, is warranted. Implementation of biomarkers in this setting is desirable.
An equally valuable observation though, is the fact that sexual dysfunction could indeed indicate asymptomatic CV disease. A solid amount of evidence accumulated over the last years has pointed out towards that trend moving, hesitatingly though, sexual dysfunction in the surface of scientific interest. As such, commonly under-reported, under-recognized and under-treated, sexual dysfunction could indeed play its role in cardiovascular risk assessment and stratification.
Despite all the options and alternatives, sometimes there’s no suitable alternative to a prescription that contributes to ED. You might have an adverse reaction to an particular medication or an alternative is unavailable in your state, health insurance plan, or your budget. There are good reasons you were prescribed your original medication in the first place.
Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (47) | Google ScholarSee all References Because of this perceived increase in risk, many couples are concerned about resuming sexual activity in the setting of cardiac disease. A study that monitored male patients after coronary artery bypass grafting found that 17% of patients and 35% of their partners were afraid of resuming sexual activity.1x1Muller, JE. Sexual activity as a trigger for cardiovascular events: what is the risk?. Am J Cardiol. 1999; 84: 2N–5N
If your doctor says it's OK, you may be able to stop taking blood pressure medications temporarily to see if your sex life improves. To make sure your blood pressure remains within a safe range, you may need frequent blood pressure readings while you're not taking the blood pressure lowering medication that may be causing your sexual difficulties. This can be done with a home blood pressure monitoring device for convenience.
In an open-label study, 8 patients monitored with a Swan-Ganz catheter were given a total of 40 mg of sildenafil in 4 intravenous transfusions (the equivalent of 1 to 3 times the plasma concentration after an oral dose of 100 mg).62x62Jackson, G, Benjamin, N, Jackson, N, and Allen, MJ. Effects of sildenafil citrate on human hemodynamics. Am J Cardiol. 1999; 83: 13C–20C
Unlike intraurethral suppositories, intracavernosal injection (IC) injection of vasoactive agents such as PGE-1 has consistently been shown to be effective in the treatment of ED in men with diabetes. In a study of 336 men with diabetes-related ED, 83% of patients reported erections satisfactory for intercourse after IC injection of PGE-1.55 Unfortunately, 24% of these patients also reported penile pain, one of the most common side effects of IC injection therapy. Other studies have noted similar effectiveness rates.56,57
Getting blood glucose under control is a good anti-ED tactic. Men with diabetes and poor blood glucose control are two to five times as likely to have ED as those with good control. One study in a group of men who had had type 1 diabetes for up to 15 years with minor complications found that intensive blood glucose control lowered the risk of ED compared with conventional treatment. A study in men with type 2 diabetes found that lowering A1C (average blood glucose in the past two to three months) below 7 percent and reducing blood pressure through a combination of medication, diet, and exercise improved sexual functioning.
Counselling or sex therapy (58% of people find this works for them) –mind-related causes of erectile dysfunction can affect anyone. They are more likely if you experience erectile dysfunction at a younger age. Talking to a counsellor or therapist can help some people overcome erectile dysfunction related to these problems, possibly for good. They can also help you if your erectile dysfunction is causing you stress, as this can make matters worse.
The most important way to protect your heart is to eat a Nutritarian diet and that means eating your G-BOMBS: greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries and seeds. Natural plant foods have numerous cardio-protective effects. For example, greens activate the Nrf2 system, which turns on natural detoxification mechanisms and protects blood vessels against inflammatory processes that lead to atherosclerotic plaque buildup.9
Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (23) | Google ScholarSee all References Vardenafil has been shown to be significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of ED secondary to diabetes mellitus and after radical retropubic prostatectomy.69x69Goldstein, I, Young, JM, Fischer, J, Bangerter, K, Segerson, T, Taylor, T, and Vardenafil Diabetes Study Group. Vardenafil, a new phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes: a multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled fixed-dose study. Diabetes Care. 2003; 26: 777–783
The use of shock wave therapy has revolutionized the treatment of many aspects of medicine. High intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy has been used for the treatment of nephro-urolithiasis while medium intensity shockwave therapy is used by orthopaedic surgeons to treat joint pain as well as tendinitis. Low intensity shockwaves therapy was first noted to improve ischaemia-induced myocardial dysfunction in animal studies when low intensity shockwaves were applied to porcine myocardium (13). Shockwaves induces a localized stress on cell membranes in the same way that shear stress affects endothelial cell membranes (14) and this triggers the release of angiogenic factors, such as increased NO production through increased activity of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (15). These shockwaves also cause membrane hyperpolarization (16), activation of the Ras signaling pathway, non-enzymatic synthesis of NO and induction of stress fibers and intercellular gaps (17).
A similar situation develops in the fragile penile circulation. Any disturbance in nitric oxide production lowers the capacity to dilate penile arteries, impairing penile engorgement for erection. Release of nitric oxide is readily sabotaged by many conditions, including elevated levels of cholesterol, high blood pressure, increased triglycerides, smoking, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, and excessive consumption of dietary saturated fat.9 If an artery’s inner wall can’t produce nitric oxide, an abnormal constriction of the arteries to the penis follows, effectively choking off blood flow.
The American College of Cardiology is a 52,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications.
Abstract | PubMed | Scopus (136) | Google ScholarSee all References Attainment and maintenance of a firm erection requires good arterial inflow of blood and efficient trapping of venous outflow. Therefore, disease processes that affect the function of the arterial and venous systems would be expected to negatively affect erectile function. Unfortunately, cardiovascular disease is also prevalent in the male population and is especially evident with increasing age. The interplay of cardiovascular health and sexual function includes the risk of cardiac events precipitated by the physical exertion of sexual activity and by some medications, such as sildenafil, on the cardiovascular system. An estimated 500,000 patients survive a myocardial infarction each year in the United States, and an estimated 11 million patients have existing cardiovascular disease, making the issue of sexual function and cardiac disease relevant to many patients.8x8Muller, JE, Mittleman, A, Maclure, M, Sherwood, JB, Tofler, GH, and Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study Investigators. Triggering myocardial infarction by sexual activity: low absolute risk and prevention by regular physical exertion. JAMA. 1996; 275: 1405–1409
If you have several atherosclerotic risk factors or symptoms of heart disease, your doctor might do additional tests to look for atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. A stress test involves monitoring the heart with an electrocardiogram or images before and after exercise. An angiogram, or cardiac catheterization, involves entering a blood vessel in the leg or wrist to pass instruments into the heart to directly visualize the coronary arteries. During this procedure, atherosclerosis can be treated by inflating a balloon or placing a metal stent in the coronary blood vessel to keep it open. If you and your doctor begin a treatment plan to prevent atherosclerosis at the first sign of ED, then you may significantly delay or prevent the need for these more invasive procedures.
The connection between diabetes and ED is related to your circulation and nervous system. Poorly controlled blood sugar levels can damage small blood vessels and nerves. Damage to the nerves that control sexual stimulation and response can impede a man’s ability to achieve an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Reduced blood flow from damaged blood vessels can also contribute to ED.
If you bike a lot and have a very narrow saddle on your bicycle, consider switching to a "no-nose seat" which is wider at the back than a conventional saddle, allowing more of your weight to be distributed to the sitting bones. Make sure the seat is level or angled slightly downward and at a height that allows your knee to be just slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal cycle. Raising the handlebars on your bike so that you're sitting upright may also help.
Luckily, awareness of ED as a significant and common complication of diabetes has increased in recent years, mainly because of increasing knowledge of male sexual function and the rapidly expanding armamentarium of novel treatments being developed for impotence. Studies of ED suggest that its prevalence in men with diabetes ranges from 35–75% versus 26% in general population. The onset of ED also occurs 10–15 years earlier in men with diabetes than it does in sex-matched counterparts without diabetes.
The research is based on a Swedish national database of health records that includes all hospitals in Sweden. Researchers analyzed the records of men age 80 years or younger who were hospitalized for a first heart attack between 2007 and 2013. Tracking the men for an average of 3.3 years following this first heart attack, they compared outcomes among those who subsequently filled a prescription for a PDE5 inhibitor or alprostadil to those who did not. Overall just over 7 percent of men were prescribed an erectile dysfunction drug, 92 percent of whom were prescribed a PDE5 inhibitor and 8 percent of whom were prescribed alprostadil.
When it comes to scientific development, in Western medicine, an analytic approach is often used to identify and resolve medical challenges. A hypothesis is first derived through general observations of a phenomenon. A research plan is then carefully designed and data collected. Once sufficient data is collected, critical statistical evaluations are done and conclusions are drawn (4). Every aspects of a disease entity are studied from macroscopic to microscopic views, down to the cellular and molecular levels. The deep understanding of the role of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 enzymes in ED and the use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors in treatment of ED exemplifies the success of this approach.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (56) | Google ScholarSee all References Cardiologists use METs of oxygen consumption to compare the energy expenditure of different forms of activity.51x51DeBusk, R, Drory, Y, Goldstein, I et al. Management of sexual dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular disease: recommendations of the Princeton Consensus Panel. Am J Cardiol. 2000; 86: 62F–68F
Table 1 offers elements for distinction between organic and psychogenic disease.7 Of note is that in cases of organic origin, a psychogenic component may co-exist. The most common organic aetiology of ED is vasculogenic (see below ‘ED and CAD: common pathophysiology’).2,3 Co-existence of vascular disease, advancing age, and the presence of CVD risk factors and metabolic disorders increase the likelihood that ED is of vasculogenic aetiology.
Bohm M, Baumhakel M, Teo K, Sleight P, Probstfield J, Gao P, Mann JF, Diaz R, Dagenais GR, Jennings GL, Liu L, Jansky P, Yusuf S. ONTARGET/TRANSCEND Erectile Dysfunction Substudy InvestigatorsErectile dysfunction predicts cardiovascular events in high-risk patients receiving telmisartan, ramipril, or both: The ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial/Telmisartan Randomized AssessmeNt Study in ACE iNtolerant subjects with cardiovascular Disease (ONTARGET/TRANSCEND) Trials, Circulation , 2010, vol. 121 (pg. 1439-1446)https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.864199
Sexual dysfunction has been evaluated in ancient literature of TCM in terms of subjective sensation and the actual sexual performance (3). In TCM, methods and matters related to direct sexual activity is described in terms of “ten motions”, “seven impairments” and “eight benefits”, which asserted that the ideal intensity and frequency of sexual activity should be moderate. TCM is all about balance, to achieve better overall regulation of the yin and the yang. The aim of treatment of ED using TCM is not for the end point of a penile erection but rather for a natural and harmonious sex life. TCM aims to achieve regulation in terms of the man’s anxiety, fatigability, changing hormonal levels, insomnia and gastroparesis. Medicine to invigorate qi can enhance physical fitness, and medicine to warm the kidneys can regulate sex hormones, increase libido, invigorate the spleen, regulate the stomach and improve general well-being (3). Medications used to treat a “stagnated liver” provide tranquilization and helps to stabilize the mind, hence improving mental processes and emotional wellness. As a result, the patient’s overall condition and quality of life is improved.
DHEA. Testosterone is essential for a healthy libido and normal sexual function, and erectile dysfunction sufferers known to have low testosterone improve when placed on prescription testosterone replacement therapy. Similarly, studies have shown that taking over-the-counter supplements containing DHEA, a hormone that the body converts to testosterone and estrogen, can help alleviate some cases of ED. But DHEA can cause problems, including suppression of pituitary function, acne, hair loss and its long-term safety is unknown, says McCullough. For this reason, many experts discourage use of the supplements.
Having chronically high blood pressure can affect overall satisfaction with sex and affect men’s ability to achieve a firm erection. Due to constant vessel damage as a result of high blood pressure, linings of the arteries begin to harden and narrow, a process called atherosclerosis. Because blood flow is limited to the affected regions of the body, arterial blood circulation to various organs—including the heart muscles, brain, and even the groin—can be compromised, with myocardial infarctions, strokes, and erectile difficulty being common in hypertensive patients. Studies show that approximately 30 percent of hypertensive patients reported having erectile dysfunction, and approximately 49 percent of men aged 40 to 79 had both high blood pressure and ED.
PubMed | Google ScholarSee all References Postulated mechanisms of effect on sexual function with these centrally acting medications have included increased prolactin levels and a direct effect on α2-adrenergic receptors in the central nervous system.36x36Wein, AJ and Van Arsdalen, KN. Drug-induced male sexual dysfunction. Urol Clin North Am. 1988; 15: 23–31
The development of PDE5-inhibitors is a clear example of how Western medicine approached the problem of ED differently from Eastern medicine. The erectogenic effect of sildenafil (Viagra®) was discovered by accident when patients undergoing heart clinical trials reported better erections as a side effect after taking sildenafil. This observation led to further elucidation of the NO/cGMP signalling pathway and development of PDE5-inhibitors as a first-line therapy in ED (5).
Erectile dysfunction can occur as a side effect of medication taken for another health condition. Common culprits are high blood pressure meds, antidepressants, some diuretics, beta-blockers, heart medication, cholesterol meds, antipsychotic drugs, hormone drugs, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, and medication for male pattern baldness, among others.


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Often when I deliver a newborn, I joke with the parents that labor is the easy part of the upcoming lifelong journey; the teenage years can sometimes present much more difficult challenges. Having parented 5 children, three of whom are now young adults, I feel that I have some expertise in these matters. And then two occurrences this week put all of my parenting “knowledge” to shame.
The body of Jacob Wetterling, sexually molested and then killed 27 years ago at the age of 11, was found when his killer confessed. In the ensuing years after his abduction his parents have been influential in speaking out against child exploitation and worked to pass laws that would make children safer in their communities. I don’t know if I could be that brave and outward focused in the first weeks and months after my child has been abducted. I worry that I may crawl inside a deep, dark place and not be available to my own family, much less the outside world. It takes an incredible amount of grace to use the death of your own child to advocate for other children. Each time I spoke out, I would need to relive that life-changing experience again and again.
27 years after Jacob was abducted, parents have a new worry. Our children are at risk of gun violence both at school and in public. Moms Demand Action is an advocacy group that is working to pass common sense gun laws. In honor of Jacob and his parents, I signed up to knock on doors this weekend to increase awareness of the need for background checks on all gun sales. We were paired up to role play before heading out on our assignments. My partner was a parent whose daughter had been killed 2 years previous when she answered a Craig’s list ad. He, like the Wetterling family, was trying to advocate for improved laws so that this awful deed may not happen to another family. And each time he voluntarily shared his story, he needed to relive the pain of that awful event.
Door knocking is completely outside my comfort zone, but it became easier after the first few encounters. Although some didn’t care to listen, they were polite in refusing. Others agreed with our positions and pledged to support gun sense candidates in the upcoming election. The statistics are stark – in those 18 states in the US that have passed mandatory background checks for all gun sales, gun related violence has decreased by 50%.
5 kids means that there is a lot of my heart being carried around outside my body. I will continue to knock doors, speak out and donate money to a cause that I hope will prevent both my children and yours from ever having to experience what those two families have had to live through and will continue to haunt them for eternity.


My favorite is Stephen Colbert’s rendition of the Gettysburg Address…
I’ve always loved the Gettysburg Address.
And not just because of the content and Lincoln’s message but how it sounds. If you’ve ever had the chance to hear the speech delivered by a skilled orator, you know what I’m talking about. It flows. There are rhythms.
Delivered well, the Gettysburg Address provides not just an amazing picture of what America can and should look like but an incredible example of an expository speech. It’s the kind of content that you can design an entire unit around.
And you have another tool in your tool belt. Ken Burns and PBS are currently working on a film focused on the Address scheduled for airing next spring. There will be lessons, resources, and other teaching materials. But there are some cool things going on right now that you and your kids can be a part of.
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