De Blasio’s Next Task Is Turning Passion Into Policy (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjwV186tQ4qVn2tYPx6Eb4C8TxL9br1uRXMJx-QZ4Nlp1pZSmRUhzVVooam7jVLwL1u1AswVv5oK3KJyElsmIkOUyahbYWA8XI92TuhGS_sB2X5U7_vluiKGrCRzGYgd14mF9Aw42aWQ/s1600/05PROGRESSIVE1-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjwV186tQ4qVn2tYPx6Eb4C8TxL9br1uRXMJx-QZ4Nlp1pZSmRUhzVVooam7jVLwL1u1AswVv5oK3KJyElsmIkOUyahbYWA8XI92TuhGS_sB2X5U7_vluiKGrCRzGYgd14mF9Aw42aWQ/s320/05PROGRESSIVE1-articleLarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; margin-top: 1.5em;"><nyt_text></nyt_text><br /><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em;">A week after his election, the mayor-elect, a tall crane of a man, edged into a low-ceilinged conference room in Downtown Brooklyn to celebrate the city’s progressive movement and its progressive victory, which happened to be his own.</div></div><div class="articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; margin-top: 1.5em;"><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span class="carded" style="color: #004276; cursor: pointer; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="card_name"><a class="meta-per" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/d/bill_de_blasio/index.html?inline=nyt-per" style="color: #666699;" title=""><br />Bill de Blasio</a></span></span> smiled at the activists, who washed him in waves of applause. “The best thing we can do is keep winning progressive victories,” he said. “Superficial democracy isn’t good enough.”</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The progressives who have taken possession of Gracie Mansion and the New York City Council are fond of chatting of historic moments. After a dozen years of a billionaire’s version of quasi-liberal government, they are not shy about doubling down on their ambition. They want to take a city focused intently on the top and train its eyes on the remaining 97 or 98 percent.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">They played a sometimes bare-knuckle game to get here. The greatest torrent of so-called independent spending in the last election came from the teachers’ union and a group ostensibly opposed to carriage horses but closely aligned with the de Blasio campaign</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em;"><br /></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em;">When a primal tug-of-war arose to control the City Council, Mr. de Blasio</span><span style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em;"> </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/nyregion/de-blasio-pressing-city-council-members-to-install-a-liberal-ally-as-speaker.html" style="color: #666699; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em;" title="Times coverage.">cut a deal</a><span style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em;">with the Brooklyn Democratic boss to hand the speakership to a progressive. Asked by reporters what he had traded away, the mayor-elect offered the laugh of a non-answer.</span></div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Ideological discipline is central. It will be a rare Republican, Mr. de Blasio has suggested, who takes a senior position. “They have to share our values,” he said. “That might be a high bar.”</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">But for all their self-assurance and claims made about historical turning points, the progressives have yet to define themselves. How will they distinguish themselves from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, whose policies on housing, the streetscape, transportation, public health and taxis edged noticeably to the left?</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">A forest of question marks rises around the new mayor. He was a political operative, a public advocate with little power and a Council member who stood in the liberal mainstream. Now he carries a standard for urban progressives. What is the nature of his vision?</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">There is more at stake than his success or failure. New York City has taken its place in a row of global jewels: Paris, London, Los Angeles and Berlin. Turbocharged attention to wealth and privilege has become central to how these cities define their economic advantage.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">In this city, inequality has reached appalling levels, and a growing body of research finds that the chasm could poison economic growth. New York has added jobs at a fast clip, but most offer low wages and come without the benefits that are markers of civilized societies. Affordable housing is a wellspring turned dry.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The de Blasio family embodies middle-class anxiety about the direction of New York. They lived in a modest Park Slope rowhouse with three bedrooms and a single bathroom. It is worth north of $1 million. But the children’s generation could have difficulty finding a reasonably priced apartment anywhere near the city’s core.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Can progressives raise taxes, hold down rents and build dikes against the waves of riches without spooking the wealthy? Can they preserve benefits and wages that allow pensioners and municipal workers alike to scrape by without emptying the treasury?</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">“Politicians see a tremendous market out there now for progressive rhetoric,” said Elvin Wyly, a geographer at the University of British Columbia and a chronicler of the gentrification of America’s cities. “But retail presentation of these politics is not the same as dealing with the fundamental production of inequality.”</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">A transition committee for Mr. de Blasio recently considered candidates to run a meat-and-potatoes city agency, the sort to which most New Yorkers give little thought unless its services fail.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Which qualifications, the chairman asked, do we desire? “A progressive,” a committee member offered. A progressive, another chirped. Nods and assents. A progressive, definitely.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Put to the side esoteric questions of whether there can be progressive garbage collection or firefighting. Defining the word “progressive” can prove elusive.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">New York progressives share a traditional-left concern with class, labor unions and higher wage standards. Mr. de Blasio nods to this when he speaks in support of organizing fast-food and carwash workers.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">But progressives, particularly Mr. de Blasio, do not share the old New Left’s penetrating critique of American society. Many distinguish between their interests and those of municipal labor. And the new mayor is careful to note that he so far proposes just a single tax increase — to support universal prekindergarten.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">He was also careful to share postelection laughs with real estate barons.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Lonnie Soury, a former Dinkins administration official sympathetic to the de Blasio agenda, noted that President Lyndon B. Johnson proposed prekindergarten a half-century ago. “It’s a measure of how far our politics have drifted to the right that this now establishes Bill’s left-wing bona fides,” Mr. Soury said.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Progressives are assertive about racial, ethnic and gender diversity. Quite a few members of the liberal gentry labored in the Bloomberg administration, but few were Latino or black, and fewer still were working-class. Mr. de Blasio insists that his administration will look and sound like the city.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">It is no accident that he has picked three Hispanic women, all respected government hands, for high-ranking slots: Lilliam Barrios-Paoli as deputy mayor for health and human services, Gladys Carrión as child welfare commissioner and Carmen Fariña as schools chancellor. And he has picked a black former prosecutor, Zachary W. Carter, as corporation counsel.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">“We liberals often define ourselves as an intellectual class,” said Denise Scott, executive vice president of programs at <a href="http://www.lisc.org/section/aboutus/leadership" style="color: #666699;">the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national community development group</a>. “But sometimes we tend to be out of touch with issues that affect the majority of New Yorkers. We talk about it, but are not always in tune with it.”</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Peter Beinart, a liberal essayist for the news website The Daily Beast, rustled the tea leaves after Mr. de Blasio’s victory in the Democratic primary and divined a glorious future.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">“The deeper you look, the stronger the evidence that de Blasio’s victory is an omen of what may become the defining story of America’s next political era: the challenge, to both parties, from the left,” <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/12/the-rise-of-the-new-new-left.html" style="color: #666699;" title="Link to the essay">Mr. Beinart wrote</a>.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The difference, he said, is the influence of the millennial generation (born between the early 1980s and about 2000), whose left-wing populism gave rise to Occupy Wall Street. It is, Mr. Beinart wrote, remaking the <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/d/democratic_party/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #666699;" title="More articles about Democratic Party">Democratic Party</a>.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Amid the huzzahs, keep a desultory fact in mind: Fewer than 25 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the mayoral election, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/news/election-2013/2013/11/06/new-york-turnout-appears-headed-for-record-low/" style="color: #666699;" title="Times coverage">a record poor turnout</a>. An <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/projects/elections/2013/general/nyc-mayor/exit-polls.html" style="color: #666699;" title="Times graphic.">exit poll</a> by Edison Research found that nearly two-thirds of the voters were 45 or older.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">If you overlay the map of 2013 on that of 2009, you see that many tens of thousands of New Yorkers who supported Mayor Bloomberg voted for Mr. de Blasio. That so many forded this ideological brook suggests more continuity than progressives might imagine.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Last, it’s instructive to compare the 1989 election of David N. Dinkins, the city’s first black mayor and the inheritor of a liberal populist movement, with that of Mr. de Blasio, who as a young man worked for Mayor Dinkins.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The Democratic primary in 1989 between Mr. Dinkins and Mayor Edward I. Koch drew nearly one million voters. The general election, in which Mr. Dinkins beat Rudolph W. Giuliani, a Republican, drew 1.8 million voters.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">New York City’s population has grown by one million people since those elections. Yet 700,000 fewer New Yorkers voted in the general election of 2013.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Mr. de Blasio will lay claim to a mandate for change. But his election offers a more modest lesson in popular and generational mobilization than his oratory suggests.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Progressives did not create our torpid democracy. But it’s their inheritance.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Again and again, elected officials speak, almost giddily, of their progressive moment. “Today we commit to a new progressive direction in New York, “ Mr. de Blasio said at his inauguration. “And that same progressive impulse has written our city’s history. It’s in our DNA.” But moments can prove evanescent. It has been two decades since New York’s progressives held the wheel of power. Should they fumble, the wilderness beckons.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The new mayor’s greatest challenge is to handle his putative allies in the municipal labor movement. The former mayor left behind expired contracts like a pile of dirty laundry. If Mr. de Blasio miscalculates, settling those contracts could empty his coffers.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">And with that we circle back to the most intriguing question: Who is this new self-styled progressive mayor?</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">He proved to be a masterful tactician, enlisting his family in choreographed commercials. He played political boss, and he has raised expectations. Now, alone on the stage, he must define himself and that progressive movement.</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">“<span class="carded" style="color: #004276; cursor: pointer; position: relative; text-decoration: underline; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="card_name">Bill de Blasio</span></span> probably doesn’t know precisely who Bill de Blasio is just yet,” a long-serving liberal said. “He’s going to find out, and my guess is that he’s got a window of months, not years.”</div><div itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">.</div></div></div>

De Blasio’s Next Task Is Turning Passion Into Policy (BLOG)

A week after his election, the mayor-elect, a tall crane of a man, edged into a low-ceilinged conference room in Downtown Brooklyn to celebr...

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New restrictions on painkiller prescriptions take effect Saturday | syracuse.com

<base href="data:" class=""><div style="color: black; text-align: left; " class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important; float: none; " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Syracuse, N.Y. – Central New Yorkers with prescriptions for Vicodin and other painkillers containing hydrocodone will not be able to get them refilled starting Saturday unless they go to their doctor for a new prescription.</font></span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The change is required by the state's new I STOP law, designed to address the <a href="http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/the_troubled_path_to_painkille.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; " class="">epidemic</a> of prescription painkiller abuse and addiction sweeping Central New York and the rest of the nation.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Hydrocodone will become classified as a schedule 2 drug Saturday. That means refills will no longer be allowed for hydrocodone prescriptions. Even people holding hydrocodone prescriptions authorized for more refills won't be able to refill them starting Saturday.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">"What we've been doing is warning our patients that they will need a new prescription the next time," said Selig Corman of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Hydrocodone is a type of drug known as an "opioid." Opiods can create intense feelings of euphoria or well-being. They are synthetic versions of opiate drugs such as morphine and heroin, derived from the opium poppy. Hydrocodone is usually combined with other drugs such as acetaminophen. Some of the popular brand-name prescription drugs containing hydrocodone include Vicodin, Lortab and Tussionex.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Dr. Brian Johnson, director of addiction medicine at Upstate, said patients are often prescribed enough hydrocodone after surgery to last them several months, when they should only get enough for a few days.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The number of prescriptions written in Central New York for the two most popular prescription painkillers — hydrocodone and oxycodone — soared between 2007 and 2011, according to the state Health Department. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; " class="">Hydrocodone prescriptions increased more than 50 percent, from 181,993 in 2007 to 274,293 in 2011, while oxycodone prescriptions jumped by nearly 90 percent, from 64,755 in 2007 to 122,415 in 2011.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Also starting Saturday, Tramadol, a prescription muscle relaxant drug, will become classified as a schedule 4 drug as part of the I STOP law. Brand name versions of the drug include Ultram, Ultacet and Ryzolt. There are no limits on how much Tramadol can be prescribed now. Under the new classification, doctors will only be allowed to prescribe a 30-day supply of Tramadol with five refills. People with prescriptions for Tramadol issued before Saturday can get them refilled as long as the prescription is not more than 6 months old and the number of authorized refills does not exceed five.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; " class=""><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; " class="">Johnson of Upstate is happy about the changes. "It has to do with raising consciousness of how addictive these drugs are," he said.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Patients are often incorrectly told Tramadol is not addictive, then they end up in detox programs, Johnson said.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The new restrictions may create problems for some chronic pain patients and their doctors, said Dr. Joseph Catania of the New York Spine and Wellness Center, a pain management practice with offices in North Syracuse and DeWitt.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Catania said he agrees with the law's intent to curb diversion and abuse of painkillers. "But this prevents a medical office from using some judgment to determine the required follow up visit," he said.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Patients who are stable and only need to see their doctor every several months now will have to schedule office visits monthly, he said.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">"This is going to create a flood of patients into the medical community who may not have that type of routine access to care," he said. "It will impact all of us in how we take care of patients."</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Under the new regulation, doctors can prescribe 90-day supplies of hydrocodone for chronic pain patients.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The prescribing changes are just the first of several provisions in the I STOP law designed to overhaul the way prescription drugs are distributed and tracked in New York. The law will require doctors beginning Aug. 27 to consult an electronic prescription database when they are prescribing controlled substances. The database, being developed by the state, will include information about controlled substances – drugs regulated by federal law -- dispensed by pharmacies on a real time basis. The intent of the database is to prevent "doctor shoppers" from obtaining prescriptions from multiple physicians.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The law also will eventually mandate that all controlled substances be prescribed electronically.</font></div><div class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'"><br class=""></font></div></div><a href="http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/new_restrictions_on_painkiller.html" class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/new_restrictions_on_painkiller.html</font></a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; " class=""><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

New restrictions on painkiller prescriptions take effect Saturday | syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. – Central New Yorkers with prescriptions for Vicodin and other painkillers containing hydrocodone will not be able to get the...

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Banksy In New York - See Pics

<u><b>Who is Banksy?</b></u><br /><br />Banksy is a Street Artist from UK whose street road side art, graffiti is coupled with both activism and populism. He has gained a major following for his unique stencil art and epigrams on various issues depicted with satire and more for their touching various burning and latest issues.<br /><br /><u><b>Banksy in New York</b></u><br /><br />Banksy is in New York now and Mayor Bloomberg is not thrilled!  According to Bloomberg "I just think there are some places for art and there are some places [not for] art." What? Haha. Banksy "art" has featured in major streets, walls, bridges throughout the World. Even the locals dont agree with Bloomeberg. It seems as there are reports of people charging for a view of Banksy's art on their properties!<br /><br /><b>Banksy Irritates Bloomberg! </b><br /><br />Banksy in New York has featured a "<a href="http://www.banksyny.com/2013/10/11/meatpacking-district" target="_blank">slaughterhouse truck</a>" with stuffed animals poking out. There is a "<a href="http://www.banksyny.com/2013/10/16/all-city-%E2%80%93-mcdonalds" target="_blank">boy shines Ronald McDonald's shoes</a>" fibreglass sculpture of Ronald McDonald with his shoes being polished by a real boy - a sculture that will visit various McDonald stores and seems to have stirred up a lot a interest. Are McDonalds' managers happy with this free publicity or tearing their hair out? There is another graffiti of the WTC with a flower sticking out. He has surely made some unwitting New Yorker very happy having sold one of his pieces for just $60 in Central Park - when normally they auction for thousands of dollars! That is one quirky artist, surely.<br /><br />Whatever it is Banksy is sure making news in New York. <br /><br />See more <b>Banksy pics</b> here at the official Banksy blog "Better Out Than In" at <b>Banksyny.Com</b><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.banksyny.com/" target="_blank">Banksy in New York</a><a href="http://www.banksyny.com/" target="_blank"> and More Banksy</a>

banksy graffiti banksy in new york banksy mcdonald banksy wtc banksyny.com Banksy In New York - See Pics

Who is Banksy? Banksy is a Street Artist from UK whose street road side art, graffiti is coupled with both activism and populism. He has gai...

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Monologue: Jay Leno congratulates 'Tonight Show' replacement Fallon

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Jay Leno -- here in May -- began hosting "The Tonight Show" in 1992. In 2009, he launched "The Jay Leno Show," but after seven months and poor ratings, he resumed his post on "The Tonight Show" in 2010." src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130321142234-leno-moments-1-horizontal-gallery.jpg" /><br /><br /><div class="cnn_strylftcntnt" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnn_strylctcntr" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 166px;"><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">STORY HIGHLIGHTS</strong></div><ul class="cnn_bulletbin cnnStryHghLght" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 9px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jay Leno announced Wednesday that he's leaving 'Tonight'</li><li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jimmy Fallon will replace him in spring 2014</li><li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leno first left the show in 2009 but returned after his new show failed</li><li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">The new "Tonight Show" will also return to New York</li></ul></div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(CNN)</strong> -- Outgoing "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno congratulated his replacement Jimmy Fallon at the start of his opening monologue on Wednesday night, while taking another swipe at the NBC executives that are showing him the door.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I just have one request of Jimmy. We've all fought, kicked and scratched to get this network up to fifth place, okay? Now we have to keep it there." he deadpanned. "Jimmy don't let it slip into sixth. We're counting on you."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leno will wrap up his 22-year run as host in spring 2014, with <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/04/showbiz/tv/leno-tonight-show-exit/index.html" style="border: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Jimmy Fallon officially signing on as his replacement</a>.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph4" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to a statement from NBC, "As part of the transition, 'The Tonight Show' will be returning to its original home in 30 Rock in New York" from Leno's base of Los Angeles.</div><a href="" name="em1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="cnnGalleryContainer cnn_strylftcntnt" id="expand15" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnnStoryElementBox" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnnArticlePhotoContainer cnn_strylftcexpbxnv" id="photoContainer15" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 122px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 214px;"><img alt="Photos: 'Tonight Show' hosts" border="0" class="cnnArticleBoxImage" height="360" id="photo15" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130321064718-01-tonight-show-hosts-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 122px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 214px;" width="640" /><cite class="expCaption" id="cite15" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: black; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; bottom: 0px; height: 20px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 214px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; left: 4px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Photos: 'Tonight Show' hosts</span></cite></div></div></div><a href="" name="em2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand25" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="clickToPlay" id="clickToPlayvideoContainerexpand25" style="background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/video/416_player_Click_to_play_off.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 42px; left: 45px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 27px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 136px; zoom: 1;"></div><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130403124344-pmt-tv-wars-jay-leno-jimmy-fallon-late-night-kim-masters-ken-auletta-00005622-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /><cite class="expCaption" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; bottom: 0px; height: 20px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 214px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; left: 4px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why TV brass hates Leno</span></cite></div><a href="" name="em3" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand35" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="clickToPlay" id="clickToPlayvideoContainerexpand35" style="background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/video/416_player_Click_to_play_off.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 42px; left: 45px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 27px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 136px; zoom: 1;"></div><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130402061152-exp-early-leno-fallon-duet-00011520-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /><cite class="expCaption" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; bottom: 0px; height: 20px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 214px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; left: 4px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hear Leno, Fallon belt out duet</span></cite></div><a href="" name="em4" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand45" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="clickToPlay" id="clickToPlayvideoContainerexpand45" style="background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/video/416_player_Click_to_play_off.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 42px; left: 45px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 27px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 136px; zoom: 1;"></div><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130321171421-jimmy-fallon-on-the-tonight-show-with-jay-leno-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /><cite class="expCaption" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; bottom: 0px; height: 20px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 214px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; left: 4px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why is NBC dumping Jay Leno?</span></cite></div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph5" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised the move, saying in a statement "on behalf of all New Yorkers" that he's "pleased to welcome 'The Tonight Show' back to its first home."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph6" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">When it began in 1954, the "original 'Tonight Show' ushered in the modern era of television," Cuomo continued. "It is only fitting that as 'The Tonight Show' returns to our state, it will be headlined by New York's own native son and resident, Jimmy Fallon."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph7" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/03/opinion/bark-leno-fallon/index.html" style="border: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Opinion: How Twitter helped Fallon get Leno's job</a></div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph8" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">The expectation that Leno would leave NBC's legendary late-night program has been building recently, and Fallon's appointment isn't surprising in the least. He's had a swift rise to "Tonight's" chair, having hosted "Late Night" for just four years, but Fallon's transition was treated as such a near certainty that both hosts worked the headlines into their nightly routines.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph9" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">While Fallon initially downplayed the rumors, Leno went after his employer on a regular basis. He's compared NBC executives to snakes, joked about the network's sagging ratings and kidded that the rumored late-night shuffle was like NBC's version of March Madness.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph10" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Just two days before the big announcement, Fallon and Leno again made light of the reports with a parody of the song "Tonight" from the musical "West Side Story."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph11" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">With Leno's contract set to expire in fall 2014, industry observers said the move was only a matter of time.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph12" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leno first exited "Tonight" in 2009 after 17 years as host, passing the torch to Conan O'Brien, who was then the host of "Late Night."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph13" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leno was moved to prime time with his own program, "The Jay Leno Show," in the fall of 2009. But when that brought dismal ratings, NBC decided to put Leno back in charge of "Tonight" at the start of 2010, leaving O'Brien without a job.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph14" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">The flame-haired comedian eventually moved to TBS to host his own show, "Conan," in the 11 p.m. hour, but the entire scenario generated ill will toward Leno and NBC. (TBS shares a parent company with CNN.)</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph15" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yet as the years went on, Leno has proved to be resilient. As NBC's prime-time ratings suffered, Leno's "Tonight Show" was still able to rise above the rest in its time slot. At the end of March, "The Tonight Show" hit a seven-week high in total viewers, with 3.52 million watching.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph16" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, NBC was said to be concerned about losing younger viewers to ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, whose "Jimmy Kimmel Live" was moved up to compete with Leno and David Letterman's "Late Show" at the beginning of 2013.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph17" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">"The more time Jimmy Kimmel is in that slot, the more the young audience goes that way, the harder it is for (Fallon) to keep that audience," one source familiar with the network's thought process told The Hollywood Reporter in March.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph18" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">At 62 years old, Leno represents a more traditional form of hosting, as he's known for his "Las Vegas-style comedy," said the New York Times. Fallon, 38, regularly incorporates the Web and social media into his act, offering "a more contemporary and varied brand of entertainment," the Times said.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph19" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">This changing of the guard is one of the most closely watched exercises in pop culture, especially as it takes place at one of TV's mainstay productions. Even with its decline in ratings over the years, it remains a solid profit center for NBC, making between $25 million and $40 million for the network, according to The New York Times.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph20" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although it's been on the air for almost 60 years, "The Tonight Show" has had just a handful of regular hosts: Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Leno and O'Brien.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph21" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">"The Tonight Show" isn't what it was during the long tenure of Carson, who hosted the show from 1962 until 1992. In those three-network times, Carson dominated late-night TV like nobody before or since. He dominated the ratings and routinely sat down challengers like so many duck targets at a carnival shooting gallery. Joey Bishop, Dick Cavett, Joan Rivers, Pat Sajak -- they all tried to dethrone the king, and they all came up short.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph22" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carson sat behind "Tonight's" desk for 30 years before passing the torch to Leno, and "Johnny" is still the model against whom all are measured.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph23" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Interestingly enough, "Late Night" producer Lorne Michaels, who's now executive producer of "The Tonight Show," has called Fallon "the closest thing" this generation has to Carson. It appears it's now time for Fallon to show and prove.</div></div>

Jay Leno Monologue: Jay Leno congratulates 'Tonight Show' replacement Fallon

STORY HIGHLIGHTS Jay Leno announced Wednesday that he's leaving 'Tonight' Jimmy Fallon will replace him in spring 2014 Leno firs...

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06-Nov-2013 06:00

In a Rediscovered Trove of Art, a Triumph Over the Nazis' Will - New York Times :: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/arts/design/in-a-rediscovered-trove-of-art-a-triumph-over-the-nazis-will.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/arts/design/in-a-rediscovered-trove-of-art-a-triumph-over-the-nazis-will.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Explosions kill 1, injure 8 in north China city: reports - Reuters :: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/06/us-china-explosions-idUSBRE9A502Q20131106">http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/06/us-china-explosions-idUSBRE9A502Q20131106</a><br /><br><br /><br>Suspected gunman in NJ mall shooting found dead - New York Post :: <a href="http://nypost.com/2013/11/04/gunman-opens-fire-at-garden-state-plaza/">http://nypost.com/2013/11/04/gunman-opens-fire-at-garden-state-plaza/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Charlie Trotter dies at 54; put Chicago on foodies' radar - Los Angeles Times :: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-charlie-trotter-20131106,0,5049815.story">http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-charlie-trotter-20131106,0,5049815.story</a><br /><br><br /><br>One US town's battle over the minimum wage - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24811045">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24811045</a><br /><br><br /><br>De Blasio Is Elected New York City Mayor - New York Times :: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/nyregion/de-blasio-is-elected-new-york-city-mayor.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/nyregion/de-blasio-is-elected-new-york-city-mayor.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Christie, McAuliffe Win Governor's Races - Wall Street Journal :: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304391204579180280995887994.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304391204579180280995887994.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Toronto Mayor Admits Smoking Crack, but Won't Step Down - New York Times :: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/world/americas/toronto-mayor-admits-smoking-crack.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/world/americas/toronto-mayor-admits-smoking-crack.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Christie storms to victory in NJ governor's race - NBCNews.com :: <a href="http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/05/21322371-christie-storms-to-victory-in-nj-governors-race">http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/05/21322371-christie-storms-to-victory-in-nj-governors-race</a><br /><br><br /><br>Illinois lawmakers approve gay marriage - Los Angeles Times :: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-gay-marriage-illinois-20131106,0,837118.story?track%3Drss%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Blatimes%252Fnews%252Fnationworld%252Fnation%2B(L.A.%2BTimes%2B-%2BNational%2BNews)">http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-gay-marriage-illinois-20131106,0,837118.story?track%3Drss%26utm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2Blatimes%252Fnews%252Fnationworld%252Fnation%2B(L.A.%2BTimes%2B-%2BNational%2BNews)</a>

06-Nov-2013 06:00

In a Rediscovered Trove of Art, a Triumph Over the Nazis' Will - New York Times :: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/arts/design/in-a-r...

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07-Nov-2013 03:21

Oops: Biden rings the wrong Marty Walsh to say congrats - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/11/06/biden-calls-wrong-marty-walsh/3457911/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/11/06/biden-calls-wrong-marty-walsh/3457911/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Twitter prices above range to raise at least $1.8 billion - Reuters :: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/07/us-twitter-ipo-idUSBRE99N1AE20131107">http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/07/us-twitter-ipo-idUSBRE99N1AE20131107</a><br /><br><br /><br>Sebelius: health care website needed couple of hundred fixes when repair effort ... - Washington Post :: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/sebelius-health-care-website-needed-couple-of-hundred-fixes-when-repair-effort-began/2013/11/06/69f0a536-4748-11e3-95a9-3f15b5618ba8_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/sebelius-health-care-website-needed-couple-of-hundred-fixes-when-repair-effort-began/2013/11/06/69f0a536-4748-11e3-95a9-3f15b5618ba8_story.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Justices Weigh Constitutionality of New York Town's Prayers - New York Times :: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/nyregion/supreme-court-justices-consider-new-york-towns-prayer-practice.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/nyregion/supreme-court-justices-consider-new-york-towns-prayer-practice.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Swiss Report Supports Theory Arafat Was Poisoned - New York Times :: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/world/middleeast/swiss-report-supports-theory-arafat-was-poisoned.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/world/middleeast/swiss-report-supports-theory-arafat-was-poisoned.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Bill de Blasio vows to build diverse administration - Newsday :: <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/bill-de-blasio-vows-to-build-diverse-administration-1.6392671">http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/bill-de-blasio-vows-to-build-diverse-administration-1.6392671</a><br /><br><br /><br>Roger Goodell picks lawyer Ted Wells to lead Dolphins investigation - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/11/06/nfl-roger-goodell-picks-ted-wells-to-lead-dolphins-investigation/3457879/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/11/06/nfl-roger-goodell-picks-ted-wells-to-lead-dolphins-investigation/3457879/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Democrats begin effort to negatively define Chris Christie before 2016 campaign - Washington Post :: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-begin-effort-to-negatively-define-chris-christie-before-2016-campaign/2013/11/06/780e4420-4720-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-begin-effort-to-negatively-define-chris-christie-before-2016-campaign/2013/11/06/780e4420-4720-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>9 people shot at Detroit barbershop, at least 2 dead - Detroit Free Press :: <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20131106/NEWS01/311060167/Shooting-Detroit-7-Mile">http://www.freep.com/article/20131106/NEWS01/311060167/Shooting-Detroit-7-Mile</a><br /><br><br /><br>After Ross Ulbricht's First NY Court Appearance, His Lawyer Says He's Not The ... - Forbes :: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/11/06/as-ross-ulbricht-appears-in-new-york-court-his-lawyer-says-hes-not-the-fbis-dread-pirate-roberts/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/11/06/as-ross-ulbricht-appears-in-new-york-court-his-lawyer-says-hes-not-the-fbis-dread-pirate-roberts/</a>

07-Nov-2013 03:21

Oops: Biden rings the wrong Marty Walsh to say congrats - USA TODAY :: http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/11/06/biden-calls-wrong-m...

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What To Do This "Archtober"

It's about a week-and-a-half until <a href="http://www.archtober.org/">Archtober</a>, "the second annual month-long festival of architecture<br />activities, programs and exhibitions in New York City." So it's time to start planning what to do, where to go, and what to see. Below are a few of the highlights, but check out <a href="http://www.archtober.org/calendar">Archtober's calendar</a> or download their <a href="http://www.archtober.org/Archtober%202012%20Calendar.pdf">PDF guide</a> for a list of all the events taking place next month.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">1-7</span><br /><b><a href="http://dht.dwell.com/about-new-york-city-home-tours">CITY MODERN</a></b><br /><img alt="archtober2012_city-modern.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012_city-modern.jpg" title="CITY MODERN" /><br />Dwell and New York Magazine have teamed up for a week of home tours, design studio tours, panel discussions, and an exhibition. Tickets are now available. Many of the events are free for readers of this blog; just <a href="http://dht.dwell.com/buy-tickets-ny">click this link</a> and enter <b>nypress12</b> in the Promotional Code field.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">4-7</span><br /><b><a href="http://tclf.org/sites/default/files/microsites/bridging2/index.html">Bridging the Nature-Culture Divide 2</a></b><br /><img alt="archtober2012-tclf.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-tclf.jpg" title="Bridging the Nature-Culture Divide 2" /><br />The Cultural Landscape Foundation is hosting a symposium at the Museum of the City of New York on October 5 that "engage[s] experts with a range of relevant experience in the field of landscape architecture and environmental design in a discussion of woodland restoration and management in Central Park." October 4 is <a href="http://tclf.org/event/stewardship-central-parks-woodlands-launch-reception">a reception</a> at El Museo del Barrio, and symposium registration includes tours as part of <a href="http://tclf.org/event/whats-out-there-weekend-nyc">What's Out There Weekend NYC</a> on the 6th and 7th.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">6-7</span><br /><a href="http://ohny.org/"><b>OHNY</b></a><br /><img alt="archtober2012-ohny.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-ohny.jpg" title="OHNY" /><br />The 10th anniversary of Open House New York, a weekend when buildings open their doors to the public, is sure to be packed to the gills with some great places to visit and tours to attend. But the full schedule, and reservations for many of the events, won't happen until September 27. I'd recommend <a href="http://ohny.org/about/mission">signing up for their newsletter</a> because many of the events fill up very quickly -- quickly like the <a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/12/black-keys-sell-out-madison-square-garden-in-15-mi.html">Black Keys at Madison Square Garden</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">6</span><br /><a href="http://www.docomomo-us.org/tour_day_2012/new_york"><b>DOCOMOMO US Tour Day</b></a><br /><img alt="archtober2012-docomomo.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-docomomo.jpg" title="DOCOMOMO US Tour Day" /><br />DOCOMOMO is an international organization that works for the preservation of modern architecture. One of the most important buildings in New York City in this regard is Eero Saarinen's TWA Terminal at JFK Airport. The organization's NY/Tri-State chapter is teaming up with OHNY to host a free open house from 10am to 4pm.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">9</span><br /><b><a href="http://stillspotting.guggenheim.org/visit/learn/">STILLSPOTTING NYC FINALE</a></b><br /><img alt="archtober2012-stillspotting.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-stillspotting.jpg" title="STILLSPOTTING" /><br />"The Guggenheim and Unsound host a variety show featuring architects, artists, scientists, musicians, politicians, and philosophers... [to] wrap up the cycle of editions in the New York project and start a larger conversation about how man-made environments can be reconceived, reshaped, and redesigned to provide increased opportunities for calm and stillness." Purchase tickets via the link above.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">13-14</span><br /><a href="http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=calendar&evtid=4978"><b>BIts & Mortar: Architecture in the Age of Digital Communication</b></a><br />AIANY presents "a one-and-a-half day symposium that will bring together some of the most influential thinkers and achievers in design, technology, fabrication and publishing to discuss ways in which the discipline of architecture – enabled by fundamental technological advances– can re-establish itself as a driver of cultural change beyond the traditional boundaries of the discipline." Sunday keynote is Frank Gehry.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">13-21</span><br /><a href="http://www.cooperhewitt.org/national-design-awards/ndw"><b>Cooper-Hewitt's National Design Week</b></a><br /><img alt="archtober2012-ndw.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-ndw.jpg" title="National Design Week" /><br />"During National Design Week, Cooper-Hewitt's award-winning Education Department hosts a series of <a href="http://www.cooperhewitt.org/national-design-awards/ndw/events" target="_blank">free public programs</a> based on the vision and work of the National Design Awards honorees. National Design Week culminates with the National Design Awards <a href="http://www.cooperhewitt.org/events/national-design-awards-gala" target="_blank">gala ceremony</a>."<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">18-21</span><br /><a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/ny2012"><b>Architecture and Design Film Festival</b></a><br /><img alt="archtober2012-adff.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-adff.jpg" title="Architecture and Design Film Festival" /><br />"This year's festival at Tribeca Cinemas will offer more than 25 films from around the world, panel discussions with design leaders and filmmakers and architectural driving tours of lower Manhattan."<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">24</span><br /><a href="http://www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org/"><b>Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park Opens to the Public</b></a><br /><img alt="archtober2012-boat.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-boat.jpg" title="Four Freedoms Park" /><br />The memorial designed by Louis I. Kahn four decades ago finally opens. Don't want to wait until the 24th? Reserve a spot for the <a href="http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=calendar&evtid=4867">October 19 open house</a> -- I did. Related is <a href="http://www.aperture.org/event/in-conversation-barney-kulok-and-joel-smith/">a book talk at Aperture</a> on the 30th with Barney Kulok (who photographed the construction of Four Freedoms Park) and Joel Smith.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">26-28</span><br /><b><a href="http://bookfair.designersandbooks.com/">Designers and Books Fair</a></b><br /><img alt="archtober2012-db.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-db.jpg" title="Designers and Book Fair" /><br />The first Designers and Books Fair takes place at FIT with two days of <a href="http://bookfair.designersandbooks.com/programs/">programs</a> and an <a href="http://bookfair.designersandbooks.com/exhibitors/">exhibition</a> of architecture and design publishers. The three-day event starts with a keynote on the 26th: Designing the Future of the Design Book.

What To Do This "Archtober"

It's about a week-and-a-half until Archtober , "the second annual month-long festival of architecture activities, programs and exhi...

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Biggest wave of fast-food strikes begins today

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container tr_bq" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlw40T38H_W-SA6YquGRfzhF25aLpbV6LLI47lAD4TGCVwiiUP_3S18ylCb7uKJyop0iwapZh7j6DJUThdhXu8ZKQPZurw1_6YSwKs-dWqJS2CZNR4-boWuTOcvWOY6MbCTmMiJ6MOUF4/s1600/fast+food+strike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlw40T38H_W-SA6YquGRfzhF25aLpbV6LLI47lAD4TGCVwiiUP_3S18ylCb7uKJyop0iwapZh7j6DJUThdhXu8ZKQPZurw1_6YSwKs-dWqJS2CZNR4-boWuTOcvWOY6MbCTmMiJ6MOUF4/s320/fast+food+strike.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fast-food strike in New York City today.</td></tr></tbody></table>A wave of fast-food strikes began in New York City today as workers prepare to walk off the job in seven more cities over the next few days. It is likely to be the biggest mobilization of low-wage workers since the short, sudden one-day job actions began in November.<br /><br />Fast-food workers are striking in restaurants like McDonald's, Papa John's and Wendy's in New York City. More walkouts are planned for Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Mo., and Flint, Mich. The workers demand a living wage and the right to form a union without retaliation.<br /><br />The success of previous fast-food strikes has given momentum to the growing movement for livable wages. Josh Eidelson, writing in <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/07/29/fast_food_strikes_intensify_in_seven_cities/" rel="nofollow">Salon</a>, spoke to a fast-food worker a month ago:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">St. Louis Jimmy John’s employee Rasheen Aldridge told Salon that there “was a whole lot of nervousness” when he and three co-workers at his store first went on strike in May. “There was a big chance that I could of got fired,” said Aldridge, “because that’s just how, you know, fast food operates.” But when they returned to work in one piece, he said his co-workers’ reaction was “You know, you guys sort of took the step we all need to do.”</blockquote>Today's walkout is generating national media attention, as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/sunday-review/fighting-back-against-wretched-wages.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">The New York Times</a>, broadcast and cable news networks and the <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/fast-food-strike-detroit-st-louis-new-york-chicago-3-other-cities-striking-monday-increased-pay">financial press</a>. Steven Greenhouse at The New York Times writes:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Often relegated to the background, America’s low-wage workers have been making considerable noise lately by deploying an unusual weapon — one-day strikes — to make their message heard: they’re sick and tired of earning just $8, $9, $10 an hour. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Their anger has been stoked by what they see as a glaring disconnect: their wages have flatlined, while median pay for chief executives at the nation’s top corporations jumped 16 percent last year, averaging a princely $15.1 million, according to Equilar, an executive compensation analysis firm. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">In recent weeks, workers from McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other fast-food restaurants — many of them part-time employees — have staged one-day walkouts in New York, Chicago, Detroit and Seattle to protest their earnings, typically just $150 to $350 a week, often too little to support themselves and their families. </blockquote><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-29/fast-food-workers-strike-for-higher-wages-in-u-s-cities.html" rel="nofollow">Bloomberg News</a> reports that low-wage jobs are the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The leisure and hospitality industry, which includes restaurants, is adding jobs faster than any other sector in the U.S. In June, the <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/USEHTOTS:IND" rel="nofollow">sector</a> added 75,000 jobs, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fast-food cooks make $9.02 an hour, or about $18,760 a year, on average, according to 2012 <a href="http://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag72.htm" rel="nofollow">data</a> from the Washington-based agency.</blockquote>The problem of low wages isn't limited to fast-food workers. Today, Hope Yen at the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/28/poverty-unemployment-rates_n_3666594.html?utm_hp_ref=tw">Associated Press</a> reported that 80 percent of adults in the United States struggle to earn enough money at some point in their lives:<br /><blockquote>Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream... </blockquote><blockquote>Nationwide, the count of America's poor remains stuck at a record number: 46.2 million, or 15 percent of the population, due in part to lingering high unemployment following the recession.</blockquote>

fast food workers low-wage jobs strike Biggest wave of fast-food strikes begins today

Fast-food strike in New York City today. A wave of fast-food strikes began in New York City today as workers prepare to walk off the job in ...

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2012 iEARN Adobe Youth Voices Media Festival starts today

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>Submitted by Omashani Naidoo from SchoolNet </i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">SchoolNet runs an Adobe Youth Voices project in various schools in South Africa and so we are advertising the international 2012 Virtual iEARN Adobe Youth Voices Media Festival which starts today. Join Adobe online for free to support youth media makers from around the world who will be screening their videos at the event. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxriE1mf1JfF5Xc5G3A3ruleRCWNz-13zE7xBqc7JXHJ7bsC9rh2uD4fPcPthzaEFJFOpDVgMdV9g7tuScyxkHb6HwAyx626zsQpznR_R8qQF6lt4XLgxb8TOLZOrz9lsHy-k60K0UbE/s1600-h/image%25255B5%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9OTd8YPaZ8colYPm_G0ZBTbGdt4Ol7Fq5mFzLc49ctsE8hKz6O98L990dZ4bGkjxyHWijFxlORBtu7kWfcIk0_7Eo2xYWwVDPIgtt7cWpy_y6WnZb-SMHBJWukIIA4183BzTVezGLKA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><h6 style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">When?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">June 20: 18:00-19:00 GMT = 2:00-3:00 pm New York City time<br />June 21: 20:30-21:30 GMT = 4:30-5:30 pm New York City time</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br />June 22: 10:00-11:00 GMT = 6:00-7:00 am New York City time </span></h6><h6 style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Where?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Online in iEARN's Adobe Youth Voices Connect Room - <a href="http://iearn.adobeconnect.com/ayv">http://iearn.adobeconnect.com/ayv</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> Educators and the youth artists whose work has been selected will have an opportunity to speak to the audience about their work. </span></h6><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The programme</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">This looks very interesting</span><br /><br /><b style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">J</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">une 20: 18:00-19:00 GMT<br />2:00-3:00 pm New York City time </span></b><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Make Your Own Kind of Happiness</b><br />Instituto Parroquial Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, Argentina </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A Rainforest Fable</b><br />Fieldcrest Elementary School, Canada </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Absent Parents</b><br />Prepa Ibero, Mexico </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Isn't it Our Home?</b><br />Izz Basic Education School, Oman </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Differences Can Make the World's Greatest Portrait</b><br />Centro Interescolar de Linguas de Ceilandia, Brazil </span></div><h5 style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">June 21: 20:30-21:30 GMT<br />4:30-5:30 pm New York City time</span></h5><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Planting a Tree</b><br />Centro de Ensino Fundamental Telebrasilia, Brazil </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>This Is My Home</b><br />MakHill Media, Uganda </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A Voice for Orphans</b><br />PMM Girls' School, Uganda </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Bullying Monster</b><br />Madre de la Misericordia School, Argentina </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Human Rights</b><br />EE Prof. José Pinto Marcondes Pestana, Brazil </span></div><h5 style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">June 22: 10:00-11:00 GMT<br />6:00-7:00 am New York City time</span></h5><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Smile 2012 Japan</b><br />Nishi Junior High School, Japan </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Forgotten Lives</b><br />Shanghai Pudong Foreign Languages School, China </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I Want My Life Back</b><br />College of Electronics in Minsk, Belarus </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Forest Story</b><br />Braslav Gymnasium, Belarus </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Special Not Different</b><br />Colegiul National Ecaterina Teodoroiu, Romania </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Be Clean, Keep Clean</b><br />SITE Model, Government B/G Secondary School, Pakistan </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Class Is...</b><br />Kostyukovichi State Gymnasia, Belarus </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Read more on the <a href="http://us.iearn.org/news/detail/2012-iearn-adobe-youth-voices-media-festival" target="_blank">Adobe website</a></span></div></div>

Adobe Youth voices 2012 iEARN Adobe Youth Voices Media Festival starts today

Submitted by Omashani Naidoo from SchoolNet SchoolNet runs an Adobe Youth Voices project in various schools in South Africa and so we are a...

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From School of Design to DSM New York

On the northwest corner of Lexington Avenue and East 30th Street sits an impressive temple-like building that may look familiar to some TV watchers. The building is portrayed as <a href="http://personofinterest.wikia.com/wiki/The_Library">the library of Finch</a> on <i>Person of Interest</i>, but well before this fictional existence the building served as the home for the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/realestate/17scap.html">New York School of Applied Design for Women</a>. Designed for the school by one of its professors, Harvey Wiley Corbett, the building was completed in 1908 and designated a NYC landmark in 1977. The school, which eventually became the Pratt-New York Phoenix School of Design, sold the building to Touro College in 1991, who in turned sold the building in 2006. Since last month the building has been home to <a href="http://newyork.doverstreetmarket.com/">DSM New York</a>, a seven-story fashion bazaar curated by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons fame.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7S-ueX0zE0rie0fp6mACC9u9mpwunuVmJ94dye7Fdl78i3KY5uqGdigQUIZ6fOCrjx-AtxHd51as_HQR8JKgatGXMQMAt3VqVlqDq9PurrrBtccTUhPSdiB7fDmHcnQY7JaP6e2NS6JK/s1600/20140116_153834.jpg" /><br />[All photos by John Hill]<br /><br />Some glimpses of the "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/fashion/Dover-Street-Market-New-York-City.html">high-priced temple of consumerism</a>" can be had from outside, but for the most part what's going on in DSM is hidden behind the substantial walls: <br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJ9KqB2cOi42_Sy0xzSIkVVHQ8Fh65CW75hpwOeEy_KAwW-FZVw3zVJyLmODuc18iTUr1RGRMJD-R0cm4RQ1nQut-ZpTj8sUG57dWhFjdvKWtHfObKp8MkaGuXtu_dZChbyymCUsCikRm/s1600/20140116_153734.jpg" /><br /><br />But once inside the place is anything but subtle. A cafe is found on the ground floor below the high windows at the corner. A yarn-wrapped column stands out in the otherwise brick-and-drywall space, the same column treatment that happens on other floors in the same location. Besides this column and the glass elevator that runs through the seven floors, the rest of the space is a hodgepodge of interior design and fashion, reflecting the diversity of the many occupants crammed into the small building.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HlVt560V1OG3ihq4zdUp7fq3jQG0Fs_KlcUk-IvNGIxFxH0EQBY0SJV9YvOrpBX6C58sWiut2TJIvZSYgKSqd52uKJaP0vD2COWZ7Y3hb3Hg4YTbN76jUq0DHf4R4-0i2LY0HE89QScA/s1600/20140116_153453.jpg" /><br /><br />I visited the building to check out the "<a href="http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1001275/death-defied-the-architecture-of-madeline-gins">Biotopological Scale-Juggling Escalator</a>" designed by <a href="http://www.reversibledestiny.org/">Madeline Gins</a>, what must have been her last built work; she <a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/pages/headlines/madeline-gins-1941-2014">died on January 8th</a>. <br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHgVkZrZ3XHaMiCggv6xD24arb9WDrCa3IgFdDlRsttOPIxnIPTr6MWZVAbFW7uPWO-2RWrPLRO10SH1DAcIN1KahrGeaXRMbEa57Ros7PvwehMoCg53h0Ei3MuYtAgfiUoqXsuoe22KO/s1600/20140116_153358.jpg" /><br /><br />Obviously a stair rather than an escalator, the cocoon-like piece connects the third and fourth floors at DSM New York. Even amongst the interior design and fashion clamoring for attention, the sculptural stair stands out.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKIp43ROmTAyX4Nt0tLi7IZ8nf4CPGxUMnrQ7Qb60LvERNYigDwEF3GpZQ5HkU2UcwSB-Jicv2-Kwx10-JeuEJEVoYqQp8IR75KCAAJm7PNtxo39NSUS7YmC6-6tmgQYundq9DdMF9oGs/s1600/20140116_153344.jpg" /><br /><br />For those not familiar with the ideas of Gins and her partner Arakawa (who died in 2010), the duo aimed to overcome death by creating unfamiliar spaces that require the constant reconfiguration of the body. They believed that the body's movements linked with the mind would suspend death, if you will. To put it another way, familiar environments numb us, while their creations elevate our experiences and therefore our lives. <br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvde1FGQ-gvegQirRE3bcGJbVNp2XXW_Iprxcs2IVrfd4Lkeqqpc9UaPvfTDItTN_orbjnFh2g17S1hd5XzEeubdCCLRYrXH0v2G-KwlhL64qSiHDHgFwLFGqR1oUbWxoMixdP2Rbi6sVg/s1600/20140116_153312.jpg" /><br /><br />With a communicating stair that must comply with building and accessibility codes (for stairs, this means a minimum width, a small range for handrail sizes and heights, maximum riser heights, and minimum tread depths) there is not much room for their "<a href="http://www.reversibledestiny.org/">reversible destiny</a>" architecture, but Gins worked within the practical frameworks and small space to create something memorable.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZoQgVgBUbYFSOq-U5uX4lQTlEeH1IOxp0X8ttvQ0mfpSsoLt08c4C3Sjy-px_NFXfQ4hpUhAEBHidenfxPLijjG-Y67Wb0LlzQG5uLFdCYJSkJ129KOLHgWty3IdpcR_SKv8QBrTyoxd/s1600/20140116_153229.jpg" /><br /><br />First, there is the exterior form, a blob that is clearly a handmade sculpture rather than the blobs generated in the computer by architects.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPtWvnCqu1ErdTQKczUxmEHsL4ptoHDwBz7USWgSnM7j_3_srrvfr0zRXDTAjkHt69WM0hVnMocnYeJS-z3D0prhlMgb1mJZubcYOhFE_GFZ2UCWBhPpeY-rt0uuQid6Zni5Vw1Ny-qtF/s1600/20140116_153213.jpg" /><br /><br />Second, there are the "wings" that protrude in and out of the shell – each one is a study of a room at a different scale, each with an appropriately sized wood mannequin.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEl8GxbLGDQ-0Gx_mcOuw2Qna0QPVcqb_jXW6hrJb4rNTpfl-ev9VgdXgXFY8AJ3tlJ-VwKxy5KDxG7Qqp4V_WwLmQ9LkK8MCjkR3w9JMZJ6d4ATVX53GG_0wSfcIRdYU9yr32159CLjO/s1600/20140116_153124.jpg" /><br /><br />Third are the curling and intertwining handrails that veer just enough from the norm to feel different as we run our hands along them.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK56WBdu859GNIKLIzmnUQRQdCbKu76c9Shq2LQJXIJOq5sGYKfPET5_vNbbcPIBst5HZ7bK4ktztROGhrj3zRi8wogBVLxclH1To0OaSvz3rmAI4jFvTQnwTS9xG4D2WD0LokvxS6UDO/s1600/20140116_153103.jpg" /><br /><br />And finally there are the steps themselves, which feel like they are slightly irregular. They are not too tall nor too shallow to not comply with code, but they feel like they vary from one step to the next, even if only a fraction of an inch. We use stairs so much that we become conditioned to their ADA-mandated sizes and the consistency from step to step, so much so that even the slightest departure from the norm is noticeable.<br /><br />Gins may not have survived long after the opening of DSM New York, but she's left something that hopefully will give shoppers something to think about and feel. Seeing some shoppers taking note of the stair and taking photos of each other inside of it on my visit confirmed that she created something special.

From School of Design to DSM New York

On the northwest corner of Lexington Avenue and East 30th Street sits an impressive temple-like building that may look familiar to some TV w...

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From Commodore Criterion to Porcelanosa

Not too long ago I was giving an architectural walking tour in the Madison Square Park area when somebody asked me "what's going on with the Commodore Criterion building?" If you've been by the park you've probably <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/lsX4O">seen the building</a> at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, 25th Street, and Broadway with its name fixed atop the tall stone parapet. I had no answer to the question, except that the Christmas display over the front door had not come down in years, meaning the building was most likely vacant. What I did not know at the time was that Spanish tile/kitchen/bath company <a href="http://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/">Porcelanosa</a> bought the building <a href="http://www.madparknews.com/business/porcelanosa-buys-commodore-criterion-building-on-madison-square-park-for-us-headquarters/">last summer</a>. Since my tour I've also learned that Porcelanosa hired Foster + Partners to transform the six-story building into their US/NYC flagship showroom.<br /><br /><img alt="porcelanosa1.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/porcelanosa1.jpg" title="Image courtesy of Porcelanosa" /><br />[All images courtesy of Foster + Partners and Porcelanosa] <br /><br />The building at 202 Fifth Avenue, which dates back to 1918, has already been gutted, ready for the insertion of a public showroom on the lower levels (above rendering) and a materials library atop the building for architects and designers (below rendering). The showroom is a three-story space that extends from the cellar to the second floor. Plenty of light infuses the showroom through offset openings in the ground floor and second floor. In a statement, Norman Foster describes how "the design will create new visual connections vertically through the building and will introduce a greater variety of spaces, with a series of dramatic interlocking levels." Befitting for the architect, the interior is simple and clean, gallery-like in appearance. <br /><br /><img alt="porcelanosa2.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/porcelanosa2.jpg" title="Image courtesy of Porcelanosa" /><br /><br />The materials library atop the building is a double-height space where additional light comes in through new skylights that recall James Turrell's skyspaces. The below sketch—an east-west section looking south—shows these spaces at the top and bottom of the building, with two floors of offices in between. More importantly, this section shows the location of the stairs and services along the west facade (as they are in the existing), meaning that light previously entered the narrow building only through windows on the south and east sides. Hence Foster's decision to cut up the floor plates and insert skylights atop the building. A good deal of the budget will probably go toward these structural changes, but these renderings make it clear that it's worth it.<br /><br /><img alt="porcelanosa3.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/porcelanosa3.jpg" title="Image courtesy of Porcelanosa" /><br /><br />The building sits within the southern tip of the <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/maps/madison.pdf">Madison Square North Historic District</a> (PDF link), meaning that any changes to the building have to be reviewed by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Comparing the photomontage below with the <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/lsX4O">Google Street View</a> I'd wager that won't be a problem, given that new windows on the ground floor and the new name atop the building are the only noticeable changes. Again Foster says, "the design will restore historic aspects of the exterior and create a new interior experience of large–volume showroom spaces ­– all within the context of a sustainable agenda." (LEED Gold is the target.)<br /><br />Manuel Prior, U.S. Branch Director for Porcelanosa says in a statement: "As a staple of New York’s Flatiron district for years, the Commodore Criterion is the ideal location for Porcelanosa’s new flagship showroom as the neighborhood is the epicenter of New York’s architecture and design community." Epicenter may be overstating it, but I can vouch that a lot of architects and other designers work in the area; I worked for an architect about four blocks up Broadway (near the <a href="http://www.acehotel.com/newyork">Ace Hotel</a>, a magnet for designers and other "creative types") and <a href="http://www.pentagram.com/">Pentagram</a> is right next door (note the abstracted P on the flag in the below photo).<br /><br /><img alt="porcelanosa4.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/porcelanosa4.jpg" title="Image courtesy of Porcelanosa" /><br /><br />Porcelanosa's flagship showroom is one of three projects in New York City that Norman Foster is currently working on, including the high profile <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2012/10/425-park-avenue.html">425 Park Avenue</a> and the controversial <a href="http://www.fosterandpartners.com/News/486/Default.aspx">transformation of the New York Public Library's main building</a> into a circulating library. By comparison the 1,700-square-meter (18,000 sf) renovation overlooking Madison Square Park may be a walk in the park. We'll see if that's the case—literally, as I'll be making occasional site visits between now and the showroom's completion in spring 2014, documenting the construction on this blog. So check back here to see Foster's design for Porcelanosa take shape.

From Commodore Criterion to Porcelanosa

Not too long ago I was giving an architectural walking tour in the Madison Square Park area when somebody asked me "what's going on...

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Indian diplomat tells of anguish at leaving US without children (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDYtFlq2k1gyYaPx7yA6s1dsaxdgEbUnGVt8zejN6YaZZkqMvlN5JWl05NEbIGD0ViatdkFF7udPk6pe3bMH5ss1O4ywsJ9iiZuHHnNDiAezwrl_qP6MTf78OR5a7L4k9z5_zqhohc_4/s1600/15f7490a1dd5b51630cf9c97b192363f440b5a8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDYtFlq2k1gyYaPx7yA6s1dsaxdgEbUnGVt8zejN6YaZZkqMvlN5JWl05NEbIGD0ViatdkFF7udPk6pe3bMH5ss1O4ywsJ9iiZuHHnNDiAezwrl_qP6MTf78OR5a7L4k9z5_zqhohc_4/s1600/15f7490a1dd5b51630cf9c97b192363f440b5a8a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">New Delhi (AFP) - An Indian diplomat at the centre of a bitter row with the United States told Sunday of her "immense stress" at leaving behind her young family in New York, and vowed to clear her name.<br />Indian consulate official Devyani Khobragade was allowed to leave the United States on Friday after a month-long dispute over her arrest and strip-search on suspicion of visa fraud involving her domestic servant.<br />Khobragade was granted full diplomatic immunity and allowed to fly back to India -- just hours after charges were filed in court alleging she lodged false documents to obtain a visa for her servant and then underpaid her.<br />Khobragade, 39, told an Indian newspaper of her anguish at leaving behind her daughters, aged seven and four, in New York along with her husband, a US citizen, who works as an academic.<br />"I wonder if I will be able to ever reunite with my family, my husband, my little kids. I miss them," Khobragade told The Sunday Express.<br />"What if my children choose to study and work in the US? What if I can never return to the US, which I cannot now. Does it mean we will never be able to live together as a family again?" she said.<br />"I know I am honest, and I will come out clean. But we do not know how much time it will take and for how long my family will have to suffer due to this," she added.<br />Her arrest on December 12 outside her children's school and treatment in custody, where she said she was subjected to a cavity search, outraged India which claimed she benefited from full diplomatic immunity.<br />US prosecutors disputed this, and filed charges in New York accusing Khobragade of sometimes forcing the Indian maid to work 100-hour weeks, even when sick and often without a day off, for pay as little as $1.22 an hour.<br />Khobragade did obtain diplomatic immunity when last week New Delhi asked Washington to grant her a G1 visa given to diplomats at India's UN mission, which is also in New York.<br />The row between the two countries, which had embraced each other as strategic partners, saw weeks of feisty exchanges that strained bilateral ties and left resentment on both sides.<br />India has removed extra security barriers at the US embassy in New Delhi, demanded contract details for domestic staff employed by American diplomats and even stopped the mission importing duty-free food and alcohol.<br />On Wednesday, it ordered an embassy leisure centre popular with American expatriates in the capital to stop admitting non-diplomatic members, while scheduled visits by US officials to India have been cancelled.<br />In a fresh retaliatory measure late Friday, India asked the United States to withdraw an embassy official in New Delhi.<br />The expelled American diplomat was a "similar rank" to Khobragade and is thought to have helped the family of her maid travel to America where they were granted protection by prosecutors.<br />US prosecutors say the family of the maid were evacuated to the United States because of attempts to intimidate them.<br />In her newspaper interview, Khobragade said she would continue a legal fight to clear her name, including attempting to have her case in New York officially dismissed in a federal court.<br />"I have come to India but my stand still needs to be vindicated. And of course, I have been separated from my family, and I am under immense stress for my children," Khobragade said.<br />"I spoke to my kids for hours last night, and they are already missing me. The four-year-old asked me, 'Mommy, when will you be back home', and I had no answer."<br />She cannot return to the United States unless she surrenders to the court on arrival, and her name is being placed on US immigration watch lists "to prevent the routine issuance of any future visa", according to US officials.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">YahooNews</div></div>

Indian diplomat tells of anguish at leaving US without children (BLOG)

New Delhi (AFP) - An Indian diplomat at the centre of a bitter row with the United States told Sunday of her "immense stress" at l...

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Carrots for Doctors - Opinion - Bill Keller - NYTimes.com

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><nyt_text style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div id="articleBody"><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">WITH its <a title="Times article" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/nyregion/new-york-city-hospitals-to-tie-doctors-performance-pay-to-quality-measures.html?ref=hospitals&_r=1&" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">ambitious proposal</a> to pay doctors in public hospitals based on the quality of their work — not the number of tests they order, pills they prescribe or procedures they perform — New York City has hopped aboard the biggest bandwagon in health care. Pay for performance, or P4P in the jargon, is embraced by right and left. It has long been the favorite egghead prescription for our absurdly overpriced, underperforming health care system. The logic seems unassailable: Reward quality, and you will get quality. Stop rewarding waste, and you will get less waste. QED! P4P!</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">If only it worked.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">For if you spend a little time with the P4P skeptics — a data-bearing minority among physicians and health economists — you will come away full of doubts. In practice, pay for performance does little to improve outcomes or to control costs. But if you look hard enough at why this common-sense approach doesn't deliver, you find some clues to what might.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The New York plan would give hospitals bonuses to distribute to their doctors based on such indicators as patient satisfaction, speeding the flow of cases through the system and administering specific therapies. It is an attempt to get ahead of the federal law we all know as Obamacare, which includes rewards for hospitals that peg pay to a list of quality metrics. I've said before that I consider <a title="Earlier column" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/opinion/keller-five-obamacare-myths.html?pagewanted=all" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Obamacare an important leap forward</a>, mainly for extending the basic safety net to millions of Americans. And there are aspects of the law, notably the Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board, that may help bring down costs, if Congress can resist the temptation to interfere. But the pay-for-performance provisions are a triumph of theory over experience.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The first problem with P4P is that it does not address the biggest problem. <a title="Article at PBS.org" href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/10/health-costs-how-the-us-compares-with-other-countries.html" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Americans spend more</a> than twice as much per capita as other developed countries on health care — a crippling 18 percent of the country's economic output, and growing. Before studying the statistics, I assumed the root of the problem was doctors who, paid piecemeal for the services they provide, load up patients with marginal tests and treatments. In fact, America's health care system is not much different from other developed countries in the volume of service. Our doctors prescribe more or less the same number of pills and X-rays, perform similar numbers of blood tests and surgeries, as doctors in the best European countries. While there are undoubtedly savings to be had by cutting unnecessary services (shortening hospital stays, for example), the main problem is that our system charges far more for each service — each office visit, each hip replacement, each day in a hospital bed, each dose of antibiotic. "The facile explanation is that doctors do too much," said Peter Bach, a doctor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering who studies quality of cancer care. "But if you compare us to other countries on volume, we're not leading in any category. The flip side is, we pay double for a lot of stuff." (Actually, we lead in tonsillectomies and knee replacements, but his point is generally right.)</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Doctors cite a number of reasons our medical treatments cost more — the high price of malpractice insurance being a favorite, and genuine, culprit. But the main reason everything costs less in other countries is that other countries tend to have one big payer — usually the government — with the clout to bargain down prices. A single-payer system has, so far, proven politically unpalatable in this country. And even Medicare, which has the power of scale and uses it to drive down prices, wields its power sparingly, because doctors threaten to stop serving Medicare patients if the reimbursements fall too low. As hospitals merge into mightier megachains, they may be able to bargain down the payments to doctors and drug companies and device-makers, and create economies of scale by standardizing treatments. (The physician and New Yorker writer <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/08/13/120813fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all&src=longreads&utm_source=buffer&buffer_share=4ab7b" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Atul Gawande proposed</a> in a provocative August article that hospitals could drastically improve productivity by studying the example of restaurant chains like the Cheesecake Factory.) But that's not what P4P is about.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Instead of leverage, P4P employs incentives. Reduce the length of stay for acute-care patients, cut the rate of readmission for pneumonia cases, make sure heart-attack victims get a talk about diet before they are discharged, and you stand to find a little windfall in your paycheck.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Critics, who have evidence from a host of pilot programs, say that the bonuses are typically too small to change behavior; New York's would be a maximum of 2.5 percent of a doctor's salary, and most P4P programs pay less than that. Often the performance indicators measure things that are not within the doctor's control. Luis Marcos, a former president of the agency that runs New York's public hospitals, plucked several examples from the list of 13 metrics proposed for New York. Reducing waits in the emergency room (No. 4) is a worthy goal, he said, but it depends on a whole cast of people, from the clerk who greets the patient to the orderly who makes the bed ready. Shortening hospital stays (No. 13) requires having someone in the community — family, a social worker — to receive the patient; that's an especially hard requirement for hospitals that treat a lot of low-income or homeless people.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Another problem with P4P is that providers learn how to manipulate the results. "Once you define performance, people manage toward those metrics and neglect other things that don't get counted," said the Princeton health economist Uwe Reinhardt, who writes for The Times's Economix blog. New York doctors have a favorite, possibly apocryphal, story of medical providers gaming the system: Miami hospitals that use patient feedback as a performance measure wait until spring to do their surveys, because that's when the cranky, hard-to-please New Yorkers go home from their winter refuge.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Ashish Jha, a doctor at the Harvard School of Public Health, argues that P4P might get results if the incentive payments to hospitals were substantially bigger, the formulas were simplified and the performance indicators were kept to a few, clear measures that doctors and patients agree matter: mortality rates, infection rates, recurrence of heart attacks. "If hospitals achieve great outcomes, it matters little how they did so," Jha wrote in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association. And death rates are harder to game than administrative procedures.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Jha also proposes a little experiment in behavioral psychology: give hospitals 100 percent of the bonus at the beginning of the year, but require them to send a refund at the end of the year to pay for any shortcomings. Givebacks really focus the mind.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">PETER PRONOVOST, a physician and professor at Johns Hopkins, says that rather than bribe doctors to adopt better practices, we should play to doctors' professionalism. Pronovost is famous for a scheme that drastically reduced infections associated with catheters by disseminating to doctors and nurses a simple, five-point operating-room checklist of reminders: Wash your hands, wear a sterile mask, etc. No pay incentives were involved, just an appeal to professional pride — and, later, public reporting of the results. "I wouldn't rule out economic incentives," Pronovost told me. "But you can do a lot just working with professional norms."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Pronovost has a more radical piece of common sense to offer. He proposes that the United States create an agency that would do for medicine what the Securities and Exchange Commission does for securities markets: compile and audit information about the performance of hospitals, and make it public. Rankings of hospitals now come either from news organizations or consumer groups working with untested and inconsistent data, or they are propaganda produced by medical providers themselves. "There are stronger regulations about what a company can say about toothpaste than what a hospital can claim about quality," Pronovost said.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">For image-conscious doctors and hospitals, pride and shame might be the most effective kind of carrots and sticks.</p><nyt_correction_bottom><div class="articleCorrection" style="margin-bottom: 2.8em; "></div></nyt_correction_bottom><nyt_update_bottom></nyt_update_bottom></div></nyt_text><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important; float: none; "></span></div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/opinion/keller-carrots-for-doctors.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130128&_r=1&&pagewanted=print">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/opinion/keller-carrots-for-doctors.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130128&_r=1&&pagewanted=print</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Carrots for Doctors - Opinion - Bill Keller - NYTimes.com

WITH its  ambitious proposal  to pay doctors in public hospitals based on the quality of their work — not the number of tests they order, pi...

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