The Beginning of the End of Cancer?

 

A nanorobot is a tiny machine designed to perform a specific task or tasks repeatedly and with precision at nanoscale dimensions, that is, dimensions of a few nanometers (nm) or less. Nanorobots have potential applications in the assembly and maintenance of sophisticated systems. They might function at the atomic or molecular level to build devices, machines, or circuits, a process known as molecular manufacturing. Nanorobots might also produce copies of themselves to replace worn-out units, a process called self-replication.


A robot that measures only six atoms across, a nanorobot could have the ability to interact at the bacteria and virus level. A nanobots’ main function will probably be medical. They have the potential to revolutionize the medical community in almost every way. Nanorobots are so tiny that they could be easily injected into the bloodstream, where they would then navigate through the circulatory system in order to locate and fix problem areas of the body.



Don't be surprised if the world's first medical nanobot is sperm-propelled. Simply shrinking a design that swims well at the macroscale is no guarantee that it'll zoom along at the micro- or nanoscale.Once medicine has a nanoswimmer or nanocrawler (or have appropriated one from nature), researchers are going to have to figure out how to guide it towards a target and either release its payload or do whatever repairs need to be done. (S. Subramanian, J. S. Rathore, N. N. Sharma, "Design and Analysis of Helical Flagella Propelled Nanorobots," 2009 4th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems, 2009)
 
Here is a comparison. If you were to shrink, Fantastic Voyage-style and find yourself swimming in water, you'd think the water had turned into a highly viscious liquid like molasses. This has to do with the dynamics of fluids at different length scales. But, flagella is basically, a propeller for microbes.

Scientists in Israel created a microrobot only a few millimeters in length, which uses small appendages to grip and crawl through blood vessels. The scientists manipulate the arms by creating magnetic fields outside the patient's body. The magnetic fields cause the robot's arms to vibrate, pushing it further through the blood vessels. The scientists point out that because all of the energy for the nanorobot comes from an external source, there's no need for an internal power source. (Jonathan Strickland, "How Nanorobots Will Work," electronics.howstuffworks.com, October 11 2007)

Others believe miniaturized jet pumps could even use blood plasma to push a nanorobot forward, though, unlike the electromagnetic pump, there would need to be moving parts.

Nanorobots -- New Cancer Treatment



Feast your eyes closely on the photo above.You may be staring at the end of cancer. Those tiny black dots are nanobots delivering a lethal blow to a cancerous cell, effectively killing it. The first trial on humans has been a success, with no side-effects. ("This Is the Future of the Fight Against Cancer," gizmodo.com)

"It sneaks in, evades the immune system, delivers the siRNA, and the disassembled components exit out."

Those are the words of Mark Davis, head of the research team that created the nanobot anti-cancer army at the California Institute of Technology. According to a study to be published in Nature, Davis' team has discovered a clean, safe way to deliver RNAi sequences to cancerous cells. RNAi (Ribonucleic acid interference) is a technique that attacks specific genes in malign cells, disabling functions inside and killing them.

More than a decade ago, Nobel Prize winners Andrew Fire and Craig Mello found that shutting down cancer genes was easier when using RNA interference. This method uses double-stranded small interfering RNA chains (siRNAs) to cut the messenger RNA cancer cells use to repliate, rather than the RNA or DNA itself.
Researchers Fire and Craig made their discovery in worms, though, and before now, no one had shown that the siRNAs could be introduced into humans and make their way to targeted cancer cells. (Nicholas Wade, "2 American 'Worm People' Win Nobel for RNA Work," The New York Times, October 3 2006)

Now, Davis, Ribas, and their team have the pictures to prove that they've used nanoparticles to deliver siRNAs directly to cancer cells and that the siRNAs have indeed interfered with the cancer cells' ability to multiply.

Advancement in Nobel Prize-winning technology can deliver targeted therapy directly to cancer tumor cells, says Davis. The clinical trial showed that a specialized polymer nanoparticle injected into patients' bloodstreams did indeed carry a genetic off-switch message to cancer cells, rendering their proteins unable to replicate. (Kimberly Hill, "Nanobots Flip Off  Cancer Calls at Switch," TechNewsWorld, March 23 2010)

The 70-nanometer attack bots—made with two polymers and a protein that attaches to the cancerous cell's surface—carry a piece of RNA called small-interfering RNA (siRNA), which deactivates the production of a protein, starving the malign cell to death. Once it has delivered its lethal blow, the nanoparticle breaks down into tiny pieces that get eliminated by the body in the urine.
The most amazing thing is that doctors can send as many of these soldiers as they want, and the warriors will keep attaching to the bad guys, killing them left, right, and center, and stopping tumors. According to Davis, "the more [they] put in, the more ends up where they are supposed to be, in tumour cells." While they will have to finish the trials to make sure that there are no side-effects whatsoever, the team is very happy with the successful results and it's excited about what's coming:

"What's so exciting is that virtually any gene can be targeted now. Every protein now is druggable. My hope is to make tumors melt away while maintaining a high quality of life for the patients. We're moving another step closer to being able to do that now."

Conclusions

If the studies continue to show promise, nanobots could be our best friends when it comes to cancer. We may be able to customize dosages based on cancer type, and they appear to leave good cells alone and work in conjunction with other treatments.

For example, researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology and the Ovarian Cancer Institute are also studying the use of siRNAs. Their method is to hide a nanoparticle with siRNAs inside of a hyrogel, which then sneaks its way inside cancer cells. Once inside, it kills the cells and helps make chemotherapy more effective. The researchers have even been able to time the release of siRNAs from the nanobots to get the most out of them. (Katherine Noyes, "Nanotech 'Trojan Horse' Sneaks Drugs Into Cancer Cells," TechNewsWorld, February 18 2010)

"We are on the brink of a new era in cancer treatment." 

--Mauro Ferrari, professor and chairman of the department of nanomedicine and biomedical engineer at the University of Texas

 

Video 

 

 

 

 

First American Thanksgiving

After nine and a half perilous months at sea,
102 ill-suited whites stepped onto welcomed land
To unpack frivolous trumpets, sundials, and candle snuffers.
Hapless adventurers, facing a hostile ocean at their back, and before them  
A vast and unknown continent of wild and savage hue. 

They gave thanksgiving for good fortune...

"Lord, teach me grace for the comfort and safety of my warm home.
Remind me to give blessings for family, sustenance, and health.
Guide me towards redemption and forgiveness of my earthly sins.
Strengthen me with hope and eternal faith in God.
And sustain me in my morality and civilized education.


"Father, help me build strong fences of defense against the ignorant savages.
Keep me at a distance from the superstitious, hell-bent heathens.
Let me judge with righteous confidence the necessary purge of evil,
And instruct me in the ways of manipulation over those of lesser degrees 
As I establish my new Separatist home.

"For Almighty predestination in salvation is my birthright 
Acquired as the true faith of my Pilgrim fathers
And proven by my Baptism that cleansed original sin.
Freed of all idolatry, worldly manifestations of sacraments, 
May I offer no celebration created by the handiwork of mortals."

And soon a new world found root...


People of the First Light lay scattered in fields of native corn
Stricken down by foreign plague and blazing musket.
Fishers, hunters, gatherers:
Wampanoag remains fertilizing their motherland,
Unrecognizable victims of their own saving grace,
The dark-skinned spiritual remnants of an American Thanksgiving.

American Drug Terrorism

Worried about scanners and pat downs at airports?  It seems the international terrorists may have already won that battle of fear and intimidation. FoxNews (November 21, 2010) reports, "Fed up with body scans and intrusive pat-downs, some holiday travelers are sticking it to airport security with the fixings of any good protest: handmade fliers, eye-grabbing placards, slogan-bearing T-shirts — and Scottish kilts."

The most dangerous terrorists have been roaming the country for decades and continue to be successful in frightening, increasing numbers with their daily, deadly operations.We have met the enemy and he is us - rx drug abuse is reaching epidemic proportions.

In 2008, 15.2 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site). The NIDA-funded 2008 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 2.9% of 8th graders, 6.7% of 10th graders, and 9.7% of 12th graders had abused Vicodin and 2.1% of 8th graders, 3.6% of 10th graders, and 4.7% of 12th graders had abused OxyContin for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan Web Site)

Commonly abused classes of prescription medications include opioids (for pain), central nervous system depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy). Opioids include hydrocodone (Vicodin®), oxycodone (OxyContin®), propoxyphene (Darvon®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), meperidine (Demerol®), and diphenoxylate (Lomotil®). Central nervous system depressants include barbiturates such as pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal®), and benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium®) and alprazolam (Xanax®). Stimulants include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®), methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®), and amphetamines (Adderall®).

The Popularity of Prescription Drugs


Carol Falkowski, director of research communications for the Hazelden Foundation, a treatment center based in Center City, Minn., says prescription pills have become popular among youths because they are easy to get and represent a more socially acceptable way of getting high than taking street drugs. (Donna Leinwand, Prescription Drugs Find Place in Teen Culture, USA Today, June 13 2006)

Some kids, she says, are self-medicating undiagnosed depression or anxiety, while others are using stimulants to try to get an edge on tests and studying.

Falkowski says prescription drugs are familiar mood-altering substances for a generation that grew up as prescriptions soared for Ritalin and other stimulants to treat maladies such as attention-deficit disorder. "Five million kids take prescription drugs every day for behavior disorders," she says.

"It's not unusual for kids to share pills with their friends. There have been incidents where kids bring a Ziploc baggie full of pills to school and share them with other kids."

She also said, "Young abusers of prescription drugs also have begun using the Internet to share 'recipes' for getting high. Some websites are so simplistic, she says, that they refer to pills by color, rather than their brand names, content or potency."

The 2005 Partnership for a Drug-Free America survey found that more than three in five teens can easily get prescription painkillers from their parents' medicine cabinets. And as Falkowski says, the rising number of youths being treated with stimulants has made it easier for kids to use such drugs illicitly. About 3% of children are treated with a stimulant such as Adderall or Ritalin, up from less than 1% in 1987.

To try to reduce the supply of prescription drugs on the black market, authorities have shut down several "pill mills" — where doctors prescribe inordinate amounts of narcotics — as well as Internet pharmacies that ship drugs with little medical consultation, says Catherine Harnett, chief of demand reduction for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The constant terrorism of rx drug abuse exerted upon our children involving peer pressure, drug dealers, pill mills, public acceptance, and ease of attainment is much more dangerous than the threats of Al Qaeda or of the Taliban. In a drug culture, parents must take responsibility for their children's lack of recognition of severe danger. The first step to curbing abuse is identification of the problem and addressing troubling trends.

Troubling Trends

• Pharming - Kids “getting high” abusing Rx or OTC drugs;
  
  
• It has never been easier for teens to obtain intentional highs from  medications - Internet accessibility and loose e-commerce enforcement further enable easy acquisition;
  
  
• Parents do not understand the behavior of intentionally abusing medicines to get high;
  
  
• Parents are not discussing the risks of abuse of prescription and/or non-prescription cough medicine with their children;
  
  
• Three out of five parents report discussing marijuana “a lot” with their children, but only one third of parents report discussing the risks of using prescription medicines or non-prescription cold or cough medicine to get high.

Bottom line: a “Culture of Pharming” has taken root among America’s teens; only through education, prevention and the involvement of parents can it be rooted out. The Partnership for a Drug-free America's research has shown that kids who report learning a lot about the risks of abuse from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs as those who don’t.  Unfortunately, most parents are either unaware or in denial about their kids’ vulnerability and exposure to the intentional abuse of Rx and OTC medicines.

Perhaps because parents generally don’t think their teen could be vulnerable to Rx/OTC abuse, they don’t understand the idea of abusing such medications to get high, and, like far too many teens, they don’t think the abuse of these drugs can be as dangerous as the abuse of street drugs.

Real terror in America is the reality of horrible prescription drug addiction and its dark consequences -- pain, suffering, economic chaos, family destruction, crime, imprisonment, and death. Those who deal in this drug culture are people who use calculated violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear. Their ideology is based on the love of money and the indifference for addicts' lives. Intimidation and fear are weapons of their successful operation. The most vulnerable people we love are their major targets.   

Excellent information from the Partnership at DrugFree.org:

http://decoder.drugfree.org/2010/07/09/recovering-addict-shares-insights-into-prescription-painkiller-abuse/

Contacts for Ohio Legislators

Here is the information you may need to contact your local legislators about pain clinic reform. We need a massive public reaction for priority consideration. Please, express your concern for the epidemic of rx drug use in Scioto County. Call, write, and educate politicians about our needs. We desire comprehensive law that will aid in eliminating illegal distribution, providing needed enforcement, and offering facilities and funds for drug treatment, intervention, and education. Pill mills are unnecessary. They are sources of crime and evil addiction in our communities.


* GOVERNOR TED STRICKLAND

After Ted Strickland was first reelected to Congress, he placed a plaque in his office with the following quote from Scripture:

"And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"-Micah 6:8

Throughout his service as a minister, a psychologist, a professor and a Member of Congress, Ted worked to exemplify those simple, powerful words. That same plaque is now in the Governor's Office, where those same words guide Ted each day.

As Governor, Ted believes that Ohio government must live within its means while investing in what matters. Brought together by a sense of common purpose, legislators from both parties have worked closely with the Governor to strengthen Ohio.

Understanding that nothing will ensure Ohio's future prosperity more than creating a world class education system, Governor Strickland won the legislature's support for new funding for early care and learning, primary and secondary education, and Ohio's public colleges and universities.
 
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108

Phone/Fax

General Info: (614) 466-3555
Fax: (614) 466-9354

Online

http://governor.ohio.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=150

Press Inquiries

Press inquiries should be directed to our press secretary, Amanda Wurst. You can e-mail her at amanda.wurst@governor.ohio.gov.

Website Inquiries and Issues

Website inquiries and issues should be directed to Sam Auld. You can e-mail him at sam.auld@governor.ohio.gov.


* STATE SENATOR TOM NIEHAUS

State Senator Tom Niehaus represents the 14th Senate District of Ohio, including Adams, Brown, Clermont, Scioto and a portion of Lawrence County. His legislative career began in 2001, when he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. In November, 2008, he was elected to his second term in the Ohio Senate. He has quickly risen through the ranks, as demonstrated by his service on the influential Senate Finance & Financial Institutions Committee, his appointment as vice chair of the Senate Committee on Government Oversight and by his unanimous election to President Pro Tempore – the number two post in the 33-member chamber.

Senate Building
1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
 
Phone: (614) 466-8082
 
Email: SD14@senate.state.oh.us


* STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODD BOOK

State Representative Todd Book (D- McDermott ) of the 89th District is serving his fourth term representing voters in Scioto County and parts of Lawrence and Adams Counties.

The West Portsmouth native and son of a trenching business operator and a homemaker received a bachelor’s degree in political science with honors from Western Michigan University. He then earned his law degree from the College of William & Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law.

Rep. Book started practicing law back in the Portsmouth area after graduation and taught business law at Shawnee State University as an adjunct faculty member. He also became a business owner, starting Old Hickory Golf Co., Ltd. with his father. The business conducts golf outings using hickory-shafted clubs, period clothing and old-style golf balls.

In addition to his private business endeavors and his practice at the law firm of Harcha Book & Beck, LLC, Rep. Book keeps a busy schedule at the Statehouse. He Chairs the Ohio House Rules and Reference Committee, sits on the Civil and Commercial Law; Public Safety and Homeland Security and Elections and Ethics Committees. He’s also a member of several commissions and councils, and in 2004, the Council of State Governments Midwestern Office selected Rep. Book as a fellow of the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership.

Rep. Book stays extremely active in his community. He is a member of the Portsmouth Kiwanis, National Wild Turkey Federation, Scioto County Farm Bureau, Scioto County Catholic Social Services Board and the Salvation Army Advisory Board. He is also a member and an elder of the Portsmouth Second Presbyterian Church.

Book and his wife Emily live in McDermott. They have three children: Cassidy, Avery and Meredith.

77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
 
Phone: (614) 466-2124
 
Fax: (614) 719-6989
 
Email: district89@ohr.state.oh.us

SOME INFORMATION FOR YOUR INTEREST

http://www.onntv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2010/06/02/STORY-PAIN-CLINICS.html?sid=102

http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/article/20100604/NEWS01/6040310/Proposed-legislation-eyes-pain-clinics

http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Group+Recommends+Licensing+Pain+Clinics%20&id=7004578

http://www.marionstar.com/article/20101002/NEWS01/10020303/Prescription-drug-report-at-Statehouse-what-comes-next-

Ohio Pill Mill Legislation - Where Are We?

What is going on? Someone tell me. Creating a sense of urgency for action is paramount to saving lives in Ohio, one of the states held in high regard as representing the heartland of America. It seems the legislature in Ohio needs a reality check because the state has begun a rapid decline for concern in the quality of life for its inhabitants. Is Ohio a state without pity or merely a place facing a pitiful state?

These days, Ohio ranks 27th in the nation in violent crimes per 100,000 people while neighboring West Virginia is 39th and neighboring Kentucky is 40th. (Census, 2006) People in Ohio face increasing danger from all types of criminal activity, and the vast majority of all crime in the Buckeye State is the result of drugs.

In particular, Southern Ohio is riddled with monstrous criminal activity and drug abuse. For example, in Scioto County about 90% of all crime is drug related. The current increase in prescription drug abuse is astronomical. Poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness contribute to addiction.

These problems need to be addressed with prompt, comprehensive legislation aimed at prevention, enforcement, and treatment before the situation becomes even worse. Concerned citizens are attempting to take the proper measures to stem the tide of destructive behavior.

  
In April, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed an executive order that expanded the state's role and established a more comprehensive, coordinated approach to combating prescription drug abuse across Ohio.The executive order established a task force to help unite the ongoing efforts at the federal, state and local levels, and build on their work to address this rising problem.

"Prescription drug abuse is made possible by several different actors," Strickland said.  "Much of this abuse is fed by pill mills--where prescriptions and pills are dispensed in exchange for cash. And so to all the pill mills out there making a profit by selling a poison, let me be clear. We're coming for you. What you do is illegal and immoral, and we will fight you with everything we have." The governor was clear with his stern intentions and dedicated to his pledge of prioritizing the issue.

Strickland's order birthed the Ohio Prescription Drug Task Force composed of 33 health and law enforcement officials. George T. Maier, assistant director Ohio Department of Public Safety, chaired the task force. Dr. Alvin D. Jackson, director of Ohio's department of health, was vice chair.

The task force immediately addressed the need for quick action. The alarming statistics were sobering.“An average of four Ohioans die each day from a prescription drug related overdose,” said Alvin D. Jackson M.D. In 2007, unintentional drug poisoning became the leading cause of injury death in Ohio, surpassing motor vehicle crashes and suicide for the first time. In Ohio, there were 327 fatal unintentional drug overdoses in 1999, which grew to 1,351 deaths in 2007. ("Ohio Releases Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force Report," Governor of Ohio, October 5 2010)

Legislators told Ohio News Network (ONN) they wanted to introduce a bill to crack down on problem pain clinics before the session ended in June. That way, they could aggressively get their bill moving in the fall when Senate sessions resumed. This initial act was accomplished so that the task force could meet and iron out all the specifics of the bill during the summer.

With commendable dedication, the task force began working at a fever pitch.Over their first six months, the Task Force convened 10 full meetings and 15 Work Group meetings. Members from a diverse group of professional backgrounds and perspectives worked together to develop a report of recommendations to address Ohio’s complex prescription drug abuse epidemic.

These recommendations reflected hundreds of hours of discussion and debate and represented the consensus of the members of the Task Force.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland received the Ohio Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force’s (OPDATF) final report on October 5, which included 20 recommendations to the Governor and leaders of the General Assembly. He said, “I want to thank the Task Force for its collaborative, thoughtful approach to addressing this epidemic.  We will move quickly to work with the legislature to adopt recommendations that will help combat prescription drug abuse, including implementing standards for pain management clinics, working with providers to improve the use of the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System, establishing and supporting local coalitions, and exploring ways to support critical drug and alcohol treatment services for Ohioans.”

Then came the November election, and Ted Strickland was defeated by John Kasich with 49 percent of the vote to Strickland’s 47 percent. Kasich takes office January 10, 2011.

Now, the next step for legislators was debate and passage of the bill BUT unfortunately, after the election, a so-called "lame duck" session soon began. Joe Guillen of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reported, "State lawmakers came back to work last week after a four-month summer break, but they don’t seem eager to get much accomplished before the end of the year. It’s not for lack of opportunity. There are plenty of issues lawmakers could address, including the foreclosure crisis, the financially troubled pension funds and the state’s human trafficking laws." (Joe Guillen, "State Lawmakers Likely To Accomplish Little Before the End of the Year," The Plain Dealer, November 15 2010)

Does the lack of mention for adoption of pain clinic reform mean the issue is on indefinite hold? Are different priorities favored by the new administration? How long will needless deaths occur before action?

Kasich, a former congressman, campaigned on promises to cut taxes and the size of state government, and has said he would take steps to eliminate the state income tax. But he hasn't provided details about when and how he would do that. He has also promised he would restore a 4.2 percent income tax cut that Strickland delayed last year in order to balance the budget. But, it's not clear where the $850 million for that would come from.

As far as drug issues, Governor-elect Kasich voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct. 1999). Other than that glimpse, Kasich offers the following record on crime:

• Columbine: Community involvement, not new laws. (May 1999)
• Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
• Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
• Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
• Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment. (Apr 1994)
• Supports capital punishment for certain crimes. (Aug 2010)
• More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty. (Sep 1994) 

The people of Southern Ohio expect swift action by state representatives. At the rate of four deaths a day, the senseless slaughter is unacceptable. Just in case people do not think Scioto County is active in the state fight for drug abuse legislation, here is a summary of a portion of action within the last year:

* Establishment of the Scioto County Rx Drug Abuse Action Team - meetings monthly

* Establishment of SOLACE (Surviving Our Loss And Continuing Everyday - drug-related death)

* Establishment of Facebook group Fix the Scioto County Problem of Drug Abuse

* Community events - National Day of Prayer, Law Enforcement Day, SOLACE commemoration of drug victims, Martings Window Display of Victims, Rockin' Back to School Concert, Red Cross Heroes Breakfast - Lisa Roberts and JoAnna Krohn, SOLACE recognition at statehouse in Columbus 

* Pill Mill Protests at ten locations within the county

* Moratorium Resolution passage supporting no new pain clinics within Portsmouth City limits

* Multiple membership on Ohio Prescription Drug Task Force

* Numerous articles and media reports -- Portsmouth Daily Times, ONN (Ohio News Network), Columbus Dispatch, WSAZ

* Multiple raids on pill mill operations from law enforcement - local, state and federal groups

* Coordinated letter writing and phone calling campaigns to politicians urging action on drug abuse

* Networking efforts for public information on drug abuse

* Multiple educational programs for local schools and citizens  

Second Memory

Second Memory

Memories
Sifted particles of time clinging in our mind
Willfully refusing alteration or disposal.

Seconds
Reanimated by chemical impulse
In our untarnished golden cache of life.

I remember
Lakes cooling sultry brown-skinned girls,
Living dreams with graceful limbs and tempting pirate smiles.

I remember
Stylish cars with flowing frames and hungry engines,
Machines seeking novel adventures and dark delights.

I remember
Battles of rock bands in local armories and crowed halls:
The Soul Brothers, The Rampagers, The Bare Facts, Blended Foam.

I remember
The touch, the first kiss, and the awkward moment
Spent wondering what to say or do with agonizing doubts of love.

I remember
Drive-ins with B-Movies, deep forests and fire-lit parties,
Skinny-dipping in the moonlight, and funny 2:00 A.M conversations.

I remember
The joy of wearing a leather hand and steel-cleated shoes
And waving a wooden stick at a round ball to hear a resounding pop.

Most of all, I remember when teenage Disneyland became reality:
When the friend-shift began,
When the "they" turned to "me,"
When the serious came to stay,
When the decisions had to be made,
When it became "what I made it."

Memories,
Living specters that inhabit our minds
But remain forever beyond our grasp.

Seconds,
Time that beckons our unconditional surrender
To youthful freedoms and loves forever lost.

What Does Your Social Network Say About You?

First Amendment -- Caution

Most Americans hold the First Amendment right to free speech as a sacred freedom of expression allowing unbridled private conversation and correspondence. The freedom does give Americans broad liberties to speech but important limitations do exist. Part of the responsibility of every citizen is to know and follow these limits to free speech. 

Bruce Barry, CNN reporter, says, "In fact, though, firing a worker for off-the-job speech that unsettles an employer is pretty routine, and for the most part very legal. The First Amendment and the rest of the Bill of Rights protect people from infringements on their liberties by acts of government, not from the oppressive acts of nongovernmental actors such as private-sector employers." (Bruce Barry, "Facebook, Freedom and Thin-skinned Bosses," CNN, November 11 2010)

The labor law concept of "employment at will" makes it possible to fire someone without due process for just about anything short of discrimination. These two realities combine to make the American workplace a location where free expression has scarcely more moral credibility than employee theft.

The popularity and convenience of online networks and social media allow employees to engage in instantaneous, personal correspondence. But, this use of the Internet presents disgruntled bosses with a relatively new area of opportunity for punishing employees who use what they may consider to be essentially harmless extracurricular speech. Personal expression on the Internet may meet disapproval from employers and create very touchy, job-threatening situations for employees.

Examples

Here are several examples of problems that originated on Facebook:

Gloria Gadsden, an associate professor of sociology at Pennsylvania’s East Stroudsburg University, enjoyed cracking wise on her Facebook account. In January she wrote, “Does anyone know where I can find a very discreet hit man? Yes, it’s been that kind of day.” In February: “Had a good day today. DIDN’T want to kill even one student.” Gadsden’s University, made aware of the posts, found reason to be alarmed given the tragic events at colleges in recent years. The school put Gadsden on indefinite paid leave that lasted a month before she was allowed to return in late March. (Dan Berrett, "ESU Professor Suspended For Comments Made On Facebook Page," Pocono Record, February 26 2010)

A Nebraska prison guard allegedly bragged on Facebook in February about smashing an inmate’s face to the ground. Soon thereafter, two more Nebraska prison guards jumped in to voice their support. The state was decidedly unimpressed. All three guards lost their jobs in March. (Christopher Steiner and Helen Coster, Forbes, 2010)

Ashley Payne, a teacher at Apalachee High in Winder, Ga., posted some off-color language along with photos of herself traveling, and drinking, throughout Europe. That’s not exactly the kind of example the school principal thought she should be setting, and asked Payne to resign. Payne later sued the school district; the suit is pending. ("Former Teacher Sues For Being Fired for Facebook Pics," www.wsbtv.com/news, November 11, 2009)

Whether in the virtual world, or in the real world, these two old adages apply:

1. "If don't have something nice to say about somebody, then don’t say it."
   – Unknown
2. “The better part of valor is discretion.” – Shakespeare

 
Good Information For Social Networking


Thanks to Diane Walker (DC Careers Examiner) and open.salon.com for some great information about potential risks for employees. For those engaged in online networks and social media, these considerations should be valued:


1. Do not share confidential company information.


2. Do not post and/or share “suggestive” pictures of yourself or coworkers on a Facebook page.Click onto the "Photos" tab. This will show everything which someone's tagged with your name. It's worth going through every single one, and untagging it if it's not something you want to be associated with.
     
     a.  Photos showing you drunk/stoned/comatose,
     b. Photos showing "unsuitable" friends,
     c. Photos on which someone's put a really questionable caption about you,
     d. Photos containing evidence of illegal or semi-illegal activity  



3. Do not share confidential personal information. To protect company interests (and for some, just plain nosy) supervisors will spend time looking up their employee's social networking pages.


4. Do not surf even if your employer provides Internet access. While it may be tempting, people should not take advantage. Personal Internet surfing should be confined to lunch and breaks.


5. Do not use poor communication skills (including bad language) online or inaccurate qualifications: potential employers may check sites looking for these.


6. Do not bad mouth present or former employees.


7. Do not run down colleagues.


8. Do not post membership to silly, profane or potentially bigoted (racist/sexist/etc.) group memberships.


9. Do not make posted quotations that are lewd jokes or unflattering comments.


10. Do not continually make typos and spelling errors that potential employers may view.

Top Ten Turn-offs on Social Networking Websites

Ali Hale ("Make Sure Your Facebook Profile Doesn't Lose You a Job," www.dumblittleman.com, February 24 2009) claims these are the top ten turn-offs for employers on social networking websites:

Top ten turn-offs for employers on social networking websites


1. References to drug abuse
2. Extremist / intolerant views, including racism, sexism
3. Criminal activity
4. Evidence of excessive alcohol consumption
5. Inappropriate pictures, including nudity
6. Foul language
7. Links to unsuitable websites
8. Lewd jokes
9. Silly email addresses
10. Membership of pointless / silly groups

 

Give Me More: Six Blades and Such

For the most part, more and bigger is better. We all know that. Modern culture has fed us well. Size matters, and we've been effectively taught that principle and incorporated it into our dealings with salaries, homes, friends, opportunities, sex, possessions, and products. But, what about some things that offer more yet seem to go "over the top"? 

Certain limitations are created for our safety and well-being. We wouldn't want to take 100 aspirin at once to stop a headache, or we wouldn't want to gorge ourselves with food every meal until our health eventually fails. Still, the old adage of "everything in moderation" seems to have given way to "We want it now" and "We want tons of everything." How silly this notion really is! In this blog entry, I want to use some pretty questionable products to illustrate our quest for more, more, more.

I was thinking about size just the other day, and one product just stood heads above those things that have already taken it too far. The company ShaveMate, in its efforts to break into a stubble market dominated by Schick and Gillette, has recently introduced the ShaveMate Titan 6, which has six blades. In my 45 or so year-long shaving career, I have progressed through single blade, double blade...to this six-bladed marvel of modern safety razor excellence. 

"It's not just the blades," says Lou Tomassetti who, along with his brother Peter, invented the Titan. "It's really everything you need in one." The Titan, he explains, also comes with shaving cream in the handle and a moisture strip. "If you go out and try to buy equipment for shaving today," Lou continues, "it's very complicated."

"You might have to buy batteries," Peter adds.

"ShaveMate is really a lifestyle change" from all that, Lou says. "It's a Shaving Revolution."(Monica Hesse, The Washington Post, July 24 2010)

Six blades? I would be terrified wielding that massive scythe anywhere near the tight regions of my nose, ears, and lips. I'm pretty sure a major bloodbath would ensue. Why does anyone need six blades in a safety razor?

Perhaps a blow torch would be more effective for permanent whisker removal.

How about Amazon Maximum Power Formula #1 from American Lifestyle? This little wonder pill's advertisement claims to be used by porn stars to sustain their insatiable "super sex drive" with "rock-hard erections up to 3 solid inches bigger and lasting up to 4 hours!!"

In a testimonial for the product, an 86 year-old man now wants to live to be 100 after using the product. Ingredients include bark, oat straw, stinging nettle leaves, ginseng and licorice roots, pumpkin seeds, and horny goat weed. Will grandpa's heart survive this dramatic increase in activity? Or will we suddenly see a huge surge in sale of suites in retirement homes with senior safety-equipped hot tubs? Maybe bigger isn't guaranteed better. Whatever happened to "size doesn't matter," anyway? 

We feel a huge need and responsibility for maintaining clean, safe living and working environments. Hospitals, daycare centers, nursing and assisted living homes, and individual homeowners feel they must use a registered disinfectant that ensures a 100-percent pathogen kill rate. That means they want to kill all the germs, viruses, and bacteria on contact surfaces.

But, according to Tufts University School of Medicine, many of these products are overkill, made with chemicals that can cause the same problem as overuse of antibiotics — superbug overgrowth.Using these products is especially dangerous in places filled with children, sick people and the elderly; but superbugs are bad news anywhere.

Many now believe companies that advertise germ-killing products "are preying on our fear and even trying to create a germ-free environment is just ludicrous. It has gone so far that even some toothpastes contain comantimicrobial agents such as triclosan.
  
Disinfectants have been linked to other health problems as well: A recent study highlighted concerns that nurses regularly exposed to cleaning products and disinfectants shared a significantly increased occurrence of asthma. And some antimicrobial agents — such as triclosan, commonly used in products like antibacterial hand soaps — are suspected endocrine disrupters and immunotoxins. (Annie B. Bond, "Why Disinfectants and Antibacterials Are Overkill + 5 Health-Safe Alternatives," life.gaiam.com)

When it comes to germs, overkill may be quite literal. A friendly germ or two doesn't seem to harm a thing. Again, too much is just plain too much.

Just over one-third of American adults are obese. Though alarmingly high, this rate has remained relatively the same over the past decade. Yet, now, researchers at Harvard University are predicting that the worst is yet to come. "If current trends continue, they say, the obesity rate in the U.S. won’t level off until it reaches at least 42%, circa 2050." (Amanda Gardner, "U.S. Obesity Rate Will Hit 42%," health.com, November 4 2010.)

Diets? The popular Atkins Diet is quite effective for some people; however, the Atkins diet is just not sustainable for most dieters. This diet cuts out healthy foods like fruit, and adopts a limited list of foods that are often high in fat and otherwise unhealthy. Above all, this diet's extreme restriction makes it incredibly difficult for most people to stick with it.

How about the Low Fat Diet? Nearly everyone has purchased a low or no fat product because we believe that somehow it's healthier and will help keep the pounds off. But the dirty trick about this diet is that these products aren't healthier at all-often, we trade fat for more sugar, sodium, or calories. Sometimes, serving sizes are skewed to make an otherwise unhealthy food look better than before. ("Diet Overkill: 25 of the Most Ridiculous (and Ineffective) Popular Diets," www.rncentral.com/nursing-library, February 26 2008)

Just For Fun - A Few "Loopier Than Ever" Products 

1. Twoda-loo Tandom Toilet 

This toilet is advertised as "the world's first toilet two people can use ... at the exact same time. It brings couples closer together and conserves our water supply all with one flush. The TwoDaLoo features two side-by-side toilet seats with a modest privacy wall in between. An upgraded version includes a seven inch LCD television and iPod docking station." Price = $1,400.00 WiseRep.com

2. DVD Rewinder

Bill Wimsatt, inventor, says, "Never pay another DVD rewind fee again! Compatible with all disc formats: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CDR, CDRW, Audio CD, VCD. Multi-region, code-free rewinder capable of rewinding all 6 region DVD's including RCE/REA encoded discs. NOTE: this product is intended as a novelty. All disc and MP3 media are direct access and do not truly require "reqinding."

However, it is very fun to hear the sounds, and watch the lights of this product. We have tested the DVD Rewinder with the next generation disc media including Blu-Ray®, and HD. The DVD Rewinder also works with Sony Playstation®, XBox®, and other disc based console system media." Price = $16.49 www.dvdrewinder.com

3. Stealth Secret Sound Amplifier

The product description states, "If a conventional hearing aid sounds like an embarrassment to you; try the Stealth Secret Sound Amplifier. It looks just like a cell phone ear adapter and works as a sound enhancer so you can join conversations and even hear soft voices from 50 feet away. Now you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a more youthful appearance and better hearing. Comes with charger (no batteries to replace) and three ear tips." Price = $29.95 www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages 

4. Umbrella Shoes

No matter how big the umbrella, your feet still get wet under a torrential downfall. These Umbrella Shoes are a unique solution to this ongoing problem. Found on the Fashion Victim 101 blog site by Georgia, each heel gets its own mini umbrella to avoid any droplets touching these little puppies. Although they may not be in style, the Umbrella Shoes are an alternative to clunky rain boots. 

5. iPhone Hat

The iPhone Hat says the manufacturer "looks like a mixture between a baseball cap and a small head-tent and it lets you watch videos on your iPhone or iPod touch, with ease. Incorporating an iPhone holder and a magnifying glass it creates a private mini cinema around your head." Only catch being of course that you look a bit stupid. And if your phone rings...? you're gonna have to dismantle the whole affair. Price = $19.95

Mad TV Razor Spoof

Crime in Portsmouth, Ohio - How Bad?

HomeSurfer.com offers home buyers online information about real estate all over the country. Information includes reports about schools, agents, and crime in an area. The HomeSurfer Real Estate Encyclopedia is a great way to learn about real estate with a glossary of over 3,000 real estate terms and definitions. The information used in this blog entry comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Rate database for 2008. More information about the rating system is available on the site at

http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crime_report.cfm?state=OH&area=Portsmouth

Overall Crime Rating For Portsmouth, Ohio

According to HomeSurfer. com, Portsmouth, Ohio has an overall crime rating of "0.5 out of a possible 5 total points." That is one-half of 1 on a scale of 5. Higher ratings indicate the area is safer. The HomeSurfer crime rating is calculated depending on how the crime rate in the city compares with crime in the state and the nation. Violent crime is weighed more heavily than property crime, and the national ranking is more important than the state ranking.  

In 2004, the rating was 0.2, an even higher less safe rating.

Violent Crime In Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Ohio has a violent crime rate of 569 incidents per 100,000 people. This compares with a rate of 524 in Ohio and a rate of 676 nationally. Lower numbers are better, indicating that fewer crimes happen per person in the population. 

"Portsmouth, Ohio is in the 94% percentile rank in the state for Violent Crime. It is in the 82% percentile rank nationally. Lower numbers are better. 

In this case, 94% of cities in Ohio have crime rates equal to or lower than Portsmouth, or said another way, 6% of cities in Ohio have crime rates higher than Portsmouth."

In 2004, Portsmouth, Ohio was in the 95% percentile rank in the state for Violent Crime. It was in the 94% percentile rank nationally. Some improvement has been shown.

Property Crime In Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Ohio has a property crime rate of 10203.1 incidents per 100,000 people. This compares with an average rate of 4331.2 in Ohio and an average rate of 3727 incidents per 100,000 nationally. Lower numbers are better, indicating that fewer crimes happen per person in the population. This means that Portsmouth property crimes rank 99 in the state percentile rank and 99 in the national percentile rank. 

In 2004, Portsmouth, Ohio had a property crime rate of 14869.9 incidents per 100,000 people. This compared with an average rate of 4967.0 in Ohio and an average rate of 4296 incidents per 100,000 nationally.

 

Review crime rate data for Portsmouth, Ohio

Crime	Portsmouth	OH	Nation
Violent Crime Total	568.8	523.9	676
Murder / NNH	10.0	7.4	6.5
Forcible Rape	39.9	51.0	31.1
Robbery Rate	299.4	261.4	197.4
Aggravated Assault	219.5	204.0	315
Property Crime Total	10203.1	4331.2	3726.9
Burglary	2804.0	1167.6	812.3
Larceny Theft	7089.8	2806.9	2541.6
Motor Vehicle Theft	309.3	356.8	382.3
Arson	15.0	48.3	23.

As you can see, Portsmouth, Ohio (population around 20,000) suffers from a crime wave. To me, this indicates serious problems of under staffing and lack of money to update better methods of enforcement. I realize this entry is only one source of information about the town, but the statistics are, indeed, frightening.

Home to an ever-expanding college, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth is also a town filled with a large number of poor people, unemployed individuals, drug addicts and vacant properties. Scioto County, home to Portsmouth, ranks in the top ten counties of the nation in illegal prescription drug distribution. Currently, legislation is pending in Columbus to relieve some of the problems of the pain clinic abuse. Many wonder if law enforcement personnel numbers are sufficient to implement further improvement of measures to reduce crime rates.

The town is divided among those who wish to work on only a few of the myriad difficulties that face it. It is a seat of government divided. People seem to ignore the vital realization that some prioritizing of devastating causes of the poor condition of the area is essential to tackling the reality of issues that most negatively effect its image. On one hand, the town desires employment and jobs while on the other hand it accepts decline and addiction as just a part of the Appalachian fate.

Who would be attracted to such a community? Older, retired people could since natural resources and a slower pace of life is offered in the many hills and parks. Those who want a deal on real estate could. The housing costs are low and the tax rates are reasonable. But, who wants to live in a neighborhood where your possessions may be stolen or where you may have a dealer living next door or where your child has a legitimate opportunity to become a drug addict or being attacked by a thug?

I, for one, would love to see an increase in police enforcement. Better facilities and increased numbers of officers are desperately needed. I would like to see the courts, law enforcement, city government, county government, education and the faith-based community work together to establish safety and educational programs. The question of money and priorities must be addressed. AND, THESE THINGS MUST BE
ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER, NO EXCUSES!

Money, money, money -- everyone knows the rich in the town support their causes; however, how much big money support do they give to common, basic preamble guarantees? Segregation, graft, intimidation, desire for personal gain, questionable fraternalism, and just plain public indifference fog Portsmouth, Ohio. Some walk on the empty, aging sidewalks like lost spirits through their own personal ghost town.  

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States

I wonder how long it has been since Portsmouth has lived up to this basis of American purposes and principles of citizenry.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."