In this episode, philosopher-theologian Adam Miller and narrative studies specialist Stephen Carter join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon to explore the many and varied ways we live within, think from, are shaped by, and are both aided and hindered by "stories." The depth at which our lives are impacted by narratives—about what the world is like, about ourselves, our lives, our hopes and deepest desires, about God or the universe's biggest forces—is staggering. Plus, and here is where it gets interesting, messy, and sometimes frightening, our stories change. Sometimes we fight these changes, trying to pigeon-hole into pre-packaged worldviews and narratives everything that life in all its complexity is attempting to show us. When we do so, we fail to live fully, to be vital. Sometimes Mormonism, if we give into certain cultural forces, seems to distract us from seeing this failure, from realizing our stagnation. But does it also have elements that focus our attention directly to the importance of living out of big stories that are intended to always yield to even richer vistas and more profound embodiments? We cannot escape stories. They provide many of the fundamental lenses through which we see and function in the world. But can we break free from the negative aspects of these narratives? Can we, and how do we, develop a love for the life-giving dynamic of letting life constantly call into question our stories and exploring our way into new ones? The participants in this conversation believe we can, and they share their experiences with "living" stories–Mormon ones, and others.
Mr. Miller is disingenuous in his opinion in saying that religion is not about belief or about what is termed as religion is about life. Then sin, hell, God, etc. are all not real but a part of the narrative construct. There is no need of that stigmatizing language. Atheists and humanists should look to him to justify stories deemed to be be history.
Beliefs (which we likened in the episode to the content of stories, with faith more about our orientation that content) can help or hurt depending on our way of "holding" them. Do we recognize them as pointers and symbolic expressions trying to point us to truths we've experienced or hope to experience? Or are we confusing them with the experience itself (the famous Buddhist injunction for us to not mistake the finger pointing at the moon with the moon itself). Sin, hell, God ARE constructs, and to think our words and expressions capture them is simply wrong. But even as we might say that, it doesn't mean there isn't a reality to them–just not one fully captured by words or our other symbols. If this podcast struck a chord at all, I hope it highlighted this dynamic that Adam talked about: The map is not the territory. To see a place on a map is not the same thing as visiting that place. We should try very hard to not let our stories (the preconceived ideas and often unexamined assumptions we bring to our experiences) rob us of having the experiences that life (Adam's term for what the world presents to us in all its richness, awaiting us to really encounter it) is serving up to us.
Dan, I agree with you. These ideas seem good and real. I'm not disagreeing with the good in what was discussed above. Mormonism, however, teaches that there is a reality: a god with a body of flesh and "bone", a real place where he lives, golden plates, a real resurrection, a Jesus that endured the atonement, a real Nephi and Mormon. Those aren't just constructs in Mormonism. They are spoken of and taught as reality. So what I'm pushing back with is that while these ideas work and feel right, they aren't what Mormonism espouses to be. So these ideas feel like a new religion.
To me, all my life, the reason I was proud and happy to be a Mormon is because I didn't think it was a religion of constructs (a religion of the made up story or the partial truth), but a religion of what really is. And I argue that there has to be a reality, a place that if you and I died at the same time and walked into the afterlife together, we would be in the same place, see the same color, shake the same hands, see the same resurrected beings (or not). I guess the reason I felt I could say Mormonism is true is because I believed it taught what was real. I'm okay to transition into the ideas you and your guests have espoused; but those ideas feel less than what I always felt was real about Mormonism…less because there isn't a firm conviction of what is absolutely irrevocably true.
What could be more real then my own flesh and blood family being integrated into my salvation? What could be more real then attending church with my actual neighbors? That really makes the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself have real power.
While I totally get what your saying Glen, and still think there's some important stuff there that I still haven't completely worked out myself I can honestly say one thing I've began to see these last couple of years is that while Mormonism has always espoused those types of claims, it has always wanted me to test those claims through living the principles and feeling the Holy Ghost. In other words, it always insisted that I judge those "truths" by my own spiritual experiences, rather then promising some kind of direct access to those truths.
I personally don't rule out objective reality. We exist in space and time. We have consciousness. And I don't fully rule out your scenario of two people dying and going to the same place and having a shared experience of meeting beings, etc. My sense, though, is that they might not experience things the same way, see the same colors, etc. Just as people with more experience in a particular field (say, medicine) notice more than someone not trained (variances in the type of cough someone has, or particular eye movements that signal something going on), I think something similar would be a dynamic at play in your scenario. Paul talks about our seeing through a glass darkly, but then face to face; we know in part now but then shall know more "even as we are known." Because of translation, we miss that the glass is a mirror (not the equivalent of looking through something like a fragment from one of those old green coke bottles and having what we see distorted). We see ourselves and the world differently when we are different people, and to see ourselves more clearly (and to see more like God sees) requires our become more fully like God. And I'm quite certain that Gods do not rely on having others tell them who they are, what is "the way it is" and what isn't, etc. (I John 3:2 carries similar messaging to Paul's above.) I think Mormonism points us to experiment with having this kind of direct experiencing. It isn't often talked about this way on Sundays and in General Conference, but those, like everything else, including the scriptures, I believe carry Jesus's message of "if we have ears, let us hear." When we are ready, we get to see and know more. From what you have said here and in other places you've commented through the years, I have a strong sense that even amidst your mourning for the earlier kind of surety, you know that you are being called to even greater vision. It's dangerous ground and many obstacles come into our paths (perhaps re-listen to the Joseph Campbell "Hero's Journey" episode), but we can win through!
This conversation reminds me of a remarkable quote by B.H. Roberts that a friend shared with me recently. I'm intrigued that Adam, Stephen and Dan all seem to personify the second type of disciple described in Roberts' letter to The Improvement Era magazine in 1906.
I resonate with the idea that we aren't locked by physics, Darpa mind control or even divine edict into our stories. Thank you for an episode inviting multiple listenings!
'Disciples and partisans, in the world of religious and of philosophical opinion, are of two sorts. There are, first, the disciples pure and simple,—people who fall under the spell of a person or of a doctrine, and whose whole intellectual life thenceforth consists in their partisanship. They expound, and defend, and ward off foes, and live and die faithful to the one formula. Such disciples may be indispensable at first in helping a new teaching to get a popular hearing, but in the long run they rather hinder than help the wholesome growth of the very ideas that they defend: for great ideas live by growing, and a doctrine that has merely to be preached, over and over, in the same terms, cannot possibly be the whole truth. No man ought to be merely a faithful disciple of any other man. Yes, no man ought to be a mere disciple even of himself. We live spiritually by outliving our formulas , and by thus enriching our sense of their deeper meaning. Now the disciples of the first sort do not live in this larger and more spiritual sense. They repeat. And true life is never mere repetition.
Interesting that you should post that passage from Roberts, Kevin. Scott Kenney actually used it as part of his inaugural editorial in the first issue of Sunstone.
How cool is that, Stephen! Robert's insight is as timely today as it was thirty-nine years ago. Thank you for continuing the tradition of publishing from the perspective of the second type of disciple.
Have we not left – The Old Boy's Club.
While you made some salient points, I couldn't get past the exclusive pronoun.
You want to know why many women in the church are angry?
Clarification, Evangeline. Kevin's post features an extended quotation from B.H. Roberts from 1906, when "men" was the typical term for universal humans. I'm glad, and I sense Kevin and most everyone is very glad that we are alerted today to the problems with this, and you won't find it in Mormon Matters unless by some terrible accident. (I am very conscious of even referring to God by the male pronoun, though it slips in conversation at times though not in writing.) I'm on board with changing it in scripture, our hymn books, etc. Until then, we all need to model our awareness of the problems with universalizing the male, which Mormon Matters guests typically do.
Sorry for the perceived slight, Evangeline. Dan's comments below reflect my own feelings on your question. Keep pushing back! In this regard I'd say you're the second type of disciple who sees the story of the gospel of Jesus Christ unfenced-in by traditions of patriarchy.
As a Gospel Doctrine teacher I love the chance to highlight any story about women; in the Old Testament there are precious few of those. Any suggestions for the story of Ruth and Naomi? I want to make it memorable.
Loving this podcast so far.
This is one of the most important podcasts you've done Dan, if not THE most important in my view.
I'd really, really like to hear more from Stephen. He has a gift. I hope he writes more and takes many more opportunities to talk about this topic that is so important and that he has a unique talent, perspective, and experience from which to draw.
If I had stayed in academics this is the direction I would have gone. I studied philosophy and literature at the BYU and was fascinated by narrative. Eventually this led me to studying myth and ritual. Stories are so important… an especially important part in our human experience… if not THE human experience in a way. The stories we tell ourselves are crucial to our happiness and the way we treat others. And it is important to listen to the stories coming from others. Listening to stories is what makes our universe bigger… I loved that point.
I am learning to perceive my own stories and am trying to embrace those that give me peace, love, and joy.
After all, I have only one life to live and I want to make it a great one.
Thanks for your reply, DP. It made me realize that I've never made my theories into any kind of book, except insofar as you could construct them from my collection of essays. You've inspired me to start planning such a book.
Dan, Adam, and Stephen. All I can express is: Wow. Just, wow! This is one of the best podcasts I have listed to. It will be one that I return to over and over.
A fundamental shift took place for me as I listened. My first takeaway is I that feel more charity, love, and patience for others and myself.
Greg and DP: Sorry so late in putting up the links! (Memorial Day madness kept me from being at my computer much.) They are there now.
Oh, and I'm definitely thrilled that you have found this episode to be so rich and rewarding. This is fundamental, life-changing stuff, but oh so subtle! Glad you both are deciding to keep exploring. All best!
This episode pushed me to become a monthly subscriber. Thank you, Dan, for all the good you are doing to keep me engaged in Mormonism.
And to Stephen… Thanks for the awesome links. Really looking forward to anything you plan to put together.
Thanks for this episode Dan, Adam, and Stephen! The LDS church gravely needs this sort of dialogue, yet the church is anemic of it.
I really wish there were more Mormons like you and that the general authorities were wanting to guide the church in that direction. But this is not the reality of the LDS church. And it is one of the fundamental reasons why I have chosen to step away from it. Nevertheless, I applaud what you are doing and think it is extremely necessary for people like you to stay in so that the church (if it is to evolve) can evolve.
If I watch a large pine tree fall in the forest, then did it really fall? I love trees. Trees mean the world to me and watching this tree fall and damaging a bunch of other trees on the way down has really upset me. I decide to change this story so that the tree really did not fall but rather was always lying on the ground. This may make me feel better about the forest but it does not change the fact that the tree actually fell.
You guys talk like no trees ever fall. How is changing your story different than simply altering reality? Is there any limit to what you will redefine and reinterpret in Mormonism?
There would be more value to these types of discussions if you actually tied your deep thoughts down on the reality of the leadership, programs and policies of the Church. Frankly, these discussions come off as self indulgent. I don't know what else to call it unless you address the how. How do you these philosophical musings work in the real world of Mormonism today. I mean geez at least try.
From this and other posts of yours I've read, among the big stories you seem to focus on are that "Mormonism" equals the church/organization and that teachings and doctrinal formulations can only be true to the degree that they correspond with objective realities (name pretty dang close to what is the case about things like God, heaven, etc.). You also seem to be hesitant to imagine someone within Mormonism deconstructing it (as well as the entire Judeo-Christian "story" naming sin as the biggest problem we must overcome, etc.) and still choosing to stay and serve within that tradition. I don't share those stories with you. Your equations (if they are accurate–and please correct them where I'm wrong!) only tell part of a larger tale, which is where I focus.
Dan I think there are times when this stories thing is being taken way to far. I also think that there are times when you could benefit from feedback from those not as smart as you! Look, to a degree, you can make Mormonism be about whatever you want but there are limits man. Yeah, I think Mormonism is for the super most part what is done every Sunday. I think Mormonism is mostly the sum total of the lessons, programs and policies as they come from the top and are required to be executed at the ward level. (if Adam M is free to implement a different program to his teachers, then I am all ears because I have a 15 year old son). The people in Mormonism are for the most part the product of this system and it shows……obviously. When I talk about reality, this is what I am talking about. I do think it is totally bogus when you seem to infer that I have just bought into this "story" when this situation with the Church today is not just a "story", its freaking reality. I just talked to a woman yesterday who has figured out the truth about the truth claims etc and surprise surprise, she is stuck in all the ways we know. Should I just tell her to change her story? What will that change and what kind of story should she adopt? How about the, "I just found out I have been lied to my whole life and now I am 40 years old with two kids and a husband who are tbm but its all good because I can just turn my frown upside down and create a new story where….." What good is her changing her story going to do for the reality of her situation? What good does it do for my gay friend who has contemplated suicide? Adam M can say that Church is all about getting together to talk about sin and he can sound really smart saying it…..for me it has very little point because that is just not what is happening every Sunday. For me, what he really should be saying is that he wishes that Church was about getting together every Sunday to talk about the problem of sin. I don't hate the whole stories construct but you guys need to reign yourselves in when the construct jumps the shark into wishful thinking territory.
And Dan, your right, I have a hard time imagining there is someone out there like you. Except you exist and we are all the better for it. To the degree that your journey remaining in Mormonism has contributed to you being such a nice guy, well, who am I to criticize your path. I remember one time when you referred to a mission as a "school of love". I will never get over that one! 🙂 Sure I listen to some of your podcasts and get so mad that I want to throw my phone out of my speeding car…….and then drive over the phone…….and then take the pieces and shove them down my garbage disposal…..but that is my problem not yours. I am glad you do what you do. I am perfectly fine with people who enjoy their Mormonism as long as they are not pushing anything close to the one true church paradigm. You are like that. You see many paths up the mountain and you see those paths as EQUAL. You don't buy into exclusive truth and authority etc………but I think Adam does. Did you notice his hedge at the end of the podcast? I wish you would have pushed him more because he is holding cards he is not showing.
If and when this pastoral apologetic thing comes to your doorstep, just don't cut it any slack. If you feel called to this Dan then add the destruction of the one true church/exclusivity thing to your list. That story needs to go away because it is that very dynamic that is ruining peoples lives.
Thanks for your thoughts, Seasick. It's very difficult to talk about this subject because it's kind of counterintuitive, it's usually far afield of how most people think, it (admittedly) sounds a bit ridiculous . . . and it's also all a metaphor.
Telling any one of the people you mentioned to "change their story" is obviously a terrible way to interface with their struggles. The best way to interface is to be there with them. To listen to them. To give them moral support as they wrestle with their reality and naturally expand or redirect their "story." Each person has the innate ability to understand what nourishes their own soul. But it takes work–and tons of it–to find it, plant it, and grow it.
What we're doing in this podcast is just trying to explain a metaphor that has worked for us. Our ideas are not the end of the discussion, but the beginning. And hopefully people don't stick with our story, but create their own.
So much here, Seasick! Thanks for the great discussion!
Stephen's note about how stories change fits with how I'd approach that. It's more natural. As we live and experience, if we don't reject (because of our story) what life is showing us, the process of widening and shifting is quite organic. I think it's the same dynamic with spiritual growth and unfolding of spiritual qualities. If we experience the Spirit (really sit with it/in it, really feel what is being commnicated), the qualities that Paul talks about in Galations 5 as the fruits of the Spirit simply start emerging in us. They really arise as fruits, blossoming, not as things we try to achieve by goalsetting, will power, and other forms of efforting. Similar things to how our stories change.
I hear you when you talk about the "reality" of church versus what seems to be an idealized picture that Adam, Stephen, and I are sharing. And I agree that there are certain "realities" to always note and never ignore. And I guess as long as you aren't saying reality with a capital R, then I can go along with you to some degree. But yesterday's fast and testimony meeting, along with lots that happened in the other meetings I attended yesterday, always show me additional realities–people whose lives truly have been transformed for the good, who have worked through amazing struggles, who love and serve each other. If we are in small "r" reality, those deserve being part of the description, as well. I was also able to see integrity in their lives, and spirits seeking light and more depth–far beyond anything that would be mostly a "product" of the Mormon system. That they are mostly thinking within the general story of Mormonism being Christ's restored church and led today by prophets, that the Book of Mormon is talking about historical peoples, etc., is certainly true. But until they find their own reasons to complicate that story, I'm comfortable being with them even when I don't share those same commitments in common. On all the other ones–striving to grow, finding joy in service, willing to bear each others burdens–we're in full fellowship. "Beliefs" are just aren't that important when put up against those other things.
The way I approach making change in this arena is simply exposing my fellow Saints to the richnesses of other traditions and to seeing Spirit alive everywhere. Also through encouraging them to really dive into spiritual experiences themselves, trusting if they do then the experiences themselves will drive an expansion in their minds/hearts to where exclusivity feels less important. At some level in our lives we all want to be on the "right" team. But after being exposed to more teams, it becomes less about "the" right one and more about being part of promoting the good of the game. My hunch is this is the only real way to see that shift. We can, of course, challenge D&C 1:30 through offering how it might be referring to the wider church of "whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church" [D&C 10:67] and not the LDS one. How else do we make sense of "speaking unto the church collectively and not individually" that comes at the end of that scripture? It's an uphill battle, though, and I think it can only be fought very slowly and through exposure to "more" that expands views rather than through straight-on critique. On the other hand, before then, I recommend we all simply work on not letting this "trigger" us. We know it's there. But somehow we let it overshadow everything else, and I don't think that's at all healthy. It can still get to me sometimes, but understanding why people say/think that goes a long way to me feeling compassion for them rather than anger toward this particular failure of vision.
On Adam's "exclusivism," I'd love to hear more from him. I was surprised by what he said at the end, and I tried to frame his language more in the way of how I share similar sentiments but without the full-on "right" or "best" religion, which he went with–but with still some qualifications of "perhaps" it's more, it's "the" best, etc. As I mentioned in those closing minutes, I've heard similar things from other people I also admire, so I simply try not to dismiss their strong commitment to that possibility out of hand, though I have not yet been persuaded. Their sense of its being uniquely gifted to prepare us for full flourishing intrigues me, and I'm happy to let it sit on my heart without feeling like I need to make a decision about it.
Thanks, again, for these exchanges! Keep pushing!
First of all, you can do way better than tapping out on "Christ organized a church, there was unique priesthood in it, there are essential ordinances etc". You of all people could rewrite the "story" on words like unique, priesthood and ordinances let alone you could have a field day with Christ organizing "a" church (I did notice that you did not say Christ organized HIS church). You have demonstrated an almost limitless capacity to redefine everything in Mormonism, in a good way. Why stop at the one true church paradigm?
The other push I want to give is your statement that you don't see the one true church dynamic as ruining people's lives. That statement takes my breath away. I honestly don't think you could actually believe that. The one true church paradigm is what gives the leaders authority over the members lives and gives members the reasons to choose the church over their loved ones. This "story" is at the very center of why the church is ruinous and I could give you an almost limitless number of specific examples, which I will do if you really want me to.
What I don't understand is why people like you or Adam or Stephen don't directly grapple with how to change the one true church story. Let's hear a not so meta discussion about how to dismantle the one true church paradigm. Let's hear about all the benefits of doing that and let's hear about why its healthy to abandon such a paradigm. In what ways does the church benefit more than the member from preserving the one true church paradigm?……..I just find it more than a coincidence that your two guests could talk for hours about changing stories in the Church without ever landing on the one true church story.
The one true church mindset is the tie that binds Dan. Rather, it is the tie that double binds. Let's mess that one true church story up!!!!
Regarding your comment on having Dan anf Mormon Matters push hard to debunk the "one true church" rhetoric, I think that would go against the purpose of the podcast (at least my understanding of its purpose). I think what Dan is trying to do is to effect change by broadening peoples minds to capture "the spirit" of a form of Mormonism. And as people catch the vision it will move the church in a healthier direction. But that is a slow process with slow change. It is the long view. I think if Dan took on a "full frontal" attack on core church rhetoric then he would be viewed as an enemy to the church and it could get him, and others, into predicaments they would rather avoid. It seems to me that Dan loves being in the church and he wants to take the slow and peaceable approach to change. He might not even live to see how he has influenced things, but he wll have nonetheless. I am glad there are Dan W's in the church. The church sorely needs them.
Those are my 2 cents, for whatever it is worth.
And for the record, I could write 10 times as much about how I agree and what I am learning from what you write. I am not a hater brother. I promise, if you respond to this that I will let you have the last word (because i know they will be good words).
Responding to WishThereWereMoreLikeYou: Thanks for this note! Definitely how I see not only my role (and MM's) but also the only way change can really happen. We can't make too strong a frontal attack.
I wrote something similar yesterday in response to Seasick… but had to put it at the bottom of the comments as it didn't seem as if I could respond directly to his post right below it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast and look forward to reading more from Stephen and Adam. After listening, though, I find myself wondering what the value in remaining in Mormonism is for, say, an LGBT member– where the existing church-constructed narrative is marginalizing and damaging. I do think there are times where being "true" to your own story is essential to personal growth, creativity, connection and fulfillment. And, sadly, sometimes that requires rejecting the narrative of Mormonism. Integration is ideal but not always possible– especially in a narrative structured around dualisms and binaries.
Also, I love the way Adam and Stephen think — and I wish I had had more people teach me to think that way when I was a teenager/college student. How can we help church members think beyond the literal if we ourselves are uncomfortable openly identifying as "non-literal" believers?
Bingo. Your comment reminds me of Dan talking about how he does not believe in Satan but then he just goes ahead and teaches it anyway in GD class as if he does believe in it. If you never really act or say what you really think, then you are limiting your non literal lived experience in relation to those in your ward and in the Church. At some point, its not just what you think that defines you but also what you do and say. How is Mormonism still the best option in this regard? Why wouldn't you move on to a path where you could have more integrity between what you think and what you say and do?
As parents and teachers, we always work with people and tell stories that start with where someone is (and the story they believe is reality). Then we try to present options that help them see something larger, to gain deeper understanding. In the case of Mormonism, it has imbibed the larger story at the heart of the Judeo-Christian mythos. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, it imagines sin as the big problem that we as humans face, a problem that must be overcome–and these traditions then tell us how. There is no sense that the original writers of Genesis thought of the snake as Satan, and there really isn't any kind of developed idea about Satan/Lucifer for centuries, but it has nevertheless crept into so many people's thinking, including most Mormons.
I don't find the idea of sin (broken laws that demand satisfaction–and that it has to be satisfied by suffering and blood!) compelling as "the" main problem we must overcome in this life. Nor does the idea of a devil who tempts us, causing us to sin, seem to me to be either true nor powerful. Whatever choices we make that don't serve us well, I imagine coming out of our own fears and the false identifications we have made of ourselves as smaller than we really are.
So here's the situation as I see it: We have identified the wrong problem, but nevertheless the idea of a God choosing to descend from "His" throne to dwell among us and show us what Divine love looks like, and to suffer at our hands and still love and declare us of infinite value IS terrifically helpful for those living within the "sin" story. It is especially helpful as it encourages us to ponder and meditate upon this, and to seek out personal encounters with this God such that we might have experiences that will help us have richer experiences that help us grow into deeper understandings of ourselves and our worth, etc. And experience is all! Whatever means move us toward that, I judge good.
As a person who inherited the Judeo-Christian stories, especially the Christian part, and who learned to trust and seek after and find these richer vistas and deep peace, I have chosen to share how all of that unfolded with my fellow travelers in case it might also encourage them to journey into similar territory. That I would do that within that same general mythos makes perfect sense to me (what "worked" for me had unfolded within this framing, so it can't be totally worthless), and I don't feel at all conflicted or out of integrity with myself or what my experiences have taught me when teach within that wider story. It is true that my experiences have helped make more transparent to me the boundaries of the story "as story," and I feel ready on my own to think and experience beyond the harder confines of that story. And I sense that similar experiences will yield up similar conclusions from others who have them as well. As a result, when I'm with those who I sense have also traveled similar inner roads, I share my story differently. But for those who haven't yet experienced such things, I find it perfectly congruent to emphasize the best things within the story they currently live out of in an effort to move them toward their own discoveries.
Mormonism has a quite developed mythos that places a character named Lucifer within a war in heaven narrative (opposing plans, etc.) We won't get too far with Mormons trying to kill that story altogether. Within that story, however, I think the idea of our having a choice to be radically free (and possibly screw up) or to choose the safety of a "sure thing" is psychologically wonderful; it can lead to great inner work. That's why I have no problem highlighting the compelling parts of that tale.
Great response Dan. You've explained your position/feelings In a way that makes a lot of sense. The integrity aspect of the whole discourse is one that I think about also. In fact it is probably the issue that I feel most conflicted about. Your response not only gives me a lot to think about, but also gives me hope for settling that issue within myself.
I agree completely. There is a culture of shaming for those who don't conform in belief and action– which means many with great "outside the box" insights and ideas are often quiet. The reality is that the Church not only carefully constructs the content of its narrative (think correlation), it also carefully monitors how that narrative is taught. And the result is that many, if not most members become literal believers because that's how the information was given to them. And while this isn't necessarily good or bad, I do think it can be limiting and can lead to many being trapped in an overly simplistic Mormon narrative that leaves little room for individual interpretation and growth.
Oops, my reply was meant for Seasickyetstilldocked.
Definitely a key dynamic in what happens. A tough one to fight, too! I haven't thought of it as much about "shaming" as in "you're sick and wrong" for not fitting the mold, so much as minds whirring with "yep, the scriptures are right about "to be learned is good, if…", but I think its a good term.
I don't think there is much value for an LGBT member staying within (or associating regularly) with Mormonism given its current messaging. I could never recommend it, though I hope they would choose to step away with as much charity they can muster for those within the tradition and culture who simply don't understand.
If, however, they've found deep and abiding peace with God, knowing with surety of God's love and their own infinite worth (such that they can associate with people who fear them without imbibing harm from it), then I would very much love to see them return and become teachers for the tradition–i.e., Joseph Campbell's "hero's return" following their having battled in the inmost cave and slayed their biggest fears and died as their former selves. If Mormonism is ever going to make a large-scale shift, we very much need their modeling of full, integrated, and healthy spiritual lives. My two cents, anyway.
Thanks for your response, Dan. I, too, would love to see LGBT members and others who are often marginalized (singles, women, divorcees, part-member families, etc.) fully integrated. But I think for that to happen, so much of the rhetoric needs to change, and, in certain cases, many of the practices also need to change. And, for some of the situations mentioned above (LGBT, singles), the doctrine is divisive. Although it's a deeply personal choice, I know few who find the promises of marriage and family in the afterlife a compelling argument for remaining physically and emotionally isolated in this life. Especially for something that only may or may not be literal truth. I hope for change but I think it is still far off. I do appreciate that the panel recognized and acknowledged that an individual's decision to stay or go is complex and personal.
Very interesting episode. I enjoyed listening and I have enjoyed "Rube Goldberg Machines" and "Letters to a Young Mormon". Adam's definition of sin as preferring your own story to life (grace, givenness) is intriguing. When I read Rube Goldberg my first reaction was that it was an idiosyncratic re-definition. But when I thought about it I could see how he gets that from Paul.
Fantastic, Todd! Thanks for bringing the Great Dane into our discussion! He is incredibly insightful.
I am also glad to hear you share about how Adam's definition of sin took some getting used to for you. I had a similar reaction, but like you again I also came to see he was really in sync with Paul and the idea of sin as "hamartia" (missing the mark) rather than an offense to either God or law that required some form of recompense. Really it's all about a shift and/or opening of vision, of moving into reality instead of protecting against it. Like for you, it became more and more profound the longer I lived with it. Thanks, again!
Thanks for continuing our exchange. I also appreciate your spelling out to me how "one true" can be so damaging, allowing so much coercion and folks choosing ideology over relationship. I hadn't really thought of that in a while. Please know that we didn't avoid that "story" on purpose in our discussion! For me, at least, it's not a story I've lived out of for a long, long time, and I'm wondering if that's the case for Stephen and Adam. I think that's likely why we didn't think to bring it up.
I'll think about doing a show on the angles you suggest. We did an episode on "One True Church" (http://mormonmatters.org/2012/09/30/128-the-one-true-church/) a while back, and we definitely didn't go all the places you want us to. I was also frustrated a bit in that episode by my panelists' not really biting the several times I tried to ask them to reflect on how to escape the logical circle I mentioned in my post (about if Christ actually organized a church, gave unique priesthood, and that priesthood is needed for ordinances of salvation, it's hard to eliminate the "one true" element from Mormonism). Time to consider a new dive on it. Want to be on the show? Do you, or anyone reading this post, have a good angle that allows an escape from that knot? As we did in that episode, there are ways to frame "church" more broadly, and there are general things to say about the harmfulness of exclusivism, but other than decide to mount a challenge the whole story of salvation requiring ordinances by authorized priesthood holders, I sense we're stuck.
Because of that conundrum (and not only on this issue but many others!), my focus (and that of Mormon Matters by extension) has been more to nurture individuals in ways to withstand the coercion that can creep into Mormonism (and, frankly, any organization), to be more confident in their own connections with Spirit, more patient with those who haven't yet begun the kind of journey they are on, etc. It is in that way that "one true" loses its power over them. And if they can then model a way of being Mormon while also more universal, they can change hearts one at a time. Again, we can do a show, we can perhaps write some good things here and there, but I'm just not sure there is any way to really affect change of this sort except one person at a time (or perhaps a great bishop could get it done more quickly within a congregation via steady modeling for years). As folks step into greater confidence with God themselves, there is no more reason for them to care that there is "one" true organization and they have found it. They see that Spirit works in all sorts of ways, that people develop divine qualities in all sorts of churches and contexts. And that Mormonism is one of them!
"Cop out!" I'm sure you're screaming. It's the best I have right now. Sorry! And I'm serious about you coming on the show to talk "one true." Write me privately.
Dan can you find my email on this site and email me? And yes you did not disappoint with your last post.
Such an excellent podcast. I listened to Adam on Mormon stories and came away from it thinking Adam sounded crazy. But I thank you Dan (and Adam for taking the time) to do this podcast, which when I listened to it I now realize I agree with Adam a lot. Such wonderful and powerful insight this man has. Especially loved the metaphor of religion being the lava and not the rocks. As someone who is going through a rough faith transition this podcast has certainly helped me a lot. It brings an enormous amount of peace to me as I reflect on the wisdom of all of you Dan, Adam and Stephen. I feel this overwhelming desire to share this podcast with all my member friends. Soon as I get the money I'm going to purchase Adam millers book(s). I also love his take on sin and grace. Beautiful just beautiful. I think it's a healthy and mature approach to such important topics. Love it Dan. Keep them coming. Thank you for this podcast. You're amazing!
This was a fun episode. It felt like I was just listening in your conversation at dinner. Lots of good takeaways.
You mention Buddhist teachings and texts on a frequent basis. I'd like to study more up on the teachings and stories of the Budda. Can you provide a recommended reading list of sorts? I've been doing a lot of research on this topic but I feel like I'm swimming in an unfamiliar ocean. Thank you!!


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Go Thunder!!! How exciting it was Friday night to see JCA win on their home field! David played a great game and even though we had a few mishaps, we won 26-13!!
David invited a few friends over after the game and they had fun, eating chili (except Jacob, of course) and watching the Pigskin Roundup…they even were recognized as the team of the week! They get a free team dinner on Thursday at KFC! I've never seen kids get so excited over chicken!
David's picture is number 21!
JACKSONVILLE — Since Jacksonville Christian opened play in what is now known as Tommy Miller Field midway through last season, there has always been a feeling of incompletion.
JCA got a pair of rushing touchdowns from Payton Green and a pair of touchdowns from Andrew Bollinger to guide the Thunder to a 26-13 win over Parkway Christian and secure the first home win since moving to their new home field.
Even Miller, the man who has been such an integral part of the program as its coach, found himself caught up in the emotion of the win.
The Thunder (3-3, 2-2 Class 1A, Region 5) seized control of the momentum with a steady running game that racked up 211 yards.
Green finished the night with 72 yards on 19 carries and Jacob Bollinger scored on a reverse just before the half.
While JCA's corps of running backs kept Parkway moving backwards, the Thunder defense dominated Parkway's offensive line, sacking Wildcat quarterback J.R. Crooks eight times on the night.
The win puts JCA at the .500 mark overall and in region play. It also keeps the Thunder's hopes for a possible playoff berth alive. JCA will travel to Ragland next week.
"We're in a position to have a chance at making the playoffs, but it's still a long way to go," Miller said. "There are some real tough teams that we've got to play. It feels good top be at this point in the season and still have a chance.
Previous Our little princess is four!


In my last post I shared with you my new autumn tradition of adopting older graves. I was so very excited to share the two that I chose… the resting places of Johnnie and Clara. The two graves are in different cemeteries, and even though I did my best to be drawn to the graves naturally, both happen to be the resting places of children who died at around the same age of five.
Though I was not able to find family photos in my research on our little Johnnie and his family, I was able to find a significant amount of information and documents.
A tobacco pouch from Johnnie's father's general store in Wentzville, Missouri.
Unfortunately, other than one mention of a 6 month old Johnnie on a census form and the date of death from the head stone I found, no other information is known.
Johnnie's grandparents rest only a few feet away.
A touching side note: The large head stone behind Johnnie's in the photo on the right is the grave of his grandparents, Johann and Maria Michel, immigrants from Hannover in Germany. It warms my heart to know that they are buried close. I'll have to check when I return, but I don't believe there were any other Michels buried nearby. Johnnie's father Henry is buried in the St. Peters Cemetery in nearby Washington, Missouri. Mother Mathilda and older sister Ella (most likely younger sister Katherine as well) are buried in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Santa Ana, California.
Inspired by the amazing Renae Rude – The Paranormalist, who is a fellow lover of all things autumn and spooky, I decided to begin a new autumn tradition of adopting one or two gravesites.
In my mind, the idea is to choose an older grave, perhaps forgotten (of course how does one really know this?) that may also need to be tended to. The two local cemeteries that I chose happen to be fairly well cared for. I would think you'd want to choose a grave that really speaks to you, either metaphorically or literally. As someone who finds cemeteries fascinating and enjoys spending time and taking photos in them, I found it hard to not just gravitate toward the interesting and most beautiful graves. But at the same time, I didn't want to ignore those feelings. Lastly, a requirement for me was to be able to identify a name on the marker. This is often hard to do in cemeteries. You might argue that a grave that has lost the identity of the body resting there would be more in need of adoption, but for my first experience at this, I really wanted to be able to connect with a name as well. It is also my hope that after this initial post I'll be able to research genealogy and share that with you as well. After selecting my graves, I'd commit to returning every so often throughout the season, keeping their soul in my thoughts and praying that they are at peace.
So this last Saturday I was very excited to set out to adopt two graves for an early autumn kickoff. I wanted to choose one grave at two different cemeteries. It was an absolutely beautiful day and I was honored that Joe was willing to accompany me. (Normally this would be a little weird for him.) We went and picked up two beautiful bunches of flowers for a total of $10 and headed for Linn Cemetery in Wentzville, Missouri. Linn Cemetery is a place I've visited a few times in the last few years. Click HERE for photos from my first visit to Linn Cemetery.
Johnnie was four and a half years old at the time of his death. He was buried near two or three other Michels, but we found no Henry or Matilda Michel (his parents, according to the marker) near Johnnie. We wondered why the parents weren't buried here, or at least nearby. Did life take them somewhere else after this loss? Did they have other children that lived hopefully longer lives? And what happened to Johnnie? Was it sickness? An accident?
Here's a close up of the writing below the dates.
I visited a bit with Johnnie, wondering out loud about his story and asked who the other Michels buried near him were. I promised to return a few times and keep him in my thoughts, hoping and praying he is at peace.
Our next stop was the Gumbo Cemetery in Chesterfield, Missouri. I had come across this cemetery on accident only the day before. I was excited to stop by and check it out.
Clara's grave is up on a scenic hill along a tree line. Inscribed on her marker is the message "A voice we loved has fled." That really touched me. Like Johnnie Michel, Clara died just short of her fifth birthday. In the photo it almost appears to be taken at dusk, due to the canopy of tree limbs overhead. Clara rests among seven other graves that are clearly grouped as a family. Clara's grave stands proudly on the front left corner in the group. From my first step into the cemetery, this group of markers off in the distance and on top of the hill caught my attention.
I visited with Clara, pondering the same questions that go through one's mind when you see the resting place of any young child. I also left her with the same promise I gave Johnnie.
So was I meant to be drawn to the graves of two children, approximately the same age? Or did I subconsciously choose a little girl out of fairness after already choosing Johnnie? I also think it's interesting that Clara was born just months after Johnnie died. At the risk of creating a dramatic plot that doesn't exist, I wonder if there is some kind of connection between the two, whether it's between the two families, or a great plan designed from the other side. What an interesting thought. Ha! Maybe I should write a book.
I'd love to know what you think about this new tradition of mine. If you find it interesting, be sure to check out Renae Rude's fascinating post in the related articles below. Stay tuned in the coming months as I hope to piece together just a bit of the history of these two families. This will be my first attempt at genealogy, so wish me luck.
I realize that probably a very small amount of my readers are from my hometown of Lexington, Missouri, but I would still like to reflect on an amazing new book by the late Roger E. Slusher and the Lexington Historical Association. Images of America: Lexington kept me from going to bed at a decent hour two nights in a row… and it started the second I picked it up off my doorstep. I stared at the pictures. I compared the pictures. I pulled up current locations on Google Maps. And I did a lot of imagining.
Growing up in Lexington, as a child you quickly learn about the Civil War battle that took place there. For me, I was always specifically interested in the history of the buildings, what was where, what used to be, etc. I wonder what my now small and quiet hometown was like when it was the third largest city in the state, hustling and bustling with four colleges at one point, theaters and opera houses, an entire block full of saloons, headquarters for the Pony Express, factories, coal mines… the list goes on. I've seen a lot of the local photo collections that people have put together over the years, but I hadn't seen so many of the photos in this book. Many of the photos are aerial or taken from the City Hall dome, and they are breathtaking. (I only wish they would have chosen one of the beautiful street photos for the cover.) When you think of the historic Main Street and Franklin, you think about the old buildings that still exist being the original structures. Then I find out that many of these beautiful and historical buildings were not the first to be on those lots. And there were blocks and blocks of buildings, neighborhoods, farms, and homes that just aren't there anymore. If I went back in a time machine to the mid to late 1800s, I'm quite sure I would not be able to find my way around.
Lexingtonians know that there is something special about their town, but this book helps you to realize just how important those remaining gems of buildings and locations are. Lexington has unfortunately lost a few of these gems this year. I suppose these things are just bound to happen with the passing of time, but I wonder if residents felt the same loss when they lost buildings a hundred or more years ago? It also kind of makes you wonder if 100 years from now people will be fighting to save the historic Pizza Hut, the last remaining Sonic Drive-In in the nation, or the beautiful and historic Woodland Creek district. Or like many cities in the early 1900s, will we not recognize the future value of our neighborhoods and just bulldoze them down to build new?
Fascinating book! If you're in town, you can pick one up at The River Reader today!
Want to visit or learn more about Lexington?
As a teacher, occasionally I will have those days where nothing seems to go right. Some days I set out to inspire and end up coming home feeling like I spent the day pulling entire classes to the park in a wagon… all of them packed in like sardines, excited for the fun to come, but too apathetic to pitch in to help get the group there. (I apparently use this metaphor frequently because my last group of eighth grade students left me at the end of the year with a little red wagon, autographed by every one of them. Those days make it all worth it.) There have been a few times where on those wagon-pulling days I've decided to relieve my frustration while breaking the tension of the class at the same time… with a sudden drawn out scream. If you want the full effect, imagine Pee Wee Herman when someone said the secret word. Yes. I'm classy. But it usually works. We all laugh and move on in a much lighter (hopefully) atmosphere.
The wagon story has nothing to do with this post, but remember that scream and get ready to picture it.
I recently got caught up on what seemed like an endless amount of paranormal shows on the DVR. Episode after episode, I continued to see and hear investigators determine a location was haunted by the ghost of a "little girl", because they captured an EVP with a higher pitched voice. Of course, it couldn't be the voice of a little boy, even though little boys and girls voices often share the same higher pitch until puberty. With your eyes closed you might not always know. I hope that little boy wasn't insulted. I guess they've also never heard my voice. I'm mistaken for a "ma'am" in the drive thru frequently and spend my days singing soprano and alto with middle schoolers. And what makes investigators believe that the timbre of the voice they're picking up is what that spirit's voice sounded like in life, anyway? What if vibrations come through an octave higher (or lower) as it pushes through the veil? Clearly, spirit voices lose a significant amount of clarity, consonants, and sometimes syllables when attempting communication, so what makes us so sure the pitch determines gender or age? Why do we assume?
In another episode they visit a building that holds centuries worth of memories and emotional stories, but because a rather famous person visited there twice, of course that must be the ghost that resides there. "Elvis! Is that you? Will you autograph my EMF meter?" Wouldn't they be embarrassed to know that the voice they captured was actually of a fan who died just that week and simply followed them into the building, hoping to have their big moment. After all, no one can see them anymore and they're pretty frustrated with being ignored. They just KNOW that Zak will hear them.
Okay my last gripe. I'm almost afraid to bring this one up again. "Look! There went a shadow! Go grab Father Dowling. We're doing an exorcism." Because a spirit or entity presents itself today as a shadow (on a night where you no doubt begged for some sort of manifestation or communication), it doesn't make it an evil or demonic entity. Even if it's quick to get away from you. Even if it's an unusually short shadow. What makes you think you know? There's probably a good chance that the shadow was not even paranormal at all, so leave the crucifix in the car. Anyway, it's just Uncle Charlie, and a shadow is all he could muster today, thank you.
AHHHHHHHHH! These things make me scream and jump up and down on the couch with my hands on my head. Were they edited to look this way? Surely they wouldn't assume… would they?
Why do we assume? AHHHHHHH!
Ah well. At least I feel better now.


text:
by Calhoun, Craig, Gerteis, Joseph, Moody, James
Publisher: Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John
Calhoun, Craig, Gerteis, Joseph, Moody, James
This comprehensive collection of classical sociological theory is a definitive guide to the roots of sociology. The volume begins with the precursors who developed the modern idea of society - Marx, Durkheim, and Weber - and continues with the early sociologists whose works were powerfully influential - Mead, Simmel, Freud, and Du Bois. The book concludes with the major works and theoretical perspectives of the mid-twentieth century, including those of Adorno, Marcuse, Parsons, and Merton. As a whole, the Reader traces the evolution of social science from its undisciplined beginnings to current guideposts and reference points in contemporary sociological debate. Editorial introductions put the readings into historical and intellectual perspective, making this an authoritative and compact survey of the most representative works of classical social theory. Classical Sociological Theory, in conjunction with its complement, Contemporary Sociological Theory, offers readers a complete overview of sociological theory.Calhoun, Craig is the author of 'Classical Sociological Theory', published 2002 under ISBN 9780631213482 and ISBN 0631213481.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Kylie Jenner announces 'Kybrow' eyebrow cosmetics collection On Monday, Jenner revealed on Instagram that a new collection of eyebrow products — which she's calling "The Kybrow Collection" — will become available as part of her Kylie Cosmetics product line on April 29.
LAPD accidentally runs over sunbathing woman at the beach A police cruiser accidentally ran over a woman while she was sunbathing at Venice Beach in California.
Maid of honor claims nearly 100 goldfish died after 'crappy' bride insisted on giving them as wedding favors Nothing says wedding like a bag of goldfish to take home.
Megyn Kelly looked amazing when she flaunted her fit figure in a revealing black bikini during a vacation in the Bahamas on Easter weekend.


text:
Advances in tablet coating – INDIA CHEM 2004 – Express Pharma Pulse
Advances in tablet coating
As the functional domain of the coating widened, so increased the newer technologies imparting niche over the existing ones, say S K Thakral and Dr Vipin Bihari Gupta
Tablet coating is one of the oldest pharmaceutical processes; perhaps, in early times the basic purpose of coating had been elegance or organoleptic enhancement, now there are many more reasons (Table 1) to it. As this process maintained its status more of an art than a science, it consistently kept offering enough avenues for the pharmaceutical researcher to work upon and result into financially rewarding patents (Table 2).
Traditionally, major techniques for applying coating have been sugar coating, film coating and compression coating. Sugar coating is a cumbersome and time-consuming process; still it is widely used by many pharmaceutical companies. Film coating is a highly economical and time saving process, however, this uses organic solvents, which causes many problems including flammability hazards, toxicity hazards, and concerns over environmental pollution. Compression coating, which is similar to the preparation of multiple layer tablets having an inner core and an outer shell is a process of making a second tablet around the first. It's mechanically a bit too complex an operation and calls for high initial investment on equipment.
As the functional domain of the coating widened, so increased the newer technologies imparting niche over the existing ones. Each of these emerging technology has something special in it and offers some specific advantages for typical case applications.
The promising ones are as follows:
Dip coating: In this, cores to be coated are a held in a suitable device eg: baskets, dipped into coating solution and then dried taking care to prevent adherence to one another. For obtaining more perfect or heavier coats the dipping and drying steps may be repeated several times one after another. Several dipping arrangements are obtainable, amongst them the sophisticated devices comprise tiny suction tubes, which hold the individual tablets apart until drying is accomplished, before proceeding to coat additional tablets or begin recoating cycles.
Perhaps, number of dipping techniques have been proposed, they lack speed, versatility, coat uniformity and reliability of spray coating, hence haven't so far been widely accepted. None-the-less it remains a fertile area for research.
Electrostatic coating: Electrostatic coating is employed for applying films of electro-conductive materials. In this, an ionic charge is imparted to the core and an opposite charge to the coating material. This technology ensures thin, continuous and electronically perfected film to the surface.
Laminate coating: Laminated coating provides multiple layers for incorporation of medicament; for example (1) Repeat-action tablet, here a portion of the drug is kept in outer lamella or coating; (2) Enteric tablet, here one drug could be made available for gastric absorption while another for release in intestine; and (3) Buccal-swallow tablet, this could first be administered sublingually, and upon a signal, such as release of flavour from the inner core, the same may be swallowed as a normal peroral tablet.
Vacuum film coating: This employs a specially designed baffled pan, which is water-jacketed and could be sealed to achieve vacuum. Tablets are placed in the sealed pan, the vacuum is applied and the coating material is introduced through airless hydraulic spray system. Since the pan is completely sealed, organic solvents could be effectively used with minimal environmental or safety concern.
One step aqueous enteric coating or latex coating: Aqueous enteric coating systems are currently one of the most widely employed systems as they offer substantial advantages over solvent systems, particularly with regard to environmental and toxicological concerns. Earlier these were merely advancements of traditional solvent systems and required separate addition of plasticizers, detackifiers, pigments and other process aids involving multiple time-consuming steps.
In addition, many of these systems were provided as liquid dispersions, hence, problematic in handling, transportation and storage. Now, two fully formulated, aqueous enteric coating systems are commercially available in dry dispersible powders form and these use one-step process and are simple to apply. The first 'Sureteric System' is based on poly vinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP), and the second 'Acryl-Eze System' is based on methacrylic acid copolymer type C (Eudragit L100-55). Typically, the coating is done in the 48 inches side-vented pan equipped with four spray gums. The dispersions are delivered to the spray guns through individual tubes fed from peristaltic pump.
Sustained-release coating: This is modified film coating, which is designed to extend drug release over a period of time and it eliminates the need of multiple dosage regimens for those drugs that require constant blood level over a long period of time.
Materials that have been found suitable for producing sustained release coatings include:
Mixtures of waxes, shellac and zein-polymers that remain intact until the pH of gastrointestinal contents becomes less acidic;
Ethylcellulose, which remains intact throughout the gastro intestinal tract, however, it does permit water to permeate the film, dissolve the drug, and again diffuse out;
Acrylic resins, which behave similarly to ethyl cellulose as a diffusion-controlled drug-release coating material; cellulose acetate; and silicone elastomers.
Similar to enteric coatings many synthetic polymers suitable for sustained release film-coating applications have been prepared in aqueous dispersions form (often called latexes or pseudolatexes). These are commercially available and facilitate use of aqueous film coating technology.
Supercell technology: Supercell coating technology is an invention of Niro Pharma, which uses a small modular design where tablets are coated in batches ranging from 30 to 40 grams, and which is amenable to linearly scale up to the production capacities.
In this, typically tablets are coated with coating spray in the same direction as the drying gas, hence, resulting in a more efficient process.
This technology provides unique air distribution and the tablets moves quickly and predictably through the spray zone, receiving only a small amount of coating per pass, and therefore, achieving higher coating accuracy.
The process time is short, seconds or minutes are required as opposed to hours required in other techniques, and therefore, it is gentler on the tablets. Henceforth, it allows for coating of friable tablets, as well as, flat or highly oblong tablet shapes and even extremely hygroscopic cores.
The accuracy of deposition is high, therefore, if required the active ingredients could be layered onto tablets, and uniform layers of taste masking or modified release coatings could also be applied.
Soflet technology: This is an invention of Banner Pharmacaps and it employs application of gelatin layers over the table cores. Specially designed machines form two ribbons in which tablets are sandwiched and then cut-sealed by thermal compression. The tablets may have two different colours at two different sides. This technology is claimed to providing better swallowbility in addition to other features like oxygen barrier capabilities of the gelatin.
BioProgress, a new entrant in coating technology, has come out with a similar technology where gelatin is replaced by
HPMC film.
Taste and odor masking and for better ingestion
Product identity and elegance
For putting incompatible components together
Gastric protection
For providing special characteristic of drug release such as repeat-action or sustained release
For enhancing mechanical endurance
The writers are with Department of Pharmaceutics, L M College of Science & Technology, Jodhpur
Micro Labs launches new lipid lowering drug – Corporate – Express Pharma Pulse
Indian pharmaceutical scientist receives AAPS recognition – Happenings – Express Pharma Pulse


You are currently browsing the ProtusMose.com weblog archives for July, 2009.
Two down. One more rejection to go.
Hay guise! You like my new threads?
So I was helping this customer figure out how to install themes for his WordPress blog. He liked this one but it was broken when he uploaded and activated it. To see if whether his WP installation was borked or if the theme was bogus I tossed it up here real quick. After the call I went back to the blog and it hit me. "That's kinda hot…." So, I guess we have a new theme, at least for now. Hit me up with the comments and let me know what you think. Yep, all three of you.
I really never intended for this to be a "Hay, guise, check out this youtube video!" / musical review blog, but that's the way it's gone lately. Sorry. Music is a huge part of who/how I am so I can justify it that way, I guess.
Today, I present you with something that makes no sense. I really don't like techno/house/electronica/whateverthey'recallingithesedays. I don't get the people who pee their pants over it. I think, as a whole, it's ridiculously overhyped and overvalued.
Better, Harder, Faster Stronger / Around The World Mixup.
What is the point of this? "In memory of so and so…" That's a dependent clause. There's a first half of that sentence that is usually left off because it's obvious. In order for something to be "in memory of John Doe" something has to be being done. You erect a building in someone's memory. You donate money to a charity in someone's memory. You… drive to Walmart in someone's memory?. What is in her memory? What have act have you performed that has been done in her memory? What is it you have done that is honoring her? Was the act of paying $5.00 for a vinyl decal your act of remembrance? What sort of memorial is that? Are you cutting me off and not using your turn signal to honor your dead relative? If you have one of these stickers, please tell me why.


Brayden Studio aims to help consumers make the most of their houses without testing their spending plan. With a focus on flexible styles, they provide typical furniture and also wood furniture for every space. Solid wood structures that include modern layouts, straight lines, as well as extremely cosmopolitan appearances are standard across most Andover Mills furniture products. This dresser ratings high marks on appearances, design, and capability, as well as it is an extremely clever acquisition that is perfect for any person that desires an economical storage space solution that is effective, quick to be delivered, as well as very easy and also simple to use.
Some consumers said that the color of item is a lot darker in reality than it shows up in images, which is in truth a fantastic point. As a whole, this is a remarkable item that would be remarkable for university student in addition to teens as a result of specifically just how very simple it is to build. Various other individuals used item in their attic visitor room and likewise craft room, as well as they were also able to obtain it available for sale for just $100 around Normally it looks excellent, you will certainly like it, and the things genuinely attract attention when built. You are almost guaranteed alternative parts as needed, and additionally possibly repackaging would aid eliminate some delivery-related troubles that a selection of customers brought up. The furniture item is ok; it is not terrific product, but you wouldn't expect that at this cost.
On the whole, this is an excellent $cat and is likewise much much better quality than what you may expect, offered the price. Setting up is really fast and also simple, and additionally with many favorable evaluations along with remarks by clients from all profession, this is a $feline that will certainly keep you pleased, rested, as well as complimented for as prolonged as you have as well as use it. If you are not also certain relating to certain measurements and also weight restrictions, this product would certainly be terrific for you. as well as likewise getting a product that will not cost a fortune for you. There are a couple of negative testimonials, but in general, this has actually been a point that has actually pleased customers throughout all walks of life.


In this one day workshop, delivered by Connected Health Cities, attendees will be introduced to how information governance (IG) relates to each part of the process of using health data for research or to improve a care pathway. This will cover the process from the early stages of understanding the data landscape, designing a study, getting people involved and gaining access to the data.
IG is often cited as a reason for delays in health improvement projects. It is also an area of debate and confusion. Connected Health Cities projects have encountered diverse issues with regards to governance. Various innovative solutions have been developed in order to deliver projects and bring patient benefits. As Connected Health Cities draws to a close, the project team wishes to share their experience and learning with the wider community so that other health projects can benefit.
This event is designed for those who are involved in managing projects, data and/or technology from within the healthcare sector. It is open to all who wish to develop or enhance their understanding of IG and provides practical tools to realise project objectives. The event is aimed at people working in healthcare, social care, a third sector organisation or researchers who's work relies upon data protection and and other regulatory considerations. No experience of IG is needed.


3 bedroom 1.5 bath ranch home with full partially finished walkout basement. (3rd bedroom is currently used as laundry) The home features a nice layout, user friendly kitchen with plenty of cabinets, aluminum siding, finished and heated 2 car attached garage and a private back yard & plenty of storage. Motivated Sellers!


President of the cellar since February 2009, Jean-Luc comes from a family of winegrowers, who were members of the cooperative from its very start. Extremely attached to human values, he is interested in upholding the image of the wines of Alsace. He is fond of mother nature, loves motorbikes and appreciates the good things in life.


Born in Suzhou, China, Kitty became artistic standout as a teenager in a nation of billions, winning awards for her painting and gaining entree into the top educational institutions. After emigrating to America in 2003 and committing to following her lifelong passion for design, Kitty quickly launched her first line KITTYCHEN COUTURE in 2004, and powered by its success followed it up with four more lines including KITTYCHEN, IVOIRE BY KITTY CHEN, GLITZ by KITTY CHEN, and most recently JESSICA MORGAN. Always keeping the end goal of 'the perfect dress' in the front of her mind, Kitty's attention to detail and her skill at combining fabrics, laces, silhouettes and colors have set her apart from the competition.
Kitty lives in Southern California outside of Los Angeles and despite working constantly, manages to maintain her own personal style and beauty while bringing the same to others.


In the slideway which became the precision.
In 2010, Universal Milling Machine 2UM was honored as a masterpiece that contributed to the development of machine tools industry in Japan.
Our machining centers fully concentrated with Niigata´s technical innovation & manufacturing technology are perfect solutions for your innovation.


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Lauren Bacall by Louise Dahl-Wofe
This is the photograph that led to Lauren Bacall's movie career. It is currently on display, along with other works by Louise Dahl-Wofe, at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. Ostensibly, Nancy 'Slim' Hawks saw this and thought her husband should test that striking presence on the cover for a new film he was planning. Howard did and cast her in a secondary role in To Have And Have Not, where she was so charismatic that he built up her part into Bogart's leading lady. Men still go woozy when they watch her ask Bogart if he knows how to whistle. Bacall slinking provocatively on a piano, legs crossed as President Truman tickled the ivories, was enough make a whole nation woozy, some with indignation.
Kitty Hawks divorced Hawks and married Leland Hayward, legendary producer of some of the greatest hits of mid-Century Broadway (South Pacific, Mr. Roberts, The Sound of Music). Leland Hayward had gone out with Katharine Hepburn in the 30s and later married Margaret Sullavan, the immortal star of The Shop Around the Corner; Margaret Sullavan had earlier been married to Henry Fonda, who later in life wrote of how he spied on his wife making love to Jed Harris ('the meanest man on Broadway') through the window outside their own flat, riven with jealousy but immobilised by powerlessness, and wept; Brooke Hayward, one of the Hayward-Sullavan children, married Dennis Hopper and wrote – beautifully –about the childhood they shared with the Peter and Jane Fonda in Haywire. Slim herself was one of the super-rich 'Ladies Who Lunch' on the edges of Truman Capote's 'Swans', Babe Paley, Lee Radziwill, Marella Agnelli, C.Z. Guest, and all the other ultra-fashionable consorts of the jet-setting 60s super-rich.
In a superb article, 'Looking American: Louise Dahl- Wolfe's Fashion Photographs of the 1930s and 1940s', Rebecca Arnold writes of how Dahl-Wolfe's photographs, of which the above isn example, 'represent and help to shape feminine identities that evoke myths of America: the pull between visions of a vast Edenic landscape of opportunity and the cosmopolitan modernity of the city' (p.46) and how, 'her photographs provide a rich source for examining the growing confidence of the New York fashion trade and the crystallization of the "American Look," which framed national identity in terms of active sportswear that spoke of functionalism and freedom. Dahl-Wolfe's warm color schemes and light-filled images present a fiction of stability and cohesion during a period of turmoil. They smooth away contradiction and anxiety, providing unproblematic and coherently constructed ideals of American femininity'(p. 46, Fashion Theory, Volume 6, Issue 1, pp. 45–60)
Louise Dahl-Wofe shot for Harpers during the time it was edited by the legendary Carmel Snow. In the relatively recent A Dash of Daring: Carmel Snow and Her Life in Fashion, Art and Letters (2010), Penelope Rowlands recounts how Snow revolutionised fashion publishing by drawing on the European avant-garde to create a distinct, modern American view of life. Harper's Bazaar during this period was part of the huge Hearst publishing empire that encompassed newspapers across the US but also National Geographic and Good Housekeeping, thus creating a taste for what Thomas Veblen had already termed conspicuous consumption. Hearst would be Orson Welles' model for Citizen Kane. Welles himself, baby-faced but already a Broadway legend, was photographed by Dahl-Wolfe in 1938 (see below).
One can spin out a whole history of Hollywood and a whole series of social histories from one photograph, or one of Dahl-Wolfe's at least. But one doesn't have the time to do so now.
José Arroyo
'Louise Dahl-Wolfe: A Style of Her Own' is on show at the London Museum of Fashion and Textiles until the 21st of January.
UncategorizedBrooke Hayward, C.Z. Guest, Henry Fonda Leland Hayward, Jed Harris, Lauren Bacall, Lee Radziwill, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Marella Agnelli, Margaret SullavanNotesonFilm1
← Eavesdropping at the Movies 25 – The Red Turtle In Conversation with Pamela Hutchinson on Pandora's Box (G.W. Pabst, Germany, 1929) →


If you are considering using our service then it seems reasonable to us that you might want to know something about how effective we are and how other patients have felt about using our service.
Below we provide regularly updated information about clinical outcomes and patient experience.
We collect information about symptoms and about patient experience at each appointment and so we always have information from a patient's last visit to the service. This information is included in some of the tables below.
This graph provides information on the levels of symptoms at the time of the initial assessment and at the time of the completion of treatment.
There are two graphs . The first – the one in red is a summary of the pre and post scores on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM IV (CAPS for DSMIV).
The graph shows that for those patients who do complete treatment, there is, on average, a clinically significant reduction in their levels of trauma symptoms.
Since the introduction of DSM 5 the LTSS has switched to using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM5 (CAPS for DSM5). The second graph – the one in blue is a summary of the pre and post scores on this new measure and continues to show that for those individuals who complete treatment, there is a clinically significant reduction in their levels of trauma symptoms.
This graph illustrates changes in symptoms of depression (BDI) and anxiety (BAI) for those patients who complete treatment.
Again the graph shows that for those patients who do complete treatment, there is a significant reduction in levels of anxiety and depression.
This graph shows changes in scores on the three assessments that all patients complete at every appointment they attend. This means that the scores include those patients who completed treatment and those patients who, for whatever reason, dropped out before the completion of treatment.
PHQ-9 - This assessment helps to determine the level of severity of depression.
GAD-7 - This assessment helps to determine the level of anxious feelings.
WSAS - This assessment helps to determine changes in levels of social inclusion, work, leisure and relationships.
The scores on all three of these measures show that there are, on average, positive improvements in the areas we assess.
This graph shows changes in scores on the three assessments that all patients complete at every appointment they attend. This means that the scores include those patients who completed treatment..
Overall we think that it is important to give you good information about how we perform as a service. Clearly we don't help everyone who comes. However for those patients who complete their therapy with us, there is a good chance that there can be a clinically significant reduction in symptoms.
We are also concerned that the service you receive feels acceptable to you and we know that developing a good relationship with the person you see will be very important.
For this reason we ask all patients to complete a very short questionnaire at the end of each appointment (Session Rating Scale) to provide some feedback on their experience of our service .
Relationships – did you feel heard, understood and respected?
Goals and Topics – did we work with you on areas that were important to you?
Approach and Method – did the therapist's approach work well for you?
Overall – was today's session right for you?
Each question is scored out of 10, so a score of 40 would mean that the session had gone well.
The average score across all the individual appointments we have provided in the service is 39.
The Session Rating Scale (SRS) assesses the client's perception of the client-therapist alliance (i.e. the quality of the relational bond with the therapist and whether the therapist shares his or her therapeutic objective).
Along with the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) it is part of the internationally recognised Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS).
This system is a client feedback program for improving the treatment outcomes of adults and children participating in a behavioural health care intervention. It is designed to improve the retention of participants in treatment and to assist them in reaching reliable and clinically significant change.
Client ratings are discussed as necessary in order to maintain the client's engagement in treatment, optimize the client-therapist alliance, and provide a means for transitioning into the treatment session by focusing on client-identified concerns.
If client ratings are very low, the therapist may choose to modify the type and amount of treatment.


TOKYO – Citing the move as a core piece of its long-term growth strategy, Konami Digital Entertainment Corporation Limited revealed initial plans today to relocate all offices, including its Tokyo headquarters, from Japan to North Korea by 2018.
A pioneer in the gaming industry and publisher of major titles such as Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Dance Dance Revolution, Konami has struggled in recent years, most visibly in its high-profile separation with developer Hideo Kojima, creator of the acclaimed Metal Gear series, who had been with the company twenty-nine years.
In a report last year, newspaper Nikkei described controversial workplace practices at Konami, including widespread surveillance of employee activity, discipline through public humiliation, and aggressive efforts to isolate and control employees within and outside the workplace.


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The Very Group is a multi-brand online retailer and financial services provider in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its head offices are based in the Speke area of the city of Liverpool, England. The brand was established in November 2005 as a result of the merger of the former Littlewoods and Shop Direct companies, the retailer was known as Littlewoods Shop Direct Group until a corporate rebranding to Shop Direct Group in May 2008. In 2013, the company rebranded to Shop Direct, dropping the 'group' from its name. Shop Direct rebranded themselves to The Very Group in 2020.

A business group trading via several digital department stores, The Very Group traces its roots to a variety of mail order companies in northern England, the football pools and mail order business founded by John Moores, as well as the Manchester-based home shopping business of Great Universal Stores. These companies were purchased by Sir David and Frederick Barclay in 2003, and a major business restructuring took place leading to a merger of two companies that had "been arch rivals for the best part of 100 years".

Since the merger of what had been struggling businesses in 2005, ongoing restructuring and modernisation of the company has resulted in Shop Direct emerging as one of the largest online retailers in the UK. Its traditional paper-based and phone-in orders system has been superseded by electronic commerce technology.

The group is now amongst the largest online retailers in the UK, with annual sales of £1.86bn in 2016 and 62% of online sales coming from mobile devices.

The group's brands are Very.co.uk, Littlewoods.com, Very Exclusive and Very Ireland (rebranded from 'Littlewoods Ireland' in July 2022). The former Shop Direct brands are Additions Direct, Abound, Choice, Great Universal, Isme, K&Co, Kays, Marshall Ward and Woolworths. In 2009, The Very Group acquired the brand name of the failed Woolworths Group and re-established it as an online-only operation.

History

Origins

The Very Group traces its roots to a variety of independent mail order and retail companies in northern England, particularly Littlewoods, the pools and mail order business founded by John Moores, as well as the Manchester-based home shopping business of Great Universal Stores. Other businesses from this time that became part of Shop Direct included K&Co (formerly Kays Catalogues).

Founded by John Moores and his brother Cecil in 1923, Littlewoods was initially a football pools company, which used its network of pools agents and printing company (founded in 1928) to establish itself as a catalogue retailer from 1932 onwards.

The success of the catalogue shopping business led to the opening of a Littlewoods high street department store in Blackpool in 1937.

In October 2001, Littlewoods became the owner of Swan electronics.

In November 2002, the Moores family sold Littlewoods to the Barclay brothers for £750 million.

Littlewoods also owned the Index chain of stores.

The home shopping/catalogues business of Argos and Homebase owner, GUS plc, ARG Equation (which included Great Universal, Kays, Choice and Marshall Ward) was de-merged and bought by the Barclay brothers in 2003, where it became Shop Direct.

Merger: Littlewoods Shop Direct Group

In March 2005, following a 20-year history in which it had never made a profit, it was announced that part of the Index chain of catalogue shops was to be sold to Argos, and the remainder was to be closed.

In July 2005, Associated British Foods purchased the 120-branch Littlewoods retail chain on behalf of its retail subsidiary Primark for £409 million. Some of the stores were converted into branches of Primark, and the remainder were sold on to other retailers. The Littlewoods name disappeared from the British high street in March 2006.

Following these disposals, and clearance from the Competition Commission, the Littlewoods home shopping business was formally merged with that of Shop Direct (the former GUS plc home shopping business) in October 2005, to form the United Kingdom's largest home shopping business. The merger was in reality effected in early 2004 when work started on a business optimisation programme, consolidating various business functions.

Following the merger, Littlewoods Shop Direct Group moved its headquarters from Manchester city centre to Skyways House in Speke, south Liverpool.

The then newly appointed Chief Executive Mark Newton-Jones said the merger had "been the biggest challenge of all – taking two companies that [had] been arch rivals for the best part of 100 years and bringing them together. Not just from an operational point of view, but also two different business cultures".

Post-merger
In May 2008, Littlewoods Shop Direct Group announced it would change its corporate brand name to Shop Direct Group, to reflect the multi-branded nature of the business. In July 2008, Shop Direct completed its purchase of the Empire Stores brand name and customer base from mail order competitor Redcats.

In May 2008, Home Delivery Network, previously Shop Direct Group's logistics division, was separated from the group and subsequently renamed Yodel.

With the demise of the Woolworths Group in January 2009, Shop Direct purchased rights to children's clothing brand Ladybird along with the Woolworths trade name from the administrators. The takeover of the Woolworths brand by Shop Direct was announced on 2 February 2009, and the new online retailer began trading on 25 June that year.

At the start of 2009, Shop Direct predicted growth in online sales, with a spokesperson saying: "We anticipate that 70 per cent of our sales will be online by 2010/11 and, therefore, the future of our business is online-led." It was confirmed in late 2009 that it was on track to achieve 70% of its sales via the internet by 2011. By the end of the 2012/13 financial year, this figure had reached 78%.

In 2013, the company rebranded to Shop Direct, dropping the 'group' from its name.

On 27 October 2017 Shop Direct successfully placed its debut bond.

In 2019, Shop Direct rebranded to The Very Group.

Intellectual properties

Retailers

 Littlewoods.com
 Very.co.uk
 Very Ireland (https://www.very.ie)
Defunct

 BargainCrazy
 ShopDirect.com
 Woolworths.co.uk
 Littlewoodsireland.ie

Brands

 Ladybird for Children
 V by Very

Defunct

 Additions Direct
 Abound
 Choice
 Great Universal
 Isme
 K&Co
 Kays
 Marshall Ward

Financial services

 Very Financial Services

Defunct

 Everyday Financial Solutions
 Shop Direct Financial Services

Operations
Very.co.uk, Littlewoods.com and Littlewoods Ireland retail clothing and footwear, electricals, home and furniture, gifts and beauty, outdoor and seasonal, and toys. Very Exclusive sells luxury fashion.

As well as its celebrity brands, Shop Direct previously had a stable of own-brand fashion labels. Today, it operates a 'hero' own brand fashion label, V by Very, alongside Ladybird for children. Alongside the core retail business, Shop Direct owns and operates a financial services business, formerly known as Everyday Financial Solutions, and now known as Shop Direct Financial Services.

In July 2022, the company announced the appointment of Lionel Desclée as its new group chief executive, replacing Henry Birch who held the position for over four years.

Locations

The Very Group's headquarters is Skyways House, a £31 million renovated aircraft hangar, situated in Speke, south Liverpool.

Order processing for The Very Group is primarily undertaken in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, particularly at the Shaw National Distribution Centre, a warehousing and returns centre in Shaw and Crompton, Greater Manchester. It comprises six former cotton mills Lily 1, Lily 2, Newby, Rutland, Ash and Dee. Subsequently, Rutland, Ash and Dee mills have been demolished and replaced with new purpose made buildings. It is one of Europe's largest retail distribution centres. The Very Group processes returns at Raven Mill in Chadderton.

On 9 May 2006, the company announced the closure of three warehouses in Eccles, Wigan and Worcester. These closures have taken place, with all operations being transferred to their Shaw and Crompton site. Around 1,200 jobs were lost from the closures, but further jobs were created at the Shaw National Distribution Centre.

In 2016, The Very Group launched a  training, conferencing and wellbeing facility for its Liverpool HQ staff, calling the building "The Cube".

Relocation of distribution business

In Spring 2018, The Very Group announced that 2,000 jobs were at risk from redundancy as the company intends to close three distribution centres and move their distribution business to the East Midlands by 2020.

References

External links

Financial services companies established in 2005
Retail companies established in 2005
Companies based in Liverpool
Online retailers of the United Kingdom
Mail-order retailers
David and Frederick Barclay
British companies established in 2005

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Diabetes Drug Avandia Ups Heart Risk, Reviews Conclude
HealthDay News Service
According to data pooled from several large clinical trials, the diabetes drug Avandia does raise the odds of having a heart attack, bolstering the argument that the drug's risks might outweigh its benefits in people with type 2 diabetes.
Avandia did not, however, show an increased risk for death from cardiovascular disease, said the authors of a meta-analysis appearing in the June 28 online issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
A second study, this one appearing in a companion publication, the June 28 online issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that, in patients over the age of 65, taking rosiglitazone (Avandia) carried a higher risk for stroke, heart failure and all-cause death when compared to a similar medication known as pioglitazone (Actos).
Both papers are being published online in advance of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel that is set to convene in July to recommend the fate of this best-selling medication.
Whether or not these new results will sway the committee remains to be seen.
"I think it's pretty compelling scientifically to have both of these studies in advance of the FDA advisory panel meeting, but advisory panels have been very reluctant to take drugs off the market," said Dr. Steve Nissen, lead author of the Archives analysis and chair of the department of cardiovascular medicine at The Cleveland Clinic. "And it's very hard for clinicians who are used to using drugs to say they've been doing the wrong thing. Clinical inertia is a very big problem in medicine."
Gout Drug May Also Help After Heart Attack, Study Finds
Heart Failure Deaths in US Rise Dramatically, Study Finds
According to background information in the study, Nissen has received payments from various pharmaceutical companies but has contributed all the monies to charity.
Dr. Kirk Garratt, clinical director of interventional cardiovascular research at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, conceded that "it doesn't look good for rosiglitazone," yet also stated that the FDA "most of the time puts out some kind of warning. I doubt that the risk associated with this drug will be felt to be sufficiently bad that it would warrant taking it off the market."
In 2007, an FDA advisory committee stated that Avandia did increase the risk of heart attacks but fell short of recommending pulling it off pharmacy shelves.
In February of this year, the FDA said it was still reviewing documents concerning Avandia and wasn't ready to make any decisions on the drug.
Avandia was first approved by the FDA in 1999 to treat high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
Suggestions of heart problems first emerged in 2007. Since then, several additional studies have pointed to an increased risk of heart attack, although some research actually pointed to a benefit.
Amid all this controversy, a 2004 court settlement forced GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Avandia, to make all clinical trial results public.
Nissen and his colleagues searched those results and two other databases, ultimately identifying 56 randomized, controlled trials involving a total of more than 35,500 patients.
Combining data from all these trials revealed that Avandia increased the risk of heart attack by 28 percent to 39 percent, but not the risk of cardiovascular mortality.
Mediterranean Diet Study Retraction: Is the Plan Still Good for Heart Health?
The Mediterranean diet has long been touted as improving heart health, weight, and longevity, but a retraction of a study in NEJM has some questioning its benefits. Learn more about the republished study and why it's still good to eat like a Greek!Learn More
Given that cardiovascular disease is already the leading killer of people with type 2 diabetes, the increased risk is significant, the authors stated.
The authors of the JAMA study scoured pharmaceutical records on almost 227,600 Medicare patients participating in the Medicare Part D drug plan. They determined that Avandia increased the risk of heart attacks, stroke or all-cause death when compared with Actos.
The lead author of that report is David Graham, a researcher with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, which is part of the FDA. Graham was one of the first government scientists to point out the heart dangers of rofecoxib (Vioxx), a cox-2 inhibitor painkiller that was pulled from the market in 2004. His team's Avandia study was funded by various governmental offices and agencies, including the FDA.
The analysis found that, compared to people taking Actos, the risk for heart failure was 25 percent higher with Avandia; the risk of stroke was 27 percent higher and the risk of all-cause death was 14 percent higher.
A higher risk for Avandia does make biological sense. Previous research has shown that the drug increases LDL, or "bad," cholesterol and may also have negative genetic effects associated with an enzyme involved in plaque ruptures in the inner linings of blood vessels.
Both Avandia and Actos, made by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, belong to the class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones.
"This group of drugs is different from most drugs we use. They are actually modifying gene expression," Garratt explained. "Whenever you're going in and fiddling with gene expression, you have to be prepared to find unexpected results."
"The best-case scenario is that rosiglitazone would be neutral and the worst case is that it increases heart failure and cardiovascular events," said Dr. Robert Scott III, an associate professor of internal medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and senior staff cardiologist at Scott & White in Temple. "All the studies to date suggest that it would be perhaps safer to pick pioglitazone."
A randomized, controlled trial, mandated by the FDA, is being conducted by GlaxoSmithKline and is in the process of recruiting patients.
Polypill Cuts Heart Attacks and Strokes by Half