In Sunday’s victory over the San Fransisco 49ers, the Green Bay Packers may have lost two key components to their defense, and not just for the remainder of the season, but perhaps for the rest of their careers.

Al Harris and Aaron Kampman each left the game Sunday with ACL injuries to their respective knees.  With these injuries, both Harris and Kampman will be put on IR and be out for the rest of the regular season and the postseason if the Pack makes it that far.

Harris, who is 34 and soon to be 35, is definitely on his last big contract with the Packers.  Even with a successful recovery from surgery and rehab, Harris will most likely not be getting the money he deserves.  He would be fortunate to get a starting job anywhere, and would definitely be a surprise to see Harris back in Green and Gold next season.

Harris has had many great years in Green Bay, including two Pro Bowls for the Packers.  Harris has been a key asset to the aggressive style of defense the Packers play.  He will always be remembered for his physical bump-and-run coverage on the league’s top receivers.

Kampman, like Harris is in trouble of getting a new contract with the Packers.

Kampman, before this season, was an elite pass rusher in the NFL.  Making it to a couple of Pro Bowls himself, Kampman was a beast in the three-point stance.

With Don Capers at the helm of the defensive controls this season however, left Kampman to change positions.  This 3-4 switch, lead Kampman to stand up and play outside linebacker for a change.  This put Kampman out of position as he was dropping back into pass coverage a lot more often and the defense was vulnerable because of this switch.

Unfortunately for Kampman, his style of play would suit him and the Packers better if he was on a 4-3 style of defense.  This means of course, Kampman may be traded this offseason or released to create a better outcome for Aaron’s future and the Packers defensive personnel.

Personally, Kampman should have remained on the defensive line this season within the 3-4 scheme, but that’s my 2 Cents.

Ted Thompson will have a tough decision to make to whether or not to bring Harris and Kampman back in 2010, and unfortunately it looks like it may be the end for two very loyal and fan favorite’s in Green Bay.

1892 — Prime Minister Sir John Abbott, diagnosed with stomach cancer while visiting England for medical advice, sent a letter of resignation to his House leader back in Ottawa, Sir John Thompson. The letter is to be used at Thompson’s convenience.

Announcing the resignation, Thompson becomes Prime Minister. He assumes the role he has virtually been exercising for past year and a half, since Abbott was a member of the Senate and not an MP.

Michael Fullan is a leading international education consultant who is a key adviser to to the Labour government in Britain and to the Ontario Ministry of Education. In this extract from his article The Global Privatization of Education Policy George Thompson argues that Fullan has significant business connections which stand to gain directly from his reforms. The article was published on November 6 in the Daily Censored, an independent blog and news source based at Sonoma State University, USA. Read it in full at http://dailycensored.com/2009/11/06/the-global-privatization-of-education-policy-lorna-earl-conflict-of-interest-is-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/

For more on education in Ontario visit Education Action: Toronto at http://educationactiontoronto.com/home/

Michael Fullan: Ontario’s reform architect

Michael Fullan has significant business connections which stand to gain directly from his reforms. All of the reforms place greater emphasis on raising literacy and numeracy “outcomes” through targeted funding, perpetual teacher and principal retraining, escalating interventions and greater accountability for standardized test performance.

He runs Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc. and Leadership4Change, and he occupies a place on the board of international advisors of Microsoft’s “Partners in Learning.” He sells twenty different reform handbooks, including the International Handbook of Educational Change as well as professional development kits for principals and he is a keynote speaker at conferences for organizations such as the Solution Tree.

Fullan has been “Special Advisor” to the Premier and the Minister of Education from April 2004 to the present. He is the chief architect of reforms in Ontario, which he was hired to bring in after helping reform Britain’s education system under Tony Blair. A May 2004 article written just after Fullan was appointed by Ontario’s Premier McGuinty, entitled “School Britannia,” gave “a preview” of the reform that was about to happen, and indeed, it turned out to be very accurate. (http://www.michaelfullan.ca/Articles_04/05_04/05_04.htm)

SPECIAL ADVISOR OR CONSULTING AGENCY?

Despite his prestigious and most influential role in public office where he has for five years been seemingly employed as a private individual in the public interest, one of his businesses, Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc. has received three payments: In 2006, the company received $58,915 (http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/paccts/2006/06vol3eng.pdf), in 2007-8 the company received $75,900 (http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/paccts/2008/2007-08volume3.pdf), and in 2009, Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc. received $88,750. (http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/paccts/2009/09vol3eng.pdf).

Despite Fullan’s promotion of his numerous other business interests at Michaelfullan.com, “Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc.” is never mentioned on his website. According to USA Today, Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc. received $250,000 for a five month contract in 2009 to provide professional development and long range planning to improve literacy and numeracy in Louisiana. (http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=thenewsstar&sParam=30335373.story)

How much has Fullan been paid for his government position, where he has been special advisor from 2004 to the present? Surely he’s made more than 223,565, when his company commands $250,000 for five months’ work in Louisiana. Has Fullan been using his position of influence in the government to direct business to his own company? Or has the Premier deliberately misrepresented Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc. as a “Special Advisor” rather than a hired consultancy?

Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc. would appear to sell strategy for accountability reforms and solutions to teachers, principals and superintendents who must adapt to such reforms. As Fullan explains, a “big feature of our work is to play down accountability in favor of capacity building, and then re-enter accountability later. If you lead with accountability, which most states do, then people are immediately on the defensive and it doesn’t work so well. (http://www.houstonaplus.org/testimony/focus-michael-fullan)

Ontario has now reached the “re-enter accountability” phase:

OFIP (Ontario Focused Intervention Partnership) has already targeted over 1000 schools in Ontario for “intervention,” some of which can even be performing above the average, but considered “stagnating” if they are not manufacturing year over year improvement.  (http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/ofip.html).  The upcoming Bill 177 will make school boards accountable for student EQAO results and pass rates, with a “no excuses” policy for lower performance in poorer areas and provisions for ministry take-over of boards who fail.

The new accountability obviously places increased pressure on principals to produce results for their boards. With the Ministry’s new “information finder website” being used to promote parental shopping, there is also considerable pressure to keep enrolment up at their school.

THE FULLAN LINE OF PRODUCTS

Fullan’s primary means of “capacity building” is leadership training. Four million dollars were invested in the “Ontario’s Institute for Education Leadership,” a branch of the ministry put in place specifically to move principals into the driver’s seat of reform. (http://www.education-leadership-ontario.ca)

Complementary to this aim is the full line of Fullan products:

First, the leader who wants to be truly aligned with the ministry’s objectives would do well to read all twenty of Fullan’s books on change, reform and leadership.  In particular the fifty percent of principals who find themselves “below average” on any given EQAO test should invest in Fullan’s Turnaround Leadership, wherein the man behind the reform that now threatens their careers “identifies the positive things turnaround schools do to get off the critical list.” http://www.principals.on.ca/cms/lucre.aspx

But Fullan’s Six Secrets of Change is the ultimate self-help resource for principals, offering “what the best leaders do to help their organizations survive and thrive.”

Next, principals who want to truly understand the new rules of the game would be well advised to buy access to Fullan’s leadership tools made available at Leadership4Change (L4C). This is a special web portal which allows you to “email Michael Fullan directly”. Also, “the L4C Learning Zone gives you access to Michael Fullan’s latest books, articles and a set of videos developed specifically for L4C membership. A vast collection of additional resources is also available here.” http://www.michaelfullan.ca/resource_assets/IntroBrochure.pdf

In addition, the leaders of tomorrow will want to buy the professional development packages. A number of Fullan’s products are available on the Ontario Principals Council website, where a principal who wants to stay off that “critical list” should be sure to get the following for just $339:

“Leadership and Sustainability Multimedia Kit for Professional Development

This all-in-one training package provides staff developers with the necessary tools for training leaders at all levels of the educational system to create large scale, sustainable reform without jeopardizing short-term results.” http://www.principals.on.ca/cms/lucre.aspx

There is also going to be a dramatic new need for achievement, which in today’s Ontario, translates into EQAO numbers. Three hundred dollars is a small price to pay for Fullan’s “Breakthrough: A Multimedia Kit for Professional Development.” This resource promises to “Give educators the keys to a transformative instructional approach that raises and sustains schoolwide achievement!” Furthermore “Facilitators will be able to demonstrate the authors’ powerful Triple P Breakthrough Model.” http://www.corwinpress.com/booksProdDesc.nav?prodId=Book232361

Finally, for $375 the new generals of Fullan’s army could have seen Fullan and Hargreaves “Building a Community of Leaders: Change Wars – A Hopeful Struggle” http://www.opsoa.org/pages/members/09%20Annual%20Conference/2009_PreConf.html

ON MICROSOFT’S BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL ADVISORS

Fullan is a member of the board of international advisors on Microsoft’s Partners in Learning, whom he has been with since 2003 and which had by 2007 established partnerships with governments in over 100 countries. Partners in Learning is Microsoft’s international branch aimed at partnering Microsoft as a private corporation with governments. Microsoft is the world’s most aggressive proponent of both public-private partnerships in education and charter schools, as one may easily deduce from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Report: “We have invested $2 billion, directly reaching at least 781,000 students and opening or improving 2,602 schools in 45 states and the District of Columbia.” http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/Documents/reflections-foundations-education-investments.pdf

Thus, Partners in Learning (PiL) isn’t just about promoting the use of Microsoft products and services such as hardware and software: it’s about reforming every aspect of education from teaching to administration, along the lines of PiL’s “School of the Future”, Microsoft’s flagship charter school in Philadelphia. More importantly, it is focused on influencing government policies themselves, and actively promoting “decentralization.” According to Microsoft’s own definition, this means “putting control of budgets, personnel, and academic affairs back into the hands of local communities,” but giving full control of budgets to individual schools is also a way to allow for private providers like Microsoft to gain access to markets that were previously controlled by central governments. This explains Fullan’s role as a reformer in Thailand and other countries:  “Through Learning to Lead Change, a workshop developed for Partners in Learning by international education reform expert Professor Michael Fullan, more than 13,000 educators throughout Thailand are learning strategies and tactics to prepare for decentralization and to help create a sustainable culture of leadership, collaboration, and innovation in their schools.” (http://www.microsoft.com/education/partnersinlearning/Leadership.mspx#Thailand)

The fact that Fullan’s reforms, with their emphasis on local leadership, do not differ much from those in Ontario should be a cause of great concern.

It is worth pointing out that on the Ministry’s website, one of it’s four overall initiatives has been to “enhance the way education is delivered to students by expanding e-learning opportunities, creating more online resources, increasing opportunities for experiential learning and supporting specialized schools.” http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/about/whatwedo.html

Could such “specialized schools” be charters? Could the e-learning be moving us in the direction of the virtual charter schools which have emerged as a force in the US due to the low cost and high margin of profit compared to having buildings and live teachers? With the impending closure of over 140 schools in Ontario due to under-enrolment, it is interesting to note that the declining enrolment working group made reference to “e-learning” 25 times in their 78 page report entitled “Planning and Possibilities”. (http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/DEWG.pdf)

One of the key groups consulted by the Declining Enrolment Working Group was the OASBO (Ontario Association of School Business Officers), who, in their newsletter, did not fail to see “possibilities”. Bill Blackie, the Executive Director of OASBO, explains in an article called “A Perfect Storm” in OASBO newsletter the enrolment crisis plus the economic recession equals opportunity:  “Boards and their senior staff may need to consider making overtures to potential business partners and service providers that could share sites, or processes that would produce a benefit t to both partners. The declining enrolment working group also made reference to the need to examine the expanded role of technology in delivering programs. This too might be an area to consider for partnerships….If we can capture some of these opportunities, the business functions in education will emerge as a vital and integral part of a new education environment.” http://www.oasbo.org/admin/eZeditor/files/f_9_June2009.pdf

COMPUTER GIANTS IN CHARGE OF ASSESSMENT

In his article, “Large-Scale Reform Comes of Age,” Fullan’s own research betrays a strong bias, for he sees Microsoft, along with Intel and Cisco, as the new leaders to take command of the high-stakes standardized testing which currently regulates the entire U.S. education system: “Cisco, Intel, and Microsoft have just launched a much needed global project with leading academics to develop assessments and corresponding instructional practices for twenty-first Century skills thereby addressing the narrowness, and low level of current testing in the U.S. and elsewhere.” http://www.michaelfullan.ca/Articles_09/LargeScaleReform.pdf

Clearly Fullan sees no conflict of interest in handing the computer giants both assessment and “corresponding instructional practices” —in essence giving them control of the tail of assessment that now wags the dog (instruction) and controls the whole system.

REFORM=PRIVATIZATION

Fullan lauds Bush’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reform, which has accelerated privatization of schools in many ways, for “put[ting] the spotlight on those falling behind, and [because it] has sparked greater attention to data and its use.” But he criticizes NCLB for  “too narrow tests, short time lines, little capacity building, and a punitive strategy. No state or the federal level has an explicit system reform strategy that comes even close to what we know is needed. The only good news is that there is a rapidly growing realization that existing strategies are not working as the U.S. continues to lose ground internationally; and the best news: key leaders are beginning to show interest in particular strategies that get results….” http://www.michaelfullan.ca/Articles_09/LargeScaleReform.pdf

The four references to “strategy” in the above quote make it abundantly clear that Fullan is critical of the strategies, not the goal.

Leadership ≠ Management
Richard Thompson
Nov 16, 2009 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Yesterday evening I attended a talk lead by Dr. Thompson of the Telecom department at the SIS school. The talk was an IEEE sponsored program that focused on defining leadership and clarifying whether management and leadership could be classified as the same concept. He first posed the question, “Is there such a thing as bad leadership?” He argued that bad leadership just isn’t leadership, as in there is no such thing as bad beauty or bad honesty. It is either one but not the other. He then listed some of his favorite leaders, which included George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John Quincy Adams, among others.
He then spoke about a study done by Yale University in 1961 called the “Milgram’s Experiment.” In this study there were three participants: someone leading the experimenter (designated as the authority figure), a teacher, and a student. The teachers were told that the experiment was designed to test how well students would react to being shocked after reciting an incorrect answer to a question. The shocks would increase in strength, starting at 50 volts, increasing by 50 volts, and would go to a maximum of 450 volts. The hitch was that the experiment was actually being performed on the teachers, where the students were acting out the voltages and the experimenter were measuring how far the teachers would push the voltage just because an “authority figure” was telling them it was OK to do. Out of the 40 participants, only 1 stopped prior to 300 volts, even though it was quite apparent the students were being hurt by each increasing voltage. This experiment demonstrated that when there is a strong “authority figure” participants will continue to blindly be lead as long as they are being told it is OK.
There were many points of interests: one was analyzing various definitions of leadership or the verb “to lead”. Lead, as defined by Webster’s dictionary, starts with three separate terms, either to guide, to direct, or to be designated as the first. Another was how Wikipedia defined their difference between leadership and management and how many thought one was superior to the other, but that finding both qualities simultaneously was a very rare circumstance. Even though this topic was not a typical research colloquium I thought it was incredible stimulating and something to keep mind while progressing through my doctorate degree.

By Mark Dohle

Not too long ago headlines declared the climate debate was over, global warming was real and there will be catastrophic consequences if nothing was done to stop the warming.   In fact, global warming has occurred since the beginning of the industrial revolution.  Global temperatures increased by 0.6K. (IPCC)  The debate is not about this measured quantity.  Many other important questions remain unanswered.  What are the driving forces behind climate change?  How much and how fast is climate changing?  What will be the consequences?   What actions, if any, should individuals and governments take in order to direct the global climate.

As Francis Bacon eloquently stated, “nature to be commanded must be obeyed”.  It is impossible for anyone to direct the climate without knowing how the climate works.  Before individuals and governments can act in any meaningful way, they must understand the nature of global climate.  Only after figuring out how the climate works can one decide whether or not changing the climate is beneficial or even possible.   Small changes in climate, such as those observed since the start of the industrial revolution posed no new threat to human lives and were within the normal range of historical trends.  It was the authoritative prediction of accelerated warming that caused the alarm.   The following argument attempts to show that current methods of climate prediction, which used models based on various assumptions, did not and cannot predict climate change.  This is because the nature of global climate is not understood.  Also, any plans to direct the climate towards a constant temperature cannot work because the nature of global climate is not understood.

A 2004, University of California investigation titled, “Increase of carbon cycle feedback with climate sensitivity: results from a coupled climate and carbon cycle model”, performed under contract W-7405-Eng-48 of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was used in this argument to show what the consensus determined and how the knowledge was formulated.  This investigation was contrasted with another (DOE) funded investigation titled, “On the determination of climate feedbacks from ERBE data” presented by Lindzen and Choi in July 2009.  The comparison revealed the contrasts between the methods and results obtained by climate modelers and climate observers.

The critical concept of climate feedback tied the two investigations together. Climate feedback is the rate at which radiation escapes the “blanket” of greenhouse gasses as temperature changes.  A positive feedback means less radiation escapes—accelerating warming— as temperature increases and a negative feedback means more radiation escapes—decelerating warming— as temperature increases.  An accurate account of feedback is vital to climate prediction because all the models used to predict climate change did so based on a climate sensitivity factor that was based on feedback.

The results from the University of California investigation as well as the results from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were based on climate model predictions.  The IPCC predicted 1.4-5.8K degrees of warming in the next century, (Govindasamy 154) and concluded that “[a]nthropogenic emissions of fossil fuels and change in land use are expected to lead to significant climate change in the future (IPCC, 2001).” (Govindasamy 153)

Our (University of California) results indicate that carbon cycle amplification of climate warming will be greater if there is higher climate sensitivity to increased atmospheric CO2 content; the carbon cycle feedback factor increases from 1.13 to 1.48 when global warming increases from 3.2 to 8 K.  (Govindasamy 153)

In the 2 × sensitivity case there is a decline of nearly 95% of ice volume. We find that the sea ice disappears completely in both hemispheres in their respective summers in that run. (Govindasamy 156-57)

In terms of area occupied by different vegetation types, tropical and temperate forests expand significantly with global warming (Fig. 5; Table 2). The area covered by these forests increases from about 40% in the control case to nearly 60% of the land area in the 2 × sensitivity case. In general there is a migration of tropical, temperate and boreal forests poleward with warming, leading to significant declines in the area occupied by tundra and polar deserts (land ice) in the 2 × sensitivity run. (Govindasamy 159)

It must be noted in the above paragraphs that the warming was driven by a relatively high climate sensitivity and the predictions of sea ice melting and vegetable migrations were dependent on those same models.  Through an analysis of the Lindzen and Choi report, “On Climate Feedbacks from ERBE Data”, it is possible to discover why computer modeling predictions for climate change must be wrong.  The models were wrong because they were using ungrounded assumptions in order to calculate results. Lindzen and Choi observed and compared the change in outgoing radiation with changes in temperature across the same space and time.  The results indicated that increases in temperature correlated to increased amounts of radiation escaping the “blanket” as lost heat. In other words, climate feedback was observed to be negative. Negative feedback results in relatively low climate sensitivity, (Lindzen 1), much lower than modelers had assumed.

The climate sensitivity numbers used in the University of California report and in the IPCC reports were based on the assumption that feedback was positive, not negative.   It should also be noted that the sensitivity factor used by the University of California was at the low end of sensitivity factors normally used in models, including IPCC models. (Govindasamy 154)

The climate model used here has equilibrium climate sensitivity to increased CO2 (2.1 K per doubling) that is at the lower end of the range of the general model population (IPCC, 2001). In order to address the dependence of carbon cycle feedback on climate sensitivity we investigated the sensitivity of this positive feedback for a range of equilibrium climate sensitivities to increased atmospheric CO2 content; nominally, 0, 2 and 4 K per doubling of atmospheric CO2 content. With the SRES A2 emission scenarios, this produces a simulated year 2100 global warming ranging from 0 to 8 K. (Govindasamy 159)

The climate model used by Thompson et al. (2004) has a climate sensitivity (∼2 K for a doubling of CO2) near the low end of the conventionally accepted range (1.5 to 4.5 K per CO2 doubling; IPCC, 2001). (Govindasamy 154)

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE)  nonscanner data “appear to demonstrate a climate sensitivity of about 0.5°C.” (Lindzen 9)  That is more than four times less than the assumed value of climate sensitivity used by climate models.   Assuming the observations performed by the ERBE were accurate, the predictions of accelerated warming in the University of California report were meaningless because the models did not simulate the Earth’s climate properly.  The predictions for climate change were meaningless because they were based on meaningless temperature predictions.  Also, all models that developed climate sensitivity factors based on positive feedback were wrong.  That includes the models used by the IPCC.

In order maintain consistency with observation and also show results of significant global warming, all the models that used climate sensitivity factors must make corrections.  This amounts to nothing more than sophisticated guess and check work.   Judging from the development of the models used in the University of California report, “corrections” are commonplace in model generation when observations conflict with their assumptions.  Below is an example of a “correction” made during the 2004 study by the University of California.

Initial coupled simulations showed that when IBIS2 was coupled to the PCTM, precipitation biases typical of current climate models caused vegetation errors that, in turn, amplified precipitation biases in regions where surface–atmosphere moisture recycling is known to be important. This erroneous feedback resulted in unacceptable vegetation in some areas, particularly parts of the Amazon. To remedy this, a precipitation correction scheme was implemented. At every surface grid point, and every time step, the simulated precipitation field is multiplied by a constant that is a function of position but otherwise static and identical across all runs. The constant precipitation “correction field” acts to move the model’s simulated present-day annual mean precipitation towards an observed climatology…(Govindasamy 155)

In practice, the precipitation correction employed here is similar to the surface heat “flux corrections” used in early coupled ocean–atmosphere models. It would be better not to have to use it, but until model improvements obviate the need, a correction is required to generate a reasonable coupled control case. (Govindasamy 155)

The question remains, which report is true?  Climate feedback cannot be both positive and negative over the same space and time, so they both cannot be true.  The answer to this question lies in the realm of epistemology.  Where does truth come from?  How is knowledge and certainty gained?  Some typical answers are revelations from god, observation and reason, consensus, intuition, authority or a healthy mix.   In this case, a person that answers observation and reason would tend to agree with Lindzen and Choi and a person who holds that consensus or authority have more weight would tend to side with the University of California and IPCC model results.  A Person that holds god or intuition as the best means to knowledge could decide in favor of either position.

It is possible that the analysis performed by Lindzen and Choi was mistaken or that the data was no good.  It is possible that they fudged the numbers or are being deceitful in some way.  The same can be said about the University of California report or even the IPCC report.  It is important to remember however, that these studies are not performed in a vacuum.  There are real consequences for authors and they are held accountable to the institutions and people they serve.  The spotlight is on and their credibility and jobs are on the line.  The work is also easily checked by other scientists.  Neither party is fudging numbers, they simply reached different conclusions based on their respective methods.   Lindzen and Choi used observations, and then reason to form conclusions.  The modelers used a combination of observation and assumed factors to formulate models which mimicked past climate activity.  Based on this, the models were expected to make accurate predictions of future climate activity.

Observation of reality was the proof for Lindzen and Choi’s arguments.  The assumption of positive feedback used in the models was contradicted by observations of negative climate feedback.  The observations can be repeated and the analysis can be checked by any scientist.  Even the modelers agree that observation is the ultimate judge, seeing as how they “corrected” the models to match observations in the past.  So what?  Why does it matter that much anyway?  Wouldn’t it still be a good idea to reduce carbon emissions just in case? No, and here is why.

Copenhagen, December 2009

Many of the factors that affect global temperatures are known, including CO₂ concentrations.  On the other hand, observations, such as those from the ERBE, demonstrate that the influence of any of the factors has not yet been  established.  This means that the nature of global climate is unknown and therefore actions taken to drive climate change in one direction or another cannot accomplish the desired goal.  Yet, the political leaders of the world are meeting and attempting to create a governing body that will force every person on Earth into action.  The global government proposes to collect taxes, redistribute wealth, regulate new and old industry and enforce policy without anyone’s vote.  Below is a glimpse of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as it was drafted on September 15, 2009.

The scheme for the new institutional arrangement under the Convention will be based on three basic pillars: government; facilitative mechanism; and financial mechanism, and the basic organization of which will include the following…(UNFCCC Annex I par. 38)

“The government will be ruled by the (Conference of the Parties) COP.”(UNFCCC Annex 1 par.38)  Whatever the COP actually is, it is not a government by the people and for the people.  A word check was unable to find the words “freedom” or “vote” in the entire document.

The funds will be raised by the financial mechanism. “ The Convention’s financial mechanism will include a multilateral climate change fund including five windows…”(UFCCC Annex I par. 38)   “[Providing financial support shall be additional to developed countries’ ODA targets.] [Mandatory contributions from developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in Annex II should form the core revenue stream for meeting the cost of adaptation in conjunction with additional sources including share of proceeds from flexible mechanisms.]” (UNFCCC Annex II par. 41) What does that mean?

(c) [Levies on CO2 emissions [from Annex-I Parties [in a position to do so]];]

(d) [Taxes on carbon-intensive products and services from Annex I Parties;]

(e) [[Levies on] [Shares of proceeds from measures to limit or reduce emissions from] international [aviation] and maritime transport;]

(f) Shares of proceeds on the clean development mechanism (CDM), [extension of shares of proceeds to] joint implementation and emissions trading;

(g) [Levies on international transactions [among Annex I Parties];]

(h) [Fines for non-compliance [of Annex I Parties and] with commitments of Annex I Parties and Parties with commitments inscribed in Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Parties);] (UNFCCC Annex II par. 41)

Regulation and enforcement of the laws created by the COP will be handled by the “…facilitative mechanism which will include… an expert group on adaptation established by the subsidiary body… and an international registry for the monitoring, reporting and verification of compliance of emission reduction commitments, and the transfer of technical and financial resources from developed countries to developing countries.”(UNFCCC Annex I par 38)

People who do not understand the nature of global climate are attempting to direct global temperature.  Even worse, these political leaders, who disregard the idea that “nature to be commanded must be obeyed”, are apparently in a position to regulate global resources, production and wealth distribution.   If they think they can drive global climate without understanding it, how much effort are they expected to put into understanding human nature before they set up a world government to drive men’s actions.  They do not understand that humans require the freedom to act on their rational judgment in order to choose values, create wealth and prosper.  Man is the rational animal, not the obedient animal.  Do to a lack of respect for reality and reason based on reality; they are leading us into a pit of despair.  It will not randomly work out.

References

GOVINDASAMY, B., S. THOMPSON, A. MIRIN, M. WICKETT, K. CALDEIRA, and C. DELIRE. “Increase of carbon cycle feedback with climate.” TELLUS 57B (2005): 153-63. Blackwell Munksgaard.

LINDZEN, R. and CHOI, Y. “On the determination of climate feedbacks from ERBE data”  GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS (2009) Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate; Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

IPCC, Workgroup I: The Scientific Basis.   http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tar/wg1/052.htm

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,  FCCC/ANGLCA/2009/INF.2, (September 15, 2009)  http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/awglca7/eng/inf02.pdf

I’m headed to Vegas with the wife today.

We’re going to get (re)married by Elvis for our ten year anniversary.

Personally, I hope it’s by a fat, jumpsuit wearing Elvis, but any Elvis will do.

It makes sense.

I love the Rat Pack, she loves Elvis—The movie Swingers was somehow a strange cornerstone of our budding romance so many years ago, it’s soundtrack becoming our own.

Quite frankly, I’m still somewhat amazed we didn’t run off to Vegas the first time around, when we were young and impetuous.

As we stroll down the busy streets, stare in wonderment at the bright lights surrounding us and watch the fountains of the Bellagio dance, I’m going to squint my eyes really hard and try to see the old Vegas—Sinatra’s Vegas.

The martini swinging, mob run Vegas.

Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the new Vegas—quite frankly I’m excited to see that one, too; the lights, the roller coasters, the fountains…all of it.

But…

I just want to catch a glimpse of the old Vegas—the original Vegas, no matter how dusty and dirty it may be.

Though I hear that Vegas is merely a ghost now, hovering over the new, family friendly version, laid to rest in the wake of the Sands.

I’m going to do my best to chronicle my first Vegas experience, from the Elvis wedding, to cocktails in Old Town, to my first attempt at gambling…but I can’t make any promises. I don’t even know if I’ll have wifi where I’m staying.

For you, however, I shall try my hardest.

Though, don’t expect a madcap tale of hallucinogens in the desert and imaginary bats swarming around us.

Maybe a few cocktails, but there is nothing gonzo about this trip.

Aside, perhaps, from vacationing while unemployed.

1887 — Yet another round of fisheries negotiations begins in Washington. Since Confederation, the fishing rights between Canada and the United States have remained contentious.

Leading the Canadian delegation is Sir Charles Tupper, the Finance minister. A doctor by profession, he relies on legal advice from the Justice minister, John Thompson. Rounding out the delegation is the Marine & Fisheries minister, George Foster. The talks continue until December 11 with little accomplished.

Though this article is overdue, we should not let the campaign of Bill Thompson fade into the dustbin of history, letting him become an arcane figure of what politics could have been in a major metropolitan city. Though history is indeed often written by the victors, if we are to become a more progressive and enlightened country, we have to build a new, more inclusive history, one that learns from the efforts of underrepresented groups to achieve social change and social justice for the greater good (supposedly that is a way of interpreting Founding ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” though the means of achieving those values remain endlessly controversial). If we take as a given a narrow interpretation of the events that occurred—that though Bloomberg flooded the airwaves with money, he must have won because he was the best candidate for the job—we are highly liable to repeat the same events, maintaining the highly stratified society that reinforces a narrow, tightly-controlled, way of living. Examining history with a certain kind of naïveté—not looking at the reasons why Bloomberg was opposed and how an opposition was mounted—is only nominally better than ignoring what happened at all: we may as well be living in a vacuum with our “all’s well that ends well” attitude. Such a demeanor is actually a kind of determinism: it’s the incumbent bias on steroids, and it discourages voting because people get the misguided belief into their heads that “everything will work out in the end” and that one candidate is not dramatically different from another. A lot of why Thompson lost is because he had to battle an entrenched narrative, a schema of Bloomberg as a figure with power (power that the public gave, not power that he obtained through just governance) who was “unopposable.”

Further, with Thompson’s loss we again see the placing of the private over the municipal in New York, a reassertion that things can only get done in this city if they move through pre-established channels, no matter how exclusive, convoluted, and even wasteful those methods might be. The old guard has won again—the new must once again hold its breath and continue fighting and struggling for another point of entry in the facade that is New York City politics. In a world where the distortion of language is common, and (so it would seem) the way anything happens (a bow to Orwell here), it would be absurd to only look at the official “successes” in our search for truth and understanding in life, turning our blinders on when it comes to “failure”—though shunning failure to the point of self-destructive denial is a quintessentially American thing to do. (And as much as some people would say New York isn’t America, it is—and getting more strip-mauled all the time. But that’s fodder for another article.) We’re so petrified that even the act of examining “failure” would somehow, magically, jinx us, contaminate us, make us failures, though there is no such thing as a “failure” as a person-type, only people who experience a phenomenon known as failure. But if people feel like “failures,” that makes things easier for capitalists, plutocrats, and power-mongers who have less work to do in weakening labor/wage regulations, healthcare regulations, housing regulations, etc.; none of this is exactly tangential, as not only is all politics local, but all politics is related to all other politics and, as much as we would want it to be the case, there is—unfortunately— nothing new under the sun. 

There are many lessons that can be learned from Thompson’s campaign, and they are not just lessons for future would-be office holders, but lessons for anyone who invests their time, money, spirit, or energy in a cause they want to see positive change on. For the how in what what is done matters as much, if not more, than the what. For that what in Bloomberg’s victory was an apathetic vote to keep New York on a plateau for another four years: it should be obvious that Bloomberg does not only not have to keep any campaign promise he made, but that his claims were shockingly vague—the attitude of someone who set a tone right away that his opposition was not to be taken seriously, and that his re-election would be a foregone conclusion. He did not have to persuade voters on a vision of what he was going to do in the four additional years since “eight [were] not enough;” all he had to do was convince voters that, in scary times, they had better stick with the devil they know instead of the devil they don’t. And he succeeded in precisely that, because of certain things Thompson did and did not do. Challenging candidates take note.

The argument can be made that Thompson’s loss was not an isolated instance of failure on the part of Democrats, but just a symptom of a larger dysfunction that makes a conservative resurgence more likely. Democratic complacency was a large contributing factor in Thompson’s failure, but we also must understand that David-and-Goliath campaigns such as his are not exactly rarities anymore. Such wide fiscal gaps between candidates might actually become more common in the future, until true Campaign Finance Reform is achieved, when publicly-finances candidates actually stand a chance against privately-funded and independently wealthy figures. Thompson’s struggle was unique and worsened by the fact that he was competing against someone who willfully circumvented term limits laws—deliberately ignoring the will of the people who were overwhelmingly in favor of term limits—but even without that factor, the huge mismatch in campaign moneys between the candidates made Thompson’s work cut out for him from the get-go.

Still, for one thing, Thompson had virtually no connection with the mainstream media in the tri-state area (and it should go without saying that the Mayor of New York City is a tri-state issue). Bloomberg got way more face time, and not just the time he paid for. He got free face time almost every day. That is not just because he was the incumbent. He pushed his face out there every day, having constant press conferences and photo opportunities, and having his endorsers out there almost every day, while Thompson did not “work” the media. Granted, there are substantial hurdles to getting a channel to cover a press conference, but Thompson should have developed a portfolio of issues and held press conferences on separate days, bringing his supporters out to photogenic sites around the city, precisely for the TV value. Large crowds are better than small crowds, but small crowds beat no crowds. For the most part, what is tragic about his loss is that people didn’t know who he was—just the version of events Bloomberg told them, labeling him as either an incompetent bureaucrat or a know-nothing. Thompson did not give voters a grounded enough bio to refute this, a sense not only of his accomplishments but his core values as a human being, a sense of his passion. Because a vote for Thompson did represent a risk to some as opposed to what they knew they could expect from Bloomberg, Thompson had to not only provide a welcome contrast to Bloomberg, but a compelling one—and he did not. For a sufficient percentage of voting New Yorkers, even though they knew what they could expect from Bloomberg and may not have been not pleased with it, simply knowing what to expect in a down economy was preferable to many over knowing what not to expect from what would come from a Thompson administration. This segment of voters—at least some of them—could have been “converted” with more passion and more information: these are the people who vote less on ideals than on their own interests—and that’s not a judgment: I’m saying that Thompson’s campaign perhaps didn’t know who they were campaigning to, because they had to a wage practical campaign as well as an idealistic one to sway these voters. They represent a missed opportunity.

A significant—and ultimately costly—tactical error Thompson made was trying to conserve his resources by not advertising early in the campaign, when he still had a chance to, if not dictate, introduce more terms of the debate to his favor. Waiting until so late in the game to ramp up the television ads and direct mail already let an apathy set in among the voters. The consequence of this decision was that Thompson did not set himself in the public mind as serious when it would have mattered. Of course he had to ration his funds, and of course he couldn’t well not advertise close to the election. But by being too fiscally conservative early on, he forewent the opportunity to establish the momentum and word-of-mouth (aka “buzz”) so essential to a challenging candidacy. He had to get people positively talking about him—and more than identifying him as “that guy running against Bloomberg.” As we have learned here, being “that guy” or “the other guy” isn’t enough. As much as people may have hated Bloomberg, he could occasionally point to concrete accomplishments, plans, or values that gave people something to hold in their minds and build a justification for voting on. What the loss cannot conceal is that Thompson’s campaign, earnest as it was, was poorly managed. In addition to playing into Bloomberg’s mythos that he was running unopposed, Thompson’s campaign was more reactive than proactive. He did not make it easy for a voter to visualize what he would be like as Mayor. As Tom Robbins recently noted,” [Thompson's] only clear vision of where he wanted to lead the city was that it wasn’t where Bloomberg was taking it” (Tom Robbins, “The Blowout That Wasn’t: History’s Richest Campaign Wins By a Nose,” Village Voice, 11/11-11/17, p.11).

Thompson’s party didn’t exactly “have his back” either. Tom Robbins of the Village Voice quotes Stu Applebaum, leader of the retail workers union: “They [Democratic party heads] should’ve been out there, revving people up to participate. They could have been involved in fundraising. They did nothing” (ibid). Why Democrats accepted Bloomberg’s win as fact, even in a down economy and even after a President who made change his mantra won a sweeping, boundaries-shattering victory, one will never quite know.  Obama’s endorsement of Thompson came too late, but it still should have counted for more than it did. It’s a sad comment on Democratic party solidarity, and it speaks volumes as to why a solid offensive against Republican values is never seriously mounted in this country, allowing for periodic shifts to the right that frequently attempt to undo any changes Democrats actually manage to put through.

Still, Thompson managed to close a double-point gap, giving Bloomberg a run for his (piles of) money. Over $90 million spent only gave the billionaire a five-point lead, a little too close for comfort in a heavily Democratic city. That Bloomberg may have a hard time getting anything done in the next four years does not matter to him—he just wanted to prove he could win—or, apparently, to the electorate, whose pessimism drove them to re-admit someone they thought wouldn’t significantly worsen the City’s grim economic forecast—and any improvements would not be seen as urgent, or things that could be demanded through political muscle and organizing, but as icing on the cake. The race was close, but the race should have been Thompson’s: the low voter turnout meant that as high as the stakes of the election were, the very middle class he was trying to turn to for support was not getting the message enough to bring it to the voting booth. So though the mainstream media will never admit it, what happened was nothing less than class warfare, as the lower and middle classes were rendered so demoralized and apathetic by Bloomberg and the overwhelmingly bought-and-paid-for pro-Bloomberg media that they felt their votes could not make a difference. You can be sure, though, that every Bloomberg supporter showed up November 3rd, and let’s make no mistake: they’re the affluent, the real-estate interests, the people who stand to benefit by keeping a billionaire in office. If we ever want to end politics-as-usual, we have to address turnout. The adage, “if you don’t vote, you can’t complain” holds bitterly true here: New Yorkers somehow, in some of the worst financial times ever, in what some call a Second Gilded Age, let a fraction of people speak for them.

Hello everyone,

In recent years a new Christmas tradition has come about in my home; which is about locating on the web old Christmas TV episodes and movies, that time seemed to have forgotten.  YouTube has of course been the biggest provider of such Holiday entertainment with user provided videos from Bob Hope to Rudolph.  There is Christmas videos for just about every taste (even some for the more distasteful lot who would rather say Bah Humbug than Merry Christmas.)

I’d thought I share some of the shows I’ve come across over the past couple years on YouTube  in hopes it might brighten your Christmas sprit.  First off, we start with “Christmas Comes to Pac-Land.”  Yes thats right its a Pac-Man Christmas special.  As a kid this was one of my favorites.  Pac-Man + Santa teaming up?   Yes, in the 80’s this was a no brainer.  Back then Pac-Man was king and Santa well…what kid doesn’t love Santa.  In typical kiddy Christmas fashion the story is much like other specials. Something bad has happened on Christmas eve that causes Santa’ toy route to be jeopardized.  It is of course up to our hero, Pac-Man to come through for a distraught Santa, and save Christmas…as if Christmas is something that could ever be saved.  (God Bless Dr. Seuss for correcting that absurd notion in the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas.”)  Nonetheless, it is what it is and Santa’s the toy man/good will ambassador of the world and failure for the jolly elf is not an option.  Sure its silly, and somewhat retro…but hey the cartoon is just a nice piece of holiday nostalgia and if you’ve never seen it then its just a goofy, somewhat pretty, little animated Christmas card from Hannah-Barbara and Namco.

The following is the special separated in three parts.  Runs about 25 minutes.

Enjoy and if you haven’t already done so please visit my website (www.thompsonstshirts.com) for the coolest Christmas T-shirts on the net,  Thanks, Matt

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Thompson’s Original’s Jolly T-shirts Christmas Showcase!

Il Thompson Correction Center per gli ultimi detenuti di Guantanamo | Rainews24

Il Thompson Correction Center per gli ultimi detenuti di Guantanamo

Secondo il Chicago Tribune, circa 200 detenuti rimasti a Guantanamo, saranno trasferiti nel carcere di massima sicurezza dell’Illinois, a 200 chilometri da Chicago.Il carcere, attualmente semivuoto, si trova a Thompson e i residenti per una volta non sono contrari all’idea del trasferimento perchè l’economia locale è stata duramente colpita dalla crisi.L’amministrazione Obama, secondo il quotidiano avrebbe già contattato il governatore Pat Quinn, che a sua volta ha annunciato che esperti federali di Washinbgton visiteranno il carcere nella prossima settimana.Per limiti di budget, questo super carcere non è mai entrato a pieno regime.

Fonte:
http://www.rainews24.rai.it/it/foto-gallery.php?galleryid=134203

PHILADELPHIA – Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest and hardest to treat cancers. After diagnosis, patients tend to live only six months and less than 5 percent survive to five years.

“In terms of a patient population, there is very little we can do for them once we find the cancer,” said Craig Thompson, M.D., director of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

The currently available treatment is gemcitabine, which is sold as Gemzar by Eli Lilly and Company, but the response rate with this treatment is typically only 5 percent. Researchers are working to develop new ways of treating pancreatic cancer and early scientific studies are showing promise.

As part of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, Thompson moderated a press conference on emerging treatments in pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, in Room 202 of the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass., from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET.

Researchers presented new data on nanotechnology methods of delivering therapies, angiogenesis, microRNA and the tumor microenvironment.

“Successful treatment of pancreatic cancer is going to require new and creative thinking from the scientific community, and the research being presented at this meeting is a good example of that,” said Thompson.

The following abstracts were presented at the press conference:

# A2. Targeting intracellular VEGF using nanotechnology for sub-cellular delivery of bevacizumab improves efficacy of combination therapy against pancreatic cancer

New nanotechnology-based delivery of a common anti-angiogenesis agent improved efficacy in models of pancreatic cancer, suggesting a possible therapy for this hard to treat disease.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital used bevacizumab, sold under the brand name Avastin by Genentech, which is an anti-angiogenesis drug designed to starve cancerous tumors of the blood they need to grow. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the agent for several cancers (including breast and colorectal cancers) and oncologists use it to treat other cancers as well.

Avastin works by removing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is a protein that stimulates new blood vessel growth in tumors. However, as administered currently, it has had limited efficacy because it can only remove some of the VEGF on the outside of the tumor cell. VEGF can still thrive inside the cell where it is made and continues to be secreted outside, long after the injected Avastin has disappeared and thus contributes to tumor growth.

“In order for these agents to work you have to deliver them at the right place at the right time. While Avastin is able to partially mop up VEGF outside a tumor cell, this is the first time we have been able to show that it can effectively be delivered and work inside the cell as well,” said Tayyaba Hasan, Ph.D., professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Hasan and colleagues designed a nanotechnology-based delivery device to simultaneously deliver Avastin along with an FDA approved light-activated chemical within the tumor of mouse models of pancreatic cancer. In a previous small study, photodynamic therapy, a light activated therapy, enhanced the treatment outcome in pancreatic cancer. However, in clinical trials where standard chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer was combined with bevacizumab, there was no benefit to survival.

Their results showed that the nanotechnology successfully delivered Avastin to the interior of a pancreatic cancer cell and improved the acute treatment response in mice treated with the nanotechnology compared with those treated with Avastin alone. The combination with photodynamic therapy was associated with even greater improvements.

Absent the nanotechnology delivery, at the low doses of agents used, neither Avastin nor photodynamic therapy significantly improved the acute treatment effect of Avastin. The researchers also noted that Avastin delivered by nanotechnology caused at least a two-fold reduction in metastasis to the liver, lungs and lymph nodes.

“This finding represents a new paradigm for Avastin-based treatment that could be delivered with greater effectiveness and with less toxicity,” said Hasan.

# C246. Nab-paclitaxel targets tumor stroma and results, combined with gemcitabine, in high efficacy against pancreatic cancer models

Treatment with nab-paclitaxel appears to weaken the stroma, or protective wall, surrounding a pancreatic tumor and increase the potency of gemcitabine, the most commonly used agent for pancreatic cancer, when the two drugs are used in combination.

“What we are seeing here is a real paradigm shift, because it shows that effective treatment does not necessarily require a fancy new molecular therapy but just the smart combination of what is already available,” said Anirban Maitra, M.D., associate professor of pathology and oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Both gemcitabine, sold as Gemzar by Eli Lilly and Company, and nab-paclitaxel, sold as Abraxane by Abraxis Bioscience, are clinically available treatments. Researchers at TGen in Arizona and other clinical centers in the United States have already tested the combination in humans and reported preliminary results earlier this year demonstrating a median survival of 10.3 months, as compared to the previously reported 5.7 months survival seen with gemcitabine alone.

Maitra and colleagues sought to determine the mechanism behind that dramatic finding in 11 freshly generated pancreatic cancer mouse xenografts from Johns Hopkins laboratories.

Replicating the human trial, the researchers found the response rate of the combination in mice was almost double of what was seen with either agent alone.

A further evaluation by histology at the cellular level showed that nab-paclitaxel depleted the stroma surrounding pancreatic tumors and thus was able to facilitate delivery of gemcitabine more effectively. Those treated with the combination had a gemcitabine concentration in tumors that was 3.7-fold higher than what was seen with gemcitabine alone.

“What we have done is effectively make gemcitabine-resistant tumors into gemcitabine-sensitive tumors with the added punch of nab-paclitaxel, so we’re getting synergy of the two-drug combination and better delivery of gemcitabine where it needs to be,” said Maitra.

# A127. Combination therapy targeting EGFR/MET crosstalk using nanotechnology improves photodynamic therapy treatment of pancreatic cancer

Simultaneous inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and MET signaling pathways significantly reduced pancreatic tumor burden and toxicity when inhibitors were delivered using nanotechnology, according to research conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“These pathways are key to the growth of pancreatic tumors, and the fact that we were able to deliver these inhibitors in combination represents a significant step forward,” said Prakash Rai, Ph.D., a research fellow working in the Tayyaba Hasan, Ph.D., laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Cell growth pathway inhibition is a recognized therapy for cancer, and current treatment regimens typically deliver large molecules such as antibodies outside of a cell, whereas the smaller molecules that are readily delivered inside the cell are often associated with high toxicity. In this report, nanotechnology appears to overcome these problems; it was able to simultaneously deliver an antibody and a small molecule inside the cell while reducing the toxicity of the small molecule.

To target EGFR, researchers used C225, a receptor antibody that has shown no survival benefit in patients with pancreatic cancer. Because different cancer growth pathways have “cross talk” capabilities, combinations that simultaneously target these “cross-talking” pathways may have better outcomes. For the current study, Rai and colleagues simultaneously targeted the EGFR and the MET pathways by combining C225 with the small molecule inhibitor PHA-665752 in a nano-construct.

“Combination pathway inhibition is extremely important because if you just inhibit one pathway, the cancer cells are smart enough to grow using the other signaling pathway, so you have to attack both at once,” said Rai.

These two therapies were further enhanced by a light-activated treatment, photodynamic therapy, which by itself was reported to have improved median survival in pancreatic cancer patients in a small study. Nanotechnology-based delivery of the two agents successfully positioned the therapy on the inside of a tumor cell and reduced the local tumor burden.

The researchers are continuing their studies to determine if there is any effect on metastasis and long-term survival.

# A53. Tumor suppressor microRNA miR-34 inhibits human pancreatic and gastric cancer stem cells

Treatment with miR-34, a microRNA, significantly reduced pancreatic and gastric cancer stem cells, which suggests the molecule may be a potential therapeutic agent in these cancers.

Cancer stem cells are the tumor cells left over after chemotherapy that, in nearly all cases, lead to regrowth of the tumor. Typically, these cells are resistant to conventional treatments. Researchers are looking to microRNAs, which are proteins that regulate gene expression, as potentially therapeutic and they have already demonstrated some benefit in liver cancer.

“MiR-34 may be a new player in treatment for these very aggressive tumors because it acts as a tumor suppressor and can be delivered effectively,” said Liang Xu, Ph.D., M.D., assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Michigan.

Xu and colleagues examined the role of miR-34 in p53-mutant human pancreatic and gastric cancer cell lines. They found that restoration of miR-34 inhibited tumor cell growth, increased cell death and sensitized the cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiation.

Significantly, restoration of miR-34 reduced the number of tumor initiating cells, or cancer stem cells.

Xu is currently leading a research team that will investigate miR-34 as a potential therapeutic agent delivered by patented nanotechnology, which is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Subscribe to the AACR News RSS Feed

# # #

The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes 30,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and nearly 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants, research fellowship and career development awards. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 16,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment and patient care. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.

About NCI
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov or call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

About EORTC
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) is an international association under Belgian law created in 1962.

The aims of the EORTC are to develop, conduct, coordinate, and stimulate translational and clinical cancer research in Europe to improve the management of cancer and related problems by increasing both survival and patient quality of life. The ultimate goal of the EORTC is to establish state-of-the-art cancer treatment to improve survival rate, quality of life and quality of care for all patients with cancer.

The EORTC is primarily devoted to high-quality clinical research to establish optimal therapeutic strategies via large multi-center clinical studies in a multidisciplinary approach leading to state-of-the-art treatment.

In line with the increasingly important role of functional imaging in trials involving translational research and having endpoints linked to biological markers, the EORTC Board has decided to establish an Imaging Group to drive the development of treatment strategies tailored to the biological characteristics of a particular tumor.

EORTC Headquarters has instituted quality assurance in radiotherapy (QART), and these measures have resulted in measurably significant improvement in treatment delivery and patient outcome in radiotherapy.

The EORTC has initiated a European tumor bank project to improve and harmonize the histological review and to promote translational research in EORTC trials.

The EORTC Headquarters’ Early Project Optimization Department (EPOD) lends support and methodological expertise to the EORTC groups for all new projects.

A Network of Core Institutions (NOCI) has been formed as part of the overall EORTC strategy. NOCI is based on core recruiting academic centers across Europe, specifically apt to develop projects with important translational research components.

EORTC Headquarters comprises about 160 staff members (15 nationalities) including medical doctors, statisticians, Ph.D.’s, quality of life specialists, scientific and administrative staff, computer specialists, and research fellows.

All EORTC research projects and clinical studies are peer reviewed and have to be approved by the relevant EORTC Committees.

An Academic Research Fund has been created to allocate support for clinical trials of excellence submitted to the Board.

Over 6,000 new patients are treated each year according to EORTC protocols.

For further information see: www.eortc.be

Media Contact:
Jeremy Moore
(267) 646-0557
jeremy.moore@aacr.org
In Boston, Nov. 15-19:
(617) 954-3042

Sometimes, I confess, I buy the paper and I forget to actually read it. It will probably be the Guardian and I’ll buy it – promising myself that I will consume it lovingly cover to cover and that it will somehow make me a better person, raising my mind from thoughts of X Factor and lasagne. Such good intentions…

The next day I will see my paper on the sideboard. I will consider reading it but by now it looks deflated - its stories less enticing. I turn on the radio – the next episode of life and death is already happening somewhere out there. What is the point of paper pulp that only screams the breaking news of yesterday? So my paper ends up discarded and my money-waster guilt lives on. 

The characters in Thompson’s novel also face the question of the precise literary value and meaning of journalism. Well, I say face. They are journalists so they encounter the problem of writing reality but never fully discuss this issue in so many words and then, in most scenes, they get really drunk and sleep with other people or each other.

But Thompson’s narrator Paul Kemp carries around The Times like ‘a precious bundle of wisdom, a weighty assurance that [you're] not yet cut off from that part of the world that was real.’ Maybe, his character suggests, literature could learn some new tricks from the field of the hack. Get a bit more real. The alcoholic 60s cohort of ‘New Journalists’, including Thompson and his characters, try out a range of narrative and journalistic modes of writing in order to test out this theory.

Thompson, most famous for writing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, paints a pretty debauched picture of Puerto Rico, its coin slots, fiestas, hotel parties and printing houses. Paul Kemp is portrayed as painfully aware he has only one drunken mind in a thousand with which to write reality. The Rum Diary stands as a record of a journalist-persona who writes reality ‘badly’ and offers us the job of doing better.

4/5 stars

Next I’m reading…Norman Mailer’s The Deer Park

Congressman Thompson from Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District thinks it just might be. He stopped by Williamsport today for a meeting with some local grassroots leaders. During the meeting he mentioned that congress is scheduled to stay in session until December 22, if I remember correctly. He then said it might be for something to do with amnesty.  He’s a good Republican, too, by the way!

As well as is this man, Joe Watkins! Might just be our next Lt. Governor! He also shared a few words at the meeting! Great Christian man and a good Republican! The party needs more people like these two!  If you’ve never heard of Joe, it’s because you probably don’t watch MSNBC. He’s doing the Lord’s work as a Republican strategist and MSNBC political analyst! You can learn more about him at his site The Watkins Line.

Update: Below are a few photo’s of the meeting sent to me,  ever so graciously,  by photographer Monica Hoover.

One note mentioned about the health care vote and NY-23.  Congressman Thompson stated that the lone Republican vote waited to vote until the health care bill was a done deal.  He did not want to be the deciding vote. Had Hoffman not conceded when he did (this seat may still be in play after all) Rep. Cao may not have voted for the bill.  That alone may have stopped this from passing.  At the least, it would have whittled this down to a single vote.

Yes. That is the House bill sitting in front of him!  Below is a closer look.

Wool and The Gang, the lovely knit brand, has set up shop in NYC, with a grand debut yesterday. Their new store on Thompson between Spring and Prince features all things the trend setting knitter would need or would want. They have their knitwear, knit kits, yarn and is even offering free lessons to celebrate their first week.

via: Cool Hunting

A ship on Jude.

Jan Svankmejar shorts entitled: “Food”. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The were, believe it or not, made in 1992. He is one of my favorite animators.

Dilton Quadrangle: 1/2 mile east of Dilton Store on south side of Bradyville Pike,
Photographed by Patsy Paterson

2Pats2cats@comcast.net

Sophia C. Bynum

08 Jul 1891

11 Mar 1965

Will G. Bynum

20 Oct 1891

20 May 1969

Annie

Belle Arnette

1857

1939

Callie Arnette

15 Feb 1883

26 Nov 1973

Elizabeth D. Arnette

1887

1963

James L. Arnette

1880-1953

Grover C. Arnette

Tennessee

PVT 346 Co.

Motor Trans. Corps.

17 Aug 1892

1 Aug 1945

Nettie Arnette

07 Jun 1880

12 Jan 1974

Oscar Arnette

31 May 1878

11 May 1955

T. Hoyte Arnette

21 Jun 1885

04 Jan 1941

————————–

NO STONE

Daughter

Barbara Gean Armstrong

Jun 1937

Apr 1939

William Hall Arnette

26 Sep 1894

30 Aug 1954

Willie Belle Arnette

03 Oct 1905

31 Dec 2001

William Hall Arnette

Waggoner Sup. Co 317 F. A. 81 Div

WWI

26 Sep 1894

30 Aug 1954

Dossie E. Arnold

24 Dec 1903

01 Feb 1970

Jimmie Snow Arnold

28 Dec 1912

07 Jun 1983

Mary Aliene Lee Arnold

12 Nov 1912

09 Aug 1994

Ruth Arnette Avaritt

07 Apr 1923

10 Jan 2001

Married 21 Jan 1945

Jesse T. (Tom) Avaritt

28 Jun 1920

30 Apr 2002

Jesse Thomas Avaritt

S SGT US MARINE CORPS

WWII
28 Jun 1920

30 Apr 2002

Purple Heart

Ruth A. Avaritt

1923

2001

——————–

NO STONE

R. B. Benson

31 Jul 1891

03 Apr 1921

——————-

NO STONE

J. N. Benson

20 Nov 1878

16 Apr 1906

———————–

NO STONE

Victoria Wife of

G. W. Benson

02 Mar 1856

28 Dec 1924

—————————

NO STONE

G. W. Benson

27 Mar 1845

28 Dec 1924

——————————-

David M. Bivins

10 Nov 1873

01 Dec 1947

Myrtle H. Bivins

16 Apr 1884

30 Dec 1954

Will Bivins

Emoline Bivens

wife of D. M. Bivens

05 Mar 1831

11 Dec 1905

Fannie I. E. Bivens

22 Sep 1911

22 Nov 1911

J. H. Bivens

07 Jan 1863

19 Nov 1908

James D. Bivens

06 Oct 1903

22 Nov 1903

Mary Bivins

Daughter of David M. and Emma Bivens

21 Oct 1860

27 Jan 1891

Tom Bivens

1885

1933

Danny Brandon

16 Apr 1962

08 Jun 2000

G. David Brandon

12 Oct 1944

30 Mar 1972

George D. Brandon

Tennessee

SGT US Marine Corps

Vietnam P. H.

12 Oct 1944

30 Mar 1972

Mamie H. Brandon

06 Aug 1909

07 Jan 2003

Married 19 Jun 1979

J. G. "Jack" Brandon

17 May 1908

30 Sep 1983

Tennie H. Brandon

1883

1977

John A. Brandon

1876

1955

Kate Brandon

14 Aug 1883

23 Jan 1973

Neely Brandon

08 Oct 1880

05 Jun 1972

J. Palmer Brandon

1910

1963

Kathleen R. Brandon

1921

1992

Kayla Michelle Brandon

27 Mar 2003

28 Mar 2003

Annie Browley

Fines E. Browley

08 Apr 1891

12 Feb 1959

cemetery book says Brawley

Pauline Harrell Broyles

10 Mar 1914

10 Jan 1971

Lee Allen Broyles

09 Nov 1910

24 Jan 1953

Frank Brunskog and Sister

————————

Metal Marker in 1974

No Stone

O. M Bullard

13 Apr 1881

02 Apr 1949

————————————–

Tom Bullard

13 Apr 1889

02 Apr 1949

(this matches the O. M. Bullard listed in the cemetery book as a metal marker except birth year is 1881)

Cathie T. Bullard

13 Sep 1895

06 Nov 1974

B. I. Bynum

07 Mar 1852

04 Apr 1937

Julia Bynum

09 Jan 1868

12 Feb 1958

James D. Bynum

1877 1948

Vesta Lowe Bynum

1882

1955

Lowe Rene

Daughter of J. D. and Vesta Bynum

03 Dec 1906

15 Jan 1918

Mayme E. Bynum

wife of R. O. Bynum

27 Sep 1893

09 Sep 1913

Pearl V. Tribble Bynum

wife of R. D. Bynum

03 May 1903

06 Jan 1922

NO STONE

Josephine Brandon Cannon

17 Jan 1875

08 July 1958

——————–

NO STONE

Joe Ben Cooper

20 Aug 1920

09 Feb 1944

———————–

NO STONE

J.  Ervin Cooper

29 May 1916

16 Dec 1935

Sallie L. Cooper

27 Dec 1878

17 May 1946

D. R. Carter

17 Dec 1845

24 Mar 1928

Martha J. Carter

26 Mar 1839

13 Mar 1921

Peyton A. Carter

22 Feb 1846

23 Nov 1925

Mattie H. Carter

Wife of D. R. Carter

05 Jul 1863

20 Jan 1910

Bertha T. Clinton

1897

1945

Will (Boss) Clinton

1891

1965

Birtha Taylor

wife of Ross Clinton

10 Jan 1897

01 May 1945

Dorris Clinton

1923

1933

Ernest "Ernie" Elvie Clinton

17 Oct 1939

17 May 1999

Allie Gitchell Ownby

21 Dec 1933

——————

Henry "Hank" Clinton

02 Jun 1939

19 Apr 1994

Joanne E. Clinton

19 Mar 1941

22 Mar 1998

Samuel Alfred Cooper

20 Sep 1890

08 Sep 1991

Bessie Gilley Cooper

24 Dec 1906

23 Nov 1998

Lennie J. Cooper

18 Aug 1917

21 Nov 2002

William Hall Cooper

18 Feb 1913

05 Dec 1993

Rev. John Wesley Cooper

19 Oct 1874

28 Dec 1926

Hugh L. Davenport

08 Jun 1895

18 Jul 1984

Effie B.

06 Aug 1892

05 Jan 1982

Audie S. Dean

01 Apr 1890

10 Apr 1976

Pauline H. Dean

21 Aug 1905

10 Jun 1987

J. C. Dover

1936

1974

Freddie Dover

1940

1980

J. W. Duncan

23 Aug 1916

02 Oct 1996

Nadine H. Duncan

14 Oct 1914

12 Feb 1998

Pauline Earp

1911

1994

Freelin Earp

1895

1956

Married 09 Oct 1932

G. B. Edmonds

1866

1933

Effie Davis Edmonds

1868

1966

Herman Davis Edmonds

19 Oct 1905

27 Jan 1950

Carlisle Edwards

1887

1955

Louie B. Faulkner

11 Feb 1895

21 Nov 1979

Sarah E. Faulkner

06 Nov 1926

22 Feb 1982

Zada B. Faulkner

1892

1976

Ed Elliott Ferrell

22 Feb 1884

08 Sep 1915

Henry Clay Ferrell

1902

1920

James W. Ferrell Jr.

1907

1928

Marina W. Ferrell

18 Dec 1844

11 Apr 1898

Josephine Brandon Gannon

17 Jan 1875

08 Jul 1958

Alton D. Gilley

Tennessee

PVT US ARMY
WWII
26 Dec 1904

27 Apr 1974

E. D. Gilley

04 Aug 1869

30 May 1964

Bessie Sloan

25 Sep 1874

21 Dec 1952

—————————————-

NO STONE

Metal Marker (1974)

Sallie J. Gum

Died 03 Jul 1969

———————————

Charity Ferrell

wife of J. F. Gilley

02 Sep 1880

23 Jul 1917

J. A. Gilley

04 Feb 1843

14 May 1917

J. Frank Gilley

07 Ma y1872

30 Oct 1955

Nancy C.

wife of J. A. Gilley

25 Jul 1845

29 Aug 1912

Cornelius Gordon

1846

1911

Ecce H. Gordon

1877

1962

John T. Gordon

1882

1945

Mary E. Gordon

1874

1914

Mary Lee Gordon

1850

1931

Russell J. Gordon

1885

1931

Doyle Wilson Gum

20 Mar 1927

31 Jul 1990

Married 03 Oct 1948

Annie Jordan Gum

21 Sep 1930

—————

Doyle Wilson Gum

PVT US ARMY

WWII

20 Mar 1927

31 Jul 1990

Gary Phillip Gum

12 Jul 1958

24 Jun 1990

Gary Phillip Gum

SGT US AIR FORCE

12 Jul 1958

24 Jun 1990

Robt. L. Gum

15 Jun 1879

12 Mar 1920

His son

Herbet Gum

14 Aug 1904

12 Mar 1920

Sallie Jernigan Gum

1877

1969

John A. Gum

1875

1955

Oscar Hall Gum

13 Oct 1894

28 Jan 1962

Mattie Wilson Gum

19 Sep 1898

12 Feb 1986

Oscar H Gumm

Tennessee PVT 161 Infantry

WWI

13 Oct 1894

28 Jan 1962

Clara E. Harrell

1918

1928

Lyda Preston Harrell

04 May 1890

16 Sep 1987

Jesse A. Harrell

11 Feb 1889

28 Nov 1973

Jessee J. Harrell

31 Dec 1911

12 Apr 2001

Pauline B. Harrell

23 Nov 1913

02 May 1988

John Lee Harrell

son of L. D. and L. A. Harrell

13 Mar 1889

16 Jul 1889

Laura

wife of L. D. Harrell

08 Feb 1858

24 Mar 1889

Marrion F. Harrell

15 Oct 1851

19 Apr 1933

Mattie Elizabeth Harrell

13 Nov 1937

14 Nov 1937

Rufus Kelley Harrell

28 Jul 1891

21 Aug 1966

Mattie Overall Harrell

08 May 1892

16 Jan 1973

Reuben K.

son of K and M Harrell

01 Feb 1916

15 Jul 1917

James Ellis Harris

05 May 1900

19 Apr 1988

Clara Parman Harris

07 Mar 1905

22 Jul 1993

J. N. Harris

18 Jul 1844

26 Dec 1921

Sallie A. Brown

16 Nov 1853

16 Jan 1922

Will R. Harris

1877

1969

Lela S. Harris

1873

1959

Daisy Knox Harvey

1879

1934

William Robert Harvey

1878

1953

J. D. Harvey

Tennessee

TEC5 Co A 186 Engr C BN

WWII

07 Aug 1913

16 Mar 1956

Nannie C. Harvey

1894

1981

John T. Harvey

1886

1965

Matha

wife of G. W. Hawks

09 Oct 1870

08 Jun 1912

William D.  Hawks

03 Nov 1888

19 Sep 1915

William B. Hayes

1872

1936

Florence Tolbert Hayes

1879

1962

William J. (Bill) Herrod

28 Nov 1904

26 Dec 1986

Ether Harrell

29 May 107

25 Aug 1993

Henry Ellis (Hank) Hirlston

19 Aug 1966

03 Jan 1992

Sally M. Holloway

15 Jun 1905

20 Sep 1986

Willard A. Holloway

TSGT US AIR FORCE

20 Aug 1905

23 Sep 1975

Horace

Margaret E. Howland

1921

1994

Roy H. Howland 1918

1989

Paul Howland

28 Apr 1914

18 Jun 1980

Thomas C. Howse

1863

1916

Mary Hudson

1856

1941

Arthur F. James

23 Dec 1896

13 May 1983

Lizzie Mai James

28 Jul 1902

29 Mar 1975

Alvin Jernigan

23 Mar 1909

11 Aug 1994

Claudie T. Jernigan

1896

1976

Austin F. Jernigan

1890

1947

Lula M. Jernigan

25 Sep 1915

03 Oct 1995

Ben A. Jernigan

11 Jul 1910

28 Aug 1976

Beulah A. Jernigan

12 Dec 1891

17 Apg 1965

William S. Jernigan

22 Oct 1878

07 Sep 1957

Oscar P. Jernigan

01 Sep 1887

21 Jan 1974

Elizabeth C. Jernigan

27 Aug 1889

15 Jul 1972

Emery B. Jernigan

13 Jan 1913

17 Jul 1974

Jesse Dill Jernigan

17 May 1909

15 May 1995

Fannie Bell Jernigan

12 Oct 1909

30 Nov 1968

Infant son of J. J. and O. M. Jernigan

J. A. Jernigan

31 Aug 1880

24 Nov 1906

Judy Frances Jernigan

29 Nov 1944

25 May 1945

————————————

NO STONE

Maggie Lizzie Jernigan

27 Aug 1889

15 Jul 1972

————————————————-

Medford Jernigan (cemetery book says William Medford Jernigan)

06 May 1906

28 Dec 1971

Susan E. Jernigan

06 Jan 1851

15 Feb 1907

W. M. Jernigan

24 Oct 1850

28 Sep 1914

E. M. Jones

08 Mar 1878

28 Feb 1949

Nora Landrum Jones

11 Jan 1889

11 Sep 1932

Ernest H. Jones

19 Apr 1912

06 Aug 1970

Ruby Blythe

02 Sep 1916

28 Nov 2001

Married 08 Aug 1933

Nina Y. Jones

1898

1989

J. Aubrey Jones

1898

1961

Sophia Mai Coleman Jones

05 Feb 1934

01 May 1954

J. C. Justiss

Apr 1903 Age 83 years

John Knight

1885

1958

G. W. Landrum

1888

1931

Leila B. Weeks

1890

1976

Hazel Landrum

02 Jun 1913

07 Jan 1979

John R. Landrum

31 Oct 1884

06 Feb 1965

Lettie O. Landrum

10 Jul 1880

10 Mar 1940

Narcissus J. Landrum

1863

1911

John Silas Landrum

1860

1914

Johnie Belle Landrum

Daughter of J. R. and L. O. Landrum

12 Aug 1911

08 Aug 1912

Lucille Landrum

19 Jul 1913

24 Aug 1944

Dorothy S. Lawrence

1931

1961

Ollie Eva Lawrence

30 Jun 1891

Can’t read dates

Verner Lawrence

19 May 1889

03 Jul 1964

Ella Harris Lee

wife of W. A. Lee

29 Jul 1858

24 Feb 1919

James Roy Lee

21 Dec 1915

03 Jan 1938

John Grady Lee

30 Aug 1902

24 Apr 1918

Vina Jernigan Lee

wife of John. J. Lee

28 Sep 1847

03 Dec 1923

John J. Lee

01 May 1845

08 Aug 1926

W. A. Lee

15 Nov 1874

22 Jul 1918

Zora Ellen Lee

19 Jul 1878

31 Jul 1911

Izzie M. Lowe

1885

1969

Willam N. Lowe

1879

1961

Alline Arnette Lyons

07 Apr 1923

06 Jan 1992

A. O. Mankin

1928

1913

Carl Edwards Mankin

27 Apr 1935

14 Aug 2002

Eva Summers Mankin

26 Feb 1885

07 Feb 1957

Cleveland G. Mankin

01 Feb 1886

29 Jan 1952

Lida B. Wilder Mankin

03 Apr 1906

29 Mar 1997

Jasper W. Mankin

25 Apr 1889

20 May 19??

Peggy Marie Mankin

12 May 1939

24 Sep 1963

Raybon M. Mankin

31 Oct 1909

21 Feb 1984

Mary F. Mankin

12 Jan 1920

Married ?6 Oct 1957

Lillie Birley Manus

29 Oct 1890

11 Nov 1953

Charlie Manus

30 Apr 1887

15 Nov 1957

Frank Manus

28 Apr 1913

15 Apr 2001

Willie Mae Manus

31 Aug 1908

19 Aug 1997

Married 08 Oct 1932

John T. Manus Sr.

09 Mar 1936

Lois J. Manus

28 Mar 1935

Ray Manus

1924

1930

Bessie Lee McCrary

Daughter of A. N. and Mattie

J. F. McCrary

1862

1932

Sarah McCrary

1867

1938

William J. McGill

16 Jun 1891

03 Mar 1981

Goldie I. McGill

17 Sep 1901

27 Apr 1978

Margaret Zelma McGill

1934

1951

Mary Annabell Harrell Medlock

26 Apr 1908

12 Nov 1989

(If someone can confirm that this is the daughter of Newton Harrell and Sarah Victory, or not, please contact Teresa at GenerationGoneBy@bellsouth.net

M. Jernigan Melton

21 Jul 1934

C. Michael Melton

05 Dec 1931

Randall David Melton

18 Dec 1955

05 Nov 2004

Ella T. Mingle

1886

1966

Burley I. Mingle

1887

1959

S. H. Mingle

1857-1907

His wife

Laura Mingle

1867-1907

Erley Mingle

1887-1917

Leathie D. Mingle

1865

1933

George W. Mingle

1863

1936

Janice R. Minnick

01 Apr 1942

Jerome L. Minnick Sr.

12 Feb 1948

25 Mar 2003

Cannon Justiss Overall

25 Nov 1899

07 Dec 1924

M. Virginia Bock

19 Jul 1905

09 Jun 1988

Thomas R. Overall

12 Oct 1857

31 Jul 1943

Fannie G. Justiss

24 Oct 1867

25 Jan 1940

Infant son of T. J. and Lucy Overall

Dead and Born 01 Dec 1919

——————————-

NO STONE

Infant son of

M. L. and W. F. Overall

24 Aug 1886

05 1886

—————————————-

John A. Overall

17 Nov 1851

24 Feb 1925

Mamie Overall

17 Mar 1888

24 Nov 1901

Mother

Mary Louisa Overall

Wife of W. F. Overall

13 Jun 1847

05 Sep 1887

Mattie

Daughter of Nace S. and P. A. Overall

26 Sep 1866

09 Mar 1892

Nace S. Overall

18 Jul 1815

03 Jan 1897

Permelia A. Kirby

Wife of Nace S. Overall

26 Nov 1822

05 Apr 1894

Bettie Roberts Pearcy

24 Nov 1864

17 Mar 1924

Rose Phillips

22 Jun 1882

29 May 1962

Henry L. Preston

1940

1959

Their Daughter

Annette

1959

——-

Juanita A. Preston

1938

——–

Married 24 May 1958

Henry Lee Preston

Tennessee

A03 US NAVY

29 May 1940

20 Nov 1959

J. A. Preston

22 Aug 1864

29 May 1915

Jennie Preston

Mother of Charlie–Mack– Joe Manus

Mary J. Harrell Preston

13 Apr 1882

20 Sep 1942

Noah L. Preston

15 Dec 1912

01 Aug 2003

Ruby H. Preston 15 Feb 1921

12 Sep 1995

Susie A. Higgins

wife of J. A. Preston

17 Oct 1853

08 Oct 1909

Ed. S. Puckett

18 Jan 1868

17 Aug 1923

His Wife

Belle Lee Puckett

09Oct 1869

14 Mar 1948

Gum Puckett

07 Jul 1894

22 Apr 1977

Mattie Puckett

28 Sep 1897

12 Jan 1984

James A . Reed

Husband of Gladys Jones Reed

25 Aug 1913

19 Dec 1943

Jesse G. Reed

1889

1968

Margaret Mim Reed

1887

1920

Charles R. Reeves

1918

1976

Mattie L. Reeves

1915

Clara Bain Reeves

04 Aug 1912

04 Jul 1991

John Ira Reeves

07 Aug 1908

M. Elizabeth Reeves

22 Apr 1914

25 Oct 1978

Robert A. Reeves

US ARMY WWII

11 Feb 1910

12 May 1983

Ann Roberts

Wife of D. M. Roberts

28 Jun 1835

14 Dec 1910

Anna Belle Becton Roberts

05 May 1893

21 Jan 1959

Wife of J. D. Roberts

Annie B. Roberts

Daughter of W. A. and S. J. Yearwood

22 Jun 1879

(can’t make out, may say married)

16 Feb 1911

Died

01 Jul 1911

Annie E.  Roberts

Daughter of W. A. and S. Y. Yearwood

Wife of J. D. Roberts

22 Jun 1879

01 Jul 1911

Cemeteries book says they were married 18 Feb 1911

Miss Callie Roberts

14 May 1871

13 Sep 1950

D. M. Roberts

1830

1900

Buried at Gully Burying Ground

John Drury Roberts

08 Mar 1866

10 Apr 1960

Uncle Dee was a pillar of the community, a lifelong worker for the church, and a benefactor to all who needed him. 

May his memory long live.

Murray L. Robertson

14 Nov 1906

18 Jul 1981

Mabel E. Robertson

20 Feb 1911

Bonnie M. Russell

1937

1977

Sallie F. Sagely

1853

1929

Sarah C. Paschal Sagely

12 Jul 1853

23 Jun 1929

———————–

NO STONE

America Marlin

Wife of Dr. E. A. Speer

23 Feb 1842

12 Nov 1916

————————–

Minnie Lee Sandford

15 Jyl 1887

24 Dec 1959

Sammie Lee Sanford

1892

1923

Lera J. Shires

10 Mar 1926

01 Aug 1975

Josie Fleming Singleton

23 Jan 1902

17 Nov 1993

George L. Singleton

27 Apr 1896

13 May 1969

Teresa’s note:  George is the son of John and Margaret Atlee "Maggie" Victory Singleton.  Anyone researching Maggie’s family, please contact me at cheasa@bellsouth.net.  Thanks!

Rosa Lee Smith

Daughter of R. B. and M. E. Pearcy

31 Jul 1888

14 Oct 1907

Married to G. S. Smith Jr.

25 Oct 1905

George Rufus Stephens

23 Dec 1870

29 Jan 1944

George Rufus Stephens

25 Dec 1902

21 Mar 1905

Henry Grady Stephens

13 Jul 1900

13 May 1902

Infant Daughter of G. R. and M. O. Stephens

14 Apr 1892

Minnie O. Stephens

03 Jun 1869

17 Nov 1921

—————————–

NO STONE

John Thomas Stephens

16 Aug 1908

16 Mar 1911

————————————

Babe M. Summers

22 May 1856

08 Dec 1848

Calvin

son of L. J. and E. M. Talbert

20 Jan 1881

05 Sep 1901

Mary M. Tarter

1898

1972

Alfred Taylor

08 Feb 1887

06 Feb 1955

Sudie Reed Taylor

22 Sep 1893

25 Jul 1969

Elmer Taylor

03 Mar 1922

13 May 1990

Mary Frances Taylor

14 Sep 1928

Married 24 Feb 1946

Fred W. Taylor

03 Oct 1915

31 Aug 1968

John Taylor

1858

1920

Helon Taylor

1866

1939

Izzie Bell Taylor

24 Apr 1902

08 Jun 1942

Sallie T. Taylor

1887

1969

John C. Taylor

1887

1961

S. B. Taylor Sr.

1902

1971

Maggie Taylor

1917

1939

Mrs. Maggie Taylor

1808

????

Phillip Loyd Taylor

13 Jun 1962

14 Jun 1962

Annie M. Taylor

26 Oct 1929

John Taylor

24 Feb ????

Phillip Loyd Taylor

13 Jun 1962

14 Jun 1962

Tennie

Abbie Lenar Thompson

11 Nov 1886

15 Jul 1906

————————–

NO STONE

Ella Overall Tolbert

1855

1938

——————————————–

Clarence Tolbert

03 Aug 1916

03 May 1979

Dellar J. Tolbert

1875

1966

William L. Tolbert

1877

1968

Delores Tolbert

Elam A. Tolbert

1906

1991

Elizabeth Tolbert

1915

1988

J. P. Tolbert

23 Feb 1867

22 Jan 1944

Eliza Youree

09 Dec 1863

09 Jul 1919

L. J. Tolbert

13 May 1846

02 Dec 1936

Elizabeth Bynum

20 Jan 1850

27 Oct 1930

————————————–

NO STONE

Calvin M.

Son of L. J. and E. M. Tolbert

20 Jan 1881

05 Sep 1901

——————————————-

Ella Overall Tolbert

1855

1938

Frank L. Tolbert

1882

1973

Carrie C. Tolbert

1888

1973

Howard Tolbert

Son of F. L. and Carrie Tolbert

18 Aug 1906

26 Jun 1907

Infant of J. R. and Lydia Tolbert

11 Sep 1902

James R. Tolbert

02 Jul 1855

04 Oct 1916

His wife

Lydia Tolbert

05 May 1883

03 Oct 1916

Hallie Mankin Tolbert

No Dates

Jim Alec

1908

1956

Leroy Tolbert

29 Feb 1884

08 Oct 1918

William H. Tolbert

01 May 1855

07 Jun 1915

Mary Alline Toombs

1917

1967

Willie Roy Travis

10 Feb 1915

25 Jul 1992

Aileen Harvey Travis

01 May 1913

02 May 1969

Warren L. Turl

03 Apr 1918

03 Jan 1984

Evelyn P. Turl

16 Feb 1921

18 Aug 2004

04 Apr 1942

Susan H. Wallace

04 Oct 1910

James W. Wallace

22 Oct 1912

12 Dec 1977

Same stone close up

James William Wallace

US NAVY

WWII

22 Oct 1912

12 Dec 1977

Maggie Lee Wallace

20 Nov 1871

24 Jul 1927

"Buddy"

W. M. Wallace

29 Apr 1940

09 Jun 1985

Phyllis Carol Walls

08 Jun 1939

22 Aug 1994

Albert Murry Watts

19 Jul 1927

21 Apr 1930

Arthur Murray Watts

17 Mar 1897

20 Aug 1986

Annie Puckett

08 Aug 1891

27 Aug 1970

George Ellis Weeks

1888

1991

Lala Landrum Weeks (cemetery book says Lola)

1891

1948

Charles P. Whitworth

09 Sep 1887

06 Dec 1952

Bessie L. Whitworth

21 Feb 1891

14 Jan 1989

Billie Dorris Whitworth

13 Jun 1934

16 Jun 1934

Albert Arnold Wilson

09 Sep 1927

21 Sep 1998

Albert D. Wilson

19 Mar 1866

20 Feb 1950

Sallie Pace Wilson

26 Jun 1872

16 Jan 1936

Henry L. Wilson

28 Apr 1896

06 Mar 1982

Celestine G. Wilson

06 Nov 1900

27 Apr 1983

Married

19 Sep 1919

Marshall Lee Wilson

16 Feb 1922

27 Feb 1995

Marshall Lee Wilson

M SGT

US ARMY

AIR CORPS

WWII

16 Feb 1922

27 Feb 1995

Mattie Mary Wilson

10 Feb 1921

13 Jan 1975

Ed M. Yearwood

09 Aug 1877

24 Dec 1949

J. A. Yearwood (cemetery book says W. A.-you decide)

24 Jan 1842

18 Dec 1922

John W. Yearwood

19 May 1888

25 Jun 1950

Tennie H. Yearwood (cemeteries book has W.)

1885

1972

Betty Carol Youree

1942

1943

Ethel Orr Youree

04 May 1888

31 Jan 1978

Floyd Youree

12 Feb 1903

03 Nov 1972

Evelyn

10 May 1915

—————–

J. F. N. Youree

25 Oct 1851

17 Jun 1920

J. R. Youree

1881

1921

James Wiley

son of W. A. and Z. E. Youree

29 Oct 1903

19 Feb 1916

Lucille Youree

05 Mar 1908

16 May 1999

Nora Youree

1884

1950

Raymond A. Youree

1906

1948

Susie M. Youree

1854

1943

Willie A. Youree

27 Nov 1877

16 May 1970

Zelma Youree

18 Apr 1882

23 Jan 1940

Has anyone else been putting themselves to sleep in this fashion? See… I know I shouldn’t but I do. X

Thoughts?

1845 — John David Thompson is born in Halifax. He always maintains he was actually born in 1844, but his birth registration indicates 1845.

It isn’t until he’s about 16 that he begins adding ‘Sparrow’ as a middle name. It was his grandmother’s surname and father’s middle name. John Sparrow Thompson, a teacher and editor, is in his 50s when John is born. Although he is a close friend of Joseph Howe, he is usually short of money and in early 1844 resigned as the colony’s Queen’s Printer after the governor, Lord Falkland, accused him of writing reports biased against the government.

Men under fire

The Packers are a disappointing 4-4, but with eight games left in the season, it’s probably too soon to be talking about whether GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy will – or should – be back in 2010. After all, this team could theoretically win 6 of its last 8 and make any such question moot. But let’s assume that Green Bay goes 4-4 in the second half and finishes 8-8. What would happen then? “I don’t see changes being made under that scenario,” opined a longtime NFL observer. “In fact, barring a total collapse, I think it’s very likely that they’ll both be back.” We agree. Team president Mark Murphy seems to have a lot of faith in his GM, and the GM in turn seems to have a lot of faith in his coach. Plus, it would cost over $20 million to clean house. So the real question probably isn’t whether Thompson and McCarthy will return, but should they?

The feeling here is that neither Thompson nor McCarthy deserve to be back unless the Packers finish with a winning record. Another non-winning season would be the franchise’s fourth in five years under Thompson’s reign and its third in four seasons with McCarthy on the sidelines. That’s not good enough. It’s not even close to being good enough. “A team should be heading in the right direction after the fifth year,” said the source. “And even if you discount 2007 as an aberration, it’s still hard to argue that the arrow is pointing up. Green Bay will probably finish with a better record than a year ago, but are they a better team? Right now, I’d say the answer is no.”

Assuming the Packers don’t turn things around, is there any argument – aside from finances – to be made for keeping the status quo? “I guess you could point to Cincinnati,” said the source. “[President/GM] Mike Brown stuck with [coach] Marvin Lewis and now the Bengals are marching toward the postseason. Sometimes continuity pays off, but in most cases, it only prolongs the inevitable.” So what can Thompson and McCarthy do to fend off the inevitable? “Thompson can be more aggressive in free agency and McCarthy can hire proven coaches for the offensive line and special teams,” added the source. “As poorly as Green Bay has looked at times this season, there’s unquestionably some good young talent on that roster. And we all know that fortunes can change in a hurry in the NFL.” True, but fans don’t want to hear a trite remark after losing to Tampa Bay. They want change. Now if only that guy with the cheese on his head in section 423 had about $20 million.

I have put a whole load of photos onto the gallery page of my website where users can download high quality images. And everyone ells can screen grab.

Congratulations to Banjo on his selection for tomorrow’s test match against Australia, and welcome back to International colours. When he retired in 2007 due to a serious neck injury, few would have thought such a comeback was possible. Dom and I met Steve Thompson outside the Stade de France about an hour after England had beaten France in the last World Cup semi-final. He came across as a humble, friendly and genuinely nice guy who was happy to talk with fans and pose for photos. You could also sense his great delight at England’s success, despite his personal situation. It’s great to see he is now back at the top. In his prime he was a seriously big, nasty and obdurate unit who had the skills of a centre. Let’s hope for some more of that tomorrow!