Triple Suicide Bomb Attack Kills 29 in Iraq – Voice of America
March 3, 2010
Triple Suicide Bomb Attack Kills 29 in Iraq – Voice of America
 Globe and Mail |
Triple Suicide Bomb Attack Kills 29 in Iraq
Voice of America Iraqi police say at least 29 people were killed and more than 40 others wounded in three suicide bomb attacks in the northern city of Baquba Wednesday. Two car bombers struck in quick succession near police stations, while the third attacker approached … Suicide bombers kill 31 in Iraqi city before poll Iraq suicide bombers target city of Baquba Suicide Bombers Kill Dozens as Iraq Vote Nears |
Jerry Brown Joins California Contest – Wall Street Journal
 Los Angeles Times |
Jerry Brown Joins California Contest
Wall Street Journal SAN FRANCISCO—California Attorney General Jerry Brown entered the state's gubernatorial race Tuesday, setting up a likely clash between an old-guard Democrat and a new breed of Republican bearing Silicon Valley business credentials. … Can Jerry Brown shed 'Gov. Moonbeam' label? Jerry Brown will try to be California's governor again Brown OKs allowances to officials for vehicles |
Passport probe: AFP officers in Israel – ABC Online
 Times Online |
Passport probe: AFP officers in Israel
ABC Online Three Australians had their identities stolen for fake passports, which were used in the assassination. (AFP) An Australian Federal Police (AFP) team has arrived in Israel to investigate the misuse of Australian … Dubai: Israeli premier faces arrest Assassins beware: Abu Dhabi updates surveillance What did they know and when did they know it? / Startup linked to Dubai hit |
Australia police head to Israel over Dubai slaying – The Associated Press
March 2, 2010
Australia police head to Israel over Dubai slaying – The Associated Press
Times Online |
Australia police head to Israel over Dubai slaying
The Associated Press JERUSALEM — Australian police and passport officials are being dispatched to Israel to meet with three dual Australian-Israeli nationals whose passports were used in the slaying of a top Hamas operative in Dubai, a spokeswoman for Australia's … Dubai to screen Israeli arrivals Dubai Limits Israeli Entry After Killing Dubai assassins drag America into row over fake passports |
Brown seeks governor’s mansion — or at least the office — again – CNN
 Washington Post |
Brown seeks governor's mansion — or at least the office — again
CNN Jerry Brown, the once and future California governor? The current state attorney general leads in polls. (CNN) — You could make a serious argument that Jerry Brown is the most unconventional politician America has ever … Jerry Brown to announce bid for governor today Jerry Brown to announce bid for governor Tuesday In California, Brown Is Said to Be Seeking His Old Job Back |
One Senator Holds Up Bill, in New Level of Gridlock – Wall Street Journal
 BBC News |
One Senator Holds Up Bill, in New Level of Gridlock
Wall Street Journal The Senate tied itself in knots Monday as it tried to get around a single lawmaker's objection to a spending bill, a showdown that has become emblematic of capital's partisan gridlock. Sen. Jim Bunning (R., Ky. … Bunning hurls curve, halts aid | Philadelphia Inquirer | 03/02/2010 Wild pitches from Sen. Bunning Single US senator freezes unemployment payment |
Voters finally get a say in rough Texas primary – The Associated Press
March 2, 2010
Voters finally get a say in rough Texas primary – The Associated Press
 Kansas City Star |
Voters finally get a say in rough Texas primary
The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Voters will finally get their chance Tuesday to weigh in on Texas' long, rough gubernatorial primary. Both Republican Gov. Rick Perry and rival Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison planned a last round of public appearances in Dallas, … Can Republican gubernatorial candidates mend the rift by November? In Texas governor showdown, nice doesn't cut it On Primary Eve, Texas Race Seems Close No More |
President Obama’s cholesterol of 209 means too many sweets, cheeseburgers – New York Daily News
 New York Daily News |
President Obama's cholesterol of 209 means too many sweets, cheeseburgers
New York Daily News WASHINGTON – Memo to Michelle Obama: Besides taking on childhood obesity, you might try keeping your husband away from the dessert cart. The spike in President Obama's cholesterol level detected during a physical exam Sunday was … Kick the cancer sticks, Mr. President Obama in excellent health, doctor says, but he should quit smoking Obama still struggling with smoking |
bmj.com: Ben Goldacre
March 1, 2010
bmj.com: Ben Goldacre
bmj.com: Just found this lovely response to The Bitch Doctor from Dr John Briffa on the BMJ website …….. it’s old but worth revisiting.
John P Briffa,
Doctor and health writer
Woolaston House,
25 Southwood Lane,
Highgate,
London
N6 5ED
| Dr Goldacre’s opinion piece [1] takes a broad swipe at media nutritionists by focusing on some silly thinking and the ‘pseudoscience’ that undoubtedly can sometimes be found in the area. The author takes particular exception to Gillian McKeith’s claim that chlorophyll is rich in oxygen and that eating plenty of it will help to oxygenate the blood. In respect to this, Dr Goldacre comments “as any 14 year old biology student could tell you, plants only make oxygen in light: it’s very dark in your bowel; and even if, to prove a point, you put a searchlight up your bottom, you probably wouldn’t absorb too much oxygen through the gut wall.” Fair enough, but I wonder how many of us (doctors included) have beliefs and, where relevant, employ clinical approaches that in their entirely would stand up to scrutiny. Take, for example, Dr Goldacre’s own suggestion to test the oxygen-producing capacity of chlorophyll in the gut by illuminating the large bowel: this hypothetical test, albeit tongue-in- cheek, is flawed because the process of digestion would render chlorophyll biologically inactive by the time it reaches the colon. On the face of it, some of Dr Goldacre’s own musings here might be regarded as nonsensical at those of McKeith. Dr Goldacre appears to give the impression that much what media nutritionists do is unvalidated mumbo-jumbo. Yet, many nutritionists do refer to the research and scientifically reference their work. The accusations of misinterpretation, cherry-picking, inappropriate extrapolation of data and conflict of interest can be made, but these can also be levelled at the medical and scientific establishments too: The widespread promotion of statins despite there being no evidence that these are effective in reducing mortality in the primary prevention setting is a case in point [2,3]. The area of nutrition is an emerging field, and thus many nutritionists will advocate approaches that may not have been formally studied, but do seem to be of broad benefit in practice. It seems that for Dr Goldacre such clinical experience does not count for much. Is he of the mind, then, that everything health professionals do be properly studied and validated before implementation. If that’s the case, we doctors should pack up and go home now: only 15 per cent of medical practice has been proven effective, and most of what we do is of unknown effectiveness, is unlikely to be beneficial, or has been shown to be positively harmful [4]. Dr Goldacre expresses his belief that nutritionists have deliberately over-complicated their approaches and adds, “Basic, uncomplicated dietary advice is effective and promotes health.” Given his attachment to scientific rigour, it seems appropriate to ask Dr Goldacre what evidence there is for this assertion. If anything, the evidence is to the contrary. For example, the perhaps most pervasive nutritional message that has sunk deep into the population’s psyche is certainly a simple one: that we should eat a diet low in fat and high in carbohydrate. And despite this easy-to-understand piece of advice, rates of chronic conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes in the UK continue to soar. And the evidence for the ineffectiveness of low-fat eating is not merely anecdotal. Studies show that this oft-touted ‘healthy’ way of eating is, for instance, thoroughly ineffective for the purposes of weight loss in the long term [5,6]. It is perhaps worth bearing in mind that the ‘low-fat high-carb’ dictum is not generally popularised by media nutritionists, but instead by dieticians and the professional bodies to which they are affiliated, notably the British Dietetic Association (BDA). Other dietetic ‘gems’ that come from the dietetic establishment include the notion that plenty of calcium and dairy products in the diet are somehow ‘essential’ to bone health in children and adults [7-9], that artificial sweeteners are preferred to sugar for those seeking to lose weight (not one single randomised, placebo-controlled study assessing the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight is to be found in the scientific literature), that diabetics should make starchy carbohydrates a cornerstone of their diet (many of these release sugar relatively quickly into the bloodstream and tend to disrupt glycaemic control, and eating less of such foods has been shown to improve biochemical markers including those of glycaemic control) [10-17], and that taking dietary steps to reduce cholesterol saves lives [18]. I accept that media ‘nutritionists’ may get it wrong sometimes (myself included) and some make a tidy living from their efforts. But if Dr Goldacre’s cry is for more accountability in the area, I reckon he should put the spotlight of scrutiny less on media nutritionists, and more on dieticians and the BDA. References: 1. Goldacre B. Tell us the truth about nutritionists. BMJ 2007;334:292 2. Abramson J, Wright JM. Are lipid-lowering guidelines evidence- based? Lancet 2007;369:168-169 3. Jauca C, Wright JM. Therapuetics letter: update on statin therapy. Int Soc Drug Bull Newsletter. 2003;17:7-9 4. http://www.clinicalevidence.com/ceweb/about/knowledge.jsp 5. Pirozzo S, et al. Advice on low-fat diets for obesity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD003640 6. Willett C, et al. Dietary fat is not a major determinant of body fat. Am J Med. 2002;113(9B):47S-59S 7. Lanou AJ, et al. Calcium, dairy products, and bone health in children and young adults: a reevaluation of the evidence. Pediatrics. 2005;115(3):736-43 8. Winzenberg T, et al. Effects of calcium supplementation on bone density in healthy children: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2006;333:775-778 9. Feskanich D, et al. Calcium, vitamin D, milk consumption, and hip fractures: a prospective study among postmenopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003 77(2):504-511 10. Collier GR, et al. Low glycemic index starchy foods improve glucose control and lower serum cholesterol in diabetic children. Diabetes Nutr Metab 1988;1:11-19 11. Fontvieille AM, et al. A moderate switch from high to low glycemic-index foods for 3 weeks improves metabolic control of type I (IDDM) diabetic subjects. Diabetes Nutr Metab 1988;1:139-43 12. Jenkins DJ, et al. Low-glycemic-index starchy foods in the diabetic diet. Am J Clin Nutr 1988;48:248–54 13. Wolever TM, et al. Beneficial effect of a low glycaemic index diet in type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med 1992;9:451–8 14. Wolever TM, et al. Beneficial effect of low-glycemic index diet in overweight NIDDM subjects. Diabetes Care 1992;15:562–4 15. Brand JC, et al. Low-glycemic index foods improve long-term glycemic control in NIDDM. Diabetes Care 1991;14:95–101 16. Fontvieille AM, et al. The use of low glycaemic index foods improves metabolic control of diabetic patients over five weeks. Diabet Med 1992;9:444–50 17. Frost G, et al. Dietary advice based on the glycaemic index improves dietary profile and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic patients. Diabet Med 1994;11:397–401 18. Studer M, et al. Effect of different antilipidemic agents and diets on mortality. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2005;165:725-730 19. Email communication (available on request) contact: john@drbriffa.com Competing interests: I am a private-practising doctor and health writer with a special interest in nutrition |
President Obama still smoking? Doctor’s note may be smoking gun – New York Daily News
February 28, 2010
President Obama still smoking? Doctor’s note may be smoking gun – New York Daily News
 KATU |
President Obama still smoking? Doctor's note may be smoking gun
New York Daily News WASHINGTON – President Obama's doctors hinted Sunday that he still might be sneaking smokes when Michelle and the kids aren't around to yell at him. Obama's routine physical at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center found him in "excellent … Obama in great health but struggles with smoking Facts and figures on Obama's physical Obama: Thumbs up after physical |
Pelosi Confident on Health Vote – Wall Street Journal
 FOXNews (blog) |
Pelosi Confident on Health Vote
Wall Street Journal WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday expressed confidence that Democrats would have enough votes to pass a broad health-care overhaul, but acknowledged that it could come at a political cost to lawmakers who back the measure … Republicans Gird for Democrats' End Run on Health Care Dems, GOP Divided on Health Care Costs Pelosi's job to pass health care gets tougher every day |
PA moves cabinet meeting to Hebron to protest Israel heritage sites – Ha’aretz
 National Post |
PA moves cabinet meeting to Hebron to protest Israel heritage sites
Ha’aretz Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad plans to hold his government's weekly cabinet meeting in Hebron on Monday, in an effort to raise public and international awareness about Israel's … Israeli police, Palestinians clash at holy site Israeli police clash with Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City Tension high in Jerusalem |
Playah: Cheryl Bernard
February 27, 2010
by Margo Weber
Okay Cheryl Bernard, the day isn’t even over and you know you’re my girl.
You are the leading lady of the story that is unfolding before our eyes. You are having a great week, and just seem to be in the zone. You know how to squeak out these wins, and now you just need one more to guarantee a bye into Saturday’s final.
Now, the whole Playah of the Day concept allows me to only pick people who are easy on the eyes, and Ms. Bernard, you’ve got it covered. You make me want to drop that last 30 pounds that have been nagging me, whiten my teeth and run to the nearest tanning salon. I also have to give a shout out to the ponytail you rocked this morning… super cute.
So… you’ve gone from perennial contender to now, possibly, a favourite to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games and wear the red and white. You made two awesome shots in your first game against Krista McCarville, won a very iffy measure against Amber Holland, had a solid win over Crystal Webster, wowed us against Kelly Scott and made a great little run back to beat Shannon Kleibrink in a wild game this morning. Now you’re all alone at the top of the standings at 5-0. Everyone else has at least two losses.
Girl, you go have a glass of red. You deserve it.
[Edmonton Journal photo by Chris Schwarz]
by Margo Weber
EDMONTON – Oh, what a night.
Here’s a pic I snapped from last night’s women’s final at the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, aka the Olympic Curling Trials.
This is the quick scrum they do for media with immediate deadlines – this used to be just the print guys, but now everybody wants everything they can get right NOW – right after the last rock, and before the march down the ice to the podiums, and the TV finale.
There’s more media scrumming afterwards, of course, and you can see the interviews with champion Cheryl Bernard and finalist Shannon Kleibrink here.
Awesome to see Bernard family members, including Cheryl’s husband Terry Meek in the foreground (in the Bernard jacket), watching her take that big step into curling immortality.
I’ve got another post regarding the women’s match before the men’s final today, so stay tuned… but for much, much more on all this great stuff (including another one of my pics from last night) make sure you subscribe to/follow/whatever the TCN Twitter feed, located here.
Live Web Chat – Nutritionist
February 26, 2010
Improve your diet to get pregnant :: Understanding Your Fertility :: Baby Expert
Live Chatroom on Baby Expert with London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston – Mothers ask your questions for free.
Sponsored by First Response
Q: What’s the difference between an Olympic curling year and any other curling year?
A: Media. media. media.
Curlers in San Jose, California managed to get NFL football player Vernon Davis out onto the curling ice earlier this month, and in any other year, the story would have run in local media only. Perhaps with a photo.
We know this because various celebs have tried curling in the past couple of years… and we’ve promoted their experience, right here at The Curling News. Us, and local media where the experience took place.
However, with Vancouver 2010 less than three months away this story has exploded in this viral media universe, complete with video and multiple still pics.
Example: between 9:00am and 9:30am eastern time this morning, no less than 45 media outlets had posted the story online, and the counter was still running.
May we suggest more of these kinds of promotional efforts, from now until Games time. The recipe is simple: grab celeb; apply to ice; write and film.
Rinse and repeat.
Did you miss The Curling News Blog? This may be our first post since last Thursday, but there’s been lots to follow on our Twitter feed. Such as:
• Rizzo beats Kleibrink for 11K; McEwen wins on a measure
• Glenn Howard, Mike Harris and “Buttons” open The Dominion Curling Club Championship tonight
• When will they curl on Vancouver’s super-cool new/old city rink?
• Wayne Middaugh would like to set the record straight:
• Canada loses to Japan at Vancouver wheelchair curling exhibition
• You can follow the Olympic Torch journey online
• No tolls on Team Gushue highway
• 30K raised in little Carmen
• Kevin Martin moves into top spot on Tour money list
• The Daceys are off to Chelyabinsk, Russia
• Vernon, BC gets a Grand Slam
• TSN HD channel available free during Olympic Trials
And so very much more. Click on “Follow” at the top left of this page…
[Photo by Associated Press]
SeaWorld trainer killed, and TV speculates at length – Orlando Sentinel
February 24, 2010
SeaWorld trainer killed, and TV speculates at length – Orlando Sentinel
 CBC.ca |
SeaWorld trainer killed, and TV speculates at length
Orlando Sentinel WKMG-Channel 6 went wall to wall with SeaWorld coverage, and this was a case of more not being necessarily better. Anchors, with few certain facts, had to stretch to fill the time. The stations interrupted regular programming for a SeaWorld news … Sea World San Diego closes Shamu show after deadly whale incident in Orlando Whale kills trainer at Florida's SeaWorld Whale kills its trainer in front of visitors to amusement park |
Turkish leaders to meet as coup plot storm gathers – Reuters
 Reuters |
Turkish leaders to meet as coup plot storm gathers
Reuters ISTANBUL, Feb 25 (Reuters) – Turkey's political and military leaders meet on Thursday as a storm gathers over a coup plot investigation against the armed forces which is threatening stability and investor confidence in the EU-candidate … Turkey Unsettled by Officer Arrests Turkey coup plot: 12 officers charged as government takes on military Turkey Risks Worst Currency Slump on Army Arrests, Options Show |
Toyoda Is Wary Star Of Kabuki At Capitol – Wall Street Journal
 Reuters |
Toyoda Is Wary Star Of Kabuki At Capitol
Wall Street Journal WASHINGTON—Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda came here to mend fences. But first, he and lawmakers had to bridge an ocean of confusion. Consider the frustration of US Rep. Edolphus Towns (D., NY), … Recalled Toyotas are not safe,' transportation secretary says Lawmakers blast Toyota, US agency at hearing Toyota Doesn't 'Run Away' From Problems, Toyoda Says |
Director of state hospital that treats child molesters accused of repeatedly … – Los Angeles Times
February 24, 2010
Director of state hospital that treats child molesters accused of repeatedly … – Los Angeles Times
|
Director of state hospital that treats child molesters accused of repeatedly …
Los Angeles Times The executive director of Napa State Hospital, a Northern California mental institution whose patients include convicted child molesters, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexually molesting a foster child in his care for more than a decade. … Napa State Hospital director arrested on child molestation charges Hospital Director Arrested on 35 Counts of Child Molestation Man arrested on suspicion of molesting Long Beach youth |
Argentina asks UN to bring UK into talks on Falklands – BBC News
 Telegraph.co.uk |
Argentina asks UN to bring UK into talks on Falklands
BBC News Argentina has formally asked United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to bring the UK into talks over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said he had asked Mr Ban to help stop Britain from "further … Argentina appeals to UN over Falklands oil drilling UN help sought in Falklands dispute Falklands oil: Britain paves the way for talks with Argentina |
GOP leaders agree to panel on federal deficit – Washington Post
February 18, 2010
GOP leaders agree to panel on federal deficit – Washington Post
 CBS News |
GOP leaders agree to panel on federal deficit
Washington Post President Barack Obama with commission chairmen Erskine B. Bowles and Alan K. Simpson, right. (Charles Dharapak/associated Press) By Lori Montgomery With the national debt soaring, Republican leaders reluctantly consented Thursday to join Democrats on … Obama sets up panel to tackle debt Bipartisan Commission Is Established to Cut Debt The VAT Commission |
US approves settlement for black farmers – Washington Post
 Washington Post |
US approves settlement for black farmers
Washington Post As president of the Black Farmers Association, John F. Boyd Jr. of Baskerville, Va., frequently lobbied members of Congress. (Melina Mara/the Washington Post) By Carrie Johnson The Obama administration announced a $1.25 billion settlement Thursday to … Black farmers: Government to fund racial bias settlement Black farmers win $1.25 billion in discrimination suit Deal Nearer for Farmers in Bias Case |
Witness becomes rescuer in Austin plane incident – CNN
 Telegraph.co.uk |
Witness becomes rescuer in Austin plane incident
CNN (CNN) — Robin Dehaven usually replaces windows. On Thursday morning, after a small plane crashed into an Austin, Texas, office building, he was breaking them, having rushed into the burning structure to help people escape. Dehaven, an Army veteran who … Man Angry at IRS Crashes Plane Into Building Attacks on IRS and its employees are all to common Protester Crashes Plane Into IRS Office |
Climate pact appears increasingly fragile; UN official quits – Washington Post
 The Guardian |
Climate pact appears increasingly fragile; UN official quits
Washington Post Just two months after patching together a climate deal in Copenhagen, the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases are trying to figure out how to keep the fragile accord together, while the United Nations, … Top UN Climate Diplomat Announces Resignation UN Climate Change Chief Stepping Down Profile: Yvo de Boer |
