I took this USA Today candidate quiz twice. There were a few questions in which I liked more than one answer so I took it over with different answers. The results surprised me.
Both times the winner was Fred Thompson. I like Fred but I haven't really seen him as a strong candidate yet. Mitt Romney got a second and a third place with Mike Huckabee getting a second place and Rudy Giuliani getting a third.
All of which only serves to show which side of the aisle my political inclinations are on and that I think the Republican nomination process is far from over with no clear-cut front-runner.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Mike in the news again, EFP kit for MRAP's
Plan calls for more armor on new combat vehicles
This USA Today article details the MRAP (Mine Resistant Abush Protected) Task Force's solution to EFP's (explosively formed projectiles).
From the article:
Of course the article has to contain some negative comments from Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del), a democrat presidential hopeful. As if Biden has been right on top of the EFP issue for the last three years rather than being merely negative and critical of the war effort.
This USA Today article details the MRAP (Mine Resistant Abush Protected) Task Force's solution to EFP's (explosively formed projectiles).
From the article:
The Pentagon's method for combating EFPs involves adding armor to the sides of MRAPs, Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan said in an interview with USA TODAY. The armor is a modified version of what the military calls Frag Kit 6, Brogan said."I have a solution for EFPs, and I'm going to put it on the trucks I've already bought," Brogan said.
The military tested the armor at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland by firing explosives at it. EFPs fire a slug of metal at high speeds that penetrate armor and spray pieces of shrapnel that can kill or injure the troops inside the vehicle.
Of course the article has to contain some negative comments from Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del), a democrat presidential hopeful. As if Biden has been right on top of the EFP issue for the last three years rather than being merely negative and critical of the war effort.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Hemophilia News
Franco-American Alliance Targets Hemophilia Market
France is now the largest shareholder of GTC Biotherapeutics Inc, a Framingham, Mass firm. Through state-owned Laboratoire Francais du Fractionnement et des Biotechnologies SA (LFB), France has entered into some collaborations of great interest to the hemophilia community. From Bioworld International:
A lower-cost alternative to NovoSeven would be welcome news to inhibitor patients facing lifetime cap issues.
Accused in tainted blood trial exonerated
Here's a story I was not aware of until recently. It concerns some old players in the tainted blood/factor supply saga from the 1980's. Canada charged several doctors, the Canadian Red Cross and Armour Pharmaceutical Co. with criminal negligence and endangering the public for allegedly allowing Armour's factor tainted with HIV and Hepatitis C to be given to hemophilia patients. I haven't read enough or know enough of the facts to form an opinion in this case. But it's still a reminder of the vigilance necessary so that this never happens again.
This a more personal look at this story:
Promise of almost normal life destroyed by tainted blood, hemophiliacs say
France is now the largest shareholder of GTC Biotherapeutics Inc, a Framingham, Mass firm. Through state-owned Laboratoire Francais du Fractionnement et des Biotechnologies SA (LFB), France has entered into some collaborations of great interest to the hemophilia community. From Bioworld International:
"The first program in the collaboration is development of a transgenically produced recombinant form of human factor VII a (rhFVIIa), a clotting factor for the X-linked (male) genetic disorder that will treat Type A hemophilia and may treat Type B with potential secondary uses for trauma and uncontrolled bleeding."
"LFB and GTC said they intend to become the low-cost producer of rhFVIIa, noting that the current product on the market, NovoSeven, from Bagsvaerd, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk A/S, is high in price yet enjoys strong market growth. Sales doubled from $400 million in 2000 to $800 million in 2005, and the estimate is for $2 billion in 2012, Pennacino said."
A lower-cost alternative to NovoSeven would be welcome news to inhibitor patients facing lifetime cap issues.
Accused in tainted blood trial exonerated
Here's a story I was not aware of until recently. It concerns some old players in the tainted blood/factor supply saga from the 1980's. Canada charged several doctors, the Canadian Red Cross and Armour Pharmaceutical Co. with criminal negligence and endangering the public for allegedly allowing Armour's factor tainted with HIV and Hepatitis C to be given to hemophilia patients. I haven't read enough or know enough of the facts to form an opinion in this case. But it's still a reminder of the vigilance necessary so that this never happens again.
This a more personal look at this story:
Promise of almost normal life destroyed by tainted blood, hemophiliacs say
Past Weekend Sports recap:
Craig Biggio
3,060 hits - 20th all time
2,850 games played
668 doubles
414 steals
285 hit-by-pitch - second all time
20 seasons
1 team
Houston and baseball bid a fond farewell to one of the best in the game. The player and the way he played the game will be sorely missed. Thanks Big.
The ups:
President's Cup
U.S.A. - 19 1/2
Intn'l - 14 1/2
Texas A&M 34
Baylor 10
The downs:
Pittsburgh Steelers 14
Arizona Cardinals 21
3,060 hits - 20th all time
2,850 games played
668 doubles
414 steals
285 hit-by-pitch - second all time
20 seasons
1 team
Houston and baseball bid a fond farewell to one of the best in the game. The player and the way he played the game will be sorely missed. Thanks Big.
The ups:
President's Cup
U.S.A. - 19 1/2
Intn'l - 14 1/2
Texas A&M 34
Baylor 10
The downs:
Pittsburgh Steelers 14
Arizona Cardinals 21
From one Marine General to another
Marine General Peter Pace, the outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff, retired Monday. Reluctantly General Pace steps down after only one term as Chairman. The Bush administration decided against re-nominating General Pace for fear of a circus created by the Democrats during the re-confirmation hearings. For a man of General Pace's caliber who has served this country with honor, valor and dignity to be sent to retirement because of partisan politics is absolutely pathetic. He is a great man who deserves better.
This video is of the change of command Monday honoring General Pace and incoming CJCS Admiral Mike Mullen. General Pace's comments are at times moving and always clear, direct and hopeful. He speaks as one who understands what is good and true in this country and what is necessary to keep this country great. Thank you General Pace for not only your service to this country but the admirable and honorable way you have served.
Here is a portion of General Pace's comments.
The whole ceremony can be seen following the below link. General Pace's closing comments are from minute 84 to about 98.3
CJCS Ceremony 01 October, 2007
This video is of the change of command Monday honoring General Pace and incoming CJCS Admiral Mike Mullen. General Pace's comments are at times moving and always clear, direct and hopeful. He speaks as one who understands what is good and true in this country and what is necessary to keep this country great. Thank you General Pace for not only your service to this country but the admirable and honorable way you have served.
Here is a portion of General Pace's comments.
The whole ceremony can be seen following the below link. General Pace's closing comments are from minute 84 to about 98.3
CJCS Ceremony 01 October, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
How much is a Marine General worth?
Update: The Winning bid comes in at $21.00. Way to go mom! Just kidding. Twenty one bucks. Not bad especially since I see the same guy is selling an autographed photo of Gen. James Mattis (among others) that's at $20.17 with a day left on the auction. Mattis is soon to be a Marine 4-star in command of United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM).
Apparently the bidding starts at $5.00. An autographed photo of Marine Corps Brigadier General Michael M. Brogan is being auctioned here on ebay bidding standing now at $5.00.
Yes, the last name is the same. As noted in a 7/27/2007 post Mike, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Systems Command, is my oldest brother.
Apparently the bidding starts at $5.00. An autographed photo of Marine Corps Brigadier General Michael M. Brogan is being auctioned here on ebay bidding standing now at $5.00.Yes, the last name is the same. As noted in a 7/27/2007 post Mike, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Systems Command, is my oldest brother.
So ya better hurry! As of this post only 3 days left on the auction.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Lone Star Chapter Family Camp
Friday we're off to the Lone Star Chapter of the NHF's Third Annual Family Camp for the weekend. The first two years of Hemophilia Family Camp have been great successes and the chapter hopes for bigger and better things this year.
It's been a great time to catch up with friends, share stories and learn some new things.
Once again the camp will be at Camp For All, outside Brenham, TX. Camp For All is a fantastic facility that's been serving special needs groups since 1998.
My boys have loved all the activities especially the canoeing, archery and the ropes course.
U.S. out strong after first day Foursomes
The Presidents Cup
They played to a 17-17 tie in 2003 and the U.S. took the Cup in 2005, 18 1/2 to 15 1/2.
This year the teams are as evenly matched as they've ever been. The difference; Tiger Woods. I know, his Presidents Cup record is only 10-9-1, but he's not that far removed from his dominant year-end run in the FedEx Cup playoffs and should bring the U.S. 4 points.
First Day Foursomes prediction: U.S. 3 - Inter. 3
With the Matches going like this:
Match 1 - U.S.
Match 2 - International
Match 3 - Halved
Match 4 - Halved
Match 5 - International
Match 6 - U.S.
The best Matches:
Match 1 - Stricker/Mahan vs. Scott/Ogilvy -- three of the hottest players in Stricker, Mahan and Ogilvy.
Match 4 - Toms/Furyk vs. Els/Cabrera -- this should be a blow by blow grind to the end.
China's paradox
They're two they're four they're six they're eight
Shunting trucks and hauling freight
red and green and brown and blue
they're the really useful crew
(too bad they're toxic to me and you)
Once again toys coming out of China are found to contain high levels of lead in the surface paint and some metal parts.
So the country that hasn't allowed imports of foreign-made factor products for nearly 20 years (see post below) out of concern for its hemophilia population has very little trouble exporting toxic toys (including our buddy Thomas) around the world and says it's no big deal.
In Bejing, Commerce Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei on Thursday said: "Our attitude toward the toy problem has always been the same, that the problem is one in a thousand. We'll still be highly responsible and seriously solve the problem."Nice. I'm all for China being connected to the world market but hey you've got to play by the rules. We don't send stuff that hurts your people, you don't send stuff that hurts our people.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
How about a little Hemophilia news from around the web:
Imports of blood drug approved
China approves imports of recombinant factor VIII.
What an interesting little article!
We can complain, whether on the left, right or center, about U.S. government bureaucracy, the FDA, etc. But how about this gem,
“The authorities imposed the ban in 1986, in response to a case of HIV infection caused by imported factor VIII that was detected around 1983.”
So the Chinese communists banned foreign-made factor for 20 years although there hasn’t been a case of viral transmission from a factor product since 1990-1991 (reference needed). Interesting.
And how about this:
“Larry Zhang, regional head for Asia Pacific of Bayer Healthcare, said the treatment would be made available at a lower price in China than in other countries because of the financial difficulties that many patients here face and the lack of a comprehensive health insurance scheme.”
“…lack of a comprehensive health insurance scheme.” In other words the deep pockets of a third party payer.
“Recombinant-clotting factor will cost no more than 5 yuan (65 cents) in China, Zhang said. The average international price is 30 yuan.”
I’m no math whiz but if 5 yuan is $.65 then the average international price of 30 yuan is $3.90. That seems to be about 2-3 times the U.S. price (or at least a reasonable U.S. price).
Doc's a role model in triathlon
Hemophilia doc runs marathons and triathlons. Calling Dr. Hoots to the starting line.
Is Flamel Catching On?
From the Motley fool:
Flamel Technologies has signed a deal to develop an improved formulation of an unnamed Wyeth drug.
"BeneFIX and ReFacto both fit the criteria for compounds that could benefit from Flamel's Medusa platform. They are proteins for which a new long-lasting formulation would definitely increase patient convenience and compliance, especially since they are administered intravenously or via an injection. Equally as important is that the drugs lose patent protection in 2011 and 2010, respectively."
Competition for longer lasting factor products is always welcome. Choice and competition can only benefit the consumer.
China approves imports of recombinant factor VIII.
What an interesting little article!
We can complain, whether on the left, right or center, about U.S. government bureaucracy, the FDA, etc. But how about this gem,
“The authorities imposed the ban in 1986, in response to a case of HIV infection caused by imported factor VIII that was detected around 1983.”
So the Chinese communists banned foreign-made factor for 20 years although there hasn’t been a case of viral transmission from a factor product since 1990-1991 (reference needed). Interesting.
And how about this:
“Larry Zhang, regional head for Asia Pacific of Bayer Healthcare, said the treatment would be made available at a lower price in China than in other countries because of the financial difficulties that many patients here face and the lack of a comprehensive health insurance scheme.”
“…lack of a comprehensive health insurance scheme.” In other words the deep pockets of a third party payer.
“Recombinant-clotting factor will cost no more than 5 yuan (65 cents) in China, Zhang said. The average international price is 30 yuan.”
I’m no math whiz but if 5 yuan is $.65 then the average international price of 30 yuan is $3.90. That seems to be about 2-3 times the U.S. price (or at least a reasonable U.S. price).
Doc's a role model in triathlon
Hemophilia doc runs marathons and triathlons. Calling Dr. Hoots to the starting line.
Is Flamel Catching On?
From the Motley fool:
Flamel Technologies has signed a deal to develop an improved formulation of an unnamed Wyeth drug.
"BeneFIX and ReFacto both fit the criteria for compounds that could benefit from Flamel's Medusa platform. They are proteins for which a new long-lasting formulation would definitely increase patient convenience and compliance, especially since they are administered intravenously or via an injection. Equally as important is that the drugs lose patent protection in 2011 and 2010, respectively."
Competition for longer lasting factor products is always welcome. Choice and competition can only benefit the consumer.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
We are winning
Things are slowly coming into focus. For the American people, for the Middle East and for the world. Because of the valor and determination of American soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen the war on terror is being won. Again and again, day by day, step by step our men and women prove to the Iraqi people and by extension the Middle East and the world that the true intentions of U.S policy is to foster liberty and freedom.
Despite previously ill-conceived strategies and ineffectual policies the U.S. servicemen and women have persevered against a brutal and ruthless enemy in Iraq and are turning the tide. Because we stayed and because the American forces never gave up; Al-Qaeda in Iraq resorted to more and more desperate measures to ramp up the violence in an attempt to foment a rejection of America both in Iraq and back home in the U.S.
But they failed. In carrying out their despicable mandates they showed their true nature as brutal, ruthless, savage fascists. Caring not for a true expression of religion but rather a perverted and repressive ideology. An ideology that has been rejected by the Iraqi people in the Al Anbar province and elsewhere. Al Qaeda’s desperation has warranted a rejection from a previously supportive Saudi cleric Sheik Salman al-Odeh who has asked;
“How much blood has been spilled? How many innocent children, women and old people have been killed, maimed and expelled from their homes in the name of al-Qaida?”
A recent Pew survey shows a marked decline of support in Arab countries for suicide bombings
The percentage of Muslims saying that suicide bombing is justified in the defense of Islam has declined dramatically over the past five years in five of eight countries where trends are available. In Lebanon, for example, just 34% of Muslims say suicide bombings in the defense of Islam are often or sometimes justified; in 2002, 74% expressed this view.
And what to make of the Israeli incursion into Syria to knock out a weapons depot. Where is the hue and cry from the Middle East? Two things come to mind. One, Syria and by extension Iran was caught red-handed with an attempt to jump-start a nuclear program with ready made weapons from North Korea and they don’t wish for further investigation. And two, the ‘moderate’ countries are as fearful of a nuclear Iran/Syria as the rest of the world and are happy to let the Israelis do the dirty work.
Our presence in Iraq has been long, at times discouraging and is far from over. I expect setbacks and detours along the way but the seeds we have sown in Iraq will pay dividends. There are signs of stabilization from Lebanon and the hope for moderation in the greater Arab world with the emerging rejection of Al Qaeda is encouraging.
Update: Very soon after I wrote this reports came out of Lebanon that Antoine Ghane an anti-Syrian Lebanese MP was murdered by a car bomb. The Syrians are feeling the squeeze. Despite all their efforts to the contrary the strong currents of democracy and self-determination still flow in Lebanon. Couple this with their chemical weapons 'accident' and Israel's shredding of their aerial defences and Syria is feeling vulnerable. So they lash out through cowardly terror. I should note that Israel is taking nothing lightly. Despite the Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement holiday all IDF leaves have been cancelled so that the Israeli defences are at full strength.
Despite previously ill-conceived strategies and ineffectual policies the U.S. servicemen and women have persevered against a brutal and ruthless enemy in Iraq and are turning the tide. Because we stayed and because the American forces never gave up; Al-Qaeda in Iraq resorted to more and more desperate measures to ramp up the violence in an attempt to foment a rejection of America both in Iraq and back home in the U.S.
But they failed. In carrying out their despicable mandates they showed their true nature as brutal, ruthless, savage fascists. Caring not for a true expression of religion but rather a perverted and repressive ideology. An ideology that has been rejected by the Iraqi people in the Al Anbar province and elsewhere. Al Qaeda’s desperation has warranted a rejection from a previously supportive Saudi cleric Sheik Salman al-Odeh who has asked;
“How much blood has been spilled? How many innocent children, women and old people have been killed, maimed and expelled from their homes in the name of al-Qaida?”
A recent Pew survey shows a marked decline of support in Arab countries for suicide bombings
The percentage of Muslims saying that suicide bombing is justified in the defense of Islam has declined dramatically over the past five years in five of eight countries where trends are available. In Lebanon, for example, just 34% of Muslims say suicide bombings in the defense of Islam are often or sometimes justified; in 2002, 74% expressed this view.
And what to make of the Israeli incursion into Syria to knock out a weapons depot. Where is the hue and cry from the Middle East? Two things come to mind. One, Syria and by extension Iran was caught red-handed with an attempt to jump-start a nuclear program with ready made weapons from North Korea and they don’t wish for further investigation. And two, the ‘moderate’ countries are as fearful of a nuclear Iran/Syria as the rest of the world and are happy to let the Israelis do the dirty work.
Our presence in Iraq has been long, at times discouraging and is far from over. I expect setbacks and detours along the way but the seeds we have sown in Iraq will pay dividends. There are signs of stabilization from Lebanon and the hope for moderation in the greater Arab world with the emerging rejection of Al Qaeda is encouraging.
Update: Very soon after I wrote this reports came out of Lebanon that Antoine Ghane an anti-Syrian Lebanese MP was murdered by a car bomb. The Syrians are feeling the squeeze. Despite all their efforts to the contrary the strong currents of democracy and self-determination still flow in Lebanon. Couple this with their chemical weapons 'accident' and Israel's shredding of their aerial defences and Syria is feeling vulnerable. So they lash out through cowardly terror. I should note that Israel is taking nothing lightly. Despite the Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement holiday all IDF leaves have been cancelled so that the Israeli defences are at full strength.
While we watch O.J. again
It has been said that America's greatest trait is that we have a short national memory, its also our worst trait. What allows us to move on after tragedies makes us oblivious to what is truly important.
So as we watch O. J. again these important headlines are being ignored:
'Chemical warhead blast in Syria killed Iranian advisers'
Israeli aircraft 'bombed Syria'
A Rising Tide Lifts Mood in the Developing World
Support for Suicide Bombing Drops Sharply in Muslim Countries
So as we watch O. J. again these important headlines are being ignored:
'Chemical warhead blast in Syria killed Iranian advisers'
Israeli aircraft 'bombed Syria'
A Rising Tide Lifts Mood in the Developing World
Support for Suicide Bombing Drops Sharply in Muslim Countries
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Been away
The blogging has taken a serious backseat to my real life.
A quick recap:
Most importantly my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary party was a smashing success (not that anything was smashed, well maybe me, but not until much later in the evening). So many friends and family made journeys from near and far it was a very special evening for a remarkable couple.
After many hours scanning and cropping photos and editing and re-editing the PowerPoint slide show I finally finished it and by all accounts was very well received. I’ll try to see if I can post it, although I’m not sure if the music clips will play. (adding the music clips into the slide show was a nightmare in and of itself)
Now that things have calmed down to a normal roar I hope to post more regularly.
A quick recap:
Most importantly my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary party was a smashing success (not that anything was smashed, well maybe me, but not until much later in the evening). So many friends and family made journeys from near and far it was a very special evening for a remarkable couple.
After many hours scanning and cropping photos and editing and re-editing the PowerPoint slide show I finally finished it and by all accounts was very well received. I’ll try to see if I can post it, although I’m not sure if the music clips will play. (adding the music clips into the slide show was a nightmare in and of itself)
Now that things have calmed down to a normal roar I hope to post more regularly.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Back to School
As the dog days of summer wind down and the kids head back to school thoughts turn to learning and the state of education in the United States. Classicist and historian Victor Davis Hanson confronts this topic in a piece at National Review Online here.
The main graphs:
"We should first scrap the popular therapeutic curriculum that in the scarce hours of the school day crams in sermons on race, class, gender, drugs, sex, self-esteem, or environmentalism. These are well-intentioned efforts to make a kinder and gentler generation more sensitive to our nation’s supposed past and present sins. But they only squeeze out far more important subjects.
The old approach to education saw things differently than we do. Education (“to lead out” or “to bring up”) was not defined as being “sensitive” to, or “correct” on, particular issues. It was instead the rational ability to make sense of the chaotic present through the abstract wisdom of the past.
So literature, history, math and science gave students plenty of facts, theorems, people, and dates to draw on. Then training in logic, language, and philosophy provided the tools to use and express that accumulated wisdom. Teachers usually did not care where all that training led their students politically — only that their pupils’ ideas and views were supported with facts and argued rationally."
Reading through Jack’s school information yesterday I saw his 2nd grade class was going to work on International Peace Day collages. I’m all for world peace (hard to achieve what with planes slamming into buildings, embassies being bombed, plots aplenty to attack and terrorize the U.S and Israel, but I’m all for peace). Collages are kinda cool too. But really the emphasis on political correctness and sensitivity is far too great in many of our schools. As professor Hanson says, teach the basics then reason and argument can be taught from there.
The main graphs:
"We should first scrap the popular therapeutic curriculum that in the scarce hours of the school day crams in sermons on race, class, gender, drugs, sex, self-esteem, or environmentalism. These are well-intentioned efforts to make a kinder and gentler generation more sensitive to our nation’s supposed past and present sins. But they only squeeze out far more important subjects.
The old approach to education saw things differently than we do. Education (“to lead out” or “to bring up”) was not defined as being “sensitive” to, or “correct” on, particular issues. It was instead the rational ability to make sense of the chaotic present through the abstract wisdom of the past.
So literature, history, math and science gave students plenty of facts, theorems, people, and dates to draw on. Then training in logic, language, and philosophy provided the tools to use and express that accumulated wisdom. Teachers usually did not care where all that training led their students politically — only that their pupils’ ideas and views were supported with facts and argued rationally."
Reading through Jack’s school information yesterday I saw his 2nd grade class was going to work on International Peace Day collages. I’m all for world peace (hard to achieve what with planes slamming into buildings, embassies being bombed, plots aplenty to attack and terrorize the U.S and Israel, but I’m all for peace). Collages are kinda cool too. But really the emphasis on political correctness and sensitivity is far too great in many of our schools. As professor Hanson says, teach the basics then reason and argument can be taught from there.
Tsarevich Alexei found, again, mabey..
Archaeologists claim to have found the remains of Russian Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Romanov and his sister the Grand Duchess Maria, reports the St. Petersburg Times here.
Alexei is perhaps the most famous person in history to have had hemophilia. He was passed the hemophilia gene through his mother Alexandra. Alexandra was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England by whom the so called 'royal disease' of hemophilia was passed to many of the royal houses of Europe through her descendants.
Alexei is perhaps the most famous person in history to have had hemophilia. He was passed the hemophilia gene through his mother Alexandra. Alexandra was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England by whom the so called 'royal disease' of hemophilia was passed to many of the royal houses of Europe through her descendants.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Been neglecting the blog for a while.
And I will probably continue to neglect it for a couple more weeks. It's a busy time at work and most free moments at home are being spent scanning photos preparing a PowerPoint slide show for my parents 50th Wedding anniversary celebration.
The Kansas City Mo. PEP Train the Trainers was a great success. We tried a new approach to the training and it went very well. We stayed at the Marriott Country Club. The plaza shopping district was very interesting, especially at night. Sort of a mix of Austin's 6th street, Dallas's West End and what I would imagine would be New York City/Central Park. Very nice to upscale shopping, dinning, nightclubs, bars, street performers (Hari Krishna's even). Made for an interesting experience.
The Kansas City Mo. PEP Train the Trainers was a great success. We tried a new approach to the training and it went very well. We stayed at the Marriott Country Club. The plaza shopping district was very interesting, especially at night. Sort of a mix of Austin's 6th street, Dallas's West End and what I would imagine would be New York City/Central Park. Very nice to upscale shopping, dinning, nightclubs, bars, street performers (Hari Krishna's even). Made for an interesting experience.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Off to Kansas City for PEP
Allison and I are off to Kansas City for a Train the Trainers session of Parents Empowering Parents. If you don't know about PEP, it is a fantastic parenting skills program specifically geared for parents of children with bleeding disorders.
Check out the PEP website.
We first took a PEP class before Jack was even one year old and knew right away that this was an important program for the bleeding disorders community. The great thing about PEP is it is (ideally) presented by a team of a social worker, nurse and a parent or parents. Each member of the team brings unique knowledge, experience and perspective to the program.
This weekend we're helping facilitate a Train the Trainers (TTT) program where we train parents, nurses and social workers on how to put on a PEP and take it back to their own communities.
We have had the privilege these last couple years to help with TTT and in doing so have worked with the primary creator of the program, Danna Merritt, MSW, CSW as well as our great team from the Houston Treatment Center (Gulf States) Ed Kuebler, MSW, CSW and Madeline Cantini, RN.
These folks have given so much and are so valuable to our bleeding disorders communities, words cannot express our gratitude.
Check out the PEP website.
We first took a PEP class before Jack was even one year old and knew right away that this was an important program for the bleeding disorders community. The great thing about PEP is it is (ideally) presented by a team of a social worker, nurse and a parent or parents. Each member of the team brings unique knowledge, experience and perspective to the program.
This weekend we're helping facilitate a Train the Trainers (TTT) program where we train parents, nurses and social workers on how to put on a PEP and take it back to their own communities.
We have had the privilege these last couple years to help with TTT and in doing so have worked with the primary creator of the program, Danna Merritt, MSW, CSW as well as our great team from the Houston Treatment Center (Gulf States) Ed Kuebler, MSW, CSW and Madeline Cantini, RN.
These folks have given so much and are so valuable to our bleeding disorders communities, words cannot express our gratitude.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
756*, 757*
Congratulations Barry. Now please go back to being sullen and inaccessible. I don’t want to hear about you anymore.
It’s a shame, Bonds is/was a great player. His numbers with the Pirates and with the Giants through 1999 were among the best in the game. Then at a time in his life when the numbers should be slacking his started jumping.
Did his corked body produce more home runs than he would have hit otherwise? Probably. He’s certainly played at a higher level, longer than he should have. At a time in life when the reflexes slow and it takes longer to recover from the nicks and dings he’s kept going.
I wonder if his dreams are haunted. Haunted by a one-legged Sid Bream sputtering around third scoring on the weak throw from the All-Star left fielder.
So much attention on Bonds and his drama when true ambassadors of the game like this future Hall of Famer finish up a career in relative obscurity.
It’s a shame, Bonds is/was a great player. His numbers with the Pirates and with the Giants through 1999 were among the best in the game. Then at a time in his life when the numbers should be slacking his started jumping.
Did his corked body produce more home runs than he would have hit otherwise? Probably. He’s certainly played at a higher level, longer than he should have. At a time in life when the reflexes slow and it takes longer to recover from the nicks and dings he’s kept going.
I wonder if his dreams are haunted. Haunted by a one-legged Sid Bream sputtering around third scoring on the weak throw from the All-Star left fielder.
So much attention on Bonds and his drama when true ambassadors of the game like this future Hall of Famer finish up a career in relative obscurity.
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