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steve2470
steve2470's Journal
steve2470's Journal
February 12, 2014
One of the largest and most meticulous studies of mammography ever done, involving 90,000 women and lasting a quarter century, has added powerful new doubts about the value of the screening test for women of any age.
It found that the death rates from breast cancer and from all causes were the same in women who got mammograms and those who did not. And the screening had harms — one out of five cancers found with mammography and treated was not a threat to the woman’s health and did not need treatment like chemotherapy, surgery or radiation.
The study, published Tuesday in The British Medical Journal, is one of the few rigorous evaluations of mammograms conducted in the modern era of more effective breast cancer treatments. It randomly assigned Canadian women to have regular mammograms and breast exams by trained nurses or to have breast exams alone.
Researchers sought to determine whether there was any advantage to finding breast cancers when they were too small to feel. The answer was no, the researchers report.
Vast Study Casts Doubts on Value Of Mammograms
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/health/study-adds-new-doubts-about-value-of-mammograms.html?_r=0One of the largest and most meticulous studies of mammography ever done, involving 90,000 women and lasting a quarter century, has added powerful new doubts about the value of the screening test for women of any age.
It found that the death rates from breast cancer and from all causes were the same in women who got mammograms and those who did not. And the screening had harms — one out of five cancers found with mammography and treated was not a threat to the woman’s health and did not need treatment like chemotherapy, surgery or radiation.
The study, published Tuesday in The British Medical Journal, is one of the few rigorous evaluations of mammograms conducted in the modern era of more effective breast cancer treatments. It randomly assigned Canadian women to have regular mammograms and breast exams by trained nurses or to have breast exams alone.
Researchers sought to determine whether there was any advantage to finding breast cancers when they were too small to feel. The answer was no, the researchers report.
February 12, 2014
JACKSONVILLE — A Florida man accused of killing a 17-year-old after a dispute over loud music testified Tuesday that he felt threatened but tried to remain calm as the teen hurled obscenities at him from inside an SUV in the next parking space.
But Michael David Dunn, on trial for first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder, said Jordan Davis reached down, picked something up and slammed it against the rear-passenger door of the red Dodge Durango where he was sitting. Dunn told the jury he spotted about 4 inches of an object in the window frame that resembled a 12-gauge shotgun — and their dispute over vehicle-rattling rap music escalated.
"After the continued threat of 'You're dead, (expletive)!' now the door opens and this young man gets out. And as his head clears the window frame, he says, 'This (expletive)'s going down now!' " Dunn said from the witness stand, jabbing a pointed finger.
"This is the point where my death is imminent," said the computer programmer and software developer, 47. "He's coming to kill me. He's coming to beat me."
*video of Dunn testifying at link*
Man who shot teen: 'He's coming to kill me' (Michael Dunn case in FL)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/11/michael-dunn-jordan-davis-trial/5390113/JACKSONVILLE — A Florida man accused of killing a 17-year-old after a dispute over loud music testified Tuesday that he felt threatened but tried to remain calm as the teen hurled obscenities at him from inside an SUV in the next parking space.
But Michael David Dunn, on trial for first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder, said Jordan Davis reached down, picked something up and slammed it against the rear-passenger door of the red Dodge Durango where he was sitting. Dunn told the jury he spotted about 4 inches of an object in the window frame that resembled a 12-gauge shotgun — and their dispute over vehicle-rattling rap music escalated.
"After the continued threat of 'You're dead, (expletive)!' now the door opens and this young man gets out. And as his head clears the window frame, he says, 'This (expletive)'s going down now!' " Dunn said from the witness stand, jabbing a pointed finger.
"This is the point where my death is imminent," said the computer programmer and software developer, 47. "He's coming to kill me. He's coming to beat me."
*video of Dunn testifying at link*
February 12, 2014
Is the FCC Chairman getting ready to take a case-by-case approach to net neutrality?
http://venturebeat.com/2014/02/11/is-the-fcc-chairman-getting-ready-to-take-a-case-by-case-approach-to-net-neutrality/FCC chairman Tom Wheeler said Monday that he will announce the agency’s proposed plan for an open Internet “in the coming days” – but the plan may disappoint net neutrality advocates.
First, some background. When a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. ruled last month that the FCC does not have the authority to require that Internet service providers treat all traffic equally, it also gave the agency a clear way to obtain that authority, saying the FCC could regulate these providers if it changes how it has chosen to categorize them.
Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC can decide if ISPs are “telecommunications services,” which transmit information and treat all information equally, or “information services,” which process information. Telecommunications services, like wired phone networks, are regulated to be open, common carriers, whereas information processors are left unregulated to promote innovation.
*snip*
Many net neutrality advocates are hoping the FCC will simply correct its previous classification. But that’s not what Wheeler has been signaling in recent weeks.
First, some background. When a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. ruled last month that the FCC does not have the authority to require that Internet service providers treat all traffic equally, it also gave the agency a clear way to obtain that authority, saying the FCC could regulate these providers if it changes how it has chosen to categorize them.
Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC can decide if ISPs are “telecommunications services,” which transmit information and treat all information equally, or “information services,” which process information. Telecommunications services, like wired phone networks, are regulated to be open, common carriers, whereas information processors are left unregulated to promote innovation.
*snip*
Many net neutrality advocates are hoping the FCC will simply correct its previous classification. But that’s not what Wheeler has been signaling in recent weeks.
February 12, 2014
ORLEANS, France — A French judge ruled on Tuesday that five Michael Jackson fans who said they were distraught over his death be paid a total of one euro in "emotional damages" by the entertainer's doctor, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
The court ruling in the city of Orleans capped a two-year struggle by a group of 30 French, Swiss and Belgian fans of the pop star for legal recognition of their loss.
Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in administering an overdose of the surgical anaesthetic propofol, which killed the 50-year-old pop star in 2009. He served two years in jail and is now free.
"Dr. Murray was ordered to pay one 'symbolic' euro, or $1.34, and that's what we were looking for," the fans' lawyer Emmanuel Ludot said.
French Judge Orders 1-Euro Payment for Sad Michael Jackson Fans
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/french-judge-orders-1-euro-payment-sad-michael-jackson-fans-n27831ORLEANS, France — A French judge ruled on Tuesday that five Michael Jackson fans who said they were distraught over his death be paid a total of one euro in "emotional damages" by the entertainer's doctor, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
The court ruling in the city of Orleans capped a two-year struggle by a group of 30 French, Swiss and Belgian fans of the pop star for legal recognition of their loss.
Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in administering an overdose of the surgical anaesthetic propofol, which killed the 50-year-old pop star in 2009. He served two years in jail and is now free.
"Dr. Murray was ordered to pay one 'symbolic' euro, or $1.34, and that's what we were looking for," the fans' lawyer Emmanuel Ludot said.
February 12, 2014
BERLIN—Germany will set up an independent center to comb museum collections for art looted by the Nazis, the country’s culture minister said, shortly before representatives for the son of an art dealer tied to Hitler disclosed another hidden cache of paintings.
The discovery of more unrecorded treasures, including paintings by Impressionist masters Monet, Renoir and Manet, was likely to add fuel to the firestorm of criticism over Germany’s record in dealing with potentially looted art.
Representatives of Cornelius Gurlitt, whose vast collection was seized in 2012 by Munich prosecutors, revealed that he had dozens more works stashed outside the country in a second home in Salzburg, Austria.
Several families of Holocaust victims have laid claims to some of the 1,400 works seized in Munich as part of a tax investigation. Among them are relatives of Anne Sinclair, the ex-wife of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who are claiming a Matisse portrait that experts say could fetch up to $20 million at auction.
Germany to Comb Museums for Nazi-Looted Art
http://on.wsj.com/1iMB0VJBERLIN—Germany will set up an independent center to comb museum collections for art looted by the Nazis, the country’s culture minister said, shortly before representatives for the son of an art dealer tied to Hitler disclosed another hidden cache of paintings.
The discovery of more unrecorded treasures, including paintings by Impressionist masters Monet, Renoir and Manet, was likely to add fuel to the firestorm of criticism over Germany’s record in dealing with potentially looted art.
Representatives of Cornelius Gurlitt, whose vast collection was seized in 2012 by Munich prosecutors, revealed that he had dozens more works stashed outside the country in a second home in Salzburg, Austria.
Several families of Holocaust victims have laid claims to some of the 1,400 works seized in Munich as part of a tax investigation. Among them are relatives of Anne Sinclair, the ex-wife of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who are claiming a Matisse portrait that experts say could fetch up to $20 million at auction.
February 12, 2014
Apparently "dumb" coffee is not good enough to drink.
"Dumb Starbucks Coffee" was shut down after just a few days on Monday by Los Angeles County health inspectors, who posted a "notice of closure" near the front door of the shop in the Los Feliz neighborhood.
The closure, for not having a valid permit, happened just hours after Canadian comic Nathan Fielder took credit for the stunt, saying in a press conference that he was planning on using footage for his Comedy Central Show "Nathan For You."
Fielder had hoped to keep the faux Starbucks open until Friday, and even looked to open a "branch" in New York City, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
'Dumb Starbucks,' brainchild of Comedy Central star, shut down by health inspectors
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/dumb-starbucks-shut-health-inspectors-article-1.1609947Apparently "dumb" coffee is not good enough to drink.
"Dumb Starbucks Coffee" was shut down after just a few days on Monday by Los Angeles County health inspectors, who posted a "notice of closure" near the front door of the shop in the Los Feliz neighborhood.
The closure, for not having a valid permit, happened just hours after Canadian comic Nathan Fielder took credit for the stunt, saying in a press conference that he was planning on using footage for his Comedy Central Show "Nathan For You."
Fielder had hoped to keep the faux Starbucks open until Friday, and even looked to open a "branch" in New York City, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
February 10, 2014
http://io9.com/heres-the-first-recorded-instance-of-the-f-word-in-eng-1519247071
And it's a monk expressing his displeasure at an abbot. In the margins of a guide to moral conduct. Because of course.
Technically, "fuck" appeared two times before this. In 1500, it was used in a satirical poem to describe some friars. In that case, nothing like "fuck" was actually written out. Instead, the word was hidden in a code. And in 1513, it appeared in a Scottish poem as "fukkit."
But for English's first use, we've got a dissatisfied 1528 monk. He's written "O D fuckin abbot." Melissa Mohr, author of Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing, says this "fuck" could be either literal or metaphorical:
Here's the first recorded instance of the F-word in English
http://io9.com/heres-the-first-recorded-instance-of-the-f-word-in-eng-1519247071
And it's a monk expressing his displeasure at an abbot. In the margins of a guide to moral conduct. Because of course.
Technically, "fuck" appeared two times before this. In 1500, it was used in a satirical poem to describe some friars. In that case, nothing like "fuck" was actually written out. Instead, the word was hidden in a code. And in 1513, it appeared in a Scottish poem as "fukkit."
But for English's first use, we've got a dissatisfied 1528 monk. He's written "O D fuckin abbot." Melissa Mohr, author of Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing, says this "fuck" could be either literal or metaphorical:
It is difficult to know whether the annotator intended "fucking" to mean "having sex," as in "that guy is doing too much fucking for someone who is supposed to be celibate," or whether he used it as an intensifier, to convey his extreme dismay; if the latter, it anticipates the first recorded use by more than three hundred years. Either is possible, really—John Burton, the abbot in question, was a man of questionable monastic morals.
February 10, 2014
WASHINGTON — Just four blocks from the White House is the headquarters of the Employment Policies Institute, a widely quoted economic research center whose academic reports have repeatedly warned that increasing the minimum wage could be harmful, increasing poverty and unemployment.
But something fundamental goes unsaid in the institute’s reports: The nonprofit group is run by a public relations firm that also represents the restaurant industry, as part of a tightly coordinated effort to defeat the minimum wage increase that the White House and Democrats in Congress have pushed for.
“The vast majority of economic research shows there are serious consequences,” Michael Saltsman, the institute’s research director, said in an interview, before he declined to list the restaurant chains that were among its contributors.
The campaign illustrates how groups — conservative and liberal — are again working in opaque ways to shape hot-button political debates, like the one surrounding minimum wage, through organizations with benign-sounding names that can mask the intentions of their deep-pocketed patrons.
Fight Over Minimum Wage Illustrates Web of Industry Ties
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/us/politics/fight-over-minimum-wage-illustrates-web-of-industry-ties.html?_r=0WASHINGTON — Just four blocks from the White House is the headquarters of the Employment Policies Institute, a widely quoted economic research center whose academic reports have repeatedly warned that increasing the minimum wage could be harmful, increasing poverty and unemployment.
But something fundamental goes unsaid in the institute’s reports: The nonprofit group is run by a public relations firm that also represents the restaurant industry, as part of a tightly coordinated effort to defeat the minimum wage increase that the White House and Democrats in Congress have pushed for.
“The vast majority of economic research shows there are serious consequences,” Michael Saltsman, the institute’s research director, said in an interview, before he declined to list the restaurant chains that were among its contributors.
The campaign illustrates how groups — conservative and liberal — are again working in opaque ways to shape hot-button political debates, like the one surrounding minimum wage, through organizations with benign-sounding names that can mask the intentions of their deep-pocketed patrons.
February 10, 2014
For example, this track goes for $1.49. Anyone have any idea how much of that actually goes to the artist ? Hopefully the vast majority of it. Thanks in advance.
Question about beatport.com
http://www.beatport.com/track/behind-your-smile-feat-fisher-suncatcher-remix/1966070For example, this track goes for $1.49. Anyone have any idea how much of that actually goes to the artist ? Hopefully the vast majority of it. Thanks in advance.
February 9, 2014
SOCHI, Russia - Russia's Winter Olympics sprang into action on Saturday with the first full day of sporting contest, finally drawing the world's gaze from militant threats, a widely criticised “gay propaganda” law and an opening ceremony that did not go completely to plan.
The United States claimed the first gold in the slopestyle event held amidst the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains, some 25 miles northeast of the Black Sea resort town of Sochi where the main Olympic park is located.
On a clear, crisp day, U.S. snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg leapt and twisted high in the air, riding an almost flawless first run to win the slopestyle crown.
Rock music blared and fans danced as the event, which bears similarities to skateboarding, made its debut in an initiative to attract a younger demographic to Winter Olympic sport.
U.S. nabs 1st gold, choice for torch lighting questioned
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/2014-winter-olympics-us-wins-first-gold-medal-in-sochi-games/SOCHI, Russia - Russia's Winter Olympics sprang into action on Saturday with the first full day of sporting contest, finally drawing the world's gaze from militant threats, a widely criticised “gay propaganda” law and an opening ceremony that did not go completely to plan.
The United States claimed the first gold in the slopestyle event held amidst the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains, some 25 miles northeast of the Black Sea resort town of Sochi where the main Olympic park is located.
On a clear, crisp day, U.S. snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg leapt and twisted high in the air, riding an almost flawless first run to win the slopestyle crown.
Rock music blared and fans danced as the event, which bears similarities to skateboarding, made its debut in an initiative to attract a younger demographic to Winter Olympic sport.
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