News for today's 2018

Today's Teamster News 07.14.13

5:35 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/opinion/youve-been-warned.html?_r=0">You’ve Been Warned</a> (opinion)  New York Times   ...With two bad rules adopted on Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission has all but invited hucksters, rip-off artists and other bad actors to prey on individual investors...<br /><a href="http://www.tradereform.org/2013/07/consumer-groups-fret-as-first-round-of-european-trade-talks-nears-end/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=consumer-groups-fret-as-first-round-of-european-trade-talks-nears-end">Consumer groups fret as first round of European trade talks nears end</a>  Charlotte Observer  ...as negotiators prepare to end the first round of talks in Washington on Friday, many consumer groups in the United States and Europe fear their governments will be a little too flexible, rushing to help corporations cash in on billions of dollars in new business...<br /><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/07/14/313701/israelis-protest-austerity-measures/">Thousands of Israelis protest against austerity measures</a>  PressTV   ...Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to protest against Tel Aviv’s austerity measures and to demand social justice...<br /><a href="http://variety.com/2013/film/news/citizen-koch-kickstarter-1200562262/">‘Citizen Koch’ Hits Crowdfunding Goal, Raising More Than $75,000 in Three Days</a>  Variety   ...“Citizen Koch,” a documentary critical of the billionaire Koch brothers and big money in politics, has surpassed its $75,000 Kickstarter goal in just three days with more than 1,700 donors...<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-5z0XBRfXk">Tax Dodging GE CEO Jeff Immelt Speaks to UW Regents, Dissenters Arrested</a>  youtube.com   ...Jeff Immelt, the CEO of General Electric delivered the opening remarks at the UW Board of Regent's meeting ...(and) two protesters politely inquired how he was able to dodge billions more in taxes than Lauryn Hill...<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/26/us-sweden-ikea-idUSBRE95P1BQ20130626">IKEA founder to return home 40 years after fleeing Swedish taxes</a>  Reuters   ...Ingvar Kamprad, founder of furniture company IKEA, announced on Wednesday he plans to return home to Sweden 40 years after leaving the country to escape its high taxes...<br /><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2013/7/12/moral_mondays_700_arrested_in_north">Moral Mondays: 700 Arrested in North Carolina Civil Disobedience Campaign Against GOP Lawmakers</a>  Democracy Now   ...For weeks, thousands of people have been gathering at the North Carolina State Legislative Building for the weekly "Moral Monday" protest called by the NAACP to oppose the agenda of the Republican-led state Legislature...<br /><a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175166/oregon-trail-end-student-debt#axzz2Z1PnNIaq">An Oregon Trail to End Student Debt </a> The Nation   ...On July 1, federal student loan rates doubled—yes, doubled—from 3.4 percent to 6.8, after members of Congress went home for fireworks without lifting a finger on the issue. Meanwhile, in Oregon, legislators unanimously passed a bill paving the way for students to attend public universities without paying tuition or taking out traditional loans at all...<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/us-money-blog/2013/jul/11/fixing-student-loans-colleges-risk">Want to fix the US student loan crisis? Put colleges on the hook</a> (opinion)  The Guardian   ... We also need to look to the institution, and financially penalize them if students get in over their heads and can't pay their bills...<br /><a href="http://www.news-leader.com/article/20130714/OPINIONS03/130714005/Column-put-forth-propaganda">Column put forth propaganda</a> (opinion)  Springfield News-Leader   ...Missouri has real economic problems to be sure, but they are not going to be solved by slanted, partisan propaganda from Patrick Werner and the American Legislative Exchange Council...

Today's Teamster News 07.14.13

You’ve Been Warned (opinion) New York Times ...With two bad rules adopted on Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission has all b...

Why you should set soft goals for your classroom this year

4:21 AM Tukiyooo 0

<p> When you set your goals for the fall, don't forget your soft goals.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CJAin17uLEg/UZ3thiQ33UI/AAAAAAAAW8Q/xQmZtWywiIg/s580/13%252520-%2525201.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="500" id="blogsy-1373800607505.2463" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CJAin17uLEg/UZ3thiQ33UI/AAAAAAAAW8Q/xQmZtWywiIg/s500/13%252520-%2525201.jpg" width="500"></a></div> <p>There are hard and fast things you must do in the classroom. There are tasks, standards, and objectives that must be met. However, it is easy to be so busy as a human doing and forget that you're teaching human beings.</p> <p>This is why I like the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Habitudes-Revised-Teaching-Attitudes/dp/1935542621/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373800252&sr=1-2" target="_self" title="">Classroom Habitudes</a> so much. (Read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Habitudes-Revised-Teaching-Attitudes/dp/1935542621/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373800252&sr=1-2" target="_self" title="">the book</a> by <a href="http://www.twitter.com/angelamaiers" target="_self" title="">Angela Maiers</a>) It gives us a "to be" list before you hit the to do list. Students need to know what we want them to BE as we reach to do the things that they need to do. They need to see the purpose behind the plan.</p> <h2>Make a list of the things you want your students "to be"</h2> <p>Even more so, we, as teachers, need to be intentional about what we want to help our students be. Thankful. Passionate. Curious. Ethical. Perseverant. Creative... and the list goes on.</p> <p>Intentionally think about your soft goals because these give you a canvas upon which you will paint your class activities. They should influence the posters you select, the projects you design, and the lessons you plan. You can teach math in a way that harnesses the power of passion. You can weave lessons in that will allow students to show thankfulness to others. You can have projects that foster curiosity.</p> <h3>Purposefully determine what these "to be's" are. Know them. Use the language. Discuss them.</h3> <p>These are things you can do, but important things <strong>never</strong> do themselves. They start with you.</p> <p>I think it is best to look at these soft goals in the summer. Take some time and write down the important things you want to help students be. </p> <h3>Activity to get you started</h3> <p>Try this activity. </p> <p>1. At the top of a page write... "this year, I want my students to be more..." then, answer the question. This will help you get started on your soft goals.</p> <p>2. Brainstorm the books, music, projects, movies, and creative ways you can redesign the lessons you have to incorporate these to be's. Write these things next to each of the items you wrote in step 1.</p> <h3 style="font-size: 23px; line-height: 29px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">TIP: State your "to be" in the positive</h3> <p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">When you pick them be careful to state your "to be" in the positive. Instead of "don't bully" select "speak up when injustice happens." We inadvertently remove the negative - so when you say "don't bully" - you're really hearing "bully." (This is why most of us teachers are taught to say "be quiet" instead of "don't talk." "Don't talk" will typically have the opposite influence of what we desire.)</p> <h3>Do this now.</h3> <p>School is right around the corner. Educators, we have a huge responsibility to educate a generation. If we forget the human beings in our classrooms we will one day have those humans be so busy doing that they might just forget about being kind, respectful, helpful, and understanding towards our generation. Things have a way of going around. You will reap the results of the soft goals you set now as will society, so choose well.</p> <h2>Schools can set soft goals for their year.</h2> <p>You can also be assured, that schools who are intentional about the "to be's" they select will reap the benefits of emphasizing those to be's. Principals can do the activity above. This is part of having vision and when it starts with the principal and superintendent - it becomes unstoppable. You are casting vision for what you want to be. Just prepare to work hard to be that yourself. If you say you want everyone to be something and you glaringly don't try to be that yourself. (For example, if you emphasize work ethic but find a way to leave early every day, you'll cause a morale problem.)</p> <h3>Please share</h3> <p>What are the "to be's" you want to emphasize this year? I am using Angela's Classroom Habitudes book for mine and adding "Integrity" as one of the to-be's. </p> <p>What are yours? Please feel free to share them or the links in the comments. Do you create "soft goals?" Why or why not?</p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

innovation Inspiration Teaching Why you should set soft goals for your classroom this year

When you set your goals for the fall, don't forget your soft goals. There are hard and fast things you must do in the classroom. Ther...

MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY

2:54 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrH-eZ4xwur0ye4IsyT3B6YM5mpiIXkzCJ7hm6r7HcgSffGA1yAPq6J366Mv84ogtBhhcyhtiY3aRgturHB8dW6iZ9r7u_beChAw7NQSyXc7Lo7aTxxV8Z5nHruNiVDNpB4okJI1We3_di/s1600/photo_1369289663150-1-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrH-eZ4xwur0ye4IsyT3B6YM5mpiIXkzCJ7hm6r7HcgSffGA1yAPq6J366Mv84ogtBhhcyhtiY3aRgturHB8dW6iZ9r7u_beChAw7NQSyXc7Lo7aTxxV8Z5nHruNiVDNpB4okJI1We3_di/s400/photo_1369289663150-1-0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CHINA HAS BEEN TAKING OVER WESTERN NOTIONS OF SECURITY AND STABILITY AROUND THE WORLD IN FORM OF UN MISSIONS</b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Moritz Pollath</span> <br /><br /><b>This year, CHINESE soldiers and engineers will serve with GERMAN soldiers for the first time since World War II, when GERMAN military advisers modernized the Kuomintang army until the alliance with Imperial JAPAN ended the SINO-GERMAN cooperation. Soldiers from both countries and other participating nations will meet in MALI, far away from CHINA'S heartland and in EUROPE'S near-abroad, under the aegis of the UNITED NATIONS. </b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">WHY THE SAHEL IS CRUCIAL TO EUROPE'S NEIGHBORHOOD – AND ITS SECURITY STRATEGY. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/eu-involvement-in-mali.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/eu-involvement-in-mali.html</a><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today, the circumstances have changed completely. The CHINESE soldiers herald from the People's Liberation Army and serve the CHINESE Communist Party, which pursues a model of authoritarianism and state capitalism, and the Bundeswehr operates as a parliamentary army from an established liberal democracy. <br /><br />Both countries will meet in the hot and sandy environment that is MALI outside to stabilize a weak but democratic government in a region that is struggling with extreme poverty, weak institutions and is confronted by well-equipped transnational Islamist groups. <br /><br />The world truly has changed. CHINA has changed, but in which direction? If WESTERN foreign policy can be summarized as a combination of a cooperative approach towards global governance through the UNITED NATIONS and other regional organizations and an adherence and promotion of human rights and freedom of speech: Does MALI serve as an indicator, that we will experience a Westernization of CHINESE foreign policy? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Wy7ZmH46AHnYtR-_u-jVz5JheyLeocipPfBaEVlYZnelPxh6cMaUunAO16jLJx46IIJG1u4NEMLD9O4sieUKjrYfFZdtPwgAwljhrQQPqmhQswnHKQUGR3p0lg6zsTHNu3ekS3f9-c3c/s1600/220px-Member_of_FOCAC.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Wy7ZmH46AHnYtR-_u-jVz5JheyLeocipPfBaEVlYZnelPxh6cMaUunAO16jLJx46IIJG1u4NEMLD9O4sieUKjrYfFZdtPwgAwljhrQQPqmhQswnHKQUGR3p0lg6zsTHNu3ekS3f9-c3c/s320/220px-Member_of_FOCAC.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><b>China is not new to UN peacekeeping operations. The country has supported UN missions in IRAQ and CAMBODIA, where it helped maintain a ceasefire between the various CAMBODIAN factions, ensure general elections and help the country in its difficult transition period. So why is the new UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in MALI (MINUSMA) worth our attention? <br /><br />CAMBODIA is part of CHINA'S near abroad. Beijing directly benefited from security and stability in its SOUTHEAST ASIAN neighborhood. Today, the CHINESE participate in the stabilization and assistance to democratic governance and national unity in MALI in a region of the world, which decades before were of no or merely peripheral interest. In addition, in MALI and other places Beijing's communist past seems to play no role. CHINA'S constructive engagement demonstrates that step by step CHINA has been taking over WESTERN notions of security and stability around the world in form of UN missions. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFRICA, A CONTINENT WHICH DECADES AGO WAS OF NO OR MERELY PERIPHERAL INTEREST TO THE REST OF THE WORLD SUDDENLY BECOMES A FOCAL POINT</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><br /><br /><b>Cooperation in UN missions is just one aspect of CHINA'S modern foreign policy: Fittingly described as a reluctant internationalist by scholars, CHINA has played a stabilizing role in international affairs throughout the financial meltdown of 2008, which Beijing judged as a WESTERN crisis. Even with global governance at a low point since the end of the Cold War - recently demonstrated by the inability of the Group of Eight to find a solution to the war in SYRIA - beneath the big challenges, climate change, mass migration and weapons proliferation, MALI demonstrates that local and regional conflict management is still possible and active.</b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WEST AFRICAN OIL REMAINS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT FOR U.S. POLICY MAKERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO PERSIAN GULF OIL</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THE PANAMA CANAL WAS PART OF AMERICAS RISE TO GLOBAL POWER. THE </b></span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.miamidiario.com/economia/economia/america-latina/canal-de-panama/daniel-ortega/xi-jinping/nicaragua-china/contrato-por-30000-millones-de-dolares/gran-canal-acuatico-interoceanico-de-nicaragua/310015">GREAT INTER-OCEANIC NICARAGUA WATERWAY CANAL</a>," COULD BE </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PART OF CHINA'S RISE TO POWER</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even CHINA'S more assertive foreign policy, which accelerated the AMERICAN pivot to the PACIFIC, finds comparisons in the rise of the WEST. Historians list the construction of the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Panama Canal</span> in 1904 as part of AMERICA'S rise to a global power. The canal saved enormous travel time, and about 11,000 kilometers in distance, for commerce and warships. In 2013, CHINA is founding the construction of a similar project in NICARAGUA. Although it is far too soon to tell if the NICARAGUA project will ever be realized, <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CHINA'S naval expansion and presence in the INDIAN OCEAN to combat piracy have become reality</span>. </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">See also:</span></b><span style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/china-and-nicaragua.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/china-and-nicaragua.html</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IS CHINA'S ENGAGEMENT IN MALI AND ITS ASSERTIVE POSTURE AROUND THE GLOBE ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS A WESTERNIZATION OF BEIJING'S FOREIGN POLICY?</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>No. Cultural differences will remain and lead to different policy choices than WESTERN capitals might embark upon. Even though MALI shows that CHINA could become a policeman for international stability, strong indicators remain that it will be guided by its own cultural and political premises and not by WESTERN values: in past major conflicts CHINA always emphasized the importance of state sovereignty regardless of the brutal and inhumane actions of leaders such as Slobodan Milosevic in the BALKAN Wars and al-Baschir against SUDAN'S ethnicities. </b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b></b></span><br /><b>As long as stability is ensured, CHINA is prone to subordinate human rights beneath the support of authoritarian rulers, a mindset that is all too familiar from CHINA'S own human rights and freedom of speech record. This hierarchy will remain in the near and middle future, because any change in this core hierarchy would lead to serious ramifications for CHINA'S internal political stability. </b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DEMOCRATIC RECESSION: 9 OF THE 11 TOP CRUDE EXPORTERS ARE LABELED AS DICTATORSHIPS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are currently 22 states in the world which earn over 60% of their respective GDP from oil (and gas), and are ruled by non-democratic, authoritarian regimes. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/europe-and-arab-spring-that-never-sprung.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/europe-and-arab-spring-that-never-sprung.html</a>and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SEVEN ECONOMIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ARE EXPECTED TO BE AMONG THE TEN FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In addition, China has not displayed the strong voice WESTERN officials often use to promote universal human rights around the world. In certain circumstances, when military feasibility and geopolitical interests converged, Western powers resorted to military intervention and sanctions in countries which were a threat to international stability and their own citizens. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA'S FOREIGN POLICY DOES NOT LOOK NECESSARILY MORE WESTERN, JUST BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS STABILITY. FOR BEIJING, STABILITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>CHINA never has promoted Communism the way the SOVIET UNION did or the way the WEST promotes liberal democracy and market capitalism. During the Cold War, at the root of Beijing's support for NORTH KOREA or NORTH VIETNAM against the UN and the UNITED STATES was a mixture of geopolitics and common ideology. <br /><br />For the WEST it remains important to remember: CHINA'S foreign policy posture does not look necessarily more WESTERN, just because it supports stability. For Beijing, stability does not necessarily mean global governance. Far from it, the communist party leader's foreign policy aims resemble more the time of Metternich, when the Concert of EUROPE defended the unfettered rule of monarchies and the balance of power against liberal opposition movements in the various EUROPEAN countries. </b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">THERE ARE STARK DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BEIJING’S AND WASHINGTON’S FOREIGN POLICIES, AND NOWHERE ARE THESE MORE OBVIOUS THAN IN AFRICA. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><b>Although this constitutes some form of global governance, it is not the kind WESTERN leaders aim to achieve. In Beijing's defense, even the US, EU and other major and emerging powers ignore the big issues of global governance when they run contrary to their national interests. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WESTERN capitals can expect CHINA to be a constructive actor in places like MALI, but cannot expect CHINA'S support to actively intervene and end horrendous human rights violations. Beijing remains very hesitant towards global governance because from the CHINESE perspective it constitutes an agent against the status quo and leads to interference with national sovereignty. CHINA will behave with restraint because of its own demographic challenges, staggering economic growth and domestic policies in the Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet Autonomous Regions. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA FOLLOWS ITS OWN FOREIGN POLICY BASED ON ITS CULTURAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL PARAMETERS </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While CHINA might follow a foreign policy idea from the past days in EUROPE, it does not place the same value on human rights and the responsibility to protect as modern WESTERN foreign policy does. </span></b></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">AFRICA IS FORECAST TO EMERGE AS THE FASTEST-GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read entire article at:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/africa-and-usa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/africa-and-usa.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>CHINA follows its own foreign policy based on its cultural and geographical parameters with a strong emphasis on diminishing foreign interference in its direct neighborhood. Defending the status quo is currently in China's best interests, even though Chinese leaders behave far more responsible in global affairs than they get credit for in Western opinion. Mali tells us more about the extent and limits of cooperation between China and the West than one might expect to find in the landlocked West African state.</b></span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Related topics worthwhile reading:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-israel-enter-dragon.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-israel-enter-dragon.html</a></span></div></div>

MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY

CHINA HAS BEEN TAKING OVER WESTERN NOTIONS OF SECURITY AND STABILITY AROUND THE WORLD IN FORM OF UN MISSIONS By Moritz Pollath This year, ...

Lee Yoon-hye IWS Person of the Week!

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Welcome to the first ever edition of our newest feature here on IWS the “<b><i>Person of the Week</i></b>.” That’s right y’all, we finally retired the Babe of the Week. We didn’t come to this decision lightly either. Okay, yes we did. It was totally on a whim during the <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/07/07/matt-and-jay-live" target="_blank">Matt and Jay LIVE</a> episode of IWS Radio that Jay just up and said “Hey, we could drop the ‘Babe of the Week’ and change it to ‘<b><i>Person of the Week</i></b>’!” And Matt said “Okay.”  See how easy it is to make decisions guys? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, for our inaugural <b><i>Person of the Week</i></b> we looked for someone who has done something amazing this week that we could celebrate. It didn’t take long to realize that <b>Lee Yoon-hye</b>, the flight attendant who was the HERO of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiana_Airlines_Flight_214" target="_blank">Asiana Flight 214</a> should be given the honor. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fvrEldwAz_jvqqrPHqF5HWVzfXWywHVeOQ2Ro8OeJCL5kYF3nvYQIj59KXAepO6HAT_uObdEExC8jZQJ0E6pk32Mtmc-OVyI0D2-JbQwjhMs19TNbSpJTHOkl6fHcwg7ZdiGjneGbWI/s1600/Lee-Yoon-Hye-Asiana-Airlines-Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fvrEldwAz_jvqqrPHqF5HWVzfXWywHVeOQ2Ro8OeJCL5kYF3nvYQIj59KXAepO6HAT_uObdEExC8jZQJ0E6pk32Mtmc-OVyI0D2-JbQwjhMs19TNbSpJTHOkl6fHcwg7ZdiGjneGbWI/s1600/Lee-Yoon-Hye-Asiana-Airlines-Hot.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Despite her small stature, Mz Yoon-hye acted fast and decisively right after the crash and began helping passengers to safety without regard to her own safety. She was even seen by some passenger carrying people out of the plane. Time and again she went back into the plane that was engulfed in flames to make sure that everyone got off. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzdj36IIQrz93yc7W2fiC7Ls8HuGdiXRxlw5Me3amijL6bXZHzVbcUF8P56DMdMxgpvv9UqIxne60ZSCVb8W0V4TRF2_mlyj2nSaLYuQeX1T08ve3RByvTQDaS5s8dwwl78BezC9dXOM/s1600/lee-yoon-hye-asiana-flight-attendant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzdj36IIQrz93yc7W2fiC7Ls8HuGdiXRxlw5Me3amijL6bXZHzVbcUF8P56DMdMxgpvv9UqIxne60ZSCVb8W0V4TRF2_mlyj2nSaLYuQeX1T08ve3RByvTQDaS5s8dwwl78BezC9dXOM/s320/lee-yoon-hye-asiana-flight-attendant.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Probably the most inspiring moment was when Lee put a frightened child on her back and took him down the emergency slide because he was paralyzed with fear. Once on the ground and out of danger, Lee continued to take charge and kept everyone organized and safe. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzdXiRAdP0HiENen2no_21rp5m74HKlYQdq92i_dogA0nfsWoOm70XVZ5vvNkz1qtIiIUp89fMHkU58YOcNR2ocCl6ZV14MXBcn3Gg2arwI8Dbwuqhr-AVa1OczZUVRGhilZzIvG5EVs/s1600/Lee-Yoon-hy-flight-attendant-hot-sexy-asian-babe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzdXiRAdP0HiENen2no_21rp5m74HKlYQdq92i_dogA0nfsWoOm70XVZ5vvNkz1qtIiIUp89fMHkU58YOcNR2ocCl6ZV14MXBcn3Gg2arwI8Dbwuqhr-AVa1OczZUVRGhilZzIvG5EVs/s1600/Lee-Yoon-hy-flight-attendant-hot-sexy-asian-babe.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">What was already a horrifying crash could have been so much worse in terms of loss of life had it not been for Lee Yoon-hye and for that she is the inaugural <b><i>IWS Radio Person of the Week</i></b>!  <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Also, don't forget to listen to "<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/07/14/heat-wave-of-hilarity" target="_blank">Heat Wave of Hilarity</a>" on IWS Radio Sunday at 12 Noon ET!!!! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Lee Yoon-hye IWS Person of the Week!

Welcome to the first ever edition of our newest feature here on IWS the “ Person of the Week .” That’s right y’all, we finally retired the B...

Rambling the back roads of Amherst County, Blue Ridge Mountains

8:04 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8N3CSB31XXI_2_GwxewxMEh5Twa743y2g-BbDQLMPPyX3jwKlIiMbuXlh84EbTI-T64IxfIm3mZGos5KKpAfk9gd0l7_Y3jZVw9tw46mC86a3xJZbilJS_i1Gw5vVtO6RuEzbPuhk6vw/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8N3CSB31XXI_2_GwxewxMEh5Twa743y2g-BbDQLMPPyX3jwKlIiMbuXlh84EbTI-T64IxfIm3mZGos5KKpAfk9gd0l7_Y3jZVw9tw46mC86a3xJZbilJS_i1Gw5vVtO6RuEzbPuhk6vw/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rain clouds hung over the mountains Saturday, a continuation of the wet weather that has been deluging Virginia the past week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunUsd1dc2gZReKZpVrZCXjAtXGr5azmkW1tBbsG1cosh3yzzksf384xZs2JgAZPQrt6SXJnpr9FDGcFTAghfn4LsyUT-SKTAbL9IUC2UmWO980Q8R6Nmd8n8rAT4TS1c0Dt3Q6L5efkx5/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunUsd1dc2gZReKZpVrZCXjAtXGr5azmkW1tBbsG1cosh3yzzksf384xZs2JgAZPQrt6SXJnpr9FDGcFTAghfn4LsyUT-SKTAbL9IUC2UmWO980Q8R6Nmd8n8rAT4TS1c0Dt3Q6L5efkx5/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5ci53f3IpAfaqd3fu3gA06gVX7ts3xvQneADl5NqPRzbI0iDz1xU_x88yzYzNWZeFkahmMLPIIDwm_aOmSpx4MCsDZFH7aV0Ga0pPRNXRs_ZRGdOTzFcKH-v-bpPZ5xvDtcEMHxDxDzq/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5ci53f3IpAfaqd3fu3gA06gVX7ts3xvQneADl5NqPRzbI0iDz1xU_x88yzYzNWZeFkahmMLPIIDwm_aOmSpx4MCsDZFH7aV0Ga0pPRNXRs_ZRGdOTzFcKH-v-bpPZ5xvDtcEMHxDxDzq/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many of the old farm structures are caving in, eventually resulting in the demise of the craftsmanship of the past</div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-l0ZO56ocPGGnn0auHiT2Omzelfj3K0Pkw7r-rzzUH8iyEMfnjAxoJXDZ3TLGEb6acyUEzietV_kTlklGDvn0i2qIbgb-iMWvTiPOi8Tc06lBa7jrL0kL_KKuRLM8SYqYt8et9MwI4hM/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-l0ZO56ocPGGnn0auHiT2Omzelfj3K0Pkw7r-rzzUH8iyEMfnjAxoJXDZ3TLGEb6acyUEzietV_kTlklGDvn0i2qIbgb-iMWvTiPOi8Tc06lBa7jrL0kL_KKuRLM8SYqYt8et9MwI4hM/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Daily rainstorms have left mountain rivers and streams at full bank. While traveling up mountain hollows, debris across the road and on fences showed where water had jumped the banks. This is the Little Piney River in Amherst County.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0itWK0IJbMRVf9BE12oWs5MXLAVpcFoQRGrfB2xJRsMH4-TU1ku1PIe_txPza-ZwmpFL2t0YzmWE1Xha3ZqVIecSR_xVeVMU_vMc8Ua0s_W89bvGvtC99Kuf6LH896Wz0egh7Umq0Vf5/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0itWK0IJbMRVf9BE12oWs5MXLAVpcFoQRGrfB2xJRsMH4-TU1ku1PIe_txPza-ZwmpFL2t0YzmWE1Xha3ZqVIecSR_xVeVMU_vMc8Ua0s_W89bvGvtC99Kuf6LH896Wz0egh7Umq0Vf5/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMgscvTL1mBMsBytQ0v3o_y-Z8wVaWtR7m6Gb3LV2umgWxssSCRGTYSNFZTKxeUxjmLBum7RBk-euATTsgEVVD9JFySVL3grneH2NLXNEC8Rxp_YIcUThFubD1GS8SDh1tbVY-_IqE0Kf/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMgscvTL1mBMsBytQ0v3o_y-Z8wVaWtR7m6Gb3LV2umgWxssSCRGTYSNFZTKxeUxjmLBum7RBk-euATTsgEVVD9JFySVL3grneH2NLXNEC8Rxp_YIcUThFubD1GS8SDh1tbVY-_IqE0Kf/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83t7t4p7Zj24CdlrIQceiFruAguoI8zIOvaGpv9jI5hmGgmWTx5DEG5hvWwzhWhJtSm7ld8YgJ4rhWxcLYet3-tB4LaxGefZ4BVMJhCkFJD3KWssbFZj6Z-NpeJ3_1JVZNcwv972spbkU/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83t7t4p7Zj24CdlrIQceiFruAguoI8zIOvaGpv9jI5hmGgmWTx5DEG5hvWwzhWhJtSm7ld8YgJ4rhWxcLYet3-tB4LaxGefZ4BVMJhCkFJD3KWssbFZj6Z-NpeJ3_1JVZNcwv972spbkU/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUj_lTvM_-XaURg4RxyOvmZvLHdVVtbKb9vCIm7qYmGv9iQ-UjJtYyVdn6OOPd1yooA8olwjzkwaoWPpe03kUcDYf1MG4HlpW3kXFpsmagelyEFMI_XsSVwAWf3wdNTciC3OFPQHJqX_Q/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUj_lTvM_-XaURg4RxyOvmZvLHdVVtbKb9vCIm7qYmGv9iQ-UjJtYyVdn6OOPd1yooA8olwjzkwaoWPpe03kUcDYf1MG4HlpW3kXFpsmagelyEFMI_XsSVwAWf3wdNTciC3OFPQHJqX_Q/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=188">Stonehouse Lake</a> in Amherst where a couple of fishermen were trying their luck on a quiet Saturday afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGZOFenziH_YgHszLOKuXIX8Gi_tAsp7yhocEaIv7zOAkbWnCwGNusK9eoRTNUIE-vq4P2-TrH_LsyfiYj8Kqm1AIa4IvgbQf_XNhZCrloQtPtsQm7-1xwzXlBQLiJuq98zk31ysa955x/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGZOFenziH_YgHszLOKuXIX8Gi_tAsp7yhocEaIv7zOAkbWnCwGNusK9eoRTNUIE-vq4P2-TrH_LsyfiYj8Kqm1AIa4IvgbQf_XNhZCrloQtPtsQm7-1xwzXlBQLiJuq98zk31ysa955x/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our way to <a href="http://www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/mountpleasant/">Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area</a>. Once the road turned to gravel, heavy rains had washed off much of the gravel exposing underlying rock and washed-out gullies. Since we were in my car and not my sister's SUV, we reluctantly turned back with plans to return in a more suitable vehicle. Downpours and flooding have done a job on the back roads of Virginia's mountains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZcnjTXXtpeA9rupoHXIJ2h_45qPxuYa0yBSeG1CtjvthDkr4k2ocSZmQzGuAUjnZ146eB21PnVoiaQY51a6LcTmZGqAA3unAss0xCY3tni5l4GxkVMv0IcMpmGZeP7rxglJNaY1ZZgk4/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZcnjTXXtpeA9rupoHXIJ2h_45qPxuYa0yBSeG1CtjvthDkr4k2ocSZmQzGuAUjnZ146eB21PnVoiaQY51a6LcTmZGqAA3unAss0xCY3tni5l4GxkVMv0IcMpmGZeP7rxglJNaY1ZZgk4/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We found this charming mountain cottage that was for sale on the road to Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area. Offered by <a href="http://www.marysnowrealty.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=25">Mary Snow Realty</a>, it has 11 acres and an adorable 1880s home with stone chimney and screened-in porch overlooking a spring-fed pond filled with native trout. Creek behind the house, mature shrubs, split rail fence, property bumps up to the national forest. Very secluded.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SC-cv7iuxfaz5V-7h0k6YfIYX45UO4fe3ifQjaF1R8SH5lTRxpGDSLGUuVmlQycVj_S1_qOz4q6l8v8Xig0SKUP3rAGEuT2q4SnT75YuvQyZ58lPpnjcLDcy2taSB969uaiYXHrRg8jg/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SC-cv7iuxfaz5V-7h0k6YfIYX45UO4fe3ifQjaF1R8SH5lTRxpGDSLGUuVmlQycVj_S1_qOz4q6l8v8Xig0SKUP3rAGEuT2q4SnT75YuvQyZ58lPpnjcLDcy2taSB969uaiYXHrRg8jg/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Huge pine trees along the driveway of the 130+-year-old cottage.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHsyFQ4OE7cZqsC7yezA-89tslIANvfNrRVunLzaM5NXDd5zrHGholBhb7V38Xk0yvUdxopB2I1i21TmQPowsqL1MKA5q0GbVzx1Tl5T7ezmkZui8RjPX1bzOLJ2AhGrqRFOF7_zQPS6q/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHsyFQ4OE7cZqsC7yezA-89tslIANvfNrRVunLzaM5NXDd5zrHGholBhb7V38Xk0yvUdxopB2I1i21TmQPowsqL1MKA5q0GbVzx1Tl5T7ezmkZui8RjPX1bzOLJ2AhGrqRFOF7_zQPS6q/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Overlooking the cottage's pond.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbwdySJ8PjpMsLov_ap7LmEHKCwvEXrITrt24YdF5jfn5xCyl3hJo3PzWouvfTWF_4X3kttK_oodHzIOeo2W86OXZlcn0ITFOUU4grKk3ZCh1zy7Od65sAJtCuHAEcucI1en6GcnvNWSg/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbwdySJ8PjpMsLov_ap7LmEHKCwvEXrITrt24YdF5jfn5xCyl3hJo3PzWouvfTWF_4X3kttK_oodHzIOeo2W86OXZlcn0ITFOUU4grKk3ZCh1zy7Od65sAJtCuHAEcucI1en6GcnvNWSg/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Looking west toward Lexington from the Blue Ridge Parkway.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWDpEwh4JasMFWx2VZetpydWBphQtxCgY2am9NFElITQzitEdH6lWhVRlyxeV5lmwsJ9XKhWXnpfiaqdp0l7YME6KJanxoQC5hUS5DtGAaZF5e7mgszvLCOGbq8XS_g7ZCAnJ4aKF4Lc_/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWDpEwh4JasMFWx2VZetpydWBphQtxCgY2am9NFElITQzitEdH6lWhVRlyxeV5lmwsJ9XKhWXnpfiaqdp0l7YME6KJanxoQC5hUS5DtGAaZF5e7mgszvLCOGbq8XS_g7ZCAnJ4aKF4Lc_/s400/16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9stG1u7Hy9dS-TDtmFaPEXItKt2-ivmslAFOnIy_5bs8Yejo81_ZFWvycAt4ic681uImdV54XEv9SR87nycjEVnRjL-knYE4wrFPtQzeBrw1LuajR3_EcIbhvXQz3DIss2C1sUlybPx1r/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9stG1u7Hy9dS-TDtmFaPEXItKt2-ivmslAFOnIy_5bs8Yejo81_ZFWvycAt4ic681uImdV54XEv9SR87nycjEVnRjL-knYE4wrFPtQzeBrw1LuajR3_EcIbhvXQz3DIss2C1sUlybPx1r/s400/17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blue Ridge Parkway, that ribbon of roadway along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 13, 2013

Rambling the back roads of Amherst County, Blue Ridge Mountains

Amherst Little Piney River Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area national forests Stonehouse Lake Rambling the back roads of Amherst County, Blue Ridge Mountains

Rain clouds hung over the mountains Saturday, a continuation of the wet weather that has been deluging Virginia the past week. Many of the ...

Do Clinical Trials Work? - NYTimes.com

3:31 PM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:">EVERY spring, some 30,000 oncologists, medical researchers and marketers gather in an American city to showcase the latest advances in cancer treatment.<br><br>But at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology last month, much of the buzz surrounded a study that was anything but a breakthrough. To a packed and whisper-quiet room at the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago, Mark R. Gilbert, a professor of neuro-oncology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, presented the results of a clinical trial testing the drug Avastin in patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain cancer. In two earlier, smaller studies of patients with recurrent brain cancers, tumors shrank and the disease seemed to stall for several months when patients were given the drug, an antibody that targets the blood supply of these fast-growing masses of cancer cells.<br><br>But to the surprise of many, Dr. Gilbert's study found no difference in survival between those who were given Avastin and those who were given a placebo.<br><br>Disappointing though its outcome was, the study represented a victory for science over guesswork, of hard data over hunches. As far as clinical trials went, Dr. Gilbert's study was the gold standard. The earlier studies had each been "single-arm," in the lingo of clinical trials, meaning there had been no comparison group. In Dr. Gilbert's study, more than 600 brain cancer patients were randomly assigned to two evenly balanced groups: an intervention arm (those who got Avastin along with a standard treatment) and a control arm (those who got the latter and a placebo). What's more, the study was "double-blind" — neither the patients nor the doctors knew who was in which group until after the results had been assessed.<br><br>The centerpiece of the country's drug-testing system — the randomized, controlled trial — had worked.<br><br>Except in one respect: doctors had no more clarity after the trial about how to treat brain cancer patients than they had before. Some patients did do better on the drug, and indeed, doctors and patients insist that some who take Avastin significantly beat the average. But the trial was unable to discover these "responders" along the way, much less examine what might have accounted for the difference. (Dr. Gilbert is working to figure that out now.)<br><br>Indeed, even after some 400 completed clinical trials in various cancers, it's not clear why Avastin works (or doesn't work) in any single patient. "Despite looking at hundreds of potential predictive biomarkers, we do not currently have a way to predict who is most likely to respond to Avastin and who is not," says a spokesperson for Genentech, a division of the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, which makes the drug.<br><br>That we could be this uncertain about any medicine with $6 billion in annual global sales — and after 16 years of human trials involving tens of thousands of patients — is remarkable in itself. And yet this is the norm, not the exception. We are just as confused about a host of other long-tested therapies: neuroprotective drugs for stroke, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for anemia, the antiviral drug Tamiflu — and, as recent headlines have shown, rosiglitazone (Avandia) for diabetes, a controversy that has now embroiled a related class of molecules. Which brings us to perhaps a more fundamental question, one that few people really want to ask: do clinical trials even work? Or are the diseases of individuals so particular that testing experimental medicines in broad groups is doomed to create more frustration than knowledge?<br><br>Researchers are coming to understand just how individualized human physiology and human pathology really are. On a genetic level, the tumors in one person with pancreatic cancer almost surely won't be identical to those of any other. Even in a more widespread condition like high cholesterol, the variability between individuals can be great, meaning that any two patients may have starkly different reactions to a drug.<br><br>That's one reason that, despite the rigorous monitoring of clinical trials, 16 novel medicines were withdrawn from the market from 2000 through 2010, a figure equal to 6 percent of the total approved during the period. The pharmacogenomics of each of us — the way our genes influence our response to drugs — is unique.<br><br>HUMAN drug trials are typically divided into three phases. In the first, researchers evaluate the safety of a new experimental compound in a small number of people, determining the best way to deliver it and the optimal dosage. In Phase 2, investigators give the drug to a larger number of patients, continuing to monitor its safety as they assess whether the agent works.<br><br>"Works" in this stage is broadly defined. Seeing that the drug has any positive effect at all — say, that it decreases the level of a blood marker associated with a disease — is often enough to move a drug to Phase 3. Even so, most experimental drugs fail before they get to Phase 3.<br><br>The few that make it to Phase 3 are then tested for safety and efficacy in hundreds or thousands of patients. This time, the outcomes for those taking the new drug are typically compared head-to-head with outcomes for those getting a placebo or the standard-of-care therapy. Generally, the Food and Drug Administration requires that two "adequate and well-controlled" trials confirm that a drug is safe and effective before it approves it for sale, though the bar can be lower in the case of medicines aimed at life-threatening conditions.<br><br>Rigorous statistical tests are done to make sure that the drug's demonstrated benefit is genuine, not the result of chance. But chance turns out to be a hard thing to rule out. When the measured effects are small — as they are in the vast majority of clinical trials — mere chance is often the difference between whether a drug is deemed to work or not, says John P. A. Ioannidis, a professor of medicine at Stanford.<br><br>In a famous 2005 paper published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Ioannidis, an authority on statistical analysis, examined nearly four dozen high-profile trials that found a specific medical intervention to be effective. Of the 26 randomized, controlled studies that were followed up by larger trials (examining the same therapy in a bigger pool of patients), the initial finding was wholly contradicted in three cases (12 percent). And in another 6 cases (23 percent), the later trials found the benefit to be less than half of what was first reported.<br><br>It wasn't the therapy that changed in each case, but rather the sample size. And Dr. Ioannidis believes that if more rigorous, follow-up studies were actually done, the refutation rate would be far higher.<br><br>Donald A. Berry, a professor of biostatistics at M. D. Anderson, agrees. He, too, can rattle off dozens of examples of this evaporation effect and has made a sport, he says, of predicting it. The failures of the last 20 or so Phase 3 trials testing drugs for Alzheimer's disease, he says, could have been predicted based on the lackluster results from Phase 2. Still, the payoff for a successful Phase 3 trial can be so enormous that drug makers will often roll the dice — not on the prospect that the therapy will suddenly work, but on the chance that a trial will suggest that it does.<br><br>At a round-table discussion a few years ago, focused on the high failure rate for Alzheimer's drugs, Dr. Berry was amazed to hear one drug company researcher admit to such thinking out loud. The researcher said that when he and his team designed the Phase 3 trial, he thought the drug would probably fail. But if they could get an approval for a drug for Alzheimer's disease, it would be "a huge success."<br><br>"What he was saying," marvels Dr. Berry, "was, 'We're playing the lottery.' "<br><br>The fact that the pharmaceutical companies sponsor and run the bulk of investigative drug trials brings what Dr. Ioannidis calls a "constellation of biases" to the process. Too often, he says, trials are against "a straw-man comparator" like a placebo rather than a competing drug. So the studies don't really help us understand which treatments for a disease work best.<br><br>But a more fundamental challenge has to do with the nature of clinical trials themselves. "When you do any kind of trial, you're really trying to answer a question about truth in the universe," says Hal Barron, the chief medical officer and head of global development at Roche and Genentech. "And, of course, we can't know that. So we try to design an experiment on a subpopulation of the world that we think is generalizable to the overall universe" — that is, to the patients who will use the drug.<br><br>That's a very hard thing to pull off. The rules that govern study enrollment end up creating trial populations that invariably are much younger, have fewer health complications and have been exposed to far less medical treatment than those who are likely to use the drug.<br><br>Roughly 53 percent of new cancer diagnoses, for example, are in people 65 or older, but this age group accounts for just 33 percent of participants in cancer drug trials.<br><br>Even if clinical researchers could match the demographics of study populations to those of the likely users of these medicines, no group of trial volunteers could ever match the extraordinary biological diversity of the drugs' eventual consumers.<br><br>Drug makers are well aware of the challenge. "Listen, it's not lost on anybody that about 95 percent of drugs that enter clinical testing fail to ever get approved," says Dr. Barron. "It's not hard to imagine that at least some of those might have failed because they work very, very well in a small group. We can't continue to have failures due to a lack of appreciation of this heterogeneity in diseases."<br><br>So what's the solution? For subtypes of disease that are already known, it may be feasible to design small clinical trials and enroll only those who have the appropriate genetic or molecular signature. That's what Genentech did in developing the breast cancer drug Herceptin, which homes in on tumor cells that have an abundance of a protein called HER2.<br><br>And that's the strategy the company says it's pursuing now. Sixty percent of the new drugs in the works at Genentech/Roche are being developed with a companion diagnostic test to identify the patients who are most likely to benefit.<br><br>But given the dismal success rate for drug development, this piecemeal approach is bound to be slow and arduous. Rather than try to fit patients, a handful at a time, into the decades-old clinical-trials framework, we'd be far better off changing the trials themselves.<br><br>In fact, a breast cancer trial called I-SPY 2, already under way, may be a good model to follow. The aim of the trial, sponsored by the Biomarkers Consortium, a partnership that includes the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, the F.D.A., and others, is to figure out whether neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer — administering drugs before a tumor is surgically removed — reduces recurrence of the disease, and if so, which drugs work best.<br><br>As with the Herceptin model, patients are being matched with experimental medicines that are designed to target a particular molecular subtype of breast cancer. But unlike in other trials, I-SPY 2 investigators, including Dr. Berry, are testing up to a dozen drugs from multiple companies, phasing out those that don't appear to be working and subbing in others, without stopping the study.<br><br>Part of the novelty lies in a statistical technique called Bayesian analysis that lets doctors quickly glean information about which therapies are working best. There's no certainty in the assessment, but doctors get to learn during the process and then incorporate that knowledge into the ongoing trial.<br><br>Mark Gilbert, for his part, would even settle for something simpler in his next glioblastoma study. His definition of a successful clinical trial? "At the end of the day," he says, "regardless of the result, you've learned something."<br><br><i>Clifton Leaf is the author of "The Truth in Small Doses: Why We're Losing the War on Cancer — and How to Win It."</i><div><br><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/opinion/sunday/do-clinical-trials-work.html?">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/opinion/sunday/do-clinical-trials-work.html?</a><br><br></div>

Do Clinical Trials Work? - NYTimes.com

EVERY spring, some 30,000 oncologists, medical researchers and marketers gather in an American city to showcase the latest advances in cance...

Financial Options for Belviq

2:14 PM Tukiyooo 0

There are resources for EVERYONE to afford Belviq so don't let it not being covered on your insurance or having no insurance to hold you back!!  I am so excited about this information!<br /><br />This was a great website resource that one of the Eisai pharmaceutical reps shared with me (Eisai is the company promoting Belviq for Arena Pharm).  The website it:  <a href="http://www.eisaireimbursement.com/">www.eisaireimbursement.com</a><br /><br />If your plan does not cover Belviq yet (I say yet because more and more are starting to cover), here are some options to try to get approved for individual coverage:<br /><br />How to Request a Non-Formulary Coverage Determination<br />                                Health plans may grant various types of exceptions to members. Members may receive                                coverage for BELVIQ<sup>®</sup> even if it is not on the formulary, health plans                                may waive coverage restrictions or limits and make an exception to cover the drug.                             <br />                                When requesting an exception, a statement from their prescriber must be submitted                                via fax or mail. The statement must explain the medical reasons for requesting an                                exception. Once a request is submitted, a decision is generally made within 72 hours                                of receiving the prescriber's supporting statement. Members can request an expedited                                (fast) exception if the prescriber believes that a patient's health could be seriously                                harmed by waiting up to 72 hours for a decision.                             <br /><ul style="line-height: 18px; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 40px;"><li style="padding: 0px 5px 5px;">If the request is expedited and granted, the health                                    plan usually gives a decision no later than 24 hours after receiving prescriber's                                    supporting statement.</li><li style="padding: 0px 5px 5px;">If the decision is not in member's favor, the                                    health plan will send a written statement with explanation and how to appeal the                                    decision</li><li style="padding: 0px 5px 5px;">To download a general form that may be used to                                    request coverage for BELVIQ<sup>®</sup> for a patient for a product that is                                    not on formulary, please click here. Please note that some payors may not accept                                    requests for coverage that are submitted on forms that have not been approved by                                    their specific plan.</li><li style="padding: 0px 5px 5px;">If you need additional assistance obtaining a                                    payor's specific requirements for requesting coverage for BELVIQ<sup>®</sup>,                                     please call the Eisai Assistance Program at 1-866-61-EISAI or <a href="http://www.eisaireimbursement.com/Belviq/Downloads/Sample%20Letter%20of%20Medical%20Necessity.pdf" target="_blank">click here to obtain a Statement of Medical Necessity form</a>.                                    Once completed, please fax it to the Eisai Assistance Program. A representative                                    will initiate research into the specific requirements of your patient's insurance                                    to obtain coverage.</li></ul><h4>                                Appeal Request</h4>An appeal is a request to change a previous adverse decision made by health plan.                                A representative/prescriber or patient may appeal the adverse decision related to                                coverage. The prescriber will need to provide a reason why he/she believes the adverse                                coverage decision was incorrect and what the expected outcome should be. Along with                                the request form, supporting documentation may include previous medical necessity-related                                denials, the patient's medical records, and documentation from the healthcare professional                                or facility.                             <br /><h4>                                Payor Reimbursement</h4>Commercial payor pharmacy reimbursement for BELVIQ<sup>®</sup> is variable and                                dependent on the pharmacy's contract with the payor. Most commercial payors base                                payment on Average Wholesale Price (AWP) or Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC). Payments                                may or may not include a dispensing fee per fill.                             <br />                                For more information on commercial payor-specific coverage of BELVIQ<sup>®</sup>                                 patients should contact the member services department at their health plan. <br /><br />Patient Assistance Program                 <br /><h4>                    What is the Eisai Patient Assistance Program?</h4>Eisai has created the Eisai Patient Assistance Program (EPAP) for customers who need                    assistance paying for BELVIQ<sup>®</sup>. The Eisai PAP provides Eisai medicines                    at no or low cost to financially needy patients who meet program eligibility criteria.                 <br /><h4>                    About the Program</h4>Depending on your financial situation and clinical status, resources may be available                    to help with your costs for BELVIQ<sup>®</sup>. Patients, family members, advocates                    or case managers can call The Eisai Primary Care Assistance Program at 1-866-61-EISAI                    (1-866-61-34724) to apply to determine if you are eligible for the EPAP for BELVIQ<sup>®</sup>.                     The hours of operation are 8 AM to 8 PM ET, Monday through Friday.                 <br />                    Eisai reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to discontinue the Patient Assistance                    Program or change the qualifications at any time. All patient information remains                    confidential. Product supply for the program depends upon availability.                 <br /><h4>                    Information Needed For the Application</h4>The Statement of Medical Necessity, insurance information, financial documentation,                    the signature of the prescribing healthcare professional, and the patient's signature                    are required for the form to be considered complete. To download a copy of the BELVIQ<sup>®</sup>                     Statement of Medical Necessity Form, <a href="http://www.eisaireimbursement.com/Belviq/Downloads/Sample%20Letter%20of%20Medical%20Necessity.pdf" target="_blank">please click here</a>. Fax the completed Statement of Medical                    Necessity to the Eisai Patient Assistance Program at 1-866-57-EISAI (1-866-57-34724).                 <br /><h4>                    Contact Us</h4>The Eisai Assistance Program<br />                    Phone: 1-866-61-EISAI<br />                    Fax: 1-866-57-EISAI<br />                    Available Monday - Friday<br />                    8 AM to 8 PM ET

Financial Options for Belviq

There are resources for EVERYONE to afford Belviq so don't let it not being covered on your insurance or having no insurance to hold you...

Tomato Vegetable Soup - only 100 calories per serving!

1:48 PM Tukiyooo 0

Ingredients:<br /> 2 cans of diced tomatoes (I used Hunts that said "Diced Tomatoes in Sauce"<br /> 1 small box of Tomato bisque starter Soup. (found in the broth isle<br /><span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><br /><span class="text_exposed_show"> 2 cans of chicken broth (or use alternative for vegan/vegetarians<br /> 1 chopped onion (I used white onions)<br /> 2 bags of your favorite froze vegetables (I used a stir fry mix with green beans, sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, yellow squash, and broccoli<br /> 1 tsb Extra virgin olive oil<br /><br /> I cooked the chopped onions a little bit in the EVOO and added basil, pepper, salt, and garlic seasoning for taste.  I add the diced tomatoes and the tomato bisque starter and let those all cook on medium high heat to a boil.  I turn up on high and add the chicken broth and the vegetable and cook to a good boil and quickly reduce to heat to simmer (or low) and cover and just let it cook for about an hour just to let all of the flavors blend into the vegetables.  This entire LARGE pot made was about 1000 calories for the entire thing.  So, split it up to individual servings, it could be anywhere from 100 to 200 calories!!<br /><br />Add Chicken or Beans for protein if desired.  I think this would be a PERFECT starter to ANY dish!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtEuePR2tHedTWz02bxnHUH01Upy9JS6U_Q0WOvZ_6ysOSCElPqC8bMFLqrXn7A2dcsP2TBs3MPmPgIlo_haw1p3vfLdL38HnR_FX4dpCk2zni34YhG5cYCNet85qVE72euf_QQbLNrk/s1600/soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtEuePR2tHedTWz02bxnHUH01Upy9JS6U_Q0WOvZ_6ysOSCElPqC8bMFLqrXn7A2dcsP2TBs3MPmPgIlo_haw1p3vfLdL38HnR_FX4dpCk2zni34YhG5cYCNet85qVE72euf_QQbLNrk/s320/soup.jpg" width="234" /></a></div> </span>

Tomato Vegetable Soup - only 100 calories per serving!

Ingredients: 2 cans of diced tomatoes (I used Hunts that said "Diced Tomatoes in Sauce" 1 small box of Tomato bisque starter Sou...

Old School New Body Review - Could It Be Worth The Time?

12:42 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By William Stone</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>For anyone who think that those thorough workouts while exercising and tough diet programs may lead these to a fabulous physique, it is time to get a reality examine.<br />  <br />  Research suggests the usual 'modern methods' accompanied by most, find yourself draining our bodies, causing extreme damage, ultimately causing people searching greater than their age.<br />  <br />  Strict diet plans and heavy workout routines can stress the body on the cellular stage, making folks age quicker.<br />  <br />  Now imagine overturn! A complete diet as well as fitness program can easily turn back process of getting older. Steve as well as Becky Holman's Old School New Body is a extensive diet and physical fitness handbook that may effectively modify the way folks look regardless of their age.<br />  <br />  The actual Old School New Body review by Wayne I. Mickens provides a complete thorough of the program and brings about the remarkable truth. The actual review shows that this program will make progressed 35 review 10 years youthful than what their age is.<br />  <br />  The Old School New Body review discloses the invisible truths powering human eating and diet system while keeping focused on the must build muscle size.<br />  <br />  The program damages some basic misconceptions about conditioning and nourishment. People continue low fat diet plans, which are a complete no-no in this program. Reduced fat diet plans make the entire body lose it's ability to replenish power bodily hormones.<br />  <br />  Spinning may also be harmful since it creates free-radicals in the body, which makes it age quicker. So what is the perfect solution is? The Old School New Body review solutions this.<br />  <br />  The person's age is not to do with just how fit he's, and the Old School New Body can be a sure shot method to a match, toned as well as healthy entire body.<br />  <br />  Another fantasy there's no need to pass through a tiring exercise at a health club to get a suit body, precisely what is required are many water and also small yet accurate performing exercises techniques about those troublesome areas.<br />  <br />  What makes this system work is a great F4X training program, which consists of a set of 4 cardiovascular exercises in which take merely one-fourth the time compared to traditional workout routines.<br />  <br />  Only 1 hour 30 minutes each week is perhaps all that is required to acquire a fabulously well toned body. Any three-phased plan splits this system directly into levels.<br />  <br />  The original phase concentrates on weight loss, which is then body surrounding and toning by modifying lifting strategies and nutritional alterations.<br />  <br />  The subsequent and ultimate phase targets building these power muscular tissues where these people matter nearly all. <br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>If you wish to learn more about this product click here <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg1xaWl-dcU">Old School New Body</a>.</div><br />  </div><br />

Old School New Body Review - Could It Be Worth The Time?

By William Stone For anyone who think that those thorough workouts while exercising and tough diet programs may lead these to a fabulous...

These Are Some Great Tips To Help You Get Fit

12:36 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Matt Johnson</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>It is a good thing to become more fit. Getting fit is a tough job, especially if you're coming out of a sedentary lifestyle, but the right information can make it a lot easier. The ideas and tips in the article below will set you on the road towards achieving your fitness goals. You'll look and feel better (and be much healthier!) if you make use of them.<br />  <br />  A great way to get the ball rolling is to find a personal trainer. A good trainer will work with you to determine your goals and problem areas and will recommend a workout program for you. Going to the gym can be tough at first so get a trainer to help you learn the ropes. You will be able to get a good start in a plan that will work for you.<br />  <br />  Keep track of your calorie consumption. Being aware of the number of calories you consume each day is important, as it is the main factor in whether or not you will lose weight. Aim to eat enough calories to cover your basal metabolic rate while counteracting extra calories with exercise.<br />  <br />  Counting calories is helpful when trying to lose weight. You need to keep track of your calories because your calorie balance determines how your weight changes from day to day. The combination of burning calories while exercising and closely watching your calorie intake will produce quick, major results.<br />  <br />  To build the strength in your legs with an easy exercise, try doing wall sits. When doing wall sits, make sure you have an empty wall, with nothing too close to your body. Stand approximately a foot and a half away from the wall. Start leaning back and bending your knees until your back completely fits on the wall. Continue to bend your knees until your thighs are parallel to the ground and you are in a sitting position. Maintain this position until you can't take it any more.<br />  <br />  Treadmills and other forms of indoor exercise equipment are great, but they don't compare to exercising in the great outdoors. Treadmills may be easier to use, but it is beneficial to run on actual pavement.<br />  <br />  Maintain a log of the exercise you complete each day. You should write down the food you eat, drinks you consume, and what exercises you do. You should also write down what it was like that day. Doing this will help you notice patterns in your workout activity. If you could not exercise on certain days, record the reason.<br />  <br />  Document every step. Keep notes on everything, including all exercise activities, food and beverages consumed, etc. You should also write down what it was like that day. You will see what you need to improve on. If you find that you're unable to exercise during varying periods, look to see if there are any similarities between them.<br />  <br />  Put exercise on your schedule if you frequently are skipping it or making up reasons to put it off. You should try working out a few days a week. It is important that you follow your schedule. When you miss one of your fitness "appointments", be sure to reschedule it. Treat this new appointment just as seriously.<br />  <br />  In conclusion, fitness isn't going to be fun all the time, and it's probably not going to be easy. If you have the right attitude and workouts, though, it doesn't have to be torture. You do not need to hurry to reach the finish line, and you do not need to do it all alone. All you have to do is find the help and decide for yourself that you want to be fit.<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>You can get <a href="http://www.walmarttreadmill.org/">bowflex treadclimber reviews</a> by visiting <a href="http://www.walmarttreadmill.org/contact/">this site</a></div><br />  </div><br />

These Are Some Great Tips To Help You Get Fit

By Matt Johnson It is a good thing to become more fit. Getting fit is a tough job, especially if you're coming out of a sedentary li...