text:
Many minorities avoid seeking credit due to generations of discrimination. Why that keeps them back
Published Sun, Sep 1 20199:30 AM EDT Updated Fri, Sep 6 20192:46 PM EDT
Lori Teresa Yearwood
Decades of discrimination by the federal government and America's financial institutions has induced an almost trauma-like response in many people of color, particularly African Americans, making them less likely to seek credit.
This defensive behavior often distances people of color from the very credit-granting institutions they need to thrive.
The ramifications can prove devastating, as good credit impacts everything from mortgage rates to hiring decisions by employers.
Image Source | DigitalVision | Getty Images
For many minorities in America, it's an all too familiar scene.
An applicant who is a person of color and and applies for credit is either denied or gets much worse terms than a white borrower.
In fact, an investigation by the National Fair Housing Alliance, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, found that 60% of the time, applicants who were people of color — and way more financially qualified than their white counterparts —nevertheless were offered higher-priced car loans, costing them an extra $2,662 each over the course of the loan.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) joined forces in May to introduce the Loan Shark Prevention Act to "combat the predatory lending practices of America's big banks and protect consumers already burdened with exorbitant credit-card interest rates."
The legislation would cap interest rates at 15%, likely benefiting many consumers of color.
More from Personal Finance:
These nine colleges are tuition-free
Millennials aren't thinking about this risk to their finances
3 retirement essentials to keep more cash in your pocket
Whether these actions can repair the financial damage that minorities have long endured in America remains to be seen.
Decades of discrimination by the federal government and America's financial institutions has induced an almost trauma-like response, causing many people of color, particularly African-Americans, to adopt self-protective behavior not unlike a post-traumatic stress reaction.
The paradox: This defensive behavior, where the cause of injury is avoided, often distances people of color from the very credit-granting institutions they need to thrive.
The ramifications of that can prove devastating, as good credit impacts everything from mortgage rates to hiring decisions by employers.
Scarred at an early age
Consider the plight of Sherry Long, 68, who witnessed racism firsthand when she was just 10, an experience that continues to impact her financial well-being.
On a hot summer day in 1959, Long and her mother walked the 2.5 miles from their log cabin to the Rawlins, Wyoming, municipal building twice in one day, the second time to ask why the city had turned off their water.
On their first visit, they had paid their water bill in cash.
"I just gave you $300," Long's mother, an African-American, told the city worker, a white woman.
"You didn't give me any money," Long said the clerk replied.
Sherry Long avoided seeking credit due to racial childhood trauma.
Long's mother, a nurse's aide and house cleaner who lived paycheck to paycheck, pleaded with her employers for emergency loans and then worked overtime to pay off the debts.
On that day, Long made a vow to herself: She would avoid the white, mainstream institutions that reminded her of the one that stole from her mother.
A soft-spoken woman, Long chokes back tears as she recounts how she hoped that by this time in her life, after earning her bachelor's degree in psychology and working for nearly 30 years in the non-profit sector, she would own a house and have good credit.
Instead, after paying annual interest rates of up to 700% on emergency payday loans to cover her rent and basic living costs, she fell behind and got evicted from her two-bedroom apartment in an upscale Salt Lake City neighborhood.
After couch-surfing with friends for more than a year, she now rents a one-bedroom apartment above a busy restaurant, across the street from a massage parlor in a high-crime area.
Long's credit score remains far lower than the average FICO score of 695.
How a FICO credit score affects your life
Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow.
She says she never considered seeking help from a white-owned institution. "They just didn't seem like they were meant for people like us," Long said.
Defensive crouch
Jacqueline Scott, an associate professor of philosophy who specializes in race theory at Chicago's Loyola University, understands that traumatized people go into a "kind of defensive crouch."
In fact, this PTSD-like response is so prevalent that Scott has coined a term to help her students understand it: "meta oppression."
"It's the depression that comes from having already dealt with oppression for an extended period of time," Scott explained.
Ricki Lowitz, chief executive officer at Working Credit, a Chicago-based nonprofit that helps clients in seven states navigate the credit system, believes that the way to assist disenfranchised consumers is to first help them overcome "their deep seated fear of credit."
Nearly 80% of Working Credit's clients are people of color.
We meet people who have been beaten down by the system.
Ricki Lowitz
chief executive officer at Working Credit
There is longstanding debate over whether the algorithms that drive the credit scoring system are racially biased.
Joanne Gaskin, vice president of scores and analytics at credit-scoring company FICO, says the firm doesn't use age, address, employment, income, gender or race in generating their scores.
"The fact that race is not factored into the credit score is perhaps the greatest opportunity we have to help people of color level the playing field," Lowitz said.
When her clients learn how the credit system works, many are angry that they did not have the information earlier, she says.
"We meet people who have been beaten down by the system," Lowitz said. "In some cases, we are contradicting their parents and grandparents who have told them to stay away."
The median credit score for participants in Working Credit's 18-month program increased by 45 points for Hispanic participants and by 44 points for African Americans.
Cleaning up his credit history
Stanley Fenelon, of Boston, is one graduate of the program.
In 2016, the 26-year-old African-American had spent about a year sleeping in his car while working at a paid internship.
Stanley Fenelon is a business analyst at Harvard University.
Rose Lincoln | Harvard University
After overcoming that struggle and finding a job, Fenelon faced another challenge: cleaning up his credit history. His low scores disqualified him from affordable car loans and safe apartment rentals that he needed to stabilize his life.
"As with just about any African-American or minority I know, my parents didn't know about credit," he said. "I was taught to take great caution with it, everyone had so much fear."
Instead of seeking credit, Fenelon's family repeatedly urged him to be "independent."
Then you turn around and beat them at their own game
Stanley Fenelon
As a result, Fenelon eventually found himself with little in savings or access to credit, contributing to his plunge into homelessness.
Even when he managed to land a job as a business analyst at Harvard University, Fenelon said he was passed over numerous times for apartment rentals by landlords looking for "more qualified applicants."
Confounded, he enrolled in a Working Credit workshop, where he learned to negotiate with creditors, strategically pay off his debts and assuage his fear of banks.
His credit score rose from the low 400's to the high 600's and Fenelon moved into an apartment in a middle-class neighborhood.
His perspective about credit has changed dramatically.
"Okay, you accept that they made the rules," he said. "And you say, 'Alright, whatever, fine.' But then you turn around and beat them at their own game."
Lori Teresa Yearwood is a freelance journalist who specializes in collapse and the recovery from collapse. A Contributing Editor at the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle and The American Prospect, among other publications.
Personal saving


text:
Thursday , 23-01-2020
Lebanese Ministry of Information
Lebanese Constitution
Political System and Authorities
Lebanese Economy
Agriculture and Water
Culture, Technology and Media
Lists of Publications
History of Lebanese Press
Studies and Publications
Lebanese Radio Station
National News Agency
Lebanon Television Station
National Media Council
Media Laws
licensing Institution
Newspapers and publishing
First CategoryTelevision
Second Category Television
First Category Radio
Second Category Radio
Bylaws of Editors Syndicate
Bylaws of Press Syndicate
Lebanese Studies Journal
Cabinet deadlock persists, fears mount of drift to chaos
Taliban offer ceasefire in bid to restart talks with US
Prince Harry: We had 'no other option' than to stand down as royals
Cervical cancer could be eliminated in England, experts say
Guatemala's new president cuts ties with Venezuela, as promised
'The moment of crisis has come': Sir David Attenborough issues urgent warning on climate change
New government lineup close after hold-up
Trump impeachment: House sends articles to Senate, setting stage for trial
Hidden planet might be orbiting the nearest star to our sun, scientists say
Russian PM resigns in shock move as Putin announces dramatic constitutional shakeup
Lebanon regains vote at United Nations after making payment
Queen agrees to back Harry and Meghan stepping away from royal duties after 'constructive' crisis talks
Scientists use stem cells from frogs to build first living robots
Australia bushfires are harbinger of planet's future, say scientists
Libyan opponents may sign ceasefire deal in Moscow
Home / Issues and Investigations / Climate change: Greenland ice melt 'is accelerating'
Climate change: Greenland ice melt 'is accelerating'
December 11, 2019	Issues and Investigations, Nature Leave a comment
Greenland is losing ice seven times faster than it was in the 1990s.
The assessment comes from an international team of polar scientists who've reviewed all the satellite observations over a 26-year period.
They say Greenland's contribution to sea-level rise is currently tracking what had been regarded as a pessimistic projection of the future.
It means an additional 7cm of ocean rise could now be expected by the end of the century from Greenland alone.
This threatens to put many millions more people in low-lying coastal regions at risk of flooding.
It's estimated roughly a billion live today less than 10m above current high-tide lines, including 250 million below 1m.
"Storms, if they happen against a baseline of higher seas – they will break flood defences," said Prof Andy Shepherd, of Leeds University.
"The simple formula is that around the planet, six million people are brought into a flooding situation for every centimetre of sea-level rise. So, when you hear about a centimetre rise, it does have impacts," he told BBC News.
The British scientist is the co-lead investigator for Imbie – the Ice Sheet Mass Balance Inter-comparison Exercise.
It's a consortium of 89 polar experts drawn from 50 international organisations.
The group has reanalysed the data from 11 satellite missions flown from 1992 to 2018. These spacecraft have taken repeat measurements of the ice sheet's changing thickness, flow and gravity. The Imbie team has combined their observations with the latest weather and climate models.
What emerges is the most comprehensive picture yet of how Greenland is reacting to the Arctic's rapid warming. This is a part of the globe that has seen a 0.75C temperature rise in just the past decade.
The Imbie assessment shows the island to have lost 3.8 trillion tonnes of ice to the ocean since the start of the study period. This mass is the equivalent of 10.6mm of sea-level rise. What is more, the team finds an acceleration in the data.
Whereas in the early 90s, the rate of loss was equivalent to about 1mm per decade, it is now running at roughly 7mm per decade.
Imbie team-member Dr Ruth Mottram is affiliated to the Danish Meteorological Institute.
She said: "Greenland is losing ice in two main ways – one is by surface melting and that water runs off into the ocean; and the other is by the calving of icebergs and then melting where the ice is in contact with the ocean. The long-term contribution from these two processes is roughly half and half."
In an average year now, Greenland sheds about 250 billion tonnes of ice. This year, however, has been exceptional for its warmth. In the coastal town of Ilulissat, not far from where the mighty Jakobshavn Glacier enters the ocean, temperatures reached into the high 20s Celsius. And even in the ice sheet interior, at its highest point, temperatures got to about zero.
"The ice loss this year was more like 370 billion tonnes," said Dr Mottram.
Back in 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – the authoritative body that reconciles all climate science – gave a mid-range projection for global sea level rise of about 60cm by 2100. A mixture of ice melt and expansion of warming water.
But when Imbie published its companion review of Antarctica in 2018, it found the White Continent's contribution by 2100 was likely being underestimated by 10cm. Now, for Greenland, Imbie is saying the shortfall is 7cm. The IPCC will have to incorporate these updates when it releases its next major assessment report (AR6) of Earth's climate in a couple of years' time.
Prof René Forsberg, from the Technical University of Denmark, said the Imbie exercise underlined the importance of flying satellites, especially those that can observe the top of Greenland, higher than 83 degrees North. Only two of the present fleet can, and one of those spacecraft is operating beyond its design life.
"Most of the changes we've seen in Greenland have been in the west, south and east; and now it has slowly moved up to the north. So, yes, the next satellite in the European Union's Copernicus programme needs to go to higher latitudes, and this is being discussed by the EU and the European Space Agency," Prof Forsberg told BBC News.
The new satellite system – for the moment known as Cristal, but to be called a Sentinel if it flies – would be a radar altimeter to measure the changing shape of Greenland.
Imbie's Greenland analysis is published in the journal Nature. Its release has been timed to coincide with the annual COP climate convention taking place this year in Madrid, and with the American Geophysical Union meeting here in San Francisco, where leading Earth scientists have gathered.
edenglish
Issues and Investigations
Figures from Lebanon
Press Roll
Media Institutions

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home Community News What keeps our Starlighting Santa busy the rest of the year? Helping...
What keeps our Starlighting Santa busy the rest of the year? Helping seniors
For the other 300ish days of the calendar year leading up to Christmas, Santa's plain clothes name is Chuck Wilson. He moved to Castle Rock in 1980's with his wife Patricia when the population of the Town stood at a mere 2,000 people. Now at 85 (years-young), he spends a small part of the year as the Town's 'Starlight Santa,' but most days can be found driving buses for Castle Country Assisted Living, fundraising for the Douglas County Senior Foundation and picking up 'final-day' donuts at Safeway to deliver to places like the Cantril House.
For three decades, Wilson says he has seen the immense growth in Castle Rock firsthand. Through his community involvement, he has also observed an increase in the needs of the booming aging adult population. "By 2015, one in four adults will fall into the senior population." And statistics from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs agree. They predict that the population of adults 65 and older will eventually double in Douglas County by the year 2020.
Being an active adult himself, it has been put on his heart to use his knowledge and resources to help his aging neighbors any way he can. Wilson's biggest contributions are made sitting on the board for DCSF, where he works with a team to raise and allocate funds to programs that serve seniors. "After going through an application process, we review them and then give grant money to various senior service organizations in Douglas County," said Wilson. "Sometimes they get it and sometimes they don't."
This year alone Wilson and the DCSF were able to raise around $23,000 in funds to benefit senior adult services. Given to places like Sky Cliff Center and Castle Rock Neighborhood Network; monies were collected through private donations, fundraising efforts and the Town's Recycling Center, located at Prairie Hawk Drive. But while he continues to work on improvements for DC seniors, he would like to see better communication within the group and more involvement from the community. "Like many non-profits, we have a need for more volunteers," notes Wilson. For success truly comes from the grass
Castle Country Assisted Living
Castle Rock Neighborhood Network
Chuck Wilson
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Douglas County Senior Foundation
Sky Cliff Center
Previous articleDouglas County Sheriff's Deputy & State Trooper Injured in I-25 Crash
Next articleCoffee Delivery by Drones Lands in Castle Rock


text:
International Journal of Nephrology
International Journal of Nephrology / 2013 / Article
AbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionConclusionsReferencesCopyright
Clinical Study | Open Access
Neville R. Dossabhoy, Rebecca Gascoyne, Steven Turley, "Intravenous Iron Repletion Does Not Significantly Decrease Platelet Counts in CKD Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia", International Journal of Nephrology, vol. 2013, Article ID 878041, 4 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/878041
Intravenous Iron Repletion Does Not Significantly Decrease Platelet Counts in CKD Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia
Neville R. Dossabhoy ,1,2 Rebecca Gascoyne,2 and Steven Turley1,2
1Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130-3932, USA
2Department of Medicine, Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Shreveport, LA 71101, USA
Academic Editor: Alessandro Amore
Received22 Oct 2012
Accepted29 Dec 2012
Published12 Feb 2013
Purpose. We sought to investigate the effect of IV iron repletion on platelet (PLT) counts in CKD patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Methods. We conducted a retrospective chart review, including all patients with CKD and IDA who were treated with iron dextran total dose infusion (TDI) between 2002 and 2007. Patient demographics were noted, and laboratory values for creatinine, hemoglobin (Hgb), iron stores and PLT were recorded pre- and post-dose. Results. 153 patients received a total of 251 doses of TDI (mean ± SD = 971 ± 175 mg); age years and Creatinine mg/dL. All CKD stages were represented (stage 4 commonest). Hgb and Fe stores improved post-TDI ( ). There was a very mild decrease in PLT (pre-TDI 255 versus post-TDI 244, ). The mild reduction in PLT after TDI remained non-significant ( ) when data was stratified by molecular weight (MW) of iron dextran used (low versus high), as well as by dose administered (<1000 versus ≥1000 mg). Linear regression analysis between pre-dose PLT and Tsat and Fe showed R2 of 0.01 and 0.04, respectively. Conclusion. Correction of iron deficiency did not significantly lower PLT in CKD patients, regardless of MW or dose used. Correlation of PLT to severity of iron deficiency was very weak.
Intravenous (IV) iron has become a cornerstone of therapy for anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)—both before hemodialysis and for those on hemodialysis. One of the earliest intravenous (IV) compounds used to treat iron deficiency anemia was iron dextran; however, its popularity as a first-line agent had waned considerably secondary to concerns regarding its safety and the introduction of newer compounds on the market.
Iron deficiency often leads to reactive thrombocytosis [1–5], with platelet counts sometimes as high as 500,000 to 700,000 cells/mm3. The etiology of the thrombocytosis in iron deficiency remains uncertain. Platelet (PLT) counts have been reported to vary directly with the severity of iron deficiency in chronic hemodialysis patients. This has led some to hypothesize that iron deficiency may produce a relative thrombocytosis which may contribute to the thrombotic events noted in clinical trials of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA's) in CKD patients.
Even more interestingly, PLTs were reduced after IV iron administration in hemodialysis patients in the recent DRIVE study [6–8]. However, the PLT count remained unchanged in patients in the treatment arm not given IV Iron. In a recent NKF abstract, Besarab et al. reported that correction of iron deficiency lowers PLT in nondialysis CKD patients [9].
In this study, we sought to confirm the reduction in PLT by IV iron repletion (using iron dextran total dose infusion) in CKD patients with iron deficiency anemia.
2. Patients and Methods
The study was conducted at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. Approval was obtained from our institutional review board and research and development committees. We conducted a retrospective chart review spanning a 5 year-period (2002–2007), including all patients with chronic kidney disease and iron-deficiency anemia who were treated with iron dextran total dose infusion (TDI). It should be noted that, at our medical center, iron dextran was one of the first-line IV iron agents on the formulary in the years under study. Iron dextran TDI diluted in normal saline was administered intravenously (IV) over 4–6 hours (if there was no reaction to an initial test dose of 25 mg). Patient demographics and comorbid conditions were noted, and laboratory values for creatinine, platelet count (PLT), hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), serum iron (Fe), % transferrin saturation (Tsat), and ferritin (Ftn) were recorded before dose and after dose. The after dose values were measured 10–120 days post-infusion, when the patient came back to the clinic or hospital for follow-up care.
Data were analyzed using Student's -test to compare mean values. Linear regression analysis was performed to elucidate possible relationships between pre-dose PLT and Tsat and pre-dose PLT and serum Fe. Microsoft Excel version 2007 was used to perform the above statistical testing (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, USA).
153 patients received a total of 251 doses of TDI . The patients' age was years and creatinine at enrollment was mg/dL. All stages of CKD were represented, though stage 4 was the commonest-see Table 1. Hemoglobin and Fe stores improved post-TDI ( ); see Table 2.
CKD Stage Number of doses Percent
CKD 1 2 1%
CKD 3 77 31%
CKD 6 (on dialysis) 44 18%
Distribution of IV iron dextran doses by CKD Stage.
PLT Hgb Hct Fe Tsat Ftn
Pre-TDI
Post-TDI
-value 0.30 ≪0.001 ≪0.001 ≪0.001 ≪0.001 ≪0.001
Effect of iron dextran TDI on PLT, Hgb and iron stores.
There was a very mild decrease in PLT (pre-TDI versus post-TDI , ) for the group as a whole. The different stages of CKD were analyzed separately to test if there was a significant difference between preinfusion and postinfusion PLT counts. We did not find a statistically significant difference in any CKD stage.
The mild reduction in PLT after TDI remained nonsignificant ( ) when data was stratified by molecular weight (MW) of iron dextran used (low versus high), as well as by dose administered (<1000 versus ≥1000 mg). Patients who were administered the low MW dextran ( ) had a mean pre-TDI PLT of and mean post-TDI count of , with . For patients receiving the high MW iron dextran ( ), the mean pre-TDI PLT was and the mean post-TDI , with a value of 0.87.
Patients were further categorized by the dose of iron dextran administered (<1000 versus ≥1000 mg). For doses <1000 mg ( ), the pre-TDI PLT count was and the post-TDI value ( ). For doses ≥1000 mg ( ), the pre-TDI PLT count was and the post-TDI count was , with a -value of 0.22.
Linear regression analysis was performed, which showed of 0.01 between pre-dose PLT and Tsat, whilst that between pre-dose PLT and serum Fe revealed of 0.04 (Figures 1 and 2). The slope was negative, namely, that the lower the iron stores, the higher the PLT count, but the correlation was very weak.
Linear regression analysis of pre-dose PLT versus Tsat ( = 0.01).
Linear regression analysis of pre-dose PLT versus serum Fe ( = 0.04).
We further looked at the percentage of patients who had PLT counts of 350 or higher, since these are the patients who would be expected to have a higher likelihood of thrombotic events. 11.6% of the patients had a baseline (pre-TDI) PLT of 350 or higher, whereas 10.6% satisfied this criterion post-TDI ( -value < 0.0001 by chi-square test as well as by Fischer's exact test).
We then divided patients into two groups, based on whether their preinfusion PLT count was 350 or higher, or less than 350. The number of such patients with PLT ≥350 was small, 25 patients. There was no statistically significant difference between preinfusion and postinfusion PLT counts in this group. We also did a similar analysis in patients whose PLT count was less than 350; here too, no statistically significant difference between preinfusion and postinfusion PLT counts was found.
Iron deficiency may lead to reactive thrombocytosis [1]. Unexplained thrombocytosis has been described, sometimes with platelet counts in the range of 500,000 to 700,000 cells/mm3. The etiology of the thrombocytosis in iron deficiency remains a mystery. Megakaryocytes and normoblasts are derived from a common committed progenitor cell, the CFU-GEMM (colony-forming unit, granulocytic, erythroid, myelomonocytic). Thrombopoietin, the molecule that stimulates the growth of megakaryocytes and the production of platelets, is structurally similar to erythropoietin, the molecule that promotes red cell development. Some investigators have speculated that the elevated levels of erythropoietin in patients with iron deficiency anemia might modestly increase platelet production by cross-reacting with the thrombopoietin receptor. On the other hand, investigations with recombinant human erythropoietin and thrombopoietin indicate that cross-reactivity does not occur amongst these recombinant products (analogues).
The thrombocytosis in iron deficiency is usually mild, although severe iron deficiency has been documented as causing marked thrombocytosis (>1 million platelets/mm3) complicated by central retinal vein occlusion [2]. Two cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with iron deficiency and a normal platelet count have also been reported [3]. Among six children with iron deficiency and ischemic stroke or venous thrombosis, four had concomitant thrombocytosis [4]. According to a recent review by Stolz et al., severe anemia, thrombocytosis, and hypercholesterolemia are independent risk factors for cerebral venous thrombosis [5].
Platelet counts (PLTs) have been reported to vary directly with the severity of iron deficiency in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Even more interestingly, PLTs were reduced after IV iron administration in the recent DRIVE study [6–8]. In a recent NKF abstract, Besarab et al. had reported that correction of iron deficiency lowers PLTs [9]. This has led some to hypothesize that iron deficiency may produce a relative thrombocytosis that may contribute to thrombotic events noted in clinical trials of ESA's in CKD patients. According to this view, iron deficiency is a risk factor for thrombocytosis that should, wherever possible, be avoided. Optimal coadministration of iron may possibly reduce the risk for ESA-driven cardiovascular events.
In our study, correlation of pre-dose PLT to indices of iron stores was very weak ( = 0.01 to 0.04); and it was negative in direction (see Figures 1 and 2). Hence, the iron deficiency may produce a relative thrombocytosis in theory, but the clinical effect seems to be very insignificant. More importantly, the correction of iron deficiency did not significantly lower PLT count in our iron-deficient CKD patients regardless of MW or dose of IV iron dextran used, the stage of CKD, and the preinfusion PLT count (whether >350 or not).
We looked at the percentage of patients who had PLT of 350 or higher, since the higher PLT count could be expected to result in a higher likelihood of thrombotic events. 11.6% of the patients had a baseline (pre-TDI) PLT 350 or higher, whereas 10.6% satisfied this criterion post-TDI ( -value < 0.0001). Although this percentage was "statistically significant," the clinical significance of this is uncertain at present, given the lack of statistical significance for the change in the total PLT count and the fact that this retrospective study was not designed to follow long-term clinical cardiovascular outcomes (stroke, MI, etc.). When we divided patients into two groups, based on whether their preinfusion PLT count was ≥ 350 or less than 350, there was no statistically significant difference between preinfusion and postinfusion PLT counts in either group.
In general, this is a negative study, but a reasonably important negative one. In contradistinction to some previous evidence and emerging popular theories, it points out the lack of significant influence on platelets counts of an effective iron supplementation (IV route). Indeed, a long line of clinical observations in the past has noted that states of anemia associated with increased endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) levels (e.g., chronic inflammation and iron deficiency) also have chronic elevation of platelets counts, unless there is a coincidental DNA synthesis impairment (megaloblastic anemia). Therefore, in a very simple sense and under select circumstances, one can view the platelet count as an "in vivo bioassay," a surrogate of endogenous EPO levels. Anemia of CKD characterized by at least a relative deficiency of EPO was, therefore, not associated as a routine with platelet count elevations. The lack of meaningful association in this study between PLT and Tsat/serum Fe would likely imply relatively low endogenous EPO levels. In contradistinction to the above mechanism, exogenous administrations of EPO (analogues) were never shown to increase platelet counts; hence, these are very different from circumstances when endogenous EPO is stimulated. A potential confounder of this study, if any, would be an exogenous administration of EPO analogues, which could suppress endogenous secretion of EPO and may mask any platelet changes with correction of iron deficiency. A relative weakness of this study is that endogenous EPO levels were not measured; however, this is to be understood based on the retrospective nature of the study and the lack of funding. Another weakness is that the postdose values were measured 10–120 days after infusion, when the patient came back to the clinic or hospital for follow-up care. The range is somewhat wider than ideal but reflects the constraints of a retrospective study done without the inherent stringent design of a prospective trial.
The association of the recently reported PLT reduction to postulated improvement in thrombotic outcomes needs additional long-term research. Future clinical trials can be designed to answer some of the questions raised by this hypothesis generating study. Correction of iron deficiency did improve Fe stores and erythropoiesis, resulting in higher hemoglobin in the patients (Table 2). It should be noted that, at our medical center, iron dextran was one of the first-line IV iron agents on the formulary in the years under study. It is currently not a first-line agent in general practice, because of concerns regarding its safety and the introduction of newer compounds on the market. In the future, this study may be extended to study other newer and more frequently used compounds.
Our study confirms that IV iron dextran, given as total dose infusion, does improve Fe stores and erythropoiesis, resulting in higher hemoglobin levels.
The correlation of pre-dose platelet counts to indices of iron stores was very weak ( = 0.01 to 0.04). Correction of iron deficiency did not significantly lower platelet counts in CKD patients, regardless of the molecular weight of iron dextran used or the dose administered, the stage of CKD, and the preinfusion PLT count (whether >350 or not). We also looked at the percentage of patients who had PLT 350 or higher, since these are the patients in whom one would expect to have a higher likelihood of thrombotic events. 11.6% of the patients had a baseline (pre-TDI) PLT 350 or higher, whereas 10.6% satisfied this criterion post-TDI. When we divided patients into two groups, based on whether their preinfusion PLT count was ≥ 350 or less than 350, there was no statistically significant difference between pre-infusion and postinfusion PLT counts in either group.
In general, this is a reasonably important negative study. It stands in contrast to some previous evidence and current popular theories, and it points out the lack of significant influence on platelets counts of an effective iron supplementation (IV route).
In our opinion, the association of the recently reported reduction in platelet count by IV iron repletion to a postulated improvement in thrombotic outcomes needs further and intensive long-term study. In fact, there may well be other mechanisms that better explain the increased thrombotic events noted in clinical trials of ESA' s in CKD patients in the last few years.
None of the authors has any financial conflict to disclose.
K. Dan, "Thrombocytosis in iron deficiency anemia," Journal of Internal Medicine, vol. 44, pp. 1025–1026, 2005. View at: Google Scholar
T. Nagai, N. Komatsu, Y. Sakata, Y. Miura, and K. Ozawa, "Iron deficiency anemia with marked thrombocytosis complicated by central retinal vein occlusion," Internal Medicine, vol. 44, no. 10, pp. 1090–1092, 2005. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
Y. Kinoshita, S. Taniura, H. Shishido, T. Nojima, H. Kamitani, and T. Watanebe, "Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with iron deficiency: two case reports," Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica, vol. 46, no. 12, pp. 589–593, 2006. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
D. S. Hartfield, N. J. Lowry, D. L. Keene, and J. Y. Yager, "Iron deficiency: a cause of stroke in infants and children," Pediatric Neurology, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 50–53, 1997. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
E. Stolz, J. M. Valdueza, M. Grebe et al., "Anemia as a risk factor for cerebral venous thrombosis? An old hypothesis revisited: results of a prospective study," Journal of Neurology, vol. 254, no. 6, pp. 729–734, 2007. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
D. W. Coyne, T. Kapoian, W. Suki et al., "Ferric gluconate is highly efficacious in anemic hemodialysis patients with high serum ferritin and low transferrin saturation: results of the Dialysis Patients' Response to IV Iron with Elevated Ferritin (DRIVE) study," Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 975–984, 2007. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
T. Kapoian, O. 'Mara NB, A. K. Singh et al., "Ferric gluconate reduces epoetin requirements in hemodialysis patients with elevated ferritin," Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, vol. 19, pp. 372–379, 2008. View at: Google Scholar
A. K. Singh, D. W. Coyne, W. Shapiro, and A. R. Rizkala, "Predictors of the response to treatment in anemic hemodialysis patients with high serum ferritin and low transferrin saturation," Kidney International, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 1163–1171, 2007. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
A. Besarab, S. Rayamajhi, H. Al-Sharif et al., "Iron repletion decreases platelet counts in nondialysis CKD patients," American Journal of Kidney Diseases, vol. 55, no. 4, article B44, 2010. View at: Google Scholar
Copyright © 2013 Neville R. Dossabhoy et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


text:
List of Hollywood Comedy movies 2018
Upcoming Comedy movies 2019-2020
Movies these days are all about pleasing the audience, and this genre is by far the most entertaining one. Judging by our mighty list, the TOP 10 latest Hollywood Comedy movies 2018 are going to be quite alright.
We've got animated films, thrilling action-packed blockbusters, and everything else you might think of. Fresh, exciting, and full of hilarious jokes, these titles will be the talk of the town next year. Alright, now let's take a look at every single movie.
First, he was just a regular worker dreaming of making a name for himself. Next, he saved the day and became the hero he always wanted to be. And now he's going through a rough patch: the Internet is in danger, and, even though he knows nothing about it, Ralph will have to do whatever it takes to keep it alive. With the help of a trusted old friend, this kind-hearted yet clumsy big guy is about to hop on the most dangerous trip of his life. Villains, allies, and all sorts of unbelievable adventures are in stores for him.
Game Over, Man!
The story follows three buddies who have been trying to find a sponsor for their project for a very long time. They're making a video-game, one of the best ones in history (in their opinion, of course), and they finally found just the right philanthropist to fund them. Unfortunately, before the man gets a chance to transfer the much-needed bucks, something happens.
A bunch of ugly terrorists kidnaps him in the light of day. So, what are the friends supposed to do? Forget about their dream and move on with their lives, let the authorities handle it? Or maybe it's time for them to step up and do something? Of the TOP 10 new holly Comedy movies, this one's a keeper.
TOP 18 new good Comedy movies 2020 release
List of TOP 12 good Zombie films 2019
List of TOP 15 good Sad films
Yes, it's been more than a decade since we saw these two together on the big screen. Will the third chapter hit the theaters anytime soon? Definitely! There's even a set date – November 9th, 2018, but it's not officially confirmed yet, which means we'll have to stick with it for now. The previous two installments were incredibly successful.
And, given the fact that they both featured two African-American men as the lead actors, it's no surprise they're iconic. So, all that's left for the folks behind this project to do is capture the very essence of the Bad Boys franchise and introduce some cool new features for the younger generations. Sounds easy enough, right?
These couples have a mutual hobby: they get together every once in a while for an intriguing game night. But this time around, something horrifying happens: a person dies, turning the game into something entirely different. Now they'll have to get together and try to figure out who's the murderer and what are his/her motives.
A comedy slash mystery, Game Night is smart, funny, and all kinds of awesome. The cast is incredible, and the story is quite gripping and thrilling. There's no telling whether these folks will figure out this mystery or not (or if they'll all be alive before the sun comes up), but it will be a fun night. Put this banger on the list of Hollywood Comedy movies 2018 and let's move on.
What are you supposed to do when the zombies invade your little town? Fight the scary monsters and sing, of course! Anna, together with her best friends, must face this apocalypse and make her way through the hordes and reach the school, the one and only safe place in the vicinity. Nobody knows what caused this epidemic and whether their loved ones are still alive are not. But there's no time for thinking: the monsters are coming, and one can't ever reason with them. If you're into this kind of things, Anna and the Apocalypse will become your new favorite.
Raising Buchanan
A lady on the brink of desperation does the unspeakable: she single-handedly steals the dead body of an American president – Mr. Buchanan. She's confident that his corpse will bring her a fortune. Unfortunately, as it soon turns out, nobody really wants to take the dead ex-POTUS out of her hands. What is she supposed to do now? The woman was sure that after she sold Buchanan, everything would go back to normal and she would get a chance to start over. Of the TOP 10 best Hollywood Comedy movies of 2018 to watch, this one's a must-see.
Paddington 2
The famous bear is back, and he's about to start yet another big-time mess. The hood loves him and considers the brute to be a friend. He's finally living with a family just like he dreamed, but there's still a lot of work to do. His grandma is about to turn 100-years-old, and Paddy wants her to have the best gift in the entire world. He gets the money, buys it, but a bunch of criminals steals it. So, the angry bear gets his clique together and rushes after the vagabonds. He'll have to bring it back in time for the celebration.
Same fellas, a different adventure – that's the best way to describe RA3. The two cops are still not getting along with each other well, but at least now they know that the other guy is trustworthy. Besides, now that Ben is about to make his relationship with James's sister official, they'll be bound for life.
There's a new heat on the streets: a whole pile of manufactured drugs that are ready to infest the American cities. It's up to these brave black men to defeat the villains and protect their country. As far as the TOP 10 latest released Hollywood Comedy films 2018 go, Ride Along 3 is going to be quite a successful release.
The Rundown 2
The Rock has been dominating the movie industry for years now, but he wasn't born famous. The actor had to overcome numerous obstacles before he became a worldwide superstar. The Rundown was his breakthrough film, and now, 15 years later, the man is finally ready to go back to it with the official sequel. The plot is unknown, but, in all honesty, in a film like this one, you don't really need a thought-through story. If the team delivers a nice combination of action, CGI, and bad jokes, we'll be happy.
The 100-Year-Old Man
Ferrell is one of the GOATs when it comes to comedy. In this hilarious blockbuster, he's portraying Allan, an old man who's been locked up in a nursing home for way too long. He's 100 years old and still has a fire deep inside. On the celebration day, the oldster escapes the "prison" and remembers his life journey while trying to hide from the cops. Fresh, witty, thought-provoking and totally hilarious, The 100-Year-Old Man is the best film on our list of best Hollywood Comedy movies in 2018.
List of Hollywood Adventure movies 2018
List of Hollywood Crime movies 2018
List of Hollywood Fighting movies 2018
TOP 10 modern Science Fiction movies
List of best Skiing movies
List of Hollywood Thriller movies 2018
List of Hollywood Scary movies 2018
List of best Conspiracy movies 2018
List of TOP 10 english Animation movies 2017
When does come out To the Bone movie 2017
When does come out Isle of Dogs movie 2018
List of best Hacker movies to watch
Minions: The Rise of Gru Movie (2020)
List of best Sequel movies 2018
Category: TOP, Upcoming Comedy movies 2019-2020
When does My Little Pony Movie 2021 trailer, release date
When does Jungle Cruise Movie 2021
TOP 10 best Hollywood Disaster movies of 2020 to watch
TOP 10 best Hollywood War movies of 2020 to watch
TOP 10 best Hollywood Inspirational movies of 2020 to watch


text:
Our experience and skillful engineering team achieve our client's business goal with technology & profound services, GIRIRAJ DIGITAL, carry a full-scale eco-systems from Ideas to product release and post-development.
E-Commerce Application
Dedicated Development Center
Collaborate with Giriraj Digital's IT Expert to build an outstanding application, with industry experience and range of technologies to achieve highest ROI.
Umbraco
PHP Laravel
Umbraco Agency
We listen, Understand, analyze then deliver a solutions which meet (or sometime Exceed) our client expectation. A true craftsmanship for any industry, weather a re-invent the process of your current business or establish emerging ideas to industry.
Ticket Booking Solution
Reward Loyalty Program
Help Desk Smart City CRM
Stock Tracker Web App
Multivendor ECommerce Portal
To discuss your business needs or for those looking career growth opportunities. Our holistic business life-cycle put people first.
Umbraco VS Wordpress which is the best CMS for your business
Nikhil Prajapati
Always do your analysis before investing in a CMS. Selecting a content management system (CMS) for your website can be a time-consuming procedure that requires you to go back and forth between the several options available.
Always keep in mind that the primary goal of a CMS is to make writing and changing the content as simple as possible. And, make sure to put the user's experience in mind before selecting CMS.
And, ask some of the questions from yourselves -
What is my purpose behind this?
What is my business's mission?
What are my business needs?
After answering the above questions, you can be able to select the best one as per your business needs.
And, in this post, we'll compare two of the most widely used content management systems, namely Umbraco & WordPress. And, it will help you select the best one as per your requirements.
Umbraco V/s WordPress - Which one to choose?
Umbraco:
Umbraco is targeted at enterprise use cases, so if you're building a platform for that environment, it might be a better option than WordPress.
Anyone may use Umbraco, according to the company, from designers and marketers who require a sophisticated website to content editors who want complete control over their content.
WordPress is a lot more user-friendly. WordPress gives you a lot of control and flexibility over your website, therefore it's somewhere in the middle when it comes to user experience.
It's simple to perform a range of day-to-day chores on your website, such as creating new pages, changing the look of things, and installing plugins with new functionality. You can also change more intricate sections of your website using premium WordPress themes.
2. Plugins
Umbraco features several useful plugins and extensions, however, a Umbraco website must be built by an expert Umbraco developer and they will integrate these plugins as per needs & its functionality.
The extra attention required while developing on Umbraco will far outweigh the convenience of installing a poor WordPress plugin.
The plugin ecosystem is one of the most significant features of Word press.
There are many high-quality, well-maintained WordPress plugins available, but it's all too easy to be duped and fall into the trap of installing every plugin available. It can have negative consequences for speed and, eventually, search rankings.
These plugins may appear to be the ideal quick fix, but they are actually a ticking time bomb that might bring your entire website down.
Umbraco is a highly scalable CMS platform that excels at managing vast numbers of pages. It's also incredibly developer-friendly, which gives you a lot of flexibility when creating third-party tool connections.
With a developer in charge of the entire website, developers can verify that all code is minified and there is no needless bloat. They can employ the most recent improvements in internet browsers, as well as industry best practices, to ensure that the website is constructed properly.
WordPress is another scalable platform with access to a plethora of resources. It was designed to expand, thus it's the simplest platform to link with and has the most brands/products already.
Wordpress's most serious flaw is its plugins, which have a significant impact on a website's performance. Some problems can also occur if two plugins don't go well together, which will lead to lots of back & forth to get things right.
Umbraco websites are more expensive by default, especially when dealing with modest sites, because of their customization and high-end plugins and functionality.
Due to Umbraco's developer-centric nature, the developer has to do almost everything from scratch, as compared to WordPress. WordPress has a plethora of open source add-ons to use and build on, most of which can be used by marketers or people with minimal technical knowledge.
We can develop WordPress CMS websites for free; all you need is a blog or a very basic template website. In most cases, you'll have to pay for a premium theme as well as hosting.
The advantage is that there is a large market of WordPress developers and agencies to pick from; there is a supplier to match any budget and level of necessity, resulting in lower costs.
Umbraco is one of the most secure content management systems on the market. This CMS is based on Microsoft.NET technology, which means it comes with built-in security.
Umbraco combines Code Access Security (CAS) and identity-based protection in tandem with CAS, making it exceptionally safe compared to most CMS platforms. On the other side, it pushes developers to be lazy because they know they're safe, which leads to a lack of safety in and of itself.
The difficulty with WordPress is that it is so plugin-driven, thus you must make sure that all of your plugins are updated and supported by the most recent version of WordPress. This puts a WordPress website at risk of being hacked.
It's critical to update your CMS on a regular basis so that your website may benefit from improved performance and security, but if you have to upgrade all the extensions all the time, it'll be time-consuming and expensive too.
When to choose Umbraco?
Umbraco is a feature-rich open source content management system that can handle everything from simple campaign or brochure websites to sophisticated apps.
Because it is built on Dot Net technology, it costs more to implement than WordPress. Because the Umbraco CMS developer community maintains the technology up to date, the CMS's growth has been continuous.
For the following cases, Umbraco is the best option:-
When using Windows/MSSQL hosting server.
Large sites require sophisticated features and functionality.
When it comes to websites and apps, where security is a top priority.
A huge team is in charge of managing content.
When to choose WordPress?
WordPress is a basic, easy-to-understand CMS that runs on PHP and MySQL, making it less expensive to set up. It offers thousands of choices for growth and modification as a free, open-source platform, whether that be through themes and plug-ins or bespoke code.
For the following cases, WordPress is the best option.
When using a Unix/MySQL hosting server.
A basic website with frequent/regular updates is required.
For web pages where safety isn't a top priority and most of the material is accessible to the public
The content management team is comprised of a limited number of people.
WordPress and Umbraco are two very distinct things. Both Umbraco and WordPress accomplish different things and are best suited for specific needs.
Yes, WordPress has a slew of plugins designed to simplify our life.' So, if you're a small business owner looking to create a blogging or simple website, WordPress is the way to go.
If you're a mid-sized company, though, it's a better idea to invest in a dependable, scalable platform like Umbraco, which is created for longevity and stability.
If you're still having trouble deciding on a CMS after reading this post, get in touch with Giriraj Digital and we'll be pleased to help.
Why choose Umbraco Gold Partner for Umbraco Development & Maintenance needs?
8 Benefits of Migrating from Umbraco 8 to Umbraco 9 - Check it out now!
Want to Migrate?
Hire Umbraco Certified Expert
Thank you for contacting us, One of our representatives will be in touch with you.
B-1020, Navratna Corporate Park, Iskcon Ambli Road, Ahmedabad, India- 380058
info@girirajdigital.com
200 Union Blvd. Suite 200, Lakewood, Colorado, 80228
Copyright @ 2023 GIRIRAJ DIGITAL


text:
A Roadblock in California
A prohibition bill that's making its way through the California legislature could face a much bigger battle in being passed than originally expected.
A bevy of groups opposed to the bill voiced an opposition last week, and a spokesperson for the bill's sponsor admitted that its supporters are facing an uphill battle..
"There is so much big-money interest in this," Dan Reeves, the chief of staff for the bill's sponsor, Rep. Dario Frommer, D-Los Angeles, was quoted as saying in the Desert Sun on Friday. "You have all this support and no opposition, yet the bill will fail.You have all these people working in the shadows."
Later in the day though Reeves told IGN that his comments were grossly taken out of context, and although he and Frommer are disappointed with the recent developments the bill has taken, it is nothing out of the ordinary.
"Any form of prohibition in this country, whether it be against alcohol or gambling, it generally doesn't work historically. I would rather see their money spent perhaps developing strategies to deal with regulation or cooperation with the interactive gaming industry."
-Tom Tucker
"The bill is running its normal course," Reeves said. "It will be heard in the policy committee in about a month."
Reeves said the bill had to be tabled with the committee since there had been a number of changes in the wording of it.
"We had the bill scheduled for a hearing, but we moved it over to the committee. It had nothing to do with these other issues," he said. "It had to do with the fact that we had some amendments to take care of the banks and credit card companies. We are still holding them accountable; we have limited their criminal and civil liability."
But the leader of the state's largest problem gambling authority says the bill has taken on a life of its own with a number of amendments and exemptions.
Tom Tucker, head of the California Council on Problem Gambling, said his group normally tries to ride the fence on political issues and agendas, but his stance on this issue has become well known.
"As a non-profit group we take no position against any legal or illegal gambling per say," he said. "We are kind of neutral on those things, but they did ask me about the bill and I don't think it is enforceable."
Tucker feels it is unreasonable to expect authorities to monitor and enforce both customers to online casinos and the operators themselves.
"You would have to hire lots of cyber-cops even to detect these various organizations that have contact with California citizens and I don't know if that could be done," he said. "There may be some technology out there now that could do that. I don't think there are enough cyber-cops to do that."
Tucker said the main goal of his group is to promote the addiction aspect of gambling and the trouble individuals can get in if they aren't careful gambling. He also pointed out that banning activities has never worked in the United Sates.
"Any form of prohibition in this country, whether it be against alcohol or gambling, it generally doesn't work historically," he said. "I would rather see their money spent perhaps developing strategies to deal with regulation or cooperation with the interactive gaming industry."
Rather than banning what he sees is a growing market that could be the future of gaming as the public knows it, Tucker would like to see the legislature allow groups like his to work hand-in-hand with the industry.
"From our perspective we want the downside of gambling to be looked at," he said. "It can lead to suicide and financial problems, not in a lot of the cases, but in some.
"If the interactive gaming folks, we say, 'we have a product that is no different from casinos with walls and we would be willing to set aside a small portion of our funds to help deal with that gambling addiction as any good corporate citizen would' . . ." he continued, "as far as I am concerned that would be all that you could possibly hope for or expect from the interactive gaming industry."
Tucker would like to see such a bill proposed, and while he has gotten verbal support of the idea from legislators, he isn't counting on anything being proposed, considering the direction California has already taken.
"The ones (politicians) that I have talked to so far feel that it seems to make sense," he said. "The problem is that the bill is an outright ban of Internet gambling, and they can't say, 'but if there is Internet gambling we think there should be some funds set aside for responsible gaming strategy.' There has been talk that any fines that come out of this bill would go to responsible gaming initiatives."
As for the motivation in targeting the Internet, Tucker says it is easy to see what the true goal of the bill is.
"Their position is odd and a little unfair because it exempts everyone in the world except online gambling," he said. "Anything that the state currently gets a financial income from is exempted. It is pretty clear where the motivation is on this bill."
Problem gaming, Tucker feels, will still be an issue regardless of whether Internet gambling is banned.
"It is going to happen if it is in a traditional casino, at the racetrack, in a card room or on the Internet," he said.
Tucker thinks if gaming experts can convince lawmakers that the proper approach is in cooperation and not prohibition, then maybe progress can be made.
"If people who are in the business like we are can say, 'look you aren't going to stop it so you might as well try to understand it and cooperate with it in any way you can,' then maybe we can get a safety net for those people who can't handle it," he said.
Reeves refused to comment on the future of the bill, but did say that advocates of the bill knew they were in for a tough battle.
"It is a tough bill, but there are a lot of tough bills that get through," he said. "We just need to get the bill and print and give everyone the chance to review it and have it on file. Hopefully then by August it can be in committee and we can go from there."


text:
Pending Pinstripes:Abreu and Lidle for…These are Prospects???
As dawn broke this morning, a stream of desperate electrons came coursing through the InterWeb, crying out for some understanding, a bit of calm in this tumultuous pre-trading deadline world:
So --- are we happy? Did we give up anybody we shouldn't have?
How do the Phillies see it? Do we care?
Me & my shadow
That was my Mom (and her weird cat). She's appropriately desperate to know whether yesterday's deal will go down in the annals of Yankee history as Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner (or worse yet, Fred McGriff and Mike Morgan for nobody of consequence) or David Cone for Mike Gordon, Jason Jarvis and Marty Janzen. My guess? More like the Cone deal than the Crime Dog's.
Lemme 'splain. No, is too much. Lemme summup:
Yesterday the Philadelphia Phillies traded RHP Cory Lidle and OF Bobby Abreu to the New York Yankees for minor league SS C.J. Henry, LHP Matt Smith, C Jesus Sanchez, and RHP Carlos Monasterios.
Cory Lidle's the easiest one of the group to describe: LAIM. He's a League-Average Innings Muncher, which, as I mentioned in a column I wrote last week, is an upgrade over the bottom two-fifths of the Yankee starting rotation this year, especially Jaret Wright, who can't often get past the fifth inning. Lidle theoretically gives the Yankees a guy who can take the ball every fifth day, give them something like six innings and change allowing four earned runs, and let their potent offense bludgeon the opposition into submission. Nothing more, nothing less.
Bobby Abreu has been one of the most underrated players in the major leagues for years, and consequently one of my favorite players. People started paying attention when he won the Home Run Derby at the 2005 All-Star Game, but his power numbers dropped off precipitously since then. He had hit 11 homers in May 2005, was named an NL Player of the Week as well as May 2005 NL Player of the Month and then won the aforementioned Home Run contest. He came into the All-Star Game with 18 homers and a .954 OPS, and things were looking pretty bright, but in the second half of the 2005 season, he hit only .260/.376/.411 with six home runs. Consequently, a lot of the blame for the Phillies' inability to close the gap on the Atlanta Braves or the Houston Astros in the Wild Card race was inappropriately laid on his broad shoulders.
This season, with Great Expectations again laid at the Phils' pheet, Abreu was expected to come up big, and through two months of the season, he was doing exactly that. He was hitting .273 /.446/.509, with seven homers, 14 doubles, 8 steals, 41 RBIs, 41 runs, and was leading the NL in OBP at the end of May. But since then he's hit only one homer (none since June 13th), his batting average has stalled at .277, and his OBP is about the same, but he's lost nearly 100 points on his slugging percentage, which is down to .434, not exactly the power expected from a "slugger" making $14 million. So the Phillies phront opphice had to do something to prevent continuing to pay someone who looks like he's in decline, and to whom they still owe about $4.5 million for this season and another $15 million for next year. What they did was trade him to the Yankee, who can afford to pay that salary on the chance that he bounces back and starts hitting homers again. Even if he doesn't, the Yankees got a darn good player. Let me show you:
AB   R    H  2B  3B  HR  RBI  SB  CS  BB   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS
Player A  343  61   95  26   2   8   65  20   4  92  .277  .427  .434  .861
Player J  390  69  138  26   3   7   65  21   2  44  .354  .427  .490  .916
Almost eerily similar, aren't they? The biggest difference, of course, is that player A has 48 more walks and Player J has 43 more hits, but they come out dead-even in on-base percentage, which is only the most import statistic in baseball when it comes to scoring runs. They're both excellent base-stealers with doubles power who can hit an occasional homer. Before I reveal the identities of our two pals, let me add two more columns to the mix:
Date of Birth   2006-07-08 Salary
Player A  11 March 1974   $44.6 million
Player J  26  June 1974   $65 million
Wow. That is a big difference.
Read the rest at Pending Pinstripes...
Posted by Travis M. Nelson at 7/31/2006
Pending Pinstripes:Abreu and Lidle for…These are P...
DPD: MLB Trading Deadline Stuff, American League
DPD: How a Love so Wright Can Turn Out To Be So Wr...
DPD: Hillenbrand-ed a Trouble-Maker
Pending Pinstripes: AA Trenton Thunder Team Report...
DPD: Sweep Smell of Victory; Yanks Take Three From...
Press Release and Yankees DVD Give-Away!!!
DPD: It's Official: Dusty's Getting the Ax!
DPD: All-Star Game's Pleasant Surprises, National ...
DPD: All-Star Game's Pleasant Surprises, American ...


text:
Metal Curated
Magnum-The Serpent Rings
'The Serpent Rings' by Magnum
Bob Catley / Vocals
Tony Clarkin / Guitar
Rick Benton / Keyboards
Dennis Ward / Bass
Lee Morris / Drums
Musical Feel
Grandiosity
Song / Album Composition
Where Are You Eden?
You Can't Run Faster Than Bullets
Madman Or Messiah
The Archway Of Tears
Not Forgiven
The Serpent Rings
House of Kings
The Great Unknown
The Last One On Earth
Crimson On The White Sand
Magnum are an institution. One of the great bands to come out of Birmingham, they've had a constant stream of albums out since their formation in the mid Seventies, and now they're back with an absolute blinder of a record in The Serpent Rings.
"Where Are You Eden?" starts things off with the strings and the drums building the anticipation, when the guitars and the keys kick in, you know you're in for a good time. The song progresses and the vocals really bring a twister of a song together. What an opener!
"You Can't Run Faster Than Bullets," is insanely good. That opening riff is so catchy and hook worthy. The song itself is filled with fascinating melodies that twist and shake throughout the song, paving the way for some fascinating little exchanges.
"Madman Or Messiah," is catchy as all hell, the vocals are strong, Bob Catley is in fine form as always.
"The Archway Of Tears," sets things up nicely. The song is constructed in such a manner as to get the maximum out of the listener, filling them up with fuel for the continuing purpose of the world.
"Not Forgiven," brings the eighties back to life. The guitars and the bass work in sync to produce something magical.
"The Serpent Rings," is the title track of the album, and is an absolute blinder. The keys, the guitars, the vocals all work together to produce something magical. This song must be played live!
"House of Kings," is a fascinating song. It works together the old elements of Magnum, such as the huge guitar tone and the thundering bass, with the new elements of Magnum. Mainly the bombastic symphonic arrangements and the turning of the vocal siren, truly allowing Bob Catley to shine through.
"The Great Unknown," slows things down ever so slightly, allowing the listener a chance to pause and reflect on the times that have come and those yet to arrive.
"Man," brings the synths to life, and then turns up the rock quite considerably, delivering a sharp shooter to the face.
"The Last One On Earth," really brings things into foreground. The piano sings through on this song.
"Crimson On The White Sand," is an epic conclusion to the album, and really captures the spirit of Magnum.
The Serpent Rings is out on 17th January via Steamhammer/SPV.
By The Median Man|2020-02-11T17:22:18+00:00February 5th, 2020|Album, Magnum|0 Comments


text:
It's time to say 'Yes Wales Can'
Adam Price. Picture by Plaid Cymru
Adam Price, Leader of Plaid Cymru.
Last week I was elected to lead Plaid Cymru. Tomorrow I will give my first speech to our conference as leader.
For some, I hope I am familiar. But to those to whom I am not, let me introduce myself: I was born in a council house in Carmarthenshire. The son of Rufus, a miner and Welsh champion boxer, and Angela who moved to Wales from Worcester.
I grew up in the shadow of the miners' struggle. A struggle which shaped the politics I retain today.
At 31 I was elected to the House of Commons. Within a year of taking my seat I uncovered dodgy dealings between Tony Blair and international steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
Shortly after, I led a campaign to impeach Mr Blair following the invasion of Iraq – the first-time impeachment had been attempted in Britain for over 150 years.
In 2010 I stood down from Parliament and headed to the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard, before taking up a role in an innovation foundation.
But the pull of Welsh politics was too much and in 2016 I was humbled to be elected once again to represent my home patch of Carmarthen, this time in the National Assembly for Wales.
From council house to House of Commons and from Harvard to Cardiff is not a well-trodden path, but I now face the biggest challenge of my political career – leading the Welsh national movement.
As the first openly gay man to lead this party and indeed any party in Wales and the UK, I am a modern, inclusive leader for a modern, inclusive Wales.
A modern, inclusive Wales that is stuck with an outmoded government in Cardiff and an exclusive one in Westminster.
Labour's stranglehold on Wales must come to an end if we are to shun the shameful, unacceptable, and seemingly perpetual path of decline – the disgrace of falling life expectancy, the scandal of the collapse in educational rankings, the ignominy of the sick man of Europe status of our economy – and instead chart a new course.
And here comes the good news – I am confident that we can compose a new future for a new Wales.
Labour will not be its author. And nor will it be written for us in the marbled halls of Whitehall and Westminster. It will be written in the streets and shops, the pubs and rugby clubs, the homes and hearts of our nation.
It is only Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales, that believes our nation can be prosperous. That it can be confident. That it can be self-governing and successful.
Some may shrug off our hope as blind optimism. I say to you that a successful, independent Wales is not a far-off, unachievable aspiration. It is a firm, near-term, realisable goal.
The prize is too great to surrender to the naysayers. The prize of a new Wales.
So, our message to the Welsh people – the message I will tell my party's conference tomorrow – must be simple: Yes Wales Can.
Nation.Cymru is currently fundraising to pay for independent journalism. Just £2 a month by 600 people would achieve this – please click here for details.


text:
What is DBN?
DBN Mastodon
DBN Facebook
Covino & Rich
Dude Bro Nation
Born from the Covino & Rich show and evolved into a community.
loews royal pacific resort reviews
My only complaint was our room wasn't ready until right before dinner, which threw our plans off for the evening. Mahalo. Which room amenities are available at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? A sparkling lagoon-style pool surrounded by a white sand beach and swaying palms… We look forward to welcoming you back to the Islands again soon. Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm. Loews Royal Pacific Resort - UPDATED 2020 Prices, Reviews & … more. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Yes, paid private parking on-site and paid public parking on-site are available to guests. We stayed here because of the great location, water taxi service, and express passes/early entrance. Valid only at participating rides and attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure. We are so glad you enjoyed our pool amenities, convenient location to the parks, and unlimited Universal Express Pass benefit. Aloha Lynda, Thank you for your five-star review from your recent stay at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. Aloha 411lindseye! Mahalo. Mahalo! Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. There are more places to choose from in the Orlando area. Yes, paid private parking on-site and paid public parking on-site are available to guests. See photos and read reviews for the Loews Royal Pacific Resort rooms in Orlando, FL. I loved the atmosphere and the service here. Orlando Hotel … Take a look through our photo library, read reviews from real guests and book now with our Price Guarantee. I wanted to take the pillows with me! Everything is so nice and clean, and the service is wonderful. Universal's Loews Royal Pacific Resort offers its guests an outdoor pool, a kids' pool, a sauna, and a fitness centre. There are arts and crafts, story time, computers, as well as video and board games. I really enjoyed staying here, and one of the most notable perks of staying on-site at this resort is the beautiful boat ride right into City Walk! Aloha Lynda, Thank you for your five-star review from your recent stay at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator. Universal's Loews Royal Pacific Resort is rated "Superb" by our guests. Early Park Admission and onsite transportation are a great added benefit that cannot be beat! We'll even let you know about secret offers and sales when you sign up to our emails. What food & drink options are available at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Additional restrictions may apply and benefits are subject to change without notice. Available during normal theme park operating hours only. The hotel itself smells amazing. The beds are comfy. Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator. Benefit valid only for guests of Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel® and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, for the number of guests staying in the room for the length of hotel stay. Book Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando on Tripadvisor: See 14,682 traveller reviews, 5,148 photos, and cheap rates for Loews Royal Pacific Resort, ranked #47 of 368 hotels in Orlando and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and a poolside bar during their stay. Mahalo! Conveniently located restaurants include Strong Water Tavern, Cinnabon, and Cold Stone Creamery. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando: See 14,604 traveller reviews, 5,121 user photos and best deals for Loews Royal Pacific Resort, ranked #50 of 366 Orlando hotels, rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Are any cleaning services offered at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Aloha! Mahalo. Loews Royal Pacific has a supervised kids' club open in the evenings, Mariners Club, for kids ages 4 to 14. Please see our partners for more details. Are pets allowed at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Check prices, photos and reviews. 6300 Hollywood Way At Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, FL 32819-7614, All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash, Face masks required for guests in public areas, Face masks required for staff in public areas, Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff. Valid at select attractions at each park. Additional restrictions may apply. Aloha April M! Marriott Autograph Collection Hotels in Orlando, The Walt Disney Company Hotels in Orlando, 4-star Hotels in Central Business District, Luxury Hotels in Central Business District, Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Orlando, Hotels near Bob Marley--A Tribute to Freedom, Hotels near AMC Theatre at Universal Orlando, Hotels near Universal's Islands of Adventure, Hotels near Orlando Health/Amtrak Station, Hotels near Florida Hospital Health Village Station, Hotels near Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, Hotels near Everest University - South Orlando, FL, Hotels near ITT Technical Institute - Orlando Campus, Hotels near Florida College of Integrative Medicine, Hotels near International Academy of Design and Technology, Orlando. Plus, it's a quick hop from Universal's hotels to the parks with free water taxis or shuttles. It says that a group up to 5 can comfortably stay in this room but I disagree. We are delighted that you enjoyed your overall stay with us at Loews Royal Pacific Resort! You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, which include A poolside bar and A bar/lounge. had older kids. These designations can be very important, as the hotels in the Premier category include express unlimited passes for every registered occupant of the room. Excludes separately ticketed events. LOEWS ROYAL PACIFIC RESORT - Updated 2020 Prices & Reviews … What food & drink options are available at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Loews Royal Pacific Resort is one of three hotels located inside the Universal Studios Resort complex in Orlando.Universal is the second-largest resort in Orlando, next to Walt Disney World, with two theme parks -- Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure -- and a shopping and dining strip called City Walk. Thank you for your outstanding five-star review! The staff were so helpful. Which popular attractions are close to Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Aloha! The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish. Are any cleaning services offered at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Express unlimited passes for Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal … These passes are worth their weight in gold. This hotel was perfect for our Universal Studios trip. Book Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando on Tripadvisor: See 14,600 traveller reviews, 5,121 candid photos, and great deals for Loews Royal Pacific Resort, ranked #49 of 366 hotels in Orlando and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. ^Requires theme park admission. The pool area was clean and so pretty. Thank you again for your feedback, we hope to welcome you back to the Islands again soon. I booked the hotel for a quick getaway with kids. Are there opportunities to exercise at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? This hotel has a cool Polynesian vibe as its theme / decor. The staff were so helpful. Universal Studios Orlando Restaurants | Loews Royal Pacific Hotel Please see our partners for more details. Loews Royal Pacific Resort is absolutely beautiful! Loews Royal Pacific Resort: Royal Pacific - See 14,686 traveler reviews, 4,543 candid photos, and great deals for Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Tripadvisor. Does Loews Royal Pacific Resort offer any business services? Everything was ultra clean. At Universal, the designations are known as Value, Prime Value, Preferred and Premier. Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, Orlando, FL. Amatista Cookhouse at Sapphire Falls Resort, Review collected in partnership with this hotel, Response from Hotel Manager, General Manager at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. There are 3 restaurants on site, along with a coffee shop/cafΘ. This hotel did not disappoint! Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. *Requires theme park admission. There are more places to choose from in the Orlando area. Previously stayed here and you can't beat the location. Loews Royal Pacific Resort is absolutely beautiful! Nearby attractions include Universal's Islands of Adventure (0.4 miles), Universal Studios Florida (0.6 miles), and Fun Spot America (0.7 miles). Everything was ultra clean. Next time I will definitely stay in a suite so we have a little more room to spread out. Thank you again for your feedback, we hope to welcome you back to the Islands again soon. Park-to-Park admission required to board the Hogwarts™ Express. Thank you for your review! Mahalo! Valid at select attractions at each park. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. What are some restaurants close to Loews Royal Pacific Resort? All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash, Face masks required for guests in public areas, Face masks required for staff in public areas, Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff. We'll even let you know about secret offers and sales when you sign up to our emails. Skip the regular lines with free^ Universal Express Unlimited ride access at participating attractions in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and breeze into one of the Universal parks an hour earlier than other guests with Early Park Admission*. 468 reviews of Loews Royal Pacific Resort "I had the opportunity to stay here last year for a conference and i was happy that our meetings would be held here. We look forward to welcoming you for a future stay. loews royal pacific resort at universal orlando hotel orlando, loews royal pacific hotel, royal pacific resort orlando, universal royal pacific hotel, royal pacific hotel orlando, universals royal pacific resort. We stayed here because of the great location, water taxi service, and express passes/early entrance. Previously stayed here and you can't beat the location. The pool area was clean and so pretty. Thank you for taking the time to share feedback from your summer stay at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. Mahalo. Is parking available at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Prices are calculated as of 09/11/2020 based on … Thank you for your outstanding five-star review! Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests. Aloha April M! This hotel is amazing. We are delighted that you enjoyed your overall stay with us at Loews Royal Pacific Resort! Aloha! Rise and Shine at the All-New Tuk Tuk Market | Loews Royal … Valid only at participating rides and attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure. See 14,689 traveller reviews, 5,148 candid photos, and great deals for Loews Royal Pacific Resort, ranked #47 of 370 hotels in Orlando and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Now £233 on Tripadvisor: Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando. Additional restrictions may apply and benefits are subject to change without notice. Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness centre, and a sauna during their stay. Which languages are spoken by the staff at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? The healthy and safety of our guests is our top priority and we are ensuring rooms are not entered until 24 hours following a guest's departure. Book Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando on Tripadvisor: See 14,597 traveller reviews, 5,121 candid photos, and great deals for Loews Royal Pacific Resort, ranked #49 of 365 hotels in Orlando and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Are pets allowed at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Park-to-Park admission required to board the Hogwarts™ Express. Aloha! Now £198 on Tripadvisor: Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando. The only "issue" I had was that the room we had was a regular room with two queen beds. Everything you need to know about the Loews Royal Pacific Resort rooms at Tripadvisor. Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm. Plus, it's a quick hop from Universal's hotels to the parks with free water taxis or shuttles. Not valid at Universal's Volcano Bay. Book Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando on Tripadvisor: See 14,651 traveller reviews, 5,137 candid photos, and great deals for Loews Royal Pacific Resort, ranked #49 of 369 hotels in Orlando and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Attractions are subject to substitutions without notice. I sincerely apologize this put a damper on your dinner plans and will certainly share your feedback amongst our team. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Next time I will definitely stay in a suite so we have a little more room to spread out. 53K likes. We appreciate your feedback regarding our guestroom accommodations. My experience is probably different than most, because we went right when they reopened this past summer, so there weren't too many people there and it was super nice. Benefit valid only for guests of Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel® and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, for the number of guests staying in the room for the length of hotel stay. While the hotel did temperature checks upon entering, I was a little confused about how they are handling the 24 hour vacancy between check ins. If you get club level go to the club, it is totally worth it. Book Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando on Tripadvisor: See 14,651 traveller reviews, 5,137 photos, and cheap rates for Loews Royal Pacific Resort, ranked #49 of 369 hotels in Orlando and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. There were many safety precautions in place for COVID including temp checks and sanitizer stations throughout. ^Requires theme park admission. Not valid at Universal's Volcano Bay. The bathrooms are really great, they even have a retractable clothes line in them. Conveniently located restaurants include Strong Water Tavern, Cinnabon, and Cold Stone Creamery. Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and a poolside bar during their stay.
Quasi Experimental Design Example, Functional Properties Of Sugar Slideshare, Rainbow Quotes Funny, How To Plant Water Lilies In A Lake, Tamron 150-600 G2 Canon, Complete Chemistry For Cambridge Igcse Workbook Answers,
Joe Rogan Experience #1555 – Alex Jones & Tim Dillon
Joe Rogan Experience #1546 – Evan Hafer & Mat Best
Adam Curry Interview
Joe Rogan Experience #1536 – Edward Snowden
Beer, Wine & Cider
Conspiracy & Fake News
Guess who works in Philly?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X5gKWxzBZA
Conspiracy & Fake News Podcasts Politics
dbnadmin
Conspiracy & Fake News Podcasts Technology


text:
Back to Online Gallery
Winners with comments by Juror of Awards, Gabriella Calicchio:
First Place: "Self-Absorbed" by Debbie Patrick
Debbie Patrick's skill in capturing a human personality on the face of her dog in "Self Absorbed" is funny, ironic and a tribute to her artistry. The fact that the dog is amused and delighted by his own portrait is in perfect harmony with the theme of the exhibit.
Second Place: "Partners" by Kristen Yee
The whimsy in "Partners" stole my heart. The "Dog" in his serious stance with colorful clothes and the "cat" in her pink tutu and very solemn face are frivolous and funny in just the right way.
Third Place: "Because I Can Can" by Dave Yoas
David Yoas's work always amuses and delights both conceptually and artistically.
By making his artworks out of familiar objects, packaging, labels and vintage tin Americana, I can't help feeling nostalgic and inspired simultaneously.
"The Blue Building" by Louise Williams, "Sharing a Meal" by Susie Kelly, "Mari's Dream Bird" by Mari Kearney, "Ricky" by Laura Reoch, "Blue, Pink & Green Balloons" by John Buckling, "Remember" by Sue Montez
Susan Press | Artist, Teacher and Curator
"Art To Amuse & Delight" seemed a perfect theme for this time and place. I found myself anxiously awaiting the opportunity to view the submissions and to see the kind of imagery inspired by the theme. I was very delighted and sometimes quite amused at what I saw coming in with the many entries. Seeing the work in person was even better.
I appreciated having the experience of choosing the placement of each piece. Along with excellent help I received installing the show I felt the arrangement of the work gave us the opportunity to enhance the overall experience one could have when stepping into each of the three different rooms of the gallery. It was as though some of the artworks belonged together. Their combined attention to the theme elevated the emotion of delight.
Thank you to all of the artists who submitted work for this show. Sharing your talents by joining shows allows us all to experience pleasure and inspiration. Such an opportunity to celebrate creativity.
Thank you also for the many that come to see the art shows at Falkirk. Your support and attendance give so much to the artists. We are fortunate to have galleries like the Falkirk Cultural Center and their staff, all so dedicated to the arts in Marin.
A special thank you to Gabriella Calicchio for jurying the show, for the difficult task of choosing award recipients from the large number of works in this show. Her words really communicate the feelings we can get from this exhibit.
Gabriella Calicchio | Director of Cultural Services, Marin County
I was thrilled when Susan Press invited me to serve as the Juror of Awards for the "Art To Amuse & Delight" exhibit. I allowed myself an intuitive reaction to the works before I looked for technical skill. I giggled, laughed out loud, and smiled until my cheeks hurt. The works are uplifting, enjoyable, and engaging which is so important during these tumultuous times. Congratulations to the artists who were willing to take the challenge and be playful with their work. Thank you to Susan Press for putting together such a fun and spirited exhibit.


text:
Previous postHow will open data advance scientific discovery?
Next postSurviving academia as an early career researcher: an unreliable guide
Naturejobs | Naturejobs Blog
How to mentor your supervisor
27 Oct 2017 | 12:12 GMT | Posted by David Payne | Category: Career paths, Industry, PhD
Mentoring is invariably presented as something "done" by someone senior to someone junior, but it works both ways, finds David Payne.
Nature's 2017 PhD survey, published this week, paints a mixed picture about mentorship, with almost one in four of the 5700 respondents saying they would change their supervisors if they could. "Recognition from an advisor" was contributed more to overall satisfaction with a PhD than other any factor.
Chris Woolston's analysis of the data includes examples of many excellent mentor/mentee relationships. The survey's focus was PhD students, so the supervisor perspective is missing from the data. Perhaps a follow-up survey of supervisors would be good, taking in also PIs and scientists holding supervisory positions in industry. The survey could explore how they feel about their supervisory responsibilities. Do they love it, hate it, perhaps even dread it? What training did they get, if any? Who were their role models? What mistakes have they made, and how did they learn from them? How are they supported (or not) to keep abreast of future trends, emerging technologies, future career opportunities?
But mentoring is a two-way street. Supervisors across all sectors have lots to learn from students and colleagues in mentoring situations. In 2014 pharma company GSK started a "reverse mentoring" programme, pairing a senior manager with a team of junior colleagues to discuss a particular issue issue or dilemma he or she is facing. The technique was pioneered by multinational General Electric, or more specifically its CEO Jack Welch. In 1999 Welch realised his executive team had little grasp of the internet's potential to revolutionise the workplace and business. Five hundred CEO executives met with younger "digital natives" who had a better understanding of the fledgling technology's disruptive potential.
GSK now has 140 reverse mentors and 40 mentees, including Steve Pyke, who demonstrated the process with a real-life session at the inaugural Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Science and Health Research (EDIS) Symposium, held at The Francis Crick Institute in London last month.
Pyke, senior vice president of quantitative sciences at GSK, told the symposium that his own boss urged him to undergo reverse mentoring 18 months ago, having been through the process himself. His team is diverse and spread across 20 different countries, and his hour-long reverse mentoring sessions have helped him to address his team's needs, he told the symposium. A typical session, for example, might be to help him develop a better understanding of the needs and challenges faced by an LGBT colleague.
At the Crick session he assembled some reverse mentors on the stage to help him consider a request from someone to work flexibly following a change in family circumstances. "This individual has young children and an elderly parent who us dependent on them," he told them. "They wish to change their working hours but feel awkward about being open about it in the team. They don't want to reduce their hours. Afternoons are a problem." Because they work internationally, he added, not being available in the afternoons might cause issues for colleagues based in different time zones.
What followed was an open discussion about how Pyke might handle this request. Lily Hunt, a final year PhD student at the Crick, wondered how she would feel is the request came from a postdoc looking after her in the lab. How might their lack of availability affect her personally?
Leigh Felton, director of clinical development at GSK, wondered how the request might impact on colleagues who were single. Would this put pressure on them. Flexible working is a fantastic perk, he said, but do certain groups feel they more deserving?
Emma Collins, an HR partner at the Crick, advised Pyke to ask the individual what he could or couldn't share with the team about the background to the request, and to clarify if the flexible working arrangement was going to be short or long term, and if it was to be a formal arrangement.
Reverse mentoring tips
In 2013 digital marketeer Zoe Amar offered five tips for reverse mentoring in a careers blog for The Guardian newspaper, advising would-be reverse mentors and their mentees to keep the arrangement informal and to ensure that your organisation understands the benefits.
Pyke told the symposium that his sessions at GSK were informal in nature, with mentors often joining by phone. There are no rules, as such, he said.
When Jack Welch introduced reverse mentoring at General Electric in 1999, he had a specific problem he wanted to solve, and it was a business challenge triggered by the e-commerce and communication possibilities presented by the internet. Since then the potential of reverse mentoring to help supervisors address their pastoral responsibilities, help team dynamics, and hone their "soft skills," seems also to have been realised, if GSK's experience is anything to go by.
Forbes Magazine: Reverse Mentoring – Investing in Tomorrow's Business Strategy
Microsoft: Reverse mentoring: How millennials are becoming the new mentors
Psychologies: What is reverse mentoring?
Guardian: How to become a reverse mentor
Fortune Magazine: How millennials in the workplace are turning peer mentoring on its head
Graduate survey: A love-hurt relationship
David Payne is chief careers, editor, Nature.
You need to log in or register to comment.