NEW YORK (AP) ? New York City shut down its mass transit system, closed its schools and ordered hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes Sunday in the face of increasingly dire predictions about the wall of water that could hit the nation's largest city as part of the superstorm bearing down on the East Coast.
A seawater surge of anywhere from 6 to 11 feet threatened to swamp parts of lower Manhattan, flood subway tunnels and knock out the underground network of power, phone and high-speed Internet lines that are the lifeblood of America's financial capital.
Subway, bus, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road service were all suspended Sunday night. Officials said bridge and tunnel closings would be decided on a "case-by-case basis."
The New York Stock Exchange and other U.S. financial markets planned to shut down Monday; the NYSE had earlier said trading would continue electronically but scuttled those plans. The NYSE last shut down on Sept. 27, 1985, for Hurricane Gloria.
The United Nations announced plans to close on Monday and canceled all meetings at its headquarters.
After days of seeming to take the storm in stride, New Yorkers packed grocery stores for supplies and scrambled to get out of flood zones.
Clutching a white pillow in her left hand and two computers in another, Alyssa Marks rushed to get to the subway before it stopped running Sunday evening.
As she hurried to leave her apartment in a lower Manhattan evacuation zone for a friend's place on higher ground, she'd gotten cash but had not time to get toiletries and water.
"I'm nervous, but I'm also excited," she said as she left her apartment. "We're going to get some wine, cuddle up and watch movies."
Still, some hardy residents said they weren't going anywhere, even as the mayor urged them to go.
"If you don't evacuate, you're not just putting your own life in danger ? you are also endangering the lives of our first responders who may have to come in and rescue you," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference Sunday as he announced a mandatory evacuation affecting 375,000 people in low-lying areas from the beaches of Queens to the glassy high-rises of Battery Park City. "This is a serious and dangerous storm."
After days of more modest warnings, the tone grew sharper Sunday as the National Hurricane Center predicted "life-threatening flooding" for areas including New York Harbor. Louis Uccellini, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's environmental protection chief, called the projected storm surge "the worst-case scenario" for New York City, Long Island and northern New Jersey.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo deployed National Guard troops to the city and Long Island as President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration enabling the federal government to provide support and resources to state and local governments.
Consolidated Edison weighed the possibility of shutting down power in parts of lower Manhattan to protect equipment. Broadway shows were canceled for Sunday and Monday. One small hospital was being evacuated, while several others were moving patients to higher floors.
America's biggest public school system, which serves 1.1 million students, was ordered closed Monday, while many of the schools opened Sunday as emergency shelters.
Ralph Gorham watched the sea get rough, but he planned to weather the storm at the Red Hook Lobster Pound, the seafood business he co-owns in a low-lying part of Brooklyn.
"I'm not leaving. My house is here. My business is here," he said. "When the bell tolls, you live with it."
The megastorm ? a predicted combination of Hurricane Sandy, a wintry system moving in from the west and cold air streaming down from the Arctic ? marked the second time in 14 months that New York City has faced a scenario forecasters have long feared: a big hurricane hitting the city or a bit south, such that the cyclone's counterclockwise winds drive water into miles of densely populated shoreline.
Hurricane Irene ultimately came ashore as a tropical storm in Coney Island, with a 4-foot storm surge that washed over parts of the southern tip of Manhattan but didn't wreak the havoc that officials had feared, although it caused tremendous damage elsewhere. Some experts have said that a surge three feet higher could have caused huge damage.
The deluge from the approaching superstorm may well be worse than Irene's ? and longer lasting, forecasters said. Bloomberg warned that damaging flooding could start with high tide Sunday night and continue into Tuesday afternoon.
With the worst of the surge expected Monday night, the key factor is whether it coincides with the higher-than-usual full moon high tide, said Klaus Jacob, a Columbia University researcher who has advised the city on coastal risks. But in any case, he said he expected the subway system to be at least partially flooded.
"I do not think that there's enough emergency measures that will help prevent the subway from flooding," Jacob said.
Bloomberg announced evacuations at about 11:30 a.m., telling people to be out just 7? hours later. The city was alerting residents with cellphone emergency warning systems, its own Notify NYC system of emails and phone calls, and police cars going down streets with bullhorns.
To those who refused to leave, Bloomberg had a message.
"They won't be arrested. But I would argue they are being very selfish," said the mayor, noting rescue crews will still try to help them if they are flooded. "We aren't going to leave them to die. We are going to save them."
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Associated Press writers Verena Dobnik and Deepti Hajela in New York and Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Md., contributed to this report.
An outbreak of fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain. The medication, made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, has been recalled.
Latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Illnesses: 363, including seven joint infections.
Deaths: 28.
States: 19; Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Shocolaate (Show-ko-latt) is an online gourmet chocolate company based in Tequesta, Florida owned and operated by?mother and daughter team, Diana Pace and Cristina Vives; both of whom are truly passionate about the design, the creativity and the art of chocolate?making. Shocolaate specializes in handmade truffles and?chocolate treats.?Shocolaate, Diana and Cristina embody their product with a very feminine victorian-esque motif, not to say that men wouldn?t purchase?Shocolaate as corporate gifts, because they do but?Shocolaate definitely has a feminine approach and appeal, that makes eating chocolate oh so pretty. This week is a double header interview, with the Spotlight questions answered by both Diana and Cristina. ?This week we go behind the scenes of Shocolaate.com and find out the inner workings of an online gourmet chocolate company. I present this week?s Spotlight Interview with?Diana Pace and Cristina Vives.
Shocolaate, Diana and Cristina
South Florida Food and Wine: For those that don?t know about Shocolaate, tell us a bit about your business.
Diana: We are a small artisan truffle company and growing every day. Decandence in a single bite is what we strive for.
Cristina: Shocolaate is a place where people come to indulge, to ignite their senses, and to enjoy the ultimate truffle experience. At Shocolaate we tempt all of your senses starting with visual. After all as humans we eat with our eyes! Not only does it look good, but it tastes just as good if not better. I believe that the perfect balance to a great product is when it attracts all of your senses.
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South Florida Food and Wine: What is a typical day like for you as co-owners of Shocolaate?
Diana: I am the creative designer behind the business, I make everything look pretty and we work together on creating new flavors. Social Media and making new contacts also. Truly my job is the visual part of Shocolaate I always thinking of ways to create a beautiful visual of our truffles. Cristy is the truffle magician. ?I am the creative designer. ?We work together and live together and it is a true honor to be working with my beautiful daughter.
Cristina: My mom and I play very different roles. Every morning we have a coffee meeting and talk about what our day is going to be like. We write down weekly goals and talk about what?s already been accomplished for the week. Then it?s down to business. Since we are a two-person team then we both have a lot of duties. We work out of a co-op bake shoppe. This is not our retail space, it?s simply where we do all of our production. If I?m not there rolling out truffles then I?m in a meeting selling our product. If I?m not doing that then I?m preparing for an event or chocolate pairing. In the midst of this chocolate storm I?m always on my social media pages tweeting, uploading photos on our Shocolaate Instagram, Facebooking our latest event and getting the word out any way possible. My mom plays a different role, she is behind the scenes. She?s our in-house accountant, our creative designer, and my biggest fan! She makes everything look beautiful while I make it taste beautiful. When we have a photoshoot for new truffles my mom is the one who makes the tablescapes and designs what the general photo is going to look like. We are a team an we work well together.
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South Florida Food and Wine: What is the one thing you love the most about your job?
Diana: Working with my darling daughter and seeing little kids faces oogle when they see the chocolate
Cristina: For me it?s when I?m at a show or a chocolate pairing and I see with my own eyes people eating the truffles and for them to be satisfied and keep coming back asking for more. It is what keeps me going and helps me stay motivated. I love when people love what I give them!
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South Florida Food and Wine: Who is the one person you most would like to share a box of chocolates with? And why?
Diana: At this moment it would be my dad who has recently passed away
Cristina: One of my biggest influencers in the chocolate world is Katrina Markoff. She owns a very successful chain of chocolate boutiques called Vosges. Since I started I?ve always looked up to her and would love to get her input!
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South Florida Food and Wine: Out of your entire collection which chocolate is your favorite and why?
Diana: Star of India it is spicy and wonderful Cristy is the genius behind that one
Cristina: I love dark chocolate personally and I grew up eating orange slices and grew to love those. So I combined two of my favorite flavors Dark Chocolate and Orange and for a twist I added some guava jam. The result is like 4th of July in your mouth! It?s Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest, a freshly candied orange peel topped with Guava Jam. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I call it the Orange Guava.
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South Florida Food and Wine: Who?s chocolate was the last you ate, other than your own?
Diana: Ghiadelli Hot Chocolate . Caramel with Salt
Cristina: My aunt just came back from a two week long cruise and on her ventures she always brings me back chocolate from other lands. So the last chocolate I tried was a dark chocolate bar from a company in Seattle called Frans?s Chocolates. It was a brick of dark chocolate filled with almonds and crunchy caramel. Actually very good, I love the crunch in the center.
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South Florida Food and Wine: What is the most challenging thing about being an entrepreneur?
Diana: It is our own creation and that always presents a challenge! Our truffles are different! Just staying true to what we believe in .
Cristina: It?s HARD work. I encourage everyone to follow their dreams but they should know that dreams are not all sunshine and rainbows. It takes long hours, persistence, openness, and most importantly courage. The thing about Shocolaate is that it is a luxury. Since people don?t necessarily ?need? it then I have to convince them why they absolutely do. That part is easy, with one taste they always come back for more. Since we also sell wholesale to large companies/hotels that?s when it becomes a tad difficult. It?s a little intimidating walking into a boardroom or an office full of chefs in their uniforms. One thing is that I never get discouraged if someone tells me no. Having a tough shell is part of the job. My mom is my biggest cheerleader and as long as I have her by my side then no task will be too difficult.
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South Florida Food and Wine: It?s your day off, what do you do for fun?
Diana: Social Media!! Ha!! We are always working.?I do love trying creative places to dine at and I love travel! We are always working we live together and are always coming up with creative ideas.
Cristina: Like most entrepreneurs, there is hardly ever a day off. But if we do then we go to Disney to blow off some steam. We are annual passholders and if you ever can?t find me at the bake shop or at home then that?s probably where I am.
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South Florida Food and Wine: The gourmet specialty products business is not an easy business, what motivates you to be bigger, better, stronger?
Diana: I see how the clients love our truffles. It is a great experience to see others love your creation My daughter inspires me every day; she motivates me
Cristina: I believe that the products I make are comparable to the top brands that everyone knows about. What motivates me is when I hear people tell me over and over that I will be up there one day. My mom and I make a great team and are very marketable, we will continue to work our hardest and make sure that one day Shocolaate will be a brand known all over.
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South Florida Food and Wine: What is the one piece of advice you would offer entrepreneurs starting out today?
Diana: Work diligently every day in what you believe in, It is your dream and it is up to you to make it a reality
Cristina: A good friend once told me to begin with the end in mind. I would offer that piece of advice to anyone. When you start out know what your goals are. Make sure that your product is something that you yourself would buy in the store or pay top dollar for. Find a good/trustworthy team, be a good leader, always stay connected, participate in as many networking events as possible, and most importantly always have FUN with whatever you are doing and know that in the midst of a storm remember to stop, breathe, and remember that it will pass.
Visit?Shocolaate.com
Love the South Florida food scene? Check out our newly published book (Globe Pequot Press, $14.95),?Food Lovers? Guide to Miami & Fort Lauderdale
2012 Spotlight Interviews
Girl Power, Interviews with Female Chefs, Vintners and Entrepreneurs
2011 Spotlight Interviews
2010 Spotlight Interviews
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Did you enjoy this article? If so, we?d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Sign up for our weekly email updates via the Contact Us page for more *hospitality* goodness. There?s lots more where this came from!
Venus, the incredible luxury yacht Steve Jobs had been designing up until his death a little over a year ago, seems to have made its first apperance as a finished product in the city of Aalsmeer in the Netherlands. Unsurprisingly, its design is breathtaking. More »
Happy National Chocolate Day! It?s almost redundant to say ?happy? when it and chocolate as so inextricably linked, isn?t it? We set aside this day every year to celebrate everything chocolate, from the richest, most velvety molten lava cakes to the airiest chocolate mousses?around. Whether you join in the fun by making one of these spectacular recipes or just salivate over them, these recipes are today?s must-see delights.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock exchanges and Wall Street banks are sending employees into Manhattan on Sunday to stay in hotels and coworkers' homes, as markets prepare to open for business on Monday even as Hurricane Sandy brings public transportation to a halt.
Hurricane Sandy is expected to slam into the East Coast on Monday night, bringing torrential rains, high winds, severe flooding and power outages, forecasters said. The rare "super storm," created by an Arctic jetstream wrapping itself around a tropical storm, could be the biggest to hit the U.S. mainland.
New York's subway, bus and rail systems will suspend service by 7 p.m. EDT on Sunday (2300 GMT) which means there will be no public transportation into or within the city. About 8.5 million commuters use the Metropolitan Transit Authority's rail, bus and subway lines daily.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg closed public schools and ordered an evacuation of 375,000 people in coastal areas including the Battery Park neighborhood, just a few blocks from the New York Stock Exchange, City Island in the Bronx and Staten Island.
Spokesmen for NYSE Euronext and Nasdaq OMX Group said they still planned to open exchanges for trading on Monday, but would monitor the situation for any changes.
The New York Stock Exchange has arranged accommodations for essential staff near its lower-Manhattan headquarters, while other employees have been encouraged to work from home or alternate locations, said a person familiar with the situation.
"Everybody on Wall Street has hotels booked for essential personnel," this person said, adding that the stock exchange would need several hundred people, compared to its usual 1,000, on the floor to keep trading going.
The major exchanges and most big trading firms have alternate trading facilities if downtown Manhattan is inaccessible, but the storm's wide path may affect a number of sites in the New York metropolitan area. Authorities have warned of possible widespread power outages that could last for days.
"The word going around the floor on Friday was people should expect this to happen. In the event the exchange does not open, they will trade electronically though," said Ken Polcari, managing director for ICAP Equities.
"If that happened, it's probably going to be very muted volume," he said.
A spokesman for Goldman Sachs , whose office is located within the evacuation area, said the firm has plans in place to ensure the safety of its people and that operations continue. Representatives of other large financial institutions, such as Citigroup Inc and JP Morgan Chase , described similar plans.
BACKUP POWER
The NYSE has not had to delay the open for a weather-related issue since a blizzard hit the New York area in January 1996.
In August 2011, officials feared Hurricane Irene would flood lower Manhattan and cripple business in the world's financial capital. Wall Street firms activated contingency plans and New York City ordered evacuations in lower Manhattan and shut down its mass transit system on a Saturday night in anticipation of the storm. But the flooding was minor and there were no major disruptions at the exchanges.
Before the storm passed, however, NYSE officials said while they planned to open, the final decision hinged on whether city subways were running and whether New York Harbor waters flooded low-lying downtown.
Flooding is one of the more likely worst-case scenarios that forecasters see as Sandy pushes water onto land Monday evening.
Sandy's storm surge has the potential to flood New York city's subway system if the storm arrives at or near Monday evening's high tide around 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT), according to hurricane specialist Jeff Masters, who writes a Weather Underground blog. Monday is also a full moon, which creates an extra-high tide.
The NYSE has a backup power generator and said that should it have to shut down floor trading at 11 Wall Street, all NYSE-listed securities would trade on NYSE Arca, the company's fully electronic exchange. NYSE's servers are located in Mahwah, New Jersey, while Nasdaq has servers in Carteret, New Jersey.
"Preparations are in place for our U.S. markets to operate normally on Monday. If conditions change, notifications will be posted," the New York Stock Exchange said in a statement on its website.
Nasdaq OMX also said it has plans in place to ensure markets operate normally on Monday and Tuesday.
Both exchanges are in contact with trading firms and regulators, which include the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), about the potential impact of the storm, said people with knowledge of the plans.
The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association said it has not made any recommendations to close on Monday.
"SIFMA is currently monitoring the storm's projected path and we are in contact with public authorities and our members as we assess the possible impact of the storm to the financial services sector within the NYC area," SIFMA spokeswoman Katrina Cavalli said on Sunday morning in an e-mailed statement.
Some financial industry events have been postponed. The SIFMA Internal Auditors Society Annual Conference scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in New York has been delayed to December. The Bond Buyer's 501(c)3 SuperConference which was to take place October 28-30, will also be postponed.
(Reporting by John McCrank, David Gaffen, Caroline Humer, David Henry and Lauren LaCapra; Editing by Jennifer Merritt, Tiffany Wu and Maureen Bavdek)
Black patients received less clinical trial information than white patientsPublic release date: 28-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jeremy Moore jeremy.moore@aacr.org 215-446-7109 American Association for Cancer Research
SAN DIEGO A study comparing how physicians discuss clinical trials during clinical interactions with black patients versus white patients further confirms racial disparities in the quality of communication between physicians and patients.
Oncologists provided black patients with less information overall about cancer clinical trials compared with white patients, according to data presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held here Oct. 27-30, 2012.
"Minority patients tend to receive less information, which could, in part, explain under-enrollment by minorities in clinical cancer trials," said Susan Eggly, Ph.D., associate professor of oncology in the Population Studies and Disparities Program at Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Mich. "These disparities could also lead to minority patients being enrolled in trials without fully understanding the purpose of the trial and the potential risks of participation."
Eggly and colleagues examined 22 video-recorded interactions between oncologists and patients during which a clinical trial was offered. Patients were matched by cancer type and sociodemographic characteristics. Half of the video-recorded interactions were with black patients and the other half were with white patients. Researchers used linguistic discourse analytical methods to examine several aspects of the interactions, including overall discussion of clinical trials and the five basic elements of consent: purpose, risks, benefits, alternatives to participating and the voluntary nature of trial participation.
Data revealed that clinical trial interactions with black patients were shorter overall and included less discussion of clinical trials compared with interactions with white patients. Key aspects of consent were also discussed less with black patients than with white patients, especially the purpose of the trial and risks of participation. However, the researchers found that oncologists spoke more about voluntary participation with black patients than with white patients.
Previous research by Eggly and colleagues showed that black patients tended to ask fewer questions and they trusted their doctors less than white patients did. In addition, physician biases affected the quality of communication, which Eggly believes may also account for the differences found in this study.
"Taking a close look at interactions and the language used can help us to identify patterns of behavior and make the necessary improvements that may ultimately lead to decisions that are in the best interest of each patient," she said.
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Follow the AACR on Twitter: @aacr #aacr
Follow the AACR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aacr.org
About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 17,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.
For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.
A disparity of words: A comparison of offers to participate in cancer clinical trials by patient race. Susan Eggly1, Ellen Barton2, Andrew Winckles2, Louis A. Penner1, Terrance L. Albrecht1. 1Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 2Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Purpose: Oncologist-patient communication clearly influences patients' decisions about participating in clinical trials (Albrecht 2008; Eggly 2008). Black-White differences in the quality of patient-physician communication exist in oncology interactions (Eggly 2011), but no prior study has used real-time data from actual clinical interactions to investigate whether there are also Black-White differences in communication about clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to compare communication during offers to participate in cancer clinical trials in oncology visits with Black and with White patients.
Patients and Methods: Data were taken from an archive of 47 transcribed, video recorded oncology interactions that included the explicit offer of a cancer clinical trial (Albrecht 2008). All visits with Black patients (n=11) were identified and matched with a sample of visits with White patients (n=11). We used linguistic discourse analysis to analyze the visits (n=22) with specific focus on discussions of clinical trials and the five basic elements of consent (purpose, risks and benefits of the trial, alternatives to participating, and the voluntary nature of trial participation). We used word count as an objective measure of the amount of actual face-to-face discussion that occurred during the visits. We assessed Black-White differences in word count of the entire visits; the number of times clinical trials or any of the elements of consent were mentioned by oncologists, patients, or patients' companions; and word count of discussions during mentions of each of these topics.
Results: Mean word count of the entire visit was less for Black than White patients (m=4877.73Blacks vs. 7247.18Whites, d=.8740). Clinical trials were mentioned less frequently during visits with Black than White patients (M=2.73Blacks vs. 4.27Whites, d=1.2099). Mean word count during mentions of clinical trials was also less for Black patients (1089.64Blacks vs. 1867.09Whites, d=1.0618). Regarding the elements of consent, mean word count was less for Black patients during discussions of purpose (M=90.91 Blacks vs. 181.22 Whites, d=.9272) and risks (M=211.900Blacks vs. 390.27Whites, d=.6477). Risks were also mentioned less frequently for Black patients (M=1.91Blacks vs. 3.18Whites, d=.5782). However, voluntary participation was mentioned more frequently (M=2.18Blacks vs. 1.55Whites, d=.4139) for White than Black patients.
Conclusion: Black patients, as compared to White patients, may make decisions about clinical trial participation based on less overall discussion with oncologists and less discussion of the purpose and risks of participation. One possible explanation is a less active communication style of Black patients in medical visits, which has been shown in other research (Gordon 2006; Eggly 2011). Other possibilities include oncologist concerns about patient mistrust and/or nonconscious racial bias (van Ryn 2011). Possible communicative strategies to overcome these disparities include more conscious attention to mentioning and developing the topic of clinical trials with Black patients, with particular attention to the purpose and risks of trial participation.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Black patients received less clinical trial information than white patientsPublic release date: 28-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jeremy Moore jeremy.moore@aacr.org 215-446-7109 American Association for Cancer Research
SAN DIEGO A study comparing how physicians discuss clinical trials during clinical interactions with black patients versus white patients further confirms racial disparities in the quality of communication between physicians and patients.
Oncologists provided black patients with less information overall about cancer clinical trials compared with white patients, according to data presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held here Oct. 27-30, 2012.
"Minority patients tend to receive less information, which could, in part, explain under-enrollment by minorities in clinical cancer trials," said Susan Eggly, Ph.D., associate professor of oncology in the Population Studies and Disparities Program at Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Mich. "These disparities could also lead to minority patients being enrolled in trials without fully understanding the purpose of the trial and the potential risks of participation."
Eggly and colleagues examined 22 video-recorded interactions between oncologists and patients during which a clinical trial was offered. Patients were matched by cancer type and sociodemographic characteristics. Half of the video-recorded interactions were with black patients and the other half were with white patients. Researchers used linguistic discourse analytical methods to examine several aspects of the interactions, including overall discussion of clinical trials and the five basic elements of consent: purpose, risks, benefits, alternatives to participating and the voluntary nature of trial participation.
Data revealed that clinical trial interactions with black patients were shorter overall and included less discussion of clinical trials compared with interactions with white patients. Key aspects of consent were also discussed less with black patients than with white patients, especially the purpose of the trial and risks of participation. However, the researchers found that oncologists spoke more about voluntary participation with black patients than with white patients.
Previous research by Eggly and colleagues showed that black patients tended to ask fewer questions and they trusted their doctors less than white patients did. In addition, physician biases affected the quality of communication, which Eggly believes may also account for the differences found in this study.
"Taking a close look at interactions and the language used can help us to identify patterns of behavior and make the necessary improvements that may ultimately lead to decisions that are in the best interest of each patient," she said.
###
Follow the AACR on Twitter: @aacr #aacr
Follow the AACR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aacr.org
About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 17,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.
For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.
A disparity of words: A comparison of offers to participate in cancer clinical trials by patient race. Susan Eggly1, Ellen Barton2, Andrew Winckles2, Louis A. Penner1, Terrance L. Albrecht1. 1Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 2Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Purpose: Oncologist-patient communication clearly influences patients' decisions about participating in clinical trials (Albrecht 2008; Eggly 2008). Black-White differences in the quality of patient-physician communication exist in oncology interactions (Eggly 2011), but no prior study has used real-time data from actual clinical interactions to investigate whether there are also Black-White differences in communication about clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to compare communication during offers to participate in cancer clinical trials in oncology visits with Black and with White patients.
Patients and Methods: Data were taken from an archive of 47 transcribed, video recorded oncology interactions that included the explicit offer of a cancer clinical trial (Albrecht 2008). All visits with Black patients (n=11) were identified and matched with a sample of visits with White patients (n=11). We used linguistic discourse analysis to analyze the visits (n=22) with specific focus on discussions of clinical trials and the five basic elements of consent (purpose, risks and benefits of the trial, alternatives to participating, and the voluntary nature of trial participation). We used word count as an objective measure of the amount of actual face-to-face discussion that occurred during the visits. We assessed Black-White differences in word count of the entire visits; the number of times clinical trials or any of the elements of consent were mentioned by oncologists, patients, or patients' companions; and word count of discussions during mentions of each of these topics.
Results: Mean word count of the entire visit was less for Black than White patients (m=4877.73Blacks vs. 7247.18Whites, d=.8740). Clinical trials were mentioned less frequently during visits with Black than White patients (M=2.73Blacks vs. 4.27Whites, d=1.2099). Mean word count during mentions of clinical trials was also less for Black patients (1089.64Blacks vs. 1867.09Whites, d=1.0618). Regarding the elements of consent, mean word count was less for Black patients during discussions of purpose (M=90.91 Blacks vs. 181.22 Whites, d=.9272) and risks (M=211.900Blacks vs. 390.27Whites, d=.6477). Risks were also mentioned less frequently for Black patients (M=1.91Blacks vs. 3.18Whites, d=.5782). However, voluntary participation was mentioned more frequently (M=2.18Blacks vs. 1.55Whites, d=.4139) for White than Black patients.
Conclusion: Black patients, as compared to White patients, may make decisions about clinical trial participation based on less overall discussion with oncologists and less discussion of the purpose and risks of participation. One possible explanation is a less active communication style of Black patients in medical visits, which has been shown in other research (Gordon 2006; Eggly 2011). Other possibilities include oncologist concerns about patient mistrust and/or nonconscious racial bias (van Ryn 2011). Possible communicative strategies to overcome these disparities include more conscious attention to mentioning and developing the topic of clinical trials with Black patients, with particular attention to the purpose and risks of trial participation.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Here is a timeline of comments by the administration and Libyan officials on what they believed happened in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, beginning the night of the assault and continuing through September.
Republicans have criticized the administration for its description of the attack, suggesting they insisted it was a protest over a film that insulted the Prophet Muhammad because acknowledging it was a terror attack would have affected the presidential campaign. The administration says it gave out the information it had, as it became available, and has strongly objected to the accusation that its messaging was politically motivated.
Sept. 11, 2012:
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a statement on the attack on Benghazi, notes that "some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet."
Sept. 12:
From the Rose Garden, President Barack Obama calls Benghazi an "outrageous and shocking attack." He says the U.S. rejects efforts to denigrate religious beliefs of others, but that there is no justification "to this type of senseless violence." He adds that "no acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation..."
Later, at a campaign event in Las Vegas, Obama sends a message to "anybody who would do us harm: No act of terror will dim the light of the values that we proudly shine on the rest of the world, and no act of violence will shake the resolve of the United States of America."
Clinton, in a statement, condemns what she calls a "vicious and violent attack." She says later, "This was an attack by a small and savage group ? not the people or Government of Libya." She says that "as long as there are those who would take innocent life in the name of God, the world will never know a true and lasting peace."
Sept. 13:
At a campaign event in Colorado, Obama again says, "To all those who would do us harm, no act of terror will go unpunished."
In Washington, Clinton addresses the "video circulating on the Internet that has led to these protests in a number of countries." She later returns to the "small and savage group in Benghazi" and says again "some seek to justify this behavior as a response to inflammatory, despicable material posted on the Internet."
In Libya, Wanis el-Sharef, then eastern Libya's deputy interior minister, said the attacks were suspected to have been timed to mark the 9/11 anniversary and that the militants used civilians protesting an anti-Islam film as cover for their action. Infiltrators within the security forces may have tipped off militants to the safe house location, he said.
Sept. 14:
At the repatriation ceremony for the victims of the attacks, Clinton calls Benghazi a "heavy assault" and adds: "We've seen rage and violence directed at American embassies over an awful internet video that we had nothing to do with."
Sept. 15:
In his weekly address, Obama stresses that the U.S. "has a profound respect for people of all faiths" and rejects the denigration of Islam. "Yet there is never any justification for violence," he says. "There is no excuse for attacks on our embassies and consulates."
Sept. 16:
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, goes on morning shows at NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and CNN. Based on the administration's best information, she says, the Benghazi attack was a "spontaneous ? not a premeditated ? response" to the anti-video protests in Cairo. A small number of protesters came to the consulate "and then as that unfolded, it seems to have been hijacked, let us say, by some individual clusters of extremists who came with heavier weapons," she said. Rice called the attack a "direct result of a heinous and offensive video that was widely disseminated, that the U.S. government had nothing to do with." She said the U.S. had no information at the time "that leads us to conclude that this was premeditated or preplanned."
In Libya, interim President Mohammed el-Megarif said: "It was planned, definitely. It was planned by foreigners, by people who entered the country a few months ago. And they were planning this criminal act since their arrival."
Sept. 18:
Clinton says U.S. and Libya are working closely together to bring to justice those who "murdered" the four Americas in Benghazi. She notes that in a number of places where protests have turned violent, "we are seeing the hand of extremists who are trying to exploit people's inflamed passions for their own agendas." She cites Clapper's assessment that the U.S. had no actionable intelligence that an attack in Benghazi was planned or imminent.
Sept. 19:
Matthew Olsen, the national counterterrorism center director, tells the Senate committee on homeland security and government affairs that the Benghazi events were a "terrorist attack."
Sept. 20:
At a town hall event in Miami, Obama says what we've seen over the last week-and-a-half "is an offensive video or cartoon directed at the prophet Muhammad. And this is obviously something that then is used as an excuse by some to carry out inexcusable violent acts directed at Westerners or Americans." He says the U.S. is investigating, and that the circumstances differ in each country. But, he adds, "What we do know is that the natural protests that arose because of the outrage over the video were used as an excuse by extremists to see if they can also directly harm U.S. interests."
Sept. 21:
Clinton calls Benghazi a "terrorist attack."
Sept. 26:
At a U.N. event focusing on Africa's Sahel region, Clinton says al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and other groups "have launched attacks and kidnappings from northern Mali into neighboring countries." She says terrorists are "working with other violent extremists to undermine the democratic transitions underway in North Africa, as we tragically saw in Benghazi."
Oct. 26:
Obama administration officials defend their response to the attack amid new claims that the White House failed to send help quickly enough as militants overran the mission.
In response to a report alleging that security officers working for the CIA in Benghazi heard the attack but were twice told to wait before rushing to the compound, CIA spokeswoman Jennifer Youngblood says the CIA "reacted quickly to aid our colleagues during that terrible evening in Benghazi."
With the launch?of Windows 8, buyers are about to discover a computing experience unlike anything they've seen before. Here's a guide to getting past some of the hurdles.
The main thing to know is that Windows 8 is designed especially for touch-screen computers, to make desktops and laptops work more like tablets. It is Microsoft's way of addressing the popularity of tablets, namely the iPad. But Windows 8 will work with mouse and keyboard shortcuts, too. It'll take some getting used to, though.
There are two versions of Windows 8, or more precisely, there's Windows 8 and there's Windows RT. They look the same, but they run on different processing chips. Windows 8 runs on standard chips from Intel and AMD and is the version you'd get if you're upgrading your home desktop or notebook PC. Windows RT is the version for light, small tablets and laptop-tablet hybrids.
Windows 8 will run programs written for older versions of Windows. Windows RT won't. It's limited to applications specifically written for it and available through Microsoft's store. (As a consolation, a version of Microsoft Office is included free on Windows RT devices).
Here are some tips on how to navigate the new Windows:
??When you start a Windows 8 machine, you're greeted with a screen that shows the time and a pretty picture. To get past it with a touch-screen device, swipe upwards with your finger from the bottom edge of the screen. If you have a keyboard, hit any key.
? Next, you'll see a mosaic of Live Tiles, each representing an application. Programs specifically written for Windows 8 will run in this new environment, which is unofficially nicknamed Metro. Each application fills the screen when you run it. Applications written for older Windows versions will open up in something that looks very much like the old Windows Desktop environment. You can switch back and forth between Metro and the new Desktop, though Microsoft wants people to eventually use only Metro.
? The Desktop screen lacks a Start button, so it's hard to start programs from there. Microsoft's idea is that users should learn to go to the Metro tiles to start programs or access settings, even if many programs, including some Windows utilities, will open up in Desktop. To get back to the tiled Start screen with a mouse or touchpad, move the mouse cursor to the top right corner of the screen, then swipe it down to the "Start" icon that appears. If you have a touch screen, reveal the Start icon by swiping in from the right edge of the screen.
? In the Desktop environment, you can glance at the Taskbar to see which Desktop programs are running. If you're a mouse or touchpad user in Metro and want to see what's running, you have to know this trick: Move the cursor into the top left corner of the screen, then drag it down along the left edge of the screen. If you have a touch screen, swipe in from the left edge, then quickly swipe back in.
? Neither environment will show you programs that are running in the other environment, but if you have a touch screen, swiping in from the left side of the screen lets you jump between open applications. The "Alt-Tab" combination does the same thing with a keyboard, in case you aren't using a touch screen.
? There are two versions of Internet Explorer, one for each environment. A Web page you open in one doesn't appear in the other, so if you're trying to find your way back to a page, it helps to remember which browser you were using.
? When using Metro on a touch screen, you close a program by first swiping your finger down from the top edge of the screen. That shrinks the window. Then you swipe your finger down to the bottom edge of the screen. Don't stray to the right or left edges of the screen, or the app will end up "docked" in a column along that edge. You can perform the same action with a mouse cursor by clicking and dragging from the top edge of the screen, but using the old "Alt-F4" command is easier.
? In the Desktop version of Internet Explorer, you can see at a glance which pages you have open in "tabs." In Metro, each Web page fills the screen, leaving no room for tabs.
To see which other pages are open on a touch-screen computer, you swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to reveal thumbnails of the other windows. Don't sweep too far, or you'll shrink the window instead.
If you're using a mouse in Metro, you right-click anywhere on the screen to reveal the tabs. Of course, this means right-clicking no longer does any of things it can be used for in previous versions of Windows, such as letting you open a link in a new tab.
? When Microsoft introduced Windows 95, some people thought it was amusing and counterintuitive that the procedure for shutting down the computer began with the "Start" button. In Windows 8, that incongruity is gone along with the Start button, but shutting down with a mouse or touchpad isn't obvious either. Move the cursor into the top right corner of the screen. A menu will pop out. Sweep down to the "Settings" button that appears, and click it. Then click "Power," then "Shut down." If you're on a touch screen, start by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, then tap "Settings."?
??Reported by?Peter Svensson?
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
It?s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark?s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark?s Daily Apple community please contact me here. I?ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading!
My name is Shawn and I am 28 years old. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a year ago. I haven?t seen many stories or articles related to diabetes on the MDA website so I thought I would share how going Primal has helped me take back control over my health and wellbeing.
First of all, I have actually been very healthy most of my life (or so I thought). In college I lifted weights, ran, and did pushups and sit-ups in my dorm room on a regular basis. I despised salad and fresh veggies, and loaded up on Hamburger Helper, cereal, and PB&J because it was convenient and I ?worked it all off? during my workouts. I am 6? tall and my weight maxed out at about 205 lbs (92 kgs) during my last year of college (2007)?perfectly healthy I thought.
Fast forward several years (during which I managed to drop about 10 lbs thanks to army basic training) to September of 2011. I started losing weight?lots of weight?about 25 lbs in 3 weeks to be exact, I drank water by the gallons, and I could no longer exercise without getting severe cramping in my legs. Something was obviously wrong, so I made an appointment with my doctor who I hadn?t seen in about 10 years. I had a fasting blood sugar level of 350 (normal is 70-99 mg/dL). The last several months of 2011 were very challenging. There was no explanation why I got this disease (no family history) and trying to come to terms with the fact that I would have to deal with this every day for the rest of my life was a bit overwhelming. I started working with diabetes educators and nutritionists at the local hospital and was told that I should take in about 320 CARBS/DAY(!!) based on my activity level. And they call themselves nutritionists?? Even my endocrinologist said I could eat whatever I wanted because the disease ?sucks enough the way it is? and I just needed to shoot up with enough insulin to cover the food I was eating. At this point I still did not know any better so I bought into their conventional wisdom.
Needless to say, my blood sugar control was not good. I would go up to 250 right after meals, but since I dropped down to normal again after a few hours my doctor was fine with it. Being all too aware of the side effects of uncontrolled blood sugar, I decided to educate myself and become my own ?nutritionist/doctor.?
Around January of this year a friend exposed me to the paleo diet. I checked it out and was intrigued. I started doing extensive reading and research (during which I came across this website) and decided to give it a try. I slowly started purging out the sugars/carbs/processed foods that were poisoning my body (especially cereal which was a staple of my diet at the time), and whaddya know?my blood sugars and overall health improved drastically, and my insulin requirements dropped like a rock!!!
Fast forward another 8 months to today and life has never been better! Through my faith, support of my wonderful wife and family, and a little help from the Primal Blueprint, I have been able to cope with my diabetes to the point that it is a mere afterthought in my everyday life. My diet includes massive amounts of meat/eggs/veggies/salad/nuts to fuel my active lifestyle, ~120 carbs worth/day with virtually no SAD food (if I do slip up, my blood sugar pays the price!). I do still indulge in some diabetic friendly, Primally questionable foods (quite a bit of cheese, a few peanuts, and the occasional artificially sweetened drink). I guess there is always room for improvement? I still work out quite often, but in Primal fashion: biking in to work as often as possible (~16 miles, 50 minutes each way), sprint sessions when I can?t get on the bike, and circuit-type training with pushups/pullups/core exercises/any other bodyweight exercise I can think up 4-5 days/week . The results: My weight has stabilized at 187 lbs (slightly less than pre-diabetes weight) while also managing to drop a couple pants sizes. I have tons of energy, especially compared to some of my type 2 diabetic relatives who always feel run-down due to their poor diets. (I?m trying to convert them, but no luck as of yet). And of course, combined with the omnipod insulin pump that I am now on (which I would strongly recommend to all insulin-dependent diabetics) I find it quite easy to tightly control my blood sugars (i.e. less than 100 AT ALL TIMES with very few hypoglycemic episodes, i.e. low blood sugar). And possibly the best part, my family/friends/coworkers are noticing these changes and starting to question their own diets and lifestyle habits?it?s like a contagious disease (the good kind)!
A few stats for the diabetics out there (or non-diabetics) who may be interested:
A1C ? September 2011=13.0 (newly diagnosed), January 2012=5.7 (pre-Primal), May 2012=5.4 (partially Primal), November 2012=?? (should be under 5).
Average total insulin use per day (bolus+basal)=13-14 units (doctor thinks I?m still in the honeymoon phase after 1 year. Possibly, but I think it?s more a result of my diet and fitness level.)
Cholesterol levels at diagnosis: HDL=35, LDL=90, Tri=sky high because of high BS. Next test in November, the real indicator of the effectiveness of my new lifestyle!
I look forward to a long and healthy life (in spite of the diabetes) as my Primal lifestyle continues to evolve, and hopefully I can get more people on board! Thanks for reading and I hope this can provide some motivation for the diabetics out there who may need a little extra motivation once in a while!
Grab The Primal Blueprint Cookbook Today and Receive Free S&H and a Free Primal Blueprint Poster
Pantech is known for producing budget Android smartphones that punch above their weight, and the Flex is no exception. Available now on AT&T for $50 with a two-year contract, it delivers a dual-core Snapdragon S4 -- the same chip that lurks within mightier phones such as the Galaxy S III and One X -- along with a qHD display and LTE connectivity. The phone certainly hits a number of the check boxes for value seekers, but there's something that makes the Flex very different from other smartphones on the market: it has a dual personality.
Folks, prepare for memories of At Ease, Microsoft Bob and Packard Bell Navigator to come rushing back. The Pantech Flex features a unique launcher known as Easy Experience, which caters to those who might find Ice Cream Sandwich overwhelming. Fortunately, there's also a standard launcher for experts. In that regard, the Flex is deserving of its name. Unlike most handsets on the market, it's targeting both broke college students and technophobes just the same. Of course, we're here to answer a greater question: is the Pantech Flex worthy of being your next smartphone? Join us after the break for the answer.
B efore she was organizing her days around ukulele lessons and booking gigs with her band, Liz McNicholl was a temp at Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, having recently moved to the United States from County Meath, Ireland.
It?s a surprising detail if you know McNicholl, a familiar face?and voice?to children and adults alike in the New Haven arts scene. Music seems so ingrained in every aspect of her life that it?s hard to imagine her doing something else.
But all stories start somewhere. For McNicholl, leaving her beloved Ireland in 1985 and coming to America was the ?once upon a time? introduction of what turned out to be something like a fairytale.
Her professional life in music began when she left the job at the medical center to spend more time with her young sons, scheduling shows at bars and other venues to earn a little extra money and quickly establishing herself as a respected musician.?Given the surplus of aspiring singer-songwriters in this country, that?s impressive enough. Things, however, were about to get better?and way busier?for McNicholl.
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She and her husband relocated their family to Connecticut where she took a job managing the Fairfield County office of Music Together, a program that offers musical education classes for young children all over the country. She attended a training session in order to better understand the organization?s philosophy, but it ended up affecting her much more deeply than that. Not only did she learn the benefits of teaching music to kids during early childhood, but she realized she wanted to do it herself.
?I called my husband and said, ?Okay, this is what I?m going to do forever,?? she remembers. Easier said than done, as all those who have uttered those same words know, but McNicholl meant it.
She began teaching classes, eventually taking over the New Haven Music Together program, which she?s since expanded to nearly 25 classes in the area, including in Woodbridge, Madison, Branford and Hamden, where she lives today, and managing six teachers beside herself while owning two teaching studios. Along the way, she established an umbrella entity called ?Musical Folk,? which encompasses an expansion into classes for older ages too.
The national Music Together program?now celebrating its 25th anniversary?proceeds from the simple premise that all children, even at very young ages, are musical; that they can learn to sing in tune and keep a beat, and Musical Folk carries that forward. But learning doesn?t happen in a vacuum.?Adult participation is key at the mixed-age, weekly classes; moms and dads are encouraged to participate?singing in rounds or dramatically dancing with colorful scarves while their children do the same.
?Parents are the biggest role models,? says McNicholl. While some children take part readily, singing loud and banging a drum, others may simply observe, tucking away that knowledge for later.
Indeed, McNicholl believes introducing music to the newborn-to-five-year-old set has lifelong benefits, and that while people often talk of ?talent,? music is truly a learned skill, applicable to the youngest among us. ?It?s as much their birthright as walking and talking,? she says.
Her enthusiasm is undoubtedly one of the reasons Music Together classes in the New Haven area fill up so quickly, meaning McNicholl is looking for even more teachers to add to the roster.
True to her personality, she?s busy but looking to do even more. She already teaches ukulele and guitar, and excitedly discusses expanding those classes and diversifying the instruction offered, perhaps adding violin. Plans for a children?s dance class and Music Together for children with developmental delays are in the works with some of her teachers, who McNicholl constantly credits for the business?s success.
In terms of access (classes can run $220 per semester, complete with CDs, a music book and other materials, costing less for returning families and siblings), ?I?d never turn away someone who wants to do this,? says McNicholl, who is considering starting a scholarship program.
Still, she makes time to return to her roots, playing solo and with her band, The Crickstones, at venues including The Playwright in Hamden and McLaughlin Vineyards in Sandy Hook. She?s released an album with the band and two on her own. She hasn?t written music for some time, but hopes that someday life will calm down enough for her to do it again.
?I never dreamed that I?d own my own business when I came to America,? she says, and then pauses, worried that she sounds overly sentimental. Which she doesn?t. ?People here take it for granted,? she adds, ?but if you put your mind to it, you can achieve it.?
Achieved it she has, although this fairytale is far from over. If life ever does calm down for McNicholl, it seems she?ll have plenty to sing about.
Musical Folk (203) 691-9759 | liz@musicalfolk.com www.musicalfolk.com
Written and photographed by Cara McDonough.
Tags: Cara McDonough, Liz McNicholl, music, music classes, music lessons, Music Together, Musical Folk, New Haven, The Crickstones
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday greeted the people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, wishing the festival would resolve to build a peaceful, harmonious, fraternal and progressive society.
In his message, the president said: "The festival of Eid-ul-Azha epitomizes the noble values of sacrifice, trust and forgiveness."
"Let us today remind ourselves of the spirit of sacrifice in the cause of goodness that alone can lead to peace and harmony. May this unique festival inspire us to sacrifice our selfish interests in the larger interest of the country as a whole," the president said.
Greeting the people, Ansari said: "The celebration of this festival reminds us of the cherished human values of compassion, sharing and sacrifice."
"On this joyous occasion, let us all firmly resolve to build a peaceful, harmonious, fraternal and progressive society," the vice president said.
In his message, prime minister said the festival celebrates the spirit of submission to the will of god.
"The festival reminds us of the importance of charity and sacrifice. On this occasion we should reaffirm our resolve to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood," he said.
"May Id-ul-Zuha this year usher in happiness and prosperity for all," he said in a statement.
Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated by Muslims across the globe in honour of Prophet Ibrahim, who was even willing to sacrifice his son Ismail to please Allah.
It will be celebrated across the country Saturday.
According to Muslim belief, Allah replaced Ismail with a sheep just as Ibrahim was about to slit his throat - hence the tradition of sacrificing an animal.
Blatnick was involved with the UFC from its early days. He was the commentator for UFC 4 through UFC 32, and as UFC commissioner was instrumental in the sport's evolution into the regulated sport we know today. He stuck with the sport as a well-respected judge.
Nick Lembo, the head of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, remembered Blatnick as key to the growth of MMA.
"Jeff will always be a crucial part of the formation and growth of MMA. He was a great judge and even refereed here. Far more than that, he was one of the best men I ever was graced with the pleasure of calling my friend," Lembo said to Cagewriter.
"I just spoke to him last week when he was appointed as a judge by the State of Washington Commission to officiate December 8 for the UFC on FOX Show," UFC vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner said via email. "Very sad. He was one of the pioneers of the sport and was there at the very beginning of MMA in 1993. He was involved in formulating the Unified Rules of MMA and was one of the top MMA judges in the world."
UFC president Dana White also remembered Blatnick by tweeting, "RIP Jeff Blatnick."
Before Blatnick started with MMA, he was a highly decorated wrestler. He qualified for the Olympic team in 1980, but didn't compete because of the boycott. In 1982, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. He fought back to make the Olympic team again, and Blatnick won Olympic gold in 1984. Though a return of cancer forced his retirement, he continued to support wrestling as a coach and commentator.
NuForce has just launched the NuForce S3-BT, a line of high-quality bookshelf speakers that tout Bluetooth 4.0 as one of its main selling points. Most Bluetooth speakers tend to pale in comparison to their analog counterparts, but NuForce is confident its apt-x and AAC codecs will provide CD-quality audio even to the most discerning audiophile. If you're unconvinced, NuForce has also included a set of analog inputs plus the company's own Air DAC wireless system for slightly higher quality audio streaming. The powered speakers have a 3.5-inch bass driver and a 1-inch tweeter each, and the woofer touts a proprietary anti-resonance cone. If you care about looks, the speakers are wrapped in either soft white or black leatherette. They aren't cheap -- a pair will cost you $300 -- but for attractive high-fidelity speakers that won't contribute to your home's existing nest of wires, it may well be worth it
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Public release date: 28-Oct-2012
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My name is Shawn and I am 28 years old. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a year ago. I haven?t seen many stories or articles related to diabetes on the MDA website so I thought I would share how going Primal has helped me take back control over my health and wellbeing.
Jeff Blatnick, a longtime figure in MMA as a judge, official and announcer,
