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Ten percent of patients who have fibromyalgia syndrome use marijuana for medicinal relief from FMS symptoms (eg, widespread pain, fatigue, and insomnia), according to research findings.
Ten percent of patients who have fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) use marijuana for medicinal relief from FMS symptoms (eg, widespread pain, fatigue, and insomnia), according to research findings published in Arthritis Care & Research, an American College of Rheumatology publication. Cannabinoids may offer some therapeutic effect, but because patients who self-medicate with herbal cannabis have poorer mental health, recommendations should be avoided until psychosocial and health issues can be further clarified, it was suggested.
Fitzcharles and colleagues documented self-reported cannabinoid use in 457 patients with FMS being treated at the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal. They validated the FMS diagnosis and investigated associations and trends of self-medicating with medical marijuana, prescription cannabinoids, or both. Pain levels were measured using the visual analog scale, and functional ability was assessed with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire; a psychologist evaluated all patients for previous or current psychiatric conditions according to the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder.
Thirteen percent of patients used cannabinoids, with 80% of them using herbal cannabis/marijuana; 24% of cannabinoid users used prescription cannabinoids (eg, nabilone and dronabinol), and 3% used both herbal cannabis and prescription cannabinoids. Those who smoked marijuana consumed up to 6 g; 72% reported using 1 g or less per day.
Herbal cannabis was associated with unstable mental illness, opioid drug-seeking behavior, and male sex in 36%, 17%, and 26% of users, respectively, compared with 23%, 4%, and 7% of nonusers. A 77% unemployment rate was identified in herbal marijuana users, which researchers suggested may be the result of pain control that is ineffective in improving functionality. Some patients are prompted to self-medicate with more nontraditional therapies, such as marijuana, because results with pharmacological treatments for FMS pain are modest, it was noted.


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Forex trading, at the very least, requires you to deal with risk and the unknown every single day.
Because of the uncertainty surrounding trading, you will most likely encounter events that may change your comfort level (read: stress you out). Psychological stress is natural in trading, just as it is for Cyclopip to eat baby rabbits.
But wait a minute… Isn't stress always bad?! The only thing that seems to be good about being STRESSED is that it's DESSERTS spelled backwards! (That's good,huh? I'm so original…)
Kidding aside, psychological stress can be good when it gives way to a flight-or-fight response, wherein you become more alert and mentally prepared to deal with challenges.
It's like a jolt of adrenaline to the brain, which tells your mind and body to react and mobilize. In this case, stress can help you protect yourself and improve performance.
On the other hand, a trader who does not positively react to stress can hinder his/her trading performance. This is when you perceive an event as a threat.
Instead of feeling alert and being prepared to react to a challenge, you get bogged down by your fear of the unknown and you become anxious or freeze. This kind of stress can be crippling for making good decisions as you lose your ability to remain calm and focus.
Imagine that you are crossing the street and, all of a sudden, a ten-wheeler truck comes out of nowhere speeding in front of you. How do you react?
Naturally, stress kicks in. If you've developed the ability to positively react to stress, or even ignore it all together, your body will immediately react and you run to safety. If not, you freeze in the middle of the road with the deer in the headlights expression on your face…and I can only imagine what'd happen next.
At the end of the day, it's how you perceive actions or events that give way to either the good or bad reactions to potentially stressful situations. And it's during these critical situations, how you handle your stress is what determines whether you sink or swim.
How can we use this newfound understanding of stress in trading?
The first step is to know that losing is a natural part of trading and that a single trade, or a string of losing trades, is not the end of the world–with proper risk management of course!
Once you have recognized this fact, you can focus your mind on what you CAN do, rather than on what you CAN'T do.
Secondly, you need to realize that in potentially stressful situations, you have to be able to learn respond well (calmly staying focused and rational) instead of negatively (freeze and/or act impulsively).
In other words, when faced with stress, you'll have to train yourself to recognize then dive to get out of the way of that speeding ten-wheeler just as an action star would do, instead of freezing from anxiety and get squished like a bug!
Accepting that losing is a natural part of trading and developing a positive response to market events and your trading actions can only come through one thing: deliberate practice.
Through deliberate practice (taking many DEMO trades then observing and adjusting your psychological/physical responses), negative responses to trading stress can be reduced significantly or even be used as a tool to help sharpen your senses to make better on-the-spot adjustments to your trades as new information comes your way.
Learn to accept stressful situations. Embrace it… And heck, once you master your mind and body over it, you might even love it!

subset: commoncrawl


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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The FBI arrested five men Monday evening, saying they had planted what were believed to be explosive devices under the Ohio 82 bridge over Cuyahoga Valley National Park as part of a May Day protest today.
The five men were "self-proclaimed anarchists," who intended to detonate two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) under the bridge in Sagamore Hills, but had purchased the inert devices from undercover FBI agents, officials said.
Members of the group actually "placed the devices at the base of concrete pillars ... and attempted to detonate them at a remote location" on Monday, but what they thought were bombs were actually "intert devices," the FBI said in a news conference this morning.
Arrested by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and charged with conspiracy and attempted use of explosive materials were: Douglas Wright, 26; Brandon L. Baxter, 20; and Anthony Hayne, 35.
All three are "self-proclaimed anarchists who formed a small group and considered a series of evolving plots over several months," according to the complaint filed today by the FBI.
Wright had also talked about "getting a car that they can drive into the Federal Reserve Bank" in Cleveland to blow it up, according to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Ryan Taylor. (See the affidavit in the DocumentCloud reader below.)
The arrests Monday evening show that "the threat we face is a diverse one and terrorist can come from many hues and many homelands," said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
"Despite the defendants' worst intentions and aims during the entire course of yesterday's operation, the public was never in danger," Dettelbach said. "The defendants never possessed at any time any really explosive materials and the arrests warrants were signed before they got in the car and went to the bridge."
Also arrested, but not charged, were Connor Stevens, 20 and Joshua Stafford, 23. Anthony said Stevens and Stafford were currently being charged, officials said.
FBI officials said the men had intended to disrupt commuters today.
"The public was never in danger from the explosive devices, which were controlled by an undercover FBI employee," the FBI said in a written statement this morning. "The explosives that the defendants allegedly purchased and attempted to use were inoperable and posed no threat to the public."
May Day protests were also taking place in other U.S. cities today, including Seattle, where "the most visible organizing effort by anti-Wall Street groups since Occupy encampments came down in the fall" were taking place, according to the Seattle Times website.


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- Professor and Director
- M. Bluechardt
The degree of Master of Physical Education (M.P.E.) is offered by full-time and part-time study. Part-time study is available through Internet-based distance education technology.
Admission is limited and competitive. The deadline for receipt of applications is March 1 for admission into the subsequent fall semester. To be considered for admission an applicant shall normally hold a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies or a related discipline, with at least second class standing, from an institution recognized by Senate. In addition to the above, preference will be given to applicants with work experience, obtained either through Cooperative Education programs or through employment deemed appropriate.
Any other applicant who holds a Bachelor of Physical Education or Recreation and Leisure Studies Degree or its equivalent may be considered for admission provided that:
the applicant's undergraduate record after the first year shows an average of at least grade B in physical education and/or recreation and leisure studies courses, OR
the applicant has raised his/her overall academic standing to second class following the completion of the undergraduate degree, through the successful completion of an approved pattern of undergraduate courses.
Only in exceptional circumstances and only on the recommendation of the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation shall the Dean of Graduate Studies consider applicants who do not meet these admission requirements.


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Please welcome another guest, Katie Westlake!
Katie is a first-year MLIS candidate in the University of Washington's online degree program. Her future interests currently lie in library administration and/or international librarianship, but she's staying open to the possibility of being seduced by other areas of study. She writes about everything from library science to dinosaurs in her blog, and has just rejoined the Twitterverse @katie_westlake.
Here's her take on volunteering in LIS — Why it won't be what you expect, and why you should do it anyway.
A couple months ago, I was volunteering at the welcome desk of my home city's library. Everything was going fine until I was approached by a patron who spoke Korean and only Korean. After I spent about 5 or 6 minutes trying to talk to him and figure out what he was looking for, he finally managed to let me know he needed a translator (go figure). I consulted with a nearby circulation desk worker, and wound up setting him up on a conference call with a translation service the library subscribes to. She listened to his request, conveyed it to me, and we resolved his problem without much further difficulty! I was feeling pretty good about being able to help him, so when the librarian-in-charge came downstairs to check on things, I proudly told her what had just occurred, sat back, and waited for the praise to roll in. Instead, she looked at me like I'd just doused one of the stacks in whiskey and lit the thing on fire. I was then firmly told that requests like that should be sent up to the reference desk from now on, along with any other questions more complicated than "Where's the restroom?"
While I hope my volunteer experience hasn't been the norm, I still feel like there are a lot of us out there that truly want to help out the overworked librarians and staff of our library systems, but when we try, we're batted down to the most basic "Hi! How are ya?" duties available. Library volunteers are a fantastic resource, particularly in cities with a lot of LIS students looking for some practical experience in the public library sphere. Volunteering is often the only option for students who (like me) are employed full time and just don't have the time for a full-blown internship or directed fieldwork. I wonder, though, how often that resource is tapped. And if other people have had the same experience as me, why that is. The most likely explanation I can think of is that volunteer duties are restricted because of the endangered nature of many librarian and staff positions thanks to library budget cuts nationwide in the wake of the recession.
But there is hope! This great article by Norman Oder on LibraryJournal.com talks about how a volunteer corps in one North Carolina library system has enabled the system to open two of its branches to the public one extra day per week. And this stellar piece by Anthony Bernier serves as a call-to-arms for public library systems to take advantage of a willing and ever growing young adult volunteer group.
For LIS students who are in search of a more challenging volunteer opportunity, one that may actually give experience on the level of an internship or directed fieldwork, our options are steadily growing. Just the other day I received an email though one of my school's listservs (something you should definitely monitor for great volunteer opportunities) about a volunteer opportunity with L-Net. L-Net is a virtual reference desk supported by the Oregon Libraries Network and available 24/7 to anyone for free. Another service that began as a graduate course at the University of Michigan, the Internet Public Library, has plenty of opportunities for library students to get involved with special and ongoing projects.
While volunteering at your local library might seem frustrating and limited for an LIS student, it's still desperately needed. Volunteers can make or break a library system, and I'm really hoping to see more opportunities arise for us LIS students to really flex our muscles.
Categories: Internships & Volunteering


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I just bought $1,000 of Twitter stock, even though I've been a critic of the company for months. Recently I've concluded that TWTR has become beaten down so far that it ought to be regarded as a prime candidate for anyone who wants to buy a stock while it's cheap.
More importantly, I believe that Twitter's underlying business is sound, and that the broader market misunderstands how it works.
Put those factors together — a pummeled share price, a solid company, and widespread ignorance of the underlying business — and that looks like a buying opportunity to me.
Usually, journalists are forbidden from investing in the companies they write about because it might make them biased. It's a good rule. At BI we have a more liberal policy, merely requiring transparency and disclosure. (You can see my permanent conflict of interest disclosure here.)
More broadly, I found that owning stock made me much more sensitive to news about the companies and what was going on inside them. (I previously bought and then sold Facebook and Google.) It made my understanding of them much more acute. Obviously, my stake was not trivial in terms of my personal finances. But nor was it large enough to change my life in any way.
Here's why I've decided to to take the plunge on Twitter.
They say you should buy low and sell high. At the beginning of this week, TWTR was trading at $32.07, down from its post-IPO high of $73.31. That looks like a valley to me. (I bought at $32.28.)
The stock has been beaten down by its poor user metrics. User growth at Twitter seems to be stalled (only about 255 million people use the system, compared to Facebook's 1.2 billion). As Twitter's user base appears to be topping out, Wall Street has concluded that there is no more growth to be had at the company.
In terms of users that may be true. But not in terms of revenues or profits: Twitter doubled its revenues in both the last two quarters. Its net income is so marginally negative that it's clear Twitter can become profitable any time CEO Dick Costolo chooses — and that the company is reinvesting its money in future growth. (A possible investment in SoundCloud is one such idea.) I believe that investors can't ignore a financially growing business forever, regardless of what the user metrics are.
Wall Street's understanding of how Twitter works — and how it can potentially develop its business — is rudimentary at best: Wall Street thinks that Twitter's advertisers buy promoted tweets and ... er, that's it.
In fact Twitter has acquired or developed nine separate businesses that throw off a huge amount of data on what users are doing. Twitter is incredibly embedded into the web and the mobile web. Virtually every significant web site and mobile app has a Twitter integration. And Twitter is most heavily used by people who need to be plugged in, people who need news now. Your mom may never join Twitter. But she may never join LinkedIn either, and no one ever criticizes LinkedIn for not having enough users.
At Twitter, it's going to be all about the targeting that massive embedded structure provides.
Good targeting data is like gold for online advertisers. It can be used in an endless number of different ways. Who saw Twitter's #AmazonCart deal coming? It doesn't matter whether this deal is going to move the needle at Twitter or not. The point is that the platform can be used in a huge number of different ways and advertisers have barely begun to scratch the surface.
CEO Costolo has not made a great case to investors about the future growth of Twitter, in my opinion. But that doesn't mean he's wrong. Even on his first-ever earnings call, when investors were selling the stock because the user metrics were soft, Costolo pointed out that the company was already experimenting with user interface redesigns to make the app more friendly. In other words, he's not blind to the company's flaws. They're being fixed.
That's why Twitter is now a buy. I intend to hold Twitter for a long time period, and won't be surprised if it declines even more before going back up again.


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Fan who fell from deck at Bills game banned from stadium
An unruly football fan who survived a fall from the top deck of Ralph Wilson Stadium onto a man below has been banned from the stadium and could face charges, officials said Monday.
Video from Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets shows the fan sliding down the 300 level railing in a seated position before flipping backward and plummeting about 30 feet to the 200 level.
He and the man he landed on were treated inside the stadium before being taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released, authorities said.
Bills President and Chief Executive Russ Brandon called the fallen fan's behavior irresponsible and in violation of the fan code of conduct.
''This individual will not be permitted back into Ralph Wilson Stadium,'' Brandon said in a statement.
Season ticket-holder Jeff Savidge, of Rochester, said play on the field had stopped for a television timeout when the falling fan suddenly landed across the neck and shoulders of a man across the aisle from him.
''He kind of bounced off him and landed about two rows down on the ground,'' Savidge said in an interview. ''I heard somebody scream from behind us, `Oh my God!' or something like that.''
The man who fell got up and said he was OK but was stopped by security from leaving, Savidge said. Arriving emergency workers put a neck brace on him and carried him away on a chair stretcher, he said.
A security officer, meanwhile, held the head of the fan who was struck to keep him from moving as he sat upright in his seat awaiting medical attention, Savidge said. He was carried out on a backboard.
''As much as it was kind of chaotic, everybody was in control,'' he said.
The Bills' ban on the man sliding down the railing was supported by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, who said the fan ''has shown that he is a danger to himself and others.''
''Yesterday's reckless and dangerous incident at Ralph Wilson Stadium is an example of the type of behavior that gives Buffalo a bad reputation and that can never be tolerated, dismissed or accepted,'' Poloncarz said.
The Bills lease the stadium from the county.
Brandon said the team is cooperating with an Erie County Sheriff's investigation of the incident. Sheriff's spokeswoman Mary Murray, citing the investigation, did not release the names of the men. She said charges are possible.
In September 2012, a 20-year-old fan from Tennessee died when he tumbled over a railing at the Georgia Dome and struck a man below during a college game.
Since 2003, more than two dozen cases of fans falling at stadiums have been reported across the United States, according to the Institute for the Study of Sports Incidents. The institute is part of the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security, based at the University of Southern Mississippi.


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Jeter day-to-day with ankle inflammation
Tampa, FL – New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has been diagnosed with mild inflammation of his left ankle.
Jeter was scratched from Tuesday's spring training loss to Philadelphia because of soreness in his surgically repaired ankle. He was slated to play his first road game of the spring, but experienced soreness in his ankle while taking batting practice before the contest.
The veteran infielder was examined by Dr. Daniel Murphy, and precautionary x- rays and an MRI were taken. X-rays proved negative, but the MRI revealed the inflammation.
The 38-year-old future Hall of Famer could return to the lineup as soon as Wednesday. He has played five games this spring and has three hits in 11 at- bats.
Jeter suffered a fractured ankle in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against Detroit last October while awkwardly fielding a grounder in the 12th inning of what turned out to be a 6-4 loss that ignited a four-game Tigers' sweep. He had surgery a week later.


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GWAR frontman Brockie found dead in Virginia home
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Dave Brockie, frontman for the heavy metal band GWAR, has been found dead in his Richmond, Va., home at age 50.
Richmond police spokeswoman Dionne Waugh says officers were called to home shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday for a report of a dead person. When officers arrived, Brockie — who went by the stage name Oderus Urungus — was found dead inside the home.
Detectives don't suspect foul play at this time and Waugh says the medical examiner's office will determine cause of death.
The Grammy-nominated band founded in 1984 is known for its comically grotesque costumes, stage antics and vulgar lyrics.
GWAR released its latest album in 2013 and recently toured Australia and Japan.
In 2011, lead guitarist 34-year-old Cory Smoot was found dead on the band's tour bus.


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My name is Ahmed Al Haddad. I create practical and attractive designs. I've been designing IT products for the past 10 years.
During my work, I've participated on a large number of projects with vast diversity. From games to mobile apps and social networks, company websites and marketing material. I've worked on projects of all sizes, including Google Search!
If you have an idea, I can help you make it a reality. Contact me now!


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It's striking how importantenergy
is to happiness. Unfortunately, when you're feeling blue, it can be hard to muster up the physical and mental energy needed to do the things that will make you happier. Planning a brunch party, weeding the garden, or pulling out a craft project seems like a lot of trouble, while plunking down in front of the TV or digging into a tub of ice cream entices you as an easy fix. But research shows (and you know it's true) that these aren't the routes to lifting your spirits.
Instead, I've found it helpful to look for patterns in the times of day when I begin to drag: Am I having trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Passing out at my desk in the mid-afternoon? Dragging around the apartment after dinner instead of having fun with my family? Sometimes, oddly, I'm too tired to go to bed: I can't face the effort of brushing my teeth, washing my face, and all the rest. Once I identified the energy dips in my daily routine, I was able to identify strategies to keep my energy higher — and I've been astonished by how quickly and easily I'm able to give myself a boost.
For long-term energy, it's most important to a) get enough sleep and b) get some exercise. But that doesn't help you if you need some energy right now. When I'm desperate for an immediate happiness boost, these are the tips that really work for me:
More From Good Housekeeping
1. GO OUTSIDE INTO THE SUNLIGHT Light deprivation is one reason that people feel tired. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning. And while you're outside...
2. GO FOR A BRISK WALK One study found that even a 10-minute walk is enough to increase energy and decrease tension.
3. ACT WITH ENERGY We think we act because of the way we feel, but often we feel because of the way we act. Trick yourself into feeling energetic by moving more quickly, pacing while you talk on the phone, and putting more energy into your voice.
4. LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE UPBEAT SONG Hearing stimulating music gives an instant lift and is one of the quickest, most reliable ways to affect your mood and energy level. I'm always surprised by the effectiveness of this strategy.
5. TALK TO AN ENERGETIC FRIEND Not only do you gain energy from interacting with other people, but you also — in what's called emotional contagion — "catch" their emotions. Instead of infecting others with your draggy mood, try to lift yourself by catching the energy of a boisterous friend.
6. TACKLE AN ITEM ON YOUR TO-DO LIST Unfinished tasks weigh you down. So if you feel bad about skipping your skin cancer check, not having completed an overdue report, or not having faced this month's bills, force yourself to tackle one thing that's nagging at you. It's tough, but you will feel a huge rush of energy when you cross it off your list.
7. CLEAN UP I'm not sure why tidying makes such a huge difference, but when I feel like I can't face the day, I tidy up my desk, and I perk right up.
Here are some other ideas, grouped by category, to try:
• Add a fun thing to your calendar, such as trying a new recipe.
• Better, add a fun thing to your calendar that involves other people. For instance, I have a friend who loves visiting perfume shops as much as I do, and every once in a while we plan a perfume-shop outing.
• Best, add a fun thing to your calendar that involves other people and has you doing something outdoors. Studies show that just being outside in the sunshine helps boost your sense of focus and good cheer.
• Think of a subject that you wish you knew more about (be honest — something that really interests you) and spend 15 minutes on the Internet reading about it.
• Take a step toward acquiring a new skill you'd like to have — research Italian classes in your neighborhood, investigate a Photoshop class you can take online.
• If you can't think of one single subject that interests you, visit two bookstores (one huge chain, one independent store) and browse until some book catches your attention. Then buy and read the book.
• Sign up to be an organ donor (and don't forget to tell your family that you've chosen to do so).
• Write a check — even a small one — for a good cause.
• Sign up to volunteer for or participate in an organization that furthers a cause you value.
• Walk around the block.
• Do 10 jumping jacks.
• Go to the gym or out for a run.
• Clear out the space around your computer.
• Clean out a closet.
• Walk through your house with a garbage bag and clear clutter until the bag is full of trash. Then walk around again and fill a new bag with things to be given away. Repeat.
• Reach out to a family member you've been neglecting.
• Make something right: Apologize, confess, repair, replace — or return something you borrowed.
• Throw away someone else's litter.
• Be helpful to an elderly person or a person with small kids.
• Be friendly to a store clerk who seems grouchy.
To feel happier quickly, it helps to remember that you have to "burn energy to create energy." When I'm at my most sluggish, apathetic, and gloomy, I can often kick myself into gear by burning some energy: running up the stairs, singing out loud, doing a whirlwind tidy-up of our apartment, or crossing some nagging task off my list. Counterintuitively, perhaps, these exertions don't drain me even more. Instead, they furnish a much-needed surge of energy.
By pushing yourself to burn a little energy by tackling a task, you'll give yourself a shot of energy and cheer. If you can't face a big task, just do something small. Even a little step in the right direction will give you a lift.
I love this quote by Dag Hammarskjold, from his book Markings: "Do not look back. And do not dream about the future, either. It will neither give you back the past, nor satisfy your other daydreams. Your duty, your reward — your destiny — are here and now."
How do you find happiness in the here and now? E-mail me at email@example.com. I'd love to hear from you!
Happiness Thought for June
"It is only possible to live happily ever after on a daily basis." —Margaret Bonanno


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New Jersey lawmakers may change inheritance tax
TRENTON – New Jersey lawmakers are looking into repealing new Jersey's inheritance tax and raising the threshold for paying an estate tax.
The state is one of only two that taxes both now, according to The Record.
The inheritance makes those other than the spouse, child, parent or grandparent of the deceased pay when they inherit more than $25,000.
SEE ALSO | Christie vetoes $1 billion in new taxes .
And the estate tax kicks in when a person's estate is worth more than $675,000 — a threshold is met by many homeowners, even those without much wealth.
Gov. Chris Christie has indicated that he wants to see the system changed and lawmakers are increasingly talking about the idea.
But some caution that changes would reduce the $760 million a year the state now gets from the programs.


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A version of this post initially appeared on the Times' Eureka blog
The ballad of Simon Singh and his altercation with the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) has been told many times before (for example). What I want to focus on here is the way the case inspired scientists, skeptics and bloggers to become involved in a movement to change the law. Or, to put it another way, how libel reform 'got its geek on'.
Why was it that, sitting in the pub last April, when someone joked about the idea of a calendar of geeks, the first response was "yep, it could raise money for libel!" When did libel reform become the charity of choice for UK science?
The BCA vs Singh case provided a clarion call for those who care about science to start worrying about libel. As Singh himself notes in Greg Foots' great video, this is not the only time someone's found talking about science can lands them in court. Indeed, a new story about Peter Wilmshurst broke just after I sent this to the Times.
In many ways, the English libel laws go against a certain ideal of science: a need for free and open debate. It is an ideal shared by much of journalism. In the words of the Times science reporter Hannah Devlin: "English libel laws are undermining the basic tenants of science: that there isn't any question you can't ask and there isn't any hypothesis that can't be challenged. It is important that we can do these things in journalism as well as in the practise of science".
Perhaps then, it is no surprise that scientists and science writers are so worried about the issue. Groups such as Sense About Science and the Association of British Science Writers joined the campaign, the latter organising a debate about science journalism and libel law at City University last year (watch the video). Events like this helped promote feelings many in science and science writing felt already, got them talking to one another and helped to foster a sense of a movement.
There was also the work of intersecting 'geek' communities of skeptics and bloggers, both with their own history of commitment to ideals of free debate. As Ben Goldacre wrote last April, the scale of online activism during the BCA vs Singh case, often from skeptics, was "unprecedented", a point echoed by Nick Cohen, proclaiming after a visit to a skeptics meeting that "the nerds are on the march". Still, as David Allen Green says, we should maintain perspective. We shouldn't reduce the story of BCA vs Singh to simply a triumph of the geeks, many other characters, groups and events played their role too.
For me, the key point is the way the libel reform movement has folded into the relationship between science and politics. In the run up to the 2010 election, it was noticeable how libel reform was often packaged alongside science issues. So much so, that when the Guardian asked each of the main parties questions relating to the 'science vote', they included libel but not education. That the Guardian should suffer what might be seen as somewhat of a lack of perspective here is testament to how important the cause has become to the UK scientific community.
When that pub idea of a Geek Calendar somehow became real and we held a photoshoot with Evan Harris in quad of the British Medical Association, he echoed the same comments he made in judging the Times' Eureka 100, declaring Singh his "geek hero". As Harris put it, Singh's case has not only "turned geeks on to libel reform", his articulate handling of the events has helped cultivate political expression in the UK scientific community. Indeed, Singh spoke alongside Harris at the recent Science is Vital rally.
That may be one of the legacies of 'geekifying' the libel reform movement. It is not just that scientists, technophiles and skeptics played a role in lobbying for change in the law, but that the campaign itself has played a role in the broader politicisation of UK science. Crucially, the libel reform movement demonstrates a politicisation of science that cares deeply about their work relates to the world outside the laboratory, and are ready to work with a range of people and institutions in trying to achieve its aims.
A lot has been made of what geeks have done for libel reform. Maybe in years to come we'll also think of what libel reform gave the geeks. Either way, there's still some distance to go yet.
Do sign the libel reform petition. You can also buy a Geek Calendar online (or, for a limited time, at the Wellcome Collection bookshop).
A brief postscript on nomenclature: I've never really liked the word geek. I find it a bit affectatious. Still, it captures a range of characters well enough and many do self-identify using the term. As I tried to say in the Guardian last week, the recent 'reclaiming' of geek and nerd perhaps reflects a sense of 21st century celebration of niche interests, something I think is probably a good thing, or at least an inevitable part of social life in late modernity.


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Everyone has that friend who grew up with a foosball table, or had one in college, and is impossible to beat. To the point where it's not even fun to play with them, unless it's on this table that introduces handicaps.
If you happen to find yourself squaring off against a foosball savant, this table lets you adjust the size of the goal openings, so you can narrow yours to increase the challenge for your competitor and level the playing field. It also includes an automatic point tracking system, with motion sensors detecting when a goal is scored.
The $700 table's cherry wood finish is also rather lovely, and it's boasted to have a "special lining" around the inside of the pitch that gives more 'oomph' to the ball as it bounces off the walls. I believe we call that rubber. [Hammacher Schlemmer via The Red Ferret Journal]


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Ryan S. Funk
- Associate Chair - Pharmacy Practice
- Associate Professor
- Department of Pharmacy Practice
Contact Info
Medical Center, Kansas City
3901 Rainbow Blvd, MS 4047
Kansas City, KS 66160
Personal Links
Biography —
Dr. Funk's research interests include molecular mechanisms of variability in clinical response to immunologically active agents used in the treatment of pediatric autoimmune disease. He encourages the involvement and training of pharmacy students in clinical- and laboratory-based research. Dr. Funk welcomes pharmacy students into his laboratory and teaches in the pharmacotherapy curriculum, and offers elective coursework in both Drug Development and Precision Medicine.
Education —
Research —
The work in my laboratory focuses on understanding the basis for inter-individual variation in drug disposition and response in the pediatric patient population. In particular, my work has focused on factors affecting the response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which are commonly used in the treatment of various pediatric autoimmune diseases. Previous and ongoing studies have focused on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measures of methotrexate activity as therapeutic biomarkers to guide the clinical use of methotrexate. This research has focused on understanding the basic biochemical pharmacology of methotrexate in the treatment of autoimmune disease, and has focused on the role of folates and inflammatory cytokines as biochemical markers of drug efficacy and toxicity. With the increased development and utilization of biologic DMARDs in the treatment of our patients, my group has become increasingly interested in understanding the mechanisms of disposition of these agents in the pediatric population and the utility of therapeutic approaches directed at enhancing exposure and response to this class of drugs. The use of clinical and pre-clinical approaches in my laboratory to address clinically relevant problems provides an ideal environment for students and scientists interested in the translational sciences.
Research Interests
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Rheumatology
Selected Publications —
Funk, R. S., Chan, M. A., & Becker, M. L. (in press). Cytokine Biomarkers of Disease Activity and Therapeutic Response in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
. Pharmacotherapy.
Funk, R. S., Singh, R. Pramann, L. Gigliotti, N. Islam, S. Heruth, D. P., Ye, S. Q., Chan, M. A., Leeder, J. S., & Becker, M. L. (2016). Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Attenuates Methotrexate Response in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and In Vitro
. Clinical and Translational Science, 9(3), 149-57. DOI:10.1111/cts.12399
Pramann, L. S., Davidow, L. W., van Haandel, L. & Funk, R. S. (2016). Development of Extemporaneously Compounded Aripiprazole Oral Suspensions for Use in Children. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding, 20(3), 257-61.
Funk, R. S., & Becker, M. L. (2015). Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Striving for Individualized Therapy. Expert Review of Precision Medicine and Drug Development. DOI:10.1080/23808993.2016.1133234
Funk, R. S., van Haandel, L. Leeder, J. S., & Becker, M. L. (2014). Folate Depletion and Increased Glutamation in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients Treated With Methotrexate: Folate Depletion in JIA Patients Treated With MTX
. Arthritis and Rheumatism [00043591], 66(12), 3476-85. DOI:10.1002/art.38865
Funk, R. S., van Haandel, L. Becker, M. L., & Leeder, J. S. (2013). Low-dose Methotrexate Results in the Selective Accumulation of Aminoimidazole Carboxamide Ribotide in an Erythroblastoid Cell Line. J Pharm Exp Ther, 347, 154-63.
Kazmi, F. Hensley, T. Pope, C. Funk, R. S., Loewen, G. J., Buckley, D. B., & Parkinson, A. (2013). Lysosomal sequestration (trapping) of lipophilic amine (cationic amphiphilic) drugs in immortalized human hepatocytes (Fa2N-4 cells). Drug Metab Dispos, 41, 897-905.
Logan, R. Funk, R. S., Axcell, E. & Krise, J. P. (2012). Drug-drug interactions involving lysosomes: mechanisms and potential clinical implications. Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, 8, 943-58.
Funk, R. S., Brown, J. T., & Abdel-Rahman, S. M. (2012). Pediatric Pharmacokinetics: Human Development and Drug Disposition. Pediatr Clin North Am, 59, 1001-16.
Funk, R. S., & Krise, J. P. (2012). Cationic amphiphilic drugs cause a marked expansion of apparent lysosomal volume: implications for an intracellular distribution-based drug interaction. Molecular pharmaceutics, 9(5), 1384-95. DOI:10.1021/mp200641e
Goldman, S. G., Funk, R. S., Rajewsky, R. A., & Krise, J. P. (2009). Mechanisms of Amine Accumulation in and Egress from, Lysosomes. Bioanalysis, 1, 1445-59.
Funk, R. S., & Krise, J. P. (2007). Exposure of Cells to Hydrogen Peroxide Can Increase the Intracellular Accumulation of Drugs. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 4, 154-9.
Duvvuri, M. Konkar, S. Funk, R. S., Krise, J. M., & Krise, J. P. (2005). A Chemical Strategy to Manipulate the Intracellular Localization of Drugs in Resistant Cancer Cells. Biochemistry, 44, 15743-49.


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At the beginning of each term, I ask my students in my first of three levels of social media marketing courses to utilize our class wiki to list their name, blog, and Twitter handle. In the last 2 years (and 12 courses later), there are fewer and fewer students without a Twitter handle and LinkedIn account when they begin class. This is a great sign, and pleases me to no end! At the beginning of my journey teaching the Social Media MBA, many students had not used Twitter for personal or business purposes, with a majority not even having any social accounts other than a personal Facebook page and the occasional Instagram. These platforms offer so much more than sharing pictures with family and humorous memes. They offer brands a way to connect, engage, and nurture relationships with the consumer.
You cannot see what folks are doing in social media (this would include your customers) if you're not in the trenches with them. Just as we integrate a marketing campaign for a product, you do this among social platforms. All of your social profiles should align to present a digital footprint- one that is of "you". This may seem to be a very basic concept, but students sometime forget the over-all goals and objectives they have set for their own personal brand, and veer off into left field with tweets and blog posts. Your Twitter feed, LinkedIn profile, and blog etc. are a puzzle that when put together represents you and your brand.
Be the seeker and the sought after
Through Twitter, a user is able to search the social networking site using industry specific words to read posts, links, and even discover thought leaders for various industries. The user can follow these folks and also have relevant two-way dialogue. For example, a simple search using #smm would reveal all posts related to SMM (AKA social media marketing) using that hashtag (#), or the top posts (your choice). After viewing the posts, one can browse, follow, and network. The #hashtag is a powerful tool in that it not only allows you to find the information you seek, and also allows the information/posts you share to be found.
To Hashtag or not to Hashtag?
One of the things I have noticed about the beginners in my social media courses, is the absence of a #hashtag in their tweets. I am not saying every tweet needs one, but it is a great way to filter out the noise. Your hashtags must be relevant in order to establish yourself as a credible and viable source of information. Overuse and misuse of the hashtag #pretty #much #negates # your #professionalism. Another blatant misuse of the hashtag is hijacking. Last year, we saw #McDStories hashtag hijacked and used for purposes of negative bashing of the brand as opposed to the sharing of happy moments and good things surrounding the brand. I will admit as a social media marketer, I enjoy (for lack of a better word) seeing these scenarios because I want to see how the brand handles it. Grab a bag of popcorn and watch a live case study unfold. It is very unfortunate that there is such misuse. However, those of us in social media know once we expose ourselves via social, we open up a host of possible crisis situations that must be planned for. More on that in a few weeks.
Professional Connections
Also relevant for the social media professional is LinkedIn. This professional networking site allows you to post and view profiles. It is a great personal branding tool allowing the user to post relevant information, a photo, Twitter ID, and blog site etc. LinkedIn offers many groups that are industry specific that can be used as a sounding board, advice, and even support. The Texas Young Professionals group would be a great place to start for my Texas students and The Social Media Strategies for Business Group for the professional interested in social media.
I am sure most of the readers of this article are already on Twitter and LinkedIn and active. Kudos. If you are not, and refuse to due to privacy issues and not wanting to go on to "yet another social platform", I urge you to reconsider. Both Twitter and LinkedIn can be a huge asset in not only networking with like-minded folks, but also to research topics, news, and subject matter thought leaders. Similarly, it can be an asset for B2B's to get to know prospective clients prior to meetings and to network, and for B2C's to share valuable content and become more accessible. By no means is this an exhaustive list of benefits, but you get the idea.
Be a Life Long Learner
In this age of a technology and being able to have access to a wealth of information, why ignore it? Be a life learner by way of other professionals out there willing to share what they have learned. I mentioned in another article here that I have surrounded myself with like-minded people that I can have a symbiotic relationship with. Many of the folks I follow on Twitter and connect with on LinkedIn were chosen because I can learn from them and I value the content they produce. You should do the same. Set aside 20 minutes each week this month and explore these networks to add to your "tribe".
Social platforms offer brands (both corporate and personal) the ability to learn, share, connect, and create opportunities!
Read the entire, unedited post here.
photo credit: eclecticlibrarian via photopin cc


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"A little help: I've just bought my first 3D Blu-ray and I want to backup it to my PC's HDD. I typically used some Blu-ray ripper software and converted a normal Blu-ray to the drive with no problems. It keeps all the menu's and movie intact. However I'm not able to do the backup with a 3D Blu-ray. A point in the right direction as to what software to use to rip the 3D disc would be greatly appreciated. I won't be buying any more 3D discs unless I can figure out how to rip them successfully. Thanks in advance for your help."
Generally, Blu-ray backup tools could only backup 2D Blu-ray movies onto computer hard drive or blank disc. Backup 3D Blu-ray movies requires special 3D Blu-ray backup tools. UFUSoft Blu-ray Copy/Cloner is one of these 3D Blu-ray backup tools you could use to copy and backup your 3D Blu-ray movies with 3D effect retained on Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP PC.
To copy 3D Blu-ray movies from either disc, folder or ISO image file, you need to get full prepared. The very first thing you should prepare is source 3D Blu-ray movies. If you want to copy 3D Blu-ray disc onto another blank disc or computer hard drive, insert source Blu-ray 3D movie disc into the Blu-ray recorder drive. If you want to copy 3D Blu-ray movie folder or 3D Blu-ray ISO image file, also, get source Blu-ray movies ready.
Zweitens, get clean target drive. To copy 3D Blu-ray movie to blank Blu-ray disc, prepare a blank writable Blu-ray disc and insert it to the Blu-ray recorder drive. To backup Blu-ray 3D movies onto computer hard drive, make sure the target drive gets enough storage space.
Drittens, download and install 3D Blu-ray copy software – UFUSoft Blu-ray backup softare on your Windows 10/8.1/8/7 PC. This 3D Blu-ray backup software could help copy and backup source 3D Blu-ray movies to anywhere you want it to be.
To sum up, all things you need to prepare are listed below:
1. Source 3D Blu-ray movies, in either disc, folder or ISO image file.
2. Blank writable target Blu-ray disc, or hard drive with enough space.
3. Blu-ray recorder drive.
4. Windows- 10/8.1/8/7 3D Blu-ray copy software.
5. Internet connection (in case of 3D Blu-ray discs being encrypted).
How to Copy and Backup 3D Blu-ray Disc on Windows 10/8.1/8/7 PC
Insert original 3D Blu-ray disc into the Blu-ray recorder drive on your computer and then launch UFUSoft 3D Blu-ray Copy. Follow the below steps to learn how to copy 3D Blu-ray movies with this 3D Blu-ray copy software.
Schritt 1: Add original 3D Blu-ray disc
Klicken Sie auf die "Add Blu-ray/DVD" button to browse and add the original 3D Blu-ray disc you've inserted into the Blu-ray recorder drive. You could also click the inverted drop-down triangle arrow to directly add original 3D Blu-ray disc from Blu-ray drive. After adding 3D Blu-ray disc, select "Full Movie" option on the left processing list.
Schritt 2: Finish 3D Blu-ray copy settings
Click the big green "Copy" button to set "Copy to", "Disc Label" and "Save to" options. To copy 3D Blu-ray disc to another blank Blu-ray disc, insert a blank writable Blu-ray disc into another Blu-ray recorder drive of your computer and then select it as target under "Copy to" option. If you only get one Blu-ray drive, you need firstly to backup 3D Blu-ray disc to an ISO file by selecting "ISO File" option under "Copy to", and then backup the generated ISO file onto target blank Blu-ray disc.
Schritt 3: Start copying 3D Blu-ray disc on Windows 10/8.1/8/7 PC
After the above settings, click the bottom "Copy" button to start copying 3D Blu-ray disc.


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Recommendation for food to replace Hill's j/d
I have a 3 year old Golden that I love and got from a rescue league about a year ago. He was diagnosed with mild joint disease. The Vet I used to go to placed him on Hill's j/d, Synovi63 granules, and Previcox (as needed for periods of inflammation). Through exercise I've gotten 8 lbs off of his weight in the past 3 months.
I did away with everything but the Hill's j/d because I didn't know what else to give him. I now feed him 1 1/2 cups of the j/d twice a day and add a tbsp of Missing Link Plus for the glucosamine/chondroiton, two tablets of Nutri-vet brewer's yeast, and two capsules of 1000mg Fish Oil concentrate.
After reading many of the comments in this forum, I'm realizing that I probably should find a different dry food for my dog that isn't so high in carbs (not to mention price!). I'm a single bachelor but willing to cook if that's what my dog needs.
I just need a simple, good recommendation for a dry food and what other meat/vegetable combination I should add to his feedings. I would greatly appreciate all responses.
Thank you for your replies!
Last edited by RKMaine; January 20th, 2009 at 09:08 PM.
The first ingredient in this product is corn. The only meat protein source in this food is chicken by-product meal - which means it can contain whatever left over chicken parts are handy for that particular processing batch. It could be anything from beaks & feet to feathers.
If you are already giving a g/c supplement, and a fish oil supplement, then you've already eliminated the supposed benefits of feeding this particular food. I would caution you on the brand of supplements you are using though. Because supplements aren't regulated, they may not contain what they claim, or the strength may vary from batch to batch. For the g/c - there are studies that suggest that the addition of MSM and ASU's to the supplement increase the benefits of the supplement. In general, the cheaper the brand of supplement, the more likely it is to have questionable levels of what you are buying it for.
My newfie girl had to have knee surgery, and the ortho vet told me that she had to be put on a g/c supplement. They recommended Cosequin because its formulas have been independently tested on a frequent basis and found to contain what they claim. A short time after we started her on the Cosequin, I was doing research and found that the makers of Cosequin had developed a new product called Dasuquin. The Dasuquin comes in a form with MSM and another with MSM and ASU's.
Livin in a Newfie Drool Zone
Thanks Kandy,
I was at the pet store today. There was a brand of Nutro that advertised itself as either all natural or organic. There was also a Wellness brand for adult dogs that seemed okay to me. Opinions welcome.
I bought some chicken and carrots to cook and add to my Golden's diet. I'll check on the supplements you suggested and appreciate the info.
It's cold here in Maine. I'm starting to dream of warmer climates.
Don't be fooled by claims on the bag of "all natural" or "organic". You need to look at the ingredient listing. When I'm looking at a dog food, I look for no corn (in any form), no by-products, no unspecified protein sources (meat meal vs chicken meal), no wheat and for me, no barley because I have a dog who does not tolerate barley. I also don't like to see tomato pumace or beet pulp which are both stool hardners and can mask problems - but I will tolerate those if the rest of the ingredients are good. I also avoid any food that lists a grain as the first ingredient.
IMO, Wellness produces a better product than Nutro.
Also, a dog will eat more of a poor quality food trying to get the nutrients that it needs so you end up feeding more, and the excess comes out the other end of course. The benefits of a good diet (whether that be kibble, raw or homemade) is that you'll feed less and have less waste to clean up and of course your pet will be healthier.
I have people comment all the time that the newfs must cost a fortune to feed or that their poops must be the size of a chihuahua. The newfs on average eat less than 3 cups a day of food, and their poops look like they came from a dog less than half their size.
Livin in a Newfie Drool Zone
Proportion question
Thank you for all of your opinions. It's obvious you've given this a lot of thought. I looked at the ingredients and thought the Wellness adult dog food looked like a better product.
I was in Trader Joe's in Boston yesterday and picked up some COG10 and a bottle of glucosimine/chondroitin supplements. As I type this I am boiling a chicken and some carrots (brown rice later).
What do you think would be a good proportion of the items I am cooking to add to a cup of his dry food along with the supplements?
Thanks once again!
Science diet JD
I am not a big fan of Science diet but I have a german Shepherd that has had a severe limp since he was 4 months old at first They thought it was pano or elbow displasia after trying several X-rays, Vets, suppliment and foods nothing seemed to make a difference. now he is 2 and his last xrays showed he has digenerative bone disease in the knee joint of his left front leg. The vet said it will continue to get worse until he can't walk any more. I was so upset at only 2 years old he had already spent most of his life limping. Now I am told it will only get worse. As a last hope I reluctantly put him on SD JD I also had a Custom fitted leg brace made to help take to pressure off the joint. Well it has been 3 months now that he has been on JD and having him wear the brace 24/7. He now has NO limp at all and hasn't worn his brace in over a Month. I don't know if it was the brace or the food or the conbination of the two but my boy can run and play like a normal 2 year old. I would love to take him off the JD but I am so afraid that his limp will come back.
Food for thought......
Thanks for your reply and comments about your experience with Hill's j/d and your German Shepherd. It's very hard to decide to know what the right thing is to do after I read everyone's comments. Different vets (even those without an interest in selling me the food) have told me to keep my dog on the j/d, make sure he gets plenty of exercise and he should be healthy.
Now I've come to this forum and read so many negative comments about j/d and it's overload of carbs, "floor scrap" ingredients, etc.
My 3-year old Golden has been on j/d for about 4 months, seems to be doing well, but if there is something I can do regarding his diet that is better then, of course, I want to do it. Just trying to figure out what is best in this maze of information.
Thanks again,
Well even my Vet was surprised at the difference in Hectors leg and admitted that he didn't think the JD would have made that big a difference. I am just glad that he is no longer in pain. 3 Months ago he couldn't play ball for more than 3 throws and he would be limping so bad I would have to make him stop. Now he goes out and run and plays with my other shepherd for hours with no limp at all. I actually found this forum when I was looking for other success story and all I found was all this negative.
For a dog with joint problems of any kind, the management of the condition includes keeping the weight at a healthy level, keeping the exercise at a consistent & moderate level and the use of nutriceuticals (g/c supplements, omega 3 supplements (fish oil), and anti-inflammatories when needed). I have a newfie girl with bone malformations, and my son has a male newfie with degenerative arthritis in his elbows, so I'm not unfamiliar with what it takes to manage these kinds of joint problems.
The only thing beneficial that is in the JD is the glucosamine & chondriton and the omega 3's. Looking at their nutrient listing (the website says they are 'average nutrient contents' - which logically indicates that the nutrient levels vary) this food is 51% carbs and only 20% protein. I can't even imagine trying to keep my newfie girl at a decent weight with that many carbs, even during the summer when she's more active! Guess that's why they had to add that 'extra ingredient' to keep them at a healthy weight.
The companies who manufacture poor quality kibble hope that pet owners don't take the time to learn what those ingredients are, that pet owners don't take the time to actually read an ingredient label - that pet owners rely on their advertising to make their decisions. Sadly, it seems to work. :sad: Most of the good folks here do take the time to learn and read - and that's why you won't find many people here saying that the JD is a good food.
While I've done tons of research on dog food, I always encourage people to do their own research. The best site I've found for explaining what the ingredients are, without making judgements on different brands of food, is this one: http://www.doberdogs.com/foodcht1.html
Personally, I'd rather give my dog a g/c and omega 3 supplement and feed them a good, low carb food with appropriate protein levels rather than feed them junk to get the supplements. Just my .
Livin in a Newfie Drool Zone
I was just searching the internet to find out where in Canada I could buy this food other than at my vet's as it is very expensive, and I find all this info about it being not a great food. My vet suggested it as my dog went from 107 lbs to 115 lbs and recently has been very fussy eating anything. She told me to try this and he does like it, I should also tell you that he has had cruciate ligament surgery 2 years ago(he is 5yrs old, a yellow lab hound cross) and is on Cartrophen injections for life. I am very disappointed that my vet would suggest a food with chicken by products and high calorie as described in above messages. I am looking for a healthy dry food for him that is tasty and will help him lose this weight, please any suggestions would be greatly appreciated; I am glad to be a member here
My cat is smarter than your honor student.
Stop Dog Fighting ~ Neuter Mike Vick!
~ RIP Timmy ~ May 2009 - November 6th 2009
My dog is also on cartrophen for life. I chose not to have the surgery as he did not completely tear the ligament, but it did mean a long time off, and now he is restricted again (he is older though).
I just feed him Acana Pacifica and also a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement.
For weight loss, I would start with a little bit less than the recommended feeding and go from there-you may have to decrease or increase. Adding pure pumpkin puree is a great way to add bulk (if he is not satisfied with the amount of food he is getting) without adding calories (plus it has many other health benefits). I add it to both of my dogs' meals (and it's great for putting in kongs, and for getting them to take pills. Great for their digestive systems!
I have a 9 year old German Shepherd who had pano, hip-elbow-knee-joint displasyia. He had been on pain meds since he was a puppy. He is fixed and severely overweight. The very suggested Hills J/D. With all the comments on here i just don't know what to do. He doesn't move very well and is in a lot of pain. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Frankly, jensol01, any high-quality food would probably be better for your baby.
I would start a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement if he's not on one and cut back on the amount of food so that he loses weight. Excess weight is very hard on joints. We have had multiple dogs over the years with joint problems--mostly we just keep their weight at light normal, make sure they get moderate, low-impact exercise (swimming is great for joint problems if your dog likes water), supplement with glucosamine/chondroitin, and treat with anti-inflammatories as needed. Often, joint problems can be managed well enough to minimize the need for pain meds.
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."
"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Alternative thoughts for food
We had a husky for 16 years and finally had to put her down a couple of years ago. We just got a rescue husky from the local Humane Society and they provided Royal Canin, and my vet provided a free Hills Prescription JD. When I looked at the ingredients of both I realized that we will return to the food we fed our original husky, NOW (fresh) which contains nothing but real ingredients. I may supplement that with a g/c as the dog is showing early signs of hip issues and her age in unknown but probably about 6. We fed our last husky this product from puppy to senior versions and she was amazingly healthy, mobile and never had digestive issues. It may be worth a try. a bit expensive but a small bag might we worth the effort. meat, fruit and veggies and little else which seems to make sense to me.
I always feed my pups organic food. Its always a safe choice! I recommend the Taste of the Wild brand.
So far no problems.
Last edited by hazelrunpack; November 13th, 2018 at 02:32 PM. Reason: No promotional links, pls
Is Taste of the Wild brand considered organic? It's not making that claim on their website...
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."
"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
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When Katy Perry isn't making music, she also has a bit of a sideline career. No, not in singing—it's actually in presenting the weather, at least after she took to Australian morning show Sunrise and presented the daily report this week.
To be perfectly honest, we're not sure Katy should be quitting her day job quite yet, but it's still pretty hilarious to see her attempting to pronounce the names of Australian cities. That said, Dumbledore is probably going to have to have a stern word with Katy, as she took the opportunity of presenting the weather to reveal the top secret location of Hogwarts.
MORE: 23 Things That Would Happen If Beyonce Went To Hogwarts
More From Seventeen
If chatting about the weather isn't really your thing, don't worry, as you'll probably enjoy the description of Katy helping her sister to give birth by filming the whole thing.
Check it out...
So basically it's Hot 'n' Cold then, is it?
Which celeb would you love to watch give the weather report every morning? Tell us in the comments below!
Originally Posted on Sugarscape.com


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Tadah! It's finished, my Corner-to-Corner Crochet blanket is all done. It worked up really fast and was such a joy to work on because the stitch is so easy. I have given this blanket the name "Spectrum" because of the colors flowing into one another and maybe it is just a little Bond too!
I started this blanket just a few weeks ago using Scheepjes Color Crafter in 18 shades. If you are are looking for this yarn (which is available in over 90 colors by the way) you can buy it from Wool Warehouse, or your local Scheepjes stockist. The colors I have chosen may seem random at first glance, but looking at the finished result there was at least some method to my madness, right?
This blanket is very warm because I am using the yarn double stranded. This meant that sometimes I had the blanket more next to me than on top of me whilst I was working on it. It is nice and warm in my back yarn, too warm for a winter blanket to be honest! But soon it will be cold again and then this blanket is going to be absolutely fabulous on my couch.
I decided to add a simple, yet elegant border to the blanket. I wanted the color gradient to be the most predominant aspect of the blanket, but at the same time I felt it missed something if there was no border. The grey border is for me the finishing touch.
And just a few more pics because I love this blanket so much….
I will get to writing up the free pattern this week. If all goes according to plan I will have all the details ready for you next week.
With love,
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This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and copyright policy. All opinions are my own and I only link to products I use or would use.


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Montbéliard môNbālyär´ [key], industrial town (1990 pop. 30,639), Doubs dept., E France, on the Rhône-Rhine Canal. Automobiles are the town's primary manufacture. With its surrounding countryside it constituted a county (after the 12th cent.) of the Holy Roman Empire. The county passed (1397) to the counts (later dukes) of Württemberg, who held it, with interruptions, until its capture by French Revolutionary troops in 1793. The town was a Huguenot refuge during the Reformation. It was formally ceded to France by the Treaty of Lunéville (1801). The castle of the Montbéliard counts was rebuilt in the 18th cent.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: French Political Geography


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Team unable to make cut for final round, but Shaw advances as individual
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (May 31, 2008) - While he didn't get to play with his teammates in the final round of the NCAA Championships, ETSU senior Gareth Shaw (Lisburn, Northern Ireland) was still able to experience the next best thing - making the cut as one of six individual qualifiers whose teams did not make the Top 15 cut.
Shaw, who finished the third round at 8-over 224 (74-73-77), tied for 20th and got the fifth of six spots in the final round. While he went on to fire a disappointing 12-over 83 in the final round and ultimately finished tied for 43rd in the championships, the senior was quick to put his ETSU career in perspective.
"I would have liked to have played along with the team, but once I realized that wasn't going to happen I made it a goal to get to the finals as an individual," said Shaw, who will likely earn All-American honors in the coming weeks. "It just didn't happen for me today. It was a tough round on a tough course. I've still had a great career at ETSU and I wouldn't change a thing. My time here was unbelievable. I was able to play with Rhys (Davies) for three years and being around Coach (Warren) is something I wouldn't change. I've improved my game each year I've been here and I hope to continue playing."
While Shaw played on Saturday, the Bucs were unable to make a move during the completion of the third round Saturday morning and ultimately finished 10 strokes off the cut. Even so, the team enjoyed another successful campaign in 2007-08, reaching a national ranking of 16th, making a program record 20th trip to the NCAAs, and advancing to the NCAA Championships for a third straight year.
"Overall we'll finish 22nd in the NCAA and in the Top 20 again in the rankings," said ETSU head coach Fred Warren. "Gareth will be an All-American, and overall it's been a good year for our team. To be honest we really lacked depth this year and we were playing with two freshmen most of the season. We did a great job playing a strong round in the regionals just to get here, so it may not go down as our best year ever, but it certainly wasn't our worst either."
As for the rest of the championship news, UCLA made it a sweep as the Bruins captured the team national championship by a stroke over Stanford, and individual Kevin Chappell took the individual medalist honors by three strokes.
The Bucs say farewell to seniors Shaw and Cian McNamara (Limerick, Ireland) after a successful four-year career for both players.
"We will miss both Cian and Gareth," Warren said. "They've both meant a great deal to our program."
For more on ETSU men's golf throughout the offseason visit ETSUBucs.com.


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Polo Headcover: White Boa + Pitch Black
Polo Headcover: White Boa + Pitch Black
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Each headcover is handcrafted in the USA and unique to you.
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Tag Archives: Dr. Strange
UPDATED! Mighty Marvel Mustache Brigade
So… in my job, I spend a lot of time in my car … and that leads to lots of time for the mind to wander. On a trip back from the Blue Ridge Mountains last Friday, I began to think … Continue reading
Posted in Comic Book Humor, Comic Books, Comics, Marvel Comics Tagged Angar the Screamer, Batroc the Leaper, Comics, Dr. Strange, Grey Garoyle, Hogun the Grim, Iron Man, Marvel, Mustache, Swordsman, The Leader, Tigra 2 Comments


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Intensive diet, exercise remain gold standard for diabetics
Dear Dr. K: I'm trying to cut back on salt in my diet. Can you help me get started? Where does most of the salt in my diet come from?
Dear Reader: You may be surprised to hear that, for most Americans, just 10 types of food deliver almost half of our daily sodium.
Here's the list: (1) breads and rolls; (2) cold cuts/cured meats; (3) pizza; (4) poultry; (5) soups; (6) hamburgers and other sandwiches; (7) cheese; (8) pasta-mixed dishes; (9) meat-mixed dishes; and (10) chips, pretzels and other savory snacks.
(For children ages 2 through 5, hot dogs and sausages come in at No. 3.)
At first glance, it seems odd that breads and rolls top the list. After all, they aren't nearly as salty as chips or cheese. But since we eat breads and rolls more often, the modest amounts of sodium they contain add up.
The body needs some sodium to function, but too much sodium can increase blood pressure and make the kidneys work harder. High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and more.
Americans take in an average of 3,266 milligrams of sodium a day, or about 1½ teaspoons of salt. That's well above the healthy target of 2,300 milligrams a day, or 1 teaspoon.
And some authorities say the target of 2,300 milligrams a day is too high. For people at risk for heart disease, kidney disease and stroke — such as people with high blood pressure or diabetes — a target of 1,500 milligrams a day is better.
As you cut down on salt in your diet, the first logical step is to limit or avoid the foods on the top 10 list. Next, be mindful when you shop for groceries or eat in restaurants.
The most sodium-heavy foods we eat tend to be processed foods. So minimize canned or prepared foods, as well as foods that are salted, smoked or cured, such as cold cuts, bacon and cheese. You can always check the Nutrition Facts label on packaged food in supermarkets to see how much salt is in a prepared food.
Be careful that you determine what the Nutrition Facts label considers a "serving." A can may say there are 500 milligrams of sodium in a "serving," leading you to think that means 500 milligrams in the whole can. But most of the time, the can will contain several servings. This may seem like obvious advice, but I'm surprised by how many of my patients don't look at the definition of "serving" that's on the label.
Replace processed foods with foods made from scratch. Eat more vegetables and fruits. Replace salt with herbs, spices and flavorings.
When you eat out, if possible, ask that your food be made without salt. At chain restaurants, menus that list nutrition information can help you choose wisely.
Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff is a practicing physician who is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School, senior physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and editor-in-chief of Harvard Health Publications. Send questions to www.AskDoctorK.com or mail to Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.


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The Weekend Links
"¢ From Kevin, an amazing, giant beautiful moth from Australia. Personally, I think moths are underrated, and often more intriguing than their fragile fellow fliers, the butterfly.
"¢ Catastic! Cats who look just like Wilford Brimley. Also check out this video game hack for the ultimate Wilford Brimley experience.
"¢ Hmmm, what do horror-punkers read? Take a look into the wild world of Glenn Danzig's book collection ... narrated by Danzig himself. (Thanks Pat for this jewel.)
"¢ Ron Burgundy interviews Tom Brokaw. (Via The Daily Tube, home of The Best New Videos on the Internet.)
"¢ Here are 10 cool cloud formations you may not have seen. I was lucky enough to witness #2 on this list, Mammatous Clouds, the other evening. Stunning. But then again, I'm a weather nerd.
"¢ Also from Kevin, an in depth look at whether our brains change when we go into space.
"¢ An Indiana Jones sports quiz from Page 2. Only serious fans of both need apply. The questions left me baffled, but I applaud anyone who can score well.
"¢ If you're looking for listening material, Bill Simmons recently welcomed Chuck Klosterman to The B.S. Report podcast. Chuck never responded to our internship offer.
"¢ One of the funniest things I've read in quite some time ... Jack Handey graces The New Yorker's "Shouts and Murmurs" feature with a fantastic piece.
"¢ Anyone excited for the Stanley Cup Finals? If you're watching and Detroit fans start tossing octopuses on the ice, here's a brief explanation:
"Every sport has its own strange traditions. I'd argue hockey's 'throwing an octopus on the ice for good luck' is the weirdest. Tossing the eight-tentacled cephalopod was the brainchild of Detroit storeowners Pete & Jerry Cusimano. The date: April 15, 1952. The logic: one tentacle for each of the eight victories it took to win the Stanley Cup back then. Later that spring, most likely fueled by the good luck octopus, the Red Wings won the title. PETA has objected to this practice, which continues to this day. The Red Wings mascot is not a Red Wing, but Al the Octopus."
"¢ From Flossy reader Tony, another great article: 10 Things You Didn't Know about Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.
"¢ A series of pictures documenting what happens when eggs freeze. Something I hadn't ever really considered, but the results are eggshellent.
"¢ From Jason: "I'm on some pretty strange mailing lists. Usually the non-bills & magazines go straight from the mailbox to the trash. But this one intrigued me enough to call on the floss army for an explanation. Anyone speak...whatever language this is? What's going on here? My money's on 'root beer ad.'"
[Update: Miss Cellania is on the same strange mailing list.)
"¢ A plethora of links this week from Angie. First: How do you add up? Here's a 1930s "wife rating chart" to be thankful at how far we've come.
"¢ An incredible video made with a Mac OSX Leopard desktop by digital filmmaker Dennis Liu.
"¢ Number 234879 in the list of Great Inventions: Transparent Post-Its!
"¢ Finally, the Lovely Picture of the Week.
Thanks as always to everyone who sent in such great links this week! Clean out your favorites list, drum up some shameless plugs, or just send forth any linkage to firstname.lastname@example.com. Have a great long weekend!