There is no such thing as the common cold. Each one is different and rather interesting. Right now I have a headache and a sore throat. I am hot and I am cold. I wonder how many days this will last. I have heard seven to 10 days is the usual run.
I hope you are faring better down there in Arizona as the New Year 2012 swiftly approaches. It was good talking with you on Christmas Day from Pittsburgh. That was a wonderful day watching James, 11, and Carmen, 8, rip open their Christmas gifts.
I do believe their parents will be sitting them down to write thank you letters. I tell the grandkids that all well mannered children write thank you notes.
My flights out to Pittsburgh and back were a piece of cake. Everything on time. When I flew out of Grand Forks on Dec. 20, the pilot said we were cleared and No. 1 for takeoff. It kind of amused me because there wasn’t another plane on the runway.
And I tell you one thing, Shirley. If there’s anything you don’t want to watch, it is the loading of bags into the belly of the plane. They give them a heave ho and a toss. Yikes. Somehow, everything gets through and I presume mostly OK.
All in all, it is great flying out of our new airport terminal here in Grand Forks. And Delta Airlines personnel were courteous and sympathetic as they changed my return flight from Denver earlier in December because of a death in the family.
Snow has been scarce around here. So, instead of snow sculptures this week during Winter Fest at Turtle River Sate Park, they made clay sculptures Wednesday. Today’s schedule out there includes a winter scavenger hunt.
The Buena Vista Ski Area in Bemidji has been advertising great conditions. They make snow daily!
And here in Grand Forks, avid tennis players have been on the outdoor courts this week. Christmas Day found UND tennis player Callie Ronkowski doing what she most loves — playing tennis. The temperature was almost 50 degrees. Callie and her dad, Keith Ronkowski, were able to spend the morning on the court at the entrance to Lincoln Park Golf Course.
That is where Callie, a Red River High School standout, got her start with lessons from Tim Wynne. She played on six state champion tennis teams and was state individual champion for two year with Tim Wynne as her coach. She now plays at UND for Tim’s brother, Tom Wynne.
Oh, and I should tell you, Shirley, that Callie wore a fur cap for her Christmas Day tennis match.
The UND basketball team has its work cut out for it as they play Kansas on the last day of the year. The women hoopsters are spending the New Year weekend on the road, too. Tonight they play Idaho at tournament in Montana.
Love from your sister, Marilyn, with a red nose and bleary eyes on the west bank of the frozen Red River of the North.
2011年12月28日星期三
Mumbai cold to fast, Anna health a govt headache
As Lok Sabha debated and passed the Lokpal bill late on Tuesday, worry mounted in Mumbai over Anna Hazare’s health which deteriorated sharply over the evening.
The viral fever that had laid him low in the days leading up to today’s protest fast spiked to 102 degrees F, and his blood pressure rose. Doctors attending on Hazare said his pulse rate had risen to 98, and he had a cold and a chest infection.
Well past midnight, Hazare’s health remained delicate, and there were indications that he could be moved to hospital from the fast venue at the MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla Complex overnight.
A team of doctors from JJ Hospital visited him and drew his blood for tests. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan spoke to him and appealed to him to end his fast. The chief minister said Hazare had told him that he would do as his doctors advise him to.
Officials in Mumbai and Delhi said the government was watching the situation closely. Given earlier experiences with the agitation in Delhi, the government, they said, was wary of appearing to force its will on Hazare, or take any action in a hurry.
Earlier in the evening, Arvind Kejriwal, Hazare’s close aide and member of Team Anna’s core committee, said he had made a fresh appeal to the activist to call off his fast but the 74-year-old was unrelenting.
Kejriwal and fellow activist Kiran Bedi had implored Hazare to end his fast in the morning as well, but Hazare had insisted that the crowds gathered in his support gave him the energy to carry on.
In fact, there wasn’t much of a crowd to speak of.
For an agitation that has always based its claims of legitimacy in numbers, be it at public meetings or on the web, the financial capital provided a significant reality check. None of the numbers freely bandied around by Hazare and his team —“lakhs”, “crores”, and poll ratings in the nineties — were in evidence at the MMRDA grounds, where the peak attendance did not appear to have gone beyond 10,000 at any point.
Until Hazare’s speech began around 3 pm, no more than 5,000 people were scattered around the 20,000-sq metre ground. A separate 10,000-sq metre area reserved for parking was almost entirely deserted. By 4 pm, about 8,000 to 10,000 people had gathered, a far cry from the 50,000 to 75,000 that India Against Corruption, the organisation spearheading the campaign, had predicted.
From his fasting podium, Hazare gave his familiar call for a sustained people’s movement to demand, after the Jan Lokpal bill, a law giving citizens the right to reject all candidates in an election. He also repeated his plan to tour the country in 2012 to campaign against the UPA government if it did not pass a strong Lokpal bill.
The government, Hazare told a modest gathering that was not estimated to have crossed 10,000 at any point during the day, was betraying not Team Anna but the people — and the people would strike back.
“Dilli ke parliament se jan parliament badi hai... Dilli ka parliament janata ke parliament ne banaayi hai,” he said.
A government that baton charges or fires on protesting farmers is autocratic, Hazare said, adding that a ‘right to reject’ law would ensure “goondas” would stay out of parliament and vidhan sabhas. Those who lose in such an election should not be allowed to contest again, he said.
Doctors said the activist was weak from having not eaten well for the past five days, and medicines would work well only if he ate solid food. Dr Devlat Pote, Hazare’s personal physician, said the activist had slept through much of Tuesday, which was unusual.
Hazare’s fast was shifted from Delhi to Mumbai to escape the capital’s harsh winter, but the weather in Mumbai has not been kind either. Mumbai’s suburbs, where Hazare is fasting, saw a record minimum of 11.4 degrees C before he began his fast today, and witnessed a huge variation during the day, with the maximum touching 30.3 degrees C. The forecast is for similar lows in the coming days.
Following the uncertainties surrounding Hazare’s health over the past few days, a fully equipped team of health specialists was present at the MMRDA grounds. In the morning, Pote had said that although Hazare’s health had improved over the past two days, it continued to be fragile.
“Anna’s blood pressure, pulse and weight is normal as of now. His last meal was yesterday’s lunch. We have advised him to drink plenty of water. Although his fever has subsided, the fluctuating weather condition has caused him a sore throat but overall, his condition is fine,” Pote had said in the morning.
The viral fever that had laid him low in the days leading up to today’s protest fast spiked to 102 degrees F, and his blood pressure rose. Doctors attending on Hazare said his pulse rate had risen to 98, and he had a cold and a chest infection.
Well past midnight, Hazare’s health remained delicate, and there were indications that he could be moved to hospital from the fast venue at the MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla Complex overnight.
A team of doctors from JJ Hospital visited him and drew his blood for tests. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan spoke to him and appealed to him to end his fast. The chief minister said Hazare had told him that he would do as his doctors advise him to.
Officials in Mumbai and Delhi said the government was watching the situation closely. Given earlier experiences with the agitation in Delhi, the government, they said, was wary of appearing to force its will on Hazare, or take any action in a hurry.
Earlier in the evening, Arvind Kejriwal, Hazare’s close aide and member of Team Anna’s core committee, said he had made a fresh appeal to the activist to call off his fast but the 74-year-old was unrelenting.
Kejriwal and fellow activist Kiran Bedi had implored Hazare to end his fast in the morning as well, but Hazare had insisted that the crowds gathered in his support gave him the energy to carry on.
In fact, there wasn’t much of a crowd to speak of.
For an agitation that has always based its claims of legitimacy in numbers, be it at public meetings or on the web, the financial capital provided a significant reality check. None of the numbers freely bandied around by Hazare and his team —“lakhs”, “crores”, and poll ratings in the nineties — were in evidence at the MMRDA grounds, where the peak attendance did not appear to have gone beyond 10,000 at any point.
Until Hazare’s speech began around 3 pm, no more than 5,000 people were scattered around the 20,000-sq metre ground. A separate 10,000-sq metre area reserved for parking was almost entirely deserted. By 4 pm, about 8,000 to 10,000 people had gathered, a far cry from the 50,000 to 75,000 that India Against Corruption, the organisation spearheading the campaign, had predicted.
From his fasting podium, Hazare gave his familiar call for a sustained people’s movement to demand, after the Jan Lokpal bill, a law giving citizens the right to reject all candidates in an election. He also repeated his plan to tour the country in 2012 to campaign against the UPA government if it did not pass a strong Lokpal bill.
The government, Hazare told a modest gathering that was not estimated to have crossed 10,000 at any point during the day, was betraying not Team Anna but the people — and the people would strike back.
“Dilli ke parliament se jan parliament badi hai... Dilli ka parliament janata ke parliament ne banaayi hai,” he said.
A government that baton charges or fires on protesting farmers is autocratic, Hazare said, adding that a ‘right to reject’ law would ensure “goondas” would stay out of parliament and vidhan sabhas. Those who lose in such an election should not be allowed to contest again, he said.
Doctors said the activist was weak from having not eaten well for the past five days, and medicines would work well only if he ate solid food. Dr Devlat Pote, Hazare’s personal physician, said the activist had slept through much of Tuesday, which was unusual.
Hazare’s fast was shifted from Delhi to Mumbai to escape the capital’s harsh winter, but the weather in Mumbai has not been kind either. Mumbai’s suburbs, where Hazare is fasting, saw a record minimum of 11.4 degrees C before he began his fast today, and witnessed a huge variation during the day, with the maximum touching 30.3 degrees C. The forecast is for similar lows in the coming days.
Following the uncertainties surrounding Hazare’s health over the past few days, a fully equipped team of health specialists was present at the MMRDA grounds. In the morning, Pote had said that although Hazare’s health had improved over the past two days, it continued to be fragile.
“Anna’s blood pressure, pulse and weight is normal as of now. His last meal was yesterday’s lunch. We have advised him to drink plenty of water. Although his fever has subsided, the fluctuating weather condition has caused him a sore throat but overall, his condition is fine,” Pote had said in the morning.
2011年12月27日星期二
How to Tell If It’s Allergies, a Cold or the Flu
Understanding what illness you have is important in figuring out how to treat it, and how to get rid of it.
Garyl Hester of New York City thought he had a sinus infection when he went to the doctor – but he had it all wrong.
“I couldn’t get rid of it, I couldn’t shake it,” said Hester, 48. “So (my doctor) tested me and found out I was allergic to dust mites, which I never knew before.”
Hester said he now has an air purifier in his house and he bought hypoallergenic sheets – and his headache is gone.
New York-based allergist Dr. Jonathan Field said most patients get confused and often do not know what kind of medical condition they are dealing with.
“If they have a fever, if the headache tends to be more extreme or if they lost their sense of smell, then it sounds to me like a sinus infection,” Field said.
If you are prone to sinus infections, try an irrigation rinse to prevent them or get tested for allergies.
Field said colds and sinus infections are often triggered by indoor allergies, such as dust, mold and pet dander.
“Colds tend to be mild, and you have typical symptoms like a running nose, itchy eyes – a little bit of a sore throat and mild muscle aches, but generally you feel well,” Field said.
Cold symptoms should not last longer than a week, he added. Taking zinc at the onset of a cold can decrease the duration of the illness and severity of symptoms.
However, the flu is much worse – symptoms are more pronounced in terms of muscle aches and fatigue, and you will definitely have a fever.
The onset of the flu is very sudden, Field added.
Prescribed medication is the only cure for influenza, which can be deadly. Up to 36,000 Americans die each year from influenza, so if you think you may have it, see a doctor immediately. A flu shot is the best prevention.
Garyl Hester of New York City thought he had a sinus infection when he went to the doctor – but he had it all wrong.
“I couldn’t get rid of it, I couldn’t shake it,” said Hester, 48. “So (my doctor) tested me and found out I was allergic to dust mites, which I never knew before.”
Hester said he now has an air purifier in his house and he bought hypoallergenic sheets – and his headache is gone.
New York-based allergist Dr. Jonathan Field said most patients get confused and often do not know what kind of medical condition they are dealing with.
“If they have a fever, if the headache tends to be more extreme or if they lost their sense of smell, then it sounds to me like a sinus infection,” Field said.
If you are prone to sinus infections, try an irrigation rinse to prevent them or get tested for allergies.
Field said colds and sinus infections are often triggered by indoor allergies, such as dust, mold and pet dander.
“Colds tend to be mild, and you have typical symptoms like a running nose, itchy eyes – a little bit of a sore throat and mild muscle aches, but generally you feel well,” Field said.
Cold symptoms should not last longer than a week, he added. Taking zinc at the onset of a cold can decrease the duration of the illness and severity of symptoms.
However, the flu is much worse – symptoms are more pronounced in terms of muscle aches and fatigue, and you will definitely have a fever.
The onset of the flu is very sudden, Field added.
Prescribed medication is the only cure for influenza, which can be deadly. Up to 36,000 Americans die each year from influenza, so if you think you may have it, see a doctor immediately. A flu shot is the best prevention.
2011年12月26日星期一
Emergency rooms see too many outpatients
The hospital in Ajman, one of the busiest in the country, receives 450 to 500 emergency cases per day, said Dr Abdul Karim Halimi, the emergency department director. He attributed the high number to the facility's proximity to industrial areas and one of the two motorways linking Umm Al Qaiwain and Ras Al Khaimah.
"Most of our emergency cases are for traffic accidents and construction site-related accidents," he said. "Unfortunately, there are also a number of cases that are not very serious and could be treated in our outpatient clinics but end up in the emergency department."
He said the hospital commissioned a study on the congestion in the emergency department. The study found most people preferred the department, even those with simple ailments, which increased pressure on emergency staff.
"Doctors spent a lot of time examining some of these patients before deciding to transfer them to outpatient clinics," he said. "This is precious time spent on someone not in a life-threatening situation, yet there could be one in that situation waiting."
He appealed to patients to go to the outpatient clinic straightaway for minor issues.
Hospital emergency departments being flooded with non-emergency cases is a problem nationwide, said Dr Yousef Altair, the head of the accident and emergency department at Saqr Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah.
A study by the hospital in 2010 showed that 73 per cent of patients admitted to the department had only minor ailments.
"They come in for anything, even a common cold. The real emergency cases are few," he said.
Although there are enough family physicians in the emirate, patients do not want to wait until business hours to see a doctor, he said.
"Some [clinics] are not open 24 hours. Hospitals are open 24 hours," he said.
Some people even visit the emergency room at Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi to get prescriptions renewed, said Dr Jihad Awad, the head of the emergency department.
Other non-severe cases, which account for 10 to 15 per cent of the 300 patients admitted daily, include sore throats, body pain, nausea and chronic pain.
People also visit the hospital for check-ups, he said.
Everyone from the government to the physicians who treat minor cases in emergency departments must educate the public, Dr Awad said.
"They have to inform the patient about the cases they should be worried about and the cases they should just follow up with their family doctor," he said.
Dr Omar Al Jabri, the medical director of the Ambulatory Healthcare Services Company (AHS), said people also must be educated on what is a serious ailment.
"Their first choice will be emergency partly because they think they have something serious, most of the time," Dr Al Jabri said. "Part of it is individual education."
Ehab Ahmed, a 30-year-old Egyptian, said he brought his 2-year-old son to the Sheikh Khalifa emergency department with a fever.
He said most patients prefer the emergency department because the staff there were quick to attend to patients. He also said there was nowhere else to go when the outpatient clinic was closed.
Dr Halimi said the outpatient clinic at the Sheikh Kalifah Hospital operated from 8am to 11pm.
He said the emergency department was there to deal with cases that required immediate intervention, such as traffic and construction accidents, burns, heart attacks and epileptic seizures.
"Most of our emergency cases are for traffic accidents and construction site-related accidents," he said. "Unfortunately, there are also a number of cases that are not very serious and could be treated in our outpatient clinics but end up in the emergency department."
He said the hospital commissioned a study on the congestion in the emergency department. The study found most people preferred the department, even those with simple ailments, which increased pressure on emergency staff.
"Doctors spent a lot of time examining some of these patients before deciding to transfer them to outpatient clinics," he said. "This is precious time spent on someone not in a life-threatening situation, yet there could be one in that situation waiting."
He appealed to patients to go to the outpatient clinic straightaway for minor issues.
Hospital emergency departments being flooded with non-emergency cases is a problem nationwide, said Dr Yousef Altair, the head of the accident and emergency department at Saqr Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah.
A study by the hospital in 2010 showed that 73 per cent of patients admitted to the department had only minor ailments.
"They come in for anything, even a common cold. The real emergency cases are few," he said.
Although there are enough family physicians in the emirate, patients do not want to wait until business hours to see a doctor, he said.
"Some [clinics] are not open 24 hours. Hospitals are open 24 hours," he said.
Some people even visit the emergency room at Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi to get prescriptions renewed, said Dr Jihad Awad, the head of the emergency department.
Other non-severe cases, which account for 10 to 15 per cent of the 300 patients admitted daily, include sore throats, body pain, nausea and chronic pain.
People also visit the hospital for check-ups, he said.
Everyone from the government to the physicians who treat minor cases in emergency departments must educate the public, Dr Awad said.
"They have to inform the patient about the cases they should be worried about and the cases they should just follow up with their family doctor," he said.
Dr Omar Al Jabri, the medical director of the Ambulatory Healthcare Services Company (AHS), said people also must be educated on what is a serious ailment.
"Their first choice will be emergency partly because they think they have something serious, most of the time," Dr Al Jabri said. "Part of it is individual education."
Ehab Ahmed, a 30-year-old Egyptian, said he brought his 2-year-old son to the Sheikh Khalifa emergency department with a fever.
He said most patients prefer the emergency department because the staff there were quick to attend to patients. He also said there was nowhere else to go when the outpatient clinic was closed.
Dr Halimi said the outpatient clinic at the Sheikh Kalifah Hospital operated from 8am to 11pm.
He said the emergency department was there to deal with cases that required immediate intervention, such as traffic and construction accidents, burns, heart attacks and epileptic seizures.
2011年12月25日星期日
Packers tailgater Timothy Merry patrols Lambeau in ape costume
Bigfoot wears a size 12 shoe, isn't camera shy and has been spotted this season at Green Bay Packers home games.
That's right, the mystique of Lambeau Field gets turned up a few notches whenever Timothy Merry steps inside his massive ape-like costume to patrol the parking lot.
"It's very warm," said Merry, who is a lean 6 foot 2 inches tall but stands nearly 7 feet when he puts on the hairy creature getup. "The head is a little top heavy, so your neck gets a little sore after a while. But other than that, it's perfect to wear to games in the cold."
Merry, a 27-year-old delivery service driver and middle school ice hockey coach from Hartland, first stepped into the suit for the Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings game Nov. 14 at the suggestion of a friend — the same friend who had scored the costume from a film studio.
"He said he'll buy my tickets for the Packers game if I wore that costume," Merry said.
On game days, fans sometimes mistake Merry for Chewbacca from "Star Wars,'' but they have no fear of getting close to him.
"Girls sometimes want to be picked up off the ground. They ask me if that's my real height, because I'm actually looking out my neck," he said.
Loads of people snap photos nonstop to document their close encounter.
Some people even told Merry they planned to use it as their Christmas photo.
"Every step I took, I was turning around and taking pictures with somebody," he said of his second outing as Bigfoot in an XXL green Clay Matthews No. 52 jersey at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game Nov. 20. "Girls loved it. Guys loved it. Even fans from the other team loved it."
And the interest didn't exactly slow down once he was in his seat inside the stadium.
"Pretty much every person that passed me tried to get a picture. It was kind of hard to catch the game," he said.
Merry has been a Packers fan since the mid-1990s, when the team became a playoff contender with quarterback Brett Favre at the helm.
"I'm a Packers fan,'' Merry said. "I'm not a Brett Favre fan.''
Merry usually takes in about two games a season, but now that he's crossed over into Bigfoot territory, he plans on attending more.
"I'm pretty much going to wear it every time I go to the Packers game, and now that I have it and know how much fun it is, I'm going to go to as many Packers games as I can,'' he said.
That's right, the mystique of Lambeau Field gets turned up a few notches whenever Timothy Merry steps inside his massive ape-like costume to patrol the parking lot.
"It's very warm," said Merry, who is a lean 6 foot 2 inches tall but stands nearly 7 feet when he puts on the hairy creature getup. "The head is a little top heavy, so your neck gets a little sore after a while. But other than that, it's perfect to wear to games in the cold."
Merry, a 27-year-old delivery service driver and middle school ice hockey coach from Hartland, first stepped into the suit for the Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings game Nov. 14 at the suggestion of a friend — the same friend who had scored the costume from a film studio.
"He said he'll buy my tickets for the Packers game if I wore that costume," Merry said.
On game days, fans sometimes mistake Merry for Chewbacca from "Star Wars,'' but they have no fear of getting close to him.
"Girls sometimes want to be picked up off the ground. They ask me if that's my real height, because I'm actually looking out my neck," he said.
Loads of people snap photos nonstop to document their close encounter.
Some people even told Merry they planned to use it as their Christmas photo.
"Every step I took, I was turning around and taking pictures with somebody," he said of his second outing as Bigfoot in an XXL green Clay Matthews No. 52 jersey at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game Nov. 20. "Girls loved it. Guys loved it. Even fans from the other team loved it."
And the interest didn't exactly slow down once he was in his seat inside the stadium.
"Pretty much every person that passed me tried to get a picture. It was kind of hard to catch the game," he said.
Merry has been a Packers fan since the mid-1990s, when the team became a playoff contender with quarterback Brett Favre at the helm.
"I'm a Packers fan,'' Merry said. "I'm not a Brett Favre fan.''
Merry usually takes in about two games a season, but now that he's crossed over into Bigfoot territory, he plans on attending more.
"I'm pretty much going to wear it every time I go to the Packers game, and now that I have it and know how much fun it is, I'm going to go to as many Packers games as I can,'' he said.
2011年12月22日星期四
'You see those eyes and you melt'
Two weeks ago, little Joey was so sick his caregivers couldn't determine the puppy's breed.
They thought he might be a shar-pei, because of the wrinkles around his paws and face, but later realized the roughly 5-month-old black dog with the soulful eyes was badly wrinkled because of severe swelling.
Found tied to a pole in Berlin during a cold snap, he was suffering from such a severe case of itchy mange that the blanket rescuers wrapped him in stuck to his wounds.
His little eyes were swollen shut. He was so weak he could barely lift his head, and had to be hand-fed and carried outdoors to relieve himself.
"He was a bloody mess when he came in," said Meggin McKnight, canine caretaker at the Worcester County Humane Society, where the puppy has been nursed.
"He would sleep all day and barely pick his head up. It seemed like slow-going but it was like overnight that he came around. Now he's growing. He loves to play. He likes tug-of-war. You see those eyes and you melt," she said.
McKnight dubbed him Joey because he reminded her of helpless baby kangaroos who are born blind and only a few centimeters long.
"We all took turns hand-feeding him. When he came in he was starving. You could see all the bones in his back and around his ribs. Now he's all plump," she said, smiling.
"The first day his eyes were open and he was yapping I looked at him and said, 'Get outta town. Look at you.' His tail was wagging," she said, laughing.
The puppy was spotted by a good-hearted passer-by who rushed him to the Humane Society. The former owners are not known, but their cruelty certainly put Joey's life at risk.
"He is one amazing little creature," McKnight said. "His strength and resilience is nothing short of a miracle. ... We were devastated and shocked at his condition when we first laid eyes on him. It was the worst case of noncontagious, treatable mange we had ever seen and a clear case of neglect and abuse."
Sick as he was, he wasn't irritable about being medicated or bathed.
"He was a real trooper. We are all so relieved and proud of him. Despite this horrible ordeal, he has developed into a sweet endearing little puppy that showers us with kisses. He has his appetite back and is growing like a weed," she said.
He will be a healthy dog. Other than mange, he was in good condition with a strong heart, his veterinarian said. Even though he didn't have early proper nutrition, he's developing mentally, knows his name and looks up when he's called.
It appears Joey is a Labrador retriever or mastiff. His fur hasn't grown thick yet but the little he has is black.
"Even without fur, we think he is the most beautiful boy in the world. He is so loyal. He'll follow me everywhere I go. He tries to crawl up my leg," said McKnight, who's fashioning a scrapbook of his improvement and growth for the family who eventually welcomes him into a safe home.
And that won't be a simple adoption; applicants will be interviewed thoroughly.
The Humane Society prohibits adoptions beginning Christmas week until a few days after the holiday, to be certain owners are serious about committing to the care of a new pet, not just caught up in the holiday excitement and a cute puppy or kitten.
A positive light surrounds Joey's early misfortune so close to Christmas.
"It just makes you realize if you put your heart and soul into something, it all works out. The gratitude he shows us, how much he loves you, makes it all worthwhile," McKnight said.
"He brought us all together as a team. We all took turns feeding him a combination of baby food and puppy chow. It kind of made us realize how much we all depend on each other," she said.
They thought he might be a shar-pei, because of the wrinkles around his paws and face, but later realized the roughly 5-month-old black dog with the soulful eyes was badly wrinkled because of severe swelling.
Found tied to a pole in Berlin during a cold snap, he was suffering from such a severe case of itchy mange that the blanket rescuers wrapped him in stuck to his wounds.
His little eyes were swollen shut. He was so weak he could barely lift his head, and had to be hand-fed and carried outdoors to relieve himself.
"He was a bloody mess when he came in," said Meggin McKnight, canine caretaker at the Worcester County Humane Society, where the puppy has been nursed.
"He would sleep all day and barely pick his head up. It seemed like slow-going but it was like overnight that he came around. Now he's growing. He loves to play. He likes tug-of-war. You see those eyes and you melt," she said.
McKnight dubbed him Joey because he reminded her of helpless baby kangaroos who are born blind and only a few centimeters long.
"We all took turns hand-feeding him. When he came in he was starving. You could see all the bones in his back and around his ribs. Now he's all plump," she said, smiling.
"The first day his eyes were open and he was yapping I looked at him and said, 'Get outta town. Look at you.' His tail was wagging," she said, laughing.
The puppy was spotted by a good-hearted passer-by who rushed him to the Humane Society. The former owners are not known, but their cruelty certainly put Joey's life at risk.
"He is one amazing little creature," McKnight said. "His strength and resilience is nothing short of a miracle. ... We were devastated and shocked at his condition when we first laid eyes on him. It was the worst case of noncontagious, treatable mange we had ever seen and a clear case of neglect and abuse."
Sick as he was, he wasn't irritable about being medicated or bathed.
"He was a real trooper. We are all so relieved and proud of him. Despite this horrible ordeal, he has developed into a sweet endearing little puppy that showers us with kisses. He has his appetite back and is growing like a weed," she said.
He will be a healthy dog. Other than mange, he was in good condition with a strong heart, his veterinarian said. Even though he didn't have early proper nutrition, he's developing mentally, knows his name and looks up when he's called.
It appears Joey is a Labrador retriever or mastiff. His fur hasn't grown thick yet but the little he has is black.
"Even without fur, we think he is the most beautiful boy in the world. He is so loyal. He'll follow me everywhere I go. He tries to crawl up my leg," said McKnight, who's fashioning a scrapbook of his improvement and growth for the family who eventually welcomes him into a safe home.
And that won't be a simple adoption; applicants will be interviewed thoroughly.
The Humane Society prohibits adoptions beginning Christmas week until a few days after the holiday, to be certain owners are serious about committing to the care of a new pet, not just caught up in the holiday excitement and a cute puppy or kitten.
A positive light surrounds Joey's early misfortune so close to Christmas.
"It just makes you realize if you put your heart and soul into something, it all works out. The gratitude he shows us, how much he loves you, makes it all worthwhile," McKnight said.
"He brought us all together as a team. We all took turns feeding him a combination of baby food and puppy chow. It kind of made us realize how much we all depend on each other," she said.
2011年12月21日星期三
Why You Shouldn't Call In Sick Unless Absolutely Necessary
I thought about calling in sick to teach my classes at the gym last week. I don’t even get up very early. I just didn’t feel like it.
The kids both had stuffy noses that started with a sore throat. No fevers this time, but wasn’t that a faint tickle I felt in the back of my throat? It’s so cold, I thought. I could easily call in and find a substitute for my two classes.
But no, I knew that’s just a slippery slope. And, it's not like I felt terrible. Winter hadn't even officially started. Get up and go, I said, reminding myself that you shouldn't call in sick unless absolutely necessary. I am so glad I did.
About five weeks ago, a new person came into my Yoga/Pilates class, Danielle. As instructors, we are trained to always ask if there is anyone new to class, so we can guide them more fully through movements.
Danielle told me she hadn’t worked out regularly in seven years, but at that time had been a yoga instructor. I welcomed her enthusiastically and we started our workout.
Danielle was older than me; I could tell. I don’t really try to guess a person's age, as I feel I am terrible at it anyway. Also, it doesn't really matter to me. (I constantly forget my mother’s age, which she is somewhat responsible for by telling us, “Age does not matter." I think she’s right.)
Danielle moved through the yoga poses with both familiarity and some slight difficulty, but one of the best parts of yoga is that the movements help you become more balanced and strong very quickly.
After class, I thanked Danielle for coming, and told her I hoped I would see her again. She said she definitely would be back for my classes and then shocked me when she told me she was 67 years old. I would never have guessed.
Danielle did come back. In fact, she came to every one of my yoga classes for the next five weeks. We shared a bit about ourselves as group instructors, our fitness history and our families.
I learned that Danielle would be moving in the new year to the western suburbs of St. Louis, so she could provide more room for her grandchildren to visit. She had mentioned she would try to keep coming to our gym in the Central West End, The Lab.
I am so glad I did not listen to the little devil on my shoulder that morning last week telling me to call in sick. When Danielle walked in to class, she told me it would be her last at The Lab.
She decided she must be realistic. The Lab would be a far drive and she had discovered her insurance company would pay for full membership at two gyms closer to her new home.
We talked and laughed through our final class together. At the end, as we said our goodbyes, I learned for the first time that her daughter and her family live in Madrid, Spain.
Furthermore, seven years ago, at 60 years old, she walked in the Camino de Santiago in Spain. She asked if I had ever heard of it, and I had not. (My cultural experience is very limited and specific to Germany, my father’s homeland.)
She explained that the Camino de Santiago is an annual pilgrimage in Europe of hundreds of miles, always with the same destination: The town where St. James is buried. People from all walks of life, all over the world and all ages come together for the walk.
Danielle said she wanted to tell me that she realized many things on the walk, but one of the best was that the Camino de Santiago is representative of one’s life.
She said she would meet people and walk and talk with them for maybe 10 minutes or a whole day, and then not see them again the rest of the trip, and that was okay.
Danielle explained how she was glad we had met. She thanked me for being a good teacher and said that now it was time to move on. I said thank you to her as well and that change is good. We both teared up as we hugged goodbye and wished each other well.
People continue to surprise me.
It's likely I will never see Danielle again, but I will never forget her. She had the courage to return to yoga after a seven-year hiatus, walk into a gym class at 67 and get back at it. Not to mention that she walked such an amazing pilgrimage at 60.
She inspired me to never give up, even if you think you already did, and to try new things, like walking hundreds of miles in a foreign land with many strangers.
By doing this, and having the courage to truly live, we can enjoy the journey and the people that come and go while on the trip. Don’t call in sick, unless absolutely necessary. You might miss an important pit stop.
The kids both had stuffy noses that started with a sore throat. No fevers this time, but wasn’t that a faint tickle I felt in the back of my throat? It’s so cold, I thought. I could easily call in and find a substitute for my two classes.
But no, I knew that’s just a slippery slope. And, it's not like I felt terrible. Winter hadn't even officially started. Get up and go, I said, reminding myself that you shouldn't call in sick unless absolutely necessary. I am so glad I did.
About five weeks ago, a new person came into my Yoga/Pilates class, Danielle. As instructors, we are trained to always ask if there is anyone new to class, so we can guide them more fully through movements.
Danielle told me she hadn’t worked out regularly in seven years, but at that time had been a yoga instructor. I welcomed her enthusiastically and we started our workout.
Danielle was older than me; I could tell. I don’t really try to guess a person's age, as I feel I am terrible at it anyway. Also, it doesn't really matter to me. (I constantly forget my mother’s age, which she is somewhat responsible for by telling us, “Age does not matter." I think she’s right.)
Danielle moved through the yoga poses with both familiarity and some slight difficulty, but one of the best parts of yoga is that the movements help you become more balanced and strong very quickly.
After class, I thanked Danielle for coming, and told her I hoped I would see her again. She said she definitely would be back for my classes and then shocked me when she told me she was 67 years old. I would never have guessed.
Danielle did come back. In fact, she came to every one of my yoga classes for the next five weeks. We shared a bit about ourselves as group instructors, our fitness history and our families.
I learned that Danielle would be moving in the new year to the western suburbs of St. Louis, so she could provide more room for her grandchildren to visit. She had mentioned she would try to keep coming to our gym in the Central West End, The Lab.
I am so glad I did not listen to the little devil on my shoulder that morning last week telling me to call in sick. When Danielle walked in to class, she told me it would be her last at The Lab.
She decided she must be realistic. The Lab would be a far drive and she had discovered her insurance company would pay for full membership at two gyms closer to her new home.
We talked and laughed through our final class together. At the end, as we said our goodbyes, I learned for the first time that her daughter and her family live in Madrid, Spain.
Furthermore, seven years ago, at 60 years old, she walked in the Camino de Santiago in Spain. She asked if I had ever heard of it, and I had not. (My cultural experience is very limited and specific to Germany, my father’s homeland.)
She explained that the Camino de Santiago is an annual pilgrimage in Europe of hundreds of miles, always with the same destination: The town where St. James is buried. People from all walks of life, all over the world and all ages come together for the walk.
Danielle said she wanted to tell me that she realized many things on the walk, but one of the best was that the Camino de Santiago is representative of one’s life.
She said she would meet people and walk and talk with them for maybe 10 minutes or a whole day, and then not see them again the rest of the trip, and that was okay.
Danielle explained how she was glad we had met. She thanked me for being a good teacher and said that now it was time to move on. I said thank you to her as well and that change is good. We both teared up as we hugged goodbye and wished each other well.
People continue to surprise me.
It's likely I will never see Danielle again, but I will never forget her. She had the courage to return to yoga after a seven-year hiatus, walk into a gym class at 67 and get back at it. Not to mention that she walked such an amazing pilgrimage at 60.
She inspired me to never give up, even if you think you already did, and to try new things, like walking hundreds of miles in a foreign land with many strangers.
By doing this, and having the courage to truly live, we can enjoy the journey and the people that come and go while on the trip. Don’t call in sick, unless absolutely necessary. You might miss an important pit stop.
2011年12月20日星期二
Can chicken soup help with a cold?
Going as far back as the 12th century, Jewish scholars have touted the effectiveness of chicken soup for a variety of ailments, including the common cold. Even today, when you're in bed with a cold, someone has either reminded you of its goodness or brought you a piping hot bowl. Are the wonders of chicken soup just cultural myths passed down from generation to generation, or can soup really cure a cold?
Chicken soup is made from a stock or broth and a variety of veggies. In a stock, the chicken bones are cooked for a few hours. This gives enough time for zinc, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium to seep into the liquid stock. These same minerals won't be in a broth since a broth is typically made from the meat only. Don't count out the nutritional goodness of broth though; it's still brimming with minerals. Of course both soups and stocks are made from a variety of veggies including celery, onion, carrots, leeks, parsnips and turnips -- all of their minerals seep into the liquid too.
There are numerous theories of how chicken soup helps ward off the sniffles. One study found that sipping hot chicken soup helped clear stuffy noses, but the study found it was effective only for a few minutes and that it wasn't any more effective than sipping hot water.
A few scientific studies showed that zinc can help shorten the duration of a cold. However, you need to start taking more zinc within 24 hours from the first symptoms. Many of these studies were done with lozenges or zinc supplements, so it's difficult to say if chicken soup has enough zinc to be effective.
Other theories claim that chicken soup helps keep you hydrated and soothes a sore throat. And a recent study from the University of Nebraska found that chicken soup may contain anti-inflammatory substances that could help alleviate a cold.
Chicken soup is also a comfort food typically given to children when they're sick. A warming bowl of the soup may provide emotional and psychological well-being to both adults and kids.
Bottom Line: For centuries, chicken soup has been the go-to cold fighter. Although the evidence isn't terribly strong, numerous studies show that chicken soup may help fight a cold. If you're a believer, then who am I to dispel the myth of chicken soup?
Chicken soup is made from a stock or broth and a variety of veggies. In a stock, the chicken bones are cooked for a few hours. This gives enough time for zinc, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium to seep into the liquid stock. These same minerals won't be in a broth since a broth is typically made from the meat only. Don't count out the nutritional goodness of broth though; it's still brimming with minerals. Of course both soups and stocks are made from a variety of veggies including celery, onion, carrots, leeks, parsnips and turnips -- all of their minerals seep into the liquid too.
There are numerous theories of how chicken soup helps ward off the sniffles. One study found that sipping hot chicken soup helped clear stuffy noses, but the study found it was effective only for a few minutes and that it wasn't any more effective than sipping hot water.
A few scientific studies showed that zinc can help shorten the duration of a cold. However, you need to start taking more zinc within 24 hours from the first symptoms. Many of these studies were done with lozenges or zinc supplements, so it's difficult to say if chicken soup has enough zinc to be effective.
Other theories claim that chicken soup helps keep you hydrated and soothes a sore throat. And a recent study from the University of Nebraska found that chicken soup may contain anti-inflammatory substances that could help alleviate a cold.
Chicken soup is also a comfort food typically given to children when they're sick. A warming bowl of the soup may provide emotional and psychological well-being to both adults and kids.
Bottom Line: For centuries, chicken soup has been the go-to cold fighter. Although the evidence isn't terribly strong, numerous studies show that chicken soup may help fight a cold. If you're a believer, then who am I to dispel the myth of chicken soup?
2011年12月19日星期一
Through their eyes, it’s more magical
It’s hard to believe Christmas is less than a week away. Let the chaos begin!
I spent most of my weekend getting my Christmas shopping completed. Just a few more gifts for relatives, two for my daughter and one for my son and then I’m ready. I’m not panicked; in fact, I’m rather content about it!
As far as decor, I didn’t do much this year. A wreath on the door, a slate sign out front and candles with the Nativity set in the window. The tree is being decorated tonight, but no worry. We will enjoy it into January. Twelfth Night reigns in my household (and usually for a few days after that).
Oddly enough, the season has been an enjoyable one. We’ve taken the children to Christmas outings and listened to enough Christmas music in the car and at home. I’ll admit, however, it’s been difficult for me to get into the spirit of the season for a lot of reasons. When my children light up about it, however, all of that changes.
My 2-year-old son, sans the day he got his picture taken with Santa, has grown to love the Jolly Old Elf. He says, “ho, ho, ho” often and much when he hears Santa and sees him on TV, in print or in person.
We ventured to Hershey last evening to enjoy Christmas Candylane and endure the chilly temperatures. During that time, we had to visit Santa. It was truly a wonderful experience despite the cold and sore arms from holding my son, who decided he didn’t want to walk or ride in his stroller once the rides kicked in.
When it was out turn to greet Santa, Jacob ran to him and hugged him, and he and his sister, Amber, settled onto his lap for some chatter about last-minute wishes. Before we left, Jacob turned around and gave Santa a high-five. I don’t think the smile left my face for awhile.
We visited Santa’s Stables to see his reindeer, including Rudolph, whose nose, Amber was told, doesn’t light up until it has to — on Christmas Eve. The kids really enjoyed watching the antlered creatures saunter around the stable and even make their way to the guide we were talking with. Rudolph was one of them, along with Blitzen. They both wanted some feed, and gladly ate some from the bucket the guide was holding.
Watching my children enjoy the reindeer, a visit with Santa, the lights all aglow in the chilly darkness and the rides (oh, some of the fast-moving ones made our faces burn!) put me in the Christmas spirit. Perhaps the neatest thing on the way into the park was that Amber and Jacob were happy to approach a Nativity scene set up with Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus, the Three Kings and shepherds and animals. As we were leaving the park at closing time, Jacob, in my arms, turned in the direction of the Nativity and said, “Baby!” in reference to the Baby Jesus. I told him to say goodbye, and that we would see the Baby Jesus later this week at church.
Actually, he will see the baby this evening as we place my daughter’s Precious Moments Nativity under the tree — a tradition that we have done since Amber received the set as a gift from my parents a few years ago.
It’s through their eyes wide with wonder and belief at this time of year that embrace the spirit that is Christmas, and I never want to let it go.
I spent most of my weekend getting my Christmas shopping completed. Just a few more gifts for relatives, two for my daughter and one for my son and then I’m ready. I’m not panicked; in fact, I’m rather content about it!
As far as decor, I didn’t do much this year. A wreath on the door, a slate sign out front and candles with the Nativity set in the window. The tree is being decorated tonight, but no worry. We will enjoy it into January. Twelfth Night reigns in my household (and usually for a few days after that).
Oddly enough, the season has been an enjoyable one. We’ve taken the children to Christmas outings and listened to enough Christmas music in the car and at home. I’ll admit, however, it’s been difficult for me to get into the spirit of the season for a lot of reasons. When my children light up about it, however, all of that changes.
My 2-year-old son, sans the day he got his picture taken with Santa, has grown to love the Jolly Old Elf. He says, “ho, ho, ho” often and much when he hears Santa and sees him on TV, in print or in person.
We ventured to Hershey last evening to enjoy Christmas Candylane and endure the chilly temperatures. During that time, we had to visit Santa. It was truly a wonderful experience despite the cold and sore arms from holding my son, who decided he didn’t want to walk or ride in his stroller once the rides kicked in.
When it was out turn to greet Santa, Jacob ran to him and hugged him, and he and his sister, Amber, settled onto his lap for some chatter about last-minute wishes. Before we left, Jacob turned around and gave Santa a high-five. I don’t think the smile left my face for awhile.
We visited Santa’s Stables to see his reindeer, including Rudolph, whose nose, Amber was told, doesn’t light up until it has to — on Christmas Eve. The kids really enjoyed watching the antlered creatures saunter around the stable and even make their way to the guide we were talking with. Rudolph was one of them, along with Blitzen. They both wanted some feed, and gladly ate some from the bucket the guide was holding.
Watching my children enjoy the reindeer, a visit with Santa, the lights all aglow in the chilly darkness and the rides (oh, some of the fast-moving ones made our faces burn!) put me in the Christmas spirit. Perhaps the neatest thing on the way into the park was that Amber and Jacob were happy to approach a Nativity scene set up with Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus, the Three Kings and shepherds and animals. As we were leaving the park at closing time, Jacob, in my arms, turned in the direction of the Nativity and said, “Baby!” in reference to the Baby Jesus. I told him to say goodbye, and that we would see the Baby Jesus later this week at church.
Actually, he will see the baby this evening as we place my daughter’s Precious Moments Nativity under the tree — a tradition that we have done since Amber received the set as a gift from my parents a few years ago.
It’s through their eyes wide with wonder and belief at this time of year that embrace the spirit that is Christmas, and I never want to let it go.
2011年12月18日星期日
Zespri Gold can help reduce cold symptoms - study
New research reinforces the health and nutritional benefits of Gold kiwifruit, finding that eating the fruit on a regular basis helps to reduce the symptoms of a cold.
The study, "Consumption of gold kiwifruit reduces severity and duration of selected upper respiratory tract symptoms and increases plasma Vitamin C concentration in healthy older adults", was completed by Plant & Food Research and has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
The research was sponsored by ZESPRI, and is part of an ongoing drive by ZESPRI, in association with leading health research bodies, to understand the health and nutrition benefits of both green and gold kiwifruit.
In the study it was found that regular consumption of gold kiwifruit did show benefits in reducing certain symptoms of colds, namely; the duration of sore throat and head congestion and the severity of head congestion.
The 20-week study was conducted over the winter and spring period and tracked the health of 37 healthy older people. The participants were asked to eat ZESPRI GOLD Kiwifruit daily for four weeks then switch to banana (or vice versa), with a four week kiwifruit/ banana-free period prior to each treatment period.
The results showed a reduction in self-reported cold symptoms with gold kiwifruit compared to banana, with sore throat symptoms reducing from 5.4 days to 2.0 days and head congestion from 4.7 days to 0.9 days.
Natalie Milne, Health Marketing Manager for ZESPRI, said the study was further evidence of the tremendous nutritional properties of kiwifruit.
"Eating just one ZESPRI Kiwifruit a day provides you with your daily requirement of vitamin C and offers much more; they are high in fibre, aid protein digestion and contain vitamin E. When eaten daily, as part of a healthy diet, ZESPRI Kiwifruit offer numerous health benefits; allowing individuals to stay healthy and fight disease and infection," Ms Milne said.
The study, "Consumption of gold kiwifruit reduces severity and duration of selected upper respiratory tract symptoms and increases plasma Vitamin C concentration in healthy older adults", was completed by Plant & Food Research and has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
The research was sponsored by ZESPRI, and is part of an ongoing drive by ZESPRI, in association with leading health research bodies, to understand the health and nutrition benefits of both green and gold kiwifruit.
In the study it was found that regular consumption of gold kiwifruit did show benefits in reducing certain symptoms of colds, namely; the duration of sore throat and head congestion and the severity of head congestion.
The 20-week study was conducted over the winter and spring period and tracked the health of 37 healthy older people. The participants were asked to eat ZESPRI GOLD Kiwifruit daily for four weeks then switch to banana (or vice versa), with a four week kiwifruit/ banana-free period prior to each treatment period.
The results showed a reduction in self-reported cold symptoms with gold kiwifruit compared to banana, with sore throat symptoms reducing from 5.4 days to 2.0 days and head congestion from 4.7 days to 0.9 days.
Natalie Milne, Health Marketing Manager for ZESPRI, said the study was further evidence of the tremendous nutritional properties of kiwifruit.
"Eating just one ZESPRI Kiwifruit a day provides you with your daily requirement of vitamin C and offers much more; they are high in fibre, aid protein digestion and contain vitamin E. When eaten daily, as part of a healthy diet, ZESPRI Kiwifruit offer numerous health benefits; allowing individuals to stay healthy and fight disease and infection," Ms Milne said.
2011年12月15日星期四
Cold shooting continues to be a sore spot for Utes
The Utah basketball team has had myriad issues this year, from too many turnovers to poor shooting to poor defense
to lack of effort.
The latter two issues improved greatly in the last game against BYU, and turnovers, while still noticeable, have
decreased as the season has progressed.
However, shooting has remained a problem and was certainly not very good against BYU, when the Utes shot 26.9
percent from the field and 17.6 percent from 3-point range.
Going into Friday's home game against Idaho State, the Utes rank near the bottom of the NCAA statistics in all three
shooting categories.
In field goal percentage, the Utes rank No. 255 at 40.8 percent, while in free throw percentage they are 253rd at
64.5 percent.
And 3-point percentage? The Utes don't even merit an NCAA ranking because they haven't made the minimum of five per
game. However, if they were making enough treys per game, their 30.1 percentage would put them at No. 237.
Ute coaches are very aware they don't have a lot of great shooters on the team. But coach Larry Krystkowiak
acknowledges that he hasn't been able to spend as much time on shooting as he'd like because there are so many other
things to work on.
"I've always liked to spend a lot of time in practice shooting, but it just seems like we have so many other things
to do, that we haven't been doing enough of it," he said this week. "You've only got so much time in a week, and
we've asked our guys to come in and do a lot of shooting on their own. But when you're on as steep a learning curve
as we've been on with the newness and the defense we were breaking down, you have to kind of pick your poison."
The top two shooters on the team are inside players, Jason Washburn and Blake Wilkinson, who are shooting 56.9
percent and 54.2 percent from the field, respectively. Among the guards, Josh Watkins is the best at 45.5 percent.
"When one person misses a shot, it kind of batters your confidence," said Cedric Martin, who is shooting just 30.4
percent. "I think we just need to get in the gym and put up more game-like shots and come back with more
confidence."
FOSTER COULD REDSHIRT: Earlier in the month, Krystkowiak said he thought David Foster would be unlikely to redshirt
this year and play in 2012-13 because he had already graduated from college and because he had a baby on the way.
This week, however, Foster said he hasn't made up his mind what he'll do and said he was "open" to coming back and
playing next year.
Foster's broken foot is still in a cast and will be until at least early January, he said. Then once it comes off,
he'll need time to rehab, perhaps a few weeks, leaving him perhaps a month or less to actually play in some games.
to lack of effort.
The latter two issues improved greatly in the last game against BYU, and turnovers, while still noticeable, have
decreased as the season has progressed.
However, shooting has remained a problem and was certainly not very good against BYU, when the Utes shot 26.9
percent from the field and 17.6 percent from 3-point range.
Going into Friday's home game against Idaho State, the Utes rank near the bottom of the NCAA statistics in all three
shooting categories.
In field goal percentage, the Utes rank No. 255 at 40.8 percent, while in free throw percentage they are 253rd at
64.5 percent.
And 3-point percentage? The Utes don't even merit an NCAA ranking because they haven't made the minimum of five per
game. However, if they were making enough treys per game, their 30.1 percentage would put them at No. 237.
Ute coaches are very aware they don't have a lot of great shooters on the team. But coach Larry Krystkowiak
acknowledges that he hasn't been able to spend as much time on shooting as he'd like because there are so many other
things to work on.
"I've always liked to spend a lot of time in practice shooting, but it just seems like we have so many other things
to do, that we haven't been doing enough of it," he said this week. "You've only got so much time in a week, and
we've asked our guys to come in and do a lot of shooting on their own. But when you're on as steep a learning curve
as we've been on with the newness and the defense we were breaking down, you have to kind of pick your poison."
The top two shooters on the team are inside players, Jason Washburn and Blake Wilkinson, who are shooting 56.9
percent and 54.2 percent from the field, respectively. Among the guards, Josh Watkins is the best at 45.5 percent.
"When one person misses a shot, it kind of batters your confidence," said Cedric Martin, who is shooting just 30.4
percent. "I think we just need to get in the gym and put up more game-like shots and come back with more
confidence."
FOSTER COULD REDSHIRT: Earlier in the month, Krystkowiak said he thought David Foster would be unlikely to redshirt
this year and play in 2012-13 because he had already graduated from college and because he had a baby on the way.
This week, however, Foster said he hasn't made up his mind what he'll do and said he was "open" to coming back and
playing next year.
Foster's broken foot is still in a cast and will be until at least early January, he said. Then once it comes off,
he'll need time to rehab, perhaps a few weeks, leaving him perhaps a month or less to actually play in some games.
2011年12月14日星期三
Children worst affected by chilly winds and erratic temperature
With the starting of the second fortnight of December, the phenomena of erratic temperature behaviour-remaining at around 25 degree Celsius during day time and dipping to around 7.0 degree Celsius in the night-is causing increase in cases of different ailments in children who are suffering with cold, cough, flu or the sore throat, Pneumonia, Diarrhoea etc.
Although all the private doctors of the city are witnessing heavy rush in their private clinics, things are no different at different government hospitals including Children hospital, SRN, Beli, Kalvin etc which are witnessing a sudden spurt in number of OPD patients mainly those suffering with Viral fever, Asthma or its related symptoms, cough and cold, Diarrhoea etc.
"As there has been high fluctuation in the day and night temperatures during this part of the year, this is causing it to be hot in the day and chilly during the night. These temperatures provide an ideal environment for the growth and spread of viruses and bacteria, which is the common cause for various ailments", said Dr PC Mishra, noted Pediatrician and head S N Children Hospital of MLN Medical College of the city.
He said that as the winter approaches, the days get shorter and nights longer that results in lesser exposure to sunlight that gets blocked due to the smog (in big cities like Lucknow) or fog (which would soon be coming). "This lack of sunlight weakens our body immune system thereby making it a suitable environment for the viruses to survive in the body much longer than they can during the summers when the temperatures are much higher", he added.
Winter ailments like the cold, cough, congestion, flu, and sore throat are very common and most people, including children of all ages, suffer from one or all of these as the season changes. It is particularly common to find small children sneezing or sniffling with a running nose, having fever with sore throat and or chest congestion with a blocked nose that makes it difficult to sleep at night, informed former head of the department of Medicines MLN Medical College, Dr S K Shukla,. The cold winter also brings with it different kinds of allergies and a problem of dry and itchy skin and people suffering from asthma may find their symptoms getting aggravated more during the winters, he added.
There is a popular saying that prevention is better than a cure and this is what which implies when it comes take care of children. There are many ways in which one can prevent the onset of these symptoms foremost of which is to protect immune system by eating healthy, resting properly and also doing some exercise that will help keep your body fit. Also try to get some exposure to sunlight during the day, added Shukla.
As the temperatures fluctuate between the day and night, make sure that your kid wear appropriate clothes to suit them as it gets chilly at night, it would be sensible on your part to cover them adequately to keep warm, suggests Dr Mishra. Make sure that your children are warm during the night; in particular, keep their chest, head, ears and hands warm and covered. You may need to regulate the fans or air conditioners at night, depending on the dip in temperatures. Make sure that your children do not sleep directly below the fans or next to the air conditioners, he added.
Good nutrition plays a very important role in strengthening the immunity of our body. Therefore, we need to supplement our food with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are vital to boost the body defense mechanism in order to fight the viruses and bacteria. Vitamin C in particular, is known to be very effective in fighting germs and also to help prevent a cold and which can be found in green leafy vegetables, berries, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), guavas, tomatoes, melons, papayas etc, suggested the Associate Professor at department of Biochemistry of Allahabad University, Dr S I Rizvi.
Similarly, Dr V B Singh said that the cold winter causes the skin to get dry, flaky and itchy and the best solution to that is to remember to drink plenty of water. We tend to drink lesser water in the winter that causes dehydration and is the reason for dry nose, lips and mouth. Make it a point to drink plenty of warm water throughout the day, or indulge yourself in hot soups of all kinds; tomato soup, spinach soup, clear chicken soup, vegetable soup etc.
Likewise, head of the department skin, MLN Medical College, Dr KG Singh, said that for dry skin, moisturize it with appropriate creams or body lotions that suit the skin of loved one.
The most effective way is to apply oil (natural oils like Jojoba and Coconut Oils) all over child's body.
This will soothe the skin and allow it to absorb the essential oils that normally get washed away when we have hot or warm water baths, the best being using luke warm water to have a bath and use mild soaps in order to retain your natural skin oil as much as possible. Remember to use a chap stick to keep your lips moistened and to prevent them from cracking and bleeding.
Although all the private doctors of the city are witnessing heavy rush in their private clinics, things are no different at different government hospitals including Children hospital, SRN, Beli, Kalvin etc which are witnessing a sudden spurt in number of OPD patients mainly those suffering with Viral fever, Asthma or its related symptoms, cough and cold, Diarrhoea etc.
"As there has been high fluctuation in the day and night temperatures during this part of the year, this is causing it to be hot in the day and chilly during the night. These temperatures provide an ideal environment for the growth and spread of viruses and bacteria, which is the common cause for various ailments", said Dr PC Mishra, noted Pediatrician and head S N Children Hospital of MLN Medical College of the city.
He said that as the winter approaches, the days get shorter and nights longer that results in lesser exposure to sunlight that gets blocked due to the smog (in big cities like Lucknow) or fog (which would soon be coming). "This lack of sunlight weakens our body immune system thereby making it a suitable environment for the viruses to survive in the body much longer than they can during the summers when the temperatures are much higher", he added.
Winter ailments like the cold, cough, congestion, flu, and sore throat are very common and most people, including children of all ages, suffer from one or all of these as the season changes. It is particularly common to find small children sneezing or sniffling with a running nose, having fever with sore throat and or chest congestion with a blocked nose that makes it difficult to sleep at night, informed former head of the department of Medicines MLN Medical College, Dr S K Shukla,. The cold winter also brings with it different kinds of allergies and a problem of dry and itchy skin and people suffering from asthma may find their symptoms getting aggravated more during the winters, he added.
There is a popular saying that prevention is better than a cure and this is what which implies when it comes take care of children. There are many ways in which one can prevent the onset of these symptoms foremost of which is to protect immune system by eating healthy, resting properly and also doing some exercise that will help keep your body fit. Also try to get some exposure to sunlight during the day, added Shukla.
As the temperatures fluctuate between the day and night, make sure that your kid wear appropriate clothes to suit them as it gets chilly at night, it would be sensible on your part to cover them adequately to keep warm, suggests Dr Mishra. Make sure that your children are warm during the night; in particular, keep their chest, head, ears and hands warm and covered. You may need to regulate the fans or air conditioners at night, depending on the dip in temperatures. Make sure that your children do not sleep directly below the fans or next to the air conditioners, he added.
Good nutrition plays a very important role in strengthening the immunity of our body. Therefore, we need to supplement our food with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are vital to boost the body defense mechanism in order to fight the viruses and bacteria. Vitamin C in particular, is known to be very effective in fighting germs and also to help prevent a cold and which can be found in green leafy vegetables, berries, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), guavas, tomatoes, melons, papayas etc, suggested the Associate Professor at department of Biochemistry of Allahabad University, Dr S I Rizvi.
Similarly, Dr V B Singh said that the cold winter causes the skin to get dry, flaky and itchy and the best solution to that is to remember to drink plenty of water. We tend to drink lesser water in the winter that causes dehydration and is the reason for dry nose, lips and mouth. Make it a point to drink plenty of warm water throughout the day, or indulge yourself in hot soups of all kinds; tomato soup, spinach soup, clear chicken soup, vegetable soup etc.
Likewise, head of the department skin, MLN Medical College, Dr KG Singh, said that for dry skin, moisturize it with appropriate creams or body lotions that suit the skin of loved one.
The most effective way is to apply oil (natural oils like Jojoba and Coconut Oils) all over child's body.
This will soothe the skin and allow it to absorb the essential oils that normally get washed away when we have hot or warm water baths, the best being using luke warm water to have a bath and use mild soaps in order to retain your natural skin oil as much as possible. Remember to use a chap stick to keep your lips moistened and to prevent them from cracking and bleeding.
2011年12月13日星期二
Increase Immune System Function while Sidestepping Dangerous Flu Vaccines
No one wants to experience the fever, sore throat, body aches, nausea, chest pain and head pounding that accompany the flu, but with reports of death, illness and other complications associated with the Influenza vaccine, more and more Americans are looking for alternative ways to improve their immune systems naturally.
MakeMyImmuneSystemStrong com’s immune boosting health supplement Immune Strong may be the answer for those looking to increase the immune system, keep healthy and prevent disease this holiday season.
“Immune Strong is better than anything I’ve tried. It kept me healthy through the cold and flu season for the first time in over 10 years after having previously tried every remedy available, including the flu shots.”
– Jamie B. Higgins
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 17,000 to 52,000 deaths result from the flu each year. And in a state of panic, around one third of Americans subsequently line up to receive their flu vaccines. But what few realize is that the vaccines and immunizations that are so prevalent in today’s society are often ineffective, unneeded and even potentially dangerous.
The flu vaccine, for example, claims to trigger the body to produce antibodies against the Influenza virus. But if this is true, why is it necessary to get the same shot year after year? The problem is, this goes against common medical knowledge – once human antibodies are built up they last a lifetime. Human antibodies don’t “wear off” as the flu vaccine manufacturing companies suggest.
If human antibodies do “wear off”, why don’t people get the chicken pox multiple times throughout their lifetimes? Fact of the matter is vaccines do not produce the same antibodies one’s own body produces naturally. This means that the flu vaccine does not produce the same quality and strength of antibodies that the body would produce from a natural infection and recovery.
Immune Strong is specially formulated with 18 key ingredients selected based upon proven scientific research and study that have demonstrated powerful immune boosting effects. Each of Immune Strong’s ingredients touts a history of effectiveness and is celebrated for its ability to promote health and improve immune system function.
MakeMyImmuneSystemStrong com’s immune boosting health supplement Immune Strong may be the answer for those looking to increase the immune system, keep healthy and prevent disease this holiday season.
“Immune Strong is better than anything I’ve tried. It kept me healthy through the cold and flu season for the first time in over 10 years after having previously tried every remedy available, including the flu shots.”
– Jamie B. Higgins
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 17,000 to 52,000 deaths result from the flu each year. And in a state of panic, around one third of Americans subsequently line up to receive their flu vaccines. But what few realize is that the vaccines and immunizations that are so prevalent in today’s society are often ineffective, unneeded and even potentially dangerous.
The flu vaccine, for example, claims to trigger the body to produce antibodies against the Influenza virus. But if this is true, why is it necessary to get the same shot year after year? The problem is, this goes against common medical knowledge – once human antibodies are built up they last a lifetime. Human antibodies don’t “wear off” as the flu vaccine manufacturing companies suggest.
If human antibodies do “wear off”, why don’t people get the chicken pox multiple times throughout their lifetimes? Fact of the matter is vaccines do not produce the same antibodies one’s own body produces naturally. This means that the flu vaccine does not produce the same quality and strength of antibodies that the body would produce from a natural infection and recovery.
Immune Strong is specially formulated with 18 key ingredients selected based upon proven scientific research and study that have demonstrated powerful immune boosting effects. Each of Immune Strong’s ingredients touts a history of effectiveness and is celebrated for its ability to promote health and improve immune system function.
2011年12月12日星期一
The flu, it's genetic too
Certain people exposed to the influenza virus will remain healthy, while others will be less lucky and become very sick and out of commission for several days.
A recent study suggested that these different responses are due to the distinct expression of certain genes involved in defending the body from the influenza virus.
From the end of November to the beginning of March, the cold and low humidity create the perfect breeding ground for the flu to be transmitted. The word "influenza" also comes from the term influenza di freddo (the influence of cold), an Italian expression used in the 18th century to illustrate the predominance of this infection during cold seasons.
It's the droplets caused by coughing and sneezing that are the primary flu-causing agents; a simple cough can create up to 100,000 viral particles and this number can reach two million during a sneeze. The flu is therefore very contagious, infecting between 5-15% of the population each year.
Infection in the cells of the respiratory tract caused by the flu generally causes a number of clinical symptoms, the most common being runny nose, sore throat, fever and general malaise. This response to the virus can vary considerably from one person to another. So, while many people are knocked out for days by the flu, between 30-50% of people are much more tolerant and only present with moderate symptoms. It is therefore likely that these individuals are better able to control infection and eliminate the virus from their system.
To better understand this phenomenon, a group of American researchers examined the expression of many genes in people infected by the flu virus. The H3N2 virus, which is responsible for the seasonal flu, was given nasally to 17 volunteers in good health and blood tests were taken every eight hours for five days following infection. These blood samples were then analyzed.
Of the 17 people infected, nine became sick while the others presented with no symptoms, despite receiving a similar quantity of the virus. The researchers observed that the different responses are directly linked to the spectacular differences in the expression of many genes. In sick people, it is the genes involved in the production of inflammatory compounds and stress response that are primarily active, though they are suppressed in the resistant individual. In these people, the genes activated unleash an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant response instead.
These two "molecular signatures" are so distinct that it is possible to determine if the person will be sick or not only hours after infection.
Even if other studies are needed to better understand these different genetic expressions, these observations could eventually aid in the development of diagnostic tools able to determine the severity of a flu as soon as it appears, a move that could lead to early intervention in the most serious cases.
A recent study suggested that these different responses are due to the distinct expression of certain genes involved in defending the body from the influenza virus.
From the end of November to the beginning of March, the cold and low humidity create the perfect breeding ground for the flu to be transmitted. The word "influenza" also comes from the term influenza di freddo (the influence of cold), an Italian expression used in the 18th century to illustrate the predominance of this infection during cold seasons.
It's the droplets caused by coughing and sneezing that are the primary flu-causing agents; a simple cough can create up to 100,000 viral particles and this number can reach two million during a sneeze. The flu is therefore very contagious, infecting between 5-15% of the population each year.
Infection in the cells of the respiratory tract caused by the flu generally causes a number of clinical symptoms, the most common being runny nose, sore throat, fever and general malaise. This response to the virus can vary considerably from one person to another. So, while many people are knocked out for days by the flu, between 30-50% of people are much more tolerant and only present with moderate symptoms. It is therefore likely that these individuals are better able to control infection and eliminate the virus from their system.
To better understand this phenomenon, a group of American researchers examined the expression of many genes in people infected by the flu virus. The H3N2 virus, which is responsible for the seasonal flu, was given nasally to 17 volunteers in good health and blood tests were taken every eight hours for five days following infection. These blood samples were then analyzed.
Of the 17 people infected, nine became sick while the others presented with no symptoms, despite receiving a similar quantity of the virus. The researchers observed that the different responses are directly linked to the spectacular differences in the expression of many genes. In sick people, it is the genes involved in the production of inflammatory compounds and stress response that are primarily active, though they are suppressed in the resistant individual. In these people, the genes activated unleash an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant response instead.
These two "molecular signatures" are so distinct that it is possible to determine if the person will be sick or not only hours after infection.
Even if other studies are needed to better understand these different genetic expressions, these observations could eventually aid in the development of diagnostic tools able to determine the severity of a flu as soon as it appears, a move that could lead to early intervention in the most serious cases.
2011年12月11日星期日
Occupy Binghamton Braces for Winter
It's the sixty first day of Occupy Binghamton and the number of tents has started to dwindle.
But not everyone is sad to see them go....
"It's an eye sore for the people who live around here and try to make it look nice. And I think it's a clever facade on their part to have a place to live for free," said Melanie Depew.
A bartender on State Street who wants to remain anonymous says she even offered to give one protestor a job application, but he declined.
"Why get a job when you can just get everything for free? Where's the incentive to get a job?" said Melanie Depew.
Occupiers say the number of tents is not representative of the number of people staying there because they are bunking together for warmth.
Because of the cold weather, they've consolidated several tents under this tarp. The tarp acts as a wind barrier, while also keeping in the warmth.
"It's pretty warm with all the tarps on the tents. It keeps the heat in," said John Graham.
Graham says some people sleep at their home or a friend's house and come back to protest during the day.
But even the protestors see a bright side to the winter weather because the number of bar goers has gone down with the temperature.
"They'll try and come in and want to urinate on the tents and they'll try and start fights and yell things across the street," said Lauren Cemelli.
There remains a core group of about 10 protestors who have no plans to leave.
In fact, they want to remodel.
"On the 21st we're getting our yurt, which is a Mongolian cabin. That'll be delivered here and it's going to stay here after we leave for beautification of the park," said John Graham.
Graham says the protestors raised $1,400 in donations to pay for the Yurt, which he says Mayor Matt Ryan gave them permission to put on the corner of State and Court Street.
Occupiers are also looking for sustainable energy alternatives.
"We're going to try and build a bicycle generator so that we'll have green energy," said Lauren Cemelli.
The protestors say their willingness to fight the cold shows how dedicated they are.
But not everyone is sad to see them go....
"It's an eye sore for the people who live around here and try to make it look nice. And I think it's a clever facade on their part to have a place to live for free," said Melanie Depew.
A bartender on State Street who wants to remain anonymous says she even offered to give one protestor a job application, but he declined.
"Why get a job when you can just get everything for free? Where's the incentive to get a job?" said Melanie Depew.
Occupiers say the number of tents is not representative of the number of people staying there because they are bunking together for warmth.
Because of the cold weather, they've consolidated several tents under this tarp. The tarp acts as a wind barrier, while also keeping in the warmth.
"It's pretty warm with all the tarps on the tents. It keeps the heat in," said John Graham.
Graham says some people sleep at their home or a friend's house and come back to protest during the day.
But even the protestors see a bright side to the winter weather because the number of bar goers has gone down with the temperature.
"They'll try and come in and want to urinate on the tents and they'll try and start fights and yell things across the street," said Lauren Cemelli.
There remains a core group of about 10 protestors who have no plans to leave.
In fact, they want to remodel.
"On the 21st we're getting our yurt, which is a Mongolian cabin. That'll be delivered here and it's going to stay here after we leave for beautification of the park," said John Graham.
Graham says the protestors raised $1,400 in donations to pay for the Yurt, which he says Mayor Matt Ryan gave them permission to put on the corner of State and Court Street.
Occupiers are also looking for sustainable energy alternatives.
"We're going to try and build a bicycle generator so that we'll have green energy," said Lauren Cemelli.
The protestors say their willingness to fight the cold shows how dedicated they are.
2011年12月8日星期四
It's not a cold
Well, there’s not one flu. The term is something of a catchall for what you get when you’re infected by one of a variety of influenza virus strains that all tend to cause fevers, coughs, chills, and those other symptoms that have sufferers thinking, “Wait, what if this isn’t just a cold?”
Each year, as the leaves change from green to orange, red, and brown—well, somewhere they do—seasonal flu outbreaks begin in the Unites States. Those fevers, coughs, and chills start to spread throughout the 50 states, and health agencies, starting at the federal level and working down to counties and cities, begin pushing vaccines in the hopes that they’ll stop whichever microbes are causing the headaches and sore throats and such.
Christine Gaiger, San Luis Obispo County’s supervising public health nurse and manager of the communicable disease program, said locals began getting vaccinated at the end of September. This is the first year all local hospitals have adopted mandatory “shot or mask” policies, meaning doctors, nurses, and the like have to get the vaccine or wear a face mask while at work. After receiving a written recommendation from the county’s health officer, the Tenet hospitals enacted the policy as of Oct. 1, Gaiger said, and the Catholic Healthcare West facilities (“even Marian Medical Center!”), which opted out of such a move last year, put it into place as of Nov. 1.
But with literally countless strains floating around the planet, there’s no way a person could get injected with potential protection for all of the bugs that circulate among humans.
So flu vaccine planning is something of a guessing game, though the guesses are educated. Back in July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the strains its public health experts were expecting to be big this winter, like a must-have Christmas fad—think Tickle Me Elmo or a Cabbage Patch Kid—in reverse.
“You’ve got to quit using the ‘S’ word,” CDC spokesman Jeff Dimond said when asked about the notorious flu that alarmed the planet and gave hypochondriacs so much joy and fear during its 2009 global run. “It’s actually a California sub-strain.”
And that strain is still kicking around, even if it doesn’t kindle the sort of hype it once did. The other expected baddies this season were “A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus” and “B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.”
Notice that geographic bit in each of the names? That indicates where the strain was originally isolated. Two of the three strains to watch for this year were first spotted in Australia, and that’s actually pretty common. Dimond said influenza strains tend to move south to north.
In fact, representatives from the CDC, FDA, World Health Organization, and other public health agencies look to the Southern Hemisphere when they’re aiming to predict what the next season’s strains will be in the United States.
Dimond explained that each February, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—made up of doctors and health officials from around the country—meets to crunch numbers and follow gut feelings while looking roughly half a year ahead.
“They don’t just go into a corner and wonder what it’s going to be,” Dimond said. “Nevertheless, they still have to go out on a limb six months ahead of time.
Strains or sub-strains can come from Asia, Africa, or Central America. They’re carried by human travelers, flocks of birds, or whatever. Plus, they mutate, or “reassort.” Swine, for example, can simultaneously catch two different kinds of flu. Swirling around in a perfect pig host, the pair can produce a new strain.
“One of the vexing characteristics of flu is that it is totally unpredictable,” Dimond said. “Flu viruses are always mutating.”
So it’s essentially impossible to project all the various flu migration patterns and combinations, but Dimond said history has shown that health workers can reasonably know what’s coming by looking below the equator.
“It’s important to understand that these are science-based projections,” FDA Press Officer Rita Chappelle wrote to New Times. “However, according to the CDC, even in seasons where the vaccines and strains were not … well matched due to unanticipated changes of the circulating strains, substantial protection has been observed against severe outcomes, presumably because of vaccine-induced cross-reacting antibodies.”
Each year, as the leaves change from green to orange, red, and brown—well, somewhere they do—seasonal flu outbreaks begin in the Unites States. Those fevers, coughs, and chills start to spread throughout the 50 states, and health agencies, starting at the federal level and working down to counties and cities, begin pushing vaccines in the hopes that they’ll stop whichever microbes are causing the headaches and sore throats and such.
Christine Gaiger, San Luis Obispo County’s supervising public health nurse and manager of the communicable disease program, said locals began getting vaccinated at the end of September. This is the first year all local hospitals have adopted mandatory “shot or mask” policies, meaning doctors, nurses, and the like have to get the vaccine or wear a face mask while at work. After receiving a written recommendation from the county’s health officer, the Tenet hospitals enacted the policy as of Oct. 1, Gaiger said, and the Catholic Healthcare West facilities (“even Marian Medical Center!”), which opted out of such a move last year, put it into place as of Nov. 1.
But with literally countless strains floating around the planet, there’s no way a person could get injected with potential protection for all of the bugs that circulate among humans.
So flu vaccine planning is something of a guessing game, though the guesses are educated. Back in July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the strains its public health experts were expecting to be big this winter, like a must-have Christmas fad—think Tickle Me Elmo or a Cabbage Patch Kid—in reverse.
“You’ve got to quit using the ‘S’ word,” CDC spokesman Jeff Dimond said when asked about the notorious flu that alarmed the planet and gave hypochondriacs so much joy and fear during its 2009 global run. “It’s actually a California sub-strain.”
And that strain is still kicking around, even if it doesn’t kindle the sort of hype it once did. The other expected baddies this season were “A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus” and “B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.”
Notice that geographic bit in each of the names? That indicates where the strain was originally isolated. Two of the three strains to watch for this year were first spotted in Australia, and that’s actually pretty common. Dimond said influenza strains tend to move south to north.
In fact, representatives from the CDC, FDA, World Health Organization, and other public health agencies look to the Southern Hemisphere when they’re aiming to predict what the next season’s strains will be in the United States.
Dimond explained that each February, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—made up of doctors and health officials from around the country—meets to crunch numbers and follow gut feelings while looking roughly half a year ahead.
“They don’t just go into a corner and wonder what it’s going to be,” Dimond said. “Nevertheless, they still have to go out on a limb six months ahead of time.
Strains or sub-strains can come from Asia, Africa, or Central America. They’re carried by human travelers, flocks of birds, or whatever. Plus, they mutate, or “reassort.” Swine, for example, can simultaneously catch two different kinds of flu. Swirling around in a perfect pig host, the pair can produce a new strain.
“One of the vexing characteristics of flu is that it is totally unpredictable,” Dimond said. “Flu viruses are always mutating.”
So it’s essentially impossible to project all the various flu migration patterns and combinations, but Dimond said history has shown that health workers can reasonably know what’s coming by looking below the equator.
“It’s important to understand that these are science-based projections,” FDA Press Officer Rita Chappelle wrote to New Times. “However, according to the CDC, even in seasons where the vaccines and strains were not … well matched due to unanticipated changes of the circulating strains, substantial protection has been observed against severe outcomes, presumably because of vaccine-induced cross-reacting antibodies.”
2011年12月7日星期三
Valeska Paris Receives Threat from Scientology Attorneys
Last week, we wrote about Valeska Paris, the Swiss-born Australian woman who says that from 1996 to 2007, she was held against her will on Scientology's private cruise ship, the Freewinds.
She says that Scientology leader David Miscavige moved her to the ship in 1996 when she was 18 in order to keep her away from her own mother, who had sued Scientology and denounced it on French television. For the first six years of her time on the ship, Valeska says she was unable to leave it without an escort.
Scientology denies that Valeska was held against her will, and now it has had its attorneys in Sydney send her a threatening letter.
"You should seek legal advice in relation to our client's rights to take legal action again [sic] you," states the letter, from the Sydney firm Kennedys.
Valeska tells me she plans to continue speaking out and will not be deterred by the letter.
"It's just a scare tactic," she says.
As we wrote earlier, Valeska signed confidentiality agreements with Scientology -- one while she was on the Freewinds, another in Australia as she was leaving the Sea Org in 2009.
Valeska has said that because her story involves church leader David Miscavige, she doesn't think he would risk suing her for speaking out since he would almost certainly be required to become a witness and be deposed.
In the letter, at least, Scientology's attorneys do their best to sound outraged that she would speak out: "Your conduct in speaking to the media was a direct and blatant breach of your confidentiality agreement with our client."
Well, in upcoming days we'll see if they intend more than just a shot across her bow.
In the meantime, I have been speaking to Valeska at length, getting more details about her time on the Freewinds. I've learned interesting new details, and cleared up other things that our readers had questions about.
On Sunday, we wrote about the 1995 marriage of Ramana Dienes-Browning, a 16-year-old member of Scientology's Sea Org, who was wed aboard the church's private cruise ship, the Freewinds.
Ramana told us that she felt somewhat pressured to marry at 16. It was the only way to move out of the girls' dormitory on the ship into a better room. The 25-year-old man who wanted to marry her, meanwhile, was favored among executives, and they wanted to see him happy. So she went through with it, and then realized she wasn't at all prepared for married life. Before long, her husband was away for long periods before the marriage fell apart.
Now we have learned that three years after Ramana's wedding, on May 9, 1998, that same dress was worn by Valeska Paris.
She married a Sea Org member from Italy named Roberto Toppi who she genuinely had affection for. But like Ramana's match, Valeska says in the Sea Org a fulfilling marriage was difficult to obtain.
"It was kind of crap. We married in May. After Maiden Voyage [a celebration that occurs in June and July aboard the ship] he was gone 6 to 8 months," Valeska says. "I actually loved the guy, and I was really upset."
None of her family had come out for the wedding. Toppi's family came out for a visit at one point, but none of them spoke English. "I went out on an afternoon with them, and ate dinner at their hotel one day," she says. Toppi was present for that trip, but otherwise he was almost never around.
After he returned from his initial 6 to 8 month assignment, he was at the ship for about 6 months. "But then he was made a registrar, and he was off the ship pretty much the whole time," Valeska says. "In our seven year marriage, we spent 9 or 10 months together." They divorced in 2005.
Last week, after Yahoo News linked to our lengthy interview with Valeska, Yahoo writer Eric Pfeiffer received a statement from the church trashing our story.
In part, it reads: "She left the Freewinds hundreds of times to go shopping, for outings with her husband on islands such as St. Kitts, Aruba, St. Barts and Curaao, as well as for numerous other reasons."
She says that Scientology leader David Miscavige moved her to the ship in 1996 when she was 18 in order to keep her away from her own mother, who had sued Scientology and denounced it on French television. For the first six years of her time on the ship, Valeska says she was unable to leave it without an escort.
Scientology denies that Valeska was held against her will, and now it has had its attorneys in Sydney send her a threatening letter.
"You should seek legal advice in relation to our client's rights to take legal action again [sic] you," states the letter, from the Sydney firm Kennedys.
Valeska tells me she plans to continue speaking out and will not be deterred by the letter.
"It's just a scare tactic," she says.
As we wrote earlier, Valeska signed confidentiality agreements with Scientology -- one while she was on the Freewinds, another in Australia as she was leaving the Sea Org in 2009.
Valeska has said that because her story involves church leader David Miscavige, she doesn't think he would risk suing her for speaking out since he would almost certainly be required to become a witness and be deposed.
In the letter, at least, Scientology's attorneys do their best to sound outraged that she would speak out: "Your conduct in speaking to the media was a direct and blatant breach of your confidentiality agreement with our client."
Well, in upcoming days we'll see if they intend more than just a shot across her bow.
In the meantime, I have been speaking to Valeska at length, getting more details about her time on the Freewinds. I've learned interesting new details, and cleared up other things that our readers had questions about.
On Sunday, we wrote about the 1995 marriage of Ramana Dienes-Browning, a 16-year-old member of Scientology's Sea Org, who was wed aboard the church's private cruise ship, the Freewinds.
Ramana told us that she felt somewhat pressured to marry at 16. It was the only way to move out of the girls' dormitory on the ship into a better room. The 25-year-old man who wanted to marry her, meanwhile, was favored among executives, and they wanted to see him happy. So she went through with it, and then realized she wasn't at all prepared for married life. Before long, her husband was away for long periods before the marriage fell apart.
Now we have learned that three years after Ramana's wedding, on May 9, 1998, that same dress was worn by Valeska Paris.
She married a Sea Org member from Italy named Roberto Toppi who she genuinely had affection for. But like Ramana's match, Valeska says in the Sea Org a fulfilling marriage was difficult to obtain.
"It was kind of crap. We married in May. After Maiden Voyage [a celebration that occurs in June and July aboard the ship] he was gone 6 to 8 months," Valeska says. "I actually loved the guy, and I was really upset."
None of her family had come out for the wedding. Toppi's family came out for a visit at one point, but none of them spoke English. "I went out on an afternoon with them, and ate dinner at their hotel one day," she says. Toppi was present for that trip, but otherwise he was almost never around.
After he returned from his initial 6 to 8 month assignment, he was at the ship for about 6 months. "But then he was made a registrar, and he was off the ship pretty much the whole time," Valeska says. "In our seven year marriage, we spent 9 or 10 months together." They divorced in 2005.
Last week, after Yahoo News linked to our lengthy interview with Valeska, Yahoo writer Eric Pfeiffer received a statement from the church trashing our story.
In part, it reads: "She left the Freewinds hundreds of times to go shopping, for outings with her husband on islands such as St. Kitts, Aruba, St. Barts and Curaao, as well as for numerous other reasons."
2011年12月6日星期二
Fight the Common Cold!
College students are often caught up with busy schedules – filled with classes, papers, exams, and work. As a result, their health is often last on their list of priorities. In the season where colds and the flu are most prominent, it is very important that students take care of themselves to prevent colds and other sicknesses.
The common cold is known as the most prominent illness in human beings. Common symptoms of the cold that interfere with a student's life include a sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing, and sneezing. These symptoms easily spread from person to person. The common cold is spread either by direct contact with infected secretions from contaminated surfaces or by inhaling the virus after another person's sneeze or cough.
Person-to-person transmission occurs primarily when an individual who has a cold blows or touches their nose and then touches someone or something else. A healthy individual who then makes direct contact with these secretions can become infected after their contaminated hands make contact with their own eyes or nose.
Although it is impossible to prevent the spread of colds completely, there are many initiatives one can take to reduce the chances of becoming infected with a virus that causes colds. The most single preventative measure for colds is hand washing. This is extremely important, especially after spending time in public places such as going to the gym, shopping, or using public transportation.
People should always remember to avoid touching their faces -- especially the nose, mouth, and eye areas -- because these areas are more sensitive to germs that can cause sicknesses. If someone in the household is sick, it is important to keep household surfaces clean, including door knobs, keyboards, light switches, remote controls, and telephones. Viruses tend to stay on surfaces for hours after contact with the infected person. Germs can also live for hours on cloth towels, so it may be vital to use paper towels or use separate towels if there are infected people in the house. It is very important to also maintain a healthy lifestyle with adequate sleep, good nutrition, and exercise. These activities keep one's immune system in good condition and can fight infections if they occur. Managing stress is also an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown that people experiencing emotional stress have weaker immune systems so there is a bigger chance of these individuals getting sick.
The common cold is known as the most prominent illness in human beings. Common symptoms of the cold that interfere with a student's life include a sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing, and sneezing. These symptoms easily spread from person to person. The common cold is spread either by direct contact with infected secretions from contaminated surfaces or by inhaling the virus after another person's sneeze or cough.
Person-to-person transmission occurs primarily when an individual who has a cold blows or touches their nose and then touches someone or something else. A healthy individual who then makes direct contact with these secretions can become infected after their contaminated hands make contact with their own eyes or nose.
Although it is impossible to prevent the spread of colds completely, there are many initiatives one can take to reduce the chances of becoming infected with a virus that causes colds. The most single preventative measure for colds is hand washing. This is extremely important, especially after spending time in public places such as going to the gym, shopping, or using public transportation.
People should always remember to avoid touching their faces -- especially the nose, mouth, and eye areas -- because these areas are more sensitive to germs that can cause sicknesses. If someone in the household is sick, it is important to keep household surfaces clean, including door knobs, keyboards, light switches, remote controls, and telephones. Viruses tend to stay on surfaces for hours after contact with the infected person. Germs can also live for hours on cloth towels, so it may be vital to use paper towels or use separate towels if there are infected people in the house. It is very important to also maintain a healthy lifestyle with adequate sleep, good nutrition, and exercise. These activities keep one's immune system in good condition and can fight infections if they occur. Managing stress is also an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown that people experiencing emotional stress have weaker immune systems so there is a bigger chance of these individuals getting sick.
2011年12月5日星期一
Little-known gene linked to cold sores by U. study
There's about a 60 percent chance that someone has it. It causes blisters and scabs, sometimes even bleeding and almost always pain. It can infect your fingers, eyes, gums, lips, and even hair follicles. And it's incurable.
Alright, so the cheap melodrama oversells it a little; it's the virus that causes cold sores, herpes simplex-1, Tooling or HSV-1. Probably everyone has seen its effects, and half of Americans have experienced the embarrassment and inconvenience it brings. It's a serious disease, and some researchers at the University of Utah have taken a step toward understanding how it works.
Or rather, understanding a little bit better how we work with the virus. A study by Dr. John D. Kriesel, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, shows a strong genetic component to the visible symptom of HSV-1 infection - those nasty little blisters around the lips and mouth we call cold sores.
The virus actually hijacks our very cells turns the machinery that keeps us going into a factory for itself. It sneaks into the cell, throws it's DNA into the nucleus and says ‘Get to work.' Our own genes are used against us and for the virus. Exactly what genes are involved in that invasion is what Dr. Kriesel and team are studying.
In a lonely, out of the way place along every human's 21st chromosome sits a gene that doesn't seem to do much of anything except to determine who's going to have to suffer a cold sore and who isn't. If you have certain versions of the gene, you're likely to get sores. If you have certain others, you're likely protected from them.
Herpes, both the cold sore and the much more serious genital variety, is incurable, and once you have it you'll have it for life. But this discovery could have important implications in finding a cure. Currently, treatment is limited to antiviral medications and a few topical ointments. But these don't do much except help with symptoms and make a return of those symptoms less likely.
"The C21orf91 gene seems to play a role in cold sore susceptibility, and if this data is confirmed among a larger, unrelated population, this discovery could have important implications for the development of drugs that affect cold sore frequency," said Dr. Kriesel.
Figuring out a cure for HSV-1 could help a lot of other things as well. It not only causes cold sores, but is implicated in a whole lot of other nasty diseases as well, ranging from gum infections and eyelid infections to meningitis and the facial paralysis known as Bell's Palsy. HSV-1 has even been shown to have a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
Alright, so the cheap melodrama oversells it a little; it's the virus that causes cold sores, herpes simplex-1, Tooling or HSV-1. Probably everyone has seen its effects, and half of Americans have experienced the embarrassment and inconvenience it brings. It's a serious disease, and some researchers at the University of Utah have taken a step toward understanding how it works.
Or rather, understanding a little bit better how we work with the virus. A study by Dr. John D. Kriesel, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, shows a strong genetic component to the visible symptom of HSV-1 infection - those nasty little blisters around the lips and mouth we call cold sores.
The virus actually hijacks our very cells turns the machinery that keeps us going into a factory for itself. It sneaks into the cell, throws it's DNA into the nucleus and says ‘Get to work.' Our own genes are used against us and for the virus. Exactly what genes are involved in that invasion is what Dr. Kriesel and team are studying.
In a lonely, out of the way place along every human's 21st chromosome sits a gene that doesn't seem to do much of anything except to determine who's going to have to suffer a cold sore and who isn't. If you have certain versions of the gene, you're likely to get sores. If you have certain others, you're likely protected from them.
Herpes, both the cold sore and the much more serious genital variety, is incurable, and once you have it you'll have it for life. But this discovery could have important implications in finding a cure. Currently, treatment is limited to antiviral medications and a few topical ointments. But these don't do much except help with symptoms and make a return of those symptoms less likely.
"The C21orf91 gene seems to play a role in cold sore susceptibility, and if this data is confirmed among a larger, unrelated population, this discovery could have important implications for the development of drugs that affect cold sore frequency," said Dr. Kriesel.
Figuring out a cure for HSV-1 could help a lot of other things as well. It not only causes cold sores, but is implicated in a whole lot of other nasty diseases as well, ranging from gum infections and eyelid infections to meningitis and the facial paralysis known as Bell's Palsy. HSV-1 has even been shown to have a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
2011年12月4日星期日
Come for the noodles, stay for the cozy atmosphere
It used to be that Thai chicken soup was cold-season comfort food. Not so now. The Saeng Thai House lady shook her head with disapproval and said I did not want the Tom Kha Gai ($4.50), with its spicy coconut milk and tender chicken slices; I wanted the Tom Yum Koong (also $4.50) instead. Turns out, she was spot-on, and clear hot broth flavored with scallions and lemongrass did ease a sore throat.
Food can feel unapproachably exotic with names like Koong Rad Prik or Kai Pad Kra Pao – probably the American pie of Thai food, but a gamble for this Maine palate. I know I like Pad Thai, and I know I like Drunken Noodles. I’m adventurous, but when money is tight, I want to feel confident. Between familiar and new, familiar often wins.
Saeng Thai House is a neighborhood joint situated on a corner of outer Congress Street that’s easy to drive past. There is nothing trendy, fusion or hipster about it. But then, neither is it over-adorned with tacky paraphernalia in that “sketchy locale” designation that many people equate with authenticity. Saeng Thai House is straight-up comfort food served with a flair for detail in generous portions at a fair price.
With just six tables, the multi-toned wood-paneled space is tiny, but mismatched chairs, spotless windows and flute-like music make the dining room undeniably cozy.
The view from the large glass window is the concrete Maine Medical Center parking garage, but you do not go to Saeng Thai House for the view. You go for the food. You don’t broker deals at these tables; you pick up lunch for the office crew or grab a quick bite before a movie. Once you’ve tasted the perfection, you go back for more food that you can pack and take home.
“The Barry White of noodles,” my husband noted about the Pad Si Ew ($9.95) and its cousin Drunken Noodles ($9.95), but unlike the spicier Drunken Noodles (named not for the use of alcohol in the cooking process but for the need to quench your thirst while eating such a spicy, salty dish), the Pad Si Ew flat noodles are dressed in a mild soy-based sauce. I agreed with the Barry White assessment, “because they are so smooth.”
But let me back up. I tried to remember the last time I had eaten inside a Thai restaurant, and my memory came up blank. In my household, Thai food is enjoyed on the couch. Because of its tiny dining room, my guess is that takeout traffic provides brisk business for Saeng Thai House, and in that spirit, I divided the experience: Dining in and takeout.
First, the appetizers. Crispy Potatoes ($4.95) is a bit of a misnomer. Seven tempura-battered slices of sweet potato were hearty and soft inside the crispy casing – and with a side of plum sauce, completely accessible to even the most timid palate. Five Crab Langkoons ($4.95) tasted light, more baked than fried, and the lack of heavy oil flavor allowed for contrast between the crunchy wonton wrappers and little pockets of crabmeat-infused cream cheese.
The dumplings, however, win the appetizer prize. Saeng Thai Dumplings with chicken ($4.95) are the steamed variety, carefully constructed into six round packages with a tiny pea delicately topping each one, and the five Saeng Thai Dumplings with pork ($4.95) were fried to a perfect shade of nutmeg brown. Each appetizer was presented on a doily-covered plate with cilantro garnish and side sauces in ceramic cups with cheerful, painted roosters.
Food can feel unapproachably exotic with names like Koong Rad Prik or Kai Pad Kra Pao – probably the American pie of Thai food, but a gamble for this Maine palate. I know I like Pad Thai, and I know I like Drunken Noodles. I’m adventurous, but when money is tight, I want to feel confident. Between familiar and new, familiar often wins.
Saeng Thai House is a neighborhood joint situated on a corner of outer Congress Street that’s easy to drive past. There is nothing trendy, fusion or hipster about it. But then, neither is it over-adorned with tacky paraphernalia in that “sketchy locale” designation that many people equate with authenticity. Saeng Thai House is straight-up comfort food served with a flair for detail in generous portions at a fair price.
With just six tables, the multi-toned wood-paneled space is tiny, but mismatched chairs, spotless windows and flute-like music make the dining room undeniably cozy.
The view from the large glass window is the concrete Maine Medical Center parking garage, but you do not go to Saeng Thai House for the view. You go for the food. You don’t broker deals at these tables; you pick up lunch for the office crew or grab a quick bite before a movie. Once you’ve tasted the perfection, you go back for more food that you can pack and take home.
“The Barry White of noodles,” my husband noted about the Pad Si Ew ($9.95) and its cousin Drunken Noodles ($9.95), but unlike the spicier Drunken Noodles (named not for the use of alcohol in the cooking process but for the need to quench your thirst while eating such a spicy, salty dish), the Pad Si Ew flat noodles are dressed in a mild soy-based sauce. I agreed with the Barry White assessment, “because they are so smooth.”
But let me back up. I tried to remember the last time I had eaten inside a Thai restaurant, and my memory came up blank. In my household, Thai food is enjoyed on the couch. Because of its tiny dining room, my guess is that takeout traffic provides brisk business for Saeng Thai House, and in that spirit, I divided the experience: Dining in and takeout.
First, the appetizers. Crispy Potatoes ($4.95) is a bit of a misnomer. Seven tempura-battered slices of sweet potato were hearty and soft inside the crispy casing – and with a side of plum sauce, completely accessible to even the most timid palate. Five Crab Langkoons ($4.95) tasted light, more baked than fried, and the lack of heavy oil flavor allowed for contrast between the crunchy wonton wrappers and little pockets of crabmeat-infused cream cheese.
The dumplings, however, win the appetizer prize. Saeng Thai Dumplings with chicken ($4.95) are the steamed variety, carefully constructed into six round packages with a tiny pea delicately topping each one, and the five Saeng Thai Dumplings with pork ($4.95) were fried to a perfect shade of nutmeg brown. Each appetizer was presented on a doily-covered plate with cilantro garnish and side sauces in ceramic cups with cheerful, painted roosters.
2011年12月1日星期四
NBA returns with 5-game Christmas Day slate
Over Thanksgiving vacation, I caught the vicious head cold that seems to plaguing everyone this time of year.
Unfortunately, with a nose more stuffed than a turkey and a throat so sore I could barely swallow, my favorite meal of the year fell flat.
I tried Tylenol and Aleve, but both just gave temporary satisfaction. Within a matter of hours, the congestion and headaches returned.
But on Saturday morning, something strange happened. Around 6 a.m., I woke up and changed the channel to ESPN. Without my glasses I couldn’t see much, but I could make out the voice of NBA commissioner David Stern. At the bottom of the screen, I could make out a small red bar on the ticker, indicating breaking news.
At first I feared the “nuclear winter,” which Stern referred to when the NBA Players Association disbanded as a union, had come upon us and that the season was cancelled. But after listening to Stern for another moment, I heard the voice of Billy Hunter, the NBAPA’s executive director, and became giddy. They would only have been holding a joint press conference if a deal had been struck.
A tentative agreement had been reached, with a 66-game season set to begin on Christmas Day. I immediately felt more energized than I had all vacation. The pressure in my forehead disappeared, my sore throat eased and I genuinely felt better.
I’m not saying the resolution of the NBA lockout and the return of the NBA has healing powers. That’d be ridiculous.
But I’m not saying it doesn’t.
This is by far the best situation the NBA could have hoped for. Many NBA fans don’t even tune in to NBA telecasts until Christmas Day. Junkies like myself, who cared about an early November game between the Thunder and the Kings, are happy with absolutely anything — we’re junkies, remember?
The only depressing part of the ordeal is that all changes made were forecasted two years ago. It’s unclear how many egos pushed their way into the discussion to delay the process, but regardless, there will be the majority of an NBA season, barring some unforeseen meltdown.
What changed, exactly? Not a whole lot, but some necessary tweaks and some needed improvements, for sure.
The split of basketball-related income, or BRI, has been the biggest sticking point of the negotiations. Previously, players received 57 percent of the split — by far the most of the four major professional team sports. That number is down to 51.2 percent this season and will fluctuate between 49 and 51 percent throughout the 10-year agreement — though each side can choose to opt out after six years.
The owners solved their tussle with revenue sharing, as the new plan has three times as much money distributed to competitively disadvantaged markets. All details aren’t clear, but large-market teams with TV contracts will be forced to pay more.
In the previous agreement, teams only had to spend 75 percent of the salary cap on player contracts, giving small-market teams a reason to pocket some of their money, which disappointed fans who didn’t think their team’s front office was going all-in.
The new deal states teams need to spend at least 85 percent of the cap for the next two seasons and at least 90 percent for the rest of the agreement.
While the players received a smaller portion of the BRI, this wrinkle will force owners to put out more money for players.
The luxury tax in the new agreement requires teams to pay more into the revenue split when their spending exceeds the tax. In addition, teams repeatedly exceeding the luxury-cap threshold will need to pay more each season.
This change hopefully curbs the uncontrolled spending of teams with deep pockets, as the previous luxury tax was small compared to the new one. The new agreement also put restrictions on how much money tax-paying teams can spend in the offseason.
Another rule, called the “Derrick Rose Rule,” was implemented to reward players who outplayed their rookie contract. If a player on his rookie deal becomes the MVP, makes an All-NBA team twice or starts in the All-Star Game twice, he can receive a maximum extension of 30 percent of the team’s salary cap, up from 25 percent in the previous agreement.
Last is the amnesty clause, which allows any team to remove one contract from their salary cap. They still need to pay the player, but the money doesn’t count against their cap number, potentially freeing up millions of dollars.
Unlike in 2005, when the last collective bargaining agreement was reached and there was an amnesty clause, teams do not need to use it immediately. For example, if a team like the Portland Trailblazers wanted to wait another year to see if Brandon Roy’s knees would hold up, they can wait and choose to use it any time during the new CBA. It can only be used on contracts that were agreed to before this year, however.
So get ready. On Christmas Day, when you’ve finished unwrapping your presents, you’ll be able to take the bow off what will undoubtedly be one of the craziest NBA seasons yet.
Unfortunately, with a nose more stuffed than a turkey and a throat so sore I could barely swallow, my favorite meal of the year fell flat.
I tried Tylenol and Aleve, but both just gave temporary satisfaction. Within a matter of hours, the congestion and headaches returned.
But on Saturday morning, something strange happened. Around 6 a.m., I woke up and changed the channel to ESPN. Without my glasses I couldn’t see much, but I could make out the voice of NBA commissioner David Stern. At the bottom of the screen, I could make out a small red bar on the ticker, indicating breaking news.
At first I feared the “nuclear winter,” which Stern referred to when the NBA Players Association disbanded as a union, had come upon us and that the season was cancelled. But after listening to Stern for another moment, I heard the voice of Billy Hunter, the NBAPA’s executive director, and became giddy. They would only have been holding a joint press conference if a deal had been struck.
A tentative agreement had been reached, with a 66-game season set to begin on Christmas Day. I immediately felt more energized than I had all vacation. The pressure in my forehead disappeared, my sore throat eased and I genuinely felt better.
I’m not saying the resolution of the NBA lockout and the return of the NBA has healing powers. That’d be ridiculous.
But I’m not saying it doesn’t.
This is by far the best situation the NBA could have hoped for. Many NBA fans don’t even tune in to NBA telecasts until Christmas Day. Junkies like myself, who cared about an early November game between the Thunder and the Kings, are happy with absolutely anything — we’re junkies, remember?
The only depressing part of the ordeal is that all changes made were forecasted two years ago. It’s unclear how many egos pushed their way into the discussion to delay the process, but regardless, there will be the majority of an NBA season, barring some unforeseen meltdown.
What changed, exactly? Not a whole lot, but some necessary tweaks and some needed improvements, for sure.
The split of basketball-related income, or BRI, has been the biggest sticking point of the negotiations. Previously, players received 57 percent of the split — by far the most of the four major professional team sports. That number is down to 51.2 percent this season and will fluctuate between 49 and 51 percent throughout the 10-year agreement — though each side can choose to opt out after six years.
The owners solved their tussle with revenue sharing, as the new plan has three times as much money distributed to competitively disadvantaged markets. All details aren’t clear, but large-market teams with TV contracts will be forced to pay more.
In the previous agreement, teams only had to spend 75 percent of the salary cap on player contracts, giving small-market teams a reason to pocket some of their money, which disappointed fans who didn’t think their team’s front office was going all-in.
The new deal states teams need to spend at least 85 percent of the cap for the next two seasons and at least 90 percent for the rest of the agreement.
While the players received a smaller portion of the BRI, this wrinkle will force owners to put out more money for players.
The luxury tax in the new agreement requires teams to pay more into the revenue split when their spending exceeds the tax. In addition, teams repeatedly exceeding the luxury-cap threshold will need to pay more each season.
This change hopefully curbs the uncontrolled spending of teams with deep pockets, as the previous luxury tax was small compared to the new one. The new agreement also put restrictions on how much money tax-paying teams can spend in the offseason.
Another rule, called the “Derrick Rose Rule,” was implemented to reward players who outplayed their rookie contract. If a player on his rookie deal becomes the MVP, makes an All-NBA team twice or starts in the All-Star Game twice, he can receive a maximum extension of 30 percent of the team’s salary cap, up from 25 percent in the previous agreement.
Last is the amnesty clause, which allows any team to remove one contract from their salary cap. They still need to pay the player, but the money doesn’t count against their cap number, potentially freeing up millions of dollars.
Unlike in 2005, when the last collective bargaining agreement was reached and there was an amnesty clause, teams do not need to use it immediately. For example, if a team like the Portland Trailblazers wanted to wait another year to see if Brandon Roy’s knees would hold up, they can wait and choose to use it any time during the new CBA. It can only be used on contracts that were agreed to before this year, however.
So get ready. On Christmas Day, when you’ve finished unwrapping your presents, you’ll be able to take the bow off what will undoubtedly be one of the craziest NBA seasons yet.
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