A number of recent studies have revealed how making several small lifestyle changes could help you lose weight without feeling deprived of the food you like.
Use a smaller plate
A Cornell University study found that when a fixed portion of food was eaten from a large plate, subjects felt they had been give a smaller than average portion, so ate more. When the same portion of food was eaten from a smaller dish, the meal seemed more substantial, so people ate less.
When a fixed portion of food was eaten from a large plate, subjects felt they had been give a smaller than average portion, so ate more
Use a bigger fork
An Italian study into the relationship between fork size and consumption found that diners who used smaller forks ate more than those given larger forks. Researchers believe those with smaller forks felt they were making slower progress in satisfying their hunger, so ate more.
Women should eat with men
According to psychologist Meredith Young, women eat less if there are men around. She told The Atlantic: “It is possible that small food portions signal attractiveness.”
Read the labels
Those who read nutrition labels on food packaging eat around 5% less fat than those who don’t bother, according to researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
Drink water before meals
A 12-week study of 48 people aged between 55 and 75 on low-calorie diets found that those who drank two glasses of water before each meal lost an average of 4.5lb more than those that didn’t.
Avoid light at night
This includes late-night television and computer use. A study into the effects of bright light, dim light or darkness on weight-gain in mice found that those under a bright light at night gained 50% more weight than those in darkness.
Hide unhealthy treats
Keep healthy snacks in sight. Office workers ate less chocolate when dishes of candy were moved from their desks to the other side of the room, reveals a study by Mindless Eating author Brian Wansink.
The same trick can be reversed to positive effect. A Cornell University study found that when a middle school cafeteria salad bar was moved to a more prominent position, consumption of some items increased by 250-300% in a year.
Be careful around friends
Children eat more with a friend than with a stranger, according to a study at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Researchers said that this trend, which applies to adults too, can be blamed on the fact that friends act as so-called permission-givers, and encourage one to indulge.
Beware of skinny friends who eat a lot
Worse still, are thin friends who have large appetites. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that participants snacked more during a movie when accompanied by a skinny person who ate a lot, compared with those sitting next to a fat person who ate a lot.
Avoid advertisements for exercise
A University of Illinois study revealed that participants who were shown advertisements encouraging exercise ate more than those who weren’t. The same was true of participants exposed to subliminal words relating to exercise during mealtimes.
The world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture – New York’s 67th Columbus Day Parade – is on Fifth Avenue.
The spirit of exploration, the struggles and triumphs of immigrants who helped build the United States, and the vibrant heritage and cultural wealth of the Italian-American community will be celebrated in New York during Columbus Celebration 2011, from Friday, October 7 through Monday, October 10.
Columbus Celebration 2011 events include a black-tie Gala Dinner in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the traditional wreath laying at Columbus Circle, a solemn Mass celebrated by His Excellency, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, and the New York’s 67th Columbus Day Parade, on Fifth Avenue.
Columbus Day Parade 2011 will begin Monday, October 10, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, lasting until about 3:00 p.m.
New York’s Columbus Day Parade starts on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and continues up Fifth to 79th Street.
Columbus Day Parade 2011 will begin Monday, October 10, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, lasting until about 3:00 p.m
The annual Columbus Day Parade is the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture and is broadcast on six continents, and the Gala Dinner brings together leaders of the United States and Italy for an evening that pays tribute to a centuries-old bond. The parade and dinner are just two of the events that are part of New York’s Columbus Celebration, held each October.
On October 12, 1929, New York City businessman and Italian immigrant Generoso Pope led a parade from East Harlem down to Columbus Circle. The parade celebrated Christopher Columbus’s explorations and the achievements and contributions of Italian-Americans to the landscape of New York and the United States. It was followed by a fund-raising dinner to benefit immigrants creating a new life for themselves in New York City.
Through sponsorships of the Columbus Day Parade, exhibitions and Gala Dinner, the Columbus Citizens Foundation raises millions of dollars to support the education of Italian-American students who have the drive to succeed in school and beyond, but not the means to reach their potential.
The annual Gala Dinner is a tradition that dates back to 1944, the year the Columbus Citizens Foundation’s predecessor organization was incorporated. On the weekend before Columbus Day, Foundation members and their guests meet in the Waldorf Astoria Grand Ballroom for an evening of friendship and entertainment that celebrates the strong bonds between Italy and the United States while raising funds for scholarships.
During the evening, the Foundation pays tribute to the year’s honorees and the Grand Marshal of the Columbus Day Parade. These men and women share several characteristics: they are leaders in their chosen fields, they are deeply committed to their families, and they are grateful for the opportunities their families have received in America, as well as the Italian heritage that they hold dear.
The ballroom stage has seen performances by exceptional singers from many categories of music: American Idol and pop star Katharine McPhee, opera tenor Salvatore Licitra, entertainer Joe Piscopo, and scores of other outstanding talents.
Columbus Day Parade 2011 will be aired on WABC-TV New York from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in a live broadcast.
Countries in the New World celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday.
The event is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in Latin America, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. Columbus Day has been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various areas since the early 20th century.
In US, Columbus Day is celebrated annually on the second Monday of October.
This holiday is controversial because the European settlement in the Americas led to the demise of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples.
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Italy and Spain debts have both been downgraded by the Fitch credit rating agency.
Italy’s rating was cut from AA- to A+ by Fitch, following agency Moody’s downgrade earlier this week.
Fitch cited the “intensification” of the eurozone debt crisis that “constitutes a significant financial and economic shock which has weakened Italy’s sovereign risk profile”.
Fitch also cut Spain’s rating from AA+ to AA-.
The credit rating agency raised concerns about the strength of Italian banks, particularly in light of the current debt crisis.
Fitch talked of the “small but no longer negligible risk that a further worsening of the eurozone debt crisis and volatility in the value of Italian government bonds will further erode confidence in the banking system”.
Fitch also said a “vicious cycle” could emerge where a growing lack of confidence in Italian banks could knock confidence in government debt, which could in turn undermine the banks further.
Regarding Spain, Fitch also cited the deepening debt crisis, and raised questions about the country’s ability to cut its debt levels quickly – and its growth prospects.
The Spain’s high underlying budget deficit and its fragile economic recovery made the country “especially vulnerable” to external shocks, Fitch said.
The rating agency added that it expected growth to remain subdued between now and 2015, and unemployment to remain high. Spain has the highest jobless rate in the eurozone, at more than 20%.
Fitch agency cuts Italy and Spain ratings
However, Fitch said the Spanish economy should grow faster than the eurozone average after this date.
Italy and Spain have introduced austerity measures designed to cut their levels of debt and restore confidence in their finances.
Italy has stated it wants to balance its budget by 2013.
However, despite Italian government reassurances and the European Central Bank intervening to buy up Italy’s debts, country’s borrowing costs have begun to creep up again in recent weeks.
Global policymakers are discussing ways in which to resolve the debt crisis once and for all.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is meeting the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, in Paris later on Saturday.
Tomorrow, Nicolas Sarkozy is due to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
Plans to expand the eurozone’s bailout fund, and give it greater power, were agreed in July and have been ratified by most national parliaments.
However, these plans are now seen as inadequate. Further action is now being discussed and leaders have said they hope to announce new measures at a G20 meeting in Cannes at the beginning of November.
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs funeral, who died Wednesday aged 56, took place as a small private gathering.
Steve Jobs was known as being a quiet man who kept himself to himself – but became the iconic face of modern technology.
However, the controversial Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas threatened it would picket the funeral because Steve Jobs “gave God no glory and taught sin”.
Westboro Baptist Church ironically made the announcement on an iPhone – and later said they would only picket a public remembrance.
Steve Jobs funeral, who died Wednesday aged 56, took place as a small private gathering
There were no public services planned for Steve Jobs funeral, but Apple has invited the public to send memories, thoughts and condolences to a special email address.
A source told the Wall Street Journal that the funeral was happening on Friday but would not give details of where or when it was taking place.
Margie Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church tweeted on her iPhone that the church her father founded would be picketing the event.
“Westboro will picket his funeral. He had a huge platform; gave God no glory & taught sin. MT @AP: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died at 56”.
Westboro Baptist Church has previously caused outrage by claiming God is punishing the military for America’s tolerance of gay people.
But Margie Phelps later wrote: “Keep it private, we won’t come; public worship, we’ll be there. Deal? #warnliving MT @WSJ: Steve Jobs funeral today; small private gathering”.
The funeral comes just two days after Steve Jobs died, following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Apple announced no cause of death, but Steve Jobs was diagnosed with a rare pancreatic cancer seven years ago and had a liver transplant in 2009.
It sparked an outpouring of tributes from world leaders such as President Barack Obama, business rivals including Bill Gates and other fans.
Apple would not confirm or deny the funeral reports and the source would give no further details out of respect for the family’s privacy.
The new Apple CEO, Tim Cook told staff this week:
“We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon.
“If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email [email protected].”
Paul McCartney, the former Beatle marries for the third time on Sunday afternoon with Nancy Shevell.
Paul McCartney, 69, will marry American industrial heiress Nancy Shevell, 51, at The Old Marylebone Town Hall in central London in front of less than 30 close family – including his five children – and friends.
Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell’s wedding reception will be held at his house in nearby St John’s Wood, which he has owned since 1965.
He is expected to wear a suit designed by his daughter Stella McCartney.
Paul McCartney marries Nancy Shevell on Sunday
Paul McCartney, who divorced second wife Heather Mills in 2008 following an acrimonious separation, had decided to marry Nancy Shevell at the same registry office where he wed first wife Linda in 1969.
He married his beloved first wife Linda at Marylebone Register Office on March 12 1969.
In 1969, hundreds of fans gathered outside the venue to catch a glimpse of the couple as they arrived with Linda’s daughter Heather, then six, from a previous marriage.
A dozen policemen were on hand to fend off enthusiastic teenagers, many of whom were distraught that the last remaining bachelor Beatle was tying the knot.
At the moment of their wedding, Linda was four months pregnant. The couple’s eldest child together, Mary, was born in August 1969.
Paul McCartney and Linda also had two other children Stella and son James, now 34.
Paul McCartney and Linda were one of the most famously happy and stable couples in showbusiness until she tragically died of cancer in April 1998, aged just 56.
Paul and Linda McCartney in 1971
Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell’s engagement was announced in early May, when he presented her with a vintage 1925 Cartier engagement solitaire diamond ring, which was reported to have cost an astonishing $620,000 (£400,000).
The multi-millionaire Nancy Shevell was reported to have said the newlyweds will live in the UK, with her returning to America once a month because of her business commitments.
At the time, Nancy Shevell also revealed the couple was planning a “small” ceremony with only families invited.
Nancy Shevell also admitted it was “a total surprise” when Paul McCartney proposed to her while they were in California in April.
When asked about the plans, Nancy Shevell replied at the time:
“Small. Just our families. I don’t know the exact date.
“And don’t ask what I’ll wear, because how dressy do you get to stand before a Justice of the Peace in his chambers – which is exactly what we’re going to do.”
Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell started dating in 2007, after she separated from first husband Bruce Blakeman. She has a son, Arlen, 19, from that marriage.
Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell marriage will be the third for the music legend.
His first wife, Linda, tragically died of breast cancer in 1998. He adopted her daughter Heather from a previous marriage and had three children with Linda.
Following Linda’s death, Paul McCartney then fell in love with model turned charity campaigner Heather Mills after they met at an awards ceremony in April 1999.
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills married in a lavish ceremony in St Salvator’s Church at the 17th century Castle Leslie in Glaslough, County Monaghan, Ireland in 2002. That wedding cost $2.3 million (£1.5million) and was attended by more than 300 guests.
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills – who had lost a leg below the knee after being hit by a police motorcycle in 1993 – had a daughter Beatrice, now seven.
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills separated in 2006 and – following a bitter battle – finally divorced in 2008 with Heather receiving a settlement of $37.4 million (£24.3million).
The FDA has approved Cialis (tadalafil) on October 6 to treat the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and for the treatment of BPH and ED.
“BPH can have a big impact on a patient’s quality of life. A large number of older men have symptoms of BPH. Cialis offers these men another treatment option, particularly those who also have ED, which is also common in older men,” said Scott Monroe, director of the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
The FDA has approved eight other drugs to treat symptoms of BPH: Proscar, (finasteride), Avodart (dutasteride), Jalyn (dutasteride plus tamsulosin), and the alpha blockers: Hytrin (terazosin), Cardura (doxazosin), Flomax (tamsulosin), Uroxatral (alfuzosin) and Rapaflo (silodosin).
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (benign prostatic hypertrophy, benign enlargement of the prostate, adenofibromyomatous hyperplasia), is a condition in which the size of the prostate is increased. Around half of men over 50 suffer from prostate conditions, and difficulty urinating.
Cialis (tadalafil) was approved for BPH treatment.
Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5 inhibitor), used for treating erectile dysfunction as Cialis, and as Adcirca for pulmonary arterial hypertension. PDE5 inhibitor relaxes the blood vessels supplying the corpus cavernosum.
Cialis was approved by FDA in 2003 the third ED prescription pill, after sildenafil citrate (Viagara) and vardenafil (Levitra). All of them are as needed medication. Cialis, the weekend pill, has 36-hour effectiveness and can be take as once-daily medication.
Common symptoms of BPH include difficulty in starting urination and a weak urine stream; a sudden urge to urinate; and more frequent urination including at night.
The severity of symptoms of BPH can be measured using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS).
In two clinical trials, men with BPH who took 5 mg of Cialis once daily experienced a statistically significant improvement in their symptoms of BPH compared to men who were treated with placebo.
The trials based their findings on a reduction in total IPSS scores.
In a third study, men who experienced both ED and BPH took 5 mg of Cialis once daily and had improvement in both their symptoms compared to men who were treated with placebo.
Cialis should not be used in patients taking nitrates (nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate), often prescribed for chest pain (ischemic heart disease), or if a person takes recreational drugs, poppers (amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite). The combination can cause an unsafe decrease in blood pressure.
The use of Cialis in combination with alpha blockers for the treatment of BPH is not recommended because the combination has not been adequately studied for the treatment of BPH, and there is a risk of lowering blood pressure.
Cialis is manufactured by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. The longer-lasting Cialis could overtake Pfizer’s drug and become the market leader for ED drugs, said John Lechleiter, Eli Lilly CEO, in July 2011.
An US federal advisory panel concluded that the PSA test should no longer be part of routine care in preventing prostate cancer.
According to Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s draft report, released yesterday, explained the reasons the common PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test should not be a routine one.
What was the panel trying to do?
The task force wasn’t trying to figure out whether screening for elevated levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) would save any lives at all; the answer to that is clearly yes.
Rather, the question before the 16-member panel was whether widespread PSA testing saves enough lives to justify the considerable medical fallout — including loss of urinary control and impotence — to men whose lives are not saved by the test.
They said the answer was no: “The vast majority of men who are treated do not have prostate cancer death prevented or lives extended from that treatment, but are subjected to significant harms.”
PSA test should not be a routine in preventing prostate cancer, says US Preventive Services Task Force
Dr. Michael LeFevre, a family medicine doctor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and co-vice chairman of the task force, said in an interview Friday that he understood why many people gave the report a chilly reception.
“Any time a medical test or treatment that we believe should work is subjected to science and the science doesn’t show what we hoped for, it’s very disturbing to the medical establishment and to patients,” he said.
“We have to eat a pretty big chunk of crow and say this didn’t turn out to be true.”
Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, who wasn’t involved in the task force review, said the panel’s conclusions were reasonable. “We have a culture of patients and families and physicians and others who believe strongly that the PSA test works, when the reality is the evidence is suggesting that is just not the case,” he said.
How is the PSA test used?
Prostate tumors may cause the prostate gland to ramp up production of prostate specific antigen, an ingredient needed to make semen. If that happens, the amount of PSA that gets into the bloodstream will rise above its usual trickle, and the test attempts to measure that.
The FDA approved the PSA test as a screening exam for men 50 and older in 1994 after two studies credited the test with finding more cancers than digital rectal exams and ultrasounds alone.
Doctors may suspect tumor growth in men with PSA levels above 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood or whose levels rise by more than 0.35 ng/mL in a year.
But PSA level alone isn’t proof of cancer — other problems, such as inflammation or benign prostatic hyperplasia, can also send more protein into the blood. The only sure way to confirm a cancer is to remove cells from the prostate and examine them under a microscope. If there is a malignancy, treatment can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
So what’s the problem?
The test is not very good at separating men with prostate cancer from men without it. About two-thirds of men who have a PSA reading above 4 ng/mL do not have the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Meanwhile, nearly one-third of men with PSA levels in the safe range have been found to harbor cancer cells in their prostates.
Autopsy studies have found prostate cancer in one-third of men between 40 and 60, and in 75% of men over 85; in most of those cases, the cancers are harmless.
“Many men with localized prostate cancer will never have problems,” said Dr. Roger Chou of Oregon Health & Science University, part of a group that reviewed evidence for the panel. “That’s a really hard concept for people, but it’s been known for a long time.”
The biggest knock on the test is that despite finding more cancers, it doesn’t actually lead to a reduction in deaths — the ultimate goal of any cancer screening program.
When a PSA test turns up prostate cancer in a man with no outward symptoms, that early warning could help him beat a tumor that otherwise would have killed him. But there are two other possibilities: Either the tumor is so aggressive that the patient dies anyway, or — as is usually the case — it is so slow-growing that it wouldn’t have been fatal, even if left untreated.
The overwhelming majority of cancers fall into the last group, the task force wrote: Fully 95% of men whose prostate cancers are detected with PSA tests will be alive 12 years later even if they don’t get treatment. And, the panel added, no study on prostate cancer screening has ever shown that screening reduces the number of deaths.
Even if the test isn’t perfect, how can it hurt?
Just because the test isn’t helpful doesn’t mean that it’s harmless. The task force noted that men whose PSA scores are suspect but who don’t have cancer can needlessly worry about the disease and undergo biopsies that can cause fever, infections, bleeding, pain and temporary problems with urination.
When patients have their prostates removed — often to treat cancers that never would have harmed them — up to 0.5% die within a month due to complications from surgery and an additional 1% to 7% have serious problems but survive.
Between 20% and 30% of men who have surgery and radiation wind up with erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence and other adverse effects, studies have shown. And about 40% of men who take pills to suppress hormones that can feed prostate cancer cells develop erectile dysfunction and other problems, the task force wrote.
As more men are screened, more are subjected to the harms of biopsies and treatment for a disease that wasn’t likely to kill them in the first place, the task force concluded. Between 1985 and 2005, an estimated 1 million American men have had surgery or radiation for prostate cancer as a result of PSA testing.
How firm is the evidence?
The panel based its conclusions mainly on five large randomized clinical trials, including two published in 2009 that had data from nearly 240,000 men. The panel said the strength of the evidence against widespread PSA testing was “at least fair.”
The task force recognized that many men and their doctors would want to continue using the screening test out of habit or for other reasons. But men should not opt for the test unless they understand both the benefits and the costs, they wrote.
More research is needed to help doctors figure out which men with elevated PSA levels are harboring aggressive tumors that can respond to treatment and which men would be best left alone, the task force wrote. It would also be helpful to know whether men with prostate cancer can be safely monitored with “watchful waiting” and postpone surgery and other treatments until their disease worsens, if it does, the panel added. Two large clinical trials are studying this question now.
What happens next?
A four-week public comment period on the draft recommendation will begin October 11. After that, the task force will work on a final draft. There is no estimate for how long that might take.
American Academy of Ophthalmology is warning about the risks associated with decorative Halloween contact lenses.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is working with its partners the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), and the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAO).
The Academy’s EyeSmart® public education program works to educate the public about the importance of eye health and to empower them to preserve their healthy vision.
The consumers have to be aware that using contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from a licensed eye care professional can cause severe eye disorders, infections, and even vision loss.
All contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye care professional (ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians).
Even if you have a perfect vision, you still need to get an eye exam and a prescription in order to wear cosmetic contact lenses.
“Most people believe that decorative lenses don’t require the same level of care or consideration as corrective contact lenses because they can be purchased over-the-counter or on the Internet. This is far from the truth. In fact, permanent eye damage can occur from using over-the-counter lenses. We want to discourage all consumers, especially teens, from buying contact lenses in beauty salons, novelty shops or in Halloween stores,” said Thomas Steinemann, MD, professor of ophthalmology, MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
“Consumers need to know that permanent eye damage can occur from using non-prescription circle lenses. Personally, I have seen far too many serious cases in both children and adults from using decorative lenses. My most recent case was a girl who was only 12 years old,” he said.
Halloween contact lenses are available in various colors and designs.
Halloween contact lenses are available in varied colors and designs.
Decorative lenses are soft lenses, they can complete a ghoulish or fantasy-like look. Blood-drenched vampire eyes (Twilight movie series), glow-in-the-dark lizard lenses, bright-colored contacts that show up best under a black light, sci-fi contacts (Avatar), anime contacts, Dolly Eyes, or circle lenses are cool and trendy options.
The Halloween looks can include Wild Eyes (CIBA Vision), cat-eyes, zombie or glow-in-the-dark eyes, fantasy lens (Marietta Vision’s Mad Hatter style from the movie Alice in Wonderland), gothic (all-red, all-black and other scary designs) and special-effect contacts, even blind contact lenses (they are completely white and opaque).
Richie Hawtin wearing blind contacts.
While the price of lots of special-effect contact lenses is comparable to conventional color contacts, some gothic, crazy or FX contact lenses are hand-painted and custom made and cost more. So do the scleral costume lenses, which cover the entire visible area of your eye and make you look like an insect. Check with your eye care professional to see if the costume contact lenses you are interested in are covered by your insurance plan.
Circle lenses cover a bigger area of the eye than regular contact lenses. The iris appears bigger and the wearer has a doe-eyed, Anime, look. In Asia (Korea, Japan), there’s a subculture that mimics the Ulzzang look of Anime figures (cartoon).
Circle lenses: before and after they were put into the eyes (Anime look).
What you should know before buying decorative contact lenses?
1. The persons with following conditions cannot wear contact lenses: frequent eye infections, severe allergies, dry eye that is resistant to treatment, a very dusty work environment, or an inability to handle and care for the lenses.
2. Obtaining decorative lenses including colored contacts and novelty or costume lenses without a prescription is dangerous. Using any contacts obtained without an eye exam and prescription can lead to serious eye disorders and eye infections, even blindness. Circle lenses are not FDA-approved. In 2005, a federal law classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. Consumers should only buy decorative contact lenses from an eye care professional or a seller who asks for a prescription.
3. You need to see an eye care professional (an ophthalmologist or optometrist) to get your eyes measured in order to properly fit the contact lenses. Lenses that are not properly fitted may scratch the eye, cause blood vessels to grow into the cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye), blur the cornea and lead to vision impairment or vision loss.
Where to buy Halloween contact lenses?
1. You can buy special-effect contact lenses from the eye care practitioner who prescribes them for you; or you can ask for a copy of your prescription and buy them elsewhere.
2. Buy your decorative contact lenses from an authorized source. Look for instructions regarding how to wear and how to clean them. The package has to be sealed and sterile.
3. Do not buy decorative contact lenses at any store that doesn’t ask you for a valid contact lenses prescription. You might get unsafe products not FDA-approved, products that may have been manufactured improperly or don’t have sterile packaging. Even wearing FDA-approved lenses can be dangerous, if they do not fit to your eyes. Poor-fitting contact lenses are a discomfort, cause serious sight problems, abrasions and infections, so the prescription is needed.
1. Wash your hands with unscented soap and warm water before you put the contact lenses into your eyes and follow the eye care professional or the product care instructions.
2. Special-effect, decorative, cosmetic, or circle lenses generally are designed for daily wear only and are not FDA-approved to be wear while you are sleeping. Wash your hands and take off your contact lenses before you go to sleep.
3. Do not borrow your friend contact lenses and do not lend yours to your friend.
4. Clean, disinfect and care for contact lenses as directed by the eye care professional. Contacts lenses that are not cleaned and disinfected properly can cause painful and severe infections, or lead to vision loss.
5. See your eye care medical doctor (ophthalmologist) for routine exams to monitor the health of your eyes.
For more information about eyes health and contact lenses please visit: www.geteyesmart.org, www.aapos.org, www.clao.org.
How to Put in and Remove Contact Lenses (video)
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Halloween Contact Lenses Can Be Scary for Your Eye Health (video)
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Contact Lenses: No Prescription, No Way (video)
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Herbert Chavez, from the Philippines, has had extensive cosmetic surgery to make him look more like Superman
Herbert Chavez, from the Philippines, has had extensive cosmetic surgery to make him look more like Superman.
Herbert Chavez, 35, a Superman fan, has dramatically changed his appearance using plastic surgery to look more like his favorite super-hero.
Herbert Chavez has undergone a variety of procedures ranging from chin augmentation to thigh implants.
According to a video report on the Philippines’ Bandila News, Herbert Chavez has been going under the plastic surgery since 1995 to achieve the transformation.
Herbert Chavez, whose profession is “pageant trainer”, has also an impressive collection of Superman memorabillia.
Herbert Chavez’ home in Calamba City, south of the capital, Manila, is stuffed with life-size statues, action figures, clothing, comics and posters depicting the comic book hero.
Herbert Chavez before and after plastic surgery
So far, Herbert Chavez has admitted to having the following procedures to make him look more like Superman:
Chin augmentation to give him Superman’s iconic cleft;
Rhinoplasty to transform his Asian nose into one more closely resembling Superman actor Christopher Reeves;
Silicone injections to his lips to make them fuller and thicker;
And thigh implants to make his legs appear more muscular.
Herbert Chavez look appears to be an amalgamation of all the actors who have played Superman, as well as comic book depictions of the fantasy character.
Monday, October 10, is Columbus Day 2011 and many banks, state and local offices as well as U.S. post offices will be closed. In New York, the Columbus Day Parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, lasting until about 3:00 p.m.
New York’s Columbus Day Parade starts on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and continues up Fifth to 79th Street.
A Columbus Day Mass will take place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street and Fith Avenue at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.
The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing New York’s Columbus Day Parade since 1929.
More than 35,000 participate in the Columbus Day Parade each year, including more than 100 groups sporting floats, bands and an assortment of entries. About one million spectators view the parade – including almost 500,000 lining the streets to watch live – and it is among the largest celebrations of Italian-American culture in the world.
The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing New York's Columbus Day Parade since 1929
Traditionally, Columbus Day is held on the second Monday in October.
The first record of an event commemorating Columbus Day in the United States was on October 12, 1792.
Columbus Day celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ “discovering” Americas.
Columbus arrived in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Observance of Columbus Day varies throughout the United States. It became an official holiday in Colorado in 1906, and a federal holiday in 1937, although Hawaii and South Dakota do not recognize Columbus Day at all.
In New York, and in other cities around the country, Columbus Day celebration is a big, annual event, however.
Columbus Day Parade is one of the New York City’s annual big events
Regarding this year’s Columbus Day Parade in New York Columbus Citizens Foundation said in a press release:
“On October 10, 2011, Fifth Avenue will be transformed during the Columbus Day Parade, the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture. The parade was led by Grand Marshal Joseph Plumeri, proud philanthropist, and Chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings.
“The Columbus Day Parade is a fun filled parade that gets bigger and better every year. Participants from all over the world march in our Parade with pride.
“This is already a special year for us, as we have invited and received confirmation from some of the most talented performers. Pia Toscano (American Idol Favorite) as well as the Italian Musical, “The Italian Fairy” are just some of the notable performers. The Sacred Heart University Marching Band as well as Stony Brook University Marching Band will be just a few of our new and exciting musical acts in the Parade. This year, the Parade will be marching up Fifth Avenue from 44th to 72nd Street. The grandstands will be located on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets.
“The parade celebrates the spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus’s 1492 expedition and the important contributions Italian-Americans have made to the United States. Over a dozen high school bands, as well as virtuosi professional groups from the United States and Italy, marched up Fifth Avenue and filled the canyons of midtown with joyous, heart-pounding music. Traditional folk groups performed centuries-old dances, and cutting-edge designs were brought to the parade route in displays of the vibrant culture that is Italy today.”
A freight train derailment in north-central Illinois has forced authorities to evacuate the entire Tiskilwa town due to massive explosions in the area.
According to the Bureau County sheriff’s office, the freight train derailed early Friday in the town of Tiskilwa.
Captain Steve Haywood from Ottawa Fire Department says the train’s tanker cars were carrying ethanol being shipped by Decatur-based corn processor Archer Daniels Midland.
He told the Chicago Tribune that at least six of the 112 freight train cars were on fire, and officials are fearful of liquid vapor explosions.
The freight train derailment has forced authorities to evacuate the entire Tiskilwa town due to massive explosions in the area
Many of the town’s residents were holing up inside the Indian Valley Inn restaurant.
The Indian Valley Inn restaurant owner, Mike McComber, told the Chicago Tribune:
“It’s a mess. A quarter to a half mile of cars derailed. Many of them are on fire.”
“Every time one of them explodes, it sounds like a bomb is going off. Three have gone off so far.”
Another witness, Amanda Knight told the Chicago Sun-Times that the train derailed about 500 feet from her home.
Amanda Knight said: “There’s a lot of fire and big flames. It sounds like a jet coming over the town. That’s all I can compare it to.”
There’s no information yet on any injuries.
According to authorities, theTiskilwa town’s evacuees are being taken to Princeton High School.
The freight train was operated by Iowa Interstate Railroad. A dispatcher with the railroad said company officials were headed to the scene Friday.
Tiskilwa is a village of about 800 people that’s located about 100 miles west of Chicago.
2011 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded jointly to three women – Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakul Karman, a pro-democracy activist from Yemen.
The three women were recognized for their “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work”.
Thorbjorn Jagland, the Nobel Committee chairman said:
“We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women achieve the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society.”
Reading from the prize citation, Thorbjorn Jagland said the committee hoped the prize would “help to bring an end to the suppression of women that still occurs in many countries, and to realize the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent”.
Tawakul Karman heard of her win from Change Square in the capital Sanaa, where she has been living for several months in a protest camp calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to stand down.
Tawakul Karman was recognized for playing a leading part in the struggle for women’s rights in Yemen’s pro-democracy protests “in the most trying circumstances” and is the first Arab women to win the prize.
Tawakul Karman was recognized for playing a leading part in the struggle for women's rights in Yemen's pro-democracy protests
As the head of Yemeni organization Women Journalists without Chains, the mother-of-three, Tawakul Karman has been jailed several times over her campaigns for press freedom and her opposition to the government.
Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 72, who had been widely tipped as a winner, said the award was “for all Liberian people” and a recognition of “many years of struggle for justice”.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, an US-educated economist and the former finance minister was elected in 2005, following the end of Liberia’s 14-year civil war which left 250,000 people dead, caused thousands to flee abroad and financially ruined the country.
Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa's first female elected head of state
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, known as Liberia’s “Iron Lady”, has pledged to fight corruption and bring “motherly sensitivity and emotion to the presidency” as a way of healing the wounds of war.
Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first female elected head of state.
Liberian President is popular among women and the country’s small elite, but disliked by more traditional male-dominated sections of society.
She is standing for re-election next week, having previously said she would one hold the presidency for one term.
Leymah Gbowee was a leading critic of the violence during the Liberian civil war, mobilizing women across ethnic and religious lines in peace activism – in part through implementing a “sex strike” – and encouraging them to participate in elections.
In 2003, Leymah Gbowee led a march through the capital, Monrovia, demanding an end to the rape of women by soldiers, which had continued despite a peace deal being signed three months earlier.
Leymah Gbowee had “worked to enhance the influence of women in West Africa during and after war”
According to Nobel Committee, Leymah Gbowee had “worked to enhance the influence of women in West Africa during and after war”.
Leymah Gbowee said: “I am confused. I am humbled. This is the first time in the 39 years of my life that I am out of words.
“This is a victory for women rights everywhere in the world. What could be better then three women winning the prize?
“This is the recognition that we hear you, we see you, we acknowledge you.”
The three women will share the $1.5 million prize money.
The Nobel Peace Prize originally recognized those who had already achieved peace, but that its scope has broadened in recent years to encourage those working towards peace and acknowledge work in progress.
The Nobel committee received a record 241 nominations for 2011 prize – among the individuals and groups believed to have been put forward were the European Union, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and key cyber dissidents in the Arab Spring movement.
HTC Flyer Tablet was wrongly priced at $99.99 on Best Buy website and the error has caused a number of orders placed.
Instead of writing “from $499.999 to $299.99”, the Best Buy info says “from $499.999 to $99.99″.
Best Buy has corrected the error and apologized for the confusion.
“The HTC Flyer (SKU 2390524) was incorrectly priced at $99.99 on Bestbuy.com and in some of our stores,” Best Buy wrote.
HTC Flyer Tablet was wrongly priced at $99.99 on Best Buy
“This error has been corrected on Bestbuy.com and our stores have posted a correction notice at their locations. Bestbuy.com orders that were placed at the $99.99 price will be canceled. Best Buy will not be price matching the $99.99 price on the Flyer, nor will the HTC Flyer be available for $99.99.”
“Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to correct any pricing errors that we find in our stores. We apologize for the confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Cellular reported that the HTC Flyer Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablet will be available on Best Buy starting with October 7, 2011.
Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, announced its plans to protest Steve Jobs’ funeral, sending the message out via Twitter for iPhone.
Westboro Baptist Church leader Margie J. Phelps has announced that the group will picket the Apple co-founder’s funeral, condemning him for “teaching his neighbors to sin.”
Margie J. Phelps, daughter of the small church’s founder and the lawyer who represented the church during their First Amendment case at the Supreme Court, (which Westboro won,) was among the Phelps family members to use Apple products to Tweet about the death of Steve Jobs.
“Westboro will picket his funeral. He had a huge platform; gave God no glory & taught sin,” Margie J. Phelps tweeted Wednesday night on her iPhone.
Westboro Baptist Church announced its plans to protest Steve Jobs’ funeral, sending the message out via Twitter for iPhone
The tweet that has critics pointing out the irony says little more than “He is in hell.” The controversial church seems to be sticking by their words, however, ignoring criticism of the method used to get out their message.
After a number of groups pointed out the irony, Phelps continued to tweet:
“Rebels mad cuz I used iPhone to tell you Steve Jobs is in hell. God created iPhone for that purpose!”
The iPhone-wielding Westboro members seemed unable to find any irony in their embrace of the technology of a man they condemn. One church member even suggested that God was using Jobs to help advance the message of Westboro Baptist Church:
“God used Steve Jobs to create amazing STUFF for WBC to preach,” wrote Shirley Phelps-Roper.
Westboro Baptist Church is mostly made up of Phelps family members but has risen to international infamy because of their funeral protests of celebrities and American soldiers. The church’s members believe that God punishes America for its tolerance of sin, including acceptance of homosexuality.
Westboro Baptist Church, which has become famous for its unofficial “God Hates Fags” slogan, has been at the center of many controversial pickets in recent years, including sending congregation members to protest at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards. The church also picketed the funerals of those killed in the Arizona shootings, an act many found particularly distasteful.
BioCancell has begun enrollment of phase IIb BC-819 pancreatic cancer clinical trial, while Halozyme has started randomized, controlled clinical trial with PEGPH20 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Tikcro Technologies Ltd. announced on October 6 that BioCancell, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted cancer therapies for solid cancer tumors, has commenced enrollment of its Phase IIb pancreatic cancer clinical trial with a first treatment of the first patient.
The FDA granted BioCancell a Fast Track designation for BC-819, as a treatment for locally-advanced pancreatic cancer. Fast Track designation is expected to expedite FDA review of BC-819 and the process of clinical trials.
The trial will examine the effect of BioCancell‘s BC-819 in sequence with Gemzar (gemcitabine), the current standard chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, in patients with advanced, unresectable (inoperable) pancreatic cancer.
The clinical trial is expected to include approximately 100 participants in multiple medical centers in Europe, Israel and the U.S. Half of the participants will be treated with the combination of BioCancell‘s BC-819 and gemcitabine, and the other half will be treated with gemcitabine alone.
The primary endpoint of the trial is progression-free survival. Secondary objectives include overall survival, response rate and resectability of the target tumor lesion.
An interim analysis is planned for after the recruitment of the first 18 patients in order to determine the appropriate dose of BC-819 to utilize for the remainder of the trial.
Tikcro (Tel Aviv, Israel) has holdings in BioCancell Therapeutics, Inc. (Jerusalem, Israel), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company operating in the area of cancer treatment.
BC-819, used to treat pancreatic cancer, is a double stranded DNA plasmid construct that incorporates the gene for diphtheria toxin (DTA) under the regulation of the promoter sequence for H19 gene.
BC-819 is a double stranded DNA plasmid construct that incorporates the gene for diphtheria toxin (DTA) under the regulation of the promoter sequence for H19 gene.
BC-819 uses the H19 gene to target susceptible tumor cells. A vehicle is constructed to gain access to the targeted cell, and the host cell’s internal machinery is directed to produce Diptheria Toxin (DTA). BC-819 enters all dividing cells, but while it will destroy the cancerous cells that express H19 it will be just a strand of non-functional DNA in non-cancerous cells.
DTA is one of the most lethal toxins known to mankind, and has proved to be the most efficient agent for the targeted destruction of cancerous growths. Because of this, it has been a frequently-used component of targeted approaches to cancer therapy, including immunotoxins and gene therapies, and has been approved by the FDA for a number of cancer treatments. There are two strong safety factors protecting the patient receiving DTA. The first is that Western societies are fully immunized against Diphtheria Toxin. The second is that the technology only utilizes the A fragment of the toxin, not the B fragment that would allow the toxin to replicate itself.
BioCancell is conducting a phase IIb clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, phase IIb clinical trial for the treatment of superficial bladder carcinoma cancer and a Phase I/IIa clinical trial for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Halozyme has begun randomized, controlled phase 2 clinical trial to assess safety, tolerability and efficacy of gemcitabine combined with PEGPH20 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products targeting the extracellular matrix for the diabetes, cancer, dermatology and drug delivery markets, announced on October 5 the commencement of patient dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial with pegylated rHuPH20 (PEGPH20) in patients with stage IV previously untreated pancreatic cancer. This multi-center, international, randomized, placebo-controlled trial will study the safety, tolerability and efficacy of gemcitabine plus PEGPH20 compared to gemcitabine plus placebo.
“Pancreatic cancer continues to be an extremely challenging disease for both patients and physicians alike and, unfortunately, most patients with pancreas cancer live less than one year from the time of diagnosis. However, a number of recent observations from both preclinical and early Phase 1 clinical studies suggest that PEGPH20 may render pancreatic cancers more susceptible to conventional chemotherapy by depleting the tumor stroma of hyaluronan, improving vascular perfusion and preferentially increasing drug delivery to the tumor bed,” said Sunil R. Hingorani of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a pancreatic cancer biologist and principal investigator for the trial.
The trial, which includes a single arm run-in stage, will evaluate gemcitabine plus PEGPH20 compared to gemcitabine plus placebo in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In the Phase 2 portion, patients will be randomized to receive either PEGPH20 plus gemcitabine or placebo plus gemcitabine. Over 140 patients are expected to be enrolled globally.
The primary endpoint of the Phase 2 portion of the trial is overall survival (OS). The trial will also evaluate secondary endpoints such as CA19-9, objective response rate and duration of response. CA19-9 is a tumor marker tested from blood samples in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Certain solid tumor types (colon, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers) have been shown to accumulate high levels of hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan) which creates a protective network surrounding the tumor cell.
PEGPH20 is a PEGylated form of rHuPH20 modified to allow it to survive in the blood stream. PEGPH20 degrades hyaluronan (HA) which is a gel-like component found in tissues throughout the body. Certain solid tumor types (colon, breast, prostate, pancreatic cancer) have been shown to accumulate high levels of HA which creates a protective network surrounding the tumor cell. By degrading the HA, PEGPH20 may increase the accessibility of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents and improve the effectiveness of the treatment.
Halozyme Therapeutics (San Diego, California) is a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products targeting the extracellular matrix for the insulin, cancer, dermatology and drug delivery markets. The company’s product portfolio is based primarily on intellectual property covering the family of human enzymes known as hyaluronidases and additional enzymes that affect the extracellular matrix. Halozyme‘s Enhanze(TM) technology is a novel drug delivery platform designed to increase the absorption and dispersion of biologics. The company has key partnerships with Roche, Baxter, ViroPharma and Intrexon to apply Enhanze technology to therapeutic biologics including Herceptin®, MabThera®, immunoglobulin, Cinryze® and recombinant human alpha 1-antitrypsin. Halozyme‘s Ultrafast Insulin program combines its rHuPH20 enzyme with mealtime insulins, which may produce more rapid absorption, faster action, and improved glycemic control. The product candidates in Halozyme‘s pipeline target multiple areas of significant unmet medical need.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the world.
The U.S. National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2011 there will be more than 44,030 new cases of pancreatic cancer and 37,660 deaths from the disease.
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which develops within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a neuroendocrine tumor.
Sometimes called a silent killer (because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms), pancreatic cancer’s symptoms may include: upper abdominal pain, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, rapid weight loss, jaundice, itching, diabetes mellitus (or high blood sugar levels), Trousseau sign, depression.
Lots of patients with pancreatic cancer develop diabetes months to years before they are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, suggesting new onset diabetes in a senior may be an early sign of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer first metastasizes to regional lymph nodes, generally, and later to the liver and, less commonly, to the lungs; occasionally to bone or brain.
Risk factors for pancreatic cancer may include: heredity (family history of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis), age, smoking, diets low in vegetables and fruit, high in red meat and high in sugar-sweetened drinks (fructose has been linked to growth of pancreatic cancer cells), obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, Helicobacter pylori infection, gingivitis or periodontal disease.
Abraxane plus gemcitabine achieved a median overall survival of 12.2 months in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, study reports. Patients with high-SPARC biomarker achieved significantly higher overall survival.
Celgene International Sàrl announced on October 6 that results from a clinical study of Abraxane (paclitaxel albumin-bound particles for injectable suspension) in combination with gemcitabine in 67 patients with previously untreated advanced pancreatic cancer were published in an online article by the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abraxane, approved by FDA for breast cancer, could be a life-prolonging drug for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
After the first phase of the study, the recommended Phase II dose was 125 mg/m2 of Abraxane followed by 1000 mg/m2 of gemcitabine on days 1, 8 and 15 of every 28-day cycle.
In Phase II, almost half of the patients responded (overall response rate was 48% (21/44)) and two-thirds experienced disease control (disease control rate was 68% (30/44)). The median progression-free survival was 7.9 months (95% CI: 5.8, 11.0) and the median overall survival (OS) was 12.2 months (95% CI: 8.9, 17.9). The one-year survival rate for patients was 48%.
Levels of secreted protein acidic and rich in crysteine (SPARC) were evaluated in 36 patients. These patients were classified as either high-SPARC (average z-score greater-than or equal to 0, n=19) or low-SPARC (average z-score <0, n=17). According to the study, a significant increase in OS was observed for patients in the high-SPARC group versus the low-SPARC group (median 17.8 vs. 8.1 months, p=0.0431). SPARC level remained a significant predictor of OS in a multivariate Cox regression model after adjusting for multiple clinical covariates including gender, race, age, treatment and baseline CA19-9 level (p=0.041). Of note, SPARC in the stroma correlated highly with OS (p=0.013), while SPARC in the tumor cells did not (p=0.15). This is particularly intriguing as SPARC expression in the stroma, but not in the tumor, has been associated with poor survival, suggesting that a unique mechanism of action of Abraxane may play a role in this reverse outcome.
Secreted protein acidic, rich in cysteine (SPARC) is an acidic, secreted extracellular matrix glycoprotein that plays a vital role in bone mineralization, cell-matrix interactions, and collagen binding. SPARC also increases the production and activity of matrix metalloproteinases, a function important to invading cancer cells within bone. Additional functions of SPARC beneficial to tumor cells include angiogenesis, proliferation and migration. Overexpression of SPARC is reported in many human cancers such as breast, prostate and colon.
The most common DLTs in the first phase of the study were sepsis and neutropenia. During the second phase, the most common grade 3 or higher Abraxane-related non-hematologic adverse events were fatigue (21%) and sensory neuropathy (15%). The most common grade 3 or higher treatment-related hematologic adverse events were neutropenia (67%), leukopenia (44%) and thrombocytopenia (23%).
These data are being confirmed in an ongoing, international, randomized phase III trial of Abraxane + gemcitabine vs. gemcitabine for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Additional information about the trial can be found at: http://www.clinicaltrial.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT00844649?term=abraxane&cond=pancreatic%2Bcancer&phase=2&rank=2&show_locs=Y#locn.
These data are reported from an investigational study. Abraxane is not approved as a treatment for previously untreated advanced pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. In typical usage, the term pancreatic cancer refers specifically to the significantly most common type of cancer, adenocarcinoma (and some variants thereof), that arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas, although the term can also reasonably be used to encompass less common types of cancer that also originate within the pancreas, and is quite frequently inclusive of the other exocrine cancers. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death both in the United States and internationally.
Celgene International Sàrl, located in Boudry, in the Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, is a wholly owned subsidiary and international headquarters of Celgene Corporation. Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, is an integrated global pharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through gene and protein regulation. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.celgene.com.
Abraxane is a solvent-free chemotherapy treatment option for metastatic breast cancer which was developed using Celgene’s proprietary nab® technology platform.
This protein-bound chemotherapy agent combines paclitaxel with albumin, a naturally-occurring human protein. Abraxane is currently in various stages of investigation for the treatment of the following cancers: expanded applications for metastatic breast, non-small cell lung, malignant melanoma, pancreatic and gastric.
In 1967 Monroe E. Wall and Mansukh C. Wani isolated a mitotic inhibitor from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia and named it taxol. Later named paclitaxel, the natural product has antitumor activity and is the active agent in Abraxane.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Abraxane for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) in January 2005 for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within six months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated. For the full prescribing information for Abraxane please visit http://www.abraxane.com.
Abraxane® for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) is indicated for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated.
ADVERSE EVENTS
Severe cardiovascular events possibly related to single-agent ABRAXANE occurred in approximately 3% of patients in the randomized trial. These events included chest pain, cardiac arrest, supraventricular tachycardia, edema, thrombosis, pulmonary thromboembolism, pulmonary emboli, and hypertension. Cases of cerebrovascular attacks (strokes) and transient ischemic attacks have been reported rarely. During postmarketing surveillance, rare reports of congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction were observed, primarily among individuals with underlying cardiac history or prior exposure to cardiotoxic drugs.
In the randomized metastatic breast cancer study, the most important adverse events included alopecia (90%), neutropenia (all cases 80%; severe 9%), sensory neuropathy (any symptoms 71%; severe 10%), asthenia (any 47%; severe 8%), myalgia/arthralgia (any 44%; severe 8%), anemia (all 33%; severe 1%), nausea (any 30%; severe 3%), diarrhea (any 27%; severe <1%) infections (24%), vomiting (any 18%; severe 4%), and mucositis (any 7%; severe <1%).
Other adverse reactions have included ocular/visual disturbances (any 13%; severe 1%), renal dysfunction (any 11%; severe 1%), fluid retention (any 10%; severe 0%), hepatic dysfunction (elevations in bilirubin 7%, alkaline phosphatase 36%, AST [SGOT] 39%), hypersensitivity reactions (any 4%; severe 0%), cardiovascular reactions (severe 3%), thrombocytopenia (any 2%; severe <1%), and injection site reactions (<1%). In clinical trials and during postmarketing surveillance, dehydration was common and pyrexia was very common. Rare occurrences of severe hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported during postmarketing surveillance.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, and ADVERSE REACTIONS.
Important Safety Information
Abraxane for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) should be administered under the supervision of a physician experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Appropriate management of complications is possible only when adequate diagnostic and treatment facilities are readily available.
Abraxane therapy should not be administered to patients with metastatic breast cancer who have baseline neutrophil counts of less than 1,500 cells/mm3. In order to monitor the occurrence of bone marrow suppression, primarily neutropenia, which may be severe and result in infection, it is recommended that frequent peripheral blood cell counts be performed on all patients receiving Abraxane.
Note: An albumin form of paclitaxel may substantially affect a drug’s functional properties relative to those of drug in solution. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL FORMULATIONS.
ADDITIONAL WARNINGS
The use of Abraxane has not been studied in patients with renal dysfunction. In the randomized controlled trial, patients were excluded for baseline serum bilirubin >1.5 mg/dL or baseline serum creatinine >2 mg/dL.
Pregnancy-Teratogenic Effects: Pregnancy Category D Abraxane can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while receiving treatment with Abraxane. Men should be advised to not father a child while receiving treatment with Abraxane.
Abraxane contains albumin (human), a derivative of human blood.
PRECAUTIONS
No drug interaction studies have been conducted with Abraxane. Caution should be exercised when administering Abraxane concomitantly with medicines known to inhibit or induce either CYP2C8 or CYP3A4.
Abraxane therapy should not be administered to patients with baseline neutrophil counts of less than 1,500 cells/mm3. It is recommended that frequent peripheral blood cell counts be performed on all patients receiving Abraxane. Patients should not be retreated with subsequent cycles of Abraxane until neutrophils recover to a level >1,500 cells/mm3 and platelets recover to >100,000 cells/mm3. In the case of severe neutropenia (<500 cells/mm3 for 7 days or more), during a course of Abraxane therapy, a dose reduction for subsequent courses of therapy is recommended.
Sensory neuropathy occurs frequently with Abraxane. The occurrence of grade 1 or 2 sensory neuropathy does not generally require dose modification. If grade 3 sensory neuropathy develops, treatment should be withheld until resolution to grade 1 or 2 followed by a dose reduction for all subsequent courses of Abraxane.
Because the exposure and toxicity of paclitaxel can be increased with hepatic impairment, administration of Abraxane in patients with hepatic impairment should be performed with caution. The starting dose should be reduced for patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment.
Injection site reactions occur infrequently with Abraxane and were mild in the randomized clinical trial. Given the possibility of extravasation, it is advisable to closely monitor the infusion site for possible infiltration during drug administration.
It is not known whether paclitaxel is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, it is recommended that nursing be discontinued when receiving Abraxane therapy.
Adverse events such as fatigue, lethargy, and malaise may affect the ability to drive and use machines.
Source: Celgene International Sàrl
Courtney Love talked about the tragic death of her husband Kurt Cobain in an interview for the November issue of Vanity Fair.
Courtney Love, 47, says she still carries anger that her husband, the Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain killed himself in 1994 by shooting himself in the head.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Courtney Love said that she would “kill” Kurt Cobain if “he came back right now”.
Courtney Love said: “Mad? Ya think?! If he came back right now I’d have to kill him, for what he did to us. I’d f***ing kill him. I’d f**k him, and then I’d kill him,’ she tells the magazine.
Courtney Love talked about the tragic death of her husband Kurt Cobain in an interview for the November issue of Vanity Fair
“He OD’d at least five times. I was the f*cking E.M.S. (Emergency Medical Services). I was always sticking pins in his balls. I carried around Narcan!”
Courtney Love, a renowned drug addict, also talked about her parenting regrets and money troubles.
In 2008, Courtney Love claimed that fraudsters used Kurt Cobain’s details to buy a $3 million mansion and steal up to $72 million.
Courtney Love is still obsessed to this day with what she calls “the fraud” and admits at times it has overtaken her relationship with her daughter Frances Bean, who was just two years old when Kurt Cobain took his own life.
“It was my fault! I never read to her,” Courtney Love admitted, addressing her daughter’s inability to read until the age of seven.
Courtney Love continued to lament her mistakes, saying:
“Why didn’t I ever take her to a Broadway show? She f***ing loved those Broadway musicals!”
The November issue of Vanity Fair
Courtney Love’s relationship with her daughter Frances has been a turbulent one.
After overdosing in 2003, Courtney Love temporarily lost custody of her daughter when Frances was just 13 years old.
Frances went to live with her grandmother, Kurt Cobain’s mother Wendy O’Connor.
When Frances was 15 year-old, Courtney Love regained custody of her daughter.
After two years, Frances went to live with her grandmother again and Courtney Love took to Twitter to beg her daughter to return.
At the time her spokesman insisted Courtney Love had been “clean for years” and that “strong-willed” Frances had taken the decision on her own to live with her grandmother.
Warrant singer Jani Lane died from alcohol poisoning, as officials have determined.
According to TMZ, the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office has finished its investigation and has concluded Jani Lane had suffered from “acute ethanol poisoning” when he died in an L.A. motel room on August 11, 2011.
At the moment of Jani Lane’s death, investigators found a half-empty bottle of vodka and prescription medication in the motel room where he died.
Jani Lane had battled substance abuse issues for many years.
Jani Lane’s official cause of death is alcohol poisoning
On August 11, 2011, Lane was found dead at a Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills, California. Jani Lane was 47 years old.
Jani Lane is survived by his wife, Kimberly; a brother, Eric; three sisters, Marcine Williams, Michelle Robinson and Victoria Oswald-Ley; a daughter from his first marriage, Taylar Lane; a daughter from his second marriage, Madison Lane; and two stepdaughters, Ryan and Brittany.
The Great British Bake Off winner Joanne Wheatley’s moment of glory had to play second fiddle to a male squirrel.
The male squirrel, loitering in the grounds of the mansion where the BBC2 show, Great British Bake Off was filmed, was the subject of a lingering camera shot.
Viewers could not help noticing squirrel’s unmistakably masculine appearance.
Video clips were posted on YouTube, while hundreds took to social networks and TV forums to discuss it.
One joked: “This evening’s Great British Bake Off contains full-frontal squirrel nudity which some viewers may find startling.”
Another said: “A squirrel is flashing everyone on the Great British Bake Off.”
Others were more disturbed by the image, complaining it was an unnecessary and unwelcome distraction on a show about baking. Since Great British Bake Off show was recorded some time ago, it could easily have been edited out.
One viewer commented: “Why did the cameraman focus on the squirrel at all? I just didn’t need to see that.”
A record five million viewers saw grandmother Joanne Wheatley crowned Queen of the Bake Off on Tuesday night
Joanne Wheatley beat thousands of other amateur bakers, including favourite Holly Bell, to win after wowing judges Mary Berry and John Hollywood with her “pretty” and “girly” array of cakes and pastries.
Joanne Wheatley is now tipped to be a star in her own right and is expected to be offered a cookery book deal.
Joanne Wheatley, 41, mother of three sons, who was married at 17, honed her culinary skills making cakes for her boys, who regularly scored her out of ten for her efforts.
Joanne Wheatley taught herself to cook with a combination of recipe books and experimentation, as well as “tough feedback” from her children.
The housewife from Essex battled crippling nerves throughout the eight-week competition but impressed judges with her creativity and skill.
The second series of Great British Bake Off, presented by Sue Perkins and Melanie Giedroyc, has been the surprise television hit of the year and superseded Masterchef as the must-watch show for cookery fans
Filming took place at Valentines Mansion and Gardens in Essex, where all the contestants had a baking station and presented their efforts in the lush gardens surrounded by bunting.
Great British Bake Off has sent demand for baking products soaring.
Marks & Spencer reports sales increases of up to 20% in ingredients, while John Lewis has seen a 46% rise in sales of three-tier cake stands and cake tins and muffin trays.
Sarah Palin has announced yesterday, October 5, she will not run for presidential race in 2012.
There has been much speculation about whether Sarah Palin, who famously became John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 election, would enter the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
And after months of side-stepping questions Sarah Palin has finally announced that she will not run for the White House – because her “family comes first”.
In a letter sent to her supporters, Sarah Palin wrote:
“After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for president of the United States.”
Sarah Palin has announced she will not run for President in 2012
It has been suggested that Sarah Palin now will lend her weight to Texas governor and Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry.
The announcement comes after Sarah Palin was stung by suggestions in a new book that she once snorted cocaine off a 55 gallon oil drum while snowmobiling with friends and had illicit affairs with a top NBA star and one of her husband’s business partners.
The revelations, which will inevitably now be seen to have struck a devastating blow to her political ambitions, suggest Sarah Palin took the class A drug with her husband, while smoking marijuana at college in secret liaisons with one of her professors.
Joe McGinniss’ book “The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin” also alleged that Sarah Palin is far from the traditional family woman she claims to be.
Sarah Palin, 47, had a one-night stand with Miami Heat basketball star Glen Rice less than a year before she eloped with her husband, Joe McGinniss’ book claimed.
Sarah Palin was said to have met the 6ft 8ins player in 1987 when he was playing in a college basketball tournament in Alaska and she worked as a sports reporter for KTUU television.
It was also claimed that Sarah Palin had a six-month affair with Brad Hanson, who ran a snowmobile dealership with her husband Todd – a betrayal which led to Todd dissolving their business.
In a bid to expose Sarah Palin’s skeletons, Joe McGinness studied the former vice presidential candidate for three years and last year even moved in to a home next door in Wasilla, Alaska, to dig some more.
Recent polls had, however, suggested Sarah Palin was gaining ground on President Barack Obama.
According to a new survey, Sarah Palin was as little as five points behind him.
After trailing Barack Obama by more than 20% in polls all year, the McClatchy-Marist survey, taken on September 13 and 14, had the President leading Sarah Palin by only 49 points to 44.
A key reason is that Sarah Palin started to lead Barack Obama among independents – a sharp turnaround.
The poll found that Barack Obama looks increasingly vulnerable in next year’s election, with a majority of voters believing he will lose to any Republican, a solid number saying they will definitely vote against him and most potential Republican challengers gaining on him.
Barack Obama still leads all the announced candidates, however.
Governor Rick Perry of Texas continues to lead the field of announced candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, supported by 30% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.
Rick Perry is followed by former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with 22% and Representative Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota with 12%.
Others trail in single digits.
A separate survey for Fox News – where Sarah Palin is a highly-paid commentator – found that an astonishing 66% of Tea Party supporters – and 71% of Republicans – would prefer, however, if she did not run for President.
Sarah Palin’ statement in full:
“October 5, 2011
Wasilla, Alaska
After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.
My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.
From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back – and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.
I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.
Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.
In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.
Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!
God bless America.
Sarah Palin”
Steve Jobs, Apple founder died today after a heavy and lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
Tributes, led by President Barack Obama, began pouring in within minutes of the company confirming the death of Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind the iPhone, iPad and the iPod at the age of 56.
“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” read a statement by Apple’s board of directors.
“Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.
“His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”
The Apple Home page has revealed that Steve Jobs had died
The homepage of Apple’s website this evening switched to a full-page image of Jobs with the text, “Steve Jobs 1955-2011”.
Clicking on the image revealed the additional text:
“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.
“Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor.
“Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”
Apple announced the death of its founder, Steve Jobs on the website
Steve Jobs leaves a wife, a son and two daughters.
Steve Jobs’ relatives also released a statement, which said he “died peacefully today, surrounded by his family”.
“In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the news of Steve Jobs’s death to Apple employees via e-mail:
“I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.
“We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon.
“No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honour his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.”
In April 2011, Steve Jobs seemed frail sparking speculation he would have to resign
Within minutes of his death being confirmed, tributes to Steve Jobs began flooding the web, led by President Barack Obama, who tweeted:
“Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. From all of us at #Obama2012, thank you for the work you make possible every day – including ours.”
Barack Obama later gave a fuller statement, in which he praised Steve Jobs as a “visionary” who was “bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it”.
“The world has lost a visionary,” Obama said.
“And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.
“Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.
“Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.”
From its earliest beginnings as a personal computer also-ran in a scrappy garage in northern California to its all-conquering development of life-changing gadgets the rise of Apple has been intrinsically linked to Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs holds the Apple II computer in 1977
When Steve Jobs left for eleven years after a row over the company’s direction, Apple’s fortunes dipped.
His return, after a successful stint as head of animation innovators Pixar, marked the start of the company’s relentless drive to become one of America’s biggest and most successful companies.
Steve Jobs’ death comes just six weeks after his poor health led him to stand down as the company’s CEO and his successor, Tim Cook, presented the new generation iPhone yesterday.
The fact that Apple stayed cool as it grew is credited to Steve Jobs’ innovative marketing techniques almost as much as his visionary wizardry.
Even when he announced that he was taking two years off on medical leave, Steve Jobs still kept hold of his CEO title, just as he did on two previous occasions in the past seven years when he needed to take leave from the day-to-day running of the company for health reasons.
At the time, Steve Jobs could barely walk and photographs of him looking gaunt and frail led to reports that he just had weeks to live.
But Steve Jobs fought back and appeared to be relishing proving the doubters wrong by introducing the second-generation iPad and meeting up with President Obama to discuss the future of the tech industry.
Other than his well-rehearsed stage appearances to launch the latest Apple innovation, Steve Jobs always treasured his privacy.
Steve Jobs survived surgery to remove a cancerous pancreatic tumor in 2004 and a liver transplant in 2009.
As CEO, Steve Jobs earned only $1 a year, but he held 5,426 million Apple shares as well as 138 million shares in Disney.
Steve Jobs’ wealth is estimated at more than $5billion.
With his trademark jeans and casual jumper, Steve Jobs became synonymous with the company’s every innovation in recent years, from the iPod through to the iPhone and iPad.
Born in San Francisco, Steve Jobs, who was adopted, dropped out of university after one term and only took his first computer job to raise money to go on a spiritual retreat to India.
Steve Jobs returned a Buddhist with his head shaved and admitted experimenting with LSD, calling his drug-induced experiences ‘one of the two or three most important things’ he had done in his life.
Back in northern California, Steve Jobs started working for computer firm Atari before founding Apple in his garage in 1976 with friends Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne and Mike Makkula.
After a power struggle in 1985, Steve Jobs left the company, only to return eleven years later to launch the company’s extraordinary growth over the past fourteen years.
Steve Jobs introduces the Apple Nano in San Francisco
One of the world’s most famous CEOs, Steve Jobs remained stubbornly private about his personal life, refusing interviews and shielding his wife and their children from public view.
Even when he resigned six weeks ago, he divulged very little, not directly mentioning his cancer as the reason he quit.
“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know,” Steve Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation.
“Unfortunately, that day has come.”
But that personal life – he was given up at birth for adoption, had an illegitimate child, was romantically linked with movie stars – was full of intrigue for his fan base and Apple consumers.
Steve Jobs and his wife Laurene Powell during Pixar Exhibit Launch at The Museum of Modern Art in New York
Steve Jobs and his wife, Laurene Powell, were married in a small ceremony in Yosemite National Park in 1991, lived in Woodside, California, and had three children: Reed Paul, Erin Sienna and Eve.
Steve Jobs admitted that when he was 23, he had a child out of wedlock with his high school girlfriend, Chris Ann Brennan. Their daughter, Lisa Brennan Jobs, was born in 1978.
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Even though most people say they hate sales material, it’s funny because everything on the net is sold using sales copy and material. There are so many ways to produce ineffective copy, and that’s why it’s important to have some awareness of the different kinds of copywriting mistakes.
Every well-trained copywriter knows that good copy talks about benefits rather than features. It depends on the product because sometimes you have to present features, such as with software, but they need to be immediately turned into the benefits the end-user will experience. Benefits are more effective because people are selfish, and they want to know what is specifically in it for them. So if you’re not clear about what your product has to offer, you won’t see a very strong response from your target audience. It takes some practice, but one thing you can do is list out every conceivable feature you can think of, and then translate them into the benefits. If you can get good at that, then your benefits will be clear and strong, and then your copy will be a bit better for it. A lot of times good benefit bullets can tip the scales in your favor.
Reading a long sales letter can take a toll on your prospect, so don’t make the mistake of writing in large paragraphs that are hard to read.
You need to use a lot of white space in your sales copy so that it’s scannable. Your prospects will feel suffocated and simply leave if they feel that the copy isn’t that readable. So just like in English class, each paragraph supports a single idea and no more. You need to maintain the flow and keep all the content relevant, because sometimes you tend to stray away. A good idea is to write the sales copy like you’re telling a story. A great story can do tremendous things for your copy, so just make it relevant and weave it into your copy as smoothly as possible. The format for the paragraphs holds true for the entire length of you sales letter.
The location, or introduction, of the price of your product or service matters a lot. Never put your product price too early in your sales copy.
But what’s wrong in that? It just tends to bring down the interest level of the reader. The most optimum location to reveal your price is near the bottom after the product and benefits are introduced. After your research is performed, then relax and write – you can always edit later, so don’t worry about how the first draft comes out. When you do spell out the price, don’t be shy about it because it needs to be clearl and visible. Don’t unconsciously attempt to ‘slip it in’ with all the other text because there should be no reason to feel like you need to hide it.
All in all, copywriting is an art that takes time to learn and cultivate. It’s always smart to learn about common mistakes because if you just avoid them then you’ll be writing better copy. That’s why we presented this article, so you can learn from others and improve.
The 85-year-old Duchess of Alba’s latest romance with Alfonso Diez was crowned yesterday as she married for the third time.
Duchess of Alba said few months ago she believed that “every great love story should end in marriage”.
One of Spain’s richest and best-loved public figures, Duchess of Alba walked down the aisle with a toyboy 25 years her junior.
Duchess of Alba, 85, with her new husband Alfonso Diez, 60, at their wedding in Seville
A crowd of several hundred clapped and roared its approval as the Duchess of Alba waved and danced on a red carpet following her wedding to Alfonso Diez at Palacio de las Duenas, at her opulent 15th-century residence in the cobble-stoned old quarter of Seville.
Duchess of Alba, who is a distant relative of Winston Churchill and Princess Diana, went ahead with the marriage to 60-year-old civil servant Alfonso Diez despite her children’s qualms.
Duchess of Alba delighted her guests when she took to the dance floor with celebrated Spanish Matador Curro Romero
It emerged in August that Duchess of Alba has divided her fortune between her six children to convince them that her suitor is besotted with her rather than her money.
And the duchess certainly seemed like a young girl in love, celebrating after the ceremony by kicking off her shoes and dancing a bit of flamenco.
Known now for her frizzy white hair, squeaky voice and wildly colorful clothes, Duchess of Alba is among Spain’s most famous people.
Duchess of Alba in 1956
And scandal threatened to overshadow the day when earlier this week the Spanish magazine Interviu published a 30-year-old photograph of Duchess of Alba sunbathing topless in Ibiza.
Duchess of Alba’s lawyer Javier Saavedra said:
“We are considering suing for interfering with her rights to privacy.”
While hundreds of well-wishers and press gathered outside the gates only a few dozen family members and close friends were invited to the Duchess of Alba’s wedding ceremony.
The twice-widowed duchess wore a pale pink knee-length dress by Spanish designers Victorio y Lucchino on Tuesday.
Duchess of Alba full name is Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva.
The duchess goes by simply Cayetana, and is a distant relative of Queen Elizabeth and Winston Churchill.
Duchess of Alba and Alfonso Diez, a social security administration employee, are old acquaintances through her second husband, who was a former priest, and Diez’s brother.
Duchess of Alba dancing with her new husband, Alfonso Diez
They bumped into each other about three years ago outside a movie theater in Madrid and eventually started dating.
Duchess of Alba’ six children, all from her first marriage, reportedly balked when the idea of marriage emerged.
In July of this year Duchess of Alba assigned them and her grandchildren juicy chunks of her vast estate, including mansions and palaces, in an effort to appease them.
Estimates of duchess wealth range from 600million and 3.5billion euros.
Duchess of Alba’s fortune includes palaces and mansions throughout Spain, paintings by the likes of Velazquez, Goya and Rubens and huge stretches of land.
A 30-year-old photograph of Duchess of Alba sunbathing topless was splashed on the cover of a Spanish magazine this week
Two of the children did not attend the wedding.
Her only daughter, Eugenia, was reported to hospitalized in Madrid with chicken pox, while one of her sons, named Jacobo and reportedly unhappy with his slice of the family fortune – was said to be traveling outside Spain.
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Thousands of people may be buying imitation Ugg boots made from the pelts of animals skinned alive.
The fur comes from raccoon dogs, a species related to domestic dogs, farmed in China.
A shocking video of the skins being collected has led activists to demand a ban on the trade and call for clearer labeling.
Genuine Ugg boots cost up to $300 and use sheepskin, which is produced in a humane way.
Workers in China skinning an alive raccoon dog
Campaigners from Humane Society International have found that other companies in Australia, where the popular Ugg boots are made, are using raccoon dog fur farmed in China and labeling it “Australian sheepskin”.
HSI campaigners warned that the footwear could have found its way into the UK.
While the UK law says that no products using dog or cat fur may be imported or sold in the country, there is no ban on fur from raccoon dogs, an Asian species with links to foxes, dogs and jackals. They are not related to raccoons.
The raccoon dog is indigenous to Asia and related to dogs and foxes
Wendy Higgins from HSI UK said: “I have been working in animal rights for more than a decade and have never seen a video that has shocked me so much.
“It is not just the killing of the animals that is horrific, but the fact that they must endure such slow, painful deaths.
“These animals are not dogs, so there is no legislative reason why boots containing the fur cannot be imported into the UK. There are also many problems with the labelling of fur products, so many consumers will not be aware of where the fur in their boots comes from.”
Websites found by HSI show other companies are selling the fur on gilets, coats and ear-muffs for delivery to the UK.
Ugg Australia denied they were using the fur in their own boots and pointed the finger at cheap copies.
Lena McDonald from Ugg Australia said the use of raccoon dog fur by other companies was tarnishing the entire industry as many people were unable to tell the different brands apart.
Genuine Ugg boots are made from Australian sheepskin and cost up to $300
Lena McDonald said her company used its own tannery to ensure the standards of its boots, but added that up to 40 products using fur from overseas contained the word “ugg”.
“As far as I can see many of these boots are not made in Australia at all yet they have the words Australia and ugg on them. We have seen companies cutting off tags saying “made in China” and putting on a <<made in Australia>> tag.”
The UK Government announced its ban on importing cat and dog pelts from China in 2001 after it emerged that a fur collar, obtained from a leading store in the West End, contained dog fur.
A total ban on the trade in dog and cat fur came into force across Europe in December 2008.
Last night it emerged that three German football players were using drugs in the 1966 World Cup final.
A newly-unearthed letter obtained from historians at Berlin’s Humboldt University revealed that three unnamed German football players had been tested positive for a banned stimulant at World Cup 1966 final.
The letter is dated November 29, 1966 and was written by the Yugoslav chairman of Fifa’s medical committee, Mihailo Andrejevic.
The West German team lines up before World Cup 1966 final
In that letter, Mihailo Andrejevic informed fellow doctor Max Danz – president of the West German Athletics Federation – that doping tests at the World Cup 1966 had uncovered the illegal use of ephedrine.
England famously beat West Germany 4-2 in the Wembley Stadium world Cup 1966 final.
The news that three German team members were under the influence of a banned stimulant has shocked the surviving England winners.
Defender George Cohen told The Sun: “I am astounded. I always wondered where they got their energy from in extra-time.
“Thank goodness the result was not affected by whatever it was the Germans were taking. What would Fifa have done if Germany had won?
“It’s extraordinary that this has been covered up for so long.”
Bobby Charlton raises the World Cup trophy after England beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley Stadium in 1966
Mihailo Andrejevic’s letter noted that the tests revealed very slight traces of an ephedrine-based medicine against cold symptoms in three players from the West German football team.
Ephedrine is used as a decongestant but also as a stimulant and was on a list of banned substances during the competition.
The 1966 World Cup was the first time drug-testing was carried out in a World Cup competition.
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