সোমবার, ৩১ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

Senators Trade Proposals Into Night To Avoid 'Fiscal Cliff'

The Washington Post:

Senate negotiators labored late into Saturday over a last-ditch plan to avert the "fiscal cliff," struggling to resolve key differences over how many wealthy households should face higher income taxes in the new year and how to tax inherited estates.

Read the whole story at The Washington Post

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/30/senators-trade-proposals-_n_2384120.html

nightline brady quinn brady quinn bloom box fat tuesday obama sweet home chicago accenture match play

Forestwood Featured in Houzz Article | Forestwood Antique Mall

First of all, if you haven?t heard of the iPhone app called Houzz, you better download it immediately (it?s free!). Houzz is the leading online platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish ? online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to get the design inspiration, project advice, product information and professional reviews they need to help turn ideas into reality.

Now onto our featured article?

A complete overhaul gives a 1940s colonial near Dallas an airy, romantic and feminine aesthetic. Craving a cozy retreat where they could raise their girls, Katie and Steve Aldrich chose this stunning home near Dallas. After they gutted the house and fixed up the exterior, Katie infused the interior with her signature simple and feminine style, accenting with family antiques. ?I just want to create a happy environment for our family,? she says. This included an antique mirror from yours truly, Forestwood Antique Mall. Just click the image below for the full article by Kara Weik on Houzz.com.

forestwood in Houzz

Source: http://forestwoodmall.com/forestwood-featured-in-houzz-article/

palmetto rob lowe sanctum the notebook duke basketball miranda july joe paterno near death

Israel allows gravel into Gaza for first time since Hamas takeover

The gravel shipment was part of the cease-fire deal brokered between Israel and Gaza last month, and may be followed with additional building materials.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi,?Reuters / December 30, 2012

An Israeli boy holds a fist full of gravel in 2010. For the first time since the cease-fire between Israel and Gaza, Israel is allowing gravel to be shipped to Gaza.

Baz Ratner/Reuters

Enlarge

Israel?eased its blockade of?Gaza?today, allowing a shipment of gravel for private construction into the Palestinian territory for the first time since?Hamas?seized control in 2007.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

A Palestinian official with knowledge of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that ended eight days of fighting last month between?Israel?and?Gaza?militants said the move had been expected as part of the deal.

"This is the first time gravel has been allowed into?Gaza?for the Palestinian private sector since the blockade," said?Raed Fattouh, the Palestinian official overseeing the shipment of 20 truckloads of the material.

Israel?tightened the blockade after?Hamas, an Islamist group that refuses to recognise the Jewish state, took power five years ago. But under international pressure,?Israel?began to ease the restrictions in 2010 and has allowed international aid agencies to import construction material.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Xj-kEA4DNFo/Israel-allows-gravel-into-Gaza-for-first-time-since-Hamas-takeover

Microsoft Surface Candy Crowley binders of women Alexis Wright presidential debates Felix Baumgartner Little Nemo

DIY Project Parade and DIY Highlights - DIY Show Off

Helloooo friends! It?s nearing the end of 2012. The past week has been filled with Christmas celebrations around here and little DIY. But last week?s DIY party had some great end of year DIY projects shared.

DIY Project Parade featured image

Here are a few DIY highlights?

You?ll want to tuck away a few of these holiday decorating ideas for next year. Lynda at Focal Point Styling shares her designs and inspiration?

holiday mood board

Red snowflake boots?{adorable!!!} at Creative Cain Cabin?

red snowflake boots

If you?re not getting the real thing like we are (a foot of snow and still falling), turn out a few of these beautiful 3D paper snowflakes shared by the Pin Junkie?

3D paper snowflakes

Christina shared a simmering potpourri recipe ? such a cute gift idea but I?m wanting to whip up a batch for our home too?

simmering potpourri recipe

Painting furniture is definitely on my 2013 DIY list of things to do. This beauty by The Velvet Glove is inspiring?

painted dresser

For 2013 gift giving. I?ve googled and attempted (and have been successful too) at some creative money origami ideas for gifts, but loving this creative money gift idea from Linda at Succulent Sisters?and hey, one size fits all!

money gift idea

an amazing kitchen makeover before and after at Running for Lemons?

kitchen makeover @Running for Lemons

a sweet gallery wall with hanging tips from Framed Frosting?

tips for hanging a gallery wall @Framed Frosting

and the last project linked up last week, was this awesome mini-mudroom reveal at The Diligent One?wow!

mini mudroom reveal @The Diligent One

Did you reflect and revisit your 2012 projects? I did?it always feels so good to see what was accomplished.

2012 DIY recap

?DIY projects

Now, let?s see what you?ve been up to! Feel free to link your best of 2012 posts as well!

DIY Show Off

{grab the html button code here}

1. Please use the button above or text and link to this post to share the linky love. Here is the link:?http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/diy-project-parade/. I?d love for you to share a link on your FB or by tweeting too if you have the time.?Thanks!

2. This blog linky party is for?DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted. Please share your link one week only.??Please do not link recipes, giveaways, linky parties, promotions or a collection of inspiration.?

3. By joining the party, you give permission for your project to be featured and ?shown off? via blog highlight, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, G+, etc.

DIY Project Parade:

Source: http://diyshowoff.com/2012/12/30/diy-project-parade-and-diy-highlights-4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=diy-project-parade-and-diy-highlights-4

nor easter nor easter ted nugent veep los angeles kings earth day timothy leary

canterbury travel: Education & Reference 2016: Petal the Owl

Buy on the merchant's online shopping and browse reviews. If you're attempting to search out Petal the Owl Colours with special deals. This is the simplest price for you. Where you'll find these item is by online looking stores? Read the review on Petal the Owl Colours Now, it's the simplest value. Therefore do not lose it.

Petal the
Petal the Owl Colours
Joy Findlay (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars(3)

Download: $1.99 (as of 12/25/2012 14:14 PST)

Education & Reference

Petal the Owl Colours is a sweet little ebook following Petal the nature owl, as she learns about colours around her. It is a great little first reader ebook for young ones learning their basics. Colours cover Brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink and white. Ages 3-6.

  • Rank: #1521 in eBooks
  • Published on: 2012-05-04
  • Released on: 2012-05-04
  • Format: Kindle eBook
  • Number of items: 1

Source: http://educationreference234.blogspot.com/2012/12/petal-owl-colours.html

brian van gorder blazing saddles lsu alabama lsu game lsu game beezow doo doo zopittybop bop bop cordova

Source: http://alfields3385.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/education-reference-2016-petal-the-owl-colours.html

andrew luck trent richardson robert griffin iii dontari poe space shuttle nyc monkeypox nick perry

Source: http://bethpontiff.posterous.com/education-reference-2016-petal-the-owl-colour

Frys tryptophan BestBuy.com Kohls Black Friday www.walmart.com Macho Camacho Rise of the Guardians

Source: http://canterbury-travel.blogspot.com/2012/12/education-reference-2016-petal-owl.html

wall street journal us map Electoral Map concede Obama Acceptance Speech Prop 30 Election 2012

Source: http://glenntellis.blogspot.com/2012/12/canterbury-travel-education-reference.html

grammy winners obama budget woolly mammoth belize resorts nikki minaj grammy performance shel silverstein niki minaj grammy performance

Source: http://nialong254.blogspot.com/2012/12/canterbury-travel-education-reference.html

Demi Lovato iOS 6 Features big brother Shakira chick fil a chick fil a iOS 6

রবিবার, ৩০ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

Obama: Congressional leaders may avoid cliff dive

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is urging Congress to reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, saying the nation "can't afford a politically self-inflicted wound to our economy."

Obama says in Saturday's radio and Internet address that he believes leaders in Congress may be able to reach an agreement that can pass both houses before taxes rise and spending cuts take effect at the end of the year.

He urges "Washington politics" to not get in the way of "America's progress."

In the Republican address, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt says "inaction shouldn't be an option" and the nation can avoid going over the fiscal cliff if Obama and the Democratic-controlled Senate work with Republicans to solve the problem.

___

Online:

Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov

GOP address: www.youtube.com/gopweeklyaddress

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-congressional-leaders-may-avoid-cliff-dive-182633728--politics.html

danielle fishel aaron rodgers FedEx Gabriel Aubry halle berry notre dame notre dame football

Hornets extend Bobcats' skid to 18 games

Charlotte Bobcats' Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) shoots over New Orleans Hornets' Anthony Davis (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Charlotte Bobcats' Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) shoots over New Orleans Hornets' Anthony Davis (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Charlotte Bobcats' Gerald Henderson, left, and New Orleans Hornets' Austin Rivers, right, chase a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. Charlotte Bobcats' Bismack Biyombo (0) looks on in background. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

(AP) ? Eric Gordon made his return to the lineup Saturday night. And for the better part of 24 minutes, he looked as if he'd never been away.

Gordon had 24 points and seven assists, helping the New Orleans Hornets overcome a 21-point first-half deficit and extend the Charlotte Bobcats' losing streak to 18 games with a 98-95 victory Saturday night.

The Bobcats are one game away from a winless December. They haven't won since Nov. 24 and are closing in on their franchise-record 23-game losing streak to close the 2011-12 season.

Gordon, who hadn't played since April 22 following arthroscopic right knee surgery, was 5 of 13 from the field and 12 of 14 from the free throw line. He had two steals and two turnovers.

"I felt pretty good, I was kind of surprised," Gordon said. "Now I'm just going to try to get better and better from here. I wouldn't have had a chance to help this team earlier with my knee, but I'm glad everything is working out now."

Ryan Anderson had 19 points and made a pair of 3-pointers in the final period as the Hornets won for the second time in three games.

Anderson was all smiles after the game.

"I haven't had open looks like that in quite a while," he said.

On a late possession, Gordon drove the lane drawing attention from defenders and passed the ball outside where Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer to push New Orleans' lead to six.

Roger Mason, who had all 13 points in the second half, added another 3-pointer on the next possession because of the attention the Bobcats were paying to Gordon.

Anderson said those are the tough moments defenders will be forced to contend with when they face the Hornets the rest of the way.

"He's a special player," Anderson said of Gordon. "There are not a lot of guys like him in the NBA. He hasn't quit warmed up to be 100 percent comfortable yet with this group on the court, but to come out and take over like that, that is the mark of a special player."

Hornets coach Monty Williams said he didn't expect that type of production from Gordon in his first game back.

"I certainly thought he would be able to help guys and make guys better," Williams said. "But I didn't think he'd score 24 points. His defense will get better the more he gets in shape."

The Bobcats had two chances to tie the game after the Hornets threw the ball away with 11 seconds left, but Ben Gordon and Ramon Sessions both missed 3-pointers in the closing seconds.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 22 points and nine rebounds and Gerald Henderson added 19 points for the Bobcats.

Kidd-Gilchrist outplayed former Kentucky teammate Anthony Davis in the first half, scoring 18 points on 9 of 11 shooting.

"I had it going a little bit," Kidd-Gilchrist said. "That's going against my best friend, so of course it's special."

But the No. 2 overall pick left the game near the end of the first half after scratching the cornea in his right eye while diving for a loose ball.

He returned in the third quarter wearing protective goggles, but wasn't the same looking a little tentative and less aggressive. He had only four points in limited action in the second half.

"The thing with MKG that is incredible, and typical, is that he just played through it," Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap said. "He's a competitor and he gave us what we had and that was just sure willpower. Pretty incredible."

The Bobcats came in having lost 17 straight games, and the Hornets had lost 12 of their past 13 entering the game.

Charlotte jumped on the visitors early.

The Hornets led by as many as 21 in the second quarter before the Hornets stormed back to tie the game entering the final period behind nine third-quarter points from Greivis Vasquez and seven from Gordon.

New Orleans finally took the lead with 5:47 left when Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Hornets. Gordon followed with another 3-pointer on the next possession and they'd never give up the lead.

It was a dramatic shift of momentum after the Bobcats dominated the first half. Charlotte shot 64 percent from the field in the first half and took a 57-40 lead at the break, outscoring the Hornets 21-0 on fast breaks and 38-16 in the paint.

"We stopped being as aggressive in the second half as the first," Kidd-Gilchrist said. "We weren't attacking."

As for the losing streak, Dunlap said "eventually we are our own solution. We can't look external."

NOTE: Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap picked up his first technical foul of the season for arguing a call during the third quarter. ... Hakim Warrick had his first double-double for the Bobcats with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-29-Hornets-Bobcats/id-5f42fff82dad43c9be7644f726eed66f

nfl standings Vicki Soto Adam Lanza hillary clinton fox news obama cnbc

The Importance of Customer Service Surveys for Call Center ...

We?ve recently surveyed our customers to see if our call center services were meeting their expectations.?? I?ve found to provide excellent customer service?it?s best to proactively obtain information from our customers whether the their input is complimentary or expresses concerns about our service.

A customer satisfaction survey is an important component of any relationship.? It shows

The a-okay sign that shows the importance of a customer satisfaction survey in a call center. image

Customer Satisfaction!

that you value your customer and the experience provided to them.? ?Ehow.com article states: Although many businesses are quick to placate customers who voice complaints, a business that pre-emptively strives to satisfy the customer makes an even better impression. This consideration of the customer?s opinions can foster loyalty in the long run and translate to repeat sales.

In another article it describes: A customer satisfaction survey is a very important tool that can provide benefits for businesses of every size. Surveys can assist business decision-makers in developing strategies to achieve the all-important goal of gaining and retaining customers. Results can play a key role in identifying areas of the business that require corrective action and improvement. Surveys can also identify areas that can be leveraged to achieve business growth and expansion.

As I stated in an earlier blog on the customer experience: Customer impact is worth?s its weight on gold.? Usually, the first impression is a lasting one, so we need to make very impression count.?

Whether a customer is paying for call center,? telephone answering service or other services, we believe it?s our responsibility to provide nothing less than what they pay for!? Customer satisfaction surveys help us gain our customers prospective of our service, while helping us to find what?s?working and what?s?not working in delivering services that will meet or exceed?our customers? expectations.

Comments

comments

?

Cheryl L. LaBaw recently joined Sound Telecom as Director of Customer Relations. She is responsible for maintaining a high standard of service quality through ongoing monitoring and coaching of our call center agents. Cheryl also assists with marketing and social media. Prior to her arrival at Sound Telecom, Cheryl invested over 31 years in the customer care and service areas with United Airlines. She brings a wealth of knowledge and ideas from her experiences there in addition to working over 13 years in their call center. Cheryl?s skills in conflict resolution and customer satisfaction make her an excellent addition to the management team. As a Flight Attendant and Safety Professional she provided a more personal touch to customer concerns and safety issues. Mrs. LaBaw is passionate about health issues and has served her community by volunteering at Swedish Medical Center for three years in the Community Health Education Department. She also supports various youth organizations and child health and welfare organizations.

Source: http://www.sound-tele.com/blog/the-importance-of-customer-service-surveys-for-call-center-outsourcing

jennie garth space needle nashville predators king arthur king arthur there will be blood there will be blood

শনিবার, ২৯ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

McCartney, 'God particle' scientist get honors

(AP) ? Stella McCartney, who designed the uniforms worn by Britain's record-smashing Olympic team, and Scottish physicist Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the so-called "God particle," are among the hundreds being honored by Queen Elizabeth II this New Year.

The list is particularly heavy with Britain's Olympic heroes, but it also includes "Star Wars" actor Ewan McGregor, eccentric English singer Kate Bush, Roald Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake, and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the royal aide who helped organize the watched-around-the-world wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.

McCartney was honored with the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, in part for her work creating the skintight, red-white-and-blue uniforms worn by British athletes as they grabbed 65 medals during the 2012 games hosted by London. McCartney is the designer daughter of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his first wife Linda, and she has moved to make the family name almost as synonymous with fashion as it is with music, setting up a successful business and a critically-acclaimed label.

Higgs' achievements, which made him a Companion of Honor, touch on the nature and the origins of the universe. The 83-year-old researcher's work in theoretical physics sought to explain what gives things weight. He said it was while walking through the Scottish mountains that he hit upon the concept of what would later become known as the Higgs boson, an elusive subatomic particle that gives objects mass and combines with gravity to give them weight.

For decades, the existence of such a particle remained just a theory, but earlier this year scientists working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, said they'd found compelling evidence that the Higgs boson was out there. Or in there. Or whatever.

All of Britain's gold medalists from this year's games were on the list, with cyclist Bradley Wiggins and sailor Ben Ainslie honored with knighthoods. Sebastian Coe, who masterminded the games as chairman of the London organizing committee, was made a Companion of Honor ? a prestigious title also awarded to Higgs.

Honors lists typically include a sprinkling of star power, and this year was no different. Ewan McGregor, who came to public attention through his role as the heroin-addled anti-hero of British drug drama "Trainspotting," was awarded an OBE. The 41-year-old actor is also known for his turn as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the "Star Wars" prequels.

"Babooshka" singer Kate Bush said she was delighted to be made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE, for a musical career which has resulted in a string of quirky hits including "Wuthering Heights," ''Cloudbusting," and "Man With The Child In His Eyes."

Other art world honorees included artist Tracey Emin and Quentin Blake, whose spiky, exuberant illustrations are best known through the work of his collaborator Roald Dahl.

Politicians, policemen, and spies got honors too. Scotland Yard chief Bernard Hogan-Howe was awarded a knighthood; former British foreign minister Margaret Beckett was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie was made a CBE for her charity work. MI5 chief Jonathan Evans was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Bath.

Also honored was the man credited with helping pull off the wedding of the decade: Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, principal private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (as Prince William and his wife are formally known) was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.

Britain's honors are bestowed twice a year by the monarch, at New Year's and on her official birthday in June. Although the queen does pick out some lesser honors herself, the vast majority of recipients are selected by government committees from nominations made by officials and members of the public.

In descending order, the honors are knighthoods, CBE, OBE, and MBE ? Member of the Order of the British Empire. Knights are addressed as "sir" or "dame." Recipients of the other honors, such as the Order of the Companions of Honor given to Higgs and Coe or the Royal Victorian Order personally picked out by the queen, receive no title but can put the letters after their names.

The New Year's honors carried the usual batch of courtiers ? even the royal household's switchboard operator got a medal ? as well as senior civil servants, soldiers, charity executives, successful entrepreneurs, established academics, volunteers, and community workers. Some of the more eclectic honors included the OBE handed to card game columnist Andrew Michael Robson "for services to the game of Bridge," and OBE given to river conservationist Andrew Douglas-Home "for services to Fishing."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-29-Britain-Honors/id-43da1f34f4bd49b08f6020e4a57dad58

secret service fenway park coachella philadelphia flyers 4/20 student loan forgiveness ufc 145 weigh ins

Wikimedia Foundation Raises $25M In Donations Over 9 Days

Image (1) wikimedia_logo.png for post 10602Wikimedia Foundation announced today that it raised $25 million from more than 1.2 million donors during its 2012 fundraiser, which ran on English-language Wikipedia in five countries (the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand) for nine full days, a decrease in time from Wikipedia's 2011 fundraiser, which was 46 days and raised $20 million. Another donation drive will be launched in April.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Wf6pWR-yH78/

sons of anarchy adriana lima victoria secret fashion show SEC Championship Rick Majerus Cotto vs Trout Robin Givens

John-Manuel Andriote: Don't Be Angry at Spencer Cox; Be Angry at the Stigma That Pushes Gay Men Into Drugs and Unsafe Sex

Bob Hattoy, the late and hilariously funny environmental activist and friend of President Bill Clinton, used to crack us up at friends' gatherings in Washington, D.C., with his quip, "I used to be a legend. Now I'm a cautionary tale."

In 1992 Hattoy became the first openly gay man living with HIV/AIDS to address the Democratic National Convention. "I am a gay man," he told the convention, "and I have AIDS."

Hattoy succumbed to AIDS-related complications on March 4, 2007, at age 56. The New York Times obituary quoted AIDS activist Michael Petrelis as saying, "Bob Hattoy gave people with AIDS and gays in America hope with that [1992] speech."

On Dec. 18, 2012, another gay man who was something of a legend among AIDS activists also became a cautionary tale. Spencer Cox, age 44, died from advanced untreated HIV disease -- also known as AIDS - -after two decades of helping lead the charge against the epidemic that continues to ravage the lives of far too many gay men.

Cox became a leader in the fight against AIDS, joining ACT UP in New York in 1989 and co-founding the Treatment Action Group (TAG) to work with scientists in advancing the development of medical treatments for HIV.

"It's a great loss," said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). "He was part of a historic group of people."

Mark Harrington, another legendary AIDS activist and the co-founder and executive director of TAG, told The New York Times that Cox had struggled with an addiction to crystal meth -- and had apparently stopped taking his HIV medication. "He saved the lives of millions," said Harrington, "but he couldn't save his own."

In his 1992 speech Bob Hattoy quoted Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

It's high time for gay America finally to end the silence and speak out boldly about the plague of crystal meth addiction and abuse in our community that contributed to Spencer Cox's death -- and continues to destroy the lives of so many others. I have reported on it and have personally seen it destroy the careers, relationships and sanity of more than a few gay men.

But it's completely backwards to be angry at Cox, or anyone else, for inflicting such harm on themselves. Addiction is brutal, and beating people up for being addicted and harming themselves does nothing but reinforce the reasons that gay men turn to drugs and risk their lives to have unprotected sex with strangers of uncertain HIV status.

If we want to address the destruction of crystal meth and reckless sex in our community, we need to talk honestly about the reasons these things seem so appealing in the first place. Simply put, they offer vulnerable men the chance to anesthetize the pain of being gay and, for those of us living with HIV, the rejection and stigma we experience from other gay men.

Even in 2012 it is damned hard to be a gay man in America. For all the progress we've made toward almost being treated as equal, there continue to be daily challenges -- particularly for those of us who haven't constructed our lives in a way to exclude others who aren't gay. The ghetto might provide a sense of security, but it's not so different from the altered reality provided by drugs. Leave the safety of that segregation, come down from the trip, and reality can bite. Hard.

Being "openly gay" is a whole different experience for those of us who live in smaller towns and cities, surrounded by married heterosexuals and their children, possibly by our own family of origin. It's hard to be constantly reminded that you are "different," as most of us know from our childhoods.

And for anyone who believes the stigma of HIV among gay men is a thing of the past, I have news for you.

Take a look some time, if you don't secretly already, at the profiles on Manhunt, Adam4Adam or Craigslist. The code words "clean" and "DDF" (drug and disease-free) pop up everywhere. They don't need to spell it out to make it clear that these men consider those of us with HIV to be "unclean" and most certainly unworthy of their consideration. Ironically, of course, these men betray their delusional belief that strangers online actually know and will be truthful about their current HIV status in the heat of the sexual chase.

Too many gay men's lives have ended too soon because of the silence in our community about crystal meth addiction and the high-risk sex that tends to go hand in hand with it.

But instead of being angry at men like Spencer Cox for their self-destructive behavior, how about directing our anger where it really belongs: at the shame and stigma that is forced on us from both non-gay people and from other gay men?

In closing his 1992 speech, Bob Hattoy said, "We have hope. Hope gives me the chance of life." If we will commit ourselves to supporting one another's sense of hope, to building up instead of putting down, then just maybe we will see a reduction in the depression, despair, drug abuse and new HIV infections among gay men.

?

Follow John-Manuel Andriote on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JMAndriote

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johnmanuel-andriote/spencer-cox-drugs-unsafe-sex_b_2372282.html

us news law school rankings gael glen rice jr bars lindzi cox bachelor finale courtney robertson

US sailors sue Japan's TEPCO for post-quake radiation exposure ...

Nicholas A. Groesch / Reuters file

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan wash down the flight deck to remove potential radiation contamination while operating off the coast of Japan providing humanitarian assistance in support of Operation Tomodachi on March 22, 2011.

By Kari Huus, NBC News

A group of U.S. Navy personnel involved in the humanitarian effort after Japan's March 2011 earthquake and tsunami have filed a lawsuit against the Tokyo Electric Power Co. for more than $200 million?in compensation, punitive damages and future medical costs for exposure to radiation that leaked from the damaged Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant at the time.

The plaintiffs include eight troops serving on the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier ? one of whom was pregnant at the time of the alleged exposure ??and her?daughter.

They charge that the utility, known as TEPCO, "knowingly and negligently caused, permitted and allowed misleading information concerning the true condition of the (plant) to be disseminated to the public, including the U.S. Navy Department," according to the complaint filed on Dec. 21 in a U.S. federal court in San Diego.


?The plaintiffs are suffering a variety of symptoms that attorney Paul Garner says were caused by the exposure, including rectal bleeding, thyroid problems and?persistent migraine headaches, and all face an increased chance of developing cancer and requiring expensive medical procedures.

The U.S. carrier was positioned just offshore from the damaged Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, which and suffered a meltdown which triggered?the release of high levels of radiation into the air and water.

"The carrier was less than two football fields away from the Fukushima Daiichi when it released a cloud of radiation," said Garner, speaking to NBC News on Thursday.

He said the crew was unknowingly exposed to high levels of radiation in numerous ways, including when they cleared the carrier's decks of snow that was contaminated, and washed down the helicopters with sea water that was contaminated.

Archival video: Of all the aftershocks that could hit Japan, nothing frightens the world more than the possibility of a devastating nuclear disaster. NBC's Anne Thompson.

The complaint said that by relying on misrepresentations about the situation by TEPCO, the U.S. Navy was "lulled into a false sense of security," believing it was "safe to operate with the waters adjacent to the FNPP, without doing research and testing that would have revealed the problems."

It goes on to charge that through its conduct, TEPCO "rendered the Plaintiffs infirm and poisoned their bodies. The Plaintiffs must now endure a lifetime of radiation poisoning and suffering which could have and should have been avoided."

Archival video: Damon Moglen of Friends of the Earth discusses the potential dangers that still loom in Japan following an explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility.

The suit is seeking $10 million in damages for each plaintiff, plus?$30 million in punitive damages and a judgment requiring TEPCO to create $100 million fund to pay for their medical costs, including monitoring and treatments.

TEPCO could not immediately be reached for comment by NBC News.

A TEPCO spokesman reached by?The Japan Times?said the company had not yet received the complaint.

"We will consider a response after examining the claim," said Yusuke Kunikage, according to the Times.

Since the disaster, TEPCO has operated a fund to compensate victims in Japan.

Garner said that he didn't believe his clients would get justice through the Japanese system, which is why the suit was filed in a U.S. court. The complaint was served to TEPCO's office in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, he said.

"We need the U.S. justice system to make this right," Garner said.

?More world stories from NBC News:

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Follow Kari Huus on Facebook

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/27/16197507-us-sailors-sue-japans-tepco-for-post-quake-radiation-exposure?lite

december 21 2012 norad 12/21/12 bruno mars winter solstice Jabari Parker 2012

56% of female university students get drunk in record time, Spanish study suggests

Dec. 28, 2012 ? Researchers from the HealthyFit group at the University of Vigo have studied university students' lifestyles; their analysis, which includes alcohol and illegal drug consumption habits, sport and food, concludes that most students indulge in unhealthy behaviour. One of the main results of the study points to the high consumption of alcohol.

"The amount drunk per unit of time is higher among women. In other words, even though male students drink more often, females do so more intensively in shorter periods of time, which is known as binge drinking," explained Jos? M? Cancela Carral, co-author of the study published by the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Researchers randomly selected 985 students from different degree courses and in different years at the University of Vigo.

Of the females interviewed, 51.2% lead a sedentary lifestyle, while the percentage in males is 41.7%. When analysing students who maintain an appropriate level of physical activity, 38.6% of males do physical exercise, as opposed to only 20.9% of women.

"We were also surprised by the high consumption of illegal drugs among university students -- 44.9% of men and 30.9% of women -- which we understand could lead to significant future health problems, mainly related to the nervous system," underlined the researcher.

Anomalous attitudes to food were more evident among women (16.6%), although also present among men (8.8%). "However, the statistical analysis showed that this parameter depended on the degree the student was studying for," added Cancela. Such attitudes were much more common among those studying degrees related to education (19.2%) than among those studying courses related to health (6.3%).

Health network

Spanish universities set up a Healthy University Network in 2008, a project for healthy living for universities from all over Spain, the Spanish University Rectors' Association, the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and some regional public health entities.

In the researcher's opinion, at many universities this network was nothing more than "a simple first step to get on the list and nothing else"; hence transversal content should be implemented in study plans related to food, physical exercise and healthy habits.

"In the light of the results, training and information courses are required in these areas, together with healthy leisure -- not just sports facilities -- to set up university guidance services for a healthy student lifestyle," concludes Cancela.

Genetic predisposition

A recent study published in the PNAS journal argues that the gene called RASGRF2 could be related to a predisposition to getting drunk.

According to scientists, this gene regulates the predisposition to drink excessive amounts of alcohol as it influences mesolimbic dopamine neuron activity, which is one of the ways dopamine is taken from one region of the brain to another.

Gunter Schumann, one of the main authors of the study, explained that even though we should not consider said gene to be the main cause -- as there are many environmental factors and other genes involved -- the study thereof helps to explain why some people are more vulnerable to alcohol than others.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:


Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Plataforma SINC, via AlphaGalileo.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal References:

  1. Ver?nica Varela-Mato, Jos? M. Cancela, Carlos Ayan, Vicente Mart?n, Antonio Molina. Lifestyle and Health among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2012; 9 (8): 2728 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph9082728
  2. D. Stacey, A. Bilbao, M. Maroteaux, T. Jia, A. C. Easton, S. Longueville, C. Nymberg, T. Banaschewski, G. J. Barker, C. Buchel, F. Carvalho, P. J. Conrod, S. Desrivieres, M. Fauth-Buhler, A. Fernandez-Medarde, H. Flor, J. Gallinat, H. Garavan, A. L. W. Bokde, A. Heinz, B. Ittermann, M. Lathrop, C. Lawrence, E. Loth, A. Lourdusamy, K. F. Mann, J.-L. Martinot, F. Nees, M. Palkovits, T. Paus, Z. Pausova, M. Rietschel, B. Ruggeri, E. Santos, M. N. Smolka, O. Staehlin, M.-R. Jarvelin, P. Elliott, W. H. Sommer, M. Mameli, C. P. Muller, R. Spanagel, J.-A. Girault, G. Schumann. RASGRF2 regulates alcohol-induced reinforcement by influencing mesolimbic dopamine neuron activity and dopamine release. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; 109 (51): 21128 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1211844110

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/JCkJkf4_4pY/121228084029.htm

oaksterdam the fray national anthem dallas tornado ncaa basketball oikos kentucky wildcats oakland school shooting

YouTube Deletes Billions of Video Views Faked By Music Industry ...

YouTube

According to the tech site Tom?s Guide,YouTube has deleted more than 2 billion fake video views from the channels of Universal, Sony, and RCA. The decision apparently was made when?YouTube discovered that the companies were using view-building services from sites such as Fiverr to create video views that never existed.

Sony/BMG was hit especially hard as their total views plummted from more than ?850 million to just 2.3 million. RCA?s total views declined by 159 million views to a total of 120 million, while Universal lost more than 1 billion views and now has slightly less than 6 billion views.?Google confirmed that the companies violated its terms of services, which prohibits users from artificially inflating?video views. Google noted that the view stripping was an enforcement of its view count policy.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Source: http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2012/12/28/youtube-deletes-billions-of-video-views-faked-by-music-industry/

black forest

Modern society: children first?: Voice of Russia

Well, I think from the children?s rights perspective one of the biggest problems that children face is being recognized as individual human beings with rights. And I think one of the biggest challenges faced by children is actually being recognized as members of society, and having been recognized as members of society, that society is actually making provision for them in terms of meeting their needs. And of course within the current economic climate those needs for particular sections of children society become particularly acute.

One of the biggest problems is that there are too many areas of society which don?t recognize the need to put children?s best interests at the forefront of thinking, plus considering parents arguing about children or courts considering whether the state should take children into care put children?s interests at the very forefront of their thinking. More generally, I think that government departments and educational bodies often don?t. So, rather than putting children rights at the forefront to meeting their needs, those needs tend to blend into the background and get substituted by adopt concerns.

I think the difficulty with the economic situation is that of course governments have less money to spend and that means that children are impacted in the sense that the services they need and the services particularly vulnerable children need tend to be the first to fall away. And in that respect I think the thinking is quite short term because it is by pushing in service provisions of those vulnerable children that really governments can save money down the line in terms of healthcare, criminal justice and another such costs.

And I think the problem is that children are easy to forget when one is cutting services and cutting costs because of course they are not normally able to stand up and protest that fact. Children are not, generally speaking, a voting block. They don?t generally have a voice within the democratic process and therefore governments, perhaps not deliberately, but in any event tend not to listen to children as a political force. And in those circumstances, if you don?t have adults who are standing up and fighting for children and their interests and their rights, then those rights and interests tend to get forgotten, particularly in times of economic austerity.

I think we already have the laws that we need, and in particular we have a treaty ? the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ? which in fact all countries but two in the world have signed up to. And article 12 of that convention requires that states and state organizations listen to children and take account of what they say. And what is really required I think, fundamentally, to get round these issues is a proper implementation in each of the countries of that UN Convention.

I?m not really an expert on child poverty but I can speak from what I see on a day-to-day basis in cases in which I?m involved in in court. And I think that firstly, child poverty and children?s interests more generally are being affected by the current economic climate. I think that measures of austerity are making services less available, meaning that children?s needs are going unmet. And I think from my perspective, certainly what I see on the ground, I would say very little progress is being made, both in respect of eradicating child poverty and in respect of effectively meeting the needs of vulnerable children.

As understand it, certainly our Government has performed in a manifest a commitment to reduce child poverty. But like all political manifests, they are often the victims of events and circumstances. And certainly, I think the current economic climate has made it much more difficult for the government to meet its targets when it is compelled to cut out for reasons of austerity the very services that will assist in hitting the target. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been signed up to by each of the member states of the EU and the European Convention on Human Rights has to be read and interpreted in accordance with the UN Convention.

So, all members of the EU, all those member states should be applying the UN Convention on children?s rights and should be interpreting, both the European Convention and their domestic laws in accordance with that Convention. And I know that many, if not all states, make efforts to do that. The extent to which those efforts are successful is inevitably bound up with the resources that can be applied to that end. I think it is the overarching law, if you like, it is the one that should guarantee that children?s rights are treated consistently across the member states of the EU, including the UK.

Now, each state will have its own laws that hopefully advance children?s welfare and children?s rights but all those laws need to be viewed and applied in a context of the UN Convention which hopefully provides consistency and rigor in relation to each of the state?s domestic laws. I think it is the question really of not having new laws. We?ve got I think quite enough laws aimed at guaranteeing children?s welfare and children?s rights. I think it is about effectively implementing those laws on a consistent basis.

And the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child publishes in think by annual basis its views about how countries are doing with implementation. And certainly the Committee on a regular basis criticizes all the countries in the EU for not effectively and not fully enough implementing the UN Convention. So, governments need to be working harder and more rigorously at actually making sure the Convention is applied in a way that affects and improves the lives of individual children on a day-to-day basis.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child requires those who are signed up to the Convention to report, I think on a five year basis, on how they are doing in terms of implementing the Convention. And when those reports are considered, then the Committee makes recommendations to the state in question as to how they can tighten up and improve their implementation of the Convention.

As matter stands, children cannot take a case, if you like, to the UN and argue it, although there is now a new protocol to the Convention for states also to sign up to which will allow children to actually make complaints to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child about breaches of Convention in their own particular cases.

Source: http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_12_27/Modern-society-children-first/

raffi torres michael mcdonald jon jones vs rashad evans earth day 2012 jon jones rashad evans ufc jones vs evans watergate

শুক্রবার, ২৮ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২

Indian gang-rape victim dies in Singapore hospital

FILE - In this Dec. 26, 2012 file photo, Indians participate in a candle light vigil to seek a quick recovery of the young victim of the recent brutal gang-rape in a bus in New Delhi, India. A statement by Singapore?s Mount Elizabeth hospital, where the 23-year-old victim was being treated, said she died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 26, 2012 file photo, Indians participate in a candle light vigil to seek a quick recovery of the young victim of the recent brutal gang-rape in a bus in New Delhi, India. A statement by Singapore?s Mount Elizabeth hospital, where the 23-year-old victim was being treated, said she died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das, File)

A police hearse leaves Mount Elizabeth Hospital on Saturday Dec. 29, 2012 in Singapore. A young Indian woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at the hospital, after her horrific ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection from sexual violence that impacts thousands of women daily, in homes, streets and public transport, but which often goes unreported. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, T.C.A. Raghavan speaks to reporters about the death of a young Indian woman who was gang raped, at Mount Elizabeth Hospital late on Saturday Dec. 29, 2012 in Singapore. The woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at the hospital, after her horrific ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection from sexual violence that impacts thousands of women daily, in homes, streets and public transport, but which often goes unreported. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, T.C.A. Raghavan speaks to reporters about the death of a young Indian woman who was gang raped, at Mount Elizabeth Hospital late on Saturday Dec. 29, 2012 in Singapore. The woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at the hospital, after her horrific ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection from sexual violence that impacts thousands of women daily, in homes, streets and public transport, but which often goes unreported. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, T.C.A. Raghavan speaks to reporters about the death of a young Indian woman who was gang raped, at Mount Elizabeth Hospital late on Saturday Dec. 29, 2012 in Singapore. The woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at the hospital, after her horrific ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection from sexual violence that impacts thousands of women daily, in homes, streets and public transport, but which often goes unreported. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

SINGAPORE (AP) ? An Indian woman who was gang-raped and beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at a Singapore hospital, after her ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence that impacts thousands of them every day.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was aware of the emotions the attack has stirred and that it was up to all Indians to ensure that the young woman's death will not have been in vain.

The victim "passed away peacefully" with her family and officials of the Indian Embassy by her side, Dr. Kevin Loh, the chief executive of Mount Elizabeth hospital, said in a statement.

After 10 days at a hospital in New Delhi, the Indian capital, the woman was brought Thursday to Mount Elizabeth hospital, which specializes in multi-organ transplants. Loh said the woman had been in extremely critical condition since Thursday, and by late Friday her condition had taken a turn for the worse, with her vital signs deteriorating.

"Despite all efforts by a team of eight specialists in Mount Elizabeth Hospital to keep her stable, her condition continued to deteriorate over these two days," Loh said. "She had suffered from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain. She was courageous in fighting for her life for so long against the odds but the trauma to her body was too severe for her to overcome."

The woman and a male friend, who have not been identified, were traveling on a bus in New Delhi after watching a film on the evening of Dec. 16 when they were attacked by six men who raped her. The men also beat the couple and inserted an iron rod into the woman's body, resulting in severe organ damage. Both were then stripped and thrown off the bus, according to police.

Indian police have arrested six people in connection with the attack, which left the victim with severe internal injuries, a lung infection and brain damage. She also suffered from a heart attack while in the hospital in India.

Indian High Commissioner, or ambassador, T.C.A. Raghavan told reporters that the scale of the injuries the woman suffered was "very grave" and in the end "proved too much."

He said arrangements were being made to take her body back to India.

The frightening nature of the crime shocked Indians, who have come out in the thousands for almost daily demonstrations. Indian television channels said security had been tightened in New Delhi on Saturday in anticipation of more protests following the woman's death.

The protesters are demanding stronger protection for women and the death penalty for rape, which is now punishable by a maximum of life imprisonment. Women face daily harassment across India, ranging from catcalls on the streets, groping and touching in public transport to rape.

Singh said he understands the angry reaction to the attack and hopes all Indians will work together to make appropriate changes.

"These are perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change," the prime minister said in a statement. "It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channel these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action."

He said the government was examining the penalties for crimes such as rape "to enhance the safety and security of women."

"I hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agendas to help us all reach the end that we all desire ? making India a demonstrably better and safer place for women to live in," Singh said.

The tragedy has forced India to confront the reality that sexually assaulted women are often blamed for the crime, which forces them to keep quiet and not report it to authorities for fear of exposing their families to ridicule. Also, police often refuse to accept complaints from those who are courageous enough to report the rapes, and the rare prosecutions that reach courts drag on for years.

Indian attitudes toward rape are so entrenched that even politicians and opinion makers have often suggested that women should not go out at night or wear clothes that might be seen provocative.

On Friday, Abhijit Mukherjee, a national lawmaker and the son of India's president, apologized for calling the protesters "highly dented and painted" women who go from discos to demonstrations.

"I tender my unconditional apology to all the people whose sentiments got hurt," he told NDTV news.

Separately, authorities in Punjab state took action Thursday when an 18-year-old woman killed herself by drinking poison a month after she told police she was gang-raped.

State authorities suspended one police officer and fired two others on accusations they delayed investigating and taking action in the case. The three accused in the rape were only arrested Thursday night, a month after the crime was reported.

"This is a very sensitive crime, I have taken it very seriously," said Paramjit Singh Gill, a top police officer in the city of Patiala.

The Press Trust of India reported that the woman was raped Nov. 13 and reported the attack to police Nov. 27. But police harassed the girl, asked her embarrassing questions and took no action against the accused, PTI reported, citing police sources.

Authorities in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh also suspended a police officer on accusations he refused to register a rape complaint from a woman who said she had been attacked by a driver.

___

Associated Press writers Faris Mokhtar and Ravi Nessman in New Delhi contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-28-Singapore-India-Gang%20Rape/id-c3dd46fdc9bc4bcfa6c5f1229129fe0a

daytona 500 national pancake day ohio school shooting sean young arrested matt kenseth bridge to nowhere primary results

Santa delivers Christmas gifts to stingrays (Americablog)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273279539?client_source=feed&format=rss

apple store down apple live blog ohio primary cell phone jammer g8 summit netanyahu aipac

Jay Chou raps about a corrupt eunuch

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) ? Taiwan's pop king Jay Chou has played roles as varied as superhero, vampire and cowboy. So his latest album about an influential but corrupt court eunuch may not sound all that odd to his fans.

In "Gong Gong with A Headache" released Thursday, Chou raps about the eunuch who has a secret passion for women but "must not touch them." ''Gong Gong" is a name for court eunuchs in China.

In the music video, Chou dances stiffly like a zombie to the tune of hip hop, dressed in satin imperial court costume.

The singer also wrote the song. He says he was inspired by the popular drama series "The Legend of Zhen Huan" and other court dramas that have captivated audiences in China and Taiwan.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jay-chou-raps-corrupt-eunuch-082934521.html

solar flares 2012 whitney houston will toyota recall northern lights sign of the times keystone pipeline purim

Drug May Help Women Who Quit Smoking Avoid ... - Health.com

weight 59119 Drug May Help Women Who Quit Smoking Avoid Weight Gain

By Carina Storrs
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) ? Taking a pill called naltrexone (ReVia) when they stop smoking could help women keep dreaded weight gain at bay, according to new research.

Researchers analyzed two earlier studies that compared the quit rates and weight gain among heavy smokers who received either naltrexone ? a drug used to treat addiction ? or an inactive placebo, along with a nicotine patch and weekly counseling while trying to quit smoking.

Although the groups taking naltrexone had higher quit rates at the end of four- and six-week treatment courses, participants who took the drug were no more likely to remain abstinent after 12 months.

But women who took naltrexone gained significantly less weight six and 12 months after they quit smoking than women who received the placebo, according to the study, published in the December issue of Biological Psychiatry. However, this difference was not observed for men.

?Weight gain is a crucial issue for people, especially women who have societal pressure and can be more discontented with their bodies,? said Andrea King, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago and lead author of the current study.

?Even if naltrexone doesn?t help quit rates, if we could break down that barrier, it could have an impact,? King added.

More than 80 percent of people who quit smoking gain weight, and the average weight gain is between five and 10 pounds, according to the study. However, as many as one-quarter of quitters gain more than 15 pounds.

Weight gain during smoking cessation is usually modest and not a serious health problem compared to the health benefit of quitting smoking, said Dr. Norman Edelman, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association.

?[But] people, especially young women, would be more likely to get involved in smoking cessation programs if there were some way to control their weight gain so in terms of that, I think [naltrexone] is important,? Edelman said.

People who want to quit smoking and are worried about gaining weight should talk with their doctor about naltrexone, he suggested.

Both issues can be deadly. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, and obesity is second, the study authors noted.

King pointed out that naltrexone would probably not take the place of the first-line treatments for quitting smoking, which are the antidepressant bupropion (Zyban), in some cases together with a nicotine patch such as Nicoderm or the drug varenicline (Chantix).

However, naltrexone, along with a nicotine patch and counseling, could be an option for those who did not have success with these treatments or who have serious concerns about weight gain, King said.

The side effects associated with naltrexone are generally mild and rare, King said. Nausea, dizziness and fatigue are most common, and often overcome by taking the once-a-day medication with food or at bedtime, she added.

For the current study, King and her colleagues analyzed the results of studies done at the University of Chicago and Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

The Chicago study involved more than 300 adults who smoked between 10 and 40 cigarettes a day for at least the past two years. During the four-week treatment, participants took either naltrexone or the placebo, used Nicoderm and received behavioral and cognitive counseling.

The Yale study had nearly 400 adults who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day for at least the past year. It was similar to the Chicago study, except the researchers tested a six-week treatment course and three doses of naltrexone along with placebo.

Women who took naltrexone gained an average of about 7.3 pounds and 13 pounds six and 12 months after treatment, respectively, whereas the women who received placebo gained an average of about 12.1 and 16.3 pounds, respectively, the researchers found.

In addition, a slightly smaller proportion of women taking naltrexone increased their body weight by 7 percent or more, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers clinically significant weight gain.

The men in the study gained less weight on average than women, and these gains were a smaller percentage of their original body weight, which could have made it more difficult to detect lower weight gain among men taking naltrexone, King said. More research is needed on this group, she added.

It is not clear why women seem to be more prone to weight gain when they quit smoking than men.

?I think of women smoking more for emotional regulation and management, and potentially without that crutch, they may turn to high sweet and fat foods more than men,? King said.

Naltrexone is thought to block the effects of opioids in the body, which could reduce cravings for sweet and fatty foods, King noted.

In addition, giving up cigarettes leads to drops in metabolism that can cause quitters to put on pounds no matter what they eat, King pointed out.

King encourages people trying to quit to eat sensibly and exercise, which can help reduce the stress of quitting, but not to diet, which can make quitting even more difficult.

?If there are times when you?re going to have a candy bar or a cigarette, a candy bar is better, and don?t beat yourself up about it,? King said.

Naltrexone is not approved by the FDA for smoking cessation and is instead used off-label for this indication. It is approved to help people overcome alcohol and drug addictions.

More information

For help quitting smoking, visit the American Lung Association.

HEALTHDAY Web XSmall Drug May Help Women Who Quit Smoking Avoid Weight Gain

Source: http://news.health.com/2012/12/27/drug-may-help-women-who-quit-smoking-avoid-weight-gain/

chuck series finale welcome back kotter 2001 a space odyssey barefoot bandit polar bear plunge lovelace antioch