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The making of Inside the Meltdown by Frontline Producer, Michael Kirk of WGBH, Boston.
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[ Thursday, April 28, 2005 13:17 PDT ]
The UC Regents visit UC Davis: The Good, the Bad and the Blue
Section:
News: Local
Summary:
Members of the University of California Board of Regent have spent the last two days visiting the University of California at Davis and the UCMC in Sacramento. They were preceeded abd protected by a phalanx of armed UCD Policemen and women at public venues like the Visitor’s “Hospitality ” Center, and the student ARC Ballroom. They were subjected to orchistrated ab hominum verbal abuse by student and non student political activists. And they were treated to an informative presentations by four young scientists enrolled in the flegling GSM program midwifed by Professor Andrew Hargadon, Director of the Technology Management Program.
Main:
First, the good news. Hargadon briefly gave a backgrounder on his new Science Business collaboration based on the Stanford University model of academic engineering, academic Graduate School of Business and private Venture Capital. He then introduced members of his first year class to the mostly faculty audience. The class including Jeff Norris from the Crowe -Toblin Biostabilization Lab, associated with the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and the School of Veterinary Medicine. Norris presented a brief synopsis of the work he and his laboratory mates of doing to extend the shelf life of nucleated and nonnucleated blood cells. He is specifically working on the freeze drying, storing and recovering lifesaving platlets.
Jeff and his fellow Business oriented Scientists are learnng about the frequently misunderstood mandate and intent of Federal Bayh-Dole legislation. In addition, they learn to write of a business plan, manage money and build critical contracts and maintain networks. In a word, they start to build the personal power built on trust, credibility and a carefully crafted Roladex file.
Jeff was but one example of a courteous, appropriate, postive, enthusiastic and well coached team member who illustrates what institutions of higher education do best —- showcase students and their work product to the public.
Second, by stark contract was the passionate, but sophomoric and rude behavior of a small group of community activists and students who demanded instant access and immediate action from the Regents on the usual list of grievences ranging to personal stress and angst to global economic injustice and corporate greed.
Third , many, including UCD faculty. staff and visitors were startled by the apparent overly aggressive manner and mode of some the the gun toting UCD Boys in Blue. One must ask the question:
Are the stategies, tactics, and life experieces demonstrated by former a San Quentin Guard appropiate for venues like the campus Buehler Hospitality and Alumni Center and the ARC Ballrooms?
If the answer is a reflex, ” But, you can never have too much protection !”, then, it is time to get deadly serious about the details of who, where, when, why and how of Public Safetly and Security Policies and Prodedures at this distinguished Public institution are properly exectuted.
The scene at Bueler at was both sobering and chilling. The clear trend of over-the top surveillance surely is cause for legitimate concern, enlightened discussion and reasonable adjustments in style and manner of appropriate behavior that is currently geared to a 100 % effective cordon sanitaire and buttressed by a manifest State of Fear and vulneribility.
Courage and Leadership: “Taking Action when the facts are incomplete the results are uncertain.
More:
Political Watch: • Science and Technology: • (0) Comments: • (0) Trackbacks: • Permalink:
[ Monday, April 25, 2005 16:11 PDT ]
Fit for Life: Shaping Up with swimming.
Section:
Advice
Summary:
Much has been though, said and written about diet and exercise for seniors. Both are promoted as slowing normal aging , preventing icancer, a stimulating a positive attitude, replacing prescriptions, and increasing personal performance and productivity at home and at work. Enhanced personal appearnce is frequently a focus.
So how is fitness easily, quickly and reliably measured, monitored and maintained? Try the scale,the mirror and climbing a flight of stairs. Can you pass your own fitness test?
Main:
A recent a Health Column in the Wall Street Journal make the folowing points about swimming.
* Most American seniors are intimidated by or fearful of the prospect of swimming one lap in a 25 yard pool.
* Many women are reluctant to expose themselves in a swimming suit.
* Stength, Speed , Stamina, Flexibility, Rhythm, Weigh control and Psychic Rewards and freedom from muscle soreness and injury are all positive rewards from time spent in pool doing a structured workout.
* Remember that fat is lighter than muscle. So, watch the scales and watch your profile in the mirror. They do not lie. Limit weight lose to an average of one pound per week (3,700 calories). Give yourself six months to get in shape.
* Add stretching, a large ball a hand squeeze ball, a jump rope, a bike on a stand and some isometrics at home daily and you are in business with your own personal indoor gym. Start your day with exercise and breakfast Add a quick walk and always take the stairs. Get a pedometer. Active adults will average 10,000 steps a day.
* 2000 extra steps a day is a mile. You can burn off half the calories in a non diet 12 oz Coke with that move.
* Get a Swimiming Book. Jane Katz is a good guide. Join a club, the Y or USMS (Masters Swimming.
* Note that the new food pyramid includes an exercise component.
In addition, UCDMC , Sports Medicine, Chaired by Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Eric Heiden, has a Performance Testing Progream in Sacramento and at the Hickey Gym on the Davis Campus
Gretchen A. Casazza, Ph.D.
* Exercise Physiologist
* Director of Research
* Sports Performance Lab Supervisor
recently gave the fourth in the continuing monthly ARC Ballroom prsentations on Mondays at 1900.
Exercise pearls:
Exercise positively influences “The overall quality of life.” and longevity.
Exercise for Top Athletes in Competition is best when it is “Tayor Made, not off the Rack”. The testing and prescribing team is composed or specialists in Nutrition, Equipment, Motivation, and Injury Management.
Age, Gender, Weight, Height, Body Fat, Genetics, Diet, Medical Conditions, Medications and prior conditioning all influence the measured parameters of VO2max and serum lactate, HR, Explosive Power, Endurance, Strength, Symmetry, Speed, Flexibility, Balance, Rhythm and Coordination,
Dr. Casazza is seeking 25 female endurance athletes that she hopes to study for one year. She will be studying the effects of combination oral contraceptive on performance.
Linkup with the Program at UCDMC
NB. There are few good comprehensive, controlled physiology studies on swimmers in the water doing their events.
More:
Diet, Nutrition & Health: • Exercise and Health: • (0) Comments: • (0) Trackbacks: • Permalink:
[ Tuesday, April 19, 2005 13:06 PDT ]
Big News Tuesday
Section:
Food and Nutrition
Summary:
Today is a big news day:
* A new Catholic Pope was selected on the second day of the meeting of the electing Cardinals in Conclave. According to the Jerusalem Times, and other online media sources, the former archbishop of Munich, Josef Ratzinger born on 16 April 1927 in Bavaria. His family were farmers. His father is reported to have been an anti-Natzi porty policeman. Ratzinger reportly joined a Nazi youth organization as a recommended proforma requirement for a student scholarship. Hence, the source of the long standing liable by some of probable pro Hilter and anti Jewish leaning on the part of Benedict XVI in his youth.
Main:
The New Food Pyramid from the USDA has had a long gestation period. Today, it saw the light of day.
* The nutritional recommendations are now age, sex, and activity specific.
* Exercise is clearly integrated into the scheme.
* Online supporting resources are nicely designed and smoothly integrated into the site.
*
MyPyramid.gov is the link.
More:
Exercise and Health: • UCDavis: • Athletics: • Exercise Physiology: • Aging & Exercise: • Events and News: • (0) Comments: • (0) Trackbacks: • Permalink:
[ Sunday, April 17, 2005 15:42 PDT ]
Picnic Day: UCDavis 2005
Section:
News: Local
Summary:
The Top Ten events of the Week
Main:
* The Aggie Banda. Spirit at the Aumni Breakfast, Pace at the Parade and Stamina at the Lake side “Battle of the Bands.
* Student dance and music on stage around the Quad and at Freeborn Hall during the day and at an evening concert.
* The Woody Wilson Track meet. Alumni contests in soccer and water polo.
* The usual steller preparation and presentations by the Geology Department.
* The ARC open house and rockwall climbing contest.
* The dedication of the new Welsh tennis courts and a John McEnroe exhibition match.
* The opening of the new Science Building and Lecture Auditorium with presentations starting with Prof, John Crow on Freeze Dryed Blood and ending with Prof. Ray Rodrieguez on Nutritional Genomics.
* The strawberry-rubarb pie al LA mode at the Lutheran Church Country BBQ.
* The multi-generational family groups strolling the campus from venue to venue. Kids, pets, plants and animals stole the show.
* A glowing Chancellor was out and about. Larry Vanderhorst was clearly enjoying himself.
More:
UCDavis: • Events and News: • (0) Comments: • (0) Trackbacks: • Permalink:
[ Thursday, April 14, 2005 12:47 PDT ]
Flat earth: Yolo county Flatlanders refuse to go Flatline
Section:
Book Reviews
Summary:
Tom Friedman of the nytimes has a pending best seller in his new book on his recently discovery that the size, if not the shape, of the planet is being changed by international jet transportation and electronic commmunication. So what is new about that? According to Friedman, plenty is you happen to work in an office that designs, sells or services that are information technology driven. Consider software programmming or engineering, the rocket that powers Computer Science and the Internet.
Main:
The science and engineer students, and the young post-docs at UCDavis have long had the Internet and Globalization hard coded into their DNA and their C.Vs.
Others on campus have no concerns of losing their jobs, careers or future to one of the “Best and the Brightest” in China or India, Today, the Union stewars representing some UCD service employees are marching on campus for better working conditions, pay and benefits. No one in China, India or Mexico is going to Out Source them. The same goes for the unions representing some of California’s nurses. However, they and the majority of middle class wage earners in Yolo county are vulnerable to ” In Sourcing.”
Graduate students from China , post-docs from India, construction workers from Mexico, exchange scholars from Chile learn, earn and then return. They learn the soft underbelly of U.S. markets, institutions and culture, earn the credibility that comes with hands-on experience and hard work, and then return home to make their mark.
However, it is interesting and remarkable that there is a bit of “excetionalism” in the American mico computer industry. Bill Gates, Michael Dell and Steve Jobs are but three examples of college dropouts whos businesses and products are recasting the old molds and old models of traditional business and popular cultures.
The point is this. Not all the worlds wisdom and work ethic is to be found in just one or two time zones. For most, the Earth is still a very big, a very complex and a very diverse place if one has your feet planted on Terra Firma and your eyes are open as one travels, works and lives outside the cosmopolitan media centers.
We do agree with Paul Romer that ” a crisis is a terrible thing to waste”. So, what does the crisis of the moment, or the decade looks like ? What is the shape of the crystal ball that some journalist and gurus use to forecast the future?
What is certain is that the pace of change on the journey to our shared global future been quickened. But, light and life illuminate the passage to the end of the tunnel. The world is not in crisis. Science , technology and good will, even in the nuclear age, continues to lift all boats.
The good news is that nuclear power has not been used as a weapon of war for sixty years. The sobering message is that the global economic center of gravity is shifting from west to east and from north to south. But, there is no tsunami on the horizon.
So think like a bumblebee and work like a horse and the game will end Point! Game! Set! Match! We are all winners.
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News: • Global: • (0) Comments: • (0) Trackbacks: • Permalink:
[ Sunday, April 10, 2005 13:37 PDT ]
Bob Keppel meets Michael DeBakey in Houston
Section:
Health and Medicine
Summary:
“All physicans stand on the shoulders of giants”
The paths of Criminologist, Bob Keppel, PhD, age 65 and Heart Surgeon Michael Debakey, MD, age 96 ,recently crossed in a Houston hospital. At a family gathering in Portland to celebrate the life and honor the death of Wayne Fisk, Bob told his story of a near death experience from a dissectiing thoracic aortic aneurysm. His survival and current state of good health is direct testimony to the surgical legacy of Dr. DeBakey.
Main:
That legacy is the story of empire building write large against the backdrop of medical towers rising from the flat lands of south-east Texas around Houston. It is the story of several generations of hard work of operating on patients with cardiovascular disease, teaching residents, conducting world class research, and raising funds.
Bob was transfered from an Emergency Room in Huntsville to Houston via helicopter by a moonlighting surgeon from Houston after a CT scan imaged the source of his week long symptom of unremitting upper back pain. Once in Houston, he was taken directly to surgery, his lesion was resected and replaced by a graft. Hypothermia was part of his management. After two day he awoke and started rehabiltation that continued after returning to his family, his home and his job as a Sam Houston State University faculty member.
Recently, he lectured in Connecticut and flew to Oregon from Texas.
Bob acknowleges that his life was saved by his surgical team. That team is part of the legacy of Dr. DeBakey,“The Texas Tornado,” a pioneering vascular surgeon.
More:
Some miracles do not just happen, they are made by the hands of men who know the way and have the courage to move into the area, even as the performance bar is raised yet another notch .
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