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Matter of Public Importance - Carbon Pricing
Ms BIRD (Cunningham) (16:24): I rise to participate in this matter of public importance debate in this House on manufacturing and its future. I am joined in the House by my colleague the member for Throsby. Members of the House would be aware that we took the opportunity in this chamber to put on the record the events that happened in our region yesterday with the BlueScope Steel announcement and our direct and real concern for the families that have been affected by that decision. We are determined to stand with them in providing the support that the government is able to provide to them and more broadly in providing support to BlueScope as a continuing steel manufacturer in our region. We will continue the work that we have already begun on providing opportunities for support and expansion of the manufacturing sector in our region.
It is important and a good opportunity to take those comments made yesterday further in addressing this particular debate before the House today. It is a sad pity and in many ways a fairly disgraceful pity that those opposite are seeking to use what is a difficult time for those families in our region and for our region as a whole as a political point-scoring exercise around the carbon tax issue when it has been made quite clear on numerous occasions by BlueScope Steel executives that the carbon tax had no impact on the outcome that was announced yesterday. The executives made that point at the time when we announced the Clean Energy Future package.
It is important to indicate to the House in this debate that the member for Throsby and I believe that the future of manufacturing is a key point to this nation and has an important role to play in the mix of our economy into the future. It is true to say that we are in a transition process within our manufacturing sector to the more high value-added production processes, to greater utilisation of innovation and to putting the production of research and development into the delivery of new products and services in the sector. The manufacturing businesses that will make it through this transition that we are experiencing will have a package of production techniques innovations, creative thought and use technologies in ways that we could not even imagine a few years ago. They will have a full line of service opportunity in providing problem-solving solutions for production of those products and aftersales service and follow up in an integrated model that will give us a real competitive advantage, I believe, in the international market.
In our area we are working on expanding the significant relationship that these businesses have with our local university. At the University of Wollongong our government has already been thinking about this linkage and we have funded $43.8 million to the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials and additionally a $25 million investment in a Sustainable Buildings Research Centre on the Innovation Campus of the University of Wollongong. These are directly designed to create opportunities in the new space for modern manufacturing and to link those to the opportunities in our region.
Next Tuesday my colleague the member for Throsby and I will convene an Illawarra manufacturing expo. This is designed to ensure that local manufacturers are aware of and able to access the many different programs that are available through a range of Commonwealth government departments. I should indicate that a number of those programs are on the chopping block of the opposition in their search to find $70 billion worth of savings. We are hosting this event at the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials to allow us to encourage and foster the development of an ongoing relationship and partnership between the University of Wollongong and the manufacturing community in the region. We are grateful that the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, will be the guest of honour at that Illawarra manufacturing expo. I should indicate that it is important to recognise not only that the University of Wollongong and the various federal government departments are in our region playing a role but that today we particularly welcome the information that BHP Billiton, through Illawarra Coal, have announced that they are going to step up as a good corporate citizen in the region and play a role in assisting us through this process. They have indicated that they are putting in place an initiative whereby they will establish an online job centre to take job applications from people affected by the BlueScope steel announcement, as well as other local people who are interested in joining the coal industry.
Mr Colin Bloomfield, whom we work closely with in our region, said the company had recently employed a number of people without experience in the mining industry and they will look to employ up to 50 more people in a range of roles across their Illawarra coal operations. They are also open to taking applications from people for their interstate activities, including their Queensland coal operations where they have more than 750 job vacancies and their iron ore operations in Western Australia where they have 600 vacancies.
This is an example of the strength of our region. The Illawarra has been through difficult times in the past and I think the great resilience of our region is the fact that we all do pull together, whether it is the community sector or the government sector and elected representatives or our media, who play an important role in sustaining confidence for the community in our future. All of us pull together, and this is an example of our corporate sector also being a part of that.
The member for Throsby and I will work with all the lead organisations in our region, whether it is business organisations, the Illawarra Business Chamber, the Illawarra branches of the Australian Industry Group and Regional Development Australia or our union organisations—the South Coast Labour Council and the affected unions, in particular the AWU and the AMWU—to find opportunities and ways forward for our region in the confidence that our people are up to this task. Part of that task is finding the opportunities that do exist with the introduction of a price on carbon.
Those opposite only ever want to run a fear campaign. I point them to a tremendous example. The Illawarra Mercury gave us great coverage of a green jobs conference, organised by our regional development organisation. They highlighted the story —those opposite scoffing might want to listen to this —of a manufacturer in my seat called David Brown Gears. The company was originally established as a manufacturer of mass produced gear components. That business has been transformed to become the type of integrated business in manufacturing that I talked about earlier. It produces significant massive sized gear products. It goes in, looks at the challenge, particularly for large conveyors and so forth, designs specific solutions and problem solves where there are issues.
It provides the product, it does follow-up service and advice and it is doing particularly well. The Illawarra Mercury highlighted a new line of opportunity for the company, which it has now got into—that is, gears for wind turbines.
This is a story of manufacturing into the future.
It is about opportunity as well. Those opposite never want to talk about the important role that many manufacturing businesses continue to play and will increasingly have opportunities for under a price on carbon. I think it is important that when we have these debates we also understand in regions like mine—the member for Throsby and I have generational commitment to our region—the challenges of transition. We understand it is a hard time and the Gillard government will stand shoulder to shoulder with a region like ours with confidence in its future and the future of manufacturing more broadly.
It is an absolute disgrace that in a debate like this those opposite—and in particular the member for Indi in her opening contribution—only see a political opportunity to run another version, another strand, of a fear campaign on a price on carbon. That is an absolute abrogation of responsibility not only to the 800 families directly affected in our region but also to those who are seeking a future in our region. They need to hear a message of confidence, quite frankly, from those in this House in our future, in the future of our region and in the future of manufacturing across the nation.
I finally point out that those opposite have absolutely no solutions. They oppose the Steel Transformation Plan, they oppose our bringing the money forward and they oppose our applying the innovation and industry investment fund—all of those things that are going to be used to transform our region. What are they proposing? Absolutely nothing, as if the manufacturing problem does not exist. (Time expired)


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YOUR SOURCE FOR CUTTING EDGE NEW MUSIC
Division Kent Remixed
On my way to spin for the Gen Art's Annual Shop Miami event, but wanted to leave you guys with something before I left.
Switzerland's Division Kent which I featured on a mixtape last year (see the post here) are set to release their debut album Gravity throughout Europe.
The album features a bonus second disc filled with remixes of all of their songs. A who's who of up and coming artists/remixers such as Joe and Will Ask?, Justin Faust, Love Motel & Keenhouse.
They sent us the remixes to check out/post and they're hot! Some great remixes here, perfect for the dancefloor!
Here are some of my favorites in full 320! If you like these I recommend you pick up the album. This bonus disc is great, especially for dance music lovers/DJ's. They will fit in nicely into your sets.
MP3: Salty (Justin Faust Remix) - Division Kent (YSI)
MP3: No Kryptonite (Baxter Beez vs Ben & Chico Remix) - Division Kent (YSI)
MP3: In the Headlights (Melnyk is Behind the Wheel Remix) - Division Kent (YSI)
MP3: Gravity (Joe and Will Ask? Remix) - Division Kent (YSI)
MP3: Rooftop Rallye (Love Motel Remix) -Division Kent (YSI)
By Ray Milian on 6/18/2009 Labels: dance, electronic, new release, Remixes
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Ray Milian
offtheradarmiami@gmail.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Knowing the signs and symptoms that you have to call metal welders to inspect and repair your boiler is going to be vital for the safety of everyone who lives under your roof. There are a lot of cases of families having to experience something terrible because they weren't aware of even the most obvious signs and symptoms of a boiler gas leak.
Avoid being the victim of a boiler gas leak by knowing the signals as to when you need to have your boiler repaired or replaced by reading on the resource below.
Leaking water, as it is, is already a devastating issue with homes that have cost many homeowners thousands upon thousands because they weren't able to address the issues early on. Property value can go down really fast if you aren't taking the necessary steps to repair and replace a boiler that is leaking water. Leaking water is almost always a sign that the boiler is going to leak gas in the near future if it isn't already.
When you smell something strange, you should get your boiler inspected as soon as possible. The strange odor that you are smelling is probably emitted by the boiler itself. The gas that is leaking from the boiler can be poisonous to the household depending on the contents. Gas leaks have taken many lives in the past and can take more if strange odors are chalked off as something that isn't important.
If there is a sudden spike in your energy bill and it happens for consecutive months without any prior notice from your energy provider that there is any price hike and you don't have anything that will bump up the bill, then you may have a leak in your boiler. This may be the best time to get it repaired. Make sure that you get in touch with metal welders as soon as possible to address any issues that you may have with your boiler.
There are a lot of people that experience a sudden slowness of their water heater and don't report it to anyone. You definitely should get your boiler inspected if this is happening to you. A lot of worse cases can be prevented by getting your boiler fixed early on. If you can address any issues with your boiler early, you won't have to deal with circulation problems that can get worse and worse as time goes by.
If you have anything that is hooked up to your boiler and it is not performing as well as it should, then you should get your boiler inspected as soon as it is possible. If your boiler is not performing well, then it can be because of a litany of issues with different components of the boiler. Getting it repaired or possibly having it replaced are two things that you have to prepare for.
Don't ignore signs and symptoms of boiler leaks! Prevent a disaster waiting to happen and contact KLK Welding today. We will send our metal welders to make sure it gets fixed.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Featuring 1-star accommodation, Hung Phat Hotel is set in Ho Chi Minh City, 5 km from Fine Arts Museum and 5 km from Takashimaya Vietnam.
These are general hotel policies for Hung Phat Hotel. As they may vary per room type; please also check the room description.


Tucked away in the heart of Atrium on Takutai, White's & Co. is a soft-serve yoghurt store in a league of its own, offering healthy, delicious options for dessert, breakfast or a snack.
White's products are made using the all-natural yoghurt made famous by gourmet dairy brand The Collective. It's dished up as the freshest soft-serve, as sundaes and in cones, in a choice of four flavours: perennial favourites vanilla, chocolate, berry and mango.
Decadent toppings range from fresh seasonal fruit, nuts and granola to fruit syrups, curds and compotes. Or – if you want to balance out all that yoghurt-eating virtue – fudge, handmade lollies and meringue. Also on offer are fresh yoghurt 'smoovies' and parfaits of fruit, yoghurt and granola.
All that makes White's the perfect place to stop by when you're in the mood for a sweet treat or for a quick breakfast or a pick-me-up on the go.


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News from the 57th annual scientific session of the American College of Cardiology
May 2008Br J Cardiol 2008;15:123–30	Leave a comment
Authors: Terry McCormack
The 2008 American College of Cardiology meeting was held jointly with the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions Annual Meeting on March 29th – April 1st in Chicago, US. Highlights of the meeting included discussions about the ENHANCE trial which showed a shock negative result for the cholesterol agent, ezetimibe; and studies showing that hypertension should be treated in the over-80s, that a combination of a calcium blocker and an ACE inhibitor is a good first-line treatment for hypertension, and that telmisartan is as effective as ramipril for high risk coronary heart disease/diabetes patients.
ENHANCE controversy dominates meeting
The controversial ENHANCE (Ezetimibe and Simvastatin in Hypercholesterolaemia Enhances Atherosclerosis Regression) trial of ezetimibe dominated the ACC meeting, with a special session held to discuss the results, which were simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The 720-patient trial showed no benefit of ezetimibe when added to simvastatin 80 mg in slowing the progression of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery (as measured by intima media thickness (IMT) in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), despite the fact that there were significantly greater reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and C-reactive protein in the ezetimibe group.
These 'bottom line' results were first announced in a press release in January, and have attracted an enormous amount of attention, probably because they are the first real data on ezetimibe, which has been generating worldwide sales of around US$5 billion for Merck and Schering Plough. In addition, concerns have been raised about the announcement of the results being delayed by up to 18 months, which is now the focus of a US congressional investigation.
Leading the panel discussion on the ENHANCE trial at the ACC, Dr Harlan Krumholz (Yale University School of Medicine, US) recommended that ezetimibe should only be used as a last resort, until further data become available. "We must return to first principles, optimising the doses of statins, rather than adding ezetimibe to a low-dose statin," he said.
The same advice was given by the ACC in a statement issued during the meeting. "The study reinforces the need to adhere to current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines which recommend statins to the maximally tolerated dose or to goal as first line treatment for patients with coronary artery disease," the statement read.
Noting that ezetimibe actually showed a trend towards a worse result than simvastatin alone in ENHANCE, Dr Krumholz said there was still a question mark over the drug's safety. "We don't know what this drug does, and although it might prove to be effective in reducing clinical events, the ENHANCE findings make this unlikely," he said.
In a press conference, lead investigator of the ENHANCE trial, Dr John Kastelein (Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) said he would still be treating his patients with FH with ezetimibe on top of highest dose statin therapy until more evidence is available as "this is the only way to get their LDL cholesterol down to normal levels".
In the paper announcing the results (N Engl J Med 2008; 358:1431–43), Dr Kastelein and his co-authors suggest that the reason ezetimibe failed to show a benefit in ENHANCE may be because most of the patients included had been treated with high-dose statin therapy from an early age, "raising the possibility that there may be limits to the extent to which the lowering of LDL cholesterol levels can result in a further decrease in the progression of intima-media thickness".
In an accompanying editorial, US cholesterol experts Drs Greg Brown (University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, US) and Allen Taylor (Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington DC, US) concur that this could be a possibility. Noting that patients in ENHANCE had thinner carotid IMT than in previous studies, they say this supports the hypothesis that previous plaque lipid depletion (brought about by long-term statin therapy) is an explanation for the ENHANCE results. The argument against this hypothesis is that no benefit of ezetimibe was seen in the 19% of patients who were not receiving statins at the start of the ENHANCE trial.
Drs Brown and Taylor add that the possibility that ezetimibe provides no clinical benefit when added to statin therapy is the "elephant in the parlor" and deserves serious consideration in any discussion of the study results.
The effect of ezetimibe on clinical events is being investigated in IMPROVE-IT (IMProved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial), which is comparing simvastatin 40 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg with simvastatin 40 mg alone in acute coronary syndrome patients. This trial was originally planned to enrol 10,000 patients but because of low event rates it has recently been extended to 18,000 patients, and results will not be available until 2012.
ONTARGET: telmisartan similar to ramipril in vascular disease/diabetes patients
The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), telmisartan, showed similar benefits to the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, ramipril, in patients with vascular disease or high-risk diabetes in ONTARGET (ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial). But the combination of the two drugs was associated with more adverse events without any additional benefits.
Lead investigator of the trial, Dr Salim Yusuf (McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada) commented: "This study is of clinical importance because it demonstrates that telmisartan is an effective and safe alternative to ramipril. This means both patients and physicians have choices and can use telmisartan where appropriate with a high degree of confidence". But he added that: "the lack of additional benefit of the combination despite a substantial lowering of blood pressure is puzzling".
The ONTARGET trial enrolled 25,620 patients with coronary heart disease or diabetes plus additional risk factors who were randomised to ramipril 10 mg per day, telmisartan 80 mg a day or the combination of the two. The mean duration of follow-up of the study was 55 months.
Table 1. ONTARGET: main efficacy results
Results showed that mean blood pressure was lower in the telmisartan group (a 0.9/0.6 mmHg greater reduction) and the combination therapy group (a 2.4/1.4 mmHg greater reduction) than in the ramipril group. At the end of the study, the primary end point (a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke or hospitalisation for heart failure) had occurred in a similar amount of patients in all three groups (table 1). Compared with the ramipril group, telmisartan patients had lower rates of cough and angioedema, and a higher rate of hypotensive symptoms, and patients given the combination treatment had higher rates of hypotensive symptoms, syncope, renal dysfunction, and hyperkalemia, with a trend towards an increased risk of renal function requiring dialysis (table 2).
Table 2. ONTARGET: reasons for permanent discontinuations
The ONTARGET results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med 2008;358:1547–59) to co-incide with their presentation at the ACC. In an accompanying editorial, Dr John McMurray (University of Glasgow) says that because ARBs are more costly than ACE inhibitors and are not better tolerated overall, their primary value is as an alternative for patients who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors because of cough.
HYVET: treat hypertension in the very elderly
Treatment of hypertension in the very elderly is beneficial, reducing fatal strokes, cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, results from HYVET (Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial) showed.
"Before our study, doctors were unsure about whether very elderly people with high blood pressure could see the same benefits from treatment to lower their blood pressure as those we see in younger people," said Emeritus Professor Christopher Bulpitt (Imperial College London). "Our results clearly show that many patients aged 80 and over could benefit greatly from treatment. Populations are living longer and we have growing numbers of people living well into their 80s and beyond, so this is good news."
The HYVET trial randomised 3,845 patients aged 80 or over with a systolic blood pressure of at least 160 mmHg to treatment with placebo or indapamide (SR) 1.5 mg with the addition of perindopril 2–4 mg once a day as required, to reach a target blood pressure of 150/80 mmHg. The primary end point was all strokes.
Table 1. HYVET: major results
The average follow-up was just over two years, by which time 20% of the placebo group and 48% of the active treatment group had achieved the target pressure. In July 2007, the trial was stopped early after a second planned interim analysis showed a significant reduction in total mortality. Results also showed reductions in death from stroke, and in the occurrence of heart failure (table 1). Fewer adverse side effects were seen in the active treatment group than in the placebo group.
In an editorial accompanying publication of the study in the New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med 2008;358:1958–60), Dr John Kostis (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, US), says that "HYVET puts the question of the usefulness of treating hypertension in the very old to rest".
Noting that current practice has been based on incomplete evidence and speculation, Dr Kostis concludes that "the HYVET investigators deserve to be congratulated for persevering and ultimately succeeding in proving the benefit of treating hypertension in the very old."
Sponsored by Imperial College London, HYVET was the largest randomised, controlled trial assessing the benefit-to-risk ratio of treating hypertensive patients 80 years of age and older. The results showed that lowering blood pressure of elderly patients could cut their total mortality by a fifth and their rate of cardiovascular events by a third. The findings have the potential to affect the treatment and impact the health outcomes of millions of individuals, the investigators said.
ACCOMPLISH: calcium blocker beats diuretic for combination with ACE inhibitor
The combination of a calcium channel blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor is more effective for reducing cardiovascular events in the treatment of hypertension than a thiazide diuretic plus an ACE inhibitor, the results of the ACCOMPLISH (Avoiding Cardiovascular Events in Combination Therapy in Patients Living with Systolic Hypertension) trial show. Experts say these results should lead to a change in the hypertension guidelines.
The Novartis-funded trial was the first study to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes using single pill, fixed-dose combination therapy for the treatment of high-risk hypertensive patients. It randomised 10,700 patients to a combination of benazepril and amlodipine or to a combination of benazepril and hydrochlorothiazide. All patients in the study received no more than 40 mg of benazepril in each dose; amlodipine doses began at 5 mg and could be increased to 10 mg, while hydrochlorothiazide doses began at 12.5 mg and could be increased to 25 mg.
Table 1. ACCOMPLISH: results at 36 months
Only 37 % of the participants had adequate control of blood pressure prior to entry into the trial but use of the combination tablets more than doubled the number of patients who achieved adequate control to 80 % in both groups. Although blood pressure was lowered to a similar extent in both treatment arms, the calcium blocker/ACE inhibitor reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by 20% compared to the diuretic/ACEinhibitor group. The study was stopped early because of a lower event rate in the ACE inhibitor/calcium blocker group. Results are summarised in table 1.
Lead investigator, Dr Kenneth Jamerson (University of Michigan, US) said: "The ACCOMPLISH trial demonstrates the superiority of an ACE inhibitor/calcium blocker fixed-dose combination treatment strategy for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and provides evidence to modify future hypertension guidelines especially in terms of starting with a one-drug strategy."
"These ACCOMPLISH results shake the foundations of current recommendations and define a new standard which will enhance the achievement of the primary goal and assist clinicians in meeting the daily challenges of hypertension management," co-investigator Dr Eric Velazquez (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, US) added.
ISAR-REACT 3: bivalirudin in low-risk PCI?
Bivalirudin does not improve net clinical benefit in troponin-negative patients undergoing elective angioplasty (PCI) who have received a 600 mg pre-loading dose of clopidogrel, according to the results of the ISAR-REACT 3 (Intracoronary Stenting and Antithrombotic Regimen: Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment 3) trial.
Table 1. ISAR-REACT 3: results
The trial included 4,570 such patients randomised to bivalirudin or heparin. Results showed no significant difference in the primary end point (a composite of death, myocardial infarction [MI], urgent target vessel revascularisation [TVR] or major bleeding at 30 days) or the secondary end point (a composite of death, MI, or urgent target vessel revascularisation) between the two groups, but bleeding was reduced with bivalirudin (table 1).
Presenting the study, Dr Adnan Kastrati (Deutsches Herzzentrum, Munich, Germany) said there was no good reason to use bivalirudin instead of heparin in elective PCI. But discussant, Dr Harvey White (Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand), said the reduced bleeding alone was a reason to use bivalirudin. "Bleeding is important to patients in terms of patient discomfort, prolonged hospitalisations, increased costs, and it is independently associated with early and long term morbidity and mortality," he said.
Paclitaxel coated balloon for in-stent restenosis?
A balloon coated with paclitaxel showed better results in the treatment of in-stent restenosis than using a paclitaxel-eluting stent in the PEPCAD-2 ISR (Paclitaxel-Eluting PTCA-Balloon Catheter in Coronary Artery Disease-2 In-Stent Restenosis) trial.
The primary end point, lumen loss six months after the procedure, was reduced by about half after treatment with the SeQuent™-Please balloon catheter in the "as treated" analysis of the results, which also showed reductions in target-lesion revascularisation rates and major cardiac events, lead investigator Dr Martin Unverdorben (University of Frankfurt, Germany) reported.
But discussant, Dr Steven R Bailey (University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, US) noted that the intention to treat analysis did not show significant differences, and the 131-patient study was too small to reach definitive conclusions.
STRADIVARIUS: mixed results for rimonabant on atherosclerosis
The weight loss drug, rimonabant, did not slow the progression of atherosclerosis and was associated with an increased rate of psychiatric (mainly anxiety and depression) and other side effects in STRADIVARIUS (Strategy to Reduce Atherosclerosis Development Involving Administration of Rimonabant – The Intravascular Ultrasound Study). However, total atheroma volume, a secondary end point, was reduced with the drug, and lead investigator, Dr Steven Nissen (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, US) concluded that rimonabant still holds promise in heart disease.
The STRADIVARIUS study involved 839 patients with coronary artery disease and abdominal obesity who received either rimonabant 20 mg daily or placebo for 18 months. Atherosclerosis was measured by intravascular ultrasound at the start and end of the study.
Results showed that patients on rimonabant lost an average of 9.5 pounds (4.3kg) and 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) in waist circumference compared with the placebo group. They also had greater improvements in lipid profiles, including a 22.4% increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and a 20.5% reduction in triglycerides, and in C-reactive protein and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c).
Table 1. STRADIVARIUS: atherosclerosis results
The primary end point, per cent atheroma volume, was no different between the two groups, although the secondary end point of normalised total atheroma volume did show an improvement in the rimonabant patients (table 1).
Psychiatric adverse effects occurred in 43.4% of rimonabant patients versus 28.4% of the placebo group, but Dr Nissen noted that severe psychiatric adverse effects, including major depression and suicidal ideation, were uncommon occurring with similar frequency in the two groups (4.7% on rimonabant and 3.8% on placebo). In addition to psychiatric side effects, rimonabant was also associated with increases in nausea, other gastrointestinal side effects and erectile dysfunction.
In an editorial accompanying publication of the study in JAMA (JAMA 2008; 299: 1547–60) Drs John Rumsfeld (Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, US) and Brahmajee Nallamothu (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, US) , say the rate of psychiatric adverse events in this study was "alarmingly high", adding that "given the known correlation between obesity and psychiatric comorbidity, the potential for a medication that targets weight loss to cause depression is a major concern".
Dr Nissen noted that more information on the effect of rimonabant on heart disease will come from the long-term placebo-controlled outcomes trial, CRESCENDO, which is underway in 17,000 patients at high risk for cardiovascular events.
Valve clip improves mitral regurgitation
Percutaneous mitral repair with a valve clip reduced mitral regurgitation and improved left ventricular function in EVEREST (Endovascular Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair Study).
Presenting the results, Dr James Hermiller (St Vincent Heart Center, Indianapolis, US) noted that 19 of 23 patients had been successfully treated with the clip device. One-year results, available for 12 patients, showed that mitral regurgitation had been reduced to mild or trivial levels in 89% of the patients, and that heart failure functional class and measures of reverse remodelling also showed significant improvement.
If further studies confirm the safety and efficacy of the device, it may prove to be a valuable alternative to surgical repair, enabling patients to avoid open-heart surgery, Dr Hermiller concluded.
Celecoxib meta-analysis will help direct prescribing
A new meta-analysis of trials of the COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, has suggested that the drug has the greatest risk of adverse effects when used in patients at highest cardiovascular risk, and that the cardiovascular adverse events appear to be dose related.
Presenting the study, Dr Scott Solomon (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, US) said the results "should provide comfort in prescribing celecoxib to patients with very low cardiovascular risk, but caution in prescribing the drug in those at high risk". He added that the data support recent recommendations that physicians should prescribe the lowest doses of celecoxib possible, especially in higher risk patients.
The meta-analysis included six trials that compared celecoxib to placebo for conditions other than arthritis, with a planned follow-up of three or more years. All had been stopped after the withdrawal of rofecoxib in 2004. In total, 7,950 patients were administered one of three doses of celecoxib (400 mg once daily, 200 mg twice daily or 400 mg twice daily). The primary end point was the combination of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure or thromboembolic event. This was found to be increased with celecoxib in the overall population, but showed a dose-related effect.
Table 1. Hazard ratio for primary end point with different celecoxib doses
The results (table 1) also showed a doubling of risk between low and moderate cardiovascular risk groups and a further doubling of risk between moderate and high risk groups.
Dr Solomon noted that the studies included in this meta-analysis did not include the most widely used dose of celecoxib for osteoarthritis (200 mg once daily), but rather related to doses recommended for other indications such as rheumatoid arthritis, acute pain and dysmenorrhoea. He suggested that once-daily dosing appears to be safer than twice-daily dosing, but added that it cannot be addressed from this study whether doses lower than those used in these six trials are safer.
PERISCOPE: pioglitazone reduces atherosclerosis progression
Pioglitazone reduced the progression of atherosclerosis and improved cardiovascular risk compared with glimepiride in the PERISCOPE (Pioglitazone Effect on Regression of Intravascular Sonographic Coronary Obstruction Prospective Evaluation) study in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Presenting the results, Dr Steven Nissen (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, US) said this was the first time a diabetes drug had been shown to slow progression of coronary atherosclerosis.
In the trial, 543 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomised to either glimepiride (1–4 mg) or pioglitazone (15–45 mg) for 18 months. Atherosclerosis was assessed by intravascular ultrasound at the start and the end of the treatment period. Results showed that mean per cent atheroma volume decreased by 0.16% in pioglitazone-treated subjects but increased by 0.73% in glimepiride-treated patients. Pioglitazone also had greater effects on lowering glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting insulin levels, and improved high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
In terms of adverse events, more patients in the glimepiride group experienced hypoglycaemia and angina, while oedema, weight gain and bone fractures were more common with pioglitazone.
Dr Nissen cautioned that this study was based on a surrogate end point, and should not influence clinical practice on its own, but that together with the PROACTIVE clinical end point trial, which showed promising results for pioglitazone, "the totality of information suggests this is a beneficial therapy".
And what about rosiglitazone?
A smaller study (VICTORY) did not show a significant effect of rosiglitazone versus placebo on slowing atherosclerosis progression, but there was a beneficial trend. The 193-patient study also showed a positive effect on metabolic factors with the drug. Lead investigator Dr Olivier Bertrand (Laval University, Quebec, Canada) said the results provided reassurance about the safety of rosiglitazone.
ALLAY: aliskiren as effective as losartan for regressing LVH
The direct renin inhibitor, aliskiren, was found to be as effective as the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), losartan, for regressing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertension patients in the ALLAY (ALiskiren Left ventricular Assessment. of hypertrophY) trial. But the combination of the two agents was no better than either one alone.
The study randomised 460 overweight hypertensive patients with evidence of LVH to one of three treatment arms: aliskiren 300 mg per day, losartan 100 mg per day, or aliskiren 300 mg per day plus losartan 100 mg per day, with all patients being treated to blood pressure targets. Treatment with the study drug was continued for 36 weeks.
The primary end point, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) as assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging between baseline and 36 weeks, was reduced to a similar extent in all three groups. Although the reduction in LV mass was numerically greater in the combination arm, it failed to reach statistical significance. Aliskiren, either alone or in combination with losartan, was very well tolerated with no differences in adverse events between groups and a very low level of adverse events. There were no increases in hyperkalemia, hypotension or renal dysfunction in patients receiving aliskiren either alone or in combination, lead investigator, Dr Scott Solomon (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, US) reported.
MULTISTRATEGY: tirofiban and sirolimus stents beneficial in primary PCI
Sirolimus-eluting stents appeared safe and reduced target vessel revascularisation (TVR) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the MULTISTRATEGY trial. The study also found that tirofiban, at its new higher dose, showed similar ST segment resolution to abciximab.
Table 1. Event rates for uncoated stents vs. sirolimus-eluting stents
Dr Marco Valgimigli (University of Ferrara, Italy) explained that the use of drug-eluting stents in myocardial infarction (MI) patients is controversial because of the risk of stent thrombosis. In addition, the original dose of tirofiban was not as good as abciximab in PCI but a higher dose of tirofiban was now advocated. The MULTISTRATEGY trial was therefore conducted to look at these two issues.
The open-label 2 x 2 factorial study included 745 ST-elevation MI patients who were randomised to high-dose tirofiban vs. abciximab, and to sirolimus-eluting stent vs. bare metal stent. For the drug comparison, the main outcome measure was at least 50% ST-segment elevation resolution at 90 minutes post-intervention, which was seen in a similar amount of patients in the two groups (83.5% of abciximab patients vs. 85.3 of the tirofiban patients).
For the stent comparison, the primary end point was the rate of major adverse cardiac events, defined as the composite of death/MI/target-vessel revascularisation within eight months, which was significantly reduced in the sirolimus coated stent group. Stent thrombosis was similar between the two groups and the incidence of death/MI showed a trend towards a reduction in the sirolimus stent group, which said to be "reassuring".
TRANSFER –AMI : transfer patients for PCI after lysis
A strategy of transferring myocardial infarction (MI) patients for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within six hours of receiving thrombolysis is associated with significantly less ischaemic complications and no excess in bleeding in the TRANSFER-AMI (Trial of Routine Angioplasty and Stenting After Fibrinolysis to Enhance Reperfusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction) study.
Lead investigator Dr Warren Cantor (Southlake Regional Health Centre, Ontario, Canada) suggested that this trial may have succeeded where others had failed because of the time window between lysis and PCI. He explained that if PCI is done too soon, the bleeding risk increases, but in this study, most patients received PCI about two-to-four hours after lysis, which seems to allow use of all the potent antithrombotic agents needed during PCI, without increasing risk. He also pointed out that this time interval was realistic for the real world.
In the study, around 1,000 patients were assigned to either thrombolysis (with rescue PCI for failed reperfusion and elective PCI encouraged for successfully reperfused patients after 24 hours) or a pharmacoinvasive strategy (transfer for PCI within six hours).
Table 1. Primary end point at 30 days
PCI was performed in 84% of patients in the pharmacoinvasive strategy compared with 62% of patients (after a mean of 27 hours) in the standard arm. The primary end point of the study, a composite of 30-day death, MI, heart failure, severe recurrent ischemia, or shock, was significantly lower in the transfer arm (table 1).
There was no difference in bleeding between the two groups.
ACC 2008: a primary care perspective
Dr Terry McCormack gives his views on some of the major trials presented at the ACC meeting and their implications for practice in the UK
This was an astonishing meeting, which was packed with new discovery and news. ENHANCE (Ezetimibe and Simvastatin in Hypercholesterolaemia Enhances Atherosclerosis Regression) generated the most news and hullabaloo, but this was not about science so much as politics and finance. The trial itself tells us very little about ezetimibe, as most patients were pre-treated with statins and from the start had very little carotid intima to influence.
The New England Journal of Medicine article 'Use of Ezetimibe in the United States and Canada' by Jackevicius et al. (N Engl J Med 2008;358:1819–28) tells us the real story about this controversy. Ezetimibe accounted for 15.2% of the US market but only 3.4% of the Canadian market. The UK is very similar to the Canadian market. In December 2006 the monthly spend on Zetia® and Vytorin®, the two US ezetimibe brands, was US$ 261,479,000. Publication of the trial was delayed by more than a year, during which time the drugs bill exceeded US$ 4 billion. The American insurance companies and federal administrators are not happy.
Clearly, in the US, prescribers were replacing high-dose, newer statins with this unproven product. The message here is not to abandon ezetimibe, as it may well be proven to be effective by IMPROVE-IT (IMProved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial), but rather to use it appropriately. This means using it after you have failed to achieve reasonable control with high-dose statins – in other words as a third-line drug, which is what most of us were already doing in the UK. By an amazing coincidence, the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) steering committee met on the same day and closed the trial because of a positive result favouring rosuvastatin.
Major hypertension studies report
The other amazing session was on the following day with the presentation of three major trials related to hypertension and prevention. ACCOMPLISH (Avoiding Cardiovascular Events in Combination Therapy in Patients Living with Systolic Hypertension) tells us that the calcium channel blocker amlodipine was significantly more effective than a thiazide diuretic in terms of preventing cardiovascular events in a high-risk population. But note this was a thiazide and not a thiazide-like diuretic. ALLHAT (Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to prevent Heart Attack Trial) used the thiazide-like diuretic chlorthalidone, which might explain the difference in outcomes.
HYVET (Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial) proved a definite benefit in treating hypertension in people over 80 years for the first time. Some 80% of people in the treatment arm of this trial were taking both indapamide (also a thiazide-like diuretic) and perindropril. This may explain why we discovered not only that the treatment reduced strokes and all-cause mortality, but also that we reduced the relative risk of new onset heart failure by an incredible 64%.
The trial was independent in that it was funded by the British Heart Foundation and sponsored by Imperial College London. The drug costs were funded by Servier in the knowledge that the trial would close after the patent life of both drugs expired. It is important to recognise that this relates to fit people over 80 who do not have postural hypotension and where the target blood pressure is to below 150/90 mmHg. Adverse reactions were higher in the placebo group.
ONTARGET (ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial) was not a hypertension trial but shows that in terms of cardiovascular outcomes, the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan is exactly as good as the angiotensin-coverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril. It also tells us that combining an ACE inhibitor and ARB has no advantage in the non-heart failure patient and just increases side effects
TM has received research and educational grants from AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Novartis, Schering-Plough, Servier and is an investigator and steering committee member for HYVET.
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2007 BJCA survey of cardiology trainees
Practice-based commissioning: should cardiologists fear it?
Aliskiren
calcium blocker


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Does each camera of the same model have different serial number on it?
Yes, each item of any thing in the same model has a different serial number. It is the only way to tell which camera is which. Or anything else for that model. For instance, all Honda Accord cards produced in the year 2005 will have a different serial number. No two are alike.
Asked in Cameras
How do i find out my digital camera model?
You can find out the model of your digital camera in several ways. If you have the manual that came with the camera, it will tell you the model. You can also look on the camera itself; the model number will usually be found near the serial number.
Asked in Hobbies & Collectibles, Cameras, Photography, Antiques
What is the age and value of a Polaroid 800 camera Serial number-G117697?
I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that the number you think is the serial number is not the serial number. The reason being, my camera has the exact same number on it. So it must be a model number. I can't find any other numbers on the camera to reflect a serial number.
Asked in Winchester Firearms
Winchester shotgun serial number 322910 made?
You'll need to post the model number. Winchester serial numbers were not unique. A model 12 can have the same serial number as a model 11 or a model 97, but all were made in different years.
What year is a Winchester with serial number G975970?
What model is the rifle? different series for each model.
What year made serial 529640?
You will need to post the model number of the gun. Winchesters of different models can have the same serial number
Asked in Cameras, Photography, Antiques
What year was the Polaroid Land camera serial G-100638 produced?
Polaroid has not released serial number information for most of their cameras, so it would be helpful if you specified a model. If the serial number corresponds with a Polaroid Model 80 Highlander (as it appears it may), the camera was made sometime between 1957 and 1962, possibly in the late 1950s.
Winchester sn l2505389?
You'll need to post the Model number as well. Winchester serial numbers were not unique. 2 different model Winchesters can have the same serial number.
Asked in The Sims Video Games
Can you tell model from serial number?
model number is always smaller than serial
Asked in Smith and Wesson
What is the age of a model 58 smith and Wesson serial number 00301?
e The serial number you listed is not a Model 58 serial number. the serial number starts with an "S"
Asked in Digital Cameras
Where is the model number on a Canon camera?
Practically all Canon digital cameras have the model number clearly displayed on the exterior, although there are some sub-model numbers. Both the manufacturer model number and the serial number are recorded on the ID plate, attached to the bottom or the rear of the camera body. The manufacturer model number may differ from the descriptive model number (e.g. PowerShot A560 = PC1229) because of variations in the design or features.
What model smith and Wesson revolver do you have with serial number afy6xxx?
You can not tell the model number with just the serial number.
Asked in Browning Firearms
What model is Browning serial number 20316?
Determining the model from just the serial number is virtually impossilbe.
What model smith and Wesson is serial 4422?
No way to tell model number from just the serial number.
Asked in Firearms
What model is miroku serial number 22354?
Virtually impossible to tell a model from just the serial number.
Asked in Colt Pistols and Rifles
What is the age of serial number 118408?
is that the serial number of a model A ford ?? or firearms ?? If a firearm, who made it and what is the model ????
Asked in Winchester Firearms, Sports Memorabilia, Outdoor Activities
Why your 308 gun model serial got a A?
The numbers 308 are not the model number.That is the caliber.Include the model and serial number so we can answer why the letter A appears in the front of the serial number.
Asked in Firearms, Winchester Firearms, American Gun Company
How can you check a serial on a gun to see what make and model it is?
You can't. The same serial number can appear on guns from different manufacturers and on different models from the same manufacturer.
When was a Winchester model number 566559 made?
The number you provided is probably the serial number?If you can give me the model number along with the serial number,Then I can answer your question.
Asked in Air Guns and Air Rifles
How old is a Crosman air rifle serial number 00002497?
I'm going to need more information, like the model number to Identify it. Just the serial is alone is not much help. Different models had different serial number's.
How old is a Crosman air rifle serial number 010407380?
Asked in Lawn Mowers and Garden Tools
Is a lawn mower id the serial number or model number?
It is the model number
What is age of a Colt Model 13640 serial number T 23200?
yes, yes, there is. it is the model number for a .357 magnum 4 inch PYTHON. says it right on the box. the serial numbers are, of course, different and unique to each gun. There is no such Colt model number.
Asked in Powerboats, Watercraft Engine Maintenance
What year is evinrude serial no G0425745?
Evinrude and Johnson outboards use the engine model number, rather than the serial number, to determine the year model. The model number will be on the same plate/sticker as the serial number.
What is the model number for Johnson v4 140hp with serial number 07906623?
The model number/designation, for a Johnson outboard, cannot be determined by horsepower rating, or serial number. The model number will be displayed on the serial number tag/sticker, affixed to the engine.
Asked in Cars & Vehicles
What model and year is serial?
Serial is a number. For example, a car has a model and year to identify it by made and model, and then it has a serial number to further identify it down to it's individual number. It's similar to 1964 Aston Martin DB5 serial number 007.


Forget the takeout when you can make this dish just as tasty at home.
Using low sodium soy sauce and brown rice are easy, healthy swaps.
For the best buy, choose napa cabbage with firm heads and no brown spots.
To prepare napa cabbage, rinse well and cut off the tough base.
To keep fresh, refrigerate unwashed cabbage up to 1 week.
Napa cabbage contains vitamin C, which is good for fighting colds and healing cuts.
In a large frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat.
Pour eggs into pan and scramble for about 1 minute, or until eggs are cooked. Remove eggs from the pan and set aside.
Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same pan over medium heat.
Add onion, garlic and carrot. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Add cabbage, rice, soy sauce and cooked eggs to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes or until the rice is hot, stirring often. Enjoy!


Web design is an art that requires professional experience. On any day, you may visit a number of websites that contain features that you do not like. Some bad things of a web design include the website being rather slow, a large number of ads, or broken links. A webmaster has to do a number of things to maintain a website properly. In this article, you will find ten of the worst things a website can have.
Hundreds of thousands of websites suffer from the slow-loading problem. It is estimated that a normal visitor browses away from a website if it takes more than four seconds to load. Although this depends much on the visitor's browsing speed, a webmaster can do a few things to make his website faster.
Generally, a website earns its revenue through advertisements. Due to this reason, people are used to find a few ads on any website. People do put up with the ads if the content on the site is worth visiting for. However, the case is different if your website is riddled with ads. Too much advertising can only negatively affect a site. Firstly, it slows down the page and drives people away. Secondly, it could mess up the code on the page and the website may show errors.
It is also not a good thing to have the advertisements show up before the actual content does. Some websites including some professional publications show an advertisement page along with a 'skip ad' link to view the content. This is may not be a good idea for any website.
If you are launching a new website, it is normal to put up an 'under construction' banner. In such cases, try to make the website available to the visitors as soon as possible. On a page with such a banner, do not place links to other pages that also have the same banner. It could be very annoying to the visitors. Also, put up this banner only if you are sure to bring the site online within a few days; one good addition to this banner is the date of launch of the site.
A website with a huge number of pages can in time accumulate a large number of broken links. Sometimes the link targets go out of business or change their URLs. This is normal. However, a visitor does not enjoy a page with several broken links. You have several tools to fight this problem. One free solution is Xenu's Link Sleuth. "This application crawls through the pages of your website like a search bot and spots broken links. This is easy to do and enhances your website's quality.
A huge number of sites publish content requiring a certain plugin installation. These sites show you a message like 'Install Flash to watch the movie'. An average visitor may not find this quite attractive. It is apt for any such website to have a plugin-free version as well to show the content properly to all visitors. For instance, if you have a movie that relies on a different plugin than Flash, it is clever to upload the same movie to YouTube and make it available to people without that particular plugin. A web designer should make a website with as little plugin content as possible.
Some websites contain articles with huge soo-word paragraphs. In addition, the articles may not be properly broken down with subheadings. Combine these with a tiny, illegible font and no images, and you give a drab user experience to a visitor. In order to make a page work better, have as many subheadings as required and break down the content in short paragraphs of less than five sentences each. Also, put up a few images to illustrate your content well.
The time when pop-ups used to be big is long gone. Good web designers no longer use pop-ups and pop-unders to display advertisements or content. Today's web development technologies let you have pop-up windows right within the web page. You can utilize these design options to some level to enhance your website. Also, make sure you do not overdo it.
A professional website must have a few things in it. An 'about us' page, a disclaimer, a contact form, etc., are some of them. A way to contact the web master is essential for any professional website. Not adding one or not giving an updated contact detail does not help your site's visitors.
If you have a large website, such as a blog that is updated on a regular basis, a search form is essential. This helps visitors find the content that they need. People use the search function to find a page that was published a while back on your website. With a search form, hence, you can increase the page views of your website and provide appropriate content to your visitors. Also, make sure that your search function works well in finding the right content from your site. Many webmasters use Google's custom search function to find content from within their sites.
A website's design, to be effective, has to take into account many factors. High traffic is essential to generate revenue from any website. Hence, make sure that you publish valuable content and make it properly accessible to the visitors of your site.
Website Design Needed For Vacant Land Sales.
Email Etiquette: How Not to End Up in the Bin!
Being on both ends of the spectrum I tend to have a contorted view on the matter. I have the patience of a turtle. Slow websites don't necessarily turn me away if the content is good. However, a website full of ads and pop-ups will instantly have me clicking out. An abundance of ads usually leads to slow loading times and don't get me started on auto-playing video ads. I've yet to meet a user who enjoys those. As always, great tips.


This entry was posted in Earth Month, Elemental Work, Growth and Growing Pains. Bookmark the permalink.
Ha, some of this sounds like something I could have writen verbatim–the workaholic mindset that you must dodoDO otherwise you'll fall behind. I've gotten better at not feeling guilty for the lulls, though, whether they be in magical work, reading, job work, or working out. I've found if I go into a lull my body *seriously* wants that rest time.
It'll be interesting to see how your Air month goes.
*nods* If I take the time to get at least eight hours of sleep, my body yells at me for waking up too early, and I get tired throughout the day. I've got years of sleep debt to undo, from college, and working night shift. Problem is it just isn't feasible for me to sleep for a week.


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Star Trek XII: Into Darkness
Poll Says Star Trek Into Darkness Villain Is...
December 16, 2012 1:20 PM EST
For our latest StarTrek.com poll, we asked… Who do you think Benedict Cumberbatch's character is for the upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness? More than 10,000 people replied and it was a tight, tight race, with Gary Mitchell earning 37% of the vote, barely topping the option "A new, unknown character" (35%) and Khan Noonien Singh (28%). Here's what some of your fellow fans had to say in the comments. Do you agree?
Gary Mitchell - 37%
New Unknown Villain - 35%
Khan - 28%
"I hope Gary Mitchell's story is the plot for STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. Watched this episode recently on Syfy channel, and it is one of the best of the original series." – Malcolm Harrison Bourne
"I'm voting for Khan. The whole 'I have returned' thing in the trailer gives it away. He's reigniting the Eugenics Wars (which nearly destroyed earth in the first place). Gary Mitchell? No... not yet. They are going to introduce Mitchell in this movie, but kill off Spock. THEN, in the third movie, they bring back Spock to battle the Mitchell-god character. It's all too obvious from the trailers, people." – Stephen Fender
"Gary Mitchell would be cool." – Cynthia Carlin Drake
"It's Khan. He is back to reclaim what was taken from him. He is having his revenge." – Marko Belobrajdic
"After seeing the 9 minute Hobbit preview I can say without hesitation: this is clearly Dr. Noonien Soong, the genetic modifying outlaw and creator of Data." – David Andrew Petty
"I heard Peter Weller is in the movie. My theory is he is Khan and the movie starts with the Enterprise locating the Botany Bay. Khan struggles for control of the Enterprise and possibly another Starfleet ship is involved - leading to a battle between Khan's ship and the Enterprise. Khan's ship is destroyed but his loyal follower Joachim survives. Knowing Khan's followers are loyal to the death, Joachim (who may have never been seen by Enterprise crew members) infiltrates Starfleet and then begins to wreak havoc on Starfleet and punish Kirk and his crewmates. That's my theory." – Konley Kelley
And we had to laugh at this comment:
"Who cares? Benedict Cumberbatch is so awesome!" – Christine Olsen
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Prince Harry remembers 'legend of banter' Prince Philip
Prince Harry has remembered his grandfather, Prince Philip, as a "legend of banter".
The 36-year-old royal - who has returned to the UK without his wife Duchess Meghan or their 23-month-old son Archie - ahead of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on Saturday (17.04.21) paid a touching tribute to his "charming" relative as he reflected not only on Philip's position in the UK as Queen Elizabeth's husband but also his own personal loss.
He said in a statement: "My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour. He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm—and also because you never knew what he might say next.
"He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke.
"But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end."
Harry joked he would keep his tribute short because he knows that's what his grandfather would have wanted.
He added: "He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, 'Oh do get on with it!'
"So, on that note, Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself. You will be sorely missed, but always remembered - by the nation and the world.
"Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts."
The prince ended his statement with a short Latin phrase used by the Marines, "Per Mare, Per Terram."


The Mendocino College Recording Arts and Technology Club will present multi-instrumentalist, singer and award-winning educator Joe Craven as Mendocino Community College's artist-in-residence for 2016.
He brings a new band, Joe Craven and the Sometimers to the College Performing Arts Center Theater for workshops on Friday, Feb. 5 and a concert on Saturday Feb. 6.
Craven is the director of RiverTunes Music Camp and plays a wide variety of stringed instruments, including fiddle, mandolin, ukulele, tres, cavaquinio, balaliaka, as well as a world of percussion, including anything he can get his hands on, such as a pickling jar, a credit card or a jawbone.
Craven is a well-known master of ceremonies at acoustic music festivals and, for many years, was violinist and percussionist for the David Grisman Quintet.
His versatile Sometimer band mates are: Bruce MacMillan on guitars, dobro, lap steel, vocals and Jonathan Stoyanoff on standup and electric basses and vocals.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with special guest opener, The Thin Air String Band. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 for student/seniors and are available at Ukiah's Dig! Music, Mendocino Book Company, and online at Brown Paper Tickets.


Kuwait Paper Dump is Pink in October to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) in Kuwait.
We will be looking for BCAM brochures and flyers to upload, if you have any please send them to us on our contributions page.
To start, you can visit BreastCareKuwait.org to get more information and share the message!


We're heading to Saskatoon tomorrow morning for Christmas. We'll be doing an engagement shoot for a wedding we're doing in February, and spending time with family and a few friends. A quick little story from my exciting life: I woke up on Monday morning, devastatingly tired. Decided to shave in the shower to save time. The razor was a little dull but I figured, in my semi-conscious state of mind, I did a pretty good job. Got dressed quickly, skipped out the door and drove to work. Went to the washroom shortly after I got there and noticed I had half a mustache and half a goatee. And it wasn't just a couple days' worth of stubble; it was a week old growth. I looked like a homeless sleezeball. So I whipped over to London Drugs and bought some disposals and did a dry shave on the way back to work. A pleasant Monday morning.
Okay, I finally got around to developing some film I used while we were in Europe. Obviously, we shot mostly digital, but I used about four rolls of 35mm and I was really curious to see how it turned out. This is the first roll I've got. I like it.


Entrance point partly unclear, though from Lake Moogerah Rd.
With camping, sailing, fishing and waterskiing available here at Lake Moogerah, plus easy access to attractions – there is never a shortage of things to do!
Dangle a line as you rest on the shores of the Lake or participate in the fun and excitement of waterskiing, local bush walking, rock climbing, wine tasting, rodeos or even the local festivals.
Other things to do on a bike in the Scenic Rim.


Blank business check paper on top is designed to be used in your software program. These blank check forms are secure and cost effective for small businesses.
These business laser checks are available in four colors: blue, tan, burgundy, and green. The business check paper is perforated at 3 ½" and 7" from the top. Each check also has many security features in place, including a security screen and void pantograph.
Click here to view other styles of blank computer check paper.


text:
Матві́ївка — село в Україні, у Довжанській міській громаді Довжанського району Луганської області. Населення становить 239 осіб.

Знаходиться на тимчасово окупованій території України.

Географія
Географічні координати: 47°1' пн. ш. 39°33' сх. д. Часовий пояс — UTC+2. Загальна площа села — 23,3 км².

Село розташоване у східній частині Донбасу за 23 км від міста Довжанська. Найближча залізнична станція — Довжанська, за 11 км.

Історія
Заснований у 1907 році як хутір Матвіївка, з 1955 року має статус села. Назва утворена від прізвища землевласника Матвієва.

Під час Другої світової війни участь у бойових діях брали 30 місцевих жителів, з них 13 загинуло, 25 осіб нагороджені орденами і медалями.

12 червня 2020 року, відповідно до Розпорядження Кабінету Міністрів України № 717-р «Про визначення адміністративних центрів та затвердження територій територіальних громад Луганської області», увійшло до складу Довжанської міської громади.

17 липня 2020 року, в результаті адміністративно-територіальної реформи та ліквідації  колишніх Довжанського (1938—2020) та Сорокинського районів, увійшло до складу новоутвореного Довжанського району.

Населення
За даними перепису 2001 року населення села становило 239 осіб, з них 21,34% зазначили рідною мову українську, 76,99% — російську, а 1,67% — іншу.

Соціальна сфера
У селі працює клуб та фермерське господарство.

Пам'ятки
Поблизу Матвіївки виявлено 2 курганних могильника з 10 курганами.

Також у центрі села встановлено пам'ятник полеглим під час Другої світової війни у боях воїнам-односельчанам.

Охорона природи
На південно-західній околиці села знаходиться ландшафтний заказник «Нагольний кряж».

Примітки

Джерела
 Высоцкий В. И. Исторические аспекты топононимов Луганщины. — Луганск, 2003. 196 с.
 Історія міст і сіл Української РСР. Луганська область. — К.: Головна редакція УРЕ АН УРСР, 1968. — 939 с.
 Міста і села України. Луганщина: історико-краєзнавчі нариси/ упор. В. В. Болгов. — К: Українська академія геральдики, товарного знаку та логотипу, 2012. — 472 с. — ISBN 978-966-8153-83-9

Посилання
 Облікова картка  на сайті ВРУ
 Погода в селі Матвіївка

Села Луганської області

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Aprilia RS 660 production-spec renderings revealed, expected launch in 2020
Aditya Chatterjee Updated: June 10, 2019, 06:55 PM IST
Aprilia took the platform of EICMA 2018 to showcase their upcoming youngest superbike, the RS 660 in a concept form. This was seen as Aprilia's interpretation of a middle-weight supersports machine. While this itself is an amazing news, the bigger update was that Aprilia plans to target Asian markets with the production version of the 660 supersports bike. Yes, we in India are excited for it as well. And now the renderings of the production-spec Aprilia RS 660 have been unveiled, and it confirms that concept's design will make it into production without much changes. We expect the production version of the Aprilia RS 660 to be launched internationally earlier next year.
Aprilia RS 660 concept showcased at EICMA 2018
Aprilia RS 660 rendering. Launch in Early 2020
The overall silhouette of the Aprilia RS 660 does look like the showbike, however, there are tweaks in the design to accommodate the newly designed side panels and also the distinctive air wings do not come with air outlets positioned behind them as shown in the concept bike. The air winds have been designed in such a way that it functions as a complete unit and channelises air flow accordingly. Further, the LED strip has been given a miss but the overall headlight design remains unchanged. The side indicators should be a bolt-on on the fairing, as it's not seen on the rendering or on the concept bike. Also, the concept motorcycle was showcased with Öhlins fork and Brembo Stylema calipers which have been replaced by Sachs suspension and Brembo Monoblocks, similar to what is on offered on the RSV4 RR. This could be the regular or the standard version of the RS 660. Aprilia might also churn out a pure-performance bred Factory machine like it offers the RR and Factory siblings of the RSV4. The wheel design has been changed to Y-spoke.
Overall shape of the Aprilia RS 660 looks similar to the concept machine
Powering the Aprilia Concept 660 Supersports is an all-new parallel-twin engine that has been developed from taking the front half of the Aprilia RSV4 1100's unit. From the looks of it, it can be seen that the new engine is a complex and compact unit. In fact, the overall construction of the motorcycle is so compact that the engine acts as the stress member of the chassis. The rear swingarm has been pivoted inside the crankcase while the engine is positioned inside the twin-spar aluminium frame at the rear of the heads and also with the top of the rear of the crankcase. The right arm of the swingarm has a curved shape in order to all the exhaust terminal to pass. The particular mounting of the shock absorber allows outstanding progression to be obtained without using linkage, thereby cutting down on weight and making it a cleaner package overall.
Powering the Aprilia Concept 660 Supersports is an all-new parallel-twin engine that has been developed from taking the front half of the Aprilia RSV4 1100's unit
While it is still too early to speculate when Aprilia will launch the RS 660 in India, we believe it could happen sometime next year as the Indian audiences have started showing interest in more premium performance spec automobiles. Aprilia India recently launched the Storm 125 in India, a scooter that is based on the SR 125 but gets snazzier styling and chunky tyres. Here's our first ride review of the scooter.
Also read,
Spec Comparo: Aprilia SR 125 Storm vs Honda Grazia vs Suzuki Access 125 Vs TVS Ntorq 125
Image gallery: 2019 Aprilia Storm 125
2019 Aprilia Storm 125 launched in India at Rs 65,000
Aprilia RSV4 2019 Full Spec
Starts Rs 21,29,000
Aprilia SR 125 2021 Full Spec
Aprilia Storm 125 2020 Full Spec
Starts Rs 65,000
-Speed
Honda Grazia 2020 Full Spec
Suzuki Access 2020 Full Spec
TVS Ntorq 125 2021 Full Spec
Tags: Aprilia RS 660 | Aprilia RS 660 concept | Aprilia RS 660 rendering | Aprilia RS 660 launch in India | Aprilia RS 660 launch | Aprilia RS 660 engine | Aprilia RS 660 design | Aprilia RS 660 details | Aprilia RS 660 information | Aprilia RS 660 image gallery | Aprilia RS 660 photos |
2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 and RS 660 Indian...
EICMA 2019: Aprilia RS660 supersport unveiled
Aprilia RS660's new teaser video reveals...
Aprilia RS 660 production-spec renderings revealed, expected launch... Aprilia RS 660 production-spec renderings...


The Aberfeldy distillery resides up in the Scottish Highlands, and has been producing whisky since 1896. They draw the water used for their yummy single malt from the Pitlie Burn, which is also well known for its gold deposits. Look, there's whisky writer Ian Buxton, who lives rather close to the distillery, looking to strike gold! Good luck!
Glenmorangie 18 is the result of 15 years of maturation in bourbon cask wood, followed by a final three-year 'finishing' period in finest Oloroso sherry casks.  Plenty vanilla, barley sugar, a touch of cocoa.


text:
Jason Box: Big Melt Year Shaping up in Greenland
In Midwest, South, – Flooding Rolls On
The consequences of climate change are severe, and they are already affecting places like Burlington, Iowa. We have a moral responsibility to act—now. pic.twitter.com/Vk1ym8kJqd
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 28, 2019
Already a campaign issue.
How big will it be?
USAToday:
Every large community along the Arkansas River will see major or record flooding within the next week to 10 days as swift-moving water from weeks of heavy rain challenges Arkansas' aging levee system, the National Weather Service said Wednesday.
Worse, more heavy rain is on the way.
Arkansas is not alone. Record flooding is also creating havoc in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and northeast Oklahoma, both from locally heavy rainfall and from swollen rivers bringing water south from the north-central U.S.
Eight states along the Mississippi have seen the longest period of flooding since the Great Flood of 1927, according to the NWS. The river has been at flood stage in Baton Rouge since January as snowmelt and rainfall waters make their way downstream.
One death in Arkansas has been attributed to the floods. Police said a 64-year-old victim apparently ignored a barricade and drove his minivan into floodwaters near the main gate at Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith.
The Arkansas River, swollen from water released upriver in Oklahoma, is expected to crest Wednesday near Fort Smith, Arkansas, at 41 feet, well above the previous record of 38.1 feet.
Unfortunately, after a brief respite, potentially heavy rain will return to the soaked Southern Plains for the first week of June. The 7-day sums are ominous for areas already in flood. pic.twitter.com/TRjKm1Jvk1
— NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) May 31, 2019
Freedom Fries to Freedom Gas
The Fossil fuel industry and its mouthpieces often embarrassing in their attempt to tie the power and wealth of the fossil oligarchs to the ideals of democracy. This sometimes leads us to do stupid things.
You know what they say, Freedom Fries are not Free.
The announcement this week came with the dry title "Department of Energy Authorizes Additional LNG Exports from Freeport LNG."
"Increasing export capacity from the Freeport LNG project is critical to spreading freedom gas throughout the world by giving America's allies a diverse and affordable source of clean energy," it quoted Energy Undersecretary Mark Menezes as saying in explaining why the Energy Department was approving expansion of exports of liquefied natural gas, or LNG.
Yes, he said "freedom gas."
The announcement goes on to quote Steven Winberg, the Energy Department's assistant secretary for fossil energy, as saying: "With the U.S. in another year of record-setting natural gas production, I am pleased that the Department of Energy is doing what it can to promote an efficient regulatory system that allows for molecules of U.S. freedom to be exported to the world."
The constructions aren't new. When he signed similar orders early this month, Energy Secretary Rick Perry told reporters in Brussels that "the United States is again delivering a form of freedom to the European continent," adding: "And rather than in the form of young American soldiers, it's in the form of liquefied natural gas."
According to Energy News Bulletin, a trade journal, a reporter asked Perry whether he thought "freedom gas" was an appropriate name for liquefied natural gas. "Yes, I think you may be correct in your observation," he replied.
Liquefied natural gas is a big deal right now. The United States and China have been in a trade war ever since President Donald Trump raised import tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports last year, to which the Chinese government responded by raising tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods.
In Ohio: Subsidizing Nuclear – and Coal?
There's a case to be made for keeping nuclear plants running during this energy transition. There is not a case for subsidizing coal plants with the same legislation – while cutting incentives to competition from wind and energy efficiency.
Ohio makes yet another strong play to be the nation's most backward state.
Cincinnati.com
COLUMBUS – Ohio Republicans' energy overhaul started as a thinly veiled attempt to rescue two northern Ohio nuclear plants with new fees on everyone's electric bills.
Now, the veil is off.
Changes made to House Bill 6 last week would direct most of the $197.6 million collected from new fees on Ohioans' electric bills to Akron-based FirstEnergy Solutions, which operates two nuclear plants outside Toledo and Cleveland.
Renewable energy companies from wind to solar would not get a cut of this "Ohio Clean Air Program."
In a double blow, lawmakers also axed current programs that encourage electricity providers to purchase renewable energy and help customers become more energy efficient.
And lawmakers ensured utilities could charge customers a fee for two coal plants operated by Piketon-based Ohio Valley Electric Corporation through 2030. The plants are located in Gallipolis and Madison, Indiana.
Wednesday's changes likely jettisoned any hope of widespread Democratic support.
"It's now just straight-up corporate welfare," said Rep. Kristin Boggs, the Ohio House's No. 2 Democrat. "I don't know how else to describe it."
The Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a measure that would subsidize the state's struggling coal and nuclear plants after lobbying from a member of President Donald Trump's re-election campaign.
Bob Paduchik, who also led the Ohio Trump campaign in 2016, called lawmakers urging them to support the legislation and stressing that the president was behind it as well, according to a person familiar with the conversations.
Paduchik's pitch underscored the thousands of coal and nuclear power plant jobs that could be tied to the legislation and the political risks to Trump in the battleground state if it failed, said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.
The measure, which now goes to the Ohio Senate, requires electric customers to subsidize the state's aging coal and nuclear power plants. Last year, Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. asked the Department of Energy to issue an emergency order to keep certain plants operating.
And Robert E. Murray, the billionaire founder and chairman of mining company Murray Energy Corp., which has sold coal to the company, spent months in 2017 pushing Trump and top administration officials to keep coal power plants running.
The Ohio measure would slap new fees on electric bills for a "Clean Air Program" and steer most of the revenue to FirstEnergy Solutions's Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear plants. A separate monthly fee would be authorized through 2030 to support two coal plants operated by the Ohio Valley Electric Corp.
FirstEnergy Solutions, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year, has said it would close the reactors without the subsidies, which critics have characterized as a corporate bailout.
Key Climate Denial Center Closing
E&E News:
The Cato Institute quietly shut down a program that for years sought to raise uncertainty about climate science, leaving the libertarian think tank co-founded by Charles Koch without an office dedicated to global warming.
The move came after Pat Michaels, a climate scientist who rejects mainstream researchers' concerns about rising temperatures, left Cato earlier this year amid disagreements with officials in the organization.
"They informed me that they didn't think their vision of a think tank was in the science business, and so I said, 'OK, bye,'" Michaels said in an interview yesterday. "There had been some controversy going around the building for some time, so things got to a situation where they didn't work out."
A spokeswoman said Cato's shuttering of the Center for the Study of Science does not represent a shift in the institute's position on human-caused climate change. But the think tank moved decisively to close down the science wing that was overseen by Michaels. Ryan Maue, a meteorologist and former adjunct scholar, also left the center.
"While it is true that, with the departure of Pat Michaels, we have deactivated our Center for the Study of Science, we continue to work on science policy issues," Khristine Brookes, the spokeswomen, wrote in an email. She didn't mention climate change.
Michaels is among a small number of academics with legitimate climate science credentials who downplay the human contribution to rising temperatures. He is a frequent guest on Fox News and other conservative outlets, and he has spent years attacking efforts to address climate change. He was influential in the administration of President George H.W. Bush, and he helped turn the GOP away from climate policy at a time when conservatives were embracing it (Climatewire, Dec. 5, 2018). That shift has endured.
With Storms for Nearly Two Weeks, Twisters in "Uncharted Territory"
Above – Oklahoma TV Met – "I've never seen that before…"
Difficulty quantifying changes in twisters over decades, in part because technology has changed so drastically for detecting storms in last 30 years.
More research needed, but this year's season may break records.
Tuesday was the 12th consecutive day with at least eight tornado reports, breaking the record, according to Dr. Marsh. The storms have drawn their fuel from two sources: a high-pressure area that pulled the Gulf of Mexico's warm, moist air into the central United States, where it combined with the effects of a trough trapped over the Rockies, which included strong winds.
"We are flirting in uncharted territory," Dr. Marsh said of the sustained period of severe weather. "Typically, you'd see a break of a day or two in between these long stretches, but we're just not getting that right now."
Forecasters said that even the briefest of reprieves might not come until late this week, and another round of severe weather erupted on Tuesday afternoon.
Climate change is increasingly linked to extreme weather, but limited historical information, especially when compared with temperature data that goes back more than a century, has made it difficult for researchers to determine whether rising temperatures are making tornadoes more common and severe.
Kerry A. Emanuel, a professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who specializes in hurricanes, noted that the science of the connection between tornadoes and climate change is simply less comprehensive that what researchers have compiled on tropical cyclones.
Tweeting Twisters
Tornado warnings interrupt #Bachelorette and this weatherman is tired of your complaints.
"I'm done with you people!"
#TornadoWarning #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/yBBM1RC6E9
— pod4g (@pod4g) May 28, 2019
Social media for riding out the outbreak.
What do you do when you're in a car and find yourself on a collision course with a tornado? @TWCAlexWilson uses Immersive Mixed Reality to demonstrate what you should and shouldn't do. pic.twitter.com/TPFgsmhQNX
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) May 28, 2019
Extremely amplified & blocked pattern leading to a prolonged series of severe weather outbreaks & #tornadoes in the Plains. Notice the north-south extent of the Alaska ridge and SW trough… which is spitting out disturbances aided by big temperature contrast! #extremeweather pic.twitter.com/hjl7dmHrq9
— Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) May 26, 2019
Just how "active" have the last 30 days been for tornadoes? We're currently sitting at 500 filtered *eyewitness tornado reports* during this time period.
Only four periods in the official database ever exceed 500 *observed* tornadoes in 30 days: 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2011. pic.twitter.com/rV2KTC3Gmz
— Patrick Marsh (@pmarshwx) May 28, 2019
The Cost of Lies: White House Revives "Team B" Plan for Climate Science
The idea of a "Team B" to produce intelligence more politically palatable to a Republican administration is not new.
In the 80s, hard-liners not satisfied with intelligence community expert estimates of Soviet capabilities, formed a "Team B" group to provide more threatening and dire assessments to the President. The group was promoted by Donald Rumsfeld, and included Paul Wolfowitz, both later architects of the war in Iraq.
Also in the lead up to that war, Vice President Dick Cheney famously oversaw the manipulation of intelligence to deceive both the executive branch and the American people about the need for an invasion.
(1) During the several months preceding the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, and thereafter, the vice president became aware that no certain evidence existed of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, a fact articulated in several official documents, including: (a) A report by the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, concluding that "there is no reliable information on whether Iraq is producing and stockpiling chemical weapons, or where Iraq has–or will–establish its chemical warfare agent production facilities." (b) A National Intelligence Estimate, compiled by the nation's intelligence agencies, admitting to "little specific information" about chemical weapons in Iraq. (c) A later section of the same NIE, admitting "low confidence" that Saddam Hussein "would engage in clandestine attacks against the U.S. Homeland," and equally "low confidence" that he would "share chemical or biological weapons with al-Qa'ida." (d) An addendum by the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, asserting that Hussein's quest for yellowcake uranium in Africa was "highly dubious" and that his acquisition of certain machine parts, considered by some to be evidence of a nuclear program, were "not clearly linked to a nuclear end use." (e) A report by the United States Department of Energy, stating that the machinery in question was "poorly suited" for nuclear use.
(2) Despite these questions and uncertainties, and having full awareness of them, the vice president nevertheless proceeded to misrepresent the facts in his public statements, claiming that there was no doubt about the existence of chemical and biological weapons in Iraq and that a full-scale nuclear program was known to exist, including: (a) March 17, 2002: "We know they have biological and chemical weapons." (b) March 19, 2002: "We know they are pursuing nuclear weapons." (c) March 24, 2002: "He is actively pursuing nuclear weapons." (d) May 19, 2002: "We know he's got chemical and biological…we know he's working on nuclear." (e) August 26, 2002: "We now know that Saddam has resumed his efforts to acquire nuclear weapons… Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt that he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us." (f) March 16, 2003: "We believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.
Now the Trump administration has renewed its intention to produce similarly skewed pseudo-scientific assessments of global climate change.
President Trump has rolled back environmental regulations, pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord, brushed aside dire predictions about the effects of climate change, and turned the term "global warming" into a punch line rather than a prognosis.
Now, after two years spent unraveling the policies of his predecessors, Mr. Trump and his political appointees are launching a new assault.
In the next few months, the White House will complete the rollback of the most significant federal effort to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, initiated during the Obama administration. It will expand its efforts to impose Mr. Trump's hard-line views on other nations, building on his retreat from the Paris accord and his recent refusal to sign a communiqué to protect the rapidly melting Arctic region unless it was stripped of any references to climate change.
And, in what could be Mr. Trump's most consequential action yet, his administration will seek to undermine the very science on which climate change policy rests.
"What we have here is a pretty blatant attempt to politicize the science — to push the science in a direction that's consistent with their politics," said Philip B. Duffy, the president of the Woods Hole Research Center, who served on a National Academy of Sciences panel that reviewed the government's most recent National Climate Assessment. "It reminds me of the Soviet Union."
Tags: Climate, climate denial, helsinki, helsinki climate, trump
More Rain Coming to Midwest
Not what the doctor ordered. More rainfall this week for the Central Plains into the Midwest. Flood threats will be on the rise. This could be a horrific agricultural year for the FarmBelt. pic.twitter.com/m5tEXOvkCw
— Jason Furtado (@wxjay) May 26, 2019
HBO's Chernobyl's Authenticity a Hit Among Russians
Horrifically relevant to today.
Game of Thrones was not about Dragons.
Just so, "Chernobyl" is not about radiation.
What is the cost of lies?
It's not that we'll mistake them for the truth..
the real danger is that if we hear enough
lies, then we no longer recognize the truth at
What can we do then?
Slava Malamud on Twitter:
I have just finished watching Episode 1 of Chernobyl on @HBO. My perspective is that of someone born and raised in the Soviet Union who has vivid memories of 1986, the catastrophe itself and how it was handled by the Soviet politicians and the state media…
First of all, it is almost inconceivable that a Western TV show would go to this amount of detail authentically portraying Soviet life in that era, knowing full well that its target audience (Western viewers) would never appreciate the effort or indeed even understand it…
Trust me, I try very hard to find inaccuracies, however minor. The Americans, a show with similar fetish-like obsession with authenticity, had plenty of small and big Soviet errata to be entertained with. Improperly fastened military shoulder bars, that sort of thing… Not here.
One reviewer made a point eerily relevant to the Age of Trump.
Jennifer Erameeva in Moscow Times:
"Chernobyl" is so hard to watch because of the all too human themes creator Craig Mazin has woven into his masterful script. Mazin and his team have done their homework, immersing themselves into the history, science, and even the tick-tock of Chernobyl, as well as first-hand accounts in Nobel prize laureate Svetlana Alexievich's "Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster." Watching the show is a crash course in nuclear physics, but more importantly, it is a thought-provoking exploration of the importance of truth and the nature of self-sacrifice.
"We live in a time where people seem to be re-embracing the corrosive notion that what we want to be true is more important than what is true," Craig Mazin says of the series. "It's as if truth has become a joke. One of the most important lessons of "Chernobyl" is that the truth does not care about us. The Soviet system was soaking in this cult of narrative, and then one day the truth erupts. This is why this story is more relevant than ever."