Apply these questions to your goals and objectives to determine whether they’re evidence based.

1. Are your goals comprehensive regarding all the components necessary to achieve the targeted level of success?
2. If you achieve your goals, how will it be clear to others that you have succeeded?
3. Do your goals include metrics of success?  Could reasonable people disagree about whether the goal has been achieved?
4. Do your goals reflect ultimate outcomes or do they reflect only the methodology for achievement?
5. Is the achievement of your goal vulnerable to others’ performance?  Does your goal statement leverage such vulnerability?

Ozke ulice, ki se razširjajo v trge s kamnitimi vodnjaki, kamnite hiše, ki se naslanjajo ena na drugo, grad in znameniti vrt – to je Štanjel, eno izmed najstarejših in zagotovo najslikovitejših kraških naselij. Začenja se ob vznožju 363 metrov visokega griča Turn in se terasasto dviga proti vrhu. Kamnite hiše so značilno kraške, z ozkimi okni, portali in dimniki, nekatere imajo celo kamnite strešne žlebove.

Poseben značaj dajeta naselju renesančno-baročni grad in poznogotska cerkev sv. Daniela s svojevrstnim limonastim zvonikom, ki so si jo za svoje zadnje počivališče izbrali grofje Cobenzli. Prav ta grofovska družina je konec 17. stoletja dala v 15. stoletju zgrajeni graščini dokončno podobo.

Zaradi nevarnosti turških vpadov so naselje obdali z obzidjem, ki je v kamniti objem stisnilo grad, cerkev in hiše. Prva stavba zunaj obzidja je bila postavljena šele v 19. stoletju, predtem pa so, po prenehanju turške nevarnosti, hiše in del gradu naslonili na obzidje in obrambne stolpe.

Posebna znamenitost Štanjela je Ferrarijev vrt, ki ga je arhitekt Maks Fabiani ustvaril za svaka Enrica Ferrarija. Vrt velja za najpomembnejšo parkovno ureditev iz obdobja med obema vojnama. Uvrščen je med spomenike državnega pomena in ima status krajinskega parka.

Aleksandra K. Kovač

Štanjel je prvikrat spoznala Miša, ko je po kraških regionalnih cestah iskala obvoz do Nove Gorice. Samo iz daljave ga je videla, pa jo je tako prevzel, da smo morali še enkrat na ogled, tokrat sva bila zraven tudi Valči in jaz. Kratek sprehod po kamnitem  mestecu in neverjetno okusna malica (kraški pršut, domači kruh, italijanska focaccia, teran in malvazija) servirana na grajskem dvorišču,  sta nas prepričala da se moramo še enkrat vrniti, tokrat  za več časa. Par tednov kasneje smo najeli stanovanje in vsi štirje preživeli nepozaben vikend. Štanjelske ozke ulice  imajo res posebno vzdušje, skoraj irealno, kakor da bi te nenadoma čudežno prestavili v kakšno manjšo utrdbo Tolkienovega Srednjega Sveta.

!!!

Naša gostiteljica, gospa Marija Švagelj, nam je pokazala njen prevod angleške knjige My Country and my People, ki jo je napisala Wanda Škof, hčerka štanjelskega učitelja, ki se je poročila z angleškim vojakom -  kasneje slovitem popotnikom in romanopiscem -  Eric Newby, katerega je spoznala sredi vojne v nenavadnih okoliščinah, iz katerih je nastal celo holywoodski film.

Še eno knjigo nam je pokazala: “Murva Fabianijevih – Stoletje miru na Krasu” čudovita ljubezenska zgodba, ki jo je v italijanščini napisal Renato Ferrari in opisuje kako je Charlotte von Koffler, hčerka premožnega tržaškega trgovca nemškega rodu, spoznala in poročila Antona Fabianija, veleposestnika v Kobdilju, potomca italijanske plemiške družine ki je že več generacij živela in gospodovala na tem delu Krasa. Renato je tržaški potomec teh Ferrarijev, katerih posestvo se je razpredalo zunaj štanjelskega obzidja in dalo ime znanemu Ferrarijevemu Vrtu, delo nič manj znamenitega arhitekta in urbanista Maksa Fabianija, ki je bil eden od štirinajstih otrok Charlotte in Antona.

Maks Fabiani je bil eden izmed vodilnih arhitektov svojega časa – v njegovem študiju na Dunaju je bil šest mesecev kot vajenec mladenič z povprečnim risarskim talentom, ampak močno ambicijo – mladi Adolf Hitler. To je Fabianiju kot poznejšemu štanjelskemu županu  zelo prav prišlo, ko mu je veliko let kasneje, sklicujoč se na osebno znanstvo z Führerjem, uspelo rešiti Štanjelsko graščino pred rušilsko jezo umikajočih se nacistov. Škoda, da ni imel istega vpliva pri partizanih, ki so grad pozneje zažgali.

Berem v spremni besedi, ki jo je napisala Anja Muck-Župan, pravnukinja Maksove sestre Ane:

“… Ko prebira knjigo, se mora neprizadet bralec soočiti z velikim izzivom: ta knjiga je hkrati slovenska in hkrati ne – njena veličina je prav v dvojnosti, v preseganju konvencionalnih tolerančnih meja. V stalnem izzivanju, da je dvojnost, trojnost, četvernost, mnoštvo edino pravilno stanje. Z Maksom Fabianijem Slovenci nikoli niso prav dobro vedeli, kaj početi: je naš ali njihov? Je plemič ali izobražen kmet?…. Verjetno je bil samo izjemen, skoraj genialen človek, ki se nikoli ki pustil ukalupiti, nikoli utesniti v okvir ene same definicije. “

Te besede sem bral v tisti štanjelski noči, in so se mi globoko vtisnile v zavest. Ta kraški multikulturalizem, kjer se italijanščina in slovenščina prepletata nad ostanki stare avstro-ogrske, nam je takoj prirasel k srcu. Miša in jaz, ob sva nagonsko vzljubila ta del Slovenije, čeprav nima nič skupnega z najino gorenjsko-ljubljansko-ribniško družinsko zgodovino. Bogve zakaj nam je Kras tako domač. Mogoče nas italijanski vpliv spominja na Buenos Aires. Mogoče nas spominja na dvojezičnost našega otroštva. Morda se bolje počutimo v več-narodnem prostoru. Resnične mi zvenijo zaključne Anjine besede:

“Zahvaljujem se tako Bogu kot svobodni človeški ljubezni, da mi v žilah polje mešana kri. Da so v meni pustili sledi grofi in tlačani, Slovenci, Nemci, Italijani in še kdo. V svoji notranjosti nikoli ne bom brala ene same knjige, šeprav bom ostala zvesta tisti, ki jo najbolj razumem.”

Kraljestvo živali po naše je knjigica z 100 stranmi na katere se lahko nalima 250 različnih slikic živali katere imajo pod njihovo sliko kratek opis.

Cel album je razdeljen na 7 delov in sicer na Gozdove, Travišča, Sladke vode, Morja in oceane, na Extremna življenska okolja, Živali iz preteklosti ter na koncu še zadnje poglavje Naj živali kjer so opisani rekorderji med žvalmi.

Sličice sem začel zbirati, ker jih je tudi začela sestra in ker na koncu ko zbereš cel album, če ga pošlješ v Kraš, dobiš nazaj darilni paket z njihovimi izdelki. Baje naj bi bla to kar orenk škatla :]

Tenutno mam zbranih 30 sličic, se pravi 12% ki se vztreajno povečujejo, ter nimam še nobene odvečne sličice. Če se bo kdo odločil za zbiranje sličic, naj ve da so najcenejše v Šparu (29c) , malo dražje tam kjer so zvezde doma ter nadražje v najboljšem sosedu.

In Beijing…
…Staat een stukje van de Chinese Muur
… Vind je onder andere het Plein van de Hemelse Vrede
… Zie je veel fietsen
… Eet iedere zelfrespecterende Chinees zijn of haar eten met stokjes
… Vonden de Olympische Zomerspelen van 2008 plaats 

Het grootste clichébeeld van China; De Chinese Muur.

Journalisten en andere zogenaamd ‘wereldwijze’ critici lijken het behandelen van een clichébeeld vaak niet meer de moeite waard te vinden. ‘Been there, done that!’ Waarom is dat eigenlijk zo? Kijken zij dan niet verder dan alleen een hele lange, stenen muur? Vertelt die Boeddha op de berg dan echt alleen het verhaal dat in de reisgidsen beschreven staat? Het feit dat deze objecten al ‘zo vaak beschreven zijn’, maakt blijkbaar dat het verspilde moeite is om er nog een woord over vuil te maken. Want het moet natuurlijk wel ‘journalistiekverantwoord’ blijven…

Maandag vertrek ik met twintig andere studenten naar Beijing. Het eerste clichébeeld doet zich al aan bij het kijken naar mijn reisgids. Met grote, rode letters pronkt daar ‘KRAS REIZEN’ op de cover. Hoe cliché wil je het hebben?
Dan het programma. Acht dagen worden gevuld met tochten naar de Chinese Muur, de Verboden Stad, Ming-graven, de Lamatempel en ga zo nog maar even door. Op elke bladzijde van mijn reisgids staat weer een nieuw object dat China uniek maakt, cliché of niet.

Clichébeelden hoeven helemaal niet zo saai cliché te zijn. Als je anders kunt kijken, zie je veel meer.
Dat is wat ik wil bewijzen. Dat je Beijing en al haar clichés ook met andere ogen kunt bekijken.

Beijing, maar dan anders.

Over the last few months I have observed closely as employees took ownership to drive various engagement initiatives across the organization I work in. Unlike other organizations where dedicated teams are assigned to create a fun place, employees here leverage their ‘collective wisdom’ to uplift the mood in the offices.

What started as a ‘community event’ to build connection and improve the ‘buzz’ in the office grew into a twice a month engagement calendar event focusing on the company’s key milestones. There are now more and more employees volunteering to chip in with events! Despite the slowdown and pressing demands, the focus has always been on creating a positive workplace.

Looking glass

Inspired by the team of enthusiastic individuals who championed the first event other employees stepped forward to do their bit. Not just the event, they also immersed themselves in communication, promotion and measurement! From sharing updates about the company’s strategy to articulating progress on initiatives. From highlighting values to recognizing high performers. A successful ‘shared responsibility’ model. When asked what drives them, the response is that they like the ‘culture’ and ‘want to contribute more’ to make it better.

So while most organizations rely on the human resources group or a ‘dedicated’ counsel for employee engagement or the cool sounding ‘Chief Fun Officer’ to own and drive engagement, I strongly believe a grass root approach works best. ‘Grass root’ engagement to me is a movement from within and from the ‘bottom-up’ rather than a high level view of what engagement should be.

In their white paper titled ‘Market Research: Voice of the Employee” Globoforce discusses how engagement can improve morale and remain a priority in good or bad times. Communication and recognition are highlighted as essential elements for success.

While surveys agree that engagement drive productivity and improve the bottom-line, it is the final lap of the equation that matters to employees. Employees seek on-the-ground tangible effort that is direct, transparent and visible.

Rather than see a top-down initiative to drive engagement employees usually ask:  

a)       How can I contribute to the effort?

b)      What more can I do to make a difference to the organization?

c)       Can I do something now to improve connection?

So how does this work and how can you as human resources or communicators play an active role?  Here are some thoughts.

Provide a framework: As the internal communicators, you can help define templates for running local connection programs. Basic planning sheets, budget trackers, communication formats, post connection feedback questionnaire, promotion outlines among others. Even communication documents to reduce turnaround time. Discuss and arrive at a formal process for content and design reviews so that you can avoid reinventing the wheel.

Lead by action: Participate in planning meetings and call out the role of internal communication for the success of connection programs. Such as review of communication, support for promotion and internal branding guidance. Work closely on a couple of connection programs to seek more opportunities to pitch in.

Empower: The organization must empower employee(s) to take decisions and thereby evolve their own guidelines for connection programs.  The event owners much be provided all support be it with budgets or with relevant tools and resources.

Recognize instantaneously: I found employees seek recognition and soon. It is the responsibility of local leadership to take action as soon as they see tangible results and effort on the part of employees to go over and beyond.

Communicate widely: We leverage our intranet to showcase the connection events and how employees have contributed. The weekly newsletter carries snippets which the entire organization can read at a glance. This is in itself a wonderful form of recognition.

Plan ahead: When employees see a long term plan they believe there is commitment from the organization to invest in engagement programs. Share the calendar in advance and seek ideas to improve the event formats and feedback mechanism.

Finally – let employees have fun! The most recent event had an interesting connection exercise called ‘Festival of Joy’ as well as a relevant ‘Know Your Colleague’ Contest. The participation it drew was testament of this excellent engagement model.

Abnormal growth in noonan syndrome: the challenge of optimal therapy. 

Savage MO, Padidela R, Kirk JM, Malaquias AC, Jorge AA.

Department of Endocrinology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK. m.o.savage@qmul.ac.uk

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a phenotypically heterogeneous condition frequently associated with short stature. Genetic investigations have identified mutations in several genes, e.g.PTPN11, KRAS, RAF and SOS1 in patients with the NS phenotype and related disorders such as LEOPARD, Costello and Cardiofacio- cutaneous syndromes. In NS, PTPN11 mutations are present in 29-60% of cases. The degree of short stature does not associate closely with the presence of a mutation; however, some PTPN11-positive patients have decreased growth hormone (GH)-dependent growth factors consistent with mild GH insensitivity. GH therapy induces short-term increases in height velocity over 1-3 years, and is likely to improve adult height.

PMID: 19550387 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Včeraj je bil spet dan za kolesarjenje. Pred časom sem bral o lepi turi po slovenskem Krasu - po dolini Raše in grebenih okoli nje. Vreme je bilo lepo sončno, edino kar mi je precej nagajalo na poti je bila burja. Ja, in pihalo je kar precej. Na začetku sem moral kolesariti precej postrani, kot da z motorjem polagam ovinke. In ko sem na koncu premagoval še zadnji malo daljši klanec, sem imel občutek, kot da se obcestni stebrički sploh ne premikajo. Po nedeljskem kolesarjenju si lažje predstavljam, kako funkcionira vetrovnik in kako testirajo aerodinamičnost vozil  Še nekaj o trasi: začne se v Dolenji vasi, potem po grebenu kjer ležijo manjše vasice, vključno z vasico Štjak, potem pa počasi v dolino Raše in po dolini vse do konca in zopet malo daljši klanec do Majcnov. Tam sem se pri iskanju poti po kolovozih do konca izgubil a pri tem srečal spodnje konjičke. In z njimi sem imel na koncu kratek photo session – fantje so bili za stvar.

Den här klänningen har varit med om mycket under sitt korta liv.

Jag hade ingen riktig plan när jag började sy och har provat “allt”. Kråset har varit av turkos polkadot eller knallgrön tyll. Provade en prickig sträng eller knappar i mitten av det blommiga kråset. Ärmarna har haft volang och jag har nosat på spets.

Annars brukar jag ha rätt klart för mig vad jag vill när jag påbörjar något. Jag kan ändra mig eller vidareutveckla idén under resans gång men det passar inte mig att “börja och se vad det blir”.

Nu är den iallafall klar.
Det gröna tyllkråset spar jag till en annan gång.

Finns hos Cissi&Selma. Storlek s.

A few weeks ago, when the FDA changed the labeling on anti-EGFR drugs, Amgen was pretty enthusiastic about “avoiding unnecessary treatments in patients [with a specific genetic marker] who are unlikely to benefit” from Vectibix.  Avoiding these patients leaves more reimbursement available for patients who would benefit from Amgen’s product.

Now Amgen has even better data to support its personalized approach to colorectal cancer treatment: their study of Vectibix as a first-line treatment tracked the KRAS genetic status of participants and showed “significantly prolonged progression-free survival” for the wt-KRAS group.

In patients with mutated KRAS, Vectibix wasn’t just “unnecessary,” it actually showed worse outcomes than the control group, meaning genetic testing of all colorectal cancer patients will be a top priority.

A second important note for companies thinking about companion diagnostics and personalized effectiveness is that the Amgen study was a prospective study that will support much more robust conclusions.  H/T @ldtimmerman.

In contrast, recall that the CMS decision not to reimburse genetic testing for Warfarin dosing specifically cited the lack of prospective data on which to base a decision.

This new data from Amgen will:

1. Drive tumor genotyping as a standard of care; and
2. Help make the economic case for companion diagnostics.

Wouldn’t it be great to know that the treatment you are receiving is tailored to your specific type of tumor?  Well today, we will be exploring the exciting advances in personalizing medicine which are turning this wish into reality for many cancer patients.

Oncotype DX has made it possible for some breast cancer patients to have personalized treatment based on their specific tumor.  This diagnostic tool looks at 21 genes to determine what your risk of recurrence of cancer is based on your tumor.  “It’s a different approach which is not based on statistical predictions” according to Dr. Christine McCarty, Medical Oncologist at the Randolph Cancer Center. The results of this will determine whether or not to give chemotherapy versus hormonal therapy.  Currently, only patients with negative lymph nodes are candidates but research is on-going to see if patients with positive lymph nodes would also benefit.

A targeted therapy called Herceptin, made by biotech firm Genentech, has greatly improved the odds for women with HER2-positive cancer. Recent studies show the drug reduces the recurrence of these cancers by about half.  HER2+ breast cancer is aggressive, so it is important to find out your cancer’s HER2 status. This can help your doctor choose which treatments may be right for you.

KRAS testing looks at the molecular markers of your specific tumor. In this case, colon cancer patients are the ones that benefit.  With KRAS testing, tumor markers that are positive for a specific mutation are found; scientist discovered their tumors will not respond to chemotherapy.

Mutations that lead to EGFR over expression (known as upregulation) or over activity have been associated with a number of cancers, including lung.  The identification of EGFR as an oncogene has led to the development of anticancer therapeutics directed against EGFR, including gefitinib and erlotinib for lung cancer.

B-cell biology and its role in cancer is another area of intensive research. B cells are a fundamental component of the body’s immune system. However, like most cells in the body, B cells can become cancerous — leading to diseases such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Identifying antigens found on the surface of cancerous B cells allows these cells to be “targeted,” either by generating antibodies to these proteins, thereby marking them for destruction by the body’s own immune system, or by using antibodies to deliver cytotoxic drugs directly.

“This is the direction that Oncology is moving in.  We will definitely see more research like this in the future” says Dr. McCarty.  “It’s exciting to see how the field of Oncology is evolving in the fight against cancer.”

I hope that you have found this information informative.  Next week, we will be discussing how to read and understand your pathology report.

This is exactly how personalized medicine and comparative effectiveness can interact to benefit patients, pharma companies and payors:

• data shows that patients with KRAS mutations don’t benefit from anti-EGFR antibody meds Erbitux or Vectibix;
• the FDA approves a labeling change identifying the patients who won’t benefit;
• payors see costs savings from eliminating pointless prescriptions;
• patients without the KRAS mutations have added incentive to take the drugs, benefiting themselves and the pharma companies who make the drugs.

As the WSJ Health Blog says:

“Erbitux and other expensive cancer medicines have faced repeated questions about whether drugs that prolong life for short periods of time are worth the high costs… Not using Erbitux as a first-line treatment for [KRAS-variant] patients could save about $600 million a year.”

The manufacturers Bloomberg’s reporter spoke to are fully supportive:

“‘The inclusion of KRAS as a biomarker in the Erbitux labeling helps physicians to better understand the most appropriate use of the drug in the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer,’ said Fouad Namouni, an oncology executive for Bristol-Myers …

Physicians can eliminate Vectibix and Erbitux for colon cancer patients with the KRAS mutation and ‘redirect those patients to alternative therapies, avoiding unnecessary treatments in patients who are unlikely to benefit,’ said Sean Harper, Amgen’s chief medical officer.”

Ziher se vsakdo spomni legendarnih Bronhijev iz Kraša. Tisti belo-rjavi bombončki za katere so nam starši rekli da če jih bomo preveč jedli da nam bodo plombe vn padle? No Kraš je izgleda predstavil nov izdelek iz drućine Bronhi in sicer ICE.

V teh bombončkov je namesto rjavega dela zelen, ki je sestavljen iz mentola in evkaliptusa, tako da da bronhiju nek zeliščni piokus saj vsebuje še 15 mediteranskih rastlin. Sami bomboni se ne morejo kosati s starimi Bronhiji, so pa pijetna novost.

Bronhi. Lakše se diše! :]

Planiral sem daljšo turo a vreme včeraj ni bilo pripravljeno sodelovati. Kljub temu je bilo noro dobro. Z izletom sem začel v kraški vasici Črnotiče, tik ob kraškem robu. Pot se je nadaljevala po travniških kolovozih do vasice Praproče, potem po borovem gozdičku in makadamskih cestah, ki so se počasi dvigovale proti mojemu prvemu cilju Kojniku. Klanci so dolgi in bližje si vrhu bolj postajajo strmi. In za razliko od Slavnika je bil Kojnik rezerviran samo zame. No, kot sem že rekel, po osvojenem vrhu vreme ni več sodelovalo z mojimi plani. Okrog in okrog so se začeli zgrinjati oblaki, ki so postajali čedalje bolj glasni. Na silo sem še nekako hotel priti do naslednjega cilja – Goliča, vendar mi tile hribi niso bili prav nič simpatični v smislu vandranja po njih v času glasnih neviht. Kolo sem obrnil in si rekel, da bom z veseljem prišel še enkrat.

The official project for a new line from Divača to Koper is part of a larger project for a high-speed line from Ljubljana to Trieste and the Po plain. The alignment is shown in blue on this summary with map: Nova železniška povezava Trst – Divača. There is a much more detailed technical study available, in Slovenian and English, with detailed maps and artists impressions of the new line:

VERIFICATION OF POSSIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW DOUBLE TRACK LINE DIVAČA – KOPER ON THE ALIGNMENT I/3

The line must run in semicircles, because it must descend from the Kras (Karst) Plateau at 450-500 m, to sea level. The normal advantage of a tunnel route – it can run in a straight line – does not apply. With the proposed gradient of 17 per 1000, the tunnel can not be shorter than 26 km – although the plateau is less then 10 km from the port zone.

The Kras / Karst / Carso Plateau, behind Trieste and Koper

The same problem applied to the old Austrian line into Trieste (which zig-zags along the plateau edge), and the the existing Yugoslav-era line into Koper, which uses valley-side alignments to descend from the plateau. The planned line to Koper has no consequences for the proposed rail line along the Istrian north coast to Piran, and its extension along the west coast to Pula. They can be built as entirely separate projects, but they are complementary. The new Divača – Koper line would shorten journey times from Ljubljana to Koper, and allow better connections there with the proposed Istria coast line.

Corporate Training Programs in Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ernakulam, Mysore, Hyderabad and other cities across South India

Program Name: Performance management
Program Duration: 2 days

Course Content:

• What is Performance Management?
• Why Performance Management?
• Be an advocate of PMS within the team;
• Facilitate creation of Individual Scorecards
• Implement PMS Calendar Explain Performance Management
• Explain BSC Approach for Performance Management
• Explain phases of PMS
• Apply BSC principles, Cascade of Goals and Job
• Description to derive KRAs, ICAs and CRs

All our corporate training programs are customized to the clients’ requirements.

For more information contact:

BodhiH Training Solutions
262, 2nd Floor, T. C. Palya Main Road,
Hoysala Nagar, Off Banaswadi Outer Ring Road
Bangalore – 560 016, India
Ph: ++91 80 3249 3101 / 3102
++91 80 3246 9112 (dir)
Mobiles: ++91 98807 43332
Email: solutions@bodhih.com
web: www.bodhih.com
www.corporatetrainingsolutions.org
Also visit: http://www.slideshare.net/bodhih2008

Call us Today!
Good Day!!

We have offered corporate training programs in Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Ernakulam, Mysore, Hyderabad, Kakinada, Bhubaneshwar and other cities across South India.

Program Name: Performance management
Program Duration: 2 days

Course Content:

• What is Performance Management?
• Why Performance Management?
• Be an advocate of PMS within the team;
• Facilitate creation of Individual Scorecards
• Implement PMS Calendar Explain Performance Management
• Explain BSC Approach for Performance Management
• Explain phases of PMS
• Apply BSC principles, Cascade of Goals and Job
• Description to derive KRAs, ICAs and CRs

All our corporate training programs are customized to the clients’ requirements.

For more information contact:

BodhiH Training Solutions
262, 2nd Floor, T. C. Palya Main Road,
Hoysala Nagar, Off Banaswadi Outer Ring Road
Bangalore – 560 016, India
Ph: ++91 80 3249 3102
++91 80 3246 9112 (dir)
Mobiles: ++91 98807 43332
Email: solutions@bodhih.com
web: www.bodhih.com
www.corporatetrainingsolutions.org
Also visit: http://www.slideshare.net/bodhih2008

Call us Today!
Good Day!!

dati akong batang makati bago pa man ako napadpad dito sa europa……hindi tambay ha….doon kasi ang dati kung work..nasa buendia ave…siguro nagtatanong na kayo …ano na naman yan …maskara-maskarahan ni Princess Di? Yap…maskara nya pero hindi ni Diana na prinsesa ng Ingglatera…kundi si Diana na mala-diyosa. Neighbors kami sa subdivision….kabilang block nga lang….siya talaga ang ultimate crush ko magpahanggang ngayon. Maganda at mabait, di suplada katulad ng mga nakilala kong bebot sa aming subdivision….simple pero hindi maitatago ang kakaibang sex appeal. Isa ako sa mga hundred(s) admirers nya….Well, ang advantage ko lang…..schoolmates din kami sa U. na pinapasukan namin. Ako commerce, siya Pharmacy…minsan nga napagkakamalan na akong pharmacy student sa katatambay ko sa department nila…lahat iyon dahil kay Diana.

Pero tulad ng sabi ko sa previous  post ko, nagiging tyope talaga ako pag mahal ko ang isang babae. Matagal kong tinago ang lihim na ito sa kanya…kahit minsan nababasa ko rin sa mga galaw nya…na may pagtingin siya sa akin. Siguro that time takot din akong magkaroon ng malalim na involvement—-I was coming from series of failed relationships…kaya yun,  patumpik-tumpik pa rin ako whether liligawan ko siya  o hindi. Tingin ko kasi…..di ako marunong magdala ng isang relationship..kaya karamihan nito nauwi sa hiwalayan.

Hanggang isang araw…ang pamilya ni Diana ay lumipat sa probinsiya. Maraming naging usap-usapan noon….kesyo nalugi ang kanilang negosyo….kesyo di nakabayad ang father nya sa mga creditors…..siguro totoo nga..kasi after one month…may paskel sa dating nilang bahay…for sale (naremata pala ng BPI).

Bakit ko ba naalala bigla si Diana…kasi kanina napagawi ako sa isang negosyo na nagtitinda ng mga maskara. Ito ang naging susi para balikan ko muli ang kwento ni Diana……

Bagong pasok pa lang ako sa bangko ng hikayatin ako minsan ni Arnold…Pare boy’s night out mamaya…ha?….e h, friday ngayon…..kaya kami may boy’s night out…halika sama ka….Arnold sori talaga…got to go home asap…kasi birthday ng nanay ko ngayon….O sige …pare, sa susunod ha!….ok….count me in. Kahit di ko type ang invitation… minsan kasi sa trabaho kailangan ding marunong  kang makisama…

O, pare…mamaya…friday ngayon….wag mong sabihin birthday na naman ng aso nyo….joke lang!…o, ano…..sige call (sabi ko naman). Kala ko sa isang beer joint kami pupunta…pero pagbaba namin sa kotse…isang tanyag na karaoke bar pala ang destination namin…hmmm..sabi ok , ah! class ang dating…..ok nga…maganda ang interiors….at may mga vip rooms pa…medyo may kamahalan nga lang…pero ok lang…paminsan-minsan lang naman toh.

Inihatid kami sa isang vip room….maya-maya, nagdatingan na ang mga GRO’s…wow sabi ko magandang  pangitain ito. Medyo dulo ako, kaya di ko maaninag ng husto ang kanilang mga mukha  …..hanggang lumapit sa akin ang isang babae….Dianne ang name ko …ikaw? Parang nabigla ako ng mga oras na iyon…kasi familiar sa akin ang kanyang boses…kilala ko siya….sa loob-loob ko…….Diana?…ikaw nga…ako si Blu. At siya’y nabigla rin sa kanyang narinig…..ni hindi na nya ako tiningnang muli…at sabay excuse at pupunta lang daw ng powder room. Pero kitang-kita ko ang nangingilid na  luha sa kanyang mga mata. Patakbo siyang umalis…at patakbo ko rin siyang hinabol sa labas..(para nga kaming nasa shooting ng isang drama scene sa teleserye..hehehehe).

Naabutan ko sya sa coffee shop…..Diana si Blu ito…remember……ok ka lang….hindi siya umiimik habang patuloy syang umiiyak……iniabot ko ang aking panyo sa kanya (buti na lang at bagong palit)….it’s ok sabi ko……wag kang matakot o kaya mahiya……tulad ng dati…..andito lang ako sa tabi mo…ikinuwento nya ang nangyari sa kanilang pamilya…mula sa pagkalugi ng kanilang negosyo..ang paglipat nila sa Cebu…ang pagtigil nya sa pag-aaral……ang pagkamatay ng kanyang Papa…..at ngayon naman ang pagkakasakit ng malubha ng kanyang ina.

Hindi k o gusto ang ginagawa ko Blu…alam mo yan…..higit sa lahat….ikaw kilala mo na ako noon pa man……oo, kaya! (sabi kong pabulong sa kanya)….sayang na lang yung kwentuhan natin araw-araw sa bus kung hindi pa kita kilala. Alam sa amin, nag-oopisina ako…totoo yun dati, pero nagresign na ako…dito mas madaling kumita….mas matutustusan ko ang gamot ng aking ina…at higit sa lahat para rin sa pag-aaral ng dalawa ko pang kapatid….Si Roy kasi graduating na sa engineering, sayang naman pag nahinto pa…si Rina…first year college na rin. Blu, dalawa ang mukha ko ngayon…..at iyon ay pinapapaalala sa akin sa tuwing haharap ako sa salamin, isang tunay sa harap ng aking pamilya …mabait na anak…masunurin….mapagmamahal …, at ang isa……isang fake na mukha, kasi nakamaskara…..kailangan kasi parating masaya ka dito sa trabahong ito….wala kang karapatang maging malungkot…pagpasok namin sa bawat vip room…nagsusuot kami ng maskara…..kasi yun naman talaga ang tawag sa amin…mga laruang nakamaskara.

 Ako, tingin ko sa iyo hindi ka nakamaskara…kasi totoo kang tao….para sa akin ikaw pa rin si Diana at hindi si Dianne. Nagpasalamat sya sa akin..at nagpaalam na… tinawag na kasi ang pangalan nya….isang Vip room na naman…isang Diana na nakamaskara.

Sa totoo lang, awa at paghihinayang ang naramdaman ko sa gabing iyon, hindi kay Diana, kundi sa aking sarili…..Mahal ko si Diana….pero mamahalin kaya siya ng mga mahal ko sa buhay sa oras na matuklasan nila ang maskara ni Diana. Mahal ko si Diana…..pero di ko kaya ang sumbat nila…..Bago umalis si Diana, nangako akong babalikan ko siya….sabi ko kahit anong nangyari at mangyayari pa…mamahalin ko siya….

Muli kong sinulyapan ang Karaokeng high class…..kanina kasi sa harap ni Diana…pinamalas ko ang aking tapang…….. ang totoo..iyon ay isang maskara….mahirap magmahal  kung ang minamahal mo ay hindi tanggap ng mapaghusgang lipunan…..pero ang totoo…ako ang unang naghusga…ng suutin ko ang sarili kong maskara.

Ang tao madalas ay may dalawang mukha, isa ay tunay at isa ay fake, pagkat maskara..

first year highschool ako nang unang mapasama sa umpukan sa school…ang paborito naming tambayan ay blu haws…..(kasi para sa mga lalaki yun…may green…may pink…yellow…kiosk type po ito). Wala lang ……..kwento-kwento ng mga usong laro, napapanood na mga prorama sa tv….at iba pa. Noong tumuntong ako ng second year, nag-iba na ang ihip ng hangin…mga klasmeyts na babae naman ang pinag-uusapan, kasabay nito ang mga asaran at tuksuhan….pinapagpartner-partner namin kami…tapos kasama pa ang pagiging conscious pag may tumubong malaking tagyawat sa mukha…hahhahhah…kasi ba naman tutuksukin ka na umiibig na . Naku…ang mga kutong-lupa na ito….may gatas pa sa labi, kay agang kumakarengkeng….madalas na sinasabi sa amin  ni Aling Amparing, tindera ng sitserya sa labas ng school. Masayang tawanan at hagalpakan lang madalas ang aming tugon…sabay….. brrrrr!!!! (kilig factor).

Masarap talaga balikan ang mga sandaling ito ng aming buhay…..masaya….malaya….ang buhay sa amin parang isang laro lang talaga. Isang hapon matapos ang P.E…..takbuhan ang lahat sa blu haws..naratnan na namin doon si Mike, Alvin, Gene at Milo na seryosong nag-uusap. Oy…bakit? tanong ko…may problema ba? Wala…ito kasing si Gene naka-kiss na daw ng babae…yung kapitbahay nila…talaga….paaanong nangyari…kwento ka naman….lahat kaming nakapaligid nakatingin at matamang naghihintay sa bawat sasabihin ni Gene…puro lang….. ha? Owwsss…talaga…hihihihi…at hahahahah…wow…..ano pa! …ang maririnig sa amin. Si Gene halos di na siya makahinga at excited talaga. Ang ending ng story…kaya lang mga pare…pagkatapos ng first kiss namin…nilagnat ako. Ha…..ganun ba yon, nakakalagnat ang first kiss….ay ayoko na lang….baka ako lagnatin din …eh ano ….pinagmamalaking sinabi pa ni Gene…di mo lang alam ….masarap….masarap….ang unang halik.

Mula sa araw na iyon…madalas ang  iniisip ko…kailan kaya ako maka-first kiss? Hayyy! ….Hoy! Blu…ano yan ha….masama yang panay ang halinghing mo, sige ka mamatanda ka! sabi ni Nanay. Tuwing hapon sa loob ng isang linggo, wala nang naging sawsawan kami sa aming kwentuhan kundi yung first kiss na yan…at kung sino ang susunod na makakaranas nito. Lumipas ang  isang buwan, halos lahat na yata ay nakaranas…iba’t-ibang kwento…pero ako wala pa rin. Oy, Blu….sa susunod ikaw naman ang magkwento ha….sambit pa ni Mike. Ah, OO….at sisiguraduhin ko sa inyo taob lahat ang kwento nyo. Promise.

Sabado ng hapon….tumawag ang pinsan ko sa akin…sabi nya…Blu, may party dito sa amin punta ka ha…alas sais …..mamaya. First time kung aattend ng mga party-party na yan…kaya kabado talaga ako…dalawang beses  akong naligo at apat na beses na nagbihis….hayyyy…hirap naman nito…Pagdating ko sa bahay ng pinsan ko…dimlight..pero may music naman…..ahhh ganito ba ang party….madilim…Oy, Blu…dito…narinig ko ang boses ng aking pinsan pero di ko sya makita ng mabuti …..medyo nag-aadjust pa lang ang aking mga mata sa dilim..Ayun….insan…bakit ganito. …dilim naman…..halika kain ka muna.

Pagkatapos kung kumain, bumalik ako sa sala..kung saan sa saliw ng musikang slow….marami na ang nagsasayaw….si Pearl…wow…ang kras ko narito rin pala…hmmm bakit kaya di siya sumasayaw….panay ang practice ko ng sasabihin ko sa kanya…….. ng tamang paraan ng paghingi ng pahintulot upang makasayaw siya….tinuro yata ito ng tatay ko…..lapit …lapit…lapit pa…….eto na….ah Pearl…..Oy Blu….Pearl, may I dance over you…Ha?…… may i dance over you! (lakas kaya ng boses ko)…biglang naghagighikan ang mga nakarinig nun….sa loob-loob ko inggit lang kayo…di kasi kayo marunong mag-ingles . Wow para akong nasa cloud 9 , imagine kras ko, kasayaw ko…hmmm bango nya…..Matapos ang sayaw..nagyaya si Pearl na magpahangin muna sa labas.

Pagtingin ko sa langit…doon ko lang napansin ang buwan, kabilugan pala nito. …..Noong una walang imikan kami…nagpapahangin nga lang eh…..maya-maya, kwento ng konti….lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko…kasi feeling ko kras din ako ni Pearl. Di ko alam kung anong may magic ang buwan pag bilog ito…bigla ko na lang sinabi kay Pearl…..kung hahalikan kita…di ka magagalit. Patay…ba’t ko ba nasabi yun…..talagang…di lang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ang naranasan ko kundi hiya….halos gusto ko higupin na lang ako ng buong-buo ng mother earth (ayan ha…ecological post ito – pang Miss Eath!). Blu, gusto mo ba talagang halikan kita? Ha …ah oo …oo…(ako pa!). Base sa mga kwento…dapat nakapikit daw….nakausli ang nguso (kissable lips ba)…ano pa nga ba……nakalimutan ko na yata ang lahat na sinabi ng klasmeyts ko.

Anyways, the moment has come….hawak-kamay kami (sayang di pwedeng background ang kanta ni Yeng Constantino—di pa uso noon)…kabog …kabog…kabog….o sige sabay tayong pumikit….sabi ko sige…todo na ito……intro music please………dahan dahan naglapit ang aming mga lips….hayyy..eto na!  Hoy! Blu!!!!!! asan ka na ba?…shock pinsan ko….sa pagmamadali naming magkiss…tumama ang aming nguso sa isa’t isa …aray ko! (sabay pa naming nasambit)….well, naglapat naman ang aming lips…pero masakit……..wala kaming nagawa kundi bumalik na lang sa loob ng bahay….eto po mga kaberks ang aking UNANG HALIK! masarap…masakit…exciting!

 may nagsabi sa wikang ingles na:

“..the first kiss is a monumental step for a new relationship. It’s  one that breaks down boundaries and gives voice to what people have been feeling inside for each other…”

Ikaw naman…oo ikaw na nagbabasa ng post na ito…kumusta naman ang first kiss mo? Maalaala mo pa kaya? Share naman dyan.

It seems the payors are starting to catch on.  Yes, it makes sense to pay for a $2,000 esoteric cancer test if it will show that a $20,000 drug treatment is unnecessary and potentially harmful – seems simple, right?  The advent of powerful diagnostics and biomarker technologies that can better characterize a patient’s individual cancer will slowly usher out the age of one-size-fits-all medicine, but it is also creating new challenges for payors, who are faced with determining a new set of values in the treatment chain – as well as drug makers and diagnostics companies who are shifting traditional ideas about buasiness models in a post-blockbuster-drug era.

Rhonda Greenapple, President and founder of New Jersey-based Reimbursement Intelligence(www.reimbursementintelligence.com), noted this shifting landscape in an article published this Summer in FierceBiotech (http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/industry-voices-personalized-medicine-will-drive-management-and-restrictions-health-plans/2008) as it relates to insurance reimbursement and the new family of K-ras genetic biomarkers.

Our take is that the value chain will continue to tilt from big pharma towards diagnostics companies as tumor characterization and individual biomarkers become standard and as companion diagnostics are eventually required to be paired with new targeted therapies.  Those smallcap companies that will likely see those benefits are specialized cancer testing companies and labs, includinginclude Clarient, Inc (Nasdaq:CLRT) www.clarientinc.com, Esoterix www.esoterix.com, and Genoptix (Nasdaq:GXDX) www.genoptix.com.

Yesterday, Amgen (Nasdaq:AMGN) said that it is discussing the clinical utility of the KRAS gene as a predictive biomarker in patients who have a specific type of colorectal cancer with the FDA.  In one more sign that the era of blockbuster drugs is over, Amgen is actually putting forth the arguement that their drug should be used for only a subset of its initial target patient set – those who express the KRAS gene among other characteristics.

An interesting take by Luke Timmerman at Xconomy:  http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/15/amgen-cancer-drug-getting-personal-which-may-be-a-good-thing-for-patients-and-sales/

This trend toward finding drugs that treat a particular patient’s disease rather than treating all patients with a disease is commonly referred to as personalized medicine, and it was predicted to take hold much more rapidly than it has.  What does it mean for investors? If the personalized medicine paradigm wins out, then the value chain in cancer medicine will shift towards disease characterization – or diagnostics.

Companies that can benefit from this trend include most reference laboratories but several smaller, more forward thinking firms are making great strides in bringing new biomarkers and novel tests to the market.  Those include Clarient, Inc (Nasdaq:CLRT) www.clarientinc.com, Esoterix www.esoterix.com, and Genoptix (Nasdaq:GXDX) www.genoptix.com.  Clarient CEO Ronnie Andrews is fond of saying that the days of fighting cancer by “burning down the haystack and hoping you get the needle” are ending, because we are developing the technology (like the KRAS marker) in many cases to identify the “needle” and treat it directly.

The diagnostics community will be watching this discussion carefully as an indicator that the tipping point for personalized medicine may be near (or not so near).

Bili smo že skoraj na poti -pa tokrat ne v hribe in tudi ne na kako strokovno potepanje- ko sem pomislil da moram s sabo vzet tudi fotoaparat. Imel sem prav…